Z is for Zorro

Zorro

This photo reminds me of Martin Guerre, but with a Z.
Source: Zorro official site

Originally opened in the West End July 15, 2008, after a very short run in Eastbourne.

Currently: Looks like folks have been talking Broadway and a U.S. tour for a while, but neither have materialized yet.

Music: Gipsy Kings and John Cameron

Lyrics: Stephen Clark

Book: Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson

Basis: 2005 mock biography Zorro: A Novel, by Isabel Allende

Everybody knows about: He has a thing for the letter "Z."

I have thoughts: This was a harder-than-expected choice for the letter Z. There aren't that many plays or musicals that start with "Z", but having to choose between essentially three pretty cool shows was difficult. I finally went with one that seems to have had lots of success everywhere but the U.S.

Here we are at the end of the A to Z challenge! I'm leaving Austin in two days for my next great adventure, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I hope this little trip through the theatrical alphabet has been fun for you.

Y is for You're

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Source: Wikipedia.

Originally opened Off-Broadway March 7, 1967. Transferred to Broadway for a limited run in 1971.

Currently: Check your local community, high school, or college theatre. (An Off-Broadway revival is coming this summer.)

Music & Lyrics: Clark Gesner

Book: John Gordon

Basis: Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts

Everybody knows about: It's a musical about a beloved comic strip. What more do you need to know?

I have thoughts: I've never seen it, although I do hold the Peanuts characters near and dear to my heart, as so many people do. And hey, another musical that Kristin Chenoweth was in! It's hard to argue with that.

Have you seen You're a Good Man? 

X is for Xanadu

Xanadu

Source: Pinterest.

Originally opened on Broadway July 10, 2007.

Currently: Touring the U.S., I think. I'm not really sure about this particular site's reliability.

Music & Lyrics: Jeff Lynne and John Farrar

Book: Douglas Carter Beane

Basis: 1980 film Xanadu

Everybody knows about: Roller skates! 80s! Greek gods!

I have thoughts: Okay, so I obviously chose this one because there aren't that many musicals that begin with X. However, now that I've read the synopsis and see how much the stage version pulls from mythology, I'm really intrigued. Think I'll give the soundtrack a listen.

W is for Wicked

Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz

I haven't seen it yet because I'm
holding out for time travel so
I can see these two in it.
Source: Pinterest.

Originally opened on Broadway October 30, 2003, after an out-of-town tryout in San Francisco.

Currently: Still running on Broadway. Still running in the West End (since September 27, 2006). First Portuguese production currently running in São Paulo until July 31. Touring the U.S. And, if that's not enough, four more shows are scheduled to launch this year.

Music & Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz

Book: Winnie Holzman

Basis: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire

Everybody knows about: Friends will change you for good.

I have thoughts: Is this the place where I tell you I still haven't seen it? I know, that's shocking. I'm not sure how I've managed to miss it so many times. Much like Hamilton, I know about as much as you can know about this show without having actually seen it. (Unlike Hamilton, I don't quite have the soundtrack memorized.) When I asked my friendly not-so-neighborhood (he lives in El Paso; I don't) go-to-with-all-my-theatre-questions guy what his favourite show that he's worked on is, this is the one he said. And I still haven't seen it. Believe me, I mourn this fact regularly.

You know what's great to sing on a bike? "Defying Gravity." I mean, why wouldn't you? I've started reading the book, but haven't finished it because I had to return all my books to the library since I'm changing states in a week.

Have you seen Wicked? Go ahead, tell me what I'm missing. Twist the knife-- I totally deserve it!

V is for Victor and Victoria

Victor/Victoria

Source: Wikipedia.

Originally opened in tryouts in Minneapolis in June 1995, then opened on Broadway October 25, 1995.

Currently: Can't find a thing. Presumably, it's playing in a regional theatre somewhere.

Music: Henry Mancini & Frank Wildhorn

Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse & Frank Wildhorn

Book: Blake Edwards

Basis: 1982 film Victor Victoria

Everybody knows about: Julie Andrews plays a woman playing a man playing a woman.

I have thoughts: I've fairly certain I've seen the movie, but maybe I should see it again just to be sure. I first heard of this show when it went to Houston on tour in 1998; Julie Andrews coming to Texas was a source of excitement for me, although she was inaccessibly far away since I was stuck in Lubbock at the time.

Should I just go all-in and do a Julie Andrews themed A to Z Challenge next year? That seems to be where I'm headed with this one.

U is for Urinetown

Another musical about a revolution.
How many of those am I up to now for
this A to Z challenge?
Source: Theatre Arlington.

Urinetown: The Musical

Originally opened Off-Broadway on May 6, 2001, transferring to Broadway later that year

Currently: I ran across a couple shows while Googling. If you're in Arlington, Texas, or Salem, Oregon, you can go see some actors not pee in your neighborhood.

