"I don't want to live forever. I want to live now."

Summer Cabaret is over :-( We had an amazing 5 performances and I'm so glad I was a part of it. I'm already missing the insanity that was "Both Reached for the Gun", the nostalgia of "Sit Down Your Rockin' The Boat" and the epic finale that was "One Day More". Everyone in the cast and crew was so nice and welcoming - not to mention insanely talented. I'll miss MTS so much. It truly made my experience here at Royal Holloway. I know they'll be putting on more great shows next year and in years to come.

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

On Monday, Mike, Jessica, Amy and I tried to go to Thorpe Park, but it was closed so... we went to Legoland instead! We knew going in that it is a kid's park, but we made the best of it. I've got some great memories of serious laser tag faces, water squirting rats, Zac Efron look-alikes, kid's meals, boat traffic, and dangerous encounters on the dragon coaster. Luckily I don't have a single photo from this embarrassingly delightful day.


Today, Eloise, Jessica and Candace and I headed into London to cross more things off the bucket list. We tried to get tickets to 'Macbeth' at the Globe, but it was sold out. Instead, we got lunch and left with a devil's share of chocolate ganache cake. The lady working there just kept giving us huge slices. It was a pretty incredible turn around from a disappointing morning.

We then went to Regent's park to check out the open air theatre (we might see 'The Crucible' there next week!) I had never been to the park and it was absolutely gorgeous. I could have stayed there all day. We then went to the new Yuforia to get some discount fro yo at their new store opening. After some Matilda-sized chocolate cake, it was a surprisingly satisfying pallet cleanser.

After we bid Eloise off, we headed to the Barbican Center to see the National Theatre of Scotland's production of 'Peter Pan'. Words cannot describe how magical it was. The scenic design, lighting, illusion, and music created an irresistible mythology. David Greig's and John Tiffany's interpretation was far more serious and disturbing than other versions I've seen, but it was balanced out beautifully by the whimsical art direction. The actors playing Wendy and Peter (Kirsty Mackay and Kevin Guthrie) also had great - shall we say - tragic chemistry?

So glad I saw it.

Now I've still got to figure out how the rest of my stay in England will pan out (no pun intended). Hopefully I'll see a production at the Globe and be able to hit up all the museums on the list. At the same time, I want to spend every day with the friends I've made here. It will be hard to say goodbye, but I'm trying not to let it bog me down yet.

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

A Bit o' Post-Show Depression...

It's been almost a week since "Guys and Dolls" opened. We put on 3 great performances. I'm so proud of everyone in the cast - we really nailed it and showed off what we had been working on so hard for the past few months. It was tough at times, but as usual, the hard work paid off.

I have to thank Mike, Amy, Kieran, and the rest of the crew for bringing me and Jessica on board. You gave us an amazing opportunity. The role was certainly a surprise and a wonderful challenge. Now that its over, I can't believe we won't be singing those songs, running those lines, or hearing the good old "And then you cree-ee-eep, and then you cree-ee-eep" any more.

Not only was the "Guys and Dolls" team one of the most talented I've ever worked with, but you guys also became fast friends. I can safely say that at the beginning I was worried about meeting people at this school, but now I feel like I have a bit of a family here. Corny as it is, we'll all have the great memory of doing this show and it's one I know I'll be talking about for years.

I can't say it enough: Thanks, and I had a blast.

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

Designs by Brian Fairbairn (http://brianfairbairn.wordpress.com/)




As for this week, Jess and I leave for Amsterdam tomorrow. We'll be meeting up with Candace, Chris, and Kyle and should have plenty of pictures and stories upon our return.

Until next time!

Amidst the Madness

... that is writing 2 term papers, preparing a recital, and beginning dress rehearsals for "Guys and Dolls", I thought I'd post some pictures and videos of the goings-on.

Founder's Hall on a beautiful sunny day (it's beginning to feel like spring!)

From Pick Sure and Place

Guys and Dolls rehearsal!

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

From Pick Sure and Place

Check out videos of rehearsal! (Isn't our choreographer just the best?!)

Runyonland

Bushel and a Peck

Luck Be a Lady

Take Back Your Mink

The buzz!

Since my last post, nothing too incredibly eventful has happened. I'm basically in the groove of school. It is very much like a semester at SLC - go to class, do work, rehearsal, go to class, do work, rehearsal. It may sound boring, but for me it's ideal. I love being busy and putting together a show.

My classes are going well, but things are going get stressful very soon. It hit me when it became March 1st. By the end of the month, I have 3 academic papers to write (including music analysis and psychology - both very new to me), programme notes to put together, 6 songs to learn and memorize, a 20 minute recital to give, and a musical to be in!

Singing, memorizing, and rehearsing every day in preparation for the 22nd - 24th (both musical and recital combined) is beginning to feel like (a miniature version of) Olympic training.

It's been a long time since I've felt this buzz.

And why are musicals so much fun?!

From Pick Sure and Place

Pretty trees from my window