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Yay yay yay!!
Song is done-stress free!!
The rumors are true...unprocrastination does feel good.
Now just to make it through unveiling it to the public tomorrow morning...
But my song is awesome, cause I wrote it, and I'm awesome soooo I really have nothing to worry about.
Wish me luck!! :D
Day 31 The Last
Final day in the Big Apple!! I want to go home, but I already want to come back. One day soon.
Mel and I spent the day wandering around together. First stop, Coney Island. It was an off day, but we went and saw the beach and checked out the area. I would love to come back sometime during the summer when it's live. But for now I am content with saying I have been to THE Coney Island.
We then traveled back to SoHo for a second attempt at shopping. Much more successful. Very relaxed day of shopping.
Then we were running low on energy so we headed back to Metro to take a break before the MFA/BFA showcase. The recipients did a wonderful job. And though I may never have a BFA, it reminded me that each of us has our own strengths and if we will it, we can shine just as bright.
Now that the politics are over--AHHHHHH!!!! I GO HOME TOMORROW?! Where did the time go? I already can't wait to be back...
And now for the Tony-like speech:
This has been the most incredible experience. I've grown so so very much in such a short amount of time. I cannot wait to start applying what I have learned back at home. I would also like to give a shout out to my roommates, who put up with many a shenanigan from me. I've never had roommates before, especially for this amount of time, and I've learned I am not the easiest to live with lol. Thank you 2 for being amazing and forgiving. I love you both. I hope this experience has brought us closer and we'll be forever able to lean on one another once we get back to Irvine and into the future.
I want to also thank Myrona for this opportunity and believing I can handle it. And lastly all of our AWESOME instructors who held so so so much wisdom.
And finally my family for supporting me and believing in me no matter what. I could not have been more blessed. Thank you all for getting me to where I am today: in life, and in NEW YORK CITY!!
I would not trade this experience for the world. It's not quite done, and I will still be documenting the rest of the quarter, but the main experience has come to an end. I loved every moment of it. My hope is to reorganize all of my notes, and then also put together a mini scrapbook of this once in a lifetime adventure.
Thank you everyone for joining me in this journey. Thank you for YOUR support. And as for New York...
You haven't heard nor seen the last of me!! <3 <3 <3 <3<3
And with that I am homeward bound.
Day 30
As you already know, today we waited 4 hours in the freezing cold morning hours to rush PIPPIN. Worth it?-I think yes. Really, really good show. And we got basically the whole casts' autographs! Yayy!!
Also, I saw nature for the first time in like WEEKS! I was ecstatic. I wanted to cry tears of joy. I also hugged a tree because of it. Central Park, man, so much YES in one place. I think it is most certainly the happiest place I've been in NY so far. Wish I had had more time to explore it...Next time for sure just gonna spend a day there. <3
Ended the day with a second attempt at shopping.
1 day...
Day 29
I think I'm getting sick...BOOO!!!
We had our final 2 Off-Broadway performances of 4@15! They went pretty similar to yesterday, though unfortunately I had really low energy. I had a slight headache, and I think I'm starting to develop a chest cold. Luckily I made it through both performances ok. We had to day our goodbyes to Brian Blythe and Tammy today as well. I learned a lot from them. As sarcastic as Brian's humor can be, I enjoyed being in his classes.
We kinda chilled the rest of the day, went down for (unsuccessful) shopping in SoHo.
Only 2 more days...:[
Day 27
Today was a super short day. we had 4@15 rehearsal in the morning til 12:30 and then I had the rest of the day off. I did not utilize it to the fullest. In fact i accidentally napped from 1-330. But I made up for it the rest of the night I think. Me and Michael Huey decided to be bold and go out to take Ray's Adv Beg tap class...Yikes! haha. It was certainly a challenge. At first I started to get a little discombobulated and frustrated, but once I accepted it as being above my level and something to take home with me to practice versus being good right then and there it went a lot better and I had a good time. Ray was super sweet too. He knew we were struggling but we went up to thank him afterward for putting up with our shenanigans and he simply stated his appreciation for us coming out and giving it a try. I think he was one of my favorite teachers on this trip.
To end the night was Alan Cumming's one-man version of "The Scottish Play." It was really captivating. As someone who has never read the play or seen it performed and therefore knows little of it besides what her mother has told her from her report on it in high school (lol :) ), I thought he did a PHENOMENAL job keeping the characters straight. And may we just talk about the ending....well, I won't in case someone hasn't seen it yet...but if you want to hear it or discuss it I'm open for that...POINT IS, it was amazing and life changing. The guy's got a gift. Big time.
