Dreams and Jobs: Can We Have Harmony?

I am working a second job, and have been for a while. It’s a contracted job, and I only work various Saturday mornings for three hours at a time (the extra cash is very nice, let me tell you). Recently, this employer offered me more hours on a regular basis; about ten additional hours a week. She said this is because she really appreciates my ability and would like to work with me more and possibly have this be a permanent job in the future. I had to weigh this in my mind and discuss it with Ryan for a while before I could make a decision. Would it mean more income? Yes. Would it mean more experience? Of course. Is this how I want to spend the free time that I have? Possibly. It finally came down to this: will this second job help to advance my dreams or will it hinder them?

The answer that I eventually came to was that it will possibly become an obstacle. This second job has nothing to do with acting or theatre, and I told her the truth. I need the weekends open for possible rehearsal times. Do I want to be able to pay off student loans sooner rather than later? Yes, yes I do. But this is not the way. I need theatre in order to survive emotionally and socially. I thanked her, and said I was flattered. I also said that I am at a point in my life where I need to chase my dreams, however frivolous they may seem to others.

I have to try.

I don’t want to wake up in thirty years and wonder what might have been if I had just tried a little harder, and let go of material things for a while in order to be the artist that my soul needs to be. Will I be successful? Who knows, and honestly, I don’t count success as “making it big” (though I wouldn’t complain). For me to be successful at this dream, I simply need to participate in any way that I can. Be it on stage, off stage, directing, or sweeping floors, I will do what I have to do in order to be a part of something that really matters to me.

Right now I’m acting for Katrina in her directing final. The script she chose is heartbreakingly beautiful. Please come and see it if you can – December 14th, 10:00am at NU’s theatre. Also, I just got a part in The Seven Year Itch at Redwood Theatre in Redmond, playing Miss Morris. I’m pretty excited about that. Performances will be Fri's-Sun's in February of next year. I’ll give more details when it gets closer.

What are you doing to follow your dreams? Now is the time to live – let’s do it. I hope that we can honor the King who gave us our gifts and our passions by using them to their full extent. Amen!

And Merry Christmas!

To Do Lists Abound

Just because I need to see it, here is my Director To Do list for the next month. Haha! Enjoy. Be glad that I'm the one doing it and not you. I actually enjoy this stuff. Sick isn't it?

To Do Before Winter Break:
-Print a ruler and measure all parts of stage
-Email:
~John Mabbott, Chapel Media, and Jan Hicks – Eagle + HSC Screens for auditions, epilogue competition, and Shakespeare class.
~Nikolina – when to meet before auditions?
-Find Dr. Hobson and figure out how to take Directing class.
-Fix calendar and character/prop list and send again
-Draw up contracts for actors (taking class and NOT taking class) and offstage crew

To Do During Winter Break:
-Type up audition forms including scheduling, list performance/tech/dress rehearsal dates and ask if like to be involved if not cast
-Type up character analysis sheets for audition
-Read Beat Generation book, do more research, and type up a general description of “beatniks” for auditions
-Research more furniture styles
-Draw up all set design (Birdseye and front view) renderings
-Draw “The Three Pigeons” sign
-Make Excel budget (already spent $54 on scripts) for set/costumes and prioritize based on need

To Do During/After Winter Break:
-Print out copies of audition pieces and place at Reserve Desk in library by 1/12/08
-Drop extra classes (2) add Conducting II
-Type up act and character breakdowns scene by scene
-Type notes for changes on script document
-Schedule meeting w/scholarship students
-Raffle what? Who handles this?
-Find sponsor for café scene? Kahili coffee, St. James Espresso, etc.
-Write up program notes from the Director (hey, that's me!)

This week is insanely busy. Tonight we have a rehearsal w/the Rainier Symphony Orchestra, Thursday we have a dress rehearsal at NU, Friday we have the Christmas Concert at NU, Saturday we have a concert in Tukwila w/the Symphony, and Sunday we have another concert w/the Symphony in Renton.

Sheesh! I am so happy it's almost the end of the semester. It's been a long one, folks, and I am so ready to be done.

I also secretly (well, not so much anymore) hope that it snows this week. :)
And we're getting a real Christmas tree soon! Hurray!