Aerial Day 7
I was so excited for Week 7 because we were going to work on Spanish Web again. I had been waiting since the first time we tried it to revisit it. We worked on the hand routine we had learned the first time, but today we were allowed to try a foot routine. The foot web is when you put your foot through the loop and hang by an ankle rather than hang by a wrist.
This is a video we got of my first time doing foot web:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMsKrjf4uCo
Spanish Web became even more of my favorite after learning foot web. I love how the other parts of my body can take over and not be held back by me feet or my back for once. It's very freeing and very comfortable for me.
Circus Day 7
On Circus Day 7, we worked on tumbling as normal, and then split into our groups. This time, however, we split up in one group to work on the hand routine and the other to work on the foot routine. I went with foot routine group to try again. Unfortunately, the rope burn you get with Spanish Web makes it painful to work for long periods of time. I would do it all day long if I could. After web, our group worked on Rolling Globe. Rolling Globe is still just as difficult as it was the first time. I was a fine at it, but it is a very nerve racking ground skill.
Aerial Day 8
On our last day of Aerial, we worked on duo trapeze. At first, I was disappointed that we were working on trapeze again instead of something like lyra or silks, but after we started working on the duo trapeze, my disappointment went away. It was so much fun. I loved all of the partnered arts we learned. It was a lot of fun to work with a partner and learn how to listen and adjust to how they moved. It's things like this that I have been interested in since my dance days. While others were working on trapeze, the instructors had a lyra down that we could work on, which I loved. It gave me one last chance to revisit it one more time before the end of the session. Another girl and I kept practicing the duo lyra routine, so I was a happy camper.
Here is a video of the duo trapeze routine I learned with Chris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCRdGSSqgm4
Circus Day 8
On our last day, we did our usual tumbling moves: somersaults, backwards rolls, dolphin rolls, handstands and handstand roll-downs. This time, however, we went in lines of four across the floor and we did the moves all together in time to the music. That was a neat exploration of ensemble work, which we really hadn't looked at during my time there. We then worked on the same duo trapeze routine as the day before, which was fun to have another shot at. After trapeze, we brought some silks down and did synchronized silk knot routines together, which was also interesting. However, with the different skill and strength levels in the classroom, some couldn't keep up with others, but it was still interesting to explore working together and creating a group piece. It was a good way to end the session.
Overall, my experience at the Actor's Gym was priceless. The classes reopened a door that I thought was closed for a long time. I had really missed dance and movement, and these classes gave me an opportunity to learn a new form of dance that doesn't allow my physical handicaps to keep me from doing what I love. It was a really special summer for me, and it changed my perspective on my body and its capabilities. I have caught the Aerial Arts Bug, and I cannot wait to find a way to continue training in this new and exciting art form.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Summer STC Internship
Earlier this summer I participated in the Story Theatre Company production of Willy Wonka Jr.
I was one of 2 set builders on the show. Our process was different than any other process I've ever been a part of. First of all, this was the only time I have ever built a show from scratch without a whole team working on it. Second, I got to work closely with the designer of the show, and he was also the other set builder (Andre). Since Andre and I have worked together in the past it was easy for us to get started. We had limited time to work on the project, and I was also taking 12 credits of summer classes, and working anywhere from 20-35 hours a week at work, so that constricted things a bit more. We had a lot of late nights trying to get things done. I learned a lot throughout the process about set building and scenic painting. I used what knowledge I had obtained over the past year in school towards this project, and I learned so much more throughout it. I also figured out that every shop is drastically different. Over the summer we were working with space and equipment that might not have been completely adequate to do the work that we were trying to do, so we had to learn to cope with that and make do with what we had. There was quite a bit of things we had to figure out how to make with what we had. It really made me miss working in Fisher. It was overall a really good learning experience in all aspects of set building.
I was one of 2 set builders on the show. Our process was different than any other process I've ever been a part of. First of all, this was the only time I have ever built a show from scratch without a whole team working on it. Second, I got to work closely with the designer of the show, and he was also the other set builder (Andre). Since Andre and I have worked together in the past it was easy for us to get started. We had limited time to work on the project, and I was also taking 12 credits of summer classes, and working anywhere from 20-35 hours a week at work, so that constricted things a bit more. We had a lot of late nights trying to get things done. I learned a lot throughout the process about set building and scenic painting. I used what knowledge I had obtained over the past year in school towards this project, and I learned so much more throughout it. I also figured out that every shop is drastically different. Over the summer we were working with space and equipment that might not have been completely adequate to do the work that we were trying to do, so we had to learn to cope with that and make do with what we had. There was quite a bit of things we had to figure out how to make with what we had. It really made me miss working in Fisher. It was overall a really good learning experience in all aspects of set building.
