Half-Birthday To Do List - Update

BREAKING NEWS: The splits are getting easier to do. I have done them thrice in as many days. Ooooh!

Okay, that's a little bit of a lie, it was actually four days but that didn't sound as good/impressive. Anyway, should I post photographic evidence of achieving my Half-Birthday goals? Might be a bit difficult protraying my fluency in Portuguese through photography. Maybe a photo of me deep in conversation with a Brazilian who's not looking confused will work. Or if I had the guts I'd take the CELPE-Bras exam and then could scan my certificate when I passed.

Creative project stuffs happening, it's all quite quirky and fun. I was dancing/moving in a live video music shoot at the Roundhouse yesterday. The video was streamed live but it should be posted on You Tube soon. Not that you can probably actually see me because there was all this trippy graphics stuff put on top of the footage, but it will still be exciting to see. Maybe I will be able to pick out my arm! People will be queing up to get me to sign their sandwich. Yay!

Edinburgh Update

Have grabbed a coupleo f minutes in and internet cafe and am having at fab time at the Fringe. Absolutely knackered but it's my own fault. I should eat better, rest more and drink less. I am on holiday though so it's allowed. Boths shows are going well. Great audiences and reviews. Love reading the comments on twitter. Go Team Bubonic! And if you're not here you can watch some clips from the show on their websites: http://www.bubonicproductions.com

Love it!

Must eat now.

Post-Hair

What a trying few weeks it's been. Coping with the come-down from 'Hair' being over, losing a job contract, gaining a new job contract, being ill and not eating much, finding a new place to live and moving in and some other rubbishy personal stuff (blah!) which didn't help matters.

Thankfully things are settling down and I'm getting settled into new home and job and what's evening more exciting is that I'm going up to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival to support these guys: http://www.bubonicproductions.com and their hilarious comedy musicals. I spent Sunday getting myself nice and messy for them by doing some painting for their set/props and have been totally swept away by the EdFringe bug. It'll be good to out on another adventure and if anyone stumbles across this blog (maybe by googling edfringe, edinburgh fringe festival, plague the musical, piramania, august 2010) and is heading up there then please say Hi and I'll maybe see you there.

Beads, Flowers, Freedom, Happiness (part 2)

I'm trying to ignore the fact that we are approaching the final couple of days of the run of our show. It is an amazing ride to be on and one that has given me a lot to think about. I shouldn't anticipate the end already but instead focuso n the rest of the time I have left with this cast and show. So to keep the excitment up, here's a link to an article about our show that was posted on Broadway World. Fun!

http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_FEATURE_A_Not_So_Amateur_Hair_20100621

Beads, Flowers, Freedom, Happiness

We have opened! After 13 weeks of rehearsals and a LOT of lyrics, harmonies and blocking to learn we opened last night and put on a great show. Follow the news and vlogs here:

http://www.beadsflowersfreedomhappiness.com
http://www.beadsflowersfreedomhappiness.com
http://www.beadsflowersfreedomhappiness.com

xx

Progress At Last

Well a lot has happened since my last few posts and I'm not sure what to start off with. I interviewed for a 5 month job on Monday, got offered the job on Monday afternoon and started working on Wednesday. I'm back in full time employment and now I can sort myself out and make plans and it's all a big relief! Can't wait for payday... although I still have to be sensible and save my money for a deposit on a new plce to live (the contract on our current flat is up at the end of April so me & my flatmate are going our seperate ways and looking for flat/houseshares so we can save some money).

On the same day I got offered the job I also got offered at part in the ensemble of the sedos production of Hair which made a good day even better. I thought I had sucked at the audition. The first song I sang so badly but the second song was not so bad. Still, I thought I had totally messed up and didn't expect it at all. We had a workshop today which was more or less the first rehearsal where we worked on some movement and one of the songs. I am going to enjoy doing this show so much. And I find it interesting/a challenge that we'll be up against the West End version which will be showing at the same time.

Last but not least, in fact probably the biggest that that will happen to me: I got a date to have my cornea transplant surgery! And it's happening a lot sooner than I expected. It's currently scheduled for May 19th however I need to take into consideration my job and rehearsals. I can to commit to both properly and not sure if taking 1-2 weeks out for recovery from the operation is a good plan. Not to mention that it will probably take another month before my eye gets over the "trauma" of what it has gone through so I might have to take the possibility of manky bloodshot-nessa and light sensitivity into consideration. Blah blah blah. And if I'm being honest I am also shit scared about having to have this operation and was shocked that I was offered a date 2 months away. So there's lots to take into consideration and I need to think about it all but they're happy to operate and that's what I wanted to hear.

Overall, quite a progressive week. There's still lots in my life to sort out (debts, finding a place to live etc.) but I'm getting there bit by bit. I'm trying to stay positive and hopefully more good things will come.

Managing Stages And Stuff...

Getting stuck into 2010 and I started the year ASMing in the production of Mojo which was last-minute but fun to do despite having to sit in a cold, draughty theatre in the middle of freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. All good though as it helped me prepae for taking on full stage manager duties for Blackbird which will run next month. I've attended rehearsals, made lists and have now acquired a habit of collecting litter... purely for artistic purposes you understand! We need an overflowing rubbish bin for the actors to use onstage. I think providing a good-looking rubbish bin will be one of my greatest achievements!

