I love Paula Barrett's Improv class. Here's why:
It's one of the coolest classes I've ever taken, and Paula is an incredible teacher/director/person/friend.
Enjoy the video, and Happy Easter!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Near may be better than far but it still isn't there...
“Near may be better than far but it still isn’t there..”
Being a musical theatre lover, quotes from a musical have a tendency to start relating quite closely to life; sometimes a little too closely for comfort.
We’re closing in on the end of the semester, which means summer is getting closer! But it also means scheduling classes for next semester, starting to look towards finals, and for me, finishing the show at the Schuster!
I’m currently rehearsing Noises Off, a British farce comedy about a play within a play. I was a little nervous coming back to rehearsal after not being on stage since last semester, but I cannot even say how happy I am to be back. After stage managing A Tuna Christmas last semester, I knew how much it made me miss performing, but this just brought that right back to life.
Rehearsals have been so much fun. Never have I been in a show with so much action going on without words. I know that sounds sort of confusing… but if you come to see it (opening April 23rd!), I promise it will make so much more sense. Act I finds us- the cast of Noises Off, rehearsing for the show our characters will be performing in, Nothing On.
Act II finds us a month into the run of the show, and the audience no longer sees not what goes on “on-stage,” but the action going on behind the scenes. If you think that sounds boring, you could not be more wrong. True to life, the backstage drama can be even more.. well, “dramatic” than what’s going on on stage.
Finally, the front of the stage is back in view as we are reaching the end of our tour in Nothing On.
I was slightly skeptical about this whole setup of performing a “show within a show,” but the more we rehearse the more excited I am getting about it! I play Belinda Blair, who plays “Flavia” in Nothing On, and I am starting to absolutely fall in love with her as a character. She is a gossip queen who loves to feel like she’s in control, and begins to run into problems when she works with characters who are just as bull-headed as she is.
We’ve been rehearsing for about three weeks, and have the entire show blocked (or planned out) as of yesterday. That is great since now we have just under a month to clean and polish everything to be ready for opening night!
If you’re in the area at the end of April you should definitely come check it out at the Schuster Theatre, I’ll probably write more about it later, but for now I should go get some sleep to be rested for rehearsal and classes tomorrow!
Being a musical theatre lover, quotes from a musical have a tendency to start relating quite closely to life; sometimes a little too closely for comfort.
We’re closing in on the end of the semester, which means summer is getting closer! But it also means scheduling classes for next semester, starting to look towards finals, and for me, finishing the show at the Schuster!
I’m currently rehearsing Noises Off, a British farce comedy about a play within a play. I was a little nervous coming back to rehearsal after not being on stage since last semester, but I cannot even say how happy I am to be back. After stage managing A Tuna Christmas last semester, I knew how much it made me miss performing, but this just brought that right back to life.
Rehearsals have been so much fun. Never have I been in a show with so much action going on without words. I know that sounds sort of confusing… but if you come to see it (opening April 23rd!), I promise it will make so much more sense. Act I finds us- the cast of Noises Off, rehearsing for the show our characters will be performing in, Nothing On.
Act II finds us a month into the run of the show, and the audience no longer sees not what goes on “on-stage,” but the action going on behind the scenes. If you think that sounds boring, you could not be more wrong. True to life, the backstage drama can be even more.. well, “dramatic” than what’s going on on stage.
Finally, the front of the stage is back in view as we are reaching the end of our tour in Nothing On.
I was slightly skeptical about this whole setup of performing a “show within a show,” but the more we rehearse the more excited I am getting about it! I play Belinda Blair, who plays “Flavia” in Nothing On, and I am starting to absolutely fall in love with her as a character. She is a gossip queen who loves to feel like she’s in control, and begins to run into problems when she works with characters who are just as bull-headed as she is.
We’ve been rehearsing for about three weeks, and have the entire show blocked (or planned out) as of yesterday. That is great since now we have just under a month to clean and polish everything to be ready for opening night!
