An update: Florida's Sound of Music gig was a great learning experience, and I miss everyone a lot. I'll never forget one of our Kurts, who had never done a show before, crying at the final night cast party. He came over to me, and we shared a big hug, and I told him that everything about this business is great, but there's no other way to say it: saying goodbye to a cast you've grown close to sucks. To Kevin and all the other kids I've worked with - you guys are the best, and will always be in my heart! May you all be richly blessed in your lives.

The end of the Florida gig found me flying into the city for an HMS Pinafore gig - which I ended up booking, and I'm having the time of my life. It's hard to believe that this run is almost over. It's been great working with these people too. Yeah, you hear stories about how people in the business are out to get you, and I know they're out there, but it simply really hasn't been my experience, other than a few people I can count on one hand (or less). Maine is beautiful, I highly recommend it - the people are great, and the scenery is hard to beat. Fellow cast members David, Michelle, Jen, and I did a road trip to Bar Harbor, walked through some of Acadia (do yourself a favor and go), and had a lovely seafood dinner with some fantastic clam chowder - a great follow up to the late luncheon David, Michelle, and I had in Camden the week before. I will miss our small sightseeing group! By the way - the theatre I'm at -

Theatre at Monmouth

is a delight - wonderful local chorus members as well as an outstanding bunch of leads and crew who also happen to be nice people with whom I'll miss hanging out.

I also have had the great joy of getting to know a wonderful host mom and dad. In case you've never read her works, check out

Margy Burns Knight

This is a link to Amazon, but wherever you can find her children's books, I highly recommend picking them up.

Thanks Steve and Margy, for a great time!

A great site to help with research, including opera librettos.

OPERA-GUIDE

Sometimes ads get to you. I've been saving a copy of the AmEx ads to journal on, and this afternoon seems a good time.

My name: Elisabeth

My childhood ambition: to be a writer

My fondest memories: there are several, but two come to mind: taking care of elderly family members (ok- that's really a bunch of memories, but I wouldn't trade them for the world), and Aunt Mele standing behind me at the piano as I played whatever was in my lesson for the week and telling me: "You have just the right touch."

My soundtrack: classical music, classical musical theater, and relaxing Christian music that helps me meditate and pray.

My retreat: Big Moose Lake in the early morning with the mists rising off the lake.

My proudest moment: making a new friend

My biggest challenge: overcoming any negative thoughts of my own creation

My alarm clock: I'm at the point where I don't really need one, except on rare occasions. I sleep for 8 hours and wake up most nights.

My perfect day: a quiet morning spent in working on my craft (mostly exercise and singing), followed by a fun afternoon with my young cousins, and winding up with a nice big backyard barbeque with family and friends - and they all bring their signature recipes for a pot luck part.

My first job: babysitting for my former second grade teacher/next door neighbor.

My indulgence: a book of Sudoku puzzles, something chocolate, a mug of tea, and a nice hot bath.

My last purchase: a bag of almonds (unsalted) and dried fruit

My favorite movie: I can't pick just one!

My inspiration: my grandparents, the beauty of the world God has created

My life: finding God's will for my life and doing it.

Canadian Music Centre

I'm always on the lookout for new music, and a friend share this site with me. You can check out composers, find music, read the forums, etc. Off to check it out further!

Power Options on the Road

Another important link for all the nomadic performers out there!

Hotel Internet Access - What You Need to Know Before You Stay

Another interesting collection of information that's important if you are on the road a lot. Especially for all my colleagues on road tours!

Tips for Using Your Laptop in Hot, Warm Weather

I've been taking a few quiet moments to improve my business travel knowledge and came across this page. Most of it is common sense, but it's all food for thought, especially with how hot the weather has been this summer!

Just found a very interesting link - a database of MT roles, sort of like Aria Database. Partly for my reference, partly for anyone else who's interested. It's not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination - I highly disagree with some of the voice parts they've assigned to roles - Sweet Charity done by a soprano? - and some of the vocal ranges and age ranges are way off. I do not want to hear a 17 year old singing Donna Anna. The vocal development simply won't be there. But, there are some interesting ideas, nonetheless.

