Huh, what a crazy random happenstance!

Day 40

I auditioned for Lubbock Moonlight Musicals tonight. I wasn't sure if I was going to or not. It's a little scary deciding what your summer could possibly be in early February. But I thought this would be a great shot at something that I really don't get to do anymore.

I used to consider myself a musical person. All through high school I did a couple of musicals at the community theatre. And I got really good parts. Then I got into college and that wasn't the case. I was a little shocked at first, but now I realize my limitations. I'm not a great singer. I can carry a tune and sell a song, but I'm never going to be on Broadway (for a musical, anyways :) ). I've really missed that part of my theatre/acting career. Musicals are what really brought me into considering theatre as my life quest. And, if you haven't already figured out, I am a musical junkie. I always wish that I could be in these musicals that I love so dearly. But I've accepted that I won't at the college level because I just don't have the singing chops to make it.

However, I do plan on being Miss Hannigan before I die. I don't care who I have to sleep with or kill, I will play that role eventually!

But anyways, I digress. The audition went very well. I sang my little heart out with my character actress song. They mentioned that I have a really impressive resume, which I think I do and I'm very proud of. And they talked about how they liked me in some of my previous work I've done at Tech and in the community. It pays to be crazy and do 50 bajillion shows at once because it only takes one for them to see and remember you.

Crazy random happenstance moment: The director asked me where I am originally from and what high school I went to. I told him and he replied "You don't remember me, do you?" I said no, and he proceeded to mention that he remembered me at Lee when they brought a performance series with a couple of opera singers who performed at the Lee auditorium. Then it hit me! I don't necessarily remember him, but I remember helping out with that. We got a full day off of school and got to help set up and watch the opera singers perform. The fact that he remembered that after six years is crazy random! Especially now that I have bangs! lol

So, crossing my fingers for some good results. I'm not expecting a lead of any kind. I would be extremely happy just to make it as an ensemble character. I'd just like to try something new for the summer. I want to be in a happy musical again!

Cause some days I think I'm dying, but I'm really only trying to get through...

Day 39

KL;DJF;AKJFAKDSFNCSINJMDLAKFDAK;FJKD;NFAKDJCNAKDFANFCJK!

That can best describe how my day went in Principles II today.

I don't normally get so frustrated in class, and if I do it's usually at myself. But today I just got so peeved. I don't know what it was.

Well, yes I do. I feel like I'm going to be "that bitchy girl" in class now. We're still doing the character scenes and after they are done the class gets to critique them. And all everybody is saying is good things. This was good, that was great, I liked this moment. There are only a few other critiques. And so, I want to help them out. They aren't going to learn anything from people telling them how good they were when there are things that didn't work. So I'm chiming in with negative critiques. Stuff that I saw that didn't work or didn't feel right. And so now I feel like I'm a bitch because I'm the only one that's saying anything bad!

But at the same time, I don't feel like a bitch. I have their best interest at heart. If I was a real bitch, I would just say mean things for the hell of it. I'm not. I'm giving them legitimate critiques that will help them out. Things that they may not have even noticed. I guess I'm frustrated because I came from another principles II class that wasn't afraid to be negative. If there was something that didn't work, someone would bring it up and we could discuss it. I guess I took that for granted. I guess it might be because about 85% of the class are freshmen or new students. Or maybe I'm just expecting too much out of them. I don't know.

I just want that mentality back. I want to be in a classroom environment where we can be completely honest with each other and learn and grow from that. If I suck, I want somebody to tell me that I suck. It may it me hard, but it would be a lot worse to not hear it and go through life thinking everything is fine. If you are going to do this acting thing for real, you are going to hear that and much worse from the outside world. If you can't take it, then find a new profession. I can take it. I want to hear it if it's true. BE HONEST!!!

I just want to grow as an actor, is that too much to ask???

Ya we're gonna see a movie, starring everybody and me!

Day 38

Well, it actually happened. We started shooting scenes for "The Bard's Bane" today. And let me tell you, nothing makes me feel more like a fail actor then getting up in front of a camera. It's a completely different acting beast. And I realized that going in, but I guess I didn't know the true measure of it until we actually started acting.

We filmed a scene between my character, who is the secretary, and her boss, who owns the theatre. It was just a short, 2 1/2 pg scene, but it took us about 3 hours to film it. Grant it, we did have to basically create an office out of nothing, so that took a while. But there are so many little details that you have to take into consideration. You have to do the scene in sections, depending on camera angles and how much movement is involved in the scene. Then, on top of all that, you get to worry about your acting.

