by Cara Mentzel
In my big sister’s arms, 1974. This picture was taken a few hours before I was admitted to the hospital.
Happy kisses.
Family photo taken by Dad using the self-timer feature. One of many self-timer pictures from that period featuring his bearded chin.
Sisters in footsie pajamas from Dad’s work.
Horseback riding at The Brickman.
Dorothy (Dina in fifth grade) a long way from Kansas on a Long Island driveway. (Mom can be seen through the car’s rear window. I can just hear her saying, “Stu, take a picture before she gets in the car.”)
“Tis Mabel.” Dina in fourth grade.
Dina with Mr. Roper in Baylis Elementary school.
Dina, Syosset High School talent show.
Me, tap dance recital.
Me in my milk maiden costume for Oliver. “Any milk today, monsieur?”
Teenage Cara taking herself very seriously, clearly unaware that the cotton crotch of her Lycra tights is visible beyond her leotard. Classy.
Dressing in our “coolest” digs for a trip into Greenwich Village.
Dina and me after my Syosset High School graduation. Class of 1992.
Rollerblading on the CU Boulder campus, 1993.
Rent opening night party at Chelsea Piers. (From left to right: me, Dad, Dina, and Grandma Sylvia.)
Mom, Dad, and me on my graduation day, CU Boulder Class of 1996.
This is what snuggles look like all grown up. Mom’s couch, Thanksgiving, 1998.
Karaoke, Montego Bay, 2003.
Auntie Cara with scrumptious little man Diggs.
In San Francisco for the pre-Broadway tryout of Wicked, 2003. (From left to right: Mom, Dee with Jacob, me, and Avery.)
Colorado’s gorgeous Red Rocks Amphitheater. Idina Menzel’s Barefoot at the Symphony tour, 2011. (From left to right: Mark, me, Jake, Avery, and my stepson Oscar.)
Backstage after Dee’s Oscar-night performance of “Let It Go,” 2014.
The better—if you can believe it—of two poor photos taken of me in Dee’s and my borrowed Oscar-night diamonds. (I’m trying to keep a straight face for my wannabe Sophia Loren glamour shot in the dark Escalade.)
Oscar-day glamour prep.
My Gratitude
In the more than four years it took me to write this book I juggled three great loves: family, writing, and teaching. I was all kinds of crazy. To everyone and everything that offered support through that experience (whether you’re called out in this section or not), I assure you that my gratitude is boundless.
To Dee for not only letting me write about us, but for suggesting it. For trusting me with our stories and honoring my point of view. For your time, energy, and your huge heart. But mostly, for being an inspiration.
To Jake and Avery, for letting Mom tell your stories. For letting me be self-centered sometimes and still growing into exceptional, loving, thoughtful human beings, and for continuing to snuggle with me even as you grew taller than me.
To Oscar, for accepting me into your life.
To Dad for crying in therapy with me all those years ago, for never being surprised when I succeed, and always calling me on your way home from the casino.
To Mom—Is it funny that I want to thank you for your memory! You might have three pairs of reading glasses on your head and not remember what you told me this morning, but without your vivid memories I couldn’t have written this book. Thank you for your endless supply of pep talks, for putting the needs of your daughters and grandsons above all else, and for your genes—I’m still holding out hope that I age as well as you.
And to Mark, the fastest pun in the west, whose generosity and devotion make him the easiest man to love. Thank you for working twice as hard so that I could write, for keeping me laughing, and for falling asleep with your hand on my ass nearly every night—all women should be so lucky.
To Shannon, for always making time, for understanding the difference between a semicolon, an em-dash, and an en-dash (that’s a thing, right?). For loving me in my ugliest moments, and even when I pee my pants.
To Lisa, for your irreverent sense of humor and thoughtfulness. For having the most infectious laugh and cutest sneeze (and not the other way around). And for listening—no matter what.
To Shari Caudron, for telling me I had a story and then giving me the courage and the wherewithal to write it.
To Jennifer Joel, my badass agent, a hero in my book (but too classy for a gold-trim bustier and red boots).
To Michael Flamini and his posse at St. Martin’s Press, for a warm welcome, for your patience, and enthusiasm. And Michael, for incorporating comedy into your edits so they were easily digestible (even at a DAR luncheon).
To the following special people who gave me cozy places to write: my friends at Ozo coffee shop on Arapahoe, Diane and Jack Bazler, Kelly and Don Degnan, and Jeri and Erik Chapin.
To my many readers along the way for their helpful input including: Brittany Rocheleau-Unwin, Heather Glick, Julie Herman, Laura Jordan (thanks for nothin’), Lauren Ward-Larson, Lauren Szenina, Tim Hillmer, and Karyn Smith.
To Neil Rosini (my attorney and a calm voice of reason), Mary Jo Bode (my forever mentor and another calm voice of reason), Martin and Mason Balgach (because you’re like family, but definitely not calm voices of reason). To the Idina Menzel posse: Burt Goldstein, Heather Reynolds, Bonnie Bernstein, and Ken Weinrib. And more family: Ron and Sylvia Phillips, Paul, Bets, and Ollie, Sarah, Kevin, Korynne and Kyler, Susie Mentzel, Aaron Lohr and the incomparable Walker Diggs.
To my community at Foothill Elementary, especially my students—past and present—from whom I often learn my greatest lessons (like opt for the skort on a windy day).
To the accommodating staff at the Boulder Valley School District, my principals over the years who have graciously been flexible with my schedule, and the Boulder Valley Education Association for taking what was probably the strangest call they’ve answered to date.
To my cheerleaders at HireEducation.
To my crutches: Zoloft, Buspar, coffee, red wine, and binge television.
To my dogs: Miss Adelaide, may you never be without a lap. Benny, may you never be without a ball (and thanks for keeping your balls out of my lap).
And finally, to anyone whose real name is in this book and isn’t pissed.
Thank you. Truly.
About the Author
CARA MENTZEL is a writer and a teacher. She received her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1996, where she graduated magna cum laude. She returned to UC Boulder in 2004 for her teaching certificate and master’s in elementary education with an emphasis in child literacy. She received her National Board certification as a reading teacher in 2011.
Cara lives in Boulder with the love of her life. She has two teenage boys who like to reprimand her for cursing too much, and an older stepson who is an aspiring musician. She also has two dogs with whom she has much in common, a Border collie with OCD and a Maltipoo with a weak bladder. Voice Lessons is her first book. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Foreword
Prologue
PART I. TWO GIRLS
Lesson 1: How to Breathe
Lesson 2: How to Work Things Out—Or Not
Lesson 3: How to Play a Part
PART II. MOVING ON
Lesson 4: How to Measure a Year
Lesson 5: How to Sing a Solo
Lesson 6: How to Sing a Duet
PART III. FLYING HIGH
>
Lesson 7: How to Fail
Lesson 8: How to Love a Witch
Lesson 9: How to Want to Win
Lesson 10: How to Make Mistakes
Lesson 11: How to Make Hello Dollies
Lesson 12: How to Envy
PART IV. LETTING GO
Lesson 13: How to Live
Lesson 14: How to Make a Mark (or Marry One)
Lesson 15: How to Jump
Lesson 16: How to Let Go
Photographs
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
VOICE LESSONS. Copyright © 2017 by Cara Mentzel. Foreword copyright © 2017 by Idina Menzel. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Photos courtesy of the Mentzel family
Cover design by Kerri Resnick
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-10524-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-10525-7 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250105257
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2017
