The Greenroom Diaries

Sophia. I share stories about my life as an actor.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

The Moment Before

Anon(ymous). Entry 1.  October 2, 2017

Tonight is the first night of rehearsal for my first play at the Mary Moody Northen Theater. Well, my first full length play. And if I’m being honest I am as excited as I am terrified.

There are going to be real professionals in the room. It is amazing that I get the chance to work with them, but it is still so daunting. The best thing to do is to remember that I am here to learn. As great as the opportunity is, this is still educational theater. If anything that might be the best part. Tonight marks the beginning of a very new part of my education as an artist.

Anon(ymous) is an adaptation of The Odyssey told through the eyes of an immigrant boy. This play is a collection of immigrant stories. And while it is by no means going to cover every kind of story, it showcases the many ways people get to where they want to be. Sharing these stories is important now more than ever. The characters are brought together through successes and tragedies, the same way immigrants in real life. I am blessed to be a part of this company and can’t wait to bring my own family’s history into my characters.

Tonight is a lot of housekeeping, I know it is going to be. But I can’t help but already be filled with anticipation for all the work ahead. This journey to opening is going to be different from anything I’ve ever worked on. On the surface, it’s simply because no company is ever the same. However, I can’t help but see life in the script that I haven’t seen before. Getting this show up is going to be challenging physically and emotionally; I am a full time student doing a very intense play, how could it not be? I’m calling it now, this show is going to be something special, something different. It might just be me being a little overly optimistic. It’s hard not to be on the first day of a project.

See you soon.

II_ Sophia

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Back from the Dead!-A ‘Ghost Stories’ Review

Dead men (and women) tell their tales at Irvine’s ‘Ghost Stories’ 

It is not very often that a high school will put on an original work as part of their mainstage season, but Irvine’s ‘Ghost Stories’ succeeded in creating a truly funny piece that highlighted a variety of student abilities. Leading the show were Zena Khesbak and Colin Rinard as engaged couple Jane and John. Their chemistry onstage was strong as they remained active with the set and each other throughout the show. Colin, also the costume designer, proved his skill in creating realistic period pieces for several characters in the show. Two of which, Elizabeth and Chester (played by JJ Riddle and Nicholas Eristavi respectively) were ghosts from the 1860’s. This pair of costumes, although not the only ones built for the show, were some of the most extravagant and detailed. They quickly conveyed the hard work put into making them as well as reflected the characters’ backgrounds and intentions. The Tombley twins, portrayed by Grace Simmons and Rylee Terry also captivated during the show. Designed to by monotone and creepy, the girls never broke through the many antics the twins have and remained completely in sync in voice and movement through the show. Small movements and actions made by the two girls amplified their strange qualities, making them more comical than before. One of the biggest aids in comedy not done by actors for this show was the use of projections. For the majority of the show a simply background of a moon and stars was above the set, giving the space an eerie feeling. However, some characters’ stories required extra detail, and in those cases a picture was flashed up in its place. These images ranged from gorillas to selfies with Justin Bieber. Many of them were Photo-shopped by students and used especially for the comedic timing of the show. Even after bows the use of pictures continued in tandem with the original moon background. Throughout the show it was clear that students worked together diligently to create a killer piece for their school.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

And Away We Go! -- Wizard of Oz #1

The cast list for our school musical came out yesterday, and I am now a part of the dance ensemble! With some hard work and patience, I may even be our Jitterbug or dance captain. Rehearsals do not start for a few weeks, so in the mean time I will be doing some interviews with our cast and crew and talking about preparing for rehearsals. Because of the scale of the show, and how quickly it is approaching, I have a feeling things will be quite hectic even before we begin. I’m so excited to take you all on this journey with me. It’s going to be one heck of ride!

[thegreenroomdiaries]

On Rejection

Many college decision letters either have been released, or are going to be coming out very soon. In light of that, I wanted to share some words that might help anyone with a rejection letter. 

First of all, congratulations for getting this far. You applied, practiced, auditioned, interviewed, maybe flew even flew a little bit to get where you are now. That is worth so much. There are millions of people too scared to do half of everything you have already accomplished. Be proud of all of the work you have put in, even if it didn’t turn out the way you wanted.

Next, this is not the end of anything. Just because you are not accepted into this program does not mean you will never be a writer/actor/dancer/singer/artist/etc. You can be accepted somewhere else, you can take classes without applications at any time as well. You have the opportunity to study outside of college if you do not get into the program you had hoped for. This by the way, is just as valuable, and you don’t have to worry about being graded for it either.

