Jo Broin' It

Just thought I'd point out that while having a super sexy sleepover with Vince and Allison, we found the Jonas Brothers on chatroulette. Yeah...

Taming a Few Shrews

I had a school project where I figured a scene I did last year for drama class would fit perfectly.  I used Act 2 Scene 1 from The Taming of the Shrew.  Last week I stopped by my old high school so I could film the scene with my lovely friend Delaney.  Here is that video:


A shout-out to Stew for taking the time out of his day to film this for us. Thanks!

A Balancing Act

Went into work on Sunday to help Mr. Mirenda figure out some stuff concerning how to get power to some lighting fixtures on the set pieces.  For the past several weeks, Mr. Mirenda has been working on set pieces and entire walls that will be flown up into the rafters of the theater.  Below is one such wall:

This thing weighs something like 1,300 lbs.  It's pretty massive.  The top half isn't finished yet, but when it is, it'll look amazing.  There are two sconce lights on the walls (one of them is lit on stage left).  We decided that we would run cables behind the wall and up to the baton at the top.  From there, the cables will run along the baton and up to the loading gallery located way up high above stage left.  We will be doing the same thing for a couple of lights that will be flown in for the speakeasy scene.  Here is another piece of set Mr. Mirenda and his guys have been busy tinkering away on.

It is a set of "all too necessary" jail cells for the jailhouse scene.  You can kind of see the elevator set on the very left side of the screen.  So far there are just a lot of half finished sets, but they look stellar so far. I will hopefully be going into rehearsal later this week to see a few numbers and scenes so I can make sure I can be ready to hang and focus lights when all our equipment comes in next week.  I have a lot of work ahead of me!

I've been monitoring my behavior

So after wanting one for a while and doing a ton of research, I finally decided to get a monitor for my computer.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my MacBook Pro, but frankly, the 13.3" screen gets a little frustrating to use all of the time when I have so many applications open (Skype, Tweetie, Chrome/Safari, iTunes, etc.).  But now, I can have everything I want to have open, and still have all of the room I need to see everything.  Basically, using my computer at home just got a thousand times more enjoyable!

Marcy Park: Recent Transfer

My good friend Lexie will be staring as Marcy Park in the upcoming production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMTSJ).  This show is hilarious and so much fun to watch!  Everyone needs to come see it because it will be amazing!  Buy tickets now at CMTSJ's website.  "I speak six languages!"

Every Little Step

Went to work on Saturday and got caught up on how things are running tech-wise with Mr. Mirenda, a dad of a student at St. Francis who builds the sets every year.  Him and I sat down and discussed several options and ideas that we both have for set ideas.  Basically we will be having one backdrop of a city skyline that will be flown in on the very back wall that way I can light it using my cyc lights.

We will also be having large window frames flown in for all of the office scenes.  Here is a sketch done by Delaney.  She helps design the set for all the shows.  She's got crazy talent.

She's also come up with a great piece of set for the laundry room scenes that when turned around will double as the set for the lobby of the Hotel Priscilla.

Set for the laundry room scenes.

The lobby set piece.

From there, we will also have another set of windows that will fly in for the party scene at Muzzy's estate.  Again, a gorgeous set idea set forth by the fabulous Delaney.

And lastly, Mr. Mirenda has provided us with two dimmer switches that will be used for those Source Four Follow Spots that I have been craving.  These things are perfect and exactly what I was looking for! All I will need to do is switch out their plugs with stage pins and we are all set.  A shout out to Mr. Mirenda for being such a superstar!

Boulder Baby!

So I just got back from a kick-ass weekend in Boulder, CO visiting my best bud Vince (@timbe2).  Vince showed me around the school, and I have got to say, this is one gorgeous campus! Absolutely stunning.  And the backdrop of the flatirons just makes it all the more dramatic and beautiful.

Probably the best part of the trip was that it snowed almost the whole time!  Last time I saw snow was in Ashland, OR just about a year ago for the Shakespeare Festival.  And the last time I lived in the snow was when I lived in North Carolina 9 years ago.  It was great to see some real snow again!

