Click for full size image. Dracula poster for Skagit Valley College Theater Department production of Dracula by Steven Dietz.
Freddy Fender – Newsmaker of the Year 2006
Corpus Christ, TX – The Corpus Christi Caller Times has named Freddy Fender their Newsmaker of the Year. Denise Malan, one of the writers, called me a couple weeks ago for the article. Some of article focuses on the spiritual side of Freddy and includes some of my comments on that. You can read the Freddy Fender Caller Times article here.
As far as I know I’m the only former band member currently working on sacred music on a regular basis. It was a little ironic when the writer asked me if Freddy had any impact on my spiritual life, and I replied that I didn’t think so directly. Then she asked me what I was doing now, and I said music for theater and church. Made me stop and think for a bit about that. I stopped playing for Freddy Fender in March 2005.
Freddy Fender was very supportive of AA. He had the bond that only those in AA have for each other. The close of the article reads:
Askland, the keyboardist, remembers that while touring Fender kept in touch with friends from Alcoholics Anonymous. One Christmas a few years ago, Fender even brought the band to Corpus Christi to play for his AA group.
“We were right in the little meeting room,” Askland said. “That was his Christmas gift to them.”
Vaya Con Dios Freddy.
JS Bach Pipe Organ MP3 Music Samples
Reference page for JS Bach Pipe Organ midi samples. The samples are very mechanical and certainly not the way you’d want to play Bach on the pipe organ, but a good quick reference tool for organists.
Brigadoon MP3 Music Clips
I found Brigadoon sample MP3 music clips online at Yahoo shopping. Don’t know how long this link will work but thought I’d post it for easy reference. It is the 1991 studio cast of Brigadoon. These are not full clips, just samples to give you the feel of the songs. I don’t know if they are actually MP3 files, but play with Windows media player. I am calling them MP3 because that’s what I search for when looking for clips.
Dracula by Bram Stoker – Skagit Valley College Theater Department
Mount Vernon, WA – Horror! Screams! Wolves and Blood! Skagit Valley College Department of Theater Arts presents Dracula, written by Steven Dietz (author of Private Eyes, Lonely Planet), from the novel by Bram Stoker, directed by Shakespeare Northwest Artistic Director, Damond Morris. Stoker’s blood curdling masterpiece is a shocking, sexy tale not recommended for the young or the faint of heart. Celebrate Valentine’s Day the Transylvania way, by taking you loved one out for a BITE!
Opening on Friday, February 9 at 7:30pm.
Performance dates:
Friday, February 9 – 7:30pm
Saturday, February 10 – 7:30pm
Sunday, February 11 – 2:00pm
Friday, February 16 – 7:30pm
Saturday, February 17 – 7:30pm
Sunday, February 18 – 2:00pm
Reserved Seating: $10.00
Skagit Valley Students with ID – in the Balcony only: $1.00
Musicians – High School Musical
This is the official page for High School Musical musicians for TAG’s presentation at McIntyre Hall 2007. Bookmark this page for updates and additional information.
*HSM Musician News*
1Â – Each HSM musician responsible to have their own stand light – needs to be a Manhassett style black covered light, available at Hugo Helmer for about $30. Please do not wait until the last minute to get one.
Piano/B3 – Filled
Keyboard 1 – Filled
Keyboard 2 – Filled
Bass Guitar – Filled
Drums – Filled
Percussion – OPEN
Guitar 1 – Filled
Guitar 2 – Filled
Drum Line (4 snares) – OPEN
2 Sousaphones – OPEN
DJ Scratcher – OPEN
REHEARSALS
2/19 Monday – Drums, Bass, Key1 Only Noon-4pm
2/26 Monday – Drum, Bass, All Keys 9pm-midnight
2/27 Tuesday – Drum Bass, All Guitars 9pm-midnight at MV Pres Church
3/3 Saturday 10am-4pm Full Band at MV Pres Church (Corner of 15th and Broadway, Mount Vernon)
3/6 Tuesday 9pm-midnight – Full Band at MV Pres Church
3/8 Thursday 5-10pm w/castt – TAG on 12th St by Hospital
3/15 Thursday – 5-10pm w/cast – TAG on 12th St by Hospital
3/21 Wednesday – 5-10pm LOAD IN and Rehearsal at McIntyre Hall
3/22 Thursday – 5-10pm Dress Rehearsal at McIntyre Hall
PERFORMANCE DATES
March 23 Friday 7:30pm
March 24 Saturday 7:30pm
March 25 Sunday 2pm
March 29 Thursday DAY SHOW time TBA and 7:30pm – (Two shows)
March 30 Friday 7:30pm
March 31 Saturday 7:30pm
April 1 Sunday 2pm
April 5 Thursday 7:30pm
April 6 Friday 7:30pm
April 7 Saturday 7:30pm – Closing Night
April 8 – NO SHOW – Strike Set if not already done
What Is In Orbit Around the Earth?
Watch the French version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire where the contestant is asked “Which of these is in orbit around the Earth: the Moon, the Sun, Mars, or Venus?â€. I don’t want to spoil it for you, you’ll have to watch it.
Earth as seen from Saturn
The little white dot is the Earth as seen from Saturn nearly a billion miles away. The photo was taken by Cassini.
See the top Astronomy photos of 2006.
Also see the great face on Mars from a different angle. Disappointing to some, it is simply a mesa. Or as the compiler of the photos says tongue-in-cheek: “It’s not a face, it’s a butte!”
God Speaking to Pat Robertson Again
Pat Robertson has again predicted forthcoming utter devastation, which is about as bold as predicting rain in Seattle. Whenever Pat is in the headlines it seems to be about something hateful and treacherous. When I read about Billy Graham it’s usually something positive and uplifting. Coincidence? I ran across this post in one of my forums:
I am most amused that God sent angels to talk to Mary, but he speaks to Pat Robertson personally.
It is my opinion that God would make Mr. Robertson appear more reputable if he would be kind enough to give him more exact details. Not being God, I can only assume this goes under the “myserious ways” category. And if in time this prediction is “proven” true, then I invite you to explore Pat’s previous predictions and their accuracy.
Acting Lessons – Observe Others
Director Scott McDade gives the first instructions to our cast of High School Musical. “Observe others and what they do, and be CONSCIOUS of that fact.” That is the artists special blessing and curse. To watch others not just as in a passing Parisian cafe, but to dissect what they do and embody elements of those actions into your own expression.
High School Musical takes place at a current-day high school. Actions need to be natural as if really at school, not as if on a stage. The facade of the juvenile nature of the show is betrayed in the challenge to preserve it’s simplicity.
First assignment of cast members:
1) Observe ten things people do while walking down the hall at school. Be prepared to demonstrate, or act, those ten things with realism.
2) Observe ten things people do while sitting in class. Be prepared to demonstrate, or act those ten things with realism.
3) Observe ten things people do while talking to each othe rat school. Be prepared to act and demonstrate.
Cast will not be allowed to explain what they are doing or to make noise. They just have to do it.