'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 6: Mental Notes

Just got home from tonight's Q2Q. This is all I need to remember for tomorrow.

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 5: A Quote by a Favourite Playwright

This blog entry means I am now caught up to date with my schedule of '30 Days of Inspiration'. Back on track! ....I'm really enjoying this little project so far. I think it's important to grant oneself the time each day to allow room for inspiration, no matter how crazy busy life can get. I know for me, with tech beginning for 'A Night of Shanley', things have felt really tumultuous and really stressful lately. This inspiration project has reminded me daily how much I really love the work.

Tonight's post is a quick one - it's one of many brilliant quotes by John Patrick Shanley, the playwright who is the inspiration for my company Half-Pint Theatre's show, 'A Night of Shanley'. Enjoy friends, and see you tomorrow.

"Choose life over the other stuff. Get out of your head. Live. Dress up. Eat. Touch people. Help out. Give up. Love people. Give your best away. There's more. What's the problem? Relax. You're going to die. Throw a party. Eat off my plate. Sing to me. Meet me in the bedroom. Get a massage. Give one. Let your amazement out into the room. Pry open the box you hide your joy in. Be a poem."

                  - John Patrick Shanley

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 4: The Right

I realize I was going to catch up yesterday and post two blogs. Full day rehearsals have been setting me back a bit, and tech started today for 'A Night of Shanley', so it will be hard to keep up, but I'm going to do my best!

This entry would be "Day 4", even though today is technically Day 5. This is from 'Smart Actors, Foolish Choices', the book I talked about on Day 1. The part in pink hi-lighter really resonated with me. It's a good reminder for all of us.

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 3: A Trip to the Library

I didn't post yesterday. Tsk tsk. It was a busy day, but I still found ways to get inspired.

My inspiration yesterday, was this: The Library is AWESOME.

Every time I go to the Reference Library, I'm surrounded by a sea of giant blue books filled with sheet music, and every time, I ask myself, "Why don't I visit the library more often?"Not to mention, the oodles of classic and contemporary plays, librettos, and scores that take up this little haven on the 5th floor.

I feel inspired to work harder, and to explore new things every time I'm at the library, but lately, I'm there just to print sheet music for auditions, and I don't leave time to just go have fun and see what there is to find. Yesterday, after printing some sheet music, I decided to take time to read a libretto. I chose 'Flora the Red Menace', the first collaboration between Kander and Ebb. Back in July when I did the Banff Summer Musical Theatre Intensive, the director, Amy Rogers (wonderful woman), had told me I need to sing more Kander and Ebb, and two songs she recommended for me were from 'Flora'. Apparently, the libretto wasn't so great when it was originally staged in 1965, although the show marked the Broadway debut of the iconic Liza. The new book was written in 1987 by David Thompson, which was conceived off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. I feel such a rush every time I discover a new show that I know I'm going to fall in love with, and this was one of them. I can see why Flora's songs were recommended to me - she's such a fantastic character, and I see so many similarities in our personalities (attempting to join the Communist party aside). So, thanks Amy!

There you are, Day 3.... a little late. Day 4 to come later today!

Sidebar - The Banff Summer Musical Theatre Intensive that I mentioned earlier is happening again in July! And the wonderful Amy who I speak of will be on the faculty again. If you're a performer and you need a little inspiration yourself, I cannot speak highly enough of this program. Two weeks in the most beautiful place on Earth, with some of the most amazing faculty that the business has to offer. Get into it, friends!

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 2: 33 Ways.

Today is Day 2 of my '30 Days of Creative Inspiration' project. Reading Smart Actors, Foolish Choices yesterday was awesome for Day 1, and it's definitely something I want to come back to this month.

One really big thing I want to do in this project is see more theatre, which will probably have to wait til the end of the month, as I'm in a show myself until Feb. 16th! I'm both in it and producing it. It's called 'A Night of Shanley', and the show is a double bill of two one-act plays by the great American playwright, John Patrick Shanley. We open a week today!

