Saturday, May 19, 2012
the show that never dies
Whenever I think of my husband as an actor, I usually visualize him in one show: Seussical the Musical.
Every year the university puts on about 6-7 shows. Usually, one of these shows is a children oriented show. In the fall of 2010 they put on Seussical the Musical: Theatre for Young Audiences.
My husband was one of the lead roles - the Cat in the Hat. Anyone who knows my husband knows that he was born to play this part. The Cat in the Hat fits him like a glove. He's a kid at heart and loves to mess around. All he had to do was be himself....with a little over exaggeration....and he was the Cat in the Hat.
Seussical the Musical: Theatre for Young Audiences is just that....it's for younger audiences. It's shorter than the original Broadway version...minus a few songs and characters...to appeal more towards children. As such, the university made sure to advertise to the families of our city. They had ads on the radio, passed out fliers, and posted signs all over. My husband, along with a few other cast members, went to a few different elementary schools to perform a song or two. My husband also went to 2 different book stores to read Dr. Seuss books to children. And before one of the Saturday performances, the university held a carnival with games, prizes, and a magician.
Now normally the university's shows only last for 7 night performances. However, with the anticipation of crowds and children, they added a matinee on a Saturday. But once the show opened, it sold out almost every single night....so they added another matinee to the next Saturday....making 9 shows total. I saw the show 4 of the 9 times....and it's one of my favorite shows ever!
My husband was fantastic! He got great compliments....one from Mr. Michael Ballam saying that my husband was the best Cat in the Hat he had ever seen. All the children loved him. Some would say he stole the show....which he did, but that's also just the nature of his character. The other characters were just as incredible....everyone from Horton, to Mayzie, to the Whos, to the Sour Kangaroo. The show was a huge success!
But that wasn't the end of it. After the show ended, the cast had another elementary school to visit. And the following January, the college had a Grand Gala where the Dean asked Seussical to perform a number. Performances stopped there but Seussical will never die. It will always be a favorite of ours.
*If you want to see for yourself just how incredible this show was (or watch it again for those of you who went), my husband has posted a recording of a performance on YouTube. Type in "seussical the musical usu" and it's the ones it all caps - "SEUSSCIAL" part 1, part 2, part 3, etc. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
characters
So my husband read my continuing to learn post and said, "That wasn't what I thought you were going to write." I admit that it wasn't what I had planned to write, but after several attempts, that's what I came up with. My husband and I talked and now here is another attempt at what I meant to write.
In the theatre world, actors come from all walks of life. Male, female, white, black, straight, gay, Republican, Democrat, American, Australian. Talented or not, they have come together for one thing....to act.
As an actor, you portray several different characters throughout your career. As a really good actor, you explore the world of each character so that you can better present that person on stage. My husband tells me that when he gets a role, he takes the time to invest in the character. Who is he? Why is he that way? What is his back story? That way, he can better connect with the character and present his story to the audience.
My husband has had the opportunity to discover the lives of so many characters in so many different situations....each character sharing his own story in his own way. He has found that by playing each character and learning to understand his story, he has become more open minded. More understanding of situations. More accepting of others.
As an actor, you may think you have nothing in common with the other actors in a show, but your passion of acting has brought you together. Actors can vary from gender to religious beliefs to political affiliations. But after endless hours of rehearsals, you get to know the other actors. You start to discover, who is my fellow actor? Why is he that way? What is his back story? And you begin to understand his situation and accept him for who he is.
I meet people from all walks of life on a regular basis. I hope that instead of judging quickly and passing someone by, I can take the time in invest in another life's, get to know who they are, and accept them for their differences. Who knows? I may find a lifelong friend.
In the theatre world, actors come from all walks of life. Male, female, white, black, straight, gay, Republican, Democrat, American, Australian. Talented or not, they have come together for one thing....to act.
As an actor, you portray several different characters throughout your career. As a really good actor, you explore the world of each character so that you can better present that person on stage. My husband tells me that when he gets a role, he takes the time to invest in the character. Who is he? Why is he that way? What is his back story? That way, he can better connect with the character and present his story to the audience.
My husband has had the opportunity to discover the lives of so many characters in so many different situations....each character sharing his own story in his own way. He has found that by playing each character and learning to understand his story, he has become more open minded. More understanding of situations. More accepting of others.
As an actor, you may think you have nothing in common with the other actors in a show, but your passion of acting has brought you together. Actors can vary from gender to religious beliefs to political affiliations. But after endless hours of rehearsals, you get to know the other actors. You start to discover, who is my fellow actor? Why is he that way? What is his back story? And you begin to understand his situation and accept him for who he is.
I meet people from all walks of life on a regular basis. I hope that instead of judging quickly and passing someone by, I can take the time in invest in another life's, get to know who they are, and accept them for their differences. Who knows? I may find a lifelong friend.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
mr. president
The Theatre Student Association of the university held their annual end-of-year banquet a couple nights ago. And it was a good time.
Every year the students put together a series of skits to show the year in review. This year's skits were the best I've seen. There were brief skits for each show that was done during the year, a rendition of Wicked's "What is This Feeling?" about ushering, and of course skits roasting the faculty. One faculty member complained about not getting roasted the previous year so this year he got his very own skit roasting his job, his personality, and his dog. It was hilarious, and he enjoyed it.
My husband played the lead role of Oscar Jaffe in the production of Twentith Century last December. The character is a bit of a drama queen as he is a famous Broadway producer. The skit, however, portrayed the character and therefore my husband as a major drama queen! It was great.
