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!