"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." ~T.S. Eliot

"You were once wild here, don't let them tame you!" ~Isadora Duncan

"Be faithful to that which exists within yourself." ~Andre Gide

"Follow your bliss!" ~J. Campbell ... and my folks!

"The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." ~Andy Warhol

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." ~Nelson Mandela

"...open and expanding like an unfinished book..." ~Quote from a friend, Travis Judd

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." ~St. Francis of Assisi

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." ~Nelson Mandela

"The capacity to be puzzled is ... the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science." ~Erich Fromm

"Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before." ~Mae West

"Theatre is a form of knowledge; it should and can also be a means of transforming society. Theatre can help us build our future, rather than just waiting for it." ~Augusto Boal

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Travel Post ...

I'm currently at SeaTac Airport waiting for my flight home ... via Vegas ... hahaha! I wonder if I'm the only one who really has no desire to "play in vegas"!?!?! Who knows, but I don't, at least I don't think I do. :o)

Hurricane Irene which became a Tropical Storm Irene has caused a lot of flooding in New York - upstate - it's been several days since the storm and the hill is still without power ... oh my, what, no shower when I get home??? Arrrrgh! ;o) Sigh...it's more the dirty laundry I don't want to think about piling up ... on top of the already pretty good pile I'm bringing home with me (I should have done a load or two yesterday while I still had access to Arlene and Aidan's apartment laundry room, oh well).

But I digress...

I just bought a travel pillow to see if the on plane sleeping is any easier with it - it's one of those U shaped pillows ... we'll see. And because my little white sweater bit the dust - holes in the seams at the neck line and under the arms - I bought a "Seattle Washington" Fleece. The single gal's version or a Family Vacation Sweatshirt of T-Shirt! Hahaha...I probably spent more money than I should have while I was out here, and though I'd love to come back, who knows if I will have the opportunity to do so again ... so it was business and pleasure, my one real vacation/holiday since Ireland in 2009. Go me! Hahaha. I'm such a dork.

And on that note, I am going to post.

NO theatre in this post, haha!

PS...so apparently when you have a stop but you don't change planes Soutwest Air doesn't see fit to tell you so ... not only do I have a layover in Vegas (where I am currently typing from) BUT the flight went to Salt Lake City Utah first, we got a new crew and some passenger changes AND THEN we went to Vegas. For a gal who doesn't particularly love to fly that's un-fun information. Both landings in Utah and Vegas were bumpy - must be windy out thar. Hope the next one's smooth.

Monday, August 29, 2011

"His Dark Materials"

This is the show I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do with my GCS Kiddos this fall...I've got to get a copy of the script and read it because I am not sure if the show is kid friendly - doable wise - as the story is a combo of a youth/teen trilogy of books by Phillip Pullman. At any rate ... I am looking into it because I think it would ROCK THE HOUSE! Of course this is also assuming that not only is it kid friendly but that the rights are available and all that jazz!!! We shall see! :o)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Masks & Photography

Today I worked on my two masks - the one's Arlene has been helping teach me how to make. I now have a painted Dottore mask, that's a Commedia dell'Arte character! AND ... I have another mask that I created based off of a photo ... I've only just finished the paper mache part (though this mask did start from a clay mold that I molded, woot woot, go me)!

I'll get some photos on here soon, and I'll even put up the photo my second mask is "based on".

AND

Photography - I took Arlene's Headshot's today! Sitting #1 was a success, even if all the photos weren't, hahaha!!! We did some inside and some outside! Oh yeah! We might do another sitting with her in a lighter color top so that she has some contrast. We'll see.

And that is all for today.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Theatre Games ... a book ... ???

So I've been collecting and using theatre games since I started training as an Undergrad at New Paltz (that's 13+years ago ... oiy me). They're in a myriad of different notebooks and folders and such ... and when ever I've got a show I'm working on, or a class I'm teaching - though I do plan out what games I intend on using - I like to have them on hand so I can add in something or change my plans as needs be. So ... I thought I'd type them all up and have them in one place. This then makes me think ... while I know there are loads of theatre game books and websites etc. out there already ... could there be room for one more? We'll see I suppose. Seeing as I planned on typing it up for myself anyway, it's not like I'm taking on work for no reason, should it benefit me as an "author" too - sweet! I take no credit for creating the games, only that I've used them and they work. Ok ... there you have it.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Random Rants By Maggie ???

