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Listening To: Your Hand in Mine (Goodbye) by Explosions in the Sky
Dear Hal,
So I spend the last couple of days at home preparing our house for the upcoming Baptism of my little nephew. We rearranged the living room, big bedroom, washed carpets, and overall overhauled the house. It was a good weekend. I got to hang out with Amber and my Ma and had some good conversations. Then yesterday, my ma and I went to pick up my little bro, big sister, and nephew from the airport in Madison. There was a detour on our route that we didn't expect however. My mom then tried to decipher a route to the Airport that would be quickest given the detour but unfortunately I wasn't paying any attention to the turn and we ended up taking the beltline all the way around Madison. On the way out, we did get to take that route and it was a good 15-20 minutes quicker. Anyway... I have a show in a little bit. My plans for this week are to to the show tonight, stay in Platteville, Go to a One Act Production rehearsal in Dubuque tomorrow night and go home for the night. Stay till Saturday night in which I need to be in Platteville for another show, go back after the show, stay Sunday for the baptism and then leave that evening for yet another show. Not a bad week actually :) But I'm heading out.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
#7 It's Opening Night!
Listening To: The Goods from the Musical 'The Full Monty'
Dear Hal,
So Opening Night was tonight for 'The Producers' and it went well. It was a very solid show. The show went without a hitch up until the 'Springtime For Hitler' number. For some odd reason the tempo was much quicker than other nights. This cut our already quick change by nearly 15 seconds. Basically I was tucking in my shirt, adjusting my feet in my shoes, and zipping up my fly as I'm marching onstage. It was so quick tonight that we actually lost one of our tappers. For the show, we really can't have tappers tapping in their boxers and that's what it would've been if he would've left when he needed to go. After the show, I got hugs from our director and choreographer. Now I can expect our choreographer to do that because I've known her for a few years and she is an amazing person. Unlike most (if not all) small town choreographers, she can walk the walk and talk the talk. She has been a dancer to the highest level all over the east coast and has won more than a handful Carbonell Awards (a regional Award in southeast US) and has worked with a lot of impressive names. The famous Tony Award Winning Tommy Tune drew a self portrait of himself and gave it specifically to her. Anyway... So let's just say she's good... very, extremely, amazingly good. She's also an amazing person. Nice, forgiving, and all around great. Like I was saying, I've known her for a while and we're on great terms and she came up to me after the show and gave me a hug and I got a bunch of compliments. What I wasn't expecting was our director (whom I've never worked with before the show) to come up to me afterwards and congratulate me. Now I don't have a huge role in the show, but I have four very different roles throughout. She came up to me afterwards and told me how impressed she was with my versatility with the roles and gave me a great big hug. She's also a very distinguished performer/musician/director. Her compliment ranks among the most meaningful because of the short time we've worked together. I was chatting with our choreographer after the show and we were both sharing our thoughts on how intimidating we were to work with the director for the firs time because of her pedigree and the stories people have been telling us. She hasn't shied away from firing actors on the spot when she they don't cooperate. She begs the kind of professionalism that seems unobtainable, but she gets somehow gets it out of you. Anyway... A friend of a friend (kind of a friend, but not quite) is having a 21st B-day tonight that I'm going to go hog wild at (on second thought, not that crazy) so I'm gonna head on out.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Dear Hal,
So Opening Night was tonight for 'The Producers' and it went well. It was a very solid show. The show went without a hitch up until the 'Springtime For Hitler' number. For some odd reason the tempo was much quicker than other nights. This cut our already quick change by nearly 15 seconds. Basically I was tucking in my shirt, adjusting my feet in my shoes, and zipping up my fly as I'm marching onstage. It was so quick tonight that we actually lost one of our tappers. For the show, we really can't have tappers tapping in their boxers and that's what it would've been if he would've left when he needed to go. After the show, I got hugs from our director and choreographer. Now I can expect our choreographer to do that because I've known her for a few years and she is an amazing person. Unlike most (if not all) small town choreographers, she can walk the walk and talk the talk. She has been a dancer to the highest level all over the east coast and has won more than a handful Carbonell Awards (a regional Award in southeast US) and has worked with a lot of impressive names. The famous Tony Award Winning Tommy Tune drew a self portrait of himself and gave it specifically to her. Anyway... So let's just say she's good... very, extremely, amazingly good. She's also an amazing person. Nice, forgiving, and all around great. Like I was saying, I've known her for a while and we're on great terms and she came up to me after the show and gave me a hug and I got a bunch of compliments. What I wasn't expecting was our director (whom I've never worked with before the show) to come up to me afterwards and congratulate me. Now I don't have a huge role in the show, but I have four very different roles throughout. She came up to me afterwards and told me how impressed she was with my versatility with the roles and gave me a great big hug. She's also a very distinguished performer/musician/director. Her compliment ranks among the most meaningful because of the short time we've worked together. I was chatting with our choreographer after the show and we were both sharing our thoughts on how intimidating we were to work with the director for the firs time because of her pedigree and the stories people have been telling us. She hasn't shied away from firing actors on the spot when she they don't cooperate. She begs the kind of professionalism that seems unobtainable, but she gets somehow gets it out of you. Anyway... A friend of a friend (kind of a friend, but not quite) is having a 21st B-day tonight that I'm going to go hog wild at (on second thought, not that crazy) so I'm gonna head on out.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
The Rabbit
So there is a rabbit that is frequently in the yard of my duplex (he's probably out there now) and I was able to take a few pictures of him the other day. Here they are...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
#6 Crazy Costumes!
