Hello everyone,
As always, I have been so busy that I have been unable to update this blog as much as I want. Maybe I should just write once a month because that is what I seem to be doing.
So I hope that everyone had a great thanksgiving. Mine was great because I got to go home for the first time in two years. I spent thanksgiving day down in LA and then flew back to DC that Saturday after. I had a nice week long break that was shortly ruined by the last three weeks of school.
Finals have apparently become a two week affair and I have been so busy and stressed trying to finish everything for this week that I haven't even thought about actual finals week. That is a joy.
I have a week left here at Catholic and then I am off to the United Kingdom. I can't believe that it is happening. And I turn 21 in fifteen days! Look at me, growing up and stuff.
Tonight we have our Christmas dance which I have never been to and am both excited and indifferent about. And then finals start.
See you all on the other side!!
Bye-Bye!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I've got chills, they're multiplying
Hello everyone!
I just wanted to write a quick post updating you all on the Hurricane Sandy situation. DC was quite lucky and was not hit quite as hard as New York or New Jersey was. Everyone here is safe and there was not too much damage. Hopefully everyone in the area got their power back. Catholic never lost power but the lights did flicker a lot on Sunday.
We still managed to have Monday and Tuesday off of school and returned back to classes today (actually I did not because I was performing at a Tea at the Strathmore Mansion).
It was quite interesting. The rain began on Sunday and continued until yesterday morning. I only went out once on Monday and it was like getting hit in the face with very cold pebbles. Hence why I stayed inside for three days.
The hurricane did give a very nice academic respite to the school and felt nice. I managed to get some work done and fought cabin fever with some Tae Bo and movies.
I hope that New York and New Jersey recover and I wish all the best for them.
Also, Happy Halloween everyone!
And now, enjoy this delightful image of Hurricane Sandy.
Bye-Bye!
I just wanted to write a quick post updating you all on the Hurricane Sandy situation. DC was quite lucky and was not hit quite as hard as New York or New Jersey was. Everyone here is safe and there was not too much damage. Hopefully everyone in the area got their power back. Catholic never lost power but the lights did flicker a lot on Sunday.
We still managed to have Monday and Tuesday off of school and returned back to classes today (actually I did not because I was performing at a Tea at the Strathmore Mansion).
It was quite interesting. The rain began on Sunday and continued until yesterday morning. I only went out once on Monday and it was like getting hit in the face with very cold pebbles. Hence why I stayed inside for three days.
The hurricane did give a very nice academic respite to the school and felt nice. I managed to get some work done and fought cabin fever with some Tae Bo and movies.
I hope that New York and New Jersey recover and I wish all the best for them.
Also, Happy Halloween everyone!
And now, enjoy this delightful image of Hurricane Sandy.
Bye-Bye!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
When shall we three meet again
Hi Everyone!
Sorry my life has been incredibly busy the last few weeks. But I have some big news: I'M GOING TO LONDON!!!!!!!!
I found out last week that I got into the London Dramatic Academy for the spring of 2013. I am unbelievably excited and can't wait to fly back to London in January. I've been missing the city ever since I left way back in April 2010.
I get to take acting classes on Shakespeare as well as period dance and an amazing class in which we go and read plays where they were produced in the city.
Well back to the present. Hedda Gabler went exceptionally well and I had an amazing experience being able to go through the entire rehearsal process. I just wish I could have gone onstage at least once. Hopefully I'll be cast in a mainstage next year. At least I have London to look forward to acting all day, every day.
Today my directing professor (who also directed Hedda) laughed with me about the fact I'm such a Shakespeare geek. It all came about because one of our assignments coming up is to come up with how we would produce Macbeth if we were directing it. Basically everything I am doing in that class is Macbeth because the paper I just wrote is about three separate productions, this next project is about it and I've decided to use it as my final scene for the class. I love it.