Today's inspiration is this list I found. I can't find the original source, so I unfortunately cannot credit it; however, I'll put out a universal thank you to whoever the person was that created this list! See below.

I know I personally could be doing numbers 2, 3, 11, 12, 18, 26, 29.... well, really all of them more often, but those are just a few that stand out to me. I love this list. This is definitely something that I'll be printing out today and throwing on my fridge.

I encourage you all to take a look at the list for yourselves! But for me, it's time for numbers 2 and 4 - Carry a Notebook Everywhere, and Get Away from the Computer. See you tomorrow for Day 3!

30 Days of Creative Inspiration: Day 1

Ah, the "dry season", as many of us actors call it. Being in a brutally gruelling industry is hard enough (but still wonderful, don't get me wrong!), but around this time of year, things can seem even more bleak. I've decided that this would be a PERFECT time to find ways to feel even more creatively fulfilled than ever, dry season or not.

So, today starts 'Esther's 30-Day Creative Inspiration Project'. Every day I'll find, and share something that inspires me as an artist. This will include books I read, shows I see, finding new discoveries in the show I'm in, 'A Night of Shanley', articles, photographs, and whatever else might be out there.

Today is Day 1, and I have to accredit today's inspiration to my dear friend, Ryan Browne, a fellow actor. A couple months ago when the industry had completely shot my self-esteem, he suggested this book to me, which I finally got around to picking up. It's called 'Smart Actors, Foolish Choices - A Self-Help Guide to Coping with the Emotional Stresses of the Business'.

The book isn't focused on acting technique, or how to have a great audition, or the tricks of the business. The book is for the emotional psyche of the person, not the actor. This is something  that I know is really going to benefit me, and even though I've just started Chapter 1, I think this book will help me feel better about myself, both as a person and as a performer. Over the next 30 days, you might see this book come up again.

I'm also extremely interested to hear suggestions from all of you wonderful people in the industry out there! What inspires you - any specific books, movies, something you stick on the back of your door or on your fridge, or plays on in Toronto right now? I'd love to hear what you've got.

This next month is really my own, live version of 'The Artist's Way'. It's going to be good!

Baking Day - through the years. A Holiday tradition!

It's no secret that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Ever since I was little - everything about Christmas made my heart flutter, and... well, I'm still little....... just older. Whenever I see trees for sale outside the grocery store, the first shipments of clementines and egg nog, and kids visiting Santa Claus - I turn five again. Of course, everyone has the generic holiday traditions, and everyone has more specific, varied traditions within their family or amongst groups of friends. My favourite of all has to be Baking Day. This event over the years has created quite a following with my friends, and I love how it brings people together.

How'd it all begin? It was during the time I was home schooled, so maybe when I was thirteen or fourteen-years-old. I went with my Mom to her friends' Christmas cookie exchange. It was a weekday morning, with a couple of her close ladies. I loved how happy everyone was, not to mention the abundance of wonderful Christmas sweets. I wanted to have an event like this too! But obviously like, fun, and like, hip, and like, for adolescents, and we'd play like, Simple Plan's 'My Christmas List'.

My first year back in school, I was fifteen-years-old, when the first Baking Day came to be. Over the years, more people started attending, we threw in adding old school Christmas specials on VHS, complete with early 90s commercials (since not everyone could fit in the kitchen!), and the recipe for 'Esther's Special Hot Chocolate' was created. This has become a Baking Day favourite, and the recipe to this day still remains super top secret!

.....And now here we are - eleven years later?!? Which boggles my mind - how crazy to think that a tradition has carried on this long! Old high school friends still attend the event too!

Along with watching 'Muppet Christmas Carol' on Christmas Eve, and decorating the tree, this is my favourite holiday tradition. As Baking Day is tomorrow, I'd post some photos of Baking Days through the years. Take a look, maybe you'll see your very own wonderful self!

 Baking Day 2005, Jenni, Heather, and Katherine

 circa 2005, Miriam, Jenni, Steph, Candance, Meaghan, and Allie

 Famous chocolate chip cherry cookies... that still get made every year!

