Things that break the flow

It's funny how focussed and determined you have to be in order to let your mind work freely.

Right now, my last semester at COB has begun and finishing the plays I started is always on my mind. Unfortunately, finishing my senior thesis research paper is much more of a priority, and I accept that.

It's funny though, cuz I get these bursts of creativity in very strange ways. I get ideas for new plays and ideas about re-writing my older pieces. I even get ideas about development and policies for Guyana (my plan at one point in time was to move back home and enter politics - another universe altogether). I just have to keep remembering to write it all down for when the time comes.

Anyway, right now I have to focus on finishing this degree, then I can focus on finishing something else.

It won't be long now...

Coming up for Air

So, obviously a lot has happened since my last post. Life intervened the second SiP ended and I've been trying to tread water ever since. I still haven't caught up on my sleep yet, but at least I'm done with COB for the semester. So let's see now.

A Midsummer Night's Dream
I really must say that I was way more involved in Midsummer than with The Tempest last year. I definitely knew Midsummer better because we had had so many readings of it beforehand and because we were trying to adapt various aspects of the language, unlike last time. It was a very committed process that I really enjoyed.

A big difference was also the fact that I was the only Stage Manager this year, and I did miss Rachael all the more for it! Larice was a great help once she got onboard and I was very grateful to have her with me. Patti and I spent a lot of time together and fostered a very strong bond. If it weren't for her many days, I can't imagine how broken I would have been from all the stress of school and the play. Thanks to her for all she did for me.

On the subject of thanks, I am also grateful to the twenty members of the Midsummer cast that shared their lives in this complex circle of trust. I was very impressed with the work they all did; many of them exceeding expectations. I love and cherish every one of you. Thank you.

Here's a link to a song that really helped me cleanse myself after Midsummer:

Alive Again by Matt Maher

Shakespeare in Paradise
I really didn't get much chance to enjoy the festival this year like I did last year, but I still enjoyed it Very much! For starters, Travis and I saw three productions: Horn of Plenty featuring Indio, Dat Bahamian Ting, and Woman Take Two. I greatly enjoyed all of them. Horn of Plenty at the National Art Gallery was a unique experience that made me glad to see more young people interested in performance and the festival. Indio was hilarious as far as I was concerned, more so than for other people from what I understand. I think maybe because I understood a lot more of what he was talking about, even though he had a very different background from me. Dat Bahamian Ting was also really funny. I was very impressed with Dana as usual, and it was wonderful to see a Bahamian play, translated for an audience abroad. As for Woman Take Two, it was a great pleasure to see the work of legendary Bahamians. What blew me away most, however, was Skeebo's performance as Harold. It was amazing!

The Road Ahead
So, once again with the resolutions, but I really want to try to write something every day... ideally. Sleep might get in my way, but I really need to commit myself to finishing something I start. Right now, I'm trying to convert a screenplay that I wrote when I was sixteen or so, into a play. It's difficult, but the more I learn the easier it gets. Hopefully I can be done by next summer at least (January, if I want to get ambitious =P).

Beyond that, The Melancholy of Suzanna is well on her way to making it to the stage. I've become very seduced by it and I'm enjoying its development. I would love to see more plays that set political correctness on fire (=P)!

Tings Mash

I leave you with one last thing. Strange enough, I find myself with an anthem that seems to keep me driven and make me feel powerful enough to carry on. It's amazing what music can do.

No Love by Eminem ft Lil Wayne

Shakespeare in Paradise comes to an end...

So, SiP 2010 comes to an end. And all our months of hard work came to fruition. As for me, I feel an exposition of sleep come upon me-aww

To be continued...

A Midsummer Night's Dream... has begun!!

Tonight was the first evening performance for Midsummer and it was AMAZING!!!

All the hard work that has gone into this production is Finally paying off! The cast gels so well and their energy drives the entire experience. Each group - the Royals, the Lovers, the Labourers, the Supernaturals - has it's own rhythm and energy. And the four groups combine so perfectly to make A Midsummer Night's Dream happen! The audiences love every minute of it! And I am so proud to be a part of the whole thing! From the story to the rehearsals to the production - it's just been so intense and so worth it!

I am so thankful to be involved and meet these kinds of people (cast and crew) once again! I can't wait to experience more! I love you guys!

