The Nerd

Okay, so, I officially love "The Nerd". I just saw it tonight (opening night!) and it was HILARIOUS.

Well, first of all, it was made funnier by the fact that I was all dolled up in my little black dress, my little black heels, and my adorable shawl (stolen from Kaytren...thanks, Kay!)...had my hair done, makeup perfect, etc etc etc...and it starts POURING down raining. Oh, and hail. Don't forget the hail, which by the way will hurt if it hits you in the eye. A lot. Anyway, Jake, Kaytren, and I were sitting together in the theatre, soaked and shivering. But we looked so ridiculous that we had to laugh at ourselves as we dripped all over each other while dancing around and singing to the pre-show 70's music (play that funky music, white boy).

Everyone was hysterical in their roles. I was most impressed with their physical comedy! It's not easy to do - I'm pretty awful at it - and I really commend them all for it. The Nerd himself was just...oh, Frank. You're silly and I will never get the voice out of my head. I think my favorite character was Axel. He just has these hilarious lines that I was a half-step behind everyone else in understanding. But I tried. Tansy was cute as can be...her facial expressions were fabulous (mime box, anyone?). The character I would want to play is Clelia, because I can totally identify with her mannerisms. She's probably the one I could play, were I ever in it, because I'm more likely to be able to act kind of nervous and uptight than anything else. Waldgrave, too, was so funny...poor, poor confused Waldgrave. And shout-out to the kid who played Thor...too cute! I just wanted to snatch him up and hug him! And, of course, Willum. Aww. Aww, Willum...he was great in his transitions from "Aw, Shucks, I'm Eternally Grateful" Guy to "I Might Go Homicidal. You Might Want To Duck" Guy.

So do I recommend seeing this? Absolutely. Go with some friends who make you laugh, because you'll definitely be quoting it on the way home (I know we were). Heck, it's worth seeing just to see that amazing Creature of the Black Lagoon costume (props to the costume department, where it was housed and where we admired it for many a class)!

This is Our Youth

I just reread "This is Our Youth" yesterday with Sarah and Dallas (I read Warren, but, you know, whatever)...and I remembered how much I love that play. I want to be in it SO badly. I would definitely consider Jessica to be a dream role. I know it's going to be at the Firehouse Theatre in March, but I don't know anything about auditioning or their rehearsal process, and I know I'd have to get permission from the theatre department here at VCU before I did anything...but I really want to do it!

I have been a completely caffeine-powered writing machine this week. I wrote two one-acts and came up with ideas for a few others, and I fine-tuned some of the script for the Holocaust project...all on about three hours of sleep a night. Okay, so I know that's really not the healthiest or smartest way to go about things, but what can I say? I became a college student REALLY fast.

I got a C on my Art History exam. Boo. I studied really hard for that, too! And then I did really well on my "This is Our Youth" quiz and I didn't even look over the script a second time. I guess it just goes to show...you do better at things you're truly passionate about.

Boo, Plays Being Cancelled. Hooray, Continuing to Pursue Them!

I know our play at the Holocaust Museum was rejected. But I don't care. I've wanted this too much for too long not to have it happen. Jake may have found us a new stage and I'm writing up a storm, trying to improve the script. We'll make it happen. We're too in love with the project to just give up. Yeah, it was tough having to find out that we were rejected by the same people who originally really wanted us, but c'est la vie. Maybe we can do another project for the museum. I just know that THIS one is going to happen. I feel it.

In other news, FDP is going beautifully. I love my cast and my director is just too darn adorable to be true. She's a grad student and is a lot of fun. I'm also pretty much healthy again, which is more exciting than any of the other stuff, I think. I can still barely hear a thing, but apart from that, I feel great.

Shout-out to Hannah, who makes me prouder than anyone I know on a daily basis. Hannah, you're the best little sister who I'm not really related to ever! (Kelsey's the best sister who's my age, before she says anything, haha)

When Plays Fall Through...

Our Holocaust Museum project was rejected. I was e-mailed by the man we sent our material to and he basically said that our play wouldn't hold an audience's attention and really wasn't a play. I don't know if he understood what we were trying to do with the material, but what can you do? It's over. I took it personally because all but two of the scenes were things I had written (and put my heart and soul into). Jake took it pretty hard, too, so I hope he's okay. Interestingly, Kaytren was the most optimistic of all of us (if you know her, you know what I mean).

