I look to you

I am sharing this video tribute made by my friend Elise's little girl.

Mariah Quintana is a child performer who wanted to do something for the children and adults lost at Sandy Hook Elementary earlier this month.

The line "I look to you" touched me the most because it reminded me that all children look to us, adults, for their protection and as role models on how to behave in our society. Let's all do the best job we can for all the children we may know and meet along our journey in life. Not only in the big ways like protecting from harm, but in all ways possible. Just something to think about for the new year.

YouTube...Tribute song - Mariah Quintana to Sandy Hook Elementary
 

The memories are the present.......

One of my favorite things was the fish bowl effect of my face as I peered into a colored glass Christmas tree ornament.

Remember the giant colored lights, each the size of a spark plug? We had those...and the tinsel that you toss on the tree in little handfuls, which looked great when the tree was lit up but kind of gaudy during the light of day.

Some years mom would let us play hooky for a day and take us to Dayton's department store in downtown Minneapolis. They had a fantasy holiday display on the sixth floor that changed every Holiday season. The one I remember most was "Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory". At eight years old I thought it was the real thing!

As I finish Christmas this year I am thinking of many past holiday seasons. Of course it is bittersweet due to the loss of my mother in October, but a worthwhile journey back in time.

For years there was the annual Christmas cookie baking day with my mom and sisters. Snicker doodles, Russian tea cakes, sugar cookies, and several more. It took all day but we made quite a team, the four of us! We traded with the neighbors and between all the families had every kind of Christmas cookie under the sun.

We always each got a giant candy cane that lasted for days.

My parents had five children on a one income household. Just covering the gifts for the lot of us was an undertaking. So I don't remember any real big or brand name surprises for myself or my siblings. My Barbies were all generic, never the Mattel ones. We didn't care. Instead of Pac Man we had Snack Man....no I'm not kidding. Was just as fun.

Christmas Day was for sledding, or to be more accurate, tobogganing! One year we even tried those red plastic K-tel skis. Luckily dad didn't have to take us far. Our front yard was the perfect hill.
What occurred to me when my mind wandered through my own holiday memory lane is that it's the memories themselves, not the presents that I seem to recall and treasure, the most.





Anna Wendt Copyright 2012

"A Christmas Story".....Cheers to another 24 hours!

There is one tradition all Americans can count on at Christmas.

TBS will be airing their 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" marathon starting tonight at 7pm all the way until Christmas Day at 7pm.


bing.com/images/free

What strikes me most about "A Christmas Story" is that every year I watch it I notice something new, or a moment I've seen so many times before now affects me in a different way. The first time I ever saw the show I was in my early teens. I thought the mother was being ridiculous when she said Ralphie would shoot his eye out if he got his coveted toy rifle....until he almost did! 

I remembered from my own experiences a kid not too long before Ralphie's excitement when ordering his spy game in the mail only to be disguisted that it was a trick. I also remembered being bullied, like Ralphie and his brother. In my case his name was Larry and he was as horrendous a bully as they come, to everyone. My mother would dress us warm in hats and scarves and he would try to choke me with mine when I got on the bus......One day he disappeared to a "boys ranch" and grade schoolers all around our school district breathed a sigh of relief.

The first time I saw "A Christmas Story", I actually thought the sexy lady leg lamp was kind of cool. Yes, I admit it! Now of course I realize it's horribly tacky and that was the point. Tacky or not, the father had won it, and we all like to win things, which is why we go to the fair and spend $11 on a dart game to win a $2 stuffed penguin.

I have also now been the aunt, wondering if I am sending a gift that is too childish or not fashionable enough for my niece or nephews. Trust me I have never sent anyone anything close to pink bunny pajamas.

This year I will watch again with yet another new perspective. The one of a lost parent. In my case, my mother. Every time I hear "Merry Christmas" I hear my mother's name....which is Mary. It's tough. I have never done so little for the holidays than this year. How can I? Everything is a reminder of so many holidays before. I do know its important to uphold certain traditions. Life is about momentum and we must keep moving forward. Plus, I know mom would have wanted us to. I will remember this tonight during my toned down Christmas Eve.

I will also think of this while watching "A Christmas Story". Perhaps I will pay more attention than ever to the mother in the show, her reactions, her moments.  Either way it will make me laugh, cry.....and feel connected.

