BLOOPERS & FAVORITES

I peeked around the corner tonight to snap a quick shot in the foyer before heading in to join the orchestra in the pit.  The warms ups of buzzing lips could be heard ringing through the air. 

SHOWTIME!

The show kicked off high on helium tonight!
"Follow the yellow brick road..... wait, I forget we aren't in Kansas anymore!"   
                                                           - The Wizard... I mean Brad Pitt, er, President Salisbury

"....Gathering tar and melting feathers...."
                                                          - Scott Erickson is really channeling his inner Mayor Shinn now!





I witnessed a sweet episode and breakdown of hysterical tears in the front row from a very distraught 3 year old boy.... who happened to be Keturah's nephew, Micah. The capturing of Harold Hill by the very angry River Citizians was simply more than he could bear.

                     Relief was evident in his post show exclamation to Marian...... "You saved him!"




My family was present in the crowd tonight.... and I had to share my 4 year old daugther's favorite moment..... "That was the best mushy kiss ever, Mom!"  Too bad I was lost in the notes on the page before me to catch a glimspe!




Which brings me to share a thought or two on this relationship between our leading cast members tonight.  I've been asking each of you as cast and crew to share your favorite moments and photos you've captured from the past few months.......  here are a few to start it all off.


"Hard to choose memories from so many, but one of my favs was an early rehearsal of the Charlie Cowell/Marian scene. Keturah was saying 'You guys gotta give me more!' Those of us in the seats were whistling, clapping, laughing, giving our 'moral' support. Then in the middle of their lines, four curious faces of the quartet peeked out from the middle of the drawn curtains as if they didn't want to miss any of the steamy action happening on the thrust. Was a moment you wished you would of had your camera."               .... Roxanne Jackman



               Laura shared this sweet photo with me of her and Kent after the show.

"Several weeks ago, as Keturah was leading us in singing "I Love to See the Temple," I happened to look over at Kent and Laura during the second verse, and just as they were singing "...where we are sealed together," they both turned to each other and smiled a tender, knowing smile. It was so touching. They didn't know they were being observed, and I almost felt as if I had intruded on a private moment. But I can testify just as President Randall how deeply they are in love. What an awesome example of keeping a marriage eternal!"     .... Lauri Hancey

SEE THE JOY

This was the scene when I arrived this evening.                                                                     

Being married to a sports addict, I've had the chance to watch many a classic sports video.  Do you know the line from Field of Dreams?  It ran over and over in my head as I prepared myself for opening night.....

 "If you build it, they will come."             

And come they did!

I don't think any performance will ever be without flaw.  

Despite a few mishaps, it was a night to remember!

Again , I snapped a few unsuspecting members of the audience reveling in the payoff of many long hard hours of work.

 

It was over before we knew it.   I watched as you all paraded out to the musical clapping

and wild applause.   So many proud faces amidst the crowd.

Pleased were the expressions you bore on your happy, tired faces.

Even more pleasing, however, was the chance to see the joy you shared spread through the crowd.

What a treat for them!  This was their first taste of the Zion we have all been experiencing firsthand. 

It made me reflect on President Uchtdorf's comments in the last priesthood session:

"The why‍ inspires our soul.

The what‍ informs, but the why‍ transforms."

It is not what you have done the past few months that has mattered....

but why you have done it.  Yes, the joy is transforming!

DRESS REHEARSALS

WOW!

What a roller coaster ride it has been the past few nights as we have carried out our dress rehearsals.

As the scenes rush by and the band plays on stage........

..... ever wondered what a production of hustle and bustle you find in the back?

The "hair & makeup" room.....  Heidi and her crew have them looking mighty fine!

                                                                    Cute kids in every shape and form.....

                   Family members wishing each other good luck, reveling in the experience together......

I loved this peek into the private dressing room of Kent as he quietly prepares his mind for the upcoming scenes.                    What dedication!

More squeals and giggles from friends.....

While yet others find time to study and ponder in the midst of all the commotion about them.....

The final hurrah has come to an end. 

The lessons have been learned, the bows have been taken, the kinks hopefully worked out.

After the rehearsal tonight, I looked out at all of you dedicated saints.

I couldn't help but notice many a tired face.
Even our ever exuberant pick-a-little ladies seemed exhausted to the core.

The shows are about to begin. 

