Day 278: Waffle House

You know the famous jingle, what would you do-oo-oo for a Klondike bar? Well I should have had what would you do-oo-oo for a free meal at WH? A few explanations. WH stands for Waffle House where I am a very regular customer. I eat breakfast there everyday and have a special meal that corresponds with each day. Also, there is a special meal named after me written on the chalkboard above the grill. Because I act so well as public relations recruits for businesses because if I like them I talk about them, they pulled a stunt on me today. If I wore a paper Waffle House hat all day at school, taking a picture every hour and counting how many people asked about it I could get my free breakfast tomorrow. So I did, and surprisingly only 12 people asked within 9 hours. People just let you be yourself here even if it's really strange by wearing a Waffle House hat. But now I will go to sleep so I can get up for my free breakfast. Being a regular and being silly pays off.

Day 277: Rehearsals

Tonight we began rehearsals for the final "play" of our season here for the school year. It is called The Persecution and Assassination of John-Paul Marat as performed by the inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the direction of the Marquis de Sade. It's more commonly titled Marat/Sade for obvious reasons. The long title alone goes ahead and reveals that it's a weird show. It's basically a play within a play about a murder that happens in an insane asylum at the time of the French Revolution. There is no end to the show; it's very abstract. Simply put, it's just plain weird. So why am I involved? Because some of the inmates are narrator type characters and sing exposition as recitative might be heard in opera. There are also a few basic songs that become themes for characters. The score is handwritten and out of order so it's a pain to work with but Dr. Albert is guiding us all through this crazy experience.

Day 276: Old School

Older people used to always tell me that they had to do research in a library with books because there was no internet back in the day. I never fully understood this because until college I never did in depth research that would require something more helpful and substantial than what can be found on a mediocre website online. I'm currently working on a project about Gershwin's Porgy and Bess so I invaded the Gershwin bio section to do old school research. Below is a picture of the result:

Day 274 and 275: Cold Snow

One reason I was excited about coming here was the snow and the beautiful winters that the north would bring. Whenever I told people that live here or have lived here that, they said it will get old fast. While I didn't believe them at first, I do now because I'm SICK OF SNOW!!! Saturday we had 8-10 inches. It came down in beautiful sheets all day but resulted in slick roads, my car getting stuck in a parking lot, walking in wet snow to your knees, never knowing when your foot would hit the ground or if you're stepping down or up because you can't see the ground, and all of the cold windy air that not even Jack Frost could tolerate. The only thing that makes the horrible weather forgivable is the fact that it's a beautiful sight. That is, it's gorgeous until the next day when it's a melting, muddy, tire tread outlined, icy, slippery ground of danger. No matter if snow is good or bad, it's part of life and we must go on with the show.

Day 273: TGIF

This post is about the restaurant not the phrase. I had never been to a TGI Fridays before. One of my voice teachers that I play for their students gave me a free appetizer coupon because I volunteered my time for a foreign exchange students voice lesson. I thought, hey free food, and tried it. The food was fantastic. It was so upscale yet casual. I can't recommend it enough and their slogan is really true, there everyday is Friday. Here's pictures of my food below. The appetizer was fried green beans.

Day 272: The Open Dress

Tonight, I visited The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. By that I mean, I attended our 2nd semester musical at SU. Students are encouraged to attend the open dress rehearsal where the eve of opening students can watch their peers perform free of charge. I went and it was a wonderfully executed show, but the show content itself was hollow. The songs are just simple country tunes and the plot is flat-lined. It's not surprising that it's rarely produced but it was a cute little piece of entertainment. Not something I would see over and over again but like the chicken ranch itself, it was fun while it lasted.

Day 271: Made-Up History

One of the courses I'm required to take in my curriculum here is History of Western Music II which covers 1850-Present. It's a horrendously boring class unlike last semester because it's not interactive and too broad topic/concept based instead of music/composer factual. Although, with a conceptual course, comes critical thinking test which has its advantages. You really just make up the history, which is already ironically what history is. You're asked a question and you can write about nationalism or socialism and as long as you B.S. (excuse my French) your way to a smart sounding answer they can't count it wrong. But, also the one or two factual questions that are specifically place on the test really trick you and make you second guess yourself. I got both of the questions wrong because I didn't trust my gut. I forgot the rule that my Papa B taught me: Your gut instinct is the sum total of your knowledge. Very wise. I made an 80 on what is the hardest test of the semester. I was pleased with that but I'll get an A next time when I trust my gut.

