First, I am under no delusions that this blog will be followed by a great many people or have a lasting impact on the world, the theatre world, even the room in which I currently sit. I'm blogging more as a journal of my own memories and as a way for my family and any friends who have a spare minute or two while sipping their coffee and have already exhausted twitter, tumblr, Instagram, and FB, to have something to read to keep up with a friend who is away for the next few months. I remember when I went to school abroad in Europe, I wrote numerous letters home recounting all visits and studies, and my parents kept each of them in a file for me. They stand today as a journal of that adventure and I value them. So here is my new, higher tech, file of letters as I begin a new 6 month journey, for anyone who cares to pay any mind. Where am I going? Well...

Honored and thrilled and excited and nervous and yay don't cover it! More about that later.

Second, about the title, Hi Ho the Glamorous Life...

Anyone who is a Sondheim fan, as I am, totally gets this. And anyone who has done any real theatre knows how tongue-in-cheek this title is. Or rather how glamorously unglamorous the acting trade and touring can be. It really is so much lights and facade and make up and pretend; everything you thought dress-up was when you were a little girl, and yet, didn't you feel just as glamorous anyway? It didn't matter that your high heels were mom's and 4 sizes too big and your lipstick was all over your face and the cheap feather boa shed all over your bedroom floor, you were glamorous!

If you are unfamiliar with this song, it is sung by Frederika in the musical A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and beautifully, eloquently, lovingly illustrates how a little girl both grieves and idolizes her actress mother who is constantly away working. I have been amazingly blessed to work near my children while they are young... partly out of the choice to put aside jobs in deference to motherhood and partly out of embracing teaching as an opportunity to continue to refine skills. Plus we have an active local/regional/professional theatre community here in LA where I live that allowed me to work a bit nearby. Now, there are lots of great moms who work full time and in theatre! I just knew that I wanted to be home with mine and made that the priority. Also, I was really fortunate to have had that luxury. (Yay! For the full time working mom who is being all things for all her kids! We can do it ladies!) It's not easy. What worthwhile is? Anyway, one of my great opportunities has been to play Desiree to my daughter's Frederika in a lovely production of A Little Night Music with Cedar Street Theatre directed by my dear friend Lane Williamson.

Hearing my daughter brilliantly (IMHO) perform this piece every night (its no easy feat) while accompanied on violin by my other daughter and with my son in the audience cheering, made me both want to be and not be everything this song was simultaneously - everything they would admire and yet here for them every moment they needed me; every mother's constant struggle no matter what job industry. So for all the great working actresses and working moms out there, I'm grateful for this job at this time. I'm grateful for a lifetime of work with my children and supporting them. I'm grateful they are my greatest work. I'm grateful for this glamorous life!

THE GLAMOROUS LIFE -Stephen Sondheim

Kara Gibson-Slocum

Hi Ho The Glamorous Life...