Day 26
Had our very last class here in NY...what?! The end is really drawing near...
At least it ended on a good note. It was a fun class, the choreography was pretty easy. I didn't do it perfectly but I picked it up alright and felt I was able to get the storytelling across. The first time through I got a score of 6 from the instructor (it was a mock audition), but the second time I got an 8!!! :D *Cue confidence boost music*
Then we just had rehearsal. Once again it's coming along better the more we go over it. And can I say I love the fact that I get to play a character that's dumber than a sack of rocks. Haha, it's going to be fun...as long as I can dumb my brain down that is. It's a challenge for an over thinker like me to play this type of stuff without over doing it. But if I can get there, maybe it could become part of my "package"!
I was not able to get into a show tonight, so instead I considered trying out a tap class at Broadway Dance Center. I almost didn't go because I couldn't find someone to go with me, but I ended up sucking it up and going any way and I am so glad I did. I heard the levels there are harder than you would think (like, beginner is for people with 2-5 years), and so going into even the beginner class by myself was a little scary at first. However, I found it was just my speed and I was actually one of the better in the class. We did some easier stuff that I already knew, but then we did some other steps that I knew but am not 100% at so it was a good opportunity to work on perfecting those with a instructors feedback. I really really enjoyed it, and maybe will go in for Ray's class tomorrow! We'll see...
Just chilled at home the rest of the night. I feel the rest of the time here is going to fly by. We have a lot of free time coming up, and otherwise it is just rehearsal and the showcases. I don't want it to end yet, but I will be happy to see people back home. And as I've been saying, it may be my first time in NY, but it is CERTAINLY NOT my last!!! So, I'll make the most of my time doing what I can here and whatever I don't get to seeing now, well, it'll go on the "to do" list when I come back. :)
Day 25
Andy Blankenbuehler (choreographer of In the Heights, 9 to 5, Annie...) was our guest instructor in our dance class this morning. The movement was extremely difficult and I had a hard time keeping up. He was also very strict which was intimidating. Despite that, however, he was a great inspiration. He is such a fantastic dancer, absolutely brilliant. He also is very invested in character, making sure the choreography is the everyday movement of the character and not choreographed movement. One thing he said that stuck with me was that there is never any music or dance in a musical: I for one would agree with him. It's really hard to remember that when trying to learn a combination though. When I get home I would love to continue working hard in dance classes to get the technique down to a point where I'm not so worried about it, get it in my body, make it muscle memory.
Then came 4@15 rehearsals. I am actually becoming more at piece with our little slice of a show. I also am growing fonder of my role. I get to play the dumb one-YAY! :D Fun stuff. It's kinda like a comic relief part which should be fun.
Ended the day rockin' out at Rock of Ages!! Fun show! Somewhat inappropriate but FUN SHOW!!! Mad respect for the vocals and dancing!! \m/
Day 24
Shorterish day today.
First had 4@15 rehearsal. Still can't really talk about it, all I will say is that there are 4 of us who are a little disgruntled about how small a role we play in the final product of things. Don't get me wrong I think everyone in our show is suited for their roles, and they are doing fabulously, it just seems a little unjust as to the unequal distribution of parts. As hard as it is, I'm trying to remember that in the big scheme of things it won't really matter and trying hard to graciously accept my role.
But then Kyle made my day soooo much better. He was really impressed with the technique I have (THANK YOU KELLY!! YOU'RE AN AMAZING TEACHER AND FRIEND!! :DD) and, after having told him I took with Kelly for about 2 and a half years, he even commented "It's like you've been training with me for 2 years," which I take as a HUGE complimented to both my mentor and myself because I hold very high respect for Kyle and truly believe in what he has taught us. It was a really solid lesson and I learn how to release more and feel vowels in a more open place. The focus for me now becomes translating the technique during warm ups into singing songs: "I didn't really hear this voice when you sang in class." And I see where he is coming from. It's going to be a challenge, but it will happen, especially when I take my learnings here back home and apply them to my voice lessons. I have my session with Kyle recorded to use as a resource as well.
We ended the day with our last cold readings class in which we also went over typing. I think it is still going to be hard for me to pinpoint exactly where I fit, but for now I was told to look between Hilary Swank and Sherie Rene Scott. I'll have to explore it more.
