To contact us Click HERE
Dear Bob McClain and Russ Cassell,
I'm giving away way too much personal information by admitting that I live within RadioLand range to listen to you. But I'm willing to take one because I am extremely angry at you.
Yesterday, people all over the country flocked to Chik-fil-a's to do a variety of things, depending on who you asked. Personally, I believed that it was a movement of sorts that stated that Christians not only have an opinion, but we have the right to speak out what we think.
The two of you raise hell on a daily basis, and usually for good reason. Conservatives get the short end of the stick all of the time. And it didn't really occur to me until yesterday why everybody hates the general population of those of us who call ourselves conservatives.
IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!
I address this specifically to you two because you gentlemen have reign over local air time for a good part of the work day. You spend all of your time complaining about how "the liberal media wants to silence us." "they won't let us speak out." rahr rahr rahr. whine whine whine.
You jerks turn around and do the same thing to people who don't agree with you!! If someone calls proposing an opposing opinion, you let him say half of a sentence before you yell at him and hang up on him without offering an opportunity to reply. You are such hypocrites and it disgusts and disturbs me that I have to admit to people that we agree about the same things.
The WORST part of it is, you preach to the drones who listen in to your dogma and tell them what good Christians you are and how the Bible is the most important book in your life.
You know what? You are equally as repulsive as the people you complain about. You cannot hide behind the Bible AND the fight for ratings. You should REALLY be ashamed of yourselves.
Sincerely,
The Student Who Gets Extremely High Blood Pressure When She Listens to Your Show, and Not Because of the Topic Matter
14 Ağustos 2012 Salı
Hotels and Hepatitis
To contact us Click HERE
Hey friends and lovers and lovers of friends. This is the easiest post I've ever had to do because it's a GUEST POST!!
My bestie Lindsay used to have a blog, but her OCD is consuming her life and she feels like people are reading her thoughts. I don't know why she feels safer among you freak-a-deeks who lurk around MOYT, but I guess since she is one of aforementioned freaks, she feels like she fits right in. LB has supported MOYT since back in the day when she was one of only three people I could get to read it at all. SOOO when she asked if she could do a guest post, I was more than happy to oblige.
Without further ado, I present to you my Right Elbow...Lindsay:
On a recent trip to D.C., I was made very aware of my need to be Medicated. Heavily Medicated. Upon checking into our lovely Hilton hotel, we threw open the door to the room and were pleasantly surprised. So Modern and Welcoming after 9 hours in the car. I did my normal Crazy inspection, where I rip apart the Bed in search of bedbugs and Sanitize all Remotes and Door Knobs. Success. Later that evening I decided that I needed to shower. I went into the bathroom and as I pulled back the curtain, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Hanging on the back of the bathroom door was a pair of Men's Underwear. Yes. Men's Underwear. Stranger's Undergarments. In my clean Bathroom.
This finding was far too fantastic to phone down 13 floors. I decided to pay the Front Desk Robot a visit. I was calm and polite when I stated that I have a problem with my room. You And Every Other Bubba, she probably thought. When I spoke the words, "I was disgusted to find a pair of Men's Underwear on the back of my bathroom door," the Robot moved. Her jaw dropped and stupidly asked me If It Was Still There. No, I packed it away to re gift at Christmas and I just wanted to see if there was a charge. Of Course it is still there! Needless to say, after a few more "doubting the cleanliness and integrity of my room" statements, we received a compensation on our bill.
This lead to a disturbing Thought Loop for my 9 Hours of driving the next day. Everything is Covered in Filth. Everything. I know hotel rooms are only so clean, but when they clean your room it is suppose to be done in such a way to make you forget that some stranger stood naked in your bathroom a few hours before. They should not leave evidence to support such things. Rest Stops. Now there is a Heap of Hazard. When you walk into a Rest Stop Restroom, there is usually someone in there cleaning or at least the faint scent of Bleach. So you pick a stall which Appears to be Clean, Walk-In, and Close the Door. You are careful, right? Seat covers, flush with your feet, the works. Did you have your Cell Phone in your hand when you walked in? Did you touch the lock to secure yourself in there? Are you aware that the person before you just touched that lock once they finished their business? Now its on your Cell phone. Which means it will be on your face and soon take over your body. You are now covered in Rest Area Hepatitis. The reality is that someone just did something icky in there right before you walked in. If you walked into a stall and someone had left an artifact like my Naked Hotel Man did, you would also feel unsettled and dirty. What if that person just before you put a Post-It on the back of the door that said, "I made a Bad choice when I ate Taco Bell." You were just made Very aware of what the person before you Did in the very stall in which you Stand. And Breath.
