Celebrate Musicals Week Tag! :)

1.  What musical did you pick to "spotlight" this week and why?
Rach and I chose Wicked. We are total musical-lovers and would've found it very hard to pick only one, but we went on a whim and this is what happened! Wicked is a wonderful story and the music holds up the integrity of it so much. Each piece has so much feeling and amazingness in it that we couldn't resist telling you about them! :)

2.  How did you discover the musical you picked (hereinafter referred to as "your musical")?
That would be the infamous Abigail's doing! I believe she showed us "Defying Gravity" first, and Pandora soon got us hooked on "What is This Feeling", "For Good", and others. :) 

3.  If you had to pick three favorite songs from your musical, which ones would they be?
Ergh. This is challenging. Well, we already covered "For Good", so next up would be "I'm Not That Girl", "Popular" and "The Wizard and I". 

4.  What's your least favorite song from your musical?
That'd be "Something Bad". Without a moment's hesitation. A goat professor....yeah. 

5.  Who are your favorite characters (choose up to three)?
Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero. 

6.  Which versions of your musical have you seen/listened to, and which is your favorite?
By far, our favorite is the OBC version of Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel!  We were overjoyed to see the touring Broadway cast when they came this way last winter!! The cast consisted of 

Anne Brumell as Elphie

Tiffany Haas playing Galinda

and 

David Nathan Perlow portrayed Fiyero. 

We really enjoyed the production and it was even more special as our first ever Broadway show (tour or otherwise) !!

7.   Is this your favorite musical of all time?  If not, what is?
No, I wouldn't say its our favorite.....there are so many we grew up on, for instance, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, and Annie. More recent loves include Newsies, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, etc.  As a Broadway lover, I cannot pick a favorite. 

8.   Which cast album/musical soundtrack in your collection do you listen to the most?
At this moment in time, the OBC Newsies album is played/sung a bunch in our house, but we tend to go through binges for certain shows. ;) 

9.   What is your favorite costume from your musical?
Ok, first off. Emerald City has very many eccentric and quirky costumes in it, like this one:

Ahem. or this:

But I think the top pick (since Elphie's got one outfit the whole time) would be Glinda's bubble dress!

10.  If you could change anything about your musical, what would you change?
Well, as Wicked is supposed to be a sort of prequel story to the Wizard of Oz, there are several loose ends that don't line up with the traditional story. I know it'd be tricky, but it would've been fun it was a seamless connection. Also, there is a little objectionable content ("As Long as Your Mine" has beautiful music, but the lyrics are kinda sketch) in the beginning of the play that was one of the only not-so-great parts of the book that squirmed into the Broadway show. (More of a implication than anything) 

11.  Which role(s) would you most like to play in any musical, if you had the opportunity to do so on stage?
Elphaba, Katherine from the Newsies, and I used to want to be Annie. ;D

12.  If you could choose one performer to play any part in your musical, who would you choose and which part would you have them play?

This guy as Fiyero!! I think Aaron Tveit could do an amazing job. :) 

13.  Do you consider yourself a musical theatre fan in general or do you just like a few musicals?
I'd consider myself a fan. Musical theatre makes up probably about 60% of the music I listen/sing/play on a daily basis, and I'm also an unashamed Fansie. :D 

14.  Are you tired of the word "musical" yet?
Never.

15.  Turn your music playing device on shuffle (or utilize Pandora if you don't have one) and tell us the names of the first three show tunes that come up-- no cheating!  How do these rank on your favorites/most-listened-to list?
"Without You", "Prince Ali" and "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin". Haha! We do listen to *quite* alot of Alan Menken/Disney soundtracks, My Fair Lady is always great (I'm a good girl, I am!) and that Oklahoma one is kind of random. We don't listen to that show very often. :) (and now it's "Chim-Chiminey!")
Til next time,
Sarah

How To Get Your Glitz On by Galinda

Dearest, Darlingest, Fellow Oz-ians:
     As terrifying as poor fashion-sense may be, let us put aside our bad taste for one day, and CELEBRATE!  What is there to celebrate? *Giggle* Oh my! You have been living in a bubble, haven't you?

 

Why, FASHION, of course! I'm here on this bee-YOU-tee-full day to give you the Oz-errific scoop on How To Be Glitzy. It's kind of a specialty of mine and I've decided to make you my new project. 

All the most important-est points will be highlighted in PINK because that is just the BESTEST COLOR in the history of OZ. (Besides. It's faaaaaabulous on me!) 

I know I don't have to do this but...that's what makes me so nice.  Because, whenever I see someone less fortunate than I (and let's face it: who isn't less fortunate than I?) my tender heart tends to start to bleed. And I get all worked up and excited about taking over makeovers to help everyone and show them proper ploys when they talk to boys: little ways to flirt and flounce. I mean, that's why they call me Galinda the Good--because I'm so Uh-mazing. If you want to look elegant and refined and gorgeous ('scuse me, those words back there are pronounced "ME".) then we'll have to start with the basics. Firstly and mostly important of all important things is your attitude!

