Saint Plays: Directing vs. Acting

The production that I was working on recently finished just in time for me to come home for half of my spring break! I was the Assistant Director and Set Designer, which means I helped the Director analyze the script so the actors could understand it, and helped her add movement to the words to make the story make sense. I also helped think of ideas of what environment would be best to tell the story in, by being Assistant Set Designer.

Here's the set with the actors and director below:

The bathtub was a huge part of the play, it was used as a bathtub, a car, and a jail cell!

I really love being on the artistic team of a play, much more than I ever loved acting. (Tutu this is for you! :) I am able to participate in making a piece of living art, instead of following directions and trying to do my best on my performance. I love reading a script and thinking of ideas of how it can be expressed on stage and with what materials, resources, colors, images. It has become my entry way into the theatre world since I changed my major/life path. I may still pursue some acting in the future, but this has been so artistically rewarding and fulfilling, I'm going to keep with this for a while!

I'm famous!

I seem to be on the front page of the new Theatre Department's website, in a picture from the production of Tartuffe by Moliere I was in last year. I'm in the frumpy maid costume...

Check it out!

Oh and on the right, the THESIS FESTIVAL II will feature my 20 minute Solo Performance that is my thesis, or the project that is the culmination of my time at Barnard. (I hope.)

The Last Push

After an incredibly indulgent Thanksgiving weekend at home in California, I am now getting ready to go back to the daily grind: class, final projects, stage managing, and hours of rehearsal a day!

I'm so overwhelmed about what is to come in the next and last 3 weeks of the semester, the next 6 months, let alone the next year. Below is the poster for the play that I'm stage managing, I hope everything goes well...the organization and efficiency of everyone on the team is my job!

So here's to taking life one day at a time, or maybe better yet, one hour at a time, getting through with this semester, and moving on with life, no matter what comes!

My latest project...

For the past couple of weeks, I've been assisting the director of the production The Physicists being produced by Barnard's theatre department. It was a last minute opportunity offered to me by the director (who also is my directing teacher) just to take notes for her in rehearsals. It somewhat escalated into a larger commitment when I offered more of my time and she continued to use it.

It was a great decision, I learned a lot and just absolutely love being around the creation of theatre. Here's the description of the play:

Einstein. Newton. Möbius. Three men in an insane asylum believe themselves to be three of history's most brilliant scientists. Or is their madness merely a ruse, a means of hiding (or pursuing) a scientific discovery that could lead to inconceivably destructive forces being unleashed upon the world? "Drama," Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt observed, "can dupe the spectator into exposing himself to reality, but [it] cannot compel him to withstand... or even to master it" — a fitting motto for the Barnard College Department of Theatre's 2010-11 season, which aims to "expose" audiences to the intersection of history and politics through the provisional reality of the stage. Dürrenmatt's scalding and farcical parable about the moral dilemma of the modern scientist is an excellent place to begin this yearlong project. Alice Reagan, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, directs.

I feel honored to have been apart of this production, and I can't wait to continue to learn from Alice in my directing class. Check her out on her website here: alicereagan.com!

This semester has been one of my busiest, with visitors, rehearsals, homework, and friends. My parents are coming next weekend and Monday I start my official Stage Managing position. I will post pictures of Amanda's visit soon and of my parent's visit/Halloween after next weekend! I get scared when I think about how much I love theatre, and this semester has really seemed surreal being able to learn and experience so much related to the field I love. I feel so lucky!

Reunions

This past week has been a whirlwind unlike any other. I've reconnected with many friends from my NY life, and some from Argentina! I took my grandma to 3 doctors appointments, packed for my new apartment in NY, visited Boston and Amherst, Massachusetts, moved into my apartment, went to my first day of class and had some drinks for the first time (legally) in New York.

First highlight of this crazy week was when Sylvie, one of my closest friends from Argentina, came over for dinner. She goes to Scripps College (only 45 minutes away from my house!), so it was easy to get together. We got empanadas and Quilmes, the food and beer we consumed most in Argentina!

Then literally the next day I flew to Boston to visit Amanda, my best friend from South Pasadena. She had an internship in New York all summer, so I hadn't seen her since December 2009!!! We had a great day spent in lovely Bostonian parks, and at the Samuel Adams Brewery!

Here we are trying some delicious summer ale...

