I am currently sitting in my home in Nebraska, drinking tea and watching my puppy run around the house. It's been months since I was home last, February, I think. Even though I live in warm California, I find that as Fall and Winter arrive, I miss the cold and ice of Nebraska. I love seasons, plus, I have an unhealthy affinity for coats and scarves.
My mother has, once again, outdone herself with the Thanksgiving dinner and my belly is pleasantly full with Turkey, mashed potatoes, and crescent rolls. Along with the wonderful food, the house rang with laughter and the voices of relatives as we ate, attempted to make holiday ornaments and fed the puppy leftovers from the meal. We chatted about what's been going on with our lives, reminisced about past holiday get-togethers, and talked about plans for Christmas. It was good to see my family, and it's been nice being home for a few days. I've missed Nebraska.
I am so blessed to have such a loving family and group of friends. I'm glad that my family has always been very supportive of my decision to pursue acting and I'm thankful for all of the opportunities that I've been given, and the memories that I've made. I hope that today you remember all that you have been blessed with, and give thanks for all the good things in your life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
One Day More
I may actually be posting more than once a week, depending on what's going on during the week. Just a heads up.
Last night I went to see the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables at the movie theatre down the street. The concert was being performed in London, I believe, but it was being shown in movie theatres all around the world. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy it, I just didn't want to sit around my apartment all night with nothing to do.
It was amazing. Truly and utterly amazing. It probably helped that it has been a while since I listened to Les Mis and I had forgotten how beautiful the music is. The first thing that struck me was how massive the arena was where the show was being performed. It was HUGE and it was completely packed with people. I can't even imagine what it must be like to perform in front of such a gigantic audience, not to mention the fact that people all over the world are watching in the cinemas as well. This was especially moving at the end of the most famous numbers of the show (Bring Him Home, Stars, I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own, to name a few). The applause was uproarious and I will admit, I got a little chocked up just thinking about what it must be like to stand there and listen to all those people applaud your performance.
I also have to say that I was very intrigued with the stage itself. It was a long rectangular stage, as proscenium as it could be, in an area setting, with a catwalk a little above the main playing area and big sections in the back where the chorus sat. The huge orchestra was stationed between the catwalk and the chorus area, and the actors entered from upstage center on the main floor. The lights were the thing that struck me the most. These were high tech, expensive lights that were connected to about four or five long iron bars that stretched across the stage. The bars could then be lowered or raised, while the lights were moving, above the stage. I can't really describe it properly, but I've never seen lights do that before. In the second act the bars with the lights attached lowered to the stage and became the barricade. It was awesome.
Now on to the performers. First of all, I have to say that this cast blew me away, especially the men (well, except for Marius, which we'll get to later). Alfie Boe was a very young Jean Valjean, but he has the most beautiful, clear, open voice that I've ever heard sing the role. He was amazing. And it seemed so effortless for him to hit the high notes, not only in Bring Him Home, but at the end of a number of songs in act 1 where Valjean just seems to scream the final word of a sentence. He also had very expressive eyes and acted the part well.
Norm Lewis has replaced Terrance Mann as my favorite Javert. This is not an easy feat, because Terrance Mann is amazing. Norm Lewis blew me away. I'd heard him sing before but for some reason this performance really showcased his talent. He acted the part brilliantly, brought some new colors I'd never seen before in Javert, and his voice was spectacular. His Stars made me cry a little bit. It was awesome.
Ramin Karimloo was equally amazing as Enjolras. His voice was so clear and it seemed so easy for him to sing everything, yet it was strong, emotional and blew me away as well. I could have listened to him sing all night.
The Thenadier's were both hilarious and brilliant, as always, and I love how much the entire cast and audience gets into Master of the House*. Everyone always has so much fun during that song, and you could tell that both the Thenadier's loved performing it. I am also very impressed that Madame Thenadier managed to keep herself in her extremely tight, lowcut dress in Act II. Props to you ma'm.
Lea Salonga as Fantine was very good, Lea Salonga is always awesome. Though I did notice a few little times when she seemed to be straining to belt a note, just slightly. It didn't sound bad, and maybe that was just me nit-picking, but she was still great in the role. I want her lower range so bad.
Cosette and Eponine were both pretty good. The woman who played Cosette had a very clear headvoice and she tried her best to give the character a little more life than Cosette is sometimes played with. I think she did a good job, her acting wasn't bad and her singing was pretty. Eponine was played well, though there were a few times when she would sound a little too pop-like for me. I also thought that she was a little too pretty, she needed some dirt on her face or something. But she was good, and she sang her heart out during On My Own, gaining a super long, immense applause, which she deserved.