Now is your time to shine, to share the joy which you have been

able to experience over the past few months with so many others,

to touch lives with those gifts you have been given. 

Might I share with you cast, crew, and orchestra members alike a little shot from tonight.....

.... a few unsuspecting audience members in my view. 

Here they are experiencing for the first time your hard work and dedication.  Do you see the joy in their faces?  Can you imagine the many smiles you will bring over the next few evenings?  Exhausting as it may seem, don't lose heart!  Keep it up!!!

Break a Leg!  It's Showtime!

SO CLOSE

We are pulling it all together now for the final countdown...... LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

 

A few more details here and there as cast members come in their fabulous hair and makeup.... sprinkled with a few costumes here and there.  Get a load of those hats.  Kudos to Maren for all her hard work!

It seems those hats peeked the curiosity of more than one.  Amazing the transformation that occurs when all the details are attended to.  Mom, is that really you?!

All aboard for a great rehearsal today......

... that was mingled with a few pranksters that kept it light-hearted amidst the growing fears and worries for the upcoming show.

I think President Salisbury should try inhaling helium in delivering his next talk.  

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the camera out fast enough for the hombre who

stormed the stage in his sombrero.... me gusta, Doug!!!

We "sardines" in the pit have the privilege of the company of these two lovely ladies holding it all together.  Is there even words to describe the efforts and magnificence these two have created?

I am surprised I was even able to catch this scene shot..... that thundering firecracker scares me every time it goes off, no matter how prepared I am! 

 

We are SO CLOSE to bringing this journey to a climactic end.  You can see, taste, and feel the excitement in the air..... on to dress rehearsals!

THINK SYSTEM

 I am enthralled with the THINK system of Mr. Harold Hill.  I THINK there is much to learn from this and his little boy's band than we realize.









Bear with me for a moment and... "THINK, men, THINK!"





















In this story I'm growing to love more and more each day, I THINK we often forget these boys and their THINK system efforts..... and where it took them, what it helped them accomplish and become.




THINK for a moment of what we could become in our personal lives, our professional lives, our families, our wards, our stakes, worldwide even, if we would take on this same system each day of our lives.


THINK of the individual power and potential of truly looking inward upon the soul.... of being truly committed to His cause.





THINK what could happen if we were so dedicated in shining forth our true inner self as it was intended to be!

THINK of the joy that would come about from becoming truly focused on the good things.... being good, sharing good, living good!

In order to truly be the saints of God He intended us to be...
....it is time to THINK!
                                     Then ACT! 
                                               Then BECOME!




                                                                     What do YOU THINK???

LONG DAY, GOOD TIMES

We were working the clock today!  8:30 to 6:00 ....  an exhausting, exhilerating experience.

Tired voices from the cast, numb backsides from the pit.

Breaktime equals dinnertime!



Remember those words about Zion?  Here it was at it's finest.
      The sacrafice of those putting the meal together was so much appreciated.

                 Serving each other.....

              I walked around after finishing my plate.... and smiled.



                            I smiled at interactions among friends, asking about families.

I smiled as I watched concerned friends address the needs of anothers pain.

 
                                 I smiled as still others shared gardening secrets and frustrations.





                    I smiled yet again in seeing the sincere, smiling faces of interactions among friends.

    

I smiled as small secrets were shared among sweethearts.

Many long, hard hours, yes...                                     

                                                      .... but the moments that truly count intermixed within it all make it a good day.

OUR CONDUCTOR

We have one "groovy" conductor in our midst.



I am not referring to that classy looking feller of celestial height (Martin Salisbury, alias Brad Pitt) who shouts out for tickets on the train..... though he is pretty groovy!


















I'm speaking of Gayle Mansfield.....
        .... and thinking today that she needs some extra credit and attention for all she does.

Though you may have seen a few glimpses her within this record here and there, she now finds herself in a position front and center of cast and orchestra alike to help pull the pieces together. 

Talk about someone who knows the meaning of sacrifice well..... with so much on her plate right now, she still manages to find a smile and time to share with our stake to help make this production come together. 


For your humor, for your memorable phrases, for your arm (long may it wave!), for your time... thank you, Gayle!



Another piece in a very big puzzle that helps to make this picture clearer.  Only wishing I could take time to make each individual know how important they are, no matter how small or big their part in this production together.