Smoke On the Mountain and other goings-on

It's been ages, it feels like. And finally, Shrew is over. While I do enjoy the time I now have to myself in the evenings, I really miss the cast and crew that have made the production so memorable. Fortunately, I am once again Assistant Directing a play, and this time, it's no other than the fantastic Beth directing it! Rehearsals start next week and this will be for "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp." I am very touched she still decided to have me on her crew even if I was going to be out a lot for October. This is going to be a lot of fun, especially as she involved me in the audition process. We got to bounce ideas and candidates off each other. I think I'm really beginning to like being on the production side of things. I can't say I miss being onstage much, though I know the itch to perform will come soon. I really am so proud and so blessed to have found such a 2nd home with the friends I've made in the ACO.

It has not all been peachy keen, however. I recently posted this entry on my work site. I posted it there first because I was extremely emotional, at the time, and knew that the audience I had selected to be able to view my work blog would totally understand. Here it is:

WARNING: This is a griping entry.I have always taken pride in being "different." Well, it seems there are times when I should wish to be "hick-like". I apparently had a really great audition and talent to offer but I just don't have the "look" they are looking for as I'm too "exotic." I didn't take offense or anything at first, but as I thought about it, I realized that my "look" might be what will prevent me from ever being onstage here. I am afraid I may never be cast in a production simply because of that -unless we had Miss Saigon or Flower Drum Song or something similar playing here (which I honestly doubt will ever happen). It's quite frustrating. Ironically, if I were in Manila or a bigger city, I think I may have a bigger chance of being cast in a production somehow. I put my heart into all this and it's a wonderful experience being on the Directing or production side of it, but I'd be lying if I didn't say something tells me I'd always be taking that "role" unless something extraordinary happens, and that my heart is breaking, a little. :(

I think this is my first exposure to just how conservative things might be around here - a thought further cemented by the fact that TWO Asians are playing big roles in the current revival of Les Miz on Broadway - Lea Salonga, playing Fantine, and Ann Harada as Mme. Thenardier. They certainly don't have the look of being French, to me. But, they are there. Even Ali Ewoldt, the actress who plays Cosette, looks exotic! Granted, Smoke is set in the 1930's North Carolinas... ah well, I guess we'll see how things go in the next auditions. It's just frustrating to know that something I cannot change - like my race - is holding me back, plus this is my first experience to anything close to discrimination. I'll admit I might be overanalyzing here and going onstage may be something I'm just not cut out for (like my father just said - more on our phone call later!). I know that Harry's decisions are not racially fueled, but "look" fueled. A lot of people have been telling me to try out for Broadway, and I'm really beginning to think I have even better odds at getting cast there than here. Haha. Perhaps I should just pursue straight musical performance, without the theatre bit... Anyway, as it turns out, this all works, as I will be doing a lot of travel in October, plus AD'ing for Beth.

Shrew closed with a bang and was really successful. I managed to get the performance on tape and I'll hopefully find a way to post the whole thing online without having to chop it to pieces.

On another, more pleasant note, my boss Brad, and his peer Mark, the director of Development, finally came over to visit me here last week! They were accompanied the first day by Richard Power, one of the Acct. Managers, who flew in from Houston. It was AWESOME having them here. Not only did we have a groundbreaking series of meetings, we also got to explore a lot of the area (Beaver Lake, Joplin), AND, they got to watch my play! Mark also began thinking about the need for posting a Dev Business Analyst here. How exciting! I swear, I really need to start having a coworker here. I miss being in an office and being around and working with other people!

I'm currently already researching for schools to go to for my MBA. I have considered possibly going to school physically as a part time or full time student (as opposed to distance learning). My thought is, if things are already set up here in BVille by the time I go to school, why can't I work from wherever my school's at? We'll see. I know Brad will have a heart attack if I even bring this up with him. Haha. I just don't want to miss out on great choices and opportunities like Columbia University, MIT, Dartmouth, and even Harvard, just because I need an online program. If you're going for it, you might as well go for it fullscale! My previous first choice, Thunderbird University, has apparently slipped off the ranks because of their lax admissions, despite being the best program for International Business.

And now for the most fantastical news ever: I AM FINALLY GOING TO NEW YORK!!!! TWICE, EVEN!!!!
This October, I'm flying in because we will be judges in the SIFE World Cup. How exciting is that? We are flying in on a Wednesday but I will stay the weekend to spend some time with my friends in the area! And then... I am going back in December for my Christmas vacation!! Oh my goodness, I am so excited. I will be meeting up with my YT BFF Charlie and we are going to raid Broadway like nothing. We already have tickets for Les Miz, Hairspray, and Spring Awakening. We need to get a few more for Avenue Q, The Little Mermaid, Wicked, and Rent. And we are getting all the best seats available. Muahaha. Why bother holding back? It's not like we go there everyday! He doesn't know this, though, but I'm treating him to Spring Awakening and Rent. :D

Ok, I just got a call from my dad. :S It seems he won't be retiring until the end of this year :( He was supposed to visit me in October! He said he'll probably come in April so it's not as cold. Sigh. I sure hope he gets some rest soon and stops working. The man is a workaholic! (Yes, I get it from him, but it IS hard to quit when you love what you do so much). Anyway, I just wanted to publicly declare how much I love this man and just how wonderful a father he is. I love you, dad!!!! May God bless you always.

Well, I'm off to bed before I get extra high on adrenalin YET again. :)

Ciao!