Now...Marius. Everyone else in this production was so strong and had clearly had musical theatre training and then...there was Nick Jonas. Now, I will admit, his Empty Chairs at Empty Tables wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but I also think that was because it was a little lower than Marius' other songs so he didn't really need to stretch for the higher notes. The other songs...they made my soul hurt, and not in a good way. You could tell that he wasn't in his element, he is a pop singer, after all, and whenever he had to sing in the high-ish range (which is alot) he got all pop-like and slid from one note the next in a really really annoying way. He was also extremely breathy, which bothered me to no end, especially when he was singing with anyone else who wasn't singing on the breath. He also had an annoying habit of looking off into the sky and having a strangely confused/pained look on his face constantly. I understand the actors had to sing into the microphones so they couldn't look at each other all the time while they sang, but he never seemed to really connect to anyone else. He tried, but I think he needs to figure out how to transition from pop to musical theatre a little more before taking on a role like this. He was the weakest in the entire cast. And of course the theatre I was in was full of Jonas fangirls who squealed whenever he came onstage. *blegh*
After the show was over, the original 1985 cast came onstage as well, including Colm Wilkinson, the original Valjean, who lead everyone in One Day More. Then, the four Jean Valjeans (Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones**, Simon Bowman and Alfie Boe) all sang Bring Him Home, which reduced me to tears and much applause.
(Random note: I have to say that I love that people in movie theatres in LA applaud for everything. My theatre was applauding after songs in the show and during the curtain call and special performances. It was almost like being there live).
To make an extremely long post short: I'm so glad I got to see this show the way I did. It reminded me how powerful theatre can be and that there is nothing like performing something live, and performing something that has lasted for 25 years. Seeing the four men who played Jean Valjean onstage, I reveled in the fact that live theatre brings people together like it does and allows so many performers a chance to be a part of something so amazing.
It also made me miss performing in musicals and rekindled by burning desire to play Eponine at least once before I die.
*Everytime I hear Master of the House, all I can think about is that Seinfeld episode where George gets the song stuck in his head for days after seeing Les Mis. It's so catchy!
**John Owen-Jones played the Phantom when I saw Phantom of the Opera (my very first time!) in London. He is and probably always will be my favorite Phantom. He made me cry more than once.
Last night I went to see the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables at the movie theatre down the street. The concert was being performed in London, I believe, but it was being shown in movie theatres all around the world. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy it, I just didn't want to sit around my apartment all night with nothing to do.
It was amazing. Truly and utterly amazing. It probably helped that it has been a while since I listened to Les Mis and I had forgotten how beautiful the music is. The first thing that struck me was how massive the arena was where the show was being performed. It was HUGE and it was completely packed with people. I can't even imagine what it must be like to perform in front of such a gigantic audience, not to mention the fact that people all over the world are watching in the cinemas as well. This was especially moving at the end of the most famous numbers of the show (Bring Him Home, Stars, I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own, to name a few). The applause was uproarious and I will admit, I got a little chocked up just thinking about what it must be like to stand there and listen to all those people applaud your performance.
I also have to say that I was very intrigued with the stage itself. It was a long rectangular stage, as proscenium as it could be, in an area setting, with a catwalk a little above the main playing area and big sections in the back where the chorus sat. The huge orchestra was stationed between the catwalk and the chorus area, and the actors entered from upstage center on the main floor. The lights were the thing that struck me the most. These were high tech, expensive lights that were connected to about four or five long iron bars that stretched across the stage. The bars could then be lowered or raised, while the lights were moving, above the stage. I can't really describe it properly, but I've never seen lights do that before. In the second act the bars with the lights attached lowered to the stage and became the barricade. It was awesome.
Now on to the performers. First of all, I have to say that this cast blew me away, especially the men (well, except for Marius, which we'll get to later). Alfie Boe was a very young Jean Valjean, but he has the most beautiful, clear, open voice that I've ever heard sing the role. He was amazing. And it seemed so effortless for him to hit the high notes, not only in Bring Him Home, but at the end of a number of songs in act 1 where Valjean just seems to scream the final word of a sentence. He also had very expressive eyes and acted the part well.
Norm Lewis has replaced Terrance Mann as my favorite Javert. This is not an easy feat, because Terrance Mann is amazing. Norm Lewis blew me away. I'd heard him sing before but for some reason this performance really showcased his talent. He acted the part brilliantly, brought some new colors I'd never seen before in Javert, and his voice was spectacular. His Stars made me cry a little bit. It was awesome.
Ramin Karimloo was equally amazing as Enjolras. His voice was so clear and it seemed so easy for him to sing everything, yet it was strong, emotional and blew me away as well. I could have listened to him sing all night.
The Thenadier's were both hilarious and brilliant, as always, and I love how much the entire cast and audience gets into Master of the House*. Everyone always has so much fun during that song, and you could tell that both the Thenadier's loved performing it. I am also very impressed that Madame Thenadier managed to keep herself in her extremely tight, lowcut dress in Act II. Props to you ma'm.
