A Day on the Slopes

hello all you people!

 

 Its Jorne for another Thursday writing. Today what the five of us are doing is skiing. Now, today is our one day we have off in a while. We go to Blue Mountain in Cherryville. Even though it is our so- called day off we are still in the grind of creating our musical, talking about Tarzan that we are producing this summer, and other stuff along those lines. Just because you're not in your average work place doesn't mean you can't get stuff done. Don't get me wrong, I don't really want to think about this stuff 24/7, but if I don't who will make it happen?!. So you gotta do the things you don't want to do, to reach your final goal.

Something that always keeps me going is the fact that there is always someone who is working harder than me, and if I sit back and don't try my hardest at all times, then I am gonna fail just because someone else did it first. I know this isn't the most positive way to think, but really it's the truth and the faster you accept that the faster you will reach the goal your striving for. Yeah, I had to get pretty deep there for a minute, but I just thought it was pretty necessary.

So, for some reason we always wait until the mountain is about to close for the year then cram all our days into a few weeks. This is fun sometimes, but it gets really tiring cuz we are playing lacrosse and after we ski we have to go to practice.

Yeah, some say I'm crazy for that, but that's my life - I never have the chance for a break... I gotta keep on pushing until I can't anymore and that's something that I do because I coulcn't live with myself if I didn't. Of course, I don't like it sometimes but the highs from this lifestyle far outweigh the lows for me.

 OK. That's all for the day. Enjoy! I gotta get back on the slopes!!!

Going APE!!!!

   So as you guys know we are doing Tarzan this summer! I am uber exited!!! We had never seen Tarzan on stage before so we looked on MTI's website to see if there was a showing of it anywhere near us before July...and we found one!:) Albeit it was 2 hours away, but we all still really wanted to go.

 

   The show was at Wyalusing High School, which is a pretty small school in a pretty small town kind of in the middle of nowhere. But it was funny because Jewel and Jorne had played a football game there this past season. We won haha. Anyway, the show was very well done (we were all happy that that 2 hour drive wasn't for naught.) The set was what first caught our eyes; it looked like a large rock with a cave like opening and a couple different levels. It was really realistic and it was a good alternative since the space didn't allow for the usual swinging on vines. The cast was able to climb all over and it really helped to create levels, and from the audience it made the stage look alot larger than it actually was. We got to look at everything up close after the show and saw how it was made. The rock structure was made with wood and risers covered in painted burlap... it was a simple yet very effective idea.

 

   They did their best to copy the costumes from Broadway. Now, I am not particularly a fan of the Broadway gorilla costumes, but Wyalusing did a good job of making them look similar.

The talent wasn't amazing, but it was by no means poor. They were all capable of playing the parts and they did very well. I was especially impressed with the harmonies. The leads all have multiple songs with not easy harmonies, and it sounded like everyone in the cast knew exactly what they were supposed to be singing and when. It was obviously something they worked on and it really showed!

Overall we were impressed and very glad we went! After the show we spent awhile talking to the director and choreographer and costumer etc. They were all very nice and flattered that we came. It was great to talk to them about where they got some of their ideas and how they executed them. It is always nice when you find people that are willing to share their experience with you and offer any help or advice that they might have. They let us take pictures of the set and are even letting us borrow the burlap!

 

   If I was excited to do this show before I don't even know what I am now!!!

 

Awesome Update.....!@#@#$@$#%!#$%

 

I've got a few updates for you all. I am ecstatic to announce I started a pops cello ensemble at Easton High School. We will take our favorite songs, arrange and mash them up to create some beautiful music.

 

While I've been arranging this stuff alot of ideas have poured into my head concerning Sing For America. We are going to pick some of our favorite oldies, mash them with our new favorites, arrange and perform them at our shows in an A Capella fashion but with cello and percussion accompaniment. I can't wait to get them done.

Also --- we just finished writing the villain's song for my section of our original musical! All of us did it together in an hour. It felt great accomplishing it like that and it came out awesome! It has a feel of The Other Side from The Princess and the Frog.  Excited about premiering it, Jorne sings lead.