CLE Internship part 5 (Last gig)
so this week was an away gig in Monona Iowa about 15 miles from Wisconsin (where our hotel was)
for this install we were doing the entire fly system, however, it was all dead hung so we didn't have to rig up any arbors or head blocks.
well anyways, here is a pic of the space right before we started. notice that there is nothing hanging from the above the stage yet.
Day one we arrived at 8am as per usual and guess what? we ran into problems that weren't our fault at all. we use these special clamps to hang all the points directly from the the building truss. well, the architect told us that the building truss was 5 inches wide. well, someone putting the building together never got the memo that all of the truss was supposed to have a 5 inch width, so they put 4 inch wide truss where all of our points needed to go, and even 3 inch truss on the sides. well, luckily we could have the clamps we needed over-nighted to us and we had a full day of work we could do without the clamps.so, after we figured out that fiasco, we off loaded the truck and assembled the battens, and went over them with some paint to make sure there was no bare metal showing (to keep them from rusting) then we laid out all of the points on the ground with tape so we could just put a laser in the spot so we would know where it goes on the grid. oddly enough, that took all day. (10 hours of work)
Day 2 the beam clamps weren't going to be there until about lunch time so we went over the second half of the pipes with some touch up paint. we also assembled the raceways for the electrics, and the track for the main curtain. after that we went to lunch. when we got back we finally had the beam clamps we needed!so we started hanging all of our points and had the majority of them up by the end of the day. (10 hours of work)
Day 3 we finished hanging all of our points but some of them were really weird because we never got any beam clamps for 3 inch truss sections. the system designer decided to use some eye bolts and washers that hung in the center of the beams. (if you are confused let me try and explain, this is kind of what the truss looks like.
the top and bottom beams are two sections of angle iron back to back. the eye bolt goes between those sections of angle iron and the washers support all of the weight. (there are washers on both sides of the beam to clamp it in place))
after all of the points were up we got the electrics and curtain track up. then we went home for the day. (10 hours of work)
day 4 we finished putting up the last two pipes and leveled everything out, then we went through and moused everything (zip tied everything in a way so it couldn't untwist or come loose) and we were done. (4 hours of work) for a total of about 108 hours for the summer.
and here is an image of the finished project. It doesn't look like much but there were a lot more complications that would have taken way more time to explain then i have at the moment. if you really want to know, ask about it next time you see me.
for this install we were doing the entire fly system, however, it was all dead hung so we didn't have to rig up any arbors or head blocks.
well anyways, here is a pic of the space right before we started. notice that there is nothing hanging from the above the stage yet.
Day one we arrived at 8am as per usual and guess what? we ran into problems that weren't our fault at all. we use these special clamps to hang all the points directly from the the building truss. well, the architect told us that the building truss was 5 inches wide. well, someone putting the building together never got the memo that all of the truss was supposed to have a 5 inch width, so they put 4 inch wide truss where all of our points needed to go, and even 3 inch truss on the sides. well, luckily we could have the clamps we needed over-nighted to us and we had a full day of work we could do without the clamps.so, after we figured out that fiasco, we off loaded the truck and assembled the battens, and went over them with some paint to make sure there was no bare metal showing (to keep them from rusting) then we laid out all of the points on the ground with tape so we could just put a laser in the spot so we would know where it goes on the grid. oddly enough, that took all day. (10 hours of work)
Day 2 the beam clamps weren't going to be there until about lunch time so we went over the second half of the pipes with some touch up paint. we also assembled the raceways for the electrics, and the track for the main curtain. after that we went to lunch. when we got back we finally had the beam clamps we needed!so we started hanging all of our points and had the majority of them up by the end of the day. (10 hours of work)
Day 3 we finished hanging all of our points but some of them were really weird because we never got any beam clamps for 3 inch truss sections. the system designer decided to use some eye bolts and washers that hung in the center of the beams. (if you are confused let me try and explain, this is kind of what the truss looks like.
the top and bottom beams are two sections of angle iron back to back. the eye bolt goes between those sections of angle iron and the washers support all of the weight. (there are washers on both sides of the beam to clamp it in place))after all of the points were up we got the electrics and curtain track up. then we went home for the day. (10 hours of work)
day 4 we finished putting up the last two pipes and leveled everything out, then we went through and moused everything (zip tied everything in a way so it couldn't untwist or come loose) and we were done. (4 hours of work) for a total of about 108 hours for the summer.
and here is an image of the finished project. It doesn't look like much but there were a lot more complications that would have taken way more time to explain then i have at the moment. if you really want to know, ask about it next time you see me.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Actor's Gym Day 15 & 16/Reflection
Hello all,
Yes my time at the Actor's Gym is done. For now. The last two days have been a blast at the Actor's Gym. It was fun before, but now it was just a blast.
