I am oh so sorry my beloved Blogspot, but I have switched to a different domain. Perhaps I will still use you every once in a while. But I cannot make any promises.

So until then I am on 

HIATUS.

To be honest, I cannot wait until I get out of here. Everything is happening in The City. One more year to go. I am determined to get 20 credits done next quarter. Even if it means taking courses with despicable professors. Fall 2010 is the date. Then after a few years of that, LA here I come. Until then, I need to drown myself in optimism to get through life here.

Here is a snippet of the review in your weekly Metro for I Am My Own Wife:

"CHARLOTTE VON MAHLSDORF, the subject of I Am My Own Wife, now playing at San Jose Stage Company, was a gay transvestite who lived openly during the reign of the Stasi, East Germany's feared secret police. Mahlsdorf's story includes the murder of her abusive and alcoholic Nazi father when she was just 15 and still known by her given male name of Lothar Berfelde; the escape from prison for that crime during a Russian air raid toward the end of World War II; and a lifelong passion for antique furniture, phonographs and recordings. Oh, and for most of her adult life, she went about her business looking every bit a man in a dress, seemingly heedless of the danger it could cause her in was what perhaps the Soviet bloc's most ruthless regime.

Playwright Doug Wright brings this complicated and singular life to the stage by telling the story of how he, a gay man who grew up in the Bible Belt, got to know and befriend Mahlsdorf after the fall of the Berlin Wall. From 1993 to 1995, Wright made numerous extended trips to Germany to interview Mahlsdorf.

For most of that time, Mahlsdorf struck Wright as a heroic figure, and the play conveys his sense of wonder and admiration for this independent-minded woman. But in the course of his research, Wright got his hands on a copy of Mahlsdorf's Stasi file, which appeared to reveal that complicity with the police and betrayal of her best friend was the price Mahlsdorf was willing to pay to preserve her unique freedoms in that oppressive society."

I must say that this one man show was spectacular. I was in awe by the actor who could portray so many characters in one scene, and make the audience believe it as well. The set was gorgeous. The silhouette walls and the behind-the-scenes "museum" was quite the sight to see. This production opened my eyes to how the art in acting in a live production is so wonderfully exquisite. For film and television there are many takes and do-overs on end, whilst during a play, there is only room for perfection and nothing less. 

Oh, how I sure do miss being on stage. It is only a matter of time though. Persevere. 

This past week has been pretty... unpredictable. But fun, nonetheless. Still need to stay focused though. Next quarter consists of 5 courses, 20 units. But I should be able to get through it. I just realized this morning on my way to being late to work that my first year of college is 2/3 done. Practically. Another year and I am off to San Francisco! Which I am thoroughly excited for. 

As for something to be excited about sooner, the first half of tomorrow I am taking myself to see I Am My Own Wife*, a one man show playing 30 different characters at the San Jose Stage Theatre. Expect a review tomorrow night. This is for my theatre appreciation class of course, but since it is required I might as well use it as my monthly show. 

I am considering another tattoo. A small one on my hand/wrist. Whoever said once you get your first tattoo you'll just want more and more is correct. Tattoos are an addiction. But it has such a negative stigma upon itself when it's just a work of art. I have a feeling if I can somehow convince my mom to let me get it beyond all miracles, it would be something I would regret later in life. For now, it is just a thought in the back of my mind. To the right is a picture of one of my favorite cherry blossom tattoos found on an image hosting site.

Trying to unlock the areas in your mind that majority of the world have never attempted is difficult. What I am doing now is working on my memory and controlling cravings. First step: Food. Once I can do that, I might start doing something addictive for a month like smoking and quit. No, this is not an excuse to smoke. I just really want to test myself and my head to see if I am mentally capable of overcoming addictions. The mind is such a magnificent thing often overlooked. The way I see it, the more you unlock it, the more about yourself you will discover and the more control over your life you will have. It's The Secret. 

*For more information on this production, or if you are interested in watching or finding out more about any theatre, music, art, or other means of entertainment, go to:

Artsopolis

Source for Silicon Valley Entertainment

It came to my attention that my mother does not believe I will make it as an actress. And I understand why, many people would not believe it either. She is supporting me though, letting me pursue it even though she has doubts. To her, I am just studying something I want to study simply because I like the subject. And perhaps she half hopes for me to change my mind again and switch majors. However, that will definitely not happen. 

I am extremely passionate about what I want to do with the rest of my life. And in a world where your dreams will be picked at constantly by thoughts of failure, I cannot afford to think that I will not make it. I do not have a back-up plan because the idea of having something to fall back on only leaves room for doubt. I have no doubt. Whether I make it big or not is of my concern. Whatever may happen will become so and I will deal with the rewards or consequences as they occur. 

So to my readers, friends, future acquaintances: do not bother asking me if I have anything in mind just in case I do not make it. Because I will. Now you do not have to believe it as much as I do, but just know that my optimism is impenetrable. And one day, you will see me shine.

My ever-so-trust worthy Bay Area Theatre Bums digest had an audition announcement for A Midsummer Night's Dream in San Jose. It is definitely a production I am interested in. But I am not sure if I want to audition for the reason of being unprepared for one. Perhaps I can just audition to be a fairy, just so that I can be a part of the theatre again and to see the workings of a professional production. Oh how I do miss being on stage. 

As a side note, here's a list of monologues I am in the process of memorizing and perfecting for future auditions:

Classical, Comic - The Misanthrope by Moliere

Classical, Dramatic - The Prince of Parthia by Thomas Godfrey

Classical Dramatic - Sudden Light by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Contemporary Dramatic - Dear Chuck by Jonathan Dorf

Contemporary Seriocomic - Drinking and Driving by David Epstein

Contemporary Dramatic - Imagine This by Alexander Speer

Contemporary Comic - And Now a Word From Our Sponsor by Clinton A. Johnson

"I feel like there are territories within us that are totally unknown. Huge, mysterious, and dangerous territories. We think we know ourselves, when we really know only this little bitty part. We have this social person that we present to each other. We have all these galaxies inside of us. And if we don't enter those in art... whether it's play-writing, or painting, or music, or whatever, then I don't understand the point in doing anything."

- Sam Shepard, Playwright.