My chlidhood dream coming true...Thanks, Larry!

Wow... what a ride it was!!



Photo taken by Abraham Saenz


Last week, I literally got to live out one of my childhood dreams... to be on stage in a Broadway production! If you went to the show, you know that this is not something that is done very often (or ever!) and took a lot of planning mostly on behalf of one person, Larry Payton. So I thought I'd share how it all  happened.

I had set up a meeting with a friend that used to work for Celebrity Attractions to meet the new marketing and PR gal for the company. And Larry Payton, the President of the company, was in town and would also be joining us. I had worked with Larry over the years and was looking forward to meeting with him and assumed that we'd be talking about ways to help promote upcoming shows. Well as I listened to Larry talk, it became clear that he had a very unique way to promote their next show...he asked me if I would be interested in singing with the cast of "100 Years of Broadway"!! I immediately got overheated and nervous. But excited at the same time. The first thing I say is that I'd have to check with my bosses. But then Larry says that he had already talked to my general manager, Mark Rose, and that he loved the idea! The deal was that I had to fit it in between newscast so that I didn't miss any of our newscasts (February is when TV stations get "rated"). Channel 7 and everyone here was so supportive of this idea!!

That meeting was January 30th. Less than three weeks later, I see on Facebook that Larry was suddenly hospitalized in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I call my friend and she lets me know how bad it really was. I said lots of prayers for healing but ultimately... God had other plans. Larry Payton died that night. I was stunned and so saddened. But mostly felt so brokenhearted for his family and loved ones. He was only 64 (just one year older than my dad when we lost him). And what an amazing man he was! I was fortunate to hear his testimony shared at a Little Rock Media Fellowship meeting. This man was a great businessman and yet always put his faith and values first. And because of that, he created a reputation of high quality, family entertainment.

After hearing the news, I assumed I would no longer be a part of the show. After all this was all Larry's idea. He had contacted the producer and gotten clearance to do the show. And I couldn't imagine going through with it without him. 

But then, just five days before the show was set to begin... the press release went out that I'd be a part of the show! Yikes! All of a sudden I was really nervous!! I knew the song that they had wanted me to sing, "Seasons of Love" from the show Rent (I actually sang that song in high school choir) but I had never sung the solo part. AND I didn't even know what key it would be in or what kind of style the singers performed it in (I know that may mean nothing to those that don't sing...but for you singers out there, you know how important the key is!!). The show is a musical revue where they get to pick their favorite Broadway tunes to perform. That's why I was so nervous...what if they wanted me to sing really high?!? I am a true alto... and can't sing high at all!! And I wouldn't get to practice until two hours before the first performance!!! This might have been the most nervous I had ever been for a show. Even when I was on stage performing, I was always doing more dancing than singing. And even when I sang, it was usually with a group. So this was completely out of my comfort zone!!!

And then it hit me... I had nothing to wear!! I immediately contacted my friend and fashion blogger, Sandra (click here for Sandra's blog) and asked where I should go. She sent me to the lovely ladies at Proposals Boutique (click here for their facebook page) in the Heights. And boy did they hook me up!! I only tried on one dress...

this Nicole Miller fit perfectly... it was meant to be! :) They added some gorgeous Kendra Scott earrings and sent me on my way. I was starting to get excited!!



I met the director/producer and the cast right at 5pm Tuesday night. And they were so nice!! I guess I was nervous that they'd be questioning me and my abilities (like I was) but they didn't do that at all. They were kind, supportive, encouraging... wanted to know about me and my family and my job. And let me tell you, these are some of the BEST performers ever to be on Broadway!!! (Click here to read their very impressive bios.) The director, Neil Berg (click here to read his bio), said all the right things.



Me with the very talented Neil Berg, director/producer (photo take by Abraham Saenz)



Neil made me feel calm, comfortable, and gave me the confidence I needed to pull this off. We ran the song only once... and then it was time for me to do a live shot in the lobby to help promote the show! Then, with the help of Caroline Timm (the marketing gal for Celebrity Attractions) I quickly returned to the newsroom for the 6pm news. After the news, it was back to the theater for opening night!! I was so nervous I was shaking from head to toe!!

