I am sure you've missed me.
Or perhaps not.
Well... I've missed me. And that's all that counts, since I'm writing this for myself. And anyone else who happens to see it. But primarily because I have words in my brain, and if I don't let them out, they stomp around and bombard me until ink oozes out my ears.
I've gone on a bit of a blogging tangent lately. I now have three blogs.
The first is this one. It is my main blog, and basically receives all of my geek tangents, random thought processes, and, more specifically and most importantly, my journey into thespianism.
The second created was based on a random experience I had in a café in a tiny town in South Dakota. The writing bug bit, and all I had was a pamphlet stolen off the counter and an old pen. It did wonders for my muse, and thus was born "Ordinary Everyday Experiences"; a blog created to captures snippets and snapshots of, well, ordinary experiences.
The third and final blog was just born recently, and has come out of a revived Star Trek rampage I have gone on with some friends. As a character exercise, I have donned the persona of Mr. Spock, writing his 'Personal (B)Log' at "Spock Speaks". My wonderfully creative friend has joined me, and writes as Doctor McCoy at "Letters to Spock". It really is a relief to let some of that pent up creativity out. And so much fun!
Despite the fact that I have quite a bit of updating to post here about my journey in the theatre world, the hour grows late, and I spent most of my free time this evening creating renderings of my characters and writing as Commander Spock. Therefore, I must wrap up this post, but rest assured I shall return very soon with updates on my experiences.
Until next time!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Deductions of a Distracted Damsel
NaNo currently underway, and I fear that during November there may not be much time for blogging; but despite that I have discovered something so decidedly fantastic and utterly amazing that it must needs be shared. Two words for you, my friends.
Sherlock Holmes.
Before you get on my case (Sherlockian pun intended?), and begin dancing wildly around the room exclaiming with despair and wonderment about how anyone could go this long in life without having discovered such an esteemed fellow, allow me to explain myself.
Naturally, I have always known of the man. (I would like to add here that I believe he is part Vulcan, whatever else anyone may claim.) I have a rather incomplete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes that has recently come to frustrate me, as it does not include much of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works surrounding the fellow. However, I have never gotten around to reading it. *gasp* *horror* I know, it's a horrendous atrocity, but I have begun to mend my ways. I have also, naturally, seen the movies starring Jude Law and Robert Downey Junior; and of course quite enjoyed them. Despite all of this, my true admiration for the character only fully began recently, upon my exposure to BBC's Sherlock. I ate through both seasons in a very short time, and delved into my limited Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I have found myself in search of a more complete works; something closer to 1,000+ pages ought to do the trick. In the meantime, I hope the meager amount I have access to will be able to tide me over until then. If not... I'll just sit around reading this website. That should keep me under control.
Continuing on, and to give some credit to Holmes' esteemed colleague, Dr. Watson, I must offer up this site as well. It's utterly fantastic; the creators of the show have also created the website of Holmes and Watson's blog to go along with the world of 221B Baker Street. They are quite enjoyable to read; and I am really jealous of the fellow who got paid to create those blogs. What a wonderful way to spend one's time! Talk about a writing job to dream about...
Just a bit to tide you all off until November is over; and to let me get in a bit of blogging about a wonderful subject. See you all on the other side of November!
Sherlock Holmes.
Before you get on my case (Sherlockian pun intended?), and begin dancing wildly around the room exclaiming with despair and wonderment about how anyone could go this long in life without having discovered such an esteemed fellow, allow me to explain myself.
Naturally, I have always known of the man. (I would like to add here that I believe he is part Vulcan, whatever else anyone may claim.) I have a rather incomplete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes that has recently come to frustrate me, as it does not include much of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works surrounding the fellow. However, I have never gotten around to reading it. *gasp* *horror* I know, it's a horrendous atrocity, but I have begun to mend my ways. I have also, naturally, seen the movies starring Jude Law and Robert Downey Junior; and of course quite enjoyed them. Despite all of this, my true admiration for the character only fully began recently, upon my exposure to BBC's Sherlock. I ate through both seasons in a very short time, and delved into my limited Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I have found myself in search of a more complete works; something closer to 1,000+ pages ought to do the trick. In the meantime, I hope the meager amount I have access to will be able to tide me over until then. If not... I'll just sit around reading this website. That should keep me under control.
Continuing on, and to give some credit to Holmes' esteemed colleague, Dr. Watson, I must offer up this site as well. It's utterly fantastic; the creators of the show have also created the website of Holmes and Watson's blog to go along with the world of 221B Baker Street. They are quite enjoyable to read; and I am really jealous of the fellow who got paid to create those blogs. What a wonderful way to spend one's time! Talk about a writing job to dream about...
Just a bit to tide you all off until November is over; and to let me get in a bit of blogging about a wonderful subject. See you all on the other side of November!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
An Unexpected Journey
Life is a journey. On that, I think, we can all agree. And it is certainly no stretch to call it "unexpected". That, however, is one of the greatest things about life. We cannot predict its twists and turns; we can only take them as they come. In the words of Tolkien:
"It's a dangerous business, [...] going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
It's true. It is a dangerous business. And as for keeping your feet; well, that's hardly a guarantee. In fact, if you do choose to step out your door, it's more of a guarantee that you will lose your feet. That's the beauty of it all.
In the past few years, I've come to realize all sorts of things about myself. Each one has been an important discovery for me; and some more surprising than others. I'm at a pivotal time in my life; a time in which change is generally the order of the day. There's no telling where I might end up, or what experience I might have that may change my outlook on life and my decisions. At any given moment, I could discover some new side of myself that I never knew existed.
