Happy Easter!

I'll Keep My Head Down And My Chin Up...

Spring break was a good time. 

Back to the grind of things today. Golgonooza is soon, and I'm excited but nervous about it coming together. It always does, though. Somehow. There is so much to do, but I guess there's a certain trust that comes with being a part of any production that everyone will just do their part and you'll do yours and vola! Theatre magic makes it possible.

I still haven't heard back from any of the summer internships or apprenticeships I've applied to. The first one I put my application into is the one I'm most hoping to be accepted to. The Williamstown Theatre Festival apprenticeship for actors. Check this out:

"An apprentice’s theatrical experience is not built on performance opportunities alone. Apprentices work on a number of crews and positions throughout the summer that make the season possible, including building sets, hanging lights, assisting the marketing department, greeting audiences, and providing vital support to the many and varied needs of the Festival on a daily basis. In short, and with no understatement, apprentices are the lifeblood of the Williamstown Theatre Festival; it would be impossible to do what we do without them. Apprentices also take part in a unique classroom-learning experience, consisting of approximately two to four classes a week. Resident artists teach a wide variety of classes across many disciplines, and master classes with world-renowned visiting artists are scheduled throughout the summer. Apprentices will interact with, observe, and ultimately learn from many of the established artists who visit the Festival each season. "

I worked the hardest on that application (and on even being 'allowed' by my mom to apply). Also, it costs money to participate in the program so I created a very lengthy personal statement of financial need.

I also have an application in to North Western's National High School Institute summer program. I've applied to be an assistant faculty member for the theatre arts area of the program. It's like a pre-college thing for high schoolers who are interested in all different fields.

"The faculty of the Theatre Arts Division is composed of award-winning educators, performers, designers, directors, and choreographers from theatres and universities throughout the country. (for undergraduates interested in theatre, teaching, internship). All Faculty Associates are required to life in the dormitory and serve as dorm counselors for which they recieve room and board and stipend."

All I have to say is: HECK YES! I'd love to.

Lastly, I have an application into the Center for Talented Youth with John Hopkin's.

"At CTY you will work with an exceptional group of students, make contacts and friendships with dynamic colleagues, and gain valuable experience in a rigorous academic community. CTY has consistently been named as one of the top internships in leading publications. We have a network of past employees now working in positions ranging from heads of school to deans of students to university professors."

Again, a great opportunity for the summer.

It's just hard to wait. If I don't hear back by April 1st, I'm calling at least the first two places to see what my application's standing is.... It'd be nice to know what I'm doing with my summer, though.

Okay! I have to go call a man about a bedroom set for the stage, write sound and lighting cues, figure out my schedule for next semester, wait to hear back from three different apprenticeship/internship opportunities, get ready for Easter, start packing my room up so I don't have as much crap to take home as I did last year, aaaaaaaaand scene.

What Doesn't Kill You Hurts Like Hell...But It Doesn't Kill You.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

February 7 - Light Ahead

Trust and be not afraid. Life is full of wonder. Open child-trusting eyes to all I am doing for you. Fear not.

Only a few steps more and then My Power shall be seen and known. You are, yourselves, now walking in the tunnel-darkness. Soon, you yourselves shall be lights to guide feet that are afraid.

The cries of your sufferings have pierced even to the ears of God himself – My Father in Heaven, your Father in Heaven. To hear, with God, is to answer. For only a cry from the heart, a cry to Divine Power to help human weakness, a trusting cry, ever reaches the Ear Divine.

Remember, trembling heart, that with God, to hear is to answer. Your prayers, and they have been many, are answered.

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These are good things to keep in mind. I need this Lent to get my religion back on track, you could say. I guess I'm not as 'grown' as I thought. In fact, I've reverted, but that can be good, in some ways. Maybe. It all depends on how you use what you're given. And I've been given a lot, and that's really a blessing. I am still quite blind, though. I need help seeing the obvious, finding the not so obvious and ... well, that's enough vagueness for one post.

