Random

  So I am having some trouble figuring our what to blog about today so it's going to be a mish-mosh of random ramblings.
  First off I just really don't feel like writing anything today. I am not a fan of writing and I never will be... whatever.
  We had a Tarzan reunion/cast party last night which was a lot of fun. I really miss the show I wish we could just up and do it all over again! One of the girls from the cast made a really nice slideshow that we watched. It is a great memento to have.
  
   Random question but does anyone remember the movie The Princess and the Goblin? I love that movie but I haven't seen it since I was little and I would really like to try and find it like online or something so I can see it again...

  I am pretty annoyed about the stupid weather lately. There is still a month of summer left and it dropped to 50° blast night! what is that?! We just got back from a nice and hot vacation on Sunday and I was not expecting to come home to a chilly summer-_- 

  We are working really hard on some cool new Sing For America projects that we have coming up soon so stay tuned for some announcements in the near future!!

  Well that's all I have to say... bye=)

Spinning

Tarzan has ended and taught me more than I could of imagined. Sorry this is short and for the blog silence, we went on a much needed vacation, but next week you will get the most exciting update I've given. Sing For America Productions has an incredible year in store. Today was spent training and fine tuning the business plan. My head has been spinning with ideas since Tarzan opened and I don't want it to stop!

One track mind?

     So the night Tarzan closed there I was, laying in bed, thinking. Everything I'd kept in the back of my mind suddenly came flooding through like a dam that had just been broken. Memories from the last three months played and replayed, but accompanying them was everything I had gradually pushed down and temporarily suffocated as we all became more and more engulfed in Tarzan. I fished around for my notebook in the dark as ideas and lyrics became too much to keep inside my head. And I couldn't find it. I couldn't find it! And not only could I not find my special notebook, but I also couldn't find any of the six I always have by my pillow. Always.
     I think it's honorable when one decides to devote one's entire self to a current project, I do. But what about when alongside the current there are constants? Should we just put everything else on hold? "I'll get back to it when I'm done," well ok but then what about when the next current begins, which will no doubt be soon? We must train our eyes to see the forest for the trees. I think the real trick is compartmentalizing. It is an art in itself, and not an easy one to master at that. I don't think it's beneficial to try to devote oneself to more than one thing at any given moment, but rather to create moments for everything one wants to devote oneself to. Easier said than done, I know, especially when some things don't have the same kind of concrete deadline as others.
     The other thing to look at then is frustration or hitting a mental block. To be able to pick something else up and switch tracks without having to spend hours dusting it off first is so helpful to creativity. Instead of banging your head against a wall when it's all too obvious you are not getting anywhere with that right now, work on something else entirely, knowing that it is just as worth your time; just as important. Not only will that obliterate wasting time and energy, but it allows one to exercise different parts of the mind, creating so much more freedom where any and all of the projects are concerned, resulting in clearer thought and better products all around.
     I know there's a bunch more to be written on this topic, meraki and all that, but I wanted to keep it short and simple for today. I'll get into it more another time. Thanks for reading. I hope this helps anyone who has the same trouble with getting too one-track-minded at any given time. I'll let you know how it's going for me in a few weeks.

Good night and happy creating:)

NEXT STOP....GREATNESS... JOIN US!

