I just worked out and I feel amazing!
I met an agent last night who was "meh" towards me and I felt like crap.
I had a really great callback yesterday afternoon and I felt amazing!
I had to turn down a voice over job because I just so happened to not be in Philly and I felt like crap.
People, that's all within 24 hours. 24 HOURS. There's a fine line to walk in this business and I haven't found it yet. Be emotionally available in the room but face rejection constantly out of the room. Be outgoing but don't be too outgoing. Be mysterious so they'll want more but don't close you're self off too much. W.T.F.
It's mad aggravating, yo! This cliff edge that gets walked on that, honestly, I don't know if anyone ever nails totally. What I find most frustrating is the fact that it's a business of opinions. Someone could LOVE my headshot but then the next person I meet could totally hate it and be confused by it. But I'm working on it. It's a work in progress and the more people I meet the more I realize that I'm getting there.
I'm getting there. At least I'm somewhere.
One thing that I am appreciating about going in for more people is recognizing that most people just want to see a journey. Most people seem thoroughly happy about the fact that I come in and I present them with a simple story and journey within the monologue. I have that going for me. At least I have that.
I don't know if I will ever be a perfect package. I'm messy. But what I can do better is go in more prepped and more ready than I ever have before. I can change my life. I have that power.
Cooking lunch/dinner then off to meet an associate casting director for Roundabout! Tomorrow is a day of relaxation, reading, tuning in with myself, and revamping decisions. Then Saturday is an ALL DAY VOICE OVER CLASS with the one and only Peter Rofe. I am doing it, y'all. I just want to meet some people and guess what? I'm doing just that.
Off I go.
-Cindy
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
A Tribute To Reubs...
Last night we had a gathering of friends and Reuben's family to celebrate his life and be with one another on the night before the anniversary of his death.
1 year. I cannot believe it's been 1 year.
It was an open forum for people to get up and try songs, jokes, whatever inspired them. Ed and I decided to do a medley of Grandma's Hands into No Diggity. I like to think that Reuben would have appreciated the mash-up. He and I shared a strong love and connection to hip-hop music. His brother told me that he could see Reuben up there with us. I firmly believe that Reuben was there with all of us.
Sometimes I wonder if his soul is in mourning. I wonder if perhaps his soul is angered by what happened. I'm still angry. Not at him, at the circumstance. I think it must have been a mistake. That it was supposed to be someone else and he accidentally got in the way. And it wound up being him. I wonder that sometimes.
It felt good to see his family, see everyone and hold each other, eat delicious food and commiserate. Though at these types of things I never know what to say to anyone. I stayed close to the corners of the room and I didn't really seek out conversation too much. I drank a few glasses of wine and said my good-bye's earlier than I normally do. I'm the type that likes to wait around and see what other people are doing. I don't want to miss anything. But I knew the right thing to do was go home, have some white wine, talk to my boyfriend, cry, and go to sleep.
So there is a part of me that wants so badly to keep his spirit alive. Last February I did a very short piece inspired by him. Now that I'm a bit more out of the haze I'm ready to tackle that feat again. I'm interviewing people for a project temporarily titled "The Grief Venture" and I'm producing it for the 2014 SoLow Festival. It won't be longer than 30 minutes, but this is an opportunity to produce my own work, write my own work, and be inspired and uplifted by those around me. And if other people aren't interested in hiring me why not hire myself? I'm just as good as they are.
That's my tribute. A work in progress that I will take on and delve so deeply into that I cannot see what's on the other side. I want to be steeped and terrified in this work. I need to face it and I want the whole world to see it. This is life, this is real, and it's hard. But Reuben taught me one thing. Follow your dreams. You are worthy. Follow your dreams.
This year, since Reuben died, I've taken more risks than I ever have in my life. My life in many ways is coming together. I've signed up for seminars and classes, I applied to grad school, we drove across the country, I submit to every audition I possibly can, I made a voice over demo, I made a singing demo, I'm in much better shape than I was a year ago, I eat better, I cook more, I sleep more, I don't drink as much, I take care of myself, I'm more on top of my work, I make bigger choices in auditions. That's just this year, what will happen if I keep this up even more so this next year?
What's after SoLow Festival is up in the air. One step at a time. But I want this piece to be so good that it's impactful, and recognized. Just like Reuben.
I learned last night that I actually still don't believe he's gone. I had a fantasy in the middle of everything that he walked into the Christ Church Neighborhood House and we all held him. I just cannot accept that we won't be seeing him here on earth anymore. I don't know what will allow me to have closure, but maybe having this project will give me comfort.
There is a quote from Stephen King from The Stand: "No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. You just...come out the other side"
I'm still in the blue section, but with everyone that is around me and supporting me, I'm not so lonely anymore. And maybe I can work on being not so blue anymore.
Until next time
-Cindy
1 year. I cannot believe it's been 1 year.