This is especially true for me because I seek out new experiences constantly. I am not content to "maintain". I do not wish to remain one way, or have a single set of experiences and viewpoints from which to view the world for the rest of my life. I need more. I crave more. There is always a new challenge- a new 'adventure', if you will- waiting. How can I not continue to pursue such things? They push me beyond my limits, and offer me new ways of viewing and being a part of the world. Sometimes, they even open me up to a side of myself that I never knew about.
To realize what you want in the world, or what you need to do with your life, is a singularly astounding feeling. It's a long journey to get there, and to come to such a realization; but it is an amazing experience. Once realized, it is a seed that takes root in the very essence of your being. How can such an entity be ignored? It could be, perhaps; but at great cost to one's sanity and well being.
Time passes in an odd fashion when you are at the most pivotal moments. They come quickly and with little warning, but they create such a gap between the 'old you' and the 'new you' that it can seem as though eons have passed since the change.
How odd it is to stand on the edge of one such pivotal point and to be aware of the crossroads reached. Usually, such awareness does not come until after the fact, hindsight being 20/20. And so, while I type this and consider the twists and turns I've taken on my own life journey, I contemplate the sensation of having such knowledge right now. The crossroads has been reached, and I know which road I have to take.
I have stood at this crossroads before. It looks different to me now, so different that I almost did not recognize it; for a different set of eyes looked out upon it the last time I stood here. But I know that it is the same one. The last time I stood here, I was not prepared for the turn I now must make. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this; and I have no regrets about the different decisions I have made that have led me on my journey thus far. They have been necessary steps that have allowed me to realize where I truly belong. And so, I stand here once more, finally prepared to take the first steps down an entirely new road. Something stirs within me; anticipation for the road ahead, and perhaps the slightest modicum of trepidation. It is important for me to recognize and acknowledge these feelings; and I do. Each has their place, and if they were not there, something would be missing. But they tell me, more clearly than my logic and analysis ever can, that this right.
Have you reached your crossroads?
"It's a dangerous business, [...] going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
It's true. It is a dangerous business. And as for keeping your feet; well, that's hardly a guarantee. In fact, if you do choose to step out your door, it's more of a guarantee that you will lose your feet. That's the beauty of it all.
In the past few years, I've come to realize all sorts of things about myself. Each one has been an important discovery for me; and some more surprising than others. I'm at a pivotal time in my life; a time in which change is generally the order of the day. There's no telling where I might end up, or what experience I might have that may change my outlook on life and my decisions. At any given moment, I could discover some new side of myself that I never knew existed.
This is especially true for me because I seek out new experiences constantly. I am not content to "maintain". I do not wish to remain one way, or have a single set of experiences and viewpoints from which to view the world for the rest of my life. I need more. I crave more. There is always a new challenge- a new 'adventure', if you will- waiting. How can I not continue to pursue such things? They push me beyond my limits, and offer me new ways of viewing and being a part of the world. Sometimes, they even open me up to a side of myself that I never knew about.
To realize what you want in the world, or what you need to do with your life, is a singularly astounding feeling. It's a long journey to get there, and to come to such a realization; but it is an amazing experience. Once realized, it is a seed that takes root in the very essence of your being. How can such an entity be ignored? It could be, perhaps; but at great cost to one's sanity and well being.
Time passes in an odd fashion when you are at the most pivotal moments. They come quickly and with little warning, but they create such a gap between the 'old you' and the 'new you' that it can seem as though eons have passed since the change.
How odd it is to stand on the edge of one such pivotal point and to be aware of the crossroads reached. Usually, such awareness does not come until after the fact, hindsight being 20/20. And so, while I type this and consider the twists and turns I've taken on my own life journey, I contemplate the sensation of having such knowledge right now. The crossroads has been reached, and I know which road I have to take.
I have stood at this crossroads before. It looks different to me now, so different that I almost did not recognize it; for a different set of eyes looked out upon it the last time I stood here. But I know that it is the same one. The last time I stood here, I was not prepared for the turn I now must make. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this; and I have no regrets about the different decisions I have made that have led me on my journey thus far. They have been necessary steps that have allowed me to realize where I truly belong. And so, I stand here once more, finally prepared to take the first steps down an entirely new road. Something stirs within me; anticipation for the road ahead, and perhaps the slightest modicum of trepidation. It is important for me to recognize and acknowledge these feelings; and I do. Each has their place, and if they were not there, something would be missing. But they tell me, more clearly than my logic and analysis ever can, that this right.
Have you reached your crossroads?
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Shakespeare Review: Hamlet
First off, beggin' your pardon for this long promised review being such a long time in coming. It's been a bit busy around here, and I've just recently been introduced to the show Sherlock, which has provided quite ample distraction. More on that later.
As promised, I shall begin with a few personal statistics. As I said before, I mark my reading with post-it notes. My colours of choice at the moment are orange and green. For an explanation of the difference, refer back to the post "What's Coming: Theatrical Reviews and NaNo!". Or, don't, and just keep reading this post in ignorance of the life and death meaning attached to the two colours. Seven thespian points to those of you who come up with some intense meaning for the two different coloured post-it notes. Please share in comment form below.
The Stats:
Green Post-It Notes: 6
Orange Post-It Notes: 15
Seen:
Live- Jungle Theatre in Minneapolis; Hugh Kennedy
Film- BBC Royal Shakespeare Company; David Tennant
Note: Perhaps this is obvious, but, ehm, SPOILERS to follow.