Lea Salonga as Fantine was very good, Lea Salonga is always awesome. Though I did notice a few little times when she seemed to be straining to belt a note, just slightly. It didn't sound bad, and maybe that was just me nit-picking, but she was still great in the role. I want her lower range so bad.
Cosette and Eponine were both pretty good. The woman who played Cosette had a very clear headvoice and she tried her best to give the character a little more life than Cosette is sometimes played with. I think she did a good job, her acting wasn't bad and her singing was pretty. Eponine was played well, though there were a few times when she would sound a little too pop-like for me. I also thought that she was a little too pretty, she needed some dirt on her face or something. But she was good, and she sang her heart out during On My Own, gaining a super long, immense applause, which she deserved.
Now...Marius. Everyone else in this production was so strong and had clearly had musical theatre training and then...there was Nick Jonas. Now, I will admit, his Empty Chairs at Empty Tables wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but I also think that was because it was a little lower than Marius' other songs so he didn't really need to stretch for the higher notes. The other songs...they made my soul hurt, and not in a good way. You could tell that he wasn't in his element, he is a pop singer, after all, and whenever he had to sing in the high-ish range (which is alot) he got all pop-like and slid from one note the next in a really really annoying way. He was also extremely breathy, which bothered me to no end, especially when he was singing with anyone else who wasn't singing on the breath. He also had an annoying habit of looking off into the sky and having a strangely confused/pained look on his face constantly. I understand the actors had to sing into the microphones so they couldn't look at each other all the time while they sang, but he never seemed to really connect to anyone else. He tried, but I think he needs to figure out how to transition from pop to musical theatre a little more before taking on a role like this. He was the weakest in the entire cast. And of course the theatre I was in was full of Jonas fangirls who squealed whenever he came onstage. *blegh*
After the show was over, the original 1985 cast came onstage as well, including Colm Wilkinson, the original Valjean, who lead everyone in One Day More. Then, the four Jean Valjeans (Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones**, Simon Bowman and Alfie Boe) all sang Bring Him Home, which reduced me to tears and much applause.
(Random note: I have to say that I love that people in movie theatres in LA applaud for everything. My theatre was applauding after songs in the show and during the curtain call and special performances. It was almost like being there live).
To make an extremely long post short: I'm so glad I got to see this show the way I did. It reminded me how powerful theatre can be and that there is nothing like performing something live, and performing something that has lasted for 25 years. Seeing the four men who played Jean Valjean onstage, I reveled in the fact that live theatre brings people together like it does and allows so many performers a chance to be a part of something so amazing.
It also made me miss performing in musicals and rekindled by burning desire to play Eponine at least once before I die.
*Everytime I hear Master of the House, all I can think about is that Seinfeld episode where George gets the song stuck in his head for days after seeing Les Mis. It's so catchy!
**John Owen-Jones played the Phantom when I saw Phantom of the Opera (my very first time!) in London. He is and probably always will be my favorite Phantom. He made me cry more than once.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Windmills
I've given my blog a whole new look! I realize that I haven't really been writing anything on here, so I've decided to change that. My plan right now is to post once a week, probably Sundays, and offer advice/opinions/observations from what's been going on during the week. I will also probably be linking to my Tumblr account (and vice versa) whenever I have multiple pictures that will help emphasize what I write about on this blog.
**shameless plug: Feel free to subscribe to my Tumblr page!
HERE: http://zana13.tumblr.com/
Today is kind of a bonus, since I'm going to explain the new theme a little.
I've named this blog project "The Windmill Chronicles", drawing on the famous image of Don Quixote fighting against a windmill, believing it to be a giant. Now, some people can draw the conclusion that all this image shows is a crazy old man fighting something that he can never vanquish, but I take a different view.It's not the fact that Don Quixote is fighting an impossible battle, but the fact that he believes, with his heart and soul, that he is fighting a giant, and that he will win.
Don Quixote is a dreamer, an optimist, he looks for romance, beauty, nobleness and adventure everywhere he goes, no matter what the rest of the world says, and eventually the rest of the world begins to believe with him.The image of the Windmill symbolizes, for me, the power of dreams and imagination, of believing that there is beauty and adventure everywhere you look, just waiting for you to come and find it.
I am proud to be a dreamer, optimist, and adventurer in this crazy life, and if I can touch a few people with what I write here, well, that's a bonus.
:D
**shameless plug: Feel free to subscribe to my Tumblr page!
HERE: http://zana13.tumblr.com/
Today is kind of a bonus, since I'm going to explain the new theme a little.
I've named this blog project "The Windmill Chronicles", drawing on the famous image of Don Quixote fighting against a windmill, believing it to be a giant. Now, some people can draw the conclusion that all this image shows is a crazy old man fighting something that he can never vanquish, but I take a different view.It's not the fact that Don Quixote is fighting an impossible battle, but the fact that he believes, with his heart and soul, that he is fighting a giant, and that he will win.