Dear Hal,
I'm currently watching 'The Visitor' on Netflix so if my thoughts seem a little disjointed it's cuz I'm going back and forth writing and watching.
Anyway... Since last writing we've had several dress and tech rehearsals. I remember the first Dress rehearsal. Going through past rehearsals, it never occurred to me how the costume changes were going to happen, I never gave them any thought. The first costume rehearsal was a disaster. I was not at all prepared for the amount of work, concentration and speed I needed in order to pull off such changes. The three quick changes I have in 'The Producers' are the three quickest changes I have had in my entire theater career. The first quick change I have is changing from a first nighter into a bum. It's the first quick change in the show so fortunately I get a lot of costume help from our costumers for that change. My first nighter costume is tux pants, tux shirt, tux jacket and bow tie. Fortunately I have large tux pants because I'm able to make the change quicker by underdressing my bum pants underneath the tux pants. My tux shirt is also quick rigged with velcro so I can rip it off in a matter of seconds. So what I do for the my first quick change is to pull off my tux pants over my shoes (often turning them inside out). I rip off my tux shirt. Ellen (one of the costumers) throws on my bum shirt over my head. I put my arms through and then shes there with my vest for me to put my arms into and while I'm putting in my other arm she puts on my hat and scarf and hands me my bum bottle and then I'm right back onstage. I have been able to be do this change with around 10-15 seconds extra. Although it's not an absolute problem for me to be late, I don't want to be a problem in not showing up when I'm suppose to.
My next quick changes happens towards the middle of Act 2 when I change from a Worker into Bavarian Dancer. Now during intermission I preset all my stuff. I don't really have any time once Act 2 starts to set all my stuff. I have the audition scene to worker scene and little responsibilities between them. After I do my cross for the mirrored worker (and Cat screech) I basically strip down to my black spandex and throw everything else on. I throw off my suspenders and pants, shoes, rip off my quick rigged workers shirt, and throw on my short Bavarian shorts with leiderhosen and my bavarian shirt, pull up the long blue socks, and throw on my boots. It's actually a tricky costume to get on. Because I'm on good terms with the costumers, I'm almost always well helped.
The next quick change is literally 60 seconds after I go onstage as Bavarian dancer. I change from being Bavarian dancer to Stormtrooper. Now this costume change isn't the most difficult, but it's the fact that there is 5 people around me trying to get stuff on and there are costumes all over the place that makes it difficult. Also, this change is extremely important to be on time with. Because we come in on a music cue to start dancing it's important that we be on time. The trickiest part of this change is the leiderhosen. It is buttoned on to my shorts and is tricky to unbutton without someones help and frankly there are a lot of people that need help and not a lot of helpers for this change. Anyway, I take off all the bavarian stuff and go back down to the spandex so I can put on an entirely different storm trooper costume. That consists of a quick rigged shirt, black tie (pretied for quickness), black pants, and tap shoes.
Anyway... Those three costume changes are crazy and by far the quickest changes I've ever had. It's not like I'm the only one with a quick change though. Although, I have among the most quick changes, I believe almost everyone of the 20 person cast has at least one quick change and a few have two or three. It has been a lot of fun though. I remember the first rehearsal with costumes. Afterwards I was smiling ear to ear because of the fun it was to try all those changes for the first time. We were allowed to be a little sloppy the first time because it was our first time and we weren't expected to be perfect off the bat. There were little things like the someone coming on in boxers because he couldn't get his boots off for a quick change. It was quite an entertaining night. I really should go and get some sleep. Maybe later I'll put down some of those crazy things that happened.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
I'm currently watching 'The Visitor' on Netflix so if my thoughts seem a little disjointed it's cuz I'm going back and forth writing and watching.