Graduate school research is terrifying. I’m waiting to hear back on a REALLY big summer opportunity. Birthday in nineteen days and then I'll be a legal beagle. Yeah, I went there. >.>

Business all around my life! I was going to type out everything that I've been up to but I changed my mind because:

1. Everyone is busy.

2. As much as it drives me crazy, I enjoy it.

3. You're supposed to do things in secret, thus making the reward greater for the soul.

Illness has been abound, too - I'm afraid. It makes me sad. If I'm still feeling awful on Monday I'll need to call the doctor. For now, I'm seeing how well I can duke it out on my own. Bring it, disease!

In other news: new roommate, she's cool. We're pretty cool. We just let each other do our own thing, and such. I feel bad she has a hacking crazy girl with her. I hope I don't cause her to get sick, that would be rude of me, not to mention a lame time had by all. Bob Marley sheet + Postcards +Pretty (not real) Flowers) + Bible Quotes = Decoration Love. Not going to lie, our room is pretty sweet. It was really cool of her to move up here instead of making me go down there. I felt bad but.... well, it's done and there doesn't seem to be hard feelings. Yay!

Come and see South Pacific. Every inch is packed with dynamite. An, um, it's Main Stage. Which is fantastic. Probably the last one Doc E. directs, actually... Hmm. Disconcerting? Maybe a little but such is life.

So that's that and that'll be that, and that's the end of that.

I Don't Know What My Future Holds, But I Know Who Holds My Future.

Two weeks into the semester, and already I am looking for the summer to come peaking behind the snowy cold. Although, when that happens, it will mean saying goodbye to the people that have mattered most to me the past three years. Not forever, but there you have it. It's happened my freshman year. There went people who inspired me, who influenced my art and my mind. And my sophomore year. There went the people with the motivation and talent. And it'll happen this year. Those with kindness, enthusiasm, humor, and grace. The next year, it'll be us. The ones who learned from all the others, and at least attempted such greatness.

It's a new year. I guess you could say it has started off very slowly. I don't have any idea what will happen to me in the next week. Or the next month. Or the one after it. And so forth. No one ever does, do they? I would like to have change in my life. The one I have been living isn't exactly up to par. It's not "doing it" for me, so to speak.

I get these inexplicable ideas in my head that just cannot be shaken. That I could only be in love with so-and-so. Or the only way I'll be happy is if such a thing occurs. It can't be healthy, that's for sure. It scares me, a little. I'm still waiting for things to go back to 'normal' and for whatever reason, I can't understand that this day in and day out is what normal will be until something else shifts. Either via my changing it, or it changing me.

It would be so easy to blame others. But, I don't like to make it easy.

So I'll just keep on keepin' on. Get up. Go to work. Go to class. And back to work. Work out. Go to rehearsal. Learn the steps. Memorize the lyrics. Remember why it's a way of life, instead of a career. Go to bed. Get up. Go to work. Go to class... and on weekends? Do homework. Find some times when friends are around, and go visit. Keep occupied. Work out some more. Pretend it isn't lonely to walk back to an empty room. Wake up, and do it again the next day.

Wash, rinse, repeat as necessary. Wash, rinse, repeat.

And a happy new year!

Not much time to post, but I wanted to wish everyone a fantastic holiday!



Love peace and joy!

I Want This Gift

I love my family. You all know this. I just came back from Thanksgiving and even though there were some rough spots (when aren't there?!), it was fantastic. They are so full of love and life and character, it makes the word 'family' shine.