Random Rants By Maggie ???
Seriously ... should this be a blog? I can rant pretty well ... and well funny ... and all that jazz??? You know, about nothing, about everything, about ... whateve's ... what say you? (MIKE????)

Success!

Three weeks of Stone Soup Camp Success!!! ;o)
Some amazing kiddos ... some kiddos that make you want to stand on your head and scream ... and what it all boils down to is a bunch of kiddos who make theatre - outside - in one week! Good job all Stone Soup Campers ... Teachers ... and Assistants! Fun times!!! :o)

What's next ...
Drama Kids begins the new year in September.
I'm Stage Managing "Pure Poe" with Cap Rep (it's their youth tour) in October.
Greenville Middle School's 2011 Production (started looking for what to do ... we shall see ... weeeee ....)
AND ... and ... and, we'll see!

I'm seriously thinking of doing a flyer for an Improv Class ... seeing how many kids I get to sign up ... and making it happen! Why not do a bit of freelancing? I'm good at what I do ... and perhaps this will get my name out even further!

OH YEAH ... and back to the application process!!!

Woot woot!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

One Day Left

Tomorrow is the final day of camp ... for this week's session ... my camp experience out here on the West Coast (and Stone Soup's final camp for this summer)! Woot woot!!! I've loved being out here, but I can not tell a lie ... my bed - my queen size bed - is calling my name!!! And so is the rest of my wardrobe!!! Hahaha...oh, and not sharing one car three ways ... it's hard to be tied to two other people's work/day schedule so completely. But I digress ... it's been grand!!!

"Harriet's Secret" is tomorrow at 1pm in Meridian Park, Seattle. ;o)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Games ...

One can never have enough theatre games / exercises to do with kids ... in camp ... when working on a play ... with adult performers ... when working on a show ... etc ... etc ... I've gained quite a few from Arlene while out here in the land of Mountains so gorgeous you take nine million photos of the same one ... ha ha ha! But for reals, I've gotten a bunch of new, and really great, theatre exercises/games in my repertoire now! Woot woot!!! And not that there aren't, oh I don't kNOw, 90bajillion theatre game books out there ... but methinks I might actually try and put one together from my point of view ... now, what's my point of view? Anybody???

And that's all she wrote for today folks.

"Harriet's Secret" camp is going well. Run thru's and show polishing tomorrow - mixed in with some games - and the same for Friday morning with a show at 1pm on Friday afternoon! Oh yeah ...

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

NO one reads this.

There's a no for ya.
Hahahaha...

Job Inquiry

So I just submitted an inquiry to Seattle Shakespeare for an AEA SM job. I'm not sure if they're considering SM's that don't live in the greater Seattle area though, as the add seemed to suggest. But I digress...I sent off my inquiry and we'll see if I hear back.

;o)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Kids ...

I love the way kids phrase things ... today when talking about the directions on a stage - and after covering Stage Right and Stage Left - with my new group of campers, I asked if there were any other directions on the stage and this one adorable little guy said YES, there's also Stage Up and Stage Down. Which is entirely correct, we just say Up Stage and Down Stage. Not only was the phrasing adorable, but he said it with such conviction!!! It was brilliant! Hahaha...

Also ... a wee while back I asked a group of students if they knew what the word status meant - obviously I was relating it to theatre ... but I digress. The answer given back was "like on facebook when you write what you're up too." Hahaha...now they are in fact correct, however, that is not what it means in theatrical terms. :o) Oh kids ... and technology!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Today ... AfroLatino Festival

These Dancers were doing a dance from Colombia (I believe).


