2010 in Review

Welcome to the third installment of my annual wrap up blog. Bet you thought I wasn’t going to do it since I SUCK at blogging lately! Well, surprise!

Overall, this year will go down as the year that the world screwed me. Life with Lauren was great, but almost every other aspect of my life seemed to fall apart. I’ve been left rethinking my career, rethinking friendships, and regretting way too much.

On the plus side, that means 2011 can ONLY get better, right? That’s how I’m viewing it.

Thank you for your friendship this year. It’s been a really hard one, and I really appreciate it. And if you were the source of any trouble, then when I have some free time in the near future, and I record a cover of a famous song by Cee-Lo Green, consider it dedicated to you!

Favorite Personal Theatrical Experience: Snoopy! the Musical
I taught at Meridian for one year before it suddenly closed the Thursday before the new school year. Out of all the shows and events I worked on there, this one was my favorite. It was with a small class, consisting of ONLY upper school kids who wanted to be there and were willing to work. We threw the whole musical together in roughly 4 weeks, with about 2 hours of rehearsal per school day, and yet the kids really pulled it off. War of the Worlds would have been my favorite, but some fellow cast members who weren’t invested took it down a notch. Same story with Dirty. I loved working with Chris again, but some members of the cast were egotistical and downright rude.

Runners-Up: The War of the Worlds, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Least Favorite Personal Theatrical Experiences: Willy Wonka
I just simply didn’t love doing this show. And I only did it for the money, which makes me a whore. I hated aspects of Fantastic Mr. Fox because of some nasty kids from my middle school class, but in the end, it turned out decent, and there were enough hard-working kids to make me proud.

Runner-Up: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Favorite Local Theatre Productions: 110 in the Shade at Hale Orem
Audra McDonald 4 feet in front of me. Brilliant supporting cast. Enough said.

Runner-Up: I really didn’t see much theatre this year, and NOTHING compared.

Favorite Movies: Inception, Toy Story 3, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
No need to elaborate. I just loved them.

Runners-Up: Paranormal Activity 2, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Tron: Legacy

Least Favorite Movie: Skyline
I’ve never hated a movie this much. I still can’t believe it exists. And Alice was boring, poorly acted, and the 3D gave me the only 3D-induced headache I’ve ever had.

Runner-Up: Alice in Wonderland

Favorite Movie-Going Experience: None
Nothing really stood out this year. Although, when we went to see Tron: Legacy, Lauren and I were super impressed with the dad who politely shushed his child when he tried to talk. Good for you! Way to start teaching children to not be awful.

Least Favorite Movie-Going Experience: Skyline with Lauren and my sister’s family
The movie itself was bad, but the annoying people who never shut up made it even worse.

Favorite New TV Addiction: Modern Family
I can’t believe I didn’t get into this until after the first season was over. We watched the entire season in three afternoons before season 2 premiered, and the quality has stayed consistent.

Runners-Up: Raising Hope, Ma’s Roadhouse
Honorable Mention: LoneStar

Least Favorite New TV Shows: Hawaii Five-O, No Ordinary Family, Running Wilde, Undercovers
We’ve given up on almost every new show we’ve tried to watch this year. Some of them lasted a month, most lasted a couple episodes. They were just all so lame. Hawaii lasted the longest of these, Family the shortest.

Favorite SNL Sketch: 1920s Party
It was the most quotable, anyway. SNL has really gone downhill this year. I skip through more than I watch anymore.

Favorite Album: Bruno Mars’s “Doo-Wops & Hooligans”
This is the only new album I got this year that I’ve been able to listen to straight-through more than once. It’s not as offensive as a lot of music I’ve heard lately, and it’s just so darn infectious. I will never tire of hearing “Just the Way You Are.”

Least Favorite Album: Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas II You”
She’s ruined her voice. And now she’s ruined “Christmas Time Is Here,” which might be my favorite Christmas song. And she made a sex jam about the Baby Jesus. And her mother has AWFUL teeth.

Favorite Trip: Disneyland with Lauren
Good times. Not too busy. Did everything we wanted to do, including many firsts for me (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, The Blue Bayou, Innoventions, etc.).

Runners-Up: St. George for theatre teacher’s conference, Disneyland with Lauren’s family

Favorite Class: Upper School Drama
After a first trimester with too many kids who wanted easy A’s, I was able to weed it down to just kids that wanted to be there. And it was GREAT. So much fun to teach.

