Ovations 2016

Last night we went to the Ovation Awards! Here is Caitlin, rehearsing a number from the Virgin Wars.

And here is the hubs, rehearsing a number from Closer than Ever.

We were both nominated, but did not win this year. Ah well, it was such a fun night. I sang a duet from Fame with my friend Sharon, and we did a number from Company.I officially ended my Ovation jury duties. The event is such a great way to reconnect with the theatre community, celebrate all the shows from last year, and look ahead to this year.

Theatre Cartoons

I stepped up my own Secret Friend game this time around, having picked Mark as my SF. I love the work Roan does, and the poster she made for Into the Woods. So I arranged to have her cartoon-ize Mark and his onstage wife, Cassady. Here's the starting picture, they're the couple on the right, beside the 3 girlfriends.

And here is what Roan created, isn't it amazing??

She also made a wee picture and a couple of buttons - so cute!

They both loved their gift. Who doesn't love being immortalized in cartoon form??

Closing of Company

Company has closed! Can you believe we started rehearsal for this show on Halloween?? It's been a swell ride, thanks mostly to these amazing cast mates:

Here's us having a group shot of vodka after our last bow.

And here's us being normal but looking silly.

Ad here's our lovely stage manager Becky. Isn't she gorgeous! Sigh, another closing of a fantastic show :S

Secret Friend for me

This last week of Company, my Secret Friend really stepped it up. I got: Wine!

YARN! And chocolate covered strawberries!

A wee teddy and a dark Kit Kat bar!

And finally - more wine and a lululemon yoga bra! The bra might seem random, but it revealed to me that Brianne was my secret friend. She works there and we chatted about getting me a new yoga bra. So now I have one in hot pink!

There are some other goodies in that picture, including closing night cards, chocolate, and a loaf of sourdough bread from my onstage husband Jacob. Theatre folks and secret friends are just the best!

Company - closing weekend

It's closing weekend of Company, what a fun ride! Here are some pics to prove it.

My onstage husband Jacob and I:

Us during our big dance number in Act 2.

Some goofy warm up shots.

Goofs:

This has been a dream show for me, something to cross off my bucket list. AND I got to stretch my flute skills by playing two numbers on flute with the band! Another item to cross off my bucket list! The cast has been super fun to work with, and guess what, our entire closing week is SOLD OUT!

Choco love

It's been a week since our 10 year anniversary, and I have been slowing chipping away at the box of chocolates my hubs got me. It's milk and dark chocolate caramels, and peanut butter, with pink Himalayan salt. OH MAN! I'm loving them.

I gathered my Company cast together for a pic to send to my hubby. Aren't we a fun bunch?

Company Secret Friend

Company has opened!

We did our first week of shows and it was a blast. And now that the show is up and running, it's Secret Friend time. I told you all about my Secret Friend adventures in Hairspray last summer, where I was spoiled rotten by Cecily (who happens to be in this show, too!). Well my Company SF is killing it so far.

My favourite chocolate bars and a lovely butterfly card:

And look! A box of mini cupcakes! Almost too pretty to eat - almost. Thank you Secret Friend!

 

We've had a few nights off from the show but are back at it tonight. Yay, I have some plans for my own Secret Friend too, so I'm itching to get back into the theatre ;)

Tech knits

Tonight we open Company! But before that, we had a lot of time in the theatre doing tech. Which means, I had a lot of time to knit. I made:

A pumpkin hat:

An apple hat:

A cat-like cowl:

Things I made in tech.

 

Now on to the show, happy opening!

Little set / Big set / Yummy dinner

We had our sitzprobe for Company and now we've moved into the theatre. Actually, we spent all weekend there, getting ready for opening.

Check out this wee set, designed by Brian Ball.

And here it is, in full real-life form!

The company has a tradition where it buys a big Chinese food dinner for the cast and crew and everyone. This was us on Sunday night. Yum! Come see Company!

Sitzprobe for Company

Last week we had our Sitzprobe for my next show, Company. It's so much fun to hear the band for the first time! They are small but very effective:

And guess what? I get to play flute with them on two songs! I had asked our music director Clare if she would help me take my flute playing to the next level: playing in a show. I get to play alto flute on Sorry/Grateful, and flute on Barcelona. I'm nervous and excited!

And you know who that is up there singing? It's Dusty Rose! She and I get to be in another show together. We just finished a weekend full of tech stuff, it should be a great show. We open on Friday!

More company

There's theatre all over the place, as usual. My husband's show, The Wizard of Oz, opened this past weekend out at the Gateway Theatre. He's music directing and conducting all those munchkins (and adults too). My Company rehearsals continue, and look, here's some press:

We did this photo shoot a couple weeks back, and it's out in Playboard Magazine now. It looks very violent, but I promise, we're all very friendly!

Upcoming show: Company

It's time to tell you about the show I've been rehearsing for - Company! I just love Sondheim and I LOVE this show, it's one for my bucket list, so I'm thrilled I get to be in it. I'm playing Sarah, the karate-loving, food-addicted, wife :) The company is called United Players and we open in January of 2016.

Our choreographer is Julie, master choreo lady extraordinare. She lives in Toronto and travels all over the place for work. I got to work with her on Hairspray this past summer. But she was in town last week to do an intense week of choreo with us. She sure whipped up into shape. She'll be back in January to whip us some more ;)