And Now We are in Previews!

American Night is officially halfway through previews! Our first run through was the night before our first preview after teching it for six days. When you cram six days worth of work into an hour and 45 minute show, suddenly everything seems very quick and crazy! But after the initial shock we fell into a pretty regular routine. I'm really enjoying getting to know people outside of my department (yay friends) as well as observing the SMs. It's important for me to observe other people's styles and see how they work in comparison to my own practices. Constantly trying to improve myself and I have some great examples backstage right now.

I'd say everything is going great here still. My only cause for anxiety is the fact that I'm still getting to know how everything operates. At St. Mary's, I was the only stage manager (for the most part). Everything was in one building including everyone I needed to talk to on a daily bassi and items I needed to complete tasks. If I needed something, like a table, or if I needed to get work done, like making copies, everything was just there for me. Of course it wasn't very much and we often did with very little but we made it work. At YSD, I'm still learning how people obtain what they need for rehearsals and performances and how much they have access to. I've completely admired how the props are stored and preserved between shows--in labeled storage bins, larger props covered with drop clothes, everything with a place. Multiple prop tables where you need them. It's fantastic for someone like me who loves everything to be neat and organized. But I never even thought to ask for anything more than what I was provided at SMC (basically..two prop tables and storage bins once I asked for them. And still not everything fit). Even the fact that everything is labeled or color coded backstage to make things easier reminds me how much time, effort, and resources are put into making everything run as seamlessly as possible. I love that. Issues are going to arise no matter what but at least you can try to prevent them as much as possible.

Classes are challenging but good. I enjoy that every other week I have two fewer classes so this week feels luxurious to me. I have a lot more work to do in comparison to last week though. Stage combat is definitely fun and we will even learn how to fly later in the semester! Who knew that one day I could actually get a close to being tinkerbell as I wanted? My instructor also said that if we are interested we could take the opportunity to shadow the stage manager for the revival of Annie on Broadway--and as soon as he said, my heart soared. I have a deep love for the show, Annie. It was the first musical that captured my heart and continues to be one of my very favorites. It was the first show I stage managed. And it never fails to make me smile. In addition to this, the stage manager has been the stage manager since the beginning I believe. I own a documentary made by a woman who was in one of the Broadway casts of Annie that interviews many of the "orphans" and people associated with the show to discuss what kind of experience it was to do a show like that. A few of the interviews were with the stage manager who is still the stage manager for the show. If I find a way to get to NY and shadow him for a bit, it would be an absolute dream come true.

Who knew that the little 8 year old who begged for the Annie movie would turn into the person I am today? Honestly I'm still in awe of how my life has turned out. Until last year, I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to even apply to an Ivy league school. I was purely average growing up. I had many interests but I never excelled at any of them. I discovered my love and talent for theater when I was 14 but when you work behind the scenes, people still have no idea who you are. I went through high school completely devoted to my art form but never garnering any attention for it. While my classmates would win awards and get recognized at assembly, I quietly did my job and loved every second of it. I didn't care all that much that people didn't know where my talents lay. Then I started college and a whole new world opened up. I found out just what my job meant and fell deeply in love with my new definition of stage management. And for the first time in my life, I had both the grades and the talent to push me to the next level. Before I knew it I wasn't even hesitating to apply to some of the top schools in the country because I knew I had a competitive GPA and skill. By some miracle I was accepted to Cal Arts, Columbia University, and Yale. Clearly I chose Yale and I'm never looking back.
It was worth the wait. All those years of watching my classmates shine and wondering when it would be my turn to show the world what I could do finally paid off. I'm in a school with some of the best artists in the country who have connections to virtually every other artist in the world. I am one of twelve incredible stage managers who make it their duty to keep all of these productions running smoothly and I'm proud to call myself a member. It's a really wonderful feeling knowing that I'm right where I belong.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes you just need to be patient for the reason to come along.

Tech Week: Grad School Edition

I've been doing theatre since I was 14. I'm accustomed to late night rehearsals, no time off, and wondering what the true definition of a weekend was. I've spent virtually the past 4 years of my life doing nothing but theatre and classes. Last year I took on an internship which lead to a job at a professional theatre company all while being a full time student, working two other jobs, and stage managing at school and maintaining a 3.7 GPA. I didn't have time off or days off. I knew what busy was.
But there's one thing that graduate doesn't have that undergrad offered as a wonderful luxury: the ability to choose the time your classes begin. When you're in class from 9:00-2:00 and rehearsals go from 2:00 until 11:00, there goes your day. I've taken "getting homework done" to a whole new level. I'm accustomed to staying up late as I'm a natural night owl but waking up early is not something I enjoy. I used to spend many late nights up doing homework with no real worries about being awake enough for class the next day but this is a definite adjustment for me.

