Just a short blog post to update this thing and get back in the groove of making a regular habit of writing. There has been a lot that has happened since the last time that I posted. I'll try to go through things in order.
Directed a Production of Much Ado about Nothing
This has to have been one of the most challenging, most stressful, most educational, and most rewarding things I have ever done. The actors we cast in this production were all wonderful, gifted, and professional individuals who each brought something important to the production. They also kept me on my toes as a director, which was great. This was the first time I had undertaken to direct one of Shakespeare's many plays, and the fifth play I have directed overall. I learned a great deal that will help me the next time I direct anything, much less another of Shakespeare's plays.
Appeared in a production of Little Women
This was my first experience with the Advent Theatre, and I hope that it was only the first of many. I played "Laurie" in this adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. You may not realize this, but Beth doesn't die in Little Women. She dies in the follow up novel Ms. Alcott wrote at the request of the publisher, called Good Wives. At some point after the initial run of the books as separate installments the were consolidated by U.S. publishers under the title Little Women. Some European publishers still publish the separate books. This created some confusion when the play ended, and beth was generally getting better.
Appeared in a production of Much Ado about Nothing
Right on the heels of Little Women (literally) I was cast in a production of Much Ado about Nothing, in which I played Claudio. Again, it was a rewarding and instructive experience. There was much here that I will take away as both an actor and a director. What I learned aside for the moment, I had a good time. Claudio is a fun role that I would like to do again should the opportunity present itself.
Taking some time off
On the whole the last year has been busy. Very busy. Insanely busy. Out of a full year I had maybe three months in which I was home in the evening. Otherwise, I was getting up so as to be at work by 9AM, and not getting home until after 10PM most nights. Many of those nights my wife was already in bed. For a year I have missed on any kind of home life, or personal time. I'm well overdue for a break. So that's what I'm doing right now. I'm taking time to be with my wife, go back to my acting class, and teach my martial arts class. To say nothing of bolstering my savings account.
Break time notwithstanding, I'm still not sitting idle. I've ordered new headshots, which will largely be used for distribution to agents. I've stepped up my efforts to submit on Actors Access and Now Casting (more the former than the latter), and I'm focusing on paid work, or work that I can use for promotional purposes. In essence, I've committed to taking my acting career seriously. We'll see if anything comes of that.
That's about all I have time for now. More coming later. Hopefully not much later.
