I love ya tomorrow...

Annie. The story of a little red-headed orphan that stole the hearts of Oliver Warbucks, Grace Farrell, and many others. A fun and heartwarming story. And I'm glad to say that I've been a player in the WCT production of Annie Jr.
It has been a journey and I've loved every step of it - even with the large amounts of stress I was under when we started, because I was also in two other shows. Now this chapter is closing... tonight's performance will be the last on the WCT stage. We will be taking one performance to Temple on the 20th, but largely, this is it. I have gotten to work alongside people that mean a lot to me, in a place that means a lot to me, doing something that means a lot to me. And really... I'm not ready to say goodbye.

Emotionally, I frequently struggle with stuff, but the thought of going to the theatre and doing a performance with my people, gets me through a lot of the rough terrain. I don't know what I'll do without it.

I'll miss everything about it.

• The quick changes 
• The backstage dancing 
• The feeling at the start of a performance
• And the feeling at the end
• The jokes exchanged
• The reactions of a good audience
• The excitement in my friends eyes 
• The whole cast
• Trying to remember good posture 
• Moments where you nearly break character but you prevail 
• Telling one another to 'break a leg'
• The costumes 
• Moments when you feel really good about how you gave a certain line
• The set 
• The crew and techies
• The production team
• Greeting the crowd
• The moments when the cast gets to know each other better
• The times when everyone can just goof off
• The occasional pre-show dance party
• Even the fact that this show's trend is: half the boys trying to flip water bottles and land them right side up
• Cheering during curtain call
• Acknowledging the techies
• Little girls asking for pictures
• The times of perfection
• Knowing that everyone beside you, gave their all to the show, just like you.

I love this show. 

The End Of A Beginning. Once Upon A Mattress.

Last night was the closing night of my first college show, and I'm sad now, so you are going to get a post about the beauty and heartbreak of theatre.

Once Upon A Mattress. A comedic, musical, retelling of "the princess and the pea." My first college musical. I went through a lot - emotionally - during the rehearsals and the run of the show, and my heart is kinda full. This show was the start of something new for me, and now that it's over I don't really know what to do...

Being in theatre means that, for a few weeks, you pour everything into the show: your heart, your soul, your time, your energy, your life. When it's all said and done, you will literally have put blood, sweat, and tears into the production. And then, after the performances - however many you have - you tear it all down, and it's gone forever, except for the place that it will always hold in your heart. The moment you are cast, you become a part of a family. A crazy, annoying, loving, hard-core, wonderful, amazing, family. And saying goodbye isn't easy. There is nothing else like theatre. The fleeting nature, but lasting impact, holds beauty like none other.

I got stressed and aggravated many times, but I also was encouraged, inspired, and entertained, and those many little happy moments are what I will choose to remember in the coming years. 

I feel like I have grown as an actress and a human, and I am grateful.

I am also very very very grateful for the people that I had the pleasure and honor to work with. I gave and received friendships, and I feel like I'm now a part of the group. 

I could probably talk for hours about how wonderful and painful it all is, but I don't want to start crying.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO WAS IN THIS WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL AND I LOVE & APPRECIATE YOU ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL LOVED AND INCLUDED!!!!!!!!

"There is magic in the theatre, the theatre is magic, and blessed are those that make that magic."

Here's to you, and here's to me!

New Year's Resolutions

January 1st. The time of year when we suddenly decide that we are going to try harder and get more done, thus setting for ourselves tasks and goals that we will mostly likely not accomplish.
We fail time and time again, and yet we still do it. This persistence is quite endearing, but rather perplexing... Why do we continue to do something when we hardly ever seem to succeed?
But enough with these questions!

I will now join the masses in setting and announcing my goals/resolutions for this year of 2016!

1. Broaden my vocal range, both in notes and style

2. Finish the first draft of a novel that I have already begun

3. Participate in and win Camp NaNo

4. Participate in and win NaNoWriMo

5. Learn more dance - of various styles

6. Make a music video

7. Spend more time with my BEST FRIEND

8. Read more.

9. Take school more seriously

10. Audition for as much as possible

11. Do some form of exercise apart from dancing (I don't really expect that one to happen)

12. Have a healthier perception of myself and my abilities

13. Actually fulfill at least three of these...

*Edit: 14. Blog more regularly*

I think that looks pretty good - and unattainable - but I guess it will be nice to have a challenge.

Good luck to you all!

~ Smithy Rose.

Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Today is a day of giving thanks for all the good things we have recieved. I know you probably don't want to read a list of things I'm thankful for, and really, it's far too long a list to put anywhere; so I'm just going to metion a few things.

I'm thankful for:
All of my amazing friends! I can't say enough how grateful I am for them.
The Theatre that I love - it gave me hope and a new life.
All the midnight conversations I've had with people I love.
Being away from the one that hurt my family.

Now on to the fun part of this post!

On this Thanksgiving I decided to do something completely silly and imagine my character's as little kids putting on a Thanksgiving pageant.
Here is the result of that:


Cast of characters: John, Naya, Anthony, Sue, Gigi, O'Brian (Agents and Assassins), Dallas, Nora, Lucas (The Animalia Project), Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel, Snow White, Belle, Aurora, Flint, and Valor (Alternatives).

THANKSGIVING PAGEANT

The kids, six boys and eleven girls, were gathered in a backyard and were attempting to practice a Thanksgiving play that Nora had written.

Nora tried to bring some order to the group, but the challenge of directing sixteen other kids in a play was a nightmare.

"Alright everyone listen up!" Nora shouted, "I'm only gonna remind you one more time!" She held up a clipboard with a scrawled list of who was supposed to play who.

"John, you are William Bradford. Naya you are Captain Miles Standish."

"Why does she get to play him?" Flint complained

Naya explained "Becuase I'm the best for the part obviously,"

Nora continued with the list, "Anthony, you are John Carver. Ariel you play his wife, ."

"Why her?" Flint asked

"Because they both have red hair," Nora replied, "Oh, and Rapunzel, you are Rose Standish. O'Brian is Chief Massasoit, and Flint is Squanto."

"Yes!" Flint shouted jumping up and down.

Naya rolled her eyes, "Dude, you already knew what part you got, we've been practicing all day."

Nora ignored the interruptions, "Belle is Dorothy Bradford. Gigi, Dallas, Lucas and Aurora are Indians. Snow White, Valor, Cinderella, and Sue are Pilgrims. Now! Places everyone, let's practice one more time."

The 'pilgrims' got on stage and climbed into a very large cardboard box that was meant to resemble the Mayflower.

John had the first line but had to be nudged several times by Naya before he remembered it, "Here we go, to a new land."

"Yes." Naya said in a deep voice, "We have left England behind us so that we can build a town in America."

Nora was blissfully unaware of the errors in her script.

Belle gave her line next, "I'm sure our lives will be wonderful there."

Anthony said hesitantly, watching Nora to see if he was doing it right, "Let's pray for a safe journey?"

Everyone on the 'boat' bowed their heads for about two seconds - except Naya who thought that her character wouldn't pray.

Then they moved the 'ship' around the 'stage' and Rapunzel called out, "We're here!"

They climbed out of the box and looked around. Flint jumped out at them and yelled "boo!"

Nora called, "Flint! No scaring!"

"Fine..." Flint grumbled. He approched the pilgrims and said, "Hello! I can speak english! I will help you!"

"I don't trust you." Naya/Captain Standish said.

"But I can bring you fish!" Flint/Squanto said whipping one out of his pocket.

Nora nodded to the 'pilgrims' and they all called out. "We feel sick!" they fell to the ground and shivered. While the 'Indians' made the sound of a harsh winter.

Ariel/Kathrine Carver said, "This winter is so cold!"

Then the howling stopped and the 'pilgrims' - except Valor - stood up.

"Snow White!" Nora yelled "You're supposed to be dead, like Valor."

"Oh," Snow White said, quickly dropping back to the ground.

Anthony clutched his heart, "Ugh! I'm dying!" he fell down.

"Oh no!" Ariel/Kathrine cried then died too.

Then the 'Indians' came on with pretend food. "Here you go!" Flint/Squanto said. The 'Indians' left again. The 'pilgrims' mimed working hard, then John announced, "Our food is growing so well, let's celebrate Thanksgiving Day!"

"Yay," they all cheered.

The 'Indians' came back and O'Brian/Massasoit was introduced.

Then after pretenting to eat a lot, everyone stood up, came forward and took a bow.

"Good job everyone! Let's do it one more time!" Nora said.

The cast groaned and all of them pretended to die.


THE END

"I have lived most of my life surrounded my enemies. I will be grateful to die among my friends"

I have AMAZING friends. And there are days when I seriously wonder "How am I so lucky?"
So this is a shout out to all my wonderful, lovely, astounding, friends.

These are some pinterest finds:

I love my friends.

The title quote is from Guardians of the Galaxy.