As I sit here at 11:14pm on Tuesday the 30th of December, I see that everyone else is making some sort of posting--Blog, twitter, facebook, tumblr--about the past year, and I thought why not!
(Sorry if you for some reason have been following this blog, I haven't posted in about 10 months. I was too busy listening to Defying Gravity on youtube.)
I've traveled to Dallas twice, New York City twice, Colorado Springs once, Denver once, Chicago twice, Aberdeen SD twice, and I even spent a week and a half in Kansas City. It's been a year of traveling, theatre, and family/friends and I've loved every minute of it.
Lets catch you up on some of the highlights of the year.
NYC Trip #1. It was amazing. I saw 5 broadway shows--Pippin, The Bridges of Madison County, If/Then (Starring Idina Menzel), Bullets Over Broadway, and Matilda. I also saw the NY Pops Concert with Stephanie J Block and Andrew Rannells. I went with my two friends Shannon and Drew. We had a blast. We did the touristy things. I auditioned for my first Broadway show which resulted in a call-back (I'm not saying which one because I obviously didn't get the gig...yet (Never give up)).
Starlight Theatre/The Sound of Music. It was a Wednesday evening and I received a message from the Lovely Mollie Stephens. It read something like "My boss is producing The Sound Of Music and they need an assistant to the director!" Now I'm not usually one to respond to opportunities like this, but something inside of me was telling me to do it--or at least try!.So I responded, and the ball started rolling, then that Friday I was told around 7:30am that I was needed in KC around 1-2pm to start. I loved every minute of being apart of that wonderful production team/cast/crew. Yes there were frustrating times, there were fun times, and there was the occasional boring time.
Nope I'm not in school this year. This may come as a surprise to some of you, to others, you probably don't really care. But right after my gig at Starlight, I was driving home dreading the thought of going back to school. So I decided on that drive to not go back. And It has been one of the best decisions so far. Does this mean I'm done with school forever? Who knows! Yes, I'm entertaining the thought of going back--For what? Who knows! But for now, I just want to get out and travel the world, see great theatre in great places. You don't need a degree to travel the world! Also I beg you--Please do not try and persuade me to go back to school. That will only make me want to spite you, and not go back simply because you tried to persuade me to go back.
Dallas with the Friends! In august I went to Dallas/Ft Worth with Derrick and Kathleen and Abby and John. We did touristy things, we ate a ton of food, we went to see Les Miserables at the Dallas Theatre Center. It was a nice trip, it was a fun trip. It got us excited for....
...NYC TRIP #2! On this trip I decided that I need to live in NYC in the next year or I would simply not know what to do with myself. We once again saw a ton of shows! We went to see WICKED (yes this was my 6th time seeing it (Judge away (I don't care))), On The Town (A must see), Pippin (Yes my second time (I don't mind seeing a show more than once)), A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder (Derrick and Kathleen when to If/Then), and then The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (My first Broadway play!), then last but certainly not least, Jeremy Jordan at 54 Below! The whole trip was amazing and I need to move to this fabulous city.
Next and highlight was going up to see my Brother, Jordan and his family--Which includes his wife, Becca; Daughter, Harper (My nice, see my Instagram) and Son, Pierce. We wen't up there for Harper's second birthday. It was Minnie Mouse themed and she probably has too many Minnie Mouse toys, but who cares! She's two now, she can conquer the world and do what she wants! The only bad thing is that they live in northern South Dakota, which is basically in Canada when you really think about it.
I think the only non-highlight--lowlight if you will--was my Brother and his family moving away from MHK. I honestly thought I would move first, causing them to visit me in some fun/exotic city. Such as NYC. Not me going to see them in the US part of Canada (South Dakota).
I hope to maybe blog a little more in 2015. When exciting things happen. Maybe I'll even include pictures!
Well I thank you for reading! I wish you all the best 2015 and I hope you had a wonderful Hanukwanzmas (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa).
Love,
Jonathan Strom
PS-Thanks to all my amazing family and friends for the support this year! I love you all and wouldn't be here without you all!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
A few things have happened in 2014!
HI!
I just had two cups of coffee and I'm ready to blog on this Sunday morning!
