Again, we reach the official day off, and unlike the previous two seventh day activities,there is not a single cinematic wonder for me to behold. Now, one would think that I may venture forward into Bean Town to find some equally rousing activity. Wrong. I have done absolutely nothing with this given day. In fact the entire day, has been spent thinking about my personal attention span,(and the attention span of a frog...DON'T ASK...apparently all they do is look forward and smile....long story..not breaking the RULE.) and my disgusting addiction to the screen that lies before me. How enslaved can one be. It is quite sad I suppose. I am just utterly bored. I am in constant mental bedlam. Not willing to spend my much needed rent money, or do something that is even remotely active. In my defense, I took a short walk, which was lovely.
I have been thinking about my overseas travels today, by that I mean the ones that I have not done, but am aching to do. Thank you US$ for deciding to be inferior just as I come of age to want to travel. Thank you indeed. Yay America, my home sweet home, which becomes harder to leave as years progress...but that's ok, I mean after all we have Disney, and Mcdonalds, so what more would any upstanding American need....ohh that's right, NASCAR.
Tomorrow is the work photo shoot, which I may or may not be used in. Alas.
I want to get on the road, I need movement, busyness, anything but days, locked away in this annex apartment.
Today I awoke with the joy of one phrase. "I don't have to be a Frog today." As much as I love said frog, after doing a little too much in the up/down jump department, my joints were feeling it. I am grateful that our artistic director called me on it, as I would have let it go until as she predicted "lost my joints by October." Regardless, I slept in and then took a rousing Orange Line T to the Boston Commons AMC Mega-Plex of Fury. I got my popcorn, and my COCA-COLA CLASSIC (I only drink real soda at the movies.) and sat down to enjoy Hamlet 2. Then after the hilarity that was said film, embarked on my second feature Tropic Thunder. Tom Cruise getting jiggy with it, almost, just almost beats out the wonderful Robert Downey Jr. Then I figured my movie time was up and preceded to exit, only to almost plow face first into my SM for Encore. He was going to see The House Bunny, and with a counterpart at my side I took my triple feature with stride.
I have decided that I am a movie glutton....and I'm ok with this.
Well, as lame and as short as that may be, I am off to peruse Wikipedia like the big nerd I am. Tomorrow it's back to work.....work......work.......hard work....FROG IT UP!!!!
So, for the sake of current events, I am yet again going to break my "No Theatre Blog" rule.
As mentioned I am here in Boston for rehearsing for a national tour. I understudied another tour by the same company during the spring season, and as some may know, had both good and bad times. Production value with this company is top notch. Personalities got a little out of hand first time around, and as I meet my new cast of (dare I say...) peeps, I wonder what will happen.
Cast.
SM...He's the boss, and good or bad, I am not going to write a damn thing about my boss on a public blog.
Electrician...Unknown at this point.
Understudy/House Manager/ Sound.
Having held this job, I have the most respect for what this guy is going to have to do. He is honestly the hardest working guy on tour. From the second we are up in the morning he will be working. He seems to be a really wonderful guy. (Granted, everyone seems wonderful at first.) Very funny with a really sharp sense of humor, that is going to be very refreshing on tour.
Actor #1 (Mature Character Male.)
Very nice as well, has a love of funny t-shirts, and zingers, again a welcome form of humor in what can quickly become a humorless world. I really love when an older actor (he's really not that old.) can not come off as snide to a younger cast mate. I am so thankful, and he has major props for that.
Actor #2 (Leading Man)
We had to wait a little bit for this guy, due to an unforeseen illness on one of our sister tours. We were all a little on edge as to whether or not he would throw off the dynamic that had started to build. Again, a really sharp, and genuinely talented individual. I love any guy who can jump into a situation fast, and just do the job that needs to be done. Kudos my friend, Kudos to you. I accidentally hit him in the face today while "frogging" it up. I really enjoy doing "Frog" with him, and I look forward to working "The Tell Tale Heart."
Actress #1 (Engenue...is that spelled correctly...those damn French.)
