Render Me Mama

Monday, August 6, 2012

The King and I comes to @TheFoxTheater

Set in the 1860’s in the exotic capital city of Bangkok, The King and I I is the timeless love story between a powerful and stubborn king and a determined governess named Anna. The King and I, playing the Fox Theatre September 5 – 11, will star Victoria Mallory as Anna and Ronobir Lahiri as The King of Siam. The show features opulent settings, a beautiful story of honor and forgiveness, and is filled with memorable songs such as “Hello Young Lovers,” “I Whistle A Happy Tune,” “Shall We Dance?” and “Getting To Know You.” Based on the real life adventures of the English widow Anna Leonowens, and the best-selling 1944 novel, Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, The King and I is a fascinating tale about a clash of customs and finding love in spite of our differences.

“Theater of the Stars is extremely delighted to produce a gorgeous production of The King and I that will feature incredibly talented actors and 28 local children from Atlanta” states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “’Audiences of all ages will be enchanted by this magnificent Rodgers & Hammerstein musical when it plays a special one-week engagement at the fabulous Fox Theatre.”

The show is directed by Baayork Lee with choreography by Susan Kikuchi and Jerome Robbins. Baayork Lee made her professional stage debut in the original Broadway production of The King and I at age 5. Susan Kikuchi was a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company from 1978-1984 and has served as Director of both the Martha Graham Ensemble and the Martha Graham School. She has re-staged many Graham works often in collaboration with Yuriko for the Joffrey Ballet and Boston Conservatory. On the Broadway stage, Ms. Kikuchi was Supervisor of Jerome Robbins’ choreography (“The Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet) and Dance Captain for The King and I at the Neil Simon Theater. She was also soloist and Dance Captain in The King and I with Yul Brynner.

The King and I will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre September 5 - 11. Performances are as follows: Wednesday, September 5 at 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, September 6 at 8:00 p.m.; Friday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, September 9 at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, September 11 at 8 PM.

Tickets range from $25 - $65 and are on sale now at www.FoxATLTix.com or by calling 855-ATL-TIXX (855-285-8499). The general public can purchase 50% off discount tickets for the Wednesday, September 5 performance by using the code “AJC” when ordering. Special group rates for 10 or more are available by calling 404-881-2000, emailing foxgroup@foxtheatre.org or online at www.foxtheatre.org/groupsales.aspx.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Letting Go of the Tiny Things

Literally. During this move, I have made good on one of the items on the 2012 List. Specifically this one:

3. Clear out some old kids things. Ideally I would like to put a ton of items in a consignment sale. Its time to let go of some of the things from their past, no matter how much it pains me.

Pain me it did too. There is just something about all those tiny socks and tiny pairs of pants that pull at my heart strings. I have lived in a world of tiny blue things for a long time. I was blessed enough to have a lot of good friends and family that showered us heavily with baby clothes and toys when I was pregnant with D. Add that to the fact I love to shop and that T was working and I was working two jobs and had a lot of spare cash, and theings just got crazy.

As D outgrew things, I diligently washed and packed them away for our next someday baby. Knowing that the next baby could very well be wearing pink but still, I couldn't make my heart get rid of the bulk of the baby blue accoutrements we had gathered. Each little outfit held a special place in my heart. A memory of some sort. First night home, first smile, first steps. How could I get rid of all the memories?

Then we found out we were pregnant with K. I knew immediately that he was a he. Call it Mama intuition I guess. A few months later an ultrasound confirmed it. Still, considering the fact that T had just lost his job, it was lucky that I had so neatly packed away all those little boy blues. Getting the tiniest ones out to wash before his birth was a sea of tears. There were a few outfits that I just couldn't picture putting on the new baby because of the emotions tied to them from the first. So, I packed those back up and they still reside in the memory box I keep in his closet.

Of course K has his own memory box. His going home outfit, his first PJs, and his "Mommy's Little Monster" outfit. He is still Mama's monster after all.

This time though, there is no other baby in the foreseeable future. I would have a million more babies if I could but I just don't see it happening any more. I think that is probably what hurts the most. Especially since I will be ending on a miscarriage. Ouch.

Yes, I know that there is a chance that someday I will remarry and I will have more kids and pigs will fly but lets face it, I am not getting any younger here people and with the other health issues I already face, the chances are getting slimer by the minute here. I held onto that love for too long it seems.

Anyway, I made the choice to just go ahead and get rid of everything that wasn't packed away in the memory boxes and so far, I have made a fairly big dent. I cry a little every time something that holds those memories slips away but I know that holding on to things isn't the same as holding on to the memories. I will always have those memories of my two "tiny" babies sleeping peacfully in their swing or smiling up from their playmat. No need for the physical reminders.

Still... Still. Its not easy.

How long did you hold on to your tiniest things?