Chapter Done

I think my few readers can tell I have given up blogging for a while.  This was an important medium for me to use for the last year or so, but I think it's time to let it end.  Perhaps a new one will emerge later.  Thanks for reading and for the comments.  -A to the S

One Day

with my move and my computer crash, i've had no time to blog.  one day though... soon?

Sweeney Todd

William was good enough to plan an evening for us all to see the national tour of Sweeney Todd. So Michelle, Will, Michael, his friend, and (a last minute) Phil all sat down to see John Doyle's vision of the murderous barber of Fleet Street. In this minimal production, the musical is set in an asylum where every prop is symbolic, mostly due to the fact that all of the performers provide their own accompaniment and are carrying around instruments.


I saw Doyle's production of Company and the instruments really added to the relationships of the characters. I think it was more successful because it is a more intimate show with a small cast and no spectacle. Okay, back to Sweeney:

So let's just begin by saying that everyone on stage was very talented. Playing in between singing while acting is perhaps one of the most difficult things I've seen on stage and yet, they made it look effortless. I really liked the production overall.

I've seen video recordings of past productions, the movie and a stage version of it at school. So seeing this production was like watching the "bonus features" at the end of a movie. It was a new way of looking at the characters and highlighting different things in the plot and score. I would have missed a lot if I had never seen the show before, though. The amount of people that he kills, the big bake ovens, and the full sound of the opening number are just a few things that this production lacks.

Anyway, the show was good and left me singing "A Little Priest"... mmm shepherd's pie.

Celebracadabraaaaa

Now that's a mouthful... and a new VH1 REALITY SHOW!


Whaaaaaaat? Yes. Ant and other unknown celebrities compete to learn magic. They are performing magic to win $100,000. This sounds horrible, so that means there will be more blogs to come.

RIP

Anna Schutz (1985-2008)

A loving soul. Her life was cut short by her overwhelming schedule which, eventually, killed her.

UPDATES - like 'woah'

So you were all wrong about my living situation. Although it did look for a while that I would be living on the streets, I am in fact, moving in with this dude who I know from work. It's a lovely two bedroom in Lakeview and we move in mid-May.

I am working on Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Bailiwick right now. I am the Female Swing = understudy for all of the female ensemble. That goes up in May, and I will be performing at least the first and last weekend of the run. The cast is awesome and I get to hear Dennis DeYoung sing everyday.

I am dating this guy, who is... :)

This Sunday is Passover and we are having a family dinner with my friends including the BF, the new roomie, the old roomie, and my coworker/good friend's BF and the good friend.

Stuff is looking good. Somebody pinch me.

Kinda

I kinda met someone, and he's kinda great.

Also, tons of stuff is going on in my life with theatre, family, friends, and living arrangements. Hopefully, I will have time to catch-up on this... but I also kinda hope that I don't :)

I feel...

Weight Log

March 3rd: 136 lbs.

March 10th: 132 lbs.

March 17th: 130 lbs.

March 24th: 129 lbs.

April 3rd: 127 lbs.

=

6.61%

Take that bitches! Biggest loser winner, here I come! So doing all of these things help:


Is it any surprise we hate doing the things that are the best for us to do? Running is key and so is stretching! Let's get healthy guys.

Hairball

Will and cats in Rogers Park.
Sprite, OJ, and Vodka.
The Bad Seed.
Two Cats.
Air popped popcorn.
A Midnight walk.
Apple strudel and ice cream.
A noisy heater.
Le Peep.
Good times.

Fun Times!

I am very excited to drink with William tonight... and hopefully Sam and Adam too. Yeah!!! Happy Easter!

Oh, also, if anyone sees a pair of cute black boots for sale, please buy them for me and I will pay you back. Size 7.5, thanks!

Dan in Real Life

"Love isn't a feeling... it's an ability."

If that is true, then does that mean I have lost my ability to love?

What It Looks Like Outside:

Happy Spring!

Fruity Polls

Since I received so much feedback from my first fruit poll, I added another more exotic poll for you worldly readers. The results:


Prickly Pear - O






Star Fruit - 1








Ababai - 2









Litchi - 2








I personally would have gone Star Fruit because I have never heard of Ababai before, I've only seen a Prickly Pear on TV, and I've only had Litchi flavored candy. Anywho, we all know who the big winner was this week...

