1. Auditioning for my first shows at UCSD, and being called back to sing/read for 3 roles in The Threepenny Opera. Sure, I flubbed a few notes amidst the whirwind, but it was a blast!
2. Attending a performance piece of my high school friend Clint McCallum (who is currently getting his PhD at UCSD in music) where he re-created Maria Abramovic's "Freeing the Voice." Basically, laying on his back, yelling until he lost his voice. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=562729&id=516805327
3. The same day, attending a stand-up show at the Improv in Irvine where my fellow East head boy TJ Miller was headlining, and then getting to hang afterward. A brilliant comedian! Check him out at http://www.tjmillerdoesnothaveawebsite.com/, or in the new Yogi Bear movie this coming holiday season.
4. Spending occasional evenings looking up strange but fascinating videos on You Tube, such as clips about butoh, a unique and dark Japanese dance form, or parkour dogs.
5. Creating a 10-minute interactive theatre/dance/performance piece based on the myth of Pandora's Box with classmates for my Collective Creation class. We destroyed cardboard boxes in a long narrow hallway in the basement of the theatre building to a soundscape of mechanized factory-like noises. It was a joyous mess.
6. Getting to watch the other group performances in the same class, one of which was a beautifully poetic commentary on the ease with which humans waste, and the other of which involved a naked man being slathered with instant chocolate pudding. You kind of had to be there.
7. Being motivated to use my standing frame at least 3 times a week because I treat myself to watching "The Wire" while I do it. If you've never seen the show, here's a famous scene (beware: profanity) that illustrates what you can do with one word, repetition, clear intention, and incredible acting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbsnSVM1zM
8. Having dinner with an old friend from USC who is doing neuroscience research at UCSD, and pontificating about how theatre and neuroscience in many ways are attempting to clarify similar questions about human motivations, connection, emotion, social interaction, and meaning...but, using different approaches. I think I'm going to have to do a play about neuroscience and sensory input.
9. Performing "Mapquest," a self-generated autobiographical project performed by the 1st-year MFA actors. The project took us about 5 weeks to assemble, and we were guided by a splendid and accomplished director named Darko Tresnjak. It chronicled the stories of our lives using life story snippets. One of mine from the college years: "The class was 'Theatre for Youth,' but I didn't realize that 'youth' meant kids awaiting murder trials at LA County Juvenile Hall. We played theatre games with kids in orange jumpsuits, and watched them perform Romeo and Juliet. It was the most powerful Shakespeare I had ever seen, and I was changed forever."
10. As part of the project, we pondered potential future events during our upcoming time at UCSD. One of the possibilities we presented was doing Hamlet during our 3rd year, as directed by Darko. AND, I was got to play Hamlet! (Awesome, even if it was just the 3-minute version!)
11. Attending a hip-hop poetry show called "Pistols and Prayers" by spoken word artist Ise Lyfe at a local San Diego theatre. Provocative and powerful, and reinvigorated me to write on a night when I was missing being part of PHAMALY's current "Vox Phamalia" show in Denver. One of his quotes that stuck with me: "I laugh at the same things I cry about."
13. Coming home late at night, and having a fellow resident at my apartment building (whom I've never met) wait an hold the door open for me for several minutes while I rolled in from the parking lot...a random act of kindness and awareness. I love people!
14. Continuing to have epiphanies about my acting, movement, voice, and presence. I'll share one: I have noticed that I often over-express with my face and head when acting, likely because I feel like I have to compensate for my lower extremities that I cannot move. So, I will be working on pulling my head and upper body back, and exploring possibilities for conveying the same energy without straining up top.
And, #15. I got cast in my first show at UCSD! I will be playing the Street Singer in The Threepenny Opera. I did the show in high school, but played a different role. So, I'm ecstatic to begin my UCSD performance experience with such an intelligent and gritty "musical." And, I'll be singing the classic "Mack the Knife" (hopefully not classically!).
More info on "Mack the Knife" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_the_Knife
More info on the show - http://theatre.ucsd.edu/season/3penny/index.html
And, that's all for now, folks! :-)
