Category: theatre

i did it!

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I’m going to be doing the thing I came to this city to do. Theatre. It’s really happening! Let me begin at the beginning.

The weekend my roommate left for her new cruise gig, my new gal pal (Brie) invited me out for her friends birthday party. A much more exciting plan than my original plan…sitting at home by myself. I had met a couple of her friend already so I knew it would be a good time. While at dinner, Brie happened to mention that I had a degree in theatre which prompted the birthday fella himself to ask me what I do. I told him I’m a stage manager and without skipping a beat he said “I need one of those”. Amidst the party fodder we decided to talk more about it later on. The rest of the evening was spent with many laughs and really great food. (for real though….such great food)

After a couple week of getting each others contact information, Easter, and setting up a time to meet, we were finally able to sit and talk. As I rode the train to our meeting I had trouble ignoring a little voice inside my head. It kept saying things like:

“but you just started enjoying your 2 days off”
“there’s no way it will fit into your schedule anyway”
“how will you break it to him that you won’t be able to do it”
“do your really want to drive yourself into the ground again?”
“the subway costs money”
Needless to say, it was a pretty negative voice. It was as if I had made up my mind going into it. I’m not even sure why. 
So we met. And we talked. And talked. After about an hour or so of talking and sharing stories and giving each other an idea of what we’re about, it became clear. Not only did I want to do it…I needed to do it. Everything about the way this company works seems like a perfect fit for me. I’ll be the Stage Manager but I’ll also have the platform to have a voice in what’s going on…not just a paperwork machine. It’s a company that values everyone’s opinions and artistic backgrounds and finds a way to make the work a product of everyone involved. Beyond that the work that they’re producing is new and fresh and not typical. It’s interactive and in your face. It’s out of my own comfort zone and I’m thrilled about it.
I’m doing it guys! I’m going to be a Stage Manager in New York City. I’m fulfilling the dream I’ve had since I chose this career. How many people can say that?? I feel so blessed and grateful to the people around me that helped make this happen. Does it get any better than this?! I don’t see how it could. Life isn’t good….it’s amazing.
If you’d like to check out the company:

life…at the moment…

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I’m busy still, but not nearly as busy as I was earlier this summer. The hotel is winding down, the show is into rehearsals and November(moving month) is getting closer and closer. I find myself spending more time at home, seeing my family a little more often, having moments of fun with my friends, new and old. My pace isn’t nearly as fast and I’m feeling so much more at ease about everything. I can breath again.

Fall is finally here. Pumpkin things are popping up everywhere and we know how happy that makes me! I’m wearing my comfy clogs and drinking pumpkin spiced lattes often. I feel like my most self….if that makes sense. And being in the theatre contributes to that immensely. It’s amazing the difference in my attitude about work when I’m doing the work that I love. It’s not work at all. It’s where I’m supposed to be. It’s home. I love it.

I have time to knit again! I’ve missed it so much this summer. For some reason I had it in my head that I would have a lot of time to do my craftings while I was working 3 jobs. Wrong. So now that I actually have downtime again it’s been so nice to get into it little by little. And boy do I have a lot of projects to start AND finish. The list goes on but I think I’ll be able to get them done. Hopefully I’ll have some to blog about soon too!

So that’s what my life’s about lately. I’m sure there will be much more going on here as the days go on. 

In a New York state of mind

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The decision has been made. Come mid-November I will be making the move to the mecca of theatre, New York City!! It just feels right at this point in my life. I’m only 25, not married, and willing to work my ass off and live on ramen noodles. What more of a sign does a gal need?! While I had been leaning  towards this decision for a while it wasn’t a definite thing until my best friend said she was coming along too. Even though I have a ton of friends there at the moment it just feels better knowing that I’m not going alone.
Is it still a little scary? Oh heck yes. But I’m really excited for the challenge. I’ve never even visited there so I don’t have a clue if I’m even going to like it or not, though everyone tells me I will. My mom is slowly coming to terms with the idea but I think she acts more okay than she really is to show her support. The rest of my family is doing the same. I think they’ve come to realize that I’m going to do what I have to do regardless, and this is something that I really feel that I need to do.
I don’t want to wake up one morning, be 45, and realize that I never even gave it a shot. The way I see it, even if I’m over the whole thing in a week, I can at least say that I tried. I took the leap. And what a leap it will be.
The idea of the high rent and general cost of living on top of my school loans is the thing that gives me the most anxiety. I’m so nervous that I’ll get there and even 2 jobs won’t be enough to keep my afloat. The last thing I want to do is fall back into debt and have to move back home to dig myself out. It was humiliating and disappointing enough 2 years ago.
So that’s that! It’s official! And I couldn’t be more thrilled. The closer I get to November and the more I say it out loud the more tangible it seems. I’m really doing this. Come hell or high water (NOT an Isaac reference) and I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

a good thing

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I haven’t done any theatre since I moved home and I’ve been dieing to get involved in anything.  It kills me to know that I have this degree…this very expensive degree…that’s not being used for a damn thing. And as much as I would love to get paid for it, such theatre positions are few and far between in these parts. There was a large part of me that had given up any hope to really get into threatre while I am living here.

A couple weeks ago I had the inkling to talk to a friend of mine about volunteering at the high school we went to, for their musical in the winter. I figured since it’s high school it wouldn’t be such a big time commitment that I would be able to keep working my 2 jobs. After messaging my friend he quickly informed me that he wasn’t working at the high school, but he was working at the community college’s theatre as their sound technician. He also happened to mention that they could always use some extra help around the theatre and that they were opening a show that weekend. Music to my ears. So last Wednesday I made my way to the college. From the moment I walked in I felt at home….where I belonged. For the rest of the week and into the weekend I spent my nights at the theatre, first in Tech, then into performances. And this week has been the same.

It’s been great. Busy but great. I haven’t felt this fulfilled and happy in a really long time. The people I’m working with are so welcoming and it’s been so fun getting to know them. It’s like being among my people again. They understand my weird because they have the same weird…it’s the weird that made us decide at one point in our lives that we were willing to starve for our love of theatre. {Ok, maybe not starve, but you see what I mean.} The point is, I couldn’t be happier. Being at the theatre has been like a ray of sunshine that I very badly needed. I feel a little more alive these days….like I’m in the right place at the right time. The stars have aligned.

So I guess it’s safe to say that this isn’t a good thing…it’s a damn great thing.

the itch

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I’ve got the itch. The itch to get up and go. I can’t help but feel like there is so much I’m missing by living at home and not pursuing my career right now.

Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach FL

I miss the theatre. The hustle and bustle of getting ready for opening night. The hard work that goes into making a show come together. Getting to know a group of people you’ve never met before and knowing that that combination will never be recreated.

I miss living in a place brimming with culture. With night life. A place with Saturday morning markets and hole-in-the-wall cafes. A place where there are tons of opportunities to do anything! New people to meet every day.

But I’m in a corner. My school loans keep me at home where I don’t have to pay rent. At home where I have 3 jobs handed to me. At home, a place I told myself I would never get stuck in. And here I am, feeling as stuck as ever.

My only consolation is that hopefully a year from now I will be able to make some kind of move. For my career and for my sanity. Here’s hoping.