Backstage with Melanie

midnight.  not a sound from the pavement.  has the moon lost her memory? she is smiling alone.

seeing as i’m typing this post AT midnight about CATS, i figured a line from the song memory was appropriate!

it’s also ridiculous because it’s now AFTER midnight and i HAVE lost my memory from sleep deprivation! i am so tired right now, i can barely remember my own name.  i can however,  list the entire cast of cats!  meow!

as i posted yesterday, my sweet family had the opportunity to get a backstage look into the world of CATS. as a mom, i hope to create memories for my kids that they will always look back on and think, “man! our mom rocked!” seriously, i love broadway and want my kids to appreciate and understand the work that goes into producing a broadway show.  how purrrfect to take them backstage and see the magic behind cats.

with that said, you can imagine my stress level of taking 4 children and one patient husband on a backstage tour where nothing can be touched. you must stay quiet and NO, you can’t take that home with you!  to ensure this turned out to be a HAPPY family MEMORY, “the rules” were laid out in the car ride to the theater and reminded/threatened as we walked through the parking lot.  “don’t touch the wigs, props, costumes or EACH OTHER and you WILL have a good time!”

the second the kids stepped inside the theater doors the magic began and my stress level disappeared.  their eyes lit up as they noticed the christmas lights hanging off the balcony, the oversized oven door and the huge tire in the middle of the stage.  this was it! they had entered the cats junkyard.   THE place where the jellicle ball is held,  rum tum tugger shows off and macavity lurks in the shadows.

as a mom, i just sat back and watched them soak it all in.  they got so excited when we walked backstage and they started seeing all the props, wigs and costumes.  the BIG BOOT almost put my youngest over the edge.  she loves the scene were the boot drops and all the cats stop singing and stare at it.  she acted it out for several people backstage (in case they hadn’t seen it yet).

OVERSIZED thank you to  nicole mcclendon, the cats company manager!  i would list all her job requirements, but it would crash my site!  with everything she oversees she was sweet as ever to show our family around backstage.  not only on “A” night, but “OPENING” night!  an hour before show time, she was graciously showing us the ins and outs of how the show works.

we were escorted down a flight of stairs and through a long hallway under the theater to a make up room.  this is where we met our new best friend andy mills!  he plays the part of pouncival the kitten in the show. he was so adorable with my kids i want to adopt him as our family pet!  (our kids have always wanted a cat!)

we got to spend an entire hour with him while he put his make up on.  so surprised!  each character is responsible for their own makeup.  not only do they sing, dance and act…..they powder, pencil and  paint!  HUGE thanks to andy for answering all of our questions while trying to apply detailed lines to his face!

here are a few more tidbits of information that our cat let out of the bag:

*each cat has 3 complete costumes.  one is always being worn, washed or repaired and the costumes are washed every single night right down to the wig caps!

*the wigs are hand made from yak hair and fitted to each actor.  they also have microphone holes sewn into them!  (testing, testing, one, two, three)

*there are actually adult cats AND kittens in the show.  kittens don’t have collars so their make up goes all the way down their necks.  during the show, the bigger cats are always protecting the playful kittens from different characters.

*once the actors are wearing wigs and costumes, they are officially copyrighted and not allowed to be photographed. that’s why he’s not wearing the wig in the photos.  i totally understand the rule because once they put the wig and costume on, they LOOK exactly like cats.  it was amazing to watch all the activity in the hallway.  the kids had so much fun naming the cats as they went by.

*and our favorite cat is pouncival!  (ok, so we are biased, but how can you not agree with a face like this?)

Andy Mills - Pouncival

time for wig and costume

after seeing andy in full costume we headed back upstairs to finish the backstage tour.  this turned into a game for my children.  they pointed out every prop or costume that they knew and which cat they belonged too.   before we left the stage, they called mungojerrie and rumpleteezer to the stage to practice their cartwheels together.  my kids thought this was planned just for us because it is one of their favorite parts of the show and they got to watch them practice it over and over again.   talk about purrrfect timing!

after a bit of face painting in the lobby, we took our seats and watched the show.  of course, our kids begged to see everyone afterwards so we waited by the stage door for the fun to begin.  as each person walked out of the door, we had to guess what cat they were.   there are a couple that really shocked us. if you check out our Cats photo album,  i’m sure you’ll agree.

introducing new cast members - cute and cuddly

all in all, it was THE CAT’S MEOW!!!!   cats runs through sept. 21st in salt lake city at capitol theater and has a national tour throughout the u.s. this year.  don’t miss it!

i’m writing this post at 1am.  i am so excited i can’t sleep and will definitely need a CAT NAP tomorrow!

tonight, me and my “kitties” had the opportunity to attend CATS the musical at capitol theater in slc.  we not only saw the show, we got backstage passes before the show began and got to watch one actor put on his makeup from start to finish!

i’ll post more photos later today, for now this is the end of my tail!

erica hansen (formerly from showtunes saturday night) is the arts & entertainment reporter for the deseret news.  she heard about my love of broadway and cats through my group contacts at broadway across america and called me last week for an interview.