It was an open forum for people to get up and try songs, jokes, whatever inspired them. Ed and I decided to do a medley of Grandma's Hands into No Diggity. I like to think that Reuben would have appreciated the mash-up. He and I shared a strong love and connection to hip-hop music. His brother told me that he could see Reuben up there with us. I firmly believe that Reuben was there with all of us.
Sometimes I wonder if his soul is in mourning. I wonder if perhaps his soul is angered by what happened. I'm still angry. Not at him, at the circumstance. I think it must have been a mistake. That it was supposed to be someone else and he accidentally got in the way. And it wound up being him. I wonder that sometimes.
It felt good to see his family, see everyone and hold each other, eat delicious food and commiserate. Though at these types of things I never know what to say to anyone. I stayed close to the corners of the room and I didn't really seek out conversation too much. I drank a few glasses of wine and said my good-bye's earlier than I normally do. I'm the type that likes to wait around and see what other people are doing. I don't want to miss anything. But I knew the right thing to do was go home, have some white wine, talk to my boyfriend, cry, and go to sleep.
So there is a part of me that wants so badly to keep his spirit alive. Last February I did a very short piece inspired by him. Now that I'm a bit more out of the haze I'm ready to tackle that feat again. I'm interviewing people for a project temporarily titled "The Grief Venture" and I'm producing it for the 2014 SoLow Festival. It won't be longer than 30 minutes, but this is an opportunity to produce my own work, write my own work, and be inspired and uplifted by those around me. And if other people aren't interested in hiring me why not hire myself? I'm just as good as they are.
That's my tribute. A work in progress that I will take on and delve so deeply into that I cannot see what's on the other side. I want to be steeped and terrified in this work. I need to face it and I want the whole world to see it. This is life, this is real, and it's hard. But Reuben taught me one thing. Follow your dreams. You are worthy. Follow your dreams.
This year, since Reuben died, I've taken more risks than I ever have in my life. My life in many ways is coming together. I've signed up for seminars and classes, I applied to grad school, we drove across the country, I submit to every audition I possibly can, I made a voice over demo, I made a singing demo, I'm in much better shape than I was a year ago, I eat better, I cook more, I sleep more, I don't drink as much, I take care of myself, I'm more on top of my work, I make bigger choices in auditions. That's just this year, what will happen if I keep this up even more so this next year?
What's after SoLow Festival is up in the air. One step at a time. But I want this piece to be so good that it's impactful, and recognized. Just like Reuben.
I learned last night that I actually still don't believe he's gone. I had a fantasy in the middle of everything that he walked into the Christ Church Neighborhood House and we all held him. I just cannot accept that we won't be seeing him here on earth anymore. I don't know what will allow me to have closure, but maybe having this project will give me comfort.
There is a quote from Stephen King from The Stand: "No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. You just...come out the other side"
I'm still in the blue section, but with everyone that is around me and supporting me, I'm not so lonely anymore. And maybe I can work on being not so blue anymore.
Until next time
-Cindy
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
I Signed Up For A Class And Now I'm Broke: Tales from NYC
Hello all!
Right now I'm in New York City relaxing at my friend Chrissy's house until my meet-up with an agent tonight at Ripley-Grier. Yesterday I met with Peter Rofe of PDR Voice Coaching in New York. We met because I wanted to get assessed for his class that he's having in a few weeks. It's an all day class. 10am-6pm. So the price was up there but actually incredibly reasonable for the location, the teaching, and the length of the class.
First of all: HE ACCEPTED ME! Secondly....
That means I'm broke.
Until Friday when I get paid. But yeah I mean broke. Haven't-been-this-broke-since-college broke. Thank-God-I-bought-my-bus-ticket-before-I-came-here broke. Didn't-eat-more-than-a-bagel-and-granola broke. BROKE.
A thought: How do we fund these lives of ours? I always want to take classes, but the prices, while they are usually reasonable, are still out of my reach. So what gives?
Maybe I'm not working hard enough. Perhaps if I had more survival jobs. What I do know is this: I need to get better at managing my money.
Yesterday was a wake-up call that I needed. When I talked to Peter about this life he said that to get started in this business takes money. It's true. It's true that it takes money to make money. But you invest in your career. It's like starting a restaurant or opening a shop. You invest. And hopefully you'll get that money back ten-fold. That's what I'm hoping for. Not hoping. That's what I'm going for. That's what I'm going to do.
I am humbled. I applied for a part-time job at Starbucks. We are amping up our eBay store. I re-applied for my Macy's Villager job (which I LOVED last year). I am still doing SP work and baby sitting. Clearly, however, I need more money to fund my life and dreams. Thank GOD I met with Peter yesterday. I truly felt that I was in the right place at the right time.
Today I sat down and wrote out a budget for shared expenses and personal expenses. I have minor debt to pay off and I'm gonna do it goddammit. I am going to get myself out of this rut. Just like Irina said I WANT TO WORK. (Was it Irina? Or Masha or Olga? I can't remember).
So November will be my month to figure this all out. And I will figure this out. One day at a time.
