Now about this whole “New Year’s Resolution” thing.  I know some people are very anti-resolution, but not me. I love them. I’m all about them. I resolve throughout the year, but the new year seems like it was made for resolutions.    It sounds like such a noble and fancy word.  Resolution…

So what does this new year have in store for me resolution wise?

I am resolving to make 2012 “The Year Of The Body”.   And not in the usual vanity or weight-loss sense.  It has recently come to my attention that I ain’t no spring chicken anymore (okay, so maybe you knew that already, but it was news to me), and I’m concerned about my insides, so I’m going to take care of them.  2011 was a great year personally, but physically, I dealt (and am still dealing) with stomach issues and back issues that have seriously disrupted my world.  Luckily,  I think they can be fixed and ultimately avoided in the future if I get a real handle on my health and work hard to do the best I can with the cards I was dealt.   I believe that core strength, good food, and constant vigilance will keep me out of the doctor’s office, so I’m going to seriously focus on that this year.

These are my insides, and I will be taking care of them this year

I am also vowing NOT to spend $$ on clothes.  WHAT!?!?  I know.  I love clothes.  I love adornment.  But I need to remind myself that I already have lots – many of which still have tags on them or haven’t been worn in a year.  Therefore, “simplify, get creative, and wear what you’ve got” shall be my motto for 2012.    I can always bust out the sewing machine and rework some items if I get really bored with the wardrobe, so we’ll see how that goes.

On a smaller scale, I have made a few other resolutions like “get back in touch with so-and-so”, “write morning pages daily”, and “keep track of the books you read and movies you watch”.  That’s easy stuff that just takes some focus and commitment, and I like commitment (I am finding), so those should be fun and rewarding.   I also plan to continue my walk down some creative paths that I started forging in 2011.  As I told a friend of mine today – I have found that it’s actually much easier to do what you desire and be proud of yourself for it than to make excuses and pretend you’re happy in the same old rut doing the same old shit.  Lying to yourself gets you nowhere.  That knowledge has been a long time coming for me, but I’m so glad I have it now, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me this year!

2011 has been pretty darn rad.  I told myself and told myself that 2010 would be my year, and boy – was I WRONG.  But here it is – nearly the end of 2011, and I am finding that my life -since I left it alone – has been better than I could have imagined.

I am happily working at The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA where I get to indulge in my love for small-town-life as well as my need for culture and creativity (and bargain shopping – there’s a TJ Maxx and a Ross within 10 miles…) all at once.  I have been doing my rewarding job here while continuing to collaborate with my MAS Nashville gals (read the latest MAS Blog entry HERE), and we have a fun-tastic show coming up right after Christmas that I am currently working hard on and getting super-excited for.  I am also ending sentences with prepositions without regret.  :)

I am writing a (currently very bad) play using/inspired by the music of Tammy Wynette – my first real foray into playwrighting – which I know will be, if nothing else, a great learning experience.  I am working on various musical projects and loving them all.   I am making plans for things I want to accomplish.  And furthermore…I don’t care what happens next.  Dear control, begone.  Life is better when you don’t plan what’s coming and you just do, do, DO.   Thanks universe/god/God/whatever you want to call it – for knowing what I need better than I.  My friends are glorious, my work is fantastic, my world is good.

(photos by JO MCCAUGHEY)

fiveposter

Click Here for a show highlight, and keep an eye on our website to see what’s next.  We’ve got at least one smaller cabaret this fall (possibly more!) and a big fat Holiday Hangover post-Christmas show planned.