Don Quixote is a dreamer, an optimist, he looks for romance, beauty, nobleness and adventure everywhere he goes, no matter what the rest of the world says, and eventually the rest of the world begins to believe with him.The image of the Windmill symbolizes, for me, the power of dreams and imagination, of believing that there is beauty and adventure everywhere you look, just waiting for you to come and find it.
I am proud to be a dreamer, optimist, and adventurer in this crazy life, and if I can touch a few people with what I write here, well, that's a bonus.
:D
Sunday, July 11, 2010
To live would be an awefully big adventure...
Long time, no post! Things have been crazy!
In the past month or so I packed up everything I had, shoved it in a car, and road tripped out to CA with Kaitlin and our families. We moved into our (awesome!) apartment, and got things set up and settled in. The parents went back home, and now we're here starting a new chapter of our lives in LA.
It's been pretty awesome so far! We've met some cool people, seen Edgar Wright in person (AHH!) and started the hard road of trying to break into the business.
One of the guys we met during our first weeks here on our own is now my boyfriend (he's a video game programmer and an all around amazing guy). He's helped me overcome my fear of the freeway (I've driven down to see him many times, so the freeway is a breeze now), and he's helped me open my horizons to new things (including Sushi and Persian food, both of which I liked!)
I've had a few auditions this weekend, and I have two more next week.
Things are kind of crazy, but I'm adjusting, and I really like it here! We'll see what the future brings!
In the past month or so I packed up everything I had, shoved it in a car, and road tripped out to CA with Kaitlin and our families. We moved into our (awesome!) apartment, and got things set up and settled in. The parents went back home, and now we're here starting a new chapter of our lives in LA.
It's been pretty awesome so far! We've met some cool people, seen Edgar Wright in person (AHH!) and started the hard road of trying to break into the business.
One of the guys we met during our first weeks here on our own is now my boyfriend (he's a video game programmer and an all around amazing guy). He's helped me overcome my fear of the freeway (I've driven down to see him many times, so the freeway is a breeze now), and he's helped me open my horizons to new things (including Sushi and Persian food, both of which I liked!)
I've had a few auditions this weekend, and I have two more next week.
Things are kind of crazy, but I'm adjusting, and I really like it here! We'll see what the future brings!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Then and Now
Since May graduation is next week and a lot of my friends and classmates are graduating, I thought it would be fun to take a look at how much I've changed during my time at school. I'm not going to go through every year (that would take way too long and be really boring), but I thought it would be fun to look at freshman and senior year of high school, and freshman and senior year of college.
Freshman year of high school - 2002/2003
Highlights:
1. New school
2. Future Image Show Choir
3. First school musical (Oklahoma)
4. First Shakespeare role (a spirit in Macbeth)
5. Best friend: Lindsay R.
Senior year of high school - 2005/2006
Highlights:
1. Lead in the musical (Crazy for You) for the 2nd year in a row
2. Ultimate Image Show Choir (even though we went through some rough times that year)
3. 4th and 5th Shakespeare show (Taming of the Shrew and Richard III)
4. Went to Italy with Fame All Stars Show Choir over the summer
5. Best friends: Lindsay R. John J. and Andrew D.
Freshman Year of College - 2006/2007
Highlights:
1. Amazing roomie!!
2. Joined AXO
3. Was there at the beginning of BFAX
4. First callback for a show at school
5. Defeated the honors class from Hell
Senior Year/Semester of College - 2009
Highlights
1. Awesome breakthroughs in Audition Techniques class
2. Moved into an amazing apartment
3. Got to experience being in A Christmas Carol before I graduated
4. Co-directing MALUS
5. Auditioning for the American Shakespeare Center
I feel like I've grown so much, in high school and college. The time goes by so quickly, sometimes you forget to stop and savor what you have. I am so blessed to have known so many wonderful people who have all helped shape the path that I have taken. In a few weeks I will be venturing into the ultimate unknown: The rest of my life.
Congratulations to the seniors graduating next week, especially the members of BFAX. It's been a crazy few years and I am excited to see where our roads take us!
Freshman year of high school - 2002/2003
Homecoming (from sophomore year, I think. I don't have any photos from Freshman year on my compy anymore)
Highlights:
1. New school
2. Future Image Show Choir
3. First school musical (Oklahoma)
4. First Shakespeare role (a spirit in Macbeth)
5. Best friend: Lindsay R.
Senior year of high school - 2005/2006
Highlights:
1. Lead in the musical (Crazy for You) for the 2nd year in a row
2. Ultimate Image Show Choir (even though we went through some rough times that year)
3. 4th and 5th Shakespeare show (Taming of the Shrew and Richard III)
4. Went to Italy with Fame All Stars Show Choir over the summer
5. Best friends: Lindsay R. John J. and Andrew D.
Freshman Year of College - 2006/2007
Highlights:
1. Amazing roomie!!
2. Joined AXO
3. Was there at the beginning of BFAX
4. First callback for a show at school
5. Defeated the honors class from Hell
Senior Year/Semester of College - 2009
Highlights
1. Awesome breakthroughs in Audition Techniques class
2. Moved into an amazing apartment
3. Got to experience being in A Christmas Carol before I graduated
4. Co-directing MALUS
5. Auditioning for the American Shakespeare Center
I feel like I've grown so much, in high school and college. The time goes by so quickly, sometimes you forget to stop and savor what you have. I am so blessed to have known so many wonderful people who have all helped shape the path that I have taken. In a few weeks I will be venturing into the ultimate unknown: The rest of my life.
