much like dave matthews, I have so much to say!

It's been really busy at work lately, and I have a great number of things I want to address, but I have to keep switching back and forth between writing and, oh, I don't know, copying, filing, answering phones, stuffing holiday cards and otherwise generally schlepping for the man.
So I'm breaking it down into bite sized chunks.

1. First Flight
The reading series went really well. The first piece I was in was a great deal of fun, being that it was a black farce that played to a great number of my favorite acting chops. The second piece was a lot harder for me to get into -- it was an extremely stylized, meticulous piece which was really beautiful, but not my favorite style of acting. I almost wish I could have seen it instead of been in it; I think I may have enjoyed it more from a viewer's perspective. And as such, I don't think I was a particularly helpful collaborator. I was defensive, lumpish, and embarrassingly not very easy to work with. (Sorry Greg, I wanted to be so much more)

This was some interesting fuel for the fire. I'm thinking a lot about the kinds of theatre I want to do. I don't sing and dance, so musical theatre's out. I find that children's theatre can be painfully cloying (if it's not written by Noah Smith). I don't want to tour. I don't want to do movement-based pieces. I'm not so good with the multi-media. I need a very concrete character and through-line to feel like I'm participating in something I can really sink my teeth into. So, basically, I like very narrative straight plays, and classics. Just like all the other white 20something girls out there.

Which segues nicely into...

2. Other things I've been thinking about doing:
I hesitate to say these outloud, only because I don't want anyone to think that I'm committing to them. (i.e., don't go home, tell your mom that I'm going to be a teacher and then have her call my mom and say, "How's Kate's teaching career?" It could be awkward.)

In no particular order, I'm considering (ok, the first one is actually first, and all the others are in no particular order) audiobooks, teaching, coaching, public speaking, tour guiding, and being queen of the world.

I've been examining and evaluating what I love about acting, and it all come back to Connection. Really being with another person, and trying to impact them in some way or another. And while acting was the obvious choice for me (ever since second grade), there are other options out there that require far less sacrifice and provide far more psychic feedback.

3. An article that caught my eye:
Minority Actors Struggle: Casting calls might violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

The article says that "69% of available acting roles are designed for white actors, either explicitly or by unspoken consensus, and that minority actors were limited to no more than 8.1% of jobs, depending on the ethnic group." It goes on to recommend that producers not put race or gender specifications in their casting calls. While I understand the idea behind this whole line of thinking, it's a waste of time. The entertainment industry is one of the only industries where they can reject you based on the size of your butt. If they want a white actor in a role, they'll find a way to make it happen. Producers (and by that I mean the apocryphal, capital P Producers in the sky) can be very unimaginative and stubborn. Just ask casting directors. Getting them to think outside the box can take a minor miracle.

And the other thing the article doesn't consider? How many minority actors are going out for the 8.1% of roles? Because my guess is that it's not the same actors to parts ratio as you'll find in the 20something white girls category...

4. Vox, by Nicholson Baker
I read this dirty little book for the first time in high school, and was seriously tittilated by the explicity of the writing. I re-read it this week, and while it's still a filthy little book, it's very funny. Right up my alley, as I like to joke around while I make out. Anyone too serious would not enjoy me. (or this book!)

5. Weather Inappropriate Jacket Guy
So, when Brian was here, he bought this great new coat at Old Navy. But on the day he was leaving, it was 95 degrees in New York. So he was sweating his butt off, wearing this fantastic jacket.

We actually wrote a great song about it. Kind of a soft shoe, actually...

Weather Inappropriate Jacket Guy
Weather Inappropriate Jacket Guy
Wears his winter coat when the temp's sky high, he's
Weather Inappropriate Jacket Guy

or

Sweatin' so damn much that he wants to die, he's

or (my favorite)

Dresses for Alaska when he's in Mumbai, he's

There's more, but now I have to copy some agreements.

BARF!