Oh my goodness, last night I had the pleasure of attending the first play ever attempted at UDI with all the clients and friends that work with Joey. He and they have prepared for weeks and if you ever have a bad day or feel I'm having a bad day then all you have to do is have the honor of spending some time with all these special people. I have a few pictures and yes they were taken with warm hearted tears in my eyes so if they are blurred they look very clear to me. lol.
Those of you that had the pleasure of meeting Joey know how he can pull at your heart strings and entertain with his humor. Well, last night there were dozens doing exactly the same thing. These guys created the entire thing from stage, props, costumes, and learned every line perfectly. Atleast for all of us it was perfect even when it needed a little prompting. My thanks goes to all the staff at UDI and the total effort they had to make for this to be possible. Oh yea the programs were 4 pages long all handwritten complete with a blank page labeled autographs for after the play and each person responsible for different parts or stage setup were recognized in writting and a final bow at the end. Every detail was so well done.
Here is a little of what they did for all of us.
The play started with a scene called UDI Mart where they had a scene of actors pretending to be buying Christmas but showing just how rude people can be at Christmas time and this brought many laughs as the family waiting in line to pay, straightened a few people out. It was wonderful and all lines delivered where we all understood. One point they were trying to make is hustle and bustle of Christmas and how we lose our purpose many times. You'll see how that all adds up at the end.

I realized very quickly that I was too far back in crowd to get some good pictures and didn't have my high power lenses but this gives you the idea of the scene.
During each scene change they had beautiful music by carolers and others getting the audience involved with clapping or singing.

Next scene was Christmas window shopping with actors on stage and people window shopping (UDI actors) walking by and entertaining all of us with what they were seeing in the windows. I really loved the mims made up so well and excellent focus on hand movements.

Now Joey was a window shopper and this was him telling his family what all he wanted for Christmas (video games lol). He commented on each window as he passed by with the mims, angels and passing out presents in the middle. Great job by all. Joey stood in front of the mims copying their moves until his family had to come and move him on which is very close to normal with Joey when he's shopping lol.

Next scene was where a well-to-do family was preparing for Christmas, making more fuss over getting the tree decorated and house ready for Christmas, fussing at each other and totally not interested in time with family or caring for less fortunate people, just their appearance to others. They were getting ready for a big Christmas party. Well I thought I got a picture of the living room scene but can't find it this morning so I'll go on to next scene.
Next scene was a scene of homeless people huddled around a fire and the life they live and at one point the wealthy family from the scene before was lost on their way to a broadway play and walked through the scene in disgust that they were having to be so close to such people and how dirty and low life they were.

Now the well to do family made it to the broadway play complete with Rockettes dancing. Its not Christmas until you see the Rockettes. Great job by the Rockettes and then completed with a young man dressed in a tux that sang a solo that lifted the rafters and so special. He would have us laughing one minute with his hand jesters and the next crying with the beauty of the song.


The next scene is where all the children were learning the real reason for Christmas by the babysitter (red headed lady) and that Jesus was born on Christmas day and had never really had a birthday party. The kids were all telling her what they wanted for Christmas when she explained what Christmas was all about and they decided to throw Jesus a birthday party.

They decided to make up invitations and pass them out to all that needed to come to the party. Well the next scene was the wealthy family returning from the theater and getting ready for the party they were having at their house. Well the door bell kept ringing and people from all over were at the door with an invitation to attend the party including the homeless crowd they had seen earlier. Of course the mama and daddy figures were not happy with those type people in their house and fearful of them when all of a sudden all the children were presenting them with their favorite blankets or coats and special gifts from the heart to the people that needed them more. Well not a dry eye in the crowd with so much meaning to Christmas in their hearts. They took this very scene very seriously and made it real to them therefore it was real to all of us. I was so impressed with them bringing all the scenes of the play together to get to the real reason we celebrate Christmas when nowadays schools etc won't touch the Christian side of Christmas. This was a very pleasant surprise for all of us.
Now they even had a birthday cake with candles and all in attendance sang Happy Birthday and celebrated the moment. Unbelievably touching.

Well this is where the play ended but everybody that had anything to do with the play from stage set-ups to acting got to return for a final bow for recognition. They were worth millions before the play now they is not enough money in the world that could touch them in our hearts. My day was so blessed by attending a play so well done by those that brought it to life and gave their entire focus and attention and hearts to making it so successful.
Here are a few of the pictures of the final bow. Of course for some reason at the end Joey wasn't a scene all by himself but in the end he got a chance for a final curtain all by himself. and got a standing ovation. Now when it was all over and done and we could get to Joey for a family hug he was just crying and so happy. Not unhappy tears but absolute delight and happiness he couldn't contain and it came out as tears. I always knew he was precious to all of us but he is precious to anyone he meets. I so realize how fortunate I am to have so much in my life with family and friends.
Here are a few pictures of the final bow at the end.
Rockettes and opera singer

Wealthy family that in the end was all about real reason for Christmas.

Just as I mentioned above Joey always has to steal the show and he was in many of the scene final bows but in the end had to have one just by himself. I ask his staff worker after the show how Joey got to get a bow all by himself. They simply say because its Joey and everyone in this place loves Joey. He keeps all of them going on a daily basis and loves the attention. They made that part of the play because so many know Joey and love him just as we do.

I hope your Christmas will be as happy and as family focused as mine and you really remember the real reason for Christmas. I couldn't be happier and more blessed and wish the very same for all of you.