Music: Mark Hollmann

Lyrics: Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis

Book: Greg Kotis

Everybody knows about: They have to pay to pee.

I have thoughts: I've never seen this one, but it's hard not to appreciate a musical that's one long parody of so many things, including my beloved Les Mis. If it were on near me, I'd probably go see it.

T is for Thoroughly

Thoroughly Modern Millie

In a competition for the world's best
stage directions, this one surely is in the top 10.
Source: Pinterest

Originally opened on Broadway April 18, 2002. (A bunch of these have been April openers! And not a single one has landed on the anniversary date.)

Currently: check your local high school.

Music: Jeanine Tesori

Lyrics: Dick Scanlan

Book: Richard Morris & Dick Scanlan

Basis: 1967 film Thoroughly Modern Millie

Everybody knows about: Small town girl moves to the big city, immediately buys new clothes.

I have thoughts: It's remarkable how many of the actors from yesterday's two shows are also connected to today's show. I've never seen the stage version of this, only the movie with Julie Andrews, but the line that has stuck with me is, "What a wonderfully full life she lives!" And so may we all.

Are you planning to tap dance in a murderous rage today? Could be a fun weekend activity.

S is for Shoulda & Sound

In the whole of the A to Z Challenge, this is my only tie! A couple other letters were close, but I managed to restrain myself from gushing about every show ever made. Amazed? You probably should be.

I was delirously happy this day. That NYC
trip really was the highlight of an otherwise
awful, awful year. They all should have won
Tonys just for making me laugh so hard.

It Shoulda Been You

Originally opened off-Broadway October 4, 2011. Opened on Broadway in April 2015.

Currently: Closed on Broadway but has not been released for other theatres yet.

Music: Barbara Anselmi

Lyrics & Book: Brian Hargrove

Everybody knows about: This was Tyne Daly's first Broadway musical in 25 years.

I have thoughts: Seeing this show on Broadway was amazing. I chose it because of Sierra Boggess, but as is my wont, I came away delighted and with a bunch of other actors to obsessively stalk on Twitter (although I've been too busy lately for much stalking), and in particular Josh Grisetti. He's a lot of fun on social media.

- AND -

My playbill from the tour. Signed by the actors
who played Captain von Trapp, Maria, Lisel,
and the Reverend Mother (Ashley Brown,
who is best known for originating Mary
Poppins on Broadway. Her signature is the one
with the heart).

The Sound of Music

Originally opened on Broadway November 16, 1959.

Currently: touring the U.S.

Music: Richard Rodgers

Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Book: Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

Basis: 1956 German film Die Trapp-Familie and Maria von Trapp's autobiography The Story of the Trapp Family Singers

Everybody knows about: The movie, of course. But it was a stage show first, y'all. It's also the last Rogers & Hammerstein musical, since Mr. Hammerstein passed away only a few months after the show opened on Broadway. He never saw his gorgeous score on the big screen.

I have thoughts: I'm not sure we have time for all the thoughts I have about this show, although I did write some of them down just a few weeks ago after seeing the current tour. This is one of the musicals that competes for the #1 slot on my favourites list (I have about five in rotation, depending on my mood).


I'm guessing most of you know The Sound of Music well and may have never heard of It Shoulda Been You. Let's hear what you think!

R is for Rent

Rent

Source: Wikipedia.

Opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, after a couple off-Broadway stints interspersed with workshops

Currently: The 20th anniversary U.S. tour is planned for later this year.

Music, Lyrics & Book: Jonathan Larson

Basis: La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini

Everybody knows about: 525,600 minutes.

I have thoughts: Watching the movie has been on my to-do list for so long that I keep thinking I've done it. I really hope the tour comes to a theatre near me.

Do you think there should be a leap year version of "Seasons of Love"? (It comes to 527,040 minutes.)

Q us for Q

Avenue Q

Source: Wikipedia

Opened on Broadway July 31, 2003, after a short off-Broadway run

Currently: Off-Broadway

Music & Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx

Book: Jeff Whitty

Everybody knows about: Just because there are puppets doesn't mean this musical is for kids.

I have thoughts: I've seen may references to this show but never the show itself. I think I would probably see it if I were in the right mood--at first glance it's not my kind of thing, but on the other hand I've seen enough sweary and racy musicals that one more probably wouldn't kill me.

P is for Phantom

Hadley!Raoul is my favourite thing about the 25th
anniversary. Yes, even more than Ramin's Phantom.
Source: Pinterest.

Phantom of the Opera

Originally opened in the West End on October 9, 1986

Currently: Still in the West End, Broadway's longest-running musical, touring the U.S., and in five other cities worldwide.

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics: Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe (additional)

Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Stilgoe

Basis: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, by Gaston Leroux

Everybody knows about: He wears that mask for a reason.