That's the view from Vince's dorm room.  We spent all of our time either in his dorm or out and about in the lovely city of Boulder, CO.  I also got to meet a bunch of Vince's friends, who rock! Some of the coolest people I've met.  

While Vince was showing me around campus, we made a stop at the bookstore and he got me this sick water bottle. Thanks dude!

Overall, it was some of the most fun I've had all year. Thanks again man for letting me come visit my best bud!

In unrelated news, my multi-tool/keychain came in from ThinkGeek.com.  I think it's pretty snazzy!

"Stranded at the drive-in. Branded a fool..."

So I arrived bright and early at the airport for my 8 AM flight to Denver International only to find that the flight was delayed by three hours (so far).  In my boredom, I wrote a poem:

As I laid myself to sleep,

I prayed to God my flight would keep

It’s promised departure time.

But little did I know

There would be heavy snow;

The bane of my stupid airline.

So here I sit against this wall,

Is there anything I can do at all

To get me to my point B.

Whether by planes, trains, or automobiles,

I will take up any of these deals.

By land, by air, or by sea. 

But then I must accept

That there is nothing I can do quite yet,

But face the boredom; my final foe.

So here I still sit and wait.

I understand my fate,

All because of the stupid snow.  

PS: Wifi here sucks... Alot...

Bound to Happen Eventually

So I went and got my script bound today.  Now I am ready for action! I will start marking up my script with the word "Cue" in places that I will later be putting a cue in.  It's a bit tedious, but will make my life so much easier when it comes time to design.

Speaking of design, I have already started to sketch a couple of (crude) sketches that I will use later on when I actually have to design.  It's a long process but so worth it!

All Work and No Play...

Just got back from work and presented my idea for the Source Four Follow Spots.  And it's a go! I was so relieved.  It will definitely make designing for Thoroughly Modern Millie so much easier.  And I also got word that we will be renting a couple of intelligent lights.  I also discussed some set design ideas with Delaney (the love of my life) and our director.  This show is going to be so awesome when I am done with it! I received my script (it's a long one!), so now I just have to start working on marking cues and designing on paper.  Musical season has officially begun!

"Gettin' outta town!"

"I'm grabbin' my hat and coat! I'm leaving the cat a note. Quick, call me a ferry-boat. Getting out of town!" (42nd Street).  Haha, I just couldn't resist.  But it's true, I am going away for the weekend.  Where am I going??? Why Boulder, Colorado of course! I'm going to visit my best bud @timbe2 (Vince). Hazahh! It will be a grand affair indeed.  I had to buy a new (and inexpensive) duffle bag because my old one has a broken strap.

In other news, I finally finished reading Virginia Woolf's The Waves.  I had never read anything by Mrs. Woolf before this, and no wonder why.  I am not a huge fan of convoluted poetry that takes hours to decipher; unfortunately, that is the style in which the whole novel is written.  Why Virginia! Why have you forsaken me??? But overall, if you can get past the poetry, there is actually a good and life affirming message buried in there.

And lastly, I have started a new blog.  No need to explain here, it does so on the first page. Enjoy!

Source Four Drama

I am currently in the process of trying to find the simplest and cheapest way to convert two ETC Source Four lights into makeshift follow spots that I can use to follow just actor's faces in most scenes.  Luckily, with the help of @TechieTalk and their website, I was able to figure out some of the equipment I will need in order to get this final product:

I will definitely need the large lens tube in the front, the follow spot handles, and the drop in iris.  Ideally, I would love to get the yolk on an axis so that it can move and function like a real follow spot, but unfortunately, that particular part is over $600.  All I need to do now is convince work that this is some equipment we ABSOLUTELY need.  Wish me luck!

Thoroughly Modern Millie

     I will be starting a new project for the next couple of months.  My old high school has hired me back as lighting designer and technical director for the drama department.  Luckily, I will no longer be working in the luxurious Raskob Center for the Performing Arts (the gym).  Instead, I will be doing my first musical in the brand new Graham Theater.

