On costumes

"The show's actually coming along really well.  I can worry about things like the set and costumes."

"Skirts and t-shirts."

"I wear pants sometimes now!  I'm wearing pants right now!"

"I know.  That was the old Amelia."

Aw.

 The True Story, or Vicious & Multiple & Untrue After All will premiere as part of First Person Arts RAW at the First Person Arts Festival (November 8-17, 2012).

One person couldn't feel all that - they'd explode

You know what?  Maybe this whole story was actually inspired by Harry Potter.

Happy LisaFrankenstorm, kids.  Hope you're getting as much accomplished as I clearly am.

 The True Story, or Vicious & Multiple & Untrue After All will premiere as part of First Person Arts RAW at the First Person Arts Festival (November 8-17, 2012).

Free Preview Monday!

Can't wait till November to see the show?  Catch a free preview this Monday at Kelly Writers House.  Ilse Zoerb will do some excerpts; I'll laugh maniacally at my own jokes from the audience.

Monday, October 29, at 7:00 PM in the Arts Café
Kelly Writers House | 3805 Locust Walk
No registration required - this event is free & open to the public

If you can't make it, or if you need a refresher, it'll also be broadcast on WXPN Monday 11/5.

Ladies' Week

I've just realized that I've had the chance to hang out with a lot of amazing ladies this week - friends new and old, colleagues, conspirators.  In fact, this week is about to culminate in a whole party of ladies AND a Mural Arts sponsored panel about female MCs: Ladies First - Hip Hop Heretics.  In honor of all the amazing ladies, both this week and throughout my entire life, who have shared good times and great insights, a teeny excerpt:

She wrote back within a half hour, a whole email of good, solid advice, followed by a disclosure that it was just advice, that she’d support me, no matter what. I couldn’t help thinking of how many times she, I, all us women really, had been burned by giving good, solid advice to our friends.

Chicks before dicks, ladies.  Listen to your girlfriends.

 
The True Story, or Vicious & Multiple & Untrue After All will premiere as part of First Person Arts RAW at the First Person Arts Festival (November 8-17, 2012).

Wordmasters

Confession: I love words.  I know, shocking.  So I've gone through the script and picked out some of my favs: the ones that are real hinges in the story, the ones I really like, the ones I think you should know in advance.  For the pre-show pre-test.  Or, you know, for funsies.

For the 97% of you unfamiliar with Wordmasters, pretend that title says "Vocab Quiz" or "SAT Verbal Reasoning."  For the rest of you, holler.

Don't forget to check out the links for helpful images.

I've got something sweet for you & I don't care if it is more than you deserve

I'm in need of a few reminders today:

1. In fiction and in nonfiction, characters are not people.  And vice versa.
2. Figuring it out is not the same as forgiving.  Although lord do they both take work.
3. I do what is right for me, and I always have the power and option to change my mind.  (Infinite thanks, Coach.)

With that, another excerpt.  Fun fact: this one was written somewhat separately from the rest of The True Story, and almost didn't make it in.  Thank god for experimental what-the-heck moments.

Research = Popcorn

Here are a few of the movies/performances/shows I've been using as research over the past couple months (or at least as an excuse to make popcorn), and some brief thoughts I got from them:

Chekhov Lizardbrain

Groundhog Day

Rashomon

Run Lola Run

Tiny Furniture 

Real Talk: Rehearsals

The first time I heard my text read, it was like watching a toddler take her first steps - no joke. (Infinite thanks to the Bridal Salon at Painted Bride Art Center.)

One of my favorite pieces of feedback (granted, from my mom), was that you could hear my voice through the actresses' voices - which hopefully speaks to the writing, but also certainly to the wonderful ladies up on stage, who truly breathed life into this collicky creature.

As we started auditions this round, I told Meg, my director/constant-reassurer-of-all-good-things-to-come (or at least that there will be something on stage and that I will not die), that I would pretty much be useless at this point. "I just can't stop being excited to hear other people say my words. I like them all."

Meg assured me she'd be able to handle it (see above title), and here we are, a couple weeks into rehearsals. Doing what, you ask? Excellent question!

The Absolute Moron's Guide to Creative Communication

We had a moment in rehearsal this morning where I got to talk about the fact that I have no idea what theatre people are talking about most of the time. And then I found out that theatre people sometimes feel that way too. (Although sometimes they continue to do weird spinny jumpy warm-ups to "get into their bodies" out of sheer faith in one day getting it.)

As someone who's had the great misfortune pleasure of trying to converse on an understandable level with musicians, actors, and (as of today) dancers, I present to you some of the perhaps less-than-clear things I've written, said, & heard while working on this show.  Listed anonymously, because "It's like Vegas in here."