The Little Mermaid @RoseTheaterCo Review

I was super excited to find out that The Rose is showing Disney's The Little Mermaid.

It was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was younger. I liked all the characters. I could sing the songs over and over again. I think anyone can relate to Ariel's aspirations to be something she's not.  

The boys didn't know we were going. We left it a surprise. They figured it out as soon as we got there.

The Rose Performing Arts is located on 2001 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102. Call 402-345-4849 for tickets. You can also visit their website: rosetheater.org

This was taken with my fisheye lens:

They have really cool environmental graphics on the side of their building. Their posters are under glass as well.

About the Play: 

Dive “Under the Sea” for a swimmingly good time as one of Disney’s all-time favorites splashes to life in this Broadway musical adaptation. 

Ariel is a bold young mermaid princess fascinated with the human world, in spite of the warnings of her father, King Triton, and her finny friends. When she makes a dangerous deal with Ursula, the Sea Witch, she begins a race against the setting sun to find true love. With all your favorite songs and an ocean’s worth of colorful characters, you will definitely want The Little Mermaid to be Part of Your World!

The Start:

There wasn't a set to look at when we first got there. They had the curtains closed. We went to the last rehearsal, so chances are that the actual shows have skits from one of the summer classes at The Rose Theater. 

There was live music below the stage. They were practicing when we came in to the theater area. My boys are always looking to see if the orchestra teacher is down there - from their school. She's been in a show at The Rose before.

Once the curtains opened up there was a lot to see. They showed what it was like under the sea, on the ship, and in the castle. 

Music by Alan Menken.

Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glen Slater.

Book by Doug Wright.

Dates: 

June 3 - June 26

• Friday, June 3 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 4 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 5 @ 2 PM.
• Friday, June 10 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 11 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 12 @ 2 PM
• Friday, June 17 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 18 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 19 @ 2 PM
• Friday, June 24 @ 7 PM
• Saturday, June 25 @ 2 PM
• Sunday, June 26 @ 2 PM

Ages: 

Best suited for ages 5 and up. 

Mica (age almost 11) liked it. He smiled throughout the show. Isaak's (age 8) is in a stage where he doesn't care for anything girly. Somehow mermaids are for girls. I kept telling Isaak that there were mermen in it. I loved it, and I'm almost 40.

*Warning there is a section of the show where a storm occurs. They use strobe lights during this part. 

Duration: 

2 hours + intermission with refreshments 

Cost: 

Members: $23 main floor • $18 balcony 

Non Members: $30 main floor • $25 balcony 

Parking: 

There are several metered parking spots, active from 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday. The cost is $.25 per hour, or $10 per day. Metered parking is free on Sundays and holidays. 

Free parking is available in the Wells Fargo parking lot on the northwest corner of 20th and Farnam Streets on weekends and after 5:30 PM on weeknights. 

Staring: 

Arial - Torisa Walker

Prince Eric - Marcel A. Daly 

Grimsby - Kevin Olsen

Scuttle - Bill Grennan

Flounder - Grace Titus

King Triton - Joe Dignoti

Sebastian - Camellia Yvonne Watkins

Flotsam - Joseph T. O'Connor

Jetsam - Jonathan Smith

Ursula - Heather Wilhelm

and more...

Artistic and Production Credits: 

Director - Matthew Gutschick

Musical Director - Kevin Smith

Scenic Designer - Tim McMath

Choreographer - Sue Gillespie Booton

Lighting Designer - Craig Moxon

Production Stage Manager - Ashleigh-Dawn Kriegh-Fleming

Costume Designer - Sherri Geerdes

and more... 

After the shows they have a question answer time with the cast. They even mention to email them. The Rose has really cool kid's programs. I like them more than the adult ones. There are facts and games in it. There's a spot for Autographs for the end of the show.

I think any show that The Rose Theater has is great for kids. My boys just love going there!

Disclaimer: I received tickets for free of charge from The Rose Theater.

Question of the Month

A Life Examined has the question up this month: Of all the places in the world to which you haven't been, where would you like to go next?

I have to be honest I'm not a huge traveler. Traveling makes me nervous. I'm not good with directions, and I always feel the pressure of forgetting important things when we travel. 

My husband is the, "I can't wait to go to ______." When we do travel it's non stop adventures. No relaxing. We have to go to point A, point B, and point C. 

Travis is talking about switching jobs again. The guy had one stable job for 12 years. The company collapsed. He's had random jobs in the past 2 years. It's not that he hates where he works. It's just that they want him to run the business. He doesn't think he has it in him to run a company. He just wants to be the guy that creates. The company is putting the pressure on him big time. It's really stressing him out. He feels like he has no time to work on his art. The original agreement was for him to have Fridays off. That's not happening. On top of that another company that has workers that he worked with for 12 years has so much work they keep calling him for help. There's good and bad there to. He has some decisions to make. 

I feel most comfortable with stability, but then that puts me in the category, I don't support his decisions, his art, and I don't want him to be happy. Those things are not true. It's just that I don't want to work my whole life away. 

