Phrases, Phases, & Faces of Katie Courtien

So You Think You Can Dance?

I think this week was the best episode so far this season. By that I mean there was more than one number I actually liked. What the f happened this year? I never thought I’d say this but I really miss Wade Robson in all his douchery. The show is so lacking without his dances. I also desperately miss Shane Sparks and am so tired of the cheesy ass choreography that Tabitha and Napolean keep manufacturing. Don’t even get me started on Tyce Diorio…

The only constant saving grace, as always, is the magnificent Mia Michaels although I really cannot handle anymore Celine Dion songs. Enough already. I’ll also give major props to Lil C as well as everyone’s favorite Russians, Dimitri and Pasha - LOVE THEM! Why are Russins so good at Latin dancing? Complete mystery.

Anyway… I hope this is the beginning of good stuff cause I honestly have been rather disappointed this year. Shit, I’ll just be happy if they stop using freakin Celine Dion every week.

Another loss...

This woman was an icon. She was my idol. A true hero. The world will be a sadder place without her. She was only 84.

R.I.P. Estelle Getty

AKA Sophia from “The Golden Girls.”

The Passing of Passing Strange

I felt the need to comment on the closing of Passing Strange because it is a travesty that something so beautiful and unique has had such a short lifespan. It continues to prove that the commercial theater is no place for good work to thrive, and Broadway is little more than a theme park these days.

Fortunately for me (by the crafty work of my AMAZING boyfriend), I had the privilege and pleasure of attending the final performance of Passing Strange yesterday. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I’d been to a few closings before, and they are always intensely emotional, but this was above and beyond that. During the Amsterdam/Keys sequence the chorus of “And it’s all right” must have gone on at least 5 minutes longer than it normally does. The characters even brought the woman who plays the Youth’s mother on stage to dance and sing with them. It was a joyous celebration and one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen on the stage in a very long time. When the reprise came during the curtain call, the actors were all screaming and crying and rolling on the floor and cheering and laughing, singing and dancing their asses off. I couldn’t stop crying and smiling.

I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it is to let a show like that go. These people are so connected to the material, especially Stew. It’s his life up there. He has poured out his heart to us lucky audience members for so long, it must feel so surreal to have to let that go. I admire his courage for being able to do it in the first place. The truths that he has spoken will stay with me for the rest of my life. He reminded me why I love this business so fucking much.

Stew is an amazingly talented man and it completely breaks MY heart and simultaneously exhilarates me to know that I was lucky enough to experience that performance yesterday - something that I doubt will ever be seen again. I wish the best to Stew, his band, and all of those performers. I’ve never seen so much heart on one stage.

Bermuda, Bahama, Come on Pretty Mama...

Actually just Bermuda. Yep, tomorrow I leave for Bermuda and I could not be less prepared. I’m all packed but my back is sooooo f’d up and I seem to have caught some awful throat thing from my neice. I’m gonna try to get all drugged up before I leave to try to make this vacation as lovely as it is SUPPOSED to be. As of now, however, I’m definitely NOT excited. In any case, I probably won’t be on here too much this week, even if we do have internet access. I’ll be too busy crying or tanning. See you on the flip side.

Courtien OUT.

I belong in a bubble.

So my back has been hurting real bad for the last few days. It started rather suddenly at dinner on Wednesday night. I was eating then the pain hit me so strong, I actually started to choke. I put some heat on it, took Advil and went to bed. Woke up the next day and was feeling pretty decent. It was really only sore to the touch. When I woke up today, the pain was back. I realized it was time to put in a call to my dear friend/chiropractor Amy Burke (who is fantastic and I would highly recommend).

Amy began doin her thang and announced, “Hmmm… it feels tense but your back isn’t talking to me nearly as much as its obviously talking to you.” Then suddenly, as her hand moved across my ribs, I let out a cry and I believe the word “OWIE!” escaped my lips. She then replied, “Ooooo I think we’ve found it! Yeah you seem to have popped your rib out of place….”

SAY WHAT!?!??!?! I thought maybe I had a sprain or pulled a muscle…but my ribs? Seriously? Anyway, Amy screwed around with my back for the next hour, doing her magic and explaining some exercises that I should do to help it heal. She also gave me some homeopathic drugs to take.

My brother actually just walked in whilst I was typing this and he asked about my prognosis and after telling him he exclaimed, “What the hell is wrong with you? Why can’t you ever have a normal problem? Most people have a pain in their back its a knot. You pop a rib. Most people get colds. You get pneumonia. Ridiculous.” I’ve always had a flair for the dramatic and I’ll openly admit I can be a bit of a hypochondriac but I also seem to be VERY unlucky when it comes to my health. Sigh…. hopefully this will pass in the next few days. Or maybe it will develop into the bubonic plague. You never know with me…