"A Christmas Story".....on TBS

24 hours starting 7pm Central tonight, Christmas Eve

bing.com/images/free

Internet Movie Database, "A Christmas Story"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/



Marry Me A Little....while reading me Verse

12-12-12.....a popular date for weddings.....and a good day to write about Rag Tag Entertainment's performance of "Marry Me A Little", piano and poetry at the Las Vegas Arts Square Theatre. This was a theatrical experiment mixing tunes from the popular Stephen Sondheim musical with poetry readings by local rhymesters.  

Interspersing musical numbers with poetry readings as it turned out, was a successful collaboration. A perfect 75 minute, evening entertainment "fix".

Photo by Richard Brusky

^{Marry me a little}

^{Love me just enough}

^{Cry, but not too often}

^{Play, but not too much}

^{Keep a tender distance}

^{So we'll both be free}

^{That's the way it ought to be}

^{I'm ready}

^{Marry me a little}

^{Do it with a will}

^{Make a few demands}

^{I'm able to fulfill}

^{Want me more than others}

^{Not exclusively}

^{That's the way it ought to be.....}

^{An excerpt from the Stephen Sondheim musical which debuted in 1980, these lyrics seem especially relevant today.}

^{______________________________________}  

Poetry written and read well is soul stirring....a sample of one of the evening's many truly excellent poems.
 

Poet Jorge Lara, Photo by Richard Brusky

GIVE ME A LISTEN....Jorge Lara

the soft beckoning
 the miles within your eyes,
 the meters between the seconds and the years,
 the way our mouths
 speak volumes when they are shut,
pound,
 pound some life force into this,
 haphazard lazy in the tooth soul,
 pound,
 pound some flesh overtones,
 be the humble grace that will unwind
 our tense bodies,

for nigh,
 foresight,
 in the foreground,
 our might left to astound,
 a break in formation,
 of our adulation,
 reaching its peak
 reaching full density,
 reaching for the sense of
 never wanting to speak,
 the same words,
 the same patterns ever again,

pound,
 pound some lust for life into me,
 give me the abundant energy
 to relish all that you can bring,
 when life is such a spectacular thing,
 una vida si un amor no es nada,
 i want to know why I exist without you,
 and why you want me to persist,
the soft beckoning.

A moment from "Marry Me A Little"......Piano and Poetry, Las Vegas, 2012

Rag Tag Entertainment's upcoming productions include more cabaret/poetry hybrids in 2013 and a huge staging of Les Miserables this summer, with an orchestra....I hear it will be epic!

"Marry Me A Little" is a musical with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by Craig Lucas and Norman Rene'. This production uses a dialogue free plot and is about the relationship between two lonely New York people, who are in emotional conflict during an evening in their separate one-room apartments.  -Excerpt from wikipedia.org

Playbill

Cast:

Kelly Ward

Glenn Heath

Kelly Albright

Brandon Albright

Sandra Huntsman

Ayler Evan

Kim Glover

Alex Mendoza

Jessica Ritter

 
Poets:

Mick Axelrod

Jorge Lara

Kari O'Connor

Jesse Ranon

Director....................Andrew Wright

Musical Director......Karalyn Clark


Rag Tag Entertainment

Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York.....

RagTag Entertainment was formed with a single thought in mind: “The performing arts are for everybody, not just those who can afford them.” We have gathered performers from the Las Vegas strip and across the country who are passionate about sharing the arts. Our goal is to introduce the performing arts and enrich lives through various modes of performance.


The Arts Factory, Las Vegas

The geographic and creative center of the Las Vegas Arts District. Includes several unique spaces for performances and events.


Previous posts on Rag Tag Entertainment performances.


Broadway Cares....in Las Vegas, September 2012 

Las Vegas, the center of the "Universe"

Here in Las Vegas, we love pageants and pageants love us.....So it's great news that the "Miss Universe Pageant" is returning to Las Vegas to air live on NBC from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, December 19th.

The titleholders of over 75 countries have competed for the "Miss Universe" title since 1952. As times have changed pageants have too. What hasn't changed is that the "Miss Universe Organization" consists of the most beautiful and stylish women worldwide. Confidently Beautiful is their motto.....because a confident woman glows, inside and out.

Many have asked me when they find out I sometimes work with this group, if I know how to become a contestant.  They realize that competing with the Miss Universe/Miss USA/Miss Teen USA Organization is a plus, but just don't know where to start.

On that note, I was recently introduced to a former Miss USA who is bringing her own sense of passion, style, and "grace under pressure" to the Miss Universe/Miss USA/Miss Teen USA Organization.