-Cindy
p.s.: Anyone looking for help? (:
Right now I'm in New York City relaxing at my friend Chrissy's house until my meet-up with an agent tonight at Ripley-Grier. Yesterday I met with Peter Rofe of PDR Voice Coaching in New York. We met because I wanted to get assessed for his class that he's having in a few weeks. It's an all day class. 10am-6pm. So the price was up there but actually incredibly reasonable for the location, the teaching, and the length of the class.
First of all: HE ACCEPTED ME! Secondly....
That means I'm broke.
Until Friday when I get paid. But yeah I mean broke. Haven't-been-this-broke-since-college broke. Thank-God-I-bought-my-bus-ticket-before-I-came-here broke. Didn't-eat-more-than-a-bagel-and-granola broke. BROKE.
A thought: How do we fund these lives of ours? I always want to take classes, but the prices, while they are usually reasonable, are still out of my reach. So what gives?
Maybe I'm not working hard enough. Perhaps if I had more survival jobs. What I do know is this: I need to get better at managing my money.
Yesterday was a wake-up call that I needed. When I talked to Peter about this life he said that to get started in this business takes money. It's true. It's true that it takes money to make money. But you invest in your career. It's like starting a restaurant or opening a shop. You invest. And hopefully you'll get that money back ten-fold. That's what I'm hoping for. Not hoping. That's what I'm going for. That's what I'm going to do.
I am humbled. I applied for a part-time job at Starbucks. We are amping up our eBay store. I re-applied for my Macy's Villager job (which I LOVED last year). I am still doing SP work and baby sitting. Clearly, however, I need more money to fund my life and dreams. Thank GOD I met with Peter yesterday. I truly felt that I was in the right place at the right time.
Today I sat down and wrote out a budget for shared expenses and personal expenses. I have minor debt to pay off and I'm gonna do it goddammit. I am going to get myself out of this rut. Just like Irina said I WANT TO WORK. (Was it Irina? Or Masha or Olga? I can't remember).
So November will be my month to figure this all out. And I will figure this out. One day at a time.
-Cindy
p.s.: Anyone looking for help? (:
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Constantly Looking For The Next Thing...
So much news!
First of all, my show Luckiest Kid with White Pines was a wonderful success. We close today at 2pm (which is why I'm trying to squeeze writing this in before doing yoga and heading to the theatre). At first the audiences were tiny. I honestly haven't performed for such small houses since college. But it was humbling and I believe that everyone who came to see it got a great performance. There were times I was bummed out that there weren't a lot of people there, but the cast and everyone else involved was so amazing that we all went out there and put out a fantastic show each and every time. Luckily this past week has been picking up with almost full houses.
I also got my final Voice Over Demo! I'll be posting it on my website soon once I have time to update it. It sounds really great and I'm really excited to take this next step in my journey as an actor. It'll take time to build up but I'm happy to have this new focus, considering I've felt like I've been floating around, not really sure what I'm doing in my theatre career. So to have something like this that's almost like having tunnel vision is actually welcome in my life.
Recently, I think because it's been nearly a year since my friend Reuben passed away, I've been thinking a lot about him. At times it's all consuming and other times it's fleeting. So I'm writing a show. I need to get this out of my body and share this with the world. It's no use keeping it to myself. I'll go mad. So I've been writing a piece in my head and a bit on paper about grief. In February I did a piece with Brat. Shit. Crazy. II and this piece is influenced by that. I actually wrote a proposal recently to a theatre company here in town to get some help with development so we'll see how that goes. I should be hearing this week. More on that later.
While I don't have anything official lined up in theatre, life is busy busy. Our eBay store is going well and we have SO MANY ITEMS to add. Now with the show closing I'll be spending a lot more time in the apartment doing just that. Add add add. It takes a while but once people start buying your items and you can pay your rent doing that, it's worth the time. We're getting better at it. Click the link below to see our store.
Tomorrow I'm meeting with my acting coach Peter Schmitz to go over monologues and some sides for an upcoming audition that I have. I'm also going to talk to him about my direction in theatre. Applying to schools and summer programs and whatnot. I am also meeting with an agent in two weeks and going to an EPA in NYC to get seen by a Shakespeare Theatre.
The going has been tough with getting work in theatre recently but you know I have a great community here and wonderful friends. I've been actively attempting to not feel sorry for myself but use the rejections as a motivator (working out, looking for more work, reaching out to people, etc.). I've also been better about trying to keep working while waiting to hear back from a job so that when that rejection does come (not that it always does but you get my point) I can say to myself "I have so many other things going on, I'm doing this and that. And while I would have liked that job and it hurts to not get the job, I gave it my best shot and it wasn't meant to be". Though getting three rejections in one week hurt (not gonna lie) but I had my cast of Luckiest Kid to hold me up and give me love. That's just the best.
