Non-Text Message

... But when, in an effort to contribute to the chat, I sent this: "BTW, you'll never guess where I am right now!" ... I didn't expect him to take it literally.

Conversation = FAIL.

*sigh*

Commencing

Say what you will about theatre people (or don't, we've all heard it before), they really know how to throw an awesome graduation. That's right, I said it - with no other group of people will you willingly spend 2.5 hours in crappy school auditorium seats and consider it time that has amused, delighted, and amazed. Go SLSPA!

I've recorded here my notes from one of the keynote speakers. As this was his fourth year as a student-voted speaker, he promised he would give the same speech as the last three years - since he's also the acting teacher, it still sounded completely different. So, following is his list of "50 Ways to Not Ruin the World, Actually Condensed to Ten Since We Don't Want to Be Here for Two Days."

1 - Love what you do. Love the acting, not being an actor; love the dance, not being a dancer. Focus on the process, not the product. The product happens anyway.

2 - Recognize the value of what we (you) do. (Insert applicable passion/interest) What is the value of dance? What is the value music alone can bring? How would your community be damaged if it were deprived of theatre?

3 - Be dedicated. Work. Find joy in the work; turn wounds into wisdom and move forward.

4 - Recognize your talent. Do not give yourself limits. People will tell you "no" - do not be the first in line.

5 - Be yourself. Be a leader. Always preserve your integrity. Do not pretend to be something you're not. Think for yourself, and then determine whether other people's ideas and philosophies compliment what you know and believe to be true.

6 - Cherish, savor the road. Find the joy in the journey.

7 - Be aware. Be aware of others as artists, and as fellow humans. The world around you is crying out in need - LISTEN. We cannot afford to live our lives without listening.

8 - Never mind. *

9 - Turn off the TV, pick up a book. Read a sonnet. Listen to a symphony. Get up and move; dance.

10 - ACT. Take action. All that you hope to achieve is a result of taking action. Do not just spend your life, spend it DOING something. Go out and betray your age (era) - recognize the ideas and theories that are incorrect, repressive, and unfair; stand against the social commonality to change and right them. Find your profound joy, the world's deep hunger, and the place where they meet. There may you take action.

Thanks, Jared! You're amazing!

* Always sleep in the nude. In a world where people don't get dressed up to go to the theatre, it's pretty silly to get dressed for bed.

Dear A. Dumas: Thanks for the Hair

In which we shall see: convent envy, "Shirley Temple"s, a dance club, sweaty hair (oh, those WIGS), diamonds the size of (very small) chicken eggs, potent quotables, a remarkable memorial service, Cyrano de Bergerac and the Actor's Creed, going (nearly) commando, fantastic FOOD, and one of the lamest, most melodramatic buttons ever seen on a production. Much love.

* * * * * * *

I should've been a nun. In addition to the fairly obvious messages the Universe is sending re: myself and the likelihood of having an actual date with an actual guy (namely, "HA. I DON'T THINK SO"), they just seem to have quite a bit of fun. I like fun.

She's a Super-Ninja Nun! All she needs now are nun-chuks! (HA! Sorry.) Also, they throw great parties:

Trust me, this was even cooler than it looked. Club Nun had a velvet rope, a bouncer (er, the guy in the middle with the wonky eye - awesome, right?!?), a disco ball, red light, fog, and stellar music. In this shot, in fact, the entire club (all 10X20 feet of it) was rocking out to "Thriller" and doing their best zombie impressions. As we are (paid, if not "highly paid") actors, those impressions were pretty darn good.

So, I'm thinking I should go into the nightclub business. As a nun.

* * * * *

In other news, I've just spent the last six weeks not blogging, because I was working as a dresser on the REGIONAL PREMIERE of "Alexandre Dumas' By Way of Disney and Gene Kelly Thanks to Ken Ludwig and Including Snippets of Actual French 'The Three Musketeers' or, How D'artagnan Became a Man With Bad Hair, with Some Help From a Few Supposedly Famous Dudes (But Not Like THAT)" - It was actually called "The Three Musketeers" for short.

