It's two days after Christmas and I find myself looking ahead to a week where I have absolutely nothing planned. The day job has given me the entire week off. The theatre is quiet this week. I'm really not sure what to do with myself. Well that's not entirely true, I have a few things I want to get done, get started, finish up, but no big plans. I'm imagining that by this time next Sunday I'll be a bit stir crazy.
Christmas was good. I stayed in LA (a tradition I began last year and hope to continue for several more years to come). We had 10-15 people drop by our place for Christmas dinner and a few games. It was a fantastic night and truly the way I wanted to spend the holiday. I love my real family, it's just they live in colder parts of the country and I realized a few years ago that I get crabby when I visit them in the winter months, so rather than inflict that upon myself and them I am quite content to stay here and celebrate with my Los Angeles family.
I'm looking forward to 2010 for a variety of reasons. Theatre Unleashed will be jumping into a busy third season. I've picked the shows I'll be stage managing and am looking forward to them. I think I've managed to avoid doing two back to back, something I did this season and am really trying to avoid in the future. Personally I have a project up my sleeve. Something that isn't ready to be rolled out quite yet, but I'm hoping will be ready by the end of January. It's something that I hope will allow me a little bit more financial freedom as well as be something that is entirely mine. I'm excited about so many things. It's a good feeling to look ahead and know good things are coming :)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The End of a Journey
Holiday Hangover closed last night. For me it was the end of a journey, a new experience (well nearly new anyway). I don't regret it at all. It was fun to experience life from the other side of things. I am usually so caught up in my own world of lighting and sound cues and making sure a production runs smoothly that I don't get to lose myself in the story telling side of it.
I will now happily return to the light and sound booth for the last few events of 2009. It is truly where I'm happiest and where I can best make a contribution to Theatre Unleashed. I never had aspirations of being on stage, never studied, never really thought to much about it. It's not something I want to do often or that I'm very good at, but it was fun to play for a little while.
Thank you to Andrew, for pushing me to try it. Thanks to Phil and Lauren for being fantastic people to act with and for putting up with a non-actor in their scene and to the rest of the cast, Josh G., Josh M, Sylvia, Kim, Benito, Pamela and Matt for a great run.
I will now happily return to the light and sound booth for the last few events of 2009. It is truly where I'm happiest and where I can best make a contribution to Theatre Unleashed. I never had aspirations of being on stage, never studied, never really thought to much about it. It's not something I want to do often or that I'm very good at, but it was fun to play for a little while.
Thank you to Andrew, for pushing me to try it. Thanks to Phil and Lauren for being fantastic people to act with and for putting up with a non-actor in their scene and to the rest of the cast, Josh G., Josh M, Sylvia, Kim, Benito, Pamela and Matt for a great run.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Two More Nights
Opening weekend has passed and we are down to our last two performances of Holiday Hangover. Friends keep asking me if I'm having fun. -- Yes, of course I'm having fun, but it's still not really where I'm the happiest. I've returned to the booth for a couple of our late night shows (Die Gruppe in GBLT and Tales of An Unsettled City: Exodus) and that is truly where I belong. I have no regrets, I'm glad I did it. Do I love it as much as my actor friends? No, absolutely not, but that's alright. For most of the them the thought of working a light and sound board is terrifying or boring so I think that makes us even! We all have things we love, for me it's not acting, it's the technical side.
So if you haven't yet, come see Holiday Hangover. Tonight and tomorrow night may be your last chance to see me on stage with the lights on for a very long time. If you don't come for me, come to see the rest of the amazing cast I'm thrilled to be performing with, they truly are some of the most talented people I know.
So if you haven't yet, come see Holiday Hangover. Tonight and tomorrow night may be your last chance to see me on stage with the lights on for a very long time. If you don't come for me, come to see the rest of the amazing cast I'm thrilled to be performing with, they truly are some of the most talented people I know.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Maybe...
Maybe, just maybe I do like this whole acting thing. Don't get too excited I don't like it enough to leave my place in the booth, but I did have a lot of fun tonight and am really starting to look forward to our opening night tomorrow. Everything kind of fell into place today. I can see now from the actor's point of view how sometimes it really does seem like the miracle of live theatre will never happen. When I walked in to the theatre tonight we still had a lot to finish. It was significantly farther along than when I left the night before thanks to several hard working TU peeps who stayed into the wee hours of the night working. But there was still quite a bit to do tonight. We started over an hour later than we intended and only had one audience member, but it went well and we are absolutely ready for tomorrow night.