Least Favorite Class: Middle School Drama
Too many kids, and most of them had bad attitudes. I gave multiple F’s, and no kids or parents even tried to fix them when they knew that’s what was coming. That’s messed up.

Best Concert: Paul McCartney
Dream come true. A Beatle in person. And he performed for almost three hours straight. BRILLIANT. Loved every minute. And sharing it with Lauren, Teri & Bristol was great.

Worst Concert: Stadium of Fire with Carrie Underwood
Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike Carrie Underwood? Well, it’s a whole lot. And when the fireworks show afterward sucked, it made it so it was even less worth sitting through.

Here’s to an amazing 2011!

Things You Should Know About Me

I wrote most of this blog a couple weeks ago. Then I added stuff about a week ago. Then Windows Live Writer wouldn’t post it when I tried, and I forgot. Then I panicked and thought nobody cared because of the next paragraph. Just so you know. :) It better post this time.

I’m contemplating making my blog password protected. In fact, I’m pretty darn sure I will. It’s just a matter of time. If you want to keep being able to read it, you should probably comment on this blog with your e-mail address so I can invite you to it when I switch over. (Maybe this is a ploy to get comments. You may never know…) Or you could just e-mail me (j.showgren@gmail.com, but with no period after the j).

From here on out, some things could very well be lies. Heads up. I’m sick and cranky, and that just might make me dishonest. If you can correctly identify which ones are lies, than you win the prize of an Air-Head candy the next time I see you.

I know a lot about music. I don’t do lyrics, though. I can listen to a song 30 times in a row and remember no more than a handful of words and no real phrases.

I’m actually a pop culture freak (as the rest of this blog will attest). You don’t want to play me in any pop culture trivia games. You also don’t want to argue with me over stupid pop culture tidbits.

One time, I bought a plastic snowman face that’s supposed to fit over a porch light. I bought it because I thought it looked like something a serial killer would wear in a BAD horror b-movie, and when I tried it on in the store to scare Kimber, I couldn’t stop laughing. I’ve never done anything with it. It’s sitting in my bedroom, collecting dust.

The tip of my nose is uneven. I would use the word “lopsided” if it didn’t make me sound like a circus freak.

I hate all of the stupid quizzes people keep taking on Facebook. It kind of makes me want to throw things. I’ve “hidden” so many quizzes, but they keep multiplying like wet Gremlins.

I sincerely believe that everything in life can be related to Friends or Saved By the Bell. Or both. I can probably kick your trash at Friends Scene-It, unless your name is Lindsay. And I could probably kick your trash in a Saved By the Bell version, unless your name is Matt.

I’m starting to go blonde, about 1/2 inch around my face only. It looks like I’ve bleached it. It’s perfectly symmetrical, and it goes all the way to the roots. It’s a little weird. (Since last week, I have cut my hair, and it’s not quite as weird-looking now.)

Until the new movie came out, I seriously contemplated getting the rights to revive Friday the 13th. As a stage musical. You would have come to see it, and you would have loved it. I may still do it someday, in which case, you should probably remember that since I’m publishing my idea here, if you steal it, I’ll sue the pants off you.

I hate summer colds worse than probably anything in the world. It’s just not right, and fairly oxymoronic. (Cold is still here.)

I once danced with Fred Astaire. Ginger had a summer cold, so I filled her spot.

I sometimes download “a capellas” which are meant for DJ’s to use in mixing, and then I create my own accompaniments for them. Then I can say things like, “Oh, yeah. I worked with Kelly Clarkson on this arrangement” or “OneRepublic was SO easy to work with” or “Eminem was surprisingly eloquent and didn’t swear AT ALL around me. I found that to be very respectful.”

I could go to Disneyland several times a year and never get sick of it. Every time I go, I try to do something I’ve never done before or see something I’ve never seen. This last time, I rode on the Golden Zephyr at California Adventure for the first time ever.

I have major butterflies in my stomach right now, and it’s all due to a certain girl.

I’ve heard the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” in some form at least 50 times in the past two weeks.

The voices of the following singers make me uncomfortable: Katy Perry, Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman.

Even though I don’t like her voice, I love Katy Perry’s song “I Kissed a Girl.”

Despite stinking at lyrics, I know most of the words to the song “Friends and Lovers” – for which I fully blame my sister, Lori.