My little brother. My best friend and worst enemy. But mostly my best friend. He and I have been through more together than anyone else has been through with me. And I've been through a lot of crap with a ton of people. I would be lost without him. He's really grown up to be a hilarious, quick, smart, sensitive guy. He tells Michael (the older of the two cousins on mom's side) that he loves him (he tells everyone that, but anywho). Like, I watched him say that to Michael yesterday morning and was just so amazed at how he could make those three words 'cool'. Michael will never think it's not a 'guy thing' to say that you love someone. I think that's incredible, and I bet Mark doesn't even know he has done that for Michael. Not to mention Mark and I had 'girl talk' at two in the morning watching 'Along Came Polly' and 'Blue Crush', that was fun. We talked about computer games and I was able to watch his multimedia project video, which was so impressive! It was all stop motion, and it's just like 'what happened to that pudgy little Buddha child I used to beat the living daylights out of?' Mark hugs me when I cry, and he does damage control with mom. I try to do the same for him. When I wasn't feeling well Thanksgiving morning, he totally took both kids and let me sleep in. Michael came down at 6am to pull off Mark's sock. I hear:

"Hey! Not my sock...aw, now my feet are cold."
*giggles*
Then, twenty minutes later he sits up and goes
"I found my sock."

It's some of that stupid stuff that is SO funny to us. We taught Michael and Michele the game "Guess What?" "What?" "Five minutes to get rid of it." That was, maybe a bad choice, in retrospect. We also played the game "You remind me of a man!" What man?" "The man with the power. " "What power?" "The power of voo-doo!" "Who do?" "You do!" "I do what?" "Remind me of a man!"" "What man?" "The man with the power...." and so on. Michael's a smart kid, he came down one morning and said that to us while we ere half asleep, and I said "What man?" Thinking it was cute he remembered that we talked about it the night before. He goes "Five minutes to get rid of it!" And runs away laughing his fool head off. Oh that child. So, that's my shpeal on the boys.

This Italian family of mine loves the sounds of Frank Sinatra. My Pop-Pop *is* better than Frank. Seriously. I may be bias,m but I don't give a damn. He sings so beautifully. And Frank has been his MAN since before I can remember. When I was little, and would play in a baby pool, Pop-Pop and Mom-Mom would sit out in the sun with their old silver portable radio, the antenna way up, and Frank would be blasting. My grandparents are So in love. They fight and pick at each other, but they love each other. When Pop-Pop does something and Mom-Mom goes 'Oh, I don't want to talk to you." He'll bat his eyes and try to give her a hug and say "I love ya sweetheart! Don't you love me, honey?" And she'll swat him with a dishtowel while she goes to get more dishes off the dinner table. It's just, stuff like that. He does the sweetest things for her, she does the cutest things for him. They are so loving. And generous! More than anyone. No one has a bad thing to say about them.

Thanksgiving night while we were doing dishes, the whole house was singing to Frank Sinatra. And the song "New York, New York" came on. Mom-Mom was sitting next to Michele and I and Pop-Pop was singing his heart out while people started to do the dishes. My mom said to him "Go dance with Mom(-Mom), Dad." And he told her "No, she don't want to dance." But he locked at her and she held her hands out, and everyone laughed. So, he went over and they danced and my little brother caught this on tape. You can hear Lydia (Mom-Mom) dancing a little, and see me in the background and Michele on the floor with this HUGE smile. Even at six years old she can tell what they have is special. Now, they're on You Tube. Everyone in the family thinks this is genius, that we put my grandparents on the internet. When they finished dancing (You can hear Poop-Pop starting to say "That's all, I gotta do the dishes" as he walks away), Michele looked up and said to me "That's just hysterical!" I looked at her and told her "Nah, it's just incredible." She didn't get it, but that's okay.

I guess the point is, when I'm eighty (do those two look eighty to you?), I want to be so in love, have such a wonderful family surrounding me, and still singing and dancing my heart out. That's a gift, you know? What those two have. And it's just amazing to me.

I can't figure out how to upload the video on here, so here's the link instead.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eDhoTorigck

Gobble Gobble!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY!

Peace, Love, and Turkey!

Well If All You Want Is Honesty, That's All You Have To Say.

Let's talk about some things that are, how you say: bugging me. Just a couple things, out of the many many choices, that are going through my mind.


