all the more rewarding

my TA just personally texted me, thanking me for "being able to write a cohesive paper"...

after inquiring as to which paper he was referring to, he responded,

"Well they were all really good. And at a certain point I just stopped making comments...

 but good work! And excellent job in your scene btw."

yeah,

 you know that FABULOUS scene where I made audience members cry; 

and the actors in the next show cry 

to the point that they could not perform their best 

because they were so overwhelmed with what we had presented?
THAT scene.  

The Braves.

It's moments like this that make hard work all the more rewarding.

photo via papertissue

for those of you who missed it.

The Braves  - by Caitlin Meyer

You really missed out if you didn't get to see it.

It was an amazing performance

(or so I've been told... I was on stage...)

and apparently I made people cry!

I am sad that it is over.

Go Team Dewey. 

Thoughts from George

my TMA professor.
in a discussion on the role of actors today, George was inspired to share some thoughts,

as actors, we ride on  a very fine line separating ourselves from the world. 

It can be far too easy to loose ourselves in the glory of the trade

and more importantly, loose our testimonies.

"The power of theater is the power to raise peoples consciousness;

 or throw them into the depths of hell"

BYU has a theater department so we can use our talents to change entertainment for the world. 

"DO NOT trade that which doesn't matter for that which is eternal

...trust the Lord to guide your talents"

We discussed the importance of drawing lines and making sure we don't cross them.  He shared thoughts and experiences on some of the biggest choices in his career and his choices to stop being a professional actor in order to have a family and be a good father.

It was the best lecture of the semester.

Woes of an Elementary School Child

First draft. 

DONE.

It is going to be spectacular. 

I cannot wait. 

I hope it gets chosen to be performed. 

"This play is about the funny situations and comments of Elementary school children.  Based off personal experiences, it is an attempt to reflect on the simple humor of childhood"

Woes of an Elementary School Kid

I have narrowed down the focus for my play.

Inspiration comes from Dan in Real Life.

Real, true life experiences. 

So real that it is funny. 

But very personal as well. 

My focus, 

Elementary School. 

And some situations,

though horribly awkward at the time,

now seem hysterical. 

It is going to be great. 

I have recalled a few instances, 

one in kindergarten

one in second grade

but I am in need of more situations.

My brain has already left for the long weekend

and I am trying to recall those situations. 

perhaps I'll have my mom send me old diaries : )

Oh I cannot wait. 

Reminiscing...

One of my most beloved directors 

posted some old photos today.

The show happened to be my last in the Birmingham area...

I thought I would share a few :]

the whole cast pre-show :)

"Humunukunukuapuaa" into fight before intermission

"Bet on It"

*fantastic staging and lighting*

"Everyday"

yeah this happened... 

slightly awkward considering Troy had been dating Sharpay for 5 years and had never kissed another girl....

"All for One"

a random photo shoot with select cast members...

and myself with one of my favorite cast members to end

Oh the joys of the theatre, I miss it bunches

A few things

I love the Book of Mormon.

and this verse fits especially well with the theme of this blog:
3 Nephi 27:33

And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these saying he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate and broad is the way which leads to death and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

Another thing or two...

I just recently became a free woman. Everything that I had been working towards this semester (aside from school work) ended this past week.  The ending was a bit bittersweet-  I enjoyed so much performing for so many people and especially creating such wonderful bonds with amazing people- but I have begun to realize what a pill I was the past month or so while in preparation for the performances.  Not that anything I did was uncalled for, I was just a pill and there was no way of avoiding it.  I was going off 4-5 hours of sleep a night for  a good month straight; everyday was consumed with rehearsal after rehearsal including Saturdays;  Work was my study time and (i hate to admit this) I often sat at the computer hoping that one of the other tutors would help the students so I wouldn't have to. I couldn't keep my eyes open in class to save my life, so that added more work for me as well as guilt for offending my professors. I was always in a hurry- my days were scheduled in 10-15 minute increments.  It was probably very hard to be around me; I was stressed, tired, self-conscious, and so many other things rolled up into a big giant ball of yuckiness.

I have just realized how fun it can be to NOT have anything you are committed to doing.  I can actually enjoy the beach, put 110% in at work and stay over my shift to help someone if they are not understanding a problem, and really study hard for class and ENJOY it again.  That is what I am here to do, right? Get an education...  

I also had time to attend an extremely talented friend's senior recital.  