Also we just finished with our Freshmen showcase. Because we are juniors now, we were directing it. It was strange to look at the freshmen and realize that was us only two years ago. I can't believe I've made it to this point in time.
Anyway, that is my life in a nutshell. I'll try to keep writing more.
Bye-bye!
Sorry my life has been incredibly busy the last few weeks. But I have some big news: I'M GOING TO LONDON!!!!!!!!
I found out last week that I got into the London Dramatic Academy for the spring of 2013. I am unbelievably excited and can't wait to fly back to London in January. I've been missing the city ever since I left way back in April 2010.
I get to take acting classes on Shakespeare as well as period dance and an amazing class in which we go and read plays where they were produced in the city.
Well back to the present. Hedda Gabler went exceptionally well and I had an amazing experience being able to go through the entire rehearsal process. I just wish I could have gone onstage at least once. Hopefully I'll be cast in a mainstage next year. At least I have London to look forward to acting all day, every day.
Today my directing professor (who also directed Hedda) laughed with me about the fact I'm such a Shakespeare geek. It all came about because one of our assignments coming up is to come up with how we would produce Macbeth if we were directing it. Basically everything I am doing in that class is Macbeth because the paper I just wrote is about three separate productions, this next project is about it and I've decided to use it as my final scene for the class. I love it.
Also we just finished with our Freshmen showcase. Because we are juniors now, we were directing it. It was strange to look at the freshmen and realize that was us only two years ago. I can't believe I've made it to this point in time.
Anyway, that is my life in a nutshell. I'll try to keep writing more.
Bye-bye!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
But oh, it's heaven: Nowadays
Hello Everyone,
So I am well aware that it is the beginning of October and I haven't written a post in over a month. I'm sorry about that, my life has been extremely busy.
Junior year started at the end of August and so did my application for going abroad to London. I worked on that for about a month and finally managed to turn everything in about three days before the deadline. It was a trail though trying to get all of the paperwork done and turned in by October 1st. I should be accepted just on that account. I had my audition on Friday and it was very interesting. Let me explain.
I had prepared Margret from Much Ado About Nothing because it was a speech that I had in my wheelhouse for about three years. I also believed that I was going to be filming my audition and this speech was funny and tame compared to some of the others that I also know. I went into the audition and did my speech, feeling quite confident in how it went. The woman running it told me that it was good and then asked if I had any other speeches prepared (I'm assuming because I did prose and they wanted verse). I told her that I had two Joan Le Pucelle speeches from Henry VI and told her which ones they were. She asked me to do the speech that begins "The Regent Conquers.." etc and I did. She worked on it a little with me and told me that I have a power that I tend to undermine (which is very true). Now this speech that she picked for me is one of the biggest, craziest moments a female character in the canon has, even surpassing Lady MacBeth, and it would typically be something I would NEVER do at an audition. It was one of the greatest feelings though. I hope I get into the program.
Also big news is that I am the female understudy for Hedda Gabler here at Catholic. This was possible because I would have been cast originally if the seniority card had not be outplayed this semester. The director was happy having me be an understudy and I've been doing it ever since. The show opens next Thursday and is amazing. The acting, the lighting design (which I squee over all the time), the costumes (Helen Hayes award winner), come see it if you live in the area. Please do, it's your only chance to see CUA Undergrads in a show.
My classes have been going solidly. I enjoy most of them except my Shakespeare class because it is taught from an English perspective from a teacher who has no understanding of theater and acting. My philosophy class is taught by a very theatrical monsignor and happens to be metaphysics, which is one of the craziest things I have ever studied. My theology class is extremely interesting except for when we discussed religion and politics and this girl was freaking out about Obama being a Muslim ( no he's not) and why she would never vote for a Muslim president. My entire class was extremely offended. I have two classes in my major, Directing and Production both of which are amazing. It shall be an interesting semester and I hope it goes well.
Sorry about being MIA for so long but I'm back in the game. Thanks!
Bye-Bye!