I’m tired and going to bed.

Letters

Dear IRS,

I had to pay less than I ever have this year. That was nice. I hope you enjoyed my check with The Flash on it.

Sincerely,

Jeremy

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Dear Utah State Tax Commission,

I had to pay more than I EVER have to you this year. Literally 10 times more than last year. I hate you. I hope you got the message I was sending with the Wonder Woman check.

Hatefully yours,

Jeremy

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Dear Former Students,

I give up. I don’t know how to make you care. I don’t understand how you can claim to be “drama nerds” and yet you don’t give a flying #$%* about your work. Granted, there are a handful of you who really do care, and it shows. I helped you get to state, but I can’t hold your hand and drag you any longer. I officially don’t care any more. Even if your show IS kick-@$$. I will come to see the show on Friday, but I refuse to spend two hours on a bus with you. Especially after the shrewish girls were so rude and disrespectful to me and left while I was trying to give notes tonight. Also the kid who keeps forgetting things snapped at me when I asked him if he had placed all of his props and was ready to go on, and then walked on WITHOUT THE EFFING MONKEY’S PAW because he “forgot” to get it. The show is now officially called The Empty Hand. I hope you do well at state, even though I know full-well that you won’t learn any lesson about teamwork and investing in your work.

With next-to-no-love,

Mr. Showgren

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Dear Future Students,

Heads up: if you don’t care about our shows, I won’t either. I will cancel them, punks! PLEASE don’t make me get to that point. I haven’t met you yet, but I believe in you!

Cordially,

Mr. Showgren

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Dear Makers of the Movie Airplane!

Thank you. Thank you SO much. I’m probably going to stay up WAY too late tonight watching your product, and it is much needed.

Seriously,

Shirley

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Dear Career Services Department,

Thank you so much for the scolding form letter (for which you graciously took the time to add my name to the Word document) about how I missed an appointment for an interview. I’m so glad you recommended that I write a letter of apology to the interviewer, because I didn’t already think to do that on my own. Nor did I send it a week ago, right after I found out that you hadn’t canceled my appointment per my request. Thank you for that! At least if I had been smart enough to send a letter on my own, I also would have been smart enough to point out that it was YOUR fault I missed the appointment. If it messes up my chances of getting hired in either district for which you’ve now messed up my cancelations, I will be sure to send you a scolding form letter. I may go the extra mile, though, and save the letter as a more personal pdf, and not just a doc.

Sod off,

Jeremy

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Dear Amazon,

I’m getting antsy waiting for my Doubt and The Spirit blu-rays. I’m also getting antsy waiting for my Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book. I ordered all of these weeks ago. I understand that you can’t ship them until they’re released, but they’ve all been released now. Also, I got a shipping notice for Doubt over a week ago. Why isn’t it here yet? I’m sending Sister Aloysious after you.

Impatiently,

Jeremy

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Dear Charlie Brown Cast,

Keep up the good work. You’re making progress. Make the progress FASTER now, please. Also brace yourself: tomorrow is the annual “Jeremy has fun with sound effects on the track” day.

Happily,

Jeremy

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Dear Disneyland,

See you in a month and a half!

Excitedly yours,

Jeremy

*********

Dear Blog Readers,

I’m sorry you had to slug through all of that. Today really sucked, and I had to get it out somewhere. Thanks for indulging me.

Love,

Jeremy

Things I've Learned This Semester

Another semester has come and gone, and therefore, it's time for another installment!

