Where’s my camera when I need it?

Friday night I took Connor and my nephew Austin to the MSU Riley Center for Performing Arts to see Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. The story is a Cinderella story set in Africa. Originally, I didn’t think the two boys would enjoy it, but after volunteering to help seat area school children Friday morning and seeing part of the play, I knew they would like it and they both did.

After the show the actors all were in the lobby signing the playbill. Connor was so excited to meet the actors, and told me later, “Mimi, I want to be in a play.” I usually have my camera handy, but didn’t this time-and I missed some great pictures of Connor with the actors!

From the website:

When a great African king desires a wife, the best maidens in the land are invited to meet him. Dallas Children’s Theater proudly presents John Steptoe’s Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, a gorgeous, Caldecott Award-winning Cinderella tale adapted for the stage by Karen Abbott. Mufaro’s pride and joy, his two daughters of very different dispositions, travel across a river and half a day’s journey to go before the king. As they encounter the forest, each experiences a rite of passage.

The play was excellent, and even though the actors from the Dallas Children’s Theatre were doing their third performance of the day, they gave it their all.

You can read more about this play and their tour by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by,

Diane

Greater Tuna

Saturday night I volunteered at the MSU Riley center and had the chance to see part of Greater Tuna. I wish I had bought tickets for my husband and I. I had not heard of this show before, but found out through researching it that it is one of the most produced plays in the US. As the old saying goes, “Laughter is the best Medicine” and after tonight's show, I can see why. To learn more about Greater Tuna, click here.

From their website:
Greater Tuna is the hilarious comedy about Texas' third smallest town, where the Lion's Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. The eclectic band of citizens that make up this town are portrayed by only two performers, making this satire on life in rural America even more delightful as they depict all of the inhabitants of Tuna -- men, women, children and animals.

The show has been so popular that 2 new ones have been added: A Tuna Christmas and Red, White and Tuna. I hope I get a chance to see these too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Diane

Magic Tree House the Musical

Friday night I took Connor and my nephew Austin to the MSU Riley Center for Performing Arts to see the Magic Tree House the Musical. It was awesome! Click on the picture for more photos and a schedule of performances.

Connor and Austin during the intermission. Please excuse Connor's shirt...we had been to a new pizza place!

You can see just a little bit of the beauty of the theater in the background of this picture.

I often do volunteer work at the Riley Center, usually as an usher or in the box office. Since I had tickets for this production, I volunteered the night before to help set up the dressing room and work with the costumes. I have to say that it gave me a whole new appreciation for the work that goes into these productions!

I am so glad that our small town has a venue that supports the arts for all ages!

Thanks for stopping by today, and hope you have a restful Sunday!

A Dynamic Perfomance by Drumline Live!

These performers with the yellow and blue costumes were part of Drumline which performed in our town yesterday at the MSU Riley Center.

From the Riley Center website:
The show-stopping new attraction marching band DRUMLine Live brings the black tradition to the theatrical stage for the very first time. Featuring a large cast of colorful and flamboyant performers from America’s top historically black colleges and universities, the production presents the rousing and rhythmic sounds of the great brass past including Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power side by side with the hottest contemporary hip-hop and R&B. A glimpse into an American experience that many have never seen before, DRUMLine Live showcases a historic tradition that is alive with intensity.

This was one of the best shows I've seen. The performers were very enthusiastic and there was lots of audience interaction. If you are interested in seeing if they will be performing near you, click here. I highly recommend this group of performers!


For more Blue Monday posts, visit Sally at Smiling Sally

Thanks for stopping by!

Red Hat Society

Red Hat Society Ladies, Brandon, MS

enjoy Tony and Tina's Wedding

Have you ever been to an event and seen a group of ladies wearing purple dresses and red hats? I had the pleasure of meeting a group of these nice ladies from Brandon, MS at the Riley Center when I volunteered to work the Sat. show. They were all so nice, and really seemed to enjoy the show. Meeting them made me wonder....why do they dress that way, and exactly what is the Red Hat Society? So, I decided to Google Red Hat Society, and found that they have a pretty impressive web site. The Red Hat members are described as 'the largest sisterhood of women over 50' in the world!

Here is FAQ link that answered all my questions .
Looks like fun!

Tony and Tina's Wedding

Tonight I went to the Riley Center with Regina, a new friend from aerobics, to the off Broadway production Tony and Tina's Wedding.We had a great time! The dinner theatre was different from anything I have ever experienced. We were 'guests' at the wedding, and the characters interacted with us throughout the evening. The wedding was funny, and it was just like being at a real wedding. There was dancing, and a toast to the bride and groom along with an Italian buffet and wedding cake. Here are some pics that highlight the evening:

Tina, the Italian bride, posing for a pic while conversing with guests

Tony the Italian groom (notice his muscles!)

Diane and Regina starred as wedding guests!

A Meridian favorite: MSU Riley Center

Connor meets Pinnochio at the Riley Center in Meridian, Mississippi.

I have been busy exploring other blogs! I've seen some really awesome ones. It's like there is a whole world that exists out there in cyberspace that I have not know about until recently.

Today I would like to post on one of my favorite places ever: The Riley Center for Performing Arts in Meridian.

The Riley Center is the result of a $25 Million dollar restoration of an opera house built in the late 1800's. It is a dream come true for Meridian. I first saw the inside of the Opera House in 1992 when my daughter chose it for a research project for Senior English. Then I returned again in 2000 for a tour with my son, who later interned there while at MSU. To have seen it then and now is really hard to believe!

The web site http://www.msurileycenter.com/ does a great job of giving a 'snapshot of the restoration!

The new season will be announced this June so be sure to check the website.

Here are some Riley Center Pics:


Some of the great performances I've been to at the Riley Center include Bo Diddley, Trisha Yearwood, The Mikasa Opera, Drum, The Temptations, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty....and on and on and on!

This week the Riley Center will host the off Broadway production Tony and Tina's Wedding! Check out their web site for video clips: http://www.tonylovestina.com/

We have tickets for Friday night, and I'll be volunteering on Sat.

Diane

Cara Grace and Connor

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I created this with pictures of Connor and Cara Grace at McDonald's and the Riley Center. Her grandmother, Karen, is one of my best friends. We always try to get them together for the performances at the Riley Center. Last year we took them to see Willie Wonka and Pinocchio. This season they both saw Suessical and A Year with Frog and Toad.