Tag Archives: Leading Ladies

I Mustache You a Question: Do You Like My Blog?

Hello and welcome to a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post made early(ish) Thursday morning.  I gradually return to a more normal wake-up time as I move further from having gainful employment. Full disclosure:  I keep dreaming I still go to work.  In fact, the last dream I had this morning concerned the difficulties I was having trying to call in sick.  But we won’t discuss dreams; this is blogging, not therapy.

 

Twirl that mustache!

I quickly throw in a picture, to get back to the Waste Not Want Not theme.  I have previously shared the other side of this shot glass, or one quite similar, but I had not noticed the jaunty mustache on the other side.

I guess you can see the mustache, slightly distorted by the booze.

Here is the front side of the glass, which fascinated me because “Frangelico” was the basis for one of my all-time favorite character names, “Frangelica Inferno.”

I had to search the Media Library for this one!

Of course the mustache made me think of this lovely goblet, a present from the cast of Leading Ladies, the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre, lovingly painted by my dear friend Jerry.

The other side of that mustache, just for good measure.

I used that glass as an effective prop in the murder mystery Fabulous and Fatal, which also featured Jerry in a pivotal role.

The other mustache, looking mysterious.

And to wind things up, here is my first attempt at the Frangelico mustache.  You can’t really see what it is but I thought the shot as a whole was kind of fascinating.  Or do I flatter my photographic skills?

In any case, I approach 300 words, and with five pictures and a pun in the title, I call this a respectable post, at least my my rules for me.  Are they good rules?  Does that matter?  Discuss amongst yourselves and feel free to share your conclusions in the comments.

 

Back to the Theatre for Me!

Last night I attended the first meeting of the Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) Production Committee.  The club is trying to get a head start on the 2025-26 season.  I had meant to take a picture of the committee for blogging purposes but foolishly forgot.  Since almost everybody prefers blogs with pictures (or so I have heard), I will at least try to find a picture of the theatre in my Media Library (regular readers know this may take a while).

Now where’s that fourth wall?

Not surprisingly, I can’t find it.  Instead I went with a picture of a production in progress.  I’m not sure what play this was for, but I suspect it was Shattered Angel,  one of the historical dramas ILT put on in cooperation with Herkimer County Historical Society.  Shattered Angel came up in our discussion, as we talked about old plays, new plays, and plays yet to be written. I volunteered to write a couple of the yet to be written ones.

A thoroughly wonderful theatre experience.

I talked about how I would like to direct again but was having trouble finding a script.  I found the script for Leading Ladies, the cast of which is pictured above, by sheerest good luck.  A few directors had submitted proposals of scripts they would like to direct.  One director had submitted three possibilities, which I think is marvelous.  I need to start reading more plays.

I enjoyed the meeting and left feeling inspired to read plays, write plays, and possibly act in a few.  I realize I have not said anything substantive about plans for ILT’s next season.  Well. no solid decisions could be made at this point, and I do not want to get anybody’s hopes up for a production that may not happen.  For more information about or to get involved with Ilion Little Theatre, you can visit their Facebook page or website, ilionlittletheatre.org.

 

More Memories

I said posts were going to be sporadic, but I did mean to make a few.  This morning I noticed that a Facebook friend had commented (I almost always share my posts to Facebook) that she enjoyed seeing the memories and would like to see more.  For anyone just tuning in, I lost my husband, Steve, recently.  I draw great comfort from my memories.

Which one is the silliest?

One of Steve’s great legacies is his humor.  My best memories are of the laughs we shared.  The above was taken at the HALO Hoedown, a fundraiser for the cat rescue operation based in Little Falls, NY.

Cheers!

Steve was also a great partner in my Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Here we are at Woodland Farm Brewery in Marcy.

A fun bunch, indeed.

There he is, in the back with me.  This is a pre-show ussie from Leading Ladies, the show I directed at Ilion Little Theatre.  Steve was such a good actor.  He was a pleasure to work with.

Handsome men!

One more memory:  a memorable lunch at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, with our dear friends Phyllis and Jim.  Phyllis left us in 2021 and I will never be done missing her.

Here’s all four of us.

I know there will be more good times with friends and family.  Right now I just have to feel sad until I start to feel a different way.  Thank you for letting me share.

 

Once Again, I Indulge in Lame Post Friday

Here is something different:  I am making my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.  At least, I hope so.  I am feeling fairly wordless and brainless, even for a Lame Post Friday.  I guess some would argue that I am almost always brainless (you know who you are), but am I ever wordless? I think not.

I take a deep breath to try.

Can I manage a howl this Friday?  Better not.  It might scare the neighbors.