And we can start with the theatre majors who are here and act as though they are above the program. You don't like the program, then just leave! You want a big part in the show, but you don't know anything about it, have never heard the music, never read the script, don't know who the characters are, and won't research? Do you think it'll just be handed to you on a silver platter? You have to work HARD if you even want to be CONSIDERED for a part that's bigger than ensemble. And hell, even if you do do all your research and audition with the perfect song, and/or monologue, you STILL may not get casted in a lead role because you're:too short, you're hair is too thick, too fat, too tall, too brunette, too broad-shouldered, too unique, too commercial, not what the director wants....whatever. Oh wait, what? You want to do film! You're such a conceded jerk. You have yet to prove you possess have any talent in front of a camera, or in front of an audience on stage. And you're almost done with school... so you're thinking about changing your major NOW?! I mean, don't get me wrong, I hope you do switch to something else, because you're an awful representation of the theatre department and you would be much better suited to be in with the other Poly Sci majors that you so revere, because they have some argumentative tendencies to rival yours. However, with the rate you're going, even they will throw up their hands in frustration, roll their eyes, and exasperate a pinched voice: "Whatever you say, you obviously know so much more about it than I do." Because you are the spoiled, childish, stuck-up person who has to have his way every $*%&@*! time. Why is it that you're never wrong? I wish I could always be right, like you! Maybe it's something aspire to, i'll work really hard towards that: when i grow up, I'll be just. Like. You. Yeah, right. I'd rather slide down a giant razor blade into a pool of alcohol. Oh! And lastly, let me tell you that being a homophobic does NOT work well if you are interested in theatre, film, or any other form of art - and being a part of it. You want to be in theatre? GET OVER IT! Being a racist won't help you much in those areas, either. Actually, it wouldn't help you much anyplace.
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ONE WEEK LATER: Nov. 14th - an addition to this theatre thing:

"death by theatre major" is my favorite ice cream flavor!

I loathe these junior high drama addicts, these friend-stealing, back-stabbing, heart-breaking people.

I loathe this department and its pre-casting, babying, favoring professors.

I loathe those disrespecting, unfeeling, gut-wrenching, unprofessional cretins walking around this God-forsaken scum of the earth campus.

And I loathe my addiction to this painful, anxiety ridden, wonderful, life-giving drug that I have been so willfully pushed, pulled, sucked down, slammed into taking inside of me - shooting, snorting, popping, and smoking every hour of my life from the time I was ten years old until this very moment...

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's move on, shall we? Lovely! (Nota Bene: This is about more than one person. Let's see if you smart readers can catch the double entrende! Iti's like "Where's Waldo", only more people are wearing the red and white stripped shirts than you first thought when you looked at the picture.) I am SO SICK of seeing people in relationships where they get treated like the lowest little piece of scum on the planet. YOU ARE WONDERFUL! You are. Find someone who treats you like that, find anyone. You don't deserve that crap you take, that you've been taking for years. You. Don't. Deserve. It. I wish you could see how it breaks hearts of people who hardly even know you because you ARE such a fantastic, beautiful person who anyone with a bit of sense would praise God for every second, and would WORSHIP you and treat you like royalty. Dear person A: Drop person B, they're screwing you over. Go for person C. They've been standing here all along. They're the one to sweep you away...if you'd let them. I know it's hard. I really and truely ldo. But....you need to let go, just let go. No one should go through life being treated the way you are.

Wanna know what else is going through this head? Well! I'll tell ya! You said I could be there and it would all be okay. Then, things changed because of one person, and I could be there only after a certain time. HEY! You lied. You broke your promise. Let's not even go into the agreement we had not to do that thing we said we weren't going to do anymore because of that weekend I had not so long ago. You'll be throwing that out the window pretty soon. I'm guessing you don't even remember that was our deal.

Dear life:

Please, sucker punch me some more! It feels so lovely! I enjoy ever minute of it!

Your friend, Michelina

Life is Chasing Around Inside of Me Like a Squirl!

I won an IPhone a few weeks ago. For Homecoming, the Alumni Association was offering it as a drawing prize. Bizare, hu? Sold it to Lauren's little brother, so good times!

We open the show in two days and I'm sick. Ah well, it could be worse. Just a sinus icky time. After work today, I'm going to go on a hunt for Cayenne Powder. From what I've heard, it works miracles.

