The Sun Shines Bright.

Happy Monday!  It was quite the weekend here in KT-land.  A weekend full of uke playing, sunshine walking, rose ball attending, and announcement making.

Full disclosure: I didn't win.  But I definitely felt like I did.  I seriously had the time of my life on Saturday...I wouldn't change a thing, and I mean that.  I was surrounded by people I love, celebrating my heritage, and having a ball (literally).

My family for the night included Beth, Sarah, Jessica, and Marcus. Beth live tweeted the event (thank GOD), and was later tweeted at by the emcee himself, Bill Meck. Because I was sequestered backstage for the majority of the night, I was very happy to have her updates streaming to my phone.  It provided me with some awesome entertainment. 

Here are some pictures from backstage while the dinner and auction were going on: 

My escort, David. 

Cami and Me in our pretty white dresses.

Love her.

Madison, Irish dance extraordinaire!

The escorts for the night.  Love these boys! 

The night culminated with our onstage interviews and talents.  Every girl did such a great job, the judges definitely had their work cut out for them.  Some highlights of my interview were talking about my hero, Shirley Temple, describing the first time I saw the Rose of Tralee, and waxing poetic about Angela (by the end of the night, everyone there was talking about her like she was a person.  I've never been more pleased).  For my talent, I sang a mash up of "The Fields of Athenry" and "My Old Kentucky Home" (accompanied by Angela, of course).  The performance was something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  Seriously, it ranks up there with singing "Blue Wind" in Spring Awakening and opening night of The Philadelphia Story.  The entire crowd was singing along with me.  The sense of connection in that room was electric.  Everyone was there with me, in that moment, living through the music...it was truly magical.  

From "Annie" to the Rose of Tralee! 

A HUGE congratulations to Claire, our 2014 Rose of Tralee!  She will go to Port Laoise this summer and represent our Old Kentucky Home.  I'm so excited for her, because she's never been to Ireland!  It will be an experience of a lifetime, and I couldn't be more proud. HASHTAG TEAM CLAIRE!

As for me and Angela, you'll find us soon at McCarthy's pub, providing music for the great people of Lexington.  Because that's what we DO (scurries away and works on a new set list).

And then it's on to the next big adventure...

Oh, St. Petersburg?  Don't mind if I do...see you soon, Sunshine state! 

Overflow...

A video for your sunny Sunday!! 

These past few days have been amazing and so full of joy that my cup is positively overflowing with it. My brain is still buzzing from the Rose Ball last night...I'm seriously on cloud nine.  For those of you who were there, thank you so much for the support.  Singing "The Fields of Athenry", playing Angela, and hearing the entire room join me in the final chorus is a moment I will never forget, as long as I live. I will definitely do a post about the entire night in the next few days!  But for now, I'm still too overwhelmed and happy.  I'm smiling like a loon! 

In other exciting news, I can finally announce that I will be returning to St. Petersburg to perform in FreeFall Theatre's production of "The Burnt Part Boys"!!  I'll be playing Frances, that little urchin pictured above, and I probably couldn't be more excited if I tried.  Seriously, dream come true.  FreeFall is where I was in "Spring Awakening" last year, and I can't wait to get back and be part of the St. Pete family again.  

To the 2014 KY Roses, you ladies rock my socks off.  Especially Claire, the official Kentucky Rose!  You're gonna absolutely kill it in Ireland this summer.  My heart is bursting with love for Beth, Sarah, Jessica, and Marcus -  Y'all are my family (I seriously told people who asked if my family was there "Yea in the back, see those two girls and also the only two black people here?  That's my fam.") 

Irish Eyes are Smiling

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

There might be snow on the ground, but there is green in my heart!  It's St. Patrick's Day!  The day where everyone can be Irish, get drunk by noon, wear obnoxious green shirts, and sing about the Emerald Isle at the top of their lungs. This past weekend was a whirlwind what with Rose events, parties, the parade, and the official St. Patty's festival downtown.  Here are some snapshots:

The highlight of the festival for me was being able to sing some of my favorite tunes with Liam's Fancy! I wish I could do this all day every day...

My favorite part about that picture?  The GREEN AND GOLD I spy behind Liam...the most beautiful county colors there are: Kerry! The whole day was a great experience.  I had such a lovely time with the Roses, the Rosebuds, the band, and my family. The luck of the Irish was with us <33 

Very exciting news coming this week...stay tuned!! 

Rose Tint my World

Happy Monday everyone!  It's strange, but there's a part of me that absolutely loves Mondays.  It's a fresh start, there are endless possibilities to your week, and it's How I Met Your Mother night (and we all know how I feel about that). I especially love Mondays when I wake up to the sun streaming in through my blinds and there's a promise of temperatures in the upper 50's.  My little heart can't even take the excitement!

Speaking of excitement, this past weekend was full of just that.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Saturday was official interview night for the Kentucky Rose of Tralee!  Anna Joy, Alison, Cami, Claire, Harley, Madison, and myself got spiffed up and went to Hugo's/Harvey's to be interviewed by the judges, mingle with eachother, try out some fancy appetizers for the ball, and laugh the night away with Lexington's own weather man, Bill Meck.  He is going to be the Emcee on the 22nd and he wanted to know all about us.  I may or may not have waxed poetic about Angela, my pride and joy and soulmate forever, so don't be surprised if you hear about her at the ball!

