Today, I felt quite adult.
I went to the optometrist (appointment scheduled all by myself), got a checkup, and got new glasses and contact lenses. I hate dealing with paper work and insurance. The guy selling lenses was upselling up the wazoo. I'm lucky I didn't take the bait (well, most of the bait), but it still cost a pretty penny.
Ah well, I'm all set with eye care for a good year.
But then my bank thought I was undergoing some suspicious activity. I think it's because my cards are still aligned with the Sioux Falls zip code, and a major purchase at a Rochester, MN Target may seem a bit shifty. Fraud protection called home instantly and my credit card account is frozen. I think I've gone through the necessary steps to "un-freeze" it. I haven't been using the credit card a whole lot (just for online purchases for books on my Monster Reading List and the new Fleet Foxes album!)
I'm going to the dentist on Monday, and I'm not looking forward to that. I'm flossing a lot more recently, as if they won't be able to notice the irregular flossing schedule! HA!
IN OTHER NEWS
I'm trucking along with grad school duties. I sent my head of program a 5 page document entitled: TIM _____________: A Life, Abstracted. I fear this is going way beyond what he's looking for, but we'll see.
I'm working on Stanislavski reading. I'm reading the new Jean Benedetti translation of An Actor's Work (which is a fusion of An Actor Prepares and Building a Character). The end of the first half was tough. The same jargon was repeated ad nauseum. This next section is (thankfully) different and stresses the importance of physical training (voice and movement) to stir the inner creative life. It's not as dry. After this, I still have Creating a Role and My Life in Art to complete, but I think I will take a break from Stan "the Man" islavski to dive into more plays and some voice work (Skinner and Hobbs).
Next week, I have a 5-day vacation. I'm going home, dropping off a TON of stuff, going through my belongings at home. On top of that, I'll be reading, reading, reading. I will take a break from reading to do more monologue poaching.
Today, I refined my spreadsheet for the reading list.
I have to figure out a better way to work through my monologue project (which I will perhaps describe some other day). Right now, I'm just copying/pasting the monologues in one large word document. It's not fancy. I'm not obsessing over the font and formatting (which, for me, is saying something). But it's becoming cumbersome to categorize them and keep track of the order and such. I think I'll need to create a spreadsheet, print it off, and fill in the blanks with a pen. That way, I don't have to worry about the order and categorizing on the computer screen (scrolling through 100+ pages ultimately). That can happen once I'm finished (who knows when that will be).
Another solution is to have multiple documents:
Ten Contemporary Rock the House Monologues_1 Minute
Ten Contemporary Rock the House Monologues_2 Minutes
etc. etc.
This could be a bit easier, but I'd still be dealing with a lot of documents.
This blog post is probably the driest thing you've ever read today. It's more for me than anything.
My goal for this "vacation" is to have a system in place for maximum monologue organization (and have a nice chunk of reading finished).
TIM: You also need to back up your files on your laptop.
Egad, I better make a checklist now.
Showing posts with label monologues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monologues. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Monologues, Monologues
I just read MOONCHILDREN by Michael Weller. It's all about college students in the mid-60s. There's a possible monologue in there that would involve three characters in the room. Well, it starts with just two (Bob and Kathy) and then another enters early on, which totally switches the initial situation.
I think it's extremely active and has a lot of tonal colors to it (it's kind of funny and tragic). The stakes are extremely high, and it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. I would just have to place each character in very specific places on stage and keep them there (although Kathy does exit at the very end. I suppose I'd have to follow her exit with my eyes and head a bit...it depends if I want to add the "punchline" at the end).
By now I should just write it out for you guys.
Has anyone done a monologue where the actor is responding to two other characters?
The more I think about this, the more I like it as a possibility for grad school audition. I think I'll put it near the top of my list. I've acquired a nice working list of possibilities so far. Up to this point they've almost all been contemporary plays. I have to start thinking strategically about pairing them with Shakespeare (THAT reading is behind schedule, but I don't feel "guilty" about it by any means. I have started reading Titus Andronicus).
---------------------------
I think another good step is to order a bunch of headshots NOW. There is absolutely NO use in waiting until the last minute. I CAN control a lot of anxiety over these little details if I nip them in the bud now.
My resume is essentially up-to-date. I am waiting to hear a couple casting details for next year's season.
--------------------------
Other than that, I'll probably need to start getting some monologues on their feet and test them out with colleagues (which does involve a lot of work and is much easier said than done, I realize).
I think it's extremely active and has a lot of tonal colors to it (it's kind of funny and tragic). The stakes are extremely high, and it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. I would just have to place each character in very specific places on stage and keep them there (although Kathy does exit at the very end. I suppose I'd have to follow her exit with my eyes and head a bit...it depends if I want to add the "punchline" at the end).
By now I should just write it out for you guys.
Has anyone done a monologue where the actor is responding to two other characters?
