Fish Tacos

Last time I was at Village Tavern I noticed Fish Tacos, a new addition to their menu. Bridget and Dana were telling me how tasty fish tacos are and I really wanted to try them. Never having them before, I chickened out during that visit. Since the VT is right across the street from work, for tonight’s dinner, Bridget and I ordered fish tacos.

Blackened Tilapia with lettuce, Tavern sauce, guacamole and salsa. Served with black beans and rice.

I have to say that I was unimpressed. Black beans – wonderful! Rice – ok. Tilapia – meh. I don’t think there was any salsa in my two tacos because I kept thinking the tacos lacked…something…umph, spicyness, flavor.

At least now I can say that yes, I’ve had fish tacos. I don’t think it’ll be something I’ll readily order again.

An Afternoon At The Movies, "The Help"

I enjoyed the book and was very interested in seeing the movie. So today Sam and I decided to catch a matinee.

Other than what little was taught in school, Sam didn't really know much about that era of our history. I absolutely hate that period. I hate that people were treated so badly! And as uncomfortable as I was watching the movie, Sam was even more so.

Viola Davis was outstanding, as was Emma Stone. Even though the movie was changed a bit from the book, it still made me cry.

An Afternoon At The Movies, "Crazy Stupid Love"

Chad is a fan of Steve Carell and I'm a fan of Ryan Gosling, so this was the perfect movie.

I did enjoy it immensly. Admittedly, I do tend to sway whenever I see Ryan's rock hard abs. Emma Stone was a treat, as always.

An Afternoon At The Movies

Mallorie and I really wanted to see this on opening day, but my work schedule interfered. So, we caught the show this afternoon.

We had a great time singing along with our favorite Glee songs "Raise Your Glass," "Jessie's Girl," "Loser Like Me," and "Somebody To Love." Our favorite part of the entire movie was after the credits and the Mini Warbler. He is too cute for words; Mallorie and I laughed until we cried.

We were so inspired by the concert that we decided to finish watching all the Season 2 episodes that we hadn't watched since April.

We are Gleeks and proud of it!

Last night for my lunch break I went to the Mall, the Hallmark store specifically. Chris' birthday is this weekend and I needed to pick out a card.

The store was empty, or as empty as a store can be at the Mall. Since no one was around I caught myself singing, mostly under my breath, but singing none the less.

“I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
saying ay-oh, gotta let go
I wanna celebrate and live my life
saying ay-oh, baby let's go"

The song is "Dynamite" and Taio Cruz sings it. However, I was singing the slowed down part that China Anne McClain sings in an episode of Disney Channel's A.N.T. Farm. I've been singing this for several days now. I love singing it because it's a part I think I can sing fairly well.

As I moved down one of the card aisles, a couple of people were talking to the cashier. What caught my attention was hearing my name – Cheryl Ann. I stayed where I was, but stopped singing to pay further attention. They were talking about how Cheryl Ann couldn’t sing!

OMG!

I ducked my head down so they wouldn’t see me. They kept talking about how bad Cheryl Ann's singing was. I was freaking out because I was only singing in the store and pretty low in volume so they couldn't possibly have heard me enough to know that I am not really a singer.

Close to mortification, I'm thinking the people talking have to be either co-workers or theatre peeps, and they've seen me in the store, heard me singing and thought I had left the store. As scared as I was that they would see me, I peeked over the top of the card case to try and see who was talking about me.

As I was standing on my tiptoes, one mentioned that she hated hearing me singing…with Bon Jovi.

Bon Jovi? Wait…what?

And then it hit me…it’s not Cheryl Ann they are talking about. It’s Sugarland.

Oh, those damn southern accents.

These were delivered to me yesterday, and yes, I was completely caught off guard.

This is what they look like today. In bloom and so pretty!

An Afternoon At The Movies

While I grew up in the Smurf era, I didn't really get into the cartoons. Still, I did own a few of the figurines and used the "smurf" language for a time. That a Smurf movie was coming out did nothing for me. That it was offered in 3D did not impress me. That it was a live actin movie set in NYC and starring Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays had me putting it on my "must see" list. Mallorie is a fellow NPH and Jayma Mays fan so she was willing to go. Cade decided to go based on a few TV commercials.

