Memory Mondays: Musicals!

Little Courtney and Dad!
Beauty & The Beast: Precursor to my love of theatre

*insert cliche opening about musical theatre here* "There's no business like show business! Like no business I know. Nowhere can you get that happy feeling when you are stealing that extra bow."

 Ok now that I've gotten that out of my system, it's on with the show! Musical theatre has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up on the Disney VHS tapes filled with plenty of songs and splendor. That love of story through song quickly moved over to full musical theatre productions.

I really have to thank my dad for that. My Dad took me to my first "legit" touring production when I was six. Beauty and the Beast was in town at the now defunct Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore. However, I told my Art teacher, "I'm seeing a show on Broadway tonight." My little brain did not yet realize Broadway is a place, not a concept of live theatre. I remember dressing up in my finest attire and heading downtown for the big show.  We sat in our mezzanine seats, and from the moment that the curtain rose, I was hooked. My favorite movie came alive right before my eyes. It was way better than any 3-D movie re-release.

A few years later, I moved on from the disney corporation generated musicals to the more classic musicals of the "Golden Age." My first was The Music Man. I again can thank my Dad for that. I remember coming down the stairs one evening because I couldn't sleep. My Dad and StepMom had just begun to watch The Music Man. They allowed me to stay downstairs, and I was once again enamored with what I saw on screen: the sweet songs, the big dance numbers, and the beautiful love story. Shortly thereafter, The Music Man came into town, and we went and saw it. I was probably the only eight year old in the theatre.

My collection of Playbills!
The Music Man was the first one I saved

I believe my next musical obsession was the movie version of Chicago. My Dad told me about it, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. I mean come on, a murder plot, snazzy songs, and all that jazz? I probably shouldn't have seen it when I was only ten years old but whatever. I absolutely loved it, and I even begged my Dad to take me to see it again. When the soundtrack came out, I wore that CD into the ground. I could probably still recite every line for you.

That next summer my parents enrolled me in theatre camp. There I really found my love of the stage. I had been enrolled in dance classes since I was in diapers, but hadn't thought of acting. I completely credit my quick thinking abilities and wit to all the improv exercises I participated in at camp. Those were my favorites.

Big Courtney & Dad!
Still enjoying theatre :) 

After middle school summer camps, I did the high school productions. (Fittingly, my first performance was in The Music Man) I can dance, but I can't sing to save my life, so I often stayed in the chorus. However I always danced and reacted my heart out on that stage. I even saw the behind the scenes aspect as Assistant Director for Suessical my senior year. Even though I no longer participate in acting, I still appreciate good theatre.

I'm a big fan of the TKTS booth in NYC, and I love seeing National Tours at the Hippodrome. A part of me misses the feeling of being up on stage, both my dance recitals in the early 90s and my high school productions.

Just this past weekend, I once again felt that longing for it. My Dad took me to see a production of my all time favorite show, Into the Woods. (Side note: If you like Stephen Sondheim we can totally be best friends). It was beautifully done and well cast.

I hope to continue this appreciation for theatre through old age. I will be that frail, little, 80 year old woman rocking out to a local production of Hair. I'm all about supporting the arts.

I guess in order to wrap this up I should bring it back to the beginning. Thanks Dad for sparking my love of theatre! Sentimental moment: I know I'll always cherish it for the rest of my life.

May all your memories be meaningful,
Courtney

Memory Mondays: Mother Dear

Mother Daughter Pic Awwww 

Break out your tissues folks: it's semi-sappy post time. I'm home for spring break this week. Most of my comrades are flocking to PCB for escapades of debauchery and morning after regrets, but I'm opting for a much more tame week at home.

While some people would absolutely dread returning home, I don't really mind it. Maybe it's an only child thing? I'm just happy to spend a week with my Mom.  

I have a lot of fun memories with my Mom over the years. I think one of my earliest memories is from my toddler years when we lived in our first house. I can recall waking up, going into her room, curling up with her and watching reruns of I Love Lucy on TV. We still like to catch it if a marathon is on.

I can also recall the fun day trips we spent together when she was still a stay at home mom. Anything from parks to library trips were fun filled adventures. Eventually, after my parents split, she returned to teaching. I remember sitting in my first grade classroom being very upset because she wasn't there to send me off on the bus the morning of her first day on the job. However, I quickly became ok with her going back to teaching because that meant we were on the same schedule. We were fortunate enough to be able to bake together on snow days and spend summers together. (She always says the three best reasons to become a teacher are June, July, and August)

Throughout everything, she's always been there for me. Anything from a minor boo-boo to the more serious broken hearts. I can't thank her enough. I honestly think if one day I turn out to be half as good of a mom as she is I will be quite fortunate. I am so blessed.

So here I am on spring break looking forward to a few dinners together before I return to school. I don't need a crazy trip or brief getaway. I've got it all here at home.

(OK this was really sappy and cliche, but deal with it. I promise I won't do this all the time)

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,
Courtney

Flashback Fridays: "Science-y Things"

Ms. Frizzle & Bill Nye Leave No Child Left Behind.
Photo Credit: GraphJam.com

When it comes to things involving Math & Science, I am always the first to admit that I haven't got a clue. I'm fine with words, literature, art, and facts, but once you throw numbers in there, you've lost me.

