The Future....

I have booked my first EQUITY show! 

More details to come as soon as I see my contract!

These are words that I wrote in this blog about one year ago...

I hope that a year from today, the negative behaviors that I've struggled with for years will finally be a thing that is in the past. I want to be in a place where I'm auditioning, hopefully I've booked the next job, and have settled comfortably in my new apartment with E. I hope that I will have gained a stronger connection to my spirit, and a confidence that has seemed to elude me for so long. I also want to incorporate some new things into my life: a regular yoga practice, more journaling, spending more time in nature, finding new hobbies, and taking more risks with my career.

 Well, I can definitely say that I've taken steps towards all of these goals. Have I perfected and reached each and every one? No, but it's nice to be able to look back and remind  myself of the things that I still want in my  life, and to keep striving towards these things. I think what I'm learning is that everything takes time- Rome wasn't built in a day (to use a cheesy quote)- and it's true.

Quote for the week.

Quote for the week.

Back from the 'Spray....

Our poster in the lobby of the theatre.

I guess I needed a moment to decompress from the extremely challenging process that was Hairspray at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH. The fastest rehearsal process EVER. Did I mention that I did Superstar for 4 years? Yes, everyone knows that by now, so just imagine me learning a brand new show for the first time in 4 years. And being chosen to be in an ensemble of professional dancers, of which I am not. Our director was a professional dancer and choreographer, and he gleaned some inspiration for the biggest number, "You Can't Stop The Beat" from the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance. Look for it on YouTube and you'll see why this was a challenge!

I cried the first day of rehearsal because in my mind, I did not belong in this show. What a grueling process! I relearned the meaning of discipline and dedication because if I did not have these things, there was NO WAY that I was going to be able to keep up with the pace of the process and of the show in general. I was constantly practicing dance moves, asking for help, and luckily the cast was awesome and so many people stepped in to help me break down each and every move in all the dances so that I was able to get it. And I got it! By the time we opened, I was a dancing fool with the rest of em! I worked really hard, and I enjoyed every single minute of it, no matter if I was crying or laughing. It really stretched me as a performer, and taught me some lessons about what I need to be doing to make it in this business. I know that I can dance- I don't have 2 left feet- BUT- I need to be in dance classes, if only so that I can learn to pick up the choreography that is given to me quicker. And also to relearn some basic dance moves that I knew way back in high school when I was going to dance class 3 or 4 times a week. ATS was not kidding when she said that I needed to be taking dance classes, and voice lessons, and almost 10 years later, she is right. If I'm not performing, I still need to be practicing and learning and just growing as a performer! And doing Hairspray lit the fire beneath my butt. I finally can say that yes, there is life after tour! I don't know what's in store for me next, but I feel good. I feel happy that I was able to be in a new show, and I want to do more!

a set piece, the poster was later removed to reveal the real 'Dynamites' during "Welcome to the 60s"!

This clip is from a performance we had to do @ the mall in Manchester. I've never had to dance in public like this. It was really fun!