• People can be not only the normal age of college students but can be MY age and still act like they're in junior high. Starting rumors among a department in a university? SERIOUSLY?! Grow up.
• As much as I hate my education department and some of the stupid classes and awful teachers I've had to endure, I feel like I've learned how to teach better than some of the professors in the theatre department. I have one in particular who has the WORST classroom management skills I've ever seen. If he were to set foot in a high school or junior high, he'd be slaughtered.
• Disneyland can be fun with Matt and Melinda after all! You just have to pick and choose who else comes. Lindsay was a good choice.
• There are always going to be people who think they're better, smarter, and more talented than you. Chances are, if they feel this way, it's because they're terribly insecure, and if you give them some rope, they'll hang themselves.
• Apparently, my lesson plans DON'T suck. Even though one teacher keeps slamming them and giving them horrible grades (and gives Laura great grades for essentially the same plans), my other education professors are giving them good grades.
• If I ever find myself describing a show as "brilliant" or "theatrical" it will surely be cancelled. Goodbye, Pushing Daisies.
• Not only am I getting back to being confident in my acting, I'm actually enjoying it again. I took not one, but TWO acting classes this semester that were not required. I loved both of them. I also wanted to be in a show badly enough that I made my life more stressful by doing A Christmas Carol. And I've loved all of the feedback I've gotten.
• It is totally impossible for a female to ever like me as more than just a friend. Unless, of course, she is crazy bojangles. CRAZY. BO. JANGLES.
• If you put off even thinking about Christmas presents until after finals, your brain will be fried and you'll have a hard time figuring out gift ideas.
• Having an arch-nemesis is fun. Especially when they think they're the superhero and you're the villain.
• I'm never going to be able to play Rock Band as much as I want to, unless I somehow find a way to get paid to play it.
• Diet Dr. Pepper really DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper!
• A flawless profile, a perfect body, the right clothes and a great car can get you far in America, almost to the top. But it can't get you everything.

Total Randomness

I've forgotten how much I love Nicole Kidman. I'm so glad Tom Cruise left her. She deserves better. I'm not a huge fan of Keith Urban, but he DID give her an adorable baby, so I guess that's worth something. I think I could probably break them up so I could have her, though. I'm also getting REALLY excited for Australia.

I'm completely over the election. It was a week ago. Can we drop it now? I'm tired of seeing people I care about getting in other people's faces over their beliefs. Especially when it's something like "You're so close-minded and stupid for voting that way, let me show you why my way was THE right way." Seriously? SERIOUSLY! You really think that refusing to see any validity in anyone else's beliefs is defined as open-mindedness?

I just saw Aida at the Hale (Thanks, Em!) and was blown away. If you haven't seen it yet, GO!

I'm putting together playlists for my trip to Disneyland later this week. I'm going with Matt, Melinda, and Lindsay. Each one of us picked one of our favorite songs of all time, and I'm creating playlists around each song through iTunes' Genius feature. We also picked a song for each of the others that reminds us of them. Some of these playlists have turned out AWESOME, and some hysterical. It should be fun to listen to them and first of all have to figure out which song is the significant one in each playlist, and then who chose it and who it represents. Of course I know everything (what's new? HA!) but it'll still be fun to have everyone else guessing.

Did I mention that I'm going to Disneyland this week? Hopefully, it will be a better trip than my last two Disneyland trips. Please bless that Lindsay, Melinda, and Matt will not turn into psychos while we're there. If I suffer through another Disneyland trauma, it might finally ruin the place.

I want to be Baz Luhrmann when I grow up.

I can't focus on school this week. This is bad.

I finally got my student teaching assignment, and it's starting to sink in that I'm FINALLY going to be done with school.

I'm a little stoked for Christmas Carol. Say what you will about it, but I love it. It's not the greatest piece of theatre ever, but it's got such a great spirit to it, and it's so fun to take part in it. Diane (who I respect and love a great deal) told me the other day that she loves how I portray the role of Fred and that I "get it." Shortly after, Jerry, the director, pulled me aside and said pretty much the same thing. Emily says things like that sometimes, too, and probably not just because she has to as my wife. Compared to my last acting experience, this is basically heaven. I'm not questioning my abilities and choices on a regular basis.

Heather and David are coming home for Christmas! They've already contacted me to let me know that they want to come to Christmas Carol. God bless them, every one.

Matt showed me this video the other day, and I about died. I agree with what it's saying, but couldn't there be a better way to show it? Or at least some decent actresses?

Hey, It's a Happy Day!!!

My new drive came this morning, with plenty of time for me to install it before school. I quickly got to work, and before I knew it, I had a brand-spanking-new optical drive in my computer....THAT DIDN'T WORK.

I spent the whole day being ornery. Poor youth theatre kids. And it didn't help to see a show at school in the mood I was in. I really wanted to like it, I swear...

I got home tonight and got online with another HP support technician. I decided after the She-Ra fiasco, I needed to speak with printed words. Serenity was very nice, and only said a few mildly Engrish-sounding things. She (I hope) gave me some new steps to try and solve the problem, but they included rebooting at the end. I did them, and nothing.