 

Lacrosse started and it has just been a blast. Probably one of the hardest things I've done, and the rewards will be epic. We play Southern Lehigh today, should be a good game - it is a good test for us. Finally, wearing those Easton colors feels right and the environment is exceptional. Sad it is now my senior year, but happy I'm getting to experience it, and the chance to wear the red white and black can't be replaced!

Our Beginnings...

   

   Ok, time to get back on track. We've been so busy lately that last week I forgot to post something! I was ashamed of myself.. smh. But this week I'm back and with a topic very near and dear to my heart. That topic is... DANCING!
    I, (we) started out as dancers first. I was the first at age 3 and my sisters followed shortly after. We started out at a dance studio not unlike most dance studios you will encounter and then after a couple years moved to a different kind of a dance school. It was called "Broadway Rhythms" and it's where we learned everything we know today, not only about dancing but about performing.
   We didn't perform recitals like most dance schools, nor were we forced to take a particular level of dance based on our age/grade. We performed on streets at different fairs and festivals, at nursing homes and even inside the Crayola Factory on a number of occasions. We'd perform a variety of dance styles paired with Broadway hits, old standards and popular music. We would also always get the audience involved. We had a couple numbers that our teacher choreographed simply so that we could get some audience members on stage and they could follow along. Our shows weren't just a group of people dancing on stage or on the street, they were an experience for everyone watching.
   The way our teacher (Roger) taught his dancers was also different than most teachers. He would throw whole routines at us in one class and expect us to know it when it's time to perform it. We had no choice but to step up to the plate and train our brains to pick up the steps fast and be ready to perform the dances. This is where we learned our method of teaching. When we teach a dance for one of our productions we don't waste any time. We spend less time teaching so we have more time to run the dance and make it perfect and ready to put on stage. We expect all of our actors to do whatever they can to know what they need to know and be ready to perform it when it's time. If you expect more from your students or cast members they will rise to the occasion and not want to disappoint.
    Roger also taught us how to choreograph. We choreographed our first dances with him and he'd give us tips on what to improve, what to change, what flows. Our current style of choreography  can partly be attributed to the dances we did with Roger. His choreography has a style and stands out from other choreographers. The times when he's seen dances we've choreographed he's said how much he sees essence of his style, which is a compliment! We've taken what we've learned from Roger and morphed it into our own style of dancing which is really neat. People who have worked with us have also told us that we even have different choreography styles from eachother.
     I know I speak for my sisters and brothers when I say how thankful we are to Roger and "Broadway Rhythms" for everything he's taught us and being a part in shaping who we are today as dancers, choreographers and performers. Our methods are ones reason people have told us they enjoy working with us. We've taken all of the experiences we've had over the years in theater and dance and formed a system that is new and different and works for us :)

Until next time..
LEAVE IT ON THE DANCE FLOOR!

    

and so it begins...

     With this Saturday comes the beginning of our summer journey 2014: Tarzan. Being a non-profit organization we completely rely on community support to fund our shows. Sponsorships range from large $2,000 donations, (VERY rare and VERY appreciated haha) to donated space, to merchandise such as paint and supplies, down to just a few cents from the friendly guy who had nothing more left over after his purchases. ALL of this support is the only reason we are able to put on productions at this point. We are growing and thriving, but as a still a very young company we need and are so grateful for every little bit of help. One of our most successful ways of raising funds is scheduling days to come and stand outside of stores such as Wal Mart, Sam's club, Shoprite, etc. and sing. We usually have a great time, inviting some cast members, or if we haven't held auditions yet past cast members, and standing out there all day, singing and collecting donations.

     This Saturday marks our first fundraiser for Tarzan! I'm so excited to really get the ball rolling on this, it's bound to be the best SFA production yet. Now the only reason I am not looking forward to this Saturday's fundraiser is the cold. I do not enjoy the cold one bit, but hopefully it will prompt customers to see us and feel bad... and then be even more generous... haha jk. not really:P. 