The other areas of my life are all a bt shambolic. Still no full time job. Sending out CVs into the wilderness and hearing nothing back. I suppose January is the time to deal with all this crap, get it out of the way so I can charge forward with all my plans for the rest of the year. Positivity!

Panto/Weekend Stuff

Just a short email as I need to go to bed soon and be up bright and early in the morning to start work. Exciting, scary etc.

Have had a very busy weekend. I got a call on Friday evening with a filming job offer for the following morning. So after a night of panto -ness and a couple of drinks at the bar, I was dragging myself out of bed on Saturday morning for a spot of filming. I should have details and a link to the finished product soon. Afterwars it was straight to the theatre for the matinee and evening panto performance. Inbetween the shows I stuffed myself with a whole pizza. That was fun. We're having a great run of shows. Some good audiences especially today's matinee crowd - a bunch of very noisy children indeed! Got tomorrow night off before we're back to do it all again on tuesday and that'll take us right up to Saturday. Don't know how I'm going to do it all AND train in the new job. Pass me the Berocca!

It's Begun!

Opening night has been and gone and I don't think we did too shabby. Once the audience warmed up (and had a couple of drinks at the interval) they began to get into the spirit of things more which is always encouraging when you're making a tit of yourself onstage. The show did not pass without incident though. I almost made it to the end when during an amorous moment onstage I lost balance and landed on my bum. It didn't hurt then but it hurt this morning when I got out of bed. Looking forward to seeing what cock-ups the next twelves shows will bring.

On a similar note. We had our final rehearsal on Monday which started out well but quickly descended into mishaps and chaos with broken props, wrong sound/lighting cues and fluffed lines, until we couldn't fight it any longer and played along with the silliest. One of the funniest nights in my life with a great bunch of people.

Now it's time to pack my back and make my way over to the theatre for Show #2. Allon-sy!

Halp!

Request: Can someone please hypnotise me and make me forget about my fear of singing in public so I don't forget all the singing technique I've learned and forget to breathe too so I can sing in chest voice and actually do a decent job of my solo singy bits I have in the show. Ta very much.

That pretty much sums up what's going through my head when it comes to panto rehearsals. The rest of it is fine - lines, routines, set, costumes are all coming together nicely now and it's beginning to look fab!

PS: I really need to control my potty mouth.

Look At Us!

Charging ahead with rehearsals. Got details from the director about plans for the next two weeks in the run-up to the show and it's fair to say that I will have no other life outside panto. Especially if I manage to get some office dayjob in the meantime too. Can't wait to perform it though!

Next On The List

So the month is almost over and I've taken part in new play, The Showgirl, and did some cabaret in Network Theatre's 70th Anniversary celebrations. Now it's time to focus on the panto rehearsals so we can pull off a great show in December which will be fun fun fun! I'm very excited about doing it. Especially as I'll be running around on stage in either a fancy frock or pirate gear. Maybe it's a side-effect from my eye problem but I like all things piratey. Fun!

At time of writing I may also have a possible short term "normal" job in the pipeline and if I wasn't going to be busy enough I shall also be stage managing a play at the beginning of December called "Dogging". Just got the script through, it's rude, cheeky and fun. Sounds like I'm summing myself up there!

Both shows will take me up to Christmas and I'm already comtemplating what to do with my life come January. Fresh new evenings and weekends to fill up with fun, creative projects. Bring it on.

Busy-licious!

I'm been trying to plan my social life and it's not going well. I am going to be BUSY! Especially next week when not only do I have ongoing rehearsals for a play AND a cabaret performance (both of which are opening on the same evening!) but I also start panto rehearsals on Sunday too which is another thing to factor in and to make sure I have all the imporant dates down in the schedule. Come the 18th things will have calmed down slightly and I'll only have one production on the go. Maybe by then I can use my free time to integrate myself back into the working world and pay my way like everyone else.

In the meantime I have updated and set up my Stage Jobs profile and website. It's all in the early stages but it's time to put myself out there more. Need a job, gotta work!

Headshots

Oooh la la... had a photographer friend take some headshots of me. Waiting for the CD of images if me in all my photoshopped & thespian glory but in the meantime, here's a preview:


And one of me trying to pose and look interesting:

Innersound Photoshoot

A recent photoshoot I did for an alternative health company. I got vouchers for some free sessions. Cool!


Other shots from the shoot:

Photos From The Set

In January I ended up dancing in a club scene in a South Indian/Bollywood film. Below are some shots from the day:

4/8

Halfway through The Three Musketeers run and we're all glad of the break. Looking forward to resuming performances again on Wednesday but it should be a little easier having had a couple of days off (from rehearsals, not our regular day jobs unfortunately).

Tech Rehearsal

..for Three Musketeers today/tomorrow (Sunday).

It's going to be a looooong day. See you on the other side. That's if I make it.

Coming Up Next...

Next up.... The Three Musketeers in December.

I'm as sick as a dog at the moment but no rest for the wicked. Got the night off rehearsals but that will be a rare thing from now until showtime. I'm putting all my faith in vitamin C to get me through the next few weeks. I will be ready to drop come the final show.

Dick Lothario Goes T*ts Up!

The script is in and I'll be reviving my role as a saucy dancer from 2007's Class but this time i've got a few lines to say. Exciting! I've also got to somehow look good onstage. Bikram yoga classes for me for the next 2.5 weeks it seems!

The Remote Goat and Facebook pages for this show have been updated so go check them out until your wee heart's content!