Summer Farewell

The wind blew cold,
Autumn was coming with red and gold.
I had lots to do,
The days grew shorter I knew it was true.
-By Eve Neuhart (in fifth grade)

Yesterday was my last day of summer and my final Midsummer Night's Dream performance. I've had a very good summer and although I'm sad that it's over, I also feel like I accomplished a lot. I have grown so much. I am more confident of who I am.
The play was extremely fun and it was so sad saying goodbye to all my new fairy friends! I hope I can do it again next year. I already miss hearing the lines from on stage while I sit playing cards backstage. The "Oh"s and "But what say I, no Thisby do I see!"s. It was such a fun experience!
Theatricum has taught me so much over the years, but never as much as this year. I learned more about acting and Shakespeare, as well as how to play the flute in front of people. It is a home away from home to me, and I know it will always be that way. My directors and teachers are my family I feel like I can trust them and their judgement. Overall, I just feel so thankful to Theatricum for all it has done for me over the years! I'd be a different person if not for it, and I highly doubt that person would be anywhere as good as the me of today. Thank you so much for all you've done, my directors, teachers, student, and most of all Theatricum, , the place, for welcoming me into your branches.
Goodbye lovely summer. I will not forget you in a hurry. Welcome autumn. Welcome school, tenth grade and the rest of my life. Welcome, and goodbye.

Taming of the Shrew

Yesterday was our first performance of "Taming of the Shrew". I was really nervous because I play the flute on stage and I was afraid I was going to mess up, but it turned out far better than I could have imagined!

For the past couple weeks we have been working on the play. I could imagine putting on a play in such a short amount of time. A bunch of my friends from the other camp were in the play, and it was nice to get to act with them. There were also new people who were really nice as well.

I think it was one of the most fun plays I've ever done. Aaron, our director, let us have a lot of fun with it. We had an "orchestra" where we did a bunch of sounds through-out the play. Drums, tambourines, whistles, flutes, glasses, you name it. I also really enjoyed my part. It was a good size and I had a lot of fun scenes. I ran around a lot, and I got to act along side a good actress, and a really nice person. Sarah and I were in every scene together. It was really neat watching her, for she is really funny! I had a scene with Ventana, even though it was holding her down during a fight. We also got to do a little dance in the beginning of the show. I had a couple scenes with my friend Julia which I enjoyed a lot. In all, it was just a really great experience.

The performance went amazingly well. Everyone remembered their lines, and everyone's characters were defined and funny. Everyone who saw it seemed to like it! My flute solo, for our wedding scene, went better than ever. Of course there were a few mess ups in the show, but I don't think the audience noticed. I think everyone had a great time, and I'm looking forward to our next show on Saturday, the 23rd.

I miss everyone already and it has only been one day. I can't imagine saying goodbye to everyone after Saturday. I have made so many friends and I get along with everyone. I love you all so much!

More pictures are coming soon!

Scenes and Monologs

Yesterday we had our performance of the scenes and monologue high school group at Theatricum. Camp was really different than the previous years, and yet it was still really fun! I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. It was a good mix of fun theater games, Shakespearean life and vocal warm ups.

I didn't know anything about the play "Twelfth Night" from which my monologue is from. I had heard that it was a fun play and I was excited to work on my monologue. We found out that we would be spilt into three groups for our monologues, each would be working with a different director. I would be working with Aaron, which I was reasonably happy about. I've had Aaron as a fencing teacher for many years now. He's one of the teachers that I've known the longest. We started out by reading our monologues on stag in front of everyone else in our group. I was un-happy that Ventana was not in my group, but I was also looking forward to getting to know new people. I began to read the monologue the way I thought I would be said, in a sort of comedic, storytelling way. Aaron stopped me and asked if I knew what the monologue was about. In the end, it turned out that it was in the opposite direction as how I had originally interpreted it.

I was extremely excited to work on my scene, not only because Ventana was in my group, but also because my director was Mike, who is probably my favorite director. He did our last two plays in the youth camp, which have both been great. We all read threw our scenes, then began to block them. It was harder than I expected. I didn't seem to have enough emotion. Besides, my partner was nowhere near the man of my dreams. It was challenging, to say the least. And then there was Mike, he was still my favorite, but he wasn't as cheerful and friendly as before. He was in a bad mood.

We continued to work on the scenes and monologues. The later was going very well, Aaron said I was doing great and I felt good about it. My scene was the opposite. My partner Max would spit when he talked and it often times landed on my face. He would get to close and I would have to step back, which didn't work when I was supposed to love him. Mike's bad mood continued, and over all, it wasn't quite going according to plan. Ventana was also having trouble with her scene. She didn't like her partner Brogan at all, and she had to get thrown to the ground, which she didn't enjoy.

As the weeks past, I made some great friends, old and new. I have known Corinne since we did "Shakespeare's Magic" six years ago, but this is the first year I became good friends with her. We get along really well. She's really nice and likes to talk, which is nice on those mornings when all you want to do is listen. Since she loves to bake she decided to bring different cookies everyday to camp. She brought tons of tasty treats like apple oatmeal cookies, or Russian tea cakes, or chocolate cookies cooked around a Hersey's kiss. They were all very very yummy. I can't wait to visit her bakery once she gets one!