I think we might try to get it produced elsewhere, maybe even here at VCU. I'll keep y'all posted.

Boo, various infections. Hooray, cookies!

GoodNESS. I can't seem to get healthy and stay that way. I was fine for a while following the dehydration spell, and now I have infections all over the place (sinuses, ears, etc). What's the deal??

But Grammy visited and brought me cookies, Mandarin oranges, and brownies...so that makes me feel a wee bit better.

We started rehearsals for "Small World", the ten-minute play that I'm in. I get to do crazy things like sing the theme song to "The Jeffersons" and yell out "POP TAHT TUOBA ERUS TON MI"...it's a funny play. I'm looking forward to FDP. It's too bad no one outside the department can come, because my mother really wanted to. Oh, well.

Shakespeare and Next Year

I love Shakespeare. I really do. I want to be in "The Tempest" really badly. Maybe we'll randomly put it on next year.

I Am My Own Wife

I just saw Scott Wichman in "I Am My Own Wife".

And WOW.

That's all I can say, really, is WOW. I was so blown away. I mean, he's always good. He's always awesome, actually, he's a very talented guy. And I've always liked him, ever since "Wizard of Oz" when I was but a lowly Munchkin and he was tearing it up as the Cowardly Lion. But I was so utterly impressed with him in this show...everyone, seriously, go see it. It's at the Firehouse Theatre. $20, or $10 for students (bring your ID). Go to www.firehousetheatre.org (there's a link on here) and make reservations.

I'm definitely going back. The fact that one person can carry a show all by himself, changing characters so smoothly and completely that you barely see the transitions yet know they occured, is so inspiring to me as an acting student. I think that normally I would feel bad about myself after seeing something like that (you know, the whole "I'll never be that good, I should just stop now, blablabla" thing)...but tonight, I feel motivated. I wanted to go straight to acting class and prove that I CAN act, despite what may or may not have happened at cattle call.

I'll be back with a posse of theatre kids, cheering my heart out, very soon. If you're interested in going with me, let me know ASAP and I'll make a reservation.

Statues

I had the most interesting morning...

After acting class, we all went to the dining hall. Outside of this building, there is a big "VCU" thing that you can climb on, sit on, whatever (as long as you're not stealing it or defacing it, it's pretty much fair game). Well, Cesar, who is crazy, decided to climb onto the "V" and just stand there like a statue for a while. The rest of us went inside, figuring he would come in when he got hungry. Well, no, he didn't. After about half an hour, Eric and I decided to join in. I froze on the "C" and Eric handled the "U".

I stayed there for a full ninety minutes before moving.

The reaction was strange. Some people tried to make us laugh or talk. Some yelled out "THEATRE NERDS!" which actually did make me smile (out of pride). Some took photos and a few art students sketched us. The most interesting reaction, though, came from a few second-year acting students. They were angry with us. I'm not sure why. They shouted things like "First years! Get down! Stop that!" We weren't hurting anyone and we weren't in anyone's way, so I don't really know what that was all about. Hans joked that it was probably because they were mad they didn't think of it first.

Most people wanted a rationalization once we broke our freezes. One conversation went like this:

GIRL: So, what was this for? Was this an assignment? Did Barry put you up to it?
KAYTREN: No. It was kind of for no reason.
GIRL: Were you protesting?
KAYTREN: No.
GIRL: Are you sure?

I thought that was funny. We're positive. We started it! Haha. It was hard for people to accept that we were doing it for no reason. Although what started out as being a silly stunt for no apparent reason quickly turned into an exercise in focus. I never once looked up to see who was looking at me. One girl put her face about an inch away from mine. I heard her say, "Caroline, it's me!" but I don't know who it was. I wasn't focusing on her. I kept within myself. Since I didn't know when the people on the "V" and the "U" were moving, I didn't move except for one time (occasionally, we'd change our positions if they caused pain). I'm pretty proud of myself.

Although my back REALLY hurts from staying in a sort of tense position for an hour and a half.