My bestie Lindsay used to have a blog, but her OCD is consuming her life and she feels like people are reading her thoughts. I don't know why she feels safer among you freak-a-deeks who lurk around MOYT, but I guess since she is one of aforementioned freaks, she feels like she fits right in. LB has supported MOYT since back in the day when she was one of only three people I could get to read it at all. SOOO when she asked if she could do a guest post, I was more than happy to oblige.
Without further ado, I present to you my Right Elbow...Lindsay:
On a recent trip to D.C., I was made very aware of my need to be Medicated. Heavily Medicated. Upon checking into our lovely Hilton hotel, we threw open the door to the room and were pleasantly surprised. So Modern and Welcoming after 9 hours in the car. I did my normal Crazy inspection, where I rip apart the Bed in search of bedbugs and Sanitize all Remotes and Door Knobs. Success. Later that evening I decided that I needed to shower. I went into the bathroom and as I pulled back the curtain, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Hanging on the back of the bathroom door was a pair of Men's Underwear. Yes. Men's Underwear. Stranger's Undergarments. In my clean Bathroom.
This finding was far too fantastic to phone down 13 floors. I decided to pay the Front Desk Robot a visit. I was calm and polite when I stated that I have a problem with my room. You And Every Other Bubba, she probably thought. When I spoke the words, "I was disgusted to find a pair of Men's Underwear on the back of my bathroom door," the Robot moved. Her jaw dropped and stupidly asked me If It Was Still There. No, I packed it away to re gift at Christmas and I just wanted to see if there was a charge. Of Course it is still there! Needless to say, after a few more "doubting the cleanliness and integrity of my room" statements, we received a compensation on our bill.
This lead to a disturbing Thought Loop for my 9 Hours of driving the next day. Everything is Covered in Filth. Everything. I know hotel rooms are only so clean, but when they clean your room it is suppose to be done in such a way to make you forget that some stranger stood naked in your bathroom a few hours before. They should not leave evidence to support such things. Rest Stops. Now there is a Heap of Hazard. When you walk into a Rest Stop Restroom, there is usually someone in there cleaning or at least the faint scent of Bleach. So you pick a stall which Appears to be Clean, Walk-In, and Close the Door. You are careful, right? Seat covers, flush with your feet, the works. Did you have your Cell Phone in your hand when you walked in? Did you touch the lock to secure yourself in there? Are you aware that the person before you just touched that lock once they finished their business? Now its on your Cell phone. Which means it will be on your face and soon take over your body. You are now covered in Rest Area Hepatitis. The reality is that someone just did something icky in there right before you walked in. If you walked into a stall and someone had left an artifact like my Naked Hotel Man did, you would also feel unsettled and dirty. What if that person just before you put a Post-It on the back of the door that said, "I made a Bad choice when I ate Taco Bell." You were just made Very aware of what the person before you Did in the very stall in which you Stand. And Breath.
"All's Well That Ends Well"
To contact us Click HERE
How to begin to describe one of the most challenging, amazing theatre experiences I have ever been lucky enough to partake in? It's a challenge within itself. But, in the words of our heroine, Helena "My intents are fixed and will not leave me!"
I began my apprenticeship (chronicled in about eight blog posts here, on this blog) excited for the chance to work all summer on Shakespeare, but not even fathoming the depth that I would explore and the experience that I would have. We all met, and began our classes, knowing that some of us would be particpating in a seperate project with Dev, and no more than six of us would be cast in the main stage production with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. When they read off those six names, it took me all of my might not to squeal with joy at being called to be in All's Well That Ends Well.
