"Let the moment go...don't forget it for a moment, though. Just remembering you've had an "and" when you're back to "or" makes the "or" mean more than it did before. Now I understand - and it's time to leave the woods." ~stephen sondheim (into the woods)

I'll write about my trip to Italy and Greece soon. I have a lot to say, but it will take me awhile to put it all into words. I'll say that I had a fabulous time. It was the best vacation ever. More to come on that.  "Moments in the Woods" (posted above, from the show I'm about to discuss) strangely describes my feelings about the vacation, so it's a good intro to the post and a segue into theater.


The Delacorte Theater might just be my favorite place in the world. It's the home of Shakespeare in the Park, and I've spent many summer nights there enjoying fabulous Shakespeare productions. Last week I was able to enjoy a night of Sondheim in the Park at the Delacorte. Into the Woods is one of my all-time favorite musicals (it's in my top three), and seeing it in Central Park (literally in the woods) was indescribable. I loved it. Sondheim is an absolute genius.

The performances in this production were particularly strong. My favorites were Amy Adams, Donna Murphy, and Sarah Stiles. Amy Adams is lovely as the Baker's Wife. Her "Moments in the Woods" is beautiful, and she's very funny. Donna Murphy is a freakin' superstar (Ben Brantley called her a superstar and I completely agree). She really is a living legend and I am so, so glad I was able to see her perform this role. She kills it. I think I like her performance as the witch even better than Bernadette Peters', although I know that's a pretty crazy statement for a musical theatre fan to make. Sarah Stiles plays Little Red, my favorite character in the show, and she's amazing. She offers a new take on the role, and I love it. She's precocious and strong and her comedic timing is perfect; she's hilarious. "I Know Things Now" is my favorite song in the show, and Sarah Stiles' version did not disappoint me at all. Gideon Glick is also very good as Jack. I love Denis O'Hare (sidenote: I'm so glad he's back on True Blood this season), but I think he's miscast as the Baker. Both Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince are forgettable. The women really seem to stand out in this production.

The creative elements were a bit off in my mind. Poor Amy Adams is sporting the most awful, awful wig. I think Denis O'Hare is sweating buckets every night because of his cap and tweed jacket. Donna Murphy's appearance after the witch's transformation is perfect, but before the transformation, the dreadlocks and claws really don't work for me. All the costumes don't really work together; everyone looks like they're from a completely different story/time period, and I don't understand the point of that. I did like the way they did the Giant.

People are talking about a transfer to Broadway, and although it wouldn't be the same as in Central Park, I'd love to see it transfer. I definitely foresee some Tony noms if that happens.

Here's a nice interview with Amy Adams and Donna Murphy in the New York Times (you can see Ms. Adams' awful wig and Ms. Murphy's awful hair/costume in the photos).

ETA: Video preview

"And knowing ahead, there comes a fork in the road. Pants have got to go, we're on an island on the Fourth of July, it looks like the tide is going home. In time, I'd find a little way to your heart, down to the general store for nothing specific, gonna wash my bones in the Atlantic shore, only for you and me." ~band of horses

I was so thrilled they played that song when I saw them at MSG in December; it's one of my favorites. I think it's a great summer song.

The school year is over! Here are a couple of highlights since school let out.

I'm not a Maroon 5 fan, but I got to spend about six hours in the same room as the lead singer yesterday (am I allowed to say his name? I'm not sure, so I won't, but I'm sure you all know it), and I have to say I was really impressed with him. He was incredibly fun, good-natured, and friendly. I signed nondisclosure forms so there's not much I can say about the experience right now, but once a certain movie comes out I'll say more. During downtime (of which there was a lot), he impersonated Johnny Cash, the Beatles, Kings of Leon, Creed, Al Green, Elvis, Sting, Prince, Cee Lo Green, and more (he took requests). He was entertaining and made the experience (that I can't discuss now) very enjoyable.

