So much time and so little to do!

Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.

Yes, that's a quote from Willy Wonka.

I haven't written a blog post in a few weeks, mostly because there's just been SO MUCH going on that every time I think about sitting down to write about it, my head spins and it seems like a completely impossible task. But as my supportive Mom pointed out recently, it will help me a lot in writing my retrospective and in collecting my thoughts about the semester if I'm documenting the things that happen to me as I go. This is unmistakeably true. Momma knows best, I guess.
So my goal for the evening is to write a comprehensible blog post that encompasses as much of the goings on of the past few weeks and my thoughts and analyses on these events. Oy.

A Chorus Line is looming nearer and nearer on the horizon and I can't help but wonder where my semester went! I'm just now starting to feel totally physically normal (like a real human being!) Although I wish that my body had been in better condition earlier in the semester so that I could have been very active from the start, I still feel like I've been learning and accomplishing an extraordinarily large number of things in the months since I moved to the city.
My turn to direct a scene in the show is coming up next week and I'm feeling a little bit nervous about it. Directing isn't something that I've ever done before in any formal setting, but I'm hoping that I get the hang of it. I only just recently realized how important directing skills will be to me in the future if I want to pursue a career in community organizing/building through a theatre troupe of some sort. Also, directing skills are just important, in general.

I've noticed that one of my dominant personality traits is both a blessing and a curse. I have a habit of taking on many tasks at one time and balancing them all on my back. This sort of stubborn independence is partially a result of me wanting to do things my way and partially a result of feeling like, because my various co-workers know that I tend to take on too much but do a very good job, I sometimes get this independent work thrust upon me. And I have trouble saying no.

As a result of this trait, I'm currently working very hard (with one or two other helpers) to raise the $2500 that LoMATE needs so that they stay afloat by going door-to-door at local,privately-owned businesses on the Lower East Side and asking them for donations (monetary and in-kind.) I'm making phone calls, I'm designing and writing the program for the play. I attend most of the production team meetings. I make annoying phone calls to kids that are late to rehearsal. I'm getting a close peek into the behind-the-scenes parts of putting on a production. Before this semester, I had never put much thought into budgets or the reality of what it takes to build a set or stage a full-cast dance number or put together a pit orchestra. I always thought of myself as being very much in the thick of the production process for various shows I've been in, but now that I realize what really goes into putting on a show, I realize that actors are somewhat outsiders. Are actors the important parts of a play or musical? Are they just replaceable stand-ins whose job is to make other people's designs look good/bring other people's blocking and direction to life? What exactly is the ACTOR's job? Just a few questions.

In terms of community building, I've noticed an interesting phenomenon. The kids who are in the Central 20 have developed a sort of easy repartee. The kids in the chorus have not been required to attend as many rehearsals as the Central 20, and therefore, they aren't as well-adjusted in the cast OR as comfortable in their own skin making fools of themselves, or even fully acting. I think that, in the future, if I'm ever given the opportunity to direct a show like this, I would make sure that the cast as a whole had a lot of group process work (Viewpoints,style. I'm a big fan of Anne Bogart's stuff) at the beginning of the rehearsal process, and also throughout, maybe as part of their daily warm-up. It's so important to establish a strong ensemble dynamic because if you don't feel comfortable being yourself in front of a group of people, then how will you feel comfortable acting in front of them, and more importantly, with them? You have to be able to make a fool of yourself and fully commit to it, otherwise the performance will look silly. It's funny how silliness on stage only translates to silliness when you aren't being totally silly and committing fully to your silliness.

Work for Hashomer is getting crazy as we prepare for summer camp, where I will be sharing the position of "Rosh Tarbut" aka Head of Culture (/programming/making the summer awesome.) We're in the midst of making the job list and I'm still planning seminars for the kids in the Manhattan/Jersey area. I'm also beginning to think about the theatre curriculum that I want to run this summer as an elective. I'm going to totally be in charge of that mission and I want it tobe a group that people can really commit to. I hope it doesn't fall through because even though it's going to be a lot of extra work, I'm really really really looking forward to it. I plan on having a set warm up for every day and maybe a different theme for every week (i.e. monologues or character building, etc.) I want the kids to be constantly working on things but also playing games and experimenting and becoming more comfortable in their own skin, which is the ultimate goal of the theatre, to me. I'd really really like help with thinking about and planning this curriculum. Any guidance from my two lovely advisers (who know a whole lot more about this than I do!) would be super great and helpful!

Anyway, it's getting late and I'm going to Providence tomorrow and still have plenty to do! Excuse the rambling, you can look forward to another blog post in the NEAR future (much nearer than last time, I promise.)

Thanks for reading, buddies.

Queen Allie.