It's been almost 3 years since I spent an entire day dedicated to rehearsing theatre that wasn't a weekend. It's been almost 3 years since I could call my job acting. It's been almost 3 years since I've felt as completely fulfilled as I have for the last 4 weeks.
I get to wake up every day and do what I love and nothing else. Now that's not to say that I shouldn't be doing something else on the side. I'd certainly be making more money. But I wanted to know what it would feel like to only do theatre. It makes me feel poor in money, but rich in soul. It's a truly beautiful thing.
The reason it's so beautiful is because I've been given the gift of an extraordinarily brave cast. Everyday we go to new places to uncover the heart of this amazing piece of literature. There's something incredibly redeeming about the characters in Frankenstein--their hope, perseverance through despair, and the ability to know love. It's one of the most challenging plays I've come across because of the sheer depth of the story. It's written to show every up and down because the plot is centered around love. I highly recommend rereading the book before coming to see this one. It will only enhance the play.
Now I've been MIA for a few months, and it's because I've been busy with this show. You'd think after a month of rehearsals I'd have a lot to say--and I do! But I don't want to say half of it for fear of ruining your personal reaction to the piece.
I will say that for me it has been a month of 'profound labor', as Victor Frankenstein would say. A month of death and despair. A month of love and discovery. But mostly it's been a month of chapstick. If you're interested in experiencing the amount of chapstick I've bought and used in the last month, I encourage you to come watch the show, opening February 15th. Remember to imagine running the scenes multiple times in one day and I'm sure you'll understand soon enough.
If you want to take a look at some promotional footage, you can see it here.
I can say that there hasn't been a single moment I haven't been having fun. And I couldn't be more excited to be opening soon and giving this show to the audiences of Seattle. It's been a great gift to have worked so hard with such a talented cast and crew, and I hope to do it many more times here and many other places. This show has retaught me what theatre is all about, and how important an experience it is to live through.
In other news, I've also seen a lot of shows and movies recently!
1. The Equation by Theatre 9/12
2. Black Like Us by Annex Theatre
3. A Great Wilderness by Seattle Rep
4. The Hounds of the Baskerville by Seattle Rep (which I saw in December but don't think I mentioned)
5. The Foreigner by Village Theatre
Of course, now that I'm not doing Fringe theatre I suddenly understand how unavailable an actor becomes when you want to see your friends' shows. Because of my crazy rehearsal schedule I can't catch everything I want to. But I'm so happy to have so many successful friends who are taking this theatre town by storm! Congratulations to everyone on their shows!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Sunday, December 15, 2013
My first SAG film recap
My first SAG film began with an audition last August. I walked in to read for a role with one line, and ended up being asked to read for a role with more! Auditions can't go much better than that, so I walked out feeling positive. After not hearing for a little while though, I moved my mind forward to thoughts of the next audition, working hard not to focus on a job I didn't get.
A few weeks afterwards I received the call from my agent that I had booked a supporting role! I was stoked! We had a cast read through 2 months later, and a month after that we began rehearsals. We had blocking and stunt work rehearsals for 2 weekends, and it was my first time ever being paid for film rehearsals. I have to say SAG was looking good already.
We shot in late November. 3 days on location and 2 days on set in a studio. The location was a few hours away at an old fort. The production crew built an incredible set with a smithy, a graveyard, and a town square set to hang our favorite town witch. I had the best time meeting so many new important faces from the Pacific Northwest acting community. It was exciting to learn first hand about SAG regulations, and it was such a pleasant experience to be on a well-scheduled set with extremely high morale. I can't say I've ever had a better time!
The weather was really cold, and the first day it rained buckets off and on. It looked great on film! Our costumes were superb, and we were layered so well that I barely got cold! They made sure to have hand warmers and heaters on set outside to give actors and crew some relief during shoot breaks.
My scenes went smoothly and I really enjoyed trying new things. I won't give any spoilers, but I can say I'm excited for the release. We're crossing our fingers that the film is accepted into a local festival--and then beyond!
Already I can't wait for the opportunity to audition again for this director and his crew. There was a lot of freedom to try things, and be creative. Everyone was concerned about taking care of each other and making sure everyone had the best possible experience. It was a breath of fresh air after not working for a little while, and helped me feel like I was putting my best foot forward.
All in all I can only hope to have another experience as fun as this last one!
A few weeks afterwards I received the call from my agent that I had booked a supporting role! I was stoked! We had a cast read through 2 months later, and a month after that we began rehearsals. We had blocking and stunt work rehearsals for 2 weekends, and it was my first time ever being paid for film rehearsals. I have to say SAG was looking good already.