I have thoughts: I'm going to see the tour in three weeks' time! Not only me, but also my 83-year-old grandmother, who has never seen Phantom in her life. I'm so excited to share this with her. I tweeted the tour's Phantom, Christine, and Raoul on the day I bought the tickets to share my enthusiasm, and Katie Travis (Christine) was kind enough to respond with a hello for my grandma. Cannot. Wait. (Also: It may be an unpopular opinion, but I'm not wild about Sarah Brightman. I don't own the original cast version for that reason.)

Have you seen any versions of Phantom? What's your favourite part?

O is for Our

Source: Wikipedia.

Our Town

Originally opened in New Jersey January 22, 1938, moving to Broadway that same year.

Currently: Check with your local high school

Written by: Thornton Wilder

Everybody knows about: The movie has a very different ending than the play.

I have thoughts: As much as I like this show, I'm not sure I could see it live any time soon. The ending is too much. It is, however, Cory Matthews' favourite play.

Have you ever seen Our Town?

N is for Next

Somewhere, there has to be a pic of
shirtless Aaron Tveit from this show.
But this one works, too.
Also, yes, this is the second time in the
A to Z Challenge that I've shared a pic
of Aaron Tveit.
Source: Pinterest.

Next to Normal

Originally opened on Broadway April 15, 2009, after a short off-Broadway run

Currently: In regional theatres.

Music: Tom Kitt

Lyrics & Book : Brian Yorkey

Everybody knows about: I'm not sure that everybody knows about this show, which is a shame.

I have thoughts: This show is basically my life anthem right now. I went months last year during which I basically couldn't get out of bed without turning the soundtrack on. Some days I still feel like that. Good thing "Just Another Day" is the first song. Since it is a tremendously sweary musical, I'll repeat my usual warnings that I'm not to be held responsible if you choose to investigate and you get offended. I did warn you! (My favourite song, "Light," contains no swearing and is a good one if you just need a pick-me-up.)

M is for Much

Source: Wikipedia

Much Ado About Nothing

Originally opened sometime around 1600.

Currently: If you're very very lucky, it's playing near you. Go see it! (And if you're not that lucky, check out the fantastic 1993 Kenneth Branagh movie or the equally brilliant 2012 Joss Whedon version. Just don't ask me to choose between them.)

Written by: Shakespeare.

Everyone knows about: They're tricked into falling in love. As well they should be.

I have thoughts: This is, without a doubt, far and above all else, my favourite play. I first saw the Branagh version when I was 15, which was the beginning of my lifelong crush on Robert Sean Leonard, even though I'd choose to be Beatrice over Hero any day. Also, Claudio is an idiot, no matter who is playing him.

Have you seen Much Ado? Actually, if you haven't, don't bother answering. Just pick a movie version and watch it. Now.

L is for Les

Shirtless Valjean is my favourite
Valjean.

Les Misérables

Originally opened in the West End October 8, 1985 (five years after the French production opened).

Currently: Still in the West End. On its second Broadway revival. Also in Japan, Korea, Manila, Singapore, and Spain.

Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg

Lyrics: Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (French lyrics); Herbert Kretzmer (English adaptation)

Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Trevor Nunn, and John Caird (adaptation)

Basis: 1862 novel by Victor Hugo

Everybody knows about: All this for a loaf of bread? (Yes, that's really a Les Mis reference.)

I have thoughts: You must be new here. Well. I saw the Broadway version last summer, and had too many things to say for just one post. Then there's the 2012 movie version, and Chadwick's keen ability to sing all the songs. And that's not even all of them. Suffice to say, I can't stop hearing the people sing.

You don't have to love this musical to be my friend. I'm totally okay with you hating Les Mis, if you like. Just tell me this: what do you think they were smoking when they chose Russell Crowe as Javert for the movie?

K is for Kinky

My signed playbill from the tour stop in
Austin. The signature next to the K is
J. Harrison Ghee, the amazing Lola in
the current tour cast. In addition to being
a lovely person who is so kind to crazed
fans, he's also definitely worth a follow on
Instagram.

Kinky Boots

Originally opened in Chicago October 2, 2012, then on Broadway April 4, 2013. (The movie predates the musical.)

Currently: Still on Broadway. Also in the West End, Toronto, Melbourne, and touring the U.S.

Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper

Book: Harvey Fierstein

Basis: 2005 film Kinky Boots

Everyone knows about: Amazing. Red. Boots.

I have thoughts: Wow, this is an amazing show. The tour cast that I saw was fabulous, but I'd give a lot to get to see the original London cast (Killian Donnelly, who's been in many things I like, plus has basically played every role in Les Mis, is the original West End Charlie). Or to go back in time a couple months and see Wayne Brady on Broadway. Eventually I'll get the cast album, because it's that good. Never saw the movie version, though. And I was surprised to find out this didn't originate in the West End. All this time I've presumed it did.

Have you seen Kinky Boots? Don't you want to get your hands on those amazing boots?

