October Karaoke

I'm posting October's Karaoke blog this week since next week at Gabe's we will be celebrating Halloween early for our Costume Karaoke night!  There's no Karaoke on Halloween since they're bringing a band in but they will be doing their Costume Contest on Friday night.  I still wanted everyone to be able to sing spooky music and have fun Karaoke style.  Halloween Karaoke will get it's own separate blog next week but I've got four weeks of music for ya right now!

Week 1:

Ace of Base "Don't Turn Around"

Carrie Underwood "Cowboy Casanova"

Whitesnake "Here I Go Again"

Tonic "If You Could Only See"

Fleetwood Mac "Gold Dust Woman"

Week 2:

3 Doors Down "Here Without You"

The Eagles "I Can't Tell You Why"

Natalie Merchant "Wonder"

Pat Benatar "Promises In The Dark"

Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

Adele "To Make You Feel My Love"

Week 3:

Tom Petty "You Got Lucky"

LeAnn Rimes "Right Kind of Wrong"

Tonic "You Wanted More"

Dolly Parton "Jolene"

Blues Traveler "The Hook"

Heart "If Looks Could Kill"

Week 4:

LeAnn Rimes "Can't Fight The Moonlight"

Evanescence "Call Me When You're Sober"

Staind "Right Here Waiting"

Fiona Apple "Limp"

Adele "Set Fire To The Rain"

Patsy Cline "Crazy"

Axl Rose for Karaoke two years ago!

No repeats from a month ago to this month, so that's awesome and I added a lot of music to my History folder including two LeAnn Rimes songs.  I prefer Tonic's "You Wanted More" over "If You Could Only See" but was glad to try that as my new song.  I got some requests in Week 2 for music including my new song which was "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden; thanks to Mark and Courtney for visiting me at Karaoke!  I've always loved the Blue Traveler song I sang, and knew it had that one really fast almost rap style section but was able to make it through.  Although I picked up a really interesting lyric I hadn't really caught before that went, 'No matter how much Peter loved her, what made the Pan refuse to grow.' We all want to stay young but at the end of the day, we have to grow up, and although everyone loves Peter Pan and what he stands for, he ends up alone and lonely.  To each his own.  I sang a lot of very strong and independent songs this month, there was even a Staind Super-Set in Week 4 and my most recent new song was Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain."  I'm really happy with my choices this month :)

I can't wait for Halloween Karaoke next week.  We'll start at 9 pm so dress like a musician, be a part of a band or group, a musical character, anything to do with music and sing some Karaoke with me at Gabe's.  We always have a blast!

Maleficent & Co.

One of my favorite parts of working with Creating Arts is getting to do the Meet & Greet after the show is over.  We always take our bows and then go outside to take pictures with the kids, sign autographs, and just chat with the families (in character of course).  It's so heart-warming and I love talking with the kids and hearing what's on their minds.

Stages of emotion in meeting the kids, so excited to take
pictures and hear their stories, and then they hug you
and I just melt.  Best feeling in the world!

Since "Maleficent" came out in theaters it's really shed a new light on my fairy character, thankfully.  The little girls have told me they loved MY movie, and that I'm one of their favorite characters.  Some are even dressing up like me for Halloween!  Yet again, even better than all of that, seeing the children overcome their fears.  Like this one little girl, who came up and got into my arms, we shared a little moment, and after setting her down another little one had come over to say hi and I asked if she wanted a hug.  She gave me one of those scared half/barely-touching hug and the first little girl heard me ask the other one that, and flung her arms around my neck so tightly, all I could do in that moment, was appreciate the love.  I was so overcome with emotion and started to tear up right there!  Even the little boys get excited to meet the villain, and I love playing along with them.  I learned how to 'hi-five' this weekend and what 'Halloween' actually was.  I mean, did Halloween even exist in the 14th century?  It does now, because they're be a bunch of little mini-me's, meaning Maleficent's running around in a week or so.  Plus, it's great to see them protective of their sisters and try to coax them into meeting everyone.  All of them are so adorable I can barely handle it :)

Our 'Sleeping Beauty' Cast and some fans!

This past weekend, we signed so many autographs, you do start to feel like a 'mini celebrity.'  In these kids eyes, we are famous, and I can remember thinking the same thing about the actors when I saw shows as a child.  I loved hearing a little girl talk to me about the show and then ask if I could come to her house.  I laughed and said, that could probably be arranged.  We have to remember that the pictures we take with these kids will be forever remembered by them and in digital format.  They may look back on them when they take their own children to see theater.  How cool is that?!

