Aaaaaaaawwwww yeeeeeaaaa boooooiiii!!! We worked on "May Day" the other night. Let's just say it is waaaaaaave more chaotic and intense than I thought it would be, but guess what, I like it just as much...maybe even more than before :P This song gets me AMP because we're singing what's happening. We sound like sirens, it sounds like chaos it's so raunchy and rebellious. And just when I thought life couldn't get cooler....I get to rap!!! Chika chika what!! Well, I guess it's really more like rhythmic spoken word, but I wanna feel cool, so I'm calling it rap! I'm so happy I recorded this rehearsal, other wise I'd be done for!! These songs are so challenging rhythmically. Especially for the narrator DAMN there's some stuff he has to do that literally boggles my mind. My head hurts just thinking about it. But soon enough it'll all become second nature and we'll start adding in our own personal stash of swag. OOOOOUUUUUUWEEEEE!! SWAG!
I spent a lovely Friday evening with my granny at a Tye Tribbett gospel concert and it was too much fun!!! I ran into Tyla and my buddy T.J. which was cool. But anyway, we can learn a lot from Tye Tribbett and his troop. Lively, energetic, passionate, real. Full of the holy spirit, full of catchy refrains. There was shouting and clapping and tears of joy, they even did a praise dance which was sooooo awesome. 'Passing Strange' has encompassed the black religious experience and I think it's beautiful. I want to be sure to not mock, but embody to the extreme. Stew and company have been very respectful and dead on in that sense. That concert was so much like Baptist fashion show in the way of call and response and the jumping for joy....literally. People went there to feel the spirit...and we did!! Music IS the freight train in which God travels! That concert proved it! It was so joyous and uplifting. It was especially touching for me to see my Granny happy and to know that it was because I was in her presence with the Lord. Precious moments.
It's like a mirror, this show, a reflection of my life. When I listen to the lyrics of 'Mom's song', I hear her heart. My granny plays the role of the mother. Always knowing, always loving, not always understanding. I play the role of the youth, defiant, bold and in hot pursuit of the real. "See I've been running from this world for far longer than you." That's brilliant and clarifying. You think your chasing but at some point you'll realize your actually running!! And you'd better run on the straight and narrow or you'll end up on the island of bad. <--you like that Scott?) Then you'll be asking yourself "What did I do to deserve this?" the better question is "What didn't I do to avoid this?". My granny loves me and she is so wise. Listening is waiting, and I need to listen, listen, listen.
It's funny how things change. It's funny how even the wildest turn mild. It's funny how you never say 'when I was younger' until you've matured in some sense. Then it gets scary, when u do some reflecting with your new, mature, aspect on life. I've done a lot of floating, tumbleweeding if you will,just breezing through life. Acting now and dealing later. I'm only just now really, truly, realizing that this is my life and it's the only one I've got. That is such a powerful line for me. This is your life and there aint no way out. That's so true, it's chilling. It's like a bucket of cold water to the face!! Makes you wanna change paths and right wrongs and live fully.
There are so many profound messages within the songs in this show. I love "the Black one"!! A fun little show tune where the youth gets to paint the picture of Black America....but he's posing because has he ever personally been oppressed?.....NO!! I've never met anyone who always thought it was ok to be who they are. We are constantly trying to fit into the norm. Most of the time faking it until we make it or until we just develop our own "norm". I love how the youth is pretending to be this "ghetto warrior" when he's really this kid from the suburbs. He's trying to stand out.....to fit in. He's pretending for the sake of others acceptance. For a long time in my life, I had to deal with...."you talk White.", "you act White." etc etc etc. It had me thinking that I wasn't being true to myself. So I'd try to "talk Black" and "act Black" It mostly left me conflicted and confused. I have since recognized that I speak how I speak and I act how I act! Anyone who is trying to categorize or generalize me is trying to destroy my individualism and I'm not gonna stand for it!! It's amazing how this show is so all in all relatable. Even if you're not "the Black one" you can relate because we all have tried being something that we are not in order to feel accepted. DEEP.
I want every adolescent in the world to see this show. Every single one in the whole wide world!!! It's life shaping!! Hell, I want every HUMAN in the world to see this show, especially if you think you've got life all figured out. Double check your answers here!! Since I've been digging deep into it, I feel like I've got all the answers I need for life and now it's on! I'm equipped and I want to share it. I'm ready, willing, and nervous. REAL is all throughout this show and I want my performance to come off that way. Raw, natural, authentic, REAL. This is going to be a challenge, but, I'm gonna devour this elephant one tasty bite at a time. I'm gonna grow and stretch and expand and develop! I'm gonna take it all in like a black hole and now...I'm ready to explode!!
