Pretty Good Yell

When I was in college and minoring in theatre - yes, I was going to be the next Streep - I had a professor who constantly berated us for having Ted Nugent Neck. Ted Nugent Neck occurred when you failed to project properly from the diaphragm and ended up straining your neck trying to sound loud enough. I was particularly bad about this. And on Friday, on the way home, I was listening to Tori Amos' "Pretty Good Year" and giving my all to the "HEY" part when I full on experienced Ted Nugent Neck and then - ouch. I'm not sure what happened, but I definitely felt a pop and imagined that I could hear it, too. Now I'm taking Aleve every couple of of hours to alleviate my enthusiasm.

Confessions of a Former Theatre Freak

My boss is headed to New York tomorrow for an awards dinner honoring her sister. She mentioned to a coworker (and I overheard with my big, big ears) that she was going to see her first Broadway show on Saturday.

"What show?" I yelled.

"Les Mis," she called back.

"OH MY GOD I HATE YOU!!" I wailed before I could remember the following: she is my boss; I am 27; my intense love of Les Mis is a little embarrassing; my intense love of musical theatre could've remained secret; and she is my boss.

I bounded to her door and proceeded to further incriminate myself. "I looooove Les Mis. When I was in high school, my friends and I used to sit in my backyard and sing the songs. I was Valjean."

Full confession: The summer after my senior year of high school, we (the "we" outside of me shall remain nameless to save them from embarrassment) would reenact the show. As Valjean, I was required to have quite the vocal range (which I lacked). Nonetheless, we zealously proceeded with our productions. We might have recorded it a time or two.

We saw the touring production twice at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta that summer. The first time, I was so excited and emotional that I couldn't get out of my seat to stand for the ovation. And when I went to college, I had an 8 x 10 glossy of this photo on my wall. Colm Wilkinson, a somewhat aged Irish actor who really trademarked the Valjean role on stage. And I also had the color poster. And a key chain.

With my inner freak revealed, I went in whole hog. I looked up the current Broadway cast to see who's performing. And I let my boss know she'll be seeing Jenny Galloway, the Dreamcast's Madame Thenardier.

And now, I may or may not be reprising my role as Jean Valjean in the comfort of my own home.