Cassie and Kristen... these lovely girls still come every year! And holy crap, this is actually from seven years ago.

 Baking Day 2009 with Steph Seaton!

 circa 2009 - Kristen and Steph at Baking Day four years later

Sssshhhh... we're hiding from the gingerbread house monster? I don't know.

Baking Day 2010... the first one living downtown! With Amanda.

 Baking Day 2011 - Cassie smashing some candy canes!

 Baking Day 2011 and Kristen is still here! Along with the awesome Simon.

 Baking Day 2011 post chocolate attack.

 Baking Day 2011 - Phil, post icing attack

Baking Day 2011 - watching Muppet Family Christmas while the rest of us are in the kitchen

.....excited to see what photos shall surface this year! Baking Day tomorrow!

Get Interested

One of my goals this month was to write/blog more often. Nov. 24th.... better late than never!

Another goal this month was to finish reading a book I started a few months ago, but put away for awhile. It's called 'The Happiness Project', written by Gretchen Rubin. I've never been one for self-help books, but what I've liked about this one so far, is that the author gives you insight to her 'happiness project', while remaining adamant that this is what worked for her - and the reader is welcome to try it themselves; however, they should tinker with the 'formula' and find their own happiness project. What works for one person, may not be the perfect solution for another.

That being said - I've found many things that have provided excellent insight and advice to finding more joy in my life, though not everything in the book has been a 'eureka' moment, or something I would agree with.

This morning, I came up with my own rule that will help keep my house cleaner! I love deadlines. I love the feeling of getting things done on a deadline, and also the adrenaline of doing things by a certain time. So, my plan is, once a day, to set my alarm for exactly 15 minutes. In those 15 minutes, I will get as much cleaning done as possible... But when the alarm goes off, I have to stop everything I'm doing. I hate cleaning with a fiery passion. But when I do get to it, I get obsessive about it and then do it for hours, which makes me resent it even more. This way, I'll get a little bit done each day, and won't immediately feel like I'm losing hours of time once I begin cleaning. Hopefully this works!

Today however, I decided I want to focus a bit on something in the book that really stood out to me. Finding time for fun. As a certified musical theatre dork, I think, 'Well, what I do is already fun, and in my spare time, I have even more fun going to shows, listening to old and new cast recordings, and watching 'Submissions Only'!' ...However, this is a different kind of fun. It's a kind of fun that is completely separate from things that pertain to my everyday life. Really, I suppose it's the things we do as hobbies. But do I honestly take the time for that? Do a lot of us? Probably not. We all have things that we do for pleasure; reading, watching TV, spending time with our friends, and the like - but how often do we read something in a magazine more than once that we find interesting, yet still ignore it? Or find ourselves saying "I've always wanted to learn a certain skill", or "start an art collection", or whatever it may be?

These things that we connect to and would like to do end up being put on the back burner because they are less necessary than our "official projects" that pertain to our day to day lives. In Rubin's book, she suggests forming your own 'INTEREST LOG', a place where one can write down things that naturally catch one's attention, instead of forgetting it and moving on to the next order of business in the day. I love this idea. There are multiple things I'm fascinated by, that I want to learn more about, and that I'd love to do..... and never honestly take the time to give them a second thought. So, here is the beginning of my own Interest Log. I'm excited to see where it takes me, both for remembering things I am interested in - and also for making the time to delve further into these subjects. I'm sure there'll be lots added to this list in the next few days. And if you feel like it - start your own! See where it takes you.

ESTHER'S INTEREST LOG
- Sign language
- Learning French, Italian, and Romanian
- Learning properly about wine and cheese
- Both the history and the current affairs of Israel
- My ancestry on both sides of my family
- Table etiquette
- Collecting 'Beauty and the Beast' mugs and Christmas ornaments
- Learning how to drive (yes, I'm 26 and still only have my learner's permit)
- ...more to come!

Three good things.

I think it's high time to reconnect with this blog. As things are moving at a crazy pace in my life right now, I may not be posting as often as I'd like right away....... but, little steps! Today was an exhausting, but amazing day.

