Taking the Scenic Route

So. Wow. What is going on? Where to begin?

Well, as the title of this post suggests and as you might already know, I have sidestepped the path that I had all etched out in stone for myself. It wasn't the easiest decision. I thought "come on! It's time to get going, life!" I was all set to grab an internship, make no money and let this crazy bohemian life begin. But you meet people and you learn things everyday. Things change, and you have to just roll with it.

I have decided to get an associates in sign language interpreting. On one hand, I find it completely absurd that this is going to take me three years! I just got my BFA in three years and now it's going to take me three years to get an ASSOCIATES? What a shame that so many precious years will be spent sitting in a desk. I honestly wish there was another program in Saint Louis, but there isn't. So, here I am. I am doing the student thing again. Fighting with loan companies, finding a parking spot in ten buck two, carrying around a bunch of books and remembering to do homework. I don't know about anyone else, but you get your diploma in the mail and you can't even imagine doing it all again. Well, I did. And, the negative things that I mentioned above not withstanding, I am glad that I decided to do it. I didn't enjoy my undergraduate school to be perfectly honest. It's nice to finally feel good about walking into a classroom. I am not stressed. In fact, I have already finished my homework for three of my four classes for the entire semester!

There are a lot of reasons I decided to do this. The first one being that I am obsessively communicating with my hands. I love sign language. I love signing to music. I love signing to people who have no clue what I am saying and I love being the only one that can communicate with people that do. It is an exciting extra set of skills that I am glad to be getting. The second reason is that I think I will fair well in big cities (New York, Chicago etc) as an interpreter and a director and will have the ability to make money in two flexible ways. I would love to interpret theatre as well. I would get to meet some great people, and it would be something that I definitely enjoy on two levels. Well, there is more, but I am rambling...

Anyway, the point of this blog "Becoming a Director" would be to discuss how this will aid or defer my path to "become a director". Well, let's talk about that for a second. It will certainly defer my path, but when I finally do move and work in a city, it will afford me the opportunity to work only part time and make enough money to live in the city. Yes, it does set me back by several years in my educational goals as they pertain to theatre, BUT not to worry. I am continuing to do work in theate. Namely, I continue to work with Hotcity theatre.

First, I will be representing Hotcity at the Clayton Art Fair on Saturday the 10th from 9am-1pm or so. You should come by. See Equus. I am not involved in the production, but it will still be a great show. :) Second, I am slowly working to develop Hotcity's educational program.

A little more about the educational program: I am trying to decide on a couple of things- my target audience, budgeting and costs (and who should pay them), and the overall design of the program. My thoughts as of now are to target elementary and middle schools, and to do a week long after school program (maybe two weeks?). Focus on theatre and art as a way of developing self expression, creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, reading skills and social skills. Ideally I would make time to educate about theatre, play games and conclude with a small performance. Thoughts from educators and theatre professionals in this matter would be much MUCH appreciated.

Anyway, I think that is all for now. Just thought I would share a bit. Sometimes my brain is a jumbled mess. :)

Cheers!

This is How it Works...

It's over!

As quickly as it began, the play festival has ended. I was blessed to have spent a week with a group of wonderful people getting a wonderful experience. It was really just one pleasant week after several weeks or preparation. Aubrey, the Management Associate, Courtney, another intern, Emma, yet another intern, and myself were basically the work horses of the whole event. We bought all of the food and wine, did all of the paperwork, contacted all of the vendors, ran rehearsals, assisted the directors and played personal assistants to the playwrights themselves. It was a lot of stress and a lot of fun. By the end of the week, we had premiered three wonderful, brand new plays, and I think everyone found it to be a success

Here is a picture of all the Festival Staff:




I worked with Eric Rudnick (perhaps you should google him). In addition to being a very talented playwright and a charming, giving individual, he is also a producer in Los Angeles California who has worked as a producer on a number of reality shows including Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, and his current project, Biggest Loser. So, aside from learning all kinds of valuable information about running a play festival, I got to learn a lot about life on the other side of entertainment-film and television. Eric was incredibly generous, always in a positive mood and sincerely devoted to the work that we were doing. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time with him.


Here is a picture of Eric, Gwydion (another playwright) and me. Eric is the one on the right:



My foot is fully in the door of St. Louis Theatre, and despite the minimal time I spent there, I have sensed a few new doors cracking themselves open for me.

Now it is time to get down to business and work on my summer projects.

1) Get some friends together and produce some theatre in St. Louis. Keep things fresh and exciting.

2) Re-design the education program for HotCity Theatre in hopes of getting it on its feet in the fall

3) Learn sign language, probably signing up for fall classes at STLCC

4) Continue work on my resume and submitting it to companies (hopefully get a valuable internship next summer if not by the spring).