In aerial on tuesday we went to trapeze again. I really do love trapeze. What made it even more fun though is that we did Double Trapeze. What's more fun than trapeze? 2 people on a trapeze. This was a ton of fun. A little scary at first, but after that it was a ton of fun. I'll post a video down below. This was a lot of fun and a really good test of the things we have learned throughout the summer.
We also did double trapeze in circus as well. That's where I got the video. It's all the same routine from the 2 days. We also worked on double lyra and learned a new silk knot routine. Before all of this for our acrobatics part of the class we worked on doing the things we have learned in sync. So we lined up into lines of four across and did forward rolls, dolphin rolls, backward rolls, and handstand roll-downs in sync. As well as we could. This was brought up again when we had four silk knots down at once and did the new silk knot routine in sync as much as we could. It all ended up looking really cool. Everyone was in a very good mood today which made it even more fun.
I really enjoyed my time at the Actor's Gym. I learned so much and stuff that'll come in useful in the future projects at ISU. I really fell in love with circus arts having come here. It is something I very well could pursue more in the future. I talked to Sylvia about coming back next summer for the Intensive Summer program. I'll need to save up my money, but she said it would be something that would be very good for me to look into. I thought that was nice, because she believed in me. The summer intensive program is very intense and full of students who are very good so to hear her say that meant a lot. Having done research on some of the collaborations and past projects the Actor's Gym has worked on really blew my mind. I would be more than happy to come back. It gave me a little more incentive on considering Chicago as an option to moving to in the future. In retrospect it was a pretty awesome summer.
Thanks,
-Chris
Yes my time at the Actor's Gym is done. For now. The last two days have been a blast at the Actor's Gym. It was fun before, but now it was just a blast.
In aerial on tuesday we went to trapeze again. I really do love trapeze. What made it even more fun though is that we did Double Trapeze. What's more fun than trapeze? 2 people on a trapeze. This was a ton of fun. A little scary at first, but after that it was a ton of fun. I'll post a video down below. This was a lot of fun and a really good test of the things we have learned throughout the summer.
We also did double trapeze in circus as well. That's where I got the video. It's all the same routine from the 2 days. We also worked on double lyra and learned a new silk knot routine. Before all of this for our acrobatics part of the class we worked on doing the things we have learned in sync. So we lined up into lines of four across and did forward rolls, dolphin rolls, backward rolls, and handstand roll-downs in sync. As well as we could. This was brought up again when we had four silk knots down at once and did the new silk knot routine in sync as much as we could. It all ended up looking really cool. Everyone was in a very good mood today which made it even more fun.
I really enjoyed my time at the Actor's Gym. I learned so much and stuff that'll come in useful in the future projects at ISU. I really fell in love with circus arts having come here. It is something I very well could pursue more in the future. I talked to Sylvia about coming back next summer for the Intensive Summer program. I'll need to save up my money, but she said it would be something that would be very good for me to look into. I thought that was nice, because she believed in me. The summer intensive program is very intense and full of students who are very good so to hear her say that meant a lot. Having done research on some of the collaborations and past projects the Actor's Gym has worked on really blew my mind. I would be more than happy to come back. It gave me a little more incentive on considering Chicago as an option to moving to in the future. In retrospect it was a pretty awesome summer.
Thanks,
-Chris
American Shakespeare Center
It's officially my last week here at ASC and to be honest I almost can't believe how much I've learned. This last week I've gotten the chance to learn about taking blocking notes and it has been a really great experience. A great tip for blocking notes is write everything down. For a touring show they have to have multiple blocking options so that they can adjust to different spaces. For example when rehearsing in Tyson (the rehearsal hall) the actors walk through curtains, but when they are in the theatre upstairs where the shows are held during the spring season they have doors and they have to have different plans for different areas. It's been fascinating to do blocking notes because I have gotten the chance to see how movement differs, parallels and shapes different scenes. Blocking tells the story in its own way and it's amazing to watch it do that. For example today we worked on a scene between Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Falstaff is hidden behind the center curtain in the discovery space in order to avoid Mistress Page seeing him, but Mistress Page knows he is there and is part of the trick that Mistress Ford is playing on him to get him back for trying to woo them. The blocking consists of a lot of back and forth movement around the buck-basket (laundry basket) which is the primary focus of the scene. They are running around trying to get Falstaff to appear out of the curtain so they can hide him in the buck-basket and send him to "Datchet Meade" with the dirty laundry. (What they really do is send him with two servants and dump him in the Thames) The movement of the scene shows the fun the women are having trying to trick him. It gives the audience a glimpse of the characters playfulness as they "act" their way through getting Falstaff into the basket. The women have the plan set up but the plan hasn't exactly been scripted out. It is so much fun to watch, and this is only in act one. I would talk about other blocking but I don't want to give away too many ASC secrets.
