How do you School?

It's been almost an entire week since our show. I've had the weekend to breathe (kind of) and now I'm sitting here thinking, is this it? How do you end a blog? And how do you go back to a normal high school, where kids don't walk up to each other in the morning and improv before yoga? So, this is the beginning of the goodbyes, the write offs that will leave us crying until next summer, and the thank yous that we hope will be heard. Have your tissues handy.

SOS Returning Student Guest Writer: Sierra Rose of Elephant's Graveyard

The last time I wrote about Summer on Stage, it was day four, and I had just put my life on the line - so to speak - and auditioned, along with the 30-plus other kids whose names I was still struggling to get right. Now, it’s a Monday, and I’m sitting in my pajamas at three in the afternoon, mourning the fact that I’m not currently working my butt off in rehearsal. Our set has been broken down, our costumes dismantled and sent back to their proper places, animal puppets auctioned off to victors of “bang,” “ninja,” and “bippidy bippidy bop.”That’s right, folks - Elephant’s Graveyard is a wrap!

It took us four weeks, falling off boxes, suffering colds, dropping people during trust falls, day-before blocking changes, and Katherine threatening to throw things at us, but guess what? We did it. We went from paper cutouts, taken directly from the script, to fully-fledged, three-dimensional characters with emotions and individual quirks and motives, who interacted and meshed with each other without words, could shine under their own spotlight or knit the ensemble tighter. We made people laugh, cry, feel anger and fear, horror and remorse, took the audience on an hour ride that plunked them back down in their seats at the end of it and questioned their own morals, asked them what they would have done in our place. Elephant’s Graveyard achieved what we intended it to achieve, and more, and I couldn’t have been more proud to look around me during curtain call and call the cast around my my friends.

I’m not sure when it began, really, that friendship and camaraderie. Somehow, during the long afternoon rehearsals at the U of A, and the grueling hours of tech where we literally stood on boxes for three hours straight, I became friends with those people. I trusted them, I laughed with them, I cried with them, and at the end of the day, I wished I could spend more time with them. That’s the thing about Summer on Stage, I’ve learned - these friendships don’t smack you in the face the first day. They grow, and continue to do so, long after you've said your goodbyes.

I could write pages and pages about what went on in the weeks of rehearsal, all the laughs, all the frustration, all the triumphs, but a) I don’t want to cry and b) I don’t think anyone wants to spend the next three hours waiting for me to hop off my soapbox, so I’ll keep this brief and say that these weeks of my summer have been some of the best of my life.  The last moments I had up on stage as the Ringmaster were some of the proudest. The hours spent standing in the corner of stage right with Melissa and Patrick and goofing off in the dressing rooms with my roomies were some of the funniest. And the moment we got on that stage and killed it was definitely the most exhilarating. I started this experience with trepidation, worried that I would let people down, wouldn't be able to do this role justice, anxious that I would be written off as the newbie, but, of course, I can look back now and say how silly I was. I truly felt like I was part of a family in this cast, no matter how many times we took issue with the script or grumbled about new blocking. We created something beautiful and haunting with just our words, our bodies, and the emotions we channeled through our characters, and I couldn't be more grateful.

So thank you, Elephants, for giving me the best summer of my life, for making me feel like I could do anything, for giving me the chance to stand on a stage on which I’d always dreamed of performing and make an audience of 400 hurt like my character did, for inspiring me beyond words. Thank you for hanging an elephant with me. (Too soon? Yeah, too soon.)

SOS Student Guest Writer: Chris Fernandez of In Your Eyes

Three days ago, Summer On Stage 2013 officially concluded. The cast of In Your Eyes opened and closed their show in one single night. The curtain may have closed and the program may have ended, but the excitement, pride, and passion we possess for this show lingers. Throughout the process of preparing for this musical, we established strong connections with each other. Prior to the commencement of the program, each member of In Your Eyes could be thought of as an isolated puzzle piece, waiting to find where it belonged. Well, I can tell you on behalf of the entire cast that the second the spotlight shone, the first piano chord was struck, and the first lyric was sung, the puzzle pieces connected and a truly beautiful image was formed.

Constituting the original cast of a debut musical was an honor none of the cast members were ever expecting to hold. Each member was given the opportunity of portraying their respective character for the first time in history. Even more, the diversity of the characters was refreshing and thrilling in itself. The interactions of our characters attributed a dynamic tone to the overall effect of the production. We were all able to portray kids our age in an environment we were well accustomed to. How many actors in a musical are able to say that?

The cast of In Your Eyes was composed of such unique and interesting people who all possess immense creativity and insightful imaginations. Jesse Rubin, who portrayed Brad, had such a powerful effect in his performance, masterfully taking the cliché character of the “jock” and attributing believable layers and dimension to the role. Similarly, Leah Harris, who portrayed Taylor in the production, was given the task of playing the “dumb blonde.” Leah imbued this role with a hilarious comedic undertone, while still conveying her character's inner struggle.