     So sometimes we use a fundraiser day for specific sectors such as fabric or set materials, but first thing's first. The rights. So that's what this week is for, to finish raising everything we need to own the rights to actually produce the show... after all no rights, no show. So I suppose it's arguably the most important little detail of the whole shebang...

     As I said before, these fundraisers can be pretty fun, but they are also hard work and we always have some truly wonderful, big hearted helpers to come out and spend some time with us. So shout out to all of you who have ever helped in the past and those of you who are coming on Saturday! You are so important to us and we love you! Thank you and see ya Saturday!

TREADING WATER

  My biggest challenge, and I would contest the greatest difficulty to all who have bought into their dream, is not letting our everyday duties get in the way of our goal. Distracted by the things that have to be done each day. Whether you have a 9-5, have to spend the day in school, or just want to hang out, there are so many 'little' things that we may have to do but don't help us catch our dream. The question is, how do we take care of life's responsibilities while achieving what few others will or want to? I don't really have an answer.
   There are 4 categories of people I would say. 1- those gifted enough to be able to juggle everything in their life while giving up no effort to their calling. 2 -those gifted in another way with the focused determination to cancel out everything that isn't a step on their life's ladder.  3-those with a goal but can't seem to organize their lives enough to make consistent progress.  4-people who ignore their life's purpose and calling. Congratulations to the 1's and 2's!!!..........Most of us fall into the categories of 3 and 4 -_-. Sorry -- it is the truth - let us accept it and move on.
    Personally, I have alot of things going on right now- lacrosse practice everyday, working out for college football, handling the college decision nonsense, EAHS orchestra, starting a cello ensemble, cantoring at Mass, fulfilling my Lenten obligations, writing the script to an original show, writing the music to that same show, planning our Summer show (venue, sponsors, actors, set, artistic vision, rehearsal space, costumes, orchestra, musical director etc.... all for freeeeee), becoming a better singer and dancer, developing new styles of music, developing new styles of dance, Sing For America shows, practicing my cello, I am in Pirates of the Carobbean, I am also in my church's Passion Play, family duties like visiting Grandma and the feedin' dogs, oh yeah and I'm in high school!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

This is how alot of your schedules look.

My first reaction is cut everything that is clutter, but to me none of it is. Sports are integral to me, cello is invaluable to my musical development, and God comes 1st. I guess the answer is to not waste a minute -  to sacrifice TV, sleep, and pleasantries. To have an unquenchable fire. To schedule your 'free' time like a job. Figure out your limits then make the hard decisions of what must go and nix that from the schedule. This is easier said then done obviously as I still haven't successfully done it.

  I will say though that a big problem for most of you is that you don't want to make sacrifice for the things you dream about at night. The kid who doesn't go to parties because he is working, the kid who keeps his nose clean so as not to jeopardize his work, and the kid who won't take part in the social maneuvers of his peers is not going to be the most popular kid. Some will revere him while others despise or ignore - some even thinks he thinks better of himself. The same goes for the workplace, adults are even worse; hating what they refuse to be.

                                                Organize Your Life Checklist
1.PRAY
2.Have a goal
3.Commit yourself to it
4.Schedule your day,week,month,year
5.Cancel the things out of your life that don't fit (make sure faith, family, and community never          suffer. They are #1)
6.Become ostracised
7.Sleep well at night knowing you did all you could today

What Makes a Good Show Part 2

     Yesterday Jorne got off to a great basic start on what he as an audience member sees as important to a musical. I'd like to expand on that a little, doing my best to speak from a slightly objectively of view; to speak with the voice of the many audiences I've observed, sat with, and performed for in all my time spent with the stage, reason being, I know that I'm a bit more particular and nit pick-y than your average theatre goer. I'm following Jorne's format and expanding so read his first. Now, first thing's first:

 

MUSIC and SCRIPT- in other words material. Of course the material is important but what's even more important is the heart. As I manage to say in one way or another in almost every post, the point of theatre is to feel. We come watch a show to see a story and escape into it; to relate to characters and come to love them; to learn, to be enlightened through human emotion, through heart and soul. So if a story speaks to you but it isn't that well written, that's ok. The heart of it is bound to speak to someone else too. The exact material is not the end all be all, but only if the talent is so phenomenal that what lacks is able to be overcome through the ability of the actors to tell the story. The majority of an audience won't be so quick to notice a too repetitive melody if the voice is like butter and the eyes are deep but bright; they won't notice an unnatural line if it's delivered with natural attitude and purpose. Make sense?

