I just closed my 30th show Sunday night, KISS ME, KATE. Certainly every one that I've done has been unique, full of special people who have stuck with me for a long time. I have notebooks and scrapbooks and pictures on my piano, music and programs and cards.

But this one was truly special to me, and has been from the get-go. Last summer I went to see the chair of the music department about scheduling my summer classes, and he asked me if I would be interested in being the musical director for the next musical. I literally squealed in his office. (Yes...very professional of me.) I met with the chair of the theatre department soon after and couldn't figure out why they wanted little ol' me. I figured they were pretty hard up.

Honestly, I've been giddy about the whole thing ever since. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop--divas, cranky techies, bipolar directors--but it never happened. Instead I had a cast who wanted to work their tails off and a production staff who wanted to take good care of me.

This was easily the most pleasant, positive experience I've had in musical theatre in a long, long list of pleasant experiences. Now we're talking about doing "The Fantasticks," which is my all-time favorite show. (It was also the hardest show I had ever done before "Kate.")

I'm a lucky, lucky girl...

OL's comment made reminded me that a plot synopsis might come in handy. Kiss Me, Kate is a...