2008.5.25. High School Musical at Paramount. The choreography and rhythm of "Get'cha Head in the Game" at the basketball practice is very good. The rest are fit only for high school audience.

The 37th Folklife Festival at Seattle Center during the Memorial Day weekend.

2008.5.17. Il Puritani by Bellini.

Elvira - Norah Amsellem
Arturo - Lawrence Brownlee
Riccardo - Mariusz Kwiecien
Giorgio - John Relyea
Conductor - Edoardo Müller

Amazing voices. Sweet music. Fabulous costume from Metropolitan Opera.

2008.5.17-18. Seattle Cheese Festival showcasing small artisan cheese makers from Washington, Oregon and California. A couple of distributors and large cheese manufacturers too. About 50 participants. Cooking demonstration, classes and seminars.

2008.5.4. Rattlesnake Ledge

2008.5.4. Finally good weather. Rattlesnake Ledge, my first hike this season.

6:30pm: My Fair Lady at Paramount Theatre. Good acting. Simple but efficient stage sets (mostly pull down screens). I'm an ordinary man and Hymn to Him are pretty funny. Wouldn't it be lovely and I could have danced all night sound very familiar.

2008.4.27. Spotlight on the next production at The 5th Ave Theatre: Shrek, a new musical which will premiere in Seattle this August. Director Jason Moore, composer Jeanine Tesori, and playwright David Lindsay-Abaire on stage conversing with 5th Ave. Theatre's artistic director David Armstrong. Tesori and Lindsay-Abaire also performed two songs (a rare treat). Lord Farquaad concluded the sneak preview.

2008.4.19. Pacific Northwest Ballet's Laughing Out Loud spring dance festival. Fitting title. Was fun.

• Variations Sérieuses
  - a backstage ballet rehearsal and performance (great acting).
  Music: Mendelssohn (Op. 54, 1841)
  Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon (for New York City Ballet)
  Scenic and Costume Design: Ian Falconer (great set design)
• One Tiny Dance - energetic, funny!
  - in the lobby on a 6'x6' podium during the 1st intermission
  Performer: Mike Barber, Jenn Gierada
• Shindig
  • The Wall - Mozart (from Fünf Contretäänze, K. 609)
  • Bumble Bee - Rimsky-Korsakov (from The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Op. 57)
  • Tango - Stravinsky
  • Forellenquintett - Schubert (from Piano Quintet in A major [Trout Quintet], D. 667)
  • Sweet Suite - Stravinsky ("Waltz," from Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra)
  • Plink, Plank, Plunk! - Leroy Anderson
  Choreography: Olivier Wevers (a principle dancer at PNB)
• TAKE FIVE ... More or Less
  Music: Dave Brubeck (Strange Meadow Lark and Blue Rondo a la Turk), Paul Desmond (Take Five)
  Choreography: Susan Stroman
• The Dying Swan - commic
  Music: Saint-Saëns ("The Swan," from Carnival of the Animals)
  Choreography: after Michel Fokine
  Costume Design: Mike Gonzales (fabulously feather shedding skirt)
  Performer: Joshua Grant
• Ordinary Festivals - lots of running and oranges.
  Music: Italian folk music recorded by Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Padano di Piadena Choir & Matteo Salvatore
  Conceived, directed, choreographed: Sara Pearson & Patrik Widrig