Day 270: Snow Day with R&H

Well the winter is still present here. It's not always a present because it's cold, slippery, and a pain to drive in. It also can cause a snow day or school cancellation. It's gorgeous outside but it makes you stuck inside. So what would a golden age musical theater nerd do on a snow day? I watched R&H movie musicals all day. Of course I would occasionally walk to get food but for the most part it was me and the classic movies. I didn't get a chance to watch them all but I watched state fair, carousel, and the king and I. The day really was something wonderful.

Day 269: Presidents Day

If banks are closed and public schools are closed, why isn't college? I don't mind too much because there are some holidays that I do not understand. But this blog is not about my political holiday beliefs, it's about the cool things that happen on holidays. For those of you who know me at all, you know I love crosswords. I can do the NY times without cheating through Thursday. Today they had an interesting presidents puzzle. In the completed puzzle, eight presidents last names could be found in word search style but I could only find seven. How many can you find?

Day 268: Valentines day Part 2

As this weekend of love draws to a close, I want to talk about a cheesy romantic thing that happened frequently across campus on Friday through Sunday. Our Greek Fraternity of music on campus has their famous serenade which they sold as a fundraiser. A person could pay them to serenade a significant other, friend, teacher, etc. in the most spontaneous way. In the hallway, in the practice room, in class, in rehearsal, you name it they did it. (Except I doubt that they ever did one in the restroom). Anyway, it just points out the fact to do something for someone you love not just this weekend but all the time. Here's photos and video of serenades.

Day 267: Valentine's Day Part 1

On this Valentine's Day Evening, I had a date with 11 loads of laundry and I wasn't in love with any of them. That is all.

Day 266: Richard Rodgers

People often ask me who my favorite composer is or who I aspire to be like when I grow up. Without a doubt my answer is and probably always will be Richard Rodgers. For those who may not know, he was one of the greatest musical theater composers of all time. He wrote shows including but not limited to, South Pacific, The King and I, Oklahoma, and The Sound of Music. His music touches my soul every time I hear it. His ballads make you fall in love or cry, his waltzes make you want to dance, and his up tempos just make you feel good. He composed in such a simplistic way and yet when these simple tunes were put together, they formed complex masterpieces that were richer than any Mozart opera. If you are wondering what this has to do with my college adventures, I will tell you. In my AMT class, we are spending this week and the next week talking about Richard Rodgers and his three careers. One was with Lorenz Hart, the second with Oscar Hammerstein II, and the final is everything else. If you want to listen to some of my favorite things start with the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma. That's the very beginning (for R&H anyway), which is a very good  place to start.

Day 265: Keyboard Choreography

Today, Thursday, I had the most incredible piano lesson in all of my time if not in my entire life. I'm getting to the important point of my collegiate musical study where I'm becoming even more intuitive and inquisitive about my playing. Today, I was asking an abundance of questions about phrasing, articulation, and balance. Discussing topics like that is when you really start to create music with multiple layers. While we working on a technique portion of my lesson, my teacher came up with a great phrase: keyboard choreography. We were talking about arm movement in relationship to evenness of rhythm and sound. If a discussion like that isn't intellectual, I don't know what is. It was a fascinating lesson and I feel like I'm becoming a better musician by the day. Sunday I get the opportunity to hear a Van Cliburn Competition winner who specializes in Liszt. He will be so brilliant, that I'm sure like all of the other pianists I have heard here will make me want to go practice more. I love it here and can't wait for my next lesson in keyboard choreography.

Day 262-264: Hell Week

Sorry for the late posts but as the title implies, it's been a rough week. However it really only applied to Monday through Wednesday, also like this blog. In the theatre, tech week, or the week before opening when all of the details are added is generally referred to as hell week. Although, I've noticed that my hell week is the week after. Not only do you abruptly miss the adrenaline rush of rehearsals and performances, you also are mentally, physically, emotionally, and creatively exhausted. It was a rough few days, but once things returned to normal it was better and then some. I learned something during that hell week though. There is always a good day around the corner and to carry on the cliche the sun will come out tomorrow.