We shot in late November. 3 days on location and 2 days on set in a studio. The location was a few hours away at an old fort. The production crew built an incredible set with a smithy, a graveyard, and a town square set to hang our favorite town witch. I had the best time meeting so many new important faces from the Pacific Northwest acting community. It was exciting to learn first hand about SAG regulations, and it was such a pleasant experience to be on a well-scheduled set with extremely high morale. I can't say I've ever had a better time!
The weather was really cold, and the first day it rained buckets off and on. It looked great on film! Our costumes were superb, and we were layered so well that I barely got cold! They made sure to have hand warmers and heaters on set outside to give actors and crew some relief during shoot breaks.
My scenes went smoothly and I really enjoyed trying new things. I won't give any spoilers, but I can say I'm excited for the release. We're crossing our fingers that the film is accepted into a local festival--and then beyond!
Already I can't wait for the opportunity to audition again for this director and his crew. There was a lot of freedom to try things, and be creative. Everyone was concerned about taking care of each other and making sure everyone had the best possible experience. It was a breath of fresh air after not working for a little while, and helped me feel like I was putting my best foot forward.
All in all I can only hope to have another experience as fun as this last one!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Sometimes life is so BIG
Sometimes it feels like life is so big. It can be overwhelming, exciting, fulfilling, crushing, embracing, beautiful and heartbreaking.
Life has happened a lot in the past couple months, and it's seemed so big that I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about it.
I was taking a mini break this last little while. After I found out that my fall show had been cancelled, I barreled into the fringe fest full steam ahead. I knew I'd be sans work afterwards so I was giving it all I had. Unfortunately I had to stop my run early for some family business, but my amazing director and playwright were more than willing to step in and perform my role! Can we talk about how cool Seattle is?
After the fringe closed, I picked up a lot of shifts at work and decided to give myself a breather. Just this week I've finally dived back in. I've seen three shows!
1. Rope at Ghostlight
2. The Underneath at Annex
3. Animal Cruelty with Printer's Devil Theater
They were all fabulous, and it felt like such a relief to be back in a theater breathing the same airspace as the talented people of Seattle. I also attended my first master class with Acting Teacher. He invited me 6 months ago and I hadn't found a free Wednesday night, but this week I had one. I had a lot of fun watching the class, and I'm very excited to get down and dirty with some great scene work. It's been too long since I challenged myself outside of auditions and I forgot how much I thrive on it!
I've had a few rehearsals for my upcoming SAG film. I'm really stoked to start shooting in a week. It's been such a great experience so far, and I don't get to do nearly as much film work out here as I would like. We'll be filming on location for 3 days, and then be in the studio for 2. It will feel like a vacation since I get to take time off work!
Just last week I sat down for my first workshop of Frankenstein with Book-It Rep. We did a read through of the current script and I got a chance to meet all my fellow actors. I have to say that already this feels like the coolest thing I've done in Seattle yet, and we've barely even begun! I'll be starting rehearsals at the end of December, and I can not wait to dive into this script! It's graphic and beautifully crafted and very moving. And the cast is uber talented.
Currently though, I'm still mid-break (even with all the crazy filming, auditioning, classes, and such that I'm doing). So I'm taking a break from thinking too much about my break. Which means, I'll be back to write more come December! Happy Holidays to all!
Life has happened a lot in the past couple months, and it's seemed so big that I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about it.
I was taking a mini break this last little while. After I found out that my fall show had been cancelled, I barreled into the fringe fest full steam ahead. I knew I'd be sans work afterwards so I was giving it all I had. Unfortunately I had to stop my run early for some family business, but my amazing director and playwright were more than willing to step in and perform my role! Can we talk about how cool Seattle is?
After the fringe closed, I picked up a lot of shifts at work and decided to give myself a breather. Just this week I've finally dived back in. I've seen three shows!
1. Rope at Ghostlight
2. The Underneath at Annex
3. Animal Cruelty with Printer's Devil Theater
They were all fabulous, and it felt like such a relief to be back in a theater breathing the same airspace as the talented people of Seattle. I also attended my first master class with Acting Teacher. He invited me 6 months ago and I hadn't found a free Wednesday night, but this week I had one. I had a lot of fun watching the class, and I'm very excited to get down and dirty with some great scene work. It's been too long since I challenged myself outside of auditions and I forgot how much I thrive on it!
