Rectials, reports and concerts (oh my!!)

It is that time, once again. Another week (and change), another post. Since we last left our heros... Oh. Wait. Wrong show. Haha.

So, this week has been a mix of emotions for me. There has been a lot of really good and some times of..... not..... so.... good. Monday started on a fairly interesting note. I had a paper due in my English class comparing and contrasting three different works of art in three different mediums with the same theme. I chose to use the poster from the original 1875 production of Carmen, a picture taken from the final dress rehearsal of the production the Met did last January (with Roberto Alagna about to cut Elina Garanca. Oh, no he didn't!) and a sculpture entitled "Carmen Castanets" by Salvador Dali. It was pretty fun to write the paper and I got quite fired up about it. (For those of you keeping score at home, that is one project down I'm doing on an opera) And then I talked to my prof. about a final project involving a painting entitled Salome and the opera Salome by Strauss. (2) Tuesday brought the extreme old age final for my make-up class. And that was..... interesting. :] My model looked more like a zombie than an old man after the latex, but what can ya do? I also got to go on a relaxing late night walk with a good friend. We were honked at like 3 times. What the what, Cedar. Wednesday was... very Wednesday-ish. I got a call from my aunt at 7:30 a.m., who thought she had called my mom. We talked about opera for a minute and then I frickin' ROCKED my practice hour. I nailed my high As in "In Uomini, In Soldati" from Cosi. And later, I had a hard time paying attention in choir due to the hilarity of myself plus the two other altos who stand next to me. Good times, oh, boy. We also had a night rehearsal. For our concert next week. At St. Jude's Episcopal Church. At 7:30 p.m. Also on Wednesday. I have a solo. In Latin. <<<That was not a shameless plug. Today was pretty dang good. The make-up final today was to make ourselves look like celebrities. I chose Bryce Dallas Howard and decided not to take my make-up off only to put more, different make-up back on. A lot of people kept telling me how good I looked. Esp. from far away. Baha. I also talked to my make-up teacher about doing my final project on a character from The Magic Flute (3). Different than the Queen of the Night I already designed for that class. (4). 

My thought this evening has to do with tomorrow. *Gulp* My first student recital. It may sound silly, but it's a big mile stone for me. I came here as a Freshman COMPLETELY TERRIFIED of all the talented voice majors. Knowing I wanted to sing in a choir in college, I had my voice teacher work with me on sight singing and aural skills for 2 or 3 months before I came down to school. Due to my involvement with On-Campus Housing, I had to be here a few weeks early. And the first thing I did after moving in was find out when choir auditions were. Or rather.... walk nervously into Prof. Guttenberg's office and ask if I'd already missed try-outs. And oh... the first day of choir. The first day of choir INDEED. (The music majors may skip this part, if they like. Because I've told this story a million and one times) :) I was so shocked that I had made it in to concert choir in the first place, terrified I didn't belong there and I knew not a single soul on top of that. Prof. Guttenberg recognized me and told me that I should be friends with a girl named Geneil, who hadn't come to class yet. A few minutes later brought the arrival of this Geneil-character. As is typical of Geneil walking into a room like that, everyone squealed her name as she went to sit down. (Don't even try to deny it.) I was so intimidated by this girl everyone loved and then we started warm-ups and I was downright petrified when I heard her sing. And not five minutes later did she ruin the whole charade by cracking some lame, ridiculous joke to the girl sitting next to her. That, ladies and germs, pretty accurately summarizes the way the rest of my experience has been in the music department. I try something new. I'm pretty ok at it. I get nervous. I psyche myself out. And then, I snap out of it because I realize that either a) everyone else is just as nervous as I am or 2) any variety of wonderful people help me realized not to take it too seriously. So, here's to...... consistency. :) Or, here's to hoping for it.

I hope they call me on a mission... :]

Ok. So I only have about 10 minutes to do this... therefore I will be brief

So I have been called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I will be serving in the California Arcadia Mission and I will prepare to teach the gospel in Spanish. (I was REALLY excited about that last part... haha). I cannot believe how blessed I have been. So many wonderful friends and church leaders have inspired me over the years and given me the desire to serve and to become a better person. My YW leaders in particular have been so amazing. By watching the way they truly live the gospel, I came to a greater and deeper understanding of what that phrase truly means. I am grateful for two loving parents who only want the best for me and who have been so supportive of my desire to serve. I am grateful for an AWESOME extended family. I am especially grateful for my cousins who served missions and the examples of faith and love that they have been to me throughout my life. And I am so, SO very grateful for the amazing friends I have made down here at SUU. They have taught me a lot about life and basically showed me how much God loves me. Because He loved me enough to send me a million and 0ne guardian angles in the form of roommates and friends. Especially. Those crazy music majors. What would I do without them? I am a very, VERY lucky girl. <3

The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring

Hello, dear readers. :) So, this entry will blur the lines a wee bit. The week summary and the thought melt into each other. I'm sleepy. Bear with me.

Tonight was closing night/strike of The Mikado. It was a lot of fun, but it was sure a lot of work. Here is a basic run down of what I did each night. 

5:35 p.m.: Get my little buns to the Heritage Theatre
6:05 p.m.: Supervise make-up application of the chorus girls. I.e., draw on eyebrows, smooth out streaky white patches, blush cheeks, ect.
6:45 p.m.: Begin putting on wig caps and wigs. Usually were ready in the same order each night, which was funny AND helpful.
7:30 p.m.: Top of show.
7:50 p.m.: Assist with wigging and dressing of principle girls. I.e., lacing cumberbund/corset things and pinning pillows and capes.
8:20 p.m.: Watch the last of "Big, Black Box."
9:15 p.m.: Act I finale, do chorus fan choreography.
9:25 p.m.: Move set during intermission.
9:40 p.m.: Fly out various things.
9:45 p.m.: Wander around and chat until Finale.
10:20 p.m.: De-wig/costume principle girls.
10:35 p.m.: End of night


This was a great experience. It was a big learning experience on many, many, many a vase and jar. I mean, different levels. (I'm still stuck in G & S mode!!) On the practical side of things, I got LOTS of wigging experience. I had only attempted it once before this, and it was in a classroom setting. Now, I'm a pro! :) It also taught me to be patient and that sometimes, even when you think you know the best, you have to go along with what other people want. I am also grateful for the friendships I was able to develop and create during this process. It's always interesting to see how relationships grow and evolve during the rehearsal/performance process. You may think you know a person, but when you are constantly pinning silk kimono-type things shut, that's when you REALLY know them.

I think my favorite parts of all of this, however, were all of the little moments that happened outside or backstage rather than the actual show itself. I loved running lines and songs with people. I loved the side conversations backstage and in the dressing rooms. I loved the Disney/90's music sing-a-longs with the chorus girls as they got ready. I loved being asked questions all the time. I loved the way the girls all looked like little porcelain dolls with their false eyelashes. I loved the accidental 3 car dance party at a stop light that happened last night. I loved quoting lyrics and lines off the top of my head to create statuses encouraging people to see the show. And, most of all, I loved spending crazy amounts of time with my favorite people. What a great way to end a fantastic school year and prepare to begin another chapter of my life. Again, I am so grateful for this experience. For my final G & S quote, I would simply like to say that it has definitely filled my life with merry sunshine.  

Pish-Tush, Katisha and Kjersti-Puck :)

Several Little Maids from School