If you’re in the area at the end of April you should definitely come check it out at the Schuster Theatre, I’ll probably write more about it later, but for now I should go get some sleep to be rested for rehearsal and classes tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Score one for my liberal studies classes
I always have an inner-battle of sorts about my liberal arts classes. Obviously, I love classes in my major, but sometimes I question why I take other classes.
On one hand, they are always so interesting, but at the same time, I find myself trying to focus in on the classes in my major. This semester, I’m taking three major classes, improvisation, audio and principles of design; one minor class, editing and production for print media; and two liberal studies classes, history of contemporary philosophy and environmental issues.
However, this week one of my liberal studies classes stood out from any other course I’m taking when I found myself discussing the topic with my boyfriend.
This week I was talking to him about one of the history courses he’s taking at Ithaca College and a paper on slavery in the south. After a while, I found myself bringing up philosophical views we had just been tested on in my history of contemporary philosophy class! We talked for a while about how according to the philosophy of Hegel, there will always be ideas that only make sense in the historical context they are in. I could only think about how a few days earlier I wasn’t sure I would ever remember this information after the test, and here I was having a legitimate conversation about it with my boyfriend.
It really surprised me, but at the same time made me really happy that I have classes like that to take instead of just being stuck in the track of learning only ONE subject day after day.
I was thinking similarly about my environmental issues class. I’ve always been pretty interested in learning about the environment and ways to help it in this day in age. Even today at Starbucks there was a sign telling customers that they will no longer be giving out the paper sleeves to save paper, but that you can still ask for them if you must. Concern for the environment is everywhere today, and I feel like I’m on the cutting edge of it by taking this class now.
I guess what I mean to say is if you are concerned that liberal studies classes are just going to be a distraction, I can tell you from my experience that they’re not. Who doesn’t like to have well rounded information they can use in the future rather than just having the tunnel vision of a specific subject.
Score one for my liberal studies classes.
On one hand, they are always so interesting, but at the same time, I find myself trying to focus in on the classes in my major. This semester, I’m taking three major classes, improvisation, audio and principles of design; one minor class, editing and production for print media; and two liberal studies classes, history of contemporary philosophy and environmental issues.
However, this week one of my liberal studies classes stood out from any other course I’m taking when I found myself discussing the topic with my boyfriend.
This week I was talking to him about one of the history courses he’s taking at Ithaca College and a paper on slavery in the south. After a while, I found myself bringing up philosophical views we had just been tested on in my history of contemporary philosophy class! We talked for a while about how according to the philosophy of Hegel, there will always be ideas that only make sense in the historical context they are in. I could only think about how a few days earlier I wasn’t sure I would ever remember this information after the test, and here I was having a legitimate conversation about it with my boyfriend.
It really surprised me, but at the same time made me really happy that I have classes like that to take instead of just being stuck in the track of learning only ONE subject day after day.
I was thinking similarly about my environmental issues class. I’ve always been pretty interested in learning about the environment and ways to help it in this day in age. Even today at Starbucks there was a sign telling customers that they will no longer be giving out the paper sleeves to save paper, but that you can still ask for them if you must. Concern for the environment is everywhere today, and I feel like I’m on the cutting edge of it by taking this class now.
I guess what I mean to say is if you are concerned that liberal studies classes are just going to be a distraction, I can tell you from my experience that they’re not. Who doesn’t like to have well rounded information they can use in the future rather than just having the tunnel vision of a specific subject.
Score one for my liberal studies classes.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Change of Pace
This is sort of a strange time for me. It is the first time since I came to Gannon almost two years ago that I’m not in a show at the Schuster Theatre. I mean, it’s not a bad thing; merely a change of pace! It is actually very cool in some ways. I can get in more time at the radio station, I’m going to start writing for the Gannon Knight. I’m actually working on an article right now for next week’s issue!), and I’m spending more time with my roommates! (Sometimes I think they forgot that I lived with them last semester..)