J is for Jersey

Source:@JerseyBoysInfo's twitter feed

Jersey Boys

Originally opened on Broadway November 6, 2005, after a successful short run in San Diego

Currently: Still going strong on Broadway. Also in the West End, Vegas, touring the US, and touring the UK. So, see it in a whole bunch of places.

Music: Bob Gaudio

Lyrics: Bob Crewe

Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice

Basis: The Four Seasons' songs

Everybody knows about: It's a movie now.

I have thoughts: I really don't. This is one I'd go see if I had free tickets. I've seen about 10 minutes of the movie.

Have you seen any version of Jersey Boys? Did you like it?

I is for Importance

Source: Wikipedia

The Importance of Being Earnest

Originally opened in London February 14, 1895.

Currently: in the public domain. Possibly at a theatre near you.

Book: Oscar Wilde

Everybody knows about: “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.”

I have thoughts: I only just saw this last summer. I don't know how I went so long without having ever seen it. It's a delight.

Have you seen Earnest? Did you laugh a lot?

H is for Hamilton

I wonder how much one of these
runs on eBay?
Source: Wikipedia.

Hamilton

Opened Off-Broadway January 20, 2015 and on Broadway August 6, 2015.

Currently: There's like a nine-month wait for tickets. It's not going away any time soon.

Music, Lyrics, & Book: Known genius Lin-Manuel Miranda

Basis: Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow

Everybody knows about: It's a hip-hop musical about the 10-dollar Founding Father. He's not throwing away his shot.

I have thoughts: The sooner this show goes on tour, the better. (Most people I know are keen to see the original Broadway cast while they're all still originally casting. That's less important to me; I just want to see it.) In the meantime, let's hear that cast album again.

G is for Grease

Okay, so the complaints about Aaron Tveit looking
about 15 years too old to be Danny Zuko are
justified. But he's still easy on the eyes and the ears.
Source: Grease Live Facebook page.

Grease

Originally opened Off-Broadway February 14, 1972

Currently: Recovering from Grease Live

Music, Lyrics, & Book: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey

Everybody knows about: The drag race scene in the movie, which is not in the stage version, but inexplicably made it into Grease Live.

I have thoughts: I've seen the school version live, but never the entire stage version, although if all one hears is true, even the regular stage version now incorporates many of the movie elements. Maybe I'll see it someday. In the meantime, whenever any of my friends tell me how excited they are to watch the movie with their young kids, I shriek, "No!!" It's not as clean as you remember, y'all.

F is for Fiddler

Source: Wikipedia

Fiddler on the Roof

Originally opened on Broadway September 22, 1964

Currently: The fifth Broadway revival opened December 20. The Australian tour just opened in Sydney last month.

Music: Jerry Bock

Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick

Book: Joseph Stein

Basis: Tevye and his Daughters, Sholem Aleichem

Everybody knows about: It's referenced so often in pop culture it's probably easier to say what everyone doesn't know, but I'm gonna go with "Sunrise, Sunset."

I have thoughts: This was the first musical I ever heard of. My mother has a Fiddler music box that plays "Tradition," and I think she must have also owned a cast album from the show, because I knew it very well long before I even knew what musicals were. I've never asked her, but I would be unsurprised to hear that this is my mother's favourite musical. As for me-- it's definitely in the top five. I love this show so much.

Have you seen Fiddler? Any idea why that guy insists on hanging out on Tevye's roof?

E is for Evita

Source: Wikipedia.

Evita

Opened in the West End June 21, 1978

Currently: Nothing since a limited West End run in 2014. Regional theatres?

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics: Tim Rice

Everybody knows about: Just stop crying, Argentina.

I have thoughts: Have I seen it? No. Would I see it? If it were on stage near me, probably. Did I see the 1996 movie? No. Do I think habitually casting non-Hispanic actors in this show is a dubious practise that merits a bit more critical thought from casting directors? I do.

Have you seen Evita? What do you think about all the crying in Argentina?

D is for Doubt

Doubt

Originally opened Off-Broadway November 23, 2004

Currently: Community and regional theatres, high schools, and classrooms, most likely

Book: John Patrick Shanley

Everybody knows about: Meryl Streep was in the movie, because of course she was.

I have thoughts: I read this in an introductory theatre class in college. Haven't seen it, don't really need to. I like that it inspires thought and discussion.

Have you seen Doubt? Who do you think is right?

C is for Cyrano

Source: Wikipedia

Cyrano de Bergerac

Premiered in 1897 in Paris. The English-language version opened on Broadway in 1923.

Currently: In the U.S., the play is in the public domain. Check a theatre near you.

Book: Edmond Rostand

Everybody knows about: Cyrano had a huge nose.