First, my very first niece was born this morning! I have three adorable nephews; ages 1, 2, and 3 - and now I have a beautiful little girl to spoil as well. Her name is Annabel Tallulah Taylor, and she was born at 3:20am, UK time. Here she is with Mum and big brothers Seth and Josiah!

Secondly, I finished my first big commercial shoot yesterday. Sadly, the commercial is only airing in Europe (although fortunately that does mean I won't have any conflicts with stuff airing here should I get another gig... Crossies!) This afternoon, my agent forwarded me a note from the director of the shoot:

Gina,

Esther is one of the best actors I've worked with... Her interpretation of her character, her delivery, her energy was perfect. She took direction (what little I had to give) well and also was able to memorize her big chunks of dialogue fantastically. She even had a few suggestions and ideas which made the scenes better. Every scene we did with her was a genuine pleasure.

- Matt 

Sometimes you just need to hear words like that.

Finally, tonight was a lovely evening with my roommate, Alanna. This is a girl who I love very much; she's my friend, and my co-owner of Half-Pint Theatre - and tonight we got to chat about everything from traveling, to future life plans, to how proud we are of our little company - and how far we've come in a year!

And after three days of shooting, it is now high time for another thing. Sleep.

A step in the direction of bravery.

I'm not even sure how to start this. As we're heading in to September, it's hard to believe all that's happened this year. Losing a parent has obviously been the biggest thing, but more than anything, this has been a huge year of realization and facing stuff I've suppressed for over 20 years.

I have a passion bigger than anything in this whole world - I want to be onstage, doing musicals. 

I was ridiculed for that; was criticized, bullied, made fun of, and told I would never be good enough. This was at a high school known for musical theatre. This was a place where my passion should have been accepted, fostered, and educated, and instead it was the opposite. 

Not that I'm saying my experience there is solely to be blamed. I can remember being bullied by someone each year in my class since Kindergarten, and I started to believe the lies that I wasn't good enough quite early on. I also remember many people in my churches growing up who were supposed to be people I looked up to, who instead were unnurturing, some of whom even did very inappropriate things.

Basically, what I've known a really long time, but have never come outright and said it or faced it, is that I don't like myself.

....I'm the one who's keeping myself from doing well at auditions, booking gigs, making strong friendships, and being the best person I can be. On some very small level, I think I'm pretty, but deep down I believe that I'm unattractive and overweight. On some level, I believe that I'm talented, but deep down, I believe that I'm not good enough to work professionally, or to even be friends with my colleagues, let alone work with them, because I'll never be worthy of that kind of talent in my life.

When it comes to friends, I've always felt like the awkward outsider. Whenever I'm in groups, I feel like everyone else is really close and I'm just the annoying tag-along that people ignore. And when people talk to me, I always feel like the 'filler' person and it's all small talk, until someone more important comes along and then they go talk to them. I constantly berate myself for feeling awkward around people, and progressively feel more and more insignificant.

So because I don't like myself, I think I inadvertently created a separate persona as a performer, hoping that people will like Esther the performer, versus Esther the person. I don't know how to perform as Esther the person. I want to know how. I don't want to be ashamed of being myself when I'm doing the thing I love more than anything in this world.

I've taken the next two weeks off of my day job to start looking for ways to change, and start feeling positive about myself. This is trying to turn 20 years of negative self-worth around, so I know it's not going to be easy. ...I'll be spending a lot of time writing, exploring, and finding ways to be inspired (being in NY in a couple weeks will help a lot with that, I'm sure). I've also decided to start talking to someone. My Mom made a really good observation that stuck with me; if someone wants to take care of their physical health, they get a gym membership, something quite common that people do. However, mental health is just as important, so it's vital to take care of that also.

I want to stop believing these lies. Right now, I know I still view all these bad things about me as truths, but it's time to break that.

Anyway... I'm pretty scared about all of this. But I'm also afraid to just stay where I am right now. So, I guess here goes nothing.