 

ACTORS- things an average audience notices without noticing are often the most important. #1 chemistry. A show can have brilliant actors but if they don't melt together they'll never create a brilliant show. Chemistry is important. #2 clarity. If the audience can't understand everything that's being said/sung their mind is busy filling in the blanks themselves... never good. #3 vulnerability. In order for an actor to not only become a character, but become one one who lets the audience be a part of his life, one must be open, one must bare himself. Even if he is playing a thick skinned, guarded character, he cannot become him without first baring himself. The smallest reticence will show under the lights.

 

PIT- Our choir director taught us exactly what it meant to accompany a singer/singers. She also spoiled us. I have now worked with and listened to far too many musicians, ranging from one accompanist to a full orchestra who play to their own rhythm. An orchestra and a cast must work together. When both are running like machines turned on at the same time, it is just not the same as performing as one. No one should ever be operating like a machine. If an audience wanted to hear a machine they would play a CD, not pay to hear it live.

 

COSTUMES- As jorne said, color is important. Color scheme is what lies behind that. As a costume designer that is the very first thing most of us do: decide on a color scheme. It must convey the emotion and set the tone of the show, as a whole and then scene by scene. Exact accuracy in period is not as important as the way the entire stage looks as a whole. Pay attention to certain stereotypes and exaggerate certain things and the audience will not know the difference. Even if they do, they would rather look at a beautiful picture than an accurate picture. To achieve this the actors must look good in their costumes. They need to fit. Well. Accentuate good attributes. And finishing is vital. Trims, buttons, hair, shoes, all the little details play a large role in the final picture.

 

MOVEMENT- Jorne didn't get to this yesterday but I'll just touch on it anyway. Movement, meaning everything from blocking to full out company dance numbers, well naturally moves the show along. A director/ choreographer must be careful to place actors so that no matter where you sit, throughout the show you'll get to know everyone. Dancing keeps a show alive, it must enhance and build emotion, it must keep the audience interested and fascinated and help tell the story; help better acquaint us with the characters. If it doesn't do all of this they shouldn't be dancing at all. End of story.

 

     All right so I could continue... and I will eventually... but not tonight. Tonight remember some good and bad shows you've seen and try to pinpoint what made them so. See if anything Jorne or I said contributed. And next time you see a musical, watch it with all of this in mind. Figure out what's most important to you when watching a show, believe it or not that will reveal just a little more about yourself to yourself.

 

Goodnight, Loves!

What Makes A Good Show?

     

