Stephen Sondheim is a Damn Genius

Happy Friday and welcome to another edition of "On a Positive Note", a new segment that I started last Friday where I will be coming to you (every Friday) with various songs, podcasts, etc that I have been especially loving and listening to during that specific week.  On today's list we have:  - It's Not All About You by Lawrence -Joey, Joey, Joey by Leslie Odom Jr - Take Me To The Pilot - Live from Radio City Music Hall by Ben Platt - My Mind by Yebba (again) I hope you enjoy! Thank you for listening! 

We're getting heavy, deep, and REAL on this episode of To a T. I tell you about the thoughts and feelings I've been having recently regarding the podcast and (feelings of) creative stuck-ness, failure, inadequacy, basically everything under the "imposter syndrome" umbrella.  I will be keeping with the "On a Positive Note" episodes every Friday, but as far as the main episodes go that will depend on the week and what ideas come up (if any), etc. Letting go of any ""schedule"" / """"norm""" / standard that I have placed on myself (and it's all what from me and what I've said and fed to my mind) (which is the thing that makes for all of the aforementioned thoughts and feelings). And that's OK!!! I'm hoping that the honesty of this episode potentially helps someone who is feeling a similar way regarding a creative endeavor and I hope that that plus what my updated plan going forward is also helps ME to work on everything I talked about.  Kate Lumpkin posted something literally while I was in mid edit of this episode with a caption that reads in part as such: "...Keep going at your own pace and take care of your needs first. Keep going because we must. But keep going on your own path - trusting that you are enough. You are not your productivity." And I think that's exactly what I needed to hear and I hope that maybe it resonates with you too. 

To a T's got a new segment!!!  Born from ruminating on a potential full podcast episode idea and taking this week to recalibrate creatively, here is On a Positive Note! Every Friday I will be coming to you with a quick 10-15 minute episode of various music, spectacular vocal moments, podcasts, etc that I have been listening to and loving during that specific week to bask in their goodness and share it with you all.  Shoutout and full credit to my friend Hannah for thinking of this segment name. I am so excited to introduce this new segment of the podcast and hope you enjoy! If there is something you are listening to/loving a little bit extra one week that you want to share, feel free to send it over! I'm always looking for more music/podcasts/movie soundtracks/etc and would love to share it on here.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode notes:  Sammy Rae and the Friends "Denim Jacket" Live at the Sinclair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSzJ87qKU6o Yebba "My Mind" at Sofar NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXwE1G7_U9M

This episode of To a T is one very close to my heart. I have been wanting to talk about Encore on Disney Plus since it came out, and what better time to do it than now while we are starting teacher appreciation week. If you're not familiar with the plot of Encore, high school students reunite to put on a one night only encore performance of their school musical, which they re-learn in less than a week - the class years ranging from 11 years ago all the way to classes from 44 years ago. If you are a theatre lover, did theatre in high school and had a life changing experience (or both), you will be both weepy and full of a warm heart through this show. In this episode, I talk about Encore, what makes it so amazing and run through a few of my favorite episodes, as well a reflection on my own high school theatre experience. Additionally, I talk about how important arts education is and then connect the significance and weight of the theatre teachers coming back in episodes of Encore to teacher appreciation week,  shouting out one of the most special teachers of them all: my choir teacher/musical director.  *edit note: I was so excited about Bernadette Peters and the horn at the end the performance of Rose's Turn that in my Bravo moment I said Everything's Coming Up Roses and not Rose's Turn - here is the full video, 100000000000/10 would recommend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_eD1btsIAE

On this episode of To a T, I talk about the Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration - from Katrina Lenk's lullaby-esque version of Johanna from Sweeney Todd to taking three hours to finally get out of bed post hearing Bernadette sing No One Is Alone, and a bunch in between.  Happy Birthday you brilliant, brilliant man. 

On today's longest episode yet!!!!! of To a T I've got another weekly check in and then a second episode dedicated to music. The last time I did an episode dedicated to music I called it alexa, play "music that makes me feel damn good" - however this time around all the music mentioned makes me feel a variety of emotions and some of the artists/songs are music that I personally go to when I'M feeling various emotions, so I'm leaving it as a fill in the blank! (Which works both ways because music touches and effects and connects to every single human differently so it's also a fill in the blank for you if you choose to dive more into the artists and songs talked about!) Stay tuned for a part three because there is a lot more where this came from (and more to be discovered!! how amazing is that!!! the infinite-ness that is music!!!!)  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS MUSIC!!! Artists discussed:  Yebba - (Sofar "My Mind" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXwE1G7_U9M)  - ("Gravity" - Clark Beckham and Yebba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Z_ftojuO4_ Emily King  Bandits on the Run  Ben Rector  Sammy Rae and the Friends (again): "Whatever We Feel"  Couch (again): "Fall into Place"

