Do you ever go into something thinking you're going to hate it and then come out thinking it was pretty amazing?  I love things like that.  It just shows that there's always a little surprise around every corner.  That happened twice this weekend, and in both instances it was about the theatre.

Yesterday, I was grumpy about having to travel all the way into Washington DC to see a show based on a movie that I've never seen: Mean Girls.  It sounded like a good idea when I bought the tickets, but I kept forgetting about it and there were other things I wanted to be doing instead.  However, I realized that the show was pretty adorable.  It reminded me a lot of Legally Blonde.  It wasn't going to change the world, but it was a fun way to spend 2.5 hours.  Also, it was trying to spread a message of kindness which I'm a huge fan of.

Then there was today, a show that I had no desire to see at all.  It was a community theatre production in a church basement.  I've not had great experiences in church basements, but I needed to go.  I think I've completely changed my mind on theatre performances in church basements.  It was hilarious!  I was stunned by the caliber of actors in the cast and even the production itself.  I'm so happy I went because who doesn't need a laugh on a gray November Sunday?

I can only hope that wonderful things continue to be just around the corner.  Friends make fun of me because of my optimism, however when things like this happen it's kind of hard not to be optimistic!

Happy Monday!

As Mondays go, today wasn't nearly as bad as other Mondays have been.  Other than the fact that it's finally chilly - though that does mean I can wear my new winter coat which is fun - tiny little good things happened to turn this Monday around.  Hopefully this means that the rest of the week will be lovely as well.

First up, a review I wrote made someone actually go see a show.  Last week, I saw Poe and all the Others at Annapolis Shakespeare Company and wrote about just how wonderful it was for BroadwayWorld.  And this evening, a friend that loves Poe thanked me for my review after she had seen the fabulous show.  Yay!

Then it was the continuation of the Black and White Challenge, which my friend Jennifer won by leaps and bounds.  I assumed she wouldn't do the challenge because it's just not her thing.  She in fact did choose not to by sending the Cat shaking his head No GIF, and then took a picture of her Cruella Deville leggings, with the tag "These in black and white times 7" Ha!  She won the challenge by far!

Lastly, even though I promised not to get all political anymore, it must be said that the best thing that happened today was Paul Manafort being arrested.  One can only hope they'll be more arrests imminently and we'll finally get a Presidential President.

Happy Halloween Eve!

Learning Things

Today was the first day of 2 classes that I'm taking.  And after 8 hours of learning things in 2 different classrooms - for the first time in about 10 years - I have to say I'm exhausted.  However, I loved both of the classes and I loved learning new things.  I'm one of those nerds that gets excited about taking classes.  I'm usually all for taking classes in things that have no bearing on what I'm doing right now. Though that gets a bit pricey, so I only actually take classes for my job or a future job.

In today's instance, the first class was on InDesign.  This program may help with my job, but the best part is that it will help with a possible new job in Publishing which is something I'd love to get into.

The second class is on Interior Design which is the first in a group of classes I'm taking in Theatre Design.  Hopefully this will help in writing about theatre and may possibly take off into a future in the theatre.  

The problem is that both classes are super interesting, but neither actually work together in regards to a new job.  For now, I'm loving just learning all the stuff.  Though, I'm still not sure I'm good at either of the subjects...Fingers crossed, aside from any future jobs, I'll at least do well.  

Book-ish

For about 18 months, I was reading ferociously.  I was averaging about 6 books a month.  There were so many books sitting on my shelf that needed to be read, and gosh darnit I was going to read them all.  And I loved it.  I missed a lot of television and movies, just reading my evenings away. Then somewhere around May, it just stopped.  I'm not sure what happened exactly.  But in the time since I haven't finished a single book.  I've started about a dozen, and I've read maybe 25 pages of them all, and then just stopped for whatever reason. I still have tons of books on my shelf - even more since I still insist on purchasing them.  I just can't make myself pay attention to them long enough to finish them.

That is until this week, I've finally tucked into a book that I love so much that I'm dying to get home at the end of the day to read it. Not surprisingly, it's about 2 of my very favorite things - theatre and travel.  It's called "The Little Theatre by the Sea" by Rosanna Ley.  It's so darn good!  I'm hooked.  I saw it in every bookstore in England, and didn't want to buy it because it's fairly fat and I'm a terrible packer.  However, after about the fifth time I put it back on the shelf, I just said the heck with it, and decided to stuff it in my suitcase (after purchasing it first, obviously!).  