After Boston, I took a 3 hour bus ride to Amherst, MA to see Niall. It was great to see his school and see how different life in more of a rural setting is. I found it much calmer and more spread out. The little college towns were so cute and full of hippies that they reminded me of little beach towns! It was great to see him, but as all of these visits were, it was too short!

Now I'm in NY, in my own own own apartment (see below!), with my NY family and with many lists of things to do and to buy. Moving in is such a process! Rachel is sitting on my bed, and Jackie and Seth (famous from our Youtube collaborations) are sitting at my desk area.

I'm really happy to start getting more settled, because the first 2 days of being here at school have been completely overwhelming. I felt a little disconnected with my school and these people since I haven't seen and in some cases talked to them in a very long time. Slowly but surely I'll feel more at home again, and I can't wait to continue studying theatre and learning about new fields within the theatre world.

I'll post more pictures of my ADORABLE apartment when its all decorated! We're going to Target and some thrift stores to find some cool decor this weekend. Come visit!

I know the end is near...

...because my peanut butter ran out!

Countdown: 5 days until I get into the E.E.U.U.; 9 days until CA!!!

Tomorrow I move into the hostel to stay with my friend Sylvie for a couple of days, then I'm coming back to my host mother's house for the last night! Look how adorable the hostel is!

I'm reading a lot, trying to stay sane by listening to more Harry Potter and taking walks to the library. I can't wait for all the fun things to come after all of this stress and reading! Tuesday about noon, I'll be free (and a senior in college).

Wow its going fast.

[Also--ARGENTINA LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE. No H8!!!]

I need to get my stuff done.

This video explains pretty much what I did today.

Tales of Mere Existence

Let's hope tomorrow is different!

Game Plan

Friday 9: Last 24 hours with Buenos Aires family. Excursion to island city called El Tigre (where Niall and I did Urban Biking before!)

Saturday 10: Despedida :( ;( Goodbye Brunch. Read lots of theory about Samuel Beckett. Try not to cry because I miss my peeps.

Sunday 11: Continue reading and start outlining paper. See a play with my Argentine friends.

Monday 12: Write some of the paper. Go to Beckett review session from 7-11pm.

Tuesday 13: Write a LOT of the paper.

Wednesday 14: Finish paper (12-15 pgs in spanish) and send it to awesome Argentine friend to correct it, then turn it in!

Thursday 15- Monday 19: Finish reading for Theatre History class. Prepare Oral presentation, eat dinner with Argentine friends so I don't feel alone! (During this time I also have to move out of my room because the girl that is going to live in my room for the next semester is coming!)

Tuesday 20: 9AM ORAL EXAM. Scream in the streets, because I'll officially be a senior in college. Frolic for the last time in Buenos Aires!

Wednesday 21: Peace out Latin America! Hello Spokane! ***Practice wedding song!

Thursday-Sunday 22-25: Spokane wedding activities!

Monday 26: GRANDMA, GRANDMA, GRANDMA.

My new favorite hangout...

One of my friends from UBA recently shared a vital piece of information regarding being a student in BA. There is a library called the Biblioteca Nacional that's 7 blocks away from my house, silent and beautiful.

There is a view of the river on the 5th and 6th pisos and you can see the famous metal rose in the park (I'm not sure of the significance of the rose, just that its on lots of post cards and people seem to know it as a point of reference).

Due to the 3 final papers and 2 oral exams (these consist of giving a speech about a prepared topic to the professor and then answering questions that can potentially be about ANY of the material we have gone over all semester) that I have in the last weeks of my stay here, I will be living in this library for the majority of that time.

My friends are all leaving July 10th, and I'm here until the 21st finishing my assignments. Yay for picking the hard classes at that most exigente universidad in the city.

Esperando a Godot y 2nd Apple Momentitos

Finalmente I feel like I have a set schedule! Two of my classes are at UBA--the public (yes that means free to Argentines, but not to spoiled Americans THANKS MOM AND DAD) university that takes me one hour to get to by bus and by subte. The building I go to 3 times a week is covered by posters, graffiti, advertisements--you name it. It looks like that was the theme for the decor because literally there isn't a square inch of wall not covered. It gives me the sense that the students really own they're school and that its a location for not only traditional learning, but passionately questioning current life and politics as well. I'm gonna try to casually take a picture tomorrow to show you!