I have thoughts: I saw a friend in this show a little over a year ago, and there was one moment that I thought was incredibly sad and was getting all misty. Meanwhile, the rest of the audience was laughing, and I still don't know what funny thing was happening then. When I asked my friend about it later, he said there's never any telling how an audience will react to anything. Anyway, for a sad show it's quite delightful.

Have you seen Cyrano?

B is for Billy

Source: Wikipedia.

Billy Elliot

Originally opened in the West End on May 11, 2005 (the movie preceded the stage show)

Currently: playing in the West End (it's closing next week) and touring the UK

Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Lee Hall
Book: Lee Hall

Everybody knows about: He takes ballet in secret and his family's not happy when they find out. (At least, I hope everyone knows that. It's kind of the basic plot.)

I have thoughts: Not a lot of thoughts, although I do remember the year it ran away with all the well-earned Tonys. I'd like to see this show but wouldn't go out of my way to do so. Sooner or later a high school near me has to take it on, right? I haven't seen the movie, either.

Have you seen the show? What did you think?

A is for Annie

Source: Wikipedia.

Annie

Originally opened on Broadway April 21, 1977

Currently: touring the U.S.

Music: Charles Strouse
Lyrics: Martin Charnin
Book: Thomas Meehan

Everyone knows about: Well, just pick anything, really. It's been made into a movie twice, after all. But if I were to pinpoint a most famous moment, it's probably "Tomorrow."

I have thoughts: Yes, I do. I like it better on stage than as a movie, although in a list of my favourite shows I doubt it would reach the top 20. I saw the current tour (although some of the actors have changed) when it came through Austin a year ago.

Do you like Annie? Favourite song? Favourite actor? Not your thing?

#AtoZChallenge 2016

I've gone back and forth on doing the A to Z Challenge at least once a day, especially since I'm so far behind on blogging anyway. And because I was having trouble thinking of a theme. But, hello, what has the spare time (and cash) of the last year of my life been about?

So! Beginning tomorrow, I do a theatrically themed A to Z for the month of April (Sundays excluded). Shows I like, shows I don't like, shows I've seen, shows I plan to see, shows I can happily live without seeing. These aren't going to be reviews or value judgement, just basic show facts for my own amusement. And possibly yours, too.

Here we go! Tomorrow.

Z is for Zuzu

And here we are, two years later, finally at the end of the 2014 A to Z Challenge. The new challenge starts April 1-- are you in?

Zuzu's Petals: Our Wonderful Life with God, Billy Wilson

So, full disclosure: I know the author. I dog-sat for him a few times (I loved that dog). And one of the reasons I like this book is that I can read it in his voice. However, that doesn't mean other people can't also enjoy it. It's fantastic.

Y is for Your

Whaddya know, I'm going to finish the 2014 A to Z Challenge series before the 2016 challenge starts.

Image source: Goodreads

Your Green Abode: A Practical Guide to a Sustainable Home, Tara Rae Miner

So, this one wins just because I like it better than the other Y-book on my list. Not a great recommendation, I know. In terms of green suggestions, it was just meh. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing I can do in a rental unit that I don't already do.

X is for Generation X

If I've learned nothing from scouring the end of the alphabet for books I like, it's this: I should read more X-Men. Or, you know, any X-Men at all.

Image source: Goodreads

Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner, Jen Lancaster

I knew I could find an X-related book somewhere. Apparently this book is not as enjoyable if you've read her blog, but I haven't, so I laughed a lot.

W is for What

Almost there... finishing off the 2014 A to Z Challenge before the 2016 version starts.

My favourite W book:

Image source: Goodreads

What's Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption, Rachel Botson and Roo Rogers

Reading this book was the start of my interest in the sharing economy. Also what got me started as an AirBnB host (I'm not one any longer, but that was a fun couple of years).

Reading Challenge Update: February 2016

Here's what happened in my reading challenges in February. Links are to Goodreads, where all my reviews are written.

Books I read in February.

I Love Libraries Challenge (12/24 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (I thought that I owned this one, but when I went looking I couldn't find it on my shelves. So apparently it was a library book.)
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You're So Tired, Till Roenneberg
Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles, David Ulin

Read it Again, Sam (1/4 books so far)

None this month! At least, none that I remember.

Woman Challenge (7/20 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

Mount TBR Challenge (2/12 books so far)

Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

Goodreads Challenge (14/100 books so far)

Mudhouse Sabbath, Lauren F Winner
Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, Laura Vanderkam
Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You're So Tired, Till Roenneberg
Sidewalking: Coming to Terms with Los Angeles, David Ulin
Make It Last: Prolonging + Preserving the Things We Love, Raleigh Briggs
Priscilla the Great, Sybil Nelson

What did you read in February? What am I missing out on?

Odd, But Charming

In a shocking turn of events, I went to the theatre last week. The Sound of Music tour came through Austin, I'm a season ticket holder as well as a huge fan of the musical, so away I went.