     Earlier this week, I was informed that the musical this year will be Thoroughly Modern Millie.  While not my favorite show, it should be fun.  I have decided that this year, I am going to document every step I take in designing for this show.  Starting with sketches and making it all the way to actual show photos and everything in between.

     This ought to be a fun and exciting exploration!

I was feeling a little nostalgic, so I decided to post a couple photos from past shows.  Here is a picture from my very first show 42nd Street.

This one is from Grease.

Here are several pictures from the best show I worked on, Cabaret.

Cliff arrives in Berlin by train

"Tomorrow Belongs to Me"

Nazi Kickline

The title number "Cabaret"

BuckyBalls, Keyboards, Puppets, and Classic Literary Drinks

My latest toy came in the mail last week.  A 216 set of BuckyBalls/Neocubes straight from Beijing.  I've been playing with them to make cool different shapes and just as a stress ball.  Each .5 mm metal ball all have a ridiculously strong magnetic pull.   These things sure are addictive!

I also just bought myself a present which I am using right now as I type.  I decided I wanted to get myself a bluetooth keyboard to pair with my Macbook Pro, and what better BT keyboard than one developed by Apple???  I love this thing.  It is exactly like the keyboard on my MBP, except I can lean back in my chair and use this one while my screen stays up at eye level.  I already have a BT mouse, and next I am looking to get a nice stand for my laptop.  I am leaning towards the mStand by Rain Design.  My final goal is to be able to use my MBP as a desktop when I am at home and as a portable notebook when I am out and about.

And yesterday I went with one of my friends and my family to go see Avenue Q the Musical at the San Jose Center for Performing arts.  It's a show that satirizes children's shows like "Sesame Street".  The whole cast is made up of regular looking people holding puppets that very much resemble characters developed by Jim Henson back in the 70's.  Think of this show as Sesame Street for adults.  All of the songs are highly inappropriate and there is a ton of vulgarity... so it's right up my ally! But underneath that tough exterior, the show actually does have a very good message about life after college and looking for ways to find your purpose.  Here is my uber illegal shot of the stage before the show started:

And here is a cropped version so you can really see the set:

And finally, I've spent the past week working with my newest Twitter friend, @manwiches, to come up with a continuing line of classic literature mixed with alcoholic beverages.  Here is our list so far:

• Tequila Mockingbird (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Cyrano de Cognac (Cyrano de Bergerac)
• The Catcher in the Rum and Coke (Cather in the Rye)
• The Picture of Dorian Grey Goose (Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Who's Afraid of Virgin Daiquiris? (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
• The Turn of the Screwdriver (The Turn of the Screw)
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Seabreeze (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
• The Red Pony Keg (The Red Pony)
• The Last of the Mojitos (The Last of the Mohicans)
• Gone with the Gin (Gone With the Wind)
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Highball (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
• Where the Red Rum Grows (Where the Red Fern Grows)
• Oliver With a Twist (Oliver Twist)
• Frangelico and Zooey (Franny and Zooey)
• Taming of the Shrewsbury Slammer (Taming of the Shrew)

That's it for our list for now, but I am sure there will be more to come. Haha.

New Years, Jailbreaking, and Class Registration

Its a new year, and while I'm too lazy to come up with some resolutions, I am not too lazy to write a new post.  I spent new years at my friend Lindsay's house and had an overall good time.  I've also jailbroken my iPhone for the 4th time since I've owned it.  I used Blackra1n this time.  All I have to say is, good God has jailbreaking come a long way since I first did it almost two years ago.  Wow! Only one click and I was done!  But as of right now, I am really only enjoying the benefits of SBSettings:

I would use a theme in the Winterboard, but it just makes my phone so slow, and I am not a patient person. :)

And today, I had to register for the rest of my classes, and I did so by making my really nifty schedule calendar.  I was pretty proud of my organizational skills. Haha.

Oh God I need a life....