I've had a few rehearsals for my upcoming SAG film. I'm really stoked to start shooting in a week. It's been such a great experience so far, and I don't get to do nearly as much film work out here as I would like. We'll be filming on location for 3 days, and then be in the studio for 2. It will feel like a vacation since I get to take time off work!
Just last week I sat down for my first workshop of Frankenstein with Book-It Rep. We did a read through of the current script and I got a chance to meet all my fellow actors. I have to say that already this feels like the coolest thing I've done in Seattle yet, and we've barely even begun! I'll be starting rehearsals at the end of December, and I can not wait to dive into this script! It's graphic and beautifully crafted and very moving. And the cast is uber talented.
Currently though, I'm still mid-break (even with all the crazy filming, auditioning, classes, and such that I'm doing). So I'm taking a break from thinking too much about my break. Which means, I'll be back to write more come December! Happy Holidays to all!
Friday, September 13, 2013
That something, that magic
Lately I've been getting little flashes of this amazing feeling. It's a feeling I forgot I could feel. Because it happens so seldom, it normally makes me feel nostalgic. But it's been occurring more and more often lately, and I can only hope that I can relearn to grasp it fully.
It's the way I used to feel at Stephens College. I'd wake up every morning knowing that I had somehow been lucky enough to find exactly where I belonged. I had a beautiful artistic family, and every class I took, every conversation I had, and every single moment I spent in those three years felt as if I was accomplishing something important and meaningful. I was impacting the people around me, and they were impacting me. I was so open.
Graduating was an adjustment, certainly. And I've never lost my passion for acting in the time I've sent out of school. But it's only recently that I seem to have rekindled that magical feeling of doing work that's important. To me, and potentially to other people. I walk the halls of TPS during rehearsals and I can hear other actors rehearsing their work and I think "How lucky am I to be surrounded by people who understand that what they do is important?"
Truly, how many people in the world think that their job matters? How many people work for more than a paycheck? How many people live their life in pursuit of something so intangible, but so powerful and overwhelming that they know they can't do anything else? I'm sure there are many. Politicians, scientists, researchers, teachers, and the people who discover new things every day.
It feels like magic when there's that moment in your day that reminds you that you're exactly where you should be, doing exactly what you should be doing. Right now, it's only a moment. It used to be a constant. I strive to rediscover the constant! It happens the more I push myself; the harder and deeper I throw myself into something new. And I love every second of it. Here's to the magic.
It's the way I used to feel at Stephens College. I'd wake up every morning knowing that I had somehow been lucky enough to find exactly where I belonged. I had a beautiful artistic family, and every class I took, every conversation I had, and every single moment I spent in those three years felt as if I was accomplishing something important and meaningful. I was impacting the people around me, and they were impacting me. I was so open.
Graduating was an adjustment, certainly. And I've never lost my passion for acting in the time I've sent out of school. But it's only recently that I seem to have rekindled that magical feeling of doing work that's important. To me, and potentially to other people. I walk the halls of TPS during rehearsals and I can hear other actors rehearsing their work and I think "How lucky am I to be surrounded by people who understand that what they do is important?"
Truly, how many people in the world think that their job matters? How many people work for more than a paycheck? How many people live their life in pursuit of something so intangible, but so powerful and overwhelming that they know they can't do anything else? I'm sure there are many. Politicians, scientists, researchers, teachers, and the people who discover new things every day.
It feels like magic when there's that moment in your day that reminds you that you're exactly where you should be, doing exactly what you should be doing. Right now, it's only a moment. It used to be a constant. I strive to rediscover the constant! It happens the more I push myself; the harder and deeper I throw myself into something new. And I love every second of it. Here's to the magic.
Monday, August 26, 2013
My summer of 2013
I know I've been absent. Frankly I've wrapped my arms so tightly around too many projects this summer that my hands have not been free to write. I've just returned from a lovely vacation in Florida that afforded me some much needed perspective, and I think that was the key I was missing.
I've been shooting a lot recently for my webseries House of Glass. Here are some pics:
I've been shooting a lot recently for my webseries House of Glass. Here are some pics:
That's been a crazy process of scheduling, and trying to film in the rain with the wrong sound equipment, and long drives to location shots, and A LOT of bruises from legitimate sparing and hand to hand combat. But it's been fun! And I'm excited to see the footage. I'm not wrapped on filming yet until mid October, but hopefully this will be edited and released for the public at the beginning of the new year!
I've started rehearsals for the Seattle Fringe Festival. I'm doing a new play called Operation Hibernation which is an in depth look at the lengths people will go to believe what they want. I'm incredibly excited to be a part of the Fringe Festival for the 2nd annual year of its comeback! Here's our postcard and poster:
It's going to be a wild ride.