Well its over. After so many long hours of preparation it all came to an end. From the all nighters to the blood, sweet and tears we put into this show I will miss it all. Believe me I did cry, I did sweat, and I did bleed, but it was all worth it to bring to life this amazing musical. The saddest part was when we started strike and in just three short hours we tore apart weeks of hard work. Looking at the stage when it was all cleared out I couldnt help but think about the first time we all saw it. So many ideas running through our heads and now they are gone. All that's left is just an empty stage, holding the dreams of the next group to take part in their project. I  just hope that they have the same great time creating as many wonderful memories as I have. Tarzan was my biggest leading role yet. Going into it I was really nervous because it was a very hard part and leading up to the show I hadn't had a voice for about a month. It all turned out ok though, everyone said I did great so it must of been pretty good. Since me and Jewel shared the role we each did four shows. This let me ease into it instead if just getting thrown into the fire.
Im not gonna lie, it was hard, but I made it through. On the off days I was a gorilla and a plant in the show  and although it wasn't as much to do I still loved it.
     After the shows are done and the storage bins are filled with all the show stuff, we have to go back to reality you might say. Meaning first we have to clean the house because in gets pretty crazy during showtime, dont even get me started on our yard. My dad always likes to say the grass is so high its waving at us. These are the things we pass up when doing a show. Our mom's not too happy about it but its all fixed now. For the past few days all I did was clean everything and I really dont like cleaning at all but I guess it had to be done. Now we left for vacation. Everyone needed a break so we are getting away. On the road to Savannah, Georgia. The work never stops though, although we are one vacation we never stop talking about our show we are writing, where to have it, booking more concerts and everything else to rocket our careers to the next level. The key to success is to never stop, because once you do you get happy with where you stop. You think, I
don't need to go farther, I've gone far enough. Complacency is the biggest demon for those trying to succeed, because its easy to become comfortable. But with complacency comes mediocrity. Yeah its a little harsh but its true. No circumstance is too bad to get out of. Everyone, nomatter who you are, can be great. The real question is not who CAN be great but who WILL be great. If you want something bad enough you will achive It. When you can't do something its not because you're unable it's because you just didn't try hard enough. I wanna leave you with a question.... If someone could give you greatness or you could work for greatness and achieve it, which would you choose?

And comes the end of another swag bag thursday!

Tarzan's Echo

My closing email to the cast(sniffle sniffle)

Hello Family:)

    Reading all your posts on facebook and the emails we've been getting has been moving. Sometimes by the time we get into the heat of the show we can't really tell if everything we've been working towards and hoped for for each of you individually is being fulfilled. Seeing all these words of love, happiness, and sadness you've felt and are feeling, and seeing how truly you have become a family is inspiring. Thank you all for sharing this. We have been re-affirmed in our mission to continue what we are doing.

    Remember these feelings you have and bring that to the whole world! Tell people about SFA and what we are about here, tell them what you've felt in these shows. Let SFA do for others what it has for you. These are the steps we gotta take to make a more widespread impact on the Valley and beyond.

      We are gonna use this next month to truly set our business plan for the next year. Audition and Workshop dates will be announced.Taking part in the workshop or encouraging friends to is one of the best ways to help us. This is how we can truly teach the art of performance individually. More info will be out soon.

      Our blog has gotten a very warm reception on the web, if anyone wants to know who we are and keep up with this SFA Family you have become a part of, read up regularly and again encourage others to get to know SFA through it. If a story speaks to you share it around. 

       This is our goal to make it clear: Have a theatre which is a positive force in the community where professional level shows are produced with mixed amateur and professional casts, giving young people and everyone the chance elevate themselves to their personal best. People will be learning, loving, and working to better themselves in every aspect of their lives and their community. This space would be available for lease when we are not in production, just one revenue stream option amidst many others. This space could hold classes, training, clinics, dance specific weight lifting and conditioning, and much much more. The other part would be a lounge type place with a light menu. This space would be hub for all ages to come enjoy themselves, dance, or be given the opportunity to perform for the customers. It would have themed nights, musicians, and fun creative events...like a 'club' but for all ages and geared towards the arts crowd. 

    THAT is the finish line... but we are still in the race, each show learning a ton and improving. We are searching for backers, partners, sponsors, and overall guidance. We are proud of what we do and who we are but not arrogant in that we love advice and any input. 

     Let this all be known. Show this to your parents, thank them for the opportunity to be a part of this and explain the effect it can have on a life. If their employer, a business owner they know, influential person in the community, etc. will listen... tell them about it. The Lehigh Valley is one of the most incredibly industrious places in this country. We are in a great spot to accomplish these goals. 

