Birthdays

So, my birthday happened. It was awesome. Better than last year, and last year Christopher Lloyd sang Happy Birthday to me. I'm so thankful for my fiancee Marley and the friends I finally feel I've made. Previews are going awesome for both shows in the rep. Margo, Karman, and I are starting to find our groove in running the two shows. There's a lot of trust that's starting to build between Margo and I; making me both happy and anxious. With more of her trust, comes more responsibility and I just want to live up to it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid I'll mess up entirely and get myself fired, I just don't ever like to disappoint. All of my actors seem to like me and that, by far, is the most significant sign of doing my job well. With a lot of technician jobs, actors don't even know what you do for them except for the moments you hand them a prop or shine a spot light on them; but with wardrobe, we tend to work very intimately with actors and usually form a bond or relationship with that person. That's why Sutton Foster was in tears because her personal dresser is leaving. He's more than just the man who was her underwear and steams her dress. We take care of you when you're sick, we are there for you when it's not your day; our job is to make sure the actor has everything they could want or need, within reason (sometimes not), to perform onstage. As I turn 26 and go into my fifth year of doing this professionally, I am thankful for all the people I have learned from along the way and all the people who support me, like my mother and father, Marley, the Monks, and Denise Warner, who taught me patience, humility, and that even during a horrible show, you can still have fun. Peace.

Tech Week Anyone?

Sooooooooo been a while since I last blogged. I finished up at the Heritage Theatre Festival over a week ago and I am now in full swing at the Signature Theatre again. Currently in tech for The Hollow and by Thursday will be starting The Boy Detective Who Fails. Both shows are brand new works and world premieres that we'll be running in rep through October. I'm really excited to be back here working, it's a pretty awesome feeling to be asked back, and they've asked me to come back for the whole season. After these shows, we'll be doing Hairspray through Christmas. Also some exciting news, Marley and I have found an apartment and I will be moving in, in September. It's in Alexandria, so I'll officially becoming a Virginian (sort of). It's really exciting to be finally settling down and making myself permanent somewhere, and to be doing it with someone. I miss the friends I made in Charlottesville but I know I'll be seeing a few down the road so that's cool. All right, I guess I should get back to the show.... I should have more jazz things to talk bout down the road, I'm currently reading this really cool book about Miles Davis's second quartet and their recordings that should bring me some new insight that I'll love to share. So see ya guys later!

Summer Summer Summer Time

So here I am 3 weeks into my summer stock job and I still haven't blogged. Since Marley and I moved in, its's been a mad dash to what is now our preview night tonight of My Fair Lady. I've done this show before, on a much smaller scale, but I still wasn't all that worried about it. These last two dress rehearsals have shown me the meaning of something creeping up on you. There are 30 actors in this production and just the immensity of the amount of costumes and people I'm trying keep track of and make sure everyone is happy is crazy. I fucking love it. I love the surge of adrenaline and the chances of making an actor happy and the designer happy....best feeling in the world. I've also gotten to do something that I've been dreaming of doing since I decided on wardrobe as a career. There was a giant tool box/workstation left in one of the dressing rooms and it was completely empty and abandoned. I have taken and filled it with wardrobe supplies and labeled it and completely turned it into The Wardrobe Station. It's so pretty and shiny and I'll be taking pictures soon but I am soooooo excited!!!! After this first show there are 3 more shows we'll be inning in rep. Boeing, Boeing, The 39 Steps, and She Loves Me. I have run 39 steps before, last summer in Vermont, so I am coming heavily prepared for that show it's quick bonanza. Well thats all for now, more to come later as the summer develops!

I want that glib and oily art to speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak.

So I am currently working on a version of Shakespeare's King Lear at the Synetic Theater in Arlington, VA; right outside of DC. It's the extension of the show from it's run at the Landsburgh Theatre which is a part of the Shakespeare Theatre Company. I am in love with this company and it's short but strong history in the DC theatre community. I also love how kind and friendly everyone has been even though I'm only coming in at the tail end of their journey on this show. I'm having a lot of fun and I'm sad too see my time with it end so soon. Come see King Lear in Crystal City. Performances run through Sunday May 8th!

DC So Far

I moved to DC in late November 2010. I started a job as wardrobe overhire at The Signature Theatre working on Sunset Boulevard. It was a long three month run into February, and I got meet and work with a lot of good people. While I was at Signature, my fiancee Marley has worked at the Studio Theatre and a smaller local theatre called First Stage at Tyson's Corner. Working with someone as my direct superior has been an interesting experience. Usually I am my own boss or I have hire ups who understand that my job is vital but not necessarily are there for the whole process. This is only my second experience working under another wardrobe supervisor professionally and it has been an eye opening experience. We've found that we have a lot in common as far as the way things should be done or what things are priority, but it has been the little things, (isn't it always), the little differences in our work processes that have led to frustrate us at times. It worked out well though because as sunset neared it's close, my boss asked me to stay on for their next show; a workshop called And the Curtain Rises. This was a smaller run since it was billed as a workshop so as of last Sunday, I have not been working on a show, but there have been talks about starting back up with them in the fall. Coming up on the horizon, hopefully, (I say hopefully because an offer has been made and accepted but no contract has been sent out yet), is the extension of a popular show in DC right now. I don't want to name the show or company on the internets because I feel that will make it not come to fruition. Today, I attended the annual DC technicians cattle call for the second time. There were some slight differences this year. Last year I went very uptight and professional in a full suit with sweater vest and tie. This year, I went with nice jeans, chucks, tie with tie tack, open vest, and my "phill" hat. I also knew some people in the room this year. The assistant PM from Signature was there with the prop mistress, and Marley's PM from Studio was there as well. Jokes were had and I made most of the room laugh so I'm really hopeful for some positive feedback from this. Last year I only got one call from this, but that's one more than I would have gotten if I hadn't participated, so this year I'm hoping for two calls. Well this is Phill, signing off from the Smithsonian sculpture gardens.

I'm Back

So I love the tumbler but I like using it more as a media share and I like using a blog to share my thoughts and ideas. So to update those of you reading this still, I live in Washington DC now and I work freelance at multiple theaters in the area. I've also taken to watching a lot of Doctor Who and listening to tons and tons of jazz. I've been flooding my iTunes with it and just slowly increasing my knowledge and grasp on it. OH YEAH, Marley and I are engaged! Marriage is set for April 28th 2012. Well here's to future adventures in writing.