We were sent to the CSC offices later that week to give our best monologues to Steve Maler, the director and one of the founders of CSC. (Slightly nerve-wracking, yes). I chose to use one of my Lady Percy monologues, as I was feeling quite confident with it. After the six of us were finished, we sat down and discussed what it would be like for us as apprentices, understudies and ensemble members in the production, and when we would receive news of our roles. First rehearsal, I was a MESS! I was super excited and hyper, but trying to be as professional as I could be. Listening to our AMAZING cast even just do a read through, I knew I was in for an eye-opening experience.
I got the news a few days later that I had been chosen to be the first understudy to Kersti Bryan, who was playing Helena. If you don't know All's Well, she is the center character. I was at once humbled and over-joyed. And IMMEDIATELY began learning my lines. I wanted to make sure that if I were ever called upon, that I would be ready, more than ready. Also, Helena is such a strong and wonderful character to inhabit, and I wanted to give her due time to study and really step into her shoes. I posted once about briefly playing Helena in an audition I went to, and how connected I felt to the character.
Each and every rehearsal, not only as I shadowed Kersti's journey in finding Helena, but my own journey to bringing my ensemble characters to their own life, was different and fulfilling in it's own way. The actors in this cast are not only unbelievably intelligent and talented, but also graceful, kind and very generous. Kersti made sure that we would check in every now and then and just talk about Helena; this troubled character in one of Shakespeare's considered "problem plays." We grew together in the world of the play, and I think the result was that of a very alive, changing, forward-moving story for the summer crowds of Boston to enjoy.
My view of Helena: I found through this rehearsal process; working alongside Steve, Kersti and the rest of the cast, that Helena is one of the oddest female characters you might come across in Shakespeare's cannon. To scratch the surface; she knows exactly what she wants, and she flies by the seat of her pants to get it. Whether or not it (it being Bertram, her love) is worth the struggle in the end, the audience is left wondering and deciding for themeselves. Helena is beautiful, and very smart. You can see that she tries to plot every detail of her very involved plan, but as fate would have it, everything goes amiss and she has to think on her feet. Luckily, she has the equipped strength of character to do it. I think that the best insight into her character is actually the monologue I used in that audition (Act I, sc. iii):
Then I confess
Here on my knee before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son.
My friends were poor but honest; so's my love.
Be not offended, for it hurts not him
That he is loved of me. I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit,
Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore
The sun that looks upon his worshipper
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do; but if yourself,
Whose agèd honor cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever in so true a flame of liking
Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and Love, O, then give pity
To her whose state is such that cannot choose
But lend and give where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.
I loved playing her passion, her courage and her knowledge. She is a character that will not leave me for a long time. Kersti was amazing in the role, and her approach was fascinating. Like Helena, Kersti has a fierce presence and a fragility to her that was beautiful to see. She is an inspiring actress, mentor and friend to me, I will cherish learning from her.
As for my other characters, there were three; the main one being a servant girl, whom we affectionly named Bernice. Bernice was a servant in the Countess' house. Bernice was not very bright, everything she did had to be re-done by Renaldo (the head servant, played by Wayne Fritsche). All my blocking as Bernice was either following or being instructed (and re-instructed) by Renaldo (Wayne) so I created (for myself) a very lively, bunny-like maid character, hoping only to add to the world we were creating for All's Well. My other two characters were only present in one scene each, one was a courtier I named Maeve (for this I got to wear a BEAUTIFUL sky blue and creme colored costume (detail shot coming up!)). And the last was a rather saucy maid living in Florence, who oogles all the solidiers coming home from war. As a part of a long-winded, play-related joke, I named her Fontibell. These characters I am describing are the results of where I took my ensemble roles to deepen the world we were creating. If they sound silly, so be it. It is a comedy after all. Was I mainly focusing on studying Helena? A little. But did I have fun with my characters? You bet your bottom dollar I did.
