Monday, June 13, 2011

CONTRASTS

Talk about contrasts...Here I am finalizing ticket plans for our annual trip to Leavenworth to see the Sound of Music and at the same time, Broadway's biggest hit of the season, Book of Mormon, is taking center stage, and soaking in the fact they have 14 major nominations.

The Sound of Music, has been a part of our summer, every since our twin granddaughters met the required age of admission. Maybe 12 years now? Leavenworth WA has a history of survival and reinventing themselves as a town. They are Bavarian themed village of sorts and it's a fun place to visit for sports, shopping or summer theater. 

The Sound of Music is held at the outdoor Ski Hill Amphitheater and it is breathtaking! The brochure is telling the truth about....The sun falls behind the ridge, the moon rises over the valley, and Maria descends the hillside singing "The Hills are Alive". Over the years they have improved the site, added to the set and increased the cast. 

One woman has been cast, in the same role, each year...the Mother Abbess.
She has watched the girls grow over the years and since that first year of us attending, she has greeted them. She comes into the audience to give them a hug if we didn't see her as we entered. She is a school teacher and always asks about their grades, comments on their growth, and we snap a picture. When we exit she tells them she will see them next year. It's a great memory! A tradition.

We stay at the same wonderful (to us anyhow) Enzian Inn. We eat upstairs, in the same wall windowed room, for our great complimentary breakfast buffet. We hear the same man blow the Alpen horn.   

Poppa and the girls swim in the outdoor pool and they do the same in the basement indoor Grecian looking pool.

We visit shops of all sorts including the Mustard Shop. We eat grilled Polish dogs, at the same little hole in the wall place, with it's outside grill. We look at the Art in the Park exhibits.  We enjoy watching the featured dancers and singers at the Gazebo.

We stay two nights. We go to two plays. One is always the Sound of Music. This year the other will be Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

There are walks down familiar paths. Playing in the same river spot. 

The list is long with simple things, grown so familiar, by the repeated yearly doing.

We are establishing traditions for lifetime memories!  It's wonderful!   

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NEW YORK (AP) — The profane and hysterical "The Book of Mormon" took home nine Tony Awards on Sunday including the prize for best musical, a considerable achievement for a pair of first-time Broadway playwrights known more for their raunchy cartoons featuring potty-mouthed kids.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the Emmy Award-winning "South Park," found a kindred soul in Robert Lopez, who co-wrote the Tony-winning "Avenue Q," and all three found themselves with plenty of awards when they collaborated to gently mock Mormons and send-up Broadway itself.

Collecting the best musical prize, a subdued Parker, who tied Josh Logan of "South Pacific" with four Tonys in one evening — said he'd be remiss if he didn't thank his late book co-writer — Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion.

"You did it, Joseph! You got the Tony!" Parker said looking skyward and holding up his award.

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The 13th Article of Faith
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things ,we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.---Joseph Smith

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