This company has been a really amazing company to work with and learn from. They are wonderfully professional and I have learned a lot in working with them. I definitely recommend this company for anyone who desires to work in the Shakespeare world one day. My advice though is this . . . show up to work ready to work. At ASC they put in 8 hours of hard work creating a quality play and everyone who shows up for work is there for a reason and is probably there because they are passionate about it, when you aren't ready or if you don't put a hundred percent into your job, they get behind and that's not good for them since they are extremely limited on time. Also know when to speak up and also how to speak up. If you decide to intern at ASC it's best to talk to your boss about your idea before blurting it out, that's not to say don't come up with ideas or don't talk to anyone about it. I came up with a few ideas talked to my boss and he presented them at the meetings, it's a better way to go as an intern because we have to remember that we are there to learn and observe first and foremost so it's better to lay low and observe how things get done before trying to change them. We have a lot of projects at school that we work on, on our own where we get artistic freedom. My last piece of advice for ASC (and this applies to any internship) is have fun, and don't be afraid to try something different for your internship. I once heard Dennis Quaid say he loved college theatre because it was the place where he could fail and it was okay, unlike in the real world when you do badly in a scene and get your paycheck docked or get fired. I believe that advice applies to internships as well. Internships are our chance to see what's out there, to test what we can do, so why not do that? Shakespeare is something I have loved since I was 9 but I've never really been given the chance to really try it, and to really learn it. Now I've had the chance, and to be honest I'm even more in love with Shakespeare than I was before. I got to talk to directors, stage managers, and actors about Macbeth, Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, and Merry Wives of Windsor. Not to mention I got to watch two different directors and their methods of directing Shakespeare. I have learned a lot in terms of acting techniques, directing techniques, stage management techniques, and proffesionalism. It's been an amazing experience and I absolutely cannot wait to see what next year's internship will bring.
This company has been a really amazing company to work with and learn from. They are wonderfully professional and I have learned a lot in working with them. I definitely recommend this company for anyone who desires to work in the Shakespeare world one day. My advice though is this . . . show up to work ready to work. At ASC they put in 8 hours of hard work creating a quality play and everyone who shows up for work is there for a reason and is probably there because they are passionate about it, when you aren't ready or if you don't put a hundred percent into your job, they get behind and that's not good for them since they are extremely limited on time. Also know when to speak up and also how to speak up. If you decide to intern at ASC it's best to talk to your boss about your idea before blurting it out, that's not to say don't come up with ideas or don't talk to anyone about it. I came up with a few ideas talked to my boss and he presented them at the meetings, it's a better way to go as an intern because we have to remember that we are there to learn and observe first and foremost so it's better to lay low and observe how things get done before trying to change them. We have a lot of projects at school that we work on, on our own where we get artistic freedom. My last piece of advice for ASC (and this applies to any internship) is have fun, and don't be afraid to try something different for your internship. I once heard Dennis Quaid say he loved college theatre because it was the place where he could fail and it was okay, unlike in the real world when you do badly in a scene and get your paycheck docked or get fired. I believe that advice applies to internships as well. Internships are our chance to see what's out there, to test what we can do, so why not do that? Shakespeare is something I have loved since I was 9 but I've never really been given the chance to really try it, and to really learn it. Now I've had the chance, and to be honest I'm even more in love with Shakespeare than I was before. I got to talk to directors, stage managers, and actors about Macbeth, Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, and Merry Wives of Windsor. Not to mention I got to watch two different directors and their methods of directing Shakespeare. I have learned a lot in terms of acting techniques, directing techniques, stage management techniques, and proffesionalism. It's been an amazing experience and I absolutely cannot wait to see what next year's internship will bring.