Interesting theatre experience! In one of my UBA seminario about the works of Samuel Beckett, we're first discussing Waiting for Godot--his most popular play. I saw a production recently, per the profesora's request, that didn't follow all the traditions of this well-known script. The play has 5, arguably 6 male characters that are usually portrayed in similar costumes, with similar mannerisms, etc. This production (TEATRO ANFITRION, DIRIGIDA POR BERTA GOLDENBERG) chose to cast multiple actors to play the 2 principal characters and also women to occupy the majority of the roles. The night I went an inspector from the "Beckett Estate" (who knows what that means?) to judge the loyalty of the production. The text was completely respected--but I'm guessing and my professor (one of the most respected Beckett scholars in Latinoamerica if not in the world) things that because of the unusual casting they decided to shut the production down.

Its really great to be able to do so much of what I love all at once: travel, see plays, study theatre, art class, and hang out with great people. I loved being witness to this interesting theatre occurrence as well!

It may seem that I'm just the perfect traveller with no problems who never misses home. Not the case. Here are things I will say when I get home (*** this list is NOTHING compared to the one that my friend Freesia should write when she gets home from Uganda this summer. See freesiastravelsabroad.blogspot.com )

• There is toilet paper in every stall? What's a toilet seat cover?
• YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WATER??!!!
• All the taxis are legit? Not only the ones that say Radio Taxi?
• I don't have to go to 5 different bookstores and fotocopiadoras every day to find my readings for class? I can really just buy this one textbook?
• Clothes come in more than "one size fits all"?
• You have EVERYTHING on the menu? Really? I can order anything I want?!!!
• What's a taco? And what are those delicious brown mushy things next to them?
• I also just plain miss the easiness of using cash in los EEUU. Here if you have a 100 peso bill (=to más o menos U$S 27) you have to beg to get change--even at restaurants, in taxis and at the supermarket. NO ONE ever has change. Don't even ask about monedas (coins for the colectivos).

I'm happy to welcome these crazy differences to keep reminding me that I'm not home and that I'm in the one and only Argentina!

Homework Session

Niall and I went to the park by the famous cemetery (2 blocks away from my house) to do homework. Here is the view of the park:

Here is the Hotel Alvear (1 block away from my house) that has a store called ARITA. So silly that I have a Rita too!

Dad-is this the same type of tree as the one at Holy Family? I think it is because those little mini red mushroom looking thingys fall from it. There are tons of these huge amazing trees in the park--and I love that no one grooms them, they are left to grow freely!

This is the type of homework I get excited for. While Niall read the book we have to read for our mandatory Spanish class, I drew his hand.

Unfortunately the drawing below isn't mine, but I bought a post card of it. This artist (a local selling her goods at the weekly art fair) gave me a little deal (cause I bought 3) and a kiss goodbye! Her art was so beautiful and her pencil work very soft and delicate. I loved what she did with the watercolor in the back and the addition of some color to the traditional black and white drawings! Don't worry Mom and Dad--I'll give you one to add to the Wall of Fame in the kitchen.

Still picking my classes. I'm hesitant to pick hard ones because they're in Spanish! Oh well, that's what I'm here for...to challenge myself! We'll see how it goes...

"The Rita Influence"

Last week was the first week that any of the classes I was interested in started. I went to Plásitca y Visión, Taller de Relizaciones II, Arte y Diseño, y Historía Escenografica. Three out of those four are at "USAL" or the Universidad del Salvador, and Arte y Diseño is offered at "UCA" or Universidad Catolica de Argentina.

Out of all four, the only one I am set of taking is Plástica y Visión--its an art class in three parts: painting, pencil drawing and figure drawing. No matter what I do to prevent it, "The Rita Influence" has no cure.

My whole life art lessons/drawing/painting was something I was exposed to and taught. Being a "recovering" perfectionist, I never thought I was artistically talented because I couldn't make mine look like my mom's.

Recently, I started going to the figure drawing sessions at Columbia and found out that I really liked it, and that I maybe did have some talent. Over winter break my mom, my brother, my mom's student Kara and I all participated in a 26 hour figure drawing marathon. Guess some of that practice paid off because last Monday at the figure drawing class, the teacher said that I'm too advanced to be in level I, so he's moving me up to level II!

I'm really glad I've been channelling the Rita in me, because I've been able to find my love of art in my own way, and I've been outgoing and confident enough to make such awesome friends here. I've accepted that I can't shake the influence of Rita, and I'm glad.

I'll tell you about the classes I check out next week at "UBA" (Universidad de Buenos Aires!)