If I'm being honest here, the thing that has me the most nervous about this whole competition is dressing to the nines and putting on make up.  Basically being a girl and not making a complete fool of myself in a pair of heels.  I don't have much practice.  I don't wear make up. I throw my curly mane in a top knot on the daily.  I wear my brother's old baseball t-shirts from the 90's. Luckily, my best friend Jessica knows her way around a make up bag (even one limited to Ben Nye stage makeup and a tube of mascara) and helped me look pretty  for the night of the interviews.  What would I do without her?

The night went off without a hitch, and I had so much fun with the other girls as well as the past 2 roses - Annie and Savannah!  Annie and I go way back.  We were in (of all things) "Annie" when I was 11 and went to middle school together.  I knew she was the 2012 Rose, but I was living in Minnesota at the time so I didn't really ever get to talk to her about it!  Luckily we were able to chat quite a bit about everything from hats to future plans to Father Ted.

The Roses have a busy week ahead of us...St. Patrick's day looms near!  If you're around the area, please come to the St. Patrick's Day Festival downtown this Saturday.  It's going to be such a blast.  The parade is at 1pm, then I am singing with Liam's Fancy at 3:30pm.  Bill Meck himself told me it's supposed to be dry, so head down to the 5/3 Pavilion and connect with your Irish roots!  Even if you don't have any, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's day.

Likewise, let me know if you are interested in attending the 2014 Kentucky Rose Ball.  Tickets are $30 - which include dinner, drinks, and a show!  You'll get to see Bill Meck interview all the Roses and you'll definitely get to hear me sing and play my baby girl Angela. It's going to be a fantastic night, and I can honestly say that no matter who wins, Kentucky is going to have an amazing representative in Port Laoise.  It is an honor to be a part of this experience with 6 other amazing young women!  You girls rock my socks off!
On to another fantastic week...see?  Mondays aren't so bad after all!

Dreams and Songs to Sing

It's hard to believe that it has only been one week since the road to the Kentucky Rose officially began!  I feel like so much has happened!

Tonight is the next step...the official interviews with the judges.  Each Rose will have an individual session with the three judges, followed by a group interview with all seven of us.  While we're not dazzling them with our Irish charm, we will be chatting it up with the Celtic Association board members, sipping cocktails and nibbling on fancy appetizers (a preview to the catered meal at the ball on the 22nd). I have to look and act classy. I'm up for the challenge.

Thursday night the Irish of Lexington really got in the spirit of things at McCarthy's.  There was dancing, singing, and drinking galore!

Claire and I, the only two over 21 Roses (who woulda thunk I would be one of the geezers!) had a great time celebrating in preparation for the upcoming interviews! We even got some free Irish dancing lessons from the incomparable Allison Asay Duvall (Irish dance CELEBRITY).

 

The support I have recieved in this journey so far has been overwhelming.  My family and friends are behind me 100%.  I will be thinking of you all as I go into my interview this evening!

Make sure to mark your calendars for March 15th - the St. Patrick's day Festival!  It will be at the 5/3 pavilion downtown.  Festivities are all day and the parade is at 1pm.  Make sure to stick around after the parade though...after I get off the Rose float, I'll be singing with Liam's Fancy!  Here's a video of me singing with them on Thursday!  

Best of luck to Claire, Alison, Cami, Madison, Harley, and Anna Joy!  We're going to knock their socks off, ladies. 

Happy Saturday!  What are your weekend plans? 

12 Years in the Making...

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,

Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;

Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

 If you know me in any way, you probably know that there is a very sizable chunk of my heart that belongs to Ireland.  I lived there in my younger years, and since the day we were forced to move back to Kentucky, I have been aching to go return.  Lots of things have kept me away.  First of all, traveling is expensive, and a plane ticket to Dublin will set any starving artist back.  Second of all, the opportunity always seemed to be overshadowed by other things I needed to do and other roles I needed to play.  Usually some grand trip to Ireland was a back up plan if I didn't land a gig for the summer.  I have been extremely fortunate with my theatre experience but I have to say that I can feel it in my bones...it's time to go back. 

A song for Ireland.

Recently I announced via social media that I am entering the 2014 Kentucky Rose of Tralee Competition.  The dream to go the The Rose of Tralee Festival is one that I have been harboring since 2002, when I watched it on my television in Cabinteely, cheering on the Dublin Rose because there was no Kentucky representative at that time.  The Festival, which turns 55 this year, is a long standing tradition and celebration of Irish culture.  It brings influential young women from around the globe together to make a difference.  This is the 3rd year Kentucky has sent a rose, and I hope to do my home state proud.  I was truly overwhelmed with the support I received from merely announcing the news!

This past Saturday was our first official event as Roses.  We all met, went over the expectations and schedule for the coming month (which is jam packed with exciting things...goodbye February, hello March!), and had an etiquette class taught by Ms. Kentucky 2014 herself: Kelly Anne Beile!  It was so exciting just getting everything started after thinking about it for months.  This coming Saturday are the official interviews with the judges, which I will surely write about once they happen! I can't wait to share this adventure with all of you - and hopefully bring you with me to Ireland this summer via this blog!  

The 2014 KY Roses!

If you want the latest news about the Kentucky Rose of Tralee, like it on Facebook here. There's lots to look forward to - especially the St. Patrick's Day festival and the Rose Ball (contact me if you want tickets!). You can get all of the details for the Rose of Tralee international festival here or follow the twitter here! And don't forget to follow me on twitter as I go on this crazy adventure.

2 of my biggest supporters <33