Congratulations to the seniors graduating next week, especially the members of BFAX. It's been a crazy few years and I am excited to see where our roads take us!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
9.5
Last night was the performance of the movement pieces that my room mate and another of our friends put together as a kind of culmination of their work with the movement professor last semester. The very last piece of the show was a tribute to the graduating seniors, the class of 2010. It was very emotional and almost every senior (and many juniors) cried.
I felt very strange, not just because of the movement piece but because of the fact that for the first time I didn't really feel like I was a part of the senior class (which I am). I've already graduated, I've already gone through all of those emotions, and I didn't really feel connected to people last night.
That made me sad, and I felt very awkward and out of place. Maybe it's because even while I was in school I didn't feel like I bonded with as much of the senior class as many of my classmates. I'm not a very outgoing person. I'm that shy, quiet girl who sits in the front of class, gets straight A's, honors, and excels academically, but not so much socially. I have a few close friends, but I was never a part of that big group of people that are always together, the "popular" kids.
When I decided to graduate a semester early, I didn't really think about what it would be like, staying here in the city for the spring semester. All the rest of my friends are just starting to go through what I went through months ago. And, I know this probably isn't the case, but sometimes I feel as though people forget that I'm a part of the class of 2010. I know I graduated kind of Class of 2009.5, but I started college with all of these people and it feels kind of weird not really getting to end it with them.
I know I'm just kind of rambling, but that's why it felt so strange last night. It felt as though I was somewhere completely different from my classmates, I wasn't as emotional as they were and I felt as though everyone, even the teachers, had forgotten that I was a part of that class as well.
Someone told me last night that spring graduation is emotional and winter graduation is stressful. I beg to differ. I think that Winter graduation can be just as emotional as spring, and both are equally stressful. Not as many people turn up at Winter graduation, it's true, but it was still an important moment, at least in my life, and I don't like feeling like it wasn't as...important, somehow as spring graduation.
I'm proud that I graduated early, and I'm very proud of all of my friends who are about to graduate in a week. We're all a family, whether we're graduating in 2010 or have graduated in 2009.5. Let's show the world what we can do.
I felt very strange, not just because of the movement piece but because of the fact that for the first time I didn't really feel like I was a part of the senior class (which I am). I've already graduated, I've already gone through all of those emotions, and I didn't really feel connected to people last night.
That made me sad, and I felt very awkward and out of place. Maybe it's because even while I was in school I didn't feel like I bonded with as much of the senior class as many of my classmates. I'm not a very outgoing person. I'm that shy, quiet girl who sits in the front of class, gets straight A's, honors, and excels academically, but not so much socially. I have a few close friends, but I was never a part of that big group of people that are always together, the "popular" kids.
When I decided to graduate a semester early, I didn't really think about what it would be like, staying here in the city for the spring semester. All the rest of my friends are just starting to go through what I went through months ago. And, I know this probably isn't the case, but sometimes I feel as though people forget that I'm a part of the class of 2010. I know I graduated kind of Class of 2009.5, but I started college with all of these people and it feels kind of weird not really getting to end it with them.
I know I'm just kind of rambling, but that's why it felt so strange last night. It felt as though I was somewhere completely different from my classmates, I wasn't as emotional as they were and I felt as though everyone, even the teachers, had forgotten that I was a part of that class as well.
Someone told me last night that spring graduation is emotional and winter graduation is stressful. I beg to differ. I think that Winter graduation can be just as emotional as spring, and both are equally stressful. Not as many people turn up at Winter graduation, it's true, but it was still an important moment, at least in my life, and I don't like feeling like it wasn't as...important, somehow as spring graduation.
I'm proud that I graduated early, and I'm very proud of all of my friends who are about to graduate in a week. We're all a family, whether we're graduating in 2010 or have graduated in 2009.5. Let's show the world what we can do.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunshine For A Rainy Day
It's been chilly and rainy here since Friday, so I thought that I would post a few things that always make me smile, even on gross weather days like today.
This photo of my brother and I with our puppy.
This library :D
The TARDIS cake my momma made me for my 21st birthday (with the most delicious frosting in the WORLD!
Bullwhips (and stage combat in general). Photo by Erick Wolfe
These guys
My awesome roommate
And this quote from Much Ado About Nothing:
"I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?"