Awards are always a highlight at the banquets. The TSA gives away silly awards like The Best Hair Award....which went to the student who had to grow out his beard for over 6 months. But they also give awards for best lighting, best set design, etc. And of course, there are the acting awards. Each award comes with a silly prize from Wal-Mart but still gives the recipient a sense of accomplishment. My husband was nominated for best supporting actor and best actor but came away with no silly prizes.
Last year when my husband didn't receive any awards, I was a little disappointed. So being the loving wife that I am, I asked him to stop at the dollar store on the way home. I ran in and bought him a gift for each of his shows for the '10-'11 season. There was play-doh for Seussical, a sword for The Three Musketeers, and a dog puppet for The Zoo Story. He was overcome with emotion....well not really....but grateful for the thought.
But the most exciting news from the banquet last night was this: my husband has officially become the new President of the Theatre Student Association! He has been serving as the vice president and by so doing was president elect for this up coming year. As president, he and the other TSA council with help orchestrate workshops, provide funding for shows, and host socials to unify the students of the theatre department. I'm so proud of my husband. You may now all refer to me as the first lady of the TSA. Thank you.
My husband will be one busy man this next school year. But what's changed?
Every year the students put together a series of skits to show the year in review. This year's skits were the best I've seen. There were brief skits for each show that was done during the year, a rendition of Wicked's "What is This Feeling?" about ushering, and of course skits roasting the faculty. One faculty member complained about not getting roasted the previous year so this year he got his very own skit roasting his job, his personality, and his dog. It was hilarious, and he enjoyed it.
My husband played the lead role of Oscar Jaffe in the production of Twentith Century last December. The character is a bit of a drama queen as he is a famous Broadway producer. The skit, however, portrayed the character and therefore my husband as a major drama queen! It was great.
Awards are always a highlight at the banquets. The TSA gives away silly awards like The Best Hair Award....which went to the student who had to grow out his beard for over 6 months. But they also give awards for best lighting, best set design, etc. And of course, there are the acting awards. Each award comes with a silly prize from Wal-Mart but still gives the recipient a sense of accomplishment. My husband was nominated for best supporting actor and best actor but came away with no silly prizes.
Last year when my husband didn't receive any awards, I was a little disappointed. So being the loving wife that I am, I asked him to stop at the dollar store on the way home. I ran in and bought him a gift for each of his shows for the '10-'11 season. There was play-doh for Seussical, a sword for The Three Musketeers, and a dog puppet for The Zoo Story. He was overcome with emotion....well not really....but grateful for the thought.
But the most exciting news from the banquet last night was this: my husband has officially become the new President of the Theatre Student Association! He has been serving as the vice president and by so doing was president elect for this up coming year. As president, he and the other TSA council with help orchestrate workshops, provide funding for shows, and host socials to unify the students of the theatre department. I'm so proud of my husband. You may now all refer to me as the first lady of the TSA. Thank you.
My husband will be one busy man this next school year. But what's changed?
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
continuing to learn
One thing I've discovered about myself, especially since being graduated from college, is that I love to learn. And what better way to continue learning than being married to an actor. Sure you can always be learning in any profession....we all learn something new everyday, as they say. I know I do working at an elementary school.
But being married to an actor gives me the opportunity to see, read, explore, and discuss all kinds of plays. And one thing I love about plays is that they allow us to put ourselves in situations that we would never encounter in our own lives. And what better way to continue learning than to put ourselves in someone else's shoes and see what we can learn from their situation.
Just like movies and books, we can explore a whole new world from the adventures plays have to offer. Have you even been inside a floating house and soared above the city? Have you ever been to Hogwarts and discovered all sorts of magic? Or have you even been to the land of Oz and viewed life before Dorothy and Toto ever arrived? I have.
I've learned that flying a floating house takes more that one person to be successful. And even if you don't like the other person steering the house in the beginning, once you get to know them they have a lot to offer you as a friend.
I've learned that magic can be a wonderful thing....or cause terrible pain. There is good and evil in the world. Sometimes good wins and sometimes evil wins. But with enough friends on your side, and enough courage to face the dangers, and having the secret ingredient of love, good will always prevail over evil.
And I've learned that judging someone based on what they look like, whether they have green skin or blonde hair, can stop you from learning who someone is on the inside. And on the inside, they may be a wonderful friend with a big and loving heart who only wants the best.
Seeing life through someone else's eyes can be exciting, challenging, or even humbling. But learning from their experiences can improve our own lives. I never want to stop learning.
But being married to an actor gives me the opportunity to see, read, explore, and discuss all kinds of plays. And one thing I love about plays is that they allow us to put ourselves in situations that we would never encounter in our own lives. And what better way to continue learning than to put ourselves in someone else's shoes and see what we can learn from their situation.
Just like movies and books, we can explore a whole new world from the adventures plays have to offer. Have you even been inside a floating house and soared above the city? Have you ever been to Hogwarts and discovered all sorts of magic? Or have you even been to the land of Oz and viewed life before Dorothy and Toto ever arrived? I have.
I've learned that flying a floating house takes more that one person to be successful. And even if you don't like the other person steering the house in the beginning, once you get to know them they have a lot to offer you as a friend.
I've learned that magic can be a wonderful thing....or cause terrible pain. There is good and evil in the world. Sometimes good wins and sometimes evil wins. But with enough friends on your side, and enough courage to face the dangers, and having the secret ingredient of love, good will always prevail over evil.
And I've learned that judging someone based on what they look like, whether they have green skin or blonde hair, can stop you from learning who someone is on the inside. And on the inside, they may be a wonderful friend with a big and loving heart who only wants the best.
Seeing life through someone else's eyes can be exciting, challenging, or even humbling. But learning from their experiences can improve our own lives. I never want to stop learning.
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