Hairspray at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

I saw Hairspray today at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, and it was so much fun. I love the music of Hairspray (I’ve had the soundtrack for ages, and I saw the musical in Philadelphia a few years ago), and the Chan’s production was great. The cast was really terrific — I don’t think there was a single weak point — and I loved the costuming. The effect the color schemes of costumes can have on the overall show fascinates me. 

Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons”

I saw my old high school’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons tonight, and it was outstanding. It was the first real show by them, from the house (not as part of the cast/crew), in eight and a half years. I was a little apprehensive because, well, it’s high school theatre, and I’m used to professional theatre — and I no longer even recognize the names in the program (with the exception of my much-loved former theatre director and tech director’s son) — but I was truly impressed and proud. The set was fantastic (not that I would have expected any less, given that the tech director is brilliant), and the cast made me forget that they’re little high-schoolers (my frosh’s frosh and younger). The play itself also seemed very relevant.

Joy, Memories, and “You Can Call Me Al”

One of my very favorite songs is Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” — I’ve had a strong emotional connection to it since my days in high school theatre, and this weekend at my best friend’s wedding, I was reminded how overwhelmingly, exhilaratingly, fantastically wonderful and joyous it can be, as my theatre family and I danced along to it once more.

Capogiro: The Best Gelato I’ve Had

I’ve mentioned that I love ice cream. Ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato — I love it all. Some frozen desserts stand out in my memory, either for sentimental reasons or because they’re just that delicious. Capogiro is one of my favorites for both reasons. I miss it so much that if I were to win the lottery, I would be very tempted to take advantage of their “Gelato for All Seasons” (six pints of gelato sent four times a year). If you’re ever in Philly, Capogiro is definitely worth the visit. 

I Feel Like I’m Losing Myself

EXPLORING TRANS – SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2010, 8:11 PM

I feel like I’m being pulled in so many different directions. I don’t know how — I’ve never know how — to deal with multiple identities in a way that didn’t cause one of them to be neglected and ignored. I’m a Korean adoptee, but I’m also queer and trans, and I haven’t yet been able to figure out a way to unite those identities, instead of simply pushing one to the foreground and the other to the back.

A Collection of Thoughts Regarding the 65th Annual Tony Awards

In a lot of ways, to me, the Tonys seem cooler than the Oscars (and certainly more so than the Emmys). When I was younger, my theatre friends and I even had parties in order to watch the Tonys together. The Oscars have the best dresses, but people perform parts of musicals at the Tonys! So cool. Plus, it’s Broadway. I mean, really, need anything more be said? 

Theatre For Life: Coming Home Again

When my senior year ended, I thought I’d never again have a chance to sing on my high school stage. Theatre was the center of my life in high school, and leaving was one of the hardest adjustments I’ve made. And then I was given a chance to sing on that stage again, with other fellow theatre alums — my theatre family — and it was magic, just like it always was.

Happy Mother’s Day

First and foremost, I want to recognize my mother this Mother’s Day. As I’ve said before, my mom is the best. She’s supportive and loving and pretty much all-around amazing, but I’ve already covered that. Mother’s Day — it makes me think of my mom, of course, but then I also think of other people. Sometimes it’s people who are in my life currently; sometimes it’s people who were in my life in the past.

That Magical Moment Before The Show Starts

It was the fall of 2004, and I was sitting in the theatre at my high school — my theatre, my second home. For the first time in a very long time, I was sitting in the house — in the audience. It was the teaser for Nickel and Dimed, and we were doing something a little different, which meant that most of the cast wasn’t performing. Darkness was all around, and then a light shone on my friend, sitting high up on the scaffolding with a guitar. My friend began to sing David Gray’s “Silver Lining,” and it felt like magic. There was something so perfect about the moment that it gave me shivers. It just hit me that that was what the audience saw, heard, and felt. And it just meant all the more to me because it wasn’t merely a show I might watch: it was my show and my friends.  

Laughter From Long Ago

What is your favorite sound?

To be honest, this isn’t a post about my favorite sound. My favorite sound would probably be music of some form, or maybe the sound of a particular loved one’s voice/laughter — possibly the sound of the ocean, or something like that. I don’t know if I’ve ever thought much about it.

However, this question made me think about this one person I knew in high school, way back when. I think I’ve seen her once in the past seven years (it’s funny the associations minds make), but she was fantastic. She had this really distinctive laugh — we could tell it was her from the other side of the theatre. She was so beautiful and talented and totally one of my favorite people from her year.