Monday, April 25, 2011

Surrounded by Amazing

Sometimes I forget just how lucky I really am.

I thrive on talent. I love nothing more than to surround myself with talented people, doing what they do best, reaping the rewards of their endless practice and devotion to their art. Art, of course, comes in an infinite variety of forms, but as a musician, I have a soft spot in my heart for art through music. It's lucky, then, that I have the good fortune to spend my days surrounded by some of the most talented musical theatre students in the world.

I spend so much of my time with other tech/design students doing our own work that I sometimes forget to acknowledge the incredible things happening in the studio below our Design Room by the actors, the singers, and the dancers who bring theatre to life.

I'm presently working as a Mic Dresser on the final production of Ithaca's mainstage season, a musical called Baby. As part of my job, I've grown quite close to many of the cast members, and I've made at least a few friendships that will last long after this show closes. As I joke around with and spend time with these people, I tend to forget how much raw talent, dedication, and passion is contained within each and every one of them. I often ask myself why I am so fortunate to be able to just be around them, much less to call them my friends.

When they're hanging around backstage, they're no more than normal college students sharing gossip, talking about last night's party, and just having fun. But as soon as they start to do what they do best, I am instantly reminded of just how lucky I am to be in the presence of such talent, and I only hope that I can someday harness the dedication to perfect my craft to the level that they have,

To end this post, I'd like to share a few videos from these amazing individuals who I get to interact with every day. While you probably don't know them personally, I hope they can move you as they've moved me.








Friday, April 1, 2011

One Year Later

What a difference a year makes...

Today, April 1, is an important anniversary for me. And no, it's not because it's also April Fools Day. Exactly one year ago today, I got a phone call that launched me into one of the most difficult, demanding, painful, exhausting, and thrilling summers I've ever had the privilege to experience. I remember it clearly - I signed all the contracts, sealed them in an envelope, and went to the computer to start a blog, this blog in fact, with the promise that I would blog about the fantastic journey I was about to embark upon.

Well, looking back one year later, my summer was more fantastic than I could have ever imagined it. As hard as I've tried, there are some experiences that simply can't be captured in words. The day when we all took a leap of faith and jumped off the waterfall. The night where we sat and stared at the waterfall and the stars above for hours. The karaoke nights at Kilpatricks. The fancy dresses and sport jackets on opening nights. And the countless nights sitting around, talking and laughing and living life. I learned so much about theatre, about life, and about myself every single day. And most importantly, I reaffirmed the choices for my life and reshaped who I am as a human being.

Looking back through my old blog posts from last summer, I wonder what my true motive was to start this blog in the first place. Was it for others to read and follow my activities, or was it for something else? I can't say if this blog is read by anyone at all, but the memories and the moments it holds here are poignant reminders for me of a wonderful time that is now over.

It's been one year to the day since I signed up for the summer of my life, and today marks the day that I'm doing it again. I have officially accepted another internship for summer 2011, this time at a facility on the outskirts of New York City. While I can't actually reveal the name of the company yet, I am thrilled to a level that I have only felt once before - one year ago today. I will be spending three months living and working in New York City, rubbing shoulders with the individuals who have shaped and defined the theatre into what it is today. There's no way of knowing what may lie in store for tomorrow, but I am eager to turn the page and dive in headfirst.