My husband says he wants to go to our 10 year old son, Mica's dream spot, which is Peru. That's pretty far away!

Source

I know very little about Peru. About the only things I know is that it's way out of our budget, it's by Brazil, and Paddington Bear is from there. Yep I've read a lot of children's books. 

I'd like to go someplace far to, but know it's not realistic. Where would I like to go to if I could snap my fingers, and just be there? Iceland. It's full of art, it's a very safe place, their economy is good right now, they put their political figures on trial when they are in question, and just like Peru it's pretty.

Source

Source

Where would I like to go that's more realistic...in our price range? Montana. I just think it looks pretty! I'm the kind of girl that doesn't need fancy cruises, lots of shopping, and expensive places to go to. Give me a tent, people I care about, and I'll be happy.

Source

Source

Where is your dream spot? Where would you want to travel that's more realistic? 

Inspiration of the Week

I hope this post doesn't come off as sounding negative. I really want the opposite. Four posts back I talked about going to Memorial Park.

I mentioned that we got to watch parachuters jump out of jets, listened to speakers, had a picnic...

What I didn't mention is that we had one of Isaak's friends with us. 

As soon as we got to the park Isaak's friend said, 

• "I'm thirsty...I'm hungry!" We popped a blanket on the ground, and I got out water for everyone. 

• Then it was, "When is this going to start?" 

• Then it was, "I had $20, and my Dad spent it on beer. I could have bought video games with that money." Who knows who's money the $20 actually belonged to.

• As we stood up for an American song the kid said, "When can I sit down?" 

• I handed him a snack, "I hate this! Do I have to eat this?" At first Travis said, "Yes you have to eat that. You're hungry." After his friend repeated the question 5 times, and we had the same answer 5 times I said, "You know what no you don't have to eat that!" I looked at Travis and said, "He's not going to spoil my time. His hands have sticky stuff all over them because he won't eat what he has. I'm not disciplining someone else's kid. He can go hungry." 

• Then is was, "When is this going to be over?" I leaned over to Travis and said, "Take the boys to the playground. Mica and I will be there when this is over." I have to admit that the speeches were a little boring. I was more interested in the parachuters. It was, "Thank this person, and thank that person." for an hour. 

• When it was time to eat lunch he didn't like PBJ. What kid doesn't like PBJ? This one apparently. I checked to make sure he didn't have any food allergies prior to the event. We had apples and carrots to.

• He didn't want to play frisbee, ball, or on the playground because he wanted to go home to play Minecraft. 

You know what? I was thankful. 

I was thankful because my kids aren't like that.

Mica turned to me and said, "Isaak's friend is spoiled! He gets to eat whatever he wants, which is lots of sugar. He gets to play Minecraft whenever he wants. It's turned him into a brat Mom."

I said, "Mica remember this situation when I tell you to get off your Kindle to do other things."

Mica said, "Thanks for making us do other things, and eat different things.

Later Isaak said, "My friend is picky with food, and all he ever wants to play is Minecraft."

I was so thankful that the boys get it! 

I was thankful that Travis is the Dad that plays with them. I was thankful that I do things with them.

Then I got on Facebook and saw that my nephew Emerson that they didn't think could ever walk walked 1.25 miles by himself with a little prompting with direction! I was thankful for that!

What were you thankful for this week?

Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings 'Paradise'

Guess who's birthday is coming up? Mine is. It's the first day of summer. I told Travis I want some pretty earrings. I love different earrings, and necklaces. I could do without bracelets because I'm always working on art, doing dishes, or typing.

I just reviewed .925 Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings called 'Paradise' from one of my favorite companies: Novica. I said, "Travis wrap them up for me please." 

It drives Travis nuts when I get items to review, and want them as gifts. Really, I promise they are pretty! He agreed that they are. He make jewelry himself, so he knows quality and good design.

I like Novica so much because they are artist friendly. Yes I like things made in the US to support our workers, but I also like the fact that Novica brings different cultures into their products. They don't hold back that they work from artists around the world. You know how I like different types of music? I like different types of art and jewelry to. They are associated with National Geographic. They believe in global happiness. This world is large, yet small place. We need to work with one another. There's something special about getting a drum from Africa, a set of earrings from Bali, a necklace from Thailand, and so on.

The opulent hoop earrings I got are finely crafted showcase Balinese design. They are made by the artist Sriasih. I'm in love with them.

Like all of Novica's products the earrings come in a bag, which makes them fun to give.

Each item also comes with a little book that gives a description of the earrings, and the artist. Some items have a hand written note from the artist to. This one didn't, but I love when I get handwritten notes from someone afar.

I found the earrings easy to put on. Some I struggle with, and I have to have Travis or Isaak help me. Isaak loves putting jewelry on me. He's very gentle with that.

These are .925 sterling arabesques swirl amid silver petals and granules in contemporary heirloom earrings.

