I had forgotten how nice federal holidays are for the rest of America. Four years at UVa, where they hardly acknowledge the existence of a holiday, kinda made me forget that most of the country stops for a day as seemingly silly as Columbus Day. Regardless, I'm experiencing the full beauty of it this year--remarkably I've had a four-day weekend, which so far I have spent essentially doing nothing. A lot of reading, including revisiting the good ol' Catcher in the Rye. When I first read Catcher at 16, I was blown away at how accurately Holden encapsulated the way I view the world. Upon my last reading, I remember thinking what a whiny little bitch he was. Now, I'm struck once again by the similarities between myself and our misanthropic protagonist...a little disturbing, I must say.
This past week we had our first three performances of Hansel and Gretel's Grimm Tale at area schools, and it has received a good response from the kids. We don't have any more shows scheduled for the near future, though, so it's looking like the show is on an indefinite hiatus. Honestly, that suits me fine; I'm a little burnt out on it at the moment anyway, so perhaps some time away from the show will be nice, and I can discover new things once I've sat with the show for a while. We also just finished our first week of after-school programs, which has really been an eye-opening experience. I haven't had any protracted interaction with elementary school-age kids since I was in elementary school, and even then I was a little ahead of the curve, so to go back and work with a bunch of 9-year-olds in an attempt to put on a short play has been quite the education for me.
The diversity of kids is so interesting. Some fit the stereotype of the rambunctious wild-child who constantly has to be told to shut up and sit down, but some others are so well-behaved, such good readers, and so brave and honest. We played a game in our first class where we went around in a circle and said our names and three things about ourselves we didn't think everyone else knew, and one girl came right out and said that she didn't live with her parents but in a foster family. Another girl said she was born with an angel's kiss, and of course all the kids immediately asked what that was, and she gave a very tactful response. It was amazing to me to see these kids being so open and vulnerable--that's what you need to be a good actor, and sadly that's what gets beaten out of us as we grow up.
It's 1:30 as I write this and I'm still in my PJs. I need to go be a person right now. Out.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Autumn Approacheth...
Today marks the one-week anniversary of my move to the Berkshires. More money has been spent in the past week than I would have preferred, but such is the burden of moving. All in all, it has been a great week, and I'm looking forward to what's in store for the next nine months. I've gotten to reconnect with people I had the pleasure of working with last summer and meet a lot of new people (well, new to me) that I'll be working and hanging out with for many months. I'm four days into rehearsals for the touring children's show I'll be performing for the duration of my residency, a fusion of the Hansel and Gretel story with another of Grimm's fairy tales, "The Three Golden Hairs." Rehearsals have been going really well so far, though they run 9-5 and can get exhausting.
Of course, the logical resolution would be to go to bed early and get lots of rest. But for those of you who don't already know, that ain't how theatre people do. Whether it's been family-style dinners, oohing and aahing over new episodes of The Office, or going to acclaimed restaurants a half-hour away and starting a "beer card" (you don't wanna know), I've been burning the proverbial midnight oil on a regular basis. But the important thing is that I'm having fun--more so, in fact, than I was having living in New York. One of the best things about my current setup is that I'm living in community with like-minded people with whom I get along, and there's always something to do. And with the onset of fall, my favorite season, the leaves of the Berkshires are just starting to change colors, and they're already beautiful. It may not have everything, but it has enough of what I need for it to be a little slice of heaven.
The coming of autumn always gives me this great feeling that I can't quite identify. I love breaking out the sweatshirts and jeans, smelling that crispness in the air...and certain music just makes more sense at this time of year. Pretty much everything by The Early November, for sure; I'm also discovering that I like a lot of Iron & Wine beyond the "Such Great Heights" cover from the Garden State soundtrack, and that it provides nice accompaniment for the autumnal mindset. I've started compiling an "Autumn" playlist in my iTunes, but I'm bad at making playlists, so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't go very far. I just had a discussion with one of my roommates about choral music, and I had fun re-remembering my love of Bruckner's "Os justi," Pärt's "The Beatitudes," and pretty much everything Eric Whitacre has ever written. Sadly, I don't think they would fit well on my autumn mix.
Of course, the logical resolution would be to go to bed early and get lots of rest. But for those of you who don't already know, that ain't how theatre people do. Whether it's been family-style dinners, oohing and aahing over new episodes of The Office, or going to acclaimed restaurants a half-hour away and starting a "beer card" (you don't wanna know), I've been burning the proverbial midnight oil on a regular basis. But the important thing is that I'm having fun--more so, in fact, than I was having living in New York. One of the best things about my current setup is that I'm living in community with like-minded people with whom I get along, and there's always something to do. And with the onset of fall, my favorite season, the leaves of the Berkshires are just starting to change colors, and they're already beautiful. It may not have everything, but it has enough of what I need for it to be a little slice of heaven.
The coming of autumn always gives me this great feeling that I can't quite identify. I love breaking out the sweatshirts and jeans, smelling that crispness in the air...and certain music just makes more sense at this time of year. Pretty much everything by The Early November, for sure; I'm also discovering that I like a lot of Iron & Wine beyond the "Such Great Heights" cover from the Garden State soundtrack, and that it provides nice accompaniment for the autumnal mindset. I've started compiling an "Autumn" playlist in my iTunes, but I'm bad at making playlists, so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't go very far. I just had a discussion with one of my roommates about choral music, and I had fun re-remembering my love of Bruckner's "Os justi," Pärt's "The Beatitudes," and pretty much everything Eric Whitacre has ever written. Sadly, I don't think they would fit well on my autumn mix.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The next crazy venture beneath the skies
As you can see, I have given my long-neglected blog a spiffy new makeover. (Fancy new things always makes up for being a deadbeat, right?) It comes on the eve of yet another large-scale transition in my life, as tomorrow I am making the trek up to Stockbridge, MA to begin my year at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. I've spent the past two days packing my pertinent belongings, and every time I do it I marvel at the colossal amount of junk I've accumulated, as well as the bizarre pack-rat mentality I've adopted toward it all.
