If you’ve never heard of it, I can tell you, it’s like Sesame Street, but pretend that the whole gang went out to a bar after counting to 20, got completely hammered (and a little frisky) and started explaining how the world really works (complete with lots of profanity).

It’s a hilarous show, and it requires the use of puppets!!

I’m playing Lucy (The Slut) and will have to learn how to be a decent puppeteer, while singing… And those of you who know me well know that walking and chewing gum can be a challenge, sooooo, I’m sure it will take plenty of practice.

The show tackles issues like racism, one night stands, life after college, the dangers of alcohol abuse, homelessness, homosexuality, and heartbreak just to name a few. It discusses these topics with a bucket full of stereotypes, clever jokes, and a very surprising dollop of heart (not from my character, cause, she’s a total bootch, but whatevs).

I’m stoked to have to learn an entirely new skill set for this show, because I really think it will help to make the experience all the more enjoyable.

I can’t wait until we get our puppets, because I’m SO excited to “meet lucy” and develop her personalilty.

I’m also more than a little hopeful that being in this show, laughing constantly, and having something to work on will knock me out of this little funk!

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2012. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Avenue q, lucy, musical theatre, theatre

I am absolutely thrilled to tell you guys a little bit of news that I’ve kept from this little webspace for a few weeks now.

I’ve been cast as Maureen in a local theatre production of RENT. RENT is my very favorite musical ever.

When I was a freshman in high school, our choir director introduced us to the music of a musical that she’d just discovered in NYC. It was a little out there, and she cherry picked the songs to be sure that they were all appropriate for us to sing, but our show choir performed that music and I loved it from the very first time I sang about measuring life in love.

As I got older, and more interested in the music, I had an opportunity to work on the song “Take Me or Leave Me” in a college musical theatre workshop class. My love for the show (and the amazing drama queen Maureen) grew.

Even more years later, when the motion picture was released, and I had an easy and cheap way to see the show over and over, my love just really continued to get deeper.

For me, the stories in RENT are about love. Love that is color blind. Love that isn’t defined by gender or station in life. These stories that weave together the plot of RENT are about the fact that we’re all imperfect, and yet still perfectly made to love each other. Life is fleeting. And we must leave regret behind us and focus on the present moment. Not what has been. And not what might come.

The role of Maureen… I’m no fool. I know that there is some Kelsey in that character.

I often wonder if the people that have recently said, “OH MY GOSH, you’ll be such a good Maureen” are trying to compliment me or insult me.

Certainly, that character is narcissistic, unfaithful, and impulsive.

Three traits that I don’t readily see in myself.

But that character is also emotional, passionate, creative, and willing to raise her voice.

And I think that I have a little bit of that.

So, needless to say, having the chance to play Maureen is a dream come true.

I can’t think of one other role in one other show that I’d be more excited to play. I really can’t.

I’m so happy to share this with you! If you live in the DFW area and want information about where and when the show is being produced, let me know.

Have a great week, everyone!!

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: life, music, RENT, singing, theatre

I might as well recap some of the things that have happened since I last checked in! Since after all, at the end of the day, this blog will be more of a record for ME than anyone else (when I’m old and grey).

Rocky Horror Column Show!

I was SUPER thrilled to portray Magenta in the opening number of the Column Awards Gala this year. The Column Awards is a great event that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, and it was honestly such a rewarding and fun experience. Here are a few photos and videos of the event. That’s me singing in the big lips, with the crazy HAIR, and maid’s outfit!!

And here is a video I took of Broadway Legend Donna McKechnie singing her landmark song from A Chorus Line:

Honestly. One of the most incredibly fun things I’ve, like, EVER done.

I’m gonna blog every day for the next 7 days. So we’ll see how that goes! Hold me to it!!

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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It isn’t me, it’s you.

I kid. Anyway, I’m doing GOOD. I’m happy, and that’s nice.

Lemme tell you about some of the things going on in mah world. Hmmm…

Well, Daron and I have been watching the original Star Trek movies, which is GANGSTER. I love scifi… bad scifi is even better. Not that Star Trek is bad, mind you, it’s pretty awesome. Wrath of Khan was AMAZING, and definitely in my top 7 sci fi movies of all time. (I need to make that list official at some point.)

So, yea, Leonard Nimoy is like my favorite person EVER, now

… except for Daron (who isn’t a Vulcan, which totally counts against him… actually, maybe he is a Vulcan)

What else… There is a DFW area theatre awards organization called The Column Awards, and their big GALA (The theme is the ROCKY HORROR COLUMN AWARDS) is just a few weeks away. I was cast as Magenta in the opening number!

This is awesome for several reasons…

1. I was JONESING for a little stage action. A little singing, a little dancing, a little crazy makeup… That’s what I’m talking about.

2. I’m gonna get to perform in front of lots of my friends, and lots of people I don’t know yet, but would like to! So that’s awesome too.

3. The time commitment was relatively small, compared to a full scale production, which is probably a blessing.

Last but not least, being NOT cast in a (different) show recently, has made me really want to be sure that I’m not using a POTENTIAL rehearsal schedule to slack off from working out. So, I’m grateful for the clarity of mind that came from not being cast. It got me off my butt and into my running shoes for the first time in MONTHS! remember this girl??

Yea, me too.

I’m gonna go find her.

Email or comment or send me a carrier pigeon! I miss you guys!

**SMOOOOOOOOCH**

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: movies, music, running, theatre

This post may be a little bullet pointy… but, it’s what I’ve got for ya.

1. I submitted an audition video for GLEE’s open casting call.

If you have a myspace log in, and a few minutes, please go here, and leave me some stars! There is no limit to how many you can leave.

