The End of Era

Last week, we traveled to Cedar City to see Drama Queen in her final production as a student at Southern Utah University. She played the title role in Hamlet. Yes, that Hamlet, the famous one by the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon. The director looked at the talent in the program and decided to do a gender-swap version, so she wasn't Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, but Hamlet, Princess of Denmark. Claudius was also a woman, as were Horatio and Laertes. Ophelia and Gertrude were men. The only roles sticking strictly to the traditional genders were Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Polonius. Although you may call me biased, I think she did an amazing job. She owned the role and the stage every time she was present, even when not speaking.

We're not the only ones who think so. Here's a link to a review of the closing night in USA Today.

It's been an amazing journey, and we are so glad that she has found something she is so passionate about. She will graduate in December and, if she's in Utah, walk in April.

We were told that photography wasn't allowed, so we didn't take the good camera to the performance. During the opening announcements, they said that only flash photography wasn't allowed, so I snagged a couple of pictures with my cell phone. Next time, we'll just take the big camera and then use or not use it, depending on what's allowed.

Drama Queen and the Utah Shakespearean Festival!

We were so excited when Drama Queen told us that she was picked to participate in an internship with the Utah Shakespearean Festival this season. We love USF, and we love Drama Queen. It's a perfect combination. We can't take pictures of her in her costumes for Amadeus or South Pacific, but here are a couple of her working the crowd as part of the Greenshow.

So everyone head on down to the Cedar City and catch our girl in one of these fabulous performances!

Lawyer-in-the-Works graduates to Lawyer-in-the-Family

We just came back from a lovely trip to Spokane, Washington to visit Lawyer-in-the-Works for her law school graduation. It was truly memorable. Her class ranking was 25th, and she graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude). It was also wonderful to meet her new man, Seahawk's #1 Fan, and get to know him and his family. Here's a quick picture I grabbed of them after the ceremony.

Man in Plays is leaving the nest

In just a few short weeks, Mr. Perfect and Most Happy Girl will be empty-nesters. I mean, we've always been part-time nesters anyway, but with Man in Plays graduating from high school this year, this era of our lives is coming to a complete end. Soon there will be no more kids' weekends or weekly Tuesday dinner nights. Fortunately, when Lawyer in the Works and Drama Queen are home, they come see us and eat with us and let us know that we are still part of their lives, but this is the time for all of the kids to be creating their own places, even if they are college temporary.

So, to Man in Plays, we say, "We love you! We are so proud of you! And we are excited to see where your next adventure takes you." Right now, it's looking like either Cedar City or Price. And it's wonderful that you have really good options in both places.

Thanks for being so wonderful.

Xanadu is calling you ... oo oo

Last weekend, Mr. Perfect and Most Happy Girl ventured yet again into the deep, dark south of Cedar City to see Drama Queen in her latest theatrical en devour: Xanadu: the Musical. She played Clio/Kira (the lead), and had only three weeks to learn the music and lines while perfecting her mad (aka until-this-role non-existent) roller skating skills. She triumphed, and the show was so much fun to watch. The cast had a blast. What an amazingly talented group of students.

The Drowsy Chaperon and a new blog name for one

A couple of months ago, Game Boy landed his dream role in Cottonwood High School's musical The Drowsy Chaperon. No, he's not the title character. He's much better than that. He's Man in Chair. If you know the show, then you know that means he's the narrator and main character. Mr. Perfect and One Happy Girl saw the show last night, and it was amazing. Everyone was perfectly cast, but Game Boy is the reason to see this show. He is amazing. For the last six weeks, we've basically been living with Man in Chair. As a tribute to his awesomeness, Game Boy will now be known to one and all (at least on this blog) as Man in Plays.

*and the crowd goes wild in the Palace*

Here's the set:

The really cool set

Here is Man in Plays in his extremely appropriate and comfy looking costume (with Mr. Perfect, the proud papa):

And here he is with Drama Queen (the proud sista):

And a couple more random shots of him and another friend from the show in character:

Robert Martin

As Man in Chair

Drama Queen in Suessical the Reader's Digest version

As many of you know, Drama Queen is studying Theatre at SUU. She's having a great time and loves her Acting I class (taught by Peter Sham). One of her classmates posted this on YouTube, for which we are very, very grateful. So, Drama Queen and her Acting I class present Suessical, the Musical in just under 9 minutes:

Missing Peter Pan photo

I don't know how I did this, but I missed posting our favorite picture of Game Boy from Peter Pan. So here it is:

I love the blur of action behind him, too.