So I am well aware that it is the beginning of October and I haven't written a post in over a month. I'm sorry about that, my life has been extremely busy.
Junior year started at the end of August and so did my application for going abroad to London. I worked on that for about a month and finally managed to turn everything in about three days before the deadline. It was a trail though trying to get all of the paperwork done and turned in by October 1st. I should be accepted just on that account. I had my audition on Friday and it was very interesting. Let me explain.
I had prepared Margret from Much Ado About Nothing because it was a speech that I had in my wheelhouse for about three years. I also believed that I was going to be filming my audition and this speech was funny and tame compared to some of the others that I also know. I went into the audition and did my speech, feeling quite confident in how it went. The woman running it told me that it was good and then asked if I had any other speeches prepared (I'm assuming because I did prose and they wanted verse). I told her that I had two Joan Le Pucelle speeches from Henry VI and told her which ones they were. She asked me to do the speech that begins "The Regent Conquers.." etc and I did. She worked on it a little with me and told me that I have a power that I tend to undermine (which is very true). Now this speech that she picked for me is one of the biggest, craziest moments a female character in the canon has, even surpassing Lady MacBeth, and it would typically be something I would NEVER do at an audition. It was one of the greatest feelings though. I hope I get into the program.
Also big news is that I am the female understudy for Hedda Gabler here at Catholic. This was possible because I would have been cast originally if the seniority card had not be outplayed this semester. The director was happy having me be an understudy and I've been doing it ever since. The show opens next Thursday and is amazing. The acting, the lighting design (which I squee over all the time), the costumes (Helen Hayes award winner), come see it if you live in the area. Please do, it's your only chance to see CUA Undergrads in a show.
My classes have been going solidly. I enjoy most of them except my Shakespeare class because it is taught from an English perspective from a teacher who has no understanding of theater and acting. My philosophy class is taught by a very theatrical monsignor and happens to be metaphysics, which is one of the craziest things I have ever studied. My theology class is extremely interesting except for when we discussed religion and politics and this girl was freaking out about Obama being a Muslim ( no he's not) and why she would never vote for a Muslim president. My entire class was extremely offended. I have two classes in my major, Directing and Production both of which are amazing. It shall be an interesting semester and I hope it goes well.
Sorry about being MIA for so long but I'm back in the game. Thanks!
Bye-Bye!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Sleep Little Darling, Do Not Cry
Last night was the closing night of King John.
This was both my first professional show and first Shakespeare show that I have been a part of and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
When I told Lesley the director that this was my first Shakespeare play, her response was "It bodes well that King John was your first unlike having Midsummer". How awesome is it going to be to tell people that I started my classical theater career with one of the most rarely produced Shakespeare plays in the canon? Even more awesome will be telling people that it was also a kick-ass show all around.
This internship was one of the best experiences of my life. I met amazing people and worked with some extremely talented teachers. I got to live, eat and breathe theater and art. And as cheesy as it sounds, I grew so much as an actor.
I learned how to perform in outdoor venues, I learned about classical theater, I stepped out of my comfort zone only to find it not at all terrifying. Most importantly, I conquered my fear that Shakespeare can only be acted one specific way and realized that classical theater is my idea of a good time, much more then contemporary theater.
But probably the most important thing I got out of this internship was the confidence to know that I can do Shakespeare and gotten over my past doubts that were still hung over from last year about even pursuing a career in acting. It may be a hard road but it will be the road I choose to take.
