So... I just realized how long it had been since my last post. Dead Man's Cell Phone... really?!? When I look back at it, coming off the grad program last summer and doing that show was really a defining moment for me as a theatre artist. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I've been pretty busy...
So, to recap the theatre of the year, post Cell Phone, I:
-directed Without Strings: children's show with Honors Drama.
-assistant directed Rent at MST
-led the Honors class in writing original scenes about different historical figures and events of the War of 1812 and traveled to local elementary schools to perform
-played Celia in As You Like It
-directed The Music Man at RSHS, amidst all sorts of drama, understudies, developing carpel tunnel syndrome in the process
-assistant directed CAGTASM at MST
-performed a reading of My Name is Rachel Corrie at MST (another profoundly moving, eye-opening experience simply because of the history and nature of the piece...)
-directed Night Chills with Honors Drama, a collection of 4 Poe stories. (Lots of fun-- lots of stage blood!)
-worked on helping develop Storefront Theatre (with some of the best people to work with in the theatre that I know!) to bring professional theatre and children's theatre to Cecil County and the surrounding areas
-stage managed Cabaret at MST
-left for school.
Wow, that's a lot...
Yeah, that pretty much sums up my year. (besides, you know, teaching theatre full time...)
So, as I sit here in my room, desperately trying not to cave into the desire to take a nap (as I am still kind of jet lagged... and by kind of I mean EXHAUSTED!), I am anxiously awaiting the start of classes tomorrow, and excited for the welcome back picnic at Scott's house (the head of the department).
The program has been kind of restructured, and it feels like things are in a state of flux. The schedule for this summer was changing as recently as a couple weeks ago, so that leaves me a little anxious to be in some of these classes, most notably TH502: Intro to the Creative Project; and Musical Theatre Directing. (Both of which start tomorrow...)
TH502 makes me nervous because my thesis is still 2 years off... and I can barely think about next year, let alone plan one of the most important shows I will direct in the near future. But I guess it will be good to get a jump start on planning and go in with a solid foundation. I'm really excited about the show I've chosen, and just hope that the show is approved. I have no backup plan if it's not.
Musical Theatre directing makes me nervous because we have to direct and BE IN each other's scenes. The directing part I'm fine with. Try to get me to sing in front of people and I shake. Literally. I might consider the class a success if I don't throw up all over my classmates. I've heard wonderful things about the professor though, so that's slightly eased my nerves.
I'm also taking Theory/Criticism/Literature, Lighting Methods, Stage Combat, and Costume Methods. (I like to be busy: proof right here in this post!)
There are lots of things I'm already missing from back home... friends, my fat cats, seeing my family, going to the pool, sleeping in, closing weekend of Cabaret, helping out with Storefront's first production, not being able to audition for (or even see) Midsummer... I wish I could be in two (or twelve?) places at once!!!
It's great to be back, to see my friends here again, to be in Washington (where I'm not being knocked over by the oppressive MD heat & humidity!) As I was on the shuttle from SEATAC to Ellensburg, I found myself again in awe at the absolute beauty of the state. Even on an overcast, grey, rainy day I couldn't focus on completing any of my reading because of the beauty of the partially snowy mountains disappearing into the fog (clouds?), the waterfalls, the evergreen forests we were driving through... I found myself thinking back to a lot of what Rachel Corrie wrote in her journals about the nature and beauty of Washington State and everything seemed to kind of come full circle. Maybe (just maybe) I even got a little bit choked up, overwhelmed by being able to immerse myself in theatre again purely for myself, overcome by nature, ecstatic with the temporary feeling of freedom from the bureaucracy of the classroom...
I'm excited for this summer. Now if I could just get on Washington time, everything would be pretty near perfect! ...Maybe I will give in to that nap.
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