Good Days in Memphis

All is well in Memphis.  I got my financial aid reimbursement yesterday, so I’m all squared away in that respect.  School projects have yet to pile up.  I am assistant sound designing the musical and assistant lighting designing a play this semester as well as doing lights for a smaller production this week.

The surprising thing is that work in the scene shop is going very well.  I’ve included process photos of Jay and myself building a cabinet.  Who knew I could build a cabinet!

Kick Plate

Putting on the Facing

Memphis: Preliminary report

Things are good.

Roommates seem very nice.  One is a TD/Props Designer and the other is a Costumer and we all three get along very well.  Sweet little Siamese named Chi Chi.  House is cool.  I have the upstairs to myself for now, pending a possible fourth roommate.  I still have yet to find a bed, but I’m thinking a Futon is what I really want.  Where do you buy one?

I’m very excited about the program.  Apparently I’m NOT the worst carpenter who has ever worked in the scene shop.  I’m going to find out ASAP about teaching opportunities.  We started work in the shop yesterday and classes start Monday.

My mailing address:

995 Patterson Cove

Memphis, TN 38111

What next?

Just FYI, I am looking at grad schools and summer and/or fall jobs.  My top pick:

U. of Memphis – M.F.A. in Lighting and Sound Design

Second:

WVU: MFA in Lighting Design

How I Know I’m in the Right Place

Tonight was the Christmas Eve party at Nan’s house.  To say that it was very pleasant is an gross understatement.  I spent half an hour talking to the technical director of Ballet Florida, whose production of the Nutcracker I saw last night.  I told him about my interest in lighting dance and he gave me advice about getting work with dance companies.  He also told stories about John Cage, who he apparently knew well.

After dinner,  I sat on the verranda with a number of people discussing quantum physics and its philosophical implications.  Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

First few weeks in Florida

It’s week three at Florida Stage and I love it here.  So far, I’ve worked in the scene shop and with the sound designer.  I suspect I’ll be with lights next.  Not much to tell.  The company is great and the interns all get along very well.  The weather is beautiful, of course.

My only real gripe is that we don’t have internet at home yet, but the company manager is working on it.

Brief update

Things are very good.  Stupid Children’s show is almost over.  Things will be even better then.

Going to bed now. Bless.

Computer problems

So the reason I haven’t communicated in two weeks is that my computer freaked out and I couldn’t get online at all. Also, these two weeks have been really weird and stressful. We had two people resign and we had extra matinees plus photo call AND we started building the children’s show. All within one week. Sorry. Oh, and tomorrow starts another changeover.

Changeover #2

The next changeover starts tonight. Talk to you in a week.

P.S. Thanks for the pennies from heaven.

Geocaching with Becky

Geocaching is like a worldwide scavenger hunt where you find hidden containers hidden all over the place and you take something out, put something in and sign a log inside.  It’s tons of fun.  My friend Becky introduced me to it yesterday.  I found a happy meal toy from 1988.  I’m sure this is how I’ll be spending a lot of my free time this summer.  It gets you outside, makes you exercise and  is great quality  time.  My advice: try it.

Every show is like raising a child.

At the beginning, you stay up all night to make sure it survives. You try to control everything about it so that it will succeed, but you can’t possibly. You’re glad when it’s not dependent on you anymore, because it takes all your time, energy and money. You weep when it fails, and you get drunk when it succeeds.

P.S. On Saturday during strike, I finally made it to the very top of the ladder. Eleven weeks suddenly didn’t seem so long.