This week, many things are coming to a close. I have had my final BCT main stage performance, this is my final week interning, I've said goodbye to some people that realistically I may never see again, my last spring concert is on Friday... and still, new things keep coming. Yearbooks were distributed yesterday, a Disney trip is scheduled to begin next tuesday, and soon summer will be here to warm us all.
Of course, I am a very emotional person. You know that, I know that, everyone who has ever met me knows that. I feel things to the extreme. I don't know why it is like that, but I have always been that way. When I was in preschool, I cried simply because a little boy in my class was sad. I didn't want anyone to be upset. When I am surrounded by people who love and care for one another, I become attached. This company has meant a lot to me in the past year that I have been involved. No, I haven't been in 20 of their shows, no I don't know everybody on the staff, no I haven't been with them for my whole life. But I know what that feels like. Sitting backstage on Sunday was like saying goodbye to an old friend. I know, that is so cliche but that is how I felt. Saying goodbye to anything, whether it is my first show or my fifteenth, is difficult. I found myself feeling less worthy to be upset than the people who have been here for years longer. I know that I have every right to feel however it is that I would like, but I try not to take away the attention from others by being sad, myself. Coming here, though, was something that may have saved me. I came here knowing nobody. I left with people who text me first. That sounds stupid, but when somebody else contacts YOU, don't you feel good? Don't you feel special when somebody wants to talk to you out of everyone in their entire contact list? Now I'm rambling, but what I am trying to say is that I have found a group of people who love and care about me. I will never forget that, and I will always be thankful. For those of you reading this from bct: thank you for accepting me.
Yesterday's yearbook distribution was so weird. Before they gave us our books, we watched a slideshow of all the pictures that would be in the yearbook itself. A little pointless if you ask me, since we were just going to look at them all anyway. I got a few signatures. I am going to need a little more time for others to sign, though. There are many others who I want in my memories. There is something I don't understand about what went on yesterday, however. some people refused to allow their books to be signed. I understand they they will want something special from the people who they know really care about them and whatnot, but why would you deny a person the opportunity to say to you something they may have been keeping inside for... well, ever? Imagine if a person you thought hated you wanted to sign your yearbook and they had planned on writing something incredibly nice and an apology for something they may have done? I mean, high school is ending, if things are not resolved now, they never will be. I don't know. I just wish I knew what people were thinking. Maybe I just like people to sign my possessions.
This is what is written under my senior portrait in the yearbook:
" Friends,
You are beautiful. I hope you smile every day. Sing because you are happy- and do not care who is listening. Inspire others. Be the sunshine. Live to the fullest. Become the person you want to be. Make someone's day. Most of all- love everyone.
I love you all.
Love,
Brianna :] "
Thank you
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
To Kill a Mockingbird
We have successfully put on 4 shows, which only leaves 9 performances left for TKaM!! Crazy, right? Today we had back-to-back school performances. I was a field trip once again. That's pretty solid, I think :] The cast is so incredible. It is an honor to work with them every day- truly. I know that a lot of people probably say things like that and don't really mean them, but honestly, I love going to rehearsal and doing the shows. I have so much fun with the people around me. It is wonderful to be here all of the time. It really gives me a sense of community. Plus, working with the "adult" actors is helping me learn a lot as well. It is a team effort.
My part in the show is minimal performance-wise, but I don't mind that. The court scene is long and intense and exciting to watch. We sit and fan ourselves and react like southern racists. Quite fun, actually. But the most exciting part of the show for me are the scene changes. We have extremely involved scene changes at the beginning and end of the court scene. They involve moving stairs, making doors into windows, turing a house into a judge's bench, getting rid of flower boxes, bringing on benches, etc. etc. It is CRAZY. Rachel and I are a power team- today, we literally had our part of the scene change done in less than one minute. I'm having a lot of fun with this. I'll post some videos of Jess and I on youtube later- I'll link it here when I do that!
In other news: I am currently trying to make my life work so that I can successfully audition for and be cast in a production of Hairspray. It begins rehearsals on May 31st and ends its run on July 3rd. Studio 4 starts on July 5th, so it would be crazy, but extremely doable. Such is the life of a theatre artist, right? I'd love for my life to be like that all of the time. Soon, it will be I hope! Show after show after show. I won't be present for the physical auditions, but I am going to send in a video. Sadly, I cannot make up the dance portion, but hopefully my video, headshot, and resume will be enough. My one really big issue right now is that I do not have my license. Hopefully, I will within the next few weeks, however. That would make my life SO much easier. Or rather, it would make my life for my parents so much easier. Yes I am 18. But I'm always busy! Hw can I get a license?! That, and I am somewhat lazy.
Alright!
So, that is my life right now. I'll actually keep this updated from now on. I tend to feel like talking pretty often nowadays!!
Follow me on Twitter or Tumblr or subscribe to me on Youtube!
