Day 30

Wow! It's the last day! It really feels like yesterday that we started this whole challenge. It flew by really fast and I am sad to see it go. I am definitely going to continue to work on myself every day, even though the challenge part is over. If there is one thing I've learned from this experience, it's that this is how hard we should be working every day, with or without the promise of gifts at the end! Thank you so much everyone, for your constant love and support. Each day has shown me a different struggle and a new blessing. Having to blog how I feel every day about whats going on with my body has forced me to take a serious interest in my well-being and keep me on track. I am going to start a new blog, that I will not update to facebook every day, but that will keep my thoughts and feelings in check so I make sure I am doing what's right for me, every day.

Here is my LAST Healthy Eating (for the challenge! Not for life!):

Meal Description: Breakfast- Instant organic strawberry oatmeal and 4 kumquats

Restaurant or Market- Sunflower Market and Smiths

Rating- ***, the oatmeal was "meh" but the kumquats are delicious! This is the first time I've had them and my corgi likes them too! She's really cute though, like a baby eating a lemon, her face gets all scrunched up when she eats them.

Here is my LAST Good Deed (for the challenge, again, I'm gonna keep it up!):

I volunteered for the Revolutions International Theatre Festival again last night, sweeping change at the Reptilian Lounge. Volunteering for Tricklock Company has been incredibly fulfilling. I am very happy that I was able to contribute my energy and time to helping make the festival run smoothly. I hope everyone gets a chance to go to one of the plays during the festival (I'm pretty sure this is the last week!).

Daily Practice Session:

This morning I decided that I was going to go through some music books I have and find songs in there Ive never heard of, listen to them on youtube and decide whether or not I would want to learn them when I get better! My two music books that I went through are: The Singers Musical Theatre Anthology; Mezzo-Soprano/Belter; Volumes 4 & 5. Here goes:

I am making a little "template" to fill out for each song I haven't heard before. Also- I don't know why the picture is upside down haha!

Song Title:

First Impressions:

Can I Sing This?:

Do I Want to Learn This?:

Why?:

Song Title:Our Kind of Love from the Beautiful Game

First Impressions: Pretty, ballad.

Can I Sing This?: Yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really

Why?: It's a little boring. It's pretty, but I'm not sure it would be that strong in my book.

Song Title: I'm Going Back from Bells Are Ringing

First Impressions: Fun, jazzy uptempo

Can I Sing This?: Yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: Yeah

Why?: I think it would be fun- very belty, lots of acting potential

Song Title: Hard Candy Christmas from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

First Impressions: Pretty, ballad.

Can I Sing This?: Yeah

Do I Want to Learn This?: Kind of- not entirely sure yet.

Why?: It's a pretty ballad, with nice low-notes.

Song Title: I'm Still Here from Follies

First Impressions: cute

Can I Sing This?: Vocally, sure

Do I Want to Learn This?: No

Why?: I'm not old enough for the part so it's not appropriate

Song Title: Man That Got Away from A Star is Born (film)

First Impressions: cool, jazzy ballad

Can I Sing This?: Yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really

Why?: Judy Garland is fabulous, but I can't see myself singing this

Song Title: Shopping Around from Wish You Were Here

First Impressions: sweet jazzy uptempo

Can I Sing This?: probably

Do I Want to Learn This?: Meh.

Why?: It's not a bad song, but I'm not jumping up and down with joy. Pretty unfazed.

Song Title: One Hundred Easy Ways from Wonderful Town

First Impressions: Funny!

Can I Sing This?: Yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: Yes!

Why?: Cute, lots of low notes and very funny.

Song Title: Meadowlark from The Baker's Wife

First Impressions: Interesting

Can I Sing This?: most likely

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really

Why?: It's okay... I'm probably not old enough

Song Title: The Colors of My Life from Barnum

First Impressions: boring ballad

Can I Sing This?: yeah, i could

Do I Want to Learn This?: nope

Why?: i think it's boring.

Song Title: Children of Eden from Children of Eden

First Impressions: Really beautiful ballad

Can I Sing This?: Yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: Yeah

Why?: I don't know if I'm old enough, but it's really freaking beautiful.

Song Title:What You Don't Know About Women from City of Angels

First Impressions: Cute, funny... but a little boring

Can I Sing This?: Yeah I could

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really

Why?: It's not exciting to me

Song Title: Thinking of Him from Curtains

First Impressions: It's pretty, a ballad...

Can I Sing This?: most of it

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really

Why?: Again, I'm not excited about it

Song Title: It's a Business from Curtains

First Impressions: Very funny!

Can I Sing This?: Yeah

Do I Want to Learn This?: haha, yeah

Why?: I don't know if I'm old enough, but this is a very funny "character" part.

