Archive for October, 2008
Last night we saw The Road Not Taken (thanks, Ken), a benefit celebrating 5 years of Wicked in our own magical city. Scenes and songs that never made it into the show were read and sung through.
Stephen Schwartz described it as his and Winnie (Holzman)’s “public humiliation”. I don’t know if I’d go that far… especially since the last number was the unforgettable “Defying Gravity.” 5 women (two Elphaba’s, two Glinda’s, and a green bedecked Ashanti) brought the house down with this number.
When she sashayed out to the microphone, Ashanti said, “I guess some things you get right the first time.” And that’s what left us in awe — in spite of all of the logistics, lyrics, music, and plot points that needed tinkering, to have a vision so clear and so true from the outset is AMAZING!!!
Stephen, I have no doubt “we’ll be celebrating another five years of Wicked” in 2013!
–Sue
October 28th, 2008
I’ve mentioned my family musical Another Place In Time on this blog a few times. It’s a show I’ve been working on for years, and it has a very special place in my heart.
As with anything one has spent so much time, energy, and love creating, one wants to know it will “make it” out there in the wide, wide world.
And I must admit, I had a few doubts, well just ONE doubt really, the dancing and singing tarot cards.
(They are not really giant cards, but people dressed in costumes to personify the cards they represent).
Honestly, I wouldn’t even mind the dancing and singing cards, I am an Alice in Wonderland and general Disney fan, after all…
I was nervous about tarot itself, that it was too far outside the main stream.
Well, after pouring through a recent Oprah magazine, I realized that I need fret no more, apparently, tarot is SOOOO in the main stream (slight pun intended) that maxi-pad brands are using them in advertising campaigns. The ad I saw had a card called “The Protector” with a big pad in the middle. (Apparently, it’s a major arcana card.)
In being so protective (again, the opportunity for a pun was too good to pass up), I didn’t even realize how accessible tarot has become.
Ironically, tarot has yet again done its job and changed my perspective.
–Sue
October 27th, 2008
Tonight we saw the AMAZING documentary “Who Does She Think She Is?”
The notion and the word that struck me most about this film is “responsibility.” In my blog a few days ago (before seeing the film in its entirety) I quoted the very talented Angela, an amazing songstress who could support the weight of an entire musical on her capable shoulders if she had to.
It seemed every woman in this movie lived her life with the same ideal in mind, living life on/with purpose. But it went further than that, and that’s where responsibility comes in.
The responsibility of caring for, and providing for a family was definitely a HUGE part of this story and in each of these women’s journeys — but the notion of responsibility informed who they are as artists.
They realized that they had the responsibility to create — TO DO ANYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO GET THEIR WORK OUT THERE AND SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.
Watching their struggles, hearing these women, I just felt bigger than I’ve ever felt — more empowered, more aware, more sure, and more focused.
It takes a lot of sacrifice and courage for all these women to sing their songs, and for this precious gift, I thank each of them, and every person who contributed to the film. Ladies, I’ll carry your songs with me on my own journey.
SEE THIS FILM!!! You’ll be glad you did.
–Sue
October 17th, 2008
Last night we saw the French film “The Science of Sleep.”
It was a meandering hour and 46 minutes that took us everywhere, and at times, no where.
Where it took me today (subconsciously) was back to my journal, where I read an entry from last November. I recorded a heart thumping nightmare that still scares me today.
After reading it, I was inspired to delve deeper into the waking nightmare one of my characters.
Though she never contemplates physical death like Hamlet, a part of her does die.
…now I have to navigate heralding birth in its place.
–Sue
October 14th, 2008
“Everyone expects women to choose, but what if you didn’t?” is the question that blazes across a fiery backdrop to introduce the film “Who Does She Think She Is?“
The film follows the stories of five female artists and their struggles to maintain the balance between being a creator and a caretaker. Angela, a featured actress with Broadway under her belt, says, “I began to understand the power of living on purpose.”
It is this idea that any artist, or any person — mother or father, son or daughter can take away from this film and use in their everyday lives… in those moments when the finish line feels so far away in the distance, but the only choice is to keep running.
“Who Does She Think She Is?” premiers this Friday, 10.17 at various theatres throughout the country. Check the screening page for details.
–Sue
October 13th, 2008
In a recent post I wrote about the American Express Members Project.
The finalists have been narrowed down to five, with the winner to be announced in less than 12 hours. All are wonderful projects, and I hope to see other companies foster the idea of community building, especially in these times of uncertainty.
–Sue
October 13th, 2008