Please go have a listen. Here is the voting link: My Glee AUDITION

2. I’ve been making a LOT of Vlogs lately. Vlogs are video blogs, and I’ve been having a ton of fun with them lately. You can visit my youtube page to see all of them, but I’ll post a couple of them here for you, too.

3. The rehearsals for the musical are going extremely well! I’ve been working hard, dancing, memorizing, and trying desperately to do a great job.

This is one of my favorite songs… no, probably my SINGLE favorite song from the show, called Love is my Legs, and it is HILARIOUS! Mandy, who is playing Muriel in our production filmed us practicing it, and posted it. I thought I’d share it here too.

4. We performed at the Denton Arts and Jazz festival yesterday, and it was a very… interesting experience! Lots of fun people watching… I did not perform my best, and was a little disappointed, but I honestly did the best I could, and just tried to survive it. :-\

Lots of my friends, and co-workers showed up, so it was great to see them.

I also got to meet lots of the people who are special to my new friends and castmates, which was super fun.

5. Daron competed this weekend in the Flower Mound Open! He and his partner, Jimmy took 1st place!! He made several videos and vlogs, and I’m sure he’d love it if you went over to his site, Tennis and Tunes, and checked them out. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!!

6. I updated my 365 photo project! So far, I’ve only totally dropped the ball, and not photographed ANYTHING 6 times, out of 115 days! So, that’s pretty good!

Please visit my flickr stream, here: to see all of the new photos…

I think that’s enough content for tonight.

xoxo.

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: daron, DRS, glee, music, singing, tennis, vlog

I’m writing to tell those of you who haven’t guessed (or haven’t heard already) about the good news I teased about last week… but also to talk about how AWESOME my spring break has been!

Saturday: Daron and I went with my mom and John to see the Phantom of the Opera! Phantom is one of those classic musicals that you (or at least I) never turn down the chance to see. I guess I’ve probably seen it 5 times live.

Sunday was JUST laying around… which is always appreciated.

Monday: I was in TRUE kelsey form, and went a little crazy…

YEP! Most of you already know, and the rest of you guessed correctly… haha! I am so proud to say that I was cast in my local theatre company’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels! I’ll be playing Christine Colgate… A character with SO much singing (!), Dancing (!), and shenanigans, its crazy! The cast of this production is a venerable talent show of local musical/theatre power houses. I am humbled to be a part of it.

So, back to “true kelsey form”… you know, if you know me at all that I am an absolute SPAZZ about office supplies. Markers, pens, sharpies, postits, folders, tabs, binder clips, paper clips… I love them.

A girl like me, with a giant script… it doesn’t take long for me to get it bound at kinkos, and go buy fresh color coded tabs that mark each scene, and musical number… It was the highlight of my day.

On Tuesday, I lounged around, caught up on a billion blogs, and played video games. WIN.

Wednesday, I went and got a manicure and pedicure with my dear friend Erin… followed by lunch, and a trip to the mall for purse hunt, March 2010… haha.

Thursday was LUNCH with some of the cast and crew of the SHOW! It was pretty awesome to talk with them about the production, and to have my mind put to ease when I had questions about my voice and training.

Friday, Sweet Jessica and I went out to the Allen Outlet stores, to partake in the Gap Give/Get promotion! It is 30% off of EVERYTHING, including sales and clearance items at the entire family of Gap stores (including Gap Body, Banana Republic, Old Navy… and their respective outlet stores.) I spent too much money, but it was very fun, and I got a lot of stuff I can wear this spring and summer.

Saturday, the randomass Texas weather went from 75 degrees yesterday to 35 degrees today, and so I’m staying bundled up and toasty with my hubby…

I bought New Moon earlier, so I may torture him into watching it with me later, who knows.

Tomorrow, Sunday is our FIRST rehearsal/meeting/read-through of the show, and I am positively buzzing with excitement. I’m ready to meet everyone officially, though they all already feel like close friends, and I’m ready to get started.

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: DRS, life, music, theatre, vacation

I promised I would upload this, so here it is…

I blurred this video severely to protect the anonymity of my school and my students…. but you get the idea.

This was my performance at our school’s teacher “american idol” spoof. I sang a cover of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me”… It was a ton of fun, and the kids made me feel like a million bucks.

Just proves that with a karaoke track, and a little guts, anyone can get up and entertain 13 year olds. Haha…

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Thats how I felt after tonight’s workout. During the biggest loser, I busted it on the elliptical and during all of the commercials I did compound strength moves. That lasted for a clock hour, and it was AWESOME.

I wrapped it up with a O.N.E. coconut water, which, I love with a passion. YUM.

Today began with a need for hazelnutty chocolaty goodness. I shamelessly enjoyed this packet of hot chocolate instead of coffee this morning, and it was AWESOME.

So, at work, we’re having our big carnival on friday, and my department-mate and I are filling balloons with slips of paper representing coupons and prizes that local businesses donated for our booth! We’re excited about the chance to raise some funds for the special ed department, but surprisingly, shoving slips of paper into teeny tiny water balloons is NOT the most exciting thing ever.

Also, at this event, my work posse and I are recreating “don’t stop believing” from Glee, and I’ll be performing a solo song in our school’s version of American Idol made up of teachers. We hope the kids will be entertained. haha I promise that if videos are taken, I’ll post them here.

I’m gonna wrap this one up a bit early, because I need to send some comment love to a bunch of my new blogging buddies. (including Nicci and Kristen!)

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY GIRL AMBER, who is taking on the 30 day shred! I am so proud of her! She is amazing.

(in case you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of sharing the linky blog love… I challenge  you to shout out your faves in your next post! )

Rocktober stats: 1 hour circuit training

© Kelsey for Kelsey Toney, 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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