Careers in Theatre

http://www.actingbiz.com/articles/first_steps_to_becoming_an_actor.php

I tried to look into some careers in the theatre that I would find interesting and/or fun. But the only thing I could see myself actually pursuing is acting. I found many articles that all said roughly the same thing; you need a good agent, you need acting classes, go to countless auditions. But I picked this article to share because I think it is one of the most realistic ones. This article explains that there are so set rules on how to become an actor. He explains that it's not difficult to be an actor, the difficult part is getting started. You have to sell yourself and make yourself presentable to all agents. After that, you need to start going to casting calls and grab the attention of all the people on the board. If you appeal to them you are more likely to get jobs. I know that pursuing a career in acting is one of the hardest things to do. For example, a doctor goes to school and learns how to treat patients; a lawyer goes to school and learns how to defend you; a teacher goes to school to learn subjects so that they can teach you in return; but an actor can go to school as well, but then needs to take additional classes, get an agent, go to auditions, take on a part-time job to make a little money, and after all of this they are still not guaranteed a job. It is a really risky business to get into but if it is something you love, there is nothing that should get in your way. But, you have to be extremely dedicated

I just want to say that whatever career choice you guys chose, I hope you go straight towards it and don't let anyone stop you. Whether it be acting, directing, stage managing, lighting director, choreographer, etc. I wish you all the best of luck!!!

RENT

RENT was by far the best show I have ever seen, or will ever see, in my entire life!!!!! After seeing the play twice, the movie to me seems like only a pathetic attempt to recount this amazing story. I think the reason people like it so much is because the music isn't your typical Broadway-type music with big dance sequences, each song has a meaning and a purpose for each of the characters. Also Jonathan Larson tackled a subject that many would have shied away from... AIDS. I think that people need to see RENT because it gives a look into the way that people actually live; it doesn't sugar coat anything for you. Productions that are out of the box turn out to be some of the best shows ever. Had RENT followed the same format as stereotypical musicals (Angel survived, they were all healed of AIDS, Mark and Maureen got back together, etc) then the show's message wouldn't have been conveyed at all!!!!!!
This musical shows people to live each day as your last and to appreciate life as it is.
Always remember... NO DAY BUT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pivotal shows

This first link is an article showing how big of an impact RENT had on the world.
http://www.angelfire.com/in2/everythingisrent/articles/newsweek4.html

http://www.angelfire.com/in2/everythingisrent/jon.html

"Rent is about a community celebrating life, in the face of death and AIDS, at the turn of the century."
That was Jonathon Larson's summation of RENT. I think the reason RENT was such a pivotal show was based on more than the fact that they tackled serious subjects. I think it had to do more with the music. Larson loved the theatre, but he didn't like the fact that Broadway was still using flashy songs and bright dance numbers. He believed that the music featured in musicals should be modern music that anybody would enjoy to listen to. He felt that people, like himself, would enjoy and appreciate the theatre more if they actually could stand the music being played. The second link explains why he wrote RENT and why he wrote it the way he did. Larson related to the story he wrote because he and his friends were living the life he wrote about. So, it was one thing for these events to happen in real life, but for someone to write about it and turn it into a musical to the whole world could peek into that lifestyle was another thing.

my costume and make-up plot???

In this blog we were supposed to write about how we feel about our costume and our make-up plot. But I haven't gotten either. I have no clue what my make-up is supposed to be. Am I going to have a darker color like I usually use when I'm on stage?? Am I going to have a lighter color because I'm supposed to be dead and transparent?? Or am I going to have ANY make-up on??
All I know about my costume is that it's supposed to be white, because all the Ancestors will be in white. I also know that the costume will be long enough so that it doesn't show my arms or legs. But, other than that I have no clue. Sydney will have a button up shirt with black tie things and a long skirt, Tisa will be wearing a long old-fashioned-looking dress, and Bethany will be wearing a robe. But nothing for me!! Ms. Kris was talking about giving me what she was going to give Andrew, but was not certain. His costume was a white shirt and pajama pants (can you say "comfortable!!") But, nothing was written in stone (sorry I had to do it!). I'm not sure than my costume will help with my character very much. I do hope I'm wrong and that it does help because I could use some serious help!! I don't think it will help because it is basically a white robe... how is that supposed to help me be more sarcastic and uncaring!?!
If someone knows how a white robe can be portrayed as sarcastic then please comment this and let me know, or at least tell me on Monday!!!

