Won't Be Just Any Night!

I am internally bouncing up and down and ready to cry with excitement because I just bought tickets to go here to see this!

Let's break it down.  One, I'm obviously a theatre geek and this is obviously one of the greatest musicals of all time.  Secondly, West Side Story is the show that set me on the path of my love for and dedication to theatre.  I saw it at my friend's high school many years ago, and I still remember how moved I was that evening.  I knew when I watching it that I wanted to be on stage some day.

The Hippodrome is a few minutes away from my home but this will be my first time attending a show there.  This revival of West Side Story closed on Broadway January 2nd and the national tour has been working its way across American this spring.  This production is directed by Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book version of "West Side Story"!

To top it off, my tickets are for orchestra seating, but since I got them through my school I paid an insanely discounted amount!

Seeing this show will be the kick-off to my spring break, and I'm sure it will be a night to remember!!  <3

Going Batty: Told In Shadows

 

 A larger than life test tube spills a pheromone on me.

 Bats formed by hands attack me.

I give birth to Bat Boy.

 Dr Parker wants to kill Bat Boy, but cannot bring himself to do so.

 Bat Boy is revealed.

For this scene we were behind a back lit muslin cloth, acting out the story told by "Meredith" of Bat Boy's birth.  Our speaking and sound-making was minimal, used only to highlight Meredith's dialogue.  I did get to scream "KILL IT" on top of a scary chorus singing "AH AH AH AH".  Too much fun. :-p
These are rehearsal shots and in the actual performance the light was red, giving an even more dramatic mood to the scene.  

This was my favourite part of our show to work on.  I worked so hard on my shapes and voice in this scene, wanting to tell the story in a way that would shock and interest our audience.  I've been so gratified to hear many people express that this was the most memorable part of the play for them.

Fancy Day

It was my first day back to school since the play wrapped, and I definitely needed to motivate myself to be cheerful and excited for the week.  Someone on Facebook invited me to an event called "Fancy Day" in which everyone was invited to dress up for no reason on Monday, the 28th.  I was recently gifted some very pretty new clothes (the cardigan and the skirt) and put them to use with some old favourites! 

 

glittery cardigan: Ann Taylor

ruffled hem skirt: Club Monaco

ribbed tights: Target

buckled flats: Wal-mart

pleated scarf: Wal-mart

scoop neck tee: H&M

copper arm band: found in the dressing room!

Reason To Be A Theatre Major

Because props like this exist.

My New Anthem

To break up the Bat Boy monotony, here's something new.  I discovered "The Cave" a few weeks ago (via the Bat Boy musical director, actually :-p).  As I sat at my kitchen table listening to this song for the first time, it was like hearing a battle cry from my heart shouted across a still, grassy plain.  The words aren't religious in the conventional sense, but listening to this is a spiritual experience for me. 



P.S.  I missed the Grammys and had no clue this was the song they performed that everyone was raving about, but I'm glad they got such deserved press.  :-)

Going Batty: Taken Over

*

It's been quiet on here due to Bat Boy.  I might not post again until after the run.  I really hope those of you in the area can come see it!  I've been working probably harder than I've ever worked for any show, and I'm incredibly tired and frustrated and excited.  I don't have time to keep up on my homework, and tonight I have to finish a take-home exam that's due in the morning.  Well, honestly, I do have time for my homework, but after rehearsals I'm usually so tired or brain dead I hang out with Boyfriend or goof off or sleep until I feel better.  

There have been extra rehearsals and frayed nerves and laughter and pictures.  Tons of pictures.  Hopefully I'll do a post or two after the show to share my favourite memories from the whole process.
Despite how tired I am, I already know I'll  miss it when it's over.  My friends, theatre is my drug. <3

*Carl makes hand motions when he thinks/talks, Jordan (Bat Boy) is singing, and I'm being a shadow.  My friend Lauren (who plays Shelley) took this picture and we both think it's so very"theatre". :-D

Going Batty: Press Release

An interview with our director:

My name mentioned for the first time on BroadwayWorld.com!  (I called Boyfriend up just to squeal and tell him about this!...and yes, it's misspelled :-\ ):
CCBC Catonsville performs BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL

We had photo call today, and our musical director snuck this on her cell phone.  I'm on the left side of the table in the suit:

If you would like to see the show, here's the need-to-know:

March 23 (8pm), 24 (1pm), 25 (10am & 8pm), 26 (8pm)
CCBC Catonsville, Building Q, Theatre
800 S Rolling Rd
Catonsville, MD 21228
General admission $8, Seniors, students, CCBC faculty, staff, and alumni $5

[March] Obsessions

This month I am obsessed with 

Coconut Cream Pie Larabars

I enjoy all Larabar flavours, but this one is my absolute fave.  Mom bought me a whole box, and I eat at least two a day and love them with a cup of coffee.

Bat Boy: The Musical

You've probably already read the posts about my current show, so I won't elaborate on this item.  I'm at the stage where I'm eating, sleeping, and breathing the songs and the lines and trying my darndest to nail the choreography.  I've even been awake at 4am thinking about the show and working through various problems and projects in my head.  Always when I work on a show, it consumes me.

So that's March summed up- eating Larabars while at Bat Boy rehearsal.

