Category Archives: Musical Theatre

…Back To Blogging…

God, how many times have I written that title over the past few years I have blogged. My cousin, Dana, and my friend, Jeff, are tremendous, faithful bloggers. I always try to use these two as role models with cooking, … Continue reading

Posted in Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Friends, Indiana, Music - Band, Music - Marching Band, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, School, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre | Leave a comment

…Sailing the South Pacific…

Sunday, May 17th, we held auditions for SOUTH PACIFIC. I was so impressed with so many of the teenagers, and there were a few that blew me away – I had not seen that level of performance from them. I … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Family Life, Family Pets, Movies, Music - Band, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, Parenting, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History | Leave a comment

…SOUTH PACIFIC… and we are off!

Well, last night the production team officially met for the first time to prep SOUTH PACIFIC for Beavercreek High School’s new summer stock production company, Summer On Stage. This production team is on fire, and over the past three weeks, … Continue reading

Posted in Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Movies, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, Theatre, White House | Leave a comment

…Out of the PAJAMAs and into a… grass skirt?…

Sunday afternoon, the production of THE PAJAMA GAME at Beavercreek High School ended. I am generally a little teary-eyed following a production, but this time I was relieved. April 14th, the orchestra conductor was fired and I was handed the … Continue reading

Posted in Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, Family Life, Harry Truman, Movies, Music - Band, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, Parenting, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, School, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History | Leave a comment

Catching my breath…

I feel as though I am finally catching my breath for the first time in a month. Where do I begin? Well, I am vocal director for Beavercreek High School’s production, The Pajama Game. The director and I are up … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Friends, Indiana, Music - Band, Music - Marching Band, Musical Theatre, Parenting, Playwright, School, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

…Don't Quit…

There is a fascinating young man in college. I never had him as a student, but saw a good deal of his set designs while he was still a high school student. They were incredible. He posted something in his … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Friends, Inspiration, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, Spirituality, The Secret, Theatre | Leave a comment

WEST SIDE STORY – the 1995 Cast

Who are they, and where are they today? Some current photos of a wonderful group of performers from Theatre Under The Stars 1995 production, WEST SIDE STORY.                                     

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Friends, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, Theatre | Leave a comment

…Now, Sunday…

Another busy week behind us… Beginning last Monday I was not feeling well, and my temperature hovered around 100-101 degrees. My sister-in-law, Stacia, had been taken ill with strep last weekend, and then my brother, Destin, got it this week. … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Family Pets, Fowler, Indiana, Friends, Movies, Music - Band, Music - Marching Band, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, Religion, Robert Schuller, School, Single Parent, Spirituality, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

…And the weekend is here…

The long week is over, and the weekend is upon us. Most of the week was spent in writing on the Wright Brothers’ musical, teaching, helping Jose with homework, prepping students for college auditions, cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, building … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Broadway, Entertainment, Family Life, Family Pets, Friends, Inspiration, Movies, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, Spirituality, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

Counting blessings…

Jose’s youth group had an interesting discussion on how “doubt” is often crucial to faith. The youth were asked that upon waking this morning, count your blessings, and to walk through the next few days in a state of gratitude. My friend, Jeff … Continue reading

Posted in Christianity, Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Harry Truman, Indiana, Inspiration, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, Religion, Robert Schuller, Single Parent, Spirituality, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

…Weekend of Winter Guard…

The long, long weekend is over… If parents work shifts at the Winter Guard International (WGI) or percussion contests, money will be applied towards your child’s marching band account. So, I volunteered for Saturday. Kathy Symes, the parent coordinator, and … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Family Life, Friends, Indiana, Music - Band, Music - Marching Band, Music - Show Choir, Musical Theatre, Playwright, School, The Haasienda, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

…It's a Sherman Brothers wolrd after all…

Last night I saw the stage musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and began wondering if the Sherman Brothers had penned some of the new songs. Yes, indeed! They are still living, and still writing music! Sherman Brothers are Academy Award-winning … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Disney, Entertainment, Friends, Inspiration, Movies, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, Playwright, The Haasienda, Theatre | Leave a comment

