Fall-time Happenings

Hello dearest family and friends, it's time we catch up :)

As I last mentioned, the New Swan ended and my journey through the world of Orlando began. And boy did it begin with a bang!!! Welcome week (the week before classes began) was jammed packed with back to back meetings, gatherings, work shifts, paperwork, auditions, more paperwork, and simply not enough sleep. As Orlando was scheduled to be the first show of the season, I was on a much shorter and more intensive timeline than any other show. Within the span of one week I sat through about 30+ hours of auditions and 10+ hours of meetings, popped out callbacks and cast lists, ran callbacks, reformatted and typed an 80 page script, interviewed and assembled a stage management team, emailed actor packets, organized first rehearsal, created a tech schedule... The list goes on. Point is, it was a metric butt load of work and I survived (yay me!).

Once the show ball got rolling, my schedule calmed down a bit and I fell into a regular schedule of work, classes, and rehearsals. I only took two classes in efforts to ease my stress levels and allow time to breathe (best decision ever). That being said, almost all of my attention and energy went into working on Orlando. A few weeks into the quarter, we hit tech and popped out the show. It was a whirlwind of a process, going by way too fast. The cast, crew, designers, and director enjoyed a phenomenal success. We received rave reviews and were sad to say goodbye. As is the case with all productions I work on, I learned a lot. The success of this show really opened my eyes and showed me that I have what it takes to do this job well. I've gained a new confidence in who I am as a stage manager and am eager to jump in more. (Oh! And also, shout out to the Orlando design team, you guys killed it and it was such an incredible honor to work with you. I would do it again in a heart beat.)

After Orlando, I took one week to be literally the laziest person on this planet. Ask my roomies, if I wasn't in class or at work, I was laying on the couch sleeping, watching TV, eating and/or face booking. My life could not have been less exciting. So naturally, I added another project (what can I say? I'm a gluten for insane scheduling and business). The ASM from Orlando was stage managing a workshop of Pinocchio with The Rogue Artist Ensemble and blessed me with the opportunity to serve as her ASM.

Pinocchio was being workshopped in a large business building in downtown LA, so everyday after work or school, we would hop in the car and carpool over. The process was such an experience. This was a workshop, not a full production (a fact I had to keep reminding myself of). The goal of this mounting was to gain feedback, interest, and possible backing for a full scale production a year from now. The amount of inspiring talent and passion for art in the room was simply amazing. Everyone was there because they chose to be there, working for basically free. It was a throwback to my community theatre days and I loved it. The Rogues really take to heart the title "ensemble" and really make you feel right at home. Anywho, we had three performances, each one better than the previous. As is the nature of workshops, we would tweak and work things before each show; improving, clarifying, and cleaning. By the end of the run, we were sad to see it go, but were excited to what would be the next step. Like Orlando, Pinocchio received great positive feedback. Fingers crossed and happy vibes this will not be the end!

Meanwhile/ simultaneously, here in Irvine I was in pre-production for a production of Gruesome Playground Injuries. A friend had approached me about stage managing this as this would serve as her application into Honors in Directing. I gladly accepted and played double duty until Pinocchio ended. This week I was finally able to join the cast in rehearsals and focus on GPI and those needs. It's a heavy, hard, hitting drama with a cast of two. After two rehearsals, I can already tell this is going to be an experience unlike any other (in a positive way).

So now here I am. The quarter has ended, finals are over, and rehearsals are done until after Winter Break. I'm happy to announce that I officially no longer work at Bath & Body Works and have decided to fully focus on a career in stage management. It's all or nothing now because I've also decided to NOT apply for grad school this year. I think it is important for me to gain real world experience in the business and go out and try my hand. Don't worry though you education fanatics, an MFA is still in my line of sight, just not for another year or so. Until that time it's internships, summer stock, and a freelancers life for me (which is exciting and simultaneously mind-numbingly scary).

I think that's about all of what is new for me. Thank you all for your continued support, understanding, and love. Without you, I would not, could not be here today.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Game of Ketchup (Catch-up?)

Well.... A LOT has happened since I last wrote to you all. So, let's play catch up shall we? 

