Author: theactorvist

I love the Theatre. It's my church. It's my joy. I have been performing in plays and musicals for over half of my life, and I would be lost without it. Now more than ever, people are cutting back on everything that is too expensive or unimportant to their lives. As an actor, heck as a person, I don't know of anything that is more important than the arts. Art reflects history. It shows humanity at its worst but also its best. Every day some artistic program is getting cut from a school or a great show goes unseen. Maybe a talented singer isn't able to audition for American Idol. There are a ton of people who live in the South Bay Area of California, who go unseen or unheard. There are many production companies that are just bursting with talent, but people don't see the shows. I will do my best to bring you interviews with local artists of every kind, send out the call for local companies looking to cast people in productions, and much more. Stay tuned because this is only the beginning.

I Am In A Gang Today…

October has been declared National Stop Bullying Month. In an attempt to show solidarity against bullying, people are being asked to wear purple today, October 20. I understand the concept and I truly appreciate the intent behind it, but I have to wonder if simply wearing a color is going to stop people from hurting one another because they have some sort of chip on their shoulder.

I think we should take a look at the parenting that’s going on nowadays.

BULLYING: I know children tend to act according to what they see and are taught at home. While the world is seeming to get more accepting in general, the religious right and the hard core church folk appear to be showing more vehemence in their beliefs. Also in this age of the New Depression Era, out of work parents or parents who are really struggling to get by, may be having frustrations that are being taken out on the children, who could then take it out on the smaller or “weaker” kids. Weaker is not the right word, but I kind of feel like that’s how some people view the LGBT community. Now I am not saying that this is only their doing, I am giving examples of possibilities.

SUICIDEES: Sometimes single parents are so working so hard that they don’t see the changes in mood in their children. Fatigue is draining and I understand completely that when you get home, all you want to do is shut your eyes and rest. But does it take that much more time or energy to check in with your kids daily to ask how they are and get a good look at them? On the other side of the argument, there are the parents that coddle their children, so even the slightest bit of negative attention seems to shake their entire world to the ground. Again, I am not a therapist or a student of psychology (although it is fascinating!) these are just observations and ideas that maybe there is a truer solution to all of this misguided behavior other than wearing Purple.

Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to assume that all of this behavior is only coming from the home, but if we can change the mind set of people that negative aggression doesn’t have to be the answer for everything, especially when directed at others, well then we may just finally have a true start to ending this.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the other possibility is the whole social food chain. Where the outcasts… Well, just think of high school and the social hierarchy that rules the majority of the student body. Here’s the Urban Dictionary’s version. This doesn’t just end at high school, but it does prepare you for what’s ahead. So getting through the worst of it as a young person will only make you a stronger. You can also use that guide as a tool to learn about all those things. That’s what I did.

I think that’s why to this day, I still try to learn a little bit about everything. I can’t tell if it’s habit, or if I am truly interested. I’m a mess. A fact that I can happily acknowledge. I’ve been through the bullying, have been mugged for being an easy target, (then again it’s always easy to mug someone from behind. All they got was my DTBD back pack with a book called “Tales from a hot pink diary” and my Gypsy sweatshirt, so the laugh is on them!) and I am no worse for wear. It did help that I had people to talk to, so friends were just as important then as they are now.

Now friends: Your job is SO vital, if you are truly a friend. If you even suspect that things are getting too heavy, it is your obligation as a friend to TELL SOMEONE! Yes, the person wanting to commit suicide will be so angry with you, BUT at least they will be alive to do that! Please don’t be afraid, be a friend.

Today, I am sporting my Purple, and I hope to be visible enough so that someone who needs it may see that I would be happy to talk to them. Look for the Purple if you want to talk!!!

Today, I am wearing Purple in solidarity because I know what it’s like to be bullied.

Take a picture of yourself with your Purple and a positive message and I’ll happily post it! Let’s stop the bullying! End it here, then around the world!!

We're Against Bullying but not having a good time! L to R: Samantha Stidham, Me, Lydia Merriam-Pigg, Elizabeth Claire Lawence

2 Weeks Till Showtime!!

Today was our first opportunity to work with the orchestra before moving into the theatre. The sitzprobe or “sit and sing” is the first meeting of the cast and orchestra to try and become one entity. One organism that creates a cohesive and exciting show. Today’s rehearsal was a good start. The cast was excited and I think it’s safe to say we had fun. If I am wrong, I do hope someone would correct me on that. At least I had fun. We met over at the Obi Studios in the south side of San Jose. It’s a nice looking place. In some past sitzprobes, or prova all’italiana as the Italians call it, the rooms were kind of cramped and usually get very warm very quickly. I wish we could sing here every time!

About this time in the rehearsal process, the tension begins to build because there’s only a very short amount of time to perfect everything that the staff has given us to work with. The little bit of time that’s left is when I try and refine or tweak or even change some of my goals in the scenes or tactics that I use to try and get what I want. It’s also really when I get the butterflies and the queasy stomach. Then, at night, I lie awake thinking about the show and stressing even if I know that I’ve done a ton of work and am solid on everything.

