2011 in Review

Pretty much the only regular thing on my blog anymore is my annual wrap-up.

Last year, I wrote this:

Overall, this year will go down as the year that the world screwed me. Life with Lauren was great, but almost every other aspect of my life seemed to fall apart. I’ve been left rethinking my career, rethinking friendships, and regretting way too much.

On the plus side, that means 2011 can ONLY get better, right? That’s how I’m viewing it.

It DID get better. It totally did. 2011 was everything 2010 wasn’t. I got a better job, I had some very rewarding theatrical experiences, I got a house, I perfected my pancake-making and pizza dough-making skills, the family members who cause the most drama in our lives decided to remove themselves…it was a near-perfect year. The only thing missing was a trip to Disneyland, and that will come soon.

Here are some of the things that made 2011 so great.

Favorite Personal Theatrical Experience: Seussical
I’ve wanted to play the role of Horton since I saw the touring production in 2003, and somebody finally gave me the opportunity to prove that I could. One review said I wasn’t a good singer (which I tend to agree with), but of the three reviews I got, they were all generally positive. One even said I was the best in the show. Hot diggity! Working with Dave Tinney was amazing, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Little Women was nearly perfect, and was the best ever page-to-stage rendition of one of my concepts. And I cried every time I saw it, along with lots of other people in the audience, so that was rewarding. It was truly touching. Anthem would have been better (equity/SAG actors! talented people! no divas!) except I clashed with the composer.

Runners-Up: Little Women, Anthem

Least Favorite Personal Theatrical Experiences: NONE!
I only worked on three shows this year, and I regretted none.

Favorite Local Theatre Productions: The Drowsy Chaperone at HCTO
A) Dave Tinney is a genius
B) Brett Merritt is a genius
C) Marcie Jacobsen is fantastic
D) The rest of the cast was brilliant
E) I’ve never laughed so hard at a local theatre production

Runner-Up: Oklahoma at UVU

Favorite Movies: The Muppets, Winnie the Pooh
Two of my favorite things from childhood were resurrected and done well.

Runners-Up: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Least Favorite Movie: Insidious, The Roommate, Super 8
All three started out interestingly, but the first became unbearably cheesy, the second became a less-fun Single White Female, and the latter became a less-fun E.T.

Runner-Up: None

Favorite Movie-Going Experience: None
We really didn’t see much in theaters this year.

Least Favorite Movie-Going Experience: Everything
We’ve become the crotchety old people who go to the movies and shush everyone around us and tell kids to put away their darn phones. It’s bad. Nobody has manners anymore.

Favorite New TV Addiction: Suburgatory, The New Girl
Both are just plain fun.

Runners-Up: Once Upon a Time

Least Favorite New TV Shows: Pretty much everything else we tried…
When did TV get so dumb?

Favorite SNL Sketch: Ranch Dressing, Captain Jack Sparrow
These are two of the ONLY things that really made me laugh on SNL this year. Remember how it used to be one of my favorite shows? I watch it mostly out of duty now. Although, every once in a while, there will be an episode like the one with Jimmy Fallon, that makes me grateful that I haven’t pulled the plug on it yet.

Favorite Album: Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger”
Not as good as her last, but definitely not as bad as her first. It’s probably the only album I’ve gotten this year that I’ve listened to more than once the first week I had it.

Least Favorite Album: Didn’t have one
I don’t recall severely disliking anything I got this year, but I really didn’t get much new music.

Favorite Trip: St. George w/ my family
It was a nice break. It was way too hot, but we spent most of our time indoors, shopping, eating, and enjoying each other’s company.

Runners-Up: Los Angeles for Anthem

Best Concert: OneRepublic at Rio Tinto
Granted, we only saw two concerts this year, and this was the lesser of two evils. The band was INCREDIBLE. We were really close. I was worried after seeing Ryan Tedder botch a couple of live performances on TV, but he rocked it. The only major issue was that they only played a few songs. The whole set was around a half hour. LAME. We were introduced to soccer beforehand, though, so that was fun.

Worst Concert: None.
Stadium of Fire with David Archuleta (who we don’t care for) and Brad Paisley (who we don’t like). The concert itself wasn’t great, but the fireworks were MUCH better this year. And we had great seats, thanks to my company’s owner, who is head of the Freedom Festival. I should start dropping hints of better (ie, not country or American Idol wannabes) artists to get this year…

Dear 2012, the bar has been set!