Every year I love attending Random House's Author Event for Educators, and this year's event was wonderful as always. They had a great collection of authors. Susan Cain was a highlight for me; her bestselling book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking has been on my radar for awhile, and I loved hearing her speak about introverts, focusing on how teachers can support introverts in the classroom. Julie Otsuka has won many writing awards for her novel When the Emperor Was Divine, and her long awaited follow-up, The Buddha in the Attic. I can't wait to read both books after hearing about them. Darin Strauss is another writer whom I was excited to hear from; his memoir Half a Life has been on my must-read list since it was released and critically lauded. Matt De La Pena (an author my students enjoy), Said Sayrafiezadeh, and Sam Bracken also spoke very well about their books and their experiences. It was a great day.

I've been to the movies a LOT since school ended. I enjoyed Savages, The Amazing Spider-Man, People Like Us, Magic Mike (so much eye candy it was overwhelming), and Ted, although I still think my favorite movie of the summer is Moonrise Kingdom.

I'm super excited to see my friend Denise, who's visiting this weekend along with her friend Alicia, whom I really liked meeting last year. Then on Tuesday I leave for Italy and Greece! My grandmother and I are flying to Rome and spending a couple of days there, then we head to Venice for a couple of days, and from Venice we'll embark on a cruise of the Greek islands. I cannot wait. Hopefully internet will be available when I get back. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures and stories to share.

I'm sad that I can't be at Comic-Con and NerdHQ this week because I had a blast last year; it was one of the best weeks ever. I hope everyone going has fun. I will be looking at pictures and videos and will be jealous.

Some of my newly signed books: 

"So we wait in the dark until someone sets us free, and we're brought into the light, and we're back at the start. And I know things now, many valuable things, that I hadn't known before: Do not put your faith in a cape and a hood, they will not protect you the way that they should. And take extra care with strangers, even flowers have their dangers. And though scary is exciting, nice is different than good. Now I know: Don't be scared. Granny is right, just be prepared. Isn't it nice to know a lot! And a little bit not." ~stephen sondheim (into the woods)

Some recent stuff:

Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It
I love this play, and this is a lovely, well-staged production. Lily Rabe is magnificent as always. Seriously, this girl is fantastic. There's also a great supporting cast (including Oliver Platt). Steve Martin wrote the music and he did a fabulous job. Being at the Delacorte watching Shakespeare on a summer evening is one of my favorite things in the world.
I cannot wait for this summer's next SitP show, Into the Woods. It's one of my favorite musicals, and to see Amy Adams, Denis O'Hare, Donna Murphy, and Gideon Glick as part of the cast will make waiting in line overnight totally worth it.

Concert/Album release party: Spirit Family Reunion
Spirit Family Reunion is an Americana/folk/bluegrass band that puts on a great show. The word that first comes to mind is "raucous" (in a good way). The didn't go onstage until after midnight, but they certainly woke everyone up and got the crowd moving and clapping along.

Funny random incident after the concert: I went to the show with my friends Nicole and Maribeth, and while we were waiting on the subway platform for the F train to take us home (around 2:30am), this guy came up to us and asked if we were sisters. We said no, so he asked if we were cousins. We said no again. Nic was carrying the band's record (which has Spirit Family Reunion in huge letters on the cover), and this guy thought it was a sign or something from the family reunion we were coming from. He assumed we were related and our last name was Spirit. It was funny at the time. We ended up talking about bath salt-eating zombies, which was also funny.

That's all for now. I'll leave you with a new picture of my boys.

"This is how it works, you're young until you're not, you love until you don't, you try until you can't. You laugh until you cry, you cry until you laugh, and everyone must breathe until their dying breath.
No, this is how it works. You peer inside yourself, you take the things you like, and try to love the things you took. And then you take that love you made, and stick it into some, someone else's heart, pumping someone else's blood. And walking arm in arm, you hope it don't get harmed. But even if it does, you'll just do it all again." ~regina spektor

My jury duty was cut short, so I didn't have as much time on free wifi as I had hoped. But I'm at the library now, ready to post! I'll write about the recent Regina Spektor concert I went to, and I'll post my predictions for the Tony Awards.