Here's some things you should know about the show:

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Theatre Department will open its new season with an affectionate rendition of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s vintage comedy, You Can’t Take it With You.
The production will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday, October 18 through Saturday, October 20 and Thursday, October 25 through Saturday, October 27, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, October 21 and 28, in the Studio Theatre of the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center on the UPJ campus.
Winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize, this visit with the lovable Sycamore family sounded an upbeat message to a nation frazzled by the Great Depression, an underscoring of the need to move past the loss of material possessions to the importance of love and human connection.
Audiences will enjoy the spectacle of the “normal” daughter, Alice Sycamore’s attempt to marry into a conventional family against the backdrop of her eccentric home, where xylophone music, ballet lessons, playwriting, fireworks, a printing press, and pet snakes are the norm, with occasional visits from tax collectors and the FBI.
UPJ welcomes guest director Scott Baron. Scenic design is by James Moore, costumes by Linda Capp, lighting and sound by Michael Feight, with properties, make-up and hairstyles by Pat Fenchak.
For additional information, contact Rodney Eatman, UPJ Theatre Department director, at 814-269-7232.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Artsline at 1-800-846-ARTS from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets are $10. Discount tickets of $7 are being offered to senior citizens (over 65 years of age), students under 18 and members of the Pitt Johnstown community (faculty, staff, students and members of the Pitt Johnstown Alumni Association who carry the “gold card”). The box office is open for in-person sales from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The box office opens one hour before performances.

See you there! :-)

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.

So Let Go, Oh Let Go...

Here I am! Back at UPJ for year three. I can't believe I'm a junior. Wasn't I Freshman just a minutes ago? I guess not. Your little girl is growing up fast, you could say. I'm happy to be back, and at the same time, a lot of weird memories have come flooding back that I thought....heh, *thought* I was past. Maybe there are some things I'll never get over, some memories I'll never bury deeply enough. I need to get the hell out of here just to...

I have to be crazy. I have to be. That's what I've figured out. Something is seriously wrong with me, sometimes. Gah!

I'm really doing well, it's just this stupid little bump I can't quite make myself climb over.

Someday I'll look back on this and laugh.

Maybe I'll get the hang of this sometime...but I hate all these vague references to 'some day' or 'sometime'...is it bad to want things 'right' and 'right now? And if it isn't bad, how do I get them? Because I'm a little bit stuck.

I Saw You Today

I saw you today, I was talking to my friends and you were passing through the building. I was talking and I caught a glance of your sweater, the blue one I gave you last Christmas that brings out your eyes. I wanted to sound witty or laugh or do anything to get you to look at me for a minute, but the moment elapsed and you were down the stairs and off to someplace new.

I saw you today, in the change of the leaves, as I drove down the main street, singing the blues. The sound of someone soulful filtered through the FM stereo, the one speaker still doesn’t work. You were locking your front door, walking out of the house that you share with your best friends. You know the ones that couldn’t stand the way I hung around you and held your hand? You had your haircut since that last time our paths crossed. It looked good. The reds and yellows blurred together above your head, and my car passed slowly, hoping you’d turn. You didn’t, of course, and I didn’t honk my horn, or roll down the window, I just turned up the music, and was swept away by the crescendo.

I saw you today, on the mall’s moving staircase. Yours was moving downward and mine moving up. You saw me and waved, I smiled hello. I tripped over my many bags and clumsy feet at the top of the escalator. I heard your strong, teasing laugh, and I turned around. You watched me travel past you; you took the extra second to see my back float away. You didn’t realize how much I’ve missed you. I laughed and shrugged, I’ve always been clumsy. I didn’t realize how long ago we were in love.

And neither of us knew how to say we still cared.