To close, I have not, nor could I ever write down the amount I learned from being in this production. There are too many great actors to list, praise and thank, crew members to worship and far too many great things I have taken into myself as an actress, that have changed me for the better. Working with Steve Mahler on my first professional show was so wonderful. I have learned so much about not only acting, but Shakespeare, his words and language and his message we were trying to tell with our story.
As I have said, I am beyond grateful for this experience. It confirmed my love for Shakespeare, tested my stamina and improved my acting! Thank you CommShakes! I hope to continuously be a part of this growing artistic family!
All the best,
Micah
P.S. I will conclude my Summer 2011 journey with CSC with a small picture barrage to show an insight of life at AWTEW.
Here's CommShakes' write up: http://www.commshakes.org/performances/performance/4
Links to Reviews of the piece: http://www.commshakes.org/press/news/news-item/6
I began my apprenticeship (chronicled in about eight blog posts here, on this blog) excited for the chance to work all summer on Shakespeare, but not even fathoming the depth that I would explore and the experience that I would have. We all met, and began our classes, knowing that some of us would be particpating in a seperate project with Dev, and no more than six of us would be cast in the main stage production with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. When they read off those six names, it took me all of my might not to squeal with joy at being called to be in All's Well That Ends Well.
We were sent to the CSC offices later that week to give our best monologues to Steve Maler, the director and one of the founders of CSC. (Slightly nerve-wracking, yes). I chose to use one of my Lady Percy monologues, as I was feeling quite confident with it. After the six of us were finished, we sat down and discussed what it would be like for us as apprentices, understudies and ensemble members in the production, and when we would receive news of our roles. First rehearsal, I was a MESS! I was super excited and hyper, but trying to be as professional as I could be. Listening to our AMAZING cast even just do a read through, I knew I was in for an eye-opening experience.
I got the news a few days later that I had been chosen to be the first understudy to Kersti Bryan, who was playing Helena. If you don't know All's Well, she is the center character. I was at once humbled and over-joyed. And IMMEDIATELY began learning my lines. I wanted to make sure that if I were ever called upon, that I would be ready, more than ready. Also, Helena is such a strong and wonderful character to inhabit, and I wanted to give her due time to study and really step into her shoes. I posted once about briefly playing Helena in an audition I went to, and how connected I felt to the character.
 |
| Studying Helena lines at my station in the Women's Dressing room. Almost always what I was doing when I wasn't on stage. |
My view of Helena: I found through this rehearsal process; working alongside Steve, Kersti and the rest of the cast, that Helena is one of the oddest female characters you might come across in Shakespeare's cannon. To scratch the surface; she knows exactly what she wants, and she flies by the seat of her pants to get it. Whether or not it (it being Bertram, her love) is worth the struggle in the end, the audience is left wondering and deciding for themeselves. Helena is beautiful, and very smart. You can see that she tries to plot every detail of her very involved plan, but as fate would have it, everything goes amiss and she has to think on her feet. Luckily, she has the equipped strength of character to do it. I think that the best insight into her character is actually the monologue I used in that audition (Act I, sc. iii):
Then I confess
Here on my knee before high heaven and you,
That before you, and next unto high heaven,
I love your son.
My friends were poor but honest; so's my love.
Be not offended, for it hurts not him
That he is loved of me. I follow him not
By any token of presumptuous suit,
Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;
Yet never know how that desert should be.
I know I love in vain, strive against hope;
Yet in this captious and intenible sieve
I still pour in the waters of my love,
And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,
Religious in mine error, I adore
The sun that looks upon his worshipper
But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,
Let not your hate encounter with my love,
For loving where you do; but if yourself,
Whose agèd honor cites a virtuous youth,
Did ever in so true a flame of liking
Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian
Was both herself and Love, O, then give pity
To her whose state is such that cannot choose
But lend and give where she is sure to lose;
That seeks not to find that her search implies,
But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.
I loved playing her passion, her courage and her knowledge. She is a character that will not leave me for a long time. Kersti was amazing in the role, and her approach was fascinating. Like Helena, Kersti has a fierce presence and a fragility to her that was beautiful to see. She is an inspiring actress, mentor and friend to me, I will cherish learning from her.
