hello, good friend

Bienvenidos, blog devotees. I apologize for the lengthy absence. Recently, my blogging attentions have focused on Godspell-related journaling. You can peer into my current goings-on at our web magazine, The Bridge Online.

But now we’re back in business.

Recent components of my erratically-constructed world:
Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai
a well-worn Dell Pocket Crossword Puzzles book
The Union’s cookie dough Microblasts (what does that mean, “microblast”?)
Oprah (admittedly)
orange juice and black beans (odd combo, I’m aware)
apartment shopping
Towson, Maryland
www.verseit.com (guaranteed entertainment, check it out)
“Clap Ya Hands” on repeat. Choreography.
World Magazine
The “Juno” soundtrack (well worth the listen)
Spring Break planning
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris

Currently, lists are my genre. Thus far in the semester, I’ve read and written more than I have in a while, so lists are about all I can muster. I’m in the midst of composing a 30-page senior thesis on my writing life. Go figure. I wasn’t aware that I led a writing life. (If I didn’t before, I certainly do now. Cranking out several pages a day hasn’t been easy.) So the straining, striving, and overall stressing yields a measly list. Hmph.

My family’s visiting! (Well, my family minus one brother.) Godspell sold out Friday through Sunday, so I hope you’re in possession of tickets. It’ll prove a riotous time.

In other news, this semester’s hitting a significant lull. My roomies and I have resorted to TV-watching, homeworking, and gyming. (Maybe that happens during the final semester. Dramatic deceleration. No complaints here.) For fun, I spent yesterday afternoon chucking ice sheets from my car roof. Today I Swiffered our kitchen. We anxiously anticipate sunshine and all things green. That’s why we’re already planning our spring break excursion to South Carolina.

Of the gym-frequenting: my girlfriends have suddenly kicked their work-out motivations into high gear, and I’m struggling to follow suit. I met them at the gym circa 5pm Wednesday night, and I will probably never venture into that territory again. Now I know where the entire student body hides out on weeknights. From now on, I claim 8am. Maybe. If I can coax myself out of bed.

Last night the actors donned their headset microphones for the first time. The sound system makes such a difference, I think. Especially in a musical. Up til this point, we’ve relied on the actors’ stage voices for projection, but the mikes contribute such a feeling of performance.

Yesterday the cast performed three full run-throughs: one at 10am, another at 1pm, the last at 6pm. By the 6pm rehearsal, they seemed exhausted. Rena, the student director, had difficulty encouraging energy during warm-ups. If you think about it, that kind of non-stop, fully-engaged practicing takes a physical toll on people. Props to them for making it happen.

Today, the actors only run two rehearsals: one at 10am and a second at 1pm.

On Saturday the tech crew runs a wet tech rehearsal at 10am. They’ll run through the entire musical with the actors, checking for functioning microphones, official prop placements, lighting transitions, etcetera. Later the actors will run a sitzprobe, a rough musical rehearsal sans costumes, scenery, and acting. Basically, the actors sing through the musical numbers while the orchestra accompanies them, and Tim Dixon, the conductor, will focus on integrating the two groups.

Here’s my J-term confession: free theatre is a beautiful thing. I would choreograph every musical if it meant attending daily rehearsals. Granted, I’m not doing the grunt work of acting. (Half-guiltily I admit that the difficulty of my job ended about a week ago, after I finished choreographing the dances). Now I get to bask in creative energies and performances gratis.

Opening night: February 7, 8pm. Come see the show!