I'm so glad I did.  Of course even though it got me hooked on reading again, it's also gotten me hooked on wanting to travel again - and after England, I'm poor so I need to start saving up again.  Always a bummer - where are you winning lottery ticket?!  Anyway, if you're into reading, theatre design and travel to Sardinia, I highly recommend this book!  She has tons more travel-centric tomes as well, that I'm sure will be taking up room on my shelf sooner or later since I'm back into reading again!

Noises Off

I just got home from one of the funniest performances I've seen in years!  Noises Off at the Everyman Theatre in Baltimore was just so much fun.  I've been doing some work with them for the last few weeks, but tonight was the first time I had the chance to see them perform.  Then I was treated to a Cast Conversation after the fact with the lovely company members that had spent the previous 2.5 hours making everyone laugh very, very hard.  Such a great way to spend an evening!

Laura Bush Killed a Guy...

Apparently...

I saw a play today that was literally 90 minutes of a woman doing a Laura Bush impression. This play was called Laura Bush Killed a Guy.  It was experimental to say the least.  However, as I learned over the course of the 90 minutes, she actually did kill a guy...accidentally in a car accident when she was 17.  Who knew?  Other people I suppose, because as I also learned, there was a joke in Family Guy about it, and then people who saw that episode googled the whole instance.  They googled so much, that it's the 3rd thing that pops up when you google her name - according to the fake Laura Bush in today's show anyway.

So yeah, that's how I spent my Sunday afternoon.  I have to say, it wasn't awful.  It was pretty impressive that this woman remembered everything she was supposed to say over the course of the 90 minutes, with no other actors on stage to help. There were also cookies - Laura Bush Cowboy Cookies.  Before the show we were told we could make them and bring them.  We chose not to, however others chose to make them. And as luck would have it, they were delicious!  

After about 90 minutes of fake Texas accent, and lots of sugar from the cookies, I did start to get a little antsy.  But all in all, the show was pretty great.  What was most fascinating was that the space held about 30 people.  I'm not sure how this show is supposed to make money with room enough for only 30 attendees, but I suppose in this type of show, it's just the "art" that's important.  

Friday Five

1. It's been a rough week full of not feeling very well and lots of work stuff, but I'm hoping to get back on track now that we have a 3 day weekend.  The fact that an 8 week course that we've been working on at work is finally over, and that Monday is Memorial Day and work is closed, makes me a very happy girl in deed!  Bring on some relaxation and fun!

2. I love, love, love the idea of a Pretty Woman musical.  I knew it was coming, but I didn't realize they were this far in the process.  Hopefully, they'll cast it with amazing people though for the life of me I don't know who they should get.  Based on their description of the Richard Gere part, I'd say David Tennant.  Who else do you know that is quite so instantly likable? : )

3. This week in Tony coverage saw the Featured Actresses out for a group lunch at a lovely Midtown restaurant, and the Featured Actors posing for an epic selfie together at the luncheon.  At what other award show do you ever see the nominees all pulling for each other like they do in the theatre?  It's ridiculously fabulous and uplifting to see!

4. Yes  I do know that the Keepers on Netflix is unbelievably disturbing, but I also know that it was ridiculously compelling.  I was hooked after the first episode.  I'm not sure I buy some of the things that were said, but the researchers really did their homework on this case.  And since it doesn't look like the police are investigating, it's a good thing they've invested so much time into finding justice.

5. The fact that vacation is just about a month a way, is giving me everything I need to power through the next month.  It's so close I can taste it, however there's so much to do between now and then.  I'm just gonna put my head down and get things done, because London is definitely calling...

Stoop Storytelling Fun

This evening I attended the Stoop Storytelling event at Everyman Theatre, and I just have to say that it was funnier than I had even imagined it would be.  The theme of the evening - since the Everyman is currently doing Noises Off - was The Show Must Go On.  So all 8 performers told a story about doing live theatre.  Some were actors, and some were crew but all 8 were hysterically funny.  

During intermission, the organizers chose 2 volunteers and gave them 3 minutes to tell their own stories. In instances like this, these volunteers are often not so great. However, the 2 gentlemen that told their stories, were as funny as the performers themselves.  They could not have been better chosen for the evening.

All in all, I came away in awe of these performers, and a little jealous that they have the nerve to do something like this while I do not.  Even if I could overcome the massive amount of stage fright I have, I wouldn't have a clever story to tell.  Maybe I'll work on that piece of the puzzle first.  That seems a lot easier than overcoming the fear of people in general...

