I'm in a New York state of mind

I got back from NYC. I had a good time but it was time to be home.

I left Friday Evening so I could spend the weekend with some friends before it was all work. I stayed with my great friend Roy from college. He lives in a five story walk up right in midtown. A great location and apartment. Roy, Nancy, and I went to brunch the next day and shopping at H&M for my nephiews. On Sunday Nancy and I went and saw MEMPHIS. The singing and dancing was awesome!!! Another awesome note is that the OBAMAS were there!!! Not Mr. President but the lovely ladies were. It was a neat experience and neat that the audience reacted so positive to them. I was also able to meet up with my old NYC roomates Lyndy and Jeromy for a drink and catch up. I just love them!

Monday was the day to catch up with people. We had the MTWichita Open House where everyone came by to say hello. It was so nice to see people I haven't seen in a year and to catch up with them. After Monday it was work work work by day! I was the monitor for the auditions. I checked people in, answered questions, and just dealt with the divas! All the auditioners were very nice this year, so that helped a lot.

By night we were able to see shows and eat dinner at some fun places. My favorite of course was BECCO. If you go to NYC go there for some great Italian Food!! We also went to ARIBA ARIBA- so fun!

Here are my reviews of the shows I saw:

MEMPHIS-loved the overall show. The choreography was so great and inspirational. Overall feel of the show I loved!

NEXT TO NORMAL- Awesome show!!! Loved all the people in it. Story was great and ended on a hopeful note. I didn't realize that it would. Everyone kept telling me "look out for the surprise ending". There was not a surprise ending. Rog and I figured out the surprise very quickly and enjoyed the performance and the music. The stage was set up really neat also.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY- Could have lived without seeing this show. My favorite part was the curtain. They used it in a really neat way. And the trick with the tassle on the curtain was neat too. In one scene they had really cool lights and I said "Those are David Neville lights for sure!" I guess it doesn't speak much of the show when my favorite part was the curtain and lights!

COME FLY AWAY- LOVED LOVED LOVED the dancing!!! If you go in knowing you are seeing a dance concert and not a musical you will love it. So much technique, style, and passion up there. I liked their personalities and execution. I would see it a few more times if given the chance!

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM- What a great evening of theatre! Lots of clips from his life and interviews about the shows he has worked on. It was very personal and a neat experience to be a part of. Barbara Cook's performance of SEND IN THE CLOWS and Norm Lewis' BEING ALIVE will stay with me for a long time to come. It was a very memorable evening with lots of great performances!

AMERICAN IDIOT-I didn't realize that I was going to a rock concert. After the opening number Roger and I realized we should have put some sun screen on, brought some sun glasses, and ear plugs! It just wasn't my cup of tea. I thought the T.V.s all over the back of the stage was cool. Probably my least favorite show I have seen. But if you are a GREEN DAY fan and are familiar with the CD go see it! You will probably have a great time. Oh and GREEN DAY was there at the theatre also.

PROMISES PROMISE- I really enjoyed this show a lot. We have three alumni in it from MTWichita. It was the first paid preview and we had AWESOME SEATS!!! They turned the overture into a dance and it worked really well. Sean Hayes was great in the part. Kristin Chenowith was well.......Kristin. I am familiar with the old choreography from Michael Bennett for TURKEY LURKEY and I loved it. This version of TURKEY LURKEY was good, just nothing like the original. So I was a little sad about that. We got to go backstage and talk to some people. Sean said hello to us!!! haha. Everyone involved with the production should be proud and I hope it runs for a long long time!!!

THE FANTASTICKS- We had an alum Edd Watts in it. It was a great production of the show and he did a great job. It is not my favorite show in the world, but it was done very well.

I was inspired and ready to teach and choreograph for another year! It was LONG DAYS AND SHORT NIGHTS!!! But I loved it and love my job! Peace Be With You!

Why are the Arts in our schools important?

Cuts are being made to the public schools here in Wichita. One of the first things cut are always the Arts. Why is this you may ask? Through my research I have found that studies have been taken for years about students who take classes in the Arts and those who don't. In every result the student who has taken classes in the Arts gets higher scores in every area of testing. How can this be? The Arts help students become critical thinkers. The student digs deep inside themself and takes risks emotionally. They put their soul out there on the stage, in their painting, or through the instrument they are playing. They put themselves on the line. They develop their imaginations and creative thinking process. These are things that will benefit them in whatever field of occupation they choose to go into. Marketing, Teaching, or business....you name it and you need to have critical thinking skills along with being creative. Through the Arts we are able to fine tune what we are feeling and discover a sense of accomplishment.

To establish a relationship and an appreciation with the Arts we must introduce the youth while they are in elementary school. Through the creative process of the teachers and from being introduced to art and music the student will begin to use what they are exposed to in their everyday classroom work and life. They won't even realize that what they have been exposed to is affecting them.

The things I remember from elementary and middle school are involved with Art. I remember my mom coming to school to teach us the process of cleaning sheep's wool, coloring it, and using the spinning wheel. I remember having competitions to see who could get the longest finger weaving chain. I remember making coil bowls and using the kilm. I remember having a daily news show in my 5th grade class and presenting it live every month for the whole school over the t.v. I remember making wire trees in Art class along with a glass candy dish in shop class. I remember choreographing for the schools dance company. I remember being the lead my senior year in the school musical.

The Arts are probably one of the most important things in my life. In High School I chose to attend a performing arts high school because it was so important to me. I then chose to major in Dance because I knew what it meant to me and how I couldn't see myself doing anything else with my life. I then took my job at Music Theatre because I believe in the Arts with all my soul. I believe that my small part in working with the youth in Wichita will establish a respect and an appreciation for the Arts. I hope that it will become something that is of value and treated with the dignity that it should.

Now if we can only get the school districts to think that.........