If nothing else, know that you tried. Putting your best self forward is all you can do. Sometimes that isn’t what they’re looking for. You are not less of a person  because of a rejection. In fact, you have grown a little bit. There is one more audition you have done, one more set of first impressions, one more piece you have practiced or added to your portfolio. That is great news for future interviews and auditions.

Feeling a bit discouraged is normal, feeling indifferent is too. You can still be  a great artist. I am proud of you. The next one is sure to be a hit.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Looking Closer-”Red” Review

I haven’t seen a show in a little while, so I was very excited for today’s show. “Red” closed today at South Coast Repertory, a drama based on Mark Rothko’s life during the time he was completing a commission for the Seagram building. 

One of the first things I noticed coming into this show was the extremely small cast size. I had done some research on the show before hand, as I usually do, and was shocked to see that only 2 actors make an appearance the entire show. My sister is well versed in art history, and accompanied me to this show, so she gave me a crash course in the relevant history for this era. And just like that was ready to see this little masterpiece.

At least I thought I was.

Upon walking into the theater, I was welcomed by yet another one of the rep’s magnificent worlds that they create on the stage. Throughout the show, 2 different light systems controlled by the actors onstage were used in full, as well as a faucet and swinging double doors on opposite sides of the stage. These 3 elements become anchors for the show; they cause movement of the eye for the audience and movement of the body for the actor. Creating an arc of tangible and visible changes that are almost constantly in use and allow the entire work to pulse.  The details within the set amplify this effect as well. From the Rothko imitations produced by the theater to the dust that stained the floor and shelves alike, the entire stage seemed to glow with a warmth like dying embers.

One particular moment where every element began to blend seamlessly was the moment leading up to and the prepping of the canvas with its base layer. The stark white of the canvas was startling in comparison to the darkness that seemed to sweep over the show. Together the actors were able to take what once was symbolic of cruelty and fear, and turn it into the building blocks of a much brighter message. The coating it self took place rapidly, in time with the music that bellowed trhough the theater. Side by side the men made this ebb and flow around each other into a dance. So perfectly timed you’d believe it was choreographed, but the emotion behind it so organic it feels impossible to manufacture. This scene, loud and abrupt in pace and appearance marks a change for the script. Time has passed enough for Rothko and Ken to openly criticize each other, or in their case blow up at one another. The focus of the story shifts from discussing what art is to what art means.

And as this discussion continues, the audiences focus is turned from the incredibly detailed surroundings that these men are in, to their voices and movement. It’s as if they grow every time you look back at them. Filling the space with their voice, the audience begins to feel small. These men bring an entire audience to feel like a fly on the wall, privvy to a relationship they should not be seeing. Paul David Story and Mark Harelik compete against the paintings lining the walls and skillfully make themselves appear larger the canvases in even the most diminutive moments. There interactions remain poignant long after leaving the theater because they are raw and instinctual. With a script that forces the audience to pay as much attention as the actors do, they make watching easy, captivating and demanding attention at all times. Every line held value and depth. Every action had reason. Every last blow before a blackout left me wanting to hear one more moment of that conversation.

Passivity is not an option in a play such as this. My only hope is that people who have seen this production will have been as deeply affected as I was. Not only was I asked to question my own definition of art and art’s purpose several times throughout the show, but this play has permanently convinced me that there is nothing worth describing simply as red. It has altered describing color for me altogether. I choose my words a little more carefully, making sure they reflect more than just an image. Every shade holds powerful emotion, and I am so glad to have learned that.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Halfway There

College auditions have been going on all week and it has been...an adventure. Have you ever seen the depictions of art schools or art kids in movies and TV? There is nothing quite like experiencing those descriptions firsthand. At the hotel, what are known as unified auditions were taking place. Basically it means that there are upwards of 20 schools holding auditions all in the same building on the same weekend. I should also add that this hotel is a block away from a large international airport, a bachata and salsa festival was taking place on the grounds, a body building competition was going on down the street, all in the middle of huge urban center. Needless to say it was busy that day.

