I am teaching again. Titan Theatre Guild from NDHS is doing "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown". This is my fourth and most challenging year taking part in their yearly musical. We are approaching what we call "MAGIC WEEK" at Notre Dame. This means we move into the performance space and everything suddenly becomes very real for some kids. Yet for some reason it magically comes together. I love this analogy because it's so true. Even in professional theatre there is a "Magic Week" of sorts.
I think this year is more challenging because we double cast and because our roles aren't cast gender specific. So I have a girl playing Charlie in one cast. Both of my Snoopys' are girls and I have one girl Linus and one girl Shroeder. Got that? It has come down to me teaching girls how to transpose their part. It's not as easy as it sounds. It has also resulted in me giving a speech about character acting and referring to The Muppets a lot. Anyone who knows this show knows it could be performed by any age performer as long as they had the character down. Don't you think? Is it just me, or would you like to see Charlie Brown performed by senior citizens. I would pay to see that.
On a different note; I am working at Center Stage Dinner Theatre and I love it. Serving food and setting up and this weekend; helping with quick changes. I like my "role" as a server. It's kinda perfect for me.
PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL THEATRE!!!!
P.S. This was my life tonight. Can you guess the show?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202287033607160&set=vb.1530701341&type=2&theater
Friday, October 18, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Advice
I'm not gonna say that I don't need advice. In fact, for most of my life I obsess on it. I consider it. But that doesn't mean I always follow it.
I crave opinions. I really want to know what other people think. Sometimes I hate that about myself. But even still, I use it in some way to make my own decisions. I mix it up with the things that I know have worked in the past. By nature I am a collaborator. Be it, in a professional setting in the theatre world, or in my own personal life.
My life; and I don't say this to be a "Debbie Downer" in many ways, has been challenging. It's not what I planned for myself. But one thing I have learned is you can't plan your life...really. It happens, and you have to handle the good with the bad and recognize the difference. You have to open your eyes to the good parts. Sometimes they are hard to see, but they are ALWAYS there. I have to look for them. But that, in itself is a good thing.
God knows I'm a smart cookie. He made me that way. I think He delights in seeing me figure it out as I go along. He wants me to use my brain and my intuition; both of which are gifts that He has given me.
I know that there are many people in my world who offer their thoughts. I listen. I pray. But in the end, it is me, and me alone who can come face to face with God and really discuss the reality. The only truth I hear, truly is from Him.
I have many people, who love and care about me. That, alone, is reason to be eternally grateful. I respect those who have gone before me in similar life situations. But whatever they may be, they are ot MY situations. I intend to keep trusting God and His intentions for my life. Sometimes it takes longer than I would hope. But that's okay. Waiting it out, is kind of exciting.
Living life, is a constant adventure. I intend to enjoy it. No matter what. Make the most of it and LIVE!!
I crave opinions. I really want to know what other people think. Sometimes I hate that about myself. But even still, I use it in some way to make my own decisions. I mix it up with the things that I know have worked in the past. By nature I am a collaborator. Be it, in a professional setting in the theatre world, or in my own personal life.
My life; and I don't say this to be a "Debbie Downer" in many ways, has been challenging. It's not what I planned for myself. But one thing I have learned is you can't plan your life...really. It happens, and you have to handle the good with the bad and recognize the difference. You have to open your eyes to the good parts. Sometimes they are hard to see, but they are ALWAYS there. I have to look for them. But that, in itself is a good thing.
God knows I'm a smart cookie. He made me that way. I think He delights in seeing me figure it out as I go along. He wants me to use my brain and my intuition; both of which are gifts that He has given me.
I know that there are many people in my world who offer their thoughts. I listen. I pray. But in the end, it is me, and me alone who can come face to face with God and really discuss the reality. The only truth I hear, truly is from Him.