Sunday, April 4, 2010
New New New Doctor
NERD ALERT!
I just watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. (I promise, I won't give away any spoilers!)
Matt Smith wasn't as bad as I expected (though I do still miss David Tennant). He had some nice moments, though I did miss the heartbreaking intensity and powerful gaze that both David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston were masters at: (Matt Smith's lack of eyebrows bothers me).
As for the new companion, she's okay. I found her a little annoying at times (not so much as Martha, but I don't think she's up to scratch yet with Rose or Donna).
There were a few acting moments that I didn't believe from both of them, but overall I thought that they were pretty good (I must say that I think Amy Pond's boyfriend is adorable. I just want to hug him!)
The new Tardis Interior is pretty cool (though I still don't like the outside, it looks like a brightly painted toy...)
And Stephen Moffat just makes me happy. Even though this episode wasn't one of his best works ever, I quite liked Amy's introduction/backstory (little Amy Pond was adorable!). I'm excited to see the scripts for this season (plus the Weeping Angels).
Overall, it was better than expected, though there were still some things I didn't care for, I was glad that I didn't hate it.
Oh! Forgot to mention: I actually really like the new Time Vortex during the opening credits, it looks pretty cool. The new theme is okay, it's basically the same tune, but with less epic strings, which I miss. I also missed hearing the Doctor's Theme this episode. I hope it turns up again soon. Murray Gold = win.
I love being a Nerd.
I just watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. (I promise, I won't give away any spoilers!)
Matt Smith wasn't as bad as I expected (though I do still miss David Tennant). He had some nice moments, though I did miss the heartbreaking intensity and powerful gaze that both David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston were masters at: (Matt Smith's lack of eyebrows bothers me).
As for the new companion, she's okay. I found her a little annoying at times (not so much as Martha, but I don't think she's up to scratch yet with Rose or Donna).
There were a few acting moments that I didn't believe from both of them, but overall I thought that they were pretty good (I must say that I think Amy Pond's boyfriend is adorable. I just want to hug him!)
The new Tardis Interior is pretty cool (though I still don't like the outside, it looks like a brightly painted toy...)
And Stephen Moffat just makes me happy. Even though this episode wasn't one of his best works ever, I quite liked Amy's introduction/backstory (little Amy Pond was adorable!). I'm excited to see the scripts for this season (plus the Weeping Angels).
Overall, it was better than expected, though there were still some things I didn't care for, I was glad that I didn't hate it.
Oh! Forgot to mention: I actually really like the new Time Vortex during the opening credits, it looks pretty cool. The new theme is okay, it's basically the same tune, but with less epic strings, which I miss. I also missed hearing the Doctor's Theme this episode. I hope it turns up again soon. Murray Gold = win.
I love being a Nerd.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
"I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor less"
King Lear opened last night!
We had a pretty big audience, considering that it was good Friday, and they responded very well to the show. We heard later that at least two people were crying during the last scene. YAY! (Although Ian's first thought when he heard someone was crying was a panicked "Oh God, did I hit her with the sword?")
:-D
My goal last night, personally, was to stop thinking so much about how I was saying the words and simply speak them. I get to say these beautiful words every night, and I don't want my over-analyzing self to get in the way of the words themselves.That being said, I feel like I accomplished my goal and will continue to work to stay out of my head so much and more in the moment.
After the show the cast went out to the Prohibition Room for drinks and food, which was pretty fun. I love going to cast parties of Shakespeare shows, because all anyone talks about for the first hour (at least) is the show, the characters, and Shakespeare himself.
Being a huge Shakespeare nerd, I absolutely love when an entire table full of people are discussing Shakespeare and his plays. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy inside.
Tonight is another performance! Let's make THREE people cry tonight! (At least!)
We had a pretty big audience, considering that it was good Friday, and they responded very well to the show. We heard later that at least two people were crying during the last scene. YAY! (Although Ian's first thought when he heard someone was crying was a panicked "Oh God, did I hit her with the sword?")
:-D
My goal last night, personally, was to stop thinking so much about how I was saying the words and simply speak them. I get to say these beautiful words every night, and I don't want my over-analyzing self to get in the way of the words themselves.That being said, I feel like I accomplished my goal and will continue to work to stay out of my head so much and more in the moment.
After the show the cast went out to the Prohibition Room for drinks and food, which was pretty fun. I love going to cast parties of Shakespeare shows, because all anyone talks about for the first hour (at least) is the show, the characters, and Shakespeare himself.
Being a huge Shakespeare nerd, I absolutely love when an entire table full of people are discussing Shakespeare and his plays. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy inside.
Tonight is another performance! Let's make THREE people cry tonight! (At least!)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
A New Home!
This past week has been full of emotions, surprises, and fateful events.
My room mate and I took a trip to Los Angeles over her Spring Break, along with my mom and her dad, to get a feel for the area and look at some apartments. We had been debating for a long time about where we were going to move once she graduates from college and our lease runs out in May. Our two choices were Chicago and L.A.