Issues with origin and script (and there were/are many) aside, this was a great show. I've had plenty of frustration with casts who: abused their props and costumes, were snippy and catty with each other, constantly attempted to upstage fellow actors, were slitting their wrists by the second week because they so badly wanted out of the show, etc... This show had none of those problems. The rehearsal period was even longer than with a typical show at this particular theatre - the cast started several weeks early in order to really nail down all of the complicated fight choreography. Additionally, during the second week of performances several script/plot/fight cuts and changes were made, which can be really tough on a group who are just getting into their performance swing. These guys, though - they hung on, laughed it off, hugged it out, and at the end of the run were wistfully wishing for more. I don't know that I've ever seen a bunch of actors more concerned with each other's well-being, more supportive and loving, or more respectful of their props and outfits. (Granted, handling full-on swords will teach respect for your tools... yay!) Ironically, no nuns were harmed in the making of this show, even though that was originally important to the plot. (Next time.)

Things I loved:

* dressing-room dance parties, impromptu and planned

* "Pull it together, Dickamore!" (hissed repeatedly onstage)

* Hallway sing-alongs

* clean boy-hair, prior to wigging

* Completely random backstories

* writing off-the-wall messages on prop notes, to make the actors laugh

* The Miss Utah Intermission pageant (featuring knife-juggling, double-joints, and 8-second wig repair)

* Bradford hugs

* Kacey's green room leadership

* John's appropriate (and timely!) eloquence

* gleeful little boys handling swords like grownups

* the World's Best Quick-Change Team

* extra "oomph"

* "Char-ISSSSE!"

* "I want a wench! Bring me a wench!"

* Bollywood music

* Frank conversation

* "KnnowwWLLLES!!!"

* Tom's "Kaleb" hair

* the wigs (except that One)

* making Bradford's family the heart of the show

* the EPIC cast party

* "OoodeLALLY!"

* the memorial service held onstage for Heather Garrison, full of music and love

* beautiful masks and fans

... and really feeling like an important part of the team. So much love, so much friendship - AMAZING.

Now I'm back, with a slew of pictures and memories, and the hope that I can find a way to re-create some portion of that feeling again with a new group of old friends! Onward, to summer shows, packing, student loans, and getting myself fitted for a nun's habit! (Just in case.)

Watch out for falling turtles,

Cyd

Bottlenecking

Why is it that any time two cars are parked on opposite sides of a suburban street, they will be parked directly across from each other?

And why is it that, 7 times out of 10, when driving down that suburban street there will be a car coming in the opposite direction and the passing point between that car and yours will fall immediately between those two parked cars, creating a moment of "Nuts will we both fit? I don't think we'll both fit With the whole street to park along why are there TWO cars right there Doesn't anyone pay attention to these kinds of things when they park? Should I slow down and wait for them Are they waiting for me They're waiting for me/They're not waiting Whoa Watch the mirrors HONESTLY I can't believe we both fit I guess I'm glad I've got a small car Whew."

Seriously.

* * * * *

Also:

Sunday Snippet - Nice is Overrated

From a Sunday School discussion re: Balaam and the Ass -

God is not nice. He is kind, loving, compassionate, forgiving, generous, patient, and many, many other wonderful things. He is not, however, nice. He does not pander to the feelings and sensibilities of others, and has no problem holding His position. He does not dither, or waver, or lead anyone on - He tells it like it is, and kindly and lovingly expects all of us to buck up and like it. He trusts that we will trust Him, and follow where He leads without having to always be babied along. He supports and guides and answers and listens, and does not waste anyone's time with "nice". "Magnificent", "awesome" and "overwhelming" are much more in His line. God is completely empathetic - He understands perfectly everything we feel and experience, and will not leave us alone unless we ask Him to... and generally not even then.

* * * * *

I would like to be a valiant, immovable friend. I would like to be known as one who has a kind, loving heart. I'm no longer so concerned about being "nice".