I haven't been as diligent about packing as perhaps I should, largely in part to my introduction to a fantastic new TV show called Party Down. It's a Starz original that centers around a bunch of actors/writers/other artistically-persuaded people working as caterers and the hijinks they get into at various events they service. It's only been on for a season (viewable on Netflix and Starz's website), but the higher-ups have been wise enough to bring it back for a second. It's one of those shows that's funny no matter who you are, but is particularly funny if you're an actor and understand the mode of life being represented (a la Slings and Arrows).
As much as I dislike television and the stranglehold that mind-numbing reality programming has on it, I'm realizing there is actually quite a lot of smart, compelling, really enjoyable stuff on TV, particularly on premium cable networks. I also suppose it doesn't hurt to be aware of what the industry is trending toward, seeing as how my career aspirations are kind of tied up in it.
Not a whole lot else has happened lately, other than I finally got around to seeing In the Heights last night with my dear friend Meghan. I'm sure there will plenty of delightful nuggets of news in the coming days, though, so I will make sure to update. Farewell for now! (Please comment!)
I haven't been as diligent about packing as perhaps I should, largely in part to my introduction to a fantastic new TV show called Party Down. It's a Starz original that centers around a bunch of actors/writers/other artistically-persuaded people working as caterers and the hijinks they get into at various events they service. It's only been on for a season (viewable on Netflix and Starz's website), but the higher-ups have been wise enough to bring it back for a second. It's one of those shows that's funny no matter who you are, but is particularly funny if you're an actor and understand the mode of life being represented (a la Slings and Arrows).
As much as I dislike television and the stranglehold that mind-numbing reality programming has on it, I'm realizing there is actually quite a lot of smart, compelling, really enjoyable stuff on TV, particularly on premium cable networks. I also suppose it doesn't hurt to be aware of what the industry is trending toward, seeing as how my career aspirations are kind of tied up in it.
Not a whole lot else has happened lately, other than I finally got around to seeing In the Heights last night with my dear friend Meghan. I'm sure there will plenty of delightful nuggets of news in the coming days, though, so I will make sure to update. Farewell for now! (Please comment!)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Where have I been for the last 2 and a half months?
If there is anyone out there who has been checking this thing with any kind of frequency in the last few months, hoping against hope for a new update on the events of my life, 1) I'm honored and incredibly embarrassed for not having fulfilled your wish sooner, and 2) You really need to get a life. I'm not that interesting!
Since we last left our intrepid college grad in the wilds of New York, a great many events have transpired. My iPhone is now my new favorite toy, and life is in many ways easier because of it (though it has become a bit of an electronic ball-and-chain). I just recently concluded the run of As You Like It at the Secret Theater in Long Island City, Queens--a good experience on the whole and a good first show in New York. Of course, as a result of my extremely self-judgmental nature, there were many aspects of the show for me which I would like to have improved upon...but, to quote Dean Moriarty from Kerouac's On the Road (my current read), "we know time." I also have gotten to see a lot of good theatre this summer--the previously mentioned production of Nocturne, Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park, the current revival of Our Town at the Barrow Street Theater, and a fantastic new play which is sure to blow up and become an off-Broadway hit this season: The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side.
Now that my show has closed, I have made a brief venture back to the Old Dominion. I came back down with my mom (she came to see my show closing weekend, how sweet) and was in Richmond for a few days, and now I am once again in the DC area at my friend Jessica's before returning to New York. However, I will not be in the Big Apple for much longer. If you have not yet heard, I was offered a position as an artist-in-residence at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, where I spent last summer as an acting apprentice, and next week I will begin a 9-month long stint of touring children's shows and teaching school kids theatre.
In some ways I feel bummed about leaving New York for so long and essentially putting active pursuit of my acting career on hold for almost a year, but on the whole I really feel this is a great opportunity to get closer with the BTF family, do something new and challenging (and important!), and ride out the recession before jumping head-first into the insanity of the real world. Plus, I can think of fewer places more beautiful than the Berkshires of western Massachusetts to spend a year of watching the seasons pass--from the colors of fall (sure to be gorgeous from all the rain the Northeast has gotten this summer) through the postcard-worthy winter and into the blooming of spring.
The day came and went for me like most days this year, but I only just now rewatched footage of the 9/11 attacks, and I am thoroughly convinced that it is impossible for anyone who recalls that day to watch the footage without tearing up. That day touched us all in unexplainable ways, but I had a very intense involvement with the events of that day. I knew my uncle had been working in the World Financial Center, not far at all from the World Trade Center, and because I knew he was right in the thick of the chaos I was terribly concerned for him. It was not until later that day, once we received word of his safety, that my family and I learned that his office had since moved into the World Trade Center, and that he was walking into the first tower as the plane hit it, and he saw a fireball explode from the elevator as well as people running around on fire. His company was fortunate enough to have only lost one person in the attacks, but the horror of what he went through that day is more than I can even imagine...more than I care to.
Thinking about things like this--the past, the future--really make you wonder how we go through it all and come out standing on the other side. I think it's best summed up by that great chronicler of the absurdity of our world, Samuel Beckett: "I can't go on, I'll go on."
Since we last left our intrepid college grad in the wilds of New York, a great many events have transpired. My iPhone is now my new favorite toy, and life is in many ways easier because of it (though it has become a bit of an electronic ball-and-chain). I just recently concluded the run of As You Like It at the Secret Theater in Long Island City, Queens--a good experience on the whole and a good first show in New York. Of course, as a result of my extremely self-judgmental nature, there were many aspects of the show for me which I would like to have improved upon...but, to quote Dean Moriarty from Kerouac's On the Road (my current read), "we know time." I also have gotten to see a lot of good theatre this summer--the previously mentioned production of Nocturne, Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park, the current revival of Our Town at the Barrow Street Theater, and a fantastic new play which is sure to blow up and become an off-Broadway hit this season: The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side.