The more I think about this, the more I like it as a possibility for grad school audition. I think I'll put it near the top of my list. I've acquired a nice working list of possibilities so far. Up to this point they've almost all been contemporary plays. I have to start thinking strategically about pairing them with Shakespeare (THAT reading is behind schedule, but I don't feel "guilty" about it by any means. I have started reading Titus Andronicus).
---------------------------
I think another good step is to order a bunch of headshots NOW. There is absolutely NO use in waiting until the last minute. I CAN control a lot of anxiety over these little details if I nip them in the bud now.
My resume is essentially up-to-date. I am waiting to hear a couple casting details for next year's season.
--------------------------
Other than that, I'll probably need to start getting some monologues on their feet and test them out with colleagues (which does involve a lot of work and is much easier said than done, I realize).
Friday, December 11, 2009
Snow Daze
We've were dumped with snow. And I have proof.
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This is just outside the theatre. I attempted to show how deep the snow got in some places, but that failed.
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The bluff nearby. I'm not sure if this photo can give the proper justice it deserves. Earlier this morning, the sun hit the bluff and made it all shiny with this haunting pinkish tint. You'll just have to take my word for it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Obligatory here's-my-car-underneath-a-ton-of-snow picture. Take a look at the front left part of the hood.
--------------------------------------------------
Because of all the snow, I've been cooped up in the house, working on monologues. Here's the initials of every word to a Romeo monologue. It's a handy way to check memorization without having all the words in front of you:
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WE HAD A PERFORMANCE OF 1940'S RADIO HOUR last night. It was so great to be back on stage after three days of sitting around and watching movies. I did a bit of cleaning, but it was a ton of nothing. Last night, I finally had to walk to the gas station and get some milk (it's about a mile walk, round trip). My eyelashes felt particularly frosty after that trip.
BUT I DIGRESS.
The show was a lot of fun. It felt great to have a renewed sense of energy and purpose. The crowd was rather...inebriated... They were responsive to us, but it got to be a bit annoying and distracting.
I have a tiny speech where I talk about being in flight training and going off to war.
I said: "I got a call last night from my folks in Greenwood, Indiana..." I paused, trying to find the best way to say "and they said the best Christmas present I could give them next year would be my being home." Well, before going into that weighty bit, a couple people started cheering, applauding:
"WOO! Indiana!!!"
I stopped, hoping the silence would shut them up. It worked, but it put me completely out of the rest of the speech.
The audience acts as the actual audience of the radio show that is broadcast live throughout New York. So we interact with them and appreciate some verbal nods here and there. This time though...it was unwelcome.
A baby was also in the audience. It wasn't too distracting. While I was changing into my tap shoes and Ann is singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," I heard the baby coo. The mics picked that up into the dressing room feed. That was pretty adorable.
AND THEN TODAY we had 200 middle/high school students catching the show. They just didn't seem to appreciate the 40's. It's funny how one night the entire audience knows ALL the music, and the next it goes right over their heads. I think they ended up enjoying the show (or getting out of classes for a morning).
--------------------------------------------------------------
This is just outside the theatre. I attempted to show how deep the snow got in some places, but that failed.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The bluff nearby. I'm not sure if this photo can give the proper justice it deserves. Earlier this morning, the sun hit the bluff and made it all shiny with this haunting pinkish tint. You'll just have to take my word for it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Obligatory here's-my-car-underneath-a-ton-of-snow picture. Take a look at the front left part of the hood.
--------------------------------------------------
Because of all the snow, I've been cooped up in the house, working on monologues. Here's the initials of every word to a Romeo monologue. It's a handy way to check memorization without having all the words in front of you:
----------------------------------------------
WE HAD A PERFORMANCE OF 1940'S RADIO HOUR last night. It was so great to be back on stage after three days of sitting around and watching movies. I did a bit of cleaning, but it was a ton of nothing. Last night, I finally had to walk to the gas station and get some milk (it's about a mile walk, round trip). My eyelashes felt particularly frosty after that trip.
BUT I DIGRESS.
The show was a lot of fun. It felt great to have a renewed sense of energy and purpose. The crowd was rather...inebriated... They were responsive to us, but it got to be a bit annoying and distracting.
I have a tiny speech where I talk about being in flight training and going off to war.
I said: "I got a call last night from my folks in Greenwood, Indiana..." I paused, trying to find the best way to say "and they said the best Christmas present I could give them next year would be my being home." Well, before going into that weighty bit, a couple people started cheering, applauding:
"WOO! Indiana!!!"
I stopped, hoping the silence would shut them up. It worked, but it put me completely out of the rest of the speech.
The audience acts as the actual audience of the radio show that is broadcast live throughout New York. So we interact with them and appreciate some verbal nods here and there. This time though...it was unwelcome.