Another friend I made was Julia. I first I thought Julia was one of the annoying girls who I never get along with, but I soon got to know her and found that I got along with her quite well. She is really sweet and has a gentle way about her. Although she is going into twelfth grade, she didn't feel any older. She was in my scene group and soon we became good friends. She to had a scene partner who she was not very happy about. I'm happy because Julia is in Taming of the Shrew with me, so I will see her again soon!

In the end, all is well that ends well.

We had a great performance. I did my scene better than ever and my monologue was very good! I had a ton of fun and I will miss everyone a lot!

The Taming of the Shrew

On Wednesday after camp, Ventana and I auditioned for the High School Repertory Play, the Taming of the Shrew. I was really really nervous, but I did well, and it turned out to be a lot of fun. On Saturday while I was staying with my grandparents, I got a call from Ventana saying she had received her part. She would be playing the widow and a hostess. I didn't know what to do. Since I wasn't be home, I wouldn't get the call. What should I do?
I decided I would call mom in San Diego and have her listen to the messages on the home phone. She called me back and informed me that yes, there was a call from the director saying I would be playing the part Viendello. At least, that's what I thought she said. I thanked my mom and dashed to a computer to look up my character. I stared at the list of characters, mine wasn't there. I asked my dad why that could be. "She must have said this one and you heard wrong." He pointed to a character called "Biondello." That was it! That was my character!
We had our first rehearsal on Monday after camp. It was very fun, but since it went until six, it got rather chilly.
I have a good part. He is a sassy servant, which is fun and challenging. Anyways, I'm very happy with the part I got and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, when we'll have another rehearsal!

Horsey Adventures

Last Wednesday mom and Greg set off for the San Diego Comic Con, leaving me to stay with Ventana. At Ventana's house I had no Internet so thus I was unable to put up a post a day. I'm sorry. I will begin putting things up starting today. If I had had the chance, I would have posted about all the fun I had with her. So much happened that I hardly know where to begin!

After camp on Wednesday, I went home with V (Ventana) . She needed to ride her horse, Quincy, so I accompanied her. I watched as she rode, then she offered to give me a "pony ride." I haven't ridden a horse in years, so I was a little nervous, but once I got on, I had a ball. V lead us up and down hills and we even got to trot a little! It was very very fun! That night we went out to dinner with her cousin. After we ordered, we waited for a free table. I noticed that one table looked as though it might be ready soon. A man sat at it reading a script. In surprise, I realized that the man was a character on Lost. He played a psychic on the show, his part was small, but big enough for me to recognize him. I didn't know what to do, so I just stared at him. I must have looked really weird for he kept looking over at me. He ended up leaving and we sat at his table.

Anyways, I got to ride Quincy another day and I had a great time staying with Ventana. I hope I can do it again sometime!

Photo of the Day: The Blue Air

I took this last summer, but I really like it and I think it is fitting as we're in summer! Last year after Theatricum one day, Ventana, Taylor and I went to swim at the "mermaid pool" which is by Ventana's house. It is a wonderful house and pool, very exotic looking. Anyways, I brought my dads underwater-camera along and we took a bunch of pictures underwater. This one turned out really really good in my opinion. Ventana and Taylor sat on the edge of the pool and leaned backwards into it. I went underwater and snapped the picture. I accidentally took it upside-down, but I think it looks better that way! It was very fun and I have a bunch of really great photos! 

Beginning Theatricum 2008

Yesterday (july 7th) was the first day of the High School Intensive Program at Theatricum Botanicum. When I woke up, excitement rushed through my veins. Me and My would be carpooling with another girl, Mallin, who I had never met and I was anxious to meet her. It turned out she extremely nice. We were the first ones to camp. We entered the main theater, turned in our paperwork and waited for everyone else to arrive. I didn't recognize anyone except a guy named Mark who I worked with a couple years ago. Then I saw Corinne. She had been in 5 out the 6 plays I did in the youth program. It's really great to have her there! Once Ventana arrived, Theatricum had truly started once again. The day went very very good. We played tons of games, did improv. I did a skit a really fun skit where I was in a kitchen with my husband and there was an omelet on the floor. We started doing the skit then someone would call out an emotion for either me or him and mid-sentence we would have to assume that emotion and make it fit with the scene. It was really fun! Everyone is extremely nice and I feel like and I have something to talk about with all of them.

This year we'll each be doing a scene with a partner and a monolog on our own. I received the part of Viola for my monolog (from the play Twelfth Night) the speech is called "the Ring Speech" and it is a really good one. In my scene I play Miranda from the Tempest with this guy named Max. I am really happy with my character, but annoyed about having Max as my partner because he is a little weird to be perfectly honest. I'm sure it will work out for the best though!

Anyways, I had a really great first day, and I'm sure the rest will be just as good!