Anyway... Since last writing we've had several dress and tech rehearsals. I remember the first Dress rehearsal. Going through past rehearsals, it never occurred to me how the costume changes were going to happen, I never gave them any thought. The first costume rehearsal was a disaster. I was not at all prepared for the amount of work, concentration and speed I needed in order to pull off such changes. The three quick changes I have in 'The Producers' are the three quickest changes I have had in my entire theater career. The first quick change I have is changing from a first nighter into a bum. It's the first quick change in the show so fortunately I get a lot of costume help from our costumers for that change. My first nighter costume is tux pants, tux shirt, tux jacket and bow tie. Fortunately I have large tux pants because I'm able to make the change quicker by underdressing my bum pants underneath the tux pants. My tux shirt is also quick rigged with velcro so I can rip it off in a matter of seconds. So what I do for the my first quick change is to pull off my tux pants over my shoes (often turning them inside out). I rip off my tux shirt. Ellen (one of the costumers) throws on my bum shirt over my head. I put my arms through and then shes there with my vest for me to put my arms into and while I'm putting in my other arm she puts on my hat and scarf and hands me my bum bottle and then I'm right back onstage. I have been able to be do this change with around 10-15 seconds extra. Although it's not an absolute problem for me to be late, I don't want to be a problem in not showing up when I'm suppose to.
My next quick changes happens towards the middle of Act 2 when I change from a Worker into Bavarian Dancer. Now during intermission I preset all my stuff. I don't really have any time once Act 2 starts to set all my stuff. I have the audition scene to worker scene and little responsibilities between them. After I do my cross for the mirrored worker (and Cat screech) I basically strip down to my black spandex and throw everything else on. I throw off my suspenders and pants, shoes, rip off my quick rigged workers shirt, and throw on my short Bavarian shorts with leiderhosen and my bavarian shirt, pull up the long blue socks, and throw on my boots. It's actually a tricky costume to get on. Because I'm on good terms with the costumers, I'm almost always well helped.
The next quick change is literally 60 seconds after I go onstage as Bavarian dancer. I change from being Bavarian dancer to Stormtrooper. Now this costume change isn't the most difficult, but it's the fact that there is 5 people around me trying to get stuff on and there are costumes all over the place that makes it difficult. Also, this change is extremely important to be on time with. Because we come in on a music cue to start dancing it's important that we be on time. The trickiest part of this change is the leiderhosen. It is buttoned on to my shorts and is tricky to unbutton without someones help and frankly there are a lot of people that need help and not a lot of helpers for this change. Anyway, I take off all the bavarian stuff and go back down to the spandex so I can put on an entirely different storm trooper costume. That consists of a quick rigged shirt, black tie (pretied for quickness), black pants, and tap shoes.
Anyway... Those three costume changes are crazy and by far the quickest changes I've ever had. It's not like I'm the only one with a quick change though. Although, I have among the most quick changes, I believe almost everyone of the 20 person cast has at least one quick change and a few have two or three. It has been a lot of fun though. I remember the first rehearsal with costumes. Afterwards I was smiling ear to ear because of the fun it was to try all those changes for the first time. We were allowed to be a little sloppy the first time because it was our first time and we weren't expected to be perfect off the bat. There were little things like the someone coming on in boxers because he couldn't get his boots off for a quick change. It was quite an entertaining night. I really should go and get some sleep. Maybe later I'll put down some of those crazy things that happened.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Sunday, July 5, 2009
#5 Sleep
Dear Hal,
So it's 9:35am and I just got done making and eating some eggs-over-easy. I'm not going to be able to post much just because of time, but I'll write now some stuff and go into detail later today.
Fourth of July was yesterday and I was excited to go home and see Amber. She was able to see the show on the third as well :). Well we had a cookout, saw fireworks, and had a fire. It was a good night. Unfortunately I needed to be in Platteville by 10:00am for rehearsal. So what I did was stayed there until around 1:00am and decided I would rather drive and get into Platteville around 2:00-2:15am than to sleep in Grove and drive the hour in the morning. Before I could leave Grove though, I got pulled over by a family friend. I semi-ran a stop sign as she was passing by and although I believe most cops would let a mostly stopped vehicle go, she decided to give me a hard time. Anyway, she pulled me over, asked where I was heading at 1:00am and told her I'd rather go to P-ville now than later and then she let me off.
