Fiddler is my LIFE at the moment...

Oh my goodness. I'm SO tired and excited!! Tomorrow is the first show!! AHHHH! Are we ready? Even though we got a new Yente yesterday....despite that come are just remembering the words to their songs...yes, I think we're ready.

Hopefully Fyetdka (or however you spell it) won't forget his book....haha, that was pretty funny. "You can borrow it....sometime." And maybe I won't punch Gilbert in the arm again offstage. (Ok...so, my friend Malory is a guy, and we always punch each other in the arm when we go past, right? So, I see a guys arm right where Malory had just been standing. Hehe. Turned out to be Gilbert. Whoopsie) And the Russians really need to be sure to not act too drunk (LOL. We have it on video..it's pretty much the most hilarious thing ever)

But actually, I thinks its going pretty well. The director seemed really pleased last night...and his notes weren't written in Hebrew! Woo hoo!

Be praying for us tomorrow night!

Aimless Remarks

Well, it's me again!

GUESS WHAT? Today, I learned with sin, cos, and tang mean! I'm so happyiful! These strange symbols now *mean* something...too bad I didn't figure it out before the ACT :) Oh well. Guessing works!

I read about Japan in Geography today. Amazing, right? Aaaanyways, I was writing notes as I was reading. After a while, I actually *thought* about what I was writing..and realized that I had been writing "Japanesh" instead of "Japanese". And, lemme tell ya, I wrote a whole lot of Japaneshes. Whoops :)

This week feels like summer. All I have to do in school is math and geography, and I get to sleep in..... *happy sigh of contentment* I love this feeling :)

The other day we went to McDonald's (we were in a hurry, ok?) and when we going through the drive-thru, we decided we wanted happy meals. So, my Mom tells the lady, "We'd like two ADULT happy meals." Lol! The lady was like..."What?" It was pretty hilarious.

Another incident happened the same day when we went to Walmart. We were going through the line, and this older Walmart worker lady brought up the subject of movies. She goes, "I just watched Taken and I really, really liked it! I would definitely recommend this for you. You'd like it a lot." (Speaking to my Mom) Note: My mom...gets scared while watching movies easily. Like, we were watching "Love's Long Journey", and she got scared when the "scary" gangsters came out. She jumped very high :) So, to have Taken recommended to her...was very funny :)





For those of you who haven't been going to practice for Fiddler on the Roof for the past 4 weeks..WE HAVE 7 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST SHOW!! Scary!!

Here's the picture for the program of me, Lara (Tzeitel), and Madison (Hodel)

Yaaaay!

Well, Goodbye! I'm off to....somewhere. Where, I know not. Mostly likely the kitchen :)

"Tradition!" *tries to get it out of head, but doesn't manage to* Gaaaah.

At the moment, I should be working my paper about how Plato and Aristotle each would answer the question, "What is the right way to live?" But....I feel like writing a blog post instead :) Warning. This post has no point. At all. It will not increase your intelligence in any way what so ever.

I am SO SO SO SO excited about camp!! I can't wait! It's going to be so amazing.

If anybody's interested, here's the them song for this year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_3W8XI7W2w&feature=related

I have officially memorized all my lines for Act 1 in Fiddler on the Roof! AND, I'm reading around...4 books at the moment :) And they're all really good! I'm almost finished with "The Cat Nappers" (JEEVES AND BERTIE!!)..it's so great :) "Tevye's Daughters" is this collection of stories Fiddler on the Roof is based on, and it's SO cool! It's really fairly similar to the play, which is awesome! It's from Tevye's point of view, and it really sounds like him haha! "The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey" is the sequel to "The Mysterious Benedict Society", and is just as fun and puzzling as the first one! I just started "The Titan's Curse", the third book in Percy Jackson and the Olympians series..I've only read the first few chapters, but it's really good :) And, the others ones don't really count, cause I've read them before...but they're both amazingly awesome! "Do Hard Things" and "Shadow Spinner"...great books :) And, of course, Aristotle's Nicomachaen Ethics, but that doesn't count haha. That was more than 4 books...that was like 6 1/2 :) Whoopsie. :) My reading's real good, my counting on the other hand...not so good. *sigh*


Yes, I am a reading fanatic :) Books and I are tight. Like peanut butter and jelly! Oh my goodness! I'm so creative! :)

I went McDonalds today! To be honest, I haven't been *inside* a McDonalds in a few years haha. Is it just me, or do ALL little kids practically live to go to McDonalds? When I was little (oooh, that's fun to say. I feel wise and experienced..haha, right), going to McDonalds was the practically the highlight of my young life. I loved that place :) Now...let's just say it's not quite the thrill it used to be :) The workers weren't quite on it though..they forgot the FRIES with my bros meals. Who forgets the fries?! O.o


We also ventured out to get some buttermilk today...to make my daddy's birthday cake! (Btw, Happy Birthday Mr. Bartell!!) Buttermilk is, weird. Why is it called buttermilk? Why not called it really-gross-sour milk?