From the top (if you can even see the one at
the top): Ben Davis (Captain von Trapp),
Ashley Brown (Mother Abbess), Paige
Silvester (Liesl), Kerstin Anderson (Maria).

When the cast for the tour was announced last summer, and I saw Ashley Brown was going to be Mother Abbess, I did the happiest of happy dances around my living room, and for good reason. Her "Climb Every Mountain" may be the most incredible thing I've ever heard in person. I've been walking about six inches off the ground ever since I met her at the stage door last week. (Her signature is the one with the heart next to it.) The rest of the cast was already outside and we were chatting a bit before she came out, and when I saw her coming I could feel the manic grin stretching across my face. To her credit, she didn't run away, although I did say, "Sorry, I know this face I'm making is kind of frightening."

So! Fans of the movie The Sound of Music tend, at least in my experience, to not be excited about the stage version. First of all, without the amazing Julie Andrews on the stage, some folks just have a hard time with the show-- a difficulty that I agree is hard to overcome. Secondly, the songs are in a different order on stage, and many of the beloved moments in the show--the outing to the mountain, the dance in the gazebo, the puppet show--are missing from the stage show, as is the song "I Have Confidence" (that last one's not a great loss, to my way of thinking, but I acknowledge the song has some fans).

And I readily admit that the first time I saw The Sound of Music live on stage I thought, "What is this nonsense?" But it has grown on me, so much that I now lament one key song that was cut from the movie version: "No Way to Stop It" (link is to the Sound of Music Live version; I'm not a fan of that show as a whole but Laura Benanti (Elsa), Christian Borle (!) (Max), and Stephen Moyer (Captain von Trapp) absolutely nail this song). Why does this song matter? Because this gives much more of a look at the irreconcilable differences between the Captain and Elsa. Rather than her being a schemer who convinces Maria to leave and him being the jerk who essentially says, "Oops, well, fell in love with the nanny so you'll have to go", this song shows why they diverge so sharply. This is when they know it will never work. Plus, this song also makes it obvious how much of a turnaround Max goes through when he sacrifices himself for the von Trapps later (another scene that Stephen Moyer and Christian Borle absolutely tore apart in Sound of Music Live. I seriously only watch that version to fast-forward to all of Christian Borle's scenes).

BTW, today's post title is one of Max's lines in the stage show. Right before he turns into an elitist prig for about three minutes.

Anyway. If your fan-ness of The Sound of Music only extends to watching the movie, that's totally valid. However, if you want to take your obsession to the next level, 1) See the stage show; 2) Read Maria Trapp's book upon which it's all based; and for the extra-obsessed, 3) Check out Charmian Carr's book, Forever Liesl, or any of the other books written by the Trapp family.

Now, I have to go find a mountain to climb. Ashley Brown told me to.

V is for Velvet

With any luck, I'll finally finish 2014's A to Z Challenge in time for 2016's to begin.

So, my favourite book that begins with V:

Image source: Goodreads.

Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell

I read this book so long ago I can't remember why I gave it four stars on Goodreads, but you know, the pickins are indeed slim at the end of the alphabet, so it didn't have a lot of competition. I do know Rob Bell is a talented communicator, so I'm not surprised I gave it such a high rating.

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Chadwick was not a fan of Les Misérables. He didn't hate it, but he didn't eat, sleep, and breathe musicals like I do, so he tolerated my love for Les Mis in the same way that I smiled and nodded when he would talk about The Walking Dead.

Not a fan, occasional dressing up
as Enjolras notwithstanding.

But. He could tear up the music. He could sing "The Confrontation" (either part), usually as a parody, but geez, could he ever sing it. He also did a fairly good "I Dreamed a Dream." And, as you may have guessed, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."

The unfortunate side of this is that it was Nick Jonas' Marius in the 25th anniversary concert that really got Chadwick interested in learning this song-- I mean, we owned the original cast album with Michael Ball, for goodness' sake, but no, he had to get interested because of Nick Jonas. Heaven help me, some days.

Anyway. "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" ended up being one of Chadwick's favourite songs. That's not something I tell people very often, since it's a level of apropos foreshadowing that will turn your brain inside out if you think about it too much. (And for some reason, it upsets other people a lot more than it does me. I guess that's because I have a long list of things to be upset about.)

So it's a shame he missed out on seeing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" on Broadway, because wow, would he have loved it. At the end of "Turning," the ladies all left candles on the stage, and I thought, "What? How are they going to get those off the stage? Wait, maybe the Barricade Boys..." And you can see it for yourself (well, two of them, anyway) in the clip below. The two you can see behind Marius (played by Chris McCarrell) are Wallace Smith as Enjolras and Jason Forbach as Feuilly, and I hope to see all three of them again at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, I stalk them all on Twitter.




I can't do anything about the empty chair in my house where my Chadwick will sing no more. But filling my life with words and songs that make my tomorrows easier is a thing that I can do.