Also this week I went to a workshop with Tassos Stevens of Coney (a theatre and game company in England). **SIDE NOTE** I was really tired after having a long day before the workshop but I went because I said I'd be there and I read up on the company and I promised myself I'd try to get out there and do more things. I had a tendency to just bail on parties and theatre because I was "tired", but who isn't? And seriously what else am I gonna do stay home and do...what? But I am also trying to monitor when I am actually tired. **END SIDE NOTE**
Here is a bio for Tassos: Tassos Stevens is an England-based thought leader in the field of game design, audience engagement, and innovation and the founder and co-director of Coney. Stevens specializes in delivering play to people in all kinds of spaces, wherever they are.
YOU HAVE FOUND CONEY
The workshop was great fun! We played games! And I met new people. Tassos is a lovely, talented man who ran the workshop with grace. I wrote down all the games we played because of our theatre camp and the kids that we have in the camp are getting older and can handle some more challenges. This past summer I really focused on ensemble and I think it worked. Certainly having more of a focus helped lift the performances past what they have been in the past.
The next day New Paradise Laboratories (who hosted Tassos and Coney) had a party and Tassos did a beautiful piece called Jimmy Stewart, An Anthropologist From Mars, Analyses Love And Happiness In Humans (And Rabbits). Coney's work is guided by three principles of adventure, curiosity, and loveliness and this performance was just that. All of that. I hope I can use the ideals and games I learned in my upcoming work and teaching.
Alright. I must work out and get ready for the last show of Luckiest Kid.
You rock.
-Cindy
First of all, my show Luckiest Kid with White Pines was a wonderful success. We close today at 2pm (which is why I'm trying to squeeze writing this in before doing yoga and heading to the theatre). At first the audiences were tiny. I honestly haven't performed for such small houses since college. But it was humbling and I believe that everyone who came to see it got a great performance. There were times I was bummed out that there weren't a lot of people there, but the cast and everyone else involved was so amazing that we all went out there and put out a fantastic show each and every time. Luckily this past week has been picking up with almost full houses.
 |
| The Cast of Luckiest Kid |
I also got my final Voice Over Demo! I'll be posting it on my website soon once I have time to update it. It sounds really great and I'm really excited to take this next step in my journey as an actor. It'll take time to build up but I'm happy to have this new focus, considering I've felt like I've been floating around, not really sure what I'm doing in my theatre career. So to have something like this that's almost like having tunnel vision is actually welcome in my life.
Recently, I think because it's been nearly a year since my friend Reuben passed away, I've been thinking a lot about him. At times it's all consuming and other times it's fleeting. So I'm writing a show. I need to get this out of my body and share this with the world. It's no use keeping it to myself. I'll go mad. So I've been writing a piece in my head and a bit on paper about grief. In February I did a piece with Brat. Shit. Crazy. II and this piece is influenced by that. I actually wrote a proposal recently to a theatre company here in town to get some help with development so we'll see how that goes. I should be hearing this week. More on that later.
While I don't have anything official lined up in theatre, life is busy busy. Our eBay store is going well and we have SO MANY ITEMS to add. Now with the show closing I'll be spending a lot more time in the apartment doing just that. Add add add. It takes a while but once people start buying your items and you can pay your rent doing that, it's worth the time. We're getting better at it. Click the link below to see our store.
 |
| Alfies Nook |
The going has been tough with getting work in theatre recently but you know I have a great community here and wonderful friends. I've been actively attempting to not feel sorry for myself but use the rejections as a motivator (working out, looking for more work, reaching out to people, etc.). I've also been better about trying to keep working while waiting to hear back from a job so that when that rejection does come (not that it always does but you get my point) I can say to myself "I have so many other things going on, I'm doing this and that. And while I would have liked that job and it hurts to not get the job, I gave it my best shot and it wasn't meant to be". Though getting three rejections in one week hurt (not gonna lie) but I had my cast of Luckiest Kid to hold me up and give me love. That's just the best.
Also this week I went to a workshop with Tassos Stevens of Coney (a theatre and game company in England). **SIDE NOTE** I was really tired after having a long day before the workshop but I went because I said I'd be there and I read up on the company and I promised myself I'd try to get out there and do more things. I had a tendency to just bail on parties and theatre because I was "tired", but who isn't? And seriously what else am I gonna do stay home and do...what? But I am also trying to monitor when I am actually tired. **END SIDE NOTE**
Here is a bio for Tassos: Tassos Stevens is an England-based thought leader in the field of game design, audience engagement, and innovation and the founder and co-director of Coney. Stevens specializes in delivering play to people in all kinds of spaces, wherever they are.
YOU HAVE FOUND CONEY
The workshop was great fun! We played games! And I met new people. Tassos is a lovely, talented man who ran the workshop with grace. I wrote down all the games we played because of our theatre camp and the kids that we have in the camp are getting older and can handle some more challenges. This past summer I really focused on ensemble and I think it worked. Certainly having more of a focus helped lift the performances past what they have been in the past.