Maleficent in 'Sleeping Beauty'

We've got three more weekends of "Sleeping Beauty" and so much more fun to be had!  Come and check out the show, and see my amazing wings that always bring gasps from the audience...pictures can't even do them justice :D

*Tickets can be found on www.creatingarts.org or for a discounted price on www.goldstar.com*

Ribbed Tee Commercial :)

The awesome Ready DEMOlition crew filmed this 'Ribbed Tee' Commercial I'm co-starring in back in August and now that it's edited and perfected it is ready to view!  It's definitely 'Sexy Time...'

We all had a fun time shooting together and what could certainly have been a very awkward situation wasn't at all.  Everyone was very professional, all about having fun and being a positive influence!  Lucky me, I got to take home a couple of the shirts and they are every bit as comfortable as the commercial markets them to be.  I would genuinely steal this from my boyfriend!

Hope you enjoy :)

*To read about the Commercial Shoot from early August check out my previous blog: http://lyndseywegner.blogspot.com/2014/08/ribbed-tee-commercial-shoot.html*

Playing Maleficent in 'Sleeping Beauty'

"Sleeping Beauty" is at the top of my list of Disney movies and it's always been my favorite!  Aurora has been my all-time favorite Princess, too!  She's the only Princess to have violet eyes and I always thought she was just classical beautiful.  So I was very excited when Creating Arts decided to do this as our Pint-Sized Play during the Fall Season.

My Maleficent Costume!

For this production of "Sleeping Beauty," I'm playing Maleficent, the evil fairy who has magical powers and can turn into a winged dragon.  After seeing "Maleficent" in theaters this past Summer, I fell in love with the story even more.  I won't give away the storyline of "Maleficent" but I like the hybrid character I created to play the role with a mix of evil from the original Disney movie, and that air of confidence, an edginess, and a little humor from Angelina Jolie's role.  Plus, I've got my Guard to make me look more sinister and mean, and she gets to play it off more goofy.  As much as I'd love to play one of the Princesses for a show and not be the villain, this gives me more room to grow as an Actress and a better opportunity to delve deep into character work by doing some research and analysis.  And obviously, I'm not an evil person so this is truly acting...muah ha ha ;)

All the Fairies in "Sleeping Beauty"

We put this show together in just two weeks and it's got a six week run (with one weekend off, which was this weekend).  Right now, we've already had two weekends of shows at the Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica where we do most of the Children's Shows.  I think one of my favorite things about the show is how different each audience reacts.  The first week I made a lot of kids cry, I heard them wailing after my first entrance and exit (and that seriously tugs at my heart) but then the following day, the kids were more brave.  When King Stephan asks what he should do now that I've cursed Aurora some little boy yelled, 'kill her!'  We've had children with Birthday's in the audience so our next show we could barely get through our lines because all the kids were talking the entire time.  And our last show we did was probably the hi-light so far because when the Prince asks if the audience wants to forgive me for trying to hurt Aurora after they banish me from the kingdom, all the kids said yes, and as soon as I got on-stage they mobbed me, about 15 kids, hugging me, saying they forgave me, told me 'You're beautiful, you're evil, but you're beautiful.'  So cute!

The costume for the show is just incredible!  It's this long sequined one-shoulder dress with a wing on the one side, and I'm wearing the green glitter shoes from "Wizard of Oz" and of course the Maleficent horns, and later on, get a ginormous set of wings!  They are literally magical.  I came up with a make-up plan doing shades of purple, with winged liner, glitter, and then lots of contouring, plus no CAC show is complete without glitter lips!  As the villain I really do get some of the best and most beautiful costumes.

We've got four more weeks of shows lined up for "Sleeping Beauty" and a lot more fun to be had!  Each week brings a new challenge of scaring the kids but winning them over in the end, and finding myself in my character to bring out something new and different for every show.  I always look forward to those challenges!

Carolyn & Matt's Wedding

I've been living in Los Angeles for nearly nine years and although I've gone back home to the Midwest for Weddings, Carolyn & Matt's Wedding on September 20th, was my first Wedding here in LA!

Neil & I at the Wedding

Carolyn and I started working together over eight years ago at Saint's & Sinner's and she had been dating Matt for a couple years.  She's one of the most caring, compassionate, and understanding people I've ever met.  I've gotten to know Matt over the years and it's been great seeing their relationship grow and evolve and sitting at the Wedding, and hearing him do his vows in Tagalog (Carolyn's family is from the Philippines) I knew that he has always been madly in love with her.  Of course, I cried the moment that he made his way down the aisle and didn't stop throughout the ceremony.  The vows were just so incredible and touching, and after hearing them in English as well, I don't think I've ever heard more meaningful vows in my entire life.  Carolyn had kept her dress a secret so it was our first time seeing it and it was just beautiful; she was a gorgeous bride with the brightest smile on her face!  The sunshine, sunflowers, kelly green bridesmaid dresses, and everything else just had such a positive and uplifting vibe.