Love,
Bri
My part in the show is minimal performance-wise, but I don't mind that. The court scene is long and intense and exciting to watch. We sit and fan ourselves and react like southern racists. Quite fun, actually. But the most exciting part of the show for me are the scene changes. We have extremely involved scene changes at the beginning and end of the court scene. They involve moving stairs, making doors into windows, turing a house into a judge's bench, getting rid of flower boxes, bringing on benches, etc. etc. It is CRAZY. Rachel and I are a power team- today, we literally had our part of the scene change done in less than one minute. I'm having a lot of fun with this. I'll post some videos of Jess and I on youtube later- I'll link it here when I do that!
In other news: I am currently trying to make my life work so that I can successfully audition for and be cast in a production of Hairspray. It begins rehearsals on May 31st and ends its run on July 3rd. Studio 4 starts on July 5th, so it would be crazy, but extremely doable. Such is the life of a theatre artist, right? I'd love for my life to be like that all of the time. Soon, it will be I hope! Show after show after show. I won't be present for the physical auditions, but I am going to send in a video. Sadly, I cannot make up the dance portion, but hopefully my video, headshot, and resume will be enough. My one really big issue right now is that I do not have my license. Hopefully, I will within the next few weeks, however. That would make my life SO much easier. Or rather, it would make my life for my parents so much easier. Yes I am 18. But I'm always busy! Hw can I get a license?! That, and I am somewhat lazy.
Alright!
So, that is my life right now. I'll actually keep this updated from now on. I tend to feel like talking pretty often nowadays!!
Follow me on Twitter or Tumblr or subscribe to me on Youtube!
Love,
Bri
Monday, May 2, 2011
My Entire Theatrical History
I have to admit,
I just felt like writing.
There just seems to be a lot on my mind, so thought I might share it.
I am very anxious about going to college next year. I am so so excited, but I have been having stress dreams about it too. Mostly, I really want to know who my roommate(s) will be!! I can't wait to start, but at the same time I am really not ready to leave my high school. I feel like I really want to have more opportunities here even though I've been heavily involved all four years. I am going to miss being here every day. I will miss the shows and the people and the musicals and the cabarets and the listening lunches. I will miss the teachers and the lessons and everything that makes up WA.
I have wanted to perform since I was very young. Very, very young. With my dad in a band and my aunt a professional opera singer, things have always been musical for me. In the summer of 2004, I did a summer program called Imagination on Wheels- coincidentally, run by the man who directed Blood Wedding here- and fell in love with the craft. I played a narrator in four Dr. Seuss productions. It was interesting and inspiring and fun! Sadly, the program ended after my first year. I auditioned for everything in the town, but I wasn't given another opportunity until 6th grade when I was cast in Annie as Pepper. The role fit me well even though I am the complete opposite of the character. I was the tallest girl in the company. After being rejected from middle school theatre, the summer of 7th grade I discovered SSPA. Summer School for the Performing Arts. The program changed my life again. I didn't know that I wanted to act until then. I knew performance was something that I loved, but it was that summer when I discovered that performing was what I wanted to do with my life. SSPA became my home, my safety, my happiness after that. They loved me, they cast me, they believed in me. Knowing that somebody believed in me meant more than any type of lead role. Finally, I was cast in a middle school production during 8th grade. I was a Brainiac in High School Musical (not my proudest moment, I admit) and the summer after that, I was in Pippin as one of the (many) Lead Players. I started high school with nothing and everything. I knew some upper-classmen, but I didn't know the ropes yet. I had been taught to act, but not to apply what I had learned. My first monologue during auditions was the speech from the end of the movie Accepted. Yes, the one with Blake Lively and Justing Long. It was embarrassing to say the least. What made it worse was that I sang One Song Glory. I was called back, but to no avail. Into The Woods clearly was not to be my WA debut. Defeated, I helped with Dancing at Lughnasa and The Guys and then came back for my Sophomore year much more prepared and in an Advanced Acting class. Sophomore year, I was in Rent as a featured soloist, and Angels in America as a chorus member. But I was excited and happy to be there. I worked on props for None Of The Above, and then that summer I was a counselor at SSPA. I thought I would be able to still take part the same way, but I wasn't. I became the person who watches. I had nothing to teach them. I couldn't help in any way. I didn't know what to do. I ended up as the assistant director for the black box. It was a wonderful experience. I loved helping, but it was clear to me (and all of those around me) that I was somewhat resentful of the children around me. I felt horrible. I wasn't allowed to perform anymore. It was against the code- and for good reason. It is about the kids. I can't be trying to make it about me when they are pushing for part themselves. I should be lifting them up, not tearing them down. I should be their coach, not their competition. It simply wouldn't be fair. I had to find something else. A new home. Somewhere that gave me hope and the opportunities that I needed. I couldn't do that to the kids. And I was far too selfish to stay. Junior year I was in Chicago: The Musical as D.A. Harrison, but that was as far as my involvement with WATA went that year. My drama department went to see a production of A Child's Christmas in Whales during the year. I wasn't there because I had no theatrical classes until the second half of the year. Somebody told me that the company, Boston Children's Theatre, was to perform Spring Awakening in the summer program. I decided to audition for their spring shows so that I wouldn't be a completely new face when I auditioned for the summer. Apparently, they really liked me because I landed the role of Gertrude in Seussical Jr. I had found a new family. I made a bunch of friends and finally felt like I belonged somewhere again. It was what I had been looking for. Finally, the summer, I was in the Drowsy Chaperone. I worked for SSPA the first week of the session, but after that, I was in BCT mode. This year, I am going to be at BCT again. I love it there. I am an intern full time right now, and I am loving it. I have now been in The Phantom of the Opera, and I have directed a musical, and I feel like I have gained some insight into my own life as well as the rest of the worlds'.