Sweet (Un)Satisfaction

Mistaken

Today I got exactly what I wanted, though it wasn't at all what I asked for. I paid for it, both with a great deal of emotional anxiety and a (relatively) hefty chunk of change. This two-for-one could finally be my ultimate motivator, and may even go some way towards teaching me impulse control. The experience itself turned out to be pretty fun, and it is (thankfully) not likely to be repeated. It's also possible that I will finally have broken my decades-long M.O. of asking a guy out and afterwards having him never speak to me again - or at least have found the exception to that rule.

It's not often that you can definitively pinpoint the end of an infatuation - I hate them while I'm in them (because they make me such a crazy person) and it's still a little sad when they're over; probably because the adrenalin and loopiness contribute to the feeling of being "alive". I suppose that's a small part of what being in love is like - I assume love is much better, though, having two willing participants. It's a relief, being done - I may be my mother's "most dramatic daughter" (per brother number 3, sorry sis - I know you were pitching for the title) but I do not enjoy being crazy wacko person.

So even though nothing turned out the way I expected, I am deeply, sincerely grateful. It's like figuring out how to breathe again after a year spent under water. Also, I paid off a credit card. All in all, a successful day!

* * * * *

I want to talk about Glee. If you haven't seen the Madonna episode and are planning to don't read this until afterwards - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Ok. So. I enjoyed the episode. I always have a good time with the music, and I like the caricatures they're playing with. I regard the whole experience as social satire, not as any kind of accurate representation of high school or glee clubs or life in general. That said, I'm a little surprised by some of the responses I've seen to the last episode, and I'm wondering if everybody else just didn't get it, or if my moral compass is really really off-center. I'm talking, of course, about the plotline dealing with sex.

Context: You've got the entire Madonna catalogue. Can you honestly say you're surprised they chose to use "Like A Virgin"? And having chosen one of Madonna's biggest, most iconic hits (which is to make no determination whether or not I personally like the song) how can you be shocked that the song will be used during a subplot (SUBPLOT! NOT MAIN PLOT) about sex? Characters in the episode made it repeatedly clear that Madonna's music represented being independent and powerful, making and owning choices, and re-inventing oneself. Nowhere was it stated, either covertly or overtly, that it's all right and/or expected for a person to sleep with whomever they happen to meet. (Two girls state that they "never say no", but they are also cast as bimbos/villians, and have never been presented as characters with whom we, the audience, are expected to sympathize.) The sex subplot involves three couples who all state their intention to have sex. However, after singing "Like a Virgin", the fallout is not "Sex is great! Be promiscuous!" it's: 1) didn't happen, not ready, don't want to do this for the wrong reasons, 2) didn't happen, fix problems first and don't expect sex to fix them for you, and 3) happened, but was meaningless and unenjoyable because their was no emotional connection for the participants. For two of the couples, the guy was also shown as supportive when the girl changed her mind about having sex. For mainstream TV, these seem like pretty radical (and positive) conclusions.

Am I nuts? I don't mind discussions about sex, especially when they are apropos and include messages like "don't do it if you're not ready, or just because someone else wants you to, or because you think it will fix or change something, or to make another person jealous. Make your own decisions - take charge of your life and your body, and be supportive and respectful of the decisions others make." There is no reference to any kind of religious aspect of the discussion - but again, it's mainstream TV. I'm not sure that anyone could legitimately expect there would be. I believe that sex should wait until marriage, and I'm not watching prime-time television shows with the expectation that anyone on them will agree with me. I do appreciate the empowering, counter-culture messages that are sometimes sent - I realize that in today's world, those messages may be the closest thing to moral instruction that much of society will receive.

And since depictions of sex (or, in this case, intent to have sex) are counter to the beliefs and standards of many people, I am not recommending that anyone go and watch Glee, or trying to change anyone's mind. I'm just a little baffled that lots of people seem to be getting such different messages than the ones that are coming across to me. No offense intended - but if we can't talk about things, how are we ever supposed to learn?