www.masnashville.com

Born as the brainchild of Erin Parker, FIVE is the culmination of the desire to utilize and
showcase local Nashville talent and creativity and grew from her aims at putting on her
own one-woman show. “I have been working on cabaret and small performance ideas
for years, but I am the queen of thinking myself into paralysis. Oh, if I had a dollar for
every time I had a ‘brilliant’ idea and never did anything with it… I recently made a
resolution to stop doing so much thinking and to actually start doing. In this case, the
first and most important part of the ‘doing’ was surrounding myself with smart, creative,
talented people.” One led to 2, which led to 3, and now 5! Erin reached out to her top
choices of women who embodied what she was looking for: talent, creativity, a love of
theater and all things musical, and the perfect combination of mutual admiration and
respect. The final list of performers includes a who’s who of local theater in Nashville.
Erin Parker is a veteran singer-actress who performs regularly in Nashville as well as
across the country in stage and musical theater productions that showcase her rich
vocals, striking on stage persona, along with her immense versatility as a performer.
Melodie Adams, a timeless throwback of classic beauty, smooth vocals, and acting
chops to boot, lends her overflowing bag of tricks to the sheer betterment of FIVE. Then
there is the comical genius and overall badass singer-actress extraordinaire of Megan
Murphy Chambers who is a local favorite in the Nashville theater community and whose
wealth of performing experience can’t be overstated. Adding to the group of divas, Cori
Laemmel, who has graced almost every stage possible in the local theater scene and
most recently made her Nashville Rep debut in her acclaimed performance in Yankee
Tavern, brings her girlish charm, wit, and soaring vocals to FIVE. Rounding out the
group is relative newcomer Laura Matula who’s breakout performance in Chess in
Concert this past February with Street Theater Company helped solidify her place in the
group with her powerhouse vocals. Laura will also be trading off on keys with the
outstanding Jeffrey Williams.
FIVE is the first production of the newly formed MAS Nashville, a collective of theater
professionals working together to support and showcase the best that Nashville has to
offer. MAS carries a double meaning to its members as well. It is a Mutual Admiration
Society of individuals who desire to build up and highlight the talent and enthusiasm in
each other, but also MAS – Because There’s Always Room for More. More talent, more
variety, more opportunity, more support, and (hopefully) reaching more audiences. With
that theme in mind MAS Nashville presents it’s first show, FIVE. Taking its inspiration
from 5 iconic divas, FIVE is a show full of variety and emotion that showcases the best
in each of its performers, set to a simple and classic piano score. No flash, no set, no
glitz (well, maybe a few rhinestones), but a whole lot of self-possessed knock out
performances of everything from Broadway to pop, killer vocals, laughs, a few good
cries, and a whole lotta love. Join Cori, Erin, Laura, Megan, and Melodie for one night
only and share their songs and stories and maybe, just maybe, experience a little
bit…MORE.
FIVE, presented by MAS Nashville plays one night only.
Monday, March 28th, 2011. 7:30pm.
Tickets will be available at the door for $10. Bring a headshot or resume and get your
ticket half off! Find MAS Nashville on Facebook for more details and information on how
to reserve your tickets!
Street Theatre Company
1933 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN
For more information for FIVE, contact: Laura Matula
lmatula@anthonymatula.com

www.masnashville.com

That is what my roommate said right before my guitar fell off of his back.

Why was he wearing my guitar?  I don’t know. Neither does he.  He can’t remember why he got up from watching Nascar (yes. he was watching nascar…) and decided to play my guitar in the kitchen over the commercial break while getting a diet coke and somehow managed to drop and shatter it.   Now he feels stupid.

I wasn’t mad at all.  I was shocked. And thoroughly entertained.  I feel sorry for him because he felt terrible, but oh, did I laugh. It was a little tragically awesome.

I have posted some highlights of the epic-european-journey onto my flickr account – feel free to click HERE to view.

Most depressing thing about being home = having to pay for food and alcohol.  I was talking about stopping by Kroger on Superbowl Sunday on my way to Amanda’s house (because we haven’t seen enough of each other lately) and she warned me, “Don’t just walk out with it.  They actually want you to pay for whatever you’re taking with you.”   Thank god she reminded me.

Finally.

What an adventure.  And yet, I am so happy to be home.  I haven’t actually been home  for more than a day or two here or there since Thanksgiving, and I am really excited about being here for the remainder of February.  My roommate didn’t burn the house down while I was away, and he even did a few plumbing projects.  What a lucky landlord am I.

Now, let the adventures continue.

Hello Shadow. Let’s Dance.

Our contract has been extended until February 4th so that we have time to get the work done out here that we were hired to do. So basically, the 12 days we spent waiting for the costumes to arrive has been added to the back end of the job.  Which means we´ll be crossing the Atlantic Ocean for 7 days.  That sounds pretty cool to me as long as I don´t think about it too hard.  That´s a whole lotta ocean…