Thought for the day - workshop theatre

Back in the day at UNCG, we had workshop theater every Monday.  i don't know if they still have it or not..the program has changed so much since i was there.  But, in those days, lots of my colleagues did their best work during workshop theater.  And let's face it, it was fun.  It was during my junior year that i really started coming into my own as an actor.  i had my first two large roles during that spring semester but it all started for me in the fall.  During one of the first workshops of the semester, i performed in 2 different half hour shows.  i went from being a 9 year old boy in Ramona Quimby to a 40 something with a marriage on the rocks in Lips Together, Teeth Apart.

Today, though, i'm going to talk about Ramona Quimby.  i had never really done much children's theater before this.  And i loved it.  It was directed by Katie Arjona...who went on to direct the full length version for her thesis. (i didn't get into the full length production because my professors felt i needed experience doing classical work...blah) i remember auditioning for the workshop and Katie had me reading for the role of the Dad.  Admittedly, i was boring in that role and didn't give a great audition.  Then she asked me to read for the role of Howie, Ramona's best friend.  i think it was because she had run out of people to read for the part LOL  Anyway, i had a blast reading that role and it was so much fun.  She ended up casting me.

We had a great time rehearsing.  We had a cast of much varied experience.  Freshmen through graduate students.  But it was a blast.  What i remember most was all of the fun we had being kids.  All of my scenes were with Andrea as Ramona, Tammy as Susan and Melissa as Mrs. Griggs. It was just so much fun and what a wonderful experience to be a kid again.

The other day i ran across an old video tape i have of this workshop and that's what brought this all to mind.  i had forgotten how much fun theatre can be.  Just to be free and to play and to have those connections with other people.  Just being silly.  It was wonderful.  i remember that after the show was over, Melissa, who was directing her thesis for the NC Theatre for Young People, apologized to me for not calling me back for her show.  She didn't think i could convincingly play a child but told me i proved her wrong.  That was a great compliment from a great friend and actress.

Bottom line, there were times that theatre was so much fun.  They are memories i will carry with me the rest of my life.  And i have to admit that of all the productions i've ever done, Ramona Quimby ranks right up at the top of the list.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

1.  Pigs

2.  Fortune cookies

3.  Trumpet Voluntary

4.  Light Brite

5.  Agnes Moorehead in Pollyanna

6.  Our unexpected patio garden

7.  Yellow Iris

8.  Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi

9.  Morning dew

10.  Hamburgers on the grill

Faith and reflection - It Is Well With My Soul

i chose this hymn today because i love its melody.  This piano arrangement by David Baroni is beautiful. And while this version is instrumental only, i do love this hymns lyrics.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

In today's highly charged climate, finding peace and contentment is a precious commodity.  When you find it, hold it dear.

Thought for the day

Today, i am admittedly a bad church goer.  i allowed myself to sleep in today and when i got up, i just decided to have a slow, easy morning.  i think God will understand that.  Lately, Sunday is the only day of the week that i can sleep in.  Monday through Saturday, i'm up by 5:30 a.m.  So, today i treated myself to sleeping in til 7:30.

Now, that may not seem like much, but it definitely is to me.  And, of course, white kitty let me know that her breakfast was late this morning.  Squirt still wasn't ready to get up, so he just got out of bed and went and slept in his basket.  But, it has been a nice morning for me.  i listened to the 2nd half of With Heart and Voice on NPR while i checked my email.  Read the paper.  Worked on laundry.   Did dishes.  Took Squirt out for a few walks.  And now i have the rest of my day ahead of me.

It may not seem like much to some people, but it truly is nice to have one day where i do not have to be anywhere at any certain time or have to get things done.  While i am getting things done, i am doing it at my own pace and that is a glorious luxury!  Now, i do not plan on getting in the habit of not going to church.  i love my church.  Just every now and then a person needs a break.  As we learn in social work, self care is a vital part of life.  So, today's just a day of self care for me!

Now, on to today's other adventures!

Cheers

Quote

"Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others."

                                                                                     Martin Luther King Jr.

showtune of the week - Children of Eden

i chose the title song to Stephen Schwartz's musical Children of Eden.  This recording (which is not associated with the picture on the video) is from the original production done at the Papermill Playhouse.  Stephanie Mills plays the role of Eve and she sings this to her children as she is ending her journey on Earth.  i watched a video of this show that SMT did in 1998 recently and it brought back a lot of wonderful memories.  Sometimes i forget how beautiful this entire score is.  If you haven't heard it, give it a listen!

Thought for the day

Today has just been one of those days.  i told myself when i got up this morning that i was not going to put pressure on myself to accomplish anything.  So, i suppose in that way i succeeded.  But that's not necessarily a good thing either.  What i meant by that is that today i did not want to work from my lists and put pressure on myself to get everything done on that list.  Some days, that can get intimidating.  Especially on my days off because i do not want to feel like i have wasted my day.

i started off ok.  i decided that i was going to clean the office...go through things, organize, sort, get rid of, ect.  After about 2 hours, i had cleaned out my desk, set up the card table and made piles of different kinds of things to sort.  So far so good.  But, then it was time for lunch. i took about a half hour break to stop and fix lunch and eat.  After that, all went to hell. i came back to the office from eating lunch and just about broke down.  It was so overwhelming to see all of this stuff everywhere.  i tried to keep my composure and i started going through the bottom drawer of my desk...where i had left off.  This drawer is full of things from Grandmother's.  Actually, most of the desk drawers are full of her stuff.  But these were things like Mom's 2nd grade report card.  Her baby book.  There were 2 envelopes of strands of hair, i think from Mom when she was a baby.  Pictures, letters, Grandmother's college sketch book.  Just all sorts of family history things.  And as much as i enjoyed looking at them, it did feel somewhat burdening as well.  i will not get rid of these in my lifetime, but i have to stop and wonder who will want them some day if anyone?  And of course, this opens up a flood gate of thoughts and feelings and regrets and i just didn't have time for that today, nor the energy.

i slowly got every put back in place not feeling much a sense of accomplishment other than i remembered where everything went.  One day, i'll do better with my time and until then, i'll just hope for the best.

Cheers