As the Black Hole Opens Wide

I've considered and rejected nearly every cliche in the English language for the beginning of this post. So, let's just start without one.

One day, I went to sleep worried about my grad class the next day, because I was already behind and still had some homework to do without a lot of time to do it. When I woke up the next day, class mattered a lot less.

I wish I could say I've learned something profound about life in the year since. I have learned that I'm surrounded by the best people on the planet (although I suspected that already). 

No, instead I've taken refuge in the Next to Normal soundtrack, which I've made my life anthem. (Usual warning about this being a very sweary musical and you not blaming me if you choose to listen anyway.) Today's post title is from "I've Been," which also includes maybe the profound truth I've had plenty of time to think over: "I've never had to face the world without her by my side." 

I have faced the world a bit, as much as I can, as much as I can see of it over that aforementioned amazing group of people. It's a much less fun place than it was a year and a day ago.

U is for Uglies

Still making my bookish way through the end of the alphabet to finish my long-abandoned A to Z Challenge series. My favourite book that starts with U is:

Image source: Goodreads.

Uglies, Scott Westerfeld

Great opener to a series; sad to say, the remaining books did not live up to the promise of this one. However, you could absolutely read this one on its own. Lovely world-building, lots of action, plenty of inner conflict for the main character. Love it.

Mission: Collaborate

One of my goals for 2016 is to do some writing outside my normal genres, just to mix it up and stretch those muscles a bit. So for the last few weeks, I chipped away slowly at a thing I would never have come up with on my own.

I don't want to give too much away, since it's not even my story, so let's start at the very beginning: about six months ago, recurring Cheeky guest blogger Bill sent me a prompt for a collaborative story he's working on, which I stuck in a file and immediately forgot about. About two months ago, he circled back and asked if I had written anything yet. Ooops!

Not here.

So I did. It's sci-fi, set not on Earth, and is the kind of story I love to read and watch but have never written myself, so I was a bit scared and a lot stymied about how to begin. As so often happens, an idea arrived while I was out running. (I mean, what else do I have to think about for four miles?) I started writing with that idea in mind, managed a half dozen pages, and sent it back last week in the hopes that it jibes at least a little bit with the rest of the project.

I'm totally flattered that anyone would voluntarily ask me to collaborate on a writing project. Bill & I first met when we were in the same Creative Writing class at UT (I used to crash into him with my backpack a lot-- I'm not that great at spatial awareness) and we've been friends ever since, so for someone to have read as much of my writing as he has and still want to read more of it is super-friendly.

So! One goal, well underway, with a little help from my friends. I may write some more sci-fi/fantasy just for fun and to continue to work writing muscles that haven't seen a lot of action.

What have you done to stretch lately?

Repost: Six Years a Marathoner

It's been six years. On Saturday, February 13, 2010, I sat in a hotel room in downtown Austin and wrote this post. I have a plan for marathon #2, but it won't be until 2017. That's a long time between marathons.

Chadwick at the 2015
Austin Half.

Meanwhile, the 25th Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is happening tomorrow, and I'm not running. However, since the race course passes directly in front of my house, I will be spectating (with orange slices at the ready--by gum, I learned from my own marathon experience). I volunteered in the info booth yesterday afternoon, as has become my tradition. I love race weekend in Austin, so much, and there is an extra tug at my heart when it comes and goes without me running it. There's an extra-extra tug this year, since the Austin Half was Chadwick's last race.

His last tweet, posted after he withdrew from the race.
He immediately headed to cheer me over the
South 1st Street bridge. He wasn't fine,
but we didn't know that yet.

It's cool to me that the anniversary of my first marathon lands on the exact same day this year-- Sunday, February 14. It will be even cooler once I get to experience marathon #2. Soon, I hope.

---------------------------------------------
On the Eve of Becoming a Marathoner

So, I've been composing this little entry in my head for a while; ever since I began my taper for the marathon which, as I write this, is just over 18 hours away. (Oh. My. Word.)

My running career began when I was 12 and thought that running track would be a fun way to hang out with my friends. (I was right about that.) Even then, there was no one who didn't know that I was easily the slowest person on the team. To put it another way, the fast people would be finishing the 800 just as I was entering the first curve of my second lap. And yet... and yet, those same people were still standing near to cheer in the slow people as we finished. Some of my coaches had a hard time believing that anyone could run that slowly, but again, I rarely heard anything but encouragement.

(In gym class, my classmates took pains to tell me that I run like a duck. And quack behind me in the halls for my entire freshman year. Thanks, guys.)

Since then, I had an on-again, off-again relationship with running until three years ago. I took it up again, found that I liked it, and then (and here is the secret to my sticking with it) we joined the West Texas Running Club. The club puts on monthly, totally-non-threatening, gives-you-something-to-train-for races. I love it.

