Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A Great Barn Dance
On Saturday Night we walked over to the other side of The Ranch where we joined another group of campers for a Barn Dance. We dressed in our finest western wear, boots and all. Our amplifier and ipods provided great music while the dirt floor did not hinder any dance moves. Too much fun!!!
Dinner on a What?
A new concept in dining for most of us...Dinner on a Stick! The camp fire roasted hot dogs and then a magical dessert of yummy dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar. A night off for the camp cook....
A Set in the Making
An outdoor set is in the works! Damn Yankees is being performed on the grass with a triangular stage and baseball stadium backdrop. Stage Manager Emily and Technical Apprentice Peter have been hammering, sanding, and painting with the patriotic colors of the Washington Senators.
Brad trying to look like he's helping.
Eric Kindseth is our set builder with his right hand man Andy Lerner
Brad trying to look like he's helping.
Eric Kindseth is our set builder with his right hand man Andy Lerner
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Harry Potter day was fantastic! Everyone had terrific costumes. Brad and Jacob made us pancakes and after rehearsal we headed to Susanville to see the movie. We drove to the town of Chester and ate dinner at the Pine Shake Frosty. We had epic milkshakes for dessert. We drove to Lake Almanor and practiced skipping rocks before heading back to The Ranch.It was great to get off site but everyone was very happy to get back "home."
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Our musical this year is Damn Yankees!
We've got an old barn and some costumes!
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. The musical is based on Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.
CAST LIST
Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy - David Hernandez
Meg Boyd - Samantha Olson
Mr. Applegate - Logan Breitbart
Lola - Myha'la Herrold-Morgan
Gloria Thorpe - Michelle Martinelli
Sister - Nina Feliciano
Doris - Katelin Foley
Miss Weston - Cassie Lee
Henry - Peter Fisher
Sohovik - Noah Lerner
Smokey - Anderson Cook
Rocky - Trevor Bates
Van Buren - Sam Lerner
The Plot - Meg complains about her husband, real estate agent Joe Boyd, a long-suffering, middle-aged fan of the Washington Senators baseball team.("Six Months Out Of Every Year"). After Meg has gone to bed, Joe suddenly meets a slick salesman, Mr. Applegate, who is in reality the Devil. Joe is convinced to sell his soul to the Devil to become the young and strong slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for," and leaves his wife Meg ("Goodbye Old Girl"). However, Joe's business sense makes him think of an escape clause: the Senators' last game is on September 25, and if he chooses to play in that final game, he is "in for the duration"-he has until 9 o'clock that night to walk away from the deal and return to his normal life. Meanwhile, the hapless Senators are vowing to play their best despite their failings ("Heart"). As the young Joe is suddenly discovered, Gloria, a reporter, praises him ("Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo"). His hitting prowess enables the Senators to move up the standings.
Though Joe is increasingly successful, he truly misses his wife and begins boarding with her. Meg and the young man begin to bond, especially over her "lost" husband ("A Man Doesn't Know"). Fearful of losing his deal, Mr. Applegate calls Lola, "the best homewrecker on [his] staff", to seduce Joe and thereby ensure his soul to damnation. Lola promises to deliver ("A Little Brains, A Little Talent"), and Applegate introduces her as a sultry South American dancer named "Señorita Lolita Banana". Lola sings a seductive song ("Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets"), but Joe's devotion to his wife proves too strong, even for her. Applegate punishes her by sending her to Limbo, where she performs with other damned souls ("Who's Got the Pain").
Applegate decides to switch tactics to ensure Joe's failure. He releases false information about Joe Hardy's true identity being "Shifty McCoy", an escaped criminal and con artist. When Gloria discovers this information, she presses charges, and Joe is forced into court.
The Senators prepare for the final game against the Yankees for the pennant, and worry about Joe-but vow to think of nothing else but winning ("The Game"). Meanwhile, angry fans are seeking Joe out, so he decides to leave the Boyd home. As he does, he tells Meg that he is her old husband in a guarded way ("Near to You"). Meanwhile, Applegate is exhausted by the work he has put into collecting one soul, and thinks about the "simpler" times in his long history ("Those Were the Good Old Days").