seeing as we both love “all things broadway” our phone conversation was as comfortable as talking with an old friend.  cats was the first broadway show i saw in new york city.  it has always held a special place in my heart and i was happy to share my thoughts on the show.  (of course, i’m happy to share my thoughts on ANY broadway show at ANY time with ANY one!)  go figure!

the broadway show cats has always been a big part of my kids lives.  when mitchell wasn’t even two years old he’d stand in his crib first thing in the morning and say, “mamma, uh cereal, uh cats!”  i’d get him a bowl of cereal and then he’d watch the cats video.  morgan and mitchell knew all the dance moves and even jumped off the couch the same time mr. mistofolees jumped off the stage on the show!  this thursday night we are going to see cats as a family and i can’t wait!  just as cats was MY first broadway show, it will be the first show for my youngest 3 kids also!   i’m happy i get to share this MEMORY with them!

in between cat naps, check out the article in the deseret news

gather round girls…..it’s storytime!

once upon a time in a land far, far away 3 princesses went on a magical adventure to a land called duloc.  on their adventure they met a talking donkey, a not-so-ordinary princess and a big ugly ogre-who can SING his way around a swamp.   after meeting the fairytale folk, listening to the music and being amazed by the costumes, these princesses decided that duloc is…duloc is….duloc is the perrrrrfeeeeect plaaaaaace!

saturday morning aunt lani, my sister in law kelly and myself grabbed a flight to seattle for a truly perfect day.   we arrived in seattle, checked into our hotel and went straight to pike’s market on the waterfront.  this is the place that’s famous for the guys that throw fish over the counter and wrap them up.  i’ve never seen so much seafood in one spot!  not to mention the SIZE of everything.  one crawfish escaped and i thought it was going to eat the little girl in the front of the crowd.  she thought so too, based on her screaming.

you all know how much i love food.  pike’s market was the place for me!  the fresh fruit was so big and shiny, it looked fake.  once i got past the amazing food, i fell in love with the flowers.  i’ve never seen such rich colors and gorgeous bouquets.  i could have walked up and down those aisles all day.  obviously we got fish and chips for lunch.  i think that’s a requirement in seattle?  (once inside the city limits you are required to consume a certain amount of seafood before leaving, to avoid a surplus of fish on the street)  i was happy to help!

as we ate our way towards the theater, i got more and more excited.  once i could see the marquee i thought i was going to burst into song!  as usual lani and kelly kept me grounded and emotionally in control.  thanks girls.

we walked into the 5th ave theater and once i saw the creative souveniers, i was hooked.  after picking some up for the kiddies we headed to our seats.  i was so happy to see 6 yr old-60yr olds wearing the green shrek ears proudly throughout the theater.   the grand tier had a perfect view of the entire stage.  the orchestra pit was covered in big green twisty vines and the place stage was lit in different shades of green and brown.  a huge twisted tree stands in the center of the stage from floor to ceiling and if you watch really closely, you  can see a slug creeping across it ocassionally.  (i am pleased by such simple things)

as the lights go down and the orchestra starts playing, i am taken to the magical land of fairytale creatures and the smelly swamp of an ogre family.  the show runs almost 3hrs and i was in awe the entire time.  it is moving to broadway in november and will be a MONSTER hit!   seeing as it’s still in previews they may add or take away certain songs, change set designs or characters and try to shorten it a bit, so i hate to go on and on about certain things and then have them taken from the show.

so i’ll just say, “it’s a BIG, UGLY, OGRE-the top show!” from costumes to lyrics, i was believing every word.  shrek the movie was great at making fun of other movies.  shrek the musical tosses in a blend of humor from several broadway shows. totally brilliant!  “i’m making a mixed tape!”

at the matinee, i found myself trying so hard to catch every word because i didn’t want to miss anything!  the show was so great, we bought tickets to the evening performance too!  the second time around i had a feel for the music and was able to enjoy the show so much more.  it’s like getting a second helping of amazing food.  you already know what you’re in for, but you need a little more to be completely satisfied!

lord farquaad was one of my favorite surprises.  i’ve included a link to photos so you guys can check out the brilliant costumes.  as a person who’s made props, i kept asking myself, “how did they do that?”  over and over again.   the show was incredible, but meeting the cast afterwards was really the highlight of the trip.

next to kristin chenoweth,  sutton foster is my idol!!!!!  i’ve followed her career and adore her as a person and a performer.  she is a perfect fiona!  i laughed so hard during the scene where her and shrek are having a “bodily function” contest.  i can’t imagine “lifting one leg” night after night and being able to stay in character.  i’d fall off the stage laughing.

after a day full of great food, seeing shrek twice, meeting the amazing cast, i can say our fairytale had a happy ending.

if you are planning a trip to new york this fall, i’d suggest taking a trip to the swamp.  shrek’s bringing ugly back and you don’t want to miss it!

click to see entire Shrek album

here is a clip to a few of the songs.  the first one is my favorite.  it’s called : “i know it’s today”  it shows how fiona grows up in the tower with 3 different girls singing parts.  i think it will be the new “popular”  so cute and catchy.