We had some friends visiting one time, and we outside eating cookies, and my friend and her brother went inside to get some milk. She poured these twp ginormous glasses of it in Eskimo Joes cups...but, little known to them, they had accidentally poured Buttermilk instead of Milk. It was *hilarious* when they took the first sip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v3d6SFcDys

This is pretty sweet! It's sooo beautiful :)

So...I also ran today. Just for the record, I haven't done anything active in the least since I went to the gym in..I'm afraid to say it...April *cringe* It's true, I'm afraid. Aside from occasional walk, it's been nothing. Notta. AHHHH. And so today, this beaUtiful sunny day, I decided I'd been cooped inside for waaay to long. I willt run!! I started out great, I finished the first mile without a break. And it felt soo good :) Then came the 2nd mile...my breath was coming spurts and I sounded...strange, I'm sure. I seriously felt like laying the grass and DYING. But I endured. I did about another 1/2 mile and stopped. The run home was painful. Note to self: GET IN SHAPE.

Ah, well, play practice is calling. Goodbye!

Isn't God Amazing?

Ink Splatters

I'm Feeling Random

Hope you all are having a great day! I am :) GUESS WHAT?! It's sunny *and* warm outside! It's been rainy and cloudy and coopedupish for the last bazillion days. But today, it actually feels like Spring! Strange, huh?

I wonder who invented twinkies?

Tonight is the very very very first practice for Fiddler On the Roof!!! *bounce bounce*

These are my last few hours of being Kaley...for the next six weeks I'll be thinking and breathing Chava :) I'm trying to enjoy my final moments of freedom :) It's pretty incredible that we're going to be able to put together this show in six weeks. Five weeks, actually, cause the sixth week is the Peformances!! I mean, we have to learn the songs, the blocking, the choreagraphy, the lines...not mention doing everything over and over again till we get it perfect! And there's the extra practices, the reminders, the costume fittings...lemme tell ya. But, it always works out in the end. No matter how stressed the director gets or how hopeless you get that the show will ever come together, it always does :)

Does Sunday or Monday start the week?

School is almost over. It's SO close! Just all those final test....*grimace* Fun, fun. I'm SO ready for summer. On my first day of releasal, I want to sleep really late, then stay outside practically the whole day, reading, and drink lots of Dr. Pepper. Ha ha. Like that's going to happen. So far, my plans for the summer include Arts Adventure, Missoula Children's Theatre, CAMP, Vacation to BRANSON, Doing tons of stuff with friends, Swimming, Learning new dance step thingies, Reading lots of books, Playing basketball, etc. I can't waaaAAAAiiit!

I have rainbow socks that cover just about my whole leg.

I'm reading this series lent to me by a crazy friend at the moment. It's called "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." So far it's extra-emely good :) I just started the second one, called the Sea of Monsters (why is there no underlinerthinger?) Reading is just so the best thing ever. Especially with a warm cup of tea, homemade cookies, and a stormy evening. Ahhhh.

Valete!

KALEY GRACE, Queen Of M&Ms

"You might say everyone of us is a fiddler on the roof"

"A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!" - Tevye

So, it's over :) After two nerve wracking auditions, a call back, and, at last, the final moment of looking at the cast list, it's all done! And I'm about ready to fall asleep and *stay* asleep for a few days :) But first, I HAVE to record some stuff about the auditions..I'm bound to forget everything if I don't.

Let me give you a little peep into the auditions: You are given a number when you first came. Everyone is seating in a group in fold-out chairs. You're shivering; not only from the cold, but from excitement - and nervousness :S When it's your turn to stand before the table of directors, you walk up, say your name and song, and begin to sing. This is it. You're first - and most important - chance to impress the director. When you're done, you feel like a bird set free! You're done!! Hurrah!! Only a few more days to go :)

Mostly, the auditions consisted of singing, dancing (fun, extremely easy stuff...just what I like) and reading from the script (my VERY favorite part). The first night of auditions was just singing, then a little bit of reading. The second night was longer and more intense. We read, danced, and stood in a line in front of the director (Mr. Rodger Moon, by the way. He's really nice, which is awesome) and what him look from one person to the other. You're just *willing* him to catch your eye. Sometimes he does...and other times, he doesn't :) Everyone did so well! It was SO fun to watch :)

For the call backs, the director called up different groups to sing for different parts. The girls sang part of "Now I have Everything" with a guy...it was a really pretty song, but I'd never heard it before. Sightreading. Nooooooo! After sitting for an hour, we got called up to read different parts. Then, we were told we could leave.

When I got home, I ate a piece of pizza, cake, AND chocolate :) :) I hadn't really been hungry before, but I definitely was now!! I wasn't all that nervous. I knew God had everything planned out, and my worring wouldn't help at all.

