So I'm thinking that the best theatrical career for me would be an actress. I know that it's not very original, but I think it would suit me the best. Either that or like an assistant director. I wouldn't mind doing that because I don't want the burden of being the main director, but I think the direction I would give would be good enough to make a good show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_director
This site explains the duties of what a typical assistant director does. Reading more about this career choice, it appears to be more work than I thought! Maybe I'll stick with acting. How could I get more into acting? Well, I could study it in college and hopefully be able to get a small role in something which would eventually lead into larger roles until I get super-famous! I know this isn't exactly probable, but I can always dream!

As I said in the other blog, RENT is pivotal because it introduced ideas like drugs, AIDS, and drag queen-ism to the theatre, which hadn't been done before. I think that the movie and play were similar in the sense that some of the cast members were the same, and the same things happened in both. But some things like the fire in the beginning was different because it was lame in the play. I do think the show adequately conveyed its message. Essentially we should all appreciate one another, even if we are all different. At least that's what I got from it. Oh, and that time is precious and live in the moment and stuff. That sort of idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_(musical)

This resource talks about RENT in it's entirety. I was surprised to learn that the show has not been around foor as long as I thought it had. Heck, I was 3 years old when it was first seen! I feel bad that the creator, Jonathan Larson, died just before it went on Broadway. That would suck! Essentially, RENT was pivotal because it introduced ideas like drugs, AIDS, and drag queen-ism to theatre. Seeing as how most of the audiences were fairly conservative, these topics had yet to be brought up, because nobody wanted to acknowledge them. But it's good that they were because they are all facts of life, whether people like them or not.

I feel like my costume and make-up plot is accurate and semi-embarrasing. The costume itself is fine, but the wig I'm having some issues with. Maybe when we do dress rehearsal and such, I'll get used to it. But until then, it worries me a little. And I'm used to having people laugh at me, so you can see that this is pretty bad. We haven't really seen the make-up, but we all know that most of us have to wear really white make-up because that's how the Chinese rocked it. But no one is as light-skinned as me, so maybe I'll get a reduction in it. That'd be nice. But then again, I'm not sure if my character(s) need it. I am glad, though, that for the Matchmaker, I don't wear a fat suit, cause that would have annoyed me.The Salesperson doesn't really wear anything special, so it's not too hard to deal with that. But I am going to have multiple costume changes, which I've never done before. I changed my shirt in HSM, but that's not the same. When talking about character collages, my costume doesn't really align with it, in my opinion. I put a lot of angry and alcoholic objects on mine, and the only aspect of the Matchmaker costume that really stands out from all the others is that I have the super-ridiculous wig and pretty much no one else has to wear it, a wig I mean. I guess what my costume lacks, I'll have to make up in superb acting skills. Well being in costume makes me feel Chinese. The wig will demand attention from people, so that people won't forget my character. But how could they, it's me we're talking about here!

http://www.sapsema.org/proj1itw.html

This is a link for a website that shows how to make the molds for the Wolf costume for the play Into The Woods. Judging by the length of the source, it takes a lot of time and effort to properly make a good wolf snout for this specific production of Into The Woods. This source doesn't mention it, but other characters in this play require special make-up, primarily the Witch. I think make-up will play a large role in our production, because as it has been said, none of us are Asian, so we'll need special make-up just for that. Plus this show has a lot of girls being guys and guys being girls, so that needs make-up. Not to mention the brides and soldiers have to look a specific way to look realistic. Unless we need a wolf, I doubt this source would really help. However, I bet with the knowledge that comes from this source, somebody could make any needed synthetic parts for a character in our show.

Well, STOMP would be pretty much nothing if the actors didn't have props, because then they would go on stage with nothing. Nobody would come see it, because it would suck! The make-up in STOMP is also important because, without it, the actors just look like normal people, not the kind that would be around trash all day long. Not to mention the "accessories" in the background because they help with the setting, and the performers use some of the stuff as instruments. For Peter Pan, it would be pretty lame if he couldn't fly, so that show needs special tech. Also the background had some pretty interesting art on it, so that's important. The big props we have are the platforms, which give the play more depth. We also have some random ones that add to the show. As of right now, I can't really think of any problem areas, but that might change, seeing as how we haven't fully ran the show yet. If something like the make-up was missing, we (especially me) would all be washed out, not to mention we wouldn't look Asian, and you know people would comment on that.

I thought the production of Peter Pan was good.But just good. The use of glitter was great, haha. The "flying" was interesting to watch, especially when the kid that played Michael said "Ouch" into his mic as he got lifted up. I honestly think our theatre could have done a better job at putting on this play. What was bad? It was just dorky, I guess is the best way to put it. During each intermission, a group of us had to comment on all the lame things or the things that they messed up on. It's a little sad when the thing that got the biggest laugh, Clark announcing that he believed, had nothing to do with the characters. Maybe we were being hyper-critical, but as Larissa G. put it, we were being critics! If I was the director, I would have tried to find someone better to play Michael, because he could have been better. As I said the "flying" was neat. There isn't a huge connection between this post and the ones I did earlier, because I mainly talked about make-up, and this play had make-up, but in most cases it wasn't super important, at least not in my opinion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrical_makeup

This resource definitely provides new and useful information for me. I didn't know there were so many technicalities when it came to make-up. Like certain lighting colors do different things to different skin tones, like wash out some tones, and do nothing to others. There is literally a bulleted list in this source that tells about what color lights do to what color complexions. One thing this source mentioned that I didn't realize but is true, is that the eyes are the most important facial feature and that it helps an actor portray it's character accurately. It didn't really contradict what I knew about it, seeing as I don't know much, haha. But I do know that stage make-up is heavier and in excess in comparison to street make-up. I could see it being applied when I see the make-up being applied. The knowledge will be applied when the make-up is applied. Haha, I'm so funny, I know.