(Note: There is some overlap from previous posts. I apologize.)

After my first quarter at UCI, I went on to serve as Assistant Stage Manager for The Merchant of Venice for the inaugural production in The New Swan Theater (not to be confused with the production I stage managed this summer. I'll get to that part later). The New Swan (or the Swan for short) was built and assembled on the stage of The Claire Trevor Theatre where we premiered the theatre, performed a short one week run, and gained support for the upcoming summer festival. At the end of our very successful run, the Swan was disassembled and put into storage. "Pause there Morocco..."

What's The New Swan you ask? Let me explain. It's a fairly small theatre entirely designed and built by UCI faculty, staff, and students. The house holds approximately 125 people and wraps around the circular stage in two levels, almost like Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.  The stage flooring lays down in square panels and locks together. Then the tiring house (a.k.a. balcony area) and audience modules are erected around the staged and snapped together in fifteen 1-ton pieces to create a complete theatre. The New Swan Theater design was inspired by an Elizabethan theater called The Swan (which in essence was a smaller version of The Globe). The drama department built our version of theater in hopes of creating a unique, intimate playing space for a summer Shakespeare festival that would become an annual tradition.... "But more of that here after."

At the same time that I was serving as ASM on the first Merchant of Venice production, I was serving as Stage Manager for a non-drama production on campus. It sounds impossible, I know, but the directors "hired" me with the knowledge that I could only organize and communicate via internet and short coffee meetings until Merchant closed. In early February, I finally joined the directors and cast of Galileo in America in the new XMPL Theater on campus (basically a new black box space). Joining the cast over halfway through the rehearsal process and then having to play catch up while aiding the directors scramble to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, was certainly a challenge. The play itself was highly artistic, written by the Associate Dean of Studio Art, using Brecht-inspired script formation, live camera feeds, newly composed music, and a multitude of projection slides and video clips. I have never called such a cue-heavy show in all my life (which was actually pretty exciting). The production ran for two weekends in late February/ early March and closed with what the directors felt was a successful run. For me, this production was a true test of my stage management skills/ knowledge, of my career choice in stage management, and of me as an individual. Let's just say that this experience was an unforgettable one.

Thankfully after Galileo closed, I turned 21 and Spring Break was just around the corner!!! Man was I tired. Winter Quarter had consisted of about 20 units plus two shows. So a trip to Vegas was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. My totally awesome, wickedly cool, super stellar cousins took me and my bestie, to Vegas for 4 days and 3 nights of vacation bliss. And since what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas (unless it's posted on Facebook)... "that's all I have to say about that."

[Brief intermission... If you need a reading break, do it now.] 

Okay so now we've finally made it to Spring Quarter. As if I had not learned my lesson from the quarter before, I piled my work load on again!! (I bet you are all so surprised... not.) Anywho, I was blessed with the opportunity of taking the Graduate Stage Management class for the quarter, which was not only pretty interesting and educational, but also super fun. Beyond that I took my usual load of dram major requirements (boring) and signed on as Assistant Stage Manager for The Lost Estate, a devised theater piece (devised, meaning we make it up as we go) that was adapted and directed by a faculty member. The director's style is to tell the story mainly through movement. It was extremely interesting watching the actors and director create scenes, such as exploring through a dark forest, solely through their bodies. This, however, also posed a large challenge. I quickly became responsible for taking detailed blocking notes on where each cast member moved and when. As the play was highly visual, all of the stage management team had to be vigilant in snapping photos, videos, and closely watching entrances and exits to be sure there were no inconsistencies. As this production was unsupported for costumes, stage management also faced the challenge of trying to organize period-esque costumes that could still move for a medium sized cast on no budget. Though challenging, this was actually kind of fun! Our production ran for one weekend in mid-May with numerous sold out houses.