But that is my theatrical life.
That is all that I have experienced.
Next year, I will be in a completely new place, with a completely new group of people.
Different processes, different challenges, different lives.
What will I do?
Hopefully, I figure it out before I get there.
And if I don't, New York City will just be a new adventure and exploration.
Love,
Bri
I just felt like writing.
There just seems to be a lot on my mind, so thought I might share it.
I am very anxious about going to college next year. I am so so excited, but I have been having stress dreams about it too. Mostly, I really want to know who my roommate(s) will be!! I can't wait to start, but at the same time I am really not ready to leave my high school. I feel like I really want to have more opportunities here even though I've been heavily involved all four years. I am going to miss being here every day. I will miss the shows and the people and the musicals and the cabarets and the listening lunches. I will miss the teachers and the lessons and everything that makes up WA.
I have wanted to perform since I was very young. Very, very young. With my dad in a band and my aunt a professional opera singer, things have always been musical for me. In the summer of 2004, I did a summer program called Imagination on Wheels- coincidentally, run by the man who directed Blood Wedding here- and fell in love with the craft. I played a narrator in four Dr. Seuss productions. It was interesting and inspiring and fun! Sadly, the program ended after my first year. I auditioned for everything in the town, but I wasn't given another opportunity until 6th grade when I was cast in Annie as Pepper. The role fit me well even though I am the complete opposite of the character. I was the tallest girl in the company. After being rejected from middle school theatre, the summer of 7th grade I discovered SSPA. Summer School for the Performing Arts. The program changed my life again. I didn't know that I wanted to act until then. I knew performance was something that I loved, but it was that summer when I discovered that performing was what I wanted to do with my life. SSPA became my home, my safety, my happiness after that. They loved me, they cast me, they believed in me. Knowing that somebody believed in me meant more than any type of lead role. Finally, I was cast in a middle school production during 8th grade. I was a Brainiac in High School Musical (not my proudest moment, I admit) and the summer after that, I was in Pippin as one of the (many) Lead Players. I started high school with nothing and everything. I knew some upper-classmen, but I didn't know the ropes yet. I had been taught to act, but not to apply what I had learned. My first monologue during auditions was the speech from the end of the movie Accepted. Yes, the one with Blake Lively and Justing Long. It was embarrassing to say the least. What made it worse was that I sang One Song Glory. I was called back, but to no avail. Into The Woods clearly was not to be my WA debut. Defeated, I helped with Dancing at Lughnasa and The Guys and then came back for my Sophomore year much more prepared and in an Advanced Acting class. Sophomore year, I was in Rent as a featured soloist, and Angels in America as a chorus member. But I was excited and happy to be there. I worked on props for None Of The Above, and then that summer I was a counselor at SSPA. I thought I would be able to still take part the same way, but I wasn't. I became the person who watches. I had nothing to teach them. I couldn't help in any way. I didn't know what to do. I ended up as the assistant director for the black box. It was a wonderful experience. I loved helping, but it was clear to me (and all of those around me) that I was somewhat resentful of the children around me. I felt horrible. I wasn't allowed to perform anymore. It was against the code- and for good reason. It is about the kids. I can't be trying to make it about me when they are pushing for part themselves. I should be lifting them up, not tearing them down. I should be their coach, not their competition. It simply wouldn't be fair. I had to find something else. A new home. Somewhere that gave me hope and the opportunities that I needed. I couldn't do that to the kids. And I was far too selfish to stay. Junior year I was in Chicago: The Musical as D.A. Harrison, but that was as far as my involvement with WATA went that year. My drama department went to see a production of A Child's Christmas in Whales during the year. I wasn't there because I had no theatrical classes until the second half of the year. Somebody told me that the company, Boston Children's Theatre, was to perform Spring Awakening in the summer program. I decided to audition for their spring shows so that I wouldn't be a completely new face when I auditioned for the summer. Apparently, they really liked me because I landed the role of Gertrude in Seussical Jr. I had found a new family. I made a bunch of friends and finally felt like I belonged somewhere again. It was what I had been looking for. Finally, the summer, I was in the Drowsy Chaperone. I worked for SSPA the first week of the session, but after that, I was in BCT mode. This year, I am going to be at BCT again. I love it there. I am an intern full time right now, and I am loving it. I have now been in The Phantom of the Opera, and I have directed a musical, and I feel like I have gained some insight into my own life as well as the rest of the worlds'.
But that is my theatrical life.
That is all that I have experienced.
Next year, I will be in a completely new place, with a completely new group of people.
Different processes, different challenges, different lives.
What will I do?
Hopefully, I figure it out before I get there.
And if I don't, New York City will just be a new adventure and exploration.
Love,
Bri
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