     Hello everyone! I thought I might leave you in the dark for two weeks in a row to see how much you really wanted to hear from this guy, and I know you want to so I'm gonna write one this week. I want to write about what to me makes a musical great (at least this is what makes it for me, you all might have different opinions.)
      Lets start from the top, THE MUSIC: This is actually the most important part the a musical for me hence the reason why it is called a musical for.... music. It's hard to describe what makes music good but I'm gonna take a whack at it so here goes. Personally I enjoy many types of music so that's not a big deal. So what I look for is for it to be exciting at some points but it also needs to have its softer moments too, which provides variety and keeps you anxiously waiting for the peek. Those moments are what make a show for me, it makes me sit on the edge of my seat the whole show to see what else it brings.
      THE SCRIPT: For me the script doesn't really effect my opinion of the show until it ruins the show. It will  never be the first thing I notice but at the end it will really make it or break it. Although I don't pay much attention to it I'm sure others do but I can't speak for them so I'm just not gonna.
      ACTORS: Now a lot of people get caught up in "you have to look like the part you are gonna play" and I believe that is BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK BUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are the best singer/actor/dancer that auditions for the show you deserve the role no matter what you look like. That means that a black girl can play one of the little children in the sound of music. It doesn't matter what you look like, if  you can make the audience feel the role then that's all that matters. And the same goes the other way, a white girl can play Aida if she can sing the notes and sound good doing it. I don't care, just do the part justice and you're fine.
      PIT ORCHESTRA: This is really important to me because I am a musician myself and I just really love to hear good music being played live. The fact is, without a pit I'm not saying you can't have a good show but for me it adds a hidden element that nothing else can recreate. So if you ever have the choice, pit or not, go with a pit you will be happy later on I promise.
     COSTUMES: This is a part of the show that can really kill you or make you sore into the sky with an amazing show (I'm just noticing that every part of the show is really freakin important so so far you kinda need to do everything right to have a chance at a great show.) I like colors on the stage, things that make my eyes pop, so I mean I'm kinda a child so that's just what I like, but to each his own... right? Anyway, I need there to be attention paid to detail or I don't want to see your costumes. Not in an intricate way but you need to have people in the right costumes at the right time and finish every detail from hair to what should be on your feet. That will make the show for me.
     Something that is legit the most important thing to me is what the actors look like on stage. Not that that really has anything to do with the show, it is just the look of either excitement or if the actors are totally drained and don't care and don't want to be there anymore. This is the most important to me because if the actors don't care but are extremely talented I would rather see the show of untalented actors who care and are giving it there all. These are the things that make a show great, that is what I would want to see! Everyone please comment. Thanks!

We're Writing A Show!!!!!!

   For those of you out there who know us we might have told you that we are writing our own musical! We have been working on it for a little while now and I think its coming along well:) Here is a little bit of our process.

  

   A good chunk of the show is separated into five parts, so after we came up with the general concept and outline we split up and started writing alone. There are basically five stories within a story so we each picked our favorite theme? and went with it! All of our stories have their own kind of gimmick that we created so that nothing got monotonous or boring. For example, Taryn's is told entirely through dance. 

  

   As each of us was ready we presented our story to the rest of the group. The story was then critiqued and the person was given help if they were stuck or anything. I know, for my story, I was having a hard time just getting started because I was never fully satisfied with the original outline that we came up with; I couldn't help but feel like it was missing something. We tried to add things and change little aspects but it just wasn't right. In the end Jewel an Jorne helped me come up with a whole different storyline and then I was finally able to get somewhere with it. Sometimes that is the best option when someone is stuck on anything...just scratch the whole thing and start over. It seems hard and really just irritating to practically throw away all of the hard work you already put into it just because of one little problem but in all reality, alot of times it winds up being a whole lot better than the original! It also happens often that there are parts of each version that work really well and then one is able to pick and choose and get the best of both! 

   

   We are now up to the parts that we are writing together and that is what we were working on today; specifically, trying to develop the different characters with the lines that are said in between each story. It is kind of a long process because everything is pretty much trial and error. We sit around the table and brainstorm together on what has to be said and what is the best way to say it.

   

   One problem that we run into often is making sure what we think makes sense will make sense to an audience. In most ways it is really beneficial to have five different people with different minds, but on the other hand.... in many ways we all think alike. Also, we have a bit of trouble making things funny for everybody:/ As a whole our family laughs at...well....everything. So, we are never quite sure if what we think is hilarious people will laugh at at all. But, we try our best and as long as someone laughs I'm happy! haha! We also all have a bit of a focusing problem. We usually can't get more than 15 min without someone saying something off topic and every 2 out of 5 times the off topic comment turns into a discussion. But, actually, today it wasn't bad at all:)

  

   Well thats all for now. We will keep you all posted on our show. I can't wait till its finished!:)

uuhhhhhh

I wrote so much last week it counts for this week.............................yeah.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

    Well, after a tough, long week we are back to Monday. It was tough and long but it was also pretty good because my birthday was this past Thursday. I don't feel any different as a 24 year old but I like the number... it's even haha. I know that's silly but I like things better in even numbers, a little quirk of mine I guess haha.

   Anyway.. on to today's blogpost...

