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Humdingers and Thumbelino


In the past few days I have:

Written a ten page paper on Gustav Holst's The Planets (most specifically picking Mars: The Bringer of War to highlight),

Taken four make-up tests in Music History and Theatre (collectively),

Had two Choir rehearsals of extreme intensity,

Auditioned for A Little Night Music,

Performed in a Choir Concert (music by memory -- ouchola),

Sung in two church services,

Sung a solo (Forthcoming in less than two hours)....

WOW! I am fatigued in that glorious fashion when you know that you have done some good work and are being validated on all fronts.

I adore The Planets and now know that I am a fan of the program symphony. It is exemplary when a new world of music presents itself to you and says, "Hey, come on and listen... you know you wanna...". And I do. Rather did. :-)

I auditioned for the conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Director of the Arkansas Rep and felt that I did a competent job. I sang, sightread from the show, and read a side. My biggest goal was to bring myself into the room. I felt as though I did not do that in NYC because I was nervous and so scared of the process. It was a victory if, for no other reason, I did bring Dustin into the room. The best quote?

"What are you singing?"
"Soon... but not from the show..."
"What is it from?"
"The animated musical Thumbelina... or in this case Thumbelino."

Oh my Dustin. Really? Yes, really.

Enchanted comes out on DVD and I am watching it with a dear friend, Kira. I am a fan of that film. I saw it four times in the theatre and cannot wait for what I love most about the DVD experience (and yes, it is an experience)...

THE SPECIAL FEATURES. I must confess... Sometimes I watch them before the film (even if I have not viewed the film. Dirty little secret revealed and I feel much better for it.)

I am putting some new pics up that were just posted on facebook. They are from the Ohio trip earlier (refer to a few blogs ago poppets) and look like we are having fun. Oh we were! There is also one from a friend's birthday party and it looks like we are all on fire physically because we are smoking hot. I am even embarrassed about that sentence. Further compounding that embarrassment is the fact that I could delete it... hello, I am the one typing here (there is no stenographer in case you might be wondering -- This is the genuine Dustin Ashley typing here... woo hoo) I have not posted visuals on the last couple of blogs and that is sad.
































In the next week and a few days I am venturing to Chicago to see my dear friend (and sister -- look at the pics and compare -- eerie really) Jordan (Jojo Joy) and am seeing Wicked for the fourth time. I have never seen it there so there is a first involved. I have not seen it for three years so it is time again to dwell for a couple of hours in the land where witches defy gravity, the Wizard is not what you thought him to be, and Oz is a crazy, neurotic place just like here. I adore that show. It is special, period.




In closing, I love The Planets. I did a lot this week and weekend. I love Jojo Joy and tales of green witches. And I love the Hulk which is also green so maybe I like tales with green characters. More analysis to come on that, daffodils.

Fare thee well and floss (it rhymes with boss and we all like to be our own boss -- So it is that perfect) :-)

Dustin Ashley



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