       The only way we can ever move forward is if we are visible and believed in here. Then once someone believes in it it, they gotta get someone else to believe ....and we can together create something that can make a difference in the lives of millions for years to come. Every single little thing makes a difference, simply wearing a SFA show t-shirt where someone may see it is a contribution. 

        Please if you have ANY suggestions, ideas, or leads contact us!!!

         

        Thank you all again for everything you made this show to be, we will hopefully be seeing all of you very soon!

        Much love,

        Taryn, Tasia, Teara, Jewel, Jorne

Another Show Comes To An End...

 

    Well.... it's the day after the final performance of TARZAN. This day always feels the strangest. You spend so long working towards one goal and then all of a sudden it's over. These next few days we spend cleaning up everything from costumes to props to organizing set pieces and finding space to fit all of the new materials we made and bought in the small space we have. I'd have to say, this is the worst part of the process haha. But as we mosey around the house cleaning up I just can't stop thinking about TARZAN and everything I learned and the beautiful cast of people I had the opportunity to work with.

   As I've mentioned before, I've been in many different casts over the years and out of each one came something new. Some experiences have been positive, some not so positive. But only a few casts have had a true impact on my life.
   When we formed Sing for America Productions we wanted our casts to experience something different than your average theater experience. We wanted them to not only be a part of a cast with a positive and clean environment but we wanted them to be a part of a FAMILY.
   This TARZAN cast was truly a FAMILY! This cast has made a lasting impression on my heart and soul. We had so many new people this summer. People who had never worked with us before and people who had never even been on stage before but each one showed their talent in that audition room and before they new it were part of the Sing for America FAMILY.
  
   To the cast: I would just like to say what an absolute pleasure it was to work with all of you! I watched you grow immensly from the beginning of bootcamp to the very last performance. I watched as we we went from a bunch of strangers to best friends to a FAMILY. I watched as you put blood, sweat, and tears into every single dance, song and scene. As you grew as people and as performers in the few short weeks we spent together. As in every family there are always going to be small rifts that occur but we were able to overcome them and move past them and stay strong and not let the small stuff effect our performance. You are all such beautiful and talented individuals and I know you will all be successful in everything in anything you do.
   I would like to say a HUGE GOOD LUCK to Andrew, Alexa, Elizabeth, Jenna, Kylie, Zikey, T, and Valerie who are going away to school this Fall. I know you'll do awesome and amazing things and I hope you'll bring everything you've learned here with you wherever you go.

   Last but not least I want to thank the mothers and cast members that were there helping all the time and were always willing to step up and do the extra thing whether it was giving someone a ride, sewing a hook and eye, organizing the lobby, just being there asking if we needed help with anything, etc. We could'nt have done it without you!

I love each and every one of you! You are all part of the FAMILY! You're stuck with us for life! These relationships formed will last forever in our hearts and in true Tarzan fashion I will end with...

"You'll be in my heart forever and always"

What Success Looks Like!

Believe in Magic

      Tech week for Tarzan is here. It is the most stressful, gruelling, tedious, and aggravating part of the entire process of the show but it is also the greatest most beautiful point in the show which creates a special bond in a cast. This is the feeling they will remember when this show closes. By the time the show is winding down on Sunday there should not be a dry eye on that stage. As the director I have to ensure they get these feelings. If they do not then what was the point of any of this? Its actually a bit daunting to think of but we'll get it done.
     There is a song in this show, the You'll Be In My Heart reprise sung between Kala and Tarzan, which says it all.
       "No one could understand the way we feel, how would they know how can we explain, although we are different deep inside us we're not so different at all. Cause you'll be in my heart, you'll be in my heart no matter what they say, you'll be here in my heart....always."
       From the outside you can't understand it and from the inside you can't explain it. That is SingForAmerica, and I hope everyone involved in this show is on the 'inside'. If not, they will never know the things those who committed of themselves felt and feel. One musical can change a life, if you just let it. 
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