So I maybe got 6 hours of sleep last night and today is going to be a long day. Uff da. Anyway... gotta run. Rehearsals starts shortly.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
So it's 9:35am and I just got done making and eating some eggs-over-easy. I'm not going to be able to post much just because of time, but I'll write now some stuff and go into detail later today.
Fourth of July was yesterday and I was excited to go home and see Amber. She was able to see the show on the third as well :). Well we had a cookout, saw fireworks, and had a fire. It was a good night. Unfortunately I needed to be in Platteville by 10:00am for rehearsal. So what I did was stayed there until around 1:00am and decided I would rather drive and get into Platteville around 2:00-2:15am than to sleep in Grove and drive the hour in the morning. Before I could leave Grove though, I got pulled over by a family friend. I semi-ran a stop sign as she was passing by and although I believe most cops would let a mostly stopped vehicle go, she decided to give me a hard time. Anyway, she pulled me over, asked where I was heading at 1:00am and told her I'd rather go to P-ville now than later and then she let me off.
So I maybe got 6 hours of sleep last night and today is going to be a long day. Uff da. Anyway... gotta run. Rehearsals starts shortly.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
#4 Costume Parade
Dear Hal,
Well, I'm just getting back from a costume parade for our director of The Producers. Seeing as everyone in the ensemble is playing over 4 parts a piece with some playing up to 12, there is a lot of costumes. With that we all tried everything on and made notes of what needs what work done on it and so forth. It just took over two and a half hours.
Past that, I'm a little tired and I'm waiting for 'Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts' to load on Netflix. I started it last night, but I didn't finish it seeing as I started watching it around 1:00am. So I'm going to finish it this afternoon before rehearsal at 6:30pm. I should also fix myself something to eat. I don't want to eat to late around 6:00pm because of the potential problem of dancing on a full stomach. I don't know. I'm debating a snack like a poptart and milk or ramen noodles. I have a loaf of fresh french bread I can take a bit of and just chow down on as well. I probably won't figure it out until I'm done writing :).
My sister is coming today! She's traveling all the way from D.C. for the fourth of july. She's going to get in southwest WI around 10pm and we made plans to go to Steves Pizza (a fantastic local Platteville joint) and have ourselves a nice dinner. The thing I'm worried about is not getting out of Rehearsal at 10:00pm. We are running the entire show and I have a feeling it's going to end up like yesterday when we ran the show and didn't get done until 10:30pm. Oh well, I hope it all works out. Anyway... movies loaded and I'm gonna get something to satisfy my stomach.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Well, I'm just getting back from a costume parade for our director of The Producers. Seeing as everyone in the ensemble is playing over 4 parts a piece with some playing up to 12, there is a lot of costumes. With that we all tried everything on and made notes of what needs what work done on it and so forth. It just took over two and a half hours.
Past that, I'm a little tired and I'm waiting for 'Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts' to load on Netflix. I started it last night, but I didn't finish it seeing as I started watching it around 1:00am. So I'm going to finish it this afternoon before rehearsal at 6:30pm. I should also fix myself something to eat. I don't want to eat to late around 6:00pm because of the potential problem of dancing on a full stomach. I don't know. I'm debating a snack like a poptart and milk or ramen noodles. I have a loaf of fresh french bread I can take a bit of and just chow down on as well. I probably won't figure it out until I'm done writing :).
