Did someone say snow???

 Getting Houston all excited about a few inches of snow then not delivering is just plain mean. We get it so rarely. I spend every winter drooling over everyone stunning winter photography and feeling so left out. Oh, I know it can really suck too. Oh I know it gets old, not just cold. I was born in Wyoming.

 I shot these images last weekend, in our beautiful 70 degree temperatures. Then I spent all week planning my photos for this weekend....the weekend we were guaranteed to get up to 4 inches of snow! OK, I knew it would not be as much as they said, but how many times can they say "Everyone within our viewing area will get some snow"?

 I produce high school theatre (for those of you who are new to my blog) & the school canceled two of our last three performances, costing a huge amount of money. I'm cool with the schools closing, but WHERE'S THE SNOW?????

 For all the photographic plans I had, my son had more! He made a list of thngs he was going to do at this park around the corner from our house. He was going to use a sled, make snow angels, build a snow man, and catch flakes on his tongue.

 So now guess who's trying to comfort whom? There is nothing so humbling as a four year old trying to comfort his middle-aged mom when they missed out on the snow! It really puts things in perspective.

 So while shooting last weekend I played with my fisheye lens,

 and my lensbaby composer lenses,

and my macro lens.

Maybe today I will still take D2 to the park & we will photograph the tiny ice cycles with my fun lenses. Our nephew, Toby & his girlfriend Val with her daughter Jalisa joined us last week & I bet they will join us again...especially since I have butterfly wings for Jalisa to wear!

 I'm not giving up hope just yet. Perhaps the snow will arrive before the warmth returns. Send your snow vibes my way and I will share the results soon!

Brian Stokes Mitchell

 Well, I know to many this is redundant. I've been talking a bit more than usual about getting to meet Brian Stokes Mitchell. I am ashamed to admit it, but before this workshop I was not sure who he was. Yes, I am a theatre teacher. Yes, I keep up with the shows on Broadway (OK, I try to), but the truth is that I am so wrapped up in keeping my head above water in my own immediate life that I don't get out much.

Hence the need for annual educator conventions! Each year at this time all the theatre educators in Texas gather for workshops to help us stay on top of the game. My friend Ruth gave my son an adorable children's alphabet book that uses theatre & Broadway to teach the alphabet. In the back of the book is a cd. One day I put that cd my player & out came this amazing voice! Imagine Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Jim Nabors all in one voice...that's Brian Stokes Mitchell.

 Months later, another friend, Chuck Wagner, talked me into going to his workshop while we were at the annual conference. To say he was inspiring would be an understatement. Brian spoke through performance, teaching the teachers how to teach. He made me feel proud of what I do all day, proud of the arts, and most of all (as subtle as his comments were) proud of my spirituality.

 He spoke of touching lives, being blessed, finding the passion, and recognizing the humanity in everything we do as artists, as teachers, and as human beings.

 He sang.

 Oh how he sang!

And when he was done I was inspired. Because Chuck has an impressive Broadway resume of his own & they know each other, I was blessed one more time before the workshop ended when Chuck introduced me to Brian!

One final note: Does anyone else think he should go on SNL & do an Obama impersonation?

Death Takes a Holiday

      Producing a show...it's like birthing a baby. Months of preparation, lots of labor, areas getting bigger than originally expected, etc.... the result is (hopefully) something beautiful, full of life, and the source of wonderful memories for the rest of our lives. I am blessed to have a great job teaching theatre to high school students. I am equally blessed to have fellow co-workers, friends, who help take the load off. Dan Kutsko is one such friend. He and another friend, Angela Kinman, help each season by directing shows so the students get more opportunities on & behind the stage. WE just opened Death Takes A Holiday, our third show this year. My job involves climbing tall ladders, building sets, hanging lights, coaching acting, sometimes directing, and so much more. In the end, when I sit in the audience and watch the current production I see that "so much more" part. I see all the work the students did, the support from the parents (thanks God for parents!) and the AMAZING creation of the performing arts. The fact that I can reach out & touch lives, not just as a teacher, but as a producer of the theatre, and the blessing of getting to see the joy in the hearts and minds of the patrons who come see our work is such a grand reward. There is no doubt in my mind that, as we work, Death does take a holiday. I see only Life!

 The view from the tech booth is always a great perspective. These crew members know the show well enough to sit & run lights & sound from computerized systems that take lots of training to master.

 Young women in beautiful gowns is always a grand thing to see! Such classic elegance.

 I loved this shot, but I hated that the stage lighting caused a bad blowout of his face, so I did the antiquing to help make it work.

 Many shows have choreography required for the production. We love giving this opportunity to the talented dancers we have in our program.

 Catching the dynamics between actors is an exciting thing to experience. When actors develop a bond that allows them to create one moment between two people so beautifully everyone gets blessed.

 This shot was taken during intermission. The actor was sitting by the lamp on the set behind closed curtains & I grabbed a shot, then as he realized the look I was going for he posed for another shot. This was that other shot, & love the look!

 Ahhhh.... me at work!

 Actors helping with the tech work...the best way to get versatile & insure a successful career in the theatre!

 I just had to play with the look she gave for the shot! Which do you prefer?

 This is going to be one my all time favorite moments! The director, Dan Kutsko, was helping the lead actor get dressed before the opening curtain.

 No show can open without the leadership of an amazing stage management team. The organization required to produce a show is demanding & these are two of the three students who made it work! The other is back in the tech booth while these two are backstage.