   In life, we are always going to face those people that we feel are holding us back, letting us down, being nasty just to to be nasty, not giving respect but expecting it, have reasons for doing things or making decisions that we don't understand because we feel they are for the sole purpose of bringing us down, etc. But in all of these scenarios we have to remember that as much as we may 'hate' that person or resent them for what they did or do, letting them effect our performance, in whatever form that may be, is letting them have power over us, letting them win.

   We always try, as a family to help whenever we can, go the extra mile, be good people, but its so difficult when we are in situations where we are constantly met with negativity. It's hard for anyone who feels like they are trying their hardest to be positive, to be successful in anything or reach their goals when there is an obstacle at every turn and they are constantly having to redirect. So often, as soon as something good happens, not long after there is another problem or road block that we have to face. It is a never ending cycle and it's hard to keep your spirits up when there is a dead end at every turn. I know there are alot of you out there that must feel the same way and we all have to deal with things in our lives like this and times when we feel as if we just can't get a break.

   Don't let those people get you down! Trust in yourself, trust in God and don't be discouraged!

   

No business like show business...

BREAK A LEG CAST AND CREW OF EASTON HIGH SCHOOL'S THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL OPENING IN ONE HOUR AND FOUR MINUTES.

If you want an insight into any one of these kids' heads right at this moment nothing quite says it better than this:

There's no business like show business
Like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
Nowhere could you get that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow

There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you open and there you are
Next day on your dressing room
They've hung a star
Let's go, on with the show

The costumes, the scenary, the make-up, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff that escorts you out of town
THE OPENING WHEN YOUR HEART BEATS LIKE A DRUM
The closing when the customers don't come

There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Even with a turkey that you know will fold
You may be stranded out in the cold
Still you wouldn't change it for a sack of gold
Let's go on with the show

LET'S GO ON WITH THE SHOW!

Now I better get back to selling 50/50 tickets here in the lobby before I get caught "texting"... (smh at society and adults' cynical, stereotypical thinking... I'm clearly not texting, people.)

Good Press!:)

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/freddy-awards/index.ssf/2014/03/freddy_awards_2014_easton_area.html#incart_river

THEATER AND LESSONS

   Happy Mardi Gras!! Hope everyone is stuffing themselves..I am so full that I am actually having trouble typing this right now. The translation of Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday - it’s the day we ‘fatten up’ before the 40 days of Lent starts tomorrow (Ash Wednesday). During which we fast in preparation to share in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a process of cleansing and purification to be reborn in Christ as to be a member of his Mystical Body (the believers on earth). As we go through the Lenten Season we will talk more about it, but for today…..

    Jorne and I are in Tech week for the Scarlet Pimpernel at Easton Area High School. I am playing Chauvelin, the French Revolutionary and antagonist in the show, and Jorne is playing Ozzy, one of the League of Merry Men (perfect for him, huh). It is going to be a powerful show and I am looking forward to presenting it to an audience. Anyone who has been in or around a musical knows that tech week (known by other not-so-friendly names) is a crazy and hair-pulling time for the director, tech crew, and cast members. Putting lights, music, sound, costumes, energy and execution - the key elements of the show- together in one week is the most crucial part of the entire production and can make or break a show.

    In light of this I am going to reflect on the pros and cons of this show as a document for myself as much as to share with you. Because this was a high school show, going in I thought it would be a break (because I only had to be onstage - I wasn’t responsible for the rest of the show) and a fun activity to do before Sing For America’s big show this summer. But, I have gone through and will be able to take away more from it than I ever thought I would. 

Let’s start with some of the easier or lighter things I’ve learned:

** Stage Combat . Percy and I have a sword fight scene at the end of the show. we were left to choreograph this by ourselves. It has been an awesome dive into the huge work of stage combat. I watched a bunch of youtube videos, learned the French numbering system for sword blocks and attacks and realized how difficult it really is.

**French Accent. Chauvelin is supposed to have a French accent because he is a Frenchman. People who have heard me know I can mimic voices and can do characters like Pinnochio fairly well, but when it comes to a French accent it is really difficult! Being able to do accents is something all actors should be good at.

