pot-themed theatre and my weekend
Thursday night, I caught a funny, timely new musical called Johnny Appleweed at the downtown Art Loft Theatre. The title character is a variation on Johnny Appleseed, except the hero of this show plants pot seeds along his journey. The show is a paean to pot-smoking as a way to expand our minds and think of society's problems in new ways. Johnny, an affable stoner, makes his way towards Washington DC to meet President Birch (an over-the-top version of President Bush) in order to warn him about his dangerous policies and how "mary jane" can help solve America's problems. Along his journey, Johnny meets a closeted log-cabin republican, a lesbian performance artist, a televangelist's ex-wife, and...wait for it...wait for it...Jesus! They all come to DC in order to confront the president...and it's pretty much over-the-top from there. The play, while extremely wild in its writing, deals (as only it can) with our problems of today without getting far too preachy. I found myself laughing and questioning further several ideas that I'd already been questioning...and that's a good thing, I feel. Theatre should make you think sometimes, not just entertain. Among some of my favorite songs: "A Prayer for Wal-Mart" "Holy F*cking Shit" "What Would Jesus Do?" and "The Ballad of Johnny Appleweed."
My weekend has been good. Last night after a few too many hours spent at Borders, I headed home and cultured myself by watching a DVD of Salome. I'm intrigued by this story about people in very high places behaving like completely degenerate fools. I think it
Today, I picked my dad up at the airport. We proceeded to a Best Buy to shop for a new car radio...since my insurance has luckily covered the cost. My new bling shall be in the car sometime next week or so. I'm in no hurry, but the fact remains that I sorely miss having CD and Radio capabilities in my car. Plus, I think it might be against the law to listen to music on headphones while driving.
Tomorrow, it's singin-for-Jesus at UACC. Then what? I dunno. Probably buying a wedding gift, as one of my friends is getting married a week from now in Quincy. I unfortunately cannot make it (cantoring at another wedding), but I figured it would be improper not to send something. So many weddings to think about lately...
I'm currently getting my Ohio Light audition stuff together. Ohio Light is a summer artists program for young aspiring singers, based at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. The repertoire is chiefly operetta (or 'light' opera as the program's name suggests) and some musical theatre, but only the kind before 1960, it seems. :-) They're producing The Pirates of Penzance, Princess Ida, Bluebeard, Der Vogelhändler, The Duchess of Chicago, Student Prince and The Sound of Music.
PROS:
- The possibility of doing roles (lead and/or supporting) in some of the productions.
- Free housing at the College of Wooster.
- Decent stipend, so I'm told.
- The size of my voice + my look, at this time, is far more suited for Operetta. I'm not singing Rigoletto anytime soon.
CONS:
- 12 weeks of the summer. (Though Wooster isn't too far from Sandusky, home of Cedar Point...hmmmm...)
- Singing with Union Avenue Opera (especially Magic Flute) would be out of the question.
- I'd still have to pay rent back in St. Louis.
- Could be stuck doing nothing but chorus (which would be a deal-breaker, anyway)
Gee...I'm talking as if I've been accepted or something. I am not even 100% sure of securing an audition in Kansas City this December. Gotta have that stuff ready to go no later than November 1st. So, I guess I ought to take things one-at-a-time.