Recap of Legally Blonde
After a practically straight month of shows, Legally Blonde has officially finished its run at the playhouse. This show was really fun to work on and audiences seemed to enjoy themselves every night. The show also stayed strong until the very end, despite actors getting sick and suffering through and still managing to sound amazing. I am so happy I was able to be involved with this show where I actually got to do something and feel like I was really apart of something awesome. Also managed to not get sick myself! (which sadly is a feat since at least half of the cast and crew was sick at some point)
I am both sad and happy that its over, doing the same thing can be exhausting and I can probably quote the whole show verbatim. Not to mention I still have all the songs in my head and have also listened to the soundtrack on spotify (its catchy ok?! don't judge me).
Now the stage has been striked to make way for Fiddler on the Roof which, I believe, is the Des Moines Playhouse's next main stage show.
I am both sad and happy that its over, doing the same thing can be exhausting and I can probably quote the whole show verbatim. Not to mention I still have all the songs in my head and have also listened to the soundtrack on spotify (its catchy ok?! don't judge me).
Now the stage has been striked to make way for Fiddler on the Roof which, I believe, is the Des Moines Playhouse's next main stage show.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Actor's Gym Days 13 & 14
Hello all,
I'm going to fill you in on my recent adventures with he actor's gym. So last weekend Elizabeth and I got to usher the summer intensive show. That is a different program than the one we are in. These performers were high school through college aged. But they were very, very good. Some of the stuff was stuff we had learned or touched on, and then they would pull out some trick that was absolutely astounding. Really talented bunch of people. I liked seeing the show with a little bit of knowledge because then I could sort of judge how difficult a trick might be based on the stuff I know now. It was a really great experience.
The last two classes we worked on Spanish Web again. I really enjoy doing Spanish Web. The interesting thing about it is that this is something I was sort of afraid of before coming to this. I used to have(not so much anymore) this fear of climbing. I don't know why. Heights never bothered me but just climbing always got to me. Now that fear is almost completely gone. How do I know that? Because we started working on a little routine called the Foot Web. What is Foot Web you ask? Well that means that you put your foot(rather than your hand) through the loop at the top so you are hanging just by one ankle. I never would have done thins before, but I was actually really excited to do it. I remember being a little nervous, but then I just thought, "I didn't come here to not learn something great." So I got up there and did it. It's kind of relaxing/ exhilarating. Minus all the weight on your ankle.
In circus We worked on Spanish Web some more. We tried tying all of the stuff we learned before with the hand web and the 8 loop routine with the new foot web stuff. My legs started shaking really bad because they were pretty worn out from the acrobatics stuff we did before. We did dive rolls and some really tough stretches. tougher than usual. We also started working on front tucks. That's just a front flip. I wanted to work on this for a while because I knew this was a trick I could land. I did land it so Sylvia's instructions became more of how to pretty it up. After all of that we went onto Rolling Globe again. I was very surprised at how much better I had gotten at it. Especially after only doing it once before.
That is all I have comrades,
-Chris
I'm going to fill you in on my recent adventures with he actor's gym. So last weekend Elizabeth and I got to usher the summer intensive show. That is a different program than the one we are in. These performers were high school through college aged. But they were very, very good. Some of the stuff was stuff we had learned or touched on, and then they would pull out some trick that was absolutely astounding. Really talented bunch of people. I liked seeing the show with a little bit of knowledge because then I could sort of judge how difficult a trick might be based on the stuff I know now. It was a really great experience.
The last two classes we worked on Spanish Web again. I really enjoy doing Spanish Web. The interesting thing about it is that this is something I was sort of afraid of before coming to this. I used to have(not so much anymore) this fear of climbing. I don't know why. Heights never bothered me but just climbing always got to me. Now that fear is almost completely gone. How do I know that? Because we started working on a little routine called the Foot Web. What is Foot Web you ask? Well that means that you put your foot(rather than your hand) through the loop at the top so you are hanging just by one ankle. I never would have done thins before, but I was actually really excited to do it. I remember being a little nervous, but then I just thought, "I didn't come here to not learn something great." So I got up there and did it. It's kind of relaxing/ exhilarating. Minus all the weight on your ankle.
In circus We worked on Spanish Web some more. We tried tying all of the stuff we learned before with the hand web and the 8 loop routine with the new foot web stuff. My legs started shaking really bad because they were pretty worn out from the acrobatics stuff we did before. We did dive rolls and some really tough stretches. tougher than usual. We also started working on front tucks. That's just a front flip. I wanted to work on this for a while because I knew this was a trick I could land. I did land it so Sylvia's instructions became more of how to pretty it up. After all of that we went onto Rolling Globe again. I was very surprised at how much better I had gotten at it. Especially after only doing it once before.
That is all I have comrades,
-Chris
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