**The importance of dancing in a show: Because my sisters have choreographed since they were little, they are good at it! I take this for granted. Dance is integral to move the show along and to portray the emotion of the musical to the audience, but is somewhat disregarded in smalltime theatre.

**Kids and people in general are just waiting to unite over something: Through an experience in this show, in which the Director was ‘kicking me out’ because she was asking me to do something that was against my morals, I found out that kids do care. Through Jorne’s rallying cry, the cast signed a poster claiming that this is “our show” in support of me. I realized that if you can bring an issue to kids on their level, they care and are waiting to be active in a cause. Soberingly, I realized that this has been employed by many to move the youth toward lies, falsehoods, and support of fake causes.

**The Lehigh Valley State Theatre sponsored ever-looming Freddy Awards: This is our town’s version of the Tony Awards and is wildly popular and has raised the level of high school theatre in the area exponentially. They have also given credit where credit is due, giving outstanding high school actors recognition.

For all the good the Freddy’s have done, they have done an equal amount of not-so-good.

Too many decisions are being made in the chase a Freddy Award. Directors pick a show they think can win, they put kids in leads they think can win, they rent entire sets, rent costumes, pay $25,000 to sound guys, hire makeup artists…in other words, too many decisions are being made based on winning an award instead of what is good for the kids or the school or the community. Way too much money is being spent in order to ‘keep up with the Jones’. 

There is definitely a way to do this kind of an award show without changing the purpose of high school theatre. I believe everything should be student run. For instance, Allen High School (as well as many others) have the students build their sets, while Parkland often rents theirs (for many thousands of $). How can you put these up against each other? What is the purpose of renting a set? What does that teach? 

**The purpose of high school theatre: Somewhere along the line, there has been a convolution of why high schoosl put on shows. The purpose of high school is to teach, and activities should be for that purpose. Playing football, basketball, and lacrosse have taught  me things I could never have learned anywhere else. The first point of a show should be to expose kids to the arts: music and literature that has something to offer them,  whether it be fostering a love for the classics or experiencing a new kind of music, etc. The show itself should be teaching kids how to put on a show, not only how to follow directions. It should be an experience of a school coming together through an art form to accomplish a goal. That would be invaluable. There should be a purpose to producing a show, not just making a profit for next year’s show…we should be doing someone for the community and learning to save the things we use. 

**I touched on Morality in acting a couple of weeks ago. I gave rules for performance. We have a duty as artists, performers are the most influential secular people in American Culture. We have a duty to realize that. Your Director probably won’t agree, as mine didn’t.

** The power of High School and College Directors. I never understood why, but I have seen firsthand the control h.s directors have over their students. I don’t think people realize how much of an effect this has on a student, especially for those pursing a future in theatre. A director is forming a kids’ opinions about what is right a wrong to do onstage and what that kid will do for the rest of his life. It is a public forum, where an adult authority figure condones and applauds every action which takes place on his stage; what he accepts on his stage has the power to become the status quo for those kids and that audience. He gives kids parts and tells them to feel what that character feels, generally ignoring the fact that this can be detrimental the the STUDENT. He should not be ready to feel these things.  Kids, for some reason, are willing to do whatever the director tells them to do. No matter if the kid feels it is wrong or is very uncomfortable doing it, he will do what his high school or college director tells him to do. The director has such a weird pull on his students. I just don’t get it!

**As director, do not send mixed messages, make a clear decision whether you’re going to be a dictator or allow that show to take form through the actors. Your team must know who you are from the beginning. The director must have a clear plan and know what that plan is from the beginning - and have open communication with all of your team…from the position of director, not as a bully or as a friend. The number one rule for directing: Everything that succeeds is not because of you, but everything that fails is squarely your fault. And a student is especially never blamed. This seems unfair, but this is the way of the job description!! 

**Who I am as an actor: In closing, I actually learned a lot about who I am purely an actor and what I need to work on. Standing up for Christian values is hard and in this world it is a fight I’m just beginning.There will be many more situations that come up, but I am welcoming and ready. I hope my peers can say of me that “he never gave in or sold out”.