I have many people, who love and care about me. That, alone, is reason to be eternally grateful. I respect those who have gone before me in similar life situations. But whatever they may be, they are ot MY situations. I intend to keep trusting God and His intentions for my life. Sometimes it takes longer than I would hope. But that's okay. Waiting it out, is kind of exciting.
Living life, is a constant adventure. I intend to enjoy it. No matter what. Make the most of it and LIVE!!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Kids
I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of talented kids. I have been a performance coach for Notre Dame High School theatre department. I worked for CYT (Christian Youth Theatre) teaching Reader's Theatre, Characterization, and Acting. I've written and directed short plays for kids at church. I've privately coached kids on acting, scene study, singing, and audition techniques. I have acted in several productions with tons of kids over the years, both professionally and in community theatre. I've judged youth theatre competitions, and sat on audition committee's.
Here's my point.
Having been a kid actor myself; I made a lot of mistakes. I have a great desire to teach kids not to make the same mistakes I did.
I will now share some of my mistakes;
First and foremost; I complained. I wasn't happy with the parts I was getting and I went out of my way to make it known. One time, in high school, I went so far as to call the director and cry like a baby. I was up for a part in an original musical. I was up against a cute, popular, cheerleader. We both sang the song well. Of course, I thought I had the part in the bag because I had taken choir for 3 years and she had just joined. She got the part. I ended up playing an old lady, and hating cheerleaders forever. Looking back, I can see why they gave her the part. She fit the role better than me. Sometimes, directors have to make tough decisions knowing fully well that some feelings are going to get hurt in the process.
I also remember complaining about a costume in one of my first college productions. I was mad because even though it was a pretty dress, mine wasn't rented from the costume company like so many of my friends were. Mine was taken from the dusty costume loft at the college and kind of pieced together. I came to the next rehearsal and they had rented me something different. It was hideous. Luckily it didn't fit. I remember the costume lady saying kind of sarcastically "Well, we were just trying to make you happy." Point taken. I'm pretty sure they hand picked the ugliest dress just to teach me a lesson. I never complained to the director about a costume again. I look back at the pictures of myself in that show and I can't believe I complained because my dress was one of the prettiest ones. I have since worn some ugly, unflattering and stinky costumes with a smile on my face.
The second mistake I made was not doing any research on the shows I was auditioning for. This can lead to missed opportunities. I recall auditioning for OLIVER in college. I didn't know the show at all. The music director handed out songs and I just grabbed one. It was not in a key that I could sing but I did my best (which was not very good) and I wasn't cast. Later on, I went to see the show and was utterly disappointed to find out that the role of Nancy was a perfect fit for me, and I could have sung the heck out of "As Long as He Needs Me". Had I researched the musical before the audition, I would have known and would have had a really good chance at getting the role.
No research can also backfire on you when you ARE cast as I have been cast in some shows that I wish I had never auditioned for in the first place.
The third big mistake I made was resisting direction. Directors sometimes tell you to do things that you think are totally stupid. Do them anyway. NEVER tell a director that you think their suggestion is stupid. Just try it. If you don't you will get the reputation of being a diva, and unless you are an opera star, that's not a good thing.
The last thing, and a very important thing I learned is that you need to embrace who you are. You may never get to play the lead. You may never get the parts you REALLY want because you have the wrong impression of yourself. Take a look at yourself. For example, I would LOVE to play Glinda in Wicked, heck I would love to play Annie in Annie; but it ain't gonna happen. EVER. Accept it, and move on. Get to know your strengths and abilities and play them up! Being a character actor is WAY more fun than you may think it is and there are WAY more opportunities to be cast if you just know that about yourself. Start reading plays and musicals and research, research, research! Your parts are out there and when you find them they are like little jewels. That's part of the fun for me. Don't turn down parts that you think you are not right for just because you're mad. When you become an adult, the opportunities come less easily. The competition becomes stiffer and you will be cast less and less. That's just the reality of it.