As for my other characters, there were three; the main one being a servant girl, whom we affectionly named Bernice. Bernice was a servant in the Countess' house. Bernice was not very bright, everything she did had to be re-done by Renaldo (the head servant, played by Wayne Fritsche). All my blocking as Bernice was either following or being instructed (and re-instructed) by Renaldo (Wayne) so I created (for myself) a very lively, bunny-like maid character, hoping only to add to the world we were creating for All's Well. My other two characters were only present in one scene each, one was a courtier I named Maeve (for this I got to wear a BEAUTIFUL sky blue and creme colored costume (detail shot coming up!)). And the last was a rather saucy maid living in Florence, who oogles all the solidiers coming home from war. As a part of a long-winded, play-related joke, I named her Fontibell. These characters I am describing are the results of where I took my ensemble roles to deepen the world we were creating. If they sound silly, so be it. It is a comedy after all. Was I mainly focusing on studying Helena? A little. But did I have fun with my characters? You bet your bottom dollar I did.
To close, I have not, nor could I ever write down the amount I learned from being in this production. There are too many great actors to list, praise and thank, crew members to worship and far too many great things I have taken into myself as an actress, that have changed me for the better. Working with Steve Mahler on my first professional show was so wonderful. I have learned so much about not only acting, but Shakespeare, his words and language and his message we were trying to tell with our story.
As I have said, I am beyond grateful for this experience. It confirmed my love for Shakespeare, tested my stamina and improved my acting! Thank you CommShakes! I hope to continuously be a part of this growing artistic family!
All the best,
Micah
P.S. I will conclude my Summer 2011 journey with CSC with a small picture barrage to show an insight of life at AWTEW.
 |
| Costumes! (All beautiful) |
 |
| Detail of one of my beautiful costume pieces! (For "Maeve's" costume) |
 |
| "Bernice" and A Gentlemen (aka me and Danny, fellow apprentice) |
 |
| Me and Kersti |
 |
| Set detail |
 |
| Lights! |
 |
| Doing Shakespeare in the evening, outside: GLORIOUS |
 |
| Just to show a snippet of our crowd sizes. (That's not even 1/8th of our typical crowd) |
Here's CommShakes' write up: http://www.commshakes.org/performances/performance/4
Links to Reviews of the piece: http://www.commshakes.org/press/news/news-item/6
From 'Titus' to 'Christmas'...
To contact us Click HERE
We closed Titus Andronicus last weekend, and I cannot say how proud I am of the production! We took some musings we had about the show this summer and created a company that produced a great show that audiences had GREAT reactions to. We never officially "sold out" however, we did fill the house every night. I looked around as we were warming up and saw all the people I know and all the people I have recently befriended doing this show together and I was just beaming with pride. As I have said, I am very proud of my Lavinia; I worked very hard on the role, and had so much fun performing every night. There was a great deal of challenges with the production, and a lot of things that we learned to help us as a company. I cannot wait to discuss where we want to go next. We have a couple of ideas....but I'll share that when we know what we are doing!
Moving on! After a mere five days off, I began rehearsals for a WONDERFUL production of A Christmas Carol with The Hanover Theater! I got cast back in September as "Belle," Ebenezer Scrooge's once-fiancee. (EEEE!) It is a professional contract (I get some Equity points) and it pays (always nice to get paid for the work you love!) It's amazing. We started rehearsals yesterday and so far, wonderful. The show is based on the timeless classic book by Charles Dickens, and no matter what, always moves me.
After the first read through last night, the adult cast (we have a lot of child actors; Tiny Tim, Ghost of Christmas Past, etc) we had an in depth discussion about the show and about the story that we are meaning to tell, and how important it is. The things that really stuck out to me were the following: The reasons why we as the people of London, need to re-tell the story of Scrooge. How it saved him and how it refocuses our energies to what is most important in this world; Love. The fact that, for a 'Christmas' story, it rarely has religious references focusing us on the Humanity of it.
