Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Beginnings

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 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!!
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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

Friday, April 29, 2011

Woah, its been a while.

Well hello Blogger family!
My, has it been a long time since I've posted anything. Let's see,
1. Phantom is LONG gone. It was a nice, crazy experience with lots of dramadrama and tears, but ultimately it was successful.
2. Picasso at the Lapine Agine was great- I was on the props team and made some great-looking bottles of raspberry vodka.
3. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar turned into J'Caes- a ghetto-fabulous adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic. Very classy. Very powerful. I was in the chorus and on for two scenes, but it was a great experience and it landed us in the top three winners at Festival this year.
4. Children's Letters to God was wonderful. We ran into some problems involving music, etc. but we powered through and I learned that I need to take responsibility, not blame, for actions and things that end up going wrong. Plus, I loved my cast and they loved me (for the most part, I think. Except the one time I was mean and I feel awful. But I guess that's the life of a director, right?) But it was the most powerful lesson that I have ever learned in my life and I will never forget it and I will always cherish it. Not everybody can say they've made history, and even though mine was on a smaller scale, it made a huge impact on my life, so I am honored to have been chosen. If any of you are reading this, I love you all very much and thank you Mr. Towers for the opportunity to direct these wonderful people.
5. To Kill A Mockingbird is the show I am currently working on. It is being directed my Burgess Clark and it is an adaptation for the stage from the classic novel by Harper Lee. It is with Boston Children's Theatre- look it up if you want to come. It is going to be great :] I'm on;y in one scene but the people playing the principles are wonderful.
6. Blood Wedding is happening at my school currently- there is a performance tonight (which I am happy to say that I will be seeing!!) and I think there might be one tomorrow and then next week there are two more. I will not be there for the second weekend, as it will be the opening performances of TKaM, but I am proud of my school and my friends for putting on such an amazing production. I have only seen the costumes and makeup so far, but I know that it is going to be an incredible show. Plus there are only 3 seniors, I guess. Maybe 4 or something- that's what I overheard. I am probably terribly incorrect and will end up embarrassing myself but whatever.
7. I'm no longer in school! Well, that's kind of a lie, but I am on internship currently, here at BCT. Its great- I'm working Props for TKaM, I've been helping a lot with costumes lately (the Ham is going to be fabulous) and I am organizing Daniel's vocal studio. It has been a long 11 days (today was my 11th day) I am going to be averaging 30 hours a week. Right now, I'm at about an average of 5.5454545454545 hours per day, meaning 38 hours per week. Pretty solid, I'd say. Its a requirement that I take 30 hours a week, so I am pretty pleased with this current statistic. Plus tomorrow, I'll probably be getting a few more hours in due to the crazy Saturdays (don't even get me started on what happened on the 16th.
8. I am doing the Broadway Cares Cabaret again! Just don't ask me any details yet because currently I do not know them!
9. I have chosen a college. I'm going to Pace University in New york City :]

I love you all- I have to go back to work, but I'm excited to be back :] Perhaps I'll post some of my required journal entries here!
check out my twitter (cause its great): @Bri_is_awesome

Have a wonderful day!
Bri

Monday, September 20, 2010

My brain on Phantom...

Well hello!
It has been a little while.
So, as you may or may not know, my high school is performing Phantom of the Opera this fall! First high school in Massachusetts (represent!) to be putting this show on. That is pretty darn exciting, if I do say so myself. We started with auditions on the first day of school- a Wednesday, might I add- and after a long and frightening weekend of waiting for results, our wonderful assistant director Audrey sent out a facebook message of the callback list. I received 2 callbacks: 1 for Carlotta and 1 for Madame Giry. If you are familiar with my voice at all, you know that I fit Madame Giry best (if you are not, familiarize yourself here) but this summer, through all of the Drowsy love and craziness, I did a lot of vocal work and my head voice has come a very long way. Well, to cut a very long story short:
The cast is like this (I can't legally post last names, so, these will have to do) ...

Phantom: Caleb
Christine: Jill
Raoul: Nick
Carlotta: Hana, Bri (me! :] )
Piangi: Felix
Madame Giry: Christie
Meg: Nicole, Jackie
Andre: John
Firmin: Paul

I am VERY happy with how this cast turned out. I am extremely excited to be playing Carlotta in a team with one of my good friends and the rest of the principals are fantastically placed. I am very proud of them all, as well as myself for achieving my summer goal.

So, we have now begun rehearsals. We had a successful run of Act One last week and we are working on Act Two currently. We are far from finished, but it is coming along wonderfully. If I get the chance, I will be posting pictures and videos and audios of rehearsals so that you can also mark our progress and see how things are going. I am going to try and keep this blog up to date through the process, since I rarely ever do that. So, although we have been rehearsing for a few weeks now, I am going to start with today's rehearsal with our wonderful conductor.

