Countdown

Only 2 more days!

FEARLESS

Our ZOE conference is only 5 days away! We are getting so excited! For those who don't know, we have been producing worship conferences for over 10 years. We also produce worship recordings and resources such as books of music, an online magazine called "Wineskins", and other offerings. We have a Nashville conference each year that kicks of each year's theme and then we carry that out through the year with regional conferences. These regional conferences have been hosted in cities like Orlando, Dallas, St. Louis, Fresno, Lubbock, Houston, and other places. Our regular spots during the year include Fresno, Malibu, and Nashville. Stay tuned for our 2009 itinerary.

This next weekend we will have our conference entitled, "Fearless". It will be an awesome experience and I am excited to see everyone! If you're interested, check out the website listed over on the right.

Today we are celebrating Randy Read and Elle Bobier as they get married. Elle owns a very cool shop in Edge Hill called Elle’s Marché des Fleurs. It's a floral design shop. Randy is the publisher and editor of the Nashville Arts Magazine. Check out his website at http://nashvilleartsmagazine.com/ .

Randy and Elle are having a small ceremony outside and Sheryl is doing the food and some decor. Elle, Randy and I have gotten to be buddies through work stuff. They immediately fell in love with Sheryl...who wouldn't? It should be a fun day. Would you join me in praying for them and that God will surround them and bless their lives together?

And one last thing...thoughts on the debate last night??

Depression

Economic Depression? Bailing out Wall Street? Cancelling debates? Coke or Pepsi? I mean...these questions are haunting me. What are you guys thinking out there?

More From the Infinity

If you've never been to Seattle, go. It's way cool. My favorite thing was the Public Market. I went with some of the old cast on board. They showed me all the great places to grab snacks (the best fresh peach I have EVER had and some cool dried fruit roll-ups dusted in coconut). We even happened upon the ORIGINAL Starbucks. The vibe was quite cool and different there than the franchised ones. Here are some pics of Seattle...

The Original Starbucks

I took a little video of the players and Kaitlyn joining in for some fun! :)

Laura, Kaitlyn and I pose in front of the Infinity.

working backstage with the dancers on back-ground vocals

Claire, Holly, Sarah and I pose at the outgoing cast's final night party

Matt, Holly, Sarah and Mitch during dress rehearsal for the opener

The Broadway show opens with a number called "Don't Tell Mama" and they pull a volunteer from the audience. I was a reluctant volunteer for dress rehearsal.

Holly--42nd Street

West Side Story--Jets

West Side Story above and below

Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera

Matt as the Phantom

Mitch and Holly in Les Mis

Matt--Les Mis "One Day More"

"One Day More"

The barricade--battle scene

Matt singing "Bring Him Home"

"Do You Hear the People Sing"

"Do You Hear the People Sing"

Chorus Line--"One"

Those are the last of my Infinity pictures. I am praying for that cast out there. Great people who have had a tremendous amount to deal with in the last week.

Nine days and counting until ZOE conference!

Abide

This morning at Fellowship Bible Church was really awesome. (check out the link page over to the right and watch for podcasts from this morning.) Sheryl and I sat with my mom, Nathan Slingluff, Lauren Gingles, Jeff and Anna Berry, and David Wilkins...some of our favorite people. The worship was awesome as usual and the message was deeply feeding. Jeff Helton talked about the next thought in the series on dangerous ideas. He spoke about God's abiding love. Such an amazing message today.

I want to say out loud on this here bloggy thing...I am so thankful for God's love. Although I have days of doubting it, I know He IS perfect love and cares for me in ways I can never imagine. He cares for you too. Even if you're out there thinking there is no way that what I am saying is true. He does. He cares for you. He wants to know YOU.

I don't have things figured out. But one thing I was convicted of again today is the truth in being called to just rest in the love of God. No matter what anyone tells you...even Christians...God loves you and wants you to know Him. He knows you--all of you (and me) and still loves us. What in the world??? That alone is mind boggling. I hope just hearing this is as encouraging for you as it was for me today. I needed it.

AUDITIONS!!!

It's that time again! We're planning cruise ship auditions for this fall, and here is a sneak preview of dates and locations. Complete details will be posted on our website in the next few days, but this will give you an idea of where we're planning to be in the coming weeks...