Found that on my computer, I wrote it a long long time ago. It was strange to find it. I'm online at the library, as my internet is still not functioning at home. I wrote a play. A short one. I still need to do a lot of work on it, but who knows, maybe it'll be something good? I finished working with the kids this week, I miss them already! I also closed Once on this Island, the last show of the summer. Man, it'll be time to go back to school before I blink! This week I'm packing my things, next week I'll be in Philly, and then it's off to UPJ for another year of excitment. But I'm really just thinking about going to Oakland tomorrow to see a dear friend. It'll be fun, I'm so excited! :-)

I've learned a lot about doing the whole 'long distance' thing - even though it's not that far. We're "making it work" (thanks Tim Gunn for the encouragement)! And I'm happy. Really really happy. He's everything I ever wanted and more.

All in all, things are good. I'm really blessed.

Oh. And my brother smells. Thought I'd share.

Love, hugs, and bedtime thugs,
Mic

Inspired

Well. Two shows down, one to go. This summer is flying by me and taking forever at the same time it seems. Hard as it is to believe, three weeks from now I'll be done preforming, and two weeks after that I'll be back at UPJ.

At the closing night of Into The Woods, a bunch of fun stuff happened. First, at 7:07 and 7 seconds PM on 7-7-07, Rapunzel, Lucinda (one of Cinderella's stepsisters), the Wolf/Rapunzel's Prince, and I all made a wish. It was a great feeling. I love sharing those moments with friends.

The second great cool thing that happened was, well, the night before last, really. The Baker and I shared some strawberry deliciousness, Cinderella's Prince and I had a heart to heart about boys, and Jack and I made sarcastic comments about EVERYONE. Oh me, being surrounded by three gay guys was the perfect cure for a terrible week. At one point they said to me "Oh honey child! Do not worry about men, they're always going to be a problem, you might as well stop crying off good expensive make-up over them!" That's all I needed. A little sass and a lot of jokes about me turning them all straight with my good looks and charm (yeah right). :-p

The last awesome good thing that happened was: a family with a guy named Alex along with a professional sign language interpreter picked our show out of all the shows they could have gone to see in Pittsburgh to attend. After listening to the music once, they were sold on the show. Comtra is so small, the audience is right in your face and you're surrounded by them on all four sides of the stage...and this interpreter - was incredible. I watched him a lot of the time I was on stage, and the way the lyrics are, the whole show is - it's so overlapped and the interpreter caught EVERYTHING. His energy and enthusiasm was breathtaking. I felt badly because sometimes he had to stand up and sign over hus...he sat in the section directly across from Alex, so Alex could watch the action on stage and see what everyone was saying, too. I went up to him after words and shook his hand, and he and Alex kept thanking us for putting on the show. I thanked him for HIS performance, because this interpreter told me that he tries to match the energy of the actors, but he went above and beyond. It was so cool, I would love to do that. They also told me that this was the most welcoming theatre. Apparently traveling shows, like Broadway tours and such, are really rude and complain, saying things such as: "Fine! We HAVE to have these people here." That broke my heart. I hope that the people who feel that way remember what being an actor is all about...it's not about feeling inconvenienced because someone who has a special need or disability wants to enjoy the wonderful world of theatre, it's about welcoming everyone into a totally new world with witches and giants, a family, a future...etc.

Anywho, I'm inspired to say the least.

Moments in the Woods.

What was that?

Was that me?
Was that him?
Did a Prince really kiss me?
And kiss me?
And kiss me?
And did I kiss him back?

Was it wrong?
Am I mad?
Is that all?
Does he miss me?
Was he suddenly
Getting bored with me?

Wake up! Stop dreaming.
Stop prancing about the woods.
It's not beseeming.
What is it about the woods?

Back to life, back to sense,
Back to child, back to husband,
You can't live in the woods.
There are vows, there are ties,
There are needs, there are standards,
There are "shouldn'ts" and "shoulds"

Why not both instead?
There's the answer, if you're clever:
have a child for warmth,
And a Baker for bread,
And a Prince for whatever-
Never!
It's these woods.

Face the facts, find the boy,
Join the group, stop the Giant-
Just get out of these woods.
Was that him? yes it was.
Was that me? No it wasn't,
Just a trick of the woods.