My Friends

I truly have the best friends in the world. I have been so blessed to have the friends that I do. I don't know what I did to deserve them and I am grateful every day to know them.

Cattle Call and Topdog/Underdog

So I'm vaguely healthy again. Not feeling great, not feeling awful. Actually ate, drank some water, showing progress. I came close to being pretty seriously sick, I think, and I really hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon because it s-u-c-k-s.

Anyway. Cattle call...could have been better. Much better. I made a strange decision to use a chair in my monologue. But not to sit in it. No, somehow in my mind, it made sense that Martha would be standing while Lily Morter was sitting and for Martha to talk to Lily in the chair. And later push her out of it and slam the chair around a little. Maybe dehydration causes delusions? Whatever. All I know is, the first thing out of Kaytren's mouth was, "so the chair maybe wasn't a good idea." And I'm in complete agreement with her. It was a stupid idea and it made me look complete juvenile. I mean, I've been doing this for as long as I can remember, and I can't remember to cheat out? I can't remember not to use "acting hands"? I almost forget my name? Guh.

But the great thing about this was that it's over and now I see what I'm up against. I know I can handle an audition, even if it makes me shaky and nervous and even if I mess it up horribly. I can see my mistakes and I took the criticism I recieved well. Better than I've ever taked criticism before. I'm proud of me a little. Plus, my skirt was awesome.

I saw "Topdog/Underdog" for the second time tonight. Jake hadn't seen it and won't be around tomorrow, so we went at 11:00. It really was a great show and I was very impressed. The entire thing is student-run and it's underground theatre, which rocks so hard. It's a very intense show and those two guys really pulled it off. I've never had to carry a show with just one other person, so props to them! If any VCUers read this and haven't been to see it, please go see. It's free and it's awesome. But bring a jacket because Shafer St. Playhouse is FREEZING.

Okay, it's been requested that I make a few more film recommendations, so here are the B's:

A Beautiful Mind
Beauty and the Beast
Being Julia
Bend it like Beckham
Big Fish
Billy Elliot
Bride and Prejudice

DRINK WATER

Important information for all who read this, whoever you are: drink water.

Do not allow yourselves to become dehydrated.

I did. And it's not fun. Yesterday, I drank six cups (they're pretty small, but still) of coffee in hopes of waking up enough to make it through Costume Construction without sewing my fingers together. In doing so, I felt jittery, dizzy, and sick for the next twelve hours and didn't eat or drink anything for almost thirty-six hours. I am still feeling pretty awful and a little feverish (not sure if that's normal. Must Wikipedia the information on dehydration).

So just don't do it. Drink water. Even if you don't like the taste of it, just drink it. It's much better than not drinking it and almost fainting in an elevator or falling off your bed or not being able to focus your eyes for twelve hours.

Yay for friends and roommates who are extremely nurturing and cuddly who force me to drink water. Because I definitely didn't want to. Still don't, but will.

THIS WARNING GOES ESPECIALLY TO THE THEATRE STUDENTS. Since we have our rescheduled audition on Friday, please be careful about your health. Nerves are high and I know I get scared auditioning and get all shaky, so please be good to yourselves!!

When Auditions Get Cancelled...

...I go through a strange range of emotions. There's relief, because it means I have even more time to prepare. There's fear, because it means it's still happening. There's anxiety, because part of me still wants to get it over with. And, of course, there's a touch of "wtf, mate?" because I'm curious why the name "Karen Wright" is unpronounceable to me.

In lieu of auditions, I went with Kaytren and Jake to the VA Holocaust Museum since Kaytren had never been. Jake's an amazing tour guide since he did a play there and I chimed in every so often because I've been studying the Holocaust since I was about eleven. Well, on our way out, who should be there but the sweetest man in existance, Jay Ipson (he who runs the museum)! Jake went up and talked with him for a while and somehow the talk turns to plays.

To make a long story short, the three of us are going to collaborate to create, direct, and act in an original play for the VA Holocaust Museum, to be presented in February. We are so THRILLED to have this opportunity fresh out of high school! I'm especially amazed that this is happening because we're going to use stuff I've written. It's all happening pretty quickly, too. I'm submitting the plays I've written this weekend and we're setting up a meeting very soon. I can't believe it's really happening!