Do I Know How To Pick 'Em Or . . .

. . .Do I know how to pick 'em??? Mr. Hornish Jr. won his first Indy 500 today with the second closest margin of victory in Indy history! He'd been a bit back in the pack the whole day after starting as the pole sitter, and I was a bit sad. But in the last moment, he came up past Michael Andretti (who, bless his heart, has tried and tried and never crossed the brickyard first), then pulled past rookie, Marco Andretti, as they were both crossing the finish line. Beautiful! 'Twas a great ending and I was cheering like mad.

The race itself would have been much better to watch if it hadn't been oppressively hot all day. Every time a yellow flag came out, I would run underneath the stands to cool off in the shade, leaning my back against the cold concrete until I heard the roar of the green and knew it was time to go back up and watch. My brother and mom were having major problems with the heat and kept walking up under the eave to escape the brutal sunshine. I downed six 20-ounce bottles of water and never once had to pee the entire 7 hours I was at the track. I can't imagine how the drivers were suffering.

That being said, it was a great race. Danica, as I had predicted, placed in the top ten but didn't push herself to the top of the pack - never getting higher than fifth. It was great to see her out there racing however. There were several silly crashes - one on a yellow flag, and Hornish actually sat out a penalty when he pulled away from the pit before the gas hose was removed and ran over one of his pit crew's foot, setting him on fire in the process. We had great seats this year - quite close to the tower and high enough that we could see both the first and fourth turn, so all of the action was in our line of sight.

I love the Indianapolis 500 - if you couldn't tell. It's my one annual moment of sporting event madness in between my seasons in dance and opera. I love races because they are such a push for personal best. I love the adrenalin of speed and the precise timing and spacial awareness that is so imperative in racing such fast machines. I also love the pomp and circumstance that precedes each race. The tradition of songs in a certain order, military planes flying over, Jim Nabors singing "Back Home Again in Indiana," and this year, the most beautiful playing of "Taps" to a completely silent crowd of half a million. It's an amazing burst of excitement and reflection of past that brings me into summer every year.

Tomorrow is a family breakfast and then we all go our separate ways again until the following year. I've got two more days with my family and then finally home to my fiance and cats and seven months of teaching and enjoying my home!!!

Random Thoughts from Terre Haute

So I'm in Terre Haute, Indiana, at my family reunion, sitting in between my brother and my mother, waiting for pizza, watching Seinfeld. . . a few random thoughts as I sit here trying to escape the oppressive heat in the hallway.

I know many of you may have expected a Danika Patrick photograph at the top of the entry. I must say, I like her very much and hope she knocks all of these boys out of the water tomorrow morning, but I'm really all over Sam Hornish Jr. right now. He may be my ultimate pick for the winner when I fill out my pool sheet tomorrow. Part of me thinks that his great show in the time trials and his place on the pole position will knock him out in Murphy's Law, but I'd love to see him garner the trophy as well..he's kinda cute too.

Family reunions are interesting animals. So many people wandering around this hotel that I'm related to. We all have relatively nothing in common except for some similar genes, but we all smile and ask how things are going anyway. And really I like most of my family, but it still sometimes baffles me how we all choose to commune in the same place once a year. I think the other thing that amazes me is the fact that no one ever looks the same. I have all of these cousins who used to be really small and are now really big and tall and graduating from schools and speaking intelligently about adult topics. It's amazing how much changes in a year.

I didn't get to see Hansel and Gretel open in St. Louis, My contract ended after the final dress and so I have no idea how it turned out. The final dress looked beautiful. The explosions were working and all of the singers sounded beautiful. We had a full audience of kids who were completely entranced and watching them was all the assurance I needed that this show would be successful. The big snafu of the evening (of which there is always one on a final dress. . . a catastrophe during the dress is what ensures a successful opening . . . was that our milk jug that is supposed to smash into pieces did nothing but break its handle and the whole thing rolled into the pit. We had to stop the show and make sure everyone in the orchestra was okay. Everyone was pretty shook up but no one was seriously injured and the show went on, albeit a little bit edgy and shaky until the intermission when everyone could calm down and get their jitters out. It was a terrible thing to happen, but ultimately, I'm glad it happened on the dress rehearsal so we could fix the problem before the opening.