All in all it was an enjoyable movie and we had a good time.

Super Excited!

Mallorie and I are going to see them tonight!!!

An Evening At The Theatre, "Next To Normal"

Sam saw this show on Broadway and absolutely loved it. He burned me a copy of the CD and overall, I liked the score.

Last night Chris and I attended the touring production in Charlotte. I was very much looking forward to seeing Alice Ripley in the role that won her a Tony Award.

The set was reminisent of Rent and Spring Awakening with scaffolding and purple, bright lighting.

Curt Hansen played Gabe and Emma Hunton played his younger sister Natalie. Both were outstanding. Jeremy Kushner played the dual role of Dr. Madden and Dr. Fine. He was okay. Nothing about either performance really stood out for me. Asa Somers performance was absolutely heartwrenching. By the end of the show I was trying to hold back tears. I was not successful.

Alice Ripley was astoundingly disappointing. I'm no singer, but I can certainly tell when someone is off key. She ever found the appropriate key. It might have been that she was tired. It might have been that she was sick. It might have been that she really didn't want to do the tour. Whatever it was, it came through in her performance.

If it hadn't been for the strong performances by her castmates, I would have demanded my money back.

Very Proud

Course Description

Ok, so Robin sent us the descriptions of what each of us will be teaching. Here's mine:

Drama/Auditioning - Cheryl Ann Roberts Actor & Former Educational Theatre Services Coordinator, Southeastern Theatre Conference
Explore dramatic "cold readings" acting, best practices, head shots and resumes.

I'll have to do some research on the "cold readings" piece. But "best practices" will be easy peasy due to the work I did on SETC's "Nail That Audition" webinar last year.

I'm less nervous and much more excited!

And Scene...

While it was great reprising Rachael (I mean...she's such a fun, no boundaries kinda character!), I'm glad for The Couch to be over.

Thank you to Chad, Ken, Myla, Mark and Bridget for coming out to see it!



Your face! I thought you were really having one!
~NS 7.8
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GREAT job tonight! You had me laughing every time you talked! So fun!!
~JP 7.8
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You were spot on brilliant in "The Couch." Enjoyed every second. :-)
~MF 7.9
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Memorable Quotes

These are from the book Belong To Me by Marisa de los Santos

"I have lost things I will never stop missing." - Cornelia

"Passion is sloppy and over the top and immature, and anyway, it doesn't last. You don't build a life on it. Passion makes people lose their heads." - Piper

Legit

So, it's official. Robin's classes have been approved and I will be teaching class on the 12th. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to teach, only that I will have two classes - one for middle school students and one for high schoolers.

I'm both nervous and excited. I'm nervous about not having a lesson plan to go by, but I'm so totally excited about working with kids. I absolutely love working with kids!

Change Your Words

This is such a beautiful video.

Love and Support

Joe, Maryann, Mark, Latimer, Eric, Mallorie, Chris, Robin, April, Bill, Michael, Myla, Nanette, Ken and Heather, Chad, Mom, Fred, Bridget, Lee, Dad, Laurel, Neil, Kati, Katie, and Perry...

thank you so very much for your encouragement, your faith, your hugs and praise, and especially all your love and support during The Beauty Queen of Leenane. I could not have brought Maureen to such life without each of you sharing in her breath.

(and thank you, Chris, for the beautiful roses.)

Beauty Queen Kudos

Loved the show. You are wonderful. I wish you were famous and then I could say I know her.
~RM 6.15
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It was FANTASTIC, Cheryl Ann- WOW!!!
~LBA 6.16
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You were simply brilliant.
~CEC 6.18
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Hi Cheryl. I am so sorry I didn't get to talk to you after the show last night. You were magnificent! Wonderful, wonderful work!
~SM 6.18
**********
You MUST go see The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Some of the most incredible performances I've ever seen by Maryann Luedtke, Latimer Alexander V, Mark Flora and Cheryl Ann Roberts. An incredible, if disturbing, evening.
~JB 6.18
**********
I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful show it was, and what an amazing performance. You are so lucky to get to do the challenging meaty roles, and you were incredible as always. The accents were amazing and came effortlessly and it was only a few minutes before one realized there were accents at all.

