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And the blessings just keep on coming. Thank you Austin Chronicle!!

Top 10 Theatrical Delights of the Latter Half of 2011
2011 ARTS TOP 10
Recapping the fightin', spoonin', boppin' stage sensations of 2011's summer and fall
By Jillian Owens, Fri., Jan. 6, 2012

http://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2012-01-06/top-10-theatrical-delights-of-the-latter-half-of-2011/

I'll go ahead and admit that my attendance at theatrical events in the first half of this year was rather abysmal, so I leave it up to my colleagues to credit those performances. I offer my chapeau and a round of applause to these 10 truly delightful experiences, listed in no particular order.

1) THE ENSEMBLE OF '69 LOVE SCENES' (Gnap! Theater Projects)
2) ANNIE LA GANGA'S SPOONING IN 'SURPRISE ANNIE' (Rubber Repertory)
3) BLOOD, GUTS, AND FIGHT CHOREO­-GRA­PHY IN 'TITUS ANDRONICUS' (Last Act Theatre Company)

4) IA ENSTERÄ'S SCENIC DESIGN FOR 'UNCLE VANYA' (Breaking String)

5) JARRETT KING AS MAMMY IN 'THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF HEDDA GABLER' (Mary Moody Northen Theatre)

6) BARBARA CHISHOLM AS THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY IVINS IN 'RED HOT PATRIOT: THE KICK-ASS WIT OF MOLLY IVINS' (Zach Theatre)

7) DARIA DAVIS' INSPIRED DIRECTION OF 'DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE' (UT Department of Theatre & Dance)

8) EBONY STEWART AS THE LADY IN RED IN 'FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF' (UpRise! Productions/Vortex Repertory Company)

9) THE SPIRITED ENSEMBLE OF 'IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY' (Penfold Theatre Company)

10) SUSAN BRANCH TOWNE'S BOPPIN' COSTUMES FOR 'HAIRSPRAY' (Zach Theater)

2012 Resolutions

In order to get what I need and want in this life I have to put it into the Universe...

With this mouth and this heart I profess these things to be for 2012:

I will take chances and not be afraid

I will be clear in my goals and progress

I will not get into habits that are unhealthy for me or will stunt my growth

I will travel to at least 5 to 10 new venues this year to perform

I will get a booking agent and be represented on rosters

I will not be afraid to love... or at least will be accepting of it

I will increase my pull-ups

I will reward myself

I will be a better friend to others and myself

I will read just as much as I write

I will only write things that move something, someone, me

I will smile and save and pray and give and forgive even more

I will be big and unstoppable in voice in love and on stages

I will believe in myself

I will ask for what I need

I will remember all these things and have those that love and care for me hold me accountable for all of them

I am my own stop light. The only one can stop me is ME...

I always have a hard time with the last week of December and the cross over into the new year. It's strange, I know, but I feel like I'm going through some sort of mourning. But as I say goodbye to today and hello to tomorrow, I have to acknowledge and be thankful for what has been:



LifeWorks

REAL Talk Team

Vagina Monologues

Sheila's hands

Tapestry on the Fringe

Flying Saucer meet-ups

March Madness

Brooklyn/Nuyorican Cafe

San Diego x 2

My sisters baby shower

Baylor University (Diverse Verses)

3x Slam Champ

The Birth of my nephew Zachary aka Boogie aka Zachy Pooh Thomas

Trade in Hope (Human Trafficking Short Film)

The Under 21 Slam Team and their trust in me

Verbal unexpected appreciated much needed roses

Ray Allen

For Colored Girls + Extension

Boston

NPA Nomination

All Boy Groups

Paredes 3rd Period Group

Honesty is the best poetry

"Protect yourself at all times."

Supras (Red Carpet)

Hosting the first slam @ Neo

Christening Boogie

Texas Grand Slam Festival in Bryan

Notes to Self

Realizations

Slam Nuba

Write Bloody Poetry

Buenos Aries

Arnez J Comedy Show

Epic Arts

Cotto vs Margarito fight

Clay Pit

The Vertebrae.... work/writing

LaunchPad Recording Studios

Cowgirl boots

Vacation

All the people I met and/or got closer too along the way

30 Days of Gratitude

On this day I am thankful for...

1/30: Resolution training that evokes great poems that deserve to be born.

2/30: The gift of thought and thinking.

3/30: Learning more and more how to be a woman.

4/30: Frank (Deceased co-worker who always made sure to make me smile when he saw me)

5/30: CheZee's laughter and a side of creme brulee french toast (women love like this)

6/30: My father and his home cooking and being able to fill a void for him

7/30: Slam Nuba and the love so much love even when they cut heads it's still black & it's still hot #Family

8/30: Being a good teacher and knowing I'm good at what I do

9/30: My body talking loud and clear. She say I got heart but still got first dibs.

10/30: Pushing through

11/30: Rest, good homemade soup, and #love in many forms

12/30: Good people and poetry happening all around me but I can't do nothing but watch season 1 of The Cleveland Show (P.S. Rilo got Stewie beat) oh and Happy Birthday Zell

13/30: Writing on top of my rest and searching self because the answers have already been given to me

14/30: The ability to discuss stereo-types and relationships the good the bad and the bees knees (women love like this)

15/30: The Universe does not want me to fail/The Universe will NOT let me fail

16/30: Feeling good and loving easy

17/30: I get to be humble, vulnerable, bold, and ambitious for any reason all at the same time while I'm on stage.

18/30: Coming into the know.

19/30: Women that are friends to love letting them in one at a time.

20/30: Consistent, persistent, continuously, trusting...

21/30: "...they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” ― John Lennon

22/30: People love me publicly

23/30: Love and the road to get there.

24/30: Family and good food make for round bellies and smiles.

25/30: Boogie times!

26/30: Sisters night out

27/30: Those words were for me

28/30: "I gotta say... today was a good day" (then insert Isley Brothers tune here)

29/30: All smiles with a closed fist and a pen to help me bite my tongue. P.S. Sometimes, my students get on my last nerves! lol

30/30: This month, I've learned to smile more and love myself more too

This was much needed and good reflection. Loving myself is bigger than all my problems... look at all the blessings I just put into power.