Blessed

Blessed - that's just how I feel right now. I have so many wonderful things going on in my life right now, I can't help but feel humbled and grateful. Let me count the ways:

1. My tooth is back!

See in the first photo, the gaping hole in my teeth - well, I recently had a root canal done on the tooth and went in for the build up this week. Before - it's been this way for over 2 years, since that fateful night I bit into a filet-o-fish and my tooth broke. I usually photoshop it out, I just felt so trailer with it and it's one of the reasons I have hesitated being a princess again.
After! It's a perfect match. It still needs a crown, but it feels great to smile on both sides again!

Thanks SOOOO much to my friend Joe - he finished up dental school on Friday and is going to Arizona to be a dentist. He is fantastic and is going to be so successsful. Good luck to the Hale family!

2. My oldest baby is 9!

On April 8th, Chloe turned 9. We celebrated with cake and ice cream on her birthday and I also built her a birthday/easter gown in the style of Thoroughly Modern Millie - her very own 20's dress, complete with coordinating cloche hat. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos with her at the show when she came the night after her birthday, but here are some photos from Easter.

She's a natural poser!

Now, where have I seen that before?

3. Piper at the show!

The next night, Piper came to the show. For easter, she wanted a dress just like one of the ones I wear in the show, and I had extra fabric, so I did it for her! She loved it and was precious as can be. I did get pictures of her at the show, as well as Lola and Ryder who showed up as well. Enjoy!

Close-up of the blondie bugs!

2 of a kind in Miss Dorothy's signature pose!

Little Dorothy and the evil Mrs Meers - AKA the fantastic and sweet Kellie Wright

Little Dorothy and Jimmy - AKA Eddie Gelhaus

Little Dorothy with the star of the show - Millie (Kelly Albright, one of my oldest and dearest friends)

Stop the cuteness!

In the dressing room with Lola!

And my little love bug, Ryder!

4. Thoroughly Modern Millie - a smash success!

The show is a hit! I've never recieved so much positive feedback about a show or my performance. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity!

We were really lucky to have Paul Canaan (he's done like a million shows on Broadway - including Millie, and was also a judge on MTV's Legally Blonde: The search for Elle Woods) come and do a workshop for us and he also saw the show - and LOVED and RAVED about it. That was awesome! I auditioned for him and a casting director at a workshop the next day, and though they had a lot of constructive criticism for me, they were really impressed with my voice. Awesomeness! (http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/legally_blonde_search_for_elle_woods/cast_member/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=9959)

PS - if you want to check out some real video of the show - visit my myspace page! If you aren't my friend, search for me. I even have a fanclub I share with my onstage love interest, Erik Ball! You can see photos of the show at http://www.signatureproductions.net/ReheasalPicturesTMM.htm

I can't tell you what an amazing experience it's been for me to do this show. My skills have improved and my confidence has grown leaps and bounds! My waist size has shrunk and I feel a keen awareness of the direction I want to do go in the future in my life and with my family. Blessed, indeed!

and, drumroll please......

#5. MY TURN!

You know how Steve went on his cruise as a performer for 2 weeks back in February? Well....

The woman who plays Mrs. Meers - Kellie Wright, is doing this show called Showstoppers, Too! that's touring to Spokane, Washington in June. She posted an audition notice to the cast of Millie and I though about going. Steve told me I absolutely should go. I decided I'd give it a shot. I don't take too much interest in most of the professional auditions here in Las Vegas because they are't usually my genre, but because this one is a broadway review, I decided - why not?

Well, the night before, I realized all of my music was in storage, I didn't have a headshot and I left my dance shoes at the theatre. I almost didn't go, but stayed up late finding music, creating a resume and figured I could just dance barefoot if I had to. Why not?

Kellie told me that they wanted to do some music from Phantom of the Opera, so I auditioned with "Think of Me." I got nervous when all of the other auditioners sang belt songs, but I had a belt number with me if they wanted it.

So, I sang my piece, but my cut didn't include the end with the high note. They asked me to do that part, which I did acapella. When I was done, they guy says "A word of advice - always do that high note in your auditions. That will get you the job." And - it DID!

I got a call last night at the show from the director. He wanted to know if I thought I could do "You've Gotta Get a Gimmick" from Gypsy along with the Phantom stuff. I was like - of course? Are you kidding me? I am THRILLED to get to perform that number. So, he said he'd like to add me to the cast.

I start rehearsals on my birthday and I'll be gone for about the first two weeks of June. And, I don't have to be stuck on a cruise ship!

I'm so in shock that all of these great things have been happening to me..but more than shocked, thoroughly grateful and blessed. YAY!