Wednesday, June 13

For the Love of Theater

There is no doubt that I love the Theater. There is something about escaping into another world with a fellow audience in a dark room that allures me. Although the actors follow a script, there is an air of improvisation that can make each performance unique. Bloopers happen in real time. Wardrobe malfunctions are laughed off. And music can be sung so passionately that it brings tears to your eyes.

Growing up, I tried hard to follow the example of my talented family and excel in Music. Singing in a choir helped channel that, but I never really had the desire to fully pursue it. I auditioned for a Summer Youth Arts camp for years in Music but was not up to Music Composition par. On my third year, someone on the panel suggested I audition for the drama program as well. That audition had a better result, so for one summer I was in bliss of "majoring" in Drama and taking additional Dance and Piano lessons for the first time. It was a thrill to be in the audience and marvel at older students show their final projects. My teachers at the camp encouraged my comedic delivery and ability to direct my peers.

I so badly wanted to switch my "choir girl" reputation when I started High School. I tried out for the musical Grease because I thought singing would help get my foot in the Theater door. The musical director sang "You should be in my chooooir" while I auditioned as the Drama teacher called me "a treat." Since I was a Freshman, the main parts were given to Senior students. I was cast as an understudy for Rizzo, the Pink Ladies queen bee.


Unfortunately, my parents discouraged me from pursuing Theater ("there's nothing Holy in Hell-ywood"), so I returned to choir to be in show choirs and competitive choral singing. That resulted with me placing in several All-State competitions both individually and as a group. My brief stint in Theater was used toward being an anchor for the Bearcat News Network and occassional photos for The Herald newspaper. I still supported my high school Drama department by taking classes, performing in several bad girl roles, and helping create costume looks. 

Theater held a soft spot in my heart even when I started college. I auditioned for an Italian satire and progressed up until the final cut. That scared me off from trying out again. It was known though that students receive 1 free ticket to every Theater production, and I immediately took advantage of that. I went to every show even if I was by myself. My perfect attendance at the Lyceum Theater of Vanguard University started August 2000 and continues still today.


Watching the 2012 Tony Awards revived my love for Theater all over again! My favorite Acceptance speech from producer Jordan Roth of Clybourne Park says it all: 

There are those rare people who can look at the world
and see things the rest of us don’t see until they show us…
These are the Writers

There are the special few who can take that vision
and turn it back into a world..
These are the Directors and Designers

There are fearless beings who can live in that world and show us who we are…
These are our Actors.

There are dedicated people who know why that world matters so very much…
This is our Crew, Theater staff, Producers, Investors, Managers, Marketers

Then, there are the people who step forward
and say, “Show me this world! Open me. Change me.”
These are our Audiences

… And when all of these people come together and say YES - There is Theater.

On behalf of all of us,
we say Thank You to everyone who says YES.

Wednesday, June 6

Non-Tombstone


I agree with Rosario Dawson today...

Grief is so seductive.

Part of me wants to crawl into a hole and cry because nothing else matters, but that’s not an option. I need to stay furiously passionate for the rest of my life.

I don’t want my tombstone to read: “She played it safe.”