Back to the arts students cliches. The restrooms were chock full of people putting on makeup, changing clothes, and pinning up their hair a thousand different ways.The lobby lobby became a rehearsal and warm-up space for dancers, vocalists, and actors. the hallways were lined with headshots people trying to chat with the person outside of the door to appear as calm and professional as possible. The doors aren’t thick enough to block the sound of singers on the other side-4 times I could hear someone belting in the other room. The smell is a frankly off-putting mix of perfume, cologne, and a few people who forgot to put on deodorant. The small space in the hall is instantly taken by someone in a leotard and tights stumbling through trying to put new shoes on.

Despite all this chaos, the moment you step into the audition room it is dead quiet. Well, not exactly. There is the hum of the AC that strives to overcome the out of season heat, there is the occasional horn from the street below, and there is breathing. Your breath suddenly becomes very loud. It’s the one thing you can control that makes you appear as confident as possible. But the auditioners talk, and you talk and you are asked to do your pieces and the whole thing is over faster than you expected. 

The people auditioning all of these students for colleges are not looking for perfection. From alumni and auditioners themselves they are looking for: curiosity(Rutgers), potential (Southern Methodist), passion, ability to take direction, someone to be a part of a company, and a real person. In short, they want to see you. Which is something I’ve been reminding myself of as each audition passes. I have 2 more left. I have a few weeks until letters come out. I am halfway there and it’s looking up. I hope it is the same for you.

Spotlight on: The patient hotel staff directing all of the nervous parents and students to the right rooms. Thank you!

[thegreenroomdiaries]

All the Alliterations Anyone would Ask About

One of the most important things I do before a show are tongue twisters. They help me improve my diction, and control my speed. Here are the ones I do before every show. Remember to over enunciate when doing these to have the best effect on your diction as well as warm up your face a little bit. Try them out and let me know what works for you!

Diction is done with the tip of the teeth and the tongue. (Focus: Ts an Is)

The lips the teeth the tip of the tongue. (Focus: Ts and Is)

Betty Botter bought some butter. But said she, “the butter’s bitter. If I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter.” So she bought some better butter, better than the bitter butter, and made her bitter batter better. (Focus: Bs and Ts)

What a to do to die today at a minute or two to 2. A thing distinctly hard to say, yet herder still to do. We’ll beat a tattoo at twenty to 2. A rat-tat-tat-tat tat-tat-tat ta ta too. The dragon will come when he heres the drum. At a minute or two to 2 today, at a minute or two to 2. (Focus: Ts)

Red leather, yellow leather, green leather, purple leather. (Focus: Ls)

You know New York, you need New York, you know you need unique New York. (Focus: Ys, Ns, and Es)

Toy boat. (Focus: OYs and OAs)

A big black bug bit a big black bear and the big black bear bled blood. (Focus: Bs and BLs)

*Not an exercise* It also helps to over enunciate your lines, that way the practice is with the text you are actually working with.

Spotlight on: Spray gel and hairspray. The saviors of short hair in dance.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Dance? Are you sure?

There is going to be a dance workshop at my school tomorrow to get us familiar with the choreographer and their style of dance for the school musical audition.

Tomorrow. Yay.

I am not a dancer, I have taken about a year of classes collectively.  But amazingly I made it through those auditions 2 years ago when we did our last musical. So a senior now, I have to pass down advice to help calm the nerves of the younger students who have yet to meet our choreographer. 

This show is a cast of 36 people. You don;t have to have a 12 years of ballet experience to get cast. My biggest concern is the students getting overly nervous and forgetting that this session is about learning.

So to anyone else that has a dance audition, workshop, etc. coming up: you can do this. Remember to stretch and stay hydrated. I wish you the best of luck! Please let me how your auditions go, I love hearing from you.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Finals Week Unplanned Break

I am so sorry everyone for not posting this week. I will return to the normal schedule now that my finals are over. Have a great week!

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Emotions are hard, Stabbing is Not-Romeo and Juliet #6

Romeo and Juliet has opened and closed this past week (hence the missing Thursday post) and I had the chance of sitting down with out lovely director for few minutes and asked her some questions. More Romeo and Juliet coming in the next couple of weeks!

Hello! Please state your name for the court record:

           My stage name is Natalie Faye (also my internet name)

So, what do you do in a theater?

           Exist very contently. I am currently in the role of director. However I am full time freak and geek within the walls of a performance space.

Student directors are not very common at the high school level, what made you want to pursue this track in theater?

           I was a bad actress. Also, it’s fun.

Do you like what you do?

           Most of the time.

Why only most?

           Because high schoolers can be difficult and life be hard. And budgets are a thing.

What has been your favorite moment as a director for Romeo and Juliet so far?