Noah Woods gave a fantastic performance not only as the school's unqualified counselor, but also as the Principal Voice, Bullhorn Voice, Police Officer, and Barbara's drunk dad. Taylor Schlicht played Riley, the class' religious fanatic. She portrayed this character truthfully, and with the added effect of her angelic voice, the role greatly influenced the musical's overall impact. Alec Coles was cast as Ethan, a typical adolescent boy. Not only did Alec make Ethan an interesting and captivating character, but he also contributed a great amount of aid in all regards of the production; from the singing, to the dancing, to the acting, Alec demonstrated how inherently brilliant he is when it comes to musical theater.

Christina Kroell is a star in every sense of the word. Knowing Christina to be such an amiable person, everyone was taken aback upon watching her transformation into her hostile character, Barbara. Every time Christina opens her mouth to sing, everyone is immediately mesmerized by how powerful yet ethereal her voice is. The character of Jack, a boy overwhelmed by internal conflict, was portrayed by Hayden Wilson, one of the funniest and most passionate actors in our cast. Prior to being cast in the musical, Hayden did not necessarily consider himself a “singer.” However, in only about five weeks, he demonstrated exceptional growth in his vocal abilities, learning his vocal range fell under that of a high tenor. Hayden invested heartfelt, honest emotion into every scene he was in, successfully conveying an extremely convoluted conflict many young adults struggle with today.

Alyssa Whatton portrayed Mary Jane with an energy that diffused throughout the entire cast. One could observe Alyssa's character merely standing in the background and still be wildly entertained; she really delved into her character and never failed to fully commit. Ben Klinkenberg's character was Spencer, a creepy, technologically proficient boy always clothed in a black trench coat. It would have been very easy for Ben's character to remain one dimensional and static throughout the musical. However, Ben performed this role in such a way that explicitly showcased Spencer's personal growth as a result of the lockdown. Noam Shahar's character, Benny, did not possess an abundance of immediately accessible characterization, yet Noam managed to make his character incredibly realistic. Furthermore, Noam's particular talent is quite unique and heavily distinctive from anyone else, which greatly contributed to the varying dynamic of the production.

One of the most surprising talents within the In Your Eyes cast was none other than Samuel “Hap” Nardi, who played Chad. Hap's mature vocal ability blew us all away and his effort to attain perfection inspired us all. Hap taught us all so much about performing and also a great deal about ourselves. He is truly a special person. Finally, there is Alyssa Furtado, who played the quiet girl in the corner, Darcy. In person, Alyssa is ray of sunshine; she naturally just makes you happy. As such, the maturity with which she portrayed her character was surprising and quite impressive. The purity and innocence of her voice made her performance one of the most memorable in the show.

Of course, this musical would not have been possible without our director Amber Tibbitts. Amber is a very unique director. She provided each cast member with the freedom to develop our characters independently. However, she never allowed us to become idle in a scene, especially when the focus was not necessarily on us. She cared about each character equally and invested great effort in guiding us to unlock each of our respective characters. One of the best qualities of Amber's approach is that she genuinely makes you excited about your character and his or her influence on the production as a whole.

In Your Eyes was a very important musical. Initially, the infancy of the show may have intimidated us, but due to the hard work of our amazing musical director, Sarah Ross, our passionate director, everyone on crew, and each cast member, we collectively were able to achieve a great feat. This musical was extremely ambitious, but then again, so were we. With each day that passed, we drew closer and closer towards our goal. We all solidified, as a cast, as our characters, and as people. We began to understand each other, to feed off of each other's energies. When the first spotlight shone on Ben as he opened our show, we all felt unified and fulfilled; it almost felt magical, as if we began to breathe as one, sing as one, move as one. We became a living, breathing entity, and as this single entity, we conveyed a captivating story. This amazing experience may have come to a close, but the memory of it will live forever inside each and every one of us.

SOS Student Guest Writer: Jeremy Jason

Before we read Jeremy's writing, I would like to apologize for my recent lack of posting. With the show in its final stages within the last week, I have been rigorously working with my cast, and haven't had the time nor the energy to write. But don't worry, I'll be dragging out this blog as long as possible, squeezing the juices of the SOS experience until it is completely dry, at which point SOS will really be over, and I will spiral into depression. Without further ado, here is Jeremy Jason, on his experience performing with SOS at the Hacienda Del Sol for the children of the Integrative Touch for Kids organization.

Photo Courtesy of Sierra Rose




When Stephen approached the students about performing at some sort of disadvantaged children’s retreat, I was more than a little apprehensive.  What kind of things would we do?  What audience is this?  Do these people even want to see us do anything?  Somehow I found myself scratching my name into that sign-up sheet anyway.

It was not until the day before the event that we gathered the group and figured out what was going on.  When I saw the people I would be working with, I could not have been more pleased.  At this mock rehearsal, Katie showed off her hilarious monologues, Alec rocked a song from IYE, Jalon sung about being the coolest girl, Laura belted Not Alone, and I reprised my talent show number, all while Sarah magically spun the background music off the ivories.  I was astounded (as always) by my castmate’s ability to create life onstage without a single rehearsal.