Now that my show has closed, I have made a brief venture back to the Old Dominion. I came back down with my mom (she came to see my show closing weekend, how sweet) and was in Richmond for a few days, and now I am once again in the DC area at my friend Jessica's before returning to New York. However, I will not be in the Big Apple for much longer. If you have not yet heard, I was offered a position as an artist-in-residence at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, where I spent last summer as an acting apprentice, and next week I will begin a 9-month long stint of touring children's shows and teaching school kids theatre.
In some ways I feel bummed about leaving New York for so long and essentially putting active pursuit of my acting career on hold for almost a year, but on the whole I really feel this is a great opportunity to get closer with the BTF family, do something new and challenging (and important!), and ride out the recession before jumping head-first into the insanity of the real world. Plus, I can think of fewer places more beautiful than the Berkshires of western Massachusetts to spend a year of watching the seasons pass--from the colors of fall (sure to be gorgeous from all the rain the Northeast has gotten this summer) through the postcard-worthy winter and into the blooming of spring.
The day came and went for me like most days this year, but I only just now rewatched footage of the 9/11 attacks, and I am thoroughly convinced that it is impossible for anyone who recalls that day to watch the footage without tearing up. That day touched us all in unexplainable ways, but I had a very intense involvement with the events of that day. I knew my uncle had been working in the World Financial Center, not far at all from the World Trade Center, and because I knew he was right in the thick of the chaos I was terribly concerned for him. It was not until later that day, once we received word of his safety, that my family and I learned that his office had since moved into the World Trade Center, and that he was walking into the first tower as the plane hit it, and he saw a fireball explode from the elevator as well as people running around on fire. His company was fortunate enough to have only lost one person in the attacks, but the horror of what he went through that day is more than I can even imagine...more than I care to.
Thinking about things like this--the past, the future--really make you wonder how we go through it all and come out standing on the other side. I think it's best summed up by that great chronicler of the absurdity of our world, Samuel Beckett: "I can't go on, I'll go on."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A boring text blog
I opted not to go the video route this time around. Sorry if you're disappointed. If you're relieved, well, you're welcome.
I write to you now from my uncle's swanky house in Freeport, another town on Long Island, where I am house- and cat-sitting for him and his girlfriend while they are vacationing in Africa. That's right, Africa. Like "Out of Africa" Africa. They are going to Kenya for a week and a half, and while they are gone I get to live in their house, play with their four adorable cats, and make use of my uncle's unlimited train pass. Bingo!
I got an iPhone in Manhattan yesterday, and so far I really dig it. It was tough trying to get used to it while walking around Manhattan, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I still have my old phone number, so fear not if you need to call me for some reason. The sad thing is that it's already distracted me from other old fashioned, non-techy things I occasionally do, like, I dunno, read. I hope I don't become a total slave to technology, and more specifically, a slave to Apple. But you know, they make really awesome products, so more power to them. You don't see them merging with other computer companies or relying on selling printers to keep their business afloat.
Last night I was a volunteer usher for Nocturne at the Soho Playhouse. The people at the theater were very cool, and it was a nice little space. Before the show, I actually got to meet Adam Rapp, which was pretty mindblowing. He's such a cool dude, very chill and at ease. I had the fortune of being able to drop a name of a friend of mine who was in a show he wrote/directed called Bingo with the Indians, so thank you Missel Leddington for being my conversation starter. (Incidentally, I read Bingo, and it is a fucked-up script. It's good, but it is some seriously wacked-out stuff.)
Nocturne was great, needless to say. Dallas Roberts, who originated the role, performed it again for this one-time show, and he was wonderful. He did the whole show sitting in a chair, occasionally sipping from an unusually tall can of beer, and (get this) reading from the actual script of the play. When I first saw this I thought, "Did he not bother to memorize the lines or something? They didn't just throw this together, did they?" But that couldn't have been the case, because he's done the show literally hundreds of times. It wasn't until the subway ride back to Penn after the show that I got to read Rapp's note in the program about the first time Roberts ever did the play, reading it for an audience of five in a dorm room in West Virginia, and what a charged experience it was, and he wanted to recall the sensation of that first reading for this performance.
I spent most of the first half of the show watching Roberts work from a technical standpoint, trying to understand how he uses his hands when he acts, how he works with the incredibly descriptive text of the play, and how he related to the audience through the character, especially in the moments of humor. (Oddly, the little moments where I would smile to myself when reading the script and think "oh, that's funny" turned out to get fairly big laughs from the audience. Guess it goes to show what that live interaction between actor and audience can do.) And the best part is I got to see it for free. I gotta do this more often.
I write to you now from my uncle's swanky house in Freeport, another town on Long Island, where I am house- and cat-sitting for him and his girlfriend while they are vacationing in Africa. That's right, Africa. Like "Out of Africa" Africa. They are going to Kenya for a week and a half, and while they are gone I get to live in their house, play with their four adorable cats, and make use of my uncle's unlimited train pass. Bingo!
I got an iPhone in Manhattan yesterday, and so far I really dig it. It was tough trying to get used to it while walking around Manhattan, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I still have my old phone number, so fear not if you need to call me for some reason. The sad thing is that it's already distracted me from other old fashioned, non-techy things I occasionally do, like, I dunno, read. I hope I don't become a total slave to technology, and more specifically, a slave to Apple. But you know, they make really awesome products, so more power to them. You don't see them merging with other computer companies or relying on selling printers to keep their business afloat.
Last night I was a volunteer usher for Nocturne at the Soho Playhouse. The people at the theater were very cool, and it was a nice little space. Before the show, I actually got to meet Adam Rapp, which was pretty mindblowing. He's such a cool dude, very chill and at ease. I had the fortune of being able to drop a name of a friend of mine who was in a show he wrote/directed called Bingo with the Indians, so thank you Missel Leddington for being my conversation starter. (Incidentally, I read Bingo, and it is a fucked-up script. It's good, but it is some seriously wacked-out stuff.)