NEW YORK - Ripley Grier Studios
Friday, October 17:
9:30am - 4:00pm (tentative)...Open call singers
9:30pm - 5:00pm (tentative)...JADE singer auditions (casting for "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "Shout" as well as two other shows
Saturday, October 18:
9:30am - 4:00pm (tentative)...Vocal call backs
10:00am...Dancers open call
2:00pm...Dancers open call (choose either start time)


LOS ANGELES - Debbie Reynolds Studio
Friday, October 24:
10:00am - 4:00pm (tentative)
Singer open call and appointments for JADE singers
10:00am...Dancers open call
2:00pm...Dancers open call
Saturday, October 25:
10:00am-4:00pm (tentative)...Singers open call and Appointments for JADE 10:00am (tentative)...Dancers open call
2:00pm (tentative)...Dancers open call


LONDON - Pineapple Studios
Thursday, January 8, 2009:
9:30am (tentative)...Open call for dancers
1:00pm - 4:30pm...Open call for singers and JADE singer appointments
4:30pm - 6:00pm...Callbacks for singers
Friday, January 9, 2009:
9:30am (tentative)...Open call for dancers
1:30pm - 4:30pm...Open call for singers and JADE singer appointments
4:30pm - 6:00pm...Callbacks for singers


We will post complete audition information on our website, as well as in BACKSTAGE and other trade publications. PLEASE DON'T CALL US WITH QUESTIONS JUST YET. All details will be answered on the website. This is just posted to give you a "hold the date" opportunity if you're planning to audition for us.
Thanks!!

Infinity show..."Celebrate the World"

The final show of the week was "Celebrate the World". Our exiting cast really knocked it out of the park on it...their very last performance. Here are some video clips of the show...a beautiful presentation celebrating life around the world. Amazing costumes, incredible songs, and stunning visuals.

Here are some video clips of some of the sections...

Opener--Celebrate the World

Can-Can (French section)

Funiculi Funicula 1

Funiculi Funicula 2

end of Funiculi Funicula

Nessun Dorma

end of Nussun Dorma...the money note! ;) Jeremy rocked this. The audience went crazy at the end.

Ireland

China section...this is a beautiful number! Normally, there are also aerialists who fly during the song but they were out this week. It was a shame because it is really gorgeous to see. Jennie did a great job on this.

end of the China section

Russia section..."Kalinka". These numbers are always made even more interesting by the Russian dancers we employ. Dustin sounds great on this!

Africa-- "Kunya Sobe"

Adam sings "Only in America"

Courtney does Dixie Chicks

Jeremy sings "Rio"

End of "Rio"...the feather packs the girls have on are really amazing to see. It's a throw back to the old Follies style movies. Really pretty!

Let's Rock

The new cast dives in head first starting today! This past week they have been rehearsing while the old cast finishd out their contract. They have some HUGE shoes to fill. The cast coming off the Infinity was absolutely spectacular. This new cast will be too. They (we) have weathered some very difficult things this past week. However, they pulled together and were champs.

Here are some video clips from my outgoing cast's last show of "Let's Rock"...

Great Balls of Fire--view from 3rd balcony

more GB of F

Jeremy rockin' it OUT!

"Get Ready"

Jennie sings "Respect"

Proud Mary

Adam sings "Pinball Wizard"

We Are The Champions

Gloria medley

She Bangs

Kudos to this cast for representing us so well out there. Not only are they great performers, they are great people. I love their hearts!

I am at the Seattle airport and headed home. PRAISE GOD!!!

Infinity Clips...some of Broadway

Some clips from my old cast's last week of doing Broadway on the Infinity

West Side Story

Adam singing "Maria" (I am so looking forward to Adam being back in Nashville! You might remember those hilarious pictures from last winter when we did that Abba tribute thing. Adam was one of those with me and Sheryl.) Adam will return next week and hopefully be a part of some Christmas stuff we have in the works. I love his voice!

"Tonight" from West Side Story

reprise of "Maria"...you'll think it's over but wait for the last little part. The light comes back on and Adam NAILS the end with the sweet note! :)

The following clips are from the Les Mis section.

"One Day More" from Les Miserable

"One Day More" continued

"When Tomorrow Comes" from Les Mis

This is from the finale...a number from "Chorus Line"

Kudos to this cast for finishing SO strong! We are so very proud of them. Not only did they weather some storms over the months they were together, but they were also rated the very top in the fleet in entertainment. This group deserves a standing "O"! Great job, guys!!!

Alaska So Far...

Hubbard Glacier...amazing display of God's work



we had a nice lunch out back on the ship overlooking the glacier
Sarah, Holly, Matt and me

entering the Hubbard Glacier area

Hubbard Glacier

Matt, Holly, Sarah, Roger and me on formal night

All these pics are from Sitka Alaska

Jeremy and I eating sushi
Russian Orthodox church in Sitka

A beautiful day in Juneau....pictures below

Jenny, Adam and I ate at "The Twisted Fish" in Juneau

Adam and I pose out in front of "The Twisted Fish"

Tomorrow is Ketchikan and then Victoria, B.C. the following day. I am coming home with some goodies! I can't wait to see my family!