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!

Moose Hunting With Sarah Palin

OK...only kidding. I haven't seen any moose...or any Palin. But Alaska is really cool! Literally. It's been a drizzly 56 degrees here today. We're in Sitka today. Tomorrow we sail through the Hubbard Glacier. Should be interesting.

It's been great to see my old cast. Adam, Jeremy, Dustin, Courtney, Jenny and all the dancers. We've had a great reunion! This has been my third cast of Infinity singers to direct and I have loved teaching them. The current cast did their Broadway show last night and did a fantastic job! The new cast is busy rehearsing late at night and preparing for their opening of shows next week. Kudos to Claire and Angie for their hard work out here too. For all of you who are family members of performers out here, they are doing an awesome job!

I hope to be able to post some pictures from Juneau on Wednesday. We'll be there and I should have internet capabilities.

Though I am what seems like a world away from my family in Houston...I've been keeping my eye on CNN and following the coverage of IKE. I pray all of you down there are safe and well.

Have a great week, friends!

Celebrity Infinity Final Run-throughs

Yesterday our infinity cast did their final run-throughs. They did a great job! Here are some pictures and video from the "Celebrate the World" show. It's a beautiful show!



Can Can




Mitch begins the Venetian section




Kalinka

Funiculi funicula

Nessun Dorma

Irish

Russia

Africa section-- Kunya Sobe

I leave tomorrow to take the cast to Alaska. I am sad to be away from my family for a week bu pumped to see Alaska! I've never been!

Happy birthday today to our good friend Gary Musick! He is the MAN!!!

FUNNY old pictures

I was at my mom's over the weekend and ended up digging through some old pictures. I found some hilarious ones!!! I am as willing as the next person to laugh at myself...this post is certainly laugh-worthy.

The picture above is from a group I toured with in 1992 recruiting for the University. We had a blast! Pictured here are Becky James Shaver, me, Jon Paul Findley, Rick Wooten, Jill Anderson Powell, and Spencer Dailey

Kyle Dickson and Nino Elliott--great college friends (Kyle and I have been friends since we were 5)

Trish Savage Grisso and me...this was our Senior year. I was named Mr. ACU. Trish was named Miss ACU. We thought it was a sign. We had marriage plans. However, as God will do, He had other plans. We're both happily married now...to other people. :) Trish is a great girl and a Light to many people.

Kristin King, Patrice Natiliccio Powell and me during Senior wars at ACU. Patrice and her hubby Cayce are at Otter Creek and we love spending time with their family. Kristin lives in France and we keep up through Facebook. God Bless Facebook!

Shawna Duff (we were also High School friends and happen to be cousins!) and Patrice

Take One 1989--very fun tour! This was an impromptu concert on the back porch of the Corlew's house in Nashville.

Erin Tomlin Massey and I went to my Gamma Sig grub together dressed as, well...you can see.

No, this isn't a J.C. Penny ad from 1990. This is picture of ACU Sing Song Hosts 1991. Val Durrington, Stephen "4 eyes" Bailey, and me.

This picture is actually from High School. I was in a play...and the one and ONLY time I ever wore a KISS t-shirt. Pictured here with me are Rhonda (geez...last name??) and Julie Corlew Adkison

In 1993 I performed at Six Flags Over Texas all year. I started out in the Crazy Horse Saloon. Later I moved over to the Southern Palace. This pic is of my cast in the Saloon plus our music director Lindy Heath Cabe and choreographer Persis Ann.

Yes...I really AM posting this. I ended up going to work for Jean Ann Ryan Productions and was a principal singer on Norwegian Cruise Lines. (funny how things all come back around, ya know?) I am posing here with Audra Hudson. Audra has remained a close friend and sister in Christ for many years.

Matt Alexander and I backstage on the NCL Starward. Truly embarrassing.

I later went to work for Casa Manana Theater in Fort Worth, TX. I wish I had a cast picture from The Music Man...but can't find it. This was one WEIRD show written by David Mamet. I think it was called The Space Pandas. Pictured here with me is B.J. Cleveland. And...yeah, that's me. wow.

While I lived in Dallas I was roommates with Dennis Coleman (in between times of rooming with Stephen Bailey). Those were some great times!