I'm really starting to feel like the work I'm doing matters again. I was working my way up for so long, and now the roles I'm being offered are finally starting to feel good again. After the Fringe Fest I'll be doing two Noel Coward one act's in British dialect, which I couldn't be more excited about. And then I'll finally be joining the Book-It Theatre in Frankenstein!
I've also recently booked my first SAG film through my agent, and I'll be getting my time period clothes on since it's about the Salem Witch Trials.
I've spent this summer relaxing in the sun, reading books, and seeing as much theatre as I can around my crazy schedule.
Some shows I've seen:
1. The Wild Party by Sound Theatre
2. A Keiko Green original that I can't remember the name of
3. Gruesome Playground Injuries by Azeotrope
4. Gloucester Blues by Harlequinn
5. A Midsummer Night's Dream by Greenstage
6. Picnic by ReAct Theatre
And now the marathon starts. I'm booked until mid March, and you can stay tuned for all the adventures that are sure to unfold!
Until next time: Some food for thought for the women of the theatre:
http://abderian-aeolist.tumblr.com/post/59347833397/i-once-had-a-guy-tell-me-tw-sexual-assault-in-my
The Clockwork Professor post mortem
The Clockwork Professor reached it's kickstarter goal startlingly fast. The show was a complete hit--not only with the steampunk crowd of Seattle (of which there are many), but with the general public as well. It was a great gift to work on a show where I could feel the magic happening. The cast was tight, the belief in the playwright and the script was flawless, and our ability to pull together and make it work (under fabulous direction I might add) made the show soar. There were kind comments all around, and I don't think I could have picked a better show to work on for the summer.
Here are some of the reviews I could scrounge up, for my own records:
http://artsstage-seattlerage.com/2013/the-clockwork-professor-at-theatre-off-jackson/
http://www.dianavick.com/?p=919
http://copiouslove.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/copious-love-suggests-the-clockwork-professor/
http://www.broadwayworld.com/seattle/article/BWW-Reviews-THE-CLOCKWORK-PROFESSOR-at-TOJ-Offers-Fun-Steampunk-Melodrama-20130726
And take a look at some pictures!
Here are some of the reviews I could scrounge up, for my own records:
http://artsstage-seattlerage.com/2013/the-clockwork-professor-at-theatre-off-jackson/
http://www.dianavick.com/?p=919
http://copiouslove.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/copious-love-suggests-the-clockwork-professor/
http://www.broadwayworld.com/seattle/article/BWW-Reviews-THE-CLOCKWORK-PROFESSOR-at-TOJ-Offers-Fun-Steampunk-Melodrama-20130726
And take a look at some pictures!
I suppose now that the show is done with I can release the secret that I did in fact play a robot! It was incredibly fun and challenging to keep my eyes from never blinking, control myself from brushing hair out of my face, and trying to conceal my breathing. Any erroneous movement was a break of character, so it was exciting to keep my body so controlled for the duration of the show. And I've never had to be dead on stage for so long. Whew!
The challenges I faced:
-My contacts falling out on stage. Luckily most of the time I was able to grab them in my gloved hands and put them in my mouth to keep them moist. But you try saying your lines with a contact in your mouth and a blind eye. There was one night where I was not able to catch it. It fell out after my deactivation and I spent the rest of act 1 blind. My SM went on stage at intermission and miraculously found it unscathed even though it had landed in the main traffic pattern. Crazy!
-The amount of enunciation on our crazy new world language was definitely hard. I've never done so much vocal warm up and stretching before a show!
-Matching all my movements precisely to my fellow Robot. Especially the one moment when we both have to flick out a feather duster at the same time. If we were off on a movement it was so noticeable and the humor was lost. Luckily it barely happened!
-Popping my rib out of place during a show. That was rough. And then subsequently coming back two days later for industry night and having to do all of my contortion and gymnastic choreography. But I survived and my cast couldn't have been more encouraging and supportive! And my mom was there for those shows..so that was cool. Fun memories, mom, right?
It was an absolute blast. Miss you guys!
Monday, June 17, 2013
The Summer Begins
For some reason I couldn't get my fingers to type anything worth posting this last month, though plenty has been happening.