Shanna Moakler

Shanna Moakler recently announced her position as the  State Director for Nevada Miss USA and Miss Teen USA program. Her experience in the pageant and entertainment industry and her ability to handle life's ups and downs with style, and a kind heart, adds a great deal to the program. 


"Many don't compete because they are too intimidated or think they are not pretty enough, not perfect enough. This is the very reason you should compete! Pageants help you discover your best self." -Shanna Moakler

Shanna Moakler, Miss USA 1995

I asked Shanna a few questions for those of you who would like to know how to get involved as a contestant at the state level. After all, you've got to start there....as even Shanna did.

What are the Miss Nevada USA and state level pageant eligibility rules? -AW

"Anyone from the ages 14 to 26 can enter, they must be a resident of Nevada (or their state) for at least 6 months, never have been married or had a child and be recognized by their government as a female"

"I want Nevada teens and young ladies to know that they are welcome to enter to compete in the Miss Nevada pageant in January. There is no preliminary pageant required. (However some other states do require locals first. Check with your state director).  Our Nevada pageant is Jan 26th and 27th, in Las Vegas. -SM

What is the entry fee at the state level?

"The entry fee is $899 for Nevada (other states vary), and yes friends, family and sponsors are encouraged to help out!"

How are the contestants judged at the state level? 

"The competition is scored on Interview, Swimsuit and Evening gown. We are looking for poise, personality and confidence as well as beauty of the face and figure, Miss America is a "Talent" competition, we are a " Beauty" pageant. Most people get the Miss America and the Miss USA systems confused as they are the biggest two."   

Only one can win as we know. What, in your opinion are the main benefits of being a part of the Miss USA/Miss Teen USA program even for those who don't take home the title?
 

"There is a lot to be gained in this system. Contestants learn confidence, poise, public speaking and interview skills. You are put in front of a live audience. You learn how to work under pressure. Contestants will be surprised how much they learn about themselves. We have events that help the girls learn beauty tips and tricks, make up, walking, fashion, job interviewing skills... Also, you work within your community with different charities. We also have many coaches who have "dream teams" that throughout the year take the girls on fun trips like Disneyland as well as working with anti bullying campaigns. The girls even if they don't win walk away with something and I hope make great friends along the way..."

Can those who don't win enter again?...

"Yes. I myself did this! I was a former Miss Teen Rhode Island before becoming Miss New York and competing the Miss USA Pageant."

Where do I go from here if I want to compete in Nevada?

Miss Nevada USA/Miss Teen Nevada USA website 

www.missuniverse.com

Miss Universe 2012-2013 Pageant


More about Miss Shanna.....Shanna Moakler is an American born Actress, her love of entertainment started at a young age when she competed at Miss Teen USA placing 7th on NBC with host Dick Clark, this propelled her into a modeling career starting in Boston, Miami and finally New York.  After appearing in numerous magazines, she eventually went on to win the title of Miss New York USA 1995 and then took the title of Miss USA. This then moved to her to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career, She has appeared in many films, such as "The Wedding Singer, and "Big Mama's House ". She then transitioned over to her favorite media that of television, she was a regular on USA's "Pacific Blue" and appeared on shows like NCIS, CSI, Joey and many more, she gained much notoriety form her reality shows, MTV's "Meet The Barkers", "Crowned the Mother of All Pageants" as well as "Dancing with the Stars" , Shanna has hosted on many networks from E! to VH1 and most recently was the host of "Bridaplasty" on E!. Shanna has also launched her own cosmetic line called SMOAK cosmetic a all mineral line and is also the Executive Producer of the Miss Nevada USA pageant! She resides in California with her three children.


Look for my upcoming article featuring personal stories of former contestants. Anna Wendt

True grit....and beautiful to boot!

"All I ever intended was to make a living at what I do. 

Everything I've achieved since then has been above and beyond." -Shania Twain

Earlier this year I read her very honest and poignant memoir, "From This Moment On", (2011). Like many, until reading this book I thought Shania was just a pretty performer whose management team had publicized her past childhood struggles to help promote her as a country singer/songwriter. I was wrong. I think her book is a must read for anyone pursuing or wanting to pursue a career as a performer or songwriter.  First, because she shows you by example that anyone can rise far above their past and troubled childhoods. Second, because she gives you an inside look into the life of an international touring performer....it's a lot of work, exciting, but a huge undertaking. In her case it burned her and her voice out for years afterwards. There is good news though.....



amazon.com

She is back!....Shania Twain starts her two year musical residency here in Las Vegas this Saturday, 12-01-12, at Caesars Palace. Can't wait to see her show! I actually owe her a thank you...