I'm in tech for American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose at Yale Rep. I'm on the deck crew and it's bringing back blissful memories of being backstage at Catalina, which is basically the last place I was on run crew for a significant show. I've spent so much time stage managing in the past few years that it's a nice change to not actually be in charge of something. I'm working with a great group of people and the show is big and challenging and full of activity. It's long hours and it's tiring but it counts as my work study so to get paid to do something I actually love? It's the best situation I could imagine. I'm enjoying getting to know people who are in my department and outside of it. And I'm learning more about theatre every day. It's an excellent combination.

Classes continue to be fun and challenging. Completing the reading is, as always, my biggest challenge but I'm working through that. Overall I enjoy all of my classes. Stage combat has been a pleasant surprise. I was concerned that I wouldn't enjoy it but it was my favorite class last week. I'm already LOVING my stage management forum class where we are learning how to interpret musical scores in relation to stage management. Very fun.

I'm a Student?

Sometimes you get so caught up in the upcoming production assignments that you forget you are in graduate school to take classes as well!
Classes began on Thursday with Drama 6, which for you St. Mary's folks is like a combination of Foundations and Masterpieces. For those of you who did not major in theatre at SMC that means the course is both theatre history and play reading/discussion. A 9 am class will be very challenging, especially one of this nature, but I've really felt like I needed a stronger grounding in theatre history so I will definitely get that. It helps that we are split up into smaller discussion groups for discussion of the plays and I like my T.A. as well as my group. I think it will go well.
I have also had production planning which I thought was very interesting and reminded of Michael Cook's theatre philosophy, theatre safety (I LOVE. The class itself is a little dry but safety? Finally!), and stage management issues which is a great class that brings the whole department together as well as the faculty and allows us to discuss issues that have come up in YSD/YRT rehearsals+productions as well as those that happen in the professional world. It is going to be an excellent class for me. God knows I've had plenty of issues in my academic and professional life that I will have plenty to discuss in class.
I also have a Saturday class which is scenic design. All of you who knew me during my last semester at St.Mary's and watched me struggle hardcore with the class are probably wondering how I'm going to survive but they have actually made it quite manageable for stage managers which I appreciate.

Tomorrow is my day off and Monday brings more classes. Tech begins next week and I'm ridiculously excited. It's been awhile since I've been on a run crew that has this much responsibility. I was also thinking today that it's been a VERY long time since I've been backstage for a production that I either wasn't ASM or heavily involved in. I'm accustomed to already being very acquainted with the show and either being in charge or taking charge. In fact, I think the last time this occurred I was in high school. But it's a good opportunity for me to learn a show quickly and I really do love being backstage so I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Everyone has been very nice so far. I really like everyone in my department and I've actually made friends outside of the department as well. I'm being more social which is an improvement for me and although I'm still not a partier, I'm more willing to go out at night. I feel a lot more comfortable hanging out with people at YSD than I did anywhere else so that definitely helps.
My parents were wonderful and sent me a lovely care package today. It included food, quarters for laundry, a gift from my cousin, and spackle...to fix the ugly marks on my walls. Best parents.

Though in other news, my Aunt Jean is in the final days of her life. My dad flew out to Florida today and at this point, we're just waiting. First sad event being away from home. You learn to deal with it but it still isn't pleasant.

This is to say Thank You

Tonight's post is not about me but rather the people who have helped me get to where I am today. One of the most truthful quotes I have heard recently has been "I don't think anything is scarier than taking the first step that could define the rest of your life" and this is certainly true for me. Moving across the country was huge step in my life and without my support system, my transition could not have been this seamless.