Nocturne was great, needless to say. Dallas Roberts, who originated the role, performed it again for this one-time show, and he was wonderful. He did the whole show sitting in a chair, occasionally sipping from an unusually tall can of beer, and (get this) reading from the actual script of the play. When I first saw this I thought, "Did he not bother to memorize the lines or something? They didn't just throw this together, did they?" But that couldn't have been the case, because he's done the show literally hundreds of times. It wasn't until the subway ride back to Penn after the show that I got to read Rapp's note in the program about the first time Roberts ever did the play, reading it for an audience of five in a dorm room in West Virginia, and what a charged experience it was, and he wanted to recall the sensation of that first reading for this performance.
I spent most of the first half of the show watching Roberts work from a technical standpoint, trying to understand how he uses his hands when he acts, how he works with the incredibly descriptive text of the play, and how he related to the audience through the character, especially in the moments of humor. (Oddly, the little moments where I would smile to myself when reading the script and think "oh, that's funny" turned out to get fairly big laughs from the audience. Guess it goes to show what that live interaction between actor and audience can do.) And the best part is I got to see it for free. I gotta do this more often.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
In Technicolor!
So, either because I'm lazy or because I want to take advantage of the new technology available to me (or both), I decided to bust open iMovie and make a video. Therefore, gentle readers, consider yourself vlogged.
Love,
Me
P.S. - I feel like a narcissist for making a video of myself. And I look gross on camera.
Love,
Me
P.S. - I feel like a narcissist for making a video of myself. And I look gross on camera.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
New York, New York
Here it is, at long last: my first post from my new state of residence, New York! This is also my first post from my brand-new, super-sexy MacBook. Since I opened the box I have not been able to put this thing down. I don't know how I dealt with my old laptop for so many years.
I drove up here on Friday with my dad in a big-ass white Ford cargo van we rented, which we literally packed to the brim with my furniture, clothes, and other personal effects. It was a sheer miracle that we fit all that stuff into the van. It made me think about how much stuff I actually have, and how much of it I actually need. I did a good bit of purging before leaving Virginia, sorting out old clothes to donate to charity, but I still feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of crap I own.
Things have been pretty chaotic here at my grandmother's house for the past couple of days, what with my stuff strewn everywhere and the effort to get all my stuff situated. I got to see both my dad's brothers yesterday, which was nice. Usually I only get to see them the one time I'm up here every year; now I'm just a short drive away from both of them. I've yet to go into the city because of all the logistics I have to take care of, but I had to turn down an opportunity to see Shakespeare in the Park yesterday, which was a total bummer. But I'm hoping to attempt getting a ticket this week, which means I'll probably have to get in line at Central Park by 8 am.
I have an appointment at a bartending school in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, which I'm looking forward to. Hopefully it will be a good setup and I can try my hand at mixology. This place also professes to have really good job placement, which is nice. Oddly enough, though, they didn't tell me anything about tuition, deferring the topic until my appointment. That kind of gave me a weird feeling. But hopefully things will work out.
I drove up here on Friday with my dad in a big-ass white Ford cargo van we rented, which we literally packed to the brim with my furniture, clothes, and other personal effects. It was a sheer miracle that we fit all that stuff into the van. It made me think about how much stuff I actually have, and how much of it I actually need. I did a good bit of purging before leaving Virginia, sorting out old clothes to donate to charity, but I still feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of crap I own.
Things have been pretty chaotic here at my grandmother's house for the past couple of days, what with my stuff strewn everywhere and the effort to get all my stuff situated. I got to see both my dad's brothers yesterday, which was nice. Usually I only get to see them the one time I'm up here every year; now I'm just a short drive away from both of them. I've yet to go into the city because of all the logistics I have to take care of, but I had to turn down an opportunity to see Shakespeare in the Park yesterday, which was a total bummer. But I'm hoping to attempt getting a ticket this week, which means I'll probably have to get in line at Central Park by 8 am.
I have an appointment at a bartending school in Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon, which I'm looking forward to. Hopefully it will be a good setup and I can try my hand at mixology. This place also professes to have really good job placement, which is nice. Oddly enough, though, they didn't tell me anything about tuition, deferring the topic until my appointment. That kind of gave me a weird feeling. But hopefully things will work out.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
So I'm finally back in Richmond, and right now it is thundering like crazy. There have been a couple of instances when the thunder has actually made the house vibrate. I like a thunderstorm as much as the next guy, but honestly, this is a little excessive.
My whole family is together once again, since my dad flew in last night from Phoenix. Just in time, too, because today is my mom's birthday. (Happy birthday Mom!) I'm glad we're all together, since that doesn't happen much these days, but right now our little house is too packed with people and stuff for me. I'm not one to get claustrophobic, but the diminishing personal space is starting to get to me. As much as it stinks that I won't get to be with both my parents and my brother for very long, it will be nice to have the entire basement to myself at my grandmother's.
I am not looking forward to all the packing and arranging that need to be done in preparation for my move. Honestly, the logistics of moving are much harder for me than the whole readjustment of my life part: packing, transporting, unpacking, and setting up...I shudder just thinking about it. But at the same time, it's nice because while it is technically a "new place," it's home. My grandparents' house is the only permanent home I've known my whole life. And of course, I'm going to be in New York. Being in DC (or at least in the immediate outlying area) this weekend made me remember how much I miss all the incredible things you have access to when you live in a major metropolitan area: mass transit, endless things to do, great food, and culture coming out your ears.
I think I'm going to spend the first few weeks just getting settled in, finding a survival job (bartending still looks interesting), and hopefully seeing a lot of theatre. I'm also looking at taking an acting class or two at HB Studio over the summer, and fortunately they're not terribly expensive. I'm also really excited about getting in touch with all my friends who are up there now.
All right, I have an early dentist appointment in the morning, and my brother's trying to talk me into breakfast at McDonald's, so I'll sign off. 'Night, all.
My whole family is together once again, since my dad flew in last night from Phoenix. Just in time, too, because today is my mom's birthday. (Happy birthday Mom!) I'm glad we're all together, since that doesn't happen much these days, but right now our little house is too packed with people and stuff for me. I'm not one to get claustrophobic, but the diminishing personal space is starting to get to me. As much as it stinks that I won't get to be with both my parents and my brother for very long, it will be nice to have the entire basement to myself at my grandmother's.
