PRT past week and a half update

Hola mis amigos. Como estas?

So it's been a little over a week since I have talked to you last and I'd like to go through a couple things and what has happened for me.

Starting off where I left off last time, we went to Apple River and camped for a night. Apple River consists of tying inner tubes together and floating for 3 hours, really fun, rocks hurt. It was so hot and humid that I literally sweated for a good two days straight. Hey, at least I'm keeping hydrated! That was on Monday, Tuesday we headed to Minneapolis and hit up the Mall of America where we shopped for a couple hours. Here the best thing happened to me. I was going to the bathroom (I know, but this is why it's the best thing) and in my stall I noticed an entertainment type of newspaper talking about movies and shows and what not. I was reading through it and saw that there was a production of Waiting For Godot that was being performed that weekend in an abandoned theater, unfortunately I couldn't go. Anyway on the back was an ad that said "God of Carnage now performing at the Guthrie" so me and Tamara (Ms. Tamara White accompanied me on my trip :) ) went and got rush tickets for God of Carnage at 730 in the Guthrie proscenium stage. And let me tell you that it was really really good. The set was great, acting was good, and all in all very funny. After the show we met up with an old friend of Tamara's and had a few drinks (I didn't because I was driving) and hit the road and got home at 4 am...

Wednesday came and it was our last performance of Arsenic and Old Lace, kind of bitter sweet. We had a really good house for that night and things were going really well. However, we have a company member who decided to change up the ending a bit (he's a principle character mind you) and "come back to life" after I have supposedly knocked him out. This little event was not known by the 3 of us characters onstage at the moment and when that happened what do I do? I instinctively tackle him back to the ground and hit him in the head one more time. not even thinking, it was pretty sweet, love being in the moment. We played it off like we knew what we were doing but behind the scenes I was not a happy camper. Our patrons pay to see the same show every night and when things like this happens, well, it's just not professional. So strike for the AOL came after and that came down quickly as well for being a big set. After we were done loading the U haul with AOL we started building Crazy for You. So the biggest problem I have had with this company is that the majority of members will sit there and talk and complain rather than work. We all knew it was going to be a long night, but it doesn't help when some of the people just stand there and complain how they aren't going to get to bed til 4am. There were 2 units that I guarantee wouldn't have gotten done if I hadn't started on them. And people wonder why I get frustrated. Anyway we got CFY damn near complete when we decided to head back to Brookings. There we had to then unpack AOL from the truck. We didn't get done till 330am that morning and we had rehearsal for CFY at 11am. Love rep!

So we had a pick up rehearsal on Thursday which went well and then a performance that night. You could tell that it was dragging and we were lacking energy because we had only 5 hours of sleep and then a rehearsal which should be counted as a performance with how hard we went. I personally stayed to get things done with the set and then performance. *phew* Busy, busy.

Just a side note, it's really hard to perform two different shows back to back in two days. Well, not necessarily hard but it's exhausting. Two different characters in two days as well. But it was fun nonetheless. and this actually added up to 8 straight performances for audiences. My endurance has grown so much in that sense. Crazy for You's run went really well and I'm glad that I'm finally done with performing for the summer. Now I can just relax. Another note, the actor who changed the ending for AOL is also in the ensemble for CFY, and he is the type of person not to care if he's in the ensemble. Decided to instead of actively listen and help tell the story, decides to come up with new bits and one liners ever night to make people laugh, however, that pulls focus and messes up timing with the others onstage who are actually trying to put on the show that was directed. I have to write a paper at the end of the summer and so I'll put it up and that'll have more details.

Other than the little things I really am still having a good time here, unfortunately I only have a week left. I'm going to miss everyone here. The major things I have learned are that I'm patient, hard working, can put on multiple shows in days, my people skills are still good, and I have learned not to put up with dumb people, if I have a choice. Along with my shop skills and tap skills I think this whole experience was great and I learned a lot I wouldn't have if I would have stayed home and done a community theater show or something. I don't regret anything that I have done this summer and can't wait to get back and show everyone what I have learned about myself and theatre.