Hi friends, remember me? I was in a PLAY!
I'm going to try not to harp on the fact that tons of friends didn't bother to come see me in Around the World in 80 Days. I already had a heart-to-heart conversation with Kristen Neander about it on Saturday night, and I think I have vented enough. It seems that once Sarah French left the show, some of my friends didn't really feel the need to drive out to Mt. Dora to see little old me. So, rather than bitch at all of you who did NOT come, I will just thank those that DID come. I appreciate your support, and look forward to seeing you in your next ventures: Larry Stallings, David Almeida, Steve Miller, and Kristen Neander.
Speaking of Kristen Neander, I got to spend so much time with her this weekend. Well, "so much time" considering we both were busy: she with the District III Thespian Festival and me with the show. Kristen attended the show on Friday night, and then we had dinner afterwards. After my second show on Saturday, I went up to Daytona and shot more shit with her in her hotel room. We tried to get a hold of Zeina to come shoot it with us, but she was mysteriously missing in action. Oh well. Time spent with Kristen is time well-spent.
She told me all about her day, which included a day of design adjudication. A day from hell, so it seems, only because the scheduling was quite poor. But, I'm so pleased with the fact that her Costume Design Critic's Choice was my dear Josh Winchester for his School for Scandal designs. To listen to Kristen gush about how brilliant they were was almost as pleasurable as the win itself.
But Josh was not the only one of "my kids" to succeed: Jill Vanderoef got straight Superiors on her solo ("When Hope Goes" from The Spitfire Grill--if you haven't seen Jill do this number, you haven't seen true talent) as well as on her duet with Jamie Lowe ("I'd Give It All For You" from Songs for a New World). Brent Wakelin received Critic's Choice for Duet Musical with "Money, Money" from Cabaret as well as Honorable Mention for Monologues. Chelsea Turbin and Nick Rishel received Honorable Mention in Duet Musical for "Wick" from The Secret Garden (well-deserved). Sara Hood and Nick Rishel received Critic's Choice in Small Group Musical for a number from And the World Goes Round. Lexie Brown, who walked in and sang at a whisper for her Seussical audition, but who overcame her shyness to become a wonderful Sour Kangaroo, led the Critic's Choice for Large Group Musical in "The Gods Love Nubia" from Aida. Lexie was also Honorable Mention for Solo Musical with her "Gorgeous" from The Apple Tree. Sarah Darden received straight Superiors on her solo as well, singing a song from The It Girl. Patrice Majewski also received straight Superiors on her solo, but I don't know what it is she sang.
So, congratulations are definitely in order for "my kids" for a wonderful showing at this year's District III Thespian Festival. And a special congratulations to my friend Kathy Yemm, whose one-act "The Lorax," will be one of the one-acts representing District III at the State festival in April.
Well, I have some time to kill before my next project begins on January 3rd, 2005. I'm super excited about Beauty and the Beast, and I look forward to the people I will work with again and the people I will be working with for the first time. I love theatre because of the people I get to meet. I'm excited about the friends I just made in Mt. Dora--and when they do Hello, Dolly! and 1776, I'm certain that I will be asked to play again.
Anywho, now that I have finished 80 Days, I can remember it's December again! As today is December 12th, that means we have thirteen days until Christmas and fifteen days until my birthday. Hip! Hip! Hooray!