Supremely talented, and a wonderful girl to act with. (or try to, depending on how fast you have to move because blocking is set in stone...tradition is tradition I guess) The Necklace is by far my fav. story due to the acting we get to do. I (as the Larger Framed Young Character Male) never get a leading-man type role. Not that Bernard is super-leading, but it's as close as I get and I am happy to play off her very heart-wrenching story. Said Engenue really does a wonderful job, and has some odd obsession similarities with myself. All in all I think we will get along famously.
Actress #2 (Leading Lady/Character)
From New Mexico, I feel like she is from a different world, and that in no way is a slight. to meet someone who seems to be free, used to larger places, and with a more open state of mind. I am from the staunch North-East, and I think having more of a West Coast/Desert flavor on tour will be good for us all. This girl has assloads of lines to learn and is really taking it with stride, and working so hard to get her stuff down...Honestly, she needs like 3 hands to do some of the stuff required of her.
Well, I suppose that is all for now, I will give a run down of the shows at a later date.
I am now writing from the city of Boston, where I am rehearsing for my next gig. I found a song today that I had not heard in a while. Here are the lyrics.
Been spending so much time underground I guess my eyes adjusted To the lack of light I got Covered in darkness Covered in darkness
I have been waiting Always waiting for something new Happiness has always ended In the blink of an eye There was no one attending No one attending
It doesn't really matter where it all began All I know I got covered in darkness Covered in darkness Ever wonder why I never really truly connect Although my eyes are open I can hold your gaze But I am never connected Never connected
I am famous for my generosity They say I am the kindest But it is easier to Give than receive love Give than receive love
It doesn't really matter where it all began All I know I was covered in darkness Covered in darkness
Turning pages over Run away to nowhere And it's hard to take control When your enemy's old and afraid of you You'll discover that the monster you were running from Is the monster in you
Better to hold on to love Better to hold on to love Change will come
It doesn't really matter where it all began All I know I was covered in darkness Covered in darkness
It doesn't really matter where it all began Cuz all I know I was lost I was lost No, no
It doesn't really matter where it all began no no All I know I was lost I feel lost Lost No...
I think the last time I heard this song, I was starting to feel like this. I remember being in Walt Disney World. I decided to go with the family and not take a friend along. This was a mistake. Being 20 in Disney with your family is not what I would call exciting. My brother is far younger than I, thus the age gap makes such events a little rough. (At least it did at the time, I think at this point we would have a kick ass time.) Anyway. I remember starting to fall into this very stagnant, and blah mood, that in some ways has been an underlying force for me for some time. It really had no founding in the people around me. Something I created on my own. I think it important to have some darkness in one's life: How else will we see our light?
I think things are balancing out. Taking better care of myself. Working. For now things are swell.
Here I am at The Shawnee Playhouse working. Far too close to home, but alas, Rent money. (for a few weeks away from the city...odd.) Work is fine, but seeings that I so blatantly broke my "No Theatre Blog" rule I shall steer away from any such chatter. I am here. There isn't much to say. I am in a room that holds more memories then I would like to bear. Cast House Memories.
Learning who I am. Learning who other people are. Watching some of the most talented people I had ever seen. Learning from them while giving them light.
Corny, yea. True yea.
How I wish I had been more open that first year to everything. Alas, we learn.
Well, it is 4:30am ish in the wee hours of the morn and I, (like the crazy mofo I am.) Have been painting since 11:00pm. I must say that several things have occurred to me on this magical evening of highlights and shadows.
1) I really am a decent scenic painter...I mean I can slam out a scary ass looking rock for Peter Pan, and on the flip side make a sexy ass lagoon for his mermaid biznitches. I have had my doubts, but damn they turned out well. I must give a shout out to Miss S. Dale Alden for her lessons in the subject back at Mansfield. (I may have fucked up the marble, but I got the rock.)
2) When you find yourself singing "color & light" while painting, you know you have reached a new low in your theatrical life. I am aware I said this was a no theatre blog, but for the sake of my sanity I need to get that out.
3) Raspberry Seltzer is Jesus' gift to me. (thank you A. Cramer for generously donating said beverage.)
4) I should really be asleep.
5) In a few days Fame (FAME!) will be open, and I will have some extra hands.
6) IM GONNA LIVE FOREVER...nope, nope your not, you are a campy and out dated show that comes up way short to "A Chorus Line" "Rent" and even I dare say it "Grease."
