The Wonderful Music of Oz

This evening we had tickets to The Wonderful Music of Oz, a concert featuring many of the songs inspired by the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Most of the music came from the film The Wizard of Oz and the musicals The Wiz and Wicked. We were looking forward to it.

We arrived early and settled into our seats. We were in the front row. When the musicians came on I recognized the drummer as a musician we had met before.

The performers were Kelli Rabke, Scott Coulter and Chris Blum and they were accompanied by John Boswell who was an amazing pianist. The show featured wonderful performances of songs we know. Marina was especially happy to hear “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. I even answered a few Oz trivia questions.

After the show, all the performers were in the lobby, so we met them all. Scott even took a selfie with us! We took photos and chatted for a little while before heading home. It had been a full day!

Defying Gravity

Marina loved the musical Wicked when I took her to see it five years ago. So when it came back to town, I decided to take her again. We were both excited to see it again. Marina decided to wear a black dress with silver sequins as a nod to Elphaba.

We decided to go downtown early and have dinner. When we got to the theatre we saw a huge crowd milling around. Apparently there was a delay opening the building. So I took the food to the car while Marina got in line. When I came back she had already befriended the people around her in line.

We had enough time to pick up drinks and Marina wanted popcorn. (I was surprised at that considering she just ate dinner.) It wasn’t too long before the show started.

The show was wonderful, just as we remembered it. Marina still loves the song “Popular.”  And “Defying Gravity” never disappoints. After the show we were both raving about it.

Wizard of Oz Ballet

Marina and I have been fans of the ballet for a long time. We were very interested when they announced they were presenting a new work – The Wizard of Oz. The downtown area was still very crowded so we gave ourselves plenty of time. Despite that, we still ran into terrible traffic and it took us quite a while to park. Once inside the theatre, we picked up drinks and snacks and waited to sit down. There was a technical issue and we waited for a long time.

 While we were waiting to be seated, a friend of ours joined us. Once the technical issues were settled, the doors to the theater opened and we made our way to our seats. The show started shortly afterwards. The ballet was a good one. It combined traditional ballet with modern twists and took a humorous tone throughout. The special effect were impressive.

 After intermission when the lights were going down, Marina shushed us because she didn’t want to miss anything! After the show we lingered in the theater and took some photos in front of a fun backdrop. That allowed traffic to ease up so we weren’t stuck in traffic when we left.

A Day on the Prairie

We haven’t been to the plains center in quite a while. I learned today was a free day and they were offering special activities. Marina was excited to go back. She wore the Dorothy costume from The Wizard of Oz with a pink bonnet and boots.

The center is not far from our house. When we arrived, we started by checking out the teepees while we were looking around, we saw wagons pull up by the visitor center. One was going to the homestead area and the other was headed for ride through the prairie. Since the prairie tour only went out once an hour, we decided to do that first.

While we were on the prairie tour, Marina spent time playing with the little boy next to us. While we were out we could see pronghorns in the distance and the two eagles that have been nesting on the property were flying nearby. We were even able to see the eagles’ nest. During the tour we had helicopters and military jets flying overhead from a nearby air force base. That was fun to watch as well.

When we got back we saw the wagon to the homestead was waiting with people aboard. So we got onboard. It was a few minutes before we left, but we were grateful for the ride.

At the homestead we looked at the first sod house and the blacksmith shop. There we went to the second sod house which had a woman baking cookies and serving hot cider and tea. She asked Marina to help her with the cookies and she happily agreed. Then she learned hoe to play checkers with two younger children who were there. It was a long game but she ultimately won.

We looked around at the schoolhouse, then we caught the wagon back to the visitor center.

Glow and Snow at the Gardens

Marina and I have attended Glow at the Gardens from the first year it began. Our tickets were for this evening. The temperature dropped dramatically today and we had snow flurries. But that didn’t dampen our spirits. We both wore our Halloween costumes, but you couldn’t really see them under our heavy coats.

It took a while to get to the Botanic Gardens and when we arrived it was already busy. We found a parking sport not too far way and quickly went inside.

We stopped to buy chai lattes. We also saw a woman dressed like Glinda on stilts. We took pictures and then bundled up to go through the garden. This year there were more trick or treat stations and since this was the last night of the event, they encouraged to take as much candy as they wanted. Marina was actually fairly reserved in her selections.

The carved pumpkins were extraordinary as usual. We loved a pile of flame carved pumpkins with a smoke machine inside and horse created from pumpkins. Marina wasn’t as fond of the haunted forest which she thought was too creepy. She enjoyed the ghostly apparitions at one of the administrative buildings. Although, when a pair of giant eyes appeared she was obviously startled.

We went into the Memorial Building where Marina tried out the crafts. She made a wand, colored a vampire picture and decorated a cat mask. On our way out, we saw a room with music playing and acrobats performing. Marina started up a conversation with a woman using lighted hula hoops. We also talked to another woman dancing around in beautiful lighted wings.

We bundled up again and walked to the car. Fortunately it never got too cold and we enjoyed the evening.