My sister is coming today! She's traveling all the way from D.C. for the fourth of july. She's going to get in southwest WI around 10pm and we made plans to go to Steves Pizza (a fantastic local Platteville joint) and have ourselves a nice dinner. The thing I'm worried about is not getting out of Rehearsal at 10:00pm. We are running the entire show and I have a feeling it's going to end up like yesterday when we ran the show and didn't get done until 10:30pm. Oh well, I hope it all works out. Anyway... movies loaded and I'm gonna get something to satisfy my stomach.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
#3 Bitterness
Listening To: We're Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes
Dear Hal,
I know I posted earlier today, but I just gotta vent. I'm Bitter. I guess I should start out with why. Well, while moving the office set (which is on wheels) I was pushing on one side and our Stage Manager was on the otherside and I could see her fingers wrapped on the wall. Being the guy I am, I started poking her fingers just teasing a bit. She turned around the wall and with fire in her eyes she said "Let's not be A**holes around here." This is not something I usually hear, in fact I never hear. I am always joking around and pranking people around the set and I never get this reaction. Anyway... This is something that I let blow over. I figure that she was in a bad mood and that's something I can forgive (even with a bad mood, there are better ways to react to that situation). What really got me bitter came a little while later. I was pushing, with my foot, the platform of the office next to a friend of mine who was pushing on the wall. I was told by our tech guys that we shouldn't be pushing on the walls, but I gave up trying to relay that message to all the people pushing on the walls. But anyway, my pal told me that I wasn't doing anything constructive with my foot, but I responded saying that I'm not going to push on the walls and we started a little argument. To this our Stage Manager looked around the wall and with the same look as before said "Ben go wait in the Wings" before the job was even halfway done. Now I'm not a child and I was doing everything I was told to by the Tech guys earlier. My friend who is very much older than I, was assumed correct in this argument. So not only was I wrongly yelled at, I was embarrassed. I don't care how bad of a mood you are in, there is no excuse for this. This is the same stage manager I go up to after every rehearsal asking if anything needs to be done. I have gone up to her and lent my hand to numerous projects. With this whole incident, I have zero respect for her and her ability to do her job. I would really like to be able to show her just how bitter I am so I have decided that she doesn't deserve my help. Ontop of that, I realized how freakin' cliquish the Heartland Festival is. All of the hired in (the people that have most of the leads and what not) mixed in with the the rest of the older and experienced locals make up this entire group. Meanwhile the rest of the locals and younger people get left elsewhere. The thing that irks me is that the older friends of mine from shows that we've done together at UWP rather go hang out with the hired ins. They are choosing to hang out with the talent then past friends. It's not only me. So I was just in a show Thoroughly Modern Millie and one of the leads of that show, let's call friend A, went to the Mall of America with one of the older friends of mine, friend B. Just the two. I was told it was a great time and a bonding experience. So on friend B's birthday which was a couple weeks ago, not only was I not invited to go hang out, but neither was friend A. Instead Friend B went to Dubuque with her hired in friends. Now Friend B has had some of those friends for just as long as she has known Friend A and I, but some of those that went to Dubuque were acquaintances in the last two months. I feel like talent is being trumped by time. Me on the other hand have never had this problem. I have had 4 theater leads in 3 years. I had a lead in my first College Theater Production. You don't see me hanging out exclusively with the other leads. You don't see me not talking to the chorus and tech members. In fact those are the people I love hanging out with and in fact when I hang out with entire casts, an outsider wouldn't be able to pinpoint the leads of the show because we are all having fun as a cast and not the leads with everyone else. Hell, I even love hanging out and chatting with the costumers, lighting, sounds, and all other tech people. When one of the tech guys from a show I've done needed actors for a movie project he was doing, I was more than glad to help him out. When a chorus member in a show I was in needed help transporting her video equipment across campus, I was more than happy to help her out. I consider myself a friendly, positive and outgoing individual. The fact that I'm being treated like some inexperienced and untalented child in this production has gotten me really bitter. I should've heeded some advice from a friend before auditioning for Heartland. He has done heartland for a number of years but was tired of stuff like this happening and decided not to return. This guy in the same position I am in. He got some important roles in heartland productions. I've had so much luck bonding with every cast I've been a part of that I didn't think that it could happen to me. Of course after ranting on like I have, I now know I'm wrong. Anyway... to give the guy I argued with credit, he did come up to me after moving the office and told me why he had said what he said with a hint of an apology. I wish I could say the same for the stage manager. All I can say is that she is going to be missing my helping hands for the next 6 weeks.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Dear Hal,