7) NO THEATRE BLOG!!!!!
8) Passed out on key borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
What does one do? People lie, we tell our white lies, we smile when we are breaking up inside, We allow ourselves to fib for the sake of a better world. Yet what happens when you start to believe the lies you weave. How does the mind begin to make itself believe, or worse expect that it is so clever that others will believe the bullshit one spews forth.
Holy Shit it's hot. Not in a way like, "Ohh what a warm day" more of a good god where is my air conditioned clothing. Weren't we supposed to have stuff like that by this point. I mean honestly. I remember reading once in Disney Adventures Magazine that they had invented air conditioned shoes somewhere in Sweden. I waited for those mothers, and did they ever materialize? No. Wow Disney Adventures Magazine, now there was a good read as a preteen. This was pretty much Disney's publication attempt at rotting the minds of preteens at the time, before the age of "Tween Queens" Hillary Duff and Hanna Montana. I miss looking forward to my monthly magazine filled with quirky facts and comics...oh well, I'm a big boy now and can look forward to a plethora of "men's health" magazines that will pretend not to give me complexes about my body and mind...after all, that's what all those sissy girl mags are for, there is nothing of the sorts in mags for men.
ties noose.
not cause the mags...cause its just to. darn. hot.
This is the first day since my return to the city that I have had the ability, nay the gumption to get out of bed before eleven. I know what your thinking, "ELEVEN, you sleep slut you!" I am feeling great, its just after seven and I am up and roaring. We let ourselves fall into things at times. I don't know why. Often it is because we have been deprived of the thing we indulge in. (Five months of 6:45 call times on tour was my catalyst.) Perhaps its not so much the happening, after all anyone who would then have the opportunity to sleep in would. But sometimes we stay where we are, even if it makes us miserable. Waking up at eleven is a day killer, and despite knowing this everyday for the past two weeks, I allowed myself to do it. We move on. No more crazy lazy days for this boy. I wonder how many other people can't wake up, or worse, what if the waking never really happens, "sleepwalking through life." To become so hum drum that its as if you are always asleep. I don't think I ever imagined that my life, and the type of work i do could be that way...Wrong. It can be that way.
(I don't mean that as a random reference to the "Friday the 13th" Canon)
(Will anyone even get that reference?)
A new blog.
I am trying to make this new attempt at a blog be less journal, perhaps more journalistic. Just as not all people can do physics, not all people can write. Therefore right out of cage, I am going to try to avoid taking this all too seriously. I merely need a focus, I tend to get online, (like most of our Zombie-like generation) and surf. I am no longer content with this. In fact I plan on defying it completely. Sure I like to watch the occasional "Family Guy" or "Tudors" episode, or poke around Wikipedia to expand my vast pop-culture knowledge...but times they are a changin'. Hopefully this will give me some purpose. I think we are treading on dangerous grounds as a society that is fixed to a firmament of screens. Being born in 1985, my peers and I are among the last birth year that has strong cognitive memories of a word that was not interconnected. Kind of blows your mind. I suppose I just feel a little lost in life at the moment. As much as I would love for this to be a truly random thing, it will eventually if not always connect to me, after all like any art form writing is an expression of one's self. I am happy in my work, but my free time is lacking purpose, so...Blogging (corny) Shaping my sexy body...(we shall see) and Taking pictures (a lost love) shall occupy said free time.
So currently
I am in NYC, I am an Actor (yes I work...no you haven't heard of me. Nor will I spend much of this blog talking about Theatre, the link is on the top of the page. My work is my work, I love it more than anyone will ever know, but talking about my art, and my resume, and my contacts...is not something professionals in our field do...and if they do, they need an ax to the head.) I live in Spanish Harlem for now...not really a fan. I live next to a live slaughter house, and it smells. Location....location....location. Thank you Dawnay Day Reality for an awesome first place...whores.
I work my day job for the Roundabout Theatre Company as House Staff at Studio 54. It's Swell.
Well all in all, that shall be the first entry, hopefully I can keep this up and it won't be one of five...2 years from now...(you know you have done it. Unless your my G.F. who manages to have one that stretches back to her high school days...crazy.)