It is inadvertently due to Shania Twain that I had one of my first memorable moments working in entertainment. It was on stage at the MGM Grand Arena, for "Vh1 Divas", about ten years ago. For the final dress rehearsal, just before the show, all the "Divas" were gathered for a medley of Stevie Wonder hits with the man himself.  Everyone was there, Queen Latifah, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Jewel....and me. "Me" was supposed to be Shania Twain but her helicopter  landing was delayed. So, I sang her part in the medley which was a shortened version of "Superstition" sung as a duo with Stevie Wonder.  This was the first time I was asked to sing as a stand in. I remember coming out on stage just after Queen Latifah did her bit and my heart was pounding in my ears! I waited....sang the first few words with Stevie, and heard nothing. I looked to my right for some sign from him but of course didn't get anything as he was playing keyboard and doing his thing. Then my voice came back to me, amplified over a sound system beyond anything I'd ever heard before...so I just kept singing and tried not to let it throw me off. Now I am used to that sound delay but I wasn't then. In any case, Shania arrived in time for the show and I did then as I have many times since, I handed her the microphone.

So, thanks Shania, for giving this Hollywood Underdog my first chance to perform with a legend, and for having the courage to share your very personal and private life story in your book. Welcome back to the stage....we missed you!

Shania Twain, "Still The One", Starts 12-01-12

The Coliseum, Ceasars Palace 

Photo courtesy of music.yahoo.com

Putting the Metal to the Kettle!

It's that time of year again.....we all walk by those cheerful Salvation Army red kettle bell ringers when out shopping or running errands.  

Sometimes we drop in a buck or two or some coins. When we can't we might feel a little guilty, even sheepishly avoid that entrance....but we don't have to do that. The bell ringers know we can't all donate to every kettle we see. Remember though that with 311 million of us in this country, no donation is too small. Every coin really does add up!

My first experience with The Salvation Army was with their thrift stores. At age 18 I'd moved away from my parent's house and small town to a suburb, with a job, an apartment with my sisters, and a few personal items in which to start my adult life. When I started working in downtown Minneapolis, I quickly realized that a high school wardrobe and $6 per hour didn't go nearly as far as I'd imagined!

So, thank you to all those ladies back then who donated their gently worn upscale clothes to The Salvation Army thrift stores, so that I could afford to look respectable those first few years in the "real" world. Ever since then I have made sure to donate nice clothes and household items regularly to The Salvation Army to pay it back.

Back to the red kettles. Many wonder, where do the kettle donations actually go? Also, what does The Salvation Army actually do?

The Salvation Army can be described in two categories, your local Salvation Army, and The Salvation Army International.

Photo Courtesy of The Salvation Army International

ONE MISSION: Into the world of the hurting, broken, lonely, dispossessed and lost, reaching them in love by all means

....The Salvation Army International

Before I proceed, here is a quick fact for those who don't know. The Salvation Army is categorically a Christian organization. However, services are certainly not limited to members of this faith.

Starting with your local Salvation Army, below are the most common services being provided to people in need:

The Salvation Army local organizations

Thrift Stores

Adult Day Care

Adult Rehabilitation

After School SAY Club  

Family Services

Homeless Services

Emergency Disaster Services

The "Lied" Vocational Training Program
  
S.E.E.D.S of Hope Program 


The Salvation Army International

Health Services

Community Development

Dependence/Addiction counseling

Emergency Response

Social Work

Family Tracing

Sports Ministry

For information on your local Salvation Army, available resources, employment opportunities or how to volunteer, just google "The Salvation Army" and your city or state.

Just click on the link below or to the icon on the right side of my blog page to donate to my Salvation Army online red kettle. For online donations they require a $5.00 minimum.

Click here to donate to my "Hollywood Underdog" Online Red Kettle!

The Salvation Army International Website

For my fellow Nevadans:

The Salvation Army Southern Nevada Website 

Wander Jonny's World

Sometimes a singer can reach right into your soul with the first few lines of a song. 

For me, this is Jonny Lang...
 

I know it can be hard sometimes to put one foot in front of the other. Just to wake up and face the day. It ain't easy all the time......

