Fact #178: Hey, I know those people!

Two of my castmates from Hobson's Choice were named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's performers of the year. Yay!!!!!


It was so fun/inspiring/challenging/invigorating to work with such talented and creative people, it's wonderful to see their work recognized!!


Til tomorrow!

Fact #160: Goodbye Hobson

I'm mo-blogging today. I'm headed back to the theatre after a lovely dinner with the cast. We had a matinee at 2 and at 8pm we have our final performance.

I won't be sad til after. For now, we've got a show to do!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #156: It's the final countdown...

We've only got 4 more days and 5 more performances of Hobson's Choice.

Wait, whaaaat?! How can that be??? Didn't we just open? Yowwy.

It's been such a busy month (between performances, work, auditions, grad school prep, family visits, and of course a few nights out drinking with the cast) that time has just flown by. Now we're getting into the countdown phase, where with each performance it hits me a little harder -- we've only got a few more whacks at this thing.

The best and the dumbest thing about theatre is that you pour your heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into a play; you perform it for a while; and then it just vanishes.

It makes the end a little bittersweet. But it makes the present so precious.


Til tomorrow!

Fact #147: Off and running

We did it! We opened the show!

Whew.

Opening nights are funny. There's always a bump in energy from nerves and excitement and the dynamic of the audience. There's a feeling that this particular performance is special. It's the moment we've all been waiting for, what all the work in rehearsal was for.

Some actors love opening night and some hate it. Personally, I fall somewhere in between.

I like it because it is a special night. No matter how long or short the run is, there's only one opening night. It's the introduction of this production to the world. And I like the feeling afterward, that wild giddy rush of elation and relief at having made it through the first performance.

But really, my favorite part of the run is after we've opened -- once the jitters have died down a bit, once we've had a few different audiences. Once the show is settled into our bones.

So here's to next week. And the week after that.


Til tomorrow!

Fact #146: Bustle, check

We open Hobson's Choice tonight! Wheeee/Eeeeeek!

Alice and Vickey. So sweet.. on the outside.

Til tomorrow!

Fact #144: Preview!

Tonight is our first preview of Hobson's Choice.


O.M.Bustle! I'm so excited!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #142: Life as an evil step-sister

We had our first dress rehearsal on Sunday night. Despite needing a little work on a couple of quick changes, the costumes are so much fun! With the bustles on, we look eerily similar to the step-sisters in Cinderella.


It's funny, I don't think Alice is evil. She's certainly not an angel -- she's bratty and catty and incredibly selfish. But she's not really a villain. She's even got moments of sweetness.

It's just that she's so self-centered that her moments of sweetness and her moments of cruelty come with no distinction between them. They just fly out of her depending on her needs or mood at the time. She doesn't do anything with other people in mind. She's thoughtless more than she's evil.

It did finally occur to me the other night, though, that if I'm doing my job right, people might not like Alice very much. There's not much reason for them to.

It also occurred to me that that's okay. Not all characters have to be likable (not all people are!). Characters like that are fun to watch for a different reason. Alice might be the kind of person you love to hate -- and that's all right by me!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #140: Knitting while acting

I've been learning how to knit.

At the top of the show my character, Alice, is supposed to be knitting while she waits for her suitor to arrive at the shop. And if Alice knits, that means I have to knit.

Luckily, the assistant stage manager was president of the knitting club at her high school. So she had all kinds of yarn and knitting needles, and was a great teacher. She gave me a fat red pair of needles (they're so huge I feel like I should be slaying vampires with them) and some thick pink yarn to practice with.

At first I had a strange tendency to add stitches (I guess beginners usually drop them), but I kept practicing until I was able to finish a row with the same number of stitches as when I started. I could even hold a semi-coherent conversation while I knitted.

Then they gave me the needles and yarn I have to use for the show -- the needles are about a hundred times smaller than my practice ones, and the the yarn is a hundred times thinner. Ruh roh...

Rather than trusting me to do all my own knitting, the ASM did several rows ahead of time so I'd have something to start with. But even with all the help from her, this is how it usually goes:

• I wait in the wings, clutching my knitting needles and yarn.
  
• The lights dim and we enter in the blackout.
• The lights come up. I knit a few stitches (is that what they're called?).
• My 'sister' enters. We start talking.
• The knitting needles go haywire. It's like they've become self aware and desperately want to escape my clutches.
• I keep doing the motions -- but instead of a nice orderly row, I'm now knitting a giant knot.

Come on brain! Two things at once, you can do it! Hands knit, mouth speaks. Get it together!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #138: Tech-etty tech tech

We start tech tonight!! Wheeeee!!

There's something really exciting about adding another element to the show. It's getting closer and closer to being the play we'll share with an audience.

