The Plague

A plague has ripped through the barricade this past week and a half. Sorry I have not written much. Matt and I both got the horrible stomach virus that we lovingly refer to as "The Plague".
I have read of local outbreaks of a "norovirus" - much like those cruise ship viruses.
So I thought I would pass on this funny photo sent to me by Jordi Perry, who plays Gavroche ...



Stay healthy everybody!

Video of the week

Ok, folks. I owe you a hell of a lot of catch up blogs, and here goes the first one. The year in images from this blog. No, I won't keep it limited to 12. There were too many good ones for that. But here are my favorites, and why they are.

January

This photo was taken by Channez McQuay while we were vacationing on Fenwick Island last January. I love this photo of our family, and this picture makes me want to be back on Fenwick as I write this. The beauty of the beach on those crisp January days was something that sticks in my head.
This was the first trip I had ever taken to the beach during winter. How different and gorgeous it is.




This was the view from the top floor of the beach house that we stayed at. You could see the outline of Fenwick Island's lighthouse right in front of the setting sun. It was absolutely gorgeous.





This is Matt flying a kite on the beach there. I just love this photo. Not sure why.













FEBRUARY

Two cuter than cute February images of Buddha.













The best couch companion you could ever hope for.




















MARCH
For Rusty.



APRIL


The trees coming back to life always fills my heart with joy. Here are just some of the trees awakening around our house.

















MAY
Buddha takes no heed of the signs around him. He is his own man.























Eleasha, Katie, Annabel and Andrew - Memorial Day.



















JUNE
Idiot graffiti : 7th and New York Avenue.






















and the welcome of the newest Smith dog, Tanner.












JULY
Kid's Camp.
















































The tree growing out of a rock in the Potomac.


























Boaters on the Potomac.

























Me and the Boo.
























AUGUST
8:08 on 8/8/08.




























Real dog and fake dog.























Ass meets bigger Ass.




















SEPTEMBER



Buddha and Blanket.
























Buddha and Pillows.
















OCTOBER

Extreme pumpkin carving.



















NOVEMBER


Felicia admiring the decor in the Conner's Auction House.

























A very long line.



















DECEMBER






















More year of 2008 wrap ups ahead.
Take care.
Luv,
SGS

HAPPY ROCKIN' 2009 TO ONE AND ALL!!!

Chris Bloch and I backstage at Les Miserables as Axel Rose and Slash, respectively.

RIP - Eartha Kitt

I met Eartha briefly when she came to Signature to see Into the Woods in 2007. She had kind words to say to all of us. Matt even had brunch with her the next day. I treasure meeting this legend who I adore, and it was one of the highlights of my life to perform for her. How sad that she is no longer with us. I will never forget Eartha. God rest her soul.

Home for Christmas - Part 1

I left for Monarch, PA on Christmas Eve at about 2PM. I was hoping to leave by 12 Noon, but with all of my sleep deprivation, and wrapping deprivation, 2pm was the departure time. My parents were saints by agreeing to meet me halfway at Sideling Hill. This was truly a blessing, as I was plagued by horrible dreams of the homeward bound trip.

I had horrific nightmares about driving home this Christmas, which involved losing control of my car and skidding into a Runaway Truck Ramp sign. This dream was passed on shakily to my Mom and Dad, which I am sure helped convince them to meet me halfway.

Fog banks were cruising through the mountains, and I thank God that my Dad was driving. I would have been white knuckling. Dad drove and chatted on to me at leisure as I cringed at the lack of visibility ahead.



I took a few photos of the "Runaway Truck Ramp" signs as we approached them in the dark, and funny enough, they were just as I saw them in my dreams...blurry and approaching fast...


Maybe my dream was not leading me to certain death, but to these photos. Or maybe it lead to my Dad driving, preventing a tired me from a different fate. Interesting to think about either way. These photos are still the images from my nightmares.




But after a wonderful and funny ride home with my Dad in the driver seat, Buddha on my lap, and Mom following behind in her car, we arrived home. And the first thing that made my homesick heart sing was the sight of our family Christmas tree. The same through the ages, it stands as it was in my youth. It looks almost exactly the same. The sight of this tree was the first sign of true home Christmas to me.

Merry Christmas

I am sooooo sorry constant reader...I have fallen slack on posts. Let me tell you why.
LES MISERABLES.
I have been so constantly busy between work/holiday/show that I have had NO time to blog. I still have much to share with you and will continue to. But I will start to do this back on Friday. I am heading off to PA tomorrow (really today at this point). I will talk to you soon, and hope you all have a happy holiday.
xoxoxoxooxoxo
SGS

Video of the Week

Breaking News: EXTENSION!!!

Les Miserables EXTENDS!

Playbill

Les Miserables Reviews

Washington Post

Variety

DC Examiner

Theatremania


DC Theatre Scene

Talkin Broadway


Dcist

Metro Weekly

Washington Times

Merry Christmas from the Barricade!

Some Random Shots...

The main drag of Shirlington, which is now all tarted up for Christmas...






















































The impressive "Poster of Light" for our show out front of the theatre.

















I caught this is a tech rehearsal...it is light coming up through the grates in the set.
















And here are our "light umbrellas" for the Paris scene all neatly hung on the wall.
















And my own Christmas tree, which is white this year for the first time in 5 years.

ABOUT THE BANNER: The Barricade

I love this production photo from Signature's Les Miserables by Scott Suchman of the barricade. This photo is haunting and beautiful at once. When this barricade comes on stage in these lights, it seems like a mass grave working its way slowly to the stage. Which, in effect, it is. Other photos from the show are available for viewing at PLAYBILL online.

and that jazz....

I have not watched the film version of Chicago in several years, and I caught it on TV the other day, or at least part of it. It made me remember what an AMAZING film it is, but especially how brilliant the opening is. Here for your viewing pleasure is that scene...

Dog saves Dog.

This made me cry.

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, BUDDHA!