I am not looking forward to all the packing and arranging that need to be done in preparation for my move. Honestly, the logistics of moving are much harder for me than the whole readjustment of my life part: packing, transporting, unpacking, and setting up...I shudder just thinking about it. But at the same time, it's nice because while it is technically a "new place," it's home. My grandparents' house is the only permanent home I've known my whole life. And of course, I'm going to be in New York. Being in DC (or at least in the immediate outlying area) this weekend made me remember how much I miss all the incredible things you have access to when you live in a major metropolitan area: mass transit, endless things to do, great food, and culture coming out your ears.
I think I'm going to spend the first few weeks just getting settled in, finding a survival job (bartending still looks interesting), and hopefully seeing a lot of theatre. I'm also looking at taking an acting class or two at HB Studio over the summer, and fortunately they're not terribly expensive. I'm also really excited about getting in touch with all my friends who are up there now.
All right, I have an early dentist appointment in the morning, and my brother's trying to talk me into breakfast at McDonald's, so I'll sign off. 'Night, all.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Taking the Nation's Capital by Storm
It has been a whirlwind of craziness since I rolled into DC yesterday evening. My friend Jessica has an incredible apartment right near DC in Arlington, lives steps away from a Metro stop, and possesses a wealth of knowledge about Washington and the surrounding area, so I've been quite busy. Last night was relatively tame, as all we did was eat at Chipotle and drive around so Jessica could show me her close proximity to all the sights of the nation's capital, except that it was very foggy and I couldn't quite see said sights. However, this did give me the opportunity to ride around in her sweet new car, an electric blue Honda Fit, which I have eloquently dubbed "The Blue Meanie," in the fashion of her old bright teal Civic, which I had named "The Green Lantern."
Today was much busier and more eventful. For some reason, I felt a desire to go to the mothership of American consumerism that is Tysons Corner, so we went there and browsed, and we got a special key of Jessica's apartment made for her boyfriend: it has an illustration of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown on it. Classic. We then went to lunch at Jason's Deli, which I had never been to before, but I really like it. They advertised it as one of the healthiest restaurants in America, and I buy it (except for the delicious and free soft serve they peddle to unsuspecting patrons). We then got Coke slurpees at 7-Eleven (a pastime of ours) and went back to her apartment, where we poured liquor into them and, fittingly, watched Animal House, which I had never seen. (Understandable why it's a "classic," but being a judgmental theatre person I was quite underwhelmed.)
Then, we went to see the Washington Nationals play the good ol' New York Mets with Jessica's friend Laura, which turned out to be a much more expensive proposition than we had anticipated. First off, the game was a "premium game," which automatically meant ticket prices were higher; on top of that, the ticket machine we went to wouldn't let us buy the seats in the $20 section like we wanted, so we ended up getting $33 tickets in left field, which was nice and less painful for me because Jessica put them all on her credit card for convenience's sake. I then proceeded to spend over $21 on ballpark food and potables, which I know is extortion, but at the same time, you want the authentic experience when you go to a baseball game, so you gotta pay the price. I tell ya, these guys know how to screw you. And while I did take pleasure in the number of Mets jerseys I saw at the park, I was disappointed by the Mets (as one can depend on) in the 7-1 spanking the Nats served them--but Jessica was elated that her traditionally awful Nats won, so I felt some iota of happiness for her.
The three of us then went to a bar near U Street in DC called The Black Squirrel, where we had delicious macaroni and cheese and got up the nerve to try absinthe. This was probably my worst and most expensive decision of the night--$12 for a vile licorice-flavored concoction that I ended up needing to chase with ketchup from the bottle sitting on our table. Jessica was crazy enough to get a second, but Laura and I moved on to beer to save ourselves from more misery. The bar had really good rock music from the '90s playing, which was nice; a good time was had by all.
Now it is late and I need to go to bed. (And get away from technology--I've been Twittering via text message all day. Sometimes I loathe myself.) But tomorrow we're sojourning to Old Town Alexandria, amongst other adventures. More updates to come later...
Today was much busier and more eventful. For some reason, I felt a desire to go to the mothership of American consumerism that is Tysons Corner, so we went there and browsed, and we got a special key of Jessica's apartment made for her boyfriend: it has an illustration of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown on it. Classic. We then went to lunch at Jason's Deli, which I had never been to before, but I really like it. They advertised it as one of the healthiest restaurants in America, and I buy it (except for the delicious and free soft serve they peddle to unsuspecting patrons). We then got Coke slurpees at 7-Eleven (a pastime of ours) and went back to her apartment, where we poured liquor into them and, fittingly, watched Animal House, which I had never seen. (Understandable why it's a "classic," but being a judgmental theatre person I was quite underwhelmed.)
Then, we went to see the Washington Nationals play the good ol' New York Mets with Jessica's friend Laura, which turned out to be a much more expensive proposition than we had anticipated. First off, the game was a "premium game," which automatically meant ticket prices were higher; on top of that, the ticket machine we went to wouldn't let us buy the seats in the $20 section like we wanted, so we ended up getting $33 tickets in left field, which was nice and less painful for me because Jessica put them all on her credit card for convenience's sake. I then proceeded to spend over $21 on ballpark food and potables, which I know is extortion, but at the same time, you want the authentic experience when you go to a baseball game, so you gotta pay the price. I tell ya, these guys know how to screw you. And while I did take pleasure in the number of Mets jerseys I saw at the park, I was disappointed by the Mets (as one can depend on) in the 7-1 spanking the Nats served them--but Jessica was elated that her traditionally awful Nats won, so I felt some iota of happiness for her.
The three of us then went to a bar near U Street in DC called The Black Squirrel, where we had delicious macaroni and cheese and got up the nerve to try absinthe. This was probably my worst and most expensive decision of the night--$12 for a vile licorice-flavored concoction that I ended up needing to chase with ketchup from the bottle sitting on our table. Jessica was crazy enough to get a second, but Laura and I moved on to beer to save ourselves from more misery. The bar had really good rock music from the '90s playing, which was nice; a good time was had by all.