Weekend Fun

We've had a really fun weekend! We had some time at home on Saturday and then I got to visit with my buddy, Murray Sanderson, and his amazing family that afternoon. It was great to see them! Murray and I go way back to the Dallas days when we were singing in the studio together with Jeff Nelson and Kellie Curtis Miller and others. I've always loved Murray.

Saturday night we went back out to Arrington Vineyards. It is such a special place to go--so peaceful and fun! Gary and Ellen Musick, Kevin and Kiki Penna, my mom, Denise Hoey and Jeff Nease went with us. The weather was PERFECT!

Here I am with two classy ladies!

Sheryl and Kiki
Kevin and me
L-R: Gary and Ellen Musick, Sheryl, Kiki and Kevin, Mom, me, Denise Hoey, and Jeff Nease


This morning was great at Fellowship. There were some very inspiring stories about people who are changing the world by serving others. It was awesome. At the end of the service we heard the background story to one of the songs on our new record ("God Of This City") and then sang it. It was POWERFUL! Those of you coming to the ZOE conference will hear the story. It's inspiring!

This afternoon we loaded up the family (including my mom) and went to watch the cast do a run-through of "Let's Rock". They did a dynamite job! It's been hard work, but they are really getting to the point of readiness. We leave Friday for Alaska.


Supremes medley

"She Bangs" No one an sing it quite like William Hung though.

Sarah Dennison and Ella...so sweet!

Below are some clips from today...

"Gimme Some Lovin'"

A little more Stevie Wonder goodness!

and more...

Holly and the Supremes

All Sarah's asking for is just a little "Respect"

Santana Medley

She Bangs

I hope all of you had a great weekend too. Thanks for stopping by...and thanks for your nice comments and encouragement the other day. These are precious days with our kids!

Infinity Rehearsals and Hilarity

We are down to the final week of rehearsals before I take the Infinity cast to Alaska next Friday. We've learned 3 1/2 shows now and they are a fantastic cast! This week we've been working on the 'Let's Rock" show..

Here are some cuts from our rehearsal today...

The show opener--Gimme Some Lovin'

Holly and Matt's duet is so nice...I wanted to record a bit of it. Then we all got cracked up so this is part one.

Here's the second take...almost serious this time.

Mitch sings Pinball Wizard

Roger sings an amazing Stevie Wonder!

During the course of these long weeks of rehearsal there have to be moments of hilarity or you lose your sanity. Sarah Dennison (from London) is not only a brilliant singer, she's also stinkin' hilarious. Early on in the rehearsal process she entertained us with a reenactment from a scene from the British version of "The Office". It made me laugh so hard that now I have to see it every other day or so! :) I am so excited to have captured this on video!

This was another bit of humor she gave us today...another scene. This cast has been so much fun to work with. I love them dearly!

Tonight we are going out to Cayce and Patrice Powell's house with Jeff and Anna Berry and Troy and Katie Link. We're excited about time with friends. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! I was really tempted to make some commentary on the DNC and the RNC...but I decided against it. Maybe next week! :)

Back to Life...Back to Reality

Today kids and adults across America went back to school or work. I took the girls to school on my way to rehearsal with the Infinity cast. We've been trying to convince Maddie and Ella to let me drop them off in the mornings and walk in by themselves. They have not liked that idea at all. Not one bit.

Today, I told them on the way to school that it was time for them to walk in by themselves. The news was greeted with moans, drama, and tears. They ARE young, after all. It's a new place, new friends, new teachers, and they are the small ones on campus. It can be extremely intimidating.

We pulled up in line and the 4th grade "helpers" opened the door and they somberly climbed out. As I drove away I saw both of the girls walking, heads drooped. Maddie was wiping her eyes and Ella put her arm around her. They disappeared into the building.

I couldn't stand it. I quickly pulled into a parking spot and literally sprinted in so I could catch them before they made it down the hall to their classrooms. I saw them and called out their names and they ran to me and gave me a big hug. I wiped the tears from their eyes and told them how proud I was of them for taking that first step...and then walked them to their classrooms.

So, basically, the girls got a B+ for drop off today. Daddy got a C-. Life's too short. I just couldn't stand it. They'll get there and probably by the end of the week. I just couldn't drive out of that parking lot without making sure they were ok. There will be a lot of times (and already have been) when tough love must prevail. But today, I was an old softy. And I am just fine with that.