We are looking for MODERN, people. Modern. If you wanna go a little bit cute and vintage, then do it with pizazz! Why can't people dress from history instead of always harping on the past? I think it's possible, and paired with the CUTEST attitude, you'll know exactly how to look pretty, chic, and fashionable  just like me! *Giggle*
The first thing I'm gonna help you with is how to flip your hair. Just... Flip it! Flip! Flip! Oh my. This is a bit more involved than I thought. Of course, gold hair with a gentle curl is the thing That Boy goes for, but any hair can be flipped if ya just know how to do it. To Oz-aggerate my point, I found some gals who do it right:

 

Oh wait: They're all me! Oopsies!

When I see depressing creatures with unprepossessing features, I take in consideration what sort of makeup they ought to wear. Makeup is how a woman wears her soul on her face and knowing how to do it right will make you Pop-u-lar...LAR. (Just not quite as popular as me!) It's so fabulous what a bit of lipstick will do to a gal...nailpolish too. Sparkly, of course:

Cirque even named this one after me: Galinda! Isn't it prettyful?

Look how Oz-ical!

Perfect for a night at the Oz-Dust Ballroom!

Some girls cake on the creams and powders and hide their natural beauty. Of course you'll never be as naturally beautiful as moi, but just look at what I did with Elphaba! Learning how to properly apply foundation, blush, and bronzer is essentialiffic!

As far as clothes go, SPARKLE. Who wants ta be dull when you could shizzle! We've got to work on your sad and sorryfullistic fascination with gingham. It's so...ordinary!

This is the stuff dreams are made of:

 But if sparkles aren't your thing (I know, I rockify them better than anyone!), you could go with a sweet pink something that will make you buh-loom like a rose! Even if you are unfortunate enough to have been born with green skin, y'know what I always say: Pink goes good with green!

Not My Creation

And every girl needs to have a black dress to look properly swankified! You know black is this year's pink! Go ahead and splurge: You deserve each other, this dress and you. You're both so...smart!

 

OOOOH!

And what every girl needs if she's gonna look as stunning and gorgeous as Galinda (that's me), is the perfect pair of shoes! 

Sweet and Sparkly:

Or a little bit Wicked:

There are shoes for every sorta kinda gal under the great big moon and the perfect pair is the key to finish off any dazzle-rama. With my tips on how to Dazzle, Shizzle, and Sparkle, is there any social event you can't rock? (Oh yeahhhhh. Any one I'm attending.) The only comment I have left to make is about the color yellow.
My advice on How To Wear Yellow? Don't even try. Everyone learns the hard way that unless you're Galinda, yellow's just not the thing. Me? The super-special green goggles help everyone to bear how brilliantly I shine in my sunny yellow gown.

Sometimes, though, you just don't have the money in your wallet to spend on buying gorgeous things like I have. Know what's good to do then? Take an hour to wallow in self-pity and go to Pinterest.com! And sing something pretty to yourself while browsing like:

"See that tragically beautiful girl?

The one in the chair?

It seems so unfair she should go on a spree

And not we...gee....I wish someone would be my hero,

If that someone were to go consign her....

Oh really, sir, you would do that for meeeeeee?"

You've followed all my tips?

You'll remember all my splenderifous advice?

Well....just look at you: You're beautifulllllll.

You have to go? Well...you're welcome.

 - ***Galinda***

** (with a "guh") **

P.s. And though you protest your disinterest, I know clandestinely. You're gonna grin and bear it: your new-found popularity! You'll be popular....just not quite as popular. As. MEEEEEEEEE.

P.s. 2. All credit for the publicity shots of my beautiful self and all the other bedazzle goes to Pinterest.com

Voted Most Likely to Make You Cry... :)

Aaaand winning the Two's Company's Choice Award for Most Likely To Make You Cry When Leaving Long-Distance Friends is....Wicked's "For Good".

Listen, cry, love. 

(Rinse and Repeat)

Sarah and I love to sing this song with pathos while Leah plays it on the piano...it's so beautiful and heart-rending. I've displayed the lyrics below, and at the bottom you will find the most precious video: Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth (who became best friends through the show) singing "For Good" in Kristen's final appearances on the stage. If it doesn't make you tear up, you're heartless. The film quality is wretched but whenever Kristen's voice warbles and falters, it is because she is legitimately crying. Not only is this the most feelsie song in the whole show, it's the most feelsie version of this song in history. Enjoy! <3

Elphaba:

"I'm limited. Just look at me.

I'm limited.

And just look at you:

you could do all I couldn't do, Glinda.