Ok - here goes nothing. My first photo post. These photos are of the amazing experience that is Fireside's Music Man.

The fire at the Fireside















The hallway to the theater
















Part of the restaurant at the theater

















The theater sign and our show!
















The Stage!

Best wishes to all my friends in the Syracuse Opera production of H.M.S. Pinafore who also have their opening weekend this weekend. I miss you all, and hope that you are enjoying your production as much as I am mine.

Things are fabulous here in Wisconsin - a wonderfully talented cast and fun, creative staging. It'll be interesting playing in the round - a first for me! We'll be moving into the cast housing in a few days, which will be great, but I think we'll all miss the hotel staff here in at the Janesville Holiday Inn. It's the best complimentary breakfast ever, and there's an evening cocktail hour with popcorn and homemade cookies. (Thanks Carole for making extra for after our later practices!) The next day will be focused on actually moving, so it's laundry time (yes, the hotel has laundry facilities that we can use). Ate at a restaurant called Noodles and Company tonight with my car-mates - great food and a good price. I also finally remembered that I didn't bring a pillow with me, so I picked one up at our Target shopping spree. Laundry will have to wait until tomorrow due to a non-functioning washing machine. Oh well. I repacked one suitcase (the duffel bag) and will work on the actual suitcase next. And the box to send back - clothes I don't need, and some stuff that somehow made it in without me being truly aware of it. That's life. Brunch tomorrow with the car crew will be fun, and I'm hoping to get to the theater to see a friend among the current cast whom I haven't really seen since Arizona and will get to see again in Florida. It'll be nice to be in Florida - hopefully the housing will be closer so we can do things more easily with the previous cast. That's been the only frustrating thing about these living conditions.

The concert went very well. It was a good first performance of the aria, and singing with Jim is always fun. These concerts are always a great experience - a friendly, supportive audience, good musicians, a chance to work on new repertoire. There were many outstanding performances. Lots of great inspiration for the future. Onward to Three Pigs and packing for Wisconsin!

Concert tonight. Have been a bit under the weather, but am taking it easy. I just need to breathe and trust in the technique to carry me through at this point. There are several of us down/recovering. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Link for the day:



An ear training site. Like other sites I've posted about, it's free. Have fun with it!

Theme for 2006: The Year of Health and Well-Being

To wit: stick to the physical exercise, focus on eating healthy, and keeping up with Artist's Way et al. For the exercise: yoga, Pilates (love the Windsor, need to keep it up!) and Slim in 6 - yes, the infomercial stuff. I swear that if you can stick to their full program, you will loose the weight!). Eating healthy: work with the principles from Eat To Live (aka E2L) by Dr. Fuhrman - big salads and 4-5 pieces of fresh fruit daily will be my goal for now. (Thanks, Amanda, for introducing me to the book!)

I was delighted this weekend to accept a contract with Prather again for the re-up of Sound of Music this summer in Florida. So - Wisconsin until May, then 2 weeks rest at home and I go to Florida for the summer. I'm hoping to go to Disney World after we get done - it's the off-season down there, it seems, and I haven't been to DW since Epcot was built! I know that not all of last summer's cast will be back, but I'm still looking forward to it. The set is gorgeous, and Seth did a beautiful job with the direction last summer. I am so blessed. I'm in a business with lots of wonderful people with amazing talent - that's proven by the auditions where we are called in in groups and get to hear each other sing. It's the reason I love the group calls like that - I love hearing others on the line. It's inspiring and a chance to grow, to see what works in an audition for others. And how often do you get to hear other singers perform like that now that we're not in college/conservatory setting any more - no rep classes! This last Prather call I got to hear an amazing performance of Lonely Room from Oklahoma!, among other things - including finally getting to hear Pete sing, and Amanda sing a new audition piece! (And it was great catching up! I realized how much I miss the folks form Arizona.)

More later.