I can't wait to start digging deeper into the character of Belle. She is one of the only people that Scrooge has ever outwardly loved and he loses her because he loses himself. So far, we've only read through and worked on some music and choreography. I've got to get to work on my British accent, but I'll be back soon with more on Belle, and more on our process! In the meantime, fun weird fact I just found out, the beautiful and extremely talented actress who played Lavinia in Julie Taymour's Titus (1999 version of Shakespeare's play), Laura Fraser played my character (Belle) in the 1999 Christmas Carol directed by David Hugh Jones!!! Although she first played Belle and then Lavinia...weird weirdness.
Oh and we need to get back to Hamlet. It's been, what, twenty one posts since my last Hamlet post?
Come on.
Best,
Micah
Moving on! After a mere five days off, I began rehearsals for a WONDERFUL production of A Christmas Carol with The Hanover Theater! I got cast back in September as "Belle," Ebenezer Scrooge's once-fiancee. (EEEE!) It is a professional contract (I get some Equity points) and it pays (always nice to get paid for the work you love!) It's amazing. We started rehearsals yesterday and so far, wonderful. The show is based on the timeless classic book by Charles Dickens, and no matter what, always moves me.
After the first read through last night, the adult cast (we have a lot of child actors; Tiny Tim, Ghost of Christmas Past, etc) we had an in depth discussion about the show and about the story that we are meaning to tell, and how important it is. The things that really stuck out to me were the following: The reasons why we as the people of London, need to re-tell the story of Scrooge. How it saved him and how it refocuses our energies to what is most important in this world; Love. The fact that, for a 'Christmas' story, it rarely has religious references focusing us on the Humanity of it.
I can't wait to start digging deeper into the character of Belle. She is one of the only people that Scrooge has ever outwardly loved and he loses her because he loses himself. So far, we've only read through and worked on some music and choreography. I've got to get to work on my British accent, but I'll be back soon with more on Belle, and more on our process! In the meantime, fun weird fact I just found out, the beautiful and extremely talented actress who played Lavinia in Julie Taymour's Titus (1999 version of Shakespeare's play), Laura Fraser played my character (Belle) in the 1999 Christmas Carol directed by David Hugh Jones!!! Although she first played Belle and then Lavinia...weird weirdness.
Oh and we need to get back to Hamlet. It's been, what, twenty one posts since my last Hamlet post?
Come on.
Best,
Micah
Shakespeare's Moments: Globe to Globe
To contact us Click HERE
My friend, Joelle, always brings the best things to my attention!
I am in a particular Shakespearean mood these past few days too as I have a call back for a production of Twelfth Night in a few days(!) and I have recently begun re-reading Contested Will by James Shapiro (the ultimate discussion of the Authorship Debate, a review of which, I will soon post about).
Anyway, so this is wicked cool: Public Radio Exchange (PRX) is hosting London's Globe Theater's multicultural celebration of Shakespeare this spring. The Globe has invited 37 theatre companies from around the world to produce Shakespeare's works employing specifically their cultural traditions and languages. Plays including: Titus Andronicus, Othello, Cymbeline and many more!
This is a celebration of the world's multi-cultured love of our Shakespeare! No other global celebration has ever taken place like this. Each theater presents their unique understanding of the plays and PRX brings insights into those performances to you! So take a listen!
Enjoy,
Micah
I am in a particular Shakespearean mood these past few days too as I have a call back for a production of Twelfth Night in a few days(!) and I have recently begun re-reading Contested Will by James Shapiro (the ultimate discussion of the Authorship Debate, a review of which, I will soon post about).
Anyway, so this is wicked cool: Public Radio Exchange (PRX) is hosting London's Globe Theater's multicultural celebration of Shakespeare this spring. The Globe has invited 37 theatre companies from around the world to produce Shakespeare's works employing specifically their cultural traditions and languages. Plays including: Titus Andronicus, Othello, Cymbeline and many more!
This is a celebration of the world's multi-cultured love of our Shakespeare! No other global celebration has ever taken place like this. Each theater presents their unique understanding of the plays and PRX brings insights into those performances to you! So take a listen!
Enjoy,
Micah
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