Measurements: 0.9" L x 0.7" W x 0.5" D

Retail Price: $45.99 Discounted Price: $11.50.

What kind of jewelry do you like to wear?

Disclaimer: I received a discount on this product purpose of this review. The opinions are 100% mine.

Random Tid Bits

1. I got a new shirt that I ordered around Mother's Day. I kind of wish it just said, Mother of Boys instead of Mothers of Boys, bust it has a logo on the bottom MOB Society. As if Mothers of Boys are in a society. Ha! 





2. On the day I got the shirt I decided we'd go out for breakfast. Jimmy's Egg is pretty good! When we went there on Mother's Day they gave me a coupon for a free meal, so that's why we went there again. Where is your favorite breakfast spot? I have too many to choose from.


3. It took me awhile to get out of my parents when they want me to take time off. I said, "I'll take it off whenever you want." My Dad's heart medicine is still messing with him. He doesn't feel up to long trips.
   
   We decided on two weeks in July. I think it will be good. The boy's are in camps the weeks I took off, but one of them is pretty far. It's their outdoor camp. It will be nice that I do the driving with these messy kids of mine. The other camp is near us, but a free one. If the boys hate it, I'll pull them from the camp to hang with them at home.


4. Isaak pointed out to me that I bought crappy toilet paper. He said, "Mom that's the stuff the school has, and I really hate it!" I hate single ply toilet paper as well. I don't think anyone saves up when they buy it. Everyone doubles up on it anyhow. I made this face when I realized what I bought. 





5. I didn't have any summer classes, but now I have 1. It's only a completion course. Meaning the student didn't show up to enough credit hours to get credit for the class. I have to teach him for 5 days. It's not my class, so I hope I do alright. The student is one smart cookie, but just doesn't show up.
   
   I'm not a Woody Allen fan, but I do love this quote by him. 





Source

Summer Activities

The boys have 2 weeks with no camps planned. To prevent them from saying, "I'm bored!" I've given them plenty to do. Each child has a backpack stocked with activity books, pencils, snacks, fiction and non fiction book, their kindles, and a portable DVD player with a few movies. They each have a schedule that includes brainwork like writing, math, reading comprehension, and just plain reading.

They read a fiction book one day, and a non-fiction, or something close to it the next.

Isaak now reads chapter books! Right now I'm pushing for Isaak to read The Magic Treehouse series. I want him to be excited about reading. Mica loved the series so much that we have most of the books. I'm also starting him off with the Who Was... series.

Mica's trying to get through A Series of Unfortunate Events. He's read all, but 3 this year. The movie is on hold at the library. Travis got him a children's book on government and another on economics. Exciting I know, but things he should learn about.

I pick the pages in their activity books, and go through how to do what they need to do. Mica has a reading comprehension workbook. I got it for Isaak, but it was too hard for him. Mica also has a standard workbook, and a history workbook. Isaak has math sheets his teacher gave to him, a critical and creative thinking workbook, and a standard workbook. I was finding that Isaak and Mica would just plain skip their work if they didn't understand the instructions. I happen to love the one below, but the boys think it's hard because it does make them think. That's one I go over.

I learned that Mica rushes through his work to play on his Kindle, which is supposed to be their end of the day activity. Travis started checking their work more carefully. That's when we found out that Mica was rushing. He'd give short answers instead of backing himself up. *Sounds like something my students would do. Isaak - the one I envisioned being the rusher actually wants to follow the schedule. Then he gets flustered because his big brother is playing away on his Kindle. I think part of that is their ages. Mica's entering the preteen years.

I also informed them that the whole summer isn't going to be like school.

The boys have outdoor time as part of their schedule. Mica basically needs to be kicked told to play outside. Isaak on the other hand loves to be outdoors.

What are some things you do/have done to keep your kids busy? My husband and I don't remember our parents giving us much we just loved playing. I played with Barbies and dolls, and read. My husband hung around outdoors for hours on end. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like this generation seems like they need things to do, and get bored really easily. 

WW: Memorial Day {Linky}

We have a park here in Omaha, Nebraska called Memorial Park. Naturally on Memorial Day there's a ceremony that goes on every year.

We haven't been to the event in a few years. It just so happens that we usually have a family gathering during that day, but didn't this year.

On our way there my husband spotted a kite in the trees. Can you see it?

Someone lost a lion kite.

Here's a detail of a few trees we passed by:

A little mossy spot in a tree. I pictured fairies to live inside it.

My husband the tree hugger.

We had to wait awhile for speeches to begin. We brought a few blankets, and played a Spanish game on an American holiday.

The flag was pretty flying above us.

 

A jet flew by. Parachuter's jumped in honor of our Veterans.

Police officers and Firefighters were there in honor of our Veterans to.

We listened to a lot of speeches that day. I sent my husband away to go play with the kids. It was just too long for them to sit still. They stayed for most of it though.

While other parents pushed their kids on the swings, my husband swung with them.

I was thankful for men and women that died protecting our country. I was also thankful for family. 

Do you do anything special for Memorial Day?