Joe's day in court is on the same day as the Senator's final game. As Joe Hardy technically does not exist, he cannot produce any kind of identification as to his identity. The owner of the Senators, coach, and even Lola (disguised as "Senora McCoy") testify against Joe; unfortunately, their opinions are invalid. Gloria suggests that Applegate take the stand, but he is unable to take the oath due to its provision against lying ("Don't you have another version of that thing?"). Joe realizes that Applegate is simply stalling to keep him from meeting his nine o'clock deadline. Applegate claims that Joe "just needs time to think", and sends him to the lower levels of Limbo, where history's most famous lovers wait. Lola meets Joe there, and realizes that he truly does love Meg. She helps him by sending him into the final game, and delays Applegate by coercing him into a duet ("Two Lost Souls").
When Applegate finally arrives at the game, it is five minutes to nine, and Joe is at bat. As time runs out, Meg, her friends, and even Lola begin cheering for Joe to succeed. Applegate uses his powers to give Joe two strikes. The clock strikes nine, and Applegate claims victory-but at the last second, Joe cries, "Let me go!" The deal is broken, and he is transformed back into his old self. Amazingly, he is still able to hit a home run and win the Senators the pennant.
Back at home, Joe rushes into Meg's arms. Applegate appears on the scene, claiming that Joe owes him his soul. Joe begs Meg to hold him and not let go, and she begins to sing ("A Man Doesn't Know Reprise"). Applegate promises to make Joe young again, and even ensure a World Series victory. But his powers are useless against the pair's true love, which Lola points out. Applegate shouts that such a thing cannot exist-but he is wrong. He and Lola vanish back into Hell, defeated, with Joe and Meg united again forever.
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. The musical is based on Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.
CAST LIST
Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy - David Hernandez
Meg Boyd - Samantha Olson
Mr. Applegate - Logan Breitbart
Lola - Myha'la Herrold-Morgan
Gloria Thorpe - Michelle Martinelli
Sister - Nina Feliciano
Doris - Katelin Foley
Miss Weston - Cassie Lee
Henry - Peter Fisher
Sohovik - Noah Lerner
Smokey - Anderson Cook
Rocky - Trevor Bates
Van Buren - Sam Lerner
The Plot - Meg complains about her husband, real estate agent Joe Boyd, a long-suffering, middle-aged fan of the Washington Senators baseball team.("Six Months Out Of Every Year"). After Meg has gone to bed, Joe suddenly meets a slick salesman, Mr. Applegate, who is in reality the Devil. Joe is convinced to sell his soul to the Devil to become the young and strong slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for," and leaves his wife Meg ("Goodbye Old Girl"). However, Joe's business sense makes him think of an escape clause: the Senators' last game is on September 25, and if he chooses to play in that final game, he is "in for the duration"-he has until 9 o'clock that night to walk away from the deal and return to his normal life. Meanwhile, the hapless Senators are vowing to play their best despite their failings ("Heart"). As the young Joe is suddenly discovered, Gloria, a reporter, praises him ("Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo"). His hitting prowess enables the Senators to move up the standings.
Though Joe is increasingly successful, he truly misses his wife and begins boarding with her. Meg and the young man begin to bond, especially over her "lost" husband ("A Man Doesn't Know"). Fearful of losing his deal, Mr. Applegate calls Lola, "the best homewrecker on [his] staff", to seduce Joe and thereby ensure his soul to damnation. Lola promises to deliver ("A Little Brains, A Little Talent"), and Applegate introduces her as a sultry South American dancer named "Señorita Lolita Banana". Lola sings a seductive song ("Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets"), but Joe's devotion to his wife proves too strong, even for her. Applegate punishes her by sending her to Limbo, where she performs with other damned souls ("Who's Got the Pain").
Applegate decides to switch tactics to ensure Joe's failure. He releases false information about Joe Hardy's true identity being "Shifty McCoy", an escaped criminal and con artist. When Gloria discovers this information, she presses charges, and Joe is forced into court.