Day 260 and 261: The Elephant Man

This first month and a half of my second semester at SU I had the great privilege of working on my first real show here from rehearsal to opening. The show was The Elephant Man and it was a collaboration of some incredible talent and creative people. There was always a new discovery with the show when I saw it and it amazes me just how much student involvement made it possible. We had two great leaders J.J. Ruscella and Tom Albert. I can't even begin to tag everyone involved but you all knocked it out of the circus tent this weekend. It was an unforgettable experience and I have become an actor through music because of it.

Day 259: Opening Night

Well, tonight was opening night of The Elephant Man. It went wonderfully and a happy accident with a prop happened but I'll explain that in a later post. In this post I want to discuss our pre-show. Before the real performance begins there is a tiny show that goes on in the lobby to prepare the audience for what awaits in the theater. For those who don't know the show, it's about a man who is half man half elephant and is forced into early 20th century freak shows. The host(ess) of the freak show does a little routine of welcoming and singing. He(she) is a bearded lady. Of course it's one of the show actors in drag. He sings songs in head voice and I accompany on a rickety old upright. While he is welcoming I'm playing ragtime to represent the setting and setup the rags that will be heard in the show. It's so much fun and a great way to kick off the show and a great way to kick off my series of elephant man performance posts. Here's pics of me and the bearded lady and some shots of the lobby.

Day 258: Katelyn

Two years ago today I cut the cord to help the birthing process of my niece. She is the most adorable kid in the world. She is so smart and funny. I wish I could see her more but thank goodness for FaceTime and Skype. I think she will be a musician. Happy birthday to my niece: Katelyn Grace Landrum.

Day 257: Headshots

Today, I had a headshot taken. If you don't know what a headshot is, it's a photo that captures your personality just in your face. They are featured on resumés, programs, and boards outside the theater. Since I'm considered a part of the cast I had to have a photo taken. The photos reflected the serious aspects of the show so doesn't really represent me. My photo is below.

Day 256: Papa

Today was the birthday of my late papa. He was like a father to me and my sister and was truly the glue of sanity to my family. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about him. Miss you Rod Parker and can't wait for the day when we will be together again when the saints go marching in.

At his funeral I had a poem read which is written below:

Thank you God
for my Papa Rod
Things felt so serene
when you were peachy keen
Tho' you weren't that great with money
You were always very funny
You made bad days very sunny
And luckily were never "punny"
I remember how when I was stressed
You never let me get depressed
We'd work on school side by side
And made the time easy to bide
Now you're gone and I feel tried
And the past few days I've cried and cried
But whenever now I look above
I'll think about all of your love
A love that will last all of time
And now I can no longer rhyme
So I'll end with this simple phrase
The best short prayer I'll ever raise:
Thank you God
for my Papa Rod

Day 253-255: The Other Actor

In some shows there are big casts with big ensembles and so many roles that people have to double characters. There is one character that has many roles that is one of, if not, the most important actors in the show even though they are never fully appreciated because nobody from the outside understands how complex the part is. The character of course is named Tech and has multiple roles of light, sound, set, props, costumes, and much much much much more. For The Elephant Man, we have so many details of intimate lighting and projections to expand the setting. We have sound effects to help the story and all of these specific elements that help make the show a beautiful piece of theater. We are currently in the second part of tech rehearsals where we add these important elements. Yes it gets tedious and frustrating but it's such an important part of the process that has to happen in order for opening night to be such a rewarding success. Luckily, tech rehearsals are better here than a standard community or high school theater because we have people where tech is all they study and in production they work their tails off to make the actors look and sound good. I want to give a huge shout out to our tech crew. And next time when you go to the theater, if you see something cool, or hear a sound effect, or see a beautiful set, remember there is a whole department dashing backstage making the magic happen. They are truly the terrific tech. They are the actor that holds the show together and makes theater, theatre.