Now it is late and I need to go to bed. (And get away from technology--I've been Twittering via text message all day. Sometimes I loathe myself.) But tomorrow we're sojourning to Old Town Alexandria, amongst other adventures. More updates to come later...
Thursday, June 4, 2009
They Call Me the Working Man
Finally I have finished this obscene envelope-stuffing project at my mom's company. Since last Friday afternoon I have been folding papers, shoving them into envelopes, running them through an automatic postage meter, and leaving them by the crate for the mailman to pick up, and now it's over. What was the mailing for, you ask? For a cruise that the company is hosting for current and prospective members of the medical practice, which may or may not happen depending on how many people register, and which may or may not bring the company any revenue. I swear, I don't understand the business world. If I had my way, we'd just barter for everything.
I also found out today that I won't be moving to New York until next Friday, rather than Thursday. We couldn't rent a cargo van for Thursday, so the move is happening a day later. This is a bummer for me because 1) I'm antsy and want to get there already; 2) that's one more day I'll have to wait for my glorious MacBook (I had it shipped to NY in the event it takes a while to arrive); and 3) it's going to mean sitting in Friday evening traffic in the New York metro area. That last reason alone is enough to make you want to put a bullet between your eyes.
I suppose I shouldn't complain, though, as there's a lot of good things on the horizon. For example, my uncle's TV-producer girlfriend has a lot of friends in the LAByrinth Theatre Company, and she's taking me to a "throwdown" of short plays they're hosting, followed by a party at which I'm hoping to hobnob with the likes of Stephen Adly Guirgis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Eric Bogosian, John Patrick Shanley, and (God willing) Philip Seymour Hoffman. With the exception of Bogosian, it seems you have to have three names to be a LAB member. While associating with LAB in any way is beyond cool, I don't think I could handle being "Harrison James Gibbons." My name reeks (erroneously) of rich Southern white boy enough as it is.
For any artists out there who happen to be reading this, I highly recommend you read "Letters to a Young Artist" by Anna Deavere Smith if you haven't done so already. I brought it to work today to read on my lunch break, and it was a great liberation from the corporate vampirism I've dealt with for the last week. I've been fairly crippled lately by anxiety over feasibly making a living and career as an actor (and at a very inconvenient time, if I say so myself); while Smith's book hasn't quite assuaged those fears for me, it is very refreshing and, dare I say, inspiring--it has even given me a lot to think about in regards to the value of art and why we artists do the work we do. As for the professional side of things, I know deep down that I have a lifetime to worry about that, and I learn by doing, so it's pointless for me to get worked up about it before I'm even there.
If you happen to be reading this and are in New York, first let me say thanks--you lend a little bit of legitimacy to this endeavor of mine. (Thanks also if you're not in New York, I just said that because I'm getting to a point.) Secondly, if you are an actor, some other kind of artist, or someone who sees the world just a little differently and doesn't evaluate everything exclusively with a consumer's eye, please let me know: New York is a big mean city, and everyone needs friends in a place like that--I know I will.
I also found out today that I won't be moving to New York until next Friday, rather than Thursday. We couldn't rent a cargo van for Thursday, so the move is happening a day later. This is a bummer for me because 1) I'm antsy and want to get there already; 2) that's one more day I'll have to wait for my glorious MacBook (I had it shipped to NY in the event it takes a while to arrive); and 3) it's going to mean sitting in Friday evening traffic in the New York metro area. That last reason alone is enough to make you want to put a bullet between your eyes.
I suppose I shouldn't complain, though, as there's a lot of good things on the horizon. For example, my uncle's TV-producer girlfriend has a lot of friends in the LAByrinth Theatre Company, and she's taking me to a "throwdown" of short plays they're hosting, followed by a party at which I'm hoping to hobnob with the likes of Stephen Adly Guirgis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Eric Bogosian, John Patrick Shanley, and (God willing) Philip Seymour Hoffman. With the exception of Bogosian, it seems you have to have three names to be a LAB member. While associating with LAB in any way is beyond cool, I don't think I could handle being "Harrison James Gibbons." My name reeks (erroneously) of rich Southern white boy enough as it is.
For any artists out there who happen to be reading this, I highly recommend you read "Letters to a Young Artist" by Anna Deavere Smith if you haven't done so already. I brought it to work today to read on my lunch break, and it was a great liberation from the corporate vampirism I've dealt with for the last week. I've been fairly crippled lately by anxiety over feasibly making a living and career as an actor (and at a very inconvenient time, if I say so myself); while Smith's book hasn't quite assuaged those fears for me, it is very refreshing and, dare I say, inspiring--it has even given me a lot to think about in regards to the value of art and why we artists do the work we do. As for the professional side of things, I know deep down that I have a lifetime to worry about that, and I learn by doing, so it's pointless for me to get worked up about it before I'm even there.
If you happen to be reading this and are in New York, first let me say thanks--you lend a little bit of legitimacy to this endeavor of mine. (Thanks also if you're not in New York, I just said that because I'm getting to a point.) Secondly, if you are an actor, some other kind of artist, or someone who sees the world just a little differently and doesn't evaluate everything exclusively with a consumer's eye, please let me know: New York is a big mean city, and everyone needs friends in a place like that--I know I will.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
500 Words or Less
I’m keeping this entry short, and am imposing a word limit on myself for that purpose. Go!
I just ordered a new MacBook, really excited. My aunt works for Apple and she scored me a discount. Say what you will about Apple and their products, it’s better than the cruddy Dell laptop I have now.
I’ve spent most of the last week working in my mom’s office, getting paid to stuff envelopes. The pay is pretty good, especially for such a simple task, but eight hours a day of this business is enough to drive anyone batty. Fortunately the daughter of one of the doctors in the practice is also on the job, and she’s good company. Turns out she went to my high school, and she was a freshman during my senior year. We’ve had some pretty crazy reminiscences about ol’ Godwin—can’t say I’m nostalgic for that place.
