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And not just any production of Wicked: the DUTCH! YAY 🙂

Already was confirmed that Stage Entertainment/Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties was planning on creating a Dutch production of Wicked, but as they’ve produced all major musicals in Holland, that didn’t came as a surprise.

Immediately rumours started about the cast. Auditions weren’t until November 2010, but every Dutch musical fan had their favourites for Elphaba, G(a)linda and Fiyero 🙂

Recently was confirmed that Willemijn Verkaik will play Elphaba for the first four months – I guess they count on her to attract the public – after which she will step down and another actress will take over.

Willemijn is *sigh* so good! She was cast as Elphaba in the original German production, which opened in Stuttgart in 2007. She went on to play the part in Oberhausen (Germany) when it opened there in March 2010. She has an amazing voice and – from what I can tell, as German isn’t my first language, but still… – she speaks German like the Germans and her Elphaba is great! In November 2010, she was chosen as the ‘Favorite current Elphaba‘ in a poll where 16.500 people voted.
We have tried to see her in Germany, but it wasn’t to be. Now I can look forward to seeing her in Holland though! *does happy dance*

Yesterday was announced that Jim Bakkum will play Fiyero. After being runner up in Idols (2003) he released several records and was mostly known as popsinger. He spread his wings and did some TV work and then was cast as Danny Zuko in Grease, followed by Nick Piazza in Fame and Link Larkin in Hairspray.
And now he’ll be Fiyero. Good choice IMHO. He certainly has the looks and I’m confident that the voice will be there too.

Wicked will play in the Circustheater in Scheveningen, where Mary Poppins currently is running. MP is an ‘open end’ production, the show will stay on until ticket sales drop down, so there isn’t a confirmed date for Wicked yet. But, knowing how much needs to be arranged before opening night, I’m sure there is a date known ‘somewhere’. I’ll get back to you on that one 🙂

Here’s a short video of the German Wicked with Willemijn as Elphaba

For years I’ve been a fan of Jacquie Lawson and her team, the animated e-card company. The first card I saw, the Christmas Cottage, made my jaw drop and I couldn’t stop playing it. Awesome graphics, combined with great music and wonderful animations. As there are so many beautiful cards, you just have to explore her site – after you finish reading this post of course 🙂

Knowing me, it won’t come as a surprise that the Christmas cards are my favourites *wink* but the other categories have gems as well. Still, it’s the Christmas cards that make me go back, any time of the year, just to get a ‘taste’ of Christmas.

A few days ago I received a notification from Jacquie Lawson.com and at first I thought someone sent me a Christmas card, but it was way way waaaay much better! It was an early Christmas gift and one that will bring joy each day in December (and I hope it will be available during the rest of the year too!)  The Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar!

Each day a new animation is available and you can’t peek ahead, lol, I’ve tried 😀

The moment I start up my computer, a beautiful animated snowglobe appears in the corner of my desktop. Clicking that will open the village

The date of today is highlighted and clicking that opens up a new animation every day. Day 1 was the Christmas Tree in the centre of the village, Dec. 2 a jazzband playing a Christmas song, Dec. 3 Bev’s Coffee House and Day 4 (today) Cudleigh’s Station. Each animation has its own music and I’m always looking forward to the next day 🙂

After viewing the animation, the baubles with the numbers in it disappear, but it doesn’t leave a static village, even that is animated. Snow is falling, you can see people walking in the coffee house and every now and then the train leaves the station. Apparently there will be more snow on the ground further in the month. Can’t wait!

The unexpected gifts are always the best, so thank you Jill from the bottom of my heart, for brightening my day.. no.. my month 🙂 It’s the first thing I check when I get up, I can’t help but view it a few times during the day and it’s the last thing I watch before going to bed. For me, there couldn’t have been a more fitting gift.

So, if you’re looking for a great Christmas gift, hurry to Jacquie Lawson.com and send a Calendar to your friends, they will love you even more 😀

Happy Holidays!

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Very hectic, but lots of fun!
I’m so proud to announce that the third annual WWCSF Blog is offering freebies from about 50 designers spread all over the world.

Click the logo to visit the Blog and from there you will find links to all the designers. Please leave some love when you download a freebie – it warms our hearts 🙂

And… here’s my contribution.

I love these colours and I’m working on a matching kit!

Download WWCSF WordArt 1.6 Kb

Please don’t share the link to the freebie, but link to this post or the WWCSF Blog instead, thanks!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Pippi turns 65 – well waddayaknow 🙂

Pippi Longstocking, aka Pippi Langkous (Netherlands), Pippi Langstrumpf (Germany), Pippi Långstrump (Sweden),  Pippi Langstrømpe (Denmark), Píppi Meialonga (Portugal) and many many more names (and countries)… Amazing!

I have so many ideas in my head, I didn’t know where to start. So I opened PSP and started many kits at the same time, not a clever thing to do because – eventhough you create a lot – you never finish anything :p

Happy to say I’ve finished one kit and added a freebie!

Edit: No longer available at a shop, sorry!

And a cute Snowflake Border Freebie 🙂

Download: Snowflake Border Freebie – 1.75 MB

Enjoy 🙂

Kit and freebie made with original artwork by Whimsy Primsy.