I know I posted earlier today, but I just gotta vent. I'm Bitter. I guess I should start out with why. Well, while moving the office set (which is on wheels) I was pushing on one side and our Stage Manager was on the otherside and I could see her fingers wrapped on the wall. Being the guy I am, I started poking her fingers just teasing a bit. She turned around the wall and with fire in her eyes she said "Let's not be A**holes around here." This is not something I usually hear, in fact I never hear. I am always joking around and pranking people around the set and I never get this reaction. Anyway... This is something that I let blow over. I figure that she was in a bad mood and that's something I can forgive (even with a bad mood, there are better ways to react to that situation). What really got me bitter came a little while later. I was pushing, with my foot, the platform of the office next to a friend of mine who was pushing on the wall. I was told by our tech guys that we shouldn't be pushing on the walls, but I gave up trying to relay that message to all the people pushing on the walls. But anyway, my pal told me that I wasn't doing anything constructive with my foot, but I responded saying that I'm not going to push on the walls and we started a little argument. To this our Stage Manager looked around the wall and with the same look as before said "Ben go wait in the Wings" before the job was even halfway done. Now I'm not a child and I was doing everything I was told to by the Tech guys earlier. My friend who is very much older than I, was assumed correct in this argument. So not only was I wrongly yelled at, I was embarrassed. I don't care how bad of a mood you are in, there is no excuse for this. This is the same stage manager I go up to after every rehearsal asking if anything needs to be done. I have gone up to her and lent my hand to numerous projects. With this whole incident, I have zero respect for her and her ability to do her job. I would really like to be able to show her just how bitter I am so I have decided that she doesn't deserve my help. Ontop of that, I realized how freakin' cliquish the Heartland Festival is. All of the hired in (the people that have most of the leads and what not) mixed in with the the rest of the older and experienced locals make up this entire group. Meanwhile the rest of the locals and younger people get left elsewhere. The thing that irks me is that the older friends of mine from shows that we've done together at UWP rather go hang out with the hired ins. They are choosing to hang out with the talent then past friends. It's not only me. So I was just in a show Thoroughly Modern Millie and one of the leads of that show, let's call friend A, went to the Mall of America with one of the older friends of mine, friend B. Just the two. I was told it was a great time and a bonding experience. So on friend B's birthday which was a couple weeks ago, not only was I not invited to go hang out, but neither was friend A. Instead Friend B went to Dubuque with her hired in friends. Now Friend B has had some of those friends for just as long as she has known Friend A and I, but some of those that went to Dubuque were acquaintances in the last two months. I feel like talent is being trumped by time. Me on the other hand have never had this problem. I have had 4 theater leads in 3 years. I had a lead in my first College Theater Production. You don't see me hanging out exclusively with the other leads. You don't see me not talking to the chorus and tech members. In fact those are the people I love hanging out with and in fact when I hang out with entire casts, an outsider wouldn't be able to pinpoint the leads of the show because we are all having fun as a cast and not the leads with everyone else. Hell, I even love hanging out and chatting with the costumers, lighting, sounds, and all other tech people. When one of the tech guys from a show I've done needed actors for a movie project he was doing, I was more than glad to help him out. When a chorus member in a show I was in needed help transporting her video equipment across campus, I was more than happy to help her out. I consider myself a friendly, positive and outgoing individual. The fact that I'm being treated like some inexperienced and untalented child in this production has gotten me really bitter. I should've heeded some advice from a friend before auditioning for Heartland. He has done heartland for a number of years but was tired of stuff like this happening and decided not to return. This guy in the same position I am in. He got some important roles in heartland productions. I've had so much luck bonding with every cast I've been a part of that I didn't think that it could happen to me. Of course after ranting on like I have, I now know I'm wrong. Anyway... to give the guy I argued with credit, he did come up to me after moving the office and told me why he had said what he said with a hint of an apology. I wish I could say the same for the stage manager. All I can say is that she is going to be missing my helping hands for the next 6 weeks.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
#2 Phones Broke
Listening to: Long Division by Death Cab for Cutie
Dear Hal,
Well my phones broke, for now. My direction buttons and the 9 button are not working. Believe it or not, but it makes it extremely difficult to text without those buttons. I hope that it doesn't last for too long. It started when I was texting while trying to dishes and I know the keys were wet from my hands. Oh well, at least the phone can still perform the absolute necessary function of being a phone.
So I know I can talk about a lot of different things right now. Rehearsals, Job Hunting, Trip to Chicago, News, and this and that are just a the short list. I have a costume fitting this evening before rehearsal. I think I'm going to get my Jason costume and lederhosen for my Bavarian Dancer. Lol, that reminds me that the shorts I'm wearing for my Bavarian Dancer are way too short. The are further up than mid thigh and look ridiculous. I'm all for it really. Hell, I've worn more uncomfortable costumes before (Mrs. Meers being the worst).
It's already past 2pm and I haven't gotten out for job hunting yet. I have applications filled out for Subway, Dominos, and DQ but I just got to get them back to the places. I've been having some awful trouble job hunting. I don't think I'm filling them out wrong. I have had some thoughts of Michelle (previous supervisor) sabotaging me, but there's no way to know for sure. I was a Resident Assistant for UWP student housing in Pickard Hall and Michelle was my Resident Director. Personally we didn't get along very well, but I did my job. I don't get it really. I would like to think of myself a nice guy in a 'I'll open the door for you' kinda way. While an RA, I was swamped with academics, theater productions and what not so there were times I just had a lot of scheduling conflicts that were out of my hands.
