2009 – the year, and the decade, in review
Posted on December 23, 2009
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2009 – Another incredible year in which I am blessed by good health, wonderful family, meaningful work, interesting challenges, supportive friends, and opportunities to do what I love to do best! Here’s a few highlights:
January – Obama is sworn in. MTEA at Shenandoah. The Journey of the Song continues.
February – with sister Andrea in Malibu, West Coast alumni in Santa Monica
Rainbow in Topanga Canyon, February 2009
March – NY Showcase, Stretch’s memorial, conference in the UK, visiting the Royal Crescent (Bath) and Hyde Park (London)
April – The newly-christened Ira Brind School of Theater Arts names its new director – moi. Grey Gardens begins rehearsals, but I bail out after a week.
May – James Lapine speaks at commencement.
CG introduces James Lapine, UArts Commencement 2009
June – Harold workshop, composing the score. D’s eye surgery. Alex turns 24
July – I orchestrate and record Harold. D and I celebrate 29 years of marriage. (Next year = big ass party)
August – Strathmere = Heaven. ATHE in NYC. Final rehearsals for Harold (the eternal tech). Rosi and Alex cohabit.
September – Another academic year begins! MTEA in Denmark and Germany, D comes too. Harold toddles off on tour
October – Follies at the Prince – Me and D are Ben and Phyllis. Phils win the division, then the league (Alex and Kerry at CBP for the NL championship game).
November – The World Series! No repeat but big fun nevertheless.
December – Harold in Philly. Kerry turns 19. Rosi and Alex to Zurich. (Zürich? When in doubt, add an umlaut.)
Discoveries this year: Gabriel Kahane, Jonathan Lethem, Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, The White Tiger, Nik Bärtsch, Grey Gardens, Peter Mills’ Illyria, Mad Men, Newbold IPA. Re-discovered: Follies (being onstage in a musical with a big orchestra is a gas!), The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, A Tiny Miracle (ten years ago!). To my chagrin, I discover that I’ve seen none of the movies and none of the plays that the NY Times critics chose for their top ten lists, and have heard none of the musical groups or CDs they name. Doesn’t say much for my hipness, I’m afraid. I’ve downloaded some Vijay Iyer, though, and am hoping for the best.
Here’s to the end of the Noughties, a decade that was far more nice than naughty. It was when:
We move to Philly, and eventually acquire the property next door
My Hollywood moment with Kevin Smith and Jersey Girl
Gemini the Musical in Philly and NYC
Sabbatical travels through Europe and the UK in 2000, 2007, conferences in 2009. Hong Kong in 2006. Ersten mal im Berlin, mit Dreigroschenoper! A decade’s worth of stamps in the passport.
Alex completes a BFA at UArts, becomes partner in P’unk Ave
Promoted to full professor, then Director of the Brind School
Kerry shines in numerous stage appearances, then turns his back on the stage and enrolls at UArts for….?
D directs, performs, teaches, becomes increasingly magnificent
Phils win the World Series and make a valiant attempt to repeat the accomplishment the following year
Murphy breathes his last, Basket joins the family
We celebrate the lives of dear ones departed: Gran, Stretch
What will the next decade hold? Thoughts become things, baby!
Recently
- 2009 – the year, and the decade, in review
- “Saturday Night” on Sunday and other London adventures
- 2008 – The Year in Review
- Professor of Smirkology
- Watch The Birdie
- Who I Am Makes A Difference
- Ira Glass on Taste, Storytelling and the Path to Success
- Kahane on the Brain
- Alice
- AM Radio
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