I'm having a bit of a hard time drawing the line between being an actor and being the production manager. At one point in the couple hours before we started the show, Andrew, the director, looked at me as I was helping him hang, cable and focus the last couple lights and said "You don't have to do this, you're an actor." Without even thinking I replied, "No, I'm a production manager." Where else would I be, I can't just sit there and watch other people work on technical things. I find myself worrying about things during the show and have to remind myself to let it go, to enjoy the experience of being on the stage and not in a room above it. I've learned a lot from it. I am a firm believer that every actor should at least once in their acting life stage manage a show, now I'm starting to believe that every stage manager should at least once in their tech career act on a stage. Will I ever return to it -- I can't say yet, for now I'll enjoy the opportunity, the people, and the magic of being part of the performance!
I'm having a bit of a hard time drawing the line between being an actor and being the production manager. At one point in the couple hours before we started the show, Andrew, the director, looked at me as I was helping him hang, cable and focus the last couple lights and said "You don't have to do this, you're an actor." Without even thinking I replied, "No, I'm a production manager." Where else would I be, I can't just sit there and watch other people work on technical things. I find myself worrying about things during the show and have to remind myself to let it go, to enjoy the experience of being on the stage and not in a room above it. I've learned a lot from it. I am a firm believer that every actor should at least once in their acting life stage manage a show, now I'm starting to believe that every stage manager should at least once in their tech career act on a stage. Will I ever return to it -- I can't say yet, for now I'll enjoy the opportunity, the people, and the magic of being part of the performance!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Moving On
It's hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone and that November is nearly over. Together with my roommates we had 15 people in our house for dinner and another 6-8 that dropped by for leftovers later, bringing our grand Thanksgiving day total to around 25. It's not the first time I've cooked a holiday meal for that many, but every year I get nervous. There's so much riding on the turkey. I'm told it came out well ( I don't eat Turkey, not because I'm a vegetarian, I just don't really like it all that much). It was a great day though. The majority of people in our house were in some way affiliated with Theatre Unleashed. What's amazing is that this group of people is not just a theatre company, we are a family, we do come together to celebrate holidays and have a good time together. Thursday we ate, we drank (some drank way more than others ;), we played games and had a great time. It was truly what Thanksgiving should always be like.
Yesterday my roommates and I put up the Christmas Tree and decorated our house for Christmas. It's funny, when it's close to 70 degrees outside it's really difficult to convince yourself that it's Christmas time. Decorating helps, so does listening to the 24 hour a day Christmas station, but it is odd, no cold weather, no snow, just sun and palm trees. Nevertheless we are decorated and it is nearly December.
The calendars fast approach towards December also means the approach of my onstage debut with Theatre Unleashed. We had our final rehearsal today before our dress rehearsal on Tuesday night. The lines are there and I guess I'm having fun, but I still don't think I really get it. I feel bad, so many of my friends, this is their passion, this is what they love and I'm just not feeling it. I wish I was, I wish I could understand and feel that buzz that they feel, but it's not there yet. Three more days to opening, maybe that's when it will kick in!
Yesterday my roommates and I put up the Christmas Tree and decorated our house for Christmas. It's funny, when it's close to 70 degrees outside it's really difficult to convince yourself that it's Christmas time. Decorating helps, so does listening to the 24 hour a day Christmas station, but it is odd, no cold weather, no snow, just sun and palm trees. Nevertheless we are decorated and it is nearly December.
The calendars fast approach towards December also means the approach of my onstage debut with Theatre Unleashed. We had our final rehearsal today before our dress rehearsal on Tuesday night. The lines are there and I guess I'm having fun, but I still don't think I really get it. I feel bad, so many of my friends, this is their passion, this is what they love and I'm just not feeling it. I wish I was, I wish I could understand and feel that buzz that they feel, but it's not there yet. Three more days to opening, maybe that's when it will kick in!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Lasts
I have really come to dislike closing nights. I get attached to shows and casts. For me closing night truly becomes a night of lasts. The last time we'll put the set on stage, the last time I'll give a 10 minute warning for this show, the last time we'll hear the opening playlist, the last time we'll hear this dialogue and most importantly the last time this particular group of people will be in this spot to do this exact thing.
It's hard to say goodbye to something that is inanimate but yet does possess a life of its' own. Every show is a journey. Each one is different and just as amazing as the ones that came before and the ones that will happen after. As artists we each take one or two things from each show some take literally take things, props, clothing, others take bits of things they've learned, moments they have shared. We take these things and move on to the next production. At the end of the journey you are able to say goodbye to the people, but never really to the show. Within an hour the set is gone, the props are packed, the stage is bare. It's as if we were never there as if it didn't happen. You have to remind yourself that it did happen, that these moments were special, that what we created was unique.