So, I started speaking to Sunny. I was very excited at first, because I thought that maybe Sunny Watts was moonlighting as an HP online support technician. I love that woman. However, I probably wouldn't trust her with my computer.

Anyhoo, Sunny gave me steps to follow, and when I finished them- the error message was gone!!! I popped the revival recording of Chicago into the drive, and soon enough, the master of ceremonies was telling me about adultery and murder. I then popped in my DVD of Strangers on a Train, and shortly saw Hitchcock in glorious black & white.

I was giddy like a schoolboy. I thanked Sunny and actually said "God bless you!" Sunny is my new hero.

I'm still sending back the old drive, though. I figure that I earned the new one, with a little help from Sunny. And She-Ra.

Other happy thoughts tonight:

• While I was going through the endless steps to try and fix my computer, I watched Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. The former was just as good as ever, and the latter was even better than last season. Oh, and Ghost Hunters was great, too. Very scary.
• My new favorite line ever from a primetime soap: "I'm going to take a shower and try to wash whatever's left of this marriage off my body. Try not to fall down." (She did, in fact fall down in the next scene.)
• I'm going to audition for A Christmas Carol at the Hale next week. The last time I was in a show (I'm pretending Ah, Wilderness! didn't exist) was CC of 2005, when I played Fred, which was one of my dream roles. I'm super excited this time, because *if* I get cast as that part again, I'll most likely be playing off of Trash Ball as Mrs. Fred. Cross your fingers and pray for us, please. Having a fun acting experience is EXACTLY what I need right now. I just have to hope that they want me enough to work around my few Chess conflicts.
• I'm feeling really good about my musical theatre class. Especially being someone who doesn't "sing or act very well" and should "stick to music directing." I felt really good about my preview performance on Monday- which was while my cold/allergies were bugging me and I had a queasy stomach from taking my pills on an empty stomach. Today, we did a really fun exercise to focus on breathing. Good times.
• I'm almost done buying things for my Halloween costume. It's a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself. I hope I have somewhere fun to wear it, because if it's just to stay at home and hand out candy to kids who won't even know who I am because they're too young, I'll be bugged. I put in a bid for the last main part of the costume on eBay tonight. I'll know tomorrow if I need to look elsewhere. And then I need to start constructing the tricky part...
• The semester is about 1/3 of the way over. CRAZY! And yet, awesome. The senioritis isn't so bad right now, but I expect it to kick back in eventually.
• I feel like my Facebook status right now is really clever, because it's not one, but TWO pop culture references. If you get them, you're cool. If not, you're probably Heather. ;) David will get one, though.
• Speaking of the Masons, I GOT TO TALK TO THEM TONIGHT!!! We've played phone tag for over a month, and we finally made contact tonight. Heather hasn't picked up a fake NY accent yet. Thank goodness. Although, if she started talking like one of the sweet, old, Jewish ladies that I met in Rockefeller Center 9 years ago, I wouldn't mind. It would actually make her more endearing, I think.
• My youth theatre kids are harder workers than they were last year. Granted, there are probably 30 new kids, and only about 40 of the same, but still...they're learning better, and some are learning faster. It makes it easier for me to ditch the extra rehearsals if I get cast in CC. :)
• I get to see the Culps next week! And Keisha is supposed to be in town, too. I think she may have called me earlier, but I didn't get a voicemail. I hope she calls back when I'm not in the middle of teaching.
• I have a free night tomorrow (I think). I think I'll have a Blu-Ray marathon while I work on a lighting cue list for Sty of the Blind Pig - a.k.a. the most screwed up play of all time.
• I'm going to Disneyland next month, and while I'm excited about seeing the parks all dec'd for Christmas, I'm mostly excited for the Ace of Base marathon on the car trip down. I think I actually have enough Ace of Base for the entire drive. (Bwahahahahaha!)
• Robin Thicke's new album is In. Cred. I. Ble. If you like him, or even if you don't, check it out. Seriously. So far, I haven't noticed anything too dirty, either. Of course, I didn't notice anything dirty on the last one until my sister chewed me out for listening to such a dirty CD.

And now, I'm going to bed. I have a feeling I'll be up way too early tomorrow because of stupid construction again. In the meantime, hey! It's a happy day!

