See the sunbeams? Everyone beams just because of you.

Things are looking up!

Story time! Part One: The theatre department is doing a traveling production (the first act of The Apple Tree, which is based on Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve). And I was casted as Eve. YAY! I get to be witty and saucy but young and naive...kind of like Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods, except Eve is a lot smarter and a bit more whimsical.

Part Two: You Can't Take It With You had a cast member drop out, and now I'm a part of the show! I'm definitely the third most seen woman onstage. Essie is that character's name. That's pretty neat, methinks!

But me oh my, do I have a lot of lines, songs, and blocking to learn in a small amount of time! My game plan is to get the Apple Tree down first, since we're performing THAT in a week and a half, and then focus on You Can't Take It With You after that's all said and done.

Since I wasn't casted in the first round, I really need to work hard to prove myself in this role. I CANNOT slack or give a half-ass effort. I don't know where I'm going to find extra time in my day to work on this outside of rehearsal, but by golly I will!

When I was in middle school, and I was involved with an advanced class in Saltworks, I was told to see the production of You Can't Take It With You. I believe it was at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. The show starts with Penny and Essie, and I remember the girl playing Essie vividly, just in that very first scene. She had short, dark, curly hair and a white ballet outfit on. She had to be about 25 years old, but I told my mom I thought I could have played her. I remember admiring her part and her personage. Isn't it ironic after all this time, years and years later, that I'm going to be playing that very role?

It's kinda neat how life comes full circle.

Here's the show details, if you're interested: Tickets are only $10, and the performances are October 18-28!Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm), and Sundays at 2pm(doors open at 1:30pm). Send me an email or leave comments if you would like more information.

And for once it might be grand...

Wow the past month has sucked, hard core.

When I grow up, I want to be closer to perfection than I am right now.

I don't know if I thought that I was a shoe-in, so I stopped trying or if I just have decreased in my skill and ambition. Either way, it isn't good. Not at all. I'm failing at what I love, what I claim is my passion, what drives me. And that ends up killing me. I need to really push myself the rest of the semester. Whether it's weight, acting projects, vocally, choreographically...I need to push myself. I will succeed, because I won't let myself do any less. That's just the mentality I have to adopt or else I am not going anywhere. And I so want to go somewhere.

I will be better. If I don't get better, I'll be in a huge pile of trouble. And I simply refuse to settle for just passing. Because I have been slammed, again and a gain, with life telling me:

"It's not working."

Okay. I get it. Now, stop giving me the fuzzy side of the lollipop.

Pray for me! I need it...please.