           There’s a few: The first was getting my script bound because it was really nerdy and it was something that made me really excited. The second was casting it and doing the first read through. I just really liked seeing the decisions that I made pay off. Convincing Moon to cast females in role traditionally played by men was a huge victory for me and it meant a lot. And the last one would be when I was in ASB and we were talking about the show in class and someone turned to me and said, “Hey, you’re directing it. It’s going to be great” and then we talked about it for all of ASB for the like the next 10 minute. It was really fun.

Do you think that opening night will be added to the list?

           I think that opening night will be an experience that....it will be something which can only be defined by whether or not I’ve had a chocolate chip cookie that day. It sounds ridiculous but there is point to what I’m saying. I’m serious.

Explain the cookie:

           If I’ve had a CC Cookie that day and it wasn’t poisoned and I am alive—I’ve had a cookie and nothing can go wrong. If that is the case, then I am alive, someone else has had my cookie, and there is a much larger problem than whatever happens with the show.

Willing to share your least favorite?

           I think the worst was actually at the very very beginning. When my original concept was trashed that was really disheartening. But I think actually ended up working out in my favor because the progress I have made as a director and an artist with restriction are far more valuable than if I gotten what I wanted.

Has anyone surprised you during the course of rehearsals?

           I think there are people that have surprised me in a negative manner and have done much less than I expected of them. But I think that overall what I expected of my cast was high, the demands were high, them living up to them is just me reassured that I made the right casting choice than being surprised that they could handle it.

Have you surprised yourself at all?

           Yes. I don’t think I knew I was, I didn’t realize how invested I was in little details more so than big picture. I think as director I need to learn to see big picture in tandem with the little details.

Do you have a favorite scene in the show?

           I do. I have two. I really love the opening for act 3, our fight scene. I love that scene, it’s so good. I’m actually a really big fan of our party scene. It’s not the best scene in the show, but it’s one of my favorites because of our history with it in our production. There has been a lot that’s gone into it.

What are you most excited for the audiences to see?

           The swords. The implied sex. And those ridiculous masks.

Which scene took the longest to stage?

           The Queen Mab scene had a lot of work that went into it and figuring out our opening scene and actually running it with the cast was a large undertaking.

Thank you for your time!

            No problem

Spotlight on: The amount of sponges covered in Ben Nye Makeup that have been strewn about the greenroom and dressing rooms. They served us well.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Your Death Looks Ridiculous-Romeo and Juliet #5

Hey everyone! So there was no Romeo and Juliet post on Thursday because we started hell tech week and it is busier than ever in the theater. That being said, today is an exploration through my tech/show bag. Let’s get started!

NOTE: This is my bag for Romeo and Juliet before I pack for the rest of the day. I wear my own character shoes in this show, so I pack them just before I leave. There is also a notable lack of hairspray and styling tools in this bag since I was instructed to keep my hair as natural as possible. Typically there would be a heat tool and plenty of hair spray in addition to the current items. I hope I can help get you started on the right track packing your own bag.

First, the bag itself. It was a gift from my family when we went to go see Newsies on tour last May and I was fortunate to have it signed by Molly Jobe. It’s actually rather spacious and has several compartments that helps me to keep me organized in all of the chaos in the dressing rooms.

The not pictured items that always have with me:

Water Bottle

Jacket

Tea

iPod

Clothes:

Fuzzy Socks

Nude Tights

Volleyball Shorts

Body:

Deodorant

Perfume

Breath Mints

Ibuprofen

Hand Sanitizer

Pre/Post Show:

Reading Book

Earbuds

Cash

Theater Notebook

Pencil

Highlighter

Protein Bar

Hair and Makeup:

Small Towel

Makeup Removing Wipes

Eyelash Curler

Spoolee

Flat Blush Brush

Round Kabuki Brish

Small Dome Brush

Small tapered Brush

Curved Angled Liner Brush

Lip Brush

Triangle Makeup Sponge

Powder Puff

Bobby Pins

Large Hair Tie

Small Hair Ties

Headband

Fine Tooth Comb w/Rattail

Brow Pencil w/brush

Black Liquid Eyeliner

White Eyeliner/Shadow Stick

Red Chubby Stick

Matte brown Lip Gloss

Pink Lipstick

Green Oil and Redness Reducing Powder

Dark Pink Blush

Brown Eyeshadow

Dark Brown & Glitter Champagne Eyeshadow

Ben Nye Cream Kit

           Brown Foundation

           Contouring/Highlighting/Lip/Blush Palette

           Finishing Powder

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Know Yourself

The point of a head shot for casting directors is to envision you whatever role you are auditioning for. Your headshot gives more than your face to the higher-ups of the play/movie/musical/etc. The way you are dressed, how your makeup and hair are done, even the way your smiling can signal something different to the people at the table. So the most important thing to know when taking headshots is, well, yourself.