I think theatrical technology will play a significant role in our production of Mulan. Without all the details, the sets will make the play look elementary, and we don't want that to get in the way of people enjoying our play. Plus we don't want them to expect something not as good because the play isn't performed by adults. We want them to feel as if they are actually in China at the time that Mulan would have taken place. If we have good sets and such, the audience will get more absorbed in what they are watching and that will make the play a bigger success. There are certain aspects of theatrical technology that I am semi-interested in. For example, making and destroying sets is always fun. Lights and sound could be cool, too. Plus, since I normally play an older character, I usually wear age make-up. So if I learned how to apply make-up in general successfully, I would save a lot of people time. So that would be beneficial.

About Set Day...

I think the technical side of theatre will play an important role in Mulan because it has so many rapid scene changes. But I guess that could be said about all plays that have scene changes. Not only that, but since Mulan takes place in neither the current time nor place of where we are, it will take a lot of good scenery for the audience to really get into it without them thinking it looks elementary. I'm somewhat interested in theatrical technology. Lighting would be sort of interesting. But the problem is, is that I don't want to take the time to learn how to work any of that stuff. That's why I mainly like acting, you do most of the stuff without any teaching. Well, learning make-up would be helpful for me, because I'm often playing a character who is older than me. So not being dependent on others who know make-up, especially age make-up, would probably save multiple people time.

What I liked best about STOMP was that the actors sort of brought the audience into the show by letting us clap with them. Not only that, but since there was no dialogue, the actors had obvious characters about them, which made it interesting. What I liked least was that they kind of did the same thing over and over again, just with different "instruments." There were some songs that I didn't like as much as others, and I felt like the ones I prefered didn't last very long. I wouldn't say we got to meet them personally, plus none of us got to ask questions. Not to mention, we only got to "meet" them for a few minutes. I thought that it was only going to be our group who got to meet them, which was obviously not true. Although, I did like the responses the women gave. Which reminds me, why were there only two women? And why were they only African American? White girls have rhythm! And so do Hispanic ones! I don't think I saw any elements of Greek or Kabuki theatre. Maybe I missed them. Knowledge that would apply to the production of Mulan would be to really get into the show and the character you play, because then it looks like you're enjoying it more. Also, that improv is important, because when you need it, it makes a difference in the show.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Theatre

Greek and Kabuki theatre have a lot of differences. For one, the stages are designed differently. Greek theatre stages have essentially a stadium seats around them in the shape of a semi-circle. Again, if my description doesn't make sense, go look at the pictures on the website. Kabuki theatre has risen stages in the middle of the audience. Another difference is the appearance of the actors. Greek theatre has the classic masks. You know the ones that are happy and the sad ones? Well, they used those. Why, you ask? Because this allowed the audiences to better tell what emotions the actors had so that they could easily follow the course of the play without getting confused. The faces on the masks were very exaggerated so that they could easily be seen. Kabuki theatre wears elaborate make-up. The stage design of Greek theatre is similar to that of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, which leads me to believe that Greek theatre is more prevalent in American theatre than Kabuki theatre is. If I had good seats to the Greek show, then I would prefer is. If not, then Kabuki, because even with elaborate masks, I wouldn't be able to pay attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki_Theatre

Kabuki is pretty much what I thought it was. I didn't know they used to attach people to wires so they could "fly" like in Peter Pan. It also stated that the stages were set up so that there was a long platform that extended into the audience, sort of like how some of America's game show stages are set up. The site showed pictures of the stage design if you don't understand what I'm talking about.The site said that Kabuki is known for its stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Its actually known for being weird and bizarre, which I found interesting. To be in a type of theatre that is known for being weird would interest me and make me excited to perform. If I was in Japan, I might want to see a Kabuki production. If they used the wire system, then probably. But I most likely wouldn't want to see it if the actors didn't speak English, because then I would have no idea what was going on.

Response to Marie's first blog...

I agree that you should have tried out for more parts because I don't think you give yourself enough credit for what you can do. In the song Honor To Us All, you have a solo and you sing it well. I think if you practiced, you could become a really good singer. As you were talking about Into The Woods, all I could think about was how much fun that was to perform. I miss that show a lot, but I also am looking forward to how this show will improve, as do most of us.

Response to Larissa's first post...

I think you did fine in auditions. I also think your part is really good. Heck, I wouldn't mind having it, haha. I have heard that you barely talked your first year of doing this. I can't agree because I wasn't there, but if that is true, you have definitely come a long way. Now you are outgoing and willing to try new things. Had I known you like you used to be, I might not have liked you as much as I do now! I'm happy with how you are and expect that you will be able to do great things in theatre. PS never forget, "it was lonely atop that tower." Best play ever!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fa_Mulan
This not only talks about the movie, but it also mentions some lesser known facts about the story and movie. It says that Mulan is considered a Disney princess. That doesn't have to do with theatre, but I thought it was interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theatre
This source shows the history and components of musical theatre. It also mentions some famous plays. It made me realize that theatre has been around for a long time and that there are different styles of plays.

My First Blog!

I'm Sarah. But you already knew that. My expectations include learning how to manage being two different characters in a play. Not to mention improving my people and stage skills. I think good things will happen. For the most part, I wasn't really nervous in auditions, but they still weren't a walk in the park. I hope I remember to update this because I almost forgot to do this one. Yes, I've been on stage multiple times. I hope better. But it will be hard to compete with Into The Woods.