Today (july 9th) was my second day. It was also a lot of fun, but it was extremely hot. This was made even worse because we were in a dusty lot doing Elizabethan dancing. It was unbearable at some times, but I lived through it! We had two new people join our group today. Now we have a group of 23 people. It was another fun day, we played more games, drew pictures of our voice and learned a ton about Elizabethan life! We also got to play Scorpion, a game which I used to dislike, but I now enjoy. In the game you divid up into two groups one in a circle on the outside and the rest in the middle. All the people it the middle close their eyes and a "scorpion" is chosen. All the insiders move around the circle, if the scorpion touches anyone they must make a buzzing sound and that person joins the "wall" (outside circle). It was really really exciting! I look forward to Friday when we'll play more games and I'll get to see all of my new friends again!

Pictures: Loves Labors Lost

I just started receiving pictures from my play this summer, Loves Labors Lost. I will be posting them as I get them.
The Shakespearian story deals with four young men, three of which; Berowne, Dumaine and Longaville, have sworn to study with King Ferdinand and not see women for three years time. The Princess of France and her ladies; Rosaline, Maria and Katherine, have come to visit the King. Thus, the King must adjust his sworn vow. Soon, the four ladies have fallen for the men, and the lords have fallen for the ladies. In another part of the city, a country maid, Jaquenetta, is being fought over by two men; Don Adrinano; a spaniard, and Costard; a clown. Berowne gives Costard a letter to be sent to lady Rosaline, and Don Adrinano gives him a letter for Jaquenetta. The letters are switched by accident; Rosaline gets Jaquenetta's letter. Jaquenetta takes Rosalines letter to the king because it was from Berowne. Meanwhile, Berowne catches the other lords reading letters that they were going to send the ladies. While he is accusing them, Jaquenetta walks in with proof that he has also broken his vow. The four men decide to go after the ladies. While this is going on, Don Adrinano is asked to put on a play for the king. He asks Holofernes, a scholar, and Sir Nathaniel to help him, both agree.
The Princess of France finds out from her servant, Boyet, that the king and his men are coming to see them dressed as Russians. In true Shakespearian fashion, the princess decides to play with them by switching masks with Rosaline so the men will be with the wrong women. The other ladies do the same; Maria switches with Kathrine. When the men arrive they dance with the ladies and leave. The ladies quickly change masks when the men re-appear in their own shapes. The ladies tell them about the silly Russians who were just with them and the men give up, they confess to the prank. The ladies likewise confess to switching identities. Don Adrinanos play is put on and half way through it a fight breaks out between himself and Costard concerning Jaquenetta. The fight is cut short, how ever, with the sad news of the princess' fathers death. The ladies tell the men that they will reunite with them in a years time, causing the end of the play. In my opinion, it is a strange ending. It is said that the second part of the play was destroyed in the Globe fire in London.
Before the presentation of the play Ventana and I did a fencing demo which is illustrated with photos to your right.
Ventana played Jaquenetta, my friend Jasmine the Princess, Taylor was Rosaline, Ivy Sir Nathaniel, and I was the King.

Loves Labors Lost

This summer I attended the youth drama program at Theatricum Botanicum. It was my 6th year there and I was in the oldest group, we did the play Loves Labors Lost. Every year I did the camp with one of my best friends Ventana, and for the last 5 years my friend Taylor. The first day of camp is always hectic, running around, not know if you'll be with your friends or what group you'll be in. I had heard from a friend before camp that we would be doing the play Much Ado About Nothing, but alas, she was mistaken. Even though I did not want to do the play Loves Labors Lost I was put in the group with all my friends, so it wasn't too bad. On the first day of camp our director, Mike told us that he would be gone for the rest of the week, so of course there was be a substitute director who would cast the play. That first week, my friends Jasmine, Ivy (left), Shanon, Ventana, Taylor and I eagerly awaited the next week when we would have our parts.
After the longest weekend in history, the day came. After a painfully slow Fencing class I was cast as the one part I did not want; King Ferdinand #2 (the part was split in half), I also had the part of Forester. Ivy and Ventana also did not receive the part they had wished for, Ivy was giving Sir Nathaniel; a priest. Ventana was given the part of Jaquenetta; a country wench, which in my mind was a great part. After a week of unhappiness we gave in to the part, and I began to like my part after all. After the learning of lines was finished, the fun began. I found out that I had to do a "bad" Russian accent. This was a challenge, something really hard. Even up to the last minute I was still practicing it.
Week 3 was uneventful, we rehearsed, and rehearsed, and rehearsed some more. The first day of week 4 we found out that Eliav, who played the clown, had been in a skateboard accident and broke his nose, hand, and 3 teeth. What would we do? Mike offered the part of the understudy to Ivy. Ivy took the roll happy to not be Sir Nathaniel anymore, only to find that Eliav would be back for the show. The last week of camp came and went, and finally the sad and happy day came; our performance. The play went very well, though the audience I don't think got some of the jokes. I was VERY sad that it was over, but happy too that all the work paid off. This year was good, and the play was one of the best, I think we could have done better though. Saying goodbye to everyone was sad, but I'm sure I'll see them all soon.

Theatricum Botanicum