First and foremost I have to thank my parents. They put me on a plane, planned out every detail of the move over here, bought my furniture, encouraged me, called me every day (until they knew I was really okay), and supported me in more ways than I could imagine. Moving away from everything that felt familiar to me was completely out of my comfort zone and I never thought I would have the strength to do it. But they helped me recognize that this was a step I could handle. And their support from the very beginning has been absolutely remarkable. Although I haven't chosen the most ideal career for concerned parents, they recognized early on that this was something I loved and something I was good at. They came to all of those shows, driving me to rehearsals during tech week, listening to my stories after opening nights, understood my frustrations, and even let me continue into college. They were there every time I called home to expel frustrations or shine over a well done opening night. They even understood my pricey decision to stay at St. Mary's when it was clear that finances were going to be tight because St. Mary's was the only place where I could get the training I needed. They let me take jobs in the theatre over the summers and shared my enthusiasm when I found my perfect internship last year. They found a way to get me to grad school interviews when I thought it was impossible to do two on opposite sides of the country within a 3 day period. They were there when I made the decision as to which school to attend. They understood the craziness of my final days at St. Mary's. And they were there when I finally crossed that stage with my first degree--a day we had collectively worked towards. Who knew that this little girl who could hardly stand upright on a stage and didn't hold an ounce of leadership could turn into the person i am today but with their patience and guiding, it worked out quite nicely. This is only the beginning of what is hopefully a very fruitful and definitely rewarding career but my parents are the best for letting me have it.

My extended family has also been wonderful. I often say that I have the best family in the world and I truly believe it. My biological family and my extended family beyond bloodlines are just some of the most good hearted, kind, fun, lovely people I've ever met. Family gatherings are the most special time of the year for me. And since I made the decision to move I felt unconditional support from my aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone beyond. They came to all of those shows when I was younger, always asked the questions, always wanted to know what was coming up next. We are a large but close unit and I am so grateful for them. Thank you Tanner, Michael, Lisa, Steph, Alicia, Eli, Jonathan, Leah, Chris, Emily, Tom, Bailey, Alana, Cameron, Cary, Sam and the entire extended network of Jones family and friends. I'm awfully lucky. And I would do anything for them.

The Willows Theatre Company came into my life only a year ago but it has left a lasting
mark on my heart. One year ago, I stepped into the Willows Theatre in Concord for my first rehearsal of Chess. I didn't know what to expect; I only knew the director and managing director from a previous interview. I was nervous to be working in a professional atmosphere for the first time and to present my skills in front of a brand new set of artists. But from the first day I felt an all consuming sense of joy and belonging with this company. Eric and David told me in my interview that the Willows was like a family and I was skeptical, since it's a fairly common statement, but they weren't exaggerating. My love for them only grew in time and although my heart broke when it was announced that the company was closing, mere days before my final performance in August, I was comforted by the fact that our friendships existed well beyond those artistic walls. We were there for each other through good times and bad right up until the end and will continue to be there for each other. And we loved our jobs. I was welcomed into this amazing family and it's hard to really explain what it meant to me without this turning into a blog full of cliches. All I can say that I was one lucky girl to be able to go to work every day with some of my best friends. Thank you for accepting me for me, rather than what people expected me to be. And thank you for loving me. Thank you Eric, David, Sean, Danny, Nick, DJ, Reid, Jordan, Sara, Rachel, Bones, and Sophie. You will always have a special place in my heart.

I wouldn't be the stage manager I am today without my mentor, Linda. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life or even that theatre should be a larger part of my life until I started to train under her. She has gone above and beyond to make sure I understood my role in the theatre and my role in life. She was always confident of my abilities even when I wasn't sure if I could handle something. Having her in my life has been an incredible gift and one of main reasons I stayed at St. Mary's. She became not only my mentor but one of my very best friends. She trained me to be the best I can be and my job now is to build upon everything she taught me. She gave me an excellent foundation.

I have mentioned frequently how lucky I am. And I'm pretty sure I got the best deal when I ended up with my best friend, Danielle. With every adventure I undertake, she is there to lend support and some well needed feedback. I couldn't have accomplished half of what I have without her around. She was my trusty sidekick at St. Mary's, serving as my assistant stage manager and co-stage manager on our shows together and we worked effortlessly as a team. Working with someone who knows you that well and understands both you and the needs of the job is a huge blessing. I would have taken her to Yale with me if I could. But beyond that, she is an incredible friend. Even from 3,000 miles away our friendship remains the same. We still talk about the same stuff, still talk just as frequently. She is there to listen to all of my worries and to reassure me that yes, I will make friends and no, I won't fail. I hope everyone is as lucky I am when it comes to friends.



All of this comes down to that I would not be the person I am today or where I am today without this amazing circle of people. And there are countless others that I love dearly who support me from near and far. I am so proud to have these people in my life and cannot express enough thanks for what everyone has done for me. To everyone who has worked with me, gone to school with me, been my friend, or given me a smile or a hug, thank you. You have all touched my life in ways I cannot describe. Being here at Yale is a daily reminder of how far I have come and how lucky I am to have encountered such wonderful people along the way.

