Fri. 6/27/08

I am so bummed! Mike and his family left to go camping today and I couldn't go because I have rehearsal. As an actor, you have to get used to missing things, camping trips, weddings, graduations, free time. Acting does take over your life. it's time's like this when you have to take a deep breath and stop feeeling sorry for yoursefl and remind yourself that you love this and you want to do it for the rest of your life. That's worth missing a day of camping for.
I took an hour long nap but it wasn't enough to recooperate after the movie and climbing. Lots of people came to the movie last night which was entertaining but disappointing since I was expecting a heart stopping, serious action movie that rivals MR. and Mrs. Smith or Die Hard and this just wasn't that. Nobody came climbing with us. :(  But Mike and I had fun since we rarely get time to spend together with our conflicting scedules since he's in Tempest.
Jon finally returned today! Thank God! He wants to really push the envelope and up the libido the final group number. But the song is kind of slowand melodic. I'm having a hard time bringing libido to a lullabye.
Several people have told me they've read my blogs- which makes me so happy! yay! I'm not doing this for nothing. James (plays Sir Toby Belch. Brilliantly.) added today in response to my actor VS. actress rant that "you don't call a female doctor a doctress." GOOD POINT! I'm going to steal that as my rebuttal from now on. Thanks, James!

Thurs. 6/26/08 11pm

Went to the park the first hour today to check out the sound for all the new people and see the completed set. It was refreshing and nostalgic to go back to the park stage and reminded me how close it is to opening. Then we went back toCity Theatre for an Italian run-thru. For all the non-theatre heads out there, it's pronounced Ital-ee-yann and it means an exagerated speed thru. But it didn't go so well. It was not in the least bit speedy and there were some line and entrance screw ups. Christine didn't look happy. Matt Canty (because he is always referred to by his whole name for some reason...) Pointed out Christine's annoyed look and remarked in my ear, "Christine wanted and Italian, but she got Olive Garden." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LOL! I cracked up! That was brilliant. He either doesn't realize his witty genious or sat there for fifteen minutes reciting that in his head! I know I would have been the latter. I'm not nearly as comedically inclined and I always think of what to say way later.
Hmm, what else? Trina randomly brought in her adorable Pomeranian, Butters and we all had fun playing with him. I am freaking out because we haven't practiced with Jon in a week.Samiya's (plays Feste's other half. Literally) songs are getting great. Laura Kaya who plays Olivia was tongue tied tonight and was laughing because she keeps saying "A" instead of "uh". Mike and I are going to see the midnight premiere of "Wanted" tonight (in less than an hour actually) and we're going climbing at Pipeworks tommorrow and we invited both our casts to join us.

Wed.6/25/08

Tonight we did a run thru of Acts 4 and 5. Matt Canty did a great job in his first scene with Olivia. She's coming on to him and he's never seen her before... when she asks him to come in with her he started to follow her out but then ad libs, "Just one second-" and then turns back around to the audience and incredulously goes into his monologue! My writing doesn't do it justice but it was hilarious! You gotta come see it!
We had to stay the whole time tonight and it felt like forever and a day because myself and the other townspeople don't have a lot of stage time in these scenes and the last few rehearsals we got spoiled and let out early. We had to run it a second time and I think people were hoping to be let out then. I just wanted out of my shoes. Those things are killer! They need cushions under the ball of the foot.
My boyfriend got out early and took the car home so Trina gave me a ride. Thanks, Trina!
I played Daffy and Sylvester at work today. I tried on the Marvin The Martian costume but my girlish figure was too obvious under the spandex even with padding around my waist. I still like Daffy the best so far but the yellow tights (ha ha, yellow stockings! I borrowed them from Malvolio! -Come see the show to understand) are made for a really short person and they kept falling down under my duckiness.

Wednesday June 11th, 2008, 8:46pm

Woohoo! Got out of rehearsal early! They’re doing fight choreography now. I’m jealous, I love stage combat. But I’m not jealous of them being at rehearsal right now. HA! Wow, I’m home before ten… what am I gonna do with myself?! Write to you guys. Eat. Shower. Ahh, a shower I don’t have to rush through! And go to bed. Wow, I’m so adventurous…. But still that sounds great!

