Two, but not Three

For a short time there, it looked like I might be directing three plays at the same time, but as I wasn't offered the show at Anne Sullivan middle school, so I'm down to just two.

Honestly, I'm relieved. One day I'd like nothing more than to direct three plays at once, but not when I have to earn my daily bread as well.

Two plays are going to keep me plenty busy however. It looks as if I'll have rehearsal every day but maybe Friday night, and that only because I believe in not going mad all at once. Just slowly and steadily.

And I have a meeting set up to meet with the Artistic Director of the Children's Theatre. I have a feeling that my career is off to a strong start.

Graduation

So as my education finally comes to an end, the anticipation I've had for so many years is waning a bit. Perhaps I'm not ready, perhaps I still have more to learn. I'm a director, but am I ready to direct?

I've started looking at Grad programs.

Or rather, one program, Yale. If I'm going to consider another three years of school, it might as well be the best, right? Their program looks amazing.

Of course, I'm not thinking next fall. They want two years professional expirience, so fall 2009 might still be too soon, though if I haven't started getting jobs by next January, I'll probably apply just to see what happens. I can always apply again after all.

However, I might start getting jobs, keep getting jobs, and eventually get so busy directing that I'll never give Yale a second thought.

It's an exciting time.

Actor v. Director/Producer

So today I got to the theater building at 11am to audition an actor, then I had a job clarification conversation with my stage manager and spent nearly four hours with the costume designer. Then I went to rehearsal as an actor, was there for 15 minutes and was sent home.

I don't understand why anyone would want to act. I'm glad they do however, otherwise being a director would be awfully depressing.

By the way, I've managed to add on three new projects to my project list. Therefore, if everything actually does work out it will look as such:
Early 2008: Arcadia
Less Early 2008: Faust film
Middle 2008: Fringe show
Latish 2008: Project for Morris Park Players
Late 2008/Early 2009: Animated Film Project and Euphoria, by my fringe show writer

Of course, if London does work out, some of these won't happen. However, it's starting to look like I might be happy in Minneapolis for... some time.

The show is dead, long live the show!

Sunday my latest show ended. It had a good run, everyone enjoyed it.

I've mostly forgotten it.

Not the lessons I learned from it, or the enjoyment I took from it, but the need that drove me on.

For I'm already deep into plans for another play, this one much more important and with a lot balancing on it. I booked a space (finally!) and today I took out a line of credit to pay for the production, applied for the rights and ordered scripts. I'm also about halfway through the casting process and in the middle of pre-design talks with the costumer. And I've found a Stage Manager.

But on top of that, I'm also planning for a fringe show this summer that's being written for me and a movie that I want to make, not to mention various small projects just for fun.

Somewhere in the middle of all this producing and directing, I also need to get myself a job, a real job, one that will let me keep a roof over my head, food in my belly and my credit rating up while I run around doing things I've dreamed of doing.

However, it's the challenges that make life interesting.

Another Opening of Another Show

Which makes it sound like I do this all the time, doesn't it? It's strange how though I think of myself as a director, possibly even before I think of myself as a student, an American, or even a woman, I've really only directed four shows before this one now. Of course, five shows at the age of 22 is not a bad account.

I'm having a great time with the show, even though it's the most difficult project I have EVER attempted. Part of it is the script itself, classical theater is harder. Part of it is working with a collaborator, I've had to learn how to bend my vision to fit with another without actually losing what I want. It's also a large cast- 15 and I am still trying to readjust to living in this country.

I'm happy though, happy to be with my friends, happy to be making art. Happy to be a Director.

New Play!

Made of very old ones. Auditions went swimmingly well, even if they weren't particularly well-run... Chris and I should work together well, though I'm still not sure what it is we're going to be making together...

Still, I am working in the Xperimental Theatre. I'll let the name be my guide.

My little trick paid off. I posted a call-back list and all the actors trouped in thinking they had to work hard again, read more lines, sweat it out. Then I held up the list that they'd all seen with pleasure (and a little nervousness perhaps) that morning and said "See this list? This is the cast list." There were even a couple double-takes. Beautiful. It's a cast of 17, which should be just about right...

Rehearsals start on Tuesday, I'm so jazzed.

The only thing lacking still is a job, but I have high hopes of this temp agency. If I hear nothing by Friday however, I start getting more aggressive. Possibly with the wanted ads.

Settling back in

It's been an interesting few days. I got home and almost immediately went to see my apartment and sign my lease. The next day was spent moving in and then I went to the woods.

It's only today that I'm starting to feel that I'm home. My apartment is about 2/3's in order and excepting for a bit of confusion over what day it is, I seem to be managing just fine.

Apollo's none too happy however, he doesn't like the apartment yet, as he verbalized quite clearly to me last night, all night long. He'll settle in soon I'm sure, but for the moment, it's awfully annoying.

I have my first meeting of my only class of my last semester in about an hour. It's nice that I can finally take this class, I've been waiting for years. It's also a blessing to have this directing project starting, as it will keep me from missing London too much.

I still need to get a job too, but that's a task for tomorrow, today I'm not going to worry too much about it.