No computer

I will post again later this week after my show and after I pick up my
computer.

Sent from my iPhone

Things I Hate (stolen from omgzlol)

- clubs
- cologne
- the common cold
- daylights savings
- having to send my computer in to be fixed
- men who objectify women everyday and don't even know they are doing it
- being in a bad mood
- dramatic irony
- guilt
- being on a messed-up sleep schedule

On another note, "Breaking Bad" had their season finale. I can't wait to see what happens next season. Seriously, if you didn't watch it, catch up because it's a great show.

Haircut :)

Nothing makes someone feel ready to face the day like getting a haircut. It doesn't have to be anything crazy or all that new to make you feel that way either. You just know your hair is looking good, so therefore, you look good. You half expect people to stop you in Walgreens just to compliment your awesome hair. Things I love: haircuts.

Sport's Bra

Note to self: Don't wear a sports bra all day long.

Just Venting

A Small Bit of Background:

So I am replacing someone for the last weekend on a new musical. I've known about this since January. No one provide a schedule of when I should attend, or when my rehearsals would be. I showed up to one of the music rehearsals to learn the music, and then to one where they were supposed to be doing choreography. They ended up doing character work... which was awkward since I was supposed to participate with the group. Then I was called and told not to attend rehearsals in fear of making the other girl feel uncomfortable as she developed her character. All I wanted to do was sit in the back and watch.

So as the show got closer, I asked the director (there is no stage manager) when I would get rehearsals with the cast, or choreographer or be able to go over the music. He informed me that I might get one rehearsal the week of the weekend I am supposed to perform. I wrote an e-mail to him explaining that that was not enough. Especially since:
A.) I've been not allowed in on the process at all.
B.) I'm closing their show, performing 4 times.
C.) It's a 6 part harmony 2 hour show with dancing.

He told me I would get 2 rehearsals with the cast the week of the show, and that he would work with me on music or anything else once the show opened. So that was all I was gonna get.

Since then, I actually got to do a run... their first full run, at tech because the other girl had to leave. I did it on book, as not to mess anybody up, and because I was told 20 minutes before that I was needed to fill-in.

That is the gist of the situation.

Today:
I went with the director, who also happens to be the musical director and pianist (that's another story all together) to pick out a costume. In the end, I told him I had some clothes that I thought would work, and I would bring them to my rehearsals. He told me to bring them earlier because he "might" not be able to be at my rehearsals... this means no music. I asked how I would work on the music, and he said "CDs, karaoke style." WTF!?! I told him that this was NOT okay. He told me how this has been so hard, and all of these things are going on (including that fact that he was cast in some show out-of-state, which he would be missing my rehearsals for), and that we just need to make it work. We left on not the best of terms. Ten minutes later he did call to tell me that he would be at my rehearsals.

So I'm glad he will be there, but as usual, I feel bad about going in to work. I feel like an inconvenience to everyone, and I want to feel good about doing this show. Long story short, I'm stressed out and this didn't help.

The Biggest Loser

My work has their own version of "The Biggest Loser" going on right now. It started today and ends May 9th. Everyone gives $20 to the pot and the top three get the some monies. So basically I am going to get weighed every Monday... yeah!!! It's really great, though. I needed some motivation to get back into shape. Just need to eat healthy and get to the gym.
I'm gonna get small, people.

Your winner:

HURRY UP!

VOTE PEOPLE!!! IT'S LES MISERABLES FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!

Les Mis

Thanks to this guy, I got to go see opening night of Les Mis at Marriott Theater Lincolnshire. To be honest, I was dreading having to go. I've seen this musical a few times in my life. I know pretty much every word, staging, that the first act is almost 2 hours on its own, and that everyone dies in the end.

I think Les Mis does better on a big stage, scaled big because it's so melodramatic and epic. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this little production. It had some great actors in it who had some great voices. The entire production was scaled down for the space very nicely.