Image is what’s marketable, as shallow as that may be. So if your “look” is the frat boy type, don’t bring them a phot of you in a suit with a stone faced brood. It’s not what they are looking for. It goes both ways, the super cheery playful girl is not the ideal “look” for the lead detective.

The best thing to do is bring multiple styles of outfits with you to your shoot so you can have as much variety as possible when taking them, to create a variety of headshots to keep in your arsenal. Remember to do a few with different facials too! You can do this, just remember who you’re marketing yourself to.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Killer Intentions-Romeo and Juliet #4

Fight rehearsal today went really well!

I honestly think that this scene is going to be one of the highlights of our show. While learning the different pieces we were also able to dive deep into our characters. This fight between Tybalt and Mercutio is intense, playful, and beautiful. To me and my scene partner at least. We had so much fun today fighting each other I didn’t want to have to (spoiler?) kill her at the end.

After a rehearsal this long focused on fights, I am happy to say that I have learned a few things other than choreography. So before I continue, I learned:

hit lighter, way lighter. the swords won’t stay still otherwise

keep a proper distance. too close and you could hurt each other, too far away and you won’t land a thing

you won’t realize you’re smiling until the fight ends

This scene has me very excited for the rest of the fights in our show and how they come together to rest of the show. The audience’s reaction to them are going to be great.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope that 2016 goes wonderfully for you all! 

There will be new Romeo and Juliet adventures every Thursday and non-show related posts every Sunday. If you have any requests, feel free to drop it in my ask box or through messenger, you might just see it up a week later. 

All’s to say, there is going to be a lot more, reviews, shenanigans, advice, editorials, interviews, and more this year. 

The continuation of headshot insight is coming tonight!

Spotlight on: The many college theater departments beginning auditions this week. I wish all of you auditioning/interviewing the best of luck!

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Headshots Part 1

A staple of any actor’s belongings. Some quick bits of advice I have after getting mine back. I’ll be doing a longer write-up soon.

Know what your best face is before you meet with your photographer

Make sure you and your photographer are on them same page regarding when and where to meet

If you wear makeup, do it with the intention of looking good on camera

Plan to take time doing hair and makeup (Everyone should at least be wearing lip balm)

Relax, you will have a good photo in the hundreds are being taken

Try laughing/giggling of your smile isn’t coming naturally

Know your audience

Remember to take new ones if something about you changes

That’s all for now. But, like I said, there will be a more elaborate post covering these points and a few more in an upcoming post.

Spotlight on:Over The Nest Project (x) and their launch of new platform for artists of many disciplines

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Prepare Yourself

This week I am completing college applications, which also means I have turn in all of my supplemental pieces. not the most fun way to spend Winter Break, but effective. If any of you are applying for theater (or any other, actually) please check your submission dates. They are often very different from the rest of the programs at the school and you need ample time to be completely ready for submission. 

The week of Christmas I have last minute photo session with a friend because there were required head shots I didn’t plan for. If I didn’t live down the street from a photographer I wouldn’t have been ready. it would break my heart to hear that anyone missed the chance to study what they love because they couldn’t find an appropriate picture to go along with their application. Please, remember what due date are coming up, I want every one of you to succeed!

If you aren’t currently applying to college; transfer, freshman, graduate, or otherwise; try to do whatever homework, projects, or errands you’ve been putting off. 

For everyone: I know that you can be inhibited by a countless amount of things, but you CAN do it. I’m not saying you will be at peak productivity within the next 10 minutes, I’m very aware that everyone has their own responsibilities and their own setbacks. You will accomplish it in due time, I believe in you! For whatever holidays you celebrate this season, I hope they are happy and festive. I hope that your families love you exactly as you are, and if they don’t there is most certainly someone who does. 

Spotlight on: All the people working through the busy holiday season, your hard work is appreciated.

[thegreenroomdiaries]

Winter Break

I start break this Friday, which means there is lots headed your way!

Enjoy all of your Winter holidays!