I closed Starcrossed at Annex Theatre, and I've started rehearsals for my upcoming summer production of The Clockwork Professor by the amazing local playwright Maggie Lee. You can see our kickstarter campaign here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1086790052/the-clockwork-professor
It's a steampunk action, love story--so really it doesn't get any better than that. I'll be doing some dancing, some stage combat, and some strange contortion things. We've blocked the entire show, and we've moved into run thrus! We're right on schedule, and we'll be opening July 12!
In other news I've had two callbacks, and a SAG audition. My callbacks were for a local theatre company doing some great plays, and I've just heard back from the director of one of them--and I got cast! I had such a fun time at the audition. It was the first time in a while that I got to use my British dialect, and I really enjoyed stretching those muscles. I'll be performing during the whole month of November, and I'm really looking forward to rehearsals, which will be starting in October. More news to come as the show date gets closer!
I went to a SAG short film audition yesterday--my first. I had seen a posting for it online, and they contacted my agent and that was that. The second I showed up it was extremely apparent to me that I was the only non-union actor there (at least at the time I was called), and then I had the pleasure of double checking when I saw that the sign in list was for SAG-only, and everyone else was on it. Needless to say I was a little intimidated, and I had only discovered a couple hours prior to my audition that I might have the wrong sides. I was reading for a 40 year old character. The older women around me were all reading for the younger character, so certainly something was amiss. But no, I was told by the director as she came out to apologize for us being behind schedule that I was in fact reading for the 40 year old, and would I please read with this older woman (who was reading for the younger character--though she couldn't be much older than me at all) who was infinitely more prepared than I (I won't give you my excuses for not being prepared)?
Of course I agreed and went into the room, where luckily my co-actor read first. I say luckily because this film audition was so out of my league compared to the others I've attended in the city, and I truly felt like I was going to embarrass myself. Instead, I got to watch how she interpreted the sides (though we had different sides, at least I got to watch her movement ) and it was really helpful. In the end, I read twice. Once with the other actor, and once on my own. The directors ended up really liking us as a pair, and I was flabbergasted because I felt completely out of my league. I was confident in my audition, but not familiar with the process and so I was out of sorts. It was really nice to hear positive feedback in a situation like that, and it was also so beneficial for me to watch another actor do their audition. I can only cross my fingers that I'll have an opportunity to work on a project like this with some seasoned film actors who can teach me a thing or two.
I have more filming coming up in the next few months on House of Glass, which will be really fun. I also had the opportunity to do a play reading for a local playwright who will be putting her play on later this year. It was a really amazing script, and I can't wait to audition for the show. I would absolutely love to be a part of it. I was also asked to read a script at a fundraiser of a local theatre, and it turned out to be a big hit.
I've had some really wonderful experiences this past month--and I can't wait for the next month. I have a big audition coming up for a local theatre here. I also will be auditioning for a small touring company. I've become a company member at Annex Theatre, and I'm becoming more involved there. And soon I'll be opening The Clockwork Professor! Good things to come!
I closed Starcrossed at Annex Theatre, and I've started rehearsals for my upcoming summer production of The Clockwork Professor by the amazing local playwright Maggie Lee. You can see our kickstarter campaign here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1086790052/the-clockwork-professor
It's a steampunk action, love story--so really it doesn't get any better than that. I'll be doing some dancing, some stage combat, and some strange contortion things. We've blocked the entire show, and we've moved into run thrus! We're right on schedule, and we'll be opening July 12!
In other news I've had two callbacks, and a SAG audition. My callbacks were for a local theatre company doing some great plays, and I've just heard back from the director of one of them--and I got cast! I had such a fun time at the audition. It was the first time in a while that I got to use my British dialect, and I really enjoyed stretching those muscles. I'll be performing during the whole month of November, and I'm really looking forward to rehearsals, which will be starting in October. More news to come as the show date gets closer!
I went to a SAG short film audition yesterday--my first. I had seen a posting for it online, and they contacted my agent and that was that. The second I showed up it was extremely apparent to me that I was the only non-union actor there (at least at the time I was called), and then I had the pleasure of double checking when I saw that the sign in list was for SAG-only, and everyone else was on it. Needless to say I was a little intimidated, and I had only discovered a couple hours prior to my audition that I might have the wrong sides. I was reading for a 40 year old character. The older women around me were all reading for the younger character, so certainly something was amiss. But no, I was told by the director as she came out to apologize for us being behind schedule that I was in fact reading for the 40 year old, and would I please read with this older woman (who was reading for the younger character--though she couldn't be much older than me at all) who was infinitely more prepared than I (I won't give you my excuses for not being prepared)?
