Manteca Stake Broadway Review

Stake Choir Performance

Last week the Manteca Stake Choir performed with the St. Paul's Methodist Choir.  We presented twice, Thursday at St. Paul's and Sunday a the stake center.  St. Paul's has a hand bell choir. 

Me in my choir seat

Sister Christensen had also put together a string ensemble.  The evening was great.  It included a couple of solos from the Messiah, a violin duet in addition to the choirs.  There were also Christmas messages from the Stake President and from the pastor of the Methodist Church.  President Maxfield talked about Nephi's vision, and why the birth of Jesus represented the love of God.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." 

Light the World Day 13 2017: Be Kind to Others

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

—Matthew 7:12

As anyone can tell, I am a day behind.  Things get that way at Christmas, but its OK because I will catch up. 
One way I serve during Christmas is by participating in choirs.  Tonight the Northland Stake Choir sang with the St. Paul's Methodist Unified Choir.  Tonight we were at the Methodist Church.  I had fun.  We sang five numbers.  Then there were also solos and the Methodist Church Bell Choir.  We return to sing again this Sunday. 

This past Friday I and the kids sang at the ward party for the interlude. 
Christmas Eve I will be conducting the Ward choir.  Finally the day before Christmas Eve we will be hosting a family wing-a-long for family and friends.  I love sharing through music.

Christmas Concert Thursday and Sunday

I like to sing for the Holidays, especially spiritual Christmas music.  the manteca Stake is joining with the St. Pauls United Methodist choir and bell choir to perform a couple evenings this week.  You are most welcome to attend, and I understand there will be snacks after.  I am not privy to the entire program, but the men sing a son, the women sing one, with the Bell choir the choir is performing "Carol of the Bells."  The choir is also singing "Joy to the World" and "What Shall I give?"  We are also singing O Holy Night with soloists.  Caleb's high school choir teacher will be one of the soloists.  This year the are recommending donating food items for St. Paul's pantry.

Manteca Stake Polynesian Culture Party

This was a fun evening.  Man those Polynesian dancers have some talent.  There weren't enough men, so they invited young men and missionaries up to be lead in a  Haka.  The food was different.  I ate something like a potato with more fibers.  This was in November.

Crystal Apple Awards 2017

This has been a presentation ever since we moved here six years ago.  This is an evening to honor local educators.  The award recipients are nominated by the students.  Usually all the local schools are represented.  Those who nominate someone actually present the award with a short statement about why that teacher has influenced them.  It is held at the Mormon Church 6060 Northland in Manteca.

Weekend Report: Dominated by Cancer and then Hospital

This has been a different weekend.  It started Friday with me staying home for Fred Zepeda's funeral.  He passed away from caner, exactly a year after my sister passed away.  Last year Sheri and I traveled to Boise for her funeral.  This year I stayed home for Fred's funeral.  Friday also Sheri returned home from her trip taking Miranda to school.  I convinced her to come home a day early because of impending storm.  Saturday I went to the movie "A Monster Calls" which was about cancer.
Saturday we also had stake conference adult session, with Anna coming over to watch Tony.  We saw heather briefly at the conference, but she was taking off after to go to Fremont with friends who were to give her a ride the next day to the airport.
Sunday made a year since my sister's funeral.  She died of esophageal cancer.  Sunday was a continuation of stake conference.  I sang in the choir like usual.  It was very fun.  Conference was very good.  Weatherford T. Clayton of the seventy presided.  Dianna came over after conference, as did Jeremy and family.
 Jeremy came to our house with Baby Asher, and Sheri sent them to the hospital because he wasn't breathing very well.  Turns out he has RSV which has contributed to his having pneumonia.  Asher is about ten months old so right on the edge of the vulnerable age.  He is now getting oxygen and having his fluids monitored.
We went to visit, Oakland USF pediatric Hospital, and upon coming home, picked up the boys at Charity's.  My temporary crown fell out.  So Monday I was at the dentist instead of going to work.  Fortunately the new permanent crown was in, and I was able to complete this round of dental work, two root canals and one crown.

Manteca Stake Choir and St. Paul's Methodist Choir and Hand Bells

The performance Sunday was magnificent, with another scheduled at St. Paul's this Thursday at 7.  There was a good mix of choir and solo performance, as well as a section of hand bell music.  Hand bells also played with the choir for a couple of songs.  Highlights include: "Be Like the Bird" a woman's song with a few of us whistling and the bells playing "I Wonder as I Wander."

couple of songs.

Stake Christmas Choir Concert 2016

This year we are singing twice as a stake choir conjointly with St. Paul's Methodist Church.  St. Paul's also has a handbell choir so we will sing some numbers with handbells.  Sunday December 18 our stake center and Thursday December 22 St. Paul's Church.  Both are at 7 p.m.
The men are singing "Silent Night" the women "Be Like the Bird."  The choir is sing the French carol "He is Born."  Also with soloist we are doing "Away In a Manger."  We are performing "Be Still My Soul" with the handbell choir.

Broadway Review 2016 Bring Him Home

Broadway review was excellent this year.  It seems to keep getting better.  I know, soon the talent will be way beyond me, but they let me sing all the same.  I had most fun in the ensemble pieces.  I sang in "Aint got Dames," from South Pacific; "Father We've Something to Tell You" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; "Something About this Night" and "The World is Upside Down" from Finding Neverland; "One Day More" and People's Song" and "People's Song reprise" from Les MIserables.
As you can see from the program there was an incredible amount of talent.

A big thank you to all those who assisted.  It was a very good night.  My son Jeremy helped with set, as did my daughter--Miranda.  Rob Kroff did the sound, and Greg Anderson lights.  There were many more who helped in whatever small way.

