Perpetual Anticipation...

is neither of the songs I am recording. I can't do rounds. I'm just one girl

But tomorrow is the first day of classes, which makes me super excited! I do believe that momentous days change your life, and to officially be a student at a new school for the first time is something I find daunting, but a challenge I embrace. Life takes you in a lot of directions, but I'm taking it with optimism. Which leads to song 1.

The cutest little ditty that you ever did hear. Annie was my first dream role. I was 6, and we did this thing called the Talent Show at day camp (talent show is a misnomer, since every age group gets assigned a musical number and works on it in drama class, and that's the whole show). Anyway, I was the second youngest group and we were doing It's The Hard Knock Life. (i actually tell this story a lot, as it's one of my entries into theatre, which as we know, means a lot to me now). We had a brief audition, and...I GOT ANNIE (if you get that pun I love you!).
My breakout role. At 6, it was like the world had come into place. I sang the crap out of it, kicked so hard at "steada kisses, we get KICKED" that my slipper fell off into the audience, and understood being onstage for the first time. it was EXHILARATING!

So, as my life's changing, I love looking back on that first musical, and how much simple joy it still gives me. I'm an adult now, but Annie's pure optimism is something I'll keep forever, especially as I foray into new unknown adventures.





The next one is not as good, and very quirky, and I crack a lot. Speaking of which, this character is ON SOMETHING. But we still love her. and we love Sutton!
This song, oddly enough, does the same thing as "Tomorrow" because it is optimism in the face of no hope. But the context makes all the difference. Annie wants a better day where she's not poor and an orphan. Fiona wants to not be stuck in a tower alone, and she wants her instant gratification fairytale ending NOW! I MEAN IT! She's a funny one.

I had the lyrics up on screen, which is why I come in close a lot. deal with it. i'm waiting for my life to start!
and I'm totally dehydrated. Sorry! And i'm not warmed up. and I don't actually tear books. cause I forgot about that part. And I forget how the song goes a few times. Oh well, it's the effort that counts.
oh, and really sorry bout that crack on the WAITIIING.
at least I nailed that toDAY!

Something's (finally) Coming!

with a good two shows, amazing previews, good dreams, good food, great friends, the house to myself, and life just being good, this song seemed poignant

Leonard Bernstein and his key changes! Stephen Sondheim and his bouncy lyrics! It took about 20 takes to get this right, and even then, it wasn't till after that I was like "it's windy out here, might this be a problem?"

It's a tad belty, but I was excited! Not sure if the neighbors are asleep, or just can't hear me. I'm sure the people across the street were about ready to throw eggs.

I love this song cause I was never meant to sing it, and yet anyone can bounce to this. It makes you want to twirl around and dream about the girl/guy/anyone on your mind. I wanted to choreograph a whole dance! (for fear of a 21 story drop, I refrained)

I'm also about to make some major changes in me life, and I'm not sure what they'll bring, so that's something that's coming. Opening night, that's something that's coming!

There's just a lot of something in the air. and not just the wind! I hope you have as much fun with this as I did!

(and btw, with the exception of this song, I recommend the new cast recording of west side story wholeheartedly!) But, since I've already done songs from there, here's the one that started it all, lost best musical to The Music Man in 1957, and went on to be one of the most iconic groundbreaking musicals of all time!

Starcrossed Lovers just don't get old!

enough chatter. here's the vid, and the album art

Aquarius Goodnights

today was a day of moving on, and moving forward, and looking back. but most importantly, it was a day when about 1000+ people got together under one roof and spread a whole lot of love. I'm grateful to the tribe for helping me believe in things i never thought possible, showing me connections where i previously saw none, and marching to washington, inspiring me to follow. I am proud to have spent 23+ evenings inside the "indoor hippie palace" that was and is the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on West 45th Street. A 500-show-long Be-In ain't too shabby.

HAIR's closing is different because I too am packing up and hitting the road. Twould be different Twere I to be here long without it, but time can fly, and pretty soon we'll see the snow and i'll see the hippie bus roll into my town, and the magic will start again.

So, until then, a song from HAIR that sums up my political agenda. It's simple, and pure, and everyone can do it if they try. Anyone can change the world. Just say your bit, and someone will eventually say "I feel the same way." there's power in numbers, and your little "tribe" of people will grow into a body that really has power, just as the 32 Tribe members have the power to change the lives of thousands of people every night. thanks for letting me be one of them :)

i know i'm bad at this

but the moment's all too right. another bit of my life is winding down, as i commemorate one that wound down before it. On this, the occasion of both my RENTiversary and the culmination of my time as a student of these city streets (that was NOT meant to sound ghetto...), I'm contemplative. Since my last blog, the happy one, I have picked a path. It happens to be that one I was happy about.

I've already blogged "Without You," So instead I shall offer two short, sweet songs from the musical RENT. As I think about how much that show, and Broadway changed my life, my heart grows heavy with love and thoughts. I would not be who I am today without RENT, that much I am sure of. It helped me find this world that is Broadway. Once I moved outside the boundaries of 241 West 41st. St, I tasted a world of art, ripe for me to enjoy, take in, give back to. That world has become my home, and I'm glad to be here.

It's a bittersweet symphony, this life.





I try to live everyday with intention and joy, and I think this show is a lot of what made me start.

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
Give in to love, or live in fear.
What a lyrically astute and touching game of would you rather. I certainly know my choice.

No Day But Today

a little ditty

because I'm feeling good :)



it's from the first show i ever had a dream role in. i was 6, and sang annie for a day camp performance of "Hard Knock Life"
this song is not sung by my dream character of yore :) in fact, it's a male cameo role that i hope i shall never play
but it's fun nonetheless :)

i recommend this one, not the movie (though i was raised on that movie soundtrack and aileen quinn)! young andrea mcardle is the cutest! her portrayal of Annie made her the youngest actress ever nominated for a leading actress Tony Award!



PS if you ever feel like buying me something, the Alicia Morton/Victor Garber/Kathy Bates/Audra McDonald made-for-tv ABC movie soundtrack of annie is somehow not in my collection! hint hint wink wink

PPS i put in three key changes. they are all intentional :)

so it's been a while

both since i've posted and since the chapter of my life marked by RENT closed. but i think upon it with nothing but the mostfond, powerful memories one can muster. It truly was the first show that woke me up, spoke to me, shook me to tears, and moved me to speechlessness. I remember crying from contact to the finale my first time, the entire second act my second time, and as I felt the show come to a close on september 7th, 2008, from my perch on a barricade outside the Nederlander theatre.

This afternoon was the last time Jonathan Larson's brilliant moment of emotional reality and rock-musical-hard truth played in a major north american production after 15 years. It's a moment of conclusion for many, many who followed the rent tour with the same dedication (often more dedication) that I had for the final new york casts. this song seems only appropriate as a way to thank Mr. Larson for a piece of work that brought the young generation to the theatre by making it about them.

sorry it's on the quiet side. i am both pensive and catering to sleeping guests
the top vid, i failed at editing in myself singing both parts. the bottom one is straight up switching. enjoy

of course i just realized i didn't bother to record both parts on the bridge....oh well. it's late. i'm no superwoman



and straight-up acapella