Now as I fall into my post-show/ pre- returning to school depression (hopefully no crying,which usually happens after a great show) I will have a few fond memories to hold onto:
-Earning Thomas Jefferson coins for doing Barry's makeup
-The time the tech booth blew up on Opening Night
-Eric Peeing off the stage
- Blazing hot Matinees
-Freezing cold night performances
-Doing the jig lift with Jimmy before every curtain call
-Rock Lock
-Moving the throne
-Standing in for everyone and their mother
-Twenty minutes of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the dressing room
-The wonderful women's dressing room
-Poems in Barry's Garden
-"I want to eat it, let me eat it"
-Nerd Night
-The curtain call jig
-The glorius intern showcase complete with rain, helicopters, and girls making out
-The Midsummer camp with the greatest Play within the Play ever
-Flowing Dragon Swords
-Cast parties
-Double Rainbow
-4th Street
The list could be endless, but needless to say it was an absolutely incredible, stupendous and amazing expiernece. Thank you so much Marin Shakespeare Company!!!
I'm back to DC on the 23rd and will report from the other side. Now I'm off to enjoy my last two weeks by working on my monologue from Uncle Vanya!!
Bye-Bye!
This was both my first professional show and first Shakespeare show that I have been a part of and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
When I told Lesley the director that this was my first Shakespeare play, her response was "It bodes well that King John was your first unlike having Midsummer". How awesome is it going to be to tell people that I started my classical theater career with one of the most rarely produced Shakespeare plays in the canon? Even more awesome will be telling people that it was also a kick-ass show all around.
This internship was one of the best experiences of my life. I met amazing people and worked with some extremely talented teachers. I got to live, eat and breathe theater and art. And as cheesy as it sounds, I grew so much as an actor.
I learned how to perform in outdoor venues, I learned about classical theater, I stepped out of my comfort zone only to find it not at all terrifying. Most importantly, I conquered my fear that Shakespeare can only be acted one specific way and realized that classical theater is my idea of a good time, much more then contemporary theater.
But probably the most important thing I got out of this internship was the confidence to know that I can do Shakespeare and gotten over my past doubts that were still hung over from last year about even pursuing a career in acting. It may be a hard road but it will be the road I choose to take.
Now as I fall into my post-show/ pre- returning to school depression (hopefully no crying,which usually happens after a great show) I will have a few fond memories to hold onto:
-Earning Thomas Jefferson coins for doing Barry's makeup
-The time the tech booth blew up on Opening Night
-Eric Peeing off the stage
- Blazing hot Matinees
-Freezing cold night performances
-Doing the jig lift with Jimmy before every curtain call
-Rock Lock
-Moving the throne
-Standing in for everyone and their mother
-Twenty minutes of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the dressing room
-The wonderful women's dressing room
-Poems in Barry's Garden
-"I want to eat it, let me eat it"
-Nerd Night
-The curtain call jig
-The glorius intern showcase complete with rain, helicopters, and girls making out
-The Midsummer camp with the greatest Play within the Play ever
-Flowing Dragon Swords
-Cast parties
-Double Rainbow
-4th Street
The list could be endless, but needless to say it was an absolutely incredible, stupendous and amazing expiernece. Thank you so much Marin Shakespeare Company!!!
Bye-Bye!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Two weddings, a funeral and King John
Hello Everyone!
As I said, this summer has been totally busy mayhem. But also quite amazing.
The bulk of my summer has been dedicated to the internship at Marin Shakespeare Company and it has been the experience of a lifetime, and it's not over yet!
I have met and worked with some amazing people. For example, our teacher for our Verse and Text class in the first few weeks is a wonderful man named Barry Kraft. He has worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for twenty five years and has been in EVERY Shakespeare show that has been discovered. He also knows absolutely everything about the man as well as having a strong interest in chess, eclipses, and caves. The proudest moment of my life is when I get to help with his makeup for King John in which he plays Phillip of France.
Part of the internship is that I am also in one of the shows for the festival and I am in King John, a rarely produced Shakespeare play. Popular in its day, this play has fallen out of production because it doesn't have the same appeal as some of the other histories like Richard III. It is actually quite a good play and I am very proud of my small and silent role as throne bearer/ citizen of Angiers. I also am quite enthralled with all of the professional actors in the play because they are all quite amazing.
Everything about this play is solid from the amazing director to the fabulous set, which is a replica of the Globe stage.