Never Never Land is never far away

Game Boy just wrapped up a wonderful performance as Smee in Cottonwood High's production of Peter Pan. The whole cast did an amazing job. Mr. Perfect and Most Happy Girl happily came out twice to see it (opening and closing shows). Kudos to everyone involved!

Here are some pictures from the closing night performance.

Drama Queen came up from Cedar City to see the show (and to stay for Thanksgiving). It's always so fun to see them together.

Game Boy and the Cottonwood Theatre Society Officers

The Cottonwood High School Theatre Society Officers are apparently a fun bunch to be around:

On top of a really cool looking sweater:

there are additional perks to being an officer

• Free entrance to all theatre products (though the chances of him not being involved in all of the theatre productions are pretty slim) 
• Free tickets to shows when the theatre classes go to PTC
• The ability to mug it up wherever you are and claim that you're rehearsing for your next show/audition/radio appearance

He is also in charge of the theatre society's blog, which he started this year and will be able to pass on to the next communications officer next year.

It's good to be an officer.

Game Boy goes to Homecoming

Game Boy went to the Cottonwood High School Homecoming Dance last weekend. He was with us, so we got to see him in all of his finery. He borrowed the suit from Mr. Perfect and matched the vest, tie, and pocket hankie with his date's color scheme. We thought he looked very dashing. Her dad took some pictures, so we hope to get copies of the files so we can post them soon, too.

Quick Spokane picture

I don't have time to do a full post about our trip to Spokane to visit Lawyer-in-the-Works. We had a wonderful time. But I did want to post this quick picture of her at Pig Out in the Park. (Yes, Mr. Perfect loved all of the cool bridges.)

Oh, and this one is just too cute. (Yes, they are in a giant red Radio Flyer wagon. It was really cool.)

Game Boy's officer jacket

Game Boy has been elected as a Cottonwood High School Theatre Society officer. He's the communications officer, and he's doing a bang up job. (No, we're not biased as all.) He's created a a really cool blog.

Here he is in his highly stylish officer jacket:

Drama Queen and the drama of getting to Cedar City

On Monday, we caravanned with Drama Queen to get her and the furniture she wanted in her apartment to Cedar City.

Drama Queen and Game Boy with their mom and Hans-n-Franz

After getting her car packed, and with Mr. Perfect behind her wheel to make it through the construction in Utah County (ick), we headed south...and made it to the Bangerter Highway exit. Drama Queen's car was overheating. We'd put a half a gallon of anti-freeze/coolant in it before leaving, but it wasn't working. Mr. Perfect was concerned that it was the thermostat, and knew that if it was, we wouldn't make it the 250 miles to Cedar City. Once we were off the freeway, we made our way to the closest Grease Monkey.

And were amazed to find one of our nephews (The Jeradite King) behind the counter. We knew that he worked at a Grease Monkey, but we didn't remember which one. Now we know. Seventy-five minutes later, we were back on the road with a brand-spanking-new thermostat in the car, but Drama Queen and Game Boy had some fun sibling time in the lobby.

The rest of the drive down was uneventful. Drama Queen and Mr. Perfect switched places behind the wheel in Nephi (and Mr. Perfect and Game Boy switched places in cars [more fun sibling time for them and quiet couple time for us]). Mr. Perfect was able to catch some much needed sleep while I drove. Once in Cedar City, we ate (oh-so-yummy pizza at Centro Woodfired Pizzeria) and then found Drama Queen's home for the next nine months.

The bare room

What cute bedding!

Best pals

We made it home just after 10:00 pm, which isn't bad considering we left Salt Lake valley four hours after when we had planned on leaving.

Have a great time at SUU, Drama Queen! We miss you already, but know you will have great experiences!