As I've said before, I'm a big, over-the-top actress, so toning stuff down is a little hard for me. I think I did a pretty good job after a while. I learned it's really all about being natural, but really thinking about everything that's going on. It's not like onstage where you can get away with just standing there and looking involved. The camera picks up eeeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrrrrryyyyyyyy little detail, so you can't half-ass your way through it. You have to be constantly listening and reacting. Which, you should probably being doing that in theatre too; but it's much easier to get away with not doing it.

I know I was probably really stiff at first because I had no idea what I was doing. I felt like I was in 7th grade again trying to get up onstage for the first time. But after we rehearsed a couple of times and did a couple of takes, I got more in the groove of everything. I'm interested to see how I look and sound on camera. I always hated watching myself on tape in dance recitals or past performance, so I bet this will be the same. I just pray that I don't suck hard core.

I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!

Day 37

Well, I am pleased to inform you that I, Christina Jones, am officially booked to fly out to NYC over Spring Break!

HUZZAH!!

This whole idea started in August, when me and a friend of mine were eating at Ruby Tequila's and I was in a horrible place in my life. We decided that we were either going to NYC over spring break or the study abroad program they have through the school. So we discussed it and decided to try for NYC because it would be cheaper. We both have been there before and done the touristy things...Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. But neither of us had seen a lot of the shows. I've seen Wicked twice and The Lion King, but I really wanted the chance to see more. So, our trip is completely dedicated to seeing shows. We are theatre majors after all.

So, besides paying for flight and hotel, most of our money is going to tickets for Broadway musicals. So far, we plan to see Next to Normal, Hair, A Little Night Music, God of Carnage, Rock of Ages, and The Adams Family. Which means I have the chance to be in the same room as Angela Lansberry, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lucy Lui, Nathan Lane, Jeff Daniels, Bebe Neuworth, Alice Ripley....OMG to the max!!!

So, needless to say I'm super pumped about this trip. Now that we've booked and paid for the flight makes it official. It still doesn't seem real, though. It probably won't hit me until we get on a plane that I'm making one of my dreams come true...going to New York City and only seeing musicals. It is truly heaven on Earth for me. So, more details to come!

Tell us, where did we go right?

Day 36

I forgot to mention that I finally performed my character exercise for my principles II class on Wednesday. It was sort of a last minute deal, because we only had about 7 minutes left in the class, so he asked if anyone wanted to perform. I was in no way ready to go, just mindset wise, but my partner volunteered us to go. So we kind of half-assed our way through it. It was fine. We got through it and talked about it a bit before we were dismissed. Today we got to talk about it more in-depth.

I think I personally did very well with it. If I could have had more prep time with it, I could have dove a lot more into this guy's head. But I think with what I was given, I did a good job. My partner on the other hand...well, I won't go into that. I got a good critique from the class. They said they could see the thought process going on, that something was really bothering me. I've been working on that for me personally. I want to be onstage and for people to see the thought process going on rather than just a blank face. It gives the character more motivation. I also have been trying to go through those thought processes in my head while acting. I've gotten a lot better with it, but I know I still have a ways to go.

I really didn't get any negative critiques. I hate that. I want the bad critiques along with the good. I might have done some things that were good, but I know I did bad things too. I hate the fact that there are only a few people that will actually tell you if you sucked or something didn't work. My professor will sort of tell you, but not really full out. I'll go into more detail about this at a later date, I'm sure.

Is that my little squirrel...with the bushy tail....and little beady eyes...and the pointy whiskers? Yes, I suppose it is...

Day 35

Geez, I'm finally caught up. I've been bad with these lately, I apologize to all of 3 readers.

We just read "A Doll's House" for my theatre history class, and before we took notes our professor showed us this video. I find it hilarious, and wanted to share it with you.

It's the Magical Mr. Mistoffilies!

Day 34

I'm really excited about an new project coming up really soon. Like within the next month. Back last year in my principles of acting two class, our professor wanted to show us that we can use anything as a monologue, just as long as it's awesome. So he found this magazine at Walmart that was all about cats. A little question and answer section about cat problems. So we took the answers and created given circumstances for them and performed them for the class. It was hilarious. Some of the situations people came up with were so funny and creative. We joked around that we should do them all together, like The Vagina Monologues. We wanted to, but no one ever got behind it and organized it.

Now that dream is coming to life.

I wanted to do something for a type of fundraiser for APO for banquet. We will official funding next year, but this year they are planning a big banquet which we may not be able to afford. So, I thought this would be perfect for us. It's something that won't cost anything to put on and would be hilarious to watch and be involved in. I've taken over the reigns to get it going and organized and planned. I'm really excited. If I can get everything into place, it could be a really neat performance. I'll have to update about it if it actually does happen. And of course, pictures will be included :)