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

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! ;)

Broadway! :)

Wednesday night, the oldest five of us got the privilege to see the Broadway show Wicked playing at a big town not too far from us. Our uncle who is an awesome percussionist was personally playing 62 different instruments throughout the show. You should have seen his set-up! He was literally barricaded with every single kind of shaker, drum, you-name-it that could be found. There was even one instrument that sounds like a cricket chirping that he used once. One teeny tiny little chirp and the instrument was finished. Imagine juggling all those details!

This was also a special performance because the girl playing the Glinda the Good is from this area! :)

Tiffany Haas as Galinda the Good. :)

For those of you who don't know, Wicked is the prequel to The Wizard of Oz and tells the back-story of the Wicked Witch of the West who, surprisingly, is not wicked at all.

I had never been to a live show/play/musical so this was a real treat and I was so glad I spent the $40 to go! :) Tiffany Haas played Galinda, and Anne Brummel played Elphaba.

Both women did a superb job in their roles! It was neat to see how they brought their individual personalities into the songs that I am used to hearing sung by Kristen Chenowith and Idina Menzel. :)
Fiyero, the rogue-turned-good-guy was magnificently played by David Nathan Perlow. I really liked this guy's voice. It was strong and perfect for the part! :)

Say "Awwwww!" David Nathan Perlow and Anne Brummel as the handsome Fiyero and the...green Elphaba! :)

 I also enjoyed getting to see where all the songs I love line up with the story--I had no concept of it before! :)

"My Fellow Oz-ians!" :)

This show definitely spoiled the whole movie-theater thing for me. I don't think I can ever go back to recorded shows! :D But the best part came when we were waiting for Uncle David at the Employee's exit...You Know Who was standing right there.

Yep. 

Tiffany Haas....

*And* 

...Anne Brummel!

Both of the actresses were leaving for the night and we got to talk with them and take a picture with them! It was especially cool because we were the only fan-group out there--no one else knew they were there! :D
 It was an evening I will remember for ever. We all got stage-fever. We all are dying to be Broadway performers...we all will sing the songs forever an' ever an' always. Now I can only quote Jo March:

"If I weren't going to be a writer I think I'd go to New York and pursue the stage!" ;)

Yep. I can only quote her and say one last teensy-weensy thing:

 Some of my favorite numbers:

"Thank Goodness"--I hadn't heard this one before. It's so sad if  you know the story. :]

"One Short Day"--a really fun one to watch!

...And my personal favorite: "For Good" It's the best friendship-song ever. :)

I loved so many many more including "Popular," "Defying Gravity," and "Dancing Through Life" :)