Going Batty: Physical Theatre

Today I was a shadow.  A menacing, tempting, foreboding shadow gliding across the stage, bending my limbs like well-oiled hinges and posing like a Grotowskian ballerina.  My voice accompanied my movements, joining the other shadows in a choir of sounds that enticed the listeners to give into their dark desires.  While slithering around and pulsing together we fill the stage with red fabric and our black-clad bodies. We are the abstract expression of the dark themes of this play: desire, revenge, jealously, greed, ignorance, rejection.

My director is heavily inspired by Grotowski, Brecht, and Meyerhold's Biomechanics.  He's not a huge fan of Naturalism.  My personal instincts as an actress are usually naturalistic.  My first reaction when Carl asks us to do weird -I mean, stylistic- things is usually, "You're kidding, right?"  or, "That makes no sense."  But when I instead allow my body, voice, and mind to break free of "normal" conventions, I always experience work that excites and enriches me.

Bag Casualty

I found this purse while shopping at the Lemon Meringue Valentine's sale.  I immediately fell in love with it, and have been using it every day since (even though Niki teased me for carrying a purse the size of an overnight bag... :-p)  It is a small version of a duffel bag with metal feet on the bottom and contrasting bronze-color design on the dark brown vinyl body (the pattern is suggestive of Vuitton).

Sad to say, I am introducing you to this gorgeous purse just I am bidding it a possible farewell.  The zipper broke this morning!  The downside to collecting fun second-hand goods is that they're sometimes well-used before they come into your life!   I am so very bummed, and will definitely try to get it repaired because I love it that much!

http://lemonthrift.com/  <3

Three Things To Know

My church has a daily reflection series called "Join the Journey".  My blog entry today is adapted from one of those articles.

Have you ever felt something similar to this?  "What I was afraid of has come upon me.  What filled me with fear has happened.  I am not at rest, and I am not quiet."  (Job 3:25-26, NLT)  A man named Job went through a time of extreme trial and suffering, and for a time, thought that God had forgotten about him.

Hurting people need to understand God's character.  There are three valuable things about God's character that we should to know to help us through devastating circumstances. 

1) God knows what I am going through. He is not surprised. Psalm 56:8 says, "You have recorded my troubles. You have kept a list of my tears". When you are hurting you need to hear this: God knows us! Our pain is no surprise.

2) God cares about what I am going through.  "As a father has compassion for his children, the Lord has compassion for those who fear him" (Psalm 103:13). God cares when we are in pain. He wants to heal us. He loves us on our good days and bad days; when we are right and wrong; when we serve him and not. His love is unconditional.

3. God can change me and change my situation. This is the best news! Sometimes He changes me, or sometimes He changes my situation. In Eph. 1:19, Paul says, "I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe him". God will work to remove the fear and heal the pain in our lives. Not only does He want to do it, He has the power to do it!

Understanding God's character gave me the courage to overcome fear and pain.  Be encouraged today by the one who gave His life for you to be set free. Job did, and in the end, it made all the difference.  :-)

image credit

To read the full article, go here.

Going Batty: So Little Time

We are two weeks from tech, three weeks from open, and so, so much has yet to be done.  Choreography, set building, lines, and music are all behind schedule due to all kinds of reasons on the part of both the faculty and actors.  It's terrifying, especially because tomorrow we're running through the show from beginning to end for the first time, and it'll be in front of the production team. 

While preparing us for tomorrow Carl said something I thought was very valuable.  Outside the context it's a good life truth:  when we remove our ego from a project, man's opinion has no power over us.  So do your best and don't let criticism bring you down.

I know that miracles can and will happen in the next three weeks to bring together our final project.  I know it because I've seen miracles happen in 24 hours that saved a show.

I've really enjoyed what we've accomplished so far.  Being in a rock opera is a fun vocal experience, and the twisted themes, images, and characters of "Bat Boy" make it interesting to work on.  I was admittedly not excited about the show when I first read the script, but our work and Carl's direction is bringing to life something I appreciate in spite of the show's uncomfortable level of weirdness.  I've worked the most on Daisy, who is an uptight, fastidious schoolteacher with a hick accent.  My recent inspiration for her is Dana Carvey's "Church Lady"skits. 

We finished blocking a shadow play scene, and the physical work I get to do in it as Young Meredith is so neat!  (Bizzare, but neat. In what other show would I be laying on my back on a human table while scream-singing "Kill it!  Kill it!  KIILLLLL IITTT!"?)  Also, the musical director has allowed me to tap into my high singing range, and given me some soprano parts to sing that I'm excited about.

Oh, did I mention that midterms and tech week will be simultaneous?  *sigh*  Acting is demanding, academics are demanding, and choosing to put the two together is just being a glutton for punishment. :-p

The Pen Speaketh

Oh, Mishka hosted a fun little game that I could not resist participating in!  Make a handwritten entry for your blog!  Handwriting, paper, and writing implements are so interesting and revealing.  I bring you my entry written on a page from my Audrey journal with green and red gel pens, and tacked to the vintage wallpaper Michelle gave me.

Hand write the answers to the following questions:

1. What’s your name / blogger name?
2. What’s your blogs URL?
3. Write, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”.
4. Favorite quote?
5. Your favorite song?
6. Your favorite band / singers?
7. Anything else you want to say?
8. Tag 3 bloggers to participate.

I'm officially tagging Manta, Nathan, and Niki to play this game, but anyone who enjoyed reading this should do it too!  Let me see what the fingers who type can write. :-)

*created this entry at 1am.  I'm sorry that I left a letter off of Manta's cute blog, My Life IN Gibberish!