I must begin with the performance I saw at the Jungle Theatre, as it was my first introduction to Hamlet. This was quite an experience for me, most especially because it was my first time seeing Shakespeare performed live. I have to say; there is nothing quite like it in the world. I spent the bulk of the performance on the edge of my seat, clinging to every word the actors said. It was utterly fantastic. I was with them for every moment of the show. I went mad with Ophelia, I died slowly with Laertes and Hamlet, and, well, nearly everyone else in the show. I wanted so badly to be up onstage with them, capturing the wondrous and intense tragedy of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
I am disappointed that I had not read the play first, but, when the opportunity arises, one must take it! However, I was able to read the play next; I did not let myself watch any film version or other Hamlet rendition until I had finished it. It was a joy to be reading Shakespeare again. While it took me some time to work through, as I was being very thorough, and maintain a rather busy schedule, it was a wonderful read. Of all the Shakespeare I have read thus far (which, admittedly, is not a whole lot), it is my favourite. I absolutely love the character Hamlet.
The wayward Prince is ever so amusing. His sarcastic and witty personality is quite fun to behold; most particularly his episodes of "madness". Perhaps not the most stable fellow in the universe, and certainly dramatic, but who can blame him? A dead father, not yet cold in the grave, and suddenly your mother is married to your uncle? And, apparently, no one seems to care. One of my favourite soliloquies in here:
"O that this too too sullied flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter. O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
[...]"
~Hamlet, I.ii (William Shakespeare)
I love this first introduction to Hamlet's innermost thoughts. And what a revelation they are! What suffering the young man possesses himself of. If only... if only he could end his time in this world. He only wishes to be rid of the pain of his heart. When the death is apparently mere happenstance, there is nothing for Hamlet to do. He can only hope that his own misery will end. The entrance of his deceased father, however, gives him a new outlet for his pain. Revenge.
This portion of the play is also highly interesting, because the tragedy that happened to Hamlet is later mirrored when Polonius is killed. Another death of a father. However, Ophelia and Laertes take this quite differently. Laertes follows a similar path to Hamlet's, though less cleverly. He is hot headed and full of rage, whereas Hamlet allows his pain to fester within, only to come out during agonized soliloquies or chats with his late father. Laertes is brash and unthinking; he will rush in and destroy anything in his path in a search for his vengeance. Interesting to see how Hamlet cleverly sought proof of sorts; one might wonder how Laertes would have reacted to the ghost of his own father. Perhaps attempted, quite futilely, to stab it to death. Granted, it must be admitted that Polonius would not have made a very convincing ghost. If he had ever even reached the point of explaining to his son who his murderer was, or even simply getting a coherent sentence out, it would have been a feat for him that he had never achieved in life.
In contrast to the two young men, Ophelia simply takes a dive off the deep end upon becoming aware of the tragic circumstances. Naturally, she cannot be blamed for seeking solace in complete insanity, considering the brutal death of her dearest father. However, had she had some thought of revenge, would it have prevented her insanity? Perhaps for a while. But vengeance only breeds such madness; it does not cure it.
The ending of the play... How can I put this? Absolutely bloody fantastic! Perhaps that seems incredibly morbid, but how else could it have ended? To have lived further, attempting to sort such a mess... when there truly is no way to come back from what has been done; what further good could have existed? And poor Horatio. That dear fellow was by Hamlet's side to the end.
I must say a few things about the BBC film version from the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) now. David Tennant is utterly fantastic. Admittedly, he was the reason (having seen him in Doctor Who), that I was so excited to watch this version. And my excitement was most certainly well placed. Almost more so than with the live stage version, I hung onto every single syllable. And that is something more difficult to achieve with a screen between you and your audience.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the film version, that differentiated from the stage version, was the way the soliloquies by Hamlet were performed. Through direct camera shots, the affect of Hamlet staring straight at you into your very soul was achieved quitenicely intensely. (I hate the word 'nice'. It's so lacking in emotion or description of any kind. If I use it again, and don't catch it- make a note in a comment and I'll give you 42 thespian points. Also, if you realize the significance of the number 42, please allot yourself another 10 thespian points.) As I was saying, the affect was quite intense. I loved it. It couldn't quite be achieved in the same manner in the live version, which isn't to say Hugh Kennedy's deliverance still wasn't spectacularly chilling.
In summary, I highly recommend Hamlet to anyone with an interest in Shakespeare, or simply the world of theatre. (As though I would read Shakespeare and not recommend it. Ha. How amusing.) The play is wonderfully full of ups and downs; perfect moments of wit and amusement, followed closely by intense tragedy and delicious bouts of madness. Who wouldn't love it?
As promised, I shall begin with a few personal statistics. As I said before, I mark my reading with post-it notes. My colours of choice at the moment are orange and green. For an explanation of the difference, refer back to the post "What's Coming: Theatrical Reviews and NaNo!". Or, don't, and just keep reading this post in ignorance of the life and death meaning attached to the two colours. Seven thespian points to those of you who come up with some intense meaning for the two different coloured post-it notes. Please share in comment form below.
The Stats:
Green Post-It Notes: 6
Orange Post-It Notes: 15
Seen:
Live- Jungle Theatre in Minneapolis; Hugh Kennedy
Film- BBC Royal Shakespeare Company; David Tennant
Note: Perhaps this is obvious, but, ehm, SPOILERS to follow.
I must begin with the performance I saw at the Jungle Theatre, as it was my first introduction to Hamlet. This was quite an experience for me, most especially because it was my first time seeing Shakespeare performed live. I have to say; there is nothing quite like it in the world. I spent the bulk of the performance on the edge of my seat, clinging to every word the actors said. It was utterly fantastic. I was with them for every moment of the show. I went mad with Ophelia, I died slowly with Laertes and Hamlet, and, well, nearly everyone else in the show. I wanted so badly to be up onstage with them, capturing the wondrous and intense tragedy of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
I am disappointed that I had not read the play first, but, when the opportunity arises, one must take it! However, I was able to read the play next; I did not let myself watch any film version or other Hamlet rendition until I had finished it. It was a joy to be reading Shakespeare again. While it took me some time to work through, as I was being very thorough, and maintain a rather busy schedule, it was a wonderful read. Of all the Shakespeare I have read thus far (which, admittedly, is not a whole lot), it is my favourite. I absolutely love the character Hamlet.
