I know I have been pretty negligent to this blog, but now since my website is up and running, I will try to be a little more committed to posting.
Well a basic sum up of all I've been up to:
My second summer at the Mac-Haydn was heavenly bliss- performing in seven musicals and just having a blast. Chatham, NY really feels like a home away from home. I met more amazing people this summer and just fell in love with musical theatre all over again. I was in one of the most passionate and uniquely talented companies I have ever been in and through their support, I found a new love for singing. I learned so much from all of them and spent my summer days quick changing away in wigs and petticoats and just loving life. I mean I wore a champagne glass on my head in Beauty and the Beast, did loads of wings in Crazy for You, did "Big Spender" while fiercely rotating, did a Julie Andrews spin to board the trolley in Meet Me in St. Louis, wore too much pink lip liner as the over the top Ernestina Money in Hello, Dolly- wow! Who could ask for anything more? Also, theatre in the round (there is simply nothing as intimate and personal as the Mac) makes things so much more exciting and silly. It is such a different wonderful energy!
After I got back from the Mac-Haydn, I began my senior year fall semester. I had really great classes ranging from ballet every day at 8:30 (oooh girl needed lots of coffee) to vocal pedagogy, in which I had to teach my own voice student privately and do a lesson in front of the entire class. I also had one of the most amazing opportunities of my life, performing as Hannah Jarvis in Tom Stoppard's masterpiece Arcadia. I could talk about Arcadia for days and how much I learned from the whole experience. I just simply fell in love with the cast, my character, and the whole atmosphere and ideas of the show- it was such an inspiring and rich acting process. I have never felt so comfortable on stage- completely owe it to my director Susan Kerner and the amazing cast. I could have done a Broadway run of Arcadia- I still miss it.
Graduate school has also been something I have committed to this fall, applying to a handful of schools as a possibility for the future. I just love to learn and want to push myself and explore more as an actress. I always love to challenge myself and am looking forward to confronting my fears with auditioning and monologues. It can only benefit me!
The holidays were wonderful and I got my first true break since last winter. Our musical theatre coordinator Clay James- my dad at school- had us over his apartment for a senior holiday celebration and it ended the semester on the best note possible. I truly love everyone in my class so much and can't wait to see whats in store for everyone after Montclair. Going home was perfect- the snowy scenery helped- and I loved seeing my friends from home. I got my parents with Montclair State University Theatre and Dance department apparel and Seinfeld Scene It- the leg lamp from A Christmas Story to put in our window. It was divine. I got the most beautiful gifts from my parents, family, and friends including Bob Dylan albums, vintage clothing, skull candy headphones (so happy about these), Every Little Step on DVD (have watched this about 6 times already and melt every time), Once on DVD (this is the movie I would watch on Netflix in the morning before Arcadia performances because it put me in the best mood), Ugg slippers that are the best treat for my feet, poetry books, and Mad Men on DVD which is my new obsession. I also finally caught up on Lost so I am totally ready for Feb. 2nd.
I just finished competing in the American College Theatre Festival Region II Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition yesterday, receiving a nomination to attend from Homburg last spring. My partner Kelsey "Kiki" Thompson and I made it all the way to the final round- we were elated- and had a blast with our material. It was such a good experience and I owe so much to that girl for being one of the best people I have ever worked with. Mi amor Carlos Gonzalez won the entire competition, representing Montclair State University and making us all so proud! Yes Montclair!
So now I'm back and ready to kick off my last semester ever. WOW! I can't wait to begin rehearsals for Side Show and senior showcase and to continue learning. Its going to be a wonderful semester.