 Wednesday, June 11th, 2008, 8:14am

Good morning! Thought I’d take a moment to write since I didn’t get a chance to last night. I’ve been dancing in my dreams. Last night we finally started choreographing our opening hot Latin dance with Jon and it is sweet! Not sweet as in aww, cute, but sweet as in Hell Yeah!!! I’m gonna look good out there! Jon put this semi-dip in there that makes me feel Mata Hari!!! That was a reference to a line in Working…. For those who don’t have any idea what I’m talking about—it made me feel like Sandra Bullock after she gets all made up and comes out of the warehouse looking like a different person in Miss Congeniality. If you haven’t seen it, buy it, it’s hilarious and Benjamin Bratt is hot!  

I’ve got another rehearsal tonight. No dance, sadly. But my body’s glad for a break. I’ve lost a pound since we started! Nice perk. TTYL!

Monday June 9th, 2008, 10:30ish pm

Must….stay up…..to….write blog….. Sooooooooo tired! You’re lucky I love you guys! Just got done with dance rehearsal with our other choreographer, Angela. Man, that Afro-Caribbean dance is tough stuff! Plus I worked all day. I’m feeling a little run down since I had rehearsals both days this last weekend and on Saturday my boyfriend, Mike and I went to see Christine (director), Jon (choreographer), Luther (Christine’s other half and City Theatre’s do-it-all guy), and several friends in the North Bay Opera Theatre Ensemble’s 5th Anniversary Concert, which was totally awesome and we got free souvenir wine glasses! But nonetheless, I’m feeling like I didn’t get much of a weekend. Then after working all day, I drive out to Sac for rehearsal and we do the entire opening number and 2nd Act number and it was fun but I’m tired and I’m going to bed now. Good night.

Sunday June 8th, 2008, 10:00pm 

Dancing is so awesome!!! We (my dance partner, Vernon and I) worked on a tango tonight with our choreographer, Jon! It’s not the exact choreography yet but it gave us an idea of what will be in our dance. We got the whole last hour of rehearsal just for our dance. Right now we’re not only getting used to dancing in general but getting used to each other. Luckily Vernon and I were castmates in our last show, Working, so we’re comfortable with each other, but this is a hot Latin dance! We’re gonna have to work on getting that comfortable with each other—we’re dancing very closely. Acting exercise! J

Ha, ha, ha. That’ll get you guys to come see the show!

June 6, 2008

Hi There! I’ve been asked to write this blog to keep you up to date on the inner workings of the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. First, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Krystle Strachan, I’m a twenty year-old actress, student, and Explorer Guide. I started acting in the 7th grade when I was still a shy little bookworm. By some lucky mistake in the paperwork, I was placed in a drama class, and to my surprise, the first time I walked across that stage I fell in love. Some transformation came over me and I felt like a butterfly with new beautiful wings and I could soar away to anywhere I could dream up, be anyone, do anything. I was hooked.

A few weeks ago, I graduated from Solano Community College with Associate Degrees in Theatre Arts and Liberal Arts. I am also a graduate of their two-year Actor Training Program, which is where I first met my director, the amazing Christine Nicholson, and I highly recommend it to all the aspiring actors out there. I will be transferring to UC Irvine this fall to pursue my B.A in Theatre. Eventually, I like to get my Masters as well!

I recently started work at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom as an Explorer Guide. I’m one of those people in the khaki safari uniform that stands in front of the animal exhibits and talks on a microphone about how penguins can swim up to 20 miles an hour. I love it because I love animals and I love performing! Also, they’re considering me for Wonder Woman right now! I might actually get paid to act! Awesome!

This is my third year performing with Sac Shakes. In 2006, I played Lucetta in Two Gents, and for Shakespeare Lite I was Constance in The Three Musketeers and Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2007, I played Martine in The Doctor In Spite of Himself, and Simonides in Pericles with Lite. This year, I play Curia and will be dancing a lot in Twelfth Night.

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to dance! I don’t really think of myself as a dancer but I seem to be doing it more and more these days. I didn’t start dancing at age three like most people who call themselves dancers but I’m a quick learner when it’s not math, I push myself really hard.

Anyway, this has gone on really long now and I feel odd talking about myself so much … I’m not an experienced blogger, so please be patient with me. The rest of my blogs won’t be novels.