- I just gotta put this out there, but 'Your Hand in Mine by Explosions' in the Sky just started playing on Pandora. This is my all time favorite instrumental work. If you saw the movie Friday Night Lights, you've heard the song. I'm Happy :) -
One example in which I was really turned off by Michelle was when I had a Mandatory rehearsal I could not miss. I don't mean that I could possibly show up late or maybe miss the parts in which I'm not in. This was a full dress rehearsal and I had to be in complete Mrs. Meers costume and everything. I was also told that there was a mandatory RA devo that we had to go to. I had a little scuff with Michelle over this and she wouldn't relent. Finally I just said I'll leave early from the Devo and show up late for dress rehearsal and both parties will just have to deal with it. The day before this conflict happened I received an email from the head of the student housing saying that those who had conflicts for the RA devo could make it up with an alternate devo the next day during a time I had completely free. I couldn't believe it. That is the prime example of Michelle. She put so much priority on the job that there isn't any room for anything else. I was the most involved RA in Pickard and the other RAs were having some trouble balancing their extra-activities without treading on Michelle. I wouldn't complain too much if I knew that this was the situation across campus, but other RDs were completely understanding of the RAs having other activities. Jen (the RD that actually hired me) has a great reputation with the theater dept. because she understands that there is more to an RAs life then being an RA. Anyway, I would like to think that Michelle would not sabotage me, but the thought has crossed my mind. Well that's my venting for the day.
The couches from the previous tenants are almost gone. The large one still remains though. These couches are so ugly in a 1960s kinda way. Other people don't mind the couches but I can't stand them. Let's just say that I'm glad they're getting moved out. I have some replacement couches that are actually pretty nice. My mom is getting rid of the couches we had at our house. Yeah, they look very 90s-esque but they are comfy and at least look like regular couches. So far the only one I have here in Platteville is the love seat but the full size couch will come down as soon as I can get a trailer and hitch for my car.
So what else is new? Nothing much. Amber is coming down on Friday! Amber is my girlfriend. I have been dating Amber since Homecoming my Senior Year. That was a good year. I was two way starter on our conf. champion football team. I started CB and TE and played everything but O-line and QB. I played FB, RB, TE, WR, DE, OLB, CB, and Safety at least once in game. Going into the games I was the third or second RB, FB and WR. I was one of those all around offensive guys, because I knew all of the responsibilities for the Back field and Wide out positions and I was athletic enough to contribute. On defense I was mostly CB through and through. I started that position since my Junior year so I knew that position well. I was also Homecoming King!
Anyway... Amber is coming down Friday to see the show with her mom. It is kinda crazy to think that I've only had one girlfriend in the last almost 4 years. She's not what you call classic beauty, but she is considered by most a very attractive girl with small flaws. I don't know, but there is something about the small flaws that makes someone more attractive sometimes. There is also an innocence she has that makes her really attractive to me. Enough about her physical assets. She's also a 4.00 college student at Edgewood. She is smart, funny, nice and lovable. I try to say this to her, but like me, it's hard to trust what other people say sometime. She also has a way of keeping me grounded. I will admit it, I do sometimes get a big head. How can somebody not? I've had 4 theater leads in 3 years at college. But she has a way to keep me grounded that I don't think anyone else can do. She also is able to complement me after a show without it being insincere and inflating. She is truly the girl for me. Now there are quite a few more levels of seriousness our relationship can reach. The only reason I don't want it to get too much further is the fact that we are indeed always in a long distance relationship. How is it going to be when we finally get to see each other for 16 hours a day? Another thing is money. Financially I can't commit much to our relationship. I could easily ask her hand in marriage, but I'm just plain broke. It would be a really lame wedding. I think she feels the same way. A wedding should be worth spending money on. I know she has said that she doesn't want to marry until post college and that's going to be in over 3 years.
YAY, My phone finally dried out and is working! That's a good note to end with.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
Dear Hal,
Well my phones broke, for now. My direction buttons and the 9 button are not working. Believe it or not, but it makes it extremely difficult to text without those buttons. I hope that it doesn't last for too long. It started when I was texting while trying to dishes and I know the keys were wet from my hands. Oh well, at least the phone can still perform the absolute necessary function of being a phone.
So I know I can talk about a lot of different things right now. Rehearsals, Job Hunting, Trip to Chicago, News, and this and that are just a the short list. I have a costume fitting this evening before rehearsal. I think I'm going to get my Jason costume and lederhosen for my Bavarian Dancer. Lol, that reminds me that the shorts I'm wearing for my Bavarian Dancer are way too short. The are further up than mid thigh and look ridiculous. I'm all for it really. Hell, I've worn more uncomfortable costumes before (Mrs. Meers being the worst).