Anyway, I just wanted to congratulate you on an AMAZING performance, and I hope your hiatus from theatre (after THE COUCH) won’t be very long!!
~KA 6.20
**********
Did I mention that you were simply amazing in the show? Genius, I say! Genius! (not to be confused with the liquid refreshment Guinness)
~MO 6.21
**********
You were spectacular!
~FM 6.24
**********
My dear...KUDOS for your performance last evening! U were GREAT! What an intense show and it was so well cast! You guys all rock!

And for goodness sake................get a room!
~LH 6.25
**********
Nice night tonight with my wife and some good theatre, namely "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" at OSCT, featuring the fabulous Cheryl Ann Roberts.
~LU 6.26
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Just wanted to write and thank you for such a brilliant character you created for BQ..and to thank you for trusting me in the process. You were/are great to work with...fun and creative.
Your performance and interactions with other characters was awe inspiring!
Hope we can do it again sometime.
~JN 6.28
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YOU! YOU! You were magnificent! Did I tell you that? :o)
~NS 6.28
**********

Happy Birthday, Mom

Performance, "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"

I have to say that last night and tonight's audiences were the best, so far. It might have been because I decided to tweak Maureen just a tad bit. And for that I blame thank Mark, who plays Pato.

Last Saturday, as I came off the first scene, Mark high-fived me commenting that I was on fire. "Evil" and "mocking" were two more words that stuck with me. Those are not adjectives that should come right after the opening scene! That combined with the woman in the front row that held such tongue-clicking disgust for me (at one point I was really afraid she was going to jump up on stage and go after me!) had me rethinking my acting choices.

The play works best when the audience empathizes with both Maureen and Mag. We are our own worse enemies and our own victims. What I believed happened was that I was playing Maureen a bit too harsh. If I was starting the very first scene "evil" and "mocking" I really had nowhere else to go with her. I was also overpowering Maryann's attempts to grow Mag. Ultimately I was hurting the lay by inadvertently making Maureen immediately unlikable.

So Friday I made Maureen a bit softer, lighter and it worked so much better. We actually got laughs that we'd never gotten before! Both audiences went right along for the ride that Mag and Maureen took them on. Instead of being so very dark and heavy, the show was simply sad, which is what the playwright intended it to be.

Ok, guys, do you agree or disagree with Scott? Do you have more to add to the list?

9 Things Guys Find Sexy About You That Have Nothing To Do With How You Look

by Scott Alden on April 21, 2011

There is no denying that looks are what usually first attracts us to a woman, but most guys who have been around the block also know that how hot a woman appears to be on the surface has very little to do will how good the sex will actually be.

However, there is a lot that we can tell about how sexy a woman really is, if we pay attention to certain things. Here are 9 examples:

1. Your Walk

Oh man. A brisk, confident, heel-clicking strut? A slow, hip-swinging mosey? Would it be creepy if I just walked behind you for awhile? (I know. It would. That's the definition of creepy.)

2. Your Voice

Whether it's smokey/scratchy, airy or, I'll say it, slightly lisp-y, the way you talk can be a major turn-on.

3. Your Sharp Wit

Just watch any classic screwball comedy -- verbal sparring is the ultimate foreplay.

4. The Way You Dance

This one's pretty obvious right? The way you move is the way you move.

5. Your Adventurous Spirit

And being up for anything kind of implies that you might be up for anything. On the other hand...

6. Your Shyness

If the bedroom is the only place that you really let yourself go crazy, it's kind of twice as hot.

7. Your Laugh

I think the laugh was the first thing I ever found sexy. Before I knew what sexy was, I remember hearing Kathleen Turner's laugh (I was probably 7) and feeling something... different.

8. The Way You Smell

I'm not talking about what perfume you wear. I'm talking about the way you smell. I'm talking about burying my face between your neck and shoulder, inhaling and losing all capacity for rational thought.

9. Your Ability to Communicate

Nobody's going to believe me on this one, but it's one hundred percent true. Even the hottest, easiest sexual relationship is eventually going to run into a snag somewhere. A woman who can express complex feelings clearly and confidently is a woman who's going to be able to keep the sex interesting and fulfilling when the initial shine wears off.