Dad.

It's tomorrow. The day I've wanted to avoid since February 8th. Father's Day.

Dad was the kind of man who picked me up from the bus station at 5am, when I was getting in from an overnight from New York. One of the days he did this was on Father's Day, even though he was sick. The one day of the year where he's supposed to be getting the special treatment - and instead he chose to put his daughter first, despite everything else in his life.

I haven't wanted to blog since it happened. I haven't wanted to do anything as passionately as I used to, really. Losing a parent, I've realized over these past few months, is probably the hardest thing in the world. It makes you ache on a daily basis, sometimes many times a day. You feel guilty, that even after all this time, you still want to cry, hide, and be angry. You feel particularly guilty for the people who are extremely close to you, that they on some level, have to go through it as well, since it's something you're still going through. It's been just over four months, and it's still hard going to auditions, going to work, and just getting from one day to the next. 

Since it happened, I've lost a part of myself that I'm worried I won't get back. I feel like I've lost a lot of compassion and patience in general, and that I'm less passionate about doing things I love. I don't try as hard as I used to. I find I have a harder time genuinely listening to others, and my self-esteem has plummeted. I feel like I've lost close friends, not because they don't care, but because they don't know what to say, or how to help.

I want things to go back to normal. But apparently from what I hear, normal then, isn't normal now. And I don't know how to adjust to "normal now" yet. Even after four months. I miss the passionate, driven girl I used to be. And while that girl hasn't gone away completely, I just don't have the same ambition as I did. I want it back so desperately and don't know how to find it again.

I miss my Dad so much. Sometimes I still pick up the phone thinking I'll hear his voice. Sometimes I still expect him to show up when I sing or perform somewhere, with his harmonica around his neck and a fedora on his head. I need to hear him tell me I'm 'Esther "Broadway" Vallins', and how he's so proud of me, his talented daughter. I don't feel that way anymore.

I'm sure this day every year will get a little less difficult as time goes on. But as for tomorrow - I'm not ready.

Musical Theatre Dork Mondays: A little sing songin'

Today's Musical Theatre Dork Monday blog is short, but sweet. You may remember in my first Musical Theatre Dork Monday post, I talked a little about William Finn and my love for his mash-up of 'I'd Rather Be Sailing' from 'A New Brain', and 'Set Those Sails' from 'In Trousers'.


A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of getting to sing this mash-up at a Cabaret in Toronto. My dear friend Jeff Jones hosts a monthly Cabaret filled with lots of Toronto talent every last Sunday of the month at the Dominion on Queen Street. You should go!


Here's the mash-up, performed last Sunday alongside my boyfriend, Arthur Wright. Enjoy!

Fairytale Fridays: All I ask is that you leave me my imagination.

First of all, I can't tell you how much everyone's responses on my last blog mean to me. This week certainly hasn't been easy - but to know how much support I have from all you wonderful people means more than you'll ever know.


Today is kind of a mix of a Fairytale Friday and musical theatre dorkedom as well. This song reminds me exactly of how I felt about fairytales when I was little. This is the incomparable Stephanie J. Block singing 'Never Neverland' from 'Piece - the Musical', composed by Scott Alan. 

Musical Theatre Dork Mondays: A different Monday about a special man.

Today's Musical Theatre Dork Monday is a bit different. As per the norm though - there is a song at the end of this post. One that was written for me - by a very special man.

I love my Dad. His name is Michael Vallins. He's one of the most imaginative, generous, loving people you'll ever meet. He's also a very British (lived in the east end of London most of his life. He still sounds like a most genuine cockney), stubborn, and unwavering man.

Dad and I never had a great relationship growing up. I think we were too alike. Like many Dads, he spent much time working. He owned his own business - Steadfast Safety Services. In my parents' separation in 2002, once given space, Dad and I were able to share our passions for music, theatre, and creativity - rather than slam doors on each other. 

Though he had his business, his biggest dream was still set on being an artist. The amount of talents this man has is rather abundant. He loved to create things - though not all his projects were successful; I still remember him trying to make popsicles in an ice cube tray using Marmite and apple butter.

