Where have I been?
I haven’t updated this thing in a long while. Well that’s mostly because I’ve been really busy at school this semester, but also because I’ve had little inspiration to post things. So I decided I’d write a little ‘catch up’ post, in regards to my school year so far. IN NOVEL FORM.
Bond and Blonde
CHAPTER 1: THE EMPRESS ENDS
My summer job finished, and when all was said and done, it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever been a part of. Not only was I doing theatre, and getting paid for it, but I was learning so many new skills and getting to know a group of awesome people. That job has granted me some FFLs (Friends For Life) and I’m really grateful for that.
While I only had a few weeks after that job ended before school started, it was a pretty great time. I got to see some old friends and some new friends, I got to go to the Calgary Zoo again, and more or less had time to relax before school began in September. It was actually a little nerve wracking, as I had told myself to become more involved in drama-related things at school and I was worried I’d have a terrible experience with it again…luckily that was not the case.
Looking to the Future
CHAPTER 2: AUDITIONS, AUDITIONS
So classes began, and while I started out with a full 5 course load, I eventually dropped the Theatre in Performance class because it was recommended you don’t take it if you’re in a mainstage production. Since I hadn’t actually auditioned for a show yet, I was a little leery to drop the class because I was hoping to be in the Much Ado About Nothing production, but wasn’t sure if it would happen. I dropped it anyway, and my class schedule after add/drop ended looked like this:
- Drama 4312: Acting for the Camera
- Drama 2812: Stagecraft 2
- Psych 2800: Social Psychology
- Anthro 1000: Intro to Anthropology
The only class I was really looking forward to was the Acting for the Camera class. Stagecraft 2 is essentially filled with things I have no interest in, like Lighting/Sound design, Stage Management, Running Crew, etc. It’s not really my thing, and that became clear pretty quickly. Anthropology was something I had taken twice before and dropped, so I figured this time I’d get it done and be done with it. Social Psych turned out to be a really interesting class and I am glad I took that as a Social Science. Now I just need to finish up my Science GLERs.
So the time came for the Much Ado About Nothing audition. I was really glad I didn’t have to prepare a monologue, as I am pretty bad at finding a good one usually. The audition went pretty well, I thought, where I served as a disposable actor to help audition other people when a male partner was needed. I got a call back, and felt confident about the way it went with the director asking me to read for a specific role and didn’t have anyone else read for that role. When it came down to it, I got a completely different role than I originally thought. But the most important thing was I got a role!
It was pretty exciting. I had been in productions at the University before, but this time it was a major role! I was excited to work with a lot of the people involved as well, and meet some new people. The first readthrough couldn’t come fast enough.
There were some disappoinments however. I applied to audition for New West’s production of Munsch-a-palooza, and was not given a chance to audition. I didn’t fret too much about it, but at the time it was a pretty major blow. I had auditioned for New West children’s shows before and had no luck, but this was the first time I wasn’t even selected to audition. On top of that, around the same time I found out I was NOT cast in a film project I was looking forward to, although in retrospect the casting they chose made sense and it’s something I understand.
On the hunt
CHAPTER 3: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
What an experience! I had never been a part of something on this grand of a scale, and to do so surrounded by such great people made it all the better. The rehearsal process was an interesting one, and seeing how everything came together in the end was really something that never hit me until the middle of the run. I look at our very first read through of the play, and our final performance, and it’s really amazing how many things come into making a piece of theatre happen.
Again, this experience has granted me more FFLs and emboldened my friendship with people I already knew. With a few minor exceptions, everyone that was involved in this production was awesome and I really loved being a part of it.
Hard at Work
CHAPTER 4: MAKING PROGRESS
In addition to devoting much of my time to Much Ado, I was working on other projects as well. The Playwright Prize was coming up and I really wanted to finish writing a play that I could submit. I had an idea for a play early in September, but finished the first draft in late November, just a few days before the due date for the Prize. I was able to write a second draft that I was a little happier with, and submitted it. It was a little disconcerting that none of the people I sent the script to really gave me any feedback though, whether it was good or bad. I do understand that everyone’s pretty busy right now and reading a 30 page play isn’t really the top of priorities, so I can’t really fault anyone for it.
I have been working on a new play lately, that I hope to submit to direct next year for the TheatreXtra season, depending on how the writing goes, as well as whether or not I get into the Directing class next semester (I am currently on a waiting list). I don’t know if I’d be confident directing a play without taking the 4000 level class first.
Brother and Sister
CHAPTER 5: WEDDING BELLS
No, not for me silly!
My sister got married this year! I was the Emcee at the wedding and it was much harder than I thought it would be. In the end I think I did an alright job, but at the time I was feeling like I was messing things up or saying stupid things. I think I started it thinking for some reason that people would shout things back at me if I asked them questions, but they just stared…it was a little unnerving actually!
As for me, I’m still living the single life, and to be honest I’ve enjoyed it. I look back at my last relationship and realize it wasn’t what I needed at that time. The way it ended still makes me a little upset, especially when I find out I’ve been lied to and used…but I’ve moved on. There are plenty of days where I see myself in a really negative light and wonder how anyone could see me romantically, but overall, I’m pretty happy with remaining true to myself and living life compassionately. Onward and upward!
Gettin Nervous
CHAPTER 6: WHAT’S NEXT?
So what’s coming next? Well I was cast in next semester’s production of ‘The BFG’ (which I mentioned being super excited for during the summer) and I’m really looking forward to it. The Cast is amazing and the director is one of my favorite professors so I’m anticipating a great show. I’m also in a couple classes that should be really beneficial for me, including a Scene Study class and a Performance Workshop class. As I mentioned before I hope to get in the Directing class as I have a play I’m interested in trying to direct. But if I don’t get in it, I’ll have plenty of things to keep myself occupied and I’m going to keep pushing myself to be creative and try to make some kind of name for myself.
This year has been great. Things are going good. Now I just need to work on graduating!