7.27.2011
La la La la La, La la La la La
We worked on some fun songs last night!! I'm gonna say my fav is "Merci Beaucoup, M. Godard". La la la la la, la la la la la. It's GREAT!! Naked girls at breakfast tables....not here in the STATES!! That line jets me off to a foreign land. I get wide eyed and bushy tailed. GASP! ooooouuuuu aaaaaaaahhh!!! It's just so much fun!!! There is so much going on. Between Andrea and I La La La-ing, you've got Charles setting the scene, and Keith shouting things like..."Adieu Disneyland!" and "ciao, ciao Mr. Reagan!". I LOVE it so much!! Oow oow oow... sexy stewardess....HELL YEA!! I'll rock that role any day!!
Another role I get to ROCK is 'undiscovered teenage garage band superstar'!! I've always wanted a band ya know. Still do! Maybe I can be a front-woman. You wanna start a band? I think Sherry's problem is gonna be my same problem. I can't play an instrument! Damn it!! :/ I gotta work it out, I'm feeling some tambourine or finger cymbals maybe a little cowbell, some occasional kazoo? Okay, that's getting a little crazy...I'll have to compensate with ANGST and AGGRESSION!! Sherry is quite passionate about the SCARYOTYPES!! But, more so about the youth.....heeeeeeeeeeyyy!! Can I get a grrrrrrr!!
Real talk...What's a show without drug use? A WACK one that's the answer!! Just kidding, kinda. "Must've been high" puts me in the mind of the Beatles in the 70's. It sounds like a psychedelic trip and that's exactly what it is. This song and every song really, puts you right where you need to be. If there were no lyrics, you would still know exactly whats happening. That's magical and beautiful to me. Sitting on the balcony watching the rail rust, time slips through your fingers like angel dust. Doesn't it though?
I love this journey. I love this show. I love these characters. I really enjoy this part of the process. The music rehearsals are always so thrilling for me. We will work on one of my favorite songs tomorrow night..."May Day"! That song gets me Amp! I can't wait to see what Scott wants to do for the blocking but it looks like I'll have to wait. I'm anxious and that feeling is priceless. Ok, that's enough for now. CIAO!
Another role I get to ROCK is 'undiscovered teenage garage band superstar'!! I've always wanted a band ya know. Still do! Maybe I can be a front-woman. You wanna start a band? I think Sherry's problem is gonna be my same problem. I can't play an instrument! Damn it!! :/ I gotta work it out, I'm feeling some tambourine or finger cymbals maybe a little cowbell, some occasional kazoo? Okay, that's getting a little crazy...I'll have to compensate with ANGST and AGGRESSION!! Sherry is quite passionate about the SCARYOTYPES!! But, more so about the youth.....heeeeeeeeeeyyy!! Can I get a grrrrrrr!!
Real talk...What's a show without drug use? A WACK one that's the answer!! Just kidding, kinda. "Must've been high" puts me in the mind of the Beatles in the 70's. It sounds like a psychedelic trip and that's exactly what it is. This song and every song really, puts you right where you need to be. If there were no lyrics, you would still know exactly whats happening. That's magical and beautiful to me. Sitting on the balcony watching the rail rust, time slips through your fingers like angel dust. Doesn't it though?
I love this journey. I love this show. I love these characters. I really enjoy this part of the process. The music rehearsals are always so thrilling for me. We will work on one of my favorite songs tomorrow night..."May Day"! That song gets me Amp! I can't wait to see what Scott wants to do for the blocking but it looks like I'll have to wait. I'm anxious and that feeling is priceless. Ok, that's enough for now. CIAO!
7.26.2011
"Listening is waiting"
I am so happy to be a part of another New Line production. New Line gave me my first performance experience in my adulthood, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Needless to say I am HOOKED and I've learned: Talent + Ambition = Success !! I came into this world lost and clumsy and mildly pathetic, but hungry....like the wolf LOL!! I am so thankful and proud of my growth and development. I want to continue to foster it, harness it, cultivate it!! What a perfect opportunity to do so.