Tech rehearsals can be long and tedious and stressful, and a lot of actors dread them. But a friend of mine once told me that he actually really likes tech rehearsals -- all the stopping and starting, he said, gives him the perfect opportunity to futz around with his performance, making little adjustments, sharpening moments, adding detail. Tech becomes fun and useful because he makes the most of it.

I like that idea. I'm going to steal it. :)


Til tomorrow!

Fact #135: At least it'll be worth it to get up at 4:30

Tomorrow I open at Big Dog. Then I'll run home for an hour or two before I head off to rehearsal for the rest of the day.

So it'll be a long day. But I have a strategy for survival --

Step 1) Coffee coffee coffee.
Step 2) A big bowl of the most delicious oatmeal in the world.
Step 3) Yoga to reset.
Step 4) Coffee coffee coffee.
Step 5) Acting!!

And really, those are four of my top favorite things in the world. So busy or not, it's bound to be a good day!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #133: My butt is about to triple in size

I had a costume fitting this afternoon for Hobson's Choice. I lurve my costumes!!!!! They're beautiful, they're rich, they're like a time portal made of fabric. It's pretty impossible not to walk and carry yourself differently wearing these period costumes.

Since I was getting fitted and there were pins getting stuck everywhere and I was trying to act like a professional, I resisted the urge to prance around like an idiot. But just barely. It's so exciting!

I wear three different dresses throughout the show. The second two have bustles. And these bustles are not to be trifled with. Seriously. I'm gonna have to learn how to navigate the world wearing those things -- I could end up taking out a piece of furniture or a fellow actor with my ass if I turn around too fast!

Note to self: control your butt.


Til tomorrow!

Fact #129: It's 12:19am and I'm blogging!!!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm about to go to sleep. (You know you're tired when the thought of sleeping makes you so excited you can barely sleep.)

It's been a busy week -- the kind where every morning when the alarm goes off, you bolt straight up in bed and yell, "What day is it??? Where am I??? What am I late for???" Then you go make yourself a pot of coffee because the lingering adrenaline from the heart attack you almost just gave yourself will only last you so long.

But it's pretty impossible to complain about being busy when I'm doing so many things I love!

Tomorrow, the highlights of my day will include a much-needed morning run, a dialect coaching session for Hobson's Choice, rehearsal, and then beer and pretzels with beer cheese at The Library.

I can barely wait!! Well, okay, I can. But only because I get to sleep first! Wheee...zzzzzzz...


Til tomorrow.

Fact #127: Read-thru

We've been in rehearsals for a few days now, but today was our first full table read with (almost) the whole cast.

It was nice to hear the whole thing, to get that first sense of it as a single piece. And it's amazing just to gather around a table with such talented actors and see them work, and work with them.

I am so incredibly grateful to be a part of this show!



Til tomorrow.

Fact #124: A letter to myself, the night before rehearsals start

Dear Laurel,

First of all, go to sleep! What are you doing up so late, young lady? It is waaay past your bedtime. But don't forget to brush your teeth first. Oh, and take your vitamins! And call your mother! And make sure you look both ways before crossing the street! And--! Wait, what was this letter about again?

Oh yeah.

You start rehearsals tomorrow! (Well, technically later today.) This was your last day of waiting impatiently to jump in. Tomorrow, you'll be in it. And when you're in it, try to remember these things:

• Don't worry about trying to prove you belong there. You do.
• Don't worry about getting everything right the first time. You won't.
• Make the most of it. All of it.
• When all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you suddenly realize you can't act at all -- just keep going. You'll figure it out again.
• Be fearless.
• Be honest.
• Do something you've never done before.
• Watch and learn, and speak up when you've got something to say.
• Have fun! (Or to be more British, muck about.)
• Pay attention.
• And, of course, specify.

But for now, just go to sleep. And if you can manage it, sweet dreams would be nice.

Til tomorrow!
Laurel

Fact #111: It's true, Karl Pilkington's head is very round

I've been listening to a lot of Karl Pilkington lately. In fact, I downloaded old episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show just to hear Karl's voice. And no, he's not my latest celebrity crush. (That's still Jason Bateman. *Sigh...*)


I'm brushing up on my Mancunian accent for Hobson's Choice, and Mr. Pilkington, in addition to being strange and hilarious, is from Manchester. So whenever I'm driving somewhere or doing laundry or whatever, I put on The Ricky Gervais Show and repeat after Karl. It's awesome!

I've also been watching Dr. Who, with Christopher Eccleston. He is also awesome.


Til tomorrow!

Fact #84: My passport sure came in handy today

Guess where I was today? I'll give you a hint:

Oh wait, that's just a shot of my knees that I accidentally took
when I was trying to get my camera out to take pictures of...

Niagara Falls!!!

Yep, I made my first ever trip up to Canada today! It was a quick trip with not much time for sightseeing, but we did manage to stop at the falls and also try some ice wine and Tim Hortons donuts. So, a day well-spent in my book.


Til tomorrow!