Dad was once a photographer. In fact, he traveled around the world for awhile, and was taken to places like Morocco and various countries in South America to shoot. This shot of his has always been my favourite - and he nearly lost his life taking it! He got away just in time... just from looking at the photo you can tell he was almost turned into lunch.

Among other things, Dad is a guitar player, a singer, an amazing harmonica player, a published poet, and also a jewelry designer! He loved making rings, bracelets, and necklaces out of all kinds of forks and spoons and giving them to his friends. Now I see these pieces everywhere. Dad was making them before they were popular... so I guess that makes him a hipster too. He's also a fantastic writer with a column in Canada Free Press - as well as a songwriter, with a plethora of different pieces, including one great musical.

Now he's sick. Three and a half years ago, Michael was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. However, Dad was determined to fight through it and did some pretty amazing things through to the present. One big thing being - he staged his musical that he began writing over 30 years ago. The show, then titled 'Metamorphorically Speakin' (now known as 'My Fair Laddie') is a 'My Fair Lady' story in reverse, set in London in the swingin' sixties. It centers around an upper-class young bloke who wants to be a singer, in the time of the Beatles and the Searchers - and has to learn to be a Cockney. After writing it, showing it to many producers and impresarios, and getting multiple rejections, he put the show away. But upon my graduating Randolph Academy in 2007, Dad wanted there to be opportunity for me, to work doing what I love. So the musical came off the shelf, and with the help of some very dear friends, we staged it (with a pretty killer cast might I add),

played a sold-out run, and received amazing reviews. How many people can say their Dad wrote a musical for them? The experience leading up to the show, and performing the show with Dad will always be one of the most special times in my life. One song in the musical was added just weeks before we went up. A special song written for me, called 'I'm Just a Dad'. A video of the song is at the bottom of this post. It's beautiful.

When more tumors surfaced in his brain last month, we knew unless there was a miracle, it wouldn't be long. The emergency trips to the hospital are increasing. This weekend, my Dad was admitted again. He still hasn't come out. This time, he's also battling severe pneumonia, with no immune system. It's possible he won't be leaving the hospital this time.

I realize I'm blessed. Some people with cancer beat it - but others don't last more than a few months after being diagnosed. I've had three and a half wonderful years with my Dad. 

But right now - in this moment, I have so many questions. The biggest one being, How on earth do you deal with the loss of a parent? How long will it hurt this much? How often am I going to pick up the phone before remembering he won't be on the other end? How often do I have to fake a smile around friends and say I'm grateful? My Dad is dying. I feel lost. I'm so scared.

I prayed for three and a half years he'd be at my wedding to walk me down the aisle, and sing 'I'm Just a Dad' to me at the reception - but I guess somewhere, I know that he's going to a place with no pain, where he'll still be able to look down on me that day.

To be honest, I don't really know how to end this. I want to be hopeful. I want to be there for my family. I want to be brave. But I'm not. I already miss him so much.

Fairytale Fridays: When 'Once Upon a Time' hits Modern Day

One night, I strangely had free time on my hands and decided to watch some TV, but couldn't find anything familiar. A listing came up for something called 'Once Upon a Time.' The title alone screamed my name, though I'd never heard of it. So, I went into it blindly - quite pleased with the outcome of that hour of my life I let ABC take from me.

If you've seen LOST (The writers for both shows are one in the same), Once Upon a Time is a drama/fantasy series that lends itself quite similarly to the concept of two different worlds... only instead of plane crash survivors, we're introduced to our favourite well-known fairytale characters. In the pilot episode, we find ourselves at Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding. The party is soon crashed, as the Evil Queen bursts in uninvited, and threatens the promise an evil curse that will ruin the lives of every being in the entire land - save herself. Snow and Charming are soon expecting a baby, whom they are desperate to keep safe from the Queen's prophecy. They discreetly go to visit the most sinister of all - Rumplestiltskin, who explains that if she can escape the dark magic, that this baby will become the saviour.

