Final Blog of Summer 2012

Now that I have some time to breathe, I will throw up my final post from Logan, WV and The Aracoma Story, Inc. 3 months ago, I drove 850 miles to Logan to work on 3 shows. The first show dealt with the story of Johnny Cash. It sharpened my carpenter skills with using tools like an old table saw that can only cut lumber under a foot and a very very old chop saw. Then, we moved onto the show the company was named after. The show tested our problem solving abilities. It was very similar to the Christmas Carol puzzle, but instead of just the platforms, we had to also piece together the foam pieces of the mountains. It also opened up the world of pyrotechnics. I learned how to load up 5 ft flash strip and safely fire it from back stage. Then we finished up with Winnie the Pooh. This was the show we could flex our creative muscles by creating 6 'houses'. With the aid of our Stage Manager/Head Scenic Designer, we brought the world of Pooh to life with 4 2D 'houses', details and 2 full 'houses'. I also have learned how to successfully run a spotlight for the first and last show. I have 3 days left, all of which will strike and clean up, before I make the 850 miles trek one more time. I would gladly come back next year if I can't find anything after I graduate. So for the last time, good bye from Logan and hello home!

Catching Up

Completely forgot to blog last week. Last week at the DMPH was Audition Workshop. Kids in grade 4-12 spent the week learning about auditioning and what that entails. I had the 5th and 6th graders. It was a unique week for me, my teacher became ill with pneumonia (he is recovering well). As a result, the last three days of the class were taught by me. I really enjoyed it. I got to work with the kids on things I find important, reflect what I learned in ISU classes last year. The kids I had were at that age where what I was teaching could either work well for them or be above their heads, but they were a very intelligent group, and handled the activities we did not only well, but applied them well. On their last day of class they did a mock audition for three of the playhouse directors, and were more than prepared. So overall a successful week, it was a bit daunting at first, having to take over teaching a  class the final three days, but it went very well and I got paid twice as much as I normally do, so works for me! This coming week is the final week of my internship, it is also the third week this summer where I am not an intern, but a teacher. I and two other teachers have 50 kids. With these kids we have the next five days to direct a 35 minute play about a time traveler who goes back in time to Arthurian Legend, Aladdin and his Lamp, and Aeschylus at the Dionysus festival. More to follow.

Little Mermaid JR opens today!!!

Today is the day Bye Bye Birdie opened last night and did great, now today Cinderalla Kids and Little Mermaid open!  I am so excited for the parents because they are really going to see how much work and how much talent their kid has.  Also the parents will see the most important thing of all how much fun their kids are having.  I am so excited I can barely wait!!!

Last Day

Technically my last official day was Sunday, but tomorrow I'll be doing my last day of work at the Playhouse for the summer. Fame Jr. went off well, and strike didn't take too long on Sunday which was great. The show turned out really well, although it's weird to see something you put so much effort into just evaporate without even being there for the final show. I guess I've never had that kind of experience before without the closure of a final show, so it was weird to just come back the next day, and it was done. This week we've been steadily working on Sunset Boulevard. The show is really interesting because there is a cutter/draper working on the show named Ginny who has worked in opera and theatre all over the nation, including the Guthrie. I've learned a lot from her about professional fittings and ways of doing little things like putting in shoulder pads that is great experience. I'm sad that the experience is over but also VERY excited to get back to Ames! This summer has been crazy and full of surprises, but I'm definitely glad I did my first internship in state so that way I know what I'm getting into next summer.

Tomorrow is dress rehearsal!

Today I got to turn our Ariel into an actual red head, I died her hair and it turned out beautiful.  I cannot believe how perfect it worked out and now we have dress rehearsal tomorrow, we perform for the other campers on Friday, then we open on Saturday! Oh ya we also perform on Sunday, and then clean up Monday.  This is going to be one amazing, but also very busy week.

Lighting will be set tonight!

It is so unreal how time flies so quickly and the next thing you know it we have Wednesday and Thursday before the kids perform for the rest of the camp.  Then on Saturday it is open to the public, I am so excited for them!!!  Today a few of us stayed after to help paint the set and then the lights got set.

Tech week!

Today was our first day of tech week and I would say it went pretty well. We had our first full run through and then after lunch did another one.  This week is going to be a tough one, but I can't wait to see what these     kids can do.  I have been learning how to better communicate with children and how the tone of your voice can really change the way you say something.  I think it will help a lot in the future.