Monday, July 20, 2009

Draha continues

Just because I'm doing so much theatre doesn't mean I'm not working on my books. On the contrary, I've taken lots of notes in the past few days and am going to spend some time this week transferring them onto the outline for Book 1. I'm getting close to the end of this outline, which is very exciting. I want to finish outlining book 1 before November so it can be my NaNo project. I'm determined to finish the first book by the end of this year. I think I can do it!

On another note, I've really been wanting to do some shorter projects lately. I want to do some short stories and/or flash fiction. I'll work on that a bit this week, I think - just to see what happens.

two shows!

I am so excited about this! The auditions went well. Or at least, I assume they went well because I got calls from both directors on the same day last week offering me parts in both shows! So in September, I will be playing the part of Cecily in The Odd Couple and in October I will be playing the part of Cherry in The Beaux' Strategem. Both directors are being so great about working around each other's schedules. I am so looking forward to working with these directors. I've been wanting to work with both of them since I got back into the local theatre community, so this is a great opportunity for me!

I have my Beaux script already and will be getting my Odd Couple script tomorrow night at the readthrough. I'll take both of them to Staples on Wednesday to get them spiral bound because it's just easier to work with them that way, and then I'll start learning lines! My goal is to be off book on The Odd Couple first - as soon as I possibly can so that the rehearsals can be as productive as possible, and then start working on Beaux. I can't wait to start rehearsing for both! They are so different and I love both stories so much that I'm sure it's going to be a BLAST!

Needless to say, I'm going to be very busy in the coming months! But it's the very best kind of busy. I'm getting back on stage!!!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Lots of fun theatre stuff!

"A Nice Family Gathering" continues its run this week. Our next show will be Wednesday. I'm running lights and sound, a very simple task for this show, so I am enjoying watching the audience reactions from the booth. Theatre 98 audiences are always so appreciative of the hard work that goes into a show and they always give great reactions to the actors! This is particularly true in a comedy, and ANFG is a very funny story with great characters. We run Wed - Sun of this week.

Tonight, I'm auditioning for The Odd Couple at Chickasaw Civic Theatre. I'm looking forward to the auditions and really hope I get a part. The director is an old friend who I have recently reconnected with through being a part of the local theatre community and is just the nicest person! I want to work with her at some point, so even if I don't get a part in this one (there are only two female roles, after all!) I will try out for another of her shows in the future.

Tomorrow night I will be auditioning for a part in The Beaux' Strategem at Theatre 98. There are 18 roles, so there's a better chance for me there, although most of those roles are for men. There are two parts that I could really see myself doing - the inkeeper's daughter Cherry or Mrs. Sullen. But I'm fairly certain he will cast someone older as Mrs. Sullen. Actually, Lady Bountiful would be the most fun, but I think he already has someone in mind for that.

I wouldn't normally try out for two shows at once, but because I've been working backstage so much this year and haven't been on stage at all, I wanted to double my chances to get on stage! I miss it so much! Upcoming shows at local theatres also include:

The Philadelphia Story
Promises, Promises
Funny Girl
A Midsummer Night's Dream

All before the end of the year! It's amazing to be a part of such a vibrant community theatre in a place like Alabama, which is not typically known for its performing arts opportunities. We recently saw productions of:

Uncle Vanya
Romeo and Juliet
Company
Cabaret
The Secret Garden
The Foreigner
Enchanted April

We have several very active community theatres here and we all work together to make sure we are not doing the same shows in the same season, which I think is pretty cool.

Anyway, enough about my love for local theatre - back to work - lunch break is over!

so fast!

This month is flying by! How did it get to be July 13 already? That's one thing about doing shows, when your time is filled with rehearsals and performances, the time goes by very quickly!

So here's a quick update on everything. It'll be under the "life" category, but I'm going to try to cover it all. I usually don't do this, but since there's not that much going on, I figured I'd kill lots of birds with one stone.

Writing - I've been working on Draha! Yay! I've got a few more pages of the outline finished and the plot is starting to really come together. I'm going to stop for a moment next week and write a short story or two, just to get out of outlining and get into actual writing. My goal is to finish the outlines for the first two books before November so I can write the first (or at least get a good start on it) during NaNoWriMo. I think I can do it!

Personal - It's been fun lately. I've been meeting lots of new people and have been on a few dates with a very nice guy. There are some other things going on in that arena as well, but that's about as specific as I want to get at this time. Suffice it to say that I'm pretty happy about my personal life at the moment.

Reading - I'm working through a wonderful book called "Captivating," which is a guided study into the heart's desires of women and how those can correlate with the heart's desires of God. About how a woman's desire for a relationship is just like the desire God has to be in a relationship with us. I love it! It has really opened my eyes about a lot of things that I hadn't thought about before and made me realize my own desires for love and a family are not dysfunctional at all, but are, in fact, quite normal.

Family - My sister's family is moving to a new house - one that sounds awesome! I think it means that the kids will each have their own rooms for the first time, which is great for them. I hope they are really happy in this new house and can stay there for awhile.

Knitting - I'm working on a baby blanket for a coworker who is due August 1. Wish me luck, because I'll need it! I will post pictures when it is finished.

That's all for now. I'm doing theatre in a separate post because there's so much to say!