Instead of focusing on special effects and a lush full sound, it focused on the story. The through lines of all of the characters, even the small ones, where fully developed. I noticed things I hadn't seen before, and really got to know all of the individuals on stage. It was nice that time was spent on the scenes between songs and the story that each song told.

After the show, we went to the after party for wine and food. I saw lots of people I knew there, and got to meet some people who I'd like to know. I had some wine, spring rolls, and chocolate covered strawberries. Seriously, what could be bad? Nothing.

I love theatre. I should probably keep doing it.

POLL! results

So the Audi "Godfather" commercial was the big winner...







but this is my blog - so I'm going to post the commercial that I would have voted for (suckas):

I also took down the poll 8 hours early. I am mad with power!

$4.98

...for that extra penny, I would have put the 'M' on the same line. Your bill is in the mail.

If you would like to mentioned* on my blog, just send a request and $4.99 to A to the S.

*formats may vary

5 on a joyride//motion graphics

love this song. also, i want to learn to do this.

IT'S HERE!!!

...all 16GB of it.

UGH!!!

I got home at 5:15 and left to go out to dinner at 5:30, thinking it wasn't going to come with the weather. I did however leave a number to call since I was 5 minutes away. They didn't call. I got home an hour later to find a door tag and they wouldn't come back out because they only do one try a day. I don't want to leave it outside all day, so I asked to change the location, and I am not allowed to because I am not the shipper. Now I have to go pick it up in Northbrook tomorrow. I am so annoyed. I'm gonna go bite my pillow.

It's Coming...

Bday Boy*

My good friend Wes turned 21 last night.
He had a little get together at his apartment.
I made some drinks,
passed out some cake,
played some CDs on a $20 stereo,
saw some old friends and made some new ones.

I also passed out on his bed -
so he slept on the couch... sorry Wes
Apparently he came to check on me 

to see if I was napping or spending the night.
I responded with:
sleeping. i'm gonna throw-up. move off.
Nice.

In the end, I didn't throw-up.
In fact, I got an awesome night's rest.
In the morning, me and the birthday boy got some delicious French toast.
Good times.

I stayed in the city to go to a tech rehearsal,
which was very productive for me.
I also walked around all day in flip-flops.
Through the snow.
Don't ask.

*this format is in homage to Wes

I Want One

Troika - 'Cloud' - digital sculpture for British Airways

I <3 NY

Tiffany "New York" is the winner! This means either everyone liked her dating show, or George really liked her show, or both. Also of note, no one is supporting the writers' strike.

Superbowl Tomorrow

I work all day tomorrow, so I will have to tape it. I can't wait to see what happens this year.

Looking Back

January is done. What a crazy month. I am glad some things got sorted out, and I am really glad to start the New Year now. Let's make this one a good one.

P.S. I will now start accepting Valentines. Please send them directly to my personal assistant to sift through.

No Country for Old Men

William was kind enough to accompany me to see this movie. He is a good gory/scary movie companion, because he tells me when I can watch and he holds my hand.

So this movie was good when it finally started to move. I still don't quite understand the set-up, but it kinda doesn't matter. The whole story is about this crazy guy:
Listen, when I say crazy, I mean like real crazy. I don't mean loud, speaking from the devil crazy, and I don't mean stoic dumb monster crazy. This guy is just living in absolutes and likes to shoot things. Now, let's talk about how this guy (left) is actually this guy (right) in real life:












He really looks almost deformed in the movie, like a huge ogre. In real life he is very good looking and is playing Guido in Nine... perhaps the sexiest male character ever written for the stage.

Okay back to the movie. I liked how there isn't too much suspension of disbelief or at least it doesn't seem like it at the time. When someone can be shot at, they are shot at. When someone couldn't possibly have gotten out without being injured, they are injured and that stays with them into the next scene! Who would of thought of that! Anyway, I won't be seeing this movie again, but I'm glad I did.

A to the S grade: A-
Teacher Comments: Coen brothers, nice teamwork as always. What a creative adaptation! This is a great addition to your already fantastic body of work. I can't wait to see what you do next. Hopefully there will be less bone breaking.

Dear Whoever You May Be *ahem-George*

Please stop voting from different computers and ruining my poll's accuracy.