The wayward Prince is ever so amusing. His sarcastic and witty personality is quite fun to behold; most particularly his episodes of "madness". Perhaps not the most stable fellow in the universe, and certainly dramatic, but who can blame him? A dead father, not yet cold in the grave, and suddenly your mother is married to your uncle? And, apparently, no one seems to care. One of my favourite soliloquies in here:
"O that this too too sullied flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter. O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
[...]"
~Hamlet, I.ii (William Shakespeare)
I love this first introduction to Hamlet's innermost thoughts. And what a revelation they are! What suffering the young man possesses himself of. If only... if only he could end his time in this world. He only wishes to be rid of the pain of his heart. When the death is apparently mere happenstance, there is nothing for Hamlet to do. He can only hope that his own misery will end. The entrance of his deceased father, however, gives him a new outlet for his pain. Revenge.
This portion of the play is also highly interesting, because the tragedy that happened to Hamlet is later mirrored when Polonius is killed. Another death of a father. However, Ophelia and Laertes take this quite differently. Laertes follows a similar path to Hamlet's, though less cleverly. He is hot headed and full of rage, whereas Hamlet allows his pain to fester within, only to come out during agonized soliloquies or chats with his late father. Laertes is brash and unthinking; he will rush in and destroy anything in his path in a search for his vengeance. Interesting to see how Hamlet cleverly sought proof of sorts; one might wonder how Laertes would have reacted to the ghost of his own father. Perhaps attempted, quite futilely, to stab it to death. Granted, it must be admitted that Polonius would not have made a very convincing ghost. If he had ever even reached the point of explaining to his son who his murderer was, or even simply getting a coherent sentence out, it would have been a feat for him that he had never achieved in life.
In contrast to the two young men, Ophelia simply takes a dive off the deep end upon becoming aware of the tragic circumstances. Naturally, she cannot be blamed for seeking solace in complete insanity, considering the brutal death of her dearest father. However, had she had some thought of revenge, would it have prevented her insanity? Perhaps for a while. But vengeance only breeds such madness; it does not cure it.
The ending of the play... How can I put this? Absolutely bloody fantastic! Perhaps that seems incredibly morbid, but how else could it have ended? To have lived further, attempting to sort such a mess... when there truly is no way to come back from what has been done; what further good could have existed? And poor Horatio. That dear fellow was by Hamlet's side to the end.
I must say a few things about the BBC film version from the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) now. David Tennant is utterly fantastic. Admittedly, he was the reason (having seen him in Doctor Who), that I was so excited to watch this version. And my excitement was most certainly well placed. Almost more so than with the live stage version, I hung onto every single syllable. And that is something more difficult to achieve with a screen between you and your audience.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the film version, that differentiated from the stage version, was the way the soliloquies by Hamlet were performed. Through direct camera shots, the affect of Hamlet staring straight at you into your very soul was achieved quite
In summary, I highly recommend Hamlet to anyone with an interest in Shakespeare, or simply the world of theatre. (As though I would read Shakespeare and not recommend it. Ha. How amusing.) The play is wonderfully full of ups and downs; perfect moments of wit and amusement, followed closely by intense tragedy and delicious bouts of madness. Who wouldn't love it?
Thursday, October 4, 2012
What's Coming: Theatrical Reviews and NaNo!
I have decided to include in my blog reviews, thoughts, and personal statistics on all the plays I read on my journey to thespianism. (If you use this word in a conversation today you get to add five thespian points to your total!) Some of these plays I may have already read in high school for classes, or for personal amusement, but I will be reading many new works, and re-reading others. I have chosen to begin with "Hamlet", the review of which will be shortly following this. I will begin these posts with the personal statistics I mentioned earlier. Since I am sure you were curious by precisely what I meant by that, allow me to explain briefly.
As I read, I like to mark the work with post-it notes to keep track of scenes, monologues, and lines or exchanges that I find clever, or worth re-reading. These, I mark with orange post-its. Furthermore, I mark with green post-it notes any monologues I am considering memorizing or utilizing for future and yet unknown auditions; or those that I just want to re-read again later.
For my own future reference, I am going to start by creating a list here of past shows I have been involved in and/or seen. Characters in (parentheses), other types of exposure to specified play/musical through various media in [brackets].
Involved in:
Summer 2005- Annie (Orphan Kate) [film]
Fall 2006- Grease (Beauty School Dropout, Chorus) [film]
Fall 2007- Wizard of Oz (Jitterbug Dancer, Crow) [film]
Summer 2008- Little Shop of Horrors (Girl Group Singer) [film]
Fall 2008- Good News (Pit) [live- local HS]
Summer 2009- Fiddler on the Roof (Daughter, Russian Dancer, Son, Bottle Dancer, Fruma Sarah) [film]
Fall 2009- Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester) [film]
Spring 2010- Johnny Cash (Young June Carter)
Fall 2010- Footloose (Vi Moore) [film; live- local HS]
Winter 2011 (??)- Murder Mystery Audience Interaction Play (name of char.??)
Spring 2011- Honky Tonk Angels (Darlene)
Summer 2012- The Sound of Music (Maria Von Trapp) [film]
Fall 2012- All Shook Up (Assistant Director) [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre]
Solely seen:
Fall 2004- Cinderella [live- local HS; film]
Summer 2005- Phantom of the Opera [live- Broadway, NYC; film]
Fall 2005- Beauty and the Beast [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, local HS; film]
Summer 2008- Sweeney Todd[live- Pioneer Place Theatre; film]
(Dates??)- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre]
Fall 2011- Anything Goes [live- local HS]
Fall 2011- Hamlet [live- Jungle Theatre]
And now, for... posterity. Or something akin to that.