Things I Learned This Semester

• Don't EVER be working on three shows simultaneously. It's way too much stress.
• That said, it's fully possible to work on three shows simultaneously and have them turn out really well. I was blown away by how good Dinner for Four, The Wizard of Oz, and especially Smokey Joe's Cafe were. I had expected it for the first two, but I didn't expect SJC to be nearly as good as it was.
• Speaking of SJC, it's possible for divas to just be misunderstood, stressed people. "Rosie" pulled me aside, and with tears in her eyes, she apologized. I accepted and promised that she could be on my friend waiting list. As soon as a spot opens up, she'll be back to normal friend status. :) (I told her that to lighten her up, as I was afraid she was going to totally cry.)
• Writers' Strikes are not the worst thing in the world. In fact, they allow you to not spend so much time catching up on TV shows every night before bed.
• Some people are never going to be happy, and to compensate, they try to make other people around them miserable. If you befriend them (which you definitely should do, because they NEED that), don't get too close and don't trust them with any information. Especially if they are very two-faced to their other friends and you've witnessed it firsthand.
• If you have a gut feeling that you shouldn't do a show, and you really don't want to, DON'T DO IT. Especially when other people in your department are actively trying to sabotage it because they're bitter and angry that they're not involved. If your heart is not in a show, don't do it. Let the whiny problem-causers take over.
• If you don't date when you have the time for it, you'll regret it. When you have somebody you want to date, you'll be way too busy to find time to do it.
• It IS possible for a normal, non-freakish, non-ugly, non-deceptive active LDS girl to have a crush on me.
• I'm NOT the world's worst actor.
• I may never get over the need to prove myself to people who have messed up my confidence in the past.
• Evil sisters-in-law may not be around for ever. Treasure each moment with them while they last. hehehe.
• Disneyland is the best place ever for white trash breakdowns.
• Even if you've been teaching kids for 10 years, you do NOT know how to teach kids. Also, even if you're close to getting a degree in theatre, you don't know as much about how to teach theatre as a science teacher does.
• There is a major teacher shortage in this state (and country, for that matter) and yet the Education Department insists on trying to scare off as many students as possible.
• True friends will still be friends even if you have a stretch of many weeks when you have no time to even call.
• Extra special friends will still insist on keeping up with you when you're incredibly busy and will make the effort to call or text as much as they can to make sure you're okay. Or, they'll come to all of the shows that are keeping you busy just so they can see you for a few minutes.
• I'm tired of waiting around for The Fray to release a new album. I mean, come on! They had enough good material for at least half an album when they played Usana last July. What's the hold up?
• No matter what happens, I will always love Kelly Clarkson and feel confident that one day I'll marry her.
• Even if you have a new harddrive- DON'T TRUST IT. Back up everything.
• Some people who work as "techies" for theatre are doing it because they're too brainless to work fast food, and people take pity on them and give them jobs. Even if you're yelling "GO!" in their ear, they can't figure out that they need to push "Play" on a CD player.
• If you get too comfortable in your Church calling(s), or if you vocalize the fact that you wouldn't mind being released because of the stress, you'll end up with a more stressful calling and you'll sense that God is up there laughing and saying "Take that!"

Massive Catching Up - AGAIN

Ugh. It’s been a month again. I’ve been so stinking busy that I haven’t had time to blog. Surprise, surprise!

The biggest thing that drained my time in February was An Evening with Jason Robert Brown. It was a musical revue that I put together, directed, ran sound, and music directed for the Theatre Arts Guild at school. It was an okay experience. There was only one cast member who I really wanted to strangle for arguing with me, and most of the cast did a fantastic job – despite having to cover for losing a cast member to pneumonia on opening night.

The best part of JRB was the fact that I had so many friends come and support me. The show was not advertised well AT ALL (partially my fault) and so the week of the show, I sent out a mass text and created a Facebook event to invite tons of friends to come and see it. When all was said and done, we raised several hundred dollars for TAG and close to half of the audience that came over the two nights were there because I invited them. I would publicly thank all of them individually, but I know I’d leave someone out. So, to those who came – THANK YOU!

Also in February, I went to Disneyland with my ENTIRE family – parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. It was quite an interesting experience, and I’ve been working on a blog about nothing but the trip since I was actually still in California. Someday I’ll finish it and post it. Of course, I still haven’t posted the half-finished blog from my trip to Texas in the fall of 2006, so don’t count on it.