Last week I went to a Regina Spektor concert that aired live on NPR's website (video) and on various public radio stations (audio). I went with my friend Bill, and we got a fabulous spot in the front row. I seriously could have reached out and touched Regina's piano. It was a small, intimate show (even though there were cameras all around because the concert was being broadcast). I enjoyed it very much. The show was to promote Regina's new album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats. I didn't have the album yet (it had only been released two days before), so I was eager to hear some of the new songs and to see Regina perform some of my favorites. I love her album Begin to Hope, and I was thrilled to hear her perform the hits from that record. She sang all my favorites ("Samson," "On the Radio," "Fidelity," "Better"). Here are some videos from the live broadcast (they're my favorites, especially "On the Radio" and "Samson"):

"On the Radio" (Of course she had to play this):

"Fidelity":

"Better":

"Samson" (This is such a beautiful, beautiful song, and it's perfect as a closer):

"Ain't No Cover" (this was the first song she did, and she cursed a bunch at the beginning to get it out of her system before going on the air because she couldn't curse on the radio, but she didn't realize she was already live. NPR immediately issued a parental advisory warning.):


There are videos of the whole show on this very, very kind person's youtube feed. I'm really happy they took the time to record and upload the show, because NPR still hasn't posted the archived version on their site. The concert is definitely worth watching/listening. Regina has some funny dialogue talking to people listening to the radio (usually she doesn't talk much while performing).



And now I'll switch to a completely unrelated topic (actually, I suppose it's not completely unrelated, because Regina Spektor is currently writing a Broadway musical). The Tony Awards are on Sunday! Tony night is one of my favorite nights of the year. I'll share my predictions here now (and you can see how I do on Sunday). I'm really rooting for Once, Nina Arianda, and Other Desert Cities. There are a lot of close races this year, so it'll be exciting.

Best Play: Other Desert Cities (Clybourne Park could very well take it, but I much prefer Other Desert Cities.)
Best Musical: Once (This is an incredibly tight race between Once and Newsies, but I really want Once to win.)
Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Best Revival of a Musical: Follies
Best Book of a Musical: Once - Enda Walsh
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics): Newsies - Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Jack Feldman
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (James Corden has a shot, though.)
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Nina Arianda - Venus in Fur
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: Danny Burstein - Follies (although I keep going between him and Steve Kazee from Once)
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Audra McDonald - The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Christian Borle - Peter and the Starcatcher (although I will not be at all surprised if Andrew Garfield wins)
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Judith Light - Other Desert Cities
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Phillip Boykin - The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Judy Kaye - Nice Work If You Can Get It
Best Direction of a Play: Mike Nichols - Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Best Direction of a Musical: John Tiffany - Once
Best Choreography: Christopher Gattelli - Newsies
Best Orchestrations: Martin Lowe - Once
Best Scenic Design of a Play: John Lee Beatty - Other Desert Cities
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll - Ghost the Musical
Best Costume Design of a Play: Paloma Young - Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes - Follies
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jeff Croiter - Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Hugh Vanstone - Ghost the Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play: Darron L West - Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Sound Design of a Musical: Clive Goodwin - Once

 So much to write about and still no internet!

I guess I should talk about Kim's wedding. It was absolutely lovely. The ceremony was filled with love and joy and laughter, and I was so glad to be there. The reception was amazing. It was at an incredible venue with beautiful gardens outside and gorgeous, fancy rooms inside. I think there was enough food to feed a small country for a year. During cocktail hour there were a bunch of stations set up with all the appetizers you could imagine (as well as a martini bar), so I was stuffed by the time dinner rolled around. There was also a crazy assortment of desserts after dinner. There was a fun band and lots of dancing, and I had a great time. I knew a lot of people there, and I got to see my parents and brother (my parents also stuck around the next day so I got to spend more time with them in the city, which I was really happy about). Here are some photos:

It really was a fabulous, joyful, celebration, and I'm so happy for Kim and Jeff.


Other fun events will be discussed in another post coming very, very soon. I have jury duty now, and I think I'm the only person who's thrilled to be here. There's wifi, so I get to sit around all day using the internet and reading. It's wonderful! So I'll post again soon while I'm able to take advantage of this free time and internet access.