Catching Up

What's happened since Earth Day?  Let's see if I remember...

Between Diadeloso and my only class on Fridays being canceled due to the professor being out of town, I took my four-day-weekend and ran with it to Austin.  I spent some lazy days with the brother and sister-in-law and got in a good lunch with a high school friend.

After my lazy weekend, I hit the ground running on the last week.  The time of reckoning came for those last papers and quizzes, as well as gathering information for my contract, doing all the heavy work for my workshop sound design, and getting ready for banquet/senior wills.  I ran in circles for the better part of the week without slowing, but finally got all the big stuff taken care of.

Monday was banquet, which went rather swimmingly.  After banquet, we have a couple of unofficial ceremonies, the most extensive of which is senior wills.  All the seniors have the chance to recognize the underclassmen they are close to by giving them special things within the department, honoring inside jokes, and being sentimental.  It was incredibly surreal to be up there giving the best parts of my life away to my friends, but it was fun also honor them.  

Tuesday was the sound design.  It went pretty well, except that I made the CD when I was still asleep, so one of the effects was off.  I'm glad I can put that on my resumé, but I'm also glad that I can take it off my list.  Now to making a few new memories with my friends, graduating, and getting to New Jersey!

The senior "triplets" at banquet

Statistics

8 class periods
1 paper
2 quizzes
2  finals
1 brunch

This is all that remains of my college career.  Bizarre, ain't it?

Tomorrow is Diadeloso (Day of the Bear) which is a random Thursday holiday since we never get those and Friday my only class is canceled (also, no workshop) so I finished classes for the week at 1pm today.  This means a long weekend (second Easter break?) in good old Austin.  Two more weeks of classes, then away I go!  Can't believe the time is running out!

Antigone

In my history of design class our final was to do a project in the style of any designer.  This could be a costume rendering, a lighting storyboard, an aural collage, etc.  I decided to do a sound design in the style of Dan Moses Scherier.  This is the description of his first professional sound design: scraps of movie music, pounding heartbeats, rhythmic chants, loud breathing, deafening electronic blasts.  Reading this, I immediately thought of the version of Antigone I light designed sophomore year.  I took piece's from Becca's script and using as few words as possible I told the story using music and sound effects to fill in the rest.  I have my own flair in there of course, but I think Dan Moses would like the style and the effect.  

I've been wanting to post this for a while, but Blogger doesn't really support audio.  Finally my sister suggested that I make a video and hide the screen.  However, I also have a lot of good pictures from my light design that I can claim as my work, so I made a slideshow to go with the story.  Enjoy! (One thing, it starts off very quietly so don't adjust the volume until you're about 15 seconds in)

Furthermore, our final project for scene design was to completely design and do a half-scale model of any play.  I chose Antigone for this as well, thinking that a Greek play would lend itself well to any style I wanted.  Also, Becca's scene did not have a set so I knew I would not be influenced by my light design experience.  However, the more I got into it and the more I looked at other people's work I realized that the best Greek plays, especially Antigone, don't have sets.  Realistic sets, Greek or modern, look ridiculous and totally overwhelm the actors and undermine the play.  Therefore, my design is quite simple, but I am pleased with it.

I chose to have an altar center stage that has three rings around it.  The rings are all elevators so that there can be many variations to the altar's position.  There can be steps up or down or it could be level with the stage.  In the end, I wanted Antigone to ride down on it and have the altar become her tomb.  The background is a dual image of the palace and the desert; the richness unable to cover up the desolation that Creon has created.  To me, it is the image of the "whitewashed tomb" from the Bible.  It's simple, but I like it (if only the steamer had been working).

So this all is a very, very small slice of my classwork: the things that keep me up all night ;)

The Big Dipper

Project after project, week after week, and I have been fortunate enough to whittle it down to one all-nighter per week (actually: none for this week!). Last week's all-nighter also happened to be my favorite project all semester. The assignment was to build a model based on a haiku that we found online for my scene design class. Here's what came of the assignment:

Many night thoughts

the big dipper tilts

spilling over

The "big dipper" is made with ladders that the actors can climb on and the stars laying on the floor are also platforms that are to be used. The actors can interact with the curtain pieces as well. This model was done in 1/4" scale so the star below is 8' across on its longest axis. (A full toothpick is 10'6")

A Perfect Storm

A science test, a drawing, and the first rehearsal on Monday. A major drawing and a rehearsal on Tuesday. A complete portfolio on Wednesday.

The read-thrus went swimmingly. The first (Monday) was a buzz of organized chaos as we met all together for the first time to take a look at what we are about to create. The second (Tuesday) was a more intimate, more detailed disscusion of the play involving the principle roles instead of all 28 cast members. What a relief to finally have the groundwork! I now know who my assistants are, who my cast is, and we are entering the point of execution as opposed to a year's worth of speculation.