Just a moment,
One peculiar passing moment...
Must it all be either less or more,
Either plain or grand?
Is it always "or"?
Is it never "and"?
That's what woods are for:
For those moments in the woods...

Oh. If life were made of moments,
Even now and then a bad one-!
But if life were only moments,
Then you'd never know you had one.

First a Witch, then a child,
Then a Prince, then a moment-
Who can live in the woods?
And to get what you wish,
Only just for a moment-
These are dangerous woods...

Let the moment go...
Don't forget it for a moment, though.
Just remembering you've had and "and",
When you're back to "or",
Makes the "or" mean more
Than it did before.
Now I understand-

And it's time to leave the woods.

Where fairy tales collide, and musical numbers are performed...

Time and Place

Start Time:	Friday, June 22, 2007 at 7:00pm
End Time:	Saturday, July 7, 2007 at 9:00pm
Location:	Comtra Theatre
Street:	Route 19 North
City/Town:	Cranberry, PA

Into the Woods is an award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.

The musical intertwines a collection of uncensored versions of 18th century Brothers Grimm fairy tales. An original story involving a Baker and his Wife's quest to begin a family ties together the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.

The musical makes heavy use of syncopated speech. In many instances, the characters' lines are delivered with a fixed beat that follows natural speech rhythms, but is also purposely composed in eighth, sixteenth, and quarter note rhythms as part of a spoken song. Like many Sondheim/Lapine productions, the songs contain thought-process narrative, where characters converse or think aloud.

The score is also notable in Sondheim's output because of its intricate reworking and development of small musical motifs. In particular, the opening words, "I wish", are set to the interval of a rising major second and this small unit is both repeated and developed throughout the show, just as Lapine's book explores the consequences of self-interest and "wishing."

To order tickets, please call 724-773-9896

Comtra Theatre is located on Route 19 North in Cranberry Township, PA, about a mile north of Cranberry Mall and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

It isnext door to Domenico's Restaurant and across the highway from West View Savings Bank.

If you're coming from the North, we're on the left side of the road. From the south, we're on the right side.

Performances are scheduled each Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm

Musical Tickets are $12.

Not so late breaking news...

I have a cell phone. Thanks to help from the lovely Paigetta, of course!

Want the number? Leave me a comment.

Don't care? Ignore this update.

Simply marvelous!

NOT the Hilary Duff movie, people.

Cheaper by the Dozen" is about an efficiency expert who runs his large family the way he runs a factory. Any method he can find to save time or energy, he implements it. Fittingly, the play is as efficient as can be, breezing through three acts and a whole lot of congenial humor, all in only approximately 100 minutes.

The play is set in the 1920s, as remembered by Ernestine and Frank , children #s. 2 and 3 in a family of 12. They are affable hosts as they reflect on their rigidly structured but very happy childhood.

Please call 724-773-9896 to make reservations.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00pm.

Plays and comedies are $10 per ticket.

Comtra is pictured on the home page of this site (http://www.comtratheatre.com), and is located on Route 19 North in Cranberry Township, PA, about a mile north of Cranberry Mall and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Located next door to Domenico's Restaurant and across the highway from West View Savings Bank. If you're coming from the North, we're on the left side of the road. From the south, we're on the right side.


Come see it!

25 Questions.

You're my friend. I'd like to know 25 things about you. Just hit "View My Complete Profile" and pick the 'Email' selection. It'll be confidential. (entertain my ass!) Thanks!

You'll be surprised how much you didn't know about your friends after this!


1. Ever punch someone in the face?

2. How old are you?

3. Are you single or taken?

4. Eat with your hands or utensils?

5. Do you dream at night?

6. Ever seen a corpse?

7. Have you ever wished someone dead?

8. Ever wanted to delete me?

9. Whats your philosophy on life? and death?

10. If you could do anything with me, and have no one know about it, what would it be?

11. Do you trust the police?

12. Do you like country music?

13. What is your fondest memory of me? Be honest.

14. If you could change anything about yourself would you?

15. Would you date me?

16. What do you wear to sleep?

17. Have you ever peed in a pool?

18. Would you hide evidence for me if I asked you to?

19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?