A baby was also in the audience. It wasn't too distracting. While I was changing into my tap shoes and Ann is singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," I heard the baby coo. The mics picked that up into the dressing room feed. That was pretty adorable.
AND THEN TODAY we had 200 middle/high school students catching the show. They just didn't seem to appreciate the 40's. It's funny how one night the entire audience knows ALL the music, and the next it goes right over their heads. I think they ended up enjoying the show (or getting out of classes for a morning).
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Movin' Right Along
I need more creative titles.
We do six shows in four days: 1 Thursday night, 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, and 1 on Sunday afternoon. It's quite a feat! The audiences really seemed to enjoy our performances this weekend. It's great.
Today, we had a special event called "Sunday Salon," in which an invited guest comes to discuss some topic that deals with the show. Today we heard some WWII stories. One couple was invited to explain how they used song titles as a code system. If "White Christmas" was mentioned in a letter, the wife knew her husband was in Hawaii. "I'll Be Seeing" you meant he was in Japan and so forth. It was very clever and never censored! Other people chimed in from the audience, sharing their stories from the war and using the radio as a means for entertainment and news.
It's great to hear these accounts. There were lots of tears in the room during the salon. This medium has a powerful impact on people. I think this show takes many by surprise.
Yesterday, we had a rehearsal look-back. The cast gathered with the artistic director and discussed how the rehearsal process went. We expressed what we loved, what was frustrating, how we grew as artists, etc. It was interesting to hear what people had to say. I won't go into details, but it's great that we had an honest conversation about what worked and what didn't. Hopefully what didn't work out so well can be remedied for future shows of this nature and others. We're constantly learning in this company, which I appreciate. We'll also have a production look-back or post-mortem to examine similar elements (outside of rehearsals, obviously).
---------------------
GRAD SCHOOL COUNTDOWN
I'll be auditioning for grad schools in less than two months.
Tonight, I'll be lookin' over Shakespeare stuff. I've got a bit of anxiety about choosing the right Shakespeare monologues. I'm looking at the ingenues, which just seem to be so cliche, but with my age and looks, that's my options (it's just weird to me to think I may end up working on Romeo's lines). There's a lot of Shakespeare that I haven't read. So I'm trying to find a good balance of working with what I know and stretching beyond that a bit. As much as I enjoy Shakespeare, I can't just sit and read it for long periods of time. I need to speak it and hear it. The problem is that time is ticking and I've got some finalized decisions that need to be made sooner rather than later. I aim to have a list picked out by Tuesday (probably of five or so monologues).
I do have my contemporary monologues. One is Alan from Picnic and the other is Pip from Three Days of Rain (which may be a bit too old for me, but it's got such a great amount of energy and humor, and I genuinely love the piece)
We do six shows in four days: 1 Thursday night, 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, and 1 on Sunday afternoon. It's quite a feat! The audiences really seemed to enjoy our performances this weekend. It's great.
Today, we had a special event called "Sunday Salon," in which an invited guest comes to discuss some topic that deals with the show. Today we heard some WWII stories. One couple was invited to explain how they used song titles as a code system. If "White Christmas" was mentioned in a letter, the wife knew her husband was in Hawaii. "I'll Be Seeing" you meant he was in Japan and so forth. It was very clever and never censored! Other people chimed in from the audience, sharing their stories from the war and using the radio as a means for entertainment and news.
It's great to hear these accounts. There were lots of tears in the room during the salon. This medium has a powerful impact on people. I think this show takes many by surprise.
Yesterday, we had a rehearsal look-back. The cast gathered with the artistic director and discussed how the rehearsal process went. We expressed what we loved, what was frustrating, how we grew as artists, etc. It was interesting to hear what people had to say. I won't go into details, but it's great that we had an honest conversation about what worked and what didn't. Hopefully what didn't work out so well can be remedied for future shows of this nature and others. We're constantly learning in this company, which I appreciate. We'll also have a production look-back or post-mortem to examine similar elements (outside of rehearsals, obviously).
---------------------
GRAD SCHOOL COUNTDOWN
I'll be auditioning for grad schools in less than two months.
Tonight, I'll be lookin' over Shakespeare stuff. I've got a bit of anxiety about choosing the right Shakespeare monologues. I'm looking at the ingenues, which just seem to be so cliche, but with my age and looks, that's my options (it's just weird to me to think I may end up working on Romeo's lines). There's a lot of Shakespeare that I haven't read. So I'm trying to find a good balance of working with what I know and stretching beyond that a bit. As much as I enjoy Shakespeare, I can't just sit and read it for long periods of time. I need to speak it and hear it. The problem is that time is ticking and I've got some finalized decisions that need to be made sooner rather than later. I aim to have a list picked out by Tuesday (probably of five or so monologues).
I do have my contemporary monologues. One is Alan from Picnic and the other is Pip from Three Days of Rain (which may be a bit too old for me, but it's got such a great amount of energy and humor, and I genuinely love the piece)
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