Off To See The Wiz

This afternoon we had tickets to see The Wiz. Marina wore her Dorothy costume. I told her that in this show the slippers are silver, but since her silver shoes are at her father’s house, she wore her red ones.

We arrived at the theater early. Once the show started, she was very excited. She liked Dorothy, of course, but she was also enthralled with the Cowardly Lion. And during his first song, he came out into the audience and told her “Great shoes!” She was thrilled!

After the show, many of the cast members came out in their costumes. We got photos with Dorothy, the Wiz, the Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch. We waited a bit to meet the Lion. He was very nice to her. After meeting all the characters she wanted, we went home.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

We’ve seen The Wizard of Oz on stage many times, but Marina was still very excited to see it when the dinner theater included it on their schedule. We left for the show right after church with our friends. Of course, Marina decided to wear her Dorothy costume and sparkly red shoes. She also brought along her Toto purse.

When we arrived the couple who were sharing our table were already there. They were very friendly and talked with us all afternoon. Marina ordered the barbecue chicken but asked for rice instead of potatoes. She ate a lot of bread while we waited for the food, so she didn’t eat as much of her salad and chicken as I expected her to.

When the show started, Marina was completely engaged in it. She loved the live dog who played Toto in Kansas and was charmed by the little girl who played Toto in Oz. She was especially happy when she found “The Jitterbug” was included in the show.

Once the performance was over, Marina was anxious to meet the cast. Unfortunately, most of the lead characters were not available. Marina had her picture taken with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Toto. We did meet up with Dorothy after she had changed out of her costume. Marina had hoped to hold the dog playing Toto, but we weren’t able to arrange that.

Over the Rainbow

This evening we had tickets to see the touring production of The Wizard of Oz. Marina wanted to dress as Dorothy, but she was most excited to wear a pair of red sparkle shoes I bought her recently. I can’t blame her - the shoes were gorgeous.

Many events were going on downtown this evening, so to avoid parking issues we decided to take the light rail to the theater. Marina thought it was fun. We arrived early for the show, so we picked up a snack and posed for pictures. Marina’s outfit attracted a lot of attention, but she didn’t mind a bit.

The show was based on The Wizard of Oz movie, but it contained many new songs. Marina seemed a bit distracted through much of the show - it might have been her new shoes! When the performance was over, she said she loved it though.

When we arrived at the light rail station, our train was already there. So we made a mad dash to make sure we got on it so we didn’t have to wait half an hour for the next one.

Pan

Marina and her friend Ainsley both wanted to see the movie Pan, a new adaptation of the Peter Pan story. Before we left for the theater, they went to Marina's room to pick out outfits for the movie. They discussed dressing as fairies, but ultimately decided to dress as lost girls. I wasn’t sure what that looked like. Ainsley decided to wear Marina’s Alice in Wonderland costume and Marina dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Then we headed to the theater.

The movie was action packed but also had a great message about believing in yourself. Both girls enjoyed it. When we arrived back at the house, they went back into Marina’s room and tried on even more costumes until it was time for bed.

Wicked

After seeing The World of Wicked and the performances from the cast, Marina has been very excited to see Wicked. We’ve been listening to the soundtrack ever since. Marina even knows some of the songs by heart. So we were both looking forward to seeing the show tonight.

We had some very scary storms a few hours before the show. So we waited for them to pass before leaving. Marina wore her Glinda costume and dressed Grace up as a witch. It was a bit chilly when we left, but the worst of the weather had passed.

We arrived a bit early. I picked up some water to drink and a bag of popcorn called “Good Witch.” Marina loved that! We settled in for the show

For the whole show, Marina was absorbed in the story. She sang along with some of the songs she knew and gushed over Glinda’s clothes and funny antics. I pointed out some of the parallels to The Wizard of Oz as they happened. It was clear she loved the show afterwards. But she was a little tired when it ended.

The World of Wicked

Marina and I have tickets to see Wicked in two weeks. She has never seen it before, but she is looking forward to it. We learned recently that a display of props and costumes from Wicked are on display at a nearby mall. But before we could make plans to see the exhibit, the theater company announced that members of the cast would be at the mall to perform and sign autographs. Suddenly I knew when we'd be visiting!

Marina wanted to wear her Glinda costume from Oz the Great and Powerful. She also brought her American Girl doll Grace along. Grace wore her witch costume.

We arrived a little before the performance was set to start. So we took time to look at the display of costumes. We managed to find seats up closer but off to one side. Still, we had a great view and had a group of young ladies to chat with as we waited.

The performances were fantastic. The actresses who are playing Glinda and Elphaba performed "The Wizard and I" and "For Good." Marina was very impressed.

We got in line to meet the performers. While we waited, Marina befriended a young lady in line. The two girls hit it off right away. When it was our turn, Marina showed the actresses her costume as well as Grace's. Clearly they appreciated her style!

We completed a scavenger hunt through the mall which took us to a toy store, chocolate shop and tea sampling. Then we headed home. On the way, we listened to songs from Wicked. I think Marina is even more excited to see the show now.