After Monday's rehearsal, I spent seven hours bent over a light table creating an intricate drawing for my scene design class. I left the theatre at 9:15am to run errands for my next project, my portfolio. The portfolio elicited another all-night work call for Tuesday, allowing me only 5 nonconsecutive hours of sleep in the last 63, but I am extremely proud of both projects. They turned out to be high quality and very presentable which was of course the goal. The fortunate part of this situation is rapid approach of Spring Break and the fact that it is all truly behind me now. Here is what happened to me on Monday night:

(photo taken around 5:00am)

Breaking The Silence

After several weeks of neglect, I am now ready to revisit this blog and give an update on my life that is not given in a picture based on a theme.

Major Event 1:
Cyrano de Bergerac finished up two weeks ago and the performances were impressively smooth. The techs and dresses had been a long and painful process, then the storm suddenly abated. There were a few minor problems throughout, but overall it was quite graceful until our last performance. During the first act, the pit was lowered partway with a step unit leading in and out. At the very end of the act, I was supposed to raise it from backstage so that Cyrano rose while delivering highly inspirational lines and epic music swelled in the background. There is always a moment of hesitation between me pushing the button and the pit raising in which I would never breathe. That last day, my breath was stopped for too long and I realized that the pit was stuck. I ran quickly to the basement and checked the settings - everything was correct. We had an emergency setting for Act 2, so the play proceeded as if nothing was wrong. I flipped the breaker off and back on and we tested the pit during the action. It was working again. For the next scene change, I took a run crew member onstage and we took off the step unit. Awkward! Afterward, we took apart the set and walked away--Cyrano is finished.

Major Event 2:
Finals. A few synonyms: nightmare, delirium, ordeal, tribulation, thorn in my flesh, and, because Merriam Webster gave it to me, bummer. My list at the beginning of the week read 21 projects in 4 1/2 days. The main point is, I survived.

Major Event 3:
I told several of my friends that it would not be enough for me to leave town for Christmas, instead I needed to leave the country. The fortunate happenstance and the basis for this almost-joke is that I am indeed out of the country. Last Tuesday my sister dropped me at the airport for a 24 hour trek to the far east. Emphasis here should be placed on "far." After another delusional day, the semester's woes have finally worn off in exchange for days with the madre, seeing the sights, shopping, and sitting at the apartment. Of course, there are office lunches and a girls (should that be girl'z?) night also in the mix. Now, I am cozy and snug and enjoying the big city life that is decidedly NOT America.

It is likely that I will write again soon, now that vacation has come, but I might be visiting pandas or having tea at a fancy hotel. Regardless, stories and pictures are sure to follow.

The Great All-Nighter

When I was in junior high and high school my church youth group had a thing called the Great All-Nighter each year. It was a big event involving hundreds of students from about 12 different churches. There would be speakers and entertainment then we would go to the university's rec center and play games all night long. There were donuts in the morning so it was an exhilirating night of delerium and was awesome to stay up and be with friends.

College also has Great All-Nighters. They just happen differently.

Tuesday, my friend Rebecca and I were working on our lighting project and decided that the best way to get stuff done would be to work through the night. We took turns programming and sleeping, so I left on Wednesday morning having slept from 2am-4am and from 7:15am-8:00am. When I left, I was amazed that there was light outside!

Thursday, I had an involuntary all-nighter. I went to bed at midnight, dozed for about a half hour. I was wide awake after that so when I heard some theatre friends in the parking lot outside my window around 3am I decided it was worthless to just keep laying in bed, so I got up and did a couple things before finally sleeping from 6am-8am.

Tonight, I am sitting in the light booth again, with a pillow and blanket at my disposal. I have actually FINISHED my project (it may need a little tweaking, but it's complete and presentable where it stands). My friend, Hayley, will be programming most of the night, so I am keeping her company. Fortunately, there is more sleeping and less homework ahead for me this evening...I hope.

All Should Know

I am so incredibly close to being DONE with my lighting project. I did not think it was going to happen, but I just might finish! Huzzah!!

Spike Heels

I did it. It's over. I have now been a director.