Here's an example of why this show works so well:
Last night was our opening for King John at Marin Shakespeare Company. During Shakespeare’s Act two, the lights went out. It’s an outdoor theater so it was still light at this point but then half an hour later, the lights and sound and backstage monitor went out.
Us actors were getting prepared to create the sound cues on our own but everything began to work before intermission ended (except the lights,which we kept in one cue). And not a single actor freaked out, good job.
After we remembered that it was Friday the 13th, and maybe one should not have opening nights on that date. It goes without saying that it was a very exciting opening.
Awesome, right?
The acting interns of MSC also have been working on scenes and speeches from Shakespeare for our showcase on August 4th and I've never felt more confident in my acting or in awe of the other interns who are quite amazing. Needless to say, I am loving this internship more then anything in the world!
My cousin also got married a few weeks ago and it was the wedding of all weddings. Considering the last wedding I went to was in the 1990s, I was quite excited about this big event. And it lived up to that dream I had. Her brother, my other cousin, actually got married a few days before so it was a full week of weddings and prep and celebrating which was an incredible amount of fun as well as being exhausting. It was quite nice to add two new cousins to the O'Neill clan and hang out with the original ones.
Now the rest of the summer is dedicated to loving Shakespeare more and more. As well as working on my Sonya monologue from Uncle Vanya so that I can be cast in Hedda Gabler in the fall. I would so die to play Mrs.Thea!!
But I have time for that, a lot of time.
So everyone, Come see King John at Marin Shakespeare Company in San Rafael!! It runs through August 12th!!!
Bye-Bye!
As I said, this summer has been totally busy mayhem. But also quite amazing.
The bulk of my summer has been dedicated to the internship at Marin Shakespeare Company and it has been the experience of a lifetime, and it's not over yet!
I have met and worked with some amazing people. For example, our teacher for our Verse and Text class in the first few weeks is a wonderful man named Barry Kraft. He has worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for twenty five years and has been in EVERY Shakespeare show that has been discovered. He also knows absolutely everything about the man as well as having a strong interest in chess, eclipses, and caves. The proudest moment of my life is when I get to help with his makeup for King John in which he plays Phillip of France.
Part of the internship is that I am also in one of the shows for the festival and I am in King John, a rarely produced Shakespeare play. Popular in its day, this play has fallen out of production because it doesn't have the same appeal as some of the other histories like Richard III. It is actually quite a good play and I am very proud of my small and silent role as throne bearer/ citizen of Angiers. I also am quite enthralled with all of the professional actors in the play because they are all quite amazing.
Everything about this play is solid from the amazing director to the fabulous set, which is a replica of the Globe stage.
Here's an example of why this show works so well:
Last night was our opening for King John at Marin Shakespeare Company. During Shakespeare’s Act two, the lights went out. It’s an outdoor theater so it was still light at this point but then half an hour later, the lights and sound and backstage monitor went out.
Us actors were getting prepared to create the sound cues on our own but everything began to work before intermission ended (except the lights,which we kept in one cue). And not a single actor freaked out, good job.
After we remembered that it was Friday the 13th, and maybe one should not have opening nights on that date. It goes without saying that it was a very exciting opening.
Awesome, right?
The acting interns of MSC also have been working on scenes and speeches from Shakespeare for our showcase on August 4th and I've never felt more confident in my acting or in awe of the other interns who are quite amazing. Needless to say, I am loving this internship more then anything in the world!
My cousin also got married a few weeks ago and it was the wedding of all weddings. Considering the last wedding I went to was in the 1990s, I was quite excited about this big event. And it lived up to that dream I had. Her brother, my other cousin, actually got married a few days before so it was a full week of weddings and prep and celebrating which was an incredible amount of fun as well as being exhausting. It was quite nice to add two new cousins to the O'Neill clan and hang out with the original ones.