In a couple of days I am taking the train up to DC to visit my friend Jessica for the weekend, which is sure to be fun. I had an epiphany earlier this evening to go see a Nationals game while I’m there, and it turns out she was thinking the same thing! Looks like we’ve got some baseball in our futures. I’m looking forward to checking out their ballpark. I’ve been to Shea Stadium, Chase Field (née Bank One Ballpark), Coors Field, and Jacobs Field, so it’ll be cool to see how the Nats’ house measures up.
I’m still riding the high of flimflamming Brookstone out of $30. I won’t disclose the details, lest Brookstone cops are patrolling my blog, and in actuality no real flimflamming occurred, but the manner in which things went down made it feel kinda like what I imagine a big-time bank heist feels like. (If you think this entire paragraph is just an inside joke for myself, you’re probably right. All I can offer is my use of the word “flimflamming,” now three times in one paragraph.)
A pretty crazy set of thunderstorms just rolled through Richmond a little while ago. Our TV (digital cable, mind you) was cutting in and out a lot, and the whole time my mom, my brother and I were scouring our house to find one of our cats. Turns out he was hanging out under my mom’s bed the whole time. Go figure. In the meantime, I had fun with my cat Daisy, throwing an empty thing of Mentos Gum around for her to chase and bat at with her paw. Ah, the simple pleasures of life.
(Looks like I’m coming in under my limit. Less on my mind this time, I guess. But just you wait…..)
I just ordered a new MacBook, really excited. My aunt works for Apple and she scored me a discount. Say what you will about Apple and their products, it’s better than the cruddy Dell laptop I have now.
I’ve spent most of the last week working in my mom’s office, getting paid to stuff envelopes. The pay is pretty good, especially for such a simple task, but eight hours a day of this business is enough to drive anyone batty. Fortunately the daughter of one of the doctors in the practice is also on the job, and she’s good company. Turns out she went to my high school, and she was a freshman during my senior year. We’ve had some pretty crazy reminiscences about ol’ Godwin—can’t say I’m nostalgic for that place.
In a couple of days I am taking the train up to DC to visit my friend Jessica for the weekend, which is sure to be fun. I had an epiphany earlier this evening to go see a Nationals game while I’m there, and it turns out she was thinking the same thing! Looks like we’ve got some baseball in our futures. I’m looking forward to checking out their ballpark. I’ve been to Shea Stadium, Chase Field (née Bank One Ballpark), Coors Field, and Jacobs Field, so it’ll be cool to see how the Nats’ house measures up.
I’m still riding the high of flimflamming Brookstone out of $30. I won’t disclose the details, lest Brookstone cops are patrolling my blog, and in actuality no real flimflamming occurred, but the manner in which things went down made it feel kinda like what I imagine a big-time bank heist feels like. (If you think this entire paragraph is just an inside joke for myself, you’re probably right. All I can offer is my use of the word “flimflamming,” now three times in one paragraph.)
A pretty crazy set of thunderstorms just rolled through Richmond a little while ago. Our TV (digital cable, mind you) was cutting in and out a lot, and the whole time my mom, my brother and I were scouring our house to find one of our cats. Turns out he was hanging out under my mom’s bed the whole time. Go figure. In the meantime, I had fun with my cat Daisy, throwing an empty thing of Mentos Gum around for her to chase and bat at with her paw. Ah, the simple pleasures of life.
(Looks like I’m coming in under my limit. Less on my mind this time, I guess. But just you wait…..)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Another Venture in Blogging
I must confess from the outset that I'm very bad at journaling of any type, particularly blogging. (Even though I only had a blog once, and that was briefly before I started college.) I think it requires a kind of discipline that I have not yet developed, as well as a willingness to recount things that have happened recently, which entails reliving them. Though I probably dwell on the past as much as the next person, something in me doesn't like inhabiting it enough to write about it. Something to investigate and challenge, I suppose.
It's just now hit me that I'm moving to New York in just a little over a week. I have quite a bit to take care of before the big day arrives, and even more to take care of once I get there. Just a heads-up, I will be getting a new phone number soon after I get to New York, so keep eyes open for that. Also toward the top of my to-do list is to find a "survival" job to provide me with an income while I'm auditioning and presumably not getting paid to act (though I hope that's not the case). I'm looking for something with flexible scheduling that can give me some kind of interaction with people, so I've been looking at the possibility of cell phone retail sales or *gasp* working at one of those glitzy, slick Apple stores. But I'm not sure I want to be pushing people to buy lots of electronic gadgets that might preclude them from finding other things to engage themselves with, like reading a book or even, if you can imagine it, seeing a play!
There is one thing, however, that fits the bill, and involves something I condone: alcohol. Though to some it might be misery, I think I would really enjoy bartending. I've wanted to learn more about drink mixing and different kinds of alcohol (particularly wine, which I don't drink), and bartending is totally flexible and quite lucrative, from what I understand. Oh well, another possibility to explore.
A discussion with my mom last night, sparked by the horrible shooting of George Tiller, brought about a lot of realizations for me: though America once was, I believe, a Christian nation, our culture no longer has a common set of values born out of a particular faith, as Americans did in 1776, and for me to push my faith-based ideas on people through legislation is 1) wrong and 2) fruitless. I value the sanctity of life, and though I'm not sure, I think I might be pro-life in regard to the abortion debate (in the same way I oppose capital punishment), but I am in no place to judge another person's situation: who am I to say that a woman absolutely must keep an unwanted pregnancy, no matter what? Instead, I think it's more important to acknowledge the right of others to make their own decisions and, more importantly, to love them regardless.