Song Title: Here I am from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

First Impressions: Very fun uptempo

Can I Sing This?: Yeah

Do I Want to Learn This?: I think I just might

Why?: It's fun and seems like it would fit really well in my voice

Song Title: The Cake I Had from Grey Gardens

First Impressions: Lots of acting, definitely for an older woman.

Can I Sing This?: Vocally, yes

Do I Want to Learn This?: No

Why?: I'm definitely not old enough to sing this

Song Title: Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

First Impressions: Very pretty, but I'm not digging it for me

Can I Sing This?: Yeah

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not really into it

Why?: I really don't know... It's just not my thing I guess

Song Title: Woman from The Pirate Queen

First Impressions: Pretty ballad

Can I Sing This?: I probably could.

Do I Want to Learn This?: I don't think I want to

Why?: It's pretty, but I don't really "get it"

Song Title: Take That Look Off Your Face from Song and Dance

First Impressions: Uh...

Can I Sing This?: I might...

Do I Want to Learn This?: Nope

Why?: Vocally, it's not my style.

Song Title: Hit Me With a Hot Note from Sophisticated Ladies

First Impressions: Really cool

Can I Sing This?: Some of the high notes in the beginning are a little intimidating, I think I could one day.

Do I Want to Learn This?: When I get there, definitely

Why?: It's really fun, jazzy, sexy in a modest way... love it.

Song Title: If My Friends Could See Me Now from Sweet Charity

First Impressions: Cute

Can I Sing This?: I could

Do I Want to Learn This?: Not particularly

Why?: It's really cute but I think Tracy in Hairspray is about as cutesy as I want to go

Song Title: Life Is from Zorba

First Impressions: pretty

Can I Sing This?: I could

Do I Want to Learn This?: not particularly, but i'd give it a shot

Why?: it's pretty and i think i'd sound good at it, but i don't know how i feel about it.

Day 29

Today I went up to Santa Fe with Kurt and Buckels to see the Jason Robert Brown masterclass. It was an interesting experience. It made me appreciate Kurt a lot more, he really is preparing us for a harsh reality. On the other hand, all of the performers did a wonderful job, but I could tell they were nervous. JRB was funny at times, but I didn't like that he kept dissing on other composers. Word to the wise- if you audition for JRB do not sing a Scott Alan song, he apparently doesn't like him very much. He also doesn't like Stephen Schwartz.

But enough about that. I had my last healthy meal, saw the masterclass, and got home in time to read two chapters of my "Making It in New York City" book. All in all- a decent day.

Daily Practice Session

Today I read Chapters 2 & 3 of An Actors Guide- Making It in New York City by Glenn Alterman. Chapter two was all about the neighborhoods of Manhattan, their histories and theatres in those areas. Chapter three was about finding an apartment. It had useful information about prices, what areas to look in and what you will need to rent an apartment. I was a little nervous after reading this chapter because in order to get an apartment in NYC you have to have a job and a New York bank account already. I'm really glad I read this book before finalizing my moving plans. I need to find a job out there BEFORE I can move! I know that seems like a no brainer to most people, but I was really planning on taking it a tiny bit slower than that.

I do need to reassess my decision. I want to move to New York and try to "make it" as an actor, but I need more training first... and I need a better plan. I might have to hold off on my moving plans for at least a couple months and perhaps move early in 2012. I do have to deal with all of this soon and would rather be prepared than not.

Before I talk about my last healthy meal I just want to ramble for a moment about how incredibly nervous I am for Hairspray auditions. Of course, I still don't know if I will be able to sing by then. But I am already really stressed out over it. First off- the week of auditions is also the week of the Camp Conference that the leadership staff from Camp Shaver goes to every year. Usually we go to one in January but Fred (my boss) and I took winter classes so we decided to go to a different one. The one that we chose is best for everyone because it's during spring break. The first day of the conference is March 15th, but I would need to travel on March 14th, which is the day of Hairspray callbacks. I, of course, do not know if I'm even going to get called back, but I don't want to be out of town that day in case I DO. My boss is not happy that I will miss a whole day of the conference for this. I probably shouldn't wait until after I audition to buy my plane ticket though. The other thing is that I am just getting really nervous, every day I get closer and closer and can't practice. I feel like everyone else has more confidence than me and I'm really scared that I'm going to miss out on the best role that I can imagine for myself at this point in my life. And of course, none of this would be that big of a deal if I even knew whether or not I will able to sing by then.

Now that I've rambled on about that. Here is my 25th healthy meal:

Healthy Eating:

Meal Description- Lunch- smoked mozzarella pasta salad stuff, pecan nut-thin crackers and hummus.

Restaurant or Market- Whole Foods

Rating- *** good, yummy, but nothing special. The best part was sharing it with Buckels!

For Erin- My Spot Check Buddy!

Hello Erin! I just reviewed your blog and as you should know, you are doing GREAT! You have gone above and beyond, got all your requirements done and now just have to do your daily practice stuff until Sunday!