The Senators prepare for the final game against the Yankees for the pennant, and worry about Joe-but vow to think of nothing else but winning ("The Game"). Meanwhile, angry fans are seeking Joe out, so he decides to leave the Boyd home. As he does, he tells Meg that he is her old husband in a guarded way ("Near to You"). Meanwhile, Applegate is exhausted by the work he has put into collecting one soul, and thinks about the "simpler" times in his long history ("Those Were the Good Old Days").
Joe's day in court is on the same day as the Senator's final game. As Joe Hardy technically does not exist, he cannot produce any kind of identification as to his identity. The owner of the Senators, coach, and even Lola (disguised as "Senora McCoy") testify against Joe; unfortunately, their opinions are invalid. Gloria suggests that Applegate take the stand, but he is unable to take the oath due to its provision against lying ("Don't you have another version of that thing?"). Joe realizes that Applegate is simply stalling to keep him from meeting his nine o'clock deadline. Applegate claims that Joe "just needs time to think", and sends him to the lower levels of Limbo, where history's most famous lovers wait. Lola meets Joe there, and realizes that he truly does love Meg. She helps him by sending him into the final game, and delays Applegate by coercing him into a duet ("Two Lost Souls").
When Applegate finally arrives at the game, it is five minutes to nine, and Joe is at bat. As time runs out, Meg, her friends, and even Lola begin cheering for Joe to succeed. Applegate uses his powers to give Joe two strikes. The clock strikes nine, and Applegate claims victory-but at the last second, Joe cries, "Let me go!" The deal is broken, and he is transformed back into his old self. Amazingly, he is still able to hit a home run and win the Senators the pennant.
Back at home, Joe rushes into Meg's arms. Applegate appears on the scene, claiming that Joe owes him his soul. Joe begs Meg to hold him and not let go, and she begins to sing ("A Man Doesn't Know Reprise"). Applegate promises to make Joe young again, and even ensure a World Series victory. But his powers are useless against the pair's true love, which Lola points out. Applegate shouts that such a thing cannot exist-but he is wrong. He and Lola vanish back into Hell, defeated, with Joe and Meg united again forever.
BINGO NIGHT
B-I-N-G-O and Bingo was his name-O
B-27!
David won the final BINGO game - his prize, an amazing dolphin coloring book!
B-27!
David won the final BINGO game - his prize, an amazing dolphin coloring book!
Friday, July 17, 2009
80's DAY!
It was like totally awesome!
Gag me with a spoon.
Cyndi Lauper, Journey, Rick Springfield and The Go-Go's played as we warmed up and ate our meals. The day ended with an outdoor showing of The Goonies! Sometimes they are good enough.
First day of camp!
Hi Everyone!
Just a quick note to let you know all of your fantastic children arrived safely yesterday afternoon at The Ranch. The bus driver did miss a turn but our counselors caught it and they turned around. So the bus arrived later than anticipated but Jacob, Brad, Katie, and Babs were waiting with cold drinks, watermelon, and open arms. We had vegetarian sloppy joes for dinner with the sweetest corn on the cob. Brad provided the evening's entertainment/education with a great talk on the History of Rock and it's influence on Broadway Musicals. He walked the kids through the 50's to the present and was impressed on their knowledge of music. He performed two numbers for them and they were spellbound. We had warm brownies and ice cream before hitting the bunk beds.
Everyone said they had a good night's sleep as we gathered this morning for French Toast and sausage with fresh peaches on the side. (The local produce is amazing.) After breakfast we tidied rooms and had 15 minutes of aerobics. Vocal warm ups followed and the audition process began. The show will be cast by this afternoon and rehearsal will begin! This area of California is God's country...the views are spectacular. We all could do without the mosquitoes, but there has to be a balance. : )
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Going to CAMP!
Kathy, Heather and Babs (Jacob's Mom who's making all the costumes) left for camp yesterday. They looked like something out of the Grapes of Wrath leaving San Jose. The truck ended up breaking down on Highway 70, 16 miles from Quincy. AAA had to come out and tow the trunk into the city. I'm sure this is just one of our unexpected adventures. Obstacle is opportunity, right? Brad arrives today from NYC into Reno and Jacob is driving up tomorrow with Emily and Patrick.
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