The Early Years:
Fall 1997- [preschool plays] 3 Billy Goats Gruff (3rd Billy Goat); Rumpelstiltskin (Miller's Daughter/Princess)
Summer 2004 (??)- [Prairie Fire Children's Theatre] Pinocchio (Hooligan #8)
Fall 2004- [sixth grade Christmas program] --something about shepherds??-- (Matt(y) Hemlock)
Now that I've taken up a ridiculous amount of space with an exhaustive list of my theatrical experiences and exposure, time to move on to part two of the title of this post. NaNo. Allow me to elaborate.
NaNo, or NaNoWriMo, stands for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place in the month of November, and is a fantastic event wherein thousands of people spend a month staying up all hours of the day and overdosing on coffee so they can finish writing their novels. The goal is to reach 50,000 words within the month of November. No editing is allowed during the process which is really hard (and really good for) me. I'm a crazed perfectionist, which is why my writing process takes so long; and it really tends to hold me back.
Anyway, I've decided this is the year for me. I've participated a number of years and not yet "won" (winning being reaching the 50,000 words in the month) because I've always had musical going on, or black belt testing, or some other craziness coming up. However, I am allowing no more excuses. My novel is getting finished, or at least gaining 50,000 words this November. There are always excuses; and I've finally come to the realization that I will always be insanely busy, since that's clearly the way I like my life to be. Thus, I came to the conclusion I simply had to decide to do it anyway, and so here I am, prepared for the challenge. November may be a month of very late nights, but that's okay; because I will succeed!
That is what that picture link is on the upper left hand corner of my blog. Click there, and it will take you to the NaNoWriMo website, wherein you can create your own account and join in the frenzy this November! Have you always wanted to write a book? Has there been an idea just itching at the back of your mind, begging to be put down on paper? Here's your chance. Don't wait and put it off (like I also ended up doing a number of times) -- give it a go! You won't regret it.
And that about sums up the latest projects that I have cooking. Coverage will probably be found here within the blog for such things, including NaNo; instead of writing in my novel, I'll probably get frustrated and write venting posts in here. If I'm not posting here in November, however, that could possibly be taken as a good sign. Maybe I'll be on such a roll with my book I won't be able to stop and blog.
And now onto the next adventures! Hamlet review coming soon to a blog near you. And by that, I mean this one- so don't stray too far.
As I read, I like to mark the work with post-it notes to keep track of scenes, monologues, and lines or exchanges that I find clever, or worth re-reading. These, I mark with orange post-its. Furthermore, I mark with green post-it notes any monologues I am considering memorizing or utilizing for future and yet unknown auditions; or those that I just want to re-read again later.
For my own future reference, I am going to start by creating a list here of past shows I have been involved in and/or seen. Characters in (parentheses), other types of exposure to specified play/musical through various media in [brackets].
Involved in:
Summer 2005- Annie (Orphan Kate) [film]
Fall 2006- Grease (Beauty School Dropout, Chorus) [film]
Fall 2007- Wizard of Oz (Jitterbug Dancer, Crow) [film]
Summer 2008- Little Shop of Horrors (Girl Group Singer) [film]
Fall 2008- Good News (Pit) [live- local HS]
Summer 2009- Fiddler on the Roof (Daughter, Russian Dancer, Son, Bottle Dancer, Fruma Sarah) [film]
Fall 2009- Once Upon a Mattress (The Jester) [film]
Spring 2010- Johnny Cash (Young June Carter)
Fall 2010- Footloose (Vi Moore) [film; live- local HS]
Winter 2011 (??)- Murder Mystery Audience Interaction Play (name of char.??)
Spring 2011- Honky Tonk Angels (Darlene)
Summer 2012- The Sound of Music (Maria Von Trapp) [film]
Fall 2012- All Shook Up (Assistant Director) [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre]
Solely seen:
Fall 2004- Cinderella [live- local HS; film]
Summer 2005- Phantom of the Opera [live- Broadway, NYC; film]
Fall 2005- Beauty and the Beast [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, local HS; film]
Summer 2008- Sweeney Todd[live- Pioneer Place Theatre; film]
(Dates??)- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [live- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre]
Fall 2011- Anything Goes [live- local HS]
Fall 2011- Hamlet [live- Jungle Theatre]
And now, for... posterity. Or something akin to that.
The Early Years:
Fall 1997- [preschool plays] 3 Billy Goats Gruff (3rd Billy Goat); Rumpelstiltskin (Miller's Daughter/Princess)
Summer 2004 (??)- [Prairie Fire Children's Theatre] Pinocchio (Hooligan #8)
Fall 2004- [sixth grade Christmas program] --something about shepherds??-- (Matt(y) Hemlock)
Now that I've taken up a ridiculous amount of space with an exhaustive list of my theatrical experiences and exposure, time to move on to part two of the title of this post. NaNo. Allow me to elaborate.
NaNo, or NaNoWriMo, stands for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place in the month of November, and is a fantastic event wherein thousands of people spend a month staying up all hours of the day and overdosing on coffee so they can finish writing their novels. The goal is to reach 50,000 words within the month of November. No editing is allowed during the process which is really hard (and really good for) me. I'm a crazed perfectionist, which is why my writing process takes so long; and it really tends to hold me back.