A Lovely Place to Live

I truly love where I live. I have dreamed for years about having my own place that I can decorate and clean and organize (what can I say, I'm a stage manager). And this teeny tiny little apartment couldn't be more perfect. I even love it through all of its faults. Sure there's some cracked tile in the bathroom, paint flecks on the floor from the last paint job, overhead lighting that could make a super model look like an ogre, and a shower that tries to be mighty but usually fails but I love it through all of that. It's great that everything is within 20 steps of each other. My bathroom directly leads into my closet and my dressing table stands right outside the door. The kitchen can hardly hold anything but it's just the right size for my meager necessities. Every corner is filled with something though the room never feels crowded. I sit at my desk to do work (which is new--I haven't used my desk for work in years but sitting near the window inspires me) and I also have a lovely reading corner, complete with ottoman and a side table shaped like a movie reel topped off with my "stage manager's make it happen wand" grad school edition, courtesy of Linda. My windowsill is the perfect spot to sit and read as well, especially when I need to cool off and don't feel like running the fan. My walls and bookshelf are covered with memories of those I love and miss most in the world. Everywhere I turn there is either a meaningful quote, a picture, or a memory from home. And everything has a place. We have managed to fit so much elegant storage in this little room that nothing feels cluttered or out of place. It inspires me to clean, which I do frequently. Having both a hard wood floor to mop and a carpet to vacuum is considered joyous, though I'm still figuring that one out. I'm even enjoying the neighborhood. I've never lived downtown before and the sounds and character of living here is very interesting and educational. Sometimes you learn more walking down the street than you do sitting with your classmates. The houses and buildings here are just so unlike any I'd live near in California and I adore them. I've always had a thing for beautiful houses and although most of these could use some TLC, they still have their original character. They manage to have a hint of elegance amongst their deteriorating exterior. Overall this is the best living situation I've ever experienced and I look forward to this being my safe haven when life gets busier and inevitably more overwhelming and over stimulating. For now I'm just enjoying the peace.

It's September!

Orientation has officially begun and if it's possible, I'm even more excited for classes and production work to begin. Please remind me of this in about two weeks when I may not be quite as thrilled. But orientation has been wonderful so far. I've met people, both inside my department and outside. Our first event was really fun, though I was nervous to meet people (we were meeting in small groups before heading to the graduate school bar). Prior to coming to Yale, I talked for a long time with my best friend about how I would present myself. Going to a new place means you can tweak parts of your character that you may not exactly love but I didn't change anything about myself...I've changed enough in the past four years that being put in social situations is actually not as bad as it used to be. I'm much more confident and fun (well..ish...I can hold a conversation) and generally more mature person than I used to be. So I had no problem in the small groups. They had two actors, a sound designer, a set designer, a dramaturg, a theatre manager, a technical design and production person, and me. It was a really good group and the leader was one of the 2nd year SMs that I met on Monday. And then we went to the graduate school bar/club. Got carded for the first time since I've never been to a bar. And met some more people, got to talk to the other SMs in my class. It was actually fun! And realllllly loud. Overall that first night taught me that I have matured in ways that I hadn't even noticed. And that I will also probably always be the little one running around with ribbons and flowers in her hair.Some things just never change. And I'm really okay with that. The two full orientation days so far have been very informative rather than overwhelming. Answered a lot of my questions. Met some more people. I really do love the people here--they manage to make everything fun, challenging, engaging, and informative. Only at a theatre school can an informational video be one of the best things you see all day. The boys are cute. and charming. and i can already tell that they are sneaky. end of story. but i like them. I'm also now re-certified in CPR and AED training as well. This is my final weekend off so I'm spending it preparing for the weeks ahead. I went shopping with my little grocery cart today and despite some nasty bruises (note to self: careful when going over the bumps. Or you will run into your cart) and ridiculous humidity, my kitchen is now stocked and I made a real dinner for the first time. I also plan on exploring a bit of the Yale campus since I've really only seen the 4 block radius around the drama school, which includes some magnificent buildings but I would love to see the rest. My first production (run crew) goes into tech in a couple weeks. I've only been away from the theatre for a little under 3 weeks (really? Has it only been that long since I left the Willows?) but I'm already aching to get back into that rhythm. But for now I'm going to enjoy this peaceful alone time because pretty soon it won't exist!