Being the webmaster at the radio station is sweet. I get to see all the newest concerts and events going on in Erie and other places like Pittsburgh, Toronto and Cleveland; I get to work with our promotions director to spread the word about great things happening on campus; and I get to learn internet software that is definitely going to help me later when I look for a job in the communications field. But it’s not all work at the station, yesterday we had a party to celebrate International Disc Jockey Day! It was awesome- all of the DJ’s came to the station and we had a pizza party!!
Even better than that- I now have an assistant. In the middle of last semester, one of the freshmen, Beth Gaertner, approached me with an interest in web design. So, for the past few months I’ve been teaching her all the stuff I learned as webmaster for the WERG site! She is learning very quickly, and it makes my job easier to have someone helping me out. Here- check out the site we work on every day- www.wergfm.com.
Now, as for the Gannon Knight, that is something I was a little more nervous for. I have always loved writing, and what better way to learn the most I can about journalistic writing than to work with the writers of the “Knight”! I’ll keep you posted if something I write makes it into the paper, I might need a little more practice.
So, as I’m thinking about it, it’s okay not to be in a show for the first time in two years, I’ve got extra homework time, extra radio time and extra time to write. But to be honest... I can’t wait to audition for the next show.
Til next time-
Peace- Nicole :)
P.s. my radio shift started back up again this week, check it out Thursday afternoons from 4-6 pm on 90.5 WERG. (www.wergfm.com)
Being the webmaster at the radio station is sweet. I get to see all the newest concerts and events going on in Erie and other places like Pittsburgh, Toronto and Cleveland; I get to work with our promotions director to spread the word about great things happening on campus; and I get to learn internet software that is definitely going to help me later when I look for a job in the communications field. But it’s not all work at the station, yesterday we had a party to celebrate International Disc Jockey Day! It was awesome- all of the DJ’s came to the station and we had a pizza party!!
Even better than that- I now have an assistant. In the middle of last semester, one of the freshmen, Beth Gaertner, approached me with an interest in web design. So, for the past few months I’ve been teaching her all the stuff I learned as webmaster for the WERG site! She is learning very quickly, and it makes my job easier to have someone helping me out. Here- check out the site we work on every day- www.wergfm.com.
Now, as for the Gannon Knight, that is something I was a little more nervous for. I have always loved writing, and what better way to learn the most I can about journalistic writing than to work with the writers of the “Knight”! I’ll keep you posted if something I write makes it into the paper, I might need a little more practice.
So, as I’m thinking about it, it’s okay not to be in a show for the first time in two years, I’ve got extra homework time, extra radio time and extra time to write. But to be honest... I can’t wait to audition for the next show.
Til next time-
Peace- Nicole :)
P.s. my radio shift started back up again this week, check it out Thursday afternoons from 4-6 pm on 90.5 WERG. (www.wergfm.com)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Home Away from Home.. Away from Home
I love living on the campus at school, hanging out with all of my friends, studying late in the power room, all of those things (well, maybe not the studying quite as much..), right? And all of a sudden, after establishing a routine for 5 months, it’s break, and it’s time to leave for almost a month! I mean, I could complain about picking up everything and putting things on hold at Gannon.. or I could revel in how great it feels to come back to Pittsburgh
Every college student goes through the same thing; first you wonder about leaving home and starting fresh in a brand new place, then you get there and realize it’s not so bad. Next it takes a few weeks to start establishing relationships and new favorites in a home away from home. Finally, to complete (and sometimes confuse) the circle, things like Christmas break come along, sending you right back home where you started. Which sometimes, for me, feels like a home, away from home, away from home (make sense?).
My obvious favorite part of coming home is hanging out with my family and boyfriend- who I don’t get to see but a few times a semester since he goes to college in
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love college, but I love coming home. No, that’s not it; I love college, AND I love coming home.
