Wednesday, August 25, 2004

A lot can happen in "24 Hours."

When I was a kid, I used to love acting and dancing.  Even now, if I get in front of an audience of some kind, I become a ham.  It feels natural to me.  I don't get overly nervous when I have a speech to make.  If I am prepared, I don't even need notes.  I just wing it.  However, I would never consider any kind of performing arts as a career.  It's a hard road to travel.  Living in Los Angeles has shown me up close just how difficult that ride can be for those brave enough to make it a career.  Los Angeles is loaded with amazingly talented people.  As such, I gladly fill the role of patron of the arts.  When I heard that one of our own here in J-Land was in a local musical production, I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity to show my support.  And, I'm glad I didn't.

24 hours is about a volunteer teen help-line call center and what occurs there in a twenty-four hour time period.  It's tragic and joyful at the same time.  It's about the change that can occur in your life in as little as twenty-four hours.

The Stella Adler Theatre is located in the heart of Hollywood.  It is surrounded by Mann's Chinese Theatre, The El Capitan, and the Kodak Theatre.  As such, dodging pedestrian tourists became quite the obstacle in order to make it to my seat in the audience next to Freee before the "curtain" went up.  It brought flashbacks from my days in the Army of traversing rope bridges, running through tires, and low-crawling under barbed wire while a machine gun was fired over our heads.  I was getting so peeved at people that I wished I was still packing my M-16.  Alas, I made it just in time for the show to begin.

The talent in this group of actors was superb.  I fell in love with each one of them.  Maybe, I should say lust.  They were all so damn young and hot, and talented - of course.  The theater is a smallish one but they sang like it was a large Broadway venue.  The story, the music, everything was just magical and stunning.  Jamey had a song that ripped my heart out.  He belted it out with all the emotion and turmoil that the lyrics deserved.  He danced and strutted across the stage during group songs.  Getting to watch it with Freee was a delight unto itself.  I think she laughed louder then anyone in the audience and whimpered with tears during the sad parts which only added to the experience.  My only regret is that I couldn't take pictures during the show.  I so wanted to capture Jamey's face as he performed his solo, to share with everyone the heart with which he performs.  But, I'll just have to be satisfied with having had the opportunity to meet him afterwards and capture the pics of us in the hall.  When he's a superstar and has long outgrown the hallowed grounds of J-Land, I can say I knew him when.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm starting to get jealous of all your j-land meetings!  I'm so happy that you got the chance to see the show.  And if I can't be there to see it in person, I know your entries will take me there vicariously.

Anonymous said...

you lucky girls!  sounds just wonderful.

Anonymous said...

oh wow what a great experience! Thanks for sharing it with us :)

Anonymous said...

Love your ruminations!

Anonymous said...

This sounds wonderful.  I'd love to be a "patron of the arts..."  Isn't THAT much going on in Portland, but I'm sure I could find lots of entertaining stuff.  I'm just such an old fuddy-duddy...I sit around and watch WAY too much HGTV (LOL!)  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

I'm jealous.  The production sounds wonderful, and if Jamey is as talented of an actor as he is a writer, he has to be wonderful.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like a fabulous time!   I love musical theater.  I am certainly not a ham though, I am more like....the mashed potatoe's. mmm, but, comfortable being the quiet side dish, lol!  I don't even know what I am taliking about.  anyway!  Glad you had such a great time, the pictures are fabulous!!

Anonymous said...

Another great review!  I'm so jealous.  It's moments like these when I really DO wish we lived closer.  Congrats to Jamey and the success of his show!  They should be hiring you girls to do his PR!  LOL  Love the photos!  :D

Anonymous said...

Great Collage!  Yea Jamey!
V

Anonymous said...

Now, I have to check out all of the links. I don't live near there but I like to read about actors. I always wanted to be a character actress. I would love playing those kinds of parts. One day I may right an entry about a character I did for a video for my daughter. It was so much fun. I'd wish I had a photo of it to show.
Every time I read you, I find we have something in common. : )

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you and Freee got to see this!
The pictures are so good!!!
-Connie

Anonymous said...

arrgghh, I wish I could have gone with you guys!  I wanna live in LA!  I want to be young and cute and be able to sing, LOL!  hey, I heard from Amy that you and Free are on Dog Rescue Patrol.  That is WAY COOL.  AOL-J rocks.  --Albert

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you all had the best time! Wish we all could have been there.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you two had tons of fun!  That's just one nice thing about that area where you live...lots of things to do.  I haven't been to a musical (or any type of theatre production for that matter) since I was in junior high.  That one was a dinner theatre production of My Fair Lady which I loved, even though I despise dressing up to go anywhere, lol.

Sammie  :)

Anonymous said...

That is so cool!  So many people meeting, I think that's wonderful.  I hope one day I'll get to meet you and some folks here.

Anonymous said...

How cool!  I love going to local theatre.  Living in a small town doesn't allow me to do that very often, though.  The description of the play sounds wonderful.   Also very cool what you and Freee are doing for Peachy and the doggies.  I can't wait to see pics of that, too.

Anonymous said...

oh, sigh.  Now I feel really dorky that I never saw him in a Millikin production while he was here in town.... where YOU will be soon, after dog-delivering and other exciting things.  You shall re-enact most of 24 hours, Ms. Ham.  Robin and I will applaud duly, wildly, succulently.
Great LINKS, of course, too!

How the heck did I miss being the first to see this anxiously-awaited entry?
Just Mumsy I guess.

Anxious!


Anonymous said...

That is so awesome. Makes me wish I lived in LA! So many of my favorite journalers live there! I love theatre. 24 hours sounds great! So glad you had a great time! Love the pics!
~Mary

Anonymous said...

How fun your outing sounds!  And you all look FAB!

Thanks Robbie, for what you and Freee and doing for Peachy, her brother and those little fuzzy ones.  We all thank you guys.  Have a safe trip and kiss those doggies for me and Walter!  (Walter says it's okay if you don't want to sniff their butts.)

~~ jennifer