Fireworks at Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Fl

Just another little sampler...this is from the show "WISHES" in the Magic Kingdom. I remember really thinking this one was beautiful. Are you getting excited? I am!

Are you ready?

Epcot Illuminations Fireworks - 25th Anniversary Edition

And here's a sneak peek at IllumiNations, which we'll watch together on Friday night after that dinner event. Remember when Emmy cried last time we saw this because she was so moved? May we all be that awestruck!

Fantasmic!

We have a catered dinner and reserved patio to watch this show...it's our special event for Saturday night. This is a very small taste of what will be to come. :)

Happy December decorating!

Beyonce Fosse - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On and Walk It Out)

All right, I don't know how many of you have seen the Beyonce video...but it's taken from a Bob Fosse piece that was on the Ed Sullivan show in the 60's. Featuring non other than the extremely talented Gwen Verdon. Anyway, Steve found all of this info and wanted me to be sure I shared with all of you right away. Enjoy; I do think the Gwen Verdon version is better to watch than the Beyonce, but that's just me.

Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Here's a shot of us at Fantasmic! last time we were there... Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Snapfish:Photo:Owned

Remember this?

Fall has arrived!

Fall is definitely in the air. I love fall. And I love knitting. And I love knitting in the fall.

This past weekend I went to "Knitting Camp" and had a great time.

Anybody want to learn to knit? I'll teach you. :)

Ready for fall.

So, it's always a little lonely around the MadCAP offices and studios when we're not in session. I'm missing you guys! Can't wait for fall to start.

Oh, and neither can Steve. He's tired of me making trouble.

Wonderland

Thanks Ivy! This is amazing. xo to all!

18 years ago...

...I used to do more theatre on the stage. And then I discovered rehearsal accompaniment and it was a whole new game.

I did love to be on stage, I still love musical theatre, and I will always enjoy working with other talented folks to create an ephemeral end art product. Looking through old photos I found in the house recently, I came across this gem. What fun it was to be in a cast of other people who loved to sing, and in a group of friends where I could be myself. Too bad it only lasted for about 7 weeks in my school life!

I also remembered how much I enjoy singing & performing Rogers & Hammerstein, Gershwin, Porter, Loesser, and the great composers of the midcentury. I can't wait to get in the depths of performing some of that with all of you this year! Look forward to some staging & ensemble work with older scores as well as the current stuff we are in love with right now!

Hope you are enjoying August!

Love to be on tour.

Boy, do I love to be on tour. Touring is a blast, and I've been lucky enough to do it with many different performing ensembles throughout my time as a student (high school & college) and a teacher (MadCAP). It's the absolute best way to get to know the people you are travelling with and to form a lasting bond with them. Nothing creates closeness by being forced into a small space for extended periods of time. :)

In any case, I do love to travel with performing groups. I can't wait to start planning our concert stuff for our upcoming trip to Disney! Arrangements for music & travel our top on my priority list for the month of August. Is there anyone available to come in to the office and help out with any of these things?

Hope the summer is treating you all well, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all in the studios soon!

*Incidentally, that picture is from my 1997 tour to Europe with the Wartburg College Concert Band. Notice the tough looking jacket and very large hair I'm sporting!

Gearing up for Disney and enjoying the Summer.

Greetings all!
Summer is now in full swing here at the MadCAP studios, and the month of August is looking good for a summer "After Dark" (so start picking that music!) and some advanced planning for the Disney tour next year. Additionally, the Board of Directors has asked for any volunteers willing to perform at a Fundraising Kickoff Event and then Gala Grand Opening. If you've got any ideas or suggestions, please let me know what you're thinking.
We've got lots happening this summer, and I'm still looking for some interns in July and August. if you are interested, please send me your availability and I'll e-mail you an assignment.
Also, just a quick reminder to all of you--enrollment is limited in Senior Ensemble for next year, so please get your paperwork in ASAP when we open enrollment. I'd hate to have the group fill before you sign up!
Check out this little video tour of DMMD to see what it's all about if you've never been: http://disneyyouthgroups.disney.go.com/wdyp/programs/programOverview?page=MMDProgramOverviewPage

'In the Heights' - 2008 Tony Awards - Best Original Score

What an acceptance speech-happy to see the nod to Sondheim!

In The Heights circa 1988

That's right. It' s my new favorite composer on Broadway today....Lin Manuel Miranda. OF course, I have several favorites and will continue to have several. BTW, when you see his acceptance speech, note the nod to Sondheim.

In the Heights the Musical

This is my pick for the Tony Awards next week. It has been nominated for 13 awards, and I'm always anxious to see just what will win. Who's having a Tony party? Steve and I always play it a little low key and have a bottle of champagne and some great hors d'oeuvres followed by some delicious chocolate. I'm hoping to see "In the Heights" win best musical, I'd love to see it win for choreography, and Lin-Manuel Miranda has to win for best score and/or outstanding actor...I guess it's all a waiting game!

Team Soft Goods asked me if there was a prize for best TEAM PRIDE during strike. Absolutely there is. I don't actually know what kind of prize it is, but I'm open to suggestion. I make a great batch of cookies, and can craft up all sorts of things. Team Soft Goods, e-mail me your suggestions, and I'll see what I can do. Thanks for a fabulous run of performances in "Mulan". You guys are amazing, and never cease to amaze me. You were funny, lovely, sang well, and were entirely entertaining. What will I do now that we don't have Thursday night rehearsals?

It's Official!

After all of the name voting, we have a new name and a new logo for the oldest and premier Performance Ensemble at MadCAP. You can order new shirts, hoodies, etc at our Cafe Press shop here: http://www.cafepress.com/madcap_cabaret

Enjoy!

Annoucement! Announcement!

Anybody else daydreaming about summer?

This is my tent. I love my tent. I can't wait to USE my tent in "not the snow". Anybody with me on this? This August we have a MadCAP camp happening out at Lake Farms Park. I'm looking for a few adventurous souls who might like to join me at the campsite and intern for the week. E-mail me if you're interested! :)

kj

It is coming up soon! Who's ready? Make sure you tell your friends to come and see us...makes for a better audience, you know. Also, I think you should all be very proud of the work you've put into your pieces! kj

Thanks for such a fun weekend!

You can find all of the pictures here:

oh, and by the way...

...has anyone ever done a Toboggan run? It's really fun! :)

zoinks.

Where did December go? It seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving and we were prepping for our first After Dark performance!

In the new year, look for an After Dark worksheet that will help us all be better prepared for the coming performances...Paul and I are working on cooking that up right now. Also, we'll need to make some decisions about our uniform dresses...

As we continue to prepare for the upcoming tour, keep in mind next year's season...we'll need to prepare our audition package for Disney and start reaching towards that goal, both with our fundraising efforts and with our performance goals. Each of you is coming so far with individual performances as well as our Ensemble numbers...things just keep getting better. In 2008, I would like to see us reach an even higher potential, and I have a nationally known clinicial lined up to help us workshop our performance pieces during the 2008-2009 season.

I don't know how you've been enjoying the massive snowfalls this December, but in the tiny bit of spare time I had, I was loving it! :)