Anyway, I've decided this is the year for me. I've participated a number of years and not yet "won" (winning being reaching the 50,000 words in the month) because I've always had musical going on, or black belt testing, or some other craziness coming up. However, I am allowing no more excuses. My novel is getting finished, or at least gaining 50,000 words this November. There are always excuses; and I've finally come to the realization that I will always be insanely busy, since that's clearly the way I like my life to be. Thus, I came to the conclusion I simply had to decide to do it anyway, and so here I am, prepared for the challenge. November may be a month of very late nights, but that's okay; because I will succeed!
That is what that picture link is on the upper left hand corner of my blog. Click there, and it will take you to the NaNoWriMo website, wherein you can create your own account and join in the frenzy this November! Have you always wanted to write a book? Has there been an idea just itching at the back of your mind, begging to be put down on paper? Here's your chance. Don't wait and put it off (like I also ended up doing a number of times) -- give it a go! You won't regret it.
And that about sums up the latest projects that I have cooking. Coverage will probably be found here within the blog for such things, including NaNo; instead of writing in my novel, I'll probably get frustrated and write venting posts in here. If I'm not posting here in November, however, that could possibly be taken as a good sign. Maybe I'll be on such a roll with my book I won't be able to stop and blog.
And now onto the next adventures! Hamlet review coming soon to a blog near you. And by that, I mean this one- so don't stray too far.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Thespian Pause
Welcome to another amazing installment of my blog. I know you've all been waiting on tenterhooks for another post to come flying your way. Let me begin by saying that I am quite aware that this post title sounds like an episode of 1960's Star Trek. Regretfully, this post is not about Star Trek. This may come as a shock to you, but this post is about thespians. More specifically, and as the title suggests (or rather, blatantly states), this post is about the "Thespian Pause". Allow me to elaborate.
The Thespian Pause may at first seem rather self-explanatory. However, it is rather misleading. Though dubbed the "thespian pause"; it is not a pause made by thespians. Perhaps I should have named it "the pause made by people who find out that your chosen path is the life of an artist, more specifically that of an actor, and they do not find it plausible nor practical in the least; and thus they do not know how to reply and instead create awkward moments of silence in which they try not to laugh, and then attempt to conceive of ways to convince you that you should not try to be an actor, because only Johnny Depp and people like him can be actors; and you should instead be an accountant because you can made a respectable and steady living doing that". However, I thought that was a bit lengthy.
Perhaps you got a bit of an idea as to the true meaning behind The Thespian Pause within the previous and somewhat superfluous paragraph. I have only recently truly begun to understand it myself. As a recently declared Theatre Major, I have just started my journey into this world. Though I have been exposed to this as an artist/theatrical pursuer in the past, I have never stated it outright as my career choice. I am curious to see this unfold as I continue to get asked the question: "What's your major?" and/or: "What do you plan on doing once you graduate from the University?" Generally, when the questions are asked in this order, the second question comes laden with an incredulous and/or horrified tone. Sometimes, it even escalates into hysterics; at which point the personage posing the query will have a melt down and fall to the floor, begging the crazed Theatre Major to choose a different path. Any other path. Anything but theatre.
If you have ever seen this reaction live, you can have 2.5 thespian points. I shouldn't really be giving out thespian points for something like that,but I don't make the rules. Scratch that, I definitely make the rules. You can have your points and eat them, too! ... If you want to. I'm not sure if they taste good; you'll have to let me know.
Continuing on with the subject at hand... I really had to force myself not to use the term 'digress' again; I really enjoy it far too much. If you used the term 'digress' within the past week, you can have four more thespian points, which are really starting to seem rather random. You will notice that while this paragraph attempted to return to the topic of this blog post, it utterly failed and became its own entity. That's okay; I forgive it. Everything needs to assert its independence somehow.
*AHEM* Seriously, time to get back on track.
The Thespian Pause is at once a terrifying and amusing thing. As a theatre performer, musician, or other proclaimed artist by trade, the Thespian Pause (which could perhaps be more accurately named the "Performer's Pause" or "Artist's Pause") embodies all the fears you have already realized yourself and defeated in order to get where you are. For I would consider it already quite a large feat to devote yourself to a field in the performing arts, or simply arts in general; especially when all the surrounding societal pressures, and oftentimes evidence, tells you that this is exactly what you should not be doing under any circumstances ever unless you are independently wealthy and know how to sky dive while playing the bagpipes, which could possibly get you incredibly famous.
I, unfortunately, do not have this skill. Perhaps that means I should turn tail and run from the theatre department as fast as I can. That Thespian Pause that has been plaguing me has only just begun, and perhaps I should listen. They could be right. Maybe the chances of making a career in this field are not perfect. But guess what?
I don't care. Not in the slightest. This is what I want to do; this is what I love. There is nothing that makes me happier. I made myself miserable for quite some time trying to make myself be "practical", whatever that means, and it didn't pay off. I know now exactly what I should be doing, and I have to tell you; it's one of the most amazing feelings in the world. I wake up, and every single day, I am ecstatic because I remember that I am a theatre major and I am doing what I love. You need to find what gives you that passion in life and pursue it. What makes your heart leap and your blood rush? Every single bit of my day is full of moments where I pause and just think about the fact that I chose to do what I love, theatre, and nothing is more satisfying than that.
Furthermore, nothing can stop me from doing it. No matter how many times I get the Thespian Pause, and I'm sure it will be many more, it will not change my mind. Perhaps, stubborn fool that I am, it will only strengthen my resolve. And when you find what you love to do, why would you ever do anything else? What's the point of making yourself miserable? I might sound as though I have a romanticized view of life; but I prefer to think that although I have the knowledge that life will be tough and knock me down many times throughout its course, I will always get back up. And every time I get back up, I will be a little bit closer to my goal. It's not about expecting things to come easily; it's about never stopping.