PHENOMENAL. First: when I saw the program I was uber excited. I shall simply tell you some of the contents of the page, feel free to look up the songs because they are some of my absolute favorites: 

"Now When the Rain Falls" from The Scarlet Pimpernel youtube of girl singing

"Tell Me on a Sunday" from Song and Dance youtube recording - just song

"When I Look at You" from The Scarlet Pimpernel youtube - girl singing

"Someone Else's Story" from Chess youtube - girl singing

"Meadowlark" from The Baker's Wife youtube- woman singing

"Taylor, the Latte Boy" by Zina Goldrich youtube- Kristen Chenoweth

"Don't Rain on my Parade" from Funny Girl youtube- glee performance

(these movies are to give you and idea of the song, they cannot COMPARE to Jessica Jane's performance)

She also performed a number of monologues and duet scenes.  It was an extremely clever, entertaining, and magnificent performance : )

SIDENOTE:  I looked over the class list for my major today and suddenly became extremely excited.  I don't think I have ever been more excited about Electrical Engineering in my life.  I truly feel that it is what I am supposed to do.  I know, I am crazy; getting excited over taking classes on designing wireless communication systems and studying the properties of electromagnetic radiation and propogation.  But really I am STOKED.  Prior to today,  I wanted to do EE because I wanted to do something incredibly hard and be able to say that I did, as with MIT.  I knew the major would be interesting and that I would be good at it, and I knew what Electrical Engineers do,  but I had never looked in detail as to what I would be doing to get the degree.  I AM SO GLAD I DID TODAY.  I am excited beyond words right now.  Ah-  I know this is the right thing for me to do : )

Reminiscing

Yesterday after a full day of rehearsals,  I began to reminisce about my favorite shows over the years.  The one show I would give anything to do again would be The Secret Garden.  It was an amazingly talented group of performers as well as a very intruiging show.  An extremely complex in musical score, and the plot line was very deep, dark, and thought provoking.  It is my favorite show of all times HANDS DOWN, and not because of the role I had in it, but because of the group of actors and actresses I had the chance to work with.  The show itself is phenomenal, the music absolutely beautiful; it should be considered an opera because the number of songs and their complexity.  Below is one of the reviews we received :)

The Secret Garden at Indian Springs Badham Theatre (CenterStage) 

Reviewed March 6, 2003 by Leonard Jowers

Pardon me for reviewing a show in which I have some personal interest, but after a while in Birmingham theatre it is hard to avoid a personal interest. The Secret Garden showcases several talented old friends and some exciting newcomers. Two of these newcomers are Kendall Johnson, and Adena Williams. One can tell from his portrayal of Fakir, that Kendall Johnson has an exceptional voice, quality and range, and stage presence that would add to any production. Adena Williams’ Rose made it clear that she too is a veteran of quality theatre. I commend both to Birmingham’s theatre community as persons well worth recruiting for lead roles. 

Not a newcomer to Birmingham theatre, but seldom on stage here, is Brent Jones of Tuscaloosa. Brent masterfully developed the character of Uncle Archibald better than one normally expects a character in a musical to be developed. But musically, wow, Brent Jones’ and Frank Thompson’s “Lily’s Eyes” was undoubtedly the best male duet performance I have heard in decades. 

Ali Fredrick and Alie B. Gorrie are the young stars of the show. Gorrie plays the mostly bed-ridden Colin Craven; Fredrick is the lead, Mary Lennox. Both of their vocal performances seemed flawless; during their duet I wondered how they could be so good, so young. Of particular note is that of Fredrick’s role in relation to her age; many many lines delivered and songs sung, with meaning and without noticed error. 

This cast is very talented. Unfortunately, in a review that does not ramble, for a good production, it is not possible to praise every performer worthy of praise. With one short exception, all of the vocals of this near-opera were delivered as well as one would expect or better. There were a couple of issues that did detract from the performance for me. Although the lighting was well designed for this show, it appeared there were some glitches and sometimes the cast did not “find the light” for stationary lighting. In a couple of cases from supporting roles, lyrics are not understandable by someone not already familiar with them. These are close enough however to be corrected by your performance. 

Another bright young star in the cast is Sara James. Whether solo or otherwise, Sara’s character (Martha) and clear chansons were delightful; as one expects from anyone of her talents. The ensemble of ghosts and individual ghost performances were strong and had some interesting choreography. 

If you are a person for musicals, this is one to see. It has more than twenty-five, well-done, enjoyable numbers, and one can tell the score is not an easy one with which to sing. As I recall, several of the numbers begin a capella or go so within, requiring confidence and pitch. This The Secret Garden is a good production, and there are several individual efforts that make it worth the price of admission and your time. It is a story about love, love lost, and about the power of love to heal.