The next day New Paradise Laboratories (who hosted Tassos and Coney) had a party and Tassos did a beautiful piece called Jimmy Stewart, An Anthropologist From Mars, Analyses Love And Happiness In Humans (And Rabbits). Coney's work is guided by three principles of adventure, curiosity, and loveliness and this performance was just that. All of that. I hope I can use the ideals and games I learned in my upcoming work and teaching.
Alright. I must work out and get ready for the last show of Luckiest Kid.
You rock.
-Cindy
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Live!
Yesterday evening, I deleted the Facebook app from my phone. It's my first step towards trying to "re-find" myself.
When I was younger, I had so many interests. I read and re-read books, plays. I wrote poetry, I took time to draw and paint. It may have been partial boredom, but I worked my butt off.
Then I went to college and I was focused on my acting work, but other things in my life took over too, not the best influences, I should say. It's almost become like beginning to fight off demons. One by one.
There are times that I wish the internet had never happened. Or that I wish it wasn't nearly as advanced. Too often I find myself glued to my computer to do every day tasks. When I'm listening to music I put it on my computer. When I'm watching TV I put it on my computer. When I'm writing I do it on my computer. When I'm reading I do it on my computer. When I'm researching I do it on my computer.
Everything. And I'm going to break my habit.
Last night before I came home I went to pick up Chinese food. And while I was waiting, I sat. And simply waited. Didn't take out my smart phone. I took the place in. Because to me, that's what's real. That's reality. Life in a virtual sense doesn't completely make sense to me. And I don't want to make complete sense of it.
After I got my Chinese food I went home and my neighbors were chilling outside. My neighbors are all about 50, 60 years old. They were drinking wine. And they offered me some. And I had some and connected with people I hadn't really connected with. It was amazing. We didn't talk about theatre, we talked about the neighborhood, the community events coming up, making good food, and working out. I stayed out there with them for the better part of an hour. Then I got hungry and said my goodbyes. But it was this incredible connection that happened. And I don't know how open I would have been to it a few months ago.
I know this post doesn't have to do with theatre, but it has to do with me reconnecting with myself and my interests. Finding time again to read, write, and be outside in the world. Creating is something I have wanted to do and I haven't been doing it. Why?
Because I believe the internet made me lazy. It's easy to scan through Facebook all the time and feel really shitty about not doing anything. Because it seems like everyone else is doing the thing you want to do. So then what's the point?
What do I want to contribute to the world? What do I want to remember about my life? Certainly not sitting at my computer not doing anything. That would be a disservice to myself. I like myself too much to not allow myself to fall into that again.
So I'm creating and writing. I'm doing the Sunday Best again with the Berserker Residents, I'm working on Luckiest Kid with White Pines, I'm beginning to pick up where I left off on my children's musical (that's right, complete with songs as well!), I'm going to read, I'm going to continue seeing theatre, I'm going to travel, and I'm going to love. My life will be important. To me and perhaps eventually to the world. Or at least a small part of the world.
I'm off to Quig's to have fun with the Berserker Residents and also my dear friend's show The Playdaters.
Until next time.
-Cindy
When I was younger, I had so many interests. I read and re-read books, plays. I wrote poetry, I took time to draw and paint. It may have been partial boredom, but I worked my butt off.
Then I went to college and I was focused on my acting work, but other things in my life took over too, not the best influences, I should say. It's almost become like beginning to fight off demons. One by one.
There are times that I wish the internet had never happened. Or that I wish it wasn't nearly as advanced. Too often I find myself glued to my computer to do every day tasks. When I'm listening to music I put it on my computer. When I'm watching TV I put it on my computer. When I'm writing I do it on my computer. When I'm reading I do it on my computer. When I'm researching I do it on my computer.
Everything. And I'm going to break my habit.
Last night before I came home I went to pick up Chinese food. And while I was waiting, I sat. And simply waited. Didn't take out my smart phone. I took the place in. Because to me, that's what's real. That's reality. Life in a virtual sense doesn't completely make sense to me. And I don't want to make complete sense of it.
After I got my Chinese food I went home and my neighbors were chilling outside. My neighbors are all about 50, 60 years old. They were drinking wine. And they offered me some. And I had some and connected with people I hadn't really connected with. It was amazing. We didn't talk about theatre, we talked about the neighborhood, the community events coming up, making good food, and working out. I stayed out there with them for the better part of an hour. Then I got hungry and said my goodbyes. But it was this incredible connection that happened. And I don't know how open I would have been to it a few months ago.
I know this post doesn't have to do with theatre, but it has to do with me reconnecting with myself and my interests. Finding time again to read, write, and be outside in the world. Creating is something I have wanted to do and I haven't been doing it. Why?
Because I believe the internet made me lazy. It's easy to scan through Facebook all the time and feel really shitty about not doing anything. Because it seems like everyone else is doing the thing you want to do. So then what's the point?
What do I want to contribute to the world? What do I want to remember about my life? Certainly not sitting at my computer not doing anything. That would be a disservice to myself. I like myself too much to not allow myself to fall into that again.