I did a couple of Friday-ish things earlier.  I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY, and to Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, also in Herkimer, for dinner.  I hope to write blog posts about those in the near future.  So I guess I can consider this post a Preview of Coming Attractions.

I’ll have a fabulous glass of wine, please.

Since I am indulging in a glass of wine, which many find appropriate on a Friday,  I searched my Media Library for a picture of same.  This is the glass presented to me by the cast of Leading Ladies,  the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre.  All those corks do not represent tonight’s indulgence, by the way.

I see I am over 200 words without having said very much.  On the brighter side, I feel I have refrained from whining.  Oh dear, did that just ruin it?  Never mind, me, just have a little more wine.

 

Is It Too Late for a Throwback Thursday?

I guess late posts are a thing with me, so here I am on Friday morning making a Throwback Thursday Post.   I like these posts where I troll my Media Library for pictures and think of things to say about them.  It’s fun.

“Whooo doesn’t like Throwback Thursday Post?”

How about some seasonal cuteness?  We used to decorate for Thanksgiving.  It was an easy transition from Halloween, since many of the decorations could just stand.

These can count for both Halloween and Thanksgiving!

Here is a little group I always loved.  See, the bigger scarecrows are boyfriend and girlfriend, and the smaller one is the boy scarecrow’s little brother.  The girl scarecrow thinks the little brother is adorable so is happy to see him.  The boy scarecrow is less thrilled, because he wants to kiss.  Yes, I make up stories about anything and everything.

I’m afraid it’s hard to see the details.

I had to make this a Theatre Throwback as well, by using a picture that includes the lobby poster from Leading Ladies, the play I directed at Ilion Little Theatre.  You can also see we kept a little Halloween, including some skeletons.

I love Thanksgiving and feel a little sad that it kind of gets lost by the wayside, as so many people want to jump right into Christmas.  Some of them can’t even wait till after Halloween!  But let me not get into a rant about slowing down about and enjoying ourselves.  For one reason, I am over 200 words.  I need to get on with my Friday.

 

Murder to Leading to Silly… I Love Theatre!

What’s in the box?

For this week’s Throwback Thursday Post,  I looked in my Media Library at September 2019.  I was gearing up for Fabulous and Fatal,  the interactive murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society last October.  The box shown was an important prop in the story.

It was given to me by the cast of Leading Ladies, the play I directed for Ilion Little Theatre in 2016.

One of my all-time favorite casts.

Drawing your attention to the costume worn by the “lady” on your far right, I just mention that it is a costume piece I have owned many years and used many times.

Definitely more silly than scary.

I wore the caftan to be a silly wizard for an event for the March of Dimes in May 2018.

I was probably the silliest.

Once again, I was associated with some wonderful people.  This is the thing when you go to do anything theatrical:  theatre people are awesome!

Another appearance of the silly wizard!

I wore the caftan again that year for the Doodah Parade for Ilion Days.  I rode on the float for Ilion Little Theatre.

More fun theatre people!

As the song says, there’s no people like show people!  I hope soon I will be able to make more theatre memories,  if for no other reason than that I will need something to throw back to in 2021!

 

Trying for a Smile on Throwback Thursdsy

How about a nice Throwback Thursday post?  I hope I do not use pictures I have used too recently, but they will be pictures I have used before.  And there is a good chance I will say the same things about them.  Maybe I can think of something new.  Let’s see.

One of the all time greatest casts I have worked with!

I went back to March 2017 and found this gem.  It is the cast of Leading Ladies, the play I directed for Ilion Little Theatre in the spring of 2016.  Perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it.  I SO look forward to getting together with my theatre friends again!

There’s trouble at the speakeasy!

This picture was also in March 2017, and is also from a wonderful theatrical experience, Rubbed Out At Ruby’s, an interactive murder mystery I wrote.  We were scheduled to present it again in April as  fundraiser for RCIL, but, alas, it has been postponed.

At least he looks relaxed!

This was the first picture I noticed, of our much missed late pooch, Spunky.  I wasn’t going to use it, because I thought it would make me feel too sad.  Then thinking about theatre experiences past and not knowing when I will have more…

Come, come, this will never do.  I do not mean to make a blog post purely to moan and groan about how depressed I feel!  That won’t help anybody.  Let me see what is in March 2018.

Yikes!

Here’s some theatrics that may bring a smile!  We were making a DVD on the Right to Bare Arms, for the Herkimer County Historical Society to use at a Celebrity Roast for Marc Butler in 2015.  It was great fun.

That is what I strive to do: keep a smile on my face.  There really is a lot to smile about.  The other stuff I can’t really do much about.  At least I can keep making my daily post!

 

We Will Be Fabulous!