I’ll keep this entry short since it’s break, and my brain is shut down anyway. More to come as a new semester gets underway on January 12.
Peace :)
Nicole
Friday, December 12, 2008
What I LOVE about the end of the semester...
Hey again :)
Wow, the show is winding down, which only means one thing. Show withdrawal... and FINALS week!! (Well okay, two things.) It feels almost as though I just started these classes, and suddenly the semester is over. My last psychology and theology classes were today, and it seems strange to know the next time I step into those rooms I will be taking my final.
I remember my first experience with finals week last year as a freshman; being so nervous to be examined on the collegiate level on these subjects. Then I realized.. I had been studying all semester, working with my teachers, and preparing for this the whole time! I just needed to stay calm, go over the study guides, do some reading and stick out the week. And I did!
Finals week ushers in a sort of calm to the campus; everyone is busy studying and concentrating on finishing the semester on a good note. This is the time of year when you are most likely to get free coffee from various clubs and organizations around campus and see students in sweatpants all the time.
There are two events, though, that I love above all others for finals week. Every semester comes to its end with the Mid-Knight Pancake Breakfast; a time when the faculty serves a DELICIOUS pancake breakfast to studying students from 9:30 to midnight the night before finals begin. I went both semesters last year, and not only did I have a great time taking a study break with all of my friends, but it was so cool to see all my teachers (and Dr. Garibaldi) serving us breakfast!! This coming Sunday is the Mid-Knight Breakfast for this semester, and I couldn’t be more excited J
Second? WERG’s Top 90 Countdown of the year: last year I listened all day from my dorm while studying, but this year I’m not just listening- I’ll be hosting an hour of the countdown! From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m on Tuesday, December 16, we’ll be counting down the best music that we’ve been playing since the beginning of 2008 (I’ve seen some preliminary lists, it’s shaping up to be a great show!). I’ll be in the studio from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. counting down the songs on the air, and I’m super excited!! I’ve never hosted all or even part of a count down show, so this will be another new experience for me. You can listen to me on 90.5 WERG or online at www.wergfm.com if you click the “LISTEN LIVE” link at the top of the page J
Good luck to any of you with finals coming up, I’ll be studying right along with you over the next two weeks.
Until next time-
Peace :-)
Nicole
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Opening Night of 'A Tuna Christmas'!!!
Hey everybody! Just a quick note to let you know that 'A Tuna Christmas' opens tonight at the Schuster Theatre! This is my stage managing debut, so hopefully it all goes well!
Final dress was really great last night, and the cast is truly hilarious. So, come to the show! It runs tonight Dec 4-Saturday Dec 6 at 8:00pm, as well as next Thursday Dec 11-Saturday Dec 14 at 8:00pm, and next Sunday Dec 14 at 2:00pm. FOR TICKETS, call 814-871-7494.
Oh, and if you're a high school student interested in theatre, you can come to Gannon Backstage Night and get a look behind the scenes. That's this Friday, Dec 5. But you have to register online or by phone first, and you need to do that by noon on Friday! Go to www.gannon.edu/theatre or call 814-871-5311.
It's a great show and it's going to be awesome. I'm so proud of the cast and crew, and it's been a blast working together!
Final dress was really great last night, and the cast is truly hilarious. So, come to the show! It runs tonight Dec 4-Saturday Dec 6 at 8:00pm, as well as next Thursday Dec 11-Saturday Dec 14 at 8:00pm, and next Sunday Dec 14 at 2:00pm. FOR TICKETS, call 814-871-7494.
Oh, and if you're a high school student interested in theatre, you can come to Gannon Backstage Night and get a look behind the scenes. That's this Friday, Dec 5. But you have to register online or by phone first, and you need to do that by noon on Friday! Go to www.gannon.edu/theatre or call 814-871-5311.
It's a great show and it's going to be awesome. I'm so proud of the cast and crew, and it's been a blast working together!
Peace :)
Nicole
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