Thanks you,
A to the S

Love These Guys

GH3 Bulls On Parade

A majority of people are not losers and/or are scared to play Guitar Hero 3. Of the people who did vote for a song, Rage is the big winner. However, one person did vote for "Barracuda" which is my favorite song.

ChiTown Fun

I had a fun audition on Saturday at Actor's Equity. It was about 4 degrees outside, but I found parking right in front of the building. The audition went well, and everyone was very nice. So, nothing too much to complain about.

After the audition, I met up with this dude for dinner and a movie. We ate at this kitschy noodles place in Wrigelyville that had pretty decent food, and a bathroom wallpapered in peez dispensers. After buying him a CD for his birthday at Best Buy, and looking through books at Borders, we saw this French flick (review below) at the Landmark Theatre. Everything ended up being sold out that night, but we were early enough to get tickets and good seats.
-----------------------------------------------
Persepolis
This movie was based on a woman's life which she made into some epic comics. She was born in Iran and moved in her teenage years to Germany and France and back and forth from Iran. The style of the movie is beautiful, and the stories are really interesting. I wish it had been fleshed out or edited even more to make the flow of the movie more cohesive.

A to the S grade: B
Teacher Comments: Beautiful animation, and heart-warming stories. It was an excellent rough draft, so let's do some good editing before turning it in as your final.
-----------------------------------------------
After the movie, I droppped Wes off at home to go do an improv show and headed to the South Loop. I met up with a friend and we went grocery shopping, and then to his friend's place. Their place was awesome. We baked some brie, made a cake, and played some guitar hero. I stayed out til 9AM and then went straight to work. Partying like a rock star... or a nerd... dunno which.

fbwkhfglb

i haven't been sleeping this week. i maybe got an hour last night...i just got home... and now i have to work. remember when we were in college and you could do that every weekend? yeah. good times. those times are over.

note to self - write movie review for that french flick

Let's Call it "Randy Newman Singing" or "WTF"

Yep... we thought he was off his rocker... and now we know.

JDate

Okay so my friend went on JDate and she liked it, so I thought I'd see what it was about with a free trial run. It was everything I expected it to be. Conservative older Jewish guys who were ugly. I was on about two days until I had to delete my account. On the plus side, I did meet a husband from a former life who told me I would have a good year according to his charts.

Moral of the story, don't do online dating... even if you are curious.

Basketball Antics

Harlem Globetrotters.

I don't know how many of you have seen them, but this was my second time. I went with my dad and we sat pretty close. It was actually a very fun show, with stupid clowning and some basketball. Also, the Washington Generals (the opposing team) was made up of hot, tall, muscular white boys. So basically it ended up being a better experience than I had anticipated.

I think everyone should see them once in their lives. It's a a nice American experience.

MMM n mmmmm

Peanut butter and peanut tied for first, with milk chocolate coming in at a close second. But with chocolate, can there really be any losers?

Yes. Clearly, there can be, and they are Dark Chocolate and Crispy. Now that's some lame-ass-candy.

Basketball Facts

• I played basketball
• I wore my jeans, an Apple shirt, and a dance headband
• I played with all guys
• I made a basket
• I got knocked to the ground

Overall, a successful game.

Waitress

I have been wanting to see this movie since it came out, but it had one thing I don't do in movies: pregnancy. I hate watching movies were someone is pregnant since it's one of my biggest fears. However, I forged ahead and order it On Demand.

This movie should be every cliché, but it somehow misses all of them. It moves fast, and the style is bold and fun, and Keri Russell is great. I cried in it, and after it. I may or may not have been on my period, and I may or may have not have had a difficult day, but I think the movie was just that good. I will have to re-watch to tell.

A to the S grade: A
Teacher Comments: Great job bringing a cliché story to life again in this fresh new movie. You made me cry... I think.

McDonald's Sucks

brought to you by nataliedee

Happy New Year!

bbdw;ekifg;iCGB;KEJ F/CL'weh['ne;cmdljbg;adbvn'ld vDn

it's 2008!!!!!!!

OMGUYZ! LOL! ROFL! VWJLWVDLJ>W ahhhh

...um, for serious. Happy New Year, Guys. Let's make this one a good one.