Don't let the Thespian Pause, or its equivalent, give you pause.
The Thespian Pause may at first seem rather self-explanatory. However, it is rather misleading. Though dubbed the "thespian pause"; it is not a pause made by thespians. Perhaps I should have named it "the pause made by people who find out that your chosen path is the life of an artist, more specifically that of an actor, and they do not find it plausible nor practical in the least; and thus they do not know how to reply and instead create awkward moments of silence in which they try not to laugh, and then attempt to conceive of ways to convince you that you should not try to be an actor, because only Johnny Depp and people like him can be actors; and you should instead be an accountant because you can made a respectable and steady living doing that". However, I thought that was a bit lengthy.
Perhaps you got a bit of an idea as to the true meaning behind The Thespian Pause within the previous and somewhat superfluous paragraph. I have only recently truly begun to understand it myself. As a recently declared Theatre Major, I have just started my journey into this world. Though I have been exposed to this as an artist/theatrical pursuer in the past, I have never stated it outright as my career choice. I am curious to see this unfold as I continue to get asked the question: "What's your major?" and/or: "What do you plan on doing once you graduate from the University?" Generally, when the questions are asked in this order, the second question comes laden with an incredulous and/or horrified tone. Sometimes, it even escalates into hysterics; at which point the personage posing the query will have a melt down and fall to the floor, begging the crazed Theatre Major to choose a different path. Any other path. Anything but theatre.
If you have ever seen this reaction live, you can have 2.5 thespian points. I shouldn't really be giving out thespian points for something like that,
Continuing on with the subject at hand... I really had to force myself not to use the term 'digress' again; I really enjoy it far too much. If you used the term 'digress' within the past week, you can have four more thespian points, which are really starting to seem rather random. You will notice that while this paragraph attempted to return to the topic of this blog post, it utterly failed and became its own entity. That's okay; I forgive it. Everything needs to assert its independence somehow.
*AHEM* Seriously, time to get back on track.
The Thespian Pause is at once a terrifying and amusing thing. As a theatre performer, musician, or other proclaimed artist by trade, the Thespian Pause (which could perhaps be more accurately named the "Performer's Pause" or "Artist's Pause") embodies all the fears you have already realized yourself and defeated in order to get where you are. For I would consider it already quite a large feat to devote yourself to a field in the performing arts, or simply arts in general; especially when all the surrounding societal pressures, and oftentimes evidence, tells you that this is exactly what you should not be doing under any circumstances ever unless you are independently wealthy and know how to sky dive while playing the bagpipes, which could possibly get you incredibly famous.
I, unfortunately, do not have this skill. Perhaps that means I should turn tail and run from the theatre department as fast as I can. That Thespian Pause that has been plaguing me has only just begun, and perhaps I should listen. They could be right. Maybe the chances of making a career in this field are not perfect. But guess what?
I don't care. Not in the slightest. This is what I want to do; this is what I love. There is nothing that makes me happier. I made myself miserable for quite some time trying to make myself be "practical", whatever that means, and it didn't pay off. I know now exactly what I should be doing, and I have to tell you; it's one of the most amazing feelings in the world. I wake up, and every single day, I am ecstatic because I remember that I am a theatre major and I am doing what I love. You need to find what gives you that passion in life and pursue it. What makes your heart leap and your blood rush? Every single bit of my day is full of moments where I pause and just think about the fact that I chose to do what I love, theatre, and nothing is more satisfying than that.
Furthermore, nothing can stop me from doing it. No matter how many times I get the Thespian Pause, and I'm sure it will be many more, it will not change my mind. Perhaps, stubborn fool that I am, it will only strengthen my resolve. And when you find what you love to do, why would you ever do anything else? What's the point of making yourself miserable? I might sound as though I have a romanticized view of life; but I prefer to think that although I have the knowledge that life will be tough and knock me down many times throughout its course, I will always get back up. And every time I get back up, I will be a little bit closer to my goal. It's not about expecting things to come easily; it's about never stopping.
Don't let the Thespian Pause, or its equivalent, give you pause.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Dark Chocolate and Shakespeare
I have been fostering quite an addiction to Shakespeare lately. As far as addictions go, I figure I could be far worse off than craving a bit (or perhaps quite a plethora is more accurate) of intelligent prose from the Bard now and again.
I've always had a deep love of used book stores, and now that I've begun expanding my drama and classic literature collection, I appreciate them even more. There is nothing better than spending hours digging through old books. I also truly cannot get enough of that smell. Mmm, the aroma of ancient philosophy, renaissance poetry, and medieval texts. What more could one ask for in life?
Just yesterday I visited Books Revisited. Or, more accurately, I revisited Books Revisited for probably the hundredth time. In fact, I revisited Books Revisited as a visitor while visiting the visitors also visiting a similar vicinity. The redundancy department of redundancy strikes again! The department of alliteration would also like to take partial credit for the compilation of the previous sentences.
But I digress. Whilst visiting Books Revisited, (don't worry; I won't start that again) I further fleshed out my drama collection with the purchase of seven books of plays by various playwrights. My total came to about £33.71 (for you Americans reading, $20.79). No, I did not actually pay in pounds, as I think that would have confused the rather quite American cashier. In fact, it probably would have confused my rather quite mostly American self.
This collecting of plays, dramas, classic literature, and so forth does have a more practical purpose. Of course, I might ask; what better purpose is there than personal enjoyment? However, as a theatre major, and one with goals related to the professional world of thespians; I realize I must know my playwrights and literature rather well. Who wants to discover the perfect audition opportunity, only to realize they have 24 hours to memorize four Shakespearean sonnets, two contemporary dramatic monologues, and one soliloquy of a comedic nature? I rather think that may be an exaggeration, but this is the theatre, my friends. Anything goes. (If you started singing music from that show in your head as you read that last comment, give yourself five thespian points. Don't ask me what they're good for.) Having run this particularly nightmarish scenario through my head, I decided it was best to begin marking monologues. I would also like to note that the nightmarish scenario actually did come to me in the world of the subconscious, in a dream wherein I arrived at an audition only to realize I was unprepared, as I had no Shakespearean monologue ready. Horrors!