I am very pleased that I am going to be on the production team for Riverside Youth Theatre's production of SHREK! We are the very first youth theatre to EVER get to do this show. That's exciting! I was sitting watching the kids at the dance auditions yesterday and I was yearning to be a kid again. I would LOVE to be in this show someday. In any part, in any costume, in any capacity! We had a great turnout and saw a lot of new and VERY talented faces. I'm looking forward to this one! :-)
Here's my point.
Having been a kid actor myself; I made a lot of mistakes. I have a great desire to teach kids not to make the same mistakes I did.
I will now share some of my mistakes;
First and foremost; I complained. I wasn't happy with the parts I was getting and I went out of my way to make it known. One time, in high school, I went so far as to call the director and cry like a baby. I was up for a part in an original musical. I was up against a cute, popular, cheerleader. We both sang the song well. Of course, I thought I had the part in the bag because I had taken choir for 3 years and she had just joined. She got the part. I ended up playing an old lady, and hating cheerleaders forever. Looking back, I can see why they gave her the part. She fit the role better than me. Sometimes, directors have to make tough decisions knowing fully well that some feelings are going to get hurt in the process.
I also remember complaining about a costume in one of my first college productions. I was mad because even though it was a pretty dress, mine wasn't rented from the costume company like so many of my friends were. Mine was taken from the dusty costume loft at the college and kind of pieced together. I came to the next rehearsal and they had rented me something different. It was hideous. Luckily it didn't fit. I remember the costume lady saying kind of sarcastically "Well, we were just trying to make you happy." Point taken. I'm pretty sure they hand picked the ugliest dress just to teach me a lesson. I never complained to the director about a costume again. I look back at the pictures of myself in that show and I can't believe I complained because my dress was one of the prettiest ones. I have since worn some ugly, unflattering and stinky costumes with a smile on my face.
The second mistake I made was not doing any research on the shows I was auditioning for. This can lead to missed opportunities. I recall auditioning for OLIVER in college. I didn't know the show at all. The music director handed out songs and I just grabbed one. It was not in a key that I could sing but I did my best (which was not very good) and I wasn't cast. Later on, I went to see the show and was utterly disappointed to find out that the role of Nancy was a perfect fit for me, and I could have sung the heck out of "As Long as He Needs Me". Had I researched the musical before the audition, I would have known and would have had a really good chance at getting the role.
No research can also backfire on you when you ARE cast as I have been cast in some shows that I wish I had never auditioned for in the first place.
The third big mistake I made was resisting direction. Directors sometimes tell you to do things that you think are totally stupid. Do them anyway. NEVER tell a director that you think their suggestion is stupid. Just try it. If you don't you will get the reputation of being a diva, and unless you are an opera star, that's not a good thing.
The last thing, and a very important thing I learned is that you need to embrace who you are. You may never get to play the lead. You may never get the parts you REALLY want because you have the wrong impression of yourself. Take a look at yourself. For example, I would LOVE to play Glinda in Wicked, heck I would love to play Annie in Annie; but it ain't gonna happen. EVER. Accept it, and move on. Get to know your strengths and abilities and play them up! Being a character actor is WAY more fun than you may think it is and there are WAY more opportunities to be cast if you just know that about yourself. Start reading plays and musicals and research, research, research! Your parts are out there and when you find them they are like little jewels. That's part of the fun for me. Don't turn down parts that you think you are not right for just because you're mad. When you become an adult, the opportunities come less easily. The competition becomes stiffer and you will be cast less and less. That's just the reality of it.
I am very pleased that I am going to be on the production team for Riverside Youth Theatre's production of SHREK! We are the very first youth theatre to EVER get to do this show. That's exciting! I was sitting watching the kids at the dance auditions yesterday and I was yearning to be a kid again. I would LOVE to be in this show someday. In any part, in any costume, in any capacity! We had a great turnout and saw a lot of new and VERY talented faces. I'm looking forward to this one! :-)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Gifts
I have recently read a book about counting God's gifts. Like... literally numbering them in a journal. You start with the goal of one thousand and I am in the hundreds. I think God wants me to open my eyes wider. I am ALWAYS amazed at the things that I write down, especially when I read them back to myself after some time has passed. God is consistently trying to make himself known in my life. It is like developing another sense. Or...using all your senses at once. It's being aware of it.
