By Hannah Gomez, playing Maribel in crooked

Just Us Girls 

Despite how hardworking and intelligent the production team of Crooked has been, there is also this fun vibe of “just us girls.” This isn’t meant in a condescending or demeaning sense, but in the sense that there is a vibrant, empowering, FUN energy that comes from being in a setting with such great women.

Laney Writing

 In the play, Laney (Rae Gray) writes… a LOT. It’s kind of her thing. She even goes on to dedicate one of her stories to Maribel (myself). One of my favorite “fun” things, thus far, was when Rae (as Laney) made me (as Maribel) a mixed CD of “Laney’s top 16.” It read, “For Maribel <3 Laney.” This is not in the text, mind you. There is no part of the play where Laney gives Maribel a mixed CD. Maribel wouldn’t even have a way to play it at home, given her strict, sheltered upbringing. This kind act was just Rae being awesome and sharing some of the music that her character might like; music that, I assumed intentionally, coincided with some of the events of the play.

Laney's Top 16

 I liked many of the songs already. I’ve now listened to the whole CD in my car and it made me laugh. It even made me think about things I hadn’t thought about in the play before. “Laney’s top 16” consists of:

1. Mean by: Taylor Swift
2. I Kissed A Girl by: Katy Perry
3. Boyfriend by: Justin Bieber
4. Pure Imagination by: Maroon Five
5. Call Me Maybe by: Carly Rae Jepsen
6. A Year Without Rain by: Selena Gomez
7. What Makes You Beautiful by: One Direction
8. Never Say Never by: Justin Bieber
9. The Heart of Life by: John Mayer
10. You Belong With Me by: Taylor Swift
11. Hot N’ Cold by: Katy Perry
12. Stronger by: Kelly Clarkson
13. Eyes Open by: Taylor Swift (We sing this occasionally in rehearsal?.)
14. Firework by: Katy Perry
15. Bang Bang Bang by: Selena Gomez
16. Something That I Want by: Grace Potter

I guess you’ll have to see the show to get some of the songs listed… In light of this awesomeness, I decided Maribel might’ve stolen a CD from school and burned it on the library computer, where she goes to discover most things secular. I made a CD for Laney (Rae) that also mildly coincides with the play. The mix is mostly some of the things that Maribel would want Laney to hear. Rae’s mix was a little more age appropriate, but I’m not as up-to-date as Rae is, so I did my best ?. Maribel’s mix CD consisted of (in order):

1. Ordinary Day by: Vanessa Carlton
2. F***kin Perfect by: P!nk
3. Shine Your Light by: Nichole Nordeman
4. There's Hope by: India.Arie
5. Stuck Like Glue by: Sugarland
6. Friday by: Rebecca Black
7. In the Highways by: The Peasall Sisters
8. All The Way Up to Heaven by: Guster
9. Carry On by: Fun.
10. Gratitude by: Nichole Nordeman
11. New Soul by: Yael Naim
12. Follow You Down: Gin Blossoms
13. This One's For The Girls by: Martina McBride
14. Wild Young Hearts by: The Noisettes
15. I Do Not Hook Up by: Kelly Clarkson
16. I'm Not Your Toy by: La Roux
17. Why Baby Why by: The Secret Sisters
18. You Lie by: The Band Perry
19. Messiah by: MoZella
20. Jesusland by: Ben Folds
21. This is Not an Exit by: Saves The Day

….Now you really have to see the play, right?