Jonny Lang, courtesy of JonnyLang.com

The first time I saw him play, back in 96' he was only 16, but fronted his own blues band...Kid Jonny Lang and The Big Bang. Word was out in the Twin Cities that you had to see this kid now because he was really "going places". This was after being discovered when he took guitar lessons at age 12 from a local blues musician in his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. 

I just saw him again (finally) a couple of weeks ago....16 years later. Every time he's here in Vegas I plan to see him....and for some reason or another never do. This time I was determined. So I made arrangements. But when the evening finally came I was worried about my mother, who was in the hospital. More information wouldn't be coming to me until the next morning. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep and hoped he might soothe my soul so I decided to go anyway.

Sitting there in the dark at the Ovation Lounge, with the purple and blue lights above and Jonny's God given talent cursing through him, reaching out to all of us, was just what I needed. It brought me some peace and a compassionate companion to my worry. My husband said to me afterwards, "we need to see him every time he plays here"......he's got that right. I have been lucky enough to watch and work with, in rehearsals, some of the top performers in the business. I can tell you, Jonny is among the best there is.

Wander This World......Acoustic version....Jonny Lang

Jonny Lang reminds me of Bob Dylan in the way he lives. A quiet artist, shy when not on stage. He charts his own course....only 31 years old and already a 15 year veteran of the music business. He has been married for 11 years to Haylie Johnson. They have three children.

His combination of blues, rock and gospel, all work alone or in combination. Jonny sometimes plays with Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Sting. He has also performed on the "Jimi Hendrix Experience" compilation, as his gifted ways with a blues guitar grow richer and more extraordinary over time.

"Quitter Never Wins" Jonny Lang....Courtesy of JonnyLang.com and DIRECT TV

Back in 96' he was known as "Kid Jonny Lang"
Photo courtesy bingimages.com 

One of his early soulful hits. He was 17.
Breakin' Me 

His story...

Jonny Lang started playing the guitar at the age of twelve, after his father took him to see the Bad Medicine Blues Band, one of the few blues bands in Fargo, North Dakota. Lang soon started taking guitar lessons from Ted Larsen, the Bad Medicine Blues Band's guitar player. Several months after Lang began, he joined the Bad Medicine Blues Band, which was then renamed Kid Jonny Lang & The Big Bang. 

The band moved to Minneapolis and independently released the album Smokin' when Lang was fourteen. Lang was signed to A&M Records in 1996. He released the critically acclaimed multi-platinum Lie to Me in 1997. The next album, Wander this World was released in 1998 and earned a Grammy nomination. This was followed by the more soulful Long Time Coming in 2003. Lang's album, the gospel influenced Turn Around, released in 2006 won him his first Grammy Award.

In more than ten years on the road, Lang has toured with the Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck and Sting. 

The above is an excerpt from JonnyLang.com

Jonny Lang's current band includes:

• Barry Alexander from Minneapolis, MN on drums
• James Anton from Minneapolis, MN on bass
• Akil Thompson from Nashville, TN on guitar
• Dwan Hill from Nashville, TN on keys
• Missi Hale from Los Angeles, CA on background vocals

Note from me

Thank you Jonny Lang (and Dave Ramsey) for writing the gospel song "That Great Day". It was played at my mother's memorial service last week.

Note to readers:

Next time you're in Las Vegas I highly recommend for real music, a true "artists" lounge....

Ovation Lounge.....Las Vegas....Music, up close and personal 

The sun on the wing of an airplane

As we took off from the airport I felt such a sense of loss.

Not just from my mother passing away, but from the comfort of family I was leaving behind.

I knew going home and back to work was the right thing for me, but it was still difficult. In addition this was the first time leaving Minnesota knowing that I wouldn't ever be able to come back and see her again.

As we lifted off I just let my tears flow and stared out the window. Very quickly we were above the clouds. I noticed they were like a perfect blanket. Not a gap anywhere. The sky was beyond blue above them.....the sun was shining. After awhile I felt that this must be what heaven looks like.

I put my hand on the window and it was so warm from the sun that I then put my forehead right up against it. My face was instantly warmed. I felt so comforted when I did this that it made me cry even more but not just in grief. I also felt such a sense of peace in that moment. When I opened my eyes I smiled because the sun was reflecting brightly on the wing......right in front of me.
 
I have flown many many times. Only once do I remember seeing anything so beautiful. It was Mount Rainier, in perfect view on a flight to Washington state. In this moment the sun reflecting on the silver wing of an airplane, to me, was even more so.