So now it's up to you.

For both of us--

Now it's up to you..."

Glinda: "I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led to those who help us most to learn

If we let them and we help them in return...

Well I don't know if I believe that's true.

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you....

Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes the sun.

Like a stream that meets a boulder

Halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you.

I have been changed for good.

Elphaba: It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime, 

So let me say before we part:

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

And you'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart.

And now whatever ways our stories end,

I know you have rewritten mine

By being my friend....

Like a ship blown from its moorings

By a wind off the sea.

Like a seed dropped by a sky-bird in a distant wood.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better. 

But because I knew you.

Glinda: Because I knew you

(Both) I have been changed for good.

Elphaba: And just to clear the air

I ask forgiveness for the things I've done

You blame me for...

Glinda: But then I guess

We know there's blame to spare

(Both): And none of it seems to matter anymore

(choruses sung simultaneously)

(Both): Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

I do believe I have been changed for the better...

Glinda: And because I knew you.

Elphaba: Because I knew you

Both: Because I knew you I have been changed for good.

 *passes round tissues* What is your favorite song from Wicked?

Celebrating Musicals Blog Party: Wicked

Miss Dashwood (Or Gertie, as I'm privileged to call her), is a lovely young lady who runs Yet Another Period Drama which has a whole fandom of its own. Seriously. Like fan-girls and fans of fan-girls, etc. She's witty and funny and knows far too many lines of musicals for her own good. You can't read a post without either a song lyric or a movie-quote coming out a couple times. And you know how Sarah and I (and all the rest) love Broadway musicals!
So when dear Gertie went ahead and announced the Celebrate Musicals Week, in fine detail, I knew we had to participate! This blog has been absolutely dull as powder when it comes to "Audience Participation", you know, so we are hoping that if we come to the party, y'all will join us. ;)
The directions for Celebrate Musicals Week are that we, as the bloggers, were to choose one musical (go ahead and cut off my other arm and legs, m'kay?) and write several posts about it throughout the party. (There are to be tags and such as well.) Sarah and I really wanted to do Newsies, but after some thought we changed our minds and we will be focusing on the Wizard of Oz-inspired Broadway musical: Wicked.

Wicked is one of those musicals that you would find yourself humming before you even knew the story behind the show because the music is just that catchy and just that good. I have heard that the books Wicked is based off are no good at all--rather skanky in parts--so please don't trot off and get them from the library. But: "the music! ahhhh, such music..." as Mr. Tumnus would say. It's brilliant. From "Dancing Through Life" to "For Good", from ""Defying Gravity" to "Popular", Wicked is stuffed with the best of Broadway. As far as plot goes, the show follows the lives of Glinda, and the Wicked Witches of the East and West as well as the Tin-Man, the Scarecrow, and The Cowardly Lion of Wizard of Oz fame...but with a definite twist that will leave you on the edge of your seat with a lump in your throat. A must watch for fans of Oz!

 

So to kick off the party, let's start with some facts about this brilliant, passionate show!

• During the first big "quick change" of the show, 17 actors change from the mob to students in 1.5 minutes (including costumes, wigs, and shoes).
• In one year, the costuming department on Broadway used 1,000 feet of steel cable to restring the flying monkeys' wings.

 

• There are 179 different types and finishes of leather used in shoes, gloves, hats, and costume trims in the show.
• The show (on Broadway) uses 250 pounds of dry ice per show, while the traveling casts use 200. 
• The dragon's wingspan is the same as a Cessna 172
• All 90 wigs are made of human hair and specially crafted to fit the hairline of the actor wearing it for the most realistic look!
• Wicked was Broadway's #1 show for nine consecutive years.
• Wicked recovered it's $14,000,000 investment in 14 months. (Most shows take 2-3 years)

  

Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth started the roles and, in my humblest of Broadway-fan's opinions, think that there will never be a pairing quite this amazing. Kristen really is Galinda ("It's Guh-Linda..."), I'm quite certain, and for passion and heart and the ensuing bitterness when that heart is shattered, no one can match Idina Menzel. All you have to do is listen to "Defying Gravity" and hear the pathos in her voice.

In the week to come, stay tuned for our review of seeing the show live, The Modern Girls' Guide to Glitz by Galinda, The Introvert's Guide to Falling in Love and Flying With It by Elphaba, and more! So get your sparkle on, tame a flying monkey, and get ready for a week of  Oz-someness! ;)

Snaps from life

these chaps started little league fall ball and are enjoying it alot!

we have a tradition now of making fresh guacamole whenever daniel's visiting. :) 

the old piano at my grandparents house. family pictures and all that jazz.

recently we've happened upon too much poison ivy. take this vine, for instance. >.<

i must have chimney sweep blood in me---i love rooftops!

rosy skies...