In The Thick of Things

Ok , so I said at the beginning of the year that I would treat my blog a little better... and somehow I'm doing worse. lol... That's life for ya huh.



So, Shakespeare in Paradise has begun again and I'm once again involved with the signature production - this year it's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Needless to say we're in the thick of it now and there were a few moments where I thought I just couldn't get through it. But I'm still here, still trying to make it work (make it all work together). Needless to say, the play itself is still entertaining, even having seen it played over and over in rehearsals. I think that says a lot.



So doing that has taken up most of my time, which means I've been neglecting my own work. In Christmas I was working on an Untitled play. Well... I managed to give it a title and I worked some more on it. But I segued into another play - a conversion of a screenplay I wrote in high school into a play. It was going really well, and I'm hoping to pick up both projects once the festival and possibly the college semester is done.

But in the interest of time (and at this point energy), I'll wrap this up. There's a lot more work to be done, in every way I can think of. And I hope you all enjoy the finished products when the time comes...

Here's to Being Creative! (I need to stop neglecting this Blog)

So, pathetic as it is, this is my first entry for 2010.... I need to stop neglecting this blog.

Despite having a full plate this go around, I must say the year has been pretty good.

I managed to finish the first Act of my play (the concept of which I'm still trying to keep a secret) before school started. I had gotten quite blocked just after jumping that hurdle, but surprisingly enough, ENG 400 pretty much cured that. We had two playwrights talk about their works, and that did wonders for me. Particularly when Dr B came to talk about The Children's Teeth. Something just clicked in that room, and I was able to come up with some concepts that I can play with in order to finish Act 2. In between everything, I managed to churn out a lot in short periods of time. I'm still optimistic about finishing it soon.

Travis and I got our Sigma Tau Delta pins and certificates. Though I already knew I was an official member, it's a great honor to get the pin. I like pins (maybe just a little too much). I'm looking forward to what Sigma Tau Delta accomplishes this year.

We started dramaturgy for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Haven't worked on it in about two weeks, but we'll be having a reading at COB on Tuesday, so that should give us a good idea of where to go from here.

This weekend is the Sidney Poitier Conference and Film Festival. To be honest, I had never seen a single one of his films. I've still only been able to see the one (volunteering can do that). But! I am definitely gonna get my hands on as many of them as I can. Reading the synopses really got me excited about his entire filmography. If you get a chance, you should do the same (for art's sake)!

Not to mention, My team and I are getting a lot of creative freedom to play with COB's newspaper. I didn't think I'd be so into layout and design, but it's exciting. I've always liked graphic art, but this is giving me more incentive to be creative with things like a business card or something like that.

On a similar note (being visually creative, that is), I got another tattoo (on my arm) and dyed my hair (to match apparently). Being creative with my appearance is one of my favourite things to do and I'm constantly looking for ways to do that.

So here's to being creative! Here's to keeping things alive!

In the Aftermath of Life, SiP and The Tempest

Okay so this post is several months overdue, but it's been hard getting over the end of The Tempest and the end of Shakespeare in Paradise, especially when everything else came charging forward to "greet" me.

LIFE

So I had been joking up until October that the only reason I was able to keep up with SiP was because I was coasting when it came to COB. Hadn't done much work up to that point, and much of what I was supposed to do, I managed to postpone. I even squeezed in a reporting job at Islands of The World Fashion Week in November. I really enjoyed that, despite the fact that I never imagined myself attending a fashion show. I really look forward to having that experience again. Nevertheless, the semester is over now, and I managed to come hurtling out of it without any bruises. It's kind of a blur, and there are still one or two things I need to do, before the chapter is officially closed in my head. But that was another tough semester to get through. Now that I have a job, I suppose next semeste won't b any easier. But at least things are going to come together at some point in time. I guess I'm just looking forward to that.

SHAKESPEARE IN PARADISE and THE TEMPEST

I truly met some amazing people and had a fantastic time at Shakespeare in Paradise! I got to see 3 of the other 6 shows: Caribban Voices, One White One Black, and Music of The Bahamas. The Tempest itself managed to improve at every performance, until Sunday night, when it was perfectly "tight and yare"! Everyone's appreciation for Rachael's and my work as stage managers blew me away! Every night, hearing the things that the cast had said to me, it meant more to me that any of them could have known.