Anyway. That was all background to the sappy part. I never would have stuck with this, I never would have striven for improvement, I certainly never would have thought about running a marathon without all the support and encouragement I've received from all sides. Running really is a non-team team sport, and I have a GINORMOUS number of teammates.

After the 2010 Austin
Marathon.

Chad got me into this mess in the first place. There are many people in the running club who are so encouraging, even (especially!) when they finish 30 minutes ahead of me. We've been blessed beyond measure by Shannon & Wendy's friendship; it calmed my nerves considerably to see a familiar face at our first race. (And Shannon graciously refrained from saying "I told you so" after I went out MUCH too fast only 10 minutes after he warned me not to.)

There are other runners at South Plains and at work who have helped with advice and encouragement. But I readily admit to being even more uplifted by non-runners, mostly on Facebook, who make me feel like an Olympic athlete when all I've done is a slow 3-miler. Especially so are the people who have said I'm an inspiration. And so this uber-slow, runs-like-a-duck girl has become a mostly-slow, still-runs-like-a-duck running girl, who gets by with a little help from her friends.

I couldn't have done it without your help. And so, on the eve of becoming a Marathoner, I say thank you. Rest assured that during the long miles tomorrow, I will be thinking of you. And thanking God for you.

Got Dirt?

In the years that I've been composting, I've had a terrible sense of timing.

Growing my tomatoes in my own
compost. The squash was a volunteer--
one of the hazards of using my own
compost is that sometimes
 surprise plants turn up.

I've never had enough dirt when it comes time to plant stuff, only to have too-full compost bins when it's not quite time to plant but I'm still producing veggie peelings that need to go somewhere on a daily basis (like now). It's probably time for a good churn, maybe to get some of the ready-to-go compost into a pot or two for when it's time to plant (which, in Austin, is only a few weeks from now). Maybe this time I'll have enough dirt to plant in without having to work around the not-yet-crumbly bits.

However! Supposing you don't yet have a giant bin of dirt that used to be old veggies, I'm here to help you out. I started out with a large plant pot on the balcony and some shredded paper, this list of things that are compostable, plus a love for vegetables. You need to keep a good mix of green and brown (brown is anything that used to be a tree, green is anything from other kinds of plants), so toss in more shredded paper or dry leaves every time you put in a pile of vegetable scraps.

Our original compost bin. It's since
been replaced by successive larger
bins, most recently a giant trash can.
I plant things in this one now.

If you're lucky enough to have a yard to do this in, but still want to keep your compost in a container, punch a couple of holes in the bottom. This will allow drainage, which is great, and also allows any earthworms and other beneficial creepy-crawlies to get inside, have a snack, and process your old veggies with their highly efficient digestive tracts. Check out resources from Planet Natural and Compost Guide for more expert-level tips than I have--while I feel pretty successful in my composting, I mostly just make it up as I go along and what's worked for me may be disastrous for you.

One final thing--keep a lid on it. You don't want all the neighbourhood squirrels, dogs, raccoons, and other wildlife coming by for a digging spree. When we started composting, we lived on the third floor with no nearby trees, so it wasn't worth it for even squirrels to come round for a visit, but since I've been living in a duplex we've been visited by pretty much everything. Remove temptation by covering your compost.

Do you compost? What do you use it for?

Challenger: Thirty Years

The anniversary of Challenger has come and gone, and I couldn't bring myself to comment on the actual anniversary, but I do have Thoughts. (By some miracle, these are different thoughts than the ones I had on the 25th anniversary.)

Still my favourite photo of the crew. Source: NASA.gov.

As I made my way through higher education, and especially in a technical communication program, Challenger came up over and over again. Y'all, it would have been so easy to not lose those astronauts. So easy. There were memos, there were warnings, there were impassioned pleas around NASA in the weeks leading up to the launch. And they went unheeded. Among the many tragedies of that day stands this one: People in the place to make decisions took their eyes off the ball for a few seconds too long. And this is the price that was paid.

I didn't know that as a 7-year-old on that January day. In the weeks and months that followed I mourned the lost astronauts with a grief that I couldn't share and wouldn't talk about (haha, not a lot has changed for me there--even my sister has to read my blog to find out what I'm thinking). Eventually, I named a couple of cats after Judith Resnik & Christa McAuliffe. Those cats both lived happy lives, eventually dying from natural causes, although they never went to space. Not quite as monumental as having a high school named after you, I suppose, but they were very cute cats.

Incidentally, it's so painfully obvious who remembers Challenger and who doesn't when it comes up in a classroom. There's a visible flinch from those who remember it. As one of them, I'm amazed every time at our collective reaction. So many national tragedies have come and gone since then, and yet even the word produces a physical reaction. I imagine that's a reflection of how unprepared we were, in 1986, for something to go horribly wrong. And maybe it's the fact that so many things have gone wrong since that makes us react. Maybe it's the knowledge that we haven't learned so much, after all.