“big bright beautful world” is the opening song and rocks!  i got chills when grown up shrek breaks onto the scene.

i know all of you’ve been BITTEN by the twilight series and are anxiously awaiting Midnight Sun.  in case you haven’t heard, the sun may have set on this story.  i hate to start the week out with upsetting news, but seeing as i keep most of you posted on ALL THINGS EDWARD, i figured i’d better share the news.

here’s the short version: someone stephenie trusted with a partial draft of midnight sun posted it illegally on the internet.  stephenie was upset (rightfully so) and is not sure if she even wants to continue with the story to publication or just let it be.  I KNOW!!!!!   let’s HUNT this person down and BITE THEM!

stephenie chose to post midnight sun on her site, so you can read it here.

i’ll let you know if there is ever a way to let stephenie know we’d still buy midnight sun whether we’ve read part of it or not!  for heaven’s sake, how can we throw a book release party if there is no book to release!

for now, enjoy the “better” half of edward and bella’s story and hope that stephenie realizes we want, no….we NEED midnight sun to sit on our bookshelves next to twilight.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

This weekend was my first experience at attending the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.  I usually go to Swiss Days on this weekend.  As i drive by the festival on my way to midway,  i think, “who would ever choose to listen to a bunch of random people telling stories, when there is so much cool shopping at swiss days?  can’t they just read their OWN stories?”

“My sincerest apologies” to any and all storytellers that ever read my blog!  This was soooo much fun!  as i sat and listened to story after story, i realized how much more i “took home with me” than if i’d spent an entire day shopping at swiss days.

these storytellers actually do this for a living!  they go around to the festivals and share stories of their lives.  some touching, some funny, but all enjoyable!  even if you can’t attend the entire festival i suggest you pay the $8.00 and go to the Scera shell on saturday night for the “laughter story time”. this is a sampling of each storyteller and is hilarious.

so next year when you start to shop, just as the sun comes out

swiss days will be fun, but consider changing up your route

the white tents full of storytellers guarantee some fun

i promise if you try it out, you’ll stay until it’s done.

The End of my little TALE! (i think some of the rhyming, rubbed off on me)

Melanie & Morgan at Capitol Theater

i fell in love with broadway shows when i was a teenager.  a few years ago, i realized how many of my friends see shows too and started putting together large groups for the shows that participate with broadway across america.  since then, i’ve shared my love for broadway with hundreds of people and introduced many more to this fantastic world!

when i received a green, black and white postcard in the mail i wasn’t sure what it was.  it had the above poster on it with the words reading:  pssssst…..you’re invited!   i immediately got goose bumps!

who wouldn’t want to attend the VIP WICKED brunch?  it’s a bit embarrassing, but we were so excited we showed up 45min. early!  i guess i drove a bit fast on the freeway.  my bad!

as we walked up the street, i could see the lime green table clothes and black witches hats in the lobby.  they’re “really sharp, don’t ya think?  you know BLACK, is this year’s PINK!”

i literally skipped through the cross walk to get to the theater, singing the entire way!

i was really surprised they had a brunch for wicked.  it’s not like they’ll have a hard time selling the show, right?!  believe it or not, there are actually people out there who have not heard of wicked!  I KNOW!  i thought it was a requirement in schools across america to learn about glinda and elphaba!

as we walked in the theater, i couldn’t contain my happiness.  yes! i actually did a little hop, skip, jump thing when i saw where we were sitting.  the entire stage was lit with green lights and they had set the chairs up ON THE STAGE!

we had the opportunity to hear from a producer of the show, have some Q & A,  then hear elphaba and galinda sing.  remember the “guh” is silent! when donna hit the last note of the “wizard and i” from two feet away, i almost burst into tears!  it was something i will never forget!  we also got to hear “for good” which is such a beautiful song.  the girls were so sweet to take photos afterwards and sign our books.  i hope we get to see them on tour in salt lake city.

coolest story ever!  this is the REAL glinda wand!  a girl who loved broadway (that wasn’t me!) was on the tv show deal or no deal.  glinda came on as part of a DEAL, offered her the wand, 3 walk-on parts in wicked on broadway, the grimmerie and tons of wicked swag!  oh! and 50,000 dollars!  YES! she took the deal and was kind enough to let us kiss, hold, caress and wave the wand!  “she really didn’t have to do that, but that’s what makes her so nice!”

YES! i am still wearing the black hat.  i could have had a BAT on my head that day and not cared.  i was so giddy, i kept saying, “NOTHING’S GONNA BRING ME DOWN”.

after a wicked fun morning, we even got swag on the way out!  it’s great to be part of the in crowd.  or should i say, “it’s great to be POP-YOU-OO-LER!”

can’t wait for this tour to arrive.  it’s gonna be TOTO-ally OZ-some!

one final NOTE: wicked WILL be made into a movie, but it’s 7 -10 years out.

Can you say KILLER PAR-TAY?! The book release party for Eclipse was so amazing, we had to raise the bar for Breaking Dawn. After tons of work, I think we did it! Thanks ladies!

Can’t wait to BITE into Midnight Sun party planning!

Entire photo album