I was recently given a great gift. That was performing with Riverside Youth Theatre in a production of Bye Bye Birdie. I couldn't list all the gifts from this experience. There were too many. But, I noticed how many things I wrote down while doing it. I have made friends. I have encouraged others. I have laughed....VERY hard. I was working in a group of dedicated adults. It was a learning experience. I got to tutor and run lines with fellow cast mates. I got to look retro. I got to dance and faint. I got to act like a goofball. I got to yell at people to be quiet. I got called "HAMI" pretty consistently by two little girls. I ate a lot of chocolate. It was all good.
This production came at the perfect time. That's all. I am thankful.
I was recently given a great gift. That was performing with Riverside Youth Theatre in a production of Bye Bye Birdie. I couldn't list all the gifts from this experience. There were too many. But, I noticed how many things I wrote down while doing it. I have made friends. I have encouraged others. I have laughed....VERY hard. I was working in a group of dedicated adults. It was a learning experience. I got to tutor and run lines with fellow cast mates. I got to look retro. I got to dance and faint. I got to act like a goofball. I got to yell at people to be quiet. I got called "HAMI" pretty consistently by two little girls. I ate a lot of chocolate. It was all good.
This production came at the perfect time. That's all. I am thankful.
Friday, April 5, 2013
For Hoffman
I lost a friend last month.
His name was Ron. The service I went to was attended by over 300 people who loved him. He was an actor, among other things. One of the most naturally funny people I will probably ever know.
I have known his big brother, Rick, my entire life as he is my uncle Larry's best friend. And as I started to take acting classes in the mid 80's at Mt. San Jacinto College, Ron had already moved on. If anyone took an acting class at that particular time at the college, you knew of him. He was an example that was often talked about in class. Not only was he good, but he was successful. And even though I hadn't actually met the guy (yet) to my classmates at the time I was like; "Oh yeah, I know him."
We first met when we did a production of West Side Story at the college. He was cast as the detective and I was a shark girl. We put two and two together backstage. "Hey, you're Ricks brother!" "Hey, you're Larry's niece." He is one of the only people I have ever heard refer to my uncle as "Lawrence" so I immediately thought he was a funny guy.
So, years go by, and I was asked to take a part in a production of Pump Boys and Dinettes. Fun show. This particular cast, which included Rick, Ron, and Larry, had performed this show before. They had it down. I was the new kid. It wasn't until after a few rehearsals that I realized that about 50% of the stuff that was coming out of Ron's mouth wasn't in the script. Some of the BEST stuff, came right out of his head. As an actor who doesn't really pride myself on my improvisation skills, I had to keep up. But it didn't matter because Ron had a way of making everything funny.
In the second act, Ron sang a song called , "The night Dolly Parton was almost mine." There was about 16-24 bars in the middle of the song that was instrumental. It was a two-step. I made the suggestion to him that maybe he and I could dance a little in the break. To this he said, "That's a really good idea except for one thing....I don't dance." So, I let it go. The next night, right before the song he came up to me and said, "Just follow me, we're gonna wing it"
The time came for the dance break and I got up and he grabbed me. He stomped through it; step together, step together, step together, step. Then he whipped me around and whipped me back, so I tried to spin him. He didn't..quite...make it around. Then he smacked me hard in the shoulder and said, (in character) "I told ya....I don't dance." So..I smacked him back and made my way back to my stool. And that's the way we did it every night.
Later on that evening, I said "Hey Ron, I kinda like our dance/fight." He then said that according to the script, his character has a love/hate relationship with women so it was really the only way it could be done. The truth was, he wasn't just "wingin it". He had thought about it, and it wasn't above him to point out his shortcomings as a dancer in order to get the laugh. That little dance break became one of my favorite moments in the show.
