30 Inspirational Years

I first met Tim and Kathy back in 1999 when I auditioned for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Hudson Players.  I had just moved back to Northest Ohio after college and I didn't know a soul in Summit county.  I figured that joining a community theatre would be a good place to make new friends.

14 years later, I have made some of the best friends of my life.  Tim and Kathy are an amazing couple.  I recall always thinking, "Those two are really what marriage is all about"  They have a lot of similar interests but also give one another the freedom to do their own things.  When they are together you can see the love between them.  Tim might have his hand on Kathy's shoulder, they might snuggle up to one another, and they definitely share lots of laughs. 

Their 30th wedding anniversary was this past Tuesday.  Thank you to both of you for being an incredible inspiration to some of us "newley-er wed" couples.  Watching the two of you together is truly special.  Happy anniversary to two beautiful people.  Love you guys!  It was truly an HONOR to help you capture this milestone. 

Skid Row, Baby!

I've mentioned that I like theatre before, right? Luckily, I happen to be part of a fabulous organization called The Hudson Players.  They are getting ready to open their Spring show, Little Shop of Horrors.

Here are all the gruesome details:

Hudson Players Presents Little Shop of Horrors
Barlow Community Center
41 S. Oviatt Street
Hudson, OH 44236
For tickets please call 330-655-8522 or visit their website www.hudsonplayers.com

Classic Boy Meets Girl, Plant Eats People Musical Comedy.
Show Dates: April 26, 27, May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 @ 8:00.
Sunday Matinee May 12 @ 2:00.

CAST:
Seymour - Jared McGrath
Audrey - Holly Reimer
Mushnik - Adam Alderson
Orin (The Dentist) - Tom Cirner
Audrey II - Billy Stopczynski
Chiffon - Allison Stark
Crystal - Jessica Harris
Ronette - Holly Facer
With special appearances by Gary Maher
Puppeteering by Michelle Dolciato

Directed by Alex Nine, Chanda Porter and Dave Stebbins

Since this is tech week, I went up with my camera and shot a portion the dress rehearsal.  Here are some of my favorite expressions from Act 1! 

Skid Row Bum

A Very Dejected Audrey

Seymour's Desperation Sets In

Don't EVER Forget The D.D.S.

The Urchins

The Dentist - Orin Scrivello

Mr. Mushnik

Say "Ahhhhhh"

Somewhere That's Green

Must Be Blood...Must Be FRESH!

It's Just The Gas

Bigger, Badder, Better Audrey II

My FIRST Passion - Theatre!

So yes, I love photography.  I love learning about it.  I love looking at my images and going, "Why the heck didn't that shot work??"  I love going, "Ooo that one worked just the way I planned!" 

The biggest reason why I like it?  I've never in my life been good at anything in the visual arts area.  I cannot draw stick people to save my life.  I can't paint.  I can't sew.  I can't crochet.  None of it.  Art class was always a horrific experience.  My house looks like the polar opposite of a Pottery Barn Catalog.  I just sort of suck at the whole "visual" thing...

Performing arts, though?  YEAH BABY.  That's my first passion.  I'm a singer.  I'm an actress.  I LOVE to be on stage and have been performing basically my entire life.  So, when I'm not behind a camera, I'm on a stage, at a karaoke bar, going to friends' shows, etc.

I am incredibly lucky to be a part of an amazing community theatre around here called The Hudson Players.  Hudson is a small suburb right smack in between Cleveland and Akron and it's about 20 minutes from me.  I have done two shows there, and been on the board, but more importantly, I have made an amazing group of friends.  HP's motto is "Good Shows, Good Friends, Good Times!" and that's exactly what it's all about. 

This is a volunteer run organization.  The actors are volunteers, the board members are volunteers, etc.  The incredible sets are labors of love from volunteers.  I had a chance to photograph two sets this season thus far and wanted to share some of the results.  This is the set from the fall show, Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie.  It's incredible.  The details are awesome.

From a photography standpoint, it was a challenge.  I used no flash at all, just the lights on the set.

The Mousetrap Set from the house.  The night I attended the show, the bare set itself got APPLAUSE when the curtain opened.  It was stunning!

Shot from house right

Some more detail

Shot entering stage left from the wings

The fireplace was awesome.  It glowed! 

Detail of the snow on the windows

View of the snow material from backstage

Look at the detail on the radiator!!!  Total artwork.

June showers bring July........Showers?!?!

This has been one of the rainiest summers I can remember here in Ohio.  Today, however, my future sister-in-law got a gorgeous day for her bridal shower!  Jenny and Dave got engaged this past spring and are in the process of planning an October 30, 2011 wedding.  We are so excited to be adding her to our family.

Jenny's mom Suzy has amazing friends who hosted a shower for Jenny today at the Green Road Synagogue. 

Jenny is very "Green".  Her shower hostesses made sure that her centerpieces were made of recyclable materials.  I thought they were beautiful!

