St. Bernadette Parish Play Production presents their summer musical “The Prince and the Pauper-a new musical” with a cast of 63 actors, adults and children from 13 Catholic Parishes.  Performances are July 23-26 at 7:30 pm and two matinees Sat. and Sun July 26 and 27 at 2 pm.  Tickets are:  Adults $10, Children (10 and under) $5.  To purchase tickets or for more info call St. Bernadette Parish Office 731-4694 ext 302

Two events I highly recommend this weekend.  First:

 Destination World Fare

Saturday March 29, 2008
6:00 PM
Location:     Omaha Community Playhouse, "Destination: World's Fare" Benefit on Saturday, March 29, at the Playhouse. The event will start at 6:00 PM with a Patron party, followed by "General Boarding" from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. Guests will be traveling the world in search of the finest cuisine and entertainment, all while supporting the largest community theater in the country. Destinations will include: Athens, Coney Island, Frankfurt, Madrid, Toyko and Venice. Each destination will feature cuisine donated by some of Omaha's top restuarants along with exciting local entertainment. Other activities for the evening include carnival games, karaoke, flamenco dancers, a caricature artist, beer tasting and an electrifying performance hosted by The Weisenheimers Comedy Troupe featuring some of the Playhouse's most beloved performers.  For ticket information call 553-4890 ext 145 or go online at www.omahaplayhouse.com

and second:

"Some People: Great Songs of the Musical Theatre," North Side Christian Church, 5555 Larimore Ave., 8 p.m. Saturday. Optional preshow dinner at 6:45 p.m. $24 dinner and show, $12 show only. Information: 301-1370..
• Singer-actress Mary Carrick, who has sung with the Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha chorus and has a long list of musical-theater credits, presents an evening of show tunes, including numbers from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," Sondheim's "Follies," Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and "Spamalot." Carrick performed this same program in February at Omaha on Stage. Todd Brooks accompanies on the keyboards.

GO GO GO!!

It was such a big weekend for a mom.  My daughter Mackenzie had the lead in the Kansas State production of "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds." (Now that is a title!)  It is a Pulitzer Prize winning play that was made into a film directed by Paul Newman and starring his wife Joanne Woodward in the role Mackenzie played, Beatrice.  Beatrice is a middle aged single mother of two teenaged daughters.  She has become embittered with her life and lashes out.  The character is at turns repulsive and tragic.  Hugely demanding and such an honor to play, Mackenzie was great to watch.  Sorry for bragging about this but it was so special.  Oddly, I did this play when I was in college and was exactly Mackenzie's age...but I played the much smaller role of the daughter Ruth. 

Watching out children grow into the people you never dreamed they could be is so surreal.  It is impossible to describe but parents who have seen it happen know what I mean.  You face so many struggles and disappointments that life sometimes deals, but it's great moments like this that affirm so much.  Beyond that, watching those around her respond so positively to her personally is even more rewarding.  Just a great weekend for a Mom. Thanks for indulging my joy.

Stephanie Pilypaitis performed live on the show this morning.  I am always so in awe of her talent in terms of performance and songwriting.  I often listen to her music in my day.  If you want to share in this check out the info below and enjoy!!

www.myspace.com/stephanieponline
(go here for upcoming shows and news)

search "stephanie pilypaitis" on itunes

CDs also available at:

Homer's

Crane Coffees

www.cdbaby.com

When I was a little girl on a Kansas farm I pretended to win a Tony award on Broadway and would give an acceptance speech. Time went on, I left the farm, got a theater degree and ended up on the radio here in Omaha.  No Broadway show for me.  But when "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" came through at the Orpheum I was asked to be a "celebrity" speller.  Wow...my chance at last...or as close as I will ever come, to be in a Broadway show.  Night of the show...I was so nervous!  The show crew gave us a quick rundown of what would happen and I returned to my seat to be called on stage.  My name was called and I was down the aisle and up the stairs and ON STAGE at the Orpheum! Surreal!  The cast was so kind and intense! It was thrilling to be so close to such talented performances.  I was afraid I would bomb out on the first word...but it was an easy one..jihad. Still in.  Suddenly up and dancing and moving, wow.  Then word two..atheist.  I stopped in the middle of spelling it, convinced it could not be that easy. Then I got it.   Spinning on stage now on the bleachers with the cast member who was babysitting me saying "hold on, tight!"   Then another word..flugaloom.  It was so funny and I got it right.  Shocked and stunned and wanting to get me off the stage ( I was the last guest speller up there) they gave me another word immediately...xerophthamiology (I think).  I started spelling...x..e...r...o.  stopped.  I knew the next letter was p but I said t.  They sang me off the stage with many hugs from the comfort counselor (very cute guy) and a juice box.  I went back to my seat to high fives along the way and cheers.  Amazing!  It may not be a Tony award or an actual Broadway show appearance but it was an experience I will never forget!

I saw two shows recently.  First Ralston High did "Zombie Prom".  I know the Playhouse had done it before but it was the first time I had seen it. I LOVED it!!!!!!!  This production was absolutely  delightful.  So many people write off high school productions but I'm telling you, as a person who has seen major shows in NYC and London that these shows are surprising in their talent depth and production values.  I have a strong personal connection to Ralston...but I still think they do phenomenal work! Bravo!!

Second, I saw the Omaha Community Playhouse production of  "Thoroughly Modern Millie".   Total fun.  The choreography is stunning, the vocals will give you goosebumps and the visuals are great.  If you saw the Broadway production you'll miss the "Tap Activated" elevator but otherwise this is the professional level production you've come to expect at the Playhouse.  I was particularly fond of the dance ensemble....the tapping is fabulous!! The show runs through Sept.

And just a personal note to audience members...please be aware that you can effect the enjoyment of those around you in the theater. First...TURN YOUR CELLPHONE COMPLETELY OFF!! Do not text during the show or check the time or if you have messages.  Turn it off and put it away or better  yet...leave it in your glove compartment in the parking lot.    Also, if you chew gum (I know I'm particularly sensitive to this.) please chew quietly with your mouth closed or better yet not at all.   Chomping, smacking, popping and general gum mouth gymnastics can be heard by those around you and can ruin the ambiance of the production.  If you have audience pet peeves feel free to click on the comments above and share them with all!

A preview by the way...Westside High is in rehearsal for "Beauty and the Beast" which opens in late October.  We'll have performers on the morning show...stayed tuned for details!

Here is my picture from "Jekyll and Hyde"at Ralston Community Theatre.  You can go to www.ralstontheatre.org for information and to make reservations...or the ticket line is open at 898-3545. 
Ryan Pivonka as Dr. Jekyll, Shelby Seivers as Emma Carew, Donna Garst as Lady Savage, and Glo Goodwin as Lady Beaconsfield.

Tickets are now available online for the Ralston Community Theatre production of "Jekyll & Hyde".

The show opens July 6th and runs for three weekends.  You can get all the details on location and showtimes and order tickets at www.ralstontheatre.org

I'm having a great time doing the show.  There is some amazing talent.  Its, of course, a bit dark but the music is beautiful.  The set will be amazing.

Check it out!

Just back from New York City where Mackenzie and I were so fortunate to see three Tony nominated shows on Broadway right before the awards were given.  We saw Spring Awakening.  It is an incredible show with something to say through an innovative rock song book.  We bought the cast recording on the spot and have been listening to it alot. Definitely requires the parental warning...strong language and adult themes. It took home a record 8 Tony's including best musical. It had my vote.

Also saw Tony winner Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon.  It was an amazing show and Frank Langella channeled Nixon. I felt his Tony speech was one of the best ever given too.

Finally we saw the Kander and Ebb show, "Curtains" starring Tony winner David Hyde Pierce.  It's an old fashioned  big old musical with great choreography and costumes.  Its a crowd favorite but we didn't find it in same league as "Caberet" or "Chicago". David Hyde Pierce was a delight.

BTW,  Several Omaha area natives are now  working actors on Broadway. We talked with Brian Collier from Council Bluffs. He is a swing dancer with "Mary Poppins" and performed on the Tony's.  Nice guy.