For a long time after, I think I tried to distance myself from the experience for a few reasons. For one, it was incredibly easy to "forget" about the withdrawal by burying myself in school. But more importantly, seperating myself from this living breathing entity was somewhat painful. I can't say right now how much I miss seeing everyone. Every now and then, Travis opens that small wound by saying the words outloud though. At the moment, I have it simplified to one single reminder on my iPod and iTunes: the song "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry, which played the night the cast for The Tempest went to Crazy Johnny's. The song is accompanied on my iTunes by a photo of me, Rachael and Patti from that night. It's both beautiful and sad - the reminder of something wonderful and the fact that it couldn't last forever.

SO WHAT NOW?

Well, right now, I'm working at Catch 22, a really great shoe store in the mall. I like it. And of course, it's monopolizing my time. But. Not Anymore. I'm going to finish off the play I started this Summer before the year 2010 rolls around (hopefully), and then we'll see from there. There is so much that I want to develop in myself and the challenge is to find the balance in life that will allow me to always be at full potential... I suppose that's worth a shot.

I hope I make the effort to post again soon, but if not, don't forget:

All Tongue! No Eyes! Be Silent!

Wednesday was quite a day!!!!

I got out of my bed at the most ungodly hour of 6 AM to begin today's work on the festival!

We had our first dress/tech in front of a live audience of school children. I don't recall the last time I was so petrified! Things went well though. We've done a lot of work and it's been paying off. With a few minor and major snags here and there, the show was well done!

I've had my ups and downs with this production, highs and lows, and it seems they're just coming simultaneously now! In a way, the nerves of the whole thing make me feel like running away, but I know I'll be sad to see the last performance after devoting so much time and energy toward it for the last few months. Meeting everyone has been the best part; I really feel like I'll miss seeing them every day.

But the show progresses! It's gonna be awesome, I know it! It was a hell of a thing to do that all morning and early afternoon.

But I did have the pleasure of attending a wonderful show just tonight! Caribbean Night: Caribbean Voices and One White One Black! What a wonderful show!

I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't imagine this!!!

Ken Corsbie knocked us all off our feet with a hilarious performance! Of course the references to Guyanese culture were particularly highlighting for me! I look forward to seeing him again on Monday!

But One White One Black!! Oh my! I read the synopsis, but it did not prepare me for what I saw. Those actors were brilliant! The play just blew me away with its realness and rawness. Anyone can tell you that One White One Black pulled no punches and blasted out glaring messages!

I highly recommend both shows, and of course, The Tempest! The work behind this festival has been amazing. So if you aren't aready, you need to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to see these 7 plays and enjy this Shakespeare in Paradise festival!

Shakespeare in Paradise is Almost Here!!!

Shakespeare in Paradise is almost here.... Can you tell?

Comercials are on tv. Tickets are being sold. The word is definitely out.

But behind the scenes, there is SOOOOOO much work being done! Even more than you can imagine!

Working with The Tempest has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life! I've met some wonderful people, and learned so much about more than just theatre, but about myself and about life.

But it's not over yet. That hard part is just beginning. The shows are just a few days away, but I know they will be awesome! Everyone's devotion to this project will definitely make it a huge success!

The Tempest Coming Together

Tonight we had our second rehearsal for Shakespeare's The Tempest, which Ringplay Productions is putting on for October's Shakespeare in Paradise festival (that was a mouthful). I'm not actually in the cast, rather I'm one of the Stage Managers. I was really overwhelmed and anxious at first, but now that everything's started, I'm getting really excited!

The excitement started when I got to interview Craig Pinder (Co-Directer/Prosper) via e-mail and was furthered with I interviewed Patti-Anne Ali (Co-Director). The way they both talked about their expectations and how they got involved with the project just brought The Tempest back to life for me, having helped dramaturge it for the festival. More so was the play brought to life in tonight and last night's reading of it. Hearing the various actors read their lines and getting an idea of how it is going to sound out loud was great! The actors also had a discussion about the play and the characters and the adaptation, and even Shakespeare's intentions and what he was doing when he wrote the play.

It's been really cool so far and of course the little excercises Craig has given us and the things he's had to say always seem to get things going and get people's enthusiasm to kick in. It's been great! I'm really looking forward to the developments that are made. I know it's going to be fantastic!