Case in point, I somehow managed to find a loop hole at my college that has allowed me to take JOUR175: Media Literacy as a Math Science course. It didn't involve equations or number voodoo magic, just analyzing articles and thinking critically.

However, if those actual math science courses had been taught by the great science teachers of the 90s, I would have been far more willing to take the classes. I am, of course, referring to Bill Nye the Science Guy and everyone's favorite elementary school teacher, Ms. Frizzle.

I can recall many mornings spent watching those shows before heading off to my real school. I think it's safe to say (as that handy graph points out) that I learned much more from those shows than I did sitting in an overcrowded classroom. Who says television rots our brains? I definitely learned some valuable life lessons from both shows.

The best day in any classroom was when you arrived to class and saw that big TV set on the cart. You know this one:

It usually meant one thing: Bill Nye videos. That show had everything: dinosaurs, terrible child actors, experiments to try at home, experiments you're not allowed to try at home, and that awesome theme song! (Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Nye the Science Guy!) Because of that song, I will never forget that "inertia is a property of matter." I'm not even exactly sure what that means, but I know it, That has to count for something, right? Perhaps it will come in handy if I am on Jeopardy one day.

Bill Nye is actually still teaching science. It seems some people need to go back and watch his videos again. Watch as Bill attempts to explain Global Warming and the moon to a Fox News anchor: 

Perhaps Bill Nye could have used some help from the other best science teacher of the 90s, Ms. Frizzle. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wished my class field trips were as cool as hers. My class only went to the body exhibit at the science center. Ms. Frizzle's class got to actually go inside a body. Talk about hands on learning. 

Ms. Frizzle taught more than just those "science-y things." She also taught some valuable life lessons. I absolutely love her catch phrase: Take Chances! Make Mistakes! Get Messy! 

Wise words my friends. So even if you're like me and not inclined towards the math science or somehow gifted in those skills, you can still take those words to heart. In whatever field you pursue, don't be afraid to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. Oh, and never forget: FoxNews doesn't know what they're talking about. Those four things will get you far in life.  

Memory Mondays: Future Terrapin

Little Courtney Waiting To Grow Into Her Terrapin Shell

While preparing to write this blog, I spent a Sunday evening at home going through my Mom's old photo books from my childhood. I couldn't help but smile when I came across this one.

This photo was taken at the Baltimore Zoo some time around 1994/1995. Clearly, back then, I had no intentions of going to UMD. I was far too busy playing Barbies and watching movies to even know what my future would hold.

For those of you who don't know, UMD's mascot is a Diamondback Terrapin named Testudo. He's pretty awesome.  He's much cooler than a Blue Hen or an Orange Blob!

Here at UMD we take Testudo very seriously. You can find him at almost any event: anything from Basketball games to prestigious alumni functions. We even leave him offerings every time midterms and finals role around.

Offering to Testudo
Human Sacrifice Edition

I'd love to go back to the Zoo and take another picture in the turtle shells. I think they're still there? Well, if I fit in them, of course. Perhaps, I can even go in my cap and gown in two years. That would make a cute graduation announcement. Until then I'll just settle for some pictures with Testudo. Although no one knew what my future would hold when that picture was taken, I am glad it ended foreshadowing it just a bit.

Memory Mondays: I was born to be an English major.

Little Courtney Writing Her First Novel

I remember calling my Mom some time last year in order to inform her that I had finally decided on a major. When I blurted out that I was going to become an English major, she retorted, "well, I'm not surprised." I fortunately dogged the age old question, "what are you going to do with that?"

Thinking back, it seems that the signs were always there. Take for example my favorite childhood film, Beauty and the Beast. Disney released Beauty and the Beast the year before I was born. In an effort to build our VHS collection of Disney Classics, my parents quickly purchased it before I could even recognize what a movie was. I remember I used to watch that film over and over. This was when we had to actually rewind films. I'm sure I completely wore that VHS tape out. I absolutely idolized the film's heroine, Belle. Not only was she pretty, but she shared my love of books. My favorite scene is definitely when the Beast unveils his sweet surprise to Belle: a huge library filled with thousands of books. I wanted that library. I still want that library. As a huge reader, it's going to be a perquisite for any future home.

I've just always been a reader. Most parents punish their children by sending them to the dreaded corner of silence otherwise known as time out. Some resort to a firm spanking. My parents were different. They took away my bedtime stories if I ever misbehaved. All it took was the mere threat of losing my beloved bedtime story, and I would instantly behave.

Eventually, my love of reading gave way to my passion for writing. Fun fact: I won a poetry award in third grade. It was an angst filled poem that could only come from the mind of an eight year old. It's rather ridiculous, and much to my dismay, my mother has it framed somewhere. How embarrassing. I would most definitely say I've grown since then, not just in height but as a writer...hopefully. If not, that's what my major is for! As an answer to the original question of what I'm going to do with that, I respond, "I'm going to do what I've always enjoyed." 

May all your memories be meaningful,

Courtney