I was truly honored to work this talented cast not only as their stage manager but as the assistant director. Watching Jake, the director, work was a fantastic learning experience for me. He helped me discover that directing is something I want to explore more in the future. He was a fantastic teacher and I'm thrilled to have been able to work with him.
As I transition from SM to actor for our next show I find that I still can't quite get excited about it. Maybe that's because I'm forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Everyone keeps telling me I'll love it, that I'll want to do it again. I'm still not convinced, maybe after tech and opening next week I'll change my mind. I'm happy to do it and at least say I tried it, but I'm not sure that's where I really want to be!
It's hard to say goodbye to something that is inanimate but yet does possess a life of its' own. Every show is a journey. Each one is different and just as amazing as the ones that came before and the ones that will happen after. As artists we each take one or two things from each show some take literally take things, props, clothing, others take bits of things they've learned, moments they have shared. We take these things and move on to the next production. At the end of the journey you are able to say goodbye to the people, but never really to the show. Within an hour the set is gone, the props are packed, the stage is bare. It's as if we were never there as if it didn't happen. You have to remind yourself that it did happen, that these moments were special, that what we created was unique.
I was truly honored to work this talented cast not only as their stage manager but as the assistant director. Watching Jake, the director, work was a fantastic learning experience for me. He helped me discover that directing is something I want to explore more in the future. He was a fantastic teacher and I'm thrilled to have been able to work with him.
As I transition from SM to actor for our next show I find that I still can't quite get excited about it. Maybe that's because I'm forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Everyone keeps telling me I'll love it, that I'll want to do it again. I'm still not convinced, maybe after tech and opening next week I'll change my mind. I'm happy to do it and at least say I tried it, but I'm not sure that's where I really want to be!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A Break -- Kind of!
So it's been over a week. Halloween has come and gone. Our Halloween party was a true success. I would share some photos, but I believe the phrase "what happens in the theatre, stays in the theatre" probably applies in this case!
I am enjoying a bit of a break. Last week was my first week with no rehearsals since July. Yes, I think I'm a bit crazy. July -- that was four months ago. Anyway I really don't quite know what to do with myself. Being home at night is a little odd. My roommates realized I still live in my house and my two cats seem to refuse to leave my side. Perhaps a sign I have been neglecting other aspects of life for a bit too long.
Our current show Landscaping The Den of Saints is still running. We have two weeks left. Sadly audience turn out has been relatively low for this one. It's a fantastic show and I hope more people come out and enjoy it during the last two weekends of the run. We are going to a complete Pay What You Can philosophy in hopes that more people will be able to afford to come.
In my last post I mentioned that I had accepted a role in our holiday production, Holiday Hangover. I still can't believe I agreed to this. My first rehearsal was this past Sunday. I am nearly off book (It's only 3 pages of dialogue which I share with 2 other people). Rehearsal was fun, primarily blocking. It was hard not to switch into SM mode and begin taking down blocking notes for everyone as well as making a preliminary prop list. I will do my best to stay in my new role as actor for this one and let my SM be the SM. It will not be easy, but I do believe this will prove to be an interesting learning experience for me :)
I am enjoying a bit of a break. Last week was my first week with no rehearsals since July. Yes, I think I'm a bit crazy. July -- that was four months ago. Anyway I really don't quite know what to do with myself. Being home at night is a little odd. My roommates realized I still live in my house and my two cats seem to refuse to leave my side. Perhaps a sign I have been neglecting other aspects of life for a bit too long.
Our current show Landscaping The Den of Saints is still running. We have two weeks left. Sadly audience turn out has been relatively low for this one. It's a fantastic show and I hope more people come out and enjoy it during the last two weekends of the run. We are going to a complete Pay What You Can philosophy in hopes that more people will be able to afford to come.
In my last post I mentioned that I had accepted a role in our holiday production, Holiday Hangover. I still can't believe I agreed to this. My first rehearsal was this past Sunday. I am nearly off book (It's only 3 pages of dialogue which I share with 2 other people). Rehearsal was fun, primarily blocking. It was hard not to switch into SM mode and begin taking down blocking notes for everyone as well as making a preliminary prop list. I will do my best to stay in my new role as actor for this one and let my SM be the SM. It will not be easy, but I do believe this will prove to be an interesting learning experience for me :)
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