I may have mentioned our upcoming murder mystery to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.   Well, I am hard at work on it and keep coming up with more ideas. The title is Fabulous and Fatal, and the characters are all drag queens.  Rehearsals will begin soon, and I will share more about the characters and plot (but I will NOT give away all the secrets!).  For today, I took a couple of pictures of props I intend to use.

But there may be wine instead of corks in it.  Or do I mean poison?

I received this hand painted glass as a gift from the cast of Leading Ladies, which I directed at Ilion Little Theatre in 2016.  I thought it would be an excellent thing to use.  Or do I mean a fabulous thing?

Same glass, other side.

Another clue will be a cash box.  At first I had thoughts of purchasing an actual cash box and dressing it up with rhinestones and a hot glue gun.  Then I remembered I have a suitable box already, a gift of the same cast.

It’s a pretty awesome box.

Of course, this box is wood, not metal as I had originally envisioned.  But it is so beautiful,  how can I resist using it?  My only regret is that now I do not have occasion to use my hot glue gun.  Maybe I can come up with a few more props.  Hmm….

Fabulous and Fatal will be presented Friday, October 18th, at 5:30 p.m, at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls,  NY.  Tickets are $30.  For tickets or more information, contact the historical society at 315-866-6413.

 

Just a Few Theatre Pictures

One of the all-time best casts I have ever worked with.

I was looking through my Media Library (I will never get over my delight in using that term) for the logo of 20/20 on OWN, because that is what I am looking at (in rather a desultory fashion) (another term I delight in using) while I attempt some semblance of a blog post.  Then I thought, maybe a Throw Back Thursday would be nice.  I have a lot of fun pictures I can revisit.  Above is the cast of Leading Ladies, which I directed at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) in 2016.  I would like to direct again sometime.

We were a huge hit.

I would also like to act again, and get my husband, Steven acting again.  This is us on stage together in Splitting Issues, at ILT in 2016.

But this was our really big scene together!

Steven and I also shared the stage in Harvey at ILT in 2012.  He played Dr. Chumley, I was Veda.  That was another wonderful theatre experience.

Another cast I loved!

Regular readers know ILT is not the only community theatre group I work with.  This is LiFT Theatre Company of Little Falls, presenting Much Ado About Nothing in 2016.  Wow, I was busy in 2016.  I don’t know what excuse I have for being so tired now!  I think it is time for me to be in another play, so I can put more pictures in my Media Library.

In the meantime, here is my blog post for today.  Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

Non-Sequitur Theatrical Throwbacks

It often happens that I take a blogger’s sick day with a foolish post only to feel worse the next day.  Seriously, I have had a headache (sinus? migraine? tension?  who knows!) since this morning.  It was not bad enough to necessitate my leaving work, so I had that going for me.  I got home and managed to get one chore done, now I need to make my blog post before doing a couple of other things I really, really want to have done.

What a boring lead paragraph!  You would not think I was an experienced daily blogger, would you?  Then again, how do I know what anybody else thinks? I shall not pursue this train of thought, however, because I fear it would lead to half-baked philosophy, which is the purview of Lame Post Friday.  This is Non-Sequitur Thursday, no matter what the time stamp says (sometimes these things are dated a day off, and I am not technologically savvy enough to fix it).

Well, I need to post something, headache or no, so I think I will go for a Throw-back Thursday theme by posting a couple of pictures from my Media Library.

To be, or not to… Oh, wait, wrong play.

When I was looking for photos the other day, I saw the pictures from the LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, production of The Tempest last summer.  Alas, I fear that will be no Shakespeare play this summer, but I hope for great things next year.  The above is a full cast shot from the Utica Zoo, a great venue where we had one performance.  We performed in several different places.

Another great theatre memory!

Since this is Non-Sequitur as well as Throw-back Thursday, I jump to spring of 2016 and Leading Ladies at Ilion Little Theatre.  I’m not in this picture, because I directed, but my husband, Steven, is the handsome if uptight-looking guy in the suit jacket, far left.

I just can’t believe what he’s telling me to say.

OK, one of me and Steven.  This is spring of — eeek 2012!  We were Dr. Chumley and Veda in Harvey at Ilion Little Theatre.  This was what Steven referred to as “our big scene.”  I am on the phone with Elwood P. Dowd, and Dr. Chumley just told me to tell Elwood that Harvey is in the bathtub.  I can’t believe he dared say the word “bathtub” to me after what I went through that morning!  That will may sense to anybody who knows the play, or who has seen the movie.

Well, that did not turn out to be too bad a post.  Or do I flatter myself? No matter.  I posted something, and now I can lie down and wait for my headache to go away.  Happy Thursday, everybody.