On the day the baby is born, the Queen's curse has also birthed - and all is to be doomed. But, Snow White and Charming's baby fortuitously makes it into a magical wardrobe where she will be transported somewhere safe. In getting her there, Charming is brutally attacked right as the winds violently begin to turn, tumultuously sending all of Fairytale Land into desolation as the Queen watches triumphantly. 

Flash forward to modern day. We find ourselves in the quaint town of Storybrooke, Maine where time is frozen. No one can enter Storybrooke, and no one can leave. Our fairytale characters have all resurfaced. Snow White is a school teacher named Mary Margaret. Prince Charming is now a vegetable only known as John Doe. Granny owns a B&B and can hardly keep a handle on her promiscuous granddaughter Ruby. Rumplestiltskin is a man named Mr. Gold who essentially runs the town because of his wealth. And the mayor of the town... you guessed it, the evil Queen herself - moonlighting as a woman named Regina Mills. Her adopted 10-year old son, Henry however, has a book of fairytales and somehow knows the true fate of all who live in this banished town. He also is determined to bring his birth mother to Storybrooke, who he secretly ventures out to find in Boston. Once he finds bounty hunter Emma Swan, he convinces her she must travel back with him in order to break the curse. Yep, you guessed it - Emma Swan is the golden child who made it out alive. According to a news story, she was discovered in modern day world as an infant on the side of the road. Though jaded and sarcastic, Emma agrees to travel back to Storybrooke - mostly to return her newfound son to his adopted mother, Regina. But, as soon as Emma enters Storybrooke, things start to change.

As for the rest - you'll have to watch for yourself! You can watch all the episodes for free on CTV's website. At present, the series is only about ten episodes in. In each episode, time is equally divided between modern day world and fairytale world, which is quite fun - to discover all the characters' backstories, especially the villains'. One of the most fun parts is trying to figure out who each character is, as some people we've met in modern day, and not yet in fairytale world, and vice versa! Many characters have been introduced so far, and it'll be interesting to see who else we meet (some people we still haven't met are Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, etc.). As OUAT is an ABC network show, their ties with Disney have married quite well with this script (For example, the fire department's Dalmatian is actually named Pongo). Learning the backstories of characters is also an enjoyable part of this show (We learn about Snow White's not so nice side, how the evil Queen got the poison apple, why Rumplestiltskin is so evil, etc.)

Not only is the concept for the show clever, and the writing quite well done - but there are some fantastically executed performances from the cast. Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, 28 Weeks Later) who plays Rumplestiltskin has the ability to go from charming and lovable, to ruthless and snivelling within a matter of seconds. It's amazing the way you want to love him, but also know you can't, as he's not batting for Team Good. Lana Parrilla (Spin City, 24) is a new face to me - but her performance as the evil Queen is spot on, and beautifully played. Other notable mentions go to Ginnifer Goodwin (He's Just Not that Into You) as Snow White.

Well, now that I've hyped it up - what are you waiting for? Go get you some fairytale awesomeness! You're welcome.

Musical Theatre Dork Mondays: Always running and running and running...

Okay so it's not Monday. But, better late than never! With everything going on with Half-Pint Theatre and our first, upcoming production of 'tick, tick... BOOM!', and just life in general - to say it's been a busy time is a gross understatement.

So while it is not Monday - this is the perfect song to describe how I've been feeling. Composed by one of my new favourites, Adam Gwon, this song, entitled 'Running', is my life. Probably every actor has felt this way once in awhile. Enjoy, friends!

Fairytale Fridays: Faith, Trust, and a bit of Fairy Dust

This is one of the cutest ideas ever. Today's inspiration is derived from Pinterest! If you've never been to this site - be prepared to easily waste the next two to twelve hours of your life... but it will be so enjoyable.

This photo I found on Pinterest would make a super cute craft for a young girl (or this girl who's turning 26 next month) to do... or would make a nice little present, or would be a great decoration for a bedroom. The best part is how inexpensive it is! All the things needed you can get for cheapskies at Dollarama or any local craft store.