So I'm creating and writing. I'm doing the Sunday Best again with the Berserker Residents, I'm working on Luckiest Kid with White Pines, I'm beginning to pick up where I left off on my children's musical (that's right, complete with songs as well!), I'm going to read, I'm going to continue seeing theatre, I'm going to travel, and I'm going to love. My life will be important. To me and perhaps eventually to the world. Or at least a small part of the world.
I'm off to Quig's to have fun with the Berserker Residents and also my dear friend's show The Playdaters.
Until next time.
-Cindy
Sunday, September 15, 2013
My first *true* marathon theatre experience...
I can't make this post too long because I have to clean my apartment and go over materials for Luckiest Kid (which starts up again tomorrow) and exercise before going to The Adrienne and seeing Ego Po's A Doll's House (I know I haven't seen it yet and I should be ashamed. Being an artistic advisory board member and everything but...you know...I've been busy).
In any case, yesterday I saw The Nature Theatre of Oklahoma's Life & Times parts 1-5. That equals 12 hours of theatre. I've never experienced anything like this. For several reasons...
First off, the show was freaking 12 hours long. With intermissions so they could transition (they fed us multiple times...including a delicious BBQ! With organic ketchup!). That's the longest I've ever sat in a theatre and been emotionally invested in something. Ever. The longest shows I've seen before was Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, and Operetta by the Capitol Theatre (Wroclaw) in Poland, both of which were 3.5 hours long.
That's how long the first episode of Life and Times is. 3.5 hours.
Secondly, the entire concept behind the piece is unlike anything I've ever seen. Over the course of 10 phone conversations, artistic director Pavol Liska asked their sound designer Kristen Worrell to tell the story of her life. And she did. And they recorded 16 hours of dialogue. And they use that dialogue verbatim. Each episode is a different "style". So the first episode was live music and dance. And it encompassed birth to about kindergarten. The styles change drastically over each episode. The next "styles" were 80's dance-themed, murder mystery style, an animation, and a book. A freaking book. While an organ played wildly live in the background.
The woman in the recordings is only speaking on the seemingly mundane. Memories, flashes of thought, remembrances, feelings. But the entire "style" of the piece, making each and every "episode" EPIC. Well. That was what touched me. Truly.
Life is precious.
Listening to her talking about Fisher Price toys, the differing smells of her friend's houses growing up, Judy Bloom novels, having her first friend fight. All these details brought up SO MUCH FOR ME. So many memories washed over me. Moments I was proud of, moments I was ashamed of, moments I had forgotten about. What the woman was going through when she first recorded this dialogue (which is now being retold by the company members on stage, including herself) I was going through in the theatre. Laughing, relating, crying.
It got to be a little overwhelming for me.
I had a hard time keeping it together in the theatre during the animation segment, because she talked about her family cat Bentley. And after watching about 10.5 hours of theatre by that point, I couldn't hold in my emotions anymore. It was too much for me to handle. Even writing this now I'm misting up. I kind of quietly exploded in the theatre.
The piece is oddly universal. It's a celebration of life. It's realizing that while you think what you have to say isn't worthwhile, but in fact it's important. You are important. We are important.
It seems as though they tour often and all over the world. So if you get a chance take some time and go see it. My favorite episode was Episode 1, but all of them are thoroughly enjoyable, if not a bit off-putting and odd. Well not a bit. In fact there were a lot of off-putting moments. But really it didn't feel as though I was sitting there for hours on end. It flies by.
Go see it. Experience life. This beautiful life.
Until next time.
-Cindy
In any case, yesterday I saw The Nature Theatre of Oklahoma's Life & Times parts 1-5. That equals 12 hours of theatre. I've never experienced anything like this. For several reasons...
First off, the show was freaking 12 hours long. With intermissions so they could transition (they fed us multiple times...including a delicious BBQ! With organic ketchup!). That's the longest I've ever sat in a theatre and been emotionally invested in something. Ever. The longest shows I've seen before was Elevator Repair Service's The Sun Also Rises, and Operetta by the Capitol Theatre (Wroclaw) in Poland, both of which were 3.5 hours long.
That's how long the first episode of Life and Times is. 3.5 hours.
Secondly, the entire concept behind the piece is unlike anything I've ever seen. Over the course of 10 phone conversations, artistic director Pavol Liska asked their sound designer Kristen Worrell to tell the story of her life. And she did. And they recorded 16 hours of dialogue. And they use that dialogue verbatim. Each episode is a different "style". So the first episode was live music and dance. And it encompassed birth to about kindergarten. The styles change drastically over each episode. The next "styles" were 80's dance-themed, murder mystery style, an animation, and a book. A freaking book. While an organ played wildly live in the background.
The woman in the recordings is only speaking on the seemingly mundane. Memories, flashes of thought, remembrances, feelings. But the entire "style" of the piece, making each and every "episode" EPIC. Well. That was what touched me. Truly.