But fear not, brave readers; for I have begun to remedy this problem already. I have started with Hamlet; I saw it at the Jungle Theatre last year, and I had not yet read the play. It was my first time seeing Shakespeare performed live, and was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. However, I did really wish I could have been onstage performing with them; I would have even been happy to play Yorick. ... Please give yourself another fivetotally useless really awesome thespian points if you found that at all amusing. This point system is starting to sound like Whose Line is it Anyway. Heck, you can even have another point if you watch that show.
Back on the matter of Hamlet; I am reading it quite thoroughly, and have depleted my post-it note supply quite a bit already. I'm not sure how I plan on making it through all my plays without ordering post-it notes in gargantuan bulk quantities. I have been marking possible monologues for memorization and/or closer study, as well as making note of pretty much any line or chunk of dialogue I find particularly clever, amusing, or enlightening. This unfortunately means that I have all but marked every single page of the reading thus far. #thespianproblems, anyone? (Note to self: Create a future blog post or add a gadget containing a list of the aforementioned.)
Well, I seem to be coming to an end in my rambling, but I realize I have not made a single mention of dark chocolate, thus making my title rather misleading. Now that I have, however, such a claim cannot be made. Don't worry, I won't pull the ridiculously ambiguous and irrelevant card. The dark chocolate is an important part of this post, and an important part of a balanced diet. It's important because:
1. It's delicious.
2. It makes you want to read this post to find out how dark chocolate is possibly connected to Shakespeare.
3. No, really, it's just delicious.
Okay, so I lied. I may or may not have pulled the ridiculously ambiguous and irrelevant card. And with that, I bid my good readers adieu.
A final note: Please refrain from leaving unused thespian points laying around. They are potentially valuable and may be redeemable somewhere at some point for some purpose.
I've always had a deep love of used book stores, and now that I've begun expanding my drama and classic literature collection, I appreciate them even more. There is nothing better than spending hours digging through old books. I also truly cannot get enough of that smell. Mmm, the aroma of ancient philosophy, renaissance poetry, and medieval texts. What more could one ask for in life?
Just yesterday I visited Books Revisited. Or, more accurately, I revisited Books Revisited for probably the hundredth time. In fact, I revisited Books Revisited as a visitor while visiting the visitors also visiting a similar vicinity. The redundancy department of redundancy strikes again! The department of alliteration would also like to take partial credit for the compilation of the previous sentences.
But I digress. Whilst visiting Books Revisited, (don't worry; I won't start that again) I further fleshed out my drama collection with the purchase of seven books of plays by various playwrights. My total came to about £33.71 (for you Americans reading, $20.79). No, I did not actually pay in pounds, as I think that would have confused the rather quite American cashier. In fact, it probably would have confused my rather quite mostly American self.
This collecting of plays, dramas, classic literature, and so forth does have a more practical purpose. Of course, I might ask; what better purpose is there than personal enjoyment? However, as a theatre major, and one with goals related to the professional world of thespians; I realize I must know my playwrights and literature rather well. Who wants to discover the perfect audition opportunity, only to realize they have 24 hours to memorize four Shakespearean sonnets, two contemporary dramatic monologues, and one soliloquy of a comedic nature? I rather think that may be an exaggeration, but this is the theatre, my friends. Anything goes. (If you started singing music from that show in your head as you read that last comment, give yourself five thespian points. Don't ask me what they're good for.) Having run this particularly nightmarish scenario through my head, I decided it was best to begin marking monologues. I would also like to note that the nightmarish scenario actually did come to me in the world of the subconscious, in a dream wherein I arrived at an audition only to realize I was unprepared, as I had no Shakespearean monologue ready. Horrors!
But fear not, brave readers; for I have begun to remedy this problem already. I have started with Hamlet; I saw it at the Jungle Theatre last year, and I had not yet read the play. It was my first time seeing Shakespeare performed live, and was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. However, I did really wish I could have been onstage performing with them; I would have even been happy to play Yorick. ... Please give yourself another five
Back on the matter of Hamlet; I am reading it quite thoroughly, and have depleted my post-it note supply quite a bit already. I'm not sure how I plan on making it through all my plays without ordering post-it notes in gargantuan bulk quantities. I have been marking possible monologues for memorization and/or closer study, as well as making note of pretty much any line or chunk of dialogue I find particularly clever, amusing, or enlightening. This unfortunately means that I have all but marked every single page of the reading thus far. #thespianproblems, anyone? (Note to self: Create a future blog post or add a gadget containing a list of the aforementioned.)
Well, I seem to be coming to an end in my rambling, but I realize I have not made a single mention of dark chocolate, thus making my title rather misleading. Now that I have, however, such a claim cannot be made. Don't worry, I won't pull the ridiculously ambiguous and irrelevant card. The dark chocolate is an important part of this post, and an important part of a balanced diet. It's important because:
1. It's delicious.
2. It makes you want to read this post to find out how dark chocolate is possibly connected to Shakespeare.
3. No, really, it's just delicious.
Okay, so I lied. I may or may not have pulled the ridiculously ambiguous and irrelevant card. And with that, I bid my good readers adieu.
A final note: Please refrain from leaving unused thespian points laying around. They are potentially valuable and may be redeemable somewhere at some point for some purpose.
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