Theatre Hair

Between now and May 9th, my attention will involve little else but the show I'm working on, Parade. I'm actually a bit behind. I just bought some costume grey mutton chops today, and there is still so much I have to do to prepare hair accessories and instruct the actors and actresses on how to style their hair. I plan to attend tomorrow night's rehearsal (provided that I'm not coming down with a stomach bug), as well as Saturday's all-day rehearsal. I will also be attending many, if not all, of next week's rehearsals leading up to opening night. However, if the actors and actresses are fairly self-sufficient, then I probably won't have to be there as much.

After this show closes, I am cutting back on my involvement with designing shows until next year when I'll be designing hair and makeup for Scapino!, which I think is a commedia d'ell arte play. I don't know much about that one yet. Auditions for it won't be until November and curtain is in January 2010.

I'm still planning to audition to the theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless (for now) if that theatre produces it. I've increased my walking routine, haven't done any weight training at all, but I've modified my diet a little bit and I'm not snacking at work anymore. There's one more thing I need to cut back on/quit: smoking. YES, I am a closet smoker. It increases with stress (which there is a lot of these days), but I rarely exceed a 2-smoke-a-day habit. (Not two packs a day, two cigarettes a day.) Still bad, I know. But not as bad as it could be (yes, I'm rationalizing, okay?).

Anyway, I need to stop that while I'm in training for this show. I really, really, really hope the theatre does this show. I'm listening to the soundtrack every day in the car on the way to work.

Thinspiration

Okay-- that entry title is a little misleading. It should say, "Healthspiration," or, "Strongspiration" or something like that, because I'm not just looking to get thin, but I'll leave it as-is. It just sounds catchier.

I caught wind recently that a certain-theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless (for now) might be produced at one of my most favoritist local theatres this year. The theatre's website still says "TBD" under its fall show heading, but I'm hopeful that whatever rights or fees required will go through in time to allow this show to be produced, because it's FABULOUS.

Although I received my BA in Theatre and English, I am no avid theatregoer by any stretch of the imagination. I kind of wish I was. Then, I would be privy to all the theatre inside jokes and one-liners that fly around dressing rooms of the shows I work on-- not to mention being able to join in when a spontaneous rendition of "Can You Hear the People Sing?" breaks out.

Alas, the only reason I majored in Theatre was because I wanted to be a television actress; more specifially, a TV actress on primetime sitcoms. Sitcoms were and still are my favorite TV show genre. My childhood is littered with memories of Three's Company, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and on and on. Now that I'm obsessed with shows like 30 Rock and Arrested Development, I can do without the canned laughter of yesteryear in my sitcoms. But that same comedy--that same glee that comes after hearing a fantastic joke or cutting quip--still gets me going today.

Despite having worked on at least 20+ shows in my life, I'm still very green when it comes to theatre. Sometimes theatre is not very fun to me. I even grimace and whine when I have to read some of the plays that I'm designing. For me, seeing some plays is a snorefest; reading them is total bore! I guess it's just not my favorite medium, having grown up on a strict diet of ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox.

But this play--the certain-theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless--is an exception. I saw this show in NYC back in 1998 with Josh when we were first dating. It was a very emotional time for me, as I was falling in love with someone I was almost certain I wouldn't really see again after he would inevitably transfer to CSLBU the following year and I would move to LA to become a staaaaah. Watching this show with him, at that time, was so moving and beyond words. I bought the soundtrack on CD, we would sing the songs to each other in the months that followed. I was totally theatre-geeky about this show, even though I've only seen it that one time. It's the only show that would bring me out of my self-imposed performance retirement; that is, if I was able to get a part. If I was able to get the part I WANT-- now, that might just hook me back into performing for good. :)

So this show is the reason for my "thinspiration." I need to get healthy again, voice and body. I need to be able to comfortably dance and sing simultaneously without getting winded, I need to be able to belt and hold notes like I used to when I was performing regularly with the wedding band, and I'd like to be more flexible and limber. Losing a few pounds wouldn't make me cry in my soup, either. I'm looking into local gyms, as well as amping up my walking/running routines and being better about the foods I eat. I should track my progress on this thing. I think I will.