Shrek the Musical

Shrek the Musical uses make-up as a central part of the story. No make-up, no Shrek, no story, no show... that's how important make-up is for Shrek the Musical. But it is not like a show such as Cats where all the characters rely on make-up, in this one only one character relies on make-up, but the make-up is central to the show. If you go to this link you can see pictures and videos of Shrek's make-up.
http://www.broadway.com/Shrek-The-Musical/broadway_show/559922
His make-up gives the whole reason why he is feared and ridiculed, which is the whole point of Shrek!! And also some of the pictures show the citizens of Duloc, and they too have special make-up, thought not as severe as Shrek. They must be made to look doll-like, so have extremely rosy cheeks and their lips are bright red... even the guys!!
I think make-up isn't that important to our play. I don't think ALL the characters need to be made to look Chinese because that's not important to the play itself. The main people looking Chinese should be the Fa family and the Bridesmaids because those are the main people who wear traditional Chinese clothing. But, it wouldn't hurt if all the characters' make-up was Chinese, I just think it isn't crucial to the show as it is crucial to Shrek.

Finishing Touches

There is more to theatre than just acting and directing. Imagine if you went to see the Lion King and you see a bunch of people jumping around... in their regular everyday clothes without any choreography, make-up, props, costumes, or a set???? Yeah, that would be a pretty BAD show!! To make a show work you need more than just actors and directors; you need to have people that will labor and make the set, find and sew costumes, choreograph a dance, and so much more. What would have happened if we went and saw STOMP and that show was produced without a choreographer!! WOW!! Or if the people in charge of the set had not went out and found those interesting pieces!! That show would be nothing compared to what it was when we saw it.
I think all the technical aspects of our show are coming together well. We have most of the costumes and we also have the cherry blossom tree painted. My favorite costumes are the bridesmaids' because they are imported from China and they look really cute on all of the girls! The main problem area I find in our show is that we have only 3 days left to put on the show; before we have an actual audience. And I still have no costume, the stones aren't hung, the set such as the stone Mushu stands on aren't ready. But, after High School Musical I believe that anything can happen in a short period of time, so there is definitely hope for us.
But if any of the set pieces were missing, or the lighting was not right, or the sound cues were off that would distract from the actors on stage and the story unfolding. So, I really hope that everything comes together nicely.

Reaction to Peter Pan!!

Peter Pan was amazing!! I had extremely low expectations for it because a.) I had never liked the movie or the music and b.) the last production I saw at that theatre was a completer flop. So, it could be that the reason I loved it so much was because my expectations were so low, or simply because it was a really good show. There were a few things that I didn't like though; for example Peter Pan had at least 2 visible tattoos, which is not something you find commonly on a child who doesn't want to grow up. I think they could have at least used make up to cover them. Another thing I didn't like was Tinker Bell, she was just a green shadow-like fairy that always faced one direction; so it looked like she was flying backwards at times. I would have made Tinker Bell a simple yellow dot or circle, that way it wouldn't make a difference which direction she was moving. I also did not like the make-up they used on Hook, it seemed as if they tried to make him look scary, but it just made him look weird. I did love the set though. The colors in the children's room was different and unique, and other set pieces such as Peter Pan's house and the forest really stood out. I also liked the Indians dances, even though it seemed weird that they were randomly dancing in the forest when they could be doing something productive...
I think this show did great with the lighting. They took full advantage of the fact that this show is supposed to be magical by the lighting they used. They didn't simply use different colors, they also used different designs that were reflected on the parts of the stage that there was magic or that Peter Pan was entering in. So, this show only strengthened my love for the lighting used in theatre.