I'm back in town after visiting the family for Christmas and welcoming the New Year with friends. I have so much to do in the next weeks, so there are huge master to-do lists that I need to jump on. So since I'm in the groove of making lists, I offer you some recap lists. First, a list about the last few days, the end of my year...
• Christmas.
Spent with the family in Oregon. Turkey. All of Mom's good stuff. Grandma's deviled eggs and sweet taters. SO much food eaten in a house that was holiday blinged out prettier than words.
• "Me time" at the coast.
A couple days of refocusing where the waves crash hard. Oh, and I practiced the guitar too.
• Seattle.
Visit with family in a spiffy city.
• New Year's Eve.
Jumped off the plane and reshuffled the bags at home before hitting the road to Vista and my peeps, the Beavers (and Tamburrino). Ate snacks, drank beer, fell asleep before midnight. (Hey! I had a long day. And the Beavers are parents of a newborn! Besides, I heard Dick Clark chunked the countdown anyway. I'm not sure if we're officially in a new year!)
• New Year's Day.
Watched the Rose Parade on the TV as the Beavers tried to get wee Danica to eat and sleep. Hit the road for LA and dropped in on some friends' open house brunch. Now trying to get the mental ducks in a row for a busy month. More on that later.
Now, here are some lists highlighting my busy, productive, labor-intensive, enjoyable 2009...
THE ART.
Oh, how I love what I do! The work is showing grand returns:
• Squigs Knows His Lines.
Facebook "fan" page. Began in January. At least one sketch per week. Celebrating all things theatre.
• Forbidden Broadway.
For the first time, my caricatures adorned the set of a major production. Musical Theatre West, Long Beach, CA.
• MetroStage.
My first gallery exhibit. Followed the theme dictated by the show at the theatre and drew some Broadway composers.
• Signature Theatre.
My second gallery exhibit. Drew many pieces highlighting this Tony-winning theatre's twenty years in existence. Was excited to see some of the exhibit in the background of a photo on the Today Show. Whee!
• Broadway.com.
Finished out the year with an illustration highlighting a year-end feature on this popular website.
• Commissions.
The art magic was hired to celebrate Broadway shows, Broadway tours, regional productions, movers and shakers, art and artisans, a reality TV show, and a partridge in a pear tree. Feel very grateful and honored.
ME ONSTAGE.
Wow, I had some really great gigs this year:
• The Scarlet Pimpernel.
I played Sir Ozzy at the Welk Resort in Escondido, CA.
• Camelot.
Was thrilled to get a crack at King Pellinore at Music Theatre of Wichita.
• 42nd Street.
Helped to inaugurate the shiny new facilities at Moonlight Amphitheatre (as Bert Barry).
• Stop the World, I Want To Get Off.
Had the immense but rewarding challenge of playing Littlechap for Musical Theatre Guild.
• Disney’s Symphonic Legacy.
Played Happy in the Snow White segment under the baton of John Mauceri at Disney Concert Hall. Wow!
• Two By Two.
Jumped into this starry reading at Reprise. Debuted a song cut from the original Broadway production of the show with the lyricist in attendance. What a great gig! Laughed nonstop for four days.
• Workshop readings.
Enjoyed helping along works-in-progress Neurosis the Musical, The Roxy, and Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion.
THE TRAVEL.
It was a jet-setting year for me. This recap kind of blows me away:
• Wichita (for theatre) – twice.
• New York City (for theatre, art networking, and charity contributions) – twice.
• Washington DC (art exhibits) – twice.
• St. Paul (family) – once.
• The Pacific Northwest (family) – thrice.
And beyond all the lists, I was so happy to build on relationships with friends (new and old) and family. I have such a better focus on where I want to go with my varied careers. And most of all, I'm SO grateful that hard work is paying off. I may not be rich and/or famous yet, but I'm living the dream.
2010. Now, in one final list, I offer news for where I anticipate 2010 will find me:
• January.
Purging, packing, and saying goodbye (for now) to many amazing folks.
• February into early May.
Milwaukee. The Rep. A spiffy Roger Bean travelogue of a musical called Route 66.
• May.
I'm taking the plunge and making the big move to NYC. I'm following my heart and my art. Since my pen celebrates the theatre, it's just about time that I spend some time in the community of the heart of the theatrical world. Think good thoughts. It's going to be a little stressful uprooting after almost twenty years, but here I go!
Best wishes of peace, love, and joy to you all in this new year!
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