Theater is dangerous. I especially feel for those musicians in the pit who never know when something might fall on top of them. I have in my time in the theater, however, seen plenty of things fall out of the flies, set pieces wobble too close, props fall apart . . . we all know it's possible. I just hate to see it happen.

Wednesday I fly back to San Diego and I actually get to spend seven months in my home. It will be amazing to actually work where I live. This lifestyle gets very difficult after a while.

I can't wait for the race tomorrow. As much as family can sometimes be trying, I look forward to this time of year.

Un-Wired

For my regular readers (of which there are a few . . . thank you for sticking with me):

Having scant access to the internet here in St. Louis has left me with very little time to blog. I am in the whirlwind throes of production week right now and sitting down briefly to check email and do some banking. I have not forgotten this space, though my lack of wireless signal anywhere I go has left me with very little change to speak my mind in cyberspace.

Suffice, I have much to say and will blog long and hard when I am back in San Diego next week. I am amazed by my singers here, loving the experience of making houses explode and cookies drop from the ceiling and witches burn up in ovens. I was particularly excited yesterday during our first orchestra dress. We had a bit of an audience and I had the opportunity to sit back and watch children as they took in the opera. Their reactions are the true test of our success.

I am nerve-wracked about these goals I've set for myself to produce work this fall. I am calling many places and people this afternoon to set up (hopefully) rehearsal space and time and really make all of this imagining I've been doing into something concrete. It's always easier to be second in command . . . you are relieved of so much responsibility. I'm feeling the need to put more on my shoulders when it comes to a creative outlet.

I am frustrated by comments made by government officials about making English our official language. I'm not sure I disagree entirely with the original idea, but the xenophobia that is being shouted from the rooftops by these clowns begs explanation and maybe a swift kick to the head. I am also so unbelievably tired of our government trying to force us into a theocracy...more on that later.

. . .But one more thing . . . I saw a priest on the news the other night protesting "The DaVinci Code." He commented to the camera, "We are supposed to be a Christian State, and when our government allows this type of propaganda to be shown, it is working entirely against the Christian ideal.." Ummmmm...there are so many things wrong with that statement that my head started steaming when I first heard it...

And so I am off to do more work and will be back in full swing at the beginning of next month. I am still thinking and breathing and excited and pissed off and look forward to pouring it all out here soon....

Until then.

. . . And The Kitchen Sink!

What childish fun we've been having at the opera lately! We moved into the theater two days ago. This show was SO, SO ready. We'd run the entire show about six times in the rehearsal studio before we moved over. We were at risk of peaking too early if we didn't add sets and costumes soon. The theater move has added just enough spice, and we are having a great time thus far!

Our biggest issue is the huge candy house that transforms into a factory and then, ultimately, blows up at the end. In this day and age of trying to keep theaters healthy, many of the smoke effects that used to be used with frequency are completely out of the question. Singers can't handle the altered air and large quantities can be dangerous for your health. And so we are left with less options. While this can start out relatively upsetting, it forces us to become creative. How do you simulate an explosion on stage with no smoke effects and without large pieces of house actually flying across the stage and potentially falling into the pit?

So our last few tech sessions have largely revolved around testing various types of glitter/mylar/streamers/party decorations falling from the flies and delicately placing CO2 blasts at appropriate intervals. There's something wonderfully childish about throwing things from the ceiling and seeing how "cool" they look. It harkens back to the days when I would be all about tossing water balloons from a bridge. Despite minor frustrations with various results, we've had moments of clapping and jumping up and down, and all sorts of childish squeals and laughter. It's great to feel youthful about a production.


As we've gone along, we've added plenty of small surprises and little bits of humor that really give this piece flavor. As I've repeated before, I am sad to be gone for the run. I got tickets for my family the other day; my 4-year-old niece will see her first opera on the 10th. I am ecstatic to hear her response. I love watching audiences respond to things we've worked so hard to achieve. At the final room run a few days ago, I spent most of my time staring at the transfixed children's chorus; watching when they laughed and when they seemed uninterested. An opera that holds a child's interest is quite a feat.

Last night was our first on-stage session with the children. They did surprisingly well. There are several who came decidedly out of their shell once they climbed on stage and into the "Hansel and Gretel" world. I used to be like that - I had a hard time performing in a room filled with people I could see. I needed to raise that fourth wall before I felt comfortable being myself.