On this episode of To a T there's a small introduction, with the rest of the episode dedicated to Amanda Kloots, Nick Cordero, and their baby Elvis. I wanted to bring this up because it's been something laying very deep on my heart and mind and I think it needs to be shared. Nick Cordero is currently fighting for his life as a result of the coronavirus. Amanda has started using the hashtag #WakeUpNick and has asked that at 3pm PST/6pm EST everyone blast and sing/dance to a specific song for him - the other day it was "Got a Lot o' Livin to Do!" by Elvis Presley, and now it's Nick's single "Live Your Life". The response has been enormous and inspirational and there's no doubt in my mind that Nick can feel and hear all of that love and energy from this gesture. Amanda has shared she feels as though there's an army behind all of them and that all of this energy from the singing/dancing/blasting the music to everyone who has been praying and sending love and healing thoughts and energy is without a doubt reaching Nick and will help to wake him up.  Please blast these songs, sing and dance to them with all your might, and keep Amanda, Nick, and Elvis in your thoughts, prayers, and heart. 

Today's episode is all about the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! To me, this revival is the epitome of joy and I wanted to share and spread that joy with you all. If this episode had an alternate title it would be called "I love Gavin Creel, Kate Baldwin, and Bernadette Peters: PS Bernadette Invented Stairs If You Didn't Know"  I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS MUISC

I took a break from posting last week due to overwhelming-ness of everything but I'm back this week to share a whole bunch of resources, tools, outlets, joy-bringers, support systems, and the like that have been created, produced, put out - all that have brought joy, hope, peace, grounding etc during this time. This is followed by a reflection of how everything previously discussed, specifically within the theatre community, brings me hope.  Everything mentioned in the episode and some additional things will all be listed/linked down below. Sending immense love. Take care.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to The Actors Fund: https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2?idb=1906807729&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1&df_id=2857&2857.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&idb=[[S76:idb]]  Donate to BCEFA: https://broadwaycares.org/donation-options-page/  Laura Benanti's #sunshinesongs (original post: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9rsFGppULz/): (3:00 - 6:17) TheaterMania's #Broadwayhandwashingchallenge: (6:26 - 7:3) Broadwayworld's Living Room Concerts: (7:37 - 8:37) Playbill's Smash Rewatch #SmashLives: (8:39 - 9:21) Kate Lumpkin's NoMarking group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nomarkingclasses/ Kate's Instagram: @katelumpkin - 9:24 - 11:47  Fit For Broadway's "Finding Your Inner Voice" workshop: https://www.fitforbroadway.com/online-workshops/finding-your-inner-voice , FFB Instagram: @fitforbroadway (11:49 - 15:56)  Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley #StarsInTheHouse: https://www.youtube.com/theactorsfund (15:57 - 17:38) Broadway.com's Live at Five Home Edition: https://www.youtube.com/user/Broadwaycom https://www.facebook.com/Broadway/(17:45 - 18:40) Broadway.com x The Actors Fund x Erich Bergen x Rosie 'Rosie O'Donnell Show' revival: https://www.youtube.com/user/Broadwaycom (18:44 - 27:40) Various Instagram livestream concerts  Alyson Stoner's Mindful Meditation and Movement Instagram Live series: instagram @alysonstoner  (29:02 - 31:09)  Get in Shape Grrl Broadway Workouts_ https://www.facebook.com/groups/658670808299060/?multi_permalinks=665139827652158&notif_id=1584995536253912&notif_t=group_highlights (31:23 - 33:00) Modo Yoga Live streams: instagram @modoyoganyc (33:23 - 33:34)  Crisis Text Line: text SHARE to 741741 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255)    National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233  

On today's episode of To a T I finally get to watching the first episode of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist! I have been wanting to watch this show since it first aired and now the time has finally come. This episode is sort of a two parter in that today only touches on the first episode of the show, while next week's will touch upon the other 4 plus the newest one from this coming Sunday. Also within this discussion of the show, I talk about the idea, importance, and meaning of connection in all art.  Also mentioned in this episode is Amber Ardolino's music video for Paris Ooh La La gorgeously shot by Rebecca Michelson, Demi Lovato's new single and music video, Rob McClure's instagram post about the Mrs. Doubtfire quick change, the cosplay costume story from Emojiland, and Bernadette Peters.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paris Ooh La La (shot by Rebecca J Michelson @rebeccajmichelson): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o3ukCKKLMI Demi Lovato's "I Love Me' music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vImvzQCb0o8 Side by Side by Susan Blackwell ft Elizabeth Stanley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Np4m4PvOhs Marina Abramovic reuniting with Ulay from The Artist is Present: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS0Tg0IjCp4