Some Pictures of Hair for Parade

Parade is one of the theatre shows I'm working on. It premiere's at St. Mark's Church in DC on May 9th, and it's a VERY large show that--believe it or not--is based on the true story of a girl who was raped and murdered in Atlanta in 1913, her accused murderer (a Jew in the racially-tense South), his relationship with his wife, and finally, his wrongful death by lynching after his death sentence was lifted. Google "Leo Frank" for all the details. It's extremely heavy, which is why this play (a musical, actually) is extremely unique. One usually thinks of musicals as fluffy, happy, fun things. Yeah. Not this one. But the story and music are extremely moving and profound, and I anticipate this cast will do a phenomenal job as they are all very talented.

So anyway, I'm designing hair which is somewhat nerve-wracking for me. I feel more comfortable doing makeup, honestly. But researching the periods and learning about how to do hairstyles is becoming really, really fun-- especially when I figure it out enough to feel like I did a kickass job.

Check out these pictures. I took them just now in my office garage. :)

Shopping Follow-Up

I received the items I wrote about in this post last week, and I gotta say, those bone earrings are HUGE and HEAVY. Since I've already worn them, I can't send them back so I'm stuck with them. I thought they were a lot smaller and daintier when I saw them online. Note to self: ALWAYS READ THE DESCRIPTIONS.

The tops are nice, but sheer as all get out. I have camis, but I may need to pick up another one or even two so that I can ensure that none of my unspeakables will show through. They'll be good for those hot and muggy summer months, though.

I also bought (but didn't post pictures of) 4 pairs of Gap pants for summer. Some are more casual, others more work-appropriate. All fit me well but I discovered something: I am between a regular and long inseam. I have to be careful because many regular inseams look like highwaters on me. Unfortunately for me, two of the Gap pants will need to be tailored. Which means I need to measure how much to take off the legs. I hate measuring. It's so precise.

I recommend the Gap trouser jeans and the hipslung pants to anyone who has bottom-half issues. They're super-comfy and they don't make me look pregnant, which is a must these days for some [very frustrating] reason...

I also bought some new Asics running shoes (on sale at Dick's for $39.99!) because my other ones were making my knees hurt. Because of the rain, I haven't even had a chance to try them out. Wah. I hope that changes soon.

Bye-Bye Globe

The Globe, otherwise known as 94.7FM here in the DC area, is no more. I made this discovery earlier this week while driving to work. It saddens me because it was one of the last classic rock stations left in the area; everything now is either pop, soft rock, Latin, or talk radio, with the exception of a couple hip-hop stations. But all stations--regardless of format--play the same damn songs over and over again. And now that consumers have switched to satellite or HD radio or take their iPods and MP3 players in the car with them, there is less use for what Howard Stern calls, "terrestrial radio."

Me? I like terrestrial radio. Always have. I remember, back in the 80s, staying up late on school nights listening to 105.1 WAVA and B106.7 just waiting to hear the new Whitney Houston or Madonna song. I would take my hairspray bottle and sing into it as if it were my microphone, or I'd hold my cassette player up to my speaker to record a song and play it back repeatedly so that I could memorize and imitate all the vocal inflections (this actually helped me become a better wedding singer, as I would find out decades later).

What I would also do with that cassette player--which is kind of embarassing to admit now--was pretend I was a radio DJ and record intros and commercials and then record the songs from the radio. It was fun. Hell, it was all a little kid could do when there was nobody around to play with. I suppose at one point I probably wanted to be a DJ, among many, MANY other things. I actually did become a DJ in college for a couple of years, until partying was more of a priority on Friday nights. Well, actually, sometimes I would party first and THEN do my radio show. But that's another story altogether.