First Dance <3

The Wedding was actually at the Betty Ruckas Cultural Center in Long Beach with the ceremony outside and the reception in this huge ballroom.  It was a little Saint's & Sinner's reunion with so many of our co-workers over the years, some of our regulars and friends, and lots of family, and people flying in from all over the world.  Neil has known Carolyn and Matt for the past four years so it was great to have him there since we've all spent a lot of time together over the years. 

After a cocktail hour and some delicious Hors d'Oeuvres we made our way to the reception area where the tables were designated by Superhero's.  So cool and fun!   I think my favorite part of the reception was seeing Carolyn & Matt's first dance.  It was just such a special moment and I think everyone could feel the love just radiating off of them.   

There were drinks and shots (someone had to bring some Fireball to the party), plenty of food, dancing and fun.  It was nice to be able to catch up with friends in this celebratory environment and see two of our closest friends get married and start their lives together.  It was a great Wedding in Long Beach and I'm so incredibly happy for the newlyweds.  I love you two <3

Journey Cover Band and AC/DC Tribute!

A couple weeks ago I saw that a Journey Cover Band, DSB, was playing at Canyon Club in Agoura Hills.  I keep an eye on the Canyon Club Calendar because Pat Benatar has played there and I'd love to see her Live!  That same night of the Journey Cover Band, (which tours nation-wine) Bonfire, which is an AC/DC Tribute Band, was playing at Paladino's in Tarzana.  Neil and Chris had asked me about going to see Bonfire initially, but when I told them about the Journey Cover Band, we decided to check out DSB since we were all Journey fans and had never seen them play before!

"Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" Cover

We got a bite to eat just down the street at Ladyface, (yes, that really was the name of the restaurant) and then got to Canyon Club around 10 pm just as the band was starting and there was a guy standing outside who gave us two tickets that were already paid for, so it certainly started our evening off with a bang!  We bought one more ticket, grabbed some drinks, and made our way to the dance floor.  There was a Billy Idol Tribute before DSB which we missed, thinking that was supposed to start at 10 pm.  I was bummed because I would have loved to have seen that too, but apparently, that's my concert luck.  The singer of DSB was great and sounded just like Steve Perry.  The rest of the band was fantastic as well, and I felt like I was at an actual Journey concert (probably the closest to the real thing, even though I hope to see the current Journey Band play at some point).  The band played all of Journey's hits including some singles of Steve Perry's, like 'Oh Sherrie.'  Of course, we expected to hear 'Faithfully,' 'Anyway You Want It,' and 'Don't Stop Believing,' but it was songs like 'Lights,' 'Send Her My Love,' and 'Separate Ways,' that made me so happy to sing-along and dance to them!  Neil and I saw an 80's Cover Band at Canyon Club last year and it was mostly women in their 50's dancing, so I thought the crowd would be a little younger since it was a weekend night, but we were definitely the youngest people there.  I enjoyed hearing 'Escape,' 'Who's Crying Now,' and 'Stone In Love.'  I made my way towards the stage a couple times to get some pictures and sing along to my favorite songs and even had a little moment with the singer and guitar player during 'Don't Stop Believing.'  I was so happy we got to see them perform as it was an awesome time!

That's me, hand in the air, rocking out to DSB!

Since the show ended around 11:30 pm we actually went straight to Paladino's (which was a 15 minute drive from Agoura Hills) to catch the end of Bonfire's show which actually went until almost 1:30 am!  I'm glad I called to check ;)  Neil and I had seen them before at The Viper Room this past Winter and Chris and Neil had also seen them before that, so we knew a couple of the band members.  These guys have so much energy and they played for nearly three hours which was crazy!  After a night of dancing and singing along, which I did some of also at Paladino's, I was ready to relax and sit for a little bit.  I got to hear 'Highway To Hell' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long' so I was happy.  This was more Neil's scene since he knows a ton of AC/DC songs.  Plus, my 5-inch heels decided it was break-time so while the boys rocked out with the band, I grabbed a drink at the bar and chatted with the female Bartender about cocktails and music.

It was definitely a night of fun and I love getting to hear cover bands especially one that plays one of my favorite bands of all-time's music!  I'm really happy that I didn't have work or rehearsal that night so I was able to enjoy some music and time with friends :)

A 'Lyndsey Squeeze' with Neil & Chris watching the Journey Cover Band at Canyon Club