Unless I counted wrong (and I might have, so I'm glad I have a buddy to check on me!) I should have one more meal and one more good deed still left to do. Because of my health problems this month with my voice, I was only able to have one voice lesson so that leaves me with holes in my vocal coaching/private lessons section, as well as my new song learned and recorded. I was working on "Still Hurting" from the Last Five Years, and I'm sad I never got to sing it for anyone :(

Anyway- you're great! See you Sunday!

Day 28

Daily Practice Session:

Tonight I finished watching Broadway: The American Musical, this 6th and final episode focused on 1980-the present (it ends with Wicked). I was touched by much of this episode. I am so glad that I was able to watch this entire mini-series. I feel like I have such a deeper understanding and respect for musical theatre, and how far we've come. The first episodes talked about blackface as a form of popular entertainment, and this last episode showed the Lion King, with strong, black characters, being played by strong, talented black performers. It touched on "La Cage" and how it was one of the first mainstream "gay" musicals, and how it's original cast and production team founded Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS, an organization that is still up and running today. It talked about RENT and Jonathan Larson's tragic story. All of these things I know already, and still touches me and makes me cry! I think everyone who loves musical theatre, needs to watch this miniseries, especially because it's on instant netflix! I'm glad that I watched it, but now I have to think of other things to do for the next two days!!!

Loved yoga this morning, but my legs are killing me! I'm excited to try Blissful Spirits "90-Day Challenge". When I picked up the information I told them I just couldn't get enough challenges in my life.

ooooh- other awesome thing about this part of the mini-series was when they were talking about Cats, someone asked Andrew Lloyd Webber what Cats was about "is their something I just don't get?" they asked, and after a "long and painful pause" Andrew said, "well... it's about Cats".

I thought that was pretty funny. Even A-Webs doesn't get it.

Day 27

Yoga this morning was fabulous! Not only did Gilbert come with me, but we had a great little chat with Rebecca afterward. It's wonderful that we found a studio with instructors who really care about us and understand us! I really want to thank Kristen Buckels for introducing all of us to Blissful Spirits! Also, I hope you (Buckels) want to do their 90 Day Challenge with me! We can blog about it! :)

Daily Practice Session

Today I cracked open a book I bought at the Drama Bookstore in NYC called "An Actors Guide to Making It in New York City" by Glenn Alterman. I bought the book in New York and thought it would be a fun, practical and kind of cheesy read but when I scanned through it on the plane ride home it was actually rather intimidating so I put it aside. After a rather inspiring conversation with Mr.Robinson this afternoon, I felt that now is as good a time as any to scare the bejesus out of me about my impending move.

I know that I have a lot more to work on before I move to NYC, and once I move there I will have to keep working on all of those things (dance, voice, acting). Even once I'm "ready" I will have to keep working on them. That's one of the reasons I love being a performer, there is always more to learn and you can always get better and better.

Anyway, so I read this book (just the introduction and Chapter One) and even though it's a little outdated (published in 2004) I think there is still quite a bit of useful information in here. It's got info on all the neighborhoods in Manhattan, good places to live, good places to take classes, how to get an agent, whether or not I should get an agent... pretty much all of the questions I have ever had is answered in this book. There is even a budget page explaining the general expenses we should anticipate before moving.

I want to keep reading the book (and I'm going to) but I had to stop so I could blog and make sure I got it up on time!

Healthy Eating

Meal Description- The "Healthier Alternative" Egg white Omelette from Wecks, with green chile, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and dry wheat toast.

Restaurant or Market- Wecks

Rating- **.5 just okay. I mean it was good and filled me up and nothing was wrong with it... it was just a little bland.

Day 26

Today my voice felt great, better than it has in a couple of week! I vocalized a tiny bit just to see and sure enough I could actually sing! I only did for like 2 minutes and then stopped because I know I'm not supposed to, but it was a nice little reminder that not all hope is lost.

Also- I had two healthy meals today and forgot to take pictures! Uuuugh. Oh well, I will just have to eat more healthy meals tomorrow!

Daily Practice Session

Today I got the OBC Recordings of American Idiot and Aida. I listened to all of American Idiot, it's really great. When my roommates came home they were really digging the music and were surprised when I said " I think I like Green Day even more when Broadway people are singing it!" I haven't listened to all of Aida yet, but I think I am going to do that tomorrow as part of my non-singing practice.

I wanted to listen to American Idiot because all my friends have been talking about it non stop for the past couple weeks. I always thought I wouldn't need to hear the broadway version because I have the Green Day discography, but it is super cool. I thought the dudes on the recording sounded a little tougher/more rock than the girls though, which bummed me out. I wish the girls had a little more rock going on.

Day 25 food proof!

SEE! I TOLD YOU I ate that this morning! Proof!