Getting Back in Gear

Well I made it through the first week back. But I seem to have made myself sick in the process. So much for jumping in with both feet. This term is going to be very interesting. Also exciting, stressful and challenging. Hopefully fun will crop up once in a while too.

They started in right away Monday morning with our group projects. My group had pretty much already formed before the break, and had some ideas that we'd been kicking around, so we used the class time to try and pinpoint our exact question. However this proved to be rather challenging. The more we talked the more ideas we had. Basically we want to look into the changes that happen when a show moves. For example, what happens when a show goes from an out of town trial to opening on Broadway? What happens when certain jokes don't work in the new city? What happens when a show tours internationally? With that vague of an umbrella we can go a lot of different directions. When we were forming the group we realized that we cover a vast array of different theatre cultures. We have the US, the UK, Australia, Singapore and now South Korea. There are a lot of differences there. So we need to work on focusing our idea a bit. But I think it will be a fun group, and an interesting project. The biggest problem is that they have given us this rather large assignment right when we are working on our showcase.

That's the other thing we have been working on this week. They have sent us off in search of scenes, or duologues as they like to call them here, for the showcase. Its been great how self motivated everyone has become this term. Its amazing what 3 weeks off can do for everyone's energy and enthusiasm! I have brought in 2 scenes so far. One of which was approved and the other immediately rejected. I have one more that I'm bringing in on Monday, which I think they will reject as well. Its been very interesting working within the criteria of the showcase. They keep mentioning how these scenes have to be perfect. So generally they want things in our own dialect (which is why they'll veto the scene Tom and I are bringing in from Arcadia), they want pieces that will sell us accurately, at our best, and the most optimal casting. And everyone can eventually only be in one scene, however we should have a couple to work on until they start making final cuts. Phew, lots of things to think about. I think this will become very stressful very quickly. Or at least until we all settle with a few scenes to workshop. Then it will be tense again as they pick the final line up for the show. Especially as not everyone is going to get a scene. Well, one thing at a time.

They also have us looking for music for the showcase, and the audition module after that. I went to the library and checked out huge stacks of music books. I am still not super attached to anything I have found, but I have a bunch of new stuff to work on. I need to find something perfectly me for the showcase. And I need to figure out which scenes I am working on because I want to contrast that with the song. If I end up with a comedic song I need a dramatic scene and vice versa. Also how do I convey my full vocal range in just one song?? I'm still not really a true belter, but a lot of the comedy songs should be belt. I am not sure I want to sing a super soprano-y song because I can do the alto stuff too. Too many things to think about. Also, looking ahead to the audition module and auditioning in general they keep saying I need to find Rock and Pop style songs for my book, because I tend towards everything else. So I've been looking for that, but am floundering a bit because I don't really care for that style of show. Also I was told I should have some Folk in my book as well. Interesting. However I have completely overhauled my music book. I took out everything from last term and it is now completely full of new music. So at least I have a starting point.

On top of all of that I still need to edit and turn in my Christmas research paper. Oh, and there are two assignments that they forgot to tell us about before the break. Somehow we were supposed to magically know they were due. So I have to write those too. True they are shorter assignments, but had I known about them I would have started them much earlier. Well that's what today is for.

Still not feeling top notch so I'm going to go make a pot of tea and deposit myself on my couch to write some essays and read some scripts. Wish me luck!