This glorious journey has finally begun and I am so ecstatic I won't dare hide it!! "Passing Strange" is musical theatre like nothing else!! EVERYONE can relate to this, ALL themes hit home. No matter what age, race, or gender you are or what home you came from. It will provoke a sincere amount of thought and emotion within you. Personally, I have never related to a show more. And no, Maureen, I'm not a 'theatre person', but I know that "Oklahoma!" and "Cats" didn't do it for me!! I never saw myself in those shows, not only as an actress but, through my eyes. I could not relate, it did not hit home. "Passing Strange" is what I couldn't imagine musical theatre could be...a personal concert!!
Every song sets the scene, you hear that catchy refrain and you are instantly propelled to a time and place. The lyrics tempt your emotions. Every style of music....gospel, jazz, r&b, rock and roll, ska, punk, funk, samba, spoken word, pop. Sound confusing? Don't worry, If your ever not sure what he's on about....JUST ASK THE SONG!! Really!! Brilliant subtlety...IN YO FACE!! You will hum along!
As a black woman, I relate. As a young person, I relate. As an artist, I relate. As a lost soul searching for 'the real', I relate. There is a line in the show that I just love, actually there are probably at least 20, but this one hit me in particular..."This is your life, and it's the only one you've got. This is your life, and there aint no way out." A life lesson stated so simply. That's one of the realest things I've ever heard. It's on my list of lyrics I'd wish I'd heard when I was 15. It makes life more 'real' than ever.
We've only just begun and my excitement is through the roof. I get to work on a regional premier with an all black cast. A rare opportunity and I'm gonna savor every moment. I get to play multiple characters in various settings. I don't sing a whole lot and so my focus will be getting down to the nitty gritty of acting. I will be vulnerable, I will be honest, I will be raw, I will be free. I want YOU to take this journey with me!! FOLLOW ME!! Watch me go from novice to amateur to experienced to proficient to inspiring to renowned!! This show is powerful, entertaining, provocative, musical theatre...just the show for New Line. I don't care if you hate all things theatrical, get ur ass to the theatre and check out this mind expanding revelation!! You WILL NOT be disappointed, you WILL be TRANSFORMED!! Is something 'real' going down? YUP!! But here's a better question....Can you handle it?
This glorious journey has finally begun and I am so ecstatic I won't dare hide it!! "Passing Strange" is musical theatre like nothing else!! EVERYONE can relate to this, ALL themes hit home. No matter what age, race, or gender you are or what home you came from. It will provoke a sincere amount of thought and emotion within you. Personally, I have never related to a show more. And no, Maureen, I'm not a 'theatre person', but I know that "Oklahoma!" and "Cats" didn't do it for me!! I never saw myself in those shows, not only as an actress but, through my eyes. I could not relate, it did not hit home. "Passing Strange" is what I couldn't imagine musical theatre could be...a personal concert!!
Every song sets the scene, you hear that catchy refrain and you are instantly propelled to a time and place. The lyrics tempt your emotions. Every style of music....gospel, jazz, r&b, rock and roll, ska, punk, funk, samba, spoken word, pop. Sound confusing? Don't worry, If your ever not sure what he's on about....JUST ASK THE SONG!! Really!! Brilliant subtlety...IN YO FACE!! You will hum along!
As a black woman, I relate. As a young person, I relate. As an artist, I relate. As a lost soul searching for 'the real', I relate. There is a line in the show that I just love, actually there are probably at least 20, but this one hit me in particular..."This is your life, and it's the only one you've got. This is your life, and there aint no way out." A life lesson stated so simply. That's one of the realest things I've ever heard. It's on my list of lyrics I'd wish I'd heard when I was 15. It makes life more 'real' than ever.
We've only just begun and my excitement is through the roof. I get to work on a regional premier with an all black cast. A rare opportunity and I'm gonna savor every moment. I get to play multiple characters in various settings. I don't sing a whole lot and so my focus will be getting down to the nitty gritty of acting. I will be vulnerable, I will be honest, I will be raw, I will be free. I want YOU to take this journey with me!! FOLLOW ME!! Watch me go from novice to amateur to experienced to proficient to inspiring to renowned!! This show is powerful, entertaining, provocative, musical theatre...just the show for New Line. I don't care if you hate all things theatrical, get ur ass to the theatre and check out this mind expanding revelation!! You WILL NOT be disappointed, you WILL be TRANSFORMED!! Is something 'real' going down? YUP!! But here's a better question....Can you handle it?
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