2014 has started off with a magnificent bang! I've seen some amazing performances, made some great friends, started work on an opera, and I've made it a goal to work hard and have fun--Okay maybe that's my resolution for 2014--and so far it been great!
When the semester started, I started work on my first opera (No I'm not writing an opera, I'm performing in one) Trial By Jury which is a one act opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. The opera will be apart of a Night Of Opera presented by the K-State School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Why a Night Of Opera? Because there will be two operas performed that night. The first opera will be Old Maid and the Thief, then there will be an intermission, then Trial by Jury. (When you buy a ticket, it is for the whole night, and you're expected (out of courtesy for the performers) to be at both operas). A Night of Opera-Old Maid and the Thief & Trial By Jury runs March 6th-8th at 7:30pm and March 9th at 2:30pm in Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall on the KSU Campus. Get your tickets here!
Trial by Jury is a satirical opera that makes fun of the British judicial system and it also breaks that fourth wall, letting the audience in. When you see the show, make sure to laugh, and clap, gasp and sigh, and listen--Because it is written in British English and uses a lot of British humor.
So, let's talk about Bernadette Peters. On January 31st I was able to see the legend that is Bernadette Peters grace the stage at McCain Auditorium, which is where I work and volunteer and live. A few of the employees around McCain affectionately called this day Bernie P. Day! Therefore January 31st will always be Bernie P. Day to me. Now on to the performance. Bernadette Peters commanded that stage like it was no big deal. Her concert fulfilled something in me that hasn't been fulfilled. At the end I left the auditorium with a full and content heart and soul. Did I want more, yes, but i didn't need more. It was the most perfect evening I've had so far!
So far that is all that has happened that I wish to divulge at this moment in time. If you want to know more about the Opera or Bernie P. just ask. I'll be more than happy to geek out and fan-girl(boy) for you.
With much love,
Jonathan D. Strom
(Jon)
P.S.-I also saw The Addams Family the Musical on Friday (Valentines day) and it was the most appropriate show to see, especially for the single person, such as myself. Here is a little taste of what I saw and heard (start at 2:23 for the song).
I just had two cups of coffee and I'm ready to blog on this Sunday morning!
2014 has started off with a magnificent bang! I've seen some amazing performances, made some great friends, started work on an opera, and I've made it a goal to work hard and have fun--Okay maybe that's my resolution for 2014--and so far it been great!
When the semester started, I started work on my first opera (No I'm not writing an opera, I'm performing in one) Trial By Jury which is a one act opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. The opera will be apart of a Night Of Opera presented by the K-State School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Why a Night Of Opera? Because there will be two operas performed that night. The first opera will be Old Maid and the Thief, then there will be an intermission, then Trial by Jury. (When you buy a ticket, it is for the whole night, and you're expected (out of courtesy for the performers) to be at both operas). A Night of Opera-Old Maid and the Thief & Trial By Jury runs March 6th-8th at 7:30pm and March 9th at 2:30pm in Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall on the KSU Campus. Get your tickets here!
Trial by Jury is a satirical opera that makes fun of the British judicial system and it also breaks that fourth wall, letting the audience in. When you see the show, make sure to laugh, and clap, gasp and sigh, and listen--Because it is written in British English and uses a lot of British humor.
So, let's talk about Bernadette Peters. On January 31st I was able to see the legend that is Bernadette Peters grace the stage at McCain Auditorium, which is where I work and volunteer and live. A few of the employees around McCain affectionately called this day Bernie P. Day! Therefore January 31st will always be Bernie P. Day to me. Now on to the performance. Bernadette Peters commanded that stage like it was no big deal. Her concert fulfilled something in me that hasn't been fulfilled. At the end I left the auditorium with a full and content heart and soul. Did I want more, yes, but i didn't need more. It was the most perfect evening I've had so far!
So far that is all that has happened that I wish to divulge at this moment in time. If you want to know more about the Opera or Bernie P. just ask. I'll be more than happy to geek out and fan-girl(boy) for you.
With much love,
Jonathan D. Strom
(Jon)
P.S.-I also saw The Addams Family the Musical on Friday (Valentines day) and it was the most appropriate show to see, especially for the single person, such as myself. Here is a little taste of what I saw and heard (start at 2:23 for the song).
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