Stories - Telling

Tomorrow, I'll be attending a Stoop Storytelling Event.  These events are sort of like the Mortified performances I've attended in the past.  Regular people are given the microphone and tell a story on a particular topic.  In the case of Stoop Storytelling, the participants audition and when they're chosen, they get to workshop their story with other artists first, to make it the best it can be.  And then they're given 7 minutes to perform it in front of the audience.

This entire thing is so, so very interesting to me, while being equal parts terrifying.  Never in a million years, would I be the kind of person that would say "I have a super interesting story, that you just have to listen to." Even if I was abducted by aliens and dropped on the planet Mars for a quick vacation - I'd still avoid telling my story in front of anyone.  There are just so many unknowns to the whole thing.  What if your story isn't as interesting you think it is?  What if you forget the whole point to your story and you lose your train of thought?  What if your story isn't finished when the buzzer hits 7 minutes?  What if you say something completely embarrassing?

You see?  Way too many things can go wrong in a situation like this.  That's why I much prefer writing.  I can read and re-read what I've written before anyone gets the chance to see it.  I can make sure it's correct and I can take as long as I want to getting it right.  And if it's not as interesting as I think it might be, readers can just stop reading, and most importantly, I'll never know.  Writing is just a much better medium for someone as neurotic and crowd-shy as I am.

However, I give hundreds of points to Gryffindor for anyone that is willing to get up in front of a crowd and tell their stories.  Because more often than not, the people willing to take that leap are so much more interesting than I could have hoped.  And I love watching them do their thing!

Unknown Territory

Today, courtesy of BroadwayWorld (look for the review later this week) I had the chance to visit the Vagabond Theatre in Fells Point to see The Odd Couple.  Neil Simon plays are always fun and funny, and this one was no different.  The acting and the setting were great.  Whenever I visit Fells Point, I always ponder why I don't visit there more often.  After the 15th time of rounding the block looking for a parking spot, I usually remember.  The parking is awful!  However, on such a beautiful day it was no wonder - everyone was out enjoying the beautiful weather and being on the waterfront!

Maybe, just maybe I'll get a little less annoyed this summer with the parking and head down there more often.  With all the circling of the block, I definitely found at least a dozen yummy restaurants to try!

The Strange got Stranger

Tonight I was locked into an old museum while people in steam punk gear showed me fake exhibits of artifacts from a different planet and others in creepy ghostish costumes wandered around and succeeded in creeping me the heck out by just existing near me.  This was my evening of being brace and open to new things....I lasted 45 minutes before I couldn't hold in the nervous laughter anymore and needed to escape before I exploded.

What I learned in this experience is that the new wave of interactive and immersive theatre is so not my thing, and that I'm most assuredly not a hipster so I'm not sure why I keep trying hipster things and expecting a different result. It's insanity on my part, I'm sure.

Tune into to BroadwayWorld this weekend for the whole story on my evening of the bizarre. I assure there's so much more to say....

Mortified Baltimore!

Last year, right around Valentine's Day I discovered Mortified! Baltimore.  This group gets together to share their most mortifying and embarassing stories about love, family, friends, and just about anything else you can think of. Last Valentine's Day the theme of the night was love, and I had never laughed so hard in all my life.  It was so funny, that I just knew I had to go again.  Unfortunately, every few months something would come up and I'd miss their engagement.

However, this year at Valentine's time again, I was able to make it work with my schedule and finally see these amazing people again.  And again, it was a night full of laughter and some cringing.  This year's theme again was love so all of the participants read from letters, or journals or book reports that they had written when they were little about being in love with first boyfriends or girlfriends, about first kisses or just about what they shouldn't be doing at camp.

What blows me away is the fact that these are just regular people that choose to try out and go through this process of sharing their most embarassing stories with the world.  I wouldn't even be able to read something I had written now in front of an audience, let alone something as cringe-worthy as a journal entry from 20 years ago.  But these people are gutsy and very funny and pretty darn awesome!  And maybe by watching them, a little of their gutsiness will rub off on me!

New Fun Stuff

I've been trying to figure out something clever to title this post, but apparently New Fun Stuff is as clever as I can get at 9:15 on a very long Monday...

Anyway, I've been working on a new project that I happen to think is pretty exciting. On New Year's Day I came across a post from Broadwayworld.com on Twitter.  The post said they were looking for regional writers.  In a rush of New Year, New Me excitement I grabbed 3 theater posts I had written and thought were pretty good and sent them along with my resume.  And a few days later, I got the good news - I had gotten the job!  Woohoo!  

