2008 in Review

Note: I originally published this blog in the end of 2008, and then I accidentally erased it when I posted my 2009 in Review blog. When i was cleaning my harddrive one day, I found this rough draft in a Word document. It's not exactly how it was published, but close enough.

Favorite Personal Theatrical Experiences: Saturday’s Warrior/The White Star, A Christmas Carol
See previous blogs for either one. They shouldn’t be a shock.

Least Favorite Personal Theatrical Experiences: An Evening with Jason Robert Brown, Nosferatu
On both projects, I had people within the department trying to sabotage my work. JRB was a nightmare from its conception. Nosferatu became one because of other people who were upset that I was involved.

Favorite Local Theatre Productions: The Miracle Worker, Little Women, Aida (All HCTO), Nosferatu (UVU)
I sound like a Hale fanboy, I guess. But those three shows reminded me why I do theatre. And as for Nosferatu, just because I was miserable working on it, it doesn’t mean it was any less amazing (when the sound cues were called/executed correctly).

Favorite Professional Theatre Productions: In the Heights, South Pacific (Both Broadway)
Refer to previous blogs.

Least Favorite Professional Theatre Production: The Lion King (Broadway)
GAG. Talk about going through the motions. I’m a fan of spectacle in the movie theater, but it just doesn’t do it for me in an intimate theatre.

Favorite Movies: The Dark Knight, Wall-E, Doubt, The Spirit
Refer to previous blogs for the first two. The last two, I saw this week, and I loved them. LOVED them. Doubt was perfect. Exactly how I hoped the movie would be. Amazing cast, simple shots and cinematography, simple direction… PERFECT. And The Spirit was like watching a moving comic book. The details were exquisite, the comic acting style was great, and I loved the music. And any movie that can make me actually enjoy both Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes should be heaped with the highest praise.

Least Favorite Movie: Mamma Mia!
I still suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder over the singing in this movie.

Favorite Movie-Going Experience: The Dark Knight at Jordan Commons with Matt, Melinda, and Emily
Other than the fried pickles, the night was just FUN.

Least Favorite Movie-Going Experience: Wall-E at Jordan Commons with Teri & Bristol
Teri and Bristol = fun.
The Mayan = yummy.
The movie itself = amazing.
The RUDE family next to me = Hell on earth.

Favorite New TV Addictions: Eli Stone, 90210 (Don’t judge me), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
One has already been cancelled, one is teetering on the brink of cancellation, and the other is embarrassing to admit I watch. I’ll let you guess which is which.

Least Favorite New TV Shows: Fringe, Kath & Kim
I tried to get into both of these. I actually made it a month or so into the first. The latter, however, was so ridiculously stupid that I didn’t make it through one episode.

Favorite SNL Sketch: Surprise Party
It will never get old. At least not until they redo it a couple more times in different situations with the exact same jokes.

Favorite Albums: OneRepublic’s “Dreaming Out Loud”, Maroon 5’s “B-Sides Collection”, Robin Thicke’s “Magic”, The Killers’ “Day & Age”
Oh, music. This was a good year for you. This was hard to narrow it down to even three. However, these were probably the three albums I listened to the most this year. OneRepublic’s was just the perfect blend of piano and pop, and had SO many infectious melodies. Maroon 5’s was my favorite album they’ve ever put out, and much less dirty than the others. Also, I loved the 80s feeling it had, including the full-on Prince tribute “Until You’re Over Me”. Robin Thicke is just the coolest person to ever live. Also, this was less offensive than his last two albums. I’m glad that the year I started to be more careful about what I listen to provided me with some good, clean music. Speaking of 80s feeling, The Killers are my new favorite band. At least until The Fray’s new album comes out. I liked their previous albums, but for some reason, I loved Day & Age. Probably the 80s sound again.

Least Favorite Album: Faith Hill’s “Joy to the World”
Seriously, Faith? Seriously?! It’s right up there with Jewel’s “Joy” as my least favorite Christmas albums of all time.

Favorite Trips: New York with TAG, Disneyland with Matt, Melinda, and Lindsay
Fun people, great entertainment, good food, and crushing on Mary Poppins. Does life get any better?

Least Favorite Trips: Disneyland with family, San Francisco with family
Ugh. Certain people should just stay home during family trips. Remind me again why I’m going to Vegas with them next month?

Favorite Classes: Acting for Musical Theatre, Acting Styles, Fundamentals of Acting II
Dave Tinney & Chris Clark are pretty much deity now. These classes were not only fun, but they made me feel better about myself, and I progressed in several ways. And! I got A’s in all of them.

Least Favorite Classes: Lighting and Sound Design, Curriculum and Assessment, Classroom Management
The first one started out to be a really fun class. Crankiness abounded, as well as class assignments where the whole class didn’t participate. I ended up not liking the subject as a result. The latter two were both from a teacher who has it out to get me, and he gave me horrible grades on everything, including assignments that were similar to the ones of Laura’s that he gave A’s.

Favorite Celebrity Secret Love Who I Actually Touched: Ashley Brown
The next time I see her, I’ll go ahead and propose. The strange woman was right. I have a lot going for me, and I shouldn’t be afraid to tell her how talented and wonderful I am and give her my number.

Favorite Line from a Primetime Soap: "I'm going to take a shower and try to wash whatever's left of this marriage off my body. Try not to fall down."
Oh, Dirty Sexy Money. I’m going to miss your dirty sexiness. Where else can I see a woman throw the shower door open, slip (after being warned not to fall down), and accidentally kill herself? The best 90210 has to offer are teachers making out with female students who are actually undercover cops of the non-Jump Street variety.