Emperor's New Clothes

Well, the run is over and I am so proud of this show! We had a near perfect cast, a great group of writers and producers and the best directing experience I have ever had. I will really miss this group of kids.

Chloe (been with the program for a couple years) and Jenna, my perfect production assistant

Some of our ensemble players

The Ladies of Anahalla. These were Brynn's favorite characters.

Alexis and Kelsha--sisters

Tatum, Ali and Sarah, my wonderful con artists!

Joe and Tyler--two of the few boys in the cast. We need more boys to be actors!

Forty Fords

Click on the link for some fun. I got about 35% of them correct. See how many you can get!

http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/fortyfords/index.html

The Power of Addiction

My favorite dance.

Great Movie!

Lindsay and I saw this movie the other night and loved it! We highly recommend getting it from Netflix.

80's Mixtape Pt. 2

Okay, folks! The finale of my 80's mixtape. This has been so much fun because of the memories it has brought back. It's amazing the emotions that can come to you from listening to a piece of music. Let me know if I missed any of your favorites.

"Ghostbusters"-Ray Parker Junior 1984 (What kid in the 80's didn't love this movie and song?)
"If You Leave"-OMD 1986 (My favorite John Hughes theme song)
"Only A Lad"-Oingo Boingo 1981 (My parents hated that I loved this album)
"You Can Call Me Al"-Paul Simon 1987 (I've never been a Paul Simon fan, but I loved this song because of the music video with Chevy Chase--couldn't get enough of it)
"Bizarre Love Triangle"-New Order 1986 (Hard to decide what New Order song is the best, but I think I'll go with this one)
"Troy"-Sinead O'Connor 1987 (this song brings me back to my junior high friends--I miss them)
"Cloudbusting"-Kate Bush 1985 (love, love, love her)
"In Your Eyes"-Peter Gabriel 1986 (so many awesome songs from the album So, but I went with this one because I always dreamed of having a John Cusack moment with this song)
"Hungry Like a Wolf"-Duran Duran 1983 (because of the music video)
"Here Is the House"-Depeche Mode 1983 (my parents REALLY hated that I loved this album--and by the way, those weren't my reasons for liking the music)
"In My Wildest Dreams"-Belinda Carlisle 1987 (the movie Mannequin is still one of my all time favorites)
"Head Like A Hole"-Nine Inch Nails 1989 (I shouldn't love them, but Trent Reznor is a musical genius)
"Every Breath You Take"-The Police 1983 (the other song I listened to thinking about all the girls I couldn't get)
"Lady in Red"-Chris DeBurgh 1987 (I went through a weird Working Girl phase)

and finally...

Every song from Cure's album Disintegration. I already listed this album on my perfect albums list and it's so hard to choose just one. But if I have to for this mixtape I'll go with "Pictures of You." I would listen to it and look at a picture of my junior high "girlfriend" Connie. I can still describe to you everything about the picture. Wow! Seriously?

80's Mixtape Pt. 1

I will be listing my favorite 80's songs over the next two days. They are in no particular order, just a mix of the songs I loved to listen to. I wish I was skilled enough to list them with links so that you could also listen to them, but alas I have neither the time nor the knowledge. Look em up if you wish. Enjoy!

"Just Like Heaven"-The Cure 1987 (best emo band of all time)
"Candle in the Wind"-Elton John 1988 (LOVED Marilyn Monroe-I had posters of her all over my room)
"Cruel Summer"-Bananarama 1984 (Karate Kid of course)
"Love Machine"-Wham! 1983 (THE family album while traveling England)
"Take On Me"-A-Ha 1985 (Only loved it because of the music video)
"Borderline"-Madonna 1984 (Best Madonna song ever)
"Good Enough"-Cindy Lauper 1985 (The Goonies soundtrack)
"With or Without You"-U2 1987 (listened to this in junior high and thought about all the girls I couldn't get)
"Like to Get to Know You Well"-Howard Jones 1985 (Better Off Dead soundtrack)
"Wishing Well"-Terrence Trent Darby 1988 (I think I was the only Darby fan alive)
"Ana Ng"-They Might Be Giants 1988 (GREAT song from an awesome album)
"Beat It"-Michael Jackson 1983 (I think I knew the entire dance from the music video)
"Heart and Soul"-Huey Lewis and the News 1983 (Best song from a band that had way too many awesome songs)
"In the Air Tonight"-Phil Collins 1981 (Best drum solo break ever! Total Miami Vice memories)
"Cult of Personality"-Living Colour 1989 (So good!)

I think only about 15 songs could fit on a mixtape. So tomorrow I will complete my list with one more tape!

80's mixtape!

Over the next couple of days I am going to list my perfect 80's mixtape. It will be a mix of my favorite songs from the 80's (most of which were heavily influenced by Miami Vice, John Hughes movies, MTV, my sister Jani, and hanging out with my junior high crew). I will not be listing 80's music I discovered in the 90's--strictly music that I listened to in the 80's. Most of it holds up really well, but some are kind of embarrassing. See you tomorrow!