Then, came Thursday. The day of the cast list. Supposedly, it was going be posted at 10. We got there right on the dot, and no cast list. We drove around a little, and came back. Still no cast list. If you've ever been in a play before, you know this is one of the most suspenseful parts. So, I was sitting in the car, about to die...weell, maybe not quite :) So, finally, 20 minutes AFTER 10, we say the stage manager, a sweet old lady by the name of Ginger, walk out with two sheet of paper. Ahhh, rapture. We walked up. I was almost afraid to look.


TEVYE....................................................................................... VANCE BLACK
GOLDE................................................................................... ANNETTE HUNT
TZEITEL (DAUGHTER 1).......................................................... LARA LIGNITZ
HODEL (DAUGHTER 2).............................................. MADISON BOOKOUT
CHAVA (DAUGHTER 3)............................................. KALEY BRANSTETTER
SHPRINTZE (DAUGHTER 4)...................................... BETHANY BOOKOUT
BIELKE (DAUGHTER 5)...................................................... AMY BALLINGER
YENTE, THE MATCHMAKER..................................... FAVONA SUSSMANN
MOTEL, THE TAILOR............................................................. CHRIS SCHELP
PERCHIK, THE STUDENT....................................................... ALEC CARSON
LAZAR WOLF, THE BUTCHER.............................................. JOHN DALTON
MORDCHA, THE INNKEEPER............................................. STEPHEN LONG
RABBI........................................................................................ BRENT COLLE
MENDEL, RABBI’S SON...................................................... CALEB STINSON
AVRAM, THE BOOKSELLER .......................................... JOHN KUHLMANN
NACHUM, THE BEGGAR............................................................. RON DAVIS
GRANDMA TZEITEL.............................................................. SUZI LENHART
FRUMA-SARAH.......................................................................... FRAN COLLE
CONSTABLE / CHORUS........................................................... DAREN LOVE
FYEDKA, RUSSIAN........................................................... SEAN RETHMEIER
SHAINDEL, MODEL’S MOTHER........................................ KITTY FUESHKO
THE FIDDLER.................................................................. TRISHA VINEYARD
VILLAGERS ................................. HALEY BARTELL, LAUREN BLAKEBURN,
........... BRADY BOOKOUT, KATHERINE CAUGHLIN, ISAAC CERVANTES,
......... VICKI GRAVES, ASHLEY HODGES, DAWN JACKSON, MYLOAN LE,
..................................... BEN PAULS, SANDRA PERKINS, MALORY SCOTT,
................................... SARAH SCRUGGS, EMILY SMITH, BEN SOUTHARD
RUSSIANS............. JACOB COLLE, JOSIAH COLLE, GILBERT SANTILLAN,
................................................................................................. MATT TINSLEY

Alright, you probably didn't want to see ALL that :) Sorry :)

So, it's going to be amazing. I'm SO excited. Sisters with a bf and friends with my amazing villager and russian buddies, playing a fun part, it can't get much better!! Woo hoo!!!!

Only down falls:
1) Some really amazing people didn't get in. I know how hard that must be, and I wish so badly that they could have gotten in too.
2) The actress playing Hodel is...less than pleasant. I don't mean to be harsh, but she is full of her self, flirty and bossy. She and and the girl playing Tzeitel are not the best of friends. Hopefully that'll be ok...I'm just going to stay close to my two younger sisters and my villager peoples.
3) The guy playing Fyedka is an awful singer (at least he doesn't have to sing) kinda of not so bright, and rather ugly. In fact, very ugly.
I don't mean to complain too much. It'll be AWESOME. I'm so glad to have gotten in. But there will be some harships :)

First rehearsal is on Monday! I can't wait!!

Isn't God Amazing?

Kaley Grace, Chava

The Joy of Auditioning

"I am always incredibly anxious. The audition and the wait is definitely the hardest part for me." Joe Lando (By the way, I have NO idea who this dude is...)

So, today is it! It's finally the day of auditions for "Fiddler on the Roof." I'm SO excited!!! And SO nervous.

Acting is amazing. It's one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. You get to *live* so many different peoples lives. And the feeling you get after performing your final show is something you can't get anywhere else. *sigh* I love it :)

Despite how nerve-wracking auditions are, they're actually one of my favorite parts about doing shows. Singing your audition song over and over and over in the shower...agonizing over what shoes to wear...watching the songs from the play one more time...hoping, praying you'll get a part :)

The best part is this feeling you get when you're waiting and thinking about the audition. I just get this bubbly, nervous, excited feeling that makes me want to jump up and twirl around the room while singing at the top of my lungs (of course, I normally get this feeling late at night, which doesn't work out to well)

I hope I get in. I'm so ready to do another show! After the Wizard of Oz, I was pretty tired. I didn't feel like doing anymore theatre for a while. But now I've had my break, and I'm ready to hop back in again! So, if you think about me around...oh, 7:00 tonight, give a quick prayer that I'm not going insane :)

SO many of my friends are trying out!! I'm amazingly excited! I just hope that all of us get in...wouldn't that be fun!!

I'M ABOUT TO BURST WITH EXCITEMENT!!!! WOO HOO!

Isn't God Amazing?

Kaley Grace, soon-to-be auditioner