SO WHAT'S MY EXCUSE THIS TIME?
The summer got away from me, as summers always do. After the spring show at our local theatre wrapped, I made a promise to myself not to even audition for another show for a while. If you missed the last post (which I am sort of embarrassed to admit was in April) I was made understudy for a lead role in a play in the spring. I didn't need to go on, but I became good friends with the lady who had the role itself, and overall had a great time.
And what happened next was, I was asked to assistant direct a fall show. I've been curious about directing and whether it would be a good fit for me, and the director in question is someone I want to work with before he retires from directing. Silly me, I forgot that an early fall show goes into production in the middle of summer!
To add to that, it's my daughter's last summer of high school. She's going to be a senior, which means graduation, and then college. And she has made it clear that she wants to go on campus away from the crazy people in this house. Just to clarify we are crazy people whom she dearly loves, but she's about ready to try life without us as a constant presence. This year she's in four choirs (one of which is a show choir), color guard (flag twirling) and band (not marching, or she couldn't do color guard).
Somehow I got promoted to co-director, which is nice. And there is so much work involved in directing a show. I've been performing since I was a young child, so I'm fine being on a stage. This not being on it is different.
PLOT TWIST
The director I was initially working with had to withdraw from the show for health reasons and another veteran director in the group stepped up. Like the original director, this one is someone I get along well with, and as we've worked together we've found we have so much in common that it's probably going to freak people out by the time the show opens. We occasionally say the exact same thing at the exact same time. She's become a close friend and a mentor for me.
Turns out I have some decent directing instincts, and I am enjoying the process so far. But between the show, trying to spend what time I can with my daughter, and depression threatening to rear its unattractive head again, it's been a lot.
DETOUR/SIDE PLOT
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I wrote a new song and entered a local talent competition. It was styled on The Gong Show. I took second place singing my brand new song. I've written another song since then, in a completely different style.
SO WHAT'S NEXT?
I've been asked if I want to direct next year, and my answer is that it depends. First the timing is important. There will be so much going on in the spring with my daughter's graduation, and I'd kind of like to hibernate all summer if possible (I practically do that anyway). And it also depends on the show. I know me. If I'm not interested in the story, I won't be a good choice to direct it.
After the fall show is over I want to spend some real time working on my music and yes, my writing. My poor Vikings are silently languishing in the first-and-a-half draft. North Pole Confidential has probably been sending me dirty looks from the hard drive. And I've actually met some people who have had wonderful and supportive things to say about my talents. If life will cooperate a little more, I may even finish something before the year is out.
Thank you for reading,
Kate
The summer got away from me, as summers always do. After the spring show at our local theatre wrapped, I made a promise to myself not to even audition for another show for a while. If you missed the last post (which I am sort of embarrassed to admit was in April) I was made understudy for a lead role in a play in the spring. I didn't need to go on, but I became good friends with the lady who had the role itself, and overall had a great time.
And what happened next was, I was asked to assistant direct a fall show. I've been curious about directing and whether it would be a good fit for me, and the director in question is someone I want to work with before he retires from directing. Silly me, I forgot that an early fall show goes into production in the middle of summer!
To add to that, it's my daughter's last summer of high school. She's going to be a senior, which means graduation, and then college. And she has made it clear that she wants to go on campus away from the crazy people in this house. Just to clarify we are crazy people whom she dearly loves, but she's about ready to try life without us as a constant presence. This year she's in four choirs (one of which is a show choir), color guard (flag twirling) and band (not marching, or she couldn't do color guard).
Somehow I got promoted to co-director, which is nice. And there is so much work involved in directing a show. I've been performing since I was a young child, so I'm fine being on a stage. This not being on it is different.
PLOT TWIST
The director I was initially working with had to withdraw from the show for health reasons and another veteran director in the group stepped up. Like the original director, this one is someone I get along well with, and as we've worked together we've found we have so much in common that it's probably going to freak people out by the time the show opens. We occasionally say the exact same thing at the exact same time. She's become a close friend and a mentor for me.
Turns out I have some decent directing instincts, and I am enjoying the process so far. But between the show, trying to spend what time I can with my daughter, and depression threatening to rear its unattractive head again, it's been a lot.
DETOUR/SIDE PLOT
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I wrote a new song and entered a local talent competition. It was styled on The Gong Show. I took second place singing my brand new song. I've written another song since then, in a completely different style.
SO WHAT'S NEXT?
I've been asked if I want to direct next year, and my answer is that it depends. First the timing is important. There will be so much going on in the spring with my daughter's graduation, and I'd kind of like to hibernate all summer if possible (I practically do that anyway). And it also depends on the show. I know me. If I'm not interested in the story, I won't be a good choice to direct it.
After the fall show is over I want to spend some real time working on my music and yes, my writing. My poor Vikings are silently languishing in the first-and-a-half draft. North Pole Confidential has probably been sending me dirty looks from the hard drive. And I've actually met some people who have had wonderful and supportive things to say about my talents. If life will cooperate a little more, I may even finish something before the year is out.
Thank you for reading,
Kate
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