Scary

So I wake up last night at 2:30 in the morning because the hall light is on. I go out to see what's up and Brynn is lying in the middle of the hall dead asleep. I put her back in bed and then discover that EVERY light in the house is on. Luckily all the doors were still locked so she never made it outside, but still kinda freaked me out. Scared me a little, but also made me laugh.

Funny Boy

This is our funny nephew River. Enjoy!

Emperor's New Clothes

Book by Ryan Radebaugh. Music by David Smith and Cody Hale. Lyrics by David Smith and Brittni Smith. Directed by Ryan Radebaugh and Brittni Smith.

Please come and see my new show "The Emperor's New Clothes." It is our summer youth production at Hale Center Theater Orem. These kids are fabulous and I am so proud of the work they have done!

It's an exciting thing for me because this is the first full-length script I have ever written. The show opens Wednesday, July 20 and runs through the 29. The performance starts at 2:00 and each ticket is under $10. I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!

So Funny!

Family and Fishing

Brynn and her cousin Ivy. They met for the first time a couple weeks ago and we couldn't separate them.

Max and Aiden--also inseparable.

Fishing at Gooseberry. Adam caught...we stopped counting at 5.

Adam and Grandpa Larry--the mastermind behind the whole fishing expedition.

Kam the fisherman.

Even I caught one!!

Bon Iver

If you get a chance, pick up the new album from Bon Iver--listen to it about 5 times in a row and then send dark chocolate my way for the excellent recommendation. Pure bliss!

Honorable Mentions

These character voices didn't quite make the top five, but they were very close:

John Candy-Wilber from The Rescuers Down Under
Mel Gibson-Rocky from Chicken Run
Michael Keaton-Ken from Toy Story 3
Robin Williams-Genie from Aladdin

Best Animated Voices Conclusion

Number 1 absolutely goes to Eddie Murphy's performance of Mushu from Mulan!

 

I don't know why this performance is giving second billing to his Donkey character from Shrek. Donkey is great, but Mushu is historical. So many great moments and great lines. I could watch this performance over and over and never tire of it!

Best lines:
Mulan: [Mulan and Mushu escape back to shore from Yao, Ling, and Chin-Po] Boy, that was close.
Mushu: No! [brushes his teeth] That was vile! You owe me big. 

Mushu: [tossing Cri-Kee from the porridge] Hey, get outta there! You gonna make people sick!

Mushu: So a couple of guys don't rinse out their socks. Picky, picky, picky. Well, myself, I kinda like that corn chip smell.

Mushu: Did you see those Huns? They popped out of the snow, like daisies!

Mushu: You're lucky? Do I look like a sucker to you?
[Cri-Kee chirps again]
Mushu: What you mean, a loser? How 'bout if I pop one of your antennas off, and throw it across the yard? Then who's the loser, me or you? 

Best Animated Voices Pt. 4

Number 2 is Steve Carell's performance of Gru in Despicable Me.

Love this movie and love this performance. No idea what country Gru comes from, but the accent is one of a kind. So many nuances and hilarious moments to his performance. Jason Segal as Vector is equally great in this film. I could watch this movie over and over! Way too many lines to choose from...

Best lines:  
Gru: (showing drawn plans on cards) I shrink the moon, I grab the moon, I sit on the toilet bowl... what?

Gru: Uh, question. What are these?
Dr. Nefario: A dozen boogie robots. Boogie! Look at this! Watch me.
Gru: Cookie robots! I said cookie robots! Ah, why... why are you so... old?

Gru: Your dog has been leaving bombs in my yard.
Fred McDade: Oh you know dogs... they go where they want!
Gru: Not if they're dead.

Gru: I don't like this book. This is going on forever.

Best Animated Voices Pt. 3

Number 3 goes to James Woods' performance of Hades in Hercules.

There's no way he kept to the script on this one. I don't think writers can be so brilliant. So many great moments and funny lines. I thought this performance was just about perfect!

Hercules: You like making deals. Take me in Meg's place.
Hades: Hmm. The son of my hated rival trapped forever in a river of death.
Hercules: Going once...
(Best Line): Hades: Is there a downside to this?

Best Animated Voices Pt. 2

Number 4 goes to Shia Labeouf's performance of Cody Maverick from Surf's Up.

I loved this movie! I thought the concept was so great. I have always said that if I could switch places with another living person it would be Laird Hamilton. I just love the whole surfing world. Shia was the perfect choice for this role. He nails everything about it. The special features on the dvd reveal that a lot of the performance between him and Jeff Bridges (equally awesome) were improvised.

Best line: Cody: I don't understand why everybody have to be so judgmental. I understand why mom's judgmental. I think it's 'cause she cares, *partially*. Think it's also partially 'cause, everyone else is lookin' at her like, "Hey, Cody's just a bum." "Cody's this," "Cody's that," "Cody's this."
[pause]
Cody: Cody's me, bro. Let me be me. When is that going to start?