School is kicking my butt right now. I have so many big homework projects and so many scene projects to worry about. It’s a really fun stretch, though. Besides directing a scene (a stylized classic Universal horror-style take on The Monkey’s Paw), I’m acting in three scenes right now for various classes, and I’m playing characters I would never be cast as. They have a great range, too: one scene I’m playing a tough, drunk military Sergeant, one I’m playing a closeted gay Mormon, and one I’m playing an older man whose adult daughter is coming out as a lesbian to him. Fun, eh?!

Also, for school, I’m required to direct a one act play for Short Attention Span Theatre. I picked my script last week, and it really is the perfect script for me: very dark humor with a nasty twist at the end – SERIOUSLY nasty twist. Think Hannibal Lector. I love it. I’ve been working on getting music and sound effects together this weekend because I’m so busy that I don’t want to put it off until the end. We finished auditions on Friday night, and I got a GREAT cast. I’m excited to start working with them.

One of the other projects that’s keeping me busy is The Wizard of Oz with youth theatre. I FINALLY finished recording all the tracks on Saturday. It’s definitely going to be an interesting show. I used the following inspirations in the music: smooth modern jazz, country-western, classic crooner, Maroon 5, disco, Enya, Backstreet Boys, and more random little things. The music is all taught except for one song, so from here on out, it’s pretty much just polishing. The kids are doing a great job, so it’s fun, even though it’s time consuming.

Broadway Bound, my youth theatre group for 6-9 year-old girls ended the last week of February, too. We had a performance on February 29, so you’d think I’d have more free time now, but my Thursday afternoons have already been busy and will stay that way until the end of April.

The other project I’m currently working on is Smokey Joe’s Café at the SCERA. I’ve only had a few rehearsals so far, because they did the choreography first while I was working on JRB. The cast sounds AMAZING. I’ve been able to push them really hard and add in some really tricky harmonies. I’m really excited for the show to open next month. (And not just because it means one more show out of the way, either!)

March is turning out to be as busy as February, and April will be even worse. Short Attention Span Theatre opens one night, and Smokey Joe’s Café opens the next. That week is going to be AWFUL. You’d think life would settle down after that, but you’d be wrong. The next week is Hell week for Wizard of Oz, and then I have the run of that and finals at the same time. However, on April 26, EVERYTHING will be over.

And then I start my new project on April 28…

For those I haven’t told yet, I’ve been asked to music direct the 35th anniversary touring production of Saturday’s Warrior and its sequel The White Star. I was very hesitant to accept, because I’ve never been the biggest SW fan. However, fun story: I was praying about whether I should accept the job or not based on some rumors I had heard, and RIGHT as I asked God a question, I got the answer in the form of a text message on my phone. How can you say no after that?! (Not to mention it’s paying REALLY well.) So, the month of May will be slightly busy, but not nearly as bad as the last few have been. Only one show for me, please and thank you (I’m counting them both as one show, because SW is only going to be a short revue as opposed to the entire show).

After JRB, I really got to thinking about how great and supportive some of my friends are. I’m so busy right now (I don’t really have any free nights between now and the end of April) that I hardly have ANY time to spend with friends. JRB was kind of an eye-opening experience for me. There were people that came that were JUST there to support me. They didn’t know the music, they weren’t part of TAG, they probably had better things to do on a Friday or Saturday night, but they made time to come and see me. I had given up on inviting friends to come and see shows because it always hurts when somebody goes on a rant about how much they hate theatre and even though they care about me, they won’t support what I do. However, friends came out of the woodwork for JRB. I had friends there that I hadn’t seen in MONTHS. I think I’m going to be more selective about who I spend my time with from now on. When I do have a random free night in the middle of 15 busy nights, the people who support me are the people who get first dibs. Either that, or I’ll just start auctioning my time on eBay. :) (I sound really egotistical, but that’s really not my intention. I’m not trying to brag over how many people want to spend time with me. Although it is pretty cool…) I do know that there are friends who had really good reasons for not being able to come to this show and to others in the past, but there are others who didn’t even respond to either the text or the Facebook invite – or both in some cases. I’m not mad at anyone, and not even really offended. I just know where my time priorities will lie for the next while.

I *think* that’s it. There are other things going on, but man! I’ve been writing this blog for over a half hour, and it’s already three pages single-spaced in Word. Someday, I hope to have a life that isn’t entirely based around the shows I’m working on. I doubt that’s ever going to happen, though.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy this short from last week’s SNL.