Now I say job, but it's not really a job.  There's no payment which I'm ok with because the perks are pretty nice.  Often, I can get free tickets to shows in the area.  And the best part is that I'm discovering all sorts of fun regional theaters in the area that I never knew about. I'm also trying new plays and new experiences that I wouldn't have about a year ago.  It, of course, has only been about 2.5 weeks, but I'm having a blast. 

I've met some lovely people and seen some great shows.  I've learned some things about writing, critiquing and even just little things to make life easier.  For instance, a notebook that's larger than the tiny one I have will come in handy the next time I get thrown into an impromptu interview with a theater director.  Also, I need a business card.  Torn pieces of paper with my email written on them are not wholly professional. 

I've also learned what I don't want to be.  I'm not Ben Brantley of the New York Times. Shows aren't living and dying on my word.  The shows I'm reviewing are fun and people are having fun doing them.  I'm not there to criticize or put them down.  I'm as happy to see what they're doing, as they are to be doing the shows.  So no note taking during the show and no backbite-y comments.  That's totally not me!

So yep, there you have it.  There are master plans in my head where this could or couldn't take me - but for now I'm just enjoying it.  If you have any desire to read some of my articles, you can head over to BroadwayWorld.com and hit the Maryland Regional area.

#BeALight

Tonight I went out of my comfort zone and attended a Ghostlight Project (an awesome way to make theaters across the country open to all as a safe haven) event where I only knew one person.  It was scary and awesome at the same time.  I learned that I'm perfectly able to make small talk if everyone I'm talking to is lovely and kind.  I learned that there are about a million theater-ish things happening in Maryland that I know nothing about.  And I learned that theater critics are awful (that was my second choice for the title of this post...) What was only going to be an hour long event, turned into a good almost 5 hours.  I loved it and the people I was fortunate to chat with!  Here's to new adventures in 2017!  And fighting for kindness and hope!

Information vs. Sanity

I read someone's Twitter post today that perfectly summed up my life right now:

"I'm in a constant struggle between wanting to stay informed, and wanting to keep my sanity.."

With everything that's going on in politics, I feel this way constantly.  The second you log on to any form of social media - but most especially Twitter in my opinion - you're bombarded from every angle on new reports of just how bad the country has it.  There's always new links and new issues and new rumors.  And the worst part is that it's increasingly hard to tell what's real and what's fake.  When the real news is so outrageous, how does one tell it from the stuff someone made up?

This is what I worry the next 4 years (god, I hope it's only 4...) is going to be like.  And if it is, I (and I hope it's not just me...) won't be able to stand it.  The second I hear about something that's unfathomable to me, I have to vent.  And when I vent, I think I lose about 50 IQ points because I get myself so riled up, that I can't speak.  And that's just no good for anyone - just ask my family and friends.  

And while taking a step back from the madness might seem like a healthy thing to do, it's not really.  It may be healthy for me, but protesting the injustice is the only way we can make our voices heard. So stepping back completely may not be the most positive way through either. 

What is there to do then?  I suppose we can try to focus the energy we're exerting on reading quite possibly false posts, and really get informed.  I'm going to try to only read sources that are reputable.  I'm going to try to delete some of the accounts I follow on Twitter.  I know they think they're getting the word out, but the constant posting isn't helping matters.  And I'm going to get involved and participate in events that focus on equality and inclusivity.

First up is the Ghostlight Project - making theatre a safe place for all.  Just check out their website and see if any theater near you is participating tomorrow evening.  I can't wait to see what people coming together for a common goal can achieve!

The Front Page

I have so much more to say about my gorgeous October weekend in New York City which will definitely be written about this week, but tonight I thought I'd talk about the show we saw - The Front Page.  When this show was announced, the number of HUGE actor names in it was astounding.  Nathan Lane as the headliner was enough to draw a crowd, but then add John Slattery, John Goodman, Christopher MacDonald, Jefferson Mays, Holland Taylor, Joey Slotnick, Dann Florek, and another 8 guest stars from The Good Wife, and you have quite the big ticket show.  

