It’s amazing but I still feel energized by the performances this past weekend. So far there has been no “let down," just a feeling of joy and gratitude for this whole experience which has had such a spiritual quality to it from the start. The actors were superb and sang their hearts out. They became the people they were portraying so convincingly. From their lofty perch above the stage, the band was awesome, interpreting the music with so much sensitivity for what was happening in the story. Loved those twangs from Van‘s guitar at the perfect moments, watching Beau sway and play the conga drum and seeing Doug direct the music, play the keyboards and keep an eye on the action simultaneously. How does he do that?? The music, itself, is phenomenal. Can hardly wait ’til the live CD soundtrack is released. I attended all three shows and savored every minute. The audiences were so attentive, responsive and appreciative. You could hear a pin drop. When the Impresario strode down the aisle with a long, white feather boa flowing from his shoulders, the air was electric with surprise and delight. I think everyone sat up a little taller so they wouldn't miss anything!

THANK YOU, Randy, Doug, Pam, Cast and Crew for breathing life into this fabulous and original Work of Art. Long live MY GREEN EYES!!!

Shirley K. Doyle

This is Randy Baker, and I just want to take a little space to say WOW!

This has all turned out so much better than I had ever dreamed. Three sold-out houses. Three powerful, moving performances. Three after-show receptions overflowing with appreciative, complementary audiences.

Thank you all - cast, crew, volunteers - for making this a reality beyond my wildest dreams!

I look forward with great expectation to see where this little play will go.

Thanks!
Randy

It's over :-( ..........Well, at least this installment.

We had 3 GREAT sold out shows! Back at the spot light, I had one of the best views too!

No matter how many times I saw Char (Sophia) and Scott (Jacob) sing "There's a Lesson Here" I always got choked up. Well, there were allot of songs that choked me up...."Lost My Little Boy", "Welcome Home", "Dying Wish" and "Down on the Farm (Reprise)" all still get me emotionally.

But this rock opera had much more going for it! I think that Robert (Impresario) became a crowd favorite. His "get up" was so out there that it took them by surprise. I think that that opened people up to the comedic side of the show. And they all cheered when Jacob and Veronica finally hooked up!

The performances were solid! And all three shows received well deserved standing ovations. And each post performance reception was packed! This was a great experience and I hope that this show continues on and on!

Tim, Roadie, Spot lights, Tickets, Official Gear, etc......

Oh my, we just had the loveliest dress rehearsal. Can we just keep singing together? Just a while longer? I watch the story unfold every rehearsal, and get emotionally involved. Will Jacob pine away while Veronica seems to not notice him at all? Will Veronica gather up the courage and speak out about her feelings before it's too late? Will the crops come back? Will Dad ever stop aching for his missing son? Will the crafty band promoter come through for Luke and his talented, hopeful band? The power is on, the make-up is on, the cast and crew are definitely "on". "Hey everybody, let's put on a show!"

Hey All!

It's Tim, Roadie and Ticketmaster.

Well, it's official! Friday night has sold out! We still have a some Saturday and Sunday tickets, so don't hesitate! Call today! (952-401-0591)

Now for the fun Stuff:

I was just sitting back watching the rehearsal on Tuesday night. It was the first time for me seeing the Second Act. I was at the sing through 3 years ago, but it's changed....and it's been 3 years since I've heard any of the Second act. Well, I'm still AMAZED!

Some of the performers really have their work cut out for them. Luke (Sam) and the Father (Bob) have to emotional roller-coasters...sometime within the same song...and they pulled it off so well! Scott may have one of the hardest rolls playing Jacob (Sam's roll isn't far behind), and he's doing it very well!

The best part of the whole night came from our Music Director, Doug Weatherhead. During one of the songs, he walked over to me with a HUGE smile on his face and said "It's really going to happen...it's coming together." All I could do is agree with him. With all the hard work and talent that Randy and Doug had put in to music, and all of the efforts from the Cast and Crew, this show is going to be truly incredible.

I can't wait for opening night!

From Veronica -

It's true, this project is charmed in so many ways. If you had asked me in the summer of 2005 about any possible musical theatre aspiratins I might have, I woudl have said," Who?!? ME???". It was pure serendipity that I happened to learn about the MGE auditions. And I almost didn't audition, thinking my audition would be pure folly given my lack of theatre experience and my classical music background. But that small voice in my gut told me I should "at least keep options open" and so I showed up at auditions. The last thing I expected to come of this "keeping my options open" business was Pam's phone call offering the part of Veronica!! At that point I became very excited, and simply wanted to give the best I could give to MGE.

I hope I've done (am doing) that because I simply cannot express adequately how AMAZING the MGE experience has been!!!! I am incredibly lucky to have found this group of highly-talented, kind, loving, and inspiring people. I'm honored to have been chosen to bring Veronica to life. Veronica is in many ways a classic modern young woman. Her head is filled with wordly ideals and big visions, yet she still keeps her feet on the ground, knowing that she can make the most difference where her roots are. She's a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll (thanks Donny and Marie....). She's independant and career-minded and strong, but is in many ways a girl at heart. With luck and discplined work, this is the Veronica that audiences will see the last weekend in February.