It's already past 2pm and I haven't gotten out for job hunting yet. I have applications filled out for Subway, Dominos, and DQ but I just got to get them back to the places. I've been having some awful trouble job hunting. I don't think I'm filling them out wrong. I have had some thoughts of Michelle (previous supervisor) sabotaging me, but there's no way to know for sure. I was a Resident Assistant for UWP student housing in Pickard Hall and Michelle was my Resident Director. Personally we didn't get along very well, but I did my job. I don't get it really. I would like to think of myself a nice guy in a 'I'll open the door for you' kinda way. While an RA, I was swamped with academics, theater productions and what not so there were times I just had a lot of scheduling conflicts that were out of my hands.
- I just gotta put this out there, but 'Your Hand in Mine by Explosions' in the Sky just started playing on Pandora. This is my all time favorite instrumental work. If you saw the movie Friday Night Lights, you've heard the song. I'm Happy :) -
One example in which I was really turned off by Michelle was when I had a Mandatory rehearsal I could not miss. I don't mean that I could possibly show up late or maybe miss the parts in which I'm not in. This was a full dress rehearsal and I had to be in complete Mrs. Meers costume and everything. I was also told that there was a mandatory RA devo that we had to go to. I had a little scuff with Michelle over this and she wouldn't relent. Finally I just said I'll leave early from the Devo and show up late for dress rehearsal and both parties will just have to deal with it. The day before this conflict happened I received an email from the head of the student housing saying that those who had conflicts for the RA devo could make it up with an alternate devo the next day during a time I had completely free. I couldn't believe it. That is the prime example of Michelle. She put so much priority on the job that there isn't any room for anything else. I was the most involved RA in Pickard and the other RAs were having some trouble balancing their extra-activities without treading on Michelle. I wouldn't complain too much if I knew that this was the situation across campus, but other RDs were completely understanding of the RAs having other activities. Jen (the RD that actually hired me) has a great reputation with the theater dept. because she understands that there is more to an RAs life then being an RA. Anyway, I would like to think that Michelle would not sabotage me, but the thought has crossed my mind. Well that's my venting for the day.
The couches from the previous tenants are almost gone. The large one still remains though. These couches are so ugly in a 1960s kinda way. Other people don't mind the couches but I can't stand them. Let's just say that I'm glad they're getting moved out. I have some replacement couches that are actually pretty nice. My mom is getting rid of the couches we had at our house. Yeah, they look very 90s-esque but they are comfy and at least look like regular couches. So far the only one I have here in Platteville is the love seat but the full size couch will come down as soon as I can get a trailer and hitch for my car.
So what else is new? Nothing much. Amber is coming down on Friday! Amber is my girlfriend. I have been dating Amber since Homecoming my Senior Year. That was a good year. I was two way starter on our conf. champion football team. I started CB and TE and played everything but O-line and QB. I played FB, RB, TE, WR, DE, OLB, CB, and Safety at least once in game. Going into the games I was the third or second RB, FB and WR. I was one of those all around offensive guys, because I knew all of the responsibilities for the Back field and Wide out positions and I was athletic enough to contribute. On defense I was mostly CB through and through. I started that position since my Junior year so I knew that position well. I was also Homecoming King!
Anyway... Amber is coming down Friday to see the show with her mom. It is kinda crazy to think that I've only had one girlfriend in the last almost 4 years. She's not what you call classic beauty, but she is considered by most a very attractive girl with small flaws. I don't know, but there is something about the small flaws that makes someone more attractive sometimes. There is also an innocence she has that makes her really attractive to me. Enough about her physical assets. She's also a 4.00 college student at Edgewood. She is smart, funny, nice and lovable. I try to say this to her, but like me, it's hard to trust what other people say sometime. She also has a way of keeping me grounded. I will admit it, I do sometimes get a big head. How can somebody not? I've had 4 theater leads in 3 years at college. But she has a way to keep me grounded that I don't think anyone else can do. She also is able to complement me after a show without it being insincere and inflating. She is truly the girl for me. Now there are quite a few more levels of seriousness our relationship can reach. The only reason I don't want it to get too much further is the fact that we are indeed always in a long distance relationship. How is it going to be when we finally get to see each other for 16 hours a day? Another thing is money. Financially I can't commit much to our relationship. I could easily ask her hand in marriage, but I'm just plain broke. It would be a really lame wedding. I think she feels the same way. A wedding should be worth spending money on. I know she has said that she doesn't want to marry until post college and that's going to be in over 3 years.
YAY, My phone finally dried out and is working! That's a good note to end with.
Until Next Time,
Ben Barlow
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