Evita (Better Title TBA)

As you can tell by my lack of blog, I was unable to be at rehearsals due to my new job. I still had a little hope that maybe, just maybe, there would be some chance of my schedule working out. However, when I took home my schedule I examined and analyzed...

There was absolutely no way of me making rehearsals and running the show.

First of all, they had put me on evenings where I work 3pm - 11pm. Secondly, I was in "training" where I would have a trainer on my shoulder. Thirdly, I knew I wouldn't be able to start taking off right when I started.

So, I called Scott that night... quite upset.

And I became restless. I revamped my training binder for work, I began making a wedding "prompt book" (starting to plan for the wedding)... All because I didn't have a Forbidden Planet prompt book to work on.

And then there was the day at work when the city hall people were trying to hang this enormous metal sculpture from the ceiling. They had a lift and some ladders out and were hanging out in the city hall lobby for a really long time and I, of course, was watching them on the camera (we've got a neat camera system), while my coworkers started a left brained conversation about how much the sculpture cost the city. As a result, I ended up going home really, really sad from watching them and feeling like I belonged over there hanging up art and not stuck in a room answering phones and dispatching police units.

And I knew that this day would come sooner or later. One day I'd have to grow up and get a job that I could depend on. I wish I could do theatre for a living but it's just not possible. I need the money and I do believe that I'm good at what I do. And the adrenaline rush is there... sometimes.

But fortunately, I found a co-techie of mine from high school to run the show. In all honesty, I haven't kept in touch with anyone from high school but I sent out a facebook message to everyone I knew was a techie. I have faith that she'll do a good job and run the show smoothly.

Looking forward, I am able to stage manage and run Spelling Bee because I'll be on day shift. I'll be one cranky mother fucker from getting up everyday at 5:30am but maybe I can take some naps in the booth... before the show.

Well, that's about it. Vicki, Mike, and I went prop shopping yesterday. Well, I drug Mike with me to drive because I had a horrible headache (probably from the fresh air... ha). And we have almost all of four items needed. Yes, four items. Now is the time that I appreciate Scott's minimal prop use.

I'm going to go create a big wrench and be happy today. :0)

-Trish

Photo from www.kidentrepreneurs.org/whoweare.html

Hi everybody,

I am back and hoping to keep you updated with the tech stuff for Return to the Forbidden Planet or RTTFP. A lot has happened since my last post. Hair has ended, Mike and I moved out of the city, we casted the show, we had a production meeting, I got a new job, we met the cast, and I learned that when you google my name... you can find this blog. It's pretty easy and my new employers found it... and they were probably entertained (hopefully). Well, they hired me despite my quirkiness. I guess that's a good thing.

Sitting here, typing out thoughts, I rarely think about who can actually see this blog. I just write and don't usually write for a specific audience. Reading this blog is very much like sitting in front of me, listening to me talk. I guess now, I'm much more aware that anyone can read this. Anyone who googles me will read this. So, hello to all those old friends, people wanting to know more about me, ex-boyfriends, whoever...

You are now reading my New Line Blog. About a theatre company. Here in St. Louis.

I first heard Scott mention RTTFP during Assassins last spring. While loading all those guns, a couple of us would sit and chat before the show. He started talking about this show that combined the 50's movie, Shakespeare's The Tempest, and Rock and Roll music. Initially, I thought it sounded like a mess... Like three things that should not be mixed. I found a copy of it, read it, and was truly shocked. It is absolutely amazing how well this show works.

I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare but the fakespeare that they use is refreshingly funny and pokes fun at the language. And that's awesome for all those Non-Shakespeare fans... because it's usually the moldy, fermented language that we can't stand. (...I'm sorry.)

And listening to the cast album, I feel like this show is going to hold the same type of energy as Grease did. Grease was a nonstop, fast-paced, high energy show. I felt like I was reliving high school prom each night. It was a fucking party. I think that RTTFP is going to be similar but have Sci/Fi magic instead of high school drama.

Which is going to be awesome.

I will be back at rehearsals, ironically the same week I start my new job. I'm fairly confident that I will be able to make all the rehearsals... but only time will tell if I actually get to run the show. If not, I have a couple people up my sleeve - all worthy of taking over during my unwanted time of absence. Although, not being there during the performances will sadden me.

A lot.

:0(

Stay tuned for more!

-Trish

Photo from Here

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I don't think our audience enjoyed the blackout as much as these two little guys.

It sucks because the show was going really well. We had a really great audience last night...