My great aunt, Jenny's grandma, and my grandma wasted no time.  They jumped right into kibitzing!

L to R: my grandma, my great aunt, Jenny, Jenny's grandma, Jenny's mom, My mom, My stepmom

I loved the wrapping on this gift

Jenny and David keep kosher in the home.  This means they will need lots of dishes.  LOTS.  Did I mention lots??  I hope they buy a house with a lot of kitchen cupboards.

My grandmother made both my brother and me knitted afghans many years ago.  She wrote us letters back then saying that she was sorry she wouldn't be able to see us open them when we got married, but that she hoped we would remember her when she used them.  I'm very happy to say that both of us got to open them in front of her at our showers.  These blankets are so incredibly special.

Jenny designed the monogram that will be on their wedding invites.  The left hand picture shows their initials in Hebrew letters.  The right hand picture shows how disgustingly happy they are (Hey David - good move on the flowers.  Classy!)

The beautiful bling!

The beautiful bride to be - Welcome to our crazy family.

Milestones

My family is lucky enough to be celebrating SO many milestones this year.  Some of them include:

• My Grandma Marilyn and Great Aunt Lois celebrate an 85th birthday on June 29
• My Great Aunt Lois and Great Uncle Phil celebrated 65 years of marriage on June 15
• My Great Uncle Phil will celebrate a 90th birthday on October 7
• My Dad and Kathy will celebrate 25 years of marriage on December 12

We all got together this morning at the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls to celebrate my Grandma and Aunt's birthdays.  I am so incredibly blessed to have these two women in my life.  They are twins, but they are as different as night and day.  My grandma is 4 minutes older (and she will never let her "little sister" forget that!) and down to earth and responsible and one of the strongest people I've ever met.  She lost her husband 14 years ago and her oldest son not long after.  How a woman copes with two losses as great as those and yet still keeps a heart full of love and a smile on her face is amazing to me.  My grandma has worked as a seamstress since she was a teenager and even altered my wedding dress.  That was such a sentimental experience for us.  She is always there for me to confide in and I trust her with everything.  My great aunt, on the other hand, is the happy-go-lucky one of the pair and I will forever remember her as one of the most amazing cooks I know.  No one can make coconut bars like her.  NO ONE.  She's also the one I was always able to talk to about boy troubles and friend issues.  Even those these two women are 51 years older than me, we are incredibly close and age is just a number. 

My Aunt Lois and Uncle Phil have been married for 65 years.  As a child I remember them bickering.  A LOT.  No....really....a LOT.  They have both mellowed out over the years, but the one thing that stands out about their marriage to me is the passion they have for one another.  They still hold hands, share kisses, and are so happy to just be with one another.  They are inspirational.

Happy Birthday Marilyn and Lois.  Happy Anniversary Lois and Phil.  May these pictures of our family put a smile on your face.  You were all surrounded by an incredible amount of love this morning and I'm excited that I was able to capture some of the special moments.

Nice big table at the Sheraton!  Girls got cozy and comfy with Daddy and Grandma

Left: My Mom and Victor ~ Right: My Dad (The Thinker!)

My brother David and his fiancee Jenny

What a difference two years makes in table manners - heehee 

 Great Aunt Lois (No, she has NEVER dyed her hair in 85 years!!)

Grandma Marilyn

Aunt Lois and Uncle Phil - Married 65 Years

Grandma and her niece Lauren

My Dad and Kathy - celebrating 25 years of marriage this December

My girls with Grandma Audrey

Love this

Peek A Boo!

The mini chocolate mousse parfaits were a huge hit - Genevieve definitely approved!

 Left: Daddy liked it too!  Right: Me and my Grandma

Paperweight that Kathy made - Marilyn and Lois with their mother, Dorothy (for whom I am named)

I loved looking at this picture as a little girl - now it's a paperweight too!

When I was pregnant with Genevieve I swore I would never dress the girls alike.  Never say never...

Thank you nice man in the lobby!  You took a family picture with 5 seconds of DSLR tutorial and all of us were looking at the camera except the 2 year old.  Well done!

Sisters. Twins. Birthday Girls.

 Maybe I'm biased, but they don't look 85 and almost 90 to me!?!

 By FAR my favorite images of the day.  Mother and Son.  4 years ago I never would have thought they would see this day together.  My dad suffered and almost fatal heart attack in January of 2007.  By God's grace, he is here with us and still laughing with his mom 64 years later.

Lois, Phil, and daughter Lauren (they have 4 children but the other 3 live out of town. We missed you guys!)

Genevieve with Uncle David

Smoooooooooch!

I find it incredibly awesome that my daughters know their great grandma

Three cute women

6 years down, 59 more years to go to make it to 65.  You game, babe?

Why are you making fish faces at me, Poppie??

This is one of those moments that make your heart stop.  I know Genevieve will treasure this picture her entire life.  She will share it with her children and tell them about her Poppie.