  

There are many reasons why throughout this experience I totally lost all motivation to do my best. I knew I would do my songs fine, but I wasn’t trying at all. I thought my pride would never let this happen, even if I lost my desire to try, I always figured my pride wouldn’t let me just ’skate by’. I didn’t learn my lines or devote time to my character because he would have been ‘good enough’. People would have told me good job and given pats on the back but it would be far from my best and I was okay with that. . The hard part is that when I was trying my best the director was so negative, and when I said every line purposely flat she told me I was great. This kind of reaction makes a person stop trying. I hope I never do that to one of my actors.  I have to learn how not to let things get to me in order to be the best I can be. In life, there are always going to be people we don’t get along with but have to deal with. I won’t allow my job to be effected like this again. This is not the mindset of a champion and won’t be mine.

I was reaffirmed in my vigor for producing SingForAmerica shows and will consider heavily before doing anyone else’s shows .There was a reason I didn’t love doing musicals when I was younger and I remembered that. Hopefully, we keep growing and improving the things we can… so that one day someone isn’t writing this about us.

YOUR TIME WILL COME!

 

    Well we are back to Monday! Since we have started this blog I feel like Monday is coming quicker and quicker each week haha. This week I'm especially excited for though because my birthday is in a few days. I'm going to be a whopping 24 YEARS OLD!!! THIS THURSDAY!!! It's crazy, I can't believe how much time passes in what feels like seconds. 

    I've always had a problem with getting older. Ever since I turned 17 the years just started passing so quickly and I wanted it all to stop. I always felt like at certain ages I should've accomplished certain things and that as I was growing older, time to do and be who I wanted to be was running out. I see all of the young celebrities and when reading about them so many of them got their break just from being in the right place at the right time. Sure they worked hard and everything but what really gave so many of them their start was something that happened by chance when they least expected it. I used to say, "Why can't that happen to us?" "Why can't a music producer hear us singing in a barbershop or happen to run into us at Best Buy, or just be passing through and catch one of our productions?" But at this point in my life (and it took awhile to get here) I realize that nothing we do or are meant to be happens on our time. I may have thought at age 16, 18, 21.. that I was ready to become a so-called star and live that life but looking back at the person I was then, I don't I was quite there in more ways than one. I am still constantly reminding myself as we run into obstacles every day that 

1. If it is part of God's plan for me, it'll happen 

and 

2. It won't happen when I want it to happen, it'll happen when God plans for it to happen. 

    These two things are so difficult to live by, especially in a society where everything is instant from texting to fast passes at Disneyland. We, as a society, have become so impatient, and I am among the worst! I pray all the time for God to give me patience and it's something I have to work really hard at every day. But because of the way we live we lack patience in everything we do such as waiting to see what role we got, waiting to see if we got a job, waiting to see if we got accepted to a college, or on a larger scale waiting for our future to start in general. It's hard as a young person nowadays to not just expect things to fall into our laps as soon as we want them. That's why it's so important to realize that just because things are happening on the time line we want them to happen it doesn't mean it's never going to happen so we might as well just give up, it means we just keep trudging along and working hard and praying and when those things are supposed to happen, they will. 

   I used to have everything all planned out in my head. I knew I'd be famous by the time I was 21, get married to a football player before I was 25, have 5 kids and then do little side projects just for fun the rest of my life. Then I woke up.. LOL! I still have dreams and goals and aspirations but once I turned 21 and I wasn't playing shows every night I didn't just throw the towel in and call it a day, I continued working hard, started working on new goals, and reminded myself everyday that in the end, if I follow God's plan for me, I'll be happy, the happiest I can be on earth until I can be with Him in heaven. 

   A great example is people who have worked her butt off for years and have yet to be discovered. They probably asked themselves the same questions every day about why they are not quite where they want to be in their lives. The answer is that, NOW is not yet their time! For reasons only God knows, this is His plan for them.

   It is so comforting to know that God, who loves me and all of you in spite of everything, has a plan for us. It might be up to us to figure it out, but when we do, we will have reached our potential here on earth and we'll know it when we do! 

HERE'S TO ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR!!!! 24, HERE I COME :D