Broadway Review This Coming Saturday

I think this is the fifth year of the Broadway Review (Maybe the fourth.)  I am singing the song I song the first year, "Bring Him Home."  We have plenty of talent and have music from Chicago, Frozen, Wicked, Les Miserable, Phantom of the Opera, Finding Neverland, South Pacific, Funny Girl, Adams Family and I am sure some I have left out.  There are many talented people between Tracy and Manteca.  If you come, you will be impressed.

Jeremy (my son) is working designing the sets and helping with the lights.  He and Miranda (my daughter) have been working hard, along with Greg Anderson.  Christine Papworth has been directing again, and we have professional sound system from Stockton.  Come and enjoy, and the price is right, gratis.  We will even feed you at the evening performance.

Memorial Day 2016: Dixie and Sammy Davis Fireside

Sammy and Dixie are on the right (this is not from last night.)

I am having difficulty writing this blog, because there is no way sometimes to express things that touch the heart.  I had the privilege to hear the story of Sammy Davis and his wife.  They were both widowed before finding each other.  Sammy is a Medal of Honor winner.  The story presented in Forrest Gump of rescuing your buddies was basically his story.  The President Johnson award ceremony was his story, and the scene presented was Tom Hanks face on his body.  The words from President Johnson in the movie Forrest Gump were the words the president said about Sammie Davis when he was presented the Medal of Honor.  He was in the artillery, not the infantry, and he was wounded more severely than Forrest Gump.  He also had to cross a river to get to his friends who were wounded.
They started the evening showing the You Tube video, "Sammy Davis, Medal of Honor, Vietnam."  There are a couple of other movies on You Tube: 

Buzzed Into American Hero Sgt. Sammy L. Davis at Heritage Hill
Sammy L. Davis

Dixie was the first speaker, and told of her history, losing her husband, and then making a connection with Sammy Davis.  They were friends previous to their spouses both dying from cancer.  She also tells the story of Sammy's conversion to the gospel, and it was very touching.  They are a cute couple and it was fun to observe their interaction.
Sammy then told the story of his earning the Medal of Honor in much more depth.  He basically says he didn't feel like a hero.  "I was just doing my job."  The story was very touching, but also very personal.  After saving his three buddies, Davis thought his work was done, but things happened to let him know he had more work to do.  Only after this did he have enough energy to get to the shore of the river and get out of the water.
He also told the story of learning to play the harmonica during the war, and always playing the song "Shenandoah" for his Sergeant.  He played this for us.  It was very moving.
I was emotionally touched by this veteran.  He is still out there making himself available for other veterans, lifting them up and being a listening voice.  He is also still effected by things that happened so many years ago.  He indicated he only sleeps a couple hours at a time, gets up and makes sure everything is OK before going back to bed.

Stake Musical Night: Sing-a-long.

The title of the program gives you a clue as to one of the songs the stake choir will be singing.  We are doing another song together and then there is a men's number and a women's number.  I don't know what other musical presentations there will be, but there are generally a few ward choirs, and several solos.

Jeremy's Set Magic

It has been a couple months since the Broadway Review.  I am still marveling at Jeremy's set work, and Kayla's and even my wife and Annie and Caleb, and me to a minor degree.  However it was Jeremy who had the creativity to put visions into action.

A pirate ship.  This picture also shows the scrim he made without a budget

A railing

A pillar made from foam.  I looked cool from farther away.

quaking aspen.  We had difficulty keeping them up.

A castle.  This backdrop was used several times, sometimes with more castle hanging in the middle.

Miranda on spot

A city, I think Kayla painted this.  Forgive the junk in front as this was when we were taking down.

Manteca Broadway Review

This is late but I just rediscovered by program from the Broadway Review in October.  It was a joy performing with this people.  I had a great time.  I am biased, but the song I listen to the most is that of Caleb and Annie.  The kiss was electric, and now they are engaged.  How cool is that.

Manteca Stake Broadway Review: Something to Believe In: Afternoon

I hate to compare, but this is still the song I most enjoy listening to from the Broadway Review.  I snuck in the back and made this movie, and it is pretty shaky, but the vocal is great.  Also, unbeknown to me at the time, the rail on Annie's side did not have someone holding it so Annie and/or Caleb had to hold it through out, even through the hug at the end.

You're Just in Love: Dance and Song: Manteca Broadway Review

I asked Sheri to dance with me and she turned me down.  However, Sister Papworth said she would get her to do it, and she did.  Caleb and Annie, Brother and Sister Booher, Brother and Sister Clark, Brother and Sister Tyler Papworth, Brother and Sister Hoban, and Mike Dye and Amanda Porter make out the other couples.  Amanda was sort of our ringer as we would watch her to stay in the right place.  She was also in front of us all.  If you look you see an inverted V sort of by age, but not totally.

Manteca Stake Cover of "One More Angel in Heaven" by: Andrew Lloyd Weber

This is our version of Andrew Lloyd Weber's One more Angel in Heaven.  It is hard to remember all the words when you are having so much fun; but at least we stayed in character.  Caleb and Jeremy are both in this song, Caleb singing the first duet, and Jeremy carrying the coat of many colors.  Choreographed by Chris Papworth.

When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground: Cover Caleb and I

Caleb and I have lived and breathed this song the last couple of months, and this is what came out of that.  This is from "Finding Neverland" and is a representation of J.M. Barrie's helping the Llewelyn boys, in this case Peter, deal with the death of their father, and the terminal illness of their mother.  We get to hug at the end which is good.

Something to Believe In: Manteca Stake Broadway Review

Annie and Caleb bring down the house.  This is my favorite from the review, and during the p.m. performance they provided some extra spark.