TTYL,
Krystle

June 25th

  For the past 4 days, some twenty odd actors and I have stumbled around a stage in a cloud of confusion. Our mission is to reproduce weeks worth of detail intensive scene work over the course of two hours without scripts- that is- without any idea of what should should be said or done. It's not a happy process. Taking away the script is the equivalent of taking away the umbilical cord... while still being in the uterus.  The ability to function is compromised. All notes about position, motivation, and objective conveniently leave the brain. They're making space for WORDS you see. These WORDS are quite shy and don't like to be put on display. They hide in nooks and crannies, and downright refuse to be summoned. One has the luxury of calling for their line, but when help is needed every five lines, rehearsal becomes tedious, overwhelming, and painful- to watch as well as experience. Frustration is the general sentiment of everyone involved. To the outside eye, the obvious solution is: Do Your Homework, DUUUUHHH!... Easier said than done. Life does this thing where it.... gets in way. Family, work, school, other projects, sleep... they consume a rather large portion of the day. Sometimes the only time to get line work done is in rehearsal, much to everyone's dismay.  

Spiriting is tough.

Not to mention dangerous.

When I learned about the Haitian Voodoo concept at first read, I knew I was in trouble. The role of Ariel requires an actor to be dexterous and fleet of foot even without any special concept. Relating it to a ideology that makes the body the central vehicle for expression is practical and above all else- exhausting.

The choreography itself is not complex; moving 190lbs is. The sweat floods from my pores every night we rehearse the opening scene. My heart beats triple time, and my breathing becomes shallow. Most of my moves aren't mapped out, so much of my "storm incantation" is improvised every night. I take what I learned from our 4 hour dance camp training and plug in whatever movement that seems appropriate. I appreciate the freedom to experiment- to discover my essence- but insecurity is a mighty neurosis. I want/need set choreography. I'm not capable of creating a dance that's effectual.  With set movement, I don't have to worry about the story coming across. My only worry then is getting my body to at least grudgingly obey. And reluctant is it ever.

I summon what little endurance I have to make a maneuver and six times out of ten my body respectfully declines. Forcing it to move is guaranteed trouble. Incanting a storm involves flailing limbs. I have inadvertently struck both objects and fellow cast members with said limbs. Too bad there isn't a pill for bodily or spatial intelligence.

June 12, 2008

It's happened for as long as I've been alive. Longer actually. Every summer- for twenty-three years. On a chosen summer night, a voice and a body combine in an effort to tell a story- a story of betrayal, repentance, vengeance, redemption, desire. The voice and body unite their forces to wage war on the thick, impermeable air and the scorching rays of the sun. The victorious unison dances and sings across a stony, patient amphitheater as the sun and the heavy air surrender their defenses. The greatest test looms in the distance. The voice spouts an archaic language- ornate and complex- not easily translated. Gestures maneuver to support and/or explain seemingly inaccessible words. The new battle begins. A troupe of players wield their weapons of light, music, costume, makeup, set and prop against the supreme adversaries: incomprehension and misperception.  For a couple of hours in William Land Park- on an evening in June, July or August- one can see and hear a story played before their eyes and render triumph accordingly- and ever so bittersweetly, the very people whom are being fought for become the judge and jury. Sometimes the players are declared victor, sometimes not- but the fight continues. Twenty-three years of proud, majestic exhibition pushes forward to tell a story and achieve its purpose- to be the mirror that reflects one's life and to be the catalyst for that life's change.

My name is Dominique Jones and I fancy myself one of those players. I study the art of performance and try to convince myself that it's my calling in life. That idea ebbs and flows with the tide, but the feeling of social responsibility never does. Three years I've been involved with the festival, and each year brings more responsibility. More lines, more movement, more objectives, more emotion. I can't say that I'm always effective in re-creating life, but I can say that I gave it the respect that I knew at the time. 

I've been asked to keep this journal for your festival experience pleasure. I agreed to do the very thing I love to hate: write. Hopefully this account of my adventures will be an informative glance into the rearing of a play, but if you're expecting deep, introspective, philosophical musings on acting and its process- I'm sorry. The first paragraph is probably all you're going to get. Quite honestly some entries may be nothing but trifles: I was late and didn't have my script, I stabbed someone with a pencil, Jim Bob seems to own only one pair of pants... 

I suppose the goal of this journal is to compare the chaos of construction to the end product of performance- to become intimate with the process and perhaps more connected to the show. And that is the very thing we fight for, right?  Ok then. Here it goes.  

Dominique