After the show was over, I saw Ron, off and on, when I attended church in Hemet. He was on the worship team. He often came up to me after service and asked me how things were going. I had just moved into town. He knew I was looking for work. It wasn't until the third or fourth time he asked me how the job search was going that I realized, he had been praying for me. I had written my prayer request down months ago on a little prayer card in the lobby. Ronnie was one of the people who had been taking my requests and praying for me. It was then, that I knew, he was the real deal. He wasn't just at the church going through the motions in the church band...he really cared about people.
Sitting at his memorial, hearing all the stories....he cared about a LOT of people. He touched many lives. I can honestly say, I've never laughed so hard at a memorial in my life. He was a giver. That's what made him a great actor. But it's also what made him a great guy.
So, rest in peace friend. You are missed. But I know we will see each other again one day and, hopefully, by then, your dance skills will have improved.
Monday, January 21, 2013
The mess
I am the housekeeper. Always the one cleaning up the messes. I have to control the flow of my home. I am wired that way. It carries over into personality. My spiritual gift of mercy and compassion and the feeling that I am destined to take care of things. This can cause flaws in journeys.
Taking care of business is all fine and good....but only if you have joy in the doing.
I'm looking back at my life and realizing, and looking, and thinking...why am I so miserable? What in the world has gotten you to this state? Why aren't things ok? Is life just stopped and I'm standing in flux? I have come to grips with the fact that I am manic depressive. This realization is coming from a girl who has never been to a real shrink. The internet and my doctor confirmed my self diagnosis. But.... I guess what I'm trying to say is, this is where I'm at. Back on the happy pills.
I wonder where this comes from and I realize now that I have always had anxiety. When I was a kid, we moved around a lot and that was hard. I felt up-rooted, and raw. Insecure. Fat. Too tall for my age. Uninteresting. Years of playing "sick" so I didn't have to leave my bed. I missed a lot of school. I'm surprised I made it through as well as I did. Being described as shy always irritated me. I associated it with boring. I preferred the term "mild-mannered", I'm not scared to speak, only if I have something to say. I realize now that I was suffering from anxiety, even then. People wonder how I can be a performer. But I have found, over the years, that there are many MANY people like me in the theatre world.
The good news is. I am thankful for all of it. I am thankful for this realization in my life. I don't regret anything really. I just wish I might have put 2 and 2 together a little sooner perhaps. But, I don't control the timing. God is in control. He was then and He is now.
"I am still confident of this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord! Be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord."
Taking care of business is all fine and good....but only if you have joy in the doing.
I'm looking back at my life and realizing, and looking, and thinking...why am I so miserable? What in the world has gotten you to this state? Why aren't things ok? Is life just stopped and I'm standing in flux? I have come to grips with the fact that I am manic depressive. This realization is coming from a girl who has never been to a real shrink. The internet and my doctor confirmed my self diagnosis. But.... I guess what I'm trying to say is, this is where I'm at. Back on the happy pills.
I wonder where this comes from and I realize now that I have always had anxiety. When I was a kid, we moved around a lot and that was hard. I felt up-rooted, and raw. Insecure. Fat. Too tall for my age. Uninteresting. Years of playing "sick" so I didn't have to leave my bed. I missed a lot of school. I'm surprised I made it through as well as I did. Being described as shy always irritated me. I associated it with boring. I preferred the term "mild-mannered", I'm not scared to speak, only if I have something to say. I realize now that I was suffering from anxiety, even then. People wonder how I can be a performer. But I have found, over the years, that there are many MANY people like me in the theatre world.
The good news is. I am thankful for all of it. I am thankful for this realization in my life. I don't regret anything really. I just wish I might have put 2 and 2 together a little sooner perhaps. But, I don't control the timing. God is in control. He was then and He is now.
"I am still confident of this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord! Be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)