We had explored Chicago in January when we were there for auditions and we knew we couldn't make a decision until we had also explored L.A.
First of all, the main difference was the weather. Whereas Chicago is usually cold and cloudy, L.A. was sunny and warm (it was in the high 70's all week). While I feel like I should be able to deal with cold well (being from Nebraska), I still loved being able to walk around without a coat on and feeling the sun on my face.
While my room mate fell in love with the area almost immediately, I will admit that I was on the fence for a few days. I had been planning on moving to Chicago for a long time (a year or two actually), when L.A. began to be an option. I think the part of me that was most conflicted was the side of me that just adores live theatre, particularly classical theatre. That's all I've ever known, since 8th grade all through college, and the idea of not being able to do it as much as I'd like was scary.
At the same time, I do want to pursue film, voice acting, and stunt work, and L.A. is the #1 place to be for that experience. And, I figure, if L.A. doesn't work out, I can always move to Chicago. But it would be very difficult for me to start in Chicago and then decide to head to L.A.
We talked to some people, explored and looked at loads of places, but I think the main thing that sealed the deal for me was how the perfect apartment found us.
We were driving around in the Burbank area (about 20 minutes from downtown L.A) and drove past this huge, clean, new-looking apartment complex. We pulled into a guest parking spot, went inside and were met by one of the nicest ladies who worked there. We found out that the building and apartments were just finishing being renovated and there were a few 2 bedroom/2 bath apartments available. We were shown the model apartment and it was gorgeous. Everything was brand new, granite counter tops, washer and dryer in every unit, 2 master bedrooms, new paint, new fixtures, an AMAZING gym, pool, conference room, underground parking, EVERYTHING.
The lady also told us that they could lease us a place THAT DAY. None of the other 20 or so apartment complexes that we'd looked at were able to offer us a lease now. They all had told us they wouldn't know if anything was available until mid-April. Then, the lady also let us use the one-month free deal they had going because of the renovations AND we were able to lease one of the last apartments available in the floor plan we wanted (someone else leased one of the other ones while we were outside looking at the grounds).
It was truly meant to be, everything was in place, it had everything we had been looking for. It's going to be brand new, secured, and a lot of the people who lived there were around our age. I think that it was a sign that L.A. is where I'm meant to be (at least for now) and it was in the courtyard of the complex that I made my choice to change my plans and move to L.A. in May.
I'm still scared for what the future holds, but I'm also eager to see where it takes me. I'm also very happy that I will still be living with the most amazing room mate ever, so we won't have to experience this new place alone.
L.A. had better be ready for us.
My room mate and I took a trip to Los Angeles over her Spring Break, along with my mom and her dad, to get a feel for the area and look at some apartments. We had been debating for a long time about where we were going to move once she graduates from college and our lease runs out in May. Our two choices were Chicago and L.A.
We had explored Chicago in January when we were there for auditions and we knew we couldn't make a decision until we had also explored L.A.
First of all, the main difference was the weather. Whereas Chicago is usually cold and cloudy, L.A. was sunny and warm (it was in the high 70's all week). While I feel like I should be able to deal with cold well (being from Nebraska), I still loved being able to walk around without a coat on and feeling the sun on my face.
The Pier at Santa Monica
Our sweet ride
While my room mate fell in love with the area almost immediately, I will admit that I was on the fence for a few days. I had been planning on moving to Chicago for a long time (a year or two actually), when L.A. began to be an option. I think the part of me that was most conflicted was the side of me that just adores live theatre, particularly classical theatre. That's all I've ever known, since 8th grade all through college, and the idea of not being able to do it as much as I'd like was scary.
At the same time, I do want to pursue film, voice acting, and stunt work, and L.A. is the #1 place to be for that experience. And, I figure, if L.A. doesn't work out, I can always move to Chicago. But it would be very difficult for me to start in Chicago and then decide to head to L.A.
We talked to some people, explored and looked at loads of places, but I think the main thing that sealed the deal for me was how the perfect apartment found us.
We were driving around in the Burbank area (about 20 minutes from downtown L.A) and drove past this huge, clean, new-looking apartment complex. We pulled into a guest parking spot, went inside and were met by one of the nicest ladies who worked there. We found out that the building and apartments were just finishing being renovated and there were a few 2 bedroom/2 bath apartments available. We were shown the model apartment and it was gorgeous. Everything was brand new, granite counter tops, washer and dryer in every unit, 2 master bedrooms, new paint, new fixtures, an AMAZING gym, pool, conference room, underground parking, EVERYTHING.
The area behind the pool that has fire pits, chairs, and nice nice grills
The lady also told us that they could lease us a place THAT DAY. None of the other 20 or so apartment complexes that we'd looked at were able to offer us a lease now. They all had told us they wouldn't know if anything was available until mid-April. Then, the lady also let us use the one-month free deal they had going because of the renovations AND we were able to lease one of the last apartments available in the floor plan we wanted (someone else leased one of the other ones while we were outside looking at the grounds).
