THE GREATEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE

Some of my Man of La Mancha & Cabaret friends - Cathleen Riddley, Tania Johnson, Kate Del Castillo, Alex Szotak, Brian Yates Sharber, Noah Haydon, Bobby Bryce
My dear friend Bethany & I - we had not seen each other in over a decade!
My beautiful friend Laurie Nellesen & I
The family
Baby sis & I

After over a year and a half preparing for the big night and it was more than my wildest dreams could have imagined. My friend Laurie said it best when she went out into the ballroom and came back to our dressing area and summed up the night so beautifully: "there is so much love in that room."

Friends, colleagues, teachers, mentors, my family, friends I haven't seen in over a decade, so much love was pouring out from that it was overwhelming. I received a standing ovation before I even sang a note and that is a feeling that is indescribable. Overall there were four of them (almost 5!!) which still baffles me. The program was so carefully selected and beautifully executed by my incredible pianist Clint Cancio who shined in his solo "Variations on a Theme" from Carmen. My incredible friends Marisol Urbano and Laurie Nellesen shared their incredible talents by performing duets with me. Highlights of the evening were "Soliloquy" from Carousel which closed the first half, the opening number "Granada", the Sondheim Medley I arranged titled "Live. Laugh. Love" which included the songs So Many People, Who Could Be Blue?, Do I Hear a Waltz and Good Thing Going, the closing number "Grateful", the fun renditions of "The Masochism Tango" and "Could I Leave You?" from Follies.

It was not only the greatest night of my career...it was the greatest night of my life and I will treasure it long after I am gone from this earth. I thank each and every person who was there and there in spirit.

Now that we have concluded this - life goes on and midterms end tomorrow and I am off on a mini-3 day vacation before rehearsals start on Monday for my first Equity gig. Life is good.

Have a great week/weekend y'all

=+)

M.