I have been reading a book called "The Year of Living Biblically" by Esquire Magazine writer A.J. Jacobs, in which he sought to spend a year following the commands of the Bible as literally as possible. It's a great read, everyone should check it out. One of the questions he has stumbled over in the process, particularly once he begins to focus on the New Testament, is whether to follow the letter of the law (i.e., not to touch a woman who is menstruating and, therefore, "impure") or to obey instead the overarching spirit of the law (i.e., to accept a handshake or a hug from a potentially "impure" woman). I think my aforementioned realization was spurred on by considering Jacobs's question: is it more important for me to embrace God's divine plan for every human life from conception until death, or is it more important to have empathy for a suffering person and to love them in their pain? In the case when such a person does not know Christ, I think the overwhelming answer is to love them. It makes no sense to me to ask, require, or legislate someone to act according to a value system which they do not embrace; it's as if you asked me to write a new translation of "The Odyssey," but I don't know how to read ancient Greek. I think the power of God's Spirit is the only power which enables people to act in accordance with His command.
Talking with my mom also got me thinking about other things: worshipping idols vs. worshipping God, and what it really means to follow God wholeheartedly. There are a few big mountains I am climbing in my life right now, one of which is obviously the process of moving to New York and fighting for my right to be a working actor, and another which I have discussed with only a few people but is just as daunting. Wanting to certainty in my life so badly, it is hard for me to not have anxiety about the future and to create scenarios in my head of what I desire or fear coming to pass for me. I think the hardest thing for me in my walk with God is to trust that He knows the way, and that His way is the best way, even if I can't see what the road looks like up ahead. If you read this and you believe, please pray that I would surrender completely to God and serve Him wholeheartedly, trusting that his rewards are better than anything I can fathom for myself.
Argh! See, this is why I don't journal--this is the kind of heavy stuff that I inevitably end up writing, and I'm sure it's not half as hard to write as it is to read.
I'll conclude with some more upbeat things--I'm going up to DC this weekend to see my friend Jessica, and I'm quite excited for it. Also, I'm not a big movie-goer, but I really want to see "Up" soon, and I hear "Star Trek" is good, and I heard about Sam Mendes's new movie, "Away We Go," with John Krasinski from "The Office," and I think I'd like to see that too. I just hope that, being in New York as of a week from now, seeing all these movies doesn't drive me into poverty.
It's just now hit me that I'm moving to New York in just a little over a week. I have quite a bit to take care of before the big day arrives, and even more to take care of once I get there. Just a heads-up, I will be getting a new phone number soon after I get to New York, so keep eyes open for that. Also toward the top of my to-do list is to find a "survival" job to provide me with an income while I'm auditioning and presumably not getting paid to act (though I hope that's not the case). I'm looking for something with flexible scheduling that can give me some kind of interaction with people, so I've been looking at the possibility of cell phone retail sales or *gasp* working at one of those glitzy, slick Apple stores. But I'm not sure I want to be pushing people to buy lots of electronic gadgets that might preclude them from finding other things to engage themselves with, like reading a book or even, if you can imagine it, seeing a play!
There is one thing, however, that fits the bill, and involves something I condone: alcohol. Though to some it might be misery, I think I would really enjoy bartending. I've wanted to learn more about drink mixing and different kinds of alcohol (particularly wine, which I don't drink), and bartending is totally flexible and quite lucrative, from what I understand. Oh well, another possibility to explore.
A discussion with my mom last night, sparked by the horrible shooting of George Tiller, brought about a lot of realizations for me: though America once was, I believe, a Christian nation, our culture no longer has a common set of values born out of a particular faith, as Americans did in 1776, and for me to push my faith-based ideas on people through legislation is 1) wrong and 2) fruitless. I value the sanctity of life, and though I'm not sure, I think I might be pro-life in regard to the abortion debate (in the same way I oppose capital punishment), but I am in no place to judge another person's situation: who am I to say that a woman absolutely must keep an unwanted pregnancy, no matter what? Instead, I think it's more important to acknowledge the right of others to make their own decisions and, more importantly, to love them regardless.
I have been reading a book called "The Year of Living Biblically" by Esquire Magazine writer A.J. Jacobs, in which he sought to spend a year following the commands of the Bible as literally as possible. It's a great read, everyone should check it out. One of the questions he has stumbled over in the process, particularly once he begins to focus on the New Testament, is whether to follow the letter of the law (i.e., not to touch a woman who is menstruating and, therefore, "impure") or to obey instead the overarching spirit of the law (i.e., to accept a handshake or a hug from a potentially "impure" woman). I think my aforementioned realization was spurred on by considering Jacobs's question: is it more important for me to embrace God's divine plan for every human life from conception until death, or is it more important to have empathy for a suffering person and to love them in their pain? In the case when such a person does not know Christ, I think the overwhelming answer is to love them. It makes no sense to me to ask, require, or legislate someone to act according to a value system which they do not embrace; it's as if you asked me to write a new translation of "The Odyssey," but I don't know how to read ancient Greek. I think the power of God's Spirit is the only power which enables people to act in accordance with His command.
Talking with my mom also got me thinking about other things: worshipping idols vs. worshipping God, and what it really means to follow God wholeheartedly. There are a few big mountains I am climbing in my life right now, one of which is obviously the process of moving to New York and fighting for my right to be a working actor, and another which I have discussed with only a few people but is just as daunting. Wanting to certainty in my life so badly, it is hard for me to not have anxiety about the future and to create scenarios in my head of what I desire or fear coming to pass for me. I think the hardest thing for me in my walk with God is to trust that He knows the way, and that His way is the best way, even if I can't see what the road looks like up ahead. If you read this and you believe, please pray that I would surrender completely to God and serve Him wholeheartedly, trusting that his rewards are better than anything I can fathom for myself.
Argh! See, this is why I don't journal--this is the kind of heavy stuff that I inevitably end up writing, and I'm sure it's not half as hard to write as it is to read.
I'll conclude with some more upbeat things--I'm going up to DC this weekend to see my friend Jessica, and I'm quite excited for it. Also, I'm not a big movie-goer, but I really want to see "Up" soon, and I hear "Star Trek" is good, and I heard about Sam Mendes's new movie, "Away We Go," with John Krasinski from "The Office," and I think I'd like to see that too. I just hope that, being in New York as of a week from now, seeing all these movies doesn't drive me into poverty.
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