St. Louis has been my reward for enduring the last six months.

I Told You So!!!

Behold the following article I just found on line. It's stating the obvious I know, but finally out loud!

MIAMI TOPS AUTO CLUB LIST FOR RUDE DRIVERS

Stressed Miami drivers speed, tailgate and cut off other drivers so frequently that the city earned the title of worst road rage in a survey released Tuesday.

AutoVantage, an automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance, also listed Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston among the top five cities for rude driving.

Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta were rated as the cities with the most courteous drivers, who were less likely to change lanes without signaling or swear at other motorists.

More than 2,000 adult drivers who regularly commute in 20 major metropolitan areas were asked to rate road rage and rude driving in telephone surveys between January and March. The survey conducted by Prince Market Research has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

Drivers owned up to some rude behavior themselves: Nearly all said they had talked on a cell phone while driving, and 64 percent acknowledged they occassionally drive too fast.

Young drivers and people with long commutes were found to be the most likely to react to an aggressive or rude driver. The top reactions included honking the horn, cursing or making an obscene gesture.

No distinct differences were found between male and female drivers.

"Human behavior is so involved with crashes at all levels," said Elly Martin, a spokeswoman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "(Aggressive driving) is a pattern of behavior drivers exhibit over and over."

AutoVantage, based in Norwalk, Conn., hopes to use the survey to educate people about how to resist road rage. Among its tips are remaining calm and not making eye contact with an angry driver.

Rain, Rain Go Away..

Right now I'm actually enjoying a bit of sun outside, where it's been raining nonstop for the last several days. Apparently, the dismal, abnormally cold weather is supposed to persist through the rest of the week. I was supposed to go to the zoo with my family on Mom's Day, but will instead make the drive to Rocheport to see them all on their home turf; no one wants to risk being rained upon.

Everyone's still in a sunny mood however. Thank heavens for sunny dispositions when it's cold and wet outside. We are continuing to have great rehearsals. I directed a run yesterday while Michael was taking care of some business from his apartment, and everyone was highly present and taking direction very well. I love the constant thought processes that are evident every time we go through this opera. All of our singers have thought heavily about who they are playing and why they are making the decisions they do. Maria Zifchak, our Witch/Mother, is especially amazing to watch as she quickly transforms from a hurting mother to the saccharin equivalent of the devil incarnate.

My only complaint about this process thus far (and this is really picking nits, I must say) is that we've moved into the new space but are still being shuffled around a bit as the building continues to be finished and perfected. We'll be back in the old studios today, and then back in the new hall over the weekend. Such is the plight of being such a small, together show. If this is the only thing to complain about . . . well . . . we're doing alright.

My best friend came down to visit for a couple of days on Tuesday and we had a great night of popcorn, liquer and "Brokeback Mountain." We finally broke down (no pun intended) and rented the movie. I had been somewhat reluctant to see it because I find that the hype never lives up to what it's trying so desperately to sell. I must say, I liked the film, though it led itself to a few jokes between friends as we watched. Everyone told me I would cry at the end and I didn't. I certainly empathized with the two men, but it frustrated me to see them treating their families so badly because of their pain with each other. It's very human, but I still hate that pain begets pain.

Suffice to say, I'm glad I saw it.

So, I'm off to a day of costume meetings and cover rehearsals. I'm sure there will be much more to recount later.

Proactive Puppets and Other Observations From the Weekend

So, a friend just sent me a link to this great ranting letter that Jeff Whitty, writer of Broadway's "Avenue Q," wrote to Jay Leno regarding offensive gay jokes. I thought the letter was very well put and important to get out there. I was glad someone like Jeff Whitty (with the apropos last name) had the guts and gumption to write it and THEN - the harder part - send it. Apparently it is causing quite a stir.

My favorite quote:

"When I think of gay people, I think of a brave group that has made tremendous contributions to society, in arts, letters, science, philosophy, and politics. I think of some of the most hilarious people I know. I think of a group that has served as a cultural guardian for an ungrateful and ignorant America."

Bravo Jeff! I've linked to his website through the title of this post. He talks about how suprised he was at the public reaction to the letter. He wrote it in a moment of frustration, and a few forward clicks later it's floating endlessly in cyberspace, conjuring heated response on both sides of the issue. I love that he qualifies himself on his website by saying that he loves a good gay joke, of course with the "good" in italics.

