New Year, New Location, Same Me (but just a little different)
Hello all! It’s been a little bit! It’s been a busy past few months, so I haven’t had a lot of time to stop, catch my breath, and catch all y’all up!
The rest of September was pretty chill. As is tradition in my family, we took a little trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival at the beginning of the month (and we got to take Sarah to her first!!!). Then, I dove headfirst into my directing adventure (and started managing my time very diligently; things were about to get BUSY). I auditioned, cast, and started rehearsals for Blithe Spirit—a huge thank you to Sarah for being an extra set of eyes during auditions—we had such a great turn-out that her observations helped narrow down casting so much. After that was finished, we visited Chicago to go apartment hunting and got to spend the weekend with our dear friends Bella and Connor (who so graciously allowed us to crash with us throughout our apartment hunting journey). We found this beautiful apartment and applied for it as soon as we got home. Then, we went to a local apple orchard (as one does in the fall) and got to spend a GORGEOUS fall day outside.
October was a pretty busy month; Sarah and I got approved for and signed our Chicago lease, and I was able to continue directing Blithe Spirit at my old high school, (funny story, I actually got a call from the leasing agent and Sarah saying we had been approved for our lease while I was in rehearsal and had to call both of them back during a five-minute break). Regarding directing—and I will be completely honest—I had no idea what I was doing half of the time, but these kids just kept rolling with what I was throwing at them. I am so proud of the production that we created. It’s tough to not only do a full play in a dialect, but a Noel Coward play (he sure did love his words), as well as…ya know…doing high school and life. This and my job as a skycap at the airport was what my October consisted of. Sarah left for home for about halfway through the month, so not only was I suddenly very busy, but I also went back to being an only child (which was odd after having her live with us; I missed her). But we were not separated for long!
November was hectic. And by that, I mean beyond hectic. Our lease started at the beginning the month, but…I had a show to finish directing. So, Halloween weekend (Halloweekend), I drove down to Chicago, moved in a small carload of things that I would not need for the next two weeks, and slept over for the first night with Sarah on our little pillowfort in the living room (neither of us had ordered beds or mattresses yet). Early the next morning, I headed back to Rochester for the last two weeks of Blithe Spirit. I think the accurate descriptor for those two weeks would be…hectic. In addition to my directing job, I was also working out at the airport. One of my days was about 20 hours long—that was probably the hardest day. I went to work at 3:30 in the morning after waking up at 2:45, worked at the airport until noon, then drove to the school to finish painting and working on the set, then had rehearsal, and stayed longer so that I could have everything perfectly ready for our dress rehearsal the next day. I think I got home around 9:45-10? Anyway, I was exhausted.
BUT! I am so proud of my cast. The performances were incredible, and I was constantly on the verge of tears because I was just so proud of them. Every single individual that worked on that show kicked so much butt and worked so hard to create this beautiful thing. Honestly, it was one of my favorite projects that I have ever worked on. I was pushed and grew as a person, as an actor (which seems like an odd thing to say as a director, but it’s true), as a director, and as a teacher. All of the frustration and exhaustion was 100% worth it because this group of 7 actors, 12 techies, and 2 adults created something incredible. And, beside that point, we created something…in a pandemic. That is what I think I am most proud of us for—in the midst of variants and in-person school and personal things, we created a production. Wow.
Anyway! After we closed, re-painted the stage black, and returned the borrowed set pieces (thank you Rochester Civic Theatre and Misha Johnson!!!!!), I went home…to pack. I packed for two days straight, and then drove off, officially moving myself to Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and yes, each of those exclamation points is necessary!) The rest of November, I spent doing work for my dad’s flight company online, looking for a job, and slowly unpacking/organizing the apartment.
Sarah, Mark and I at the Pick Me Up Cafe—a favorite brunch spot of ours!
December was much of the same, and I submitted a couple of auditions—getting into the swing of being an actor in the city! Yay! I’m settling in nicely to this life, and I’m loving it. Sometimes I sit back and reflect on how much has happened in the past few months and the growth that I’ve seen in myself during that time. Looking at the specific changes I’ve been able to make, I think one of my favorite things is that I actually have time to read. Books that have not been assigned for me to read! No shade to any of the novels, texts, plays, etc that I’ve read since high school; I love to read so it was never a chore. But…reading the things I want when I want? That’s…something I haven’t done for myself in years. I think I read 8-ish books in the month of December? And I fully plan on continuing that trend in this new year. Thankfully, Mom, Dad and I exchange books on Christmas Eve so I’ve already got a couple on my reading list!!!!
Speaking of the new year, I’m starting something called The Artist’s Way. It’s a twelve week program designed to help artist creativity—I’m a couple of days in so far, and have already started to…unpack… some creative blocks. Here’s the next eleven weeks! Well, I think that’s about all that I’ve got to share!
Talk to you all soon!