It was truly meant to be, everything was in place, it had everything we had been looking for. It's going to be brand new, secured, and a lot of the people who lived there were around our age. I think that it was a sign that L.A. is where I'm meant to be (at least for now) and it was in the courtyard of the complex that I made my choice to change my plans and move to L.A. in May.
I'm still scared for what the future holds, but I'm also eager to see where it takes me. I'm also very happy that I will still be living with the most amazing room mate ever, so we won't have to experience this new place alone.
L.A. had better be ready for us.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Chords for "Even Though" by Darren Criss
I've been getting a lot of comments on my youtube channel asking for the chords for the song "Even Though" written by Darren Criss (of StarKidPotter/A Very Potter Musical fame).
Here are the chords that I used in the cover that I recorded of the song.
which can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfd7_O0iEqY
The original song is played with no capo (the way Darren plays it).
The version I used was played with the capo on the 2nd fret.
Enjoy!
Here are the chords that I used in the cover that I recorded of the song.
which can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfd7_O0iEqY
The original song is played with no capo (the way Darren plays it).
The version I used was played with the capo on the 2nd fret.
Enjoy!
G Em7
Even though I was blind before
Em7 Am
I realize there is so much more
Am C C add9
And it was always deep down in the core of me
(no chords)
I know it now.
G Em7
Even though it seems too much to take
Em7 A7
There’s a feeling I can’t seem to shake
A7 F C
I feel like I am reading the signs
C add9
Cause I know that I’m
G
I’m coming around.
Am7 Dm C
I thought I wanted someone perfect as can be
Am7 Dm
When all I needed was the one
D
Who was perfect for me.
G Em7
Even though it used to seem so wrong
Em7 Am
I’ve taken you for granted far too long
Am C C add9
I’m falling right into the denouement
C add9
And now I’m breaking ground.
G Em7
Even though we felt it from the start
Em7 A7
It’s only now we’re beating with one heart
A7
I’m sure that
F C
Now is the time
C add9
Cause I know that I’m
G
I’m coming around.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Intermission
Life after college isn't so much exhilarating as it is...boring. At least for the moment. I haven't made the move to a big city yet (that happens in June after my roommate graduates) and finding a day job here hasn't been successful. I'm in a state of "Intermission", waiting for something new to happen, and having to make decisions that will effect the next few years of my life (which is stressing me out way too much lately).
Twelfth Night at The Reduxion Theatre just ended, and rehearsals for King Lear don't really fill up my schedule until the middle of March. So a lot of my free time is spent just...sitting, checking up on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, basically anything the internet has to offer. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I just feel so lazy and "blah" by suddenly having nothing to do.
I have decided, however, to try to make the best of the free time I have and to get in shape. I'm going to make up a schedule to work out every morning, either running outside on the deck, swimming in the lap pool, or using the exercise room. I also plan to work on Capoeira (a type of Brazilian dance-fighting), quarterstaff, and sword work when I can, to keep up with my stage combat training.
I'm also going to try to eat better (we'll see how well that works out, seeing as how I greatly dislike going grocery shopping...) and try to get into good shape by the time we move in June.
My life may be in an "Intermission" phase currently, but I'm going to try to prepare myself as best I can for the moment when the waiting ends and a new chapter of my life begins.
Twelfth Night at The Reduxion Theatre just ended, and rehearsals for King Lear don't really fill up my schedule until the middle of March. So a lot of my free time is spent just...sitting, checking up on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, basically anything the internet has to offer. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I just feel so lazy and "blah" by suddenly having nothing to do.
I have decided, however, to try to make the best of the free time I have and to get in shape. I'm going to make up a schedule to work out every morning, either running outside on the deck, swimming in the lap pool, or using the exercise room. I also plan to work on Capoeira (a type of Brazilian dance-fighting), quarterstaff, and sword work when I can, to keep up with my stage combat training.
I'm also going to try to eat better (we'll see how well that works out, seeing as how I greatly dislike going grocery shopping...) and try to get into good shape by the time we move in June.
My life may be in an "Intermission" phase currently, but I'm going to try to prepare myself as best I can for the moment when the waiting ends and a new chapter of my life begins.
Introduction
So I finally gave in and got a proper blog. A few friends of mine have one and I thought it would be a good place to chronicle my journey from a college graduate into the unknown future.
I'll be posting with things like upcoming shows I'm involved with, new jobs, moving (which will happen in June!) and anything interesting in my life. I'll try to keep things entertaining, maybe I'll post a few movie reviews as well (I will certainly be posting thoughts about the new season of Doctor Who once it starts up in April).
This is my life. As crazy and unknown as it may seem, it's an adventure, and I'm ready for the ride.
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