Hana and I met with Mr. C today after school to work on our intonation, rhythm and overall singing. I have been sick for the past 3 or 4 days, so, I really didn't have much of a voice and had to sing most of it an octave down, which turned out to be fine. Hana was fantastic, as always, and we ended up having a very successful rehearsal with him. He taught us about positive thinking (mostly for me because I wasn't feeling too great due to my lack of voice today) and of course, he taught us the correct notes!! Very important when we're doing Phantom of the Opera.

This has been a brief, and yet informative update for you all! I hope that you will be joining me for this journey to the Opera Populaire over the next month and I will be writing again soon!
Love,
Bri :]

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Team Drowsy

Well friends,

It is done. We've put on our maid and butler and 1920s costumes for the last time and performed the best show in our power for a final audience of adoring fans. Holding hands with all of you before our show on Sunday, I realized something. This truly has been the most influential and meaningful experience that I have had. I'm just sorry it took me until the program was over to figure it out. Each and every one of you have a special place in my heart where you will all stay for the rest of my days. We met as a cast for the first time on our second day of camp and read through the script. At the time, I don't believe that any of us foresaw how tight-knit we would become or that by the end we would all be begging to return. I say a lot of these things at the end of shows. I usually write a note to the cast about the end or how it all made me feel. Never before have I felt so accepted in a group of (with an exception of a few) complete strangers. I didn't know that in a short 5 weeks, these strangers would morph into friends.

This has been one hell of a ride. I came into this program blind. I did not know what to expect, who would be here, what was happening, or anything. I walked into the auditions with a few friends from Seuss and I was off. People can be clique-y. I know from experience that when doing a new summer program, people aren't the most accepting of newcomers. Fortunately for me, this is not just any random camp. Over the weeks, I have come to know and love all of you with my whole heart. I believe that we truly were and are a family, no matter where we live, no matter who we are, no matter our past or present, or future. I am truly honored to have been a part of this cast.

You should all be so proud of our accomplishments. Somehow, we managed to put together a knockout show, learn a'cappella and group pieces, perform individuals and grow as people of the planet as well. I know that I grew. I am more confident, I know myself and others better, and I learned that you don't have to play a principle to be a part of the family.

I wish I could write more. My mind is pulling me in seven different directions and I have all of these things that I want to say, but I do not know how to place them in the form of a blog or email. I shared with you at the end of our run that I was honored and touched to be accepted into such a loving and caring group of people. You are all truly my new family. I wish for you the best of luck and I hope to see you all soon. Know that we are all here for each other as we stumble through life's crazy labrynth ;]

Love,
Brianna

Friday, July 30, 2010

The forgotten blog post!!!

The following post was written in the middle of Summer and never posted. I just found it and it amused me :] the original title was, "Time passes WAY too quikly" enjoy!! Real update to come later today!


Do you like my random capitalization in the title?
It certainly amuses me.

Well, friends, it has been a few weeks since I have written. Amazing how fast time flies. I know its a bit cliché to say that, but for real, have you ever really thought about it? now you will ;]
In my past weeks at BCT, things have certainly improved. My last post was not the happiest, I will admit. This one will be a lot better. The purpose of this blog is to primarily write and document my life and also to share some insight that I think might one day help the world... possibly.

This was our final week of classes, unfortunately. Next week begins tech and production week which is both sad/terrifying and exciting. This week, we danced the best combinations of the program, sang our songs confidently, and created the best characters in acting. A good way to end the summer, I think. Although it is not over yet, we can't fight the fact that it will be all coming to a close in a short 9 days. I feel like I just began to get to know everyone and making friends. That initial audition day seems like it happened years ago while the time in the actual program has floated away and been lost. The days pass slowly some of the time, but then you look back and wonder where the weeks have gone. I am not pronouncing it over yet, because it is not and that would make people sadder. Instead, I would like to celebrate right now some of the awesome times that we have shared backstage and around the campus in the past week.
In no particular order (especially not in chronological, Dear God)...

-Alexis slept over in the dorms
-Daniel told me that my shirt reminded him of hooters
-There are Gazelles everywhere
-There was a scary spider in the shower this morning and it frightened me and the dorm
-I hid under Abbie's bed
-Philipp talked to an empty room by accident
-Kristina and I wonder how they clean the ceiling of the theatre
-Allsun is Sutton foster
-Rachel is Alice Ripley (but so is Brian...)
-Abbie and Magda (they don't even need an explaination)
-Kyle as Aldolpho
-Kevin (because I promised I would mention him in the next blog and I don't really know what to say about him other than that he's in the program and speaks a lot in acting class)
-The improv exercise between Burgess and Mark
-The understudy run-through on Wednesday
-scheduling "cake" for Brian's birthday into the rehearsal
-Getting no food from GDA (hey, thanks Governor Dummer)
-Playing the celebrity game
-Philipp the God
-Team Drowsy T-Shirts
-Dressing like Ashley
-Dancing to Iris and Quicksand and S-Club 7
-Making Friends
-Everyone always asking if Josh is alright after his fake fall
-Gaga
-Billy has to eat SO MUCH FOOD during the show

Good times :]
love,
Bri