5) Continue working at Teavana, educating people about the awesomeness of tea and getting some excellent people experience in the process


I am sure there are more things that will continue to crop up. Lots to keep up with as it is right now, however. I look forward to seeing what will come along in the next couple of weeks.

Summer Times

Well, my diploma came in the mail last week, so I guess that makes it official: I am a college graduate. Of course that is exciting and terrifying at the same time. I am in some cosmic limbo between the end of my childhood and the beginning of being an adult in which I have no responsibilities to school or homework, and I find myself working a part time job and interning at a small theatre and wondering what comes next. Its one of those crossroads in life, and once you pick a road to walk down, there is really no changing your mind.

So, like I said, right now I just got a job working at Teavana, and I start training on Thursday for that. I am excited about it because I love Teavana, but at the same time, it is going to be little more than a little bit of pocket money, and after the play festival, I am still going to need to find something more substantial.

Speaking of the play festival, I am currently serving as a management intern at the HotCity Theatre Company in downtown St. Louis. We are working on a New Play Festival for which we are flying in three playwrights whose plays were selected to premiere at the festival, and we have each been assigned to a play to serve as stage manager/assistant director. The festival is free to the public, and we will be having a world premiere of a new play every night. So, anyone who is reading this should come and bring friends and family and enjoy a night of free theatre!



Anyway, that's enough plugging. So, the next step is to determine whether I should get a degree in sign language interpreting or move to the city and jump into theatre. I really love sign language, and it has been a lot of fun to learn it over the last several months, and it would be another really useful and potentially profitable skill to have. I dont know. Lots to think about.

But. That is all for now!

XOXOXOXOXO

Stream of Consciousness

I am back sooner than I anticipated. I have just been thinking a lot about how to get where I want to be, and then I figured I could use this as a bit of a sounding board since it is all about the process of me getting there anyway...right?

A timeline of my life...
- August 2010 to May 2011: Whatever random inernship(s) I can get
- May 2011 to August 2011: Options: Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Program, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Roundabout Theatre Residency Program, etc.
-August 2011- May 2012: Options: Longwharf Theatre Residency Program, Shakespeare Theatre Company Directing Program
-or if I don't get in, I will move to NYC-
-May 2012 to ?: Have moved to New York City and be employed and working on independent projects
-August 2014: Attend graduate school (top on the lists are Yale and Northwestern)
-May 2016-August 2016: Hangar Lab Director
-August 2016: Move back to New York with more focus on project and production work. Become a member of Women's Project Director's Lab. Complete Projects and other work I have not yet been able to do
-2018: Turn 30. Please god be a director with a real job and benefits!!!

Then, I can start my life. Pay off my debts. Start a family.

-2028: Start getting my doctorate
-2031: Get highered as a full time college professor or open a theatre
-2053: Retire after being totally awesome

*I also want to direct film at some point. Perhaps I will get a degree in it after I have my masters in theatre?

Well, that is enough thinking and analyzing for now. I am going to nap and then do soem homework

loves!
mwah!

It's Alomst Over!

So...yes, it has been several months since I have written. But becoming a director is a good ten year process, so even at only ten entries a year, I still have a short book under my belt by the end of it all, right? Not that it is ever ending.

I am, as I write, sitting at a table in a cozy little coffee shop in downtown St. Louis. I love the city, because it reminds me of all the places I plan to go and all the things I want to see and yet it keeps my ties and love for home strong. We live in an amazing city.

I just finished some homework, and I submitted yet another application for employment. This one was for the Metro Theatre Company. It is a traveling theatre for young audiences company based in St. Louis. Wouldn't my mom be thrilled if I took that job?

Well, graduation is officially two weeks from yesterday. Although I am not actually planning on walking (I will when I get my masters!!), it is nice to see the date in sight. I think back on the past three years and cannot even fathom spending another year or more in school like most people my age. I honestly feel like I have learned everything I can as an undergraduate, and it is simply time to get out in the world and start experiencing life.

It is also nerve-wracking. No more student loans... No more dental insurance... no more safety in the academic world. It's the real world. And it's here.

I have been applying for jobs a lot lately, but what with my insanely busy schedule this semester, most of the deadlines for the jobs I would have really like to have have passed. (I was master electrician for Carousel, wardrobe crew for rumors, director of the heiress, lighting designer and stage manager of the dance concert). I get worked up and feel afraid that I am going to fall behind, but then I remind myself that a lot of people my age, with my degree wont even be graduating for another year or two. By graduating early, I have afforded myself some time. An extra year or two to spend interning and assisting and what not.

I have an interview for a job in Ithaca on Wednesday. I would love to return even though the job itself isn't necessarily ideal. I think I could really make it into my own though. And in the meantime, I could play in waterfalls and shop at the farmers market and live up my life.

Anyway, when I finally figure out what is happening next in my life (which will hopefully be sooner rather than later), I will be back to let you know. And maybe I can start the next crazy chapter in this book of my life.