Now the rest of the summer is dedicated to loving Shakespeare more and more. As well as working on my Sonya monologue from Uncle Vanya so that I can be cast in Hedda Gabler in the fall. I would so die to play Mrs.Thea!!
But I have time for that, a lot of time.
So everyone, Come see King John at Marin Shakespeare Company in San Rafael!! It runs through August 12th!!!
Bye-Bye!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Home is wherever I'm with you
Hey everyone!
I am home for the summer as of Sunday and am now just trying to find a job and not get too bored. My Internship starts in a month and then I will be super busy but I am excited, while at the same time exceptionally nervous.
Have a fun May everyone!!
I'll try to post updates of my summer but somehow, this always falls by the wayside.
Bye-Bye!
I am home for the summer as of Sunday and am now just trying to find a job and not get too bored. My Internship starts in a month and then I will be super busy but I am excited, while at the same time exceptionally nervous.
Have a fun May everyone!!
I'll try to post updates of my summer but somehow, this always falls by the wayside.
Bye-Bye!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
I'm beautiful in my Way
So I got back my philosophy paper on the moral justifications of legalizing gay marriage and I got a B-
Not a bad grade but my professor (She is an 85 year old nun) wrote it was because I didn’t write about the fact that being gay is not natural and can’t produce children. I went to talk to her about it and she made no effort to understand that I was not talking about children but about the fact that it is not equal rights. She kept going on tangents about random stuff and I kept having to say "I wasn't arguing that". Then I started to cry because I was frustrated and mad about the fact that she wouldn't listen to what I was saying. Then she told me that I was wasting her time.
I think my grandparents are more liberal then her.
I'm glad that I was raised abroad and in San Francisco because at least I understand that we are all humans and all deserve the same rights.
Things like this make me really dislike my university sometimes. Now I'm going to listen to "Black or White" and "Born This Way" so I can feel like people understand equality.
And then the bookstore wouldn’t buy back my books because they had “No value”. I bought them three months ago, I mean come on! But no finals now for two days! And them home to the city of Equal Rights on Saturday!!!
Right now to make it through finals week, I have the fond memory of Gilbies/ Fake Prom last Sunday. They both were exceptionally fun and are my favorite event of the year. Fake Prom this year was exceptionally good because there ended up being two hours of the best music ever: 1950s/1960s Rock and Roll. Think The Four Seasons, Roy Orbison and Elvis. I also had a new dress to wear from PinUp Girl Clothing which is the best site ever! Here are some images from that great night:
I hope everyone had a good day!
Bye-Bye!
Not a bad grade but my professor (She is an 85 year old nun) wrote it was because I didn’t write about the fact that being gay is not natural and can’t produce children. I went to talk to her about it and she made no effort to understand that I was not talking about children but about the fact that it is not equal rights. She kept going on tangents about random stuff and I kept having to say "I wasn't arguing that". Then I started to cry because I was frustrated and mad about the fact that she wouldn't listen to what I was saying. Then she told me that I was wasting her time.
I think my grandparents are more liberal then her.
I'm glad that I was raised abroad and in San Francisco because at least I understand that we are all humans and all deserve the same rights.
Things like this make me really dislike my university sometimes. Now I'm going to listen to "Black or White" and "Born This Way" so I can feel like people understand equality.
And then the bookstore wouldn’t buy back my books because they had “No value”. I bought them three months ago, I mean come on! But no finals now for two days! And them home to the city of Equal Rights on Saturday!!!
Right now to make it through finals week, I have the fond memory of Gilbies/ Fake Prom last Sunday. They both were exceptionally fun and are my favorite event of the year. Fake Prom this year was exceptionally good because there ended up being two hours of the best music ever: 1950s/1960s Rock and Roll. Think The Four Seasons, Roy Orbison and Elvis. I also had a new dress to wear from PinUp Girl Clothing which is the best site ever! Here are some images from that great night:
I hope everyone had a good day!
Bye-Bye!
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