THINGS YOU NEED:

A small to medium mason jar

Some pink (or any colour!) ribbon

Metallic spray paint

Beige construction paper

A thin Sharpie

Any coloured loose sparkles

Make sure to put newspaper down before going to town with the metallic spray paint. Let dry for at least 30 minutes. Take the beige construction paper. Cut it into a piece small enough to fit the front of the jar, and use any design you like with the words, "fairy dust" with the Sharpie. Very carefully superglue to the front of the jar. Fill the mason jar with loose sparkles, and tie a ribbon around the top. Secure the paint-dried lid, and let the dreams and wishes begin.

Music Theatre Dork Mondays: First Edition

Welcome to Music Theatre Dork Mondays! Depending on what (or who) I'm feeling inspired by for the week, this feature will be full of different things! It will cover anything and everything from songs or shows I'm shamefully crushing on, composers I love, and sometimes I'll chat a bit about 'tick, tick... BOOM!' - the inaugural show of my company, Half-Pint Theatre!

Today - I'm leaving all y'all with a song I'm currently loving by one of my favourite contemporary composers - William Finn. Most people (or at least everyone in my class from theatre school because everyone and their uncle wanted to sing it) know his beautiful song, 'I'd Rather Be Sailing' from 'A New Brain'. A less well-known, but still wonderful song of his is 'Set Those Sails' from 'In Trousers' - Finn's first-produced show. These two tunes were given a good ol' mash-up for a recent Off-Broadway revue entitled 'Make Me a Song' featuring Finn's music from various projects. The end result was this song that I often play for hours and hours... and even more hours on repeat. Enjoy!

Fairytale Fridays: Tale as Old as Time

I still remember. At five years of age, December 1991 - I was so excited for this particular trip to the movies. Finally, there was a film about a Princess who was just like me (by the logic that she too, had brown hair, so clearly we were the same person) - and loved to read. GASP. I loved to read! My big sister Laura took me to see 'Beauty and the Beast', and there I fell in love. Not just with Belle, but with roses, books, enchanted castles, ballrooms, and running through fields singing. I still remember giggling uncontrollably at this part (Go to 3:50!). And today - for the first time in over a decade, 'Beauty and the Beast' comes back to theatres in 3D. And I'm seeing it at 9:30 tonight!

From then on, my friends, family, Kindergarten class, and strangers on the TTC were forced to listen to me sing every 'Beauty and the Beast' song. I began to love reading even more and believed if I read enough, I would actually turn into Belle and become a Princess. The walls in my room were plastered with Belle posters. Five years later, my sister took me to BATB again - this time to the musical onstage at the Princess of Wales Theatre, where again, I fell in love. This song was and still remains one of my favourites of all time:

'If I can't love her - let the world be done with me.' One of the most beautiful lyrics ever.

Back on the thought of believing that someday I'd become Belle... it may have taken fourteen years - but it did happen! For three years, I had the privilege of doing parties, charity events, and shows, as the Princess I looked up to. I couldn't imagine a bigger dream come true, than getting paid to don the iconic yellow dress, sing those songs, and make the imaginations of children run wild. More about Princessing in the Fridays to come!

Little has changed since 1991. Every time I see the movie, when that first haunting chord strikes, as the image of the castle peers through the forest - I fall in love all over again. To this day, roses are my favourite flower, 'Beauty and the Beast' remains my all-time favourite movie, and yes, I still run through fields singing. My heart still flutters when Belle descends down the staircase, beginning the perfect, wonderful ballroom scene as Angela Lansbury serenades me with 'Tale as Old as Time'. Any time I'm sick, this film promptly gets thrown into the VCR (Yes, I still proudly have my VHS 'Disney Classics' tape). But my favourite part is the heart of this story: that beauty is much more than meets the eye - and that if one is shown love, even the darkest of souls can unearth goodness.

I don't need the 3D. This story has always been three-dimensional without the fancy effects and ginormous yellow glasses.