So. I have a nice break between Cue 35 and Cue 36 and so I'm sitting there stringing together some love beads when ... Zzzzrrrrmmmmm.

(That would be the sound of all the electricity going out.)

Matt and I grab our flashlights. We head into the back room where all the dimmers are. I'm wondering if the entire building is out. My board is still running... ready to go... if we get power, we'll be right back where we left off. I won't have to wait for my board to reboot. And that's a cool thing, thanks to our awesome lighting designer and the backup battery thing we have hooked up to the board.

But it doesn't come back up immediately. And the battery back up thing starts beeping at me. Scott stops the cast and tells everyone to sit tight. I follow him out, to see if the rest of the building is out - and sure enough it is. Security is up there with us. They call the Wash U maintenance people... Scott calls Ameren.

It's going to be awhile.

We all go out back to have a smoke, while the cast is leading the audience in song. Chris is one of the first people to notice that the neighborhood behind the soccer field is also out of power. By this time I think we all knew that we weren't going to finish the show.

This is confirmed by Ameren, who says that the power will be out until 2:30am (this means 6am in real person time). Wash U police informs us that someone hit an electricity pole down the street.

Hey thanks, A-Hole.

So, Mike and I go to Ciceros with Dave (the bass player) and his girlfriend Kella... probably two of my favorite people. We have a good time. Have some drinks. Eat a bunch of fried food.

But anyway. I'm about to do some laundry. Mike and I are all out of black.

I just wanted to post about our blackout and apologize.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Peace and Love,

Blackout

It's amazing how normally we would be one week from closing week... and we still plenty of time left. I haven't grown sick of Hair yet and I'm pretty sure I won't. I still see new things every night that amuse me, make me think... there are things that I understand better - like the plot, the characters... It's such an amazing experience.

I'm almost running the show without my prompt book. I know by the end of the run I'll be able to run the show without even opening it up.

I almost posted last week about my little break down at work Sunday night. I think Hair has opened my eyes to see the anger and hatred all around me. It sickens me how humans have no respect for other humans. I won't get into a huge rant... but it did make me feel better getting it all out on to paper. Maybe I could burn it or something.

Mom's coming to see the show on Friday. She's came to a couple of our shows... Superstar, Grease, High Fidelity. She LOVED High Fidelity. I'm pretty sure she won't understand this one and she'll probably be asking Dennis a load of questions through the entire thing... But I know she'll think it was amazing. This is the woman who took me to see Rent when I was fourteen and taught me all the cuss words I know. I love you, Mom!

I thought I had more stuff to say. I guess that's it. I'll return in a few... maybe.... probably.

Peace and love!
-Blackout

I apologize for not updating in quite some time. Hell week consumed the majority of my time... as well as picking up some extra shifts at work. BUT Hair is now opened and I've had three days off of work... so I'm feeling quite wonderful.

Everything about the show is very ritualistic. I have a ritual, the tribe has a ritual... It's very comforting. I get there around six o'clock (give or take) and I start my ritual. I think it'd be pretty boring to walk through details...

The hardest part for me is to not get into the world of the show. Mattman (my booth brother) agrees with me. We both find it extremely difficult to not get sucked into the show and totally forget about our cues. I haven't let that happen yet... I've been pretty good... but it's damn hard.

The show is pretty intense. I hope everyone gets a chance to see it. It really is an experience. And I'm so happy that I get to help make it happen.

I'll be back soon.

Peace and Love,
Blackout

So we all gathered yesterday to lay down some color. TLove brought some awesome donuts and Todd brought some... inspiration.

We all picked a piece of the floor to work on - that way it would look consistent... or as consistent as hippie art can be. I'm not sure why I went straight to the earth. I drew it out last week and was quite embarrassed by my lack of knowledge for geography. Saudi Arabia is definitely not in the correct place but... whatever. The altar will cover most of Africa, anyway.

So. For some reason, I went back to my earth on the floor and decided to tackle the color on it. O.M.G. It took forever. I went home looking like a smurf from leaning all over the blue paint but it looks really cool so far. I'll have to finish it later.

But everyone did such a great job with the paint. Even Scott picked up a paintbrush... Sparger brought Little Sparger and he was painting out some really cool planets for us. I had forgotten what the planets even look like (besides the huge earth I was painting...) but this little guy knew exactly what color and texture they were... I think we have a Jupiter and Mars... maybe a Neptune. I don't think Pluto made the cut. He is, afterall, no longer a planet.

Afterwards, they all gathered at Todd's for BBQ and swimming. I had to go home and take a nap cuz I had to work midnights. (Yeah. Lame. I know.)