Seeing as it was a limited engagement, and seeing that the cast was huge I assumed we wouldn't be able to grab tickets, but it would seem that my mom is even better at ticket buying than I am and we managed to acquire some seats.  Yay! Now let me go on record as saying I LOVE Nathan Lane.  I saw him in the original production of Producers but haven't been able to see him since.  So he was the major draw for me.  Also, I didn't read much about the play before hand, so I wasn't exactly sure what it was going to be about or that it was going to be shocking/vulgar. 

All of that being said, was it fabulous?  Yes and No.  The first act and a half dragged quite a bit.  It was literally 8 guys sitting in a room playing poker and answering phones in 1928. When 8 guys are all talking over each other, it's quite hard to figure out what the heck they're saying.  Also, because of the script, Nathan Lane doesn't come out until half way through the second act (of which there are 3 for a major shock to my system!)  As the NY Tmes said, things picked up a lot once he appeared.  He's such an amazing actor that he can carry pretty much anyone along and make you forget about the time.  He did the same again as an angry and slightly crazy newspaper editor.

John Slattery as another newspaper man was also very, very funny.  The NY Times said he was annoying but I thought he may have been the best part of the show.  He definitely gave Nathan Lane someone amazing to play off of.  As for the rest of the cast, they weren't anything super special. Don't get me wrong, they were funny and great, but nothing groundbreaking. 

All in all, after almost 3 hours, nothing much happened in the show.  There were some laughs and some great set decoration, but it's definitely not a show that I'm clamoring to see again.  Though, I'm very happy I did!  When again, is there going to be such a big name cast gathered together for something other than a big budget movie?  Thank you theater gods! Keep these awesome casts coming to Broadway.  We theater nerds get very excited when you do!  

Frankenstein Re-Hash

A few years ago, courtesy of National Theatre Live, I was able to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein. The premise for this show had Benedict and Jonny switching places each night - one would be the monster and one would be Dr. Frankenstein, then switch places the next night.  A ridiculous amount of work for the actors I'm sure and they handled it really well.  During that showing I saw Benedict as the Doctor and Jonny as the monster.  Both were astounding in their roles.  But here's the thing, the show itself was just weird.  

It was a really strange and gory way to tell the story, with some super cool creative effects thrown in for good measure.  So when my friend purchased tickets for the show again for this evening without asking me first, I was less than enthused.  I was actually secretly hoping she'd forget.  But unfortunately she didn't.  

Luckily, this time I saw the opposite casting of Benedict and Jonny so that's a good thing. But still, it's just weird man.  I just couldn't get into the way the story panned out.  I mean, it is Frankenstein so they kept the same bones to the story.  But the monster himself was super gory. Benedict did a great job and showing him learning, but I couldn't get past the make-up.  And Doctor Frankenstein, just didn't get much to do.  He had no redeeming qualities so you pretty much spent the entire show hating him.  

And then after 1.5 hours of this, the show just ends.  No resolution, no big fight.  Just the Doctor and the monster tramping off stage together in the snow (for some reason). Can you say bizarre?  As much as I like these 2 actors, 2 times was quite enough with for this play. No more "experimental" theater for me - I'll stick with the classic re-tellings thank you very much!

Weird & Weirder

Part of the "Try New Things in 2016" plan is saying yes when your friend calls and says, for instance, "Do you want to go see Sense and Sensibility at the Folger Shakespeare Library - they say it's going to be like Downton Abbey on roller skates...?" Ordinarily, No would be my first instance, but Yes was the answer I gave.  I had never seen the Folger Shakespeare Library so that was definitely a plus.  I'm not a Jane Austen fan like most girls are so that was a check in the con column.  However, when presented with something that's like "Downton Abbey on roller skates" you sort of have jump in and see what the night brings.

As it turns out, even with the addition of "roller skates", I should have gone with my first instinct. 

The theatre was gorgeous and reminded me a lot of the Swan in Stratford Upon Avon, and we had fabulous seats.  I only wish my seats were that good when I saw Richard II at the actual Swan.  This time around, it was a negative - we were too close to the stage to risk dozing off.  I may not have loved the show, but no need to offend the actors.  

To put it mildly, the show was bizarre and a half.  As it turns out, there were no roller skates.  All of the tables, chairs, windows, etc. were on wheels.  I'm assuming those were the skates.  The actors were pushed, pulled, catapaulted across the stage on wheelie set decoration. What?  Then at some point, "Uptown Funk" started playing and the cast - who was dressed in full Elizabethan garb - started a dance party on the stage. What?  And if that wasn't enough, the part that confused me more than anything at all, was the mumbling.  During some scenes and in between others, the entire cast would start yelling/speaking/mumbling different things all over each other which made deciphering the point and what exactly they were saying, quite impossible.  