Why you should call your mother

Sunday morning I woke up for the very first time without a mother.

Those who've been through this know the indescribable emptiness that consumed me as this reality sunk in.

After all, hers was the first face I saw when I saw anything. She taught me kindness and empathy.

She was not just my mother but a woman with her own journey and struggles along the way.

I have her hands, her eyes, her curious mind.

Her heart was as fragile as a Faberge' egg and eventually so was her body.  Underneath it all though, her life force was strong.

49 years of marriage, five children, three grandchildren......she certainly left her mark.

But now she is gone.

I will never ever hear her voice again. For some reason this bothers me the most.  She will never leave my heart.

Dedicated to my late mother Mary Elizabeth, who always knew she was loved. 

Mary Elizabeth Age 5

The above photo is the age my mother was the first time my father ever saw her, behind a candy counter at a local theater.

Shakespeare Under the Stars

Last night I sat among the audience in the breeze, blankets and chairs spread out on the lawn. The stars were high above us and just to the right of the stage in the night sky was the moon, shining like nature's spotlight on our tortured young Hamlet. 

I could stay for only an hour so we sat in the back but as I tore myself away to leave I said to my husband, "look at everyone."  He said "I am. They are silent, and still. The crowd is hanging on every word."  I believe they were...I know I was!

To mesmerize an audience in an outdoor setting full of potential distractions is a rare and beautiful feat. When I am part of a group watching a show with everyone in this mode, I feel "at one" with the others, and with the performers as well. 

Shakespeare in the Park, Las Vegas Style!
Photo of Lake Las Vegas performance 2011 courtesy of Las Vegas Shakespeare Company

Anyone who reads my blog knows I'm a Shakespeare fan and love to write about anything related. I feel compelled to bring people into the world of this amazing form of expression that is Shakespeare's works. It taps into shared emotions by all human beings since our inception; love, fear, passion, jealousy, hate, guilt....it's all there.

Last night was a representation of one of the longest held and most enjoyable traditions in theater.... the free "performance in the park."

Outdoor theater, 1596
Drawing courtesy of Utrecht University Library
and Wikipedia.org

Shakespeare in the Park is performed worldwide as a presentation of William Shakespeare's works. Of course, here in Las Vegas we have something for everyone including our own Shakespeare in the Park, by the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company. LVSC Director Dan Decker, holds their productions to the highest level and it was evident in every moment of Hamlet last night.

"He is our Hamlet," Dan Decker said to me as he placed Michael Uribe's head shot on his desk in front of me back in August when I visited the theater. "Michael gets the essence of Hamlet. He can take the audience with him on this journey."...I can now attest to how right Dan was!

One of the obvious components that makes a production like this so successful is the commitment of the actors. If you ever want to meet a group of passionate, philosophical and physically "present" performers, go see a Shakespeare production. One cannot "phone it in" when performing Shakespeare. As an actor it overtakes you. At first because it's such a different and challenging form of expression, but once learned it is addictive because nothing helps an actor grow like embodying the works of Shakespeare.

CAST

Dan Decker
Director, Script Adaptation, Set and Sound Design,
Lighting and Costume Design

Dan Decker

Clare Jaget..........Queen Gertrude

Michael Uribes.....Hamlet

Richard Hill.........Claudius

Morgan Hill.........Ophelia

Paul Besterman....Polonius

Ryan Williams......Laertes

Scott Spence.......Horatio

Bill O'Neil...........The Ghost

Brian Kell, Sound Design and Engineer

Dale Karllsen, Costumes

Douglas Davy, Set Construction

Michael Uribes......Hamlet

Morgan Hill, Ophelia....2012 Las Vegas Shakespeare Company
"I love Shakespeare. I grew up on his works. Literally. Both of my parents were Shakespearean actors.
Even my bedtime stories were from a book of Shakespeare children stories."
Morgan has an engraved ring that says "Thine own Self be True"...Fittingly, it was a gift to herself!



Catch the final performance of Hamlet Oct. 27th!

Las Vegas Shakespeare Company

"Shaking up Shakespeare".....Hollywood Underdog


Las Vegas Shakespeare Company feature on Channel 13 includes rehearsal footage


Shakespeare in the Park is available worldwide. 
Check out these links for information:

Link to Shakespeare Theaters and Production Companies in the U.S.

List of outdoor Shakespeare festivals....Outdoordrama.org