CBC Concert Canceled Tonight

Columbia Basin College has canceled this evening's choral and orchestra concert due to the horrible weather. Too bad, but maybe they will reschedule for a time when I can go!

Hey, you early birds...

If you will be up early tomorrow, be sure to watch Good Morning Northwest on KVEW, where Reg, Abby, Justin and I will be singing Christmas songs for your enjoyment. We're promoting the Mastersingers concert coming up on December 17 and 18 - it's a Big Band Christmas with the Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestra and vocal soloists Carisa Simpson and Jeremy Irland. We're getting to the TV station at 5am tomorrow morning, so please make it worth it and let us know you watched!

Another Closing, Another Opening

So South Pacific is finally over, and now we can all relax and... what? Oh, yeah. This weekend is "A Mid-Columbia Christmas" with the Mid-Columbia Symphony - I am singing "O holy night" and Abigail Wright will be singing "Ave Maria," and the Mastersingers and children's chorus will be singing lots of Christmas carols, and there is an audience sing-along too, so we'll all get to share in the fun. Oh, yeah, and the following weekend is the Oratorio Chorus's presentation of Handel's Messiah, with Abigail and me again as soloists. Then we have a weekend off of performing to go see Mid-Columbia Ballet's Nutcracker and Tri-Cities Prep's A Christmas Carol. And wait, there's more! Get a final dose of pre-holiday cheer in a Big Band Christmas concert with the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers and Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestra. 'Tis the season!

South Pacific Opens Tonight!

It's finally here! Come see South Pacific at Richland High School, tonight at 7pm, Friday or Saturday at 8pm or Sunday at 2pm. So much fun, and the leads are outstanding!

Bell, Book and Candle

I saw Bell, Book and Candle with Samgela and Robbie Heegel last night. Wonderful job by all, although of course the live cat is going to be an upstager - good thing it was only onstage for a few moments! As a Players board member, I was pleased to see how much the audience loved the show - everyone should go see it!

Today we kick off South Pacific production week with a double-run rehearsal, so if you see any of the cast or crew members out and about, give them a hug.

Jeff and Stevie and Abby and Korry

I'm listening to the Jeff and Stevie Radio Show (every Saturday morning at 10am on AM610), featuring the stars of the upcoming RLOC production of South Pacific, Abby Walter ("Nellie") and Korry Watkins ("Billis"). Good discussion! The show opens Wednesday - come see it!

1984

Heather Manley and I saw CBC's production of "1984" tonight and it was CREEPY. Needless to say Heather emitted a really loud "What the HECK?!" a few times and found things to laugh at that no one else caught. She's the most fun to see a show with. It was a gripping production, and there was one point where Heather and I were both cringing in horror, hiding our eyes behind our hands. If you know the show, you know what part that was. Most impressive was Travis Franks as O'Brien, the bad guy - just creepy. We were also trying to figure out where we had seen Jennifer Reed before - she stood out as the Cockney landlady. A fascinating and disturbing play, and now I need to go watch some funny dog videos on youtube so I can sleep.

Witches, Mr. Darcy and Big Brother

There is so much going on this weekend, you might possibly get to half of it. Richland Players continues "Bell, Book and Candle," you know, the one that the TV show "Bewitched" was based on - I saw a little bit of it last weekend while I was house managing, and if you never thought you'd see Jerry Bush as a romantic lead, you've got to see this performance! It's a very funny show. Also, there is a real cat on stage. Bring your Benedryl. Just kidding. Also, Murphy's set is great! Can't wait to see the show for real tomorrow.

Hanford High School's advanced drama is doing Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." I coached one of the students last week - Mr. Leggett's program has some amazing talent! This is the last weekend, so go to this one if you can, and catch the others next weekend.

And I JUST found out that CBC is doing George Orwell's "1984" - how did I miss hearing about this? Oh, yeah, I was at South Pacific rehearsal. But you would think Ginny would have mentioned it to us!

Sunday afternoon there is a great opportunity to get your holiday music fix with the Columbia Chorale in their winter concert. It's early but we all know you've started humming "O holy night" in the shower. It's OK.

Last but not least, if you haven't been to Jokers Comedy Club to see "Y B Stag" perform their improv show, let me tell you sir, you are missing out. You can join them every Friday night for fun audience-participatory laughs before the stand-up performers come on. And if you know Robbie Heegel, ask him for free tickets.

Oh, yeah, and don't forget to get yourself to auditions for "Almost, Maine" on Sunday and Monday. Described by the publisher as a "delightful midwinter night's dream," it's a romantic comedy with a cast of 4, and it will be directed by the wonderful Joyce Bean.