Upon arriving at Hacienda del Sol, our performance location, I discovered Alyssa and Josh had been added into the mix with new songs and duets, plus Adrianna tagged along for moral support.  Sitting in a waiting room with these awesome folks before we were called into the performance space reminded me why I love theatre so much.  Nobody was there to show off or to impress these people; we were all in this location to bring some joy with these kids and their families with our scopes set on having a kick-ass time.

The dining room that we sang in was quaint and well lit, filled with 40 to 50 small children and families, all waiting expectantly for us to show them what we brought for them.  We ran through our set list with without a hitch.  Well, actually some of the acts fell flat, but that’s all right. (Hi it's Alec, it was me, I bombed my duet, twist the knife Jeremy) I improvised harmonies into Laura’s piece, Alyssa and Alec created a sweet last minute piece as star-crossed lovers, and Josh pretended he loved to sing the song he wrote, all along side all the pieces we had the day before.





What really matters is the looks those children and parents gave us after each and every number.  After the set, one mother told us that her child dreams of being an actor, and seeing us perform was the highlight of her day.  Another little boy gave us an in depth analysis of Katie’s first piece and how he could relate to her.  One child loved Jalon’s number so much he had to run up on stage and join her in the middle of her final stanzas.

This experience outshined all of my expectations.  I cannot thank my castmates enough for how much of their heart they poured into this experience. To Sarah for following our slightly skewed arranging skills, to April and Chris for dragging their butts all the way up north just to see us work for these families, and most importantly to Stephen for having the spark to put this all together.  We did so much good tonight; we gave ourselves to strangers and grew as performers because of it.  That is what SOS is really all about.

SOS Student Guest Writer: Melissa Arnaud

Photo courtesy of Heather Pretka Arnaud

Arriving at the Temple... So much was going through my mind. I was scared and anxious, but also extremely thrilled and ready. I remember going to see the show "The 39 Steps" on this stage and ever since then I have wanted to perform on this stage, and now I do, and it's a dream come true! Stepping through those doors, not as someone going to see a show , but as a performer for a show, that is the best part. 
Seeing the set for the first time, I almost cried. It was better than I imagined. It was perfect. The first time we rehearsed on the stage I could feel that this show was going to be great. I could tell that everyone had grown into their characters as soon as they stepped on stage. The first time I ran through the show, I can not describe how I felt. It was a beautiful blend of emotional bliss. The first time i saw my costume... This was a big moment for me; seeing my costume come together finished my character. That's what costumes always seem to do, they give more character to the already beautiful character you've created as the final layer, the final touch. 
The first time with the microwave... The "Murder Mart"... The realization S.O.S would soon be over... This is the one sad part about moving to this mystical place, it truly conveys that there is not much time left, there is only days left until this beautiful event is done for the year. I never expected this camp to be such a life changing and amazing experience. I truly feel free to be whatever I want every time I see the glowing faces of the S.O.S family. I can hang up my problems at the door and live worry free, doing what I live the most. I will truly miss waking up every morning to be with some of the most amazing and genuine people in the world. Fancy Friday, pajama day, Rudy being happy all the time, Sierra being so sweet, Alec giving everyone a reason to smile, Mary being a great friend, Hayden and his fist bumps, Olivia and Sara and the stories they share, and so many others... the list is miles long, ask me about anyone; there is something that will be missing from my day. They all contribute to my happiness. 
As tears of every emotion trickle down my face I would like to Thank You, thank you Elephant's Graveyard cast, being so in tune, being such a great ensemble, and for creating the most beautiful story with the way each of you deliver each line. Thank you In Your Eyes cast, for making a school lock down seem awesome with your combined acting stills and angelic singing. Thank you S.O.S. for making my summer perfect. This camp is like nothing else, it stands above all.  I have made some amazing new friends that I want to talk to every day, to stay in touch with them. In this camp... It is definitely worth waking up at 6:00am for. I am so excited for this next week, the last week, to be with my S.O.S. family and to show Tucson how amazing everyone in this program is. 

Day 16

Friday was our last day in the University of Arizona's rehearsal space! To celebrate we held a talent show, and sweet jesus, I've said this before, but I mean everyone is talented. Even our stage manager for In Your Eyes, the amazing/beautiful/totally hipster Mary Smith got in on the action with a rendition of an original song (from her original musical) (which she wrote as a one woman show) (and she melted faces with her guitar) (Mary you're my idol).

It was bittersweet leaving the University. In the passed three weeks, I've made so many memories within those studios, it felt so strange to wake up and not drive to Speedway. However, with the end of that chapter came the most exciting step of Summer On Stage yet: moving rehearsals into the ATC Temple of Music and Art. 

I've seen five shows at the ATC Temple. I don't think words could describe the level of fan-girl excitement I reached as I was given a behind the scenes tour of my new home. I may have drooled, I may have peed, you'll