Immediately after The Lost Estate closed, I jumped into acting as 2nd ASM for Dames at Sea onstage the Claire Trevor Theater. As the production was fairly tech heavy, the stage manager could use all the support she could get. When she asked for my help, I couldn't say no. Awesomely fun story short, I worked the fly rail and flew back drops and set dressing in and out (mega work out in case you were wondering). Because I joined this production so late in the game, I had far less responsibility than other stage management team members. It was a nice change in pace. I showed up, did the manual labor, supported the SM and then went home to sleep like a baby. Once we hit performance, I was graced with a visit from my grandpa and fairy godmother from Whidbey Island. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with them in San Diego and then one day here in Irvine, which concluded with them seeing the show. Their visit (like my Vegas trip) was exactly what the doctor ordered. God, I miss you guys!

Meanwhile, during the quarter I was offered to serve as Stage Manager for The New Swan Summer Shakespeare Festival's remounting of The Merchant of Venice, which I over ecstatically accepted. I was also offered Stage Manager of next Fall Quarter's main stage production of Orlando (as adapted by Sarah Ruhl), which I also accepted. Then to end my favorite quarter on an even higher note, I was awarded a scholarship for my achievements in academics and the arts. Then about a week later I was awarded Honors in Stage Management. A moment to brag: A booyah booyah (pause for applause). 

[Another brief intermission.... Seventh inning stretch if you will... 3 paragraphs more.]

So now we've hit summer. I applied for and accepted a second job (or I guess technically third job if you count stage managing in the Swan). Now I have a solid day job working as a Teacher's Aide at the Infant Toddler Center here on campus. It's a pretty awesome job. So for the month of June I split my time working between ITC and Bath and Body Works (yes, I still work there). When the first week of July hit, The New Swan Summer Shakespeare Festival extravaganza began.

The festival had two productions, The Merchant of Venice and The Comedy of Errors, as well as offering Academy and Apprenticeship programs for high-school-aged students. After a full month of both of the productions rehearsing in studios while the New Swan was being moved and assembled outdoors in Gateway Commons, we were ready to tech and move forward. Both shows enjoyed 6 completely sold out performances (each) throughout the month of August. To say the festival was a tremendous success would be an understatement. Audiences simply ate it up! After the final show closed, congratulations ensued. Three days later... The New Swan had been disassembled and returned to storage. The other day I walked to the site where we erected the theater... it's so odd for it to be gone. It felt like all evidence of my summer had been completely wiped clean. 

Nevertheless! The memories made and experiences gained will never be forgotten. Despite this being the absolute busiest summer of my life, it has also been one of the best. 

Now I'm two weeks from starting my SENIOR YEAR in college (ohmigod!). I plan to enroll in only 2-3 classes in order to maximize my work hours and still give time to focus on Stage Management. 

Next stop... ORLANDO! (The play, not the place. Though the place would be fun too.)

Gotta love pre-production work.

Just a thought.

"I just had an apostrophe... Lightning struck my brain."

I visited home this weekend and had to return today because I had a shift at work. When I got off work, I was exhausted and just wanted to go home, but I couldn't because I knew I had to stop at the store for some essentials, like food, tissues, and the like. When I finally arrived home I still couldn't rest because I had to unload the car and make myself some dinner (such an inconvenience right? Making food... psh!). My evening then continued on with confirming plans to pick up my friend from the airport tomorrow, setting my alarm for work in the morning, budgeting out expenses, checking my email for rehearsal schedules, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture. Well, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and it hit me.

I'm a grown up.

I live in a home I pay for with money I've earned. I buy my own groceries. Pay my own bills. Maintain a professional and a personal life...

Remember that time when I lived at home and all I did was go to school and hang with friends? I had no job and Papa bought my food, made my meals, and did my laundry... What happened?!?!

I'm not just taking this moment to say, "I'm a grown up," because, well, you already knew that. I taking this moment to reflect and say how incredibly blessed and thankful I am to have had a father who raised me right; who gave me the confidence to go out on my own and the knowledge to actually succeed in doing so. I'm also thankful for my mother who left behind a legacy of goodness and strength that inspires me to be who I am. And beyond that, my family and friends who encouraged me and taught me along the way.

Now I'm not saying this to be all sappy and lovey. I'm saying it because it's fact. And because it was an honest thought that crossed my mind.

Thats all :)