…It was uncategorical – a stage burning oracle…

IT WAS TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS! “It was more than spectacular – to use the vernacular – it’s wizard, it’s smashing, it’s keen.” Forty years ago, I opened a Christmas present, and to my delight was a cast iron model of the … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Friends, Indiana, Inspiration, Movies, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, Playwright, The Haasienda, Theatre | Leave a comment

Ringing of the bells…

Wednesday morning I drove to Columbus to attend the funeral mass of a friend’s father. I met Katie Pfister-Musick in the late 1980’s and absolutely fell in love with this incredible actress. Despite the various moves between the two of … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Broadway, Christianity, Entertainment, First Ladies, Friends, Movies, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, Parenting, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Religion, Robert Schuller, Spirituality, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

This week…

What a past few weeks – confined mostly to bed for rest, and battling a nasty sinus infection. My asthma kicked in and since it settles in my throat, I have been robbed of my voice. Finally, the end of … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Family Life, Friends, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Robert Schuller, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre | Leave a comment

A Friday night…

At 12:05am the five buses carrying the marching band passed in front of the house. I was standing on the front steps smoking my pipe and letting Flyer explore the symphony of smells in the front yard when they passed. … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Music - Marching Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, White House, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Joshua Logan – 100 (original post, 2008)

Today is the 100th birthday of my hero in directing, Joshua Logan. Joshua Lockwood Logan III (October 5, 1908 – July 12, 1988) was an American stage and film director and writer. Logan was born in Texarkana, Texas. His father … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Indiana, Inspiration, Movies, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, Theatre | Leave a comment

Another Week Come and Gone…

What a short, but long week. Recovery from a three day weekend is always a little tough, but this year was a little easier. I set up a new system with my private teaching studio: if there are five Mondays … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Music - Marching Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

I Feel Like A Musical Theatre Character…

For the past several months, or so, I have been experiencing a feeling – as John Adams called it in the musical 1776 – “discontentment.” As I was writing a good friend earlier this afternoon, I feel like all these … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Broadway, Entertainment, Family Life, First Ladies, Inspiration, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright, Spirituality, The Secret, Theatre, U.S. Presidents, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Truly, Madly, Deeply… Mary Todd Lincoln

For some reason, Mary Todd Lincoln has been resurfacing this past month in a variety of connections. I had begun writing a musical on Miss Todd in 1986, and put it away in the mid-1990’s. And here she is again, … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Entertainment, First Ladies, Musical Theatre, Playwright, Politics, Theatre, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | 2 Comments

Shirley Temple… is 80?

I am watching a delightful A&E documentary on Shirley Temple. What a fascinating lady! And the wonderful child star of the 1930’s turned 80 this year! Shirley Jane Temple (born April 23, 1928) is an Academy Award-winning actress and tap … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Movies, Music - Band, Musical Theatre | Leave a comment

Guthrie Extends World-Premiere Run of Little House Musical

By Andrew Gans 24 Jul 2008 Performances have yet to begin, but box-office demand is so high that the Guthrie has extended its upcoming world premiere of the musical version of Little House on the Prairie. Melissa Gilbert, who played … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Movies, Musical Theatre, Playwright, The Haasienda, U.S. History | Leave a comment

Coming in "Threes"

Three friends of mine lost their mothers within this week… all three died suddenly. Duneen DeVore lost her mother last Friday. Duneen sang in my church choir at Normandy United Methodist Church, and along with her son, Erick, now 21, … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Friends, Musical Theatre, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Haasienda, Theatre | Leave a comment

Two great legends….

Today is an anniversary for two of my heroes… one died, and one was born…. JOSHUA LOGAN – (October 5, 1908 – July 12, 1988) was an American stage and film director and writer. Broadway Logan began his Broadway career as … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Inspiration, Music - Band, Musical Theatre, People: Joshua Logan, People: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playwright | Leave a comment

Patti McKenny, Chicago Playwright, Librettist and Lyricist, Dead at 57

Kenneth Jones Playbill On-Line Thu Jul 3, 9:44 AM ET She was a founding member of Chicago Musical Theatre Works (CMTW), a collective of Windy City musical writers who sought to establish Chicago as a place where musicals were developed. … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Disney, Entertainment, Inspiration, Musical Theatre, Playwright, Theatre | Leave a comment