busy bee!

Upcoming Fall Projects:

~Chalk-It-Up! festival – September 2nd, 11am, Fremont Park (tentative)
~”Shall We Dance?” (fashion show) – September 30th, 1pm and 7pm, Radisson Hotel
~Stage Door (as Bernice Niemeyer) – October 25th-28th, 7pm, Loretto Kassis Center

Rehearsals for Stage Door begin in a week and I’ve just read the script through. My character has some interesting moments…I think overall it should turn out nicely despite the drama of the production so far. “Shall We Dance”? begins choreography and rehearsals in a couple of weeks, so I have awhile to figure out how to balance the two events. I’m not quite sure what I plan on performing at Chalk-It-Up! as of yet…most likely “Dance on the Edge”. Updates will keep coming, love you all!

bare: a pop opera

I’ve always loved musicals. I mean, how can you not, what with the singing and dancing and the drama of it all? I guess that’s why TV show musicals (ie Buffy and That 70s Show) generally appeal to me (although that 7th Heaven musical was pure crap). But it’s rare for an underappreciated musical to go noticed. In the age of Wicked and RENT, musicals have increased in popularity and look out movie-goers because they’re coming to you too. But what about the smaller musicals? The ones that had the chance to make it but never did? The ones that truly touch on a subject most often ignored? I guess that’s what made RENT so popular.

Over the summer, I discovered what I now consider one of my favorite musicals–Bare: A Pop Opera. The play centers around the production of Romeo & Juliet (done as a musical itself) and tells the story of the lives of a few seniors at a Catholic boarding school. Center stage in the whole plot are roommates (and lovers) Peter and Jason, but they’re forced to keep their relationship a secret in fear of judgement from their peers, parents, and teachers. When Peter convinces Jason to audition for Romeo & Juliet, Jason not only wins the lead but the attention of popular Ivy who pursues him without shame. The ups-and-downs keep Bare moving and the songs are worthy of repeat play.

Unfortunately for Bare, the funding for a Broadway performance never came through and the production shut down back in 2004. A CD was never formally released, but downloads have become available from the 11-track sampler the original cast recorded and from sites such as Myspace. Over the summer I watched a bootlegged (shh!) video of Bare off of my computer and fell in love with the story, the music, and the characters.

And if you ask me, Bare: A Pop Opera should never have shut down without hitting the big stage.

simply senioritis

First day of school…Well, it’s my last first day of high school!…Senior year is gonna be trippy. I made another schedule change, so I’m taking Art History third term in place of Music History (which I finally dropped!) and I have a Study Hall in place of my Art History class this term. And then third term I’ll find a T.A. position for my Study Hall. I really think I need this Study Hall this term because I’m going to have no time to exist outside of school otherwise, what with college apps, the fashion show, Stage Door, Class Council, Shakespeare, and Choir. Geez!

Today started out quite well but it sort of went downhill. I think I was just getting tired, but the end of the day was pretty much crap. Oh well, I guess I just gotta go with it, you know? Take the bad with the good and roll with it…I think I’m going to like my classes this term for the most part. Maybe a couple of exceptions and I’m worried about Choir. I really hate that that’s going to end up being one of my most stressful classes…

Why have I gotten so many lectures today about the choices I make / have made? They generally begin with, “Well, it’s your choice but…” Yes. It is my choice, and I appreciate your input, but I just spent a lot of time today feeling bad for choosing certain things. It’s frustrating and annoying. And why is it that every class thinks it should be our top priority? I mean, yes, we want to work hard and do well–I do at least, but could we all just slow down and really think about it?
On another note, I’m very excited about starting up the Society again, and Janelle and I have fabulous plans. I hope this year goes well!

And now I’m off to read my Stage Door lines and start some simple homework. Thank you for the weekends!

words to live by

“We are all born originals–Why is it so many of us die copies?” ~Edward Young

And the Buddhist Thought of the Day?…
“What do you have to do? Pack your bags, Go to the station without them, Catch the train, And leave your self behind.” ~Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei

Ever since I found out you could customize your Google account, I’ve been way too distracted.

seriously getting to know yourself

“I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe, and someone said I was a snake, I’d think, no, actually I’m a giraffe.” ~Richard Gere