Yesterday was the day of truth when our scene was performed for the department. I am very proud of the work the girls did and I think it was a huge success. There were some awkward things like a drink being spilled and the audience laughing at points we did not expect. Also there is a lot of pressure in workshop to do it right since the scene is only performed once. In spite of the small slip-ups, they did a wonderful job and I could not have asked for better! I was also fortunate to have an extreme amount of time for my tech. The group before me had to finish early, so we pounced on the space and set up as soon as they left. That meant we were able to have everything set and ready to go at the time we were supposed to begin instead of fifteen minutes in. That meant that I was able to run the show twice, taking pictures during one run, work some problem areas, take some staged pictures, and get out early. That NEVER happens! The blessings of this were 1) we left feeling confident because we did not need our whole time 2) we left feeling refreshed because we were supposed to finish at midnight 3) I have plenty of pictures to share.

"I'm the big success story. I moved to Boston, I work in a law office and they have no idea what that means! It means I get to read books I don't understand."

"I'm sorry."

"I think you'd better finish your drink."

"He's the best man I've ever met and he's not good enough for them."

The beginning of the dance. Lydia feels awkward.

The end of the dance. Lydia has finally relaxed.

Don't Stop Me Now

Tonight we had the best rehearsal ever! Last night we had a strong run-thru then had to redo one moment many, many times which was wearying. This afternoon we had our dress rehearsal and I think both of the girls were tired (I know I was). The first run dragged without energy and felt strained. We reworked a few moments then I had my girls improv what happened directly before the scene and continue into the scene itself. The girls were slow at first (as was expected) but they soon got into the game and the scene started with a level of tension that we had never had before. They never lost their energy and tension through the shifting emotions of the scene. We were energized and confident and I know we will be satisfied no matter what happens on Friday because we have performed the scene at it's best. I am excited for workshop and so proud of my girls!

At the end of the scene there is a dance. We played with several different songs and styles of music, trying new things each night. We finally chose "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen which is a highly energizing and empowering song that is fun to dance to and describes the character of Georgie and also our work on the scene. "Don't stop us now, we're having such a good time, having a ball!"

You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Okay. That's fine. The old tricks work quite well for me. In fact, I am learning at this point so I am not planning to teach anybody anything. I really don't feel like I'm asking for too much.

Here is my first request: Light, turn on.

Unfortunately, this is too large a task for our archaic lighting instruments.

As a part of our lighting design class we must design a moving light show (sometimes called Roboshow) to 3-5 minutes of music. For the past 10.5 hours at least one person in our class (and at least one lighting staff member) has been trying to make the lights work. The good news is we had a school holiday today so we had the time to deal with it. The process is slow and somewhat excruciating, but the project has a lot of value and should produce something I can be extremely proud of and enjoy.

For now, the conclusion of the day is this: You can't teach these old dogs old tricks!

On a lighter note, my friend made up a lighting joke today. (Background: when a light is on at its highest intensity it is at "full," so a lighting designer will ask for a specific light at full).

THE JOKE: What did God say when he created the world? Sun, at full.

Beginning Directing: You Must Call Me Sister!

In order to graduate with a theatre degree, you must take at least one semester of directing. Each director presents a scene in front of the entire department at Workshop. We are split up into groups so that about five scenes go up each Friday. The seniors (advanced directors) and grad directors also stage scenes, usually one scene at each end of the semester. I am in the beginning class and part of the Group 3 Clan, meaning that our rehearsal period started this Tuesday, October 7 and our scenes will be performed on October 24 (the next Workshop).

There are all sorts of parameters for these scenes, but for my class, we must take 5-7 minutes of a realistic play, using a scene that has only two characters. Our rehearsal period is two weeks (my group has longer because there is a random Friday holiday during our time - the actual number of rehearsals evens out) and we can rehearse an hour a day. Also, we must cast at least one freshman or transfer student.

My scene is from a play called Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck. It is about a low-class girl (Georgie) who tries to "make it." She moves to the city and meets a man (Andrew) in her apartment building who tries to help her by getting her a job at a law office and teaching her how to act in society. In his effort to help her, he winds up losing sight of her humanity. The scene takes place between Georgie and Andrew's fiancé (Lydia). Lydia has come barging into Georgie's apartment (this is the first time they meet) and degrades Georgie while accusing of having a fling with Andrew. Georgie retaliates and Lydia apologizes saying she was only upset because Andrew postponed their wedding. Lydia tries to leave, but Georgie convinces her to stay and they both lament the fact that the men in their lives can't help but be insensitive. The scene ends with them dancing as a way to unwind.

In The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Jack says to Algernon that his fiancé and his niece will call each other sister within thirty minutes of meeting each other. Algernon responds, "Women only do that when they have call each other a lot of other things first." Later, we are given the opportunity to see the girls brutally fight each other over a misunderstanding, then when the truth is revealed they find comfort in each other and they must call each other sister for they share the same suffering. This is my favorite joke in that play, so I am thrilled that it matches the plot of my scene.