I watched most of the first act from back stage... then it was my turn!





When Neil introduced me to the crowd, I could honestly feel the support from the crowd. Like Neil said, they are welcoming and loving...and they want me to succeed (at least I hope that's the case). And with that support... I went for it. I sang my heart out!! It felt great!! At the end I was shaking again but this time it was because of the adrenaline rush I had gotten!! Good thing I calmed down when we went off stage because I usually throw up when I get an adrenaline rush!! :)

All that to say... I so wish Larry could have been here to see the show. But I know he was looking down from above cheering us on. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to literally live out one of my childhood dreams. :) Thanks to all of you for your support!!!!

Click here to watch the Tuesday night performance.



My littlest big fans...Sydney and Shelby Pederson



My biggest fan!

William Michals and Ron Bohmer

Danny Zolli



My Bible Study ladies...LOVE these girls!!

My friends' beautiful daughters!

Our awesome babysitter, Andrea! 



Carter Calvert, Abraham Saenz, and Sandra Joseph (photo taken by Abraham Saenz)





This picture gives me chills! The support from the cast was AMAZING!! (photo taken by Abraham Saenz)



Before I was on camera...I was on stage

I'll be honest, I didn't dream of being a news anchor when I was a little girl. I wanted to be a performer. Singing, dancing, playing instruments... whatever it was I wanted to be on stage. My dad was a professional violinist all his life and my mom danced all through school and is still a beautiful calligrapher. So needless to say, my sisters and I grew up in a very artistic world. We all started dancing when we were 3 years old, played violin or cello at a young age, and performed in nearly every theatrical production that was put on in, or around, Yankton, SD... my hometown. 

My first dance redital

My sisters and my dad and I used to play as a quartet all together (yes, I'm the baby) :)

I was very fortunate to have a dance instructor from Poland who just happen to move to Yankton when I was young. Which is a big part of why I started to take dance so seriously. I probably took ten classes a week by the time I was in high school and was teaching dance classes when I wasn't dancing. I started working at a local radio station, 1450 KYNT, when I was 16... but my true passion was still dance/theater.

I think I played every role possible in the Nutcracker. :) Here Snow Queen and an angel.

One of my favorite roles... Dorothy in Wizard of Oz!

I think if I had set my goals higher... like if I had a desire to one day be on Broadway... I might still be chasing that dream. But my dream was to get into a theater near Minneapolis called Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. I had seen musicals there since I was a little girl. And that was the stage that I wanted to be on. Well after moving to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota (hoping to get a musical theater or dance degree) I auditioned at Chanhassen and got cast in the show Can Can! I was only 18 and I thought I had hit the jackpot! It really was an amazing experience. We did 302 shows, 8 shows a week... and I never missed a show. We did nearly 100 kicks a show which meant about 800 kicks a week...what a workout! Truly talented people, amazing production value, and overall a wonderful experience!

Yep, that's me on the wall. Still the same "teethy" grin :)

When I was little I would point to this wall and say "someday my picture will be up there!" (top left if you can't find it)

The Can Can dancers!

I spent four years performing in various theaters in the Twin Cities while still going to school...although I changed my major to Broadcast Journalism as the "backup plan."

My 8X10 headshot

My resume

As much as I loved the theater, it really is a crazy business world. And I knew I wanted something more consistent long term. So when I graduated college I made the tough call to pursue the broadcasting route instead of theater route. And now I still get to feed my love of theater by being involved in the arts here in Arkansas.

I still can't believe I'll be on stage this week at Robinson Auditorium singing with REAL performers!! I think I'd be more comfortable if they had asked me to dance instead of sing! But I am also so grateful and honored to be asked... and I'm up for the challenge!!

So as they say in the theater world... don't wish me luck!! Just tell me to "break a leg!!"