It's the tired old stereotypes that perpetuate bigotry.

In other moments of humor and/or quiet thoughtfulness: I'm staying with one of the co-chairs of the season gala for Opera Theatre St. Louis, and so I had the opportunity to go and hob-nob over the weekend. It was a great event, well organized and actually fun, which sometimes really isn't the case. I think perhaps the greatest aspect was the fact that the food was pit barbecue: ribs, brisket, creamed spinach, coleslaw and cornbread. It was delicious but messy, so we were provided with a huge white bib bearing the OTSL logo. What a people-watcher's delight to look around the room at all of these people dressed to the nines in tuxedos, gowns and silky wraps, with a white paper bib tied around their neck and their fingers full of rich, red barbecue sauce. It defined the evening and brought everyone out of their shells immediately. You cannot be stuffy and eat messy finger food at the same time; it just doesn't work.

Backtracking a bit, "Hansel and Gretel" was lucky enough to be the first show to move into the brand new rehearsal space. It was terribly exciting to have our first couple of rehearsals in this pristine room with sky-high ceilings, beautiful laminate floors and great, over-stuffed office chairs to roll around in. I was actually a bit taken back at the beginning of the rehearsal when I couldn't hear a thing Michael was saying as he led Leah Wool and Saundra DeAthos through their staging on the newly taped floor. It was soon after that I realized that the room was so large and live, and I was sitting so much farther away than in the tiny room we were in formerly, that his quiet direction didn't carry far enough for me to pick up. I ended up having to scooch my whole table closer to be able to write and listen at the same time.

Our stage manager was excited because she could place Maestro Lumpkin the exact distance from the singers that he will be in the house. What a luxury to have a room big enough to accomodate the entire stage space as well as the entire pit space. We are languishing in the vastness, the cleanliness and the acoustic bliss.

My time in St. Louis just keeps getting better and better.

Tiny Operas for Tiny People

I'm really enjoying working on a small opera in St. Louis. We have a cast of six plus children, and under two hours worth of music. The music is delicate and beautiful, the content is precious, and I am having a great time. It's such a change from the hectic whirlwind that was Miami. I was so stressed there too often and I feel on top of things here. This afternoon we will do our first stumble through of the entire opera. This is our fifth day of rehearsal.

Only one other time have I been party to an opera that went up so quickly. When I put up "Akhnaten" in France, there were two of us who knew the opera very well and we put the whole thing up (minus the two chorus sequences) in a week. It left ample time for clarification and embroidery and we were ecstatic and quite pleased with ourselves. This opera is a new production, however, so to see it gel so quickly is incredibly satisfying. It really stems from a director who knows what he's doing and six incredibly smart singers. They can put movement in their bodies without fuss and have a retention that is rare in people trying to put voice and body together. It's been a joy from start to finish watching their characters take shape.

I also have to mention Bill Lumpkin, our young maestro. I love watching conductors work in general, with their sweeping arm motions and intense facial expressions, but Maestro Lumpkin is especially enjoyable to observe. He is quite kinetic, conducting with his entire body. He knows the music so well that he often abandons his music stand and stool, stands out in front of all of us at the center mark, and conducts entirely from memory. I love watching his hands catching the upbeat of Humperdink's dance rhythms as his lower body dances back and forth as well. He leads the music forward with every muscle in his body and you feel that the music is actually being produced through him. Sometimes he plops down at the piano with his baton in his mouth and plays out perfectly, exactly what he was discussing earlier. I think he is an incredible talent.

This show has potential to be something quite special. I'm, for once, sad I won't be around for the run.

Welcome Party

Our cast was welcomed to St. Louis in a blinding rain storm last night. Good wine, food, little gingerbread men, and a lot of laughter after a cheerful but exhausting day, the lighting flashed huge strobe-like through the windows as we all sat around and prepared for three weeks of push to the final goal of opening night.

I was reintroduced to some connections I forgot I had. Found out I'd worked with the conductor before and we were both ecstatic to learn that we looked familiar to each other for a reason. While the rest of the world lives in six degrees of separation, the opera world lives generally in one or two.

More later when I have longer than ten minutes at my computer.