Au Lac Lion Dance - it's a Vietnamese Dance


Devils Dance by African Conexion


Today I went to two "festivals" in Seattle, one was actually the first Annual AfroLatino Festival in North Seattle, while the other was like a smaller community/cultural/farmers market type festival. At both of them however, not only was I able to see the AfroPeruvian Devils Dance that my friend is in, but at one I got to see these adorable kids perform a Colombian Dance, and at the other I got to see a Vietnamese Lion Dance. Very cool.

Photos above...

And this morning I planned my class for tomorrow!!! :o) Woop woop.

Oh ... and QUESTION FOR MY READERS:
Should I do a "Maggie's Rants" Blog? A friend suggested I do it because he finds my mini-rants (about anything and everything) to be rather funny and good natured / good humored. So ... what say you, you 7 readers that I have (if that)!??!?!?!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Working!

Today I am working on two projects.

1. I am working on my final script for the summer, with Stone Soup Theatre, "Harriet's Secret". I'm trying to find ways to make the magic fun for the kids to do, especially when we have NO "special effects" that can be done ... well, that is to say, no external special effects other than what the kids can do. :o) I've got some good idears if I do say so myself! Onto planning lesson one for Monday.

and

2. I'm working on my project "The Human Condition". Woot woot! Uploading some more photos to my shutterfly account so that I can get them all printed ... once I've gotten them all. Making sure the correct notes are with the correct photos ... and simply admiring the photos themselves. I'm already in love with this project (well, ok, seeing as I thought it up I'm a little biased, loving it from the very beginning and all that jazz...)! I love how different everyone's views are, the different things they see where they live, and what strikes each of them as a picture of The Human Condition. Brilliant!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Theatre ... isn't always great!

And by that I mean the shows one goes to see, they can't always be 5* winners, now can they? Tonight I saw a show that had a cast of 7 and out of that there was only ONE who was good. And she was really good. The biggest problem, I feel, is that this show was full of actors who had NO CLUE who their characters were, what their characters were saying ... etc ... and it made a story with a very "intellectual setting" (college professors in the 1940's ...) VERY BORING! But I digress ... the gal who was good was really great ... physicality, knowing who she was all the time (and with every character as she played multiple) ... she was fun to watch ... and engaging. The rest ... well, like I said, it can't always be a 5* performance.

:o)

Time Warp (Three Strikes and You're Out)!

So this is yesterday's post - Thursday August 18th, 2011

I REALLY DISLIKE KIDS WHO ARE BULLIES AND OR PICK ON OTHER KIDS - REGARDLESS OF THE ABILITIES OR DISABILITIES A KID / PERSON HAS! This past week I had to deal with such a situation. Sigh... It's just devastating to me to see how many kids are MEAN to other kids ... what does that say for their future as a human being? Does not bode well. It makes me question, are they being raised poorly ... (I fear that's true, at least in my opinion, and I think that's so sad). I would never claim to be perfect, or to say that my folks were perfect parents either, but I do know the difference between right and wrong ... but I digress ...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Script Picking

So I am going to be doing Greenville Middle School's Fall Theatre Production again this year, and that means it's time to start considering what script I am going to do.

Goal(s) For This Show:
A. To "force" storytelling a little more strongly with the kids by utilizing a small (as in very minimal) setting. Perhaps I can find a show where we have no real backdrop or anything but the black curtains and a few set pieces that come on and off the stage?!
B. To utilize some mask work into the script - where by I can have a group of students in masks moving ... would be pretty sweet right?
C. To be a show that is something the kids don't know - in other words, nothing as "well known" as Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz, thus fostering learning in another way that isn't - "...see this well known story was adapted and our show is not the same as the Disney Movie...etc...". Perhaps something that fosters specific cultural learning, like a Japanese Play - or stories from Japan, or something like that...

At any rate, it is time to start searching!!! What will we be doing ... ???!!! :o)

And...Comedy, Comedy! camp continues ... some frustrations ... some really fun comic moments ... and that is all!

PS...should I start a "Maggie's Rants" blog? Could be funny?

Time Warp Take Two!