I suppose I could say the cast was quite good, and really sold their parts.  If the creatives that staged the show would have just let them act, it could have been quite good.  But the addition of all sorts of weirdness definitely put this show on my least favorite list.

Thoughts on Harry Potter 2.0

So I wasn't even going to read it.  I was going to wait to see the show - hopefully I'll be in England some time next year - and be surprised by it.  But then Costco had a great sale and the book was all anyone could talk about.  And basically here we are and it's been finished over the course of the last 24 hours.  So what did I think?

If you'd asked me about it last night, after I had put it down after reading about 80 pages, I would have said - Ehh.  I didn't like the play format.  I read plays all the time, but for some reason this material was difficult to read in that format.  However, now that it's through, my mind has changed.  It was marvelous!  I just loved having another Harry Potter story to read after all these years.  It was a lovely story that included almost all of the beloved characters while keeping the heart and the humor that the original books had.  

That's not to say that I don't have bones to pick.  One being that I'm still not crazy for the play format.  It would have been awesome if it was written in novel format, if for no other reason than it would have been a much more involved story.  The second issue I have is a question.  Who in the world is the kid on the front of the book?  I could guess one of 2 characters, neither one is a blondish kid about 10 years old.  

Last but not least, is more of a pondering rather than a bone to pick.  How on earth did the directors and production people manage to pull off the insane amount of magic and scenery changes?  This performance must cost a fortune, which is why I'm guessing they chose to run it in rep.  2 shows means twice the ticket sales.  Even knowing that, I'm still ridiculously excited to somehow get tickets to see it, because let's face it, it's another Harry Potter when we had heard there wouldn't be any more.  Who wouldn't be excited?

Two Show Sunday

Apparently, in some NYC theatres, there are 2 show times on Sunday.  How have I never known this before?  Because of this fact, my Sunday in the Big Apple was so much more exciting than it could have been!

Matinee: An Act of God starring Sean Hayes

I had seen this basically one man show about 2 years ago when Jim Parsons was playing God and had fallen in love with it.  I laughed so hard I cried, and missed a few of the jokes because I was laughing so much at the other jokes.  It's really unbelievably funny.  The premise is simple - God's come down, taken over the body of a beloved TV actor and plans to share his 10 Commandments 2.0 with the world.  For the next 1.5 hours that's what he does, perfectly and hilariously!

This time around, it was still very, very funny, but the show was made up of pretty much the same jokes.  Don't get me wrong, if it ain't broke, I wouldn't fix it either, but because I had seen it once, they weren't as surprising. Though the added bonus of a few digs at Donald Trump was met with some very happy applause.  Sean Hayes was just as funny as Jim Parsons.  I'm fairly certain he's Jack - the character he played flawlessly in Will and Grace - in real life too.  I kept expecting him to say "Just God!" (Oh, I crack myself up!)  He was perfect in the part and nailed all the great lines, and I can't be 100% sure, but I'm fairly certain he even went off book a bit and still managed to be laugh out loud funny.  I have a feeling I'll be using "wrath management issues" in general conversation for the foreseeable future.  Definitely 5 stars in my book!

Evening Show: School of Rock starring Sierra Boggess

If you've ever seen School of Rock with Jack Black, this show is the exact same premise, only this time it has the added benefit of being written and produced by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber - which, you know, makes everything better.  This was a last minute addition, seeing as we only had 3-4 shows to choose from since most everyone goes dark on Sunday nights.  

It sounded slightly intriguing, but I definitely wasn't super excited to see it.  It was just a show to see to pass the time.  Oh how wrong I was!  This show was outstanding!  I've never been so impressed by a group of actors in all my life.  As you may guess from the title, the cast is full of kids learning and playing rock music.  In this case, every one of the kids played their own instrument and sang their hearts out.  In other words, they blew the roof off the place!  They definitely deserved their standing ovation at the end of the performance.  

The main adult characters were fantastic too.  You could tell they were having a blast and were just as inspired by the kids as the audience was.  What I loved even more than the music and the kids, was the message - You're part of the band. No matter how weird, or different you may think you are, you're part of a group. There's always someone that's going to accept you for being who you are, which is so awesome for the kids in the audience and in the cast to hear.   Also, the song "Stick it to the Man" has been stuck in my head for days so I suppose that message spoke to me on some level as well : )