Then, magically, Opening Night is a breeze. It’s like all the anxiety that I am supposed to feel at that time is what I dealt with weeks before, so now I am good to go. Yay! But first I have to deal with it. And the sitzprobe is usually the point at which the slow tummy grumblings start to happen.

Now with only two weeks left to tighten and perfect this little gem of a show into performance level, all the people involved in the show must begin to put forth their focus. This is when we must utilize the suggestions and guidance that the staff have offered up for us to work with and sculpt and re-sculpt our characters until they are so much a part of us that a part of them lives in us even when we aren’t on stage. We must deliver at each precious rehearsal that’s left so that we know we have this in the bag. It’s okay to have fun, but when it’s time to work, we must be prepared. We simply must.

This sense of urgency permeates the cast usually and things begin to fit into the mold our fearless director, Meg Fischer, has made. So if I were to follow this analogy, I’d say that tonight was when we poured the show into the mold. Now, we have to get it to set. Woo to the Hoo!!!

With only two weeks left, the show is very nearly on the road…

And I suggest you get your tickets NOW!

Surviving is the hardest part of living…

In our broken economy, sometimes the necessities become the hardest things to obtain. A week ago, musician from the bands MEN and La Tigre wrote a column for the Huffington Post titled, I love my job, but it made me poorer.

Click the link to read the article. It’s a great read, but as an Artist I found it to be eye opening, unsettling, and disheartening.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, I was sent an event request that was asking for Art donations to present a benefit. The benefit is to raise money for an Artist’s funeral. The Artist, David Lastra, was one of the first people to help build the cool Empire Seven Studios on 7th Street in San Jose. The benefit will be held at the Studios on Saturday, October 15. Stop by and pick up some great Art for a great cause.

With these things in my consciousness, I am grateful for the job that I do have currently, even if it is well outside my comfort zone. I appreciate the flexibility that it offers and the support that the company has for the Arts. But my heart is completely in the Arts.

I have this grand wish to be able to support myself somehow by working in the field that I adore, but I worry so much that following a dream is more of a luxury rather than an option. It seems that as the classes divide, only those with the money will be afforded the option of dreaming.

As sad as it may seem though, I have always felt that money was an important part of it. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve sent out to dance studios and acting companies to find out if they have any sort of scholarship opportunities for people in the same boat as me. The only company that responded with any sort of information was Zohar Dance Studio, for which I will FOREVER be thankful.

But, seriously, how does one pursue their passion if they don’t have the means? I had even sent an email to a columnist at Backstage magazine and got absolutely no response. Not many places want to talk about money. I understand that show business is exactly that, a business, but what do we do when talented people are to broke to carry on and all we have left are the rich pretty people that are more like puppets than Artists?

I appreciate what the “Occupy” protests are doing, because it’s an attempt to level the playing field. I would love to join them, but I have to work to be able to keep a roof over my head.

How are you handling this insane time in the economy? Are you finding it difficult to chase your dreams? Leave me a comment at the bottom of the screen. Tell me how you feel, dialogue is a good thing.

* Special Edition* Doing Good…

Special Edition

(Click to Play)

Interview with the cast and I sign up with a cool new volunteering site: GoVoluntr.com!!

Dance Gear? Get it here…

On September 24th, from 8am-2pm, there will be a fitness wear sale over at the Zohar Dance Studios. I have been in need of some more dance wear. I don’t know how many of you are in the same boat, or if you just happen to enjoy getting new stuff to add to your collection, but when Daynee made the announcement I must’ve looked like a meerkat.

I hear that the selection is really good, and the seller doesn’t only have dance attire. They also sell some stuff to wear at the gym. Stop by and pick up some great gear at discounted prices. I know we all like a good deal, so the first place that I usually think of to shop is an online discount dancewear shop like Dancewear Solutions, Discount Dance Supply, or Dance Outlet.

The drawback of shopping online like this is that sometimes, I personally can never tell if I am going to like the feel of the fabric or if there’ll be enough stretch to something. Then, what happens if it is all wrong? Shipping something back is a beast in itself. I’ve even had to pay to ship something back a few years ago. Nowadays, the return shipping is a little easier, but it’s still a pain in the glutes if you have to exchange. So, why not skip some of the hassle and stop by the Zohar Dance Studios this weekend? You can touch and feel, maybe try on, I don’t know about that part for certain, but why should that deter you from coming on down. Not only will your purchase save you some green, but the company that is selling the merchandise will donate a portion of its proceeds to Zohar!

And while you are there, why not join the modern class that begins at 9:30. I think Lisa’s class is terrific. When I can make it, I usually try to attend the Thursday morning class. I can’t think of a better way to start my day off.

So come on out this Saturday from 8-2 and score some new gear. The studios are located at Cubberley Community Center at 4000 Middlefield Road next to the Charleston Shopping Center, between East Charleston and San Antonio Road. Click here for some better directions.

Hope to see you there!!!

Please forward this to anyone you think may want to attend. Thanks a million!!!