This is yesterday's post ... Tuesday the 16th of August:

Camp continues. And that is all. Hahaha!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Time Warp

Yesterday's (Monday the 15th of August) Post:


The first day of Comedy, Comedy! class went well! We've a small class! And we're already having fun! :o) Woot woot! We'll see what the week brings!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Tomorrow begins Comedy, Comedy!!!

Today I went with Arlene and Aidan to the Quinault Rain Forest (which is in the Olympic Mountain Range) and then on to the Pacific Ocean at a place called Ocean Shores. Both were BEAUTIFUL! And relaxing! And the nature out here in Washington is really to die for! If there was a great guy who loved theatre - or at least that I did theatre - and liked nature, hiking and all that ... and there was even a small job for me here, I could totally move here!!!

And ... as for theatre today, or more accurately tomorrow, I've got my first Comedy, Comedy Class! It's planned, I did the planning while sitting at the Quinault Lodge today, looking at Quinault lake, in the rain forest! It was lovely!!!

And that is all. For the moment.

Gonna go do some other prep work for tomorrow and then go to bed! :o)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Quasi Interview

Well, today I went and meet up with the woman from Seattle Public Theatre, it was my Quasi Interview. ;o) Turns out they don't have any - even good part time jobs - full time jobs to apply for ... but if I were to come out to Seattle and be living here, she'd probably to definitely have some teaching and other gigs I could get. Nothing full time, nothing even 'regularly part time'. But it was good to go and meet up with someone here and see the potential for work in a place, should I be able to and actually do move here. :o)

Then Arlene and I stayed there and watched their kids production of "Pirates of Penzance". Pretty good show ... a junior version for sure, good times! :o)

Shakespeare = Great Job!

Well despite one of the kids being sick and not turning up to the performance (he was King Oberon and Quince, by the way), and one of the kids not being able to do both roles she'd been given the day before the performance ... it was Brilliant!!!

By the way, this is yesterday's post - Friday the 12th of August.

Well done Shakespearian actors/campers!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Totally Unrelated Blog Post Here

Question: How do I delete a blog? An entire blog? (ok, well it never really started but that's beside the point...)

Here's the more in depth version of the above question.

Ok, so I thought (a while back now) that I was going to be doing a gig in NY this summer directing kids in a production of Oliver, and it turns out that I couldn't do it, but I digress ... one of the things I was asked to do when I thought I was directing the show was to create an online blog for the parents to follow, like I've done with my Middle School shows ... so I did it. I came up with the blog title and "created" it and had one post of "more info to come" (or something like that) ... BUT NOW I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO DELETE THE BLOG. It's not needed. I didn't do the show. etc... How do I get it off of "here"???

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Camp Shakespeare ... Ha ha ha!!!

Well today we got through the whole script!!! Woo hoo!!! Midsummer is blocked! :o) Now onto polishing it tomorrow and performing it on Friday! What, Shakespeare in 5 Days???!!! YES!!! Ok, so it's an abridged/adapted version, but still ... 8-13 year olds getting a Shakespeare play in 5 days, oh yeah!!!

And that is all I have to say about that. I'm exhausted...it's bed time! :o)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Went to the Theatre Tonight!

Today I got through half of the play (actually a little bit more than half) - blocking wise, and at the end of the day when we went over it, the kids actually remembered most of the blocking! Woo hoo!!!

Then in the evening I went to see "The Next Room" at ACT Theatre, with Arlene! Very funny!!!

And now I need to sleep so I can get up and make sure the lesson plan for tomorrow - that I created while in a coffee shop waiting for Arlene after class - is good to go!

Good night!!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Responses!

Nice. So I heard back from both places that I sent my info to within the last few days ... I've got a 'quasi' meeting/interviewy type thing with Seattle Public Theatre on Saturday, and I'll be able to 'informally' interview/meet with the guy who does the hiring for Lakeside Schools summer camp - not next week but the week after that! :o) Woo hoo!

Day One of Stone Soup's "Midsummer..."
Today went really well! Now that I know they kids a bit I can make lesson plans to suit them and the show! Woo hoo!!! Looking forward to tomorrow when I can start blocking - we're in "The Rock Garden", which has some sweet trees and this great rock cave/sculpture thingy that we can use! Nice!!!