Life is precious.
Listening to her talking about Fisher Price toys, the differing smells of her friend's houses growing up, Judy Bloom novels, having her first friend fight. All these details brought up SO MUCH FOR ME. So many memories washed over me. Moments I was proud of, moments I was ashamed of, moments I had forgotten about. What the woman was going through when she first recorded this dialogue (which is now being retold by the company members on stage, including herself) I was going through in the theatre. Laughing, relating, crying.
It got to be a little overwhelming for me.
I had a hard time keeping it together in the theatre during the animation segment, because she talked about her family cat Bentley. And after watching about 10.5 hours of theatre by that point, I couldn't hold in my emotions anymore. It was too much for me to handle. Even writing this now I'm misting up. I kind of quietly exploded in the theatre.
The piece is oddly universal. It's a celebration of life. It's realizing that while you think what you have to say isn't worthwhile, but in fact it's important. You are important. We are important.
It seems as though they tour often and all over the world. So if you get a chance take some time and go see it. My favorite episode was Episode 1, but all of them are thoroughly enjoyable, if not a bit off-putting and odd. Well not a bit. In fact there were a lot of off-putting moments. But really it didn't feel as though I was sitting there for hours on end. It flies by.
Go see it. Experience life. This beautiful life.
Until next time.
-Cindy
Friday, September 13, 2013
*Peeks around corner*
Oh. Hey. Yeah. I know. Yeah I know I promised to keep it updated and...well would you look at that I didn't. Again. But you know I'm not going to put myself down about it, nor will I apologize. I will just update.
SO HI. Hello world, welcome back. It's good to be here. Many things have of course happened since I last posted.
Ed and I had our most successful summer of Summer On Stage yet. It was incredible. Our dear friends Ross and Brenna were up there with us this summer directing and teaching. That meant that Ed was able to really run the camp and focus on administrative stuff and we all got to focus on truly teaching and directing. We noticed a difference and the kids noticed a difference as well.
We pow-wowed before hand all three of us and really pin pointed on what we were going to focus on in classes. I focused on movement. Straight up Greek chorus style. We worked on building an ensemble and working together. The older kids totally locked into choral movement and I had them write stories. This one incredibly talented and wiser-than-her-years camper named Julia wrote a story filled with wolf imagery and journeys. So we stuck with that and I read the story to them while they, along with the help of the teen apprentices, wrote a choral ode. It was outstanding and beautiful and moving. We were each able to establish a language with them so that when we got into rehearsals I could use words that they normally wouldn't understand. Our camp moved up a level and I couldn't have been more proud.
The piece I directed was full of choral movement and flashlight use and puppetry and character development and music and call and response. It was beautiful and the kids were fantastic! The play was short and sweet but precise and told a great story. I pushed kids. I had one moment where were improv-ing a scene and this one boy did this great movement where he jumped up in the air with legs and arms spread out. And later while we were rehearsing a scene he didn't use it so all I had to say was "Hey you did this great thing in the improv where-" and he burst right into what I was talking about. I felt so connected to them this year it was wonderful.
So we did a little bit of traveling and relaxing and then Ed had to get back to town to start rehearsals for Bathtub Moby Dick with The Renegade Company for the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival. So August was an interesting month because I had some work lines up but not much. So, being inspired by Ed's sister, we started an eBay store!
Alfie's Nook
We are still working on adding products and such. My mom and I were talking last night about the store and she was asking me various questions about it. And I mentioned that we were getting items from yard sales and the like. And my mom just said, "Wow! My daughter the entrepreneur!" and it made me feel amazing. It made me feel important. And relieved a little.
August was good. I made a lot of decisions last month. I'm recording a demo for voice over in two weeks and I'm going to go forth with that. I have worked out really hard and for the first time I'm really REALLY seeing a difference. And I've been sticking with it and eating better. I'm going to start taking Meisner classes at a studio in NYC. I've been submitting myself to more projects. Oh yeah and I've done some stand-up comedy...
This particular evening was hosted by The Beserker Residents. Great guys, hilarious and really talented, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Video streaming by Ustream
I start at around 27 minutes, but the rest of the comedians that night were really fantastic. It's definitely worth taking a look at the entire show. The rest of the show is linked in the bar next to the video on the USTREAM page. I performed again at the Late Night Cabaret a few days later. After Fringe is finished up I'm going to be trolling about, looking for more open mics. There is one down the street from me and at Fergie's. If you know of any more let me know.
I can't tell you how much of a dream it is to be up there and making people laugh. It's a dream. And I know I'll fail eventually and I'll get heckled, but something happens to me up there. I feel really powerful. And I am looking forward to doing it again.
So fringe is happening and I've seen some really great stuff. I saw Ed's amazing show: Bathtub Moby Dick . It's so good. I couldn't be more proud him. The press has been great and so have the audiences.
