Theatre Minor

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. I was crazy busy with work and then I had to go back to school. I just started my sophomore year at Grand Valley State University and am living in a great on-campus apartment with three wonderful roommates (best friend, great friend, and new friend). I have the new responsibility of being president of the Civil War Club while continuing my major studies in English - Secondary Education. After much debate I have decided to declare two minors: History and Theatre. History is a teachable minor but theatre isn't (according to the Michigan State Government) and I need to have a teachable minor for my education requirements but want to minor in theatre so that's why I've decided on two minors. I've been planning out my classes and focused my theatre minor classes on acting and a couple directing (another small passion of mine). With the theatre classes and minor declared I'm hoping to gain experience and understanding that will help me on my quest toward Broadway. I may also be able to direct plays and musicals while teaching. I always have one question in mind when deciding if something Broadway related is the right decision - will it help me in my teaching career as well? A theatre minor will help with both Broadway and my teaching so it is allowed to pass through.

Wicked @ the Wharton Center

Wicked has been in East Lansing since July 16 and after much debate and unsureness, my mom, sisters, and I decided to go see it on its last night here in Michigan (that was tonight). We got pretty good seats even though we bought them only mere hours before the show.
Christie (my twin sis) and I decided to make the occasion special so we wore some formal dresses, mine black and green and her's pink and off we all went. I also wore my witch hat and she had a pink flower in her hair. We got so many stares and smiles as we walked through the Wharton Center to our seats.
All day I'd been anticipating the performance and when the music started and the action began I just couldn't contain my excitement - I started crying. Not sobbing or anything that drastic but tears started falling. It was excellent!! I mean it will never compare to the original Broadway cast of which I've only seen on youtube but the traveling cast members were all great in their own ways and the whole thing was amazing. I started crying again at Defying Gravity and then of course at the end after For Good.
After the performance we took a few pictures and then were heading to our car when we saw some people looking down at the stage door from the parking ramp. We looked over and saw people waiting. Christie and I hurried down the parking ramp stairs and were able to join the group of people waiting. We got there in time to see "Madame Morrible" and then waited as "Fiyero" and "Nessa" came out. We got all of their autographs and got a picture with "Fiyero." Then we waited for quite a long time hoping that "Elphaba" and "Glinda" might come out. I don't really know how long it was but after waiting for a while Carmen Cusack (Elphaba) finally appeared. She really liked Christie's and my outfits and signed 5 different things for me. We got a picture with her too and I swear that I was not breathing for a bit. lol. I didn't really know what to say to her but she was very nice and overall I am so glad we waited by those doors. AHHHH!!! I wonder how I'll be if I have the chance to meet Idina.
I'm at an all time high right now - defying gravity.

The Mall

So today my friend Max and I were at the Lansing Mall and we decided to go into a store called F.Y.E. (don't ask what it means because I have no clue). It's a store where they sell music and DVD's. We were just looking around, me looking for the first Idina Menzel CD (I know its out there somewhere), and Max looking at various areas of music, when suddenly over the intercom/radio thing I hear "I'm limited" sung by Elphaba (Idina Menzel) which is the start of the song "For Good" from Wicked. I seriously started jumping up and down with excitement (hopefully I didn't scare my friend Max, lol). So of course I started singing along quietly as we continued looking around.
I'm just amazed at the fact that it played while I was in there. I mean I could have walked in mere seconds after it played or walked out mere seconds before it played. I could have missed it but I didn't. What are the odds? ^_^

Singing

Ahhh singing: probably the thing that makes each of my days brighter. If I wake up and can't sing, things are just not the same.I really just love to sing. After discovering Wicked I'm pretty sure a day doesn't go by that a Wicked song isn't stuck in my head. I'm often asked to sing at work because one of the managers really enjoys my singing. I usually sing a Wicked song - why not? What other songs do I know every note, every word, and every beat of? I feel like singing for people at work helps me not be so nervous and they give so many compliments that it makes me feel better about my singing.
I look forward to being in the car because I can put the Wicked CD in and just sing. I work hard at keeping my voice steady and enunciating the words so that they are understandable. If I'm alone in the car I sing as loud as I can with proper tone and support, working on that oh-so-necessary theatre voice (everyone in the audience should be able to hear you without a mic even if they are in the back row of the theatre).
All in all singing just brings more joy to my life and I think that a small career on Broadway would just be the best. Wishing and hoping to Defy Gravity!