Lesson Plan Making Time Now!

And that, for the moment, is all my friends! :)

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Lesson Plans etc...

Tomorrow I start my first week at Stone Soup Theatre, woo hoo!!! I'm super excited and so now I am going to work on my lesson plan for the first day!

Job Ap's

I emailed the woman from Seattle Public Theatre to set up a meeting ... they've got a potential position opening up, and they have other things like SM gigs and Summer Camp gigs that I can "interview" for. So here's hoping I can get an interview while I am here!!!

And now I have also emailed my cover letter and CV to the person in charge of hiring for the Summer Camp at Lakeside school in North Seattle, for next summer's Drama Teaching position. Let's see if - here's hoping- I get an interview for that while I'm out here too!

:o)

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Letter of Intent

Job Ap for the Day
So I've just emailed out my letter of intent (still need to put the signed one in the post) so that I can direct the local middle school production again this coming school year. Now ... what show to pick???!!! ;o)

And I will be - either today or tomorrow - sending out my cv/cover letter to the guy who hired my friend Arlene for a summer theatre teaching job at Lakeside (I believe) school in Northern Seattle. She won't be here next summer ... so ... we'll see ... perhaps I could have a second summer of Seattle gigs?! :o)

Friday, August 5, 2011

NO theatre today!





Today I went to Crystal Mountain, braved my fear of heights, and took a "gondola" ride up to the top of the mountain so that I could see Mt. Rainer "up close" without going onto an active volcano covered in snow and glacial ice! :o) And it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Amazing amazing amazing! Once I've downloaded my photos I'll put one or two on here.

On the way back we also stopped in a bit of the forest that is covered in moss, the trees are COVERED (and I mean covered) in moss, it's wicked! I'll put a photo of that on here eventually (most likely) as well!

And then we went to a winery, Chateau Saint Michelle and then a fabulous Puerto Rican restaurant ... mmmm and I am TIRED! I've been out of the house for 13 hours!!!

I was also told by a friend that I should create a blog called Maggie's Random Rants (or by Maggie) ... and record myself going on little (or not so little) rants about things and then uploading them ... it's actually a rather amusing idea! :o) We shall see...

Goodnight moon!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Improv Workshop

Today I went into a class that Arlene is teaching on Improv - as part of a camp at a "local" Middle School here in Seattle - and did a workshop with them. They did very well. We played a few games, tried to implement emotional and physical responses solely on their own and then as an addition into a scene ... and so on and so forth.

The kids did really well. And I enjoyed being a "guest workshop'er" in someone else's class. :o)

And I went and officially signed my Stone Soup contract at the theatre, and saw the park where the classes are taught! Woo hoo!!!

And that is all I have for today ... nope, I lied, I also sent made contact with "my local middle school" about doing the play again this coming school year! :o)

Cool.

August 3rds Post

Oops...and the only theatrical thing I did today was see where Stone Soup Theatre is located and where the Seattle Public Theatre is located!

And Happy 2nd Birthday to my niece T!!!

Time warp over.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Seattle Sight Seeing

Today I will go into Downtown Seattle and check out some of the "major touristy" things to see!!!

On the list for the day (let's see how much I get done, by the time I get out of the house and all that jazz...)
a. Seattle Underground Tour
b. Pike Place Market where I will get a Starbucks from the Original Store.
c. The Space Needle
d. The Klondike Gold Rush Historical Site
e. Waterfall Garden
f. The Seattle Aquarium

And if for some reason I get all that done and still want to "do something" ... there's always the Seattle Art Museum and about a bajillion other things I could do!

Gotta' buy a map when I get off the train which Arlene will take me too in a little while! :)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Welcome August!

I'm now in Seattle at Arlene and Aidan's! ;o)

And so far, and likely the only thing I'll do today - theatrically speaking (aside from having some theatrical conversations with Arlene like we did last night, YAY) was to read two more scripts for the Comedy, Comedy class in two weeks! :o)

More coffee please!

AND WELCOME (holy shizoly how did it get to be) August!!!