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!