I tried out for the part of Marley’s Ghost, but as usual, I never get the part I really want. But I did think of Fezziwig when I first thought about auditioning, so I suppose my first idea was the best one.

Mrs. Fezziwig will be played by Carlyn Postle, a friend who has directed me in several plays.

A Christmas Carol is being directed by Jim Russell. I’ve only worked with one other director besides Carlyn since I’ve started acting at Carrollwood. I’ve worked with a few others while I was lighting shows. It will be interesting to observe someone else rally the troops, plus I’m in training myself, because I hope to do some directing. I’ll need the skills for my production company, after all.

On a side note: It’s 50 days until my 50th birthday! Here is my Wish List – you know, just in case you were thinking about getting me a little something.

Mr. Alberts was a co-founder of the Four Aces, a group who would earn several awards including Academy Awards for Three Coins in a Fountain and Love is a Many Splendored Thing. He also made the song On the Way to Cape May popular.

Later in his Career he hosted his talent show on Channel 6 in Philadelphia. It lasted for over 30 years. I would faithfully watch the show every weekend, wanting to do the same job. I even had a couple of favorites among the talented kids on the show: Andrea McArdle, who would later become the first Annie on Broadway, and Liza Moran (no relation), who seems to have given up on show business and has fallen out of the public eye.

I met Al Alberts during one of his production company’s shows at a mall in the 1980′s. I even shook his hand and asked him if there was a way I could become involve with his company and help out. He told me to talk to his wife, Stella. Unfortunately, my shyness kept me from taking it any further. Who knows where I would be now.

Because he did the things that I would like to do and because I looked up to him, I suppose I would have to say that Al Alberts was one of my heros. I’m sorry to hear that he passed away. I hope someday to have a group of talented young people singing and dancing on stage, and I’ll know that it’s partly due to the influence of “Uncle Al”.

This project is part of my overall efforts to focus more on those things that interest me most, rather than trying only to find ways to make an income.  Hopefully, this new site will do both.  They do say “Follow Your Bliss.”

I guess I need to think about going to other theaters.  Not an easy thing for me.  My cold reading of scripts is terrible.  I guess I’ll just have to work on it.

Well, for now, I just have to get over the rejection of not getting a part, and think about where to go from here.

I suppose, as all the parts are pretty much equal, I wouldn’t mind getting the constable, yet I feel I’m tool old for the part.  I could also deal with the drunken butler, but I have no real life experience to draw upon.  I’d just have to mimic drunks I’ve seen.  Easy enough, I suppose.  But both parts are kinda dead-pan, so they have their appeal for me.

If I don’t get a part, I told them I would work backstage, but I would like to actually work backstage.  There isn’t much I can do front-of-house in this theater anymore, and I need the experience if I am to go on to direct or produce someday.

I’ll update you as soon as I hear from the director.

Here is a list of websites and businesses that offer discount coupons for the Tampa Bay area:

• Coupons of Tampa Bay – Free, printable, local coupons for Tampa, St Pete, Clearwater, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco…
• Entertainment Discount Coupon Book – An entire book with thousands of dollars worth of savings. You also get a membership card which provides additional discounts at participating businesses. Plus, you can download more coupons from the website!
• eFlorida Coupons – Claims to be Tampa Bay’s largest free coupon directory.
• Valpak – You know them. It’s the coupon pack that comes in your mail every so often. Well, you don’t have to wait. You can print discount coupons right from their website.
• Tampa Bay 360 – The coupon page from a Tampa Bay area virtual tour site.
• Retail Me Not – A site where people share discount codes for online purchases.

Coupons often don’t last for very long; they have expiration dates. Sometimes, the offers expire or don’t live up to their promises. Real offers can be hidden by those that are spam, so you have to look carefully.

I think that the benefits outweigh the problems, and with a little effort, you can save some money by using coupons.

I haven’t been following my life-long dreams. Trying to earn a living seems to have pushed me away from those things. It’s time I’ve steered myself back to those things which I want to accomplish.

Generally, I want to be in show business – not as a star or performer (although I will do some work on stage), but as a producer of variety shows and musicals. This has been something that has been a part of me since my childhood. I think it’s time I took it seriously and started really working on it.

I want this blog to reflect my progress as I work toward my goals. I also want it to motivate and help others who may be interested in the same things I am. So, I’ll be working on adding more posts about show business, music, singing, dancing, backstage work, and all the other factors that to into putting on a show.

I have a degree in Theater. I’ve worked in theater, both backstage and onstage. I’ve directed both shows and videos as a teacher, and have taken part in all sorts of special events. I’ve been in a band and several musicals. While I don’t consider myself an expert in show business or a musician, I have a lifetime of experience from which to build.

It’s time to move on and become an expert, so that I can do the thing that I feel I was meant to do in this life. Hopefully, you’ll be able to follow my progress by seeing more entertainment related posts here on my website. I guess now that I’ve put this out there publicly, I have to do it, right?

Children (or kids at heart) create their own works of art using the spin painting machine. Paper is placed on a spinning platform and people get to squirt paint onto the paper. It creates some really neat designs, and kids love that they can take home something they’ve made themselves.

It’s the same with sand art. Your guests fill uniquely shaped bottles with different colors of sand to make a one-of-a-kind pieces of art. There are basic tube-type bottles, but there are even more exciting bottles shaped like animals, flowers, and more.

For parties and similar events, the cost depends on the number of guests you will be hosting. It averages about $15.00 per guest (minimum $150). Each guest can create two 5 x 7 spin paintings, a sand art necklace or keychain, and a 5 oz. sand art bottle. The guest(s) of honor may select a 10 -12 oz. bottle from inventory.

For festivals or fairs, I’ll pay the booth fee if it’s not too expensive. I will need electricity for the spin painting machine.

***Fundraisers: Contact me about working your fund-raising event. I usually am willing to give a non-profit organization up to 30 percent of sales. It will depend on any booth and application fees.

So far, I’ve had a really fun time with these activities. Thanks for the support.

This book has coupons for almost everything. The cool thing is that this isn’t just a discount book for special items or entertainment events. It contains coupons for things you do everyday like grocery shopping or dining out.

The coupons offer discounts for restaurants, groceries, clothing, movies, travel, attractions, car care, home furnishings, and so much more. Many of the coupons are for 50% off or 2-for-1 specials.

Not only will you find well known national chains like T.G.I. Fridays, IHOP, Firestone, and Vision Center, but there are hundreds of coupons for local Tampa Bay area businesses.

Just using two or three of the coupons can make up for the price of the book. A special members card is included that allows you to save even more by getting discounts at participating stores and restaurants. Plus, book owners can go online and print out even more money saving coupons.

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2009/09/whose_responsible_this.php

Don’t you lvoe it?

Perhaps it will help my blog a little, but no matter what happens, I have something to tell my kids about.  I was there at the beginning.

And just remember, I am what they call the best of the best.