20. What is your favorite thing about me?

21. Do you think I'm attractive?

22. What's your favorite color?

23. If you could bring back anyone that has passed, who would it be?

24. Tell me one interesting/odd fact about you?

25. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?

Smokey! Get Out Of That Cat Nip!

Rachel and I went to the pet store today to stalk our GREAT friend Debbie from "Shady Pines" (emphasis on 'shady'), and to buy Rach's cat, Smoky, some cat nip. We had a five minute conversation with the sales lady about it having the same affect as Marijuana seems to have on humans.

Now, the only question left unanswered (I believe Rachel asked this of the pet store woman...)

If you roll it and smoke it, would it have the same affect on us as it does on Smokey?

We may never know. All I know is, Smokey got one and a third ounces for a steal.

Rachel Aileen: so the cat's outside getting stoned
Me: haha stoooned kitty
Rachel Aileen: hahah
Me: love it.
Rachel Aileen: I imagine him taking it to the streets. Smokey doesn't come home at night cause he's pushin nip on the corner
Me: he's a pretty big supplier in this area.
Rachel Aileen:so I hear
Me: Hey, don't tell anyone where you heard this from...
Me: but I think the Narc cops are onto him.
Me: I heard some talk. ya know?
Rachel Aileen: oh, man
Rachel Aileen: he's got so much hope..so much goin for him
Rachel Aileen: I never should have got him hooked
Me: You can't blame yourself.
Me: these things start so small...it's not even a blink of an eye before they snowball
Me: have you thought about intervention?
Me: N.A.?
Rachel Aileen: sigh, yes..I have
Rachel Aileen:it's just..so much trouble
Me: Hard to track down guys that'll sit down with him and agree not to encourage his habits?
Rachel Aileen: haha
Rachel Aileen: ah
Rachel Aileen: precisely
Rachel Aileen:I mean he's almost 50 in cat years..he's an adult
Me: he should know better...
Me: and like, it affects them SO much, you know?
Rachel Aileen: he should, it's a little out of control
Rachel Aileen: his tricks are loosing there form
Rachel Aileen: their*
Rachel Aileen: losing*
Me: Really?
Rachel Aileen: he's given up catching mice
Me: Wow, Rach. that's bad.
Rachel Aileen: mhm...
Rachel Aileen: really.
Me: I just...I ... I never thought it would end up like this... :'(
Rachel Aileen: I know...I didn't either.
Me: *sniff* Sorry, I'll try to hold it together.
Me: this has to be so hard on your poor parents.
Rachel Aileen: oh, yes..well..they put it all on me, ya know. I mean he's my responsibility
Me: that's not fair! He's just as much their son as he is your brother!!!
Rachel Aileen: well, he's actually more mine than his
Rachel Aileen: er..theirs*
Me: they have him 9 consecutive months out of the year, though.
Me: you asked them to look out for him.
Me: to take him under their wing!
Me: and what happens?
Me: you come home...and...and...
Rachel Aileen: i know...I KNOWW
Rachel Aileen: OH
Rachel Aileen: ah
Rachel Aileen: the agony
Rachel Aileen: the injustice
Me: WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????????
Me: OH WHYYYYY?
Rachel Aileen: I DON'T KNOWWW
Me: *sob*
Me: Check this out.
Me: http://thirdeyedumb.com/2007/04/children_have_begun_artists_ha.html
Rachel Aileen: hahah wow that's awesome
Me: lol
Rachel Aileen is away at 10:04:54 PM.
Me: lol I love you right now.
___________________________________________________________________
Auto response from Rachel Aileen:

Rachel Aileen: I imagine him taking it to the streets. Smokey doesn't come home at night cause he's pushin nip on the corner.
Michelina: You can't blame yourself.
Michelina: these things start so small...it's not even a blink of an eye before they snowball
__________________________________________________________________

Me: and always!
Me: ...and Smokey. God bless him.





We are a special pair, us two.