Of course I agreed and went into the room, where luckily my co-actor read first. I say luckily because this film audition was so out of my league compared to the others I've attended in the city, and I truly felt like I was going to embarrass myself. Instead, I got to watch how she interpreted the sides (though we had different sides, at least I got to watch her movement ) and it was really helpful. In the end, I read twice. Once with the other actor, and once on my own. The directors ended up really liking us as a pair, and I was flabbergasted because I felt completely out of my league. I was confident in my audition, but not familiar with the process and so I was out of sorts. It was really nice to hear positive feedback in a situation like that, and it was also so beneficial for me to watch another actor do their audition. I can only cross my fingers that I'll have an opportunity to work on a project like this with some seasoned film actors who can teach me a thing or two.
I have more filming coming up in the next few months on House of Glass, which will be really fun. I also had the opportunity to do a play reading for a local playwright who will be putting her play on later this year. It was a really amazing script, and I can't wait to audition for the show. I would absolutely love to be a part of it. I was also asked to read a script at a fundraiser of a local theatre, and it turned out to be a big hit.
I've had some really wonderful experiences this past month--and I can't wait for the next month. I have a big audition coming up for a local theatre here. I also will be auditioning for a small touring company. I've become a company member at Annex Theatre, and I'm becoming more involved there. And soon I'll be opening The Clockwork Professor! Good things to come!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
This time last year
I've been thinking a lot lately about this time last year.
This time last year I was filming a movie which turned out to be my favorite experience of 2012. This time last year I was an assistant at my job. I was figuring myself out, spreading myself too thin between too many projects, and cramming my life full of all the experiences I wanted to have -- all at the same time.
And it wasn't bad. It was fun and exciting and I learned a lot. I also know now, looking back, that doing so much at once is how I lost inspiration. This year, after giving myself time, finding new hobbies, taking breaks, and spreading my schedule out so things don't collide, I've become so inspired.
I'm inspired to try new things. I'm inspired to let go of things that are holding me back. I'm inspired to start trusting myself again. Really trusting my intuition and my desires. I don't feel as lost as I did my first year in the city (go figure), and I'm so excited for the road ahead.
I have new theatres on my radar and I'm on the radar of new theatres. I have a wonderful group of family and friends surrounding me that I can lean on when I need to. And I'm finally starting to feel like I'm finding myself in this market. I feel better about my skills, my technique, my drive, and my path. It just took me a little while to gain my footing.
This year, I've started working with theatres that I love, who are consistently doing work that I love. I've focused on my health and wellness. I've focused on my frame of mind (and my peace of mind for that matter). I've gotten an agent. I've been promoted. I've gotten raises. I've worked with new teaching companies, and met new people that have offered me great opportunities. I've started reading more and writing again. I think I'm just now beginning to see the benefits of working on me.
It all goes to show that treating people with respect, always being friendly and open, and showing people the genuine kindness they deserve leads you to receive the same. I'm feeling so grateful for all my experiences today, and I can't wait for the new ones that are on their way.
This time last year I was filming a movie which turned out to be my favorite experience of 2012. This time last year I was an assistant at my job. I was figuring myself out, spreading myself too thin between too many projects, and cramming my life full of all the experiences I wanted to have -- all at the same time.
And it wasn't bad. It was fun and exciting and I learned a lot. I also know now, looking back, that doing so much at once is how I lost inspiration. This year, after giving myself time, finding new hobbies, taking breaks, and spreading my schedule out so things don't collide, I've become so inspired.
I'm inspired to try new things. I'm inspired to let go of things that are holding me back. I'm inspired to start trusting myself again. Really trusting my intuition and my desires. I don't feel as lost as I did my first year in the city (go figure), and I'm so excited for the road ahead.
I have new theatres on my radar and I'm on the radar of new theatres. I have a wonderful group of family and friends surrounding me that I can lean on when I need to. And I'm finally starting to feel like I'm finding myself in this market. I feel better about my skills, my technique, my drive, and my path. It just took me a little while to gain my footing.
This year, I've started working with theatres that I love, who are consistently doing work that I love. I've focused on my health and wellness. I've focused on my frame of mind (and my peace of mind for that matter). I've gotten an agent. I've been promoted. I've gotten raises. I've worked with new teaching companies, and met new people that have offered me great opportunities. I've started reading more and writing again. I think I'm just now beginning to see the benefits of working on me.
It all goes to show that treating people with respect, always being friendly and open, and showing people the genuine kindness they deserve leads you to receive the same. I'm feeling so grateful for all my experiences today, and I can't wait for the new ones that are on their way.
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