DirectingOne

This semester I was super excited to take a directing class. I've always felt that I had a good grasp of blocking. I spent time in middle and high school blocking my own scenes and blocking for region and state and I've always felt that I have good instincts. So I was really looking forward to actually taking a directing class and learning more about making pictures and varrying pathways and creating interesting blocking. 

But this class did not turn out to be that.

Instead, I had a professor who was insanely busy and gone for half of the semester. I had a professor who put our class on the back butner. We had one--count it! one--directing assignment that was somehow dragged out through the whole semester. We were assigned to a group (3 members total) and each of us directed one 2-4 minute scene. And somehow, getting through all of those took the whole semester. And now my final is directing a 10 minute play. And I will be graded on how I directed this play. 

Now tell me, 

How am i supposed to feel prepared for this final?

How is he supposed to grade me fairly based on the one directing experience I've technically had in his class? 

<3: CourtneyRae<3

Know Your Craft

Sooo....I have this fun problem. I'm studying theatre. I'm hoping to perform and to teach eventually. 

But I don't know anything about anything. 

I don't know actors or playwrites or shows or anything about anything. 

Which makes for some awkward situations. People will bring up shows and performances and I don't know what they are talkinga bout. 

So. 
I decided that this summer I'm going to read plays and listen to shows and learn about performers and performances. I want to learn more about this beautiful art form so that I can be an informed member of this community. 

I don't have a clue where to start and I'm a bit overwhelmed. But, I believe that it's important to know what it is I am actually doing. 

So. 
I'm off to know my craft. 

<3: CourtneyRae<3

Invisible Instruments

I have a beautiful instrument. 
And It's not visible to me. 
I can hear it. 
Sometimes I can even feel it. 
But I can't see it. 

yep. 
It's my 
Voice. 

This year I have worked so hard on  placement and expanding my range and I really feel like I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I was last year. I'm proud of where I am even though I am still full of doubts and questions of "Does this acutally sound good? Is this actually healthy? Can I actually do this for the rest of my life?"

In Rent Melinda gave me the Season of Love solo. And at the very of the song, my solo jumps from a C5 to a High C (C6) which has been waaaaay out of my range until this past semester. And as I've been practicing (my butt of mind you) I can confidently say that that note is in my pocket. It may not be super strong or have a lot of ring or vibratto to it, but it's there. 

Until I step on stage and sing my solo. 
Then it's gone. 
Just
gone. 

And I'm getting so sick of it! 

Tonight was opening night (another entry in and of itself:) and I was stoked. I knew I had my solo, I was determined to just enjoy it and live in it. Because guess what? 

When we're all rocking out at the end of the show during bows, I can hit it just fine. It's totally fine! So I thought, "maybe I just get too worried during the first one and the second one is easier because we're all rocking out". So tonight I let go. I didn't feel nervous or scared or anything. I was having a blast and I was so excited and then

I took a breath to hit my high notes and nothing came out.
Just a crack in my voice. 
And a dry throat. 

And then, from the distance, a small and shallow high C finally found its way to my voice. 

I get so frustrated when stuff like this happens. And maybe that's part of it. Idk. I really don't know what happened tonight and I don't know what to do about it. I  feel like I'm letting the whole cast down and worst of all: Melinda. Our incredible director who has been right there alongside us through this whole process. And that's the worst feeling in the whole world.

It would be so much easier if I could just see my instrument. If I could see my vocal chords and how things are being placed and moving around...it's so hard not to be able to see what's going on.

I guess I'll keep you posted on how things go...

<3: CourtneyRae<3

The Feud

I'm on a soap box, be prepared.

Tonight during our final dress rehearsal for Rent we have a new guitarist. Who is apparantly a vocal major. Who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut and keep his opinions to himself.

We were just called to places for act two and I was standing backstage, right behind the band, and I hear his voice come through the wall of the set, "I'm a vocal major and I know that's damaging her vocal chords. Ya it sounds great but it's so bad for her vocal chords."

And I start fuming.

First of all: NEVER and I repeat NEVER smack talk anyone that you are working with when there is any possibility that they could hear you! I'm not saying you can't have an opinion, because you can. I have mine, you're free to have yours. But it is a rookie mistake to make and it pissed me off.

Second: you haven't been with us for the WHOLE FREAKING REHEARSAL PROGRESS! we work our butts off making sure everything is healthy and placed correctly and match the style of the show.

Third (and here's the point): Can we please stop the feud between voice and musical theatre majors!? We are all studying the voice with a goal of healthy performance in mind. Just because YOU aren't singing musical theatre doesn't mean that you don't know anything about singing. But just because WE are singing more genre's and styles than just choir or opera doesn't mean that we are blowing out our vocal chords!? Honestly people!

Oooh it makes me so angry when the voice majors walk around with their noses in the air acting like what we do is mediocre and a "lesser art". Both styles are full of technique and hard work and why can't we all just acknowledge that we are all out to enjoy performing and sharing talents??

<3: CourtneyRae<3