An awesome scene is all good and well, but directing is new, awkward, and intimidating. My blessing is that my girls are great to work with and I feel like we are making very good progress. I will probably give a couple more updates, and certainly an update (with pictures!) at the end. In the meantime, wish me luck in a theatrical way!

Blackouts

This Friday, my first show of the semester was performed. The show was produced for our workshop, a department wide tradition in which the various directing classes show their work. Each Friday there is a different set of directors, presenting scenes from different types of plays. This past Friday was for the second year grad students to produce a post modern scene. As part of my own course work, I did the light design for 70 Scenes of Halloween. In any production, with light design comes blackouts and with blackouts come hilarity.

Example 1: As a class we got together to hang the instruments for the scenes (there were actually two scenes) and to focus the lights where we wanted them. I was on the ground trying to focus the lights and decided to trade places with the other designer, Tyler. As I walked backstage it was completely dark, but it was not until I hit the door frame of the free-standing door unit that I realized anything was in my path. I was so surprised to find something in my way that in order to get a feel for the object I simply pushed the door open and hugged the frame. Impressively, I had managed to straddle the giant brace on the side that I should have tripped over before reaching the door itself. My friends in the catwalks had no idea what happened and were calling to me, but I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. They all thought I had crashed into something and broke my face! This was all good and well until my professor mentioned it in front of the whole cast during tech. Thanks, JoJo.

Example 2: Most directors want a true blackout for transitions, then realize that they need some sort of glow for the actors to see. The glow was even more necessary this time since the girl moving around during all the transitions was wearing a sheet as a "ghost". When we were adding the cues for the first time, I did not have time to add the glow to all of the blackouts before the run started and it was difficult to find the buttons quickly to fix the cues as they came. The poor girl with a sheet over her head kept crashing into the chairs and walking very confidently into the curtains. This was all good and well until my director told her, "Every bruise on your body is Sarah Chanis' fault." Thanks, Dan.

Overall the show was a success and the lights were fun. Thanks, friends!

Labor Day's Labors

After one whole week of school, we have a day off! Good 'ol Labor Day. Somewhat miraculously, I went the entire week and weekend without rehearsal, so naturally the best thing to do with my time was visit family. My sister graciously let me come spend a couple day with her and her boys (David 7, Alex 4, Miguel 2 this month). It was a nice time of normalcy -- baseball, Cars video games, and shopping (much to David's lament) -- and the kids were entertaining as always. Here is one particularly amusing conversation that happened while we were trying to cross a street:

Rachel: Do you see any cars?
Alex: No.
Rachel: (pointing to a car coming our way) What do you think that is?
Alex: I think it's a Honda.

He was right; it was a Honda.

I came back home for the day so that I could clean up my apartment and get some work done. I had a chance meeting with my friend, Anna, at Common Grounds (Baylor's coffee place of choice) which led to a pleasantly long lunch and several hours of reading plays for class on my porch and in my living room. It would have nice if I did not need to read the plays, but it was more enjoyable to have a good friend sitting on the ridiculous and brightly colored patio chair next to me. I even pulled out the taco salad for dinner, which should have been delicious except that we found sugar ants in the Tostitos. My roommate, Christina, and I have been fighting the foul intruders ever since we moved in and have built up an arsenal of complaints against the unpleasant trespassers. Anna said I should share this one more often:

One day Christina made dinner for some friends then they went out to a movie afterward, so she did not have a chance to clean up the kitchen. I came home and found the counter absolutely crawling with ants, a whole colony. Some of the ants were moving spryly as usual, but some were sluggish, almost stumbling. I finally realized that a purple spot on the counter was some wine that Christina had used for the sauce and that the ants looked sick because they were drunk! You learn new things every day and that day I learned that even ants can become inebriated.

So the long weekend turned out to be a simple and cozy weekend with family and friends. A great time to take it easy, but get some work done too!

Snooze and Syllabi

For me, snoozing is something of an art. I time it perfectly so that I have ample opportunity to come to terms with the fact that I need to wake up. Today was the beginning of snooze season and I was well prepared except that I had forgotten one thing: my alarm clock is LOUD. The violent jolt of surprise nearly carried me into the wall. I have faith that I will become accustomed to it, but I do fear some retaliation from my neighbors.
Still, today is a special day! It is syllabus day/assign-the-first-project-due-next-class day. My first prof was MIA, but the others were eager to flaunt their list of daily projects. The syllabi caused me to ask a lot of questions, most concerning the wisdom of renting an apartment rather than making use of the theatre's many resources. Of course, those that know me are rolling their eyes right now knowing that the busiest times are when I'm the most content. The key for me will be to schedule well and to keep the snoozing habit under control.
So here's to the kind of first day that could give you nightmares!
It is so good to be back :)