So far this Fringe I've seen Ajax: The Madness, Pay Up, and Completeness. Tonight I'm seeing BASEMENT and this weekend I'm seeing Holly's Dead Soldiers, Life & Times, and A Doll's House. Next week it's The Talk Back and I'm actually going back into rehearsals for White Pine's production of Luckiest Kid, which is a world premier opening in October. You should come see it because it's going to be BEAUTIFUL.
You can get tickets here. It's directed by Ben Lloyd (who founded the company in 2009) and written by the incredible Martha Kember.
Featuring: Martha Kemper, Joshua L. Browns, Cindy Spitko, Eva Hall, Fleece, Andrew Carroll, Dan Ison
So that's about it for now. I know I'll be thinking of more things to update you all on. But life is good, we are getting into Autumn, changes are happening and there will be more to update I'm sure.
Be good to one another.
-Cindy
SO HI. Hello world, welcome back. It's good to be here. Many things have of course happened since I last posted.
Ed and I had our most successful summer of Summer On Stage yet. It was incredible. Our dear friends Ross and Brenna were up there with us this summer directing and teaching. That meant that Ed was able to really run the camp and focus on administrative stuff and we all got to focus on truly teaching and directing. We noticed a difference and the kids noticed a difference as well.
We pow-wowed before hand all three of us and really pin pointed on what we were going to focus on in classes. I focused on movement. Straight up Greek chorus style. We worked on building an ensemble and working together. The older kids totally locked into choral movement and I had them write stories. This one incredibly talented and wiser-than-her-years camper named Julia wrote a story filled with wolf imagery and journeys. So we stuck with that and I read the story to them while they, along with the help of the teen apprentices, wrote a choral ode. It was outstanding and beautiful and moving. We were each able to establish a language with them so that when we got into rehearsals I could use words that they normally wouldn't understand. Our camp moved up a level and I couldn't have been more proud.
The piece I directed was full of choral movement and flashlight use and puppetry and character development and music and call and response. It was beautiful and the kids were fantastic! The play was short and sweet but precise and told a great story. I pushed kids. I had one moment where were improv-ing a scene and this one boy did this great movement where he jumped up in the air with legs and arms spread out. And later while we were rehearsing a scene he didn't use it so all I had to say was "Hey you did this great thing in the improv where-" and he burst right into what I was talking about. I felt so connected to them this year it was wonderful.
So we did a little bit of traveling and relaxing and then Ed had to get back to town to start rehearsals for Bathtub Moby Dick with The Renegade Company for the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival. So August was an interesting month because I had some work lines up but not much. So, being inspired by Ed's sister, we started an eBay store!
Alfie's Nook
We are still working on adding products and such. My mom and I were talking last night about the store and she was asking me various questions about it. And I mentioned that we were getting items from yard sales and the like. And my mom just said, "Wow! My daughter the entrepreneur!" and it made me feel amazing. It made me feel important. And relieved a little.
August was good. I made a lot of decisions last month. I'm recording a demo for voice over in two weeks and I'm going to go forth with that. I have worked out really hard and for the first time I'm really REALLY seeing a difference. And I've been sticking with it and eating better. I'm going to start taking Meisner classes at a studio in NYC. I've been submitting myself to more projects. Oh yeah and I've done some stand-up comedy...
This particular evening was hosted by The Beserker Residents. Great guys, hilarious and really talented, and I'm looking forward to the next time.
Video streaming by Ustream
I start at around 27 minutes, but the rest of the comedians that night were really fantastic. It's definitely worth taking a look at the entire show. The rest of the show is linked in the bar next to the video on the USTREAM page. I performed again at the Late Night Cabaret a few days later. After Fringe is finished up I'm going to be trolling about, looking for more open mics. There is one down the street from me and at Fergie's. If you know of any more let me know.
I can't tell you how much of a dream it is to be up there and making people laugh. It's a dream. And I know I'll fail eventually and I'll get heckled, but something happens to me up there. I feel really powerful. And I am looking forward to doing it again.
So fringe is happening and I've seen some really great stuff. I saw Ed's amazing show: Bathtub Moby Dick . It's so good. I couldn't be more proud him. The press has been great and so have the audiences.
So far this Fringe I've seen Ajax: The Madness, Pay Up, and Completeness. Tonight I'm seeing BASEMENT and this weekend I'm seeing Holly's Dead Soldiers, Life & Times, and A Doll's House. Next week it's The Talk Back and I'm actually going back into rehearsals for White Pine's production of Luckiest Kid, which is a world premier opening in October. You should come see it because it's going to be BEAUTIFUL.
You can get tickets here. It's directed by Ben Lloyd (who founded the company in 2009) and written by the incredible Martha Kember.
Featuring: Martha Kemper, Joshua L. Browns, Cindy Spitko, Eva Hall, Fleece, Andrew Carroll, Dan Ison
So that's about it for now. I know I'll be thinking of more things to update you all on. But life is good, we are getting into Autumn, changes are happening and there will be more to update I'm sure.
Be good to one another.
-Cindy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)