Days before that, I met with Ken to help him with some of the lighting stuff. We are spending more on bringing in our own dimmer system than renting lights... which sucks. But I cannot believe how we are just creating this entire dimmer system so we can have a digital board. Hopefully it works and I won't have to run the show on the ancient two scene board that they have now. The ladder we bought is kind of creepy... cuz it's an extension ladder and bounces a bit. It will take some getting used to. The minute a lamp goes out, I'll climb up it with no problem...

Um Ummm Um. What else? Line notes start on Monday. I'm sure the cast simply cannot wait until I start harassing them about things they mess up.

I went down to the Loop the other day. Bought some incense cones and rolling paper from Sunshine Daydream and left them tons of postcards on the window sill. Then I walked down to the smoke shop and bought all our stuff to make the joints. Cost us about $120 for the entire trip... which is a lot of money... but I bought enough stuff to make about 350 - 400 fake joints. The hippy guy at the smoke shop said to use tea bags for the fake pot. I tried it when I got home... doesn't work man. It just doesn't work. I felt like I was smoking sand.

But I put the mix together... mostly. I had to get some different brands (they didn't carry a type of shwag that we use) but it will work out fine. Maybe if I get the apartment cleaned up I'll have everyone over on Thursday to help roll out some fatties.

And that's what I've been up too. I've been unable to sleep today and I've been making more love beads, which are not technically love beads because they are way too freaking big to be actual love beads... Maybe I'll glaze them tonight while at work. "Emergency 911, uh... hold on... I have Sculpey Glaze dripping down my arm..."

That's all I have for now. I'm so proud of the cast. You guys rock.

Peace and Love,
Blackout

We are in the new space!!!

Saturday morning, I stumbled out of bed and drove to the old CBC school off Clayton Rd which is now owned by Wash U.

And nobody else was there.

I circled the parking lot... a couple times... cuz it was fun, then decided to go see if there was another entrance somewhere. I was fairly sure that I was at the right place... after all, my little brother attended the school and I remembered dropping him off there once.

After driving around for a bit, I drove over to Breadco and they were obnoxiously busy. So I drove back to the parking lot and to my surprise there was a Jeep parked near the hidden staircase that leads to the back door.

I forgot that Todd owns a Jeep.

Anyway, after finding Todd, I went on a run to QT (one of the evils of the world) for some much needed coffee and some ice for Todd's cooler.

I returned and carried in some wood... I hate how people think I can't lift things because I can. In fact, my chest acts as a really nice shelf and aids in the carrying of heavy items... Possibly the only thing it's good for.

Zak, Nikki, Rachel and Scott showed up and we got to work. We built the set and erected it (teehee). Lots of work. Todd is a great teacher and leader. He works at a very fast pace while very laid back and easy going. His students are very lucky. We had a collection of sixties music which was played while we worked and we all brought in stuff to snack on. It wasn't a bad day. Tons got accomplished. It was very satisfying.

On Sunday, I stumbled out of bed and had to go to Sonic for some breakfast... They make a really great frozen coffee drink that is like ice cream... and also very bad for you, I'm sure. I met Scott and Todd at the Storage space and then Scott and I headed back to the theater while Todd stopped at Lowes for some more wood.

Nikki, Rachel, Zak, TLove, T.M., Ryan, Sparger, and (eventually) Lawson (Sorry if I missed someone... let me know) came in and we started the painting, as well as some more work on the set - like setting up the fire pole. Right now, everything is painted white... like a page in a coloring book. Next weekend, we're going to start coloring and adding in detail. It's going to look awesome.

I'm going to try to figure out how to add the pictures taken from my phone...


And tonight we ran the entire show. Matt the sound guy came in to watch... as well as Ken, our lighting designer. Ken's got some great ideas brewing... He brought up 4,000 xmas lights. I think he said 4,000. It was two boxes worth... I can't wait to see everything come together.

As for the space, I really like it. It's got a ton of seating but the audience is still very close. It's very open and the booth is nice. Two huge dressing rooms, each having it's own bathroom. I think this place will work very nicely.

Watching the show, or even just going to rehearsal, has been so good for me. I've been going through a lot of stupid shit at work, at home... At rehearsal, I'm able to step away from it all... In a way, I'm at a point in my life where I feel a lot like how Claude feels... Sort of re-evaluating your life. Seeing what's important. What makes you happy. What you want to do. I think being apart of Hair is helping me do that.

God knows what the outcome will be.

But anyway. This is my long post. More to come later. I'm going to bed.

With Love,
Blackout