And I hope that by making this small contribution to the MGE project, that MGE will really go places, and open doors for all involved!!! More in a later blog entry about MGE moments are particularly notable.

Love you all!

Let me just say that performing with these wonderful people (cast, crew, everyone) has been quite an amazing experience, and I really don't want it to end. 3 shows will not be enough to truly demonstrate the effort put in by everyone in this production-- the ticket sellers, the publicity people, the techies, the amazing band, Shirley, Ruth, Pam and Sarah, my fellow castmates, Doug, everyone else. I have been in a number of shows, but the combination in this production of passion and kind-heartedness is like none I've ever seen before.

I am especially thankful for Randy Baker and his creation 10 years in the making. I can't say enough about the passion he has shown in following his dream to fruition-- but what really blows me away is his talent. The music is fantastic, song after song. It can stand up with a number of long-lasting professional shows out there-- and I'm not just saying that because I have been allowed to sing in this one. For Randy's sake, I hope his show gets the recognition it deserves. And I will continue trying to make my version of Luke, the Prodigal son, worthy of Randy's work.

--Sam Ahern

WOW! The next great Rock Opera is unfolding before my eyes and ears and drum sticks! The music is really starting ro create its own groove. Its as if the music and rhythms have a life of their own - dictating to my heart, mind, soul and body - the way the accents desire to be played and the feel for each song is to gel. The band is starting to become One around the music and One with the singers.

If you have never had this experience playing an instrument with a band or backing up a group of singers - Well I can only tell you - Its Nirvana, Its Heaven, Its - Well Its Indescribably, Energetically, and Synergistically Delicious!

Randy Baker and Doug Weatherhead - you are onto something really big here - bigger than all of us. In fact, some big producer and promoter is going to see that this is the next Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat - and you'll be in New York before you can click your heels three times! S Jason Simpson - Drummer for My Green Eyes

Sophia loves her family. She really is an earth mother... Maybe she is mother earth. I sure enjoy wearing her shoes, singing to her sons, and husband. Loving words of encouragement, kindly looks of patient empathy. OOH! I'm an archetype! Ok, so I don't really feel so gracefully immortal when I'm trying to remember the words I'm supposed to sing next, and walk backwards and have the right look on my face, and for gosh sakes use my arms in some meaningful gesture. I have to say, I am more comfortable with the singing part and feel like a doofus trying for the first time to move around on stage. And then...Sophia steps in. I'm open to her arrival. I'm busy singing, anyway. She raises her face and palms to God's heaven and shows her son what grace might look like. Thank you Randy, and Doug, and Pam for allowing me to walk with Sophia for a while.

Hey y'all!

Only two and a half weeks until opening night.....time is flying!

It's amazing to see how everything is coming together. I guess that's one advantage of being a "Roadie". Not just in the technical aspects of the sound and gear...but also in watching the techniques of the Artist. This is going to be an incredible show! Randy, Doug, Pam and Sarah are really putting this story together.

It's awe inspiring to see the community come together to make “My Green Eyes” a success. And there are allot of people working in the background.

I'm learning. About how some microphones work best being used this way, but not that way. Some on the differences of cords...and on the differences of individual performers. Joe (our sound dude) is a good person to hang with too.

Hearing Bob (the Father) put the emotion in his voice on "Oh My God", and seeing Robert (the Impresario) put some comic relief in his moves.....yes, you will laugh and cry.....and seeing the whole story come together.....well, all I can say is, Cool!

Well, I guess you'll all have to just see it for yourself.

Wow! I'm singing in a rock opera! How cool is that? I have really been enjoying rehearsing with a band. I ordinarily play the guitar and sing all by myself, a la coffee house folkie. Getting to wail into the mic while Andy, Scott, Van, Doug, and Brad groove on some awesome changes...I've died and gone to heaven... Well not me actually. My character, Sophia. Started singing songs of love and encouragement to her family after she died. Yep, it's an opera, alright.

The past two weeks we finally have been getting together as a full cast to put our little pieces together to make the first act (the first half of the story). Bankers, and paralegals, and attorneys, and project managers and teachers and business owners, all with talent, and heart, singing and learning dance moves. I have no choice but to be uplifted, encouraged, hopeful.

Hi everyone,

Tim Baker and I were talking today about how it feels to "recreate" a service system such as Ticketmaster. Here we are, re-inventing the wheel about how to control the tickets and not oversell them, and it's time-consuming, but fun! I have found that people who call about tickets are ever so kind and patient with our low-tech process. I think we all are eager to see the opera on its opening night, AND we are equally interested in the possibility that Randy's and Doug's creativity might be picked up by a "larger" entity. Randy Baker on Broadway!? And we can say "we were there."

So - my phone number is the one that will be on the radio shots and the one that is out on posters and we shall see if the phone rings off the hook! It's exciting!

Beth Waterhouse
PS: Call me for tickets, at least until they sell out! (952) 401-0591