Not Blogging Anymore

Life has become a little bit too hectic for me to blog anymore. If you would like to reach me, you can email me at saxmarc@hotmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ok, I know that i have been a slacker with keeping up with the blog, but once you hear what we have doing all fall, you will know why.

After the summer production of "Man of La Mancha" came to a close, school started up and then it got insane. I was asked to be in another production called "Spoon River Anthology." This show is a collection of poetry written by Edgar Lee MAsters about two small towns in Illinois. There are musical interludes that go on between each of the monologues and that is what I did. While at the same time trying to put on my fall play at school, "Meet Me in St. Louis" (the play, not the musical). When those were finished, our community theater group the Hawthorne Players, decided to start a trdition and produce an original adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" each year. So, Jennifer and I were asked to play the Cratchits and Christopher got to be on stage as one of our children, how appropriate. Yes our 4 year old got to be in his first stage production and he did pretty well. At least when he wasn't picking things up off the stage and throwing them into the fake fire place. And I finished the first semester of teaching a college course, even though it was only a community college class, I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope it leads to something more full time. All in all it was a great fall and we are looking forward to the New YEar with some exciting opportunities waiting for us. Stay tuned. Here are some photos of the fall happenings.


Two of my leads in "Meet Me in St. Louis." Mary Beth Freitag (on phone) and Kaylee Fogarty.


Christopher as Spider Man for Halloween.


The picture that went in our flyer for "A Christmas Carol." Pictured are Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the 3 Spirits.


Christopher and my 2 nephews, Ethan and Caleb, showing off their Christmas fishing poles.


My mother and her new fiance Terry McCameron


2 of our Cratchit children. Christopher and Drue. Drue is the grandchild of our director Nancy Crouse and is also from Guatemala. Could you tell? What a cutie.

I'm still alive

Just wanted to let you all know that we are still here and it's just been incredibly hectic this fall. You can't even imagine. I will catch you up when I have time.

And the Winner is.......

Me... Last weekend I was given an award for a Musical that I music directed and Conducted with the Hawthorne Players in the summer of 2006. That year we produced "Kiss Me Kate." I had 18 volunteer orchestra musicians and a great cast and the award was titled "Outstanding Acievement in Musical Direction." Below is a picture of me accepting the award.



Arts for Life is Community theatre group that raises money for different charities and every year they present a best performance award ceremony for the entire St. Louis area. My nomination was up against 5 other shows and music directors. I am not one to toot my own horn but some accomplishments I am very proud of and this is one of them. Below is a picture of everyone who received an award that night.

Unrest in Guatemala

Lately there has been a lot of turmoil going on in Guatemala regarding orphanges that were raided. And now, children who were waiting to come to America with their adoptive parents, have gone missing. We are so blessed that we got Christopher out of there when we did in 2004. I can't imagine what these families are going through now. Here is a link to some news stories that were aired here is St. Louis last week. Scroll through the news stories to find that Guatemala ones and watch the videos.

The Final Weekend

Well.... this is it. Next week both Christopher and I go back to school. Me to teach, he to learn. We have had an exciting summer with Man of La Mancha, hot weather (right now it is 97, forecast for Sunday is 102...WOW). And lots of picnics and family outings. This fall brings some excitement as well. I will be teaching a Jazz History class at the local communtiy college which could lead to something full time in the St. Louis Community College system (finally, my masters degree comes in handy.) I also have been invited to sing with the international award winning barbershop chorus the Ambassadors of Harmony. Their director, whom I have met in passing, saw our Man of La Mancha production and invited me to join on the spot. I feel very flattered, but it is such a huge committment. So... I am thinking about it and discussing it with my wife. Click here to see their performance a few months ago in Denver, Colorado, where they came in second at the international competition (In 2004, they won it!)

So anyway... back to work. I am excited about what is coming up at school this year. What shows we are doing (Meet me in St. Louis and The Wizard of Oz),the students that I will have and the people that I am working with.

We are closing this weekend by having a barbecue for my niece, Genni, who will be going away to college in a couple of days. She is going into Music Education at McKendree College. I am very proud of her and will help in any way I can.

Until next time.

Marc

Man of La Mancha Pictures

Here are some pictures of our Man of La Mancha Production


This is a picture of me as the Padre in the confessional listening to Don Quixote's Niece and house keeper singing "I'm Only Thinking of Him."


This is our Don Quixote and Sancho on their "horses".


Me at the end of the show singing the reprise of "To Dream the Impossible Dream."


Our Whole Cast