Return to Oz

Marina and I were excited to attend a local production of The Wizard of Oz. Marina surprised me by decided to wear the Dorothy costume my mother made for me when I was a teenager. She brought a stuffed dog along with her that she affectionately called Toto.

The outside of the theater was elaborately decorated for the show. Marina enjoyed posing in front of the many displays. She wanted to find our seats early, but then was impatient for the show to begin. She looked through the program and saw that Toto was being played by a real dog. She was excited by that.

Once the show began, Marina was completely captivated. She loved watching the dog on stage and was startled each time the witch made an entrance. We both enjoyed the performances - especially the Cowardly Lion who was very funny.

After the performance was over, Marina said she wanted to meet the cast. I wasn't sure that would be a possibility but as we walked through the lobby we saw most of the cast mingling with the crowd. So, naturally, we joined in.

Marina got a chance to meet and have her picture taken with many of the main characters but the one she got most excited about was the dog playing Toto. She loved getting a chance to pet her!

After we made our rounds, we headed home. It was a late night, but a fun one!

Welcome to the Family!

After losing Melanie, our family cat, last month Marina has been anxious to get a new pet. It took me a bit longer to be ready to move on. Today is National Cat Day, so our local shelter was offering a special on cat adoptions. So we went this afternoon to check it out.

I didn't tell Marina we were going until we were in the car. She was so excited she used the GPS on my phone to locate the shelter. Then she excitedly announced as we got closer.

When we arrived there weren't many kittens available. So we took a look at all the cats they had. As we were walking through, we saw a black kitten with green eyes staring at us. So we made a note to find out more about her. The shelter had named her Dance and she came from the home of a hoarder. She had a respiratory infection and was listed as not social. We decided to meet her.

Dance was brought into the room where we were waiting. She came immediately out and checked us out. She allowed both Marina and I to hold her and she purred in our arms. At one point she even climbed onto my shoulder and cuddled next to my face. We considered seeing additional cats, but we learned another family was interested in meeting Dance, so we quickly decided we couldn't risk losing her and decided to adopt her.

The kitten was surprisingly quiet in the car ride home. We discussed possible names for her. Marina suggested Evanora - one of the witches from Oz the Great and Powerful. Naming a black cat after a witch seemed logical. Later she said she liked Jasmine. We put them together to make Jasmine Evanora. I think that is what we are leaning towards now.

 Once we arrived and let her out and she immediately started to explore everywhere her tiny body would fit. Marina was dying to play with her and despite my cautions she got out the laser pointer and got her to chase it for a while.

Having a kitten around will be quite an adjustment, but we're looking forward to it!

Legends of Oz

We've been seeing advertising for the new movie Legends of Oz and Marina has been anxious to see it. So after school, we headed to our favorite theater and restaurant to see it. Of course, before we did that, Marina had to change into her Dorothy costume, complete with red sparkle shoes and a basket with a stuffed dog in it.

We arrived a little early for the show, so we had plenty of time to order our dinner. Marina spent some time chatting with the little girl behind us while we waited.

Our food arrived just as the previews started. So we settled in to watch. Marina really got into it, often making comments about the story as it went on. Once it was over, she said she really liked it.

Into the Woods

After seeing Oliver! at a small theater last year, Marina was excited to see their production of Into the Woods this spring. She had seen part of the film of the Broadway production at school and liked it. I knew this was a more mature twist on fairy tales, but I felt she could handle it at her age.

Marina wanted to dress as Little Red Riding Hood, but we didn't have a costume for her. So, she wore the Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz costume that was mine when I was a teenager and we added the cape from her Anna costume. She was happy with that.

The drive took a bit longer than we expected and the location had changed. But we managed to arrived just minutes before the show started, albeit a bit out of breath. Marina had a bit of time to look through the program before the lights dimmed.

Marina enjoyed the first Act of the show. It was funny and whimsical. Marina particularly enjoyed the parts featuring Cinderella and Rapunzel. But it was pretty long and she was restless toward the end.

At intermission we had a drink and a cookie, then we settled in for Act 2. The second Act was darker and more mature in theme than the first. Marina found it tougher to sit through.

Once the show was over, the cast lined up near the exit. Marina said, "I want to meet them!" She was really only interested in talking to the actors playing Cinderella, Rapunzel and Red Riding Hood. They were all nice enough to pose for pictures. We talked the actor who played the Witch for a few minutes, but Marina refused to have her picture taken with her. Too bad, she was a nice lady.

Photo Finish

We finished off the Christmas season by doing what we usually do at the beginning, having Marina's Christmas pictures taken.

We were on time for our appointment, but the person before us was late, so we had a bit of a wait. Marina was a bit grumpy but after a candy bar she felt much better!

When it was our turn, Marina cooperated beautifully. We had her picture taken in her Christmas dress and since we had a matching American Girl dress, we had Saige in some of the pictures as well. Marina had fun with those.

After the Christmas dress was done, Marina quickly changed into her Glinda costume and we had some pictures in that as well. I think those were my favorite ones.

Once we were done, we went home and Marina played with her American Girl dolls for the rest of the evening. So glad we have been able to capture these moments before they are gone!