So this Globe thing: the main reason I'm so sad about it is it was one of the only radio stations that had a cause-- the environment. Its studios had included "green" options, such as energy efficient lighting and solar power, plus in-between songs and commercial spots they would give green tips about recycling and saving water. It was really cool, and necessary in my opinion. The radio station, which had always played classic rock since I can remember, switched to this "greener" format within the last year or two. Not only that, the DJs seemed more in control of the playlists, playing not only the classic rock but also current rock done by classic rock artists. And they'd give little tidbits and factoids about the songs and artists because their DJs, like Cerph and Weasel, have worked in radio for a long time. I remember Weasel from WHFS 99.1 (which is now a Spanish station, but it used to be a great "alternative" station back in the 90s that played The Cure and Nirvana and stuff).

And now it's all gone, changed to a "light, adult rock" format playing Natasha Bedingfield and the Goo Goo Dolls and crap like that. All the good DJs left back in October 2008. I guess that's when management informed them of the impending changes. I actually stopped listening to that station in the mornings when Weasel was no longer the morning DJ, replaced by a former hip-hip station DJ named Albie Dee.

So sad. I looked around the dial to find something comparable I could replace 94.7 with. Nothing. *sigh*

Shopping

I need some spring and summer clothes and when work is slow (and I'm extra-special bored), my mouse tends to wander to such clothing websites as ModCloth and Lulu's, to name a couple. Yesterday I was lucky enough to find a discount code for Lulu's, which I dutifully utilized after days of staring longingly at the the items I had saved in my shopping cart. Wanna see what I got?



I loved this flowy little number from the moment I laid eyes on its sweet ruffles. The color is just divine, and it could be worn with a skirt (which I never wear), jeans, or pants with some cute, strappy sandals (which I need to buy more of as well).

And speaking of strappy sandals, I bought this oversized bag a few weeks ago and have been patiently waiting to transfer the contents of my fall/winter bag until I can safely wear cute, open-toed shoes without fear of frostbite. (The bag wouldn't look as good with winter shoes.) Uh-uh, not quite yet.

Bought these earrings yesterday. They're actually made of recycled buffalo bone (now, how do you recycle bones, I ask ya?). I loved the pattern, and the fact that even the posts are made of bone. I am hoping that, because of this, my ears won't react to these like they do with anything made of nickel. Lulu's also has a bevy of wooden earrings that look really smart, but I worry about buying breakable things. I'm that clutzy.

And last but not least, this top. I like the drawstring, peek-a-boo neckline and the light, airiness of it. I could pull this off at work, I think. Well, not PULL it OFF, literally. That sounded bad. Okay, moving on...

So that's what I've bought from Lulu's so far. I should add that I like Lulu's because their styles range from classic to trendy, they have a TON of items for sale, and their prices are pretty good.

I should get the tops and earrings by late next week. Hopefully, they'll fit and not make me look pregnant (like my brother thought I was over the weekend-- that's a whole 'nother story).

Ta!

Blogspot

So, I'm not new to the whole blogging thing, just so you know. I seriously doubt anyone is these days, since so many people feel that their daily sturm-und-drang is worth blabbing about in an open, public forum such as the Internet. (I'm including myself in this statement.) I had--okay, have--a Livejournal account that I sometimes/almost never write in anymore, unless Josh, er, ahem, "people" piss me off so much that I feel I have nowhere else to vent but online. However, I've stopped using it to talk about fun stuff like baking, or gardening, or makeup and hair stuff, and I'm not really sure why. Probably because it got clogged up with so much venting that I felt that the people who read my journal had likely stopped due to all the negativity I was spewing. And why blog if you don't have an audience for which to blog?

I suppose I could follow that up by asking, "Why do ANYTHING without an audience?" But that's probably just the former actor/current Leo sign talking.

Maybe I've decided to create this new blog today out of sheer boredom, or perhaps I was in need of a hunger or online shopping diversion, or better yet, maybe I want to try to get myself back into regular blogging because, well, it's fun! And I need more fun in my life. We all do. So here's to hoping this isn't me starting something I won't continue with.