Here's the press release from Celebrity Attractions about the show:


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!

KATV’s very own Christina Munoz will be performing a special number with the cast of 100 Years of Broadway all three nights!

Christina Munoz anchors Channel 7 News at 6pm and Nightside at 10:00 p.m. She joined KATV in April of 2003. Before moving to Little Rock, Christina was a reporter and fill-in anchor at KDLH Channel 3 News in Duluth, Minnesota. Prior to that, she worked behind the scenes at WCCO, the CBS affiliate in Minneapolis. Christina has been actively involved in various community organizations throughout Arkansas since moving here. She's a member of the Arkansas Climbers Coalition and is an honorary board member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). She also served two years as President of Ballet Arkansas and continues to be an advisory board member. Christina was also on stage in Ballet Arkansas' annual production of "The Nutcracker" for four years.

Neil Berg’s widely acclaimed 100 Years of Broadway, a musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows, features a dazzling cast of five Broadway stars accompanied by an all-star New York band. The show is opening at the Robinson Center Music Hall on February 26, 2013 and will run for three nights.
Past productions of this popular show have featured Betty Buckley, Liz Callaway, Ben Vereen, and Alex Santoriello among others. Along with musical director and pianist Neil Berg, the Robinson Center Music Hall production will feature Carter Calvert (Grizabella, Cats), Danny Zolli (Jesus, Jesus Christ Superstar), Sandra Joseph (Christine, The Phantom of the Opera), Ron Bohmer (Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera) and William Michals (Beast, Beauty and the Beast). *Cast is subject to change based upon possible Broadway and touring developments.

Welcomed by AT&T, 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY plays at the Robinson Center Music Hall February 26-28, 2013. All performances begin at 7:30p. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 501.244.8800 or 800.982.2787(ARTS), in person at Celebrity Attractions and all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets prices are $57.00, $46.50, $36.00 and $25.00 (no additional fees). Groups of 10 or more may call 501.492.3316 for a discount. For more information, visit the Celebrity Attractions’ website at www.CelebrityAttractions.com.

100 YEARS OF BROADWAY is part of the 2012-2013 Celebrity Attractions’ Broadway Season which also includes the Tony® Award winning JERSEY BOYS. Celebrity Attractions would like to thank our season sponsors KATV and American Airlines for their continued support of nationally touring Broadway in Little Rock.

Christmas Concert 2012

It's become a bit of an annual tradition... a Christmas concert at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs involving many of us here at Channel 7. My husband and I had planned for weeks to play a couple of Christmas songs together on the guitar. We chose "Feliz Navidad" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" mainly because they were the easiest guitar songs we could find. :)

I taught myself how to play guitar when I was 16 because I loved to sing songs with a friend of mine. Yes, we even had a group name... "Black Fire"... and we sang at local coffee shops and area events. Our guitar player quit on us unexpectedly so we took six months off so I could learn enough guitar to do our show. I caught on quickly because I had played violin for years but I'll be honest, I'm not very good. I didn't care... I just wanted to sing! When I met my husband he said he had always wanted to learn how to play guitar. So I saved up some money, bought him a guitar for his birthday, and taught him how to play. We played together last year and we were so excited about playing again this year. But then baby Reagan got sick. So sick there was talk of putting her in the hospital. Ugh! It wasn't RSV but it was very similar and some kind of a bronchial virus. Her doctor was very concerned it could turn into pneumonia so we had to keep a very close eye on her. So instead of getting a sitter so we could both go to the concert, Dave had to stay home with our sick little girl. :( The good news is she never had to go to the hospital and slowly got much better! The bad news was I had to perform by myself. Not something I was very comfortable doing. But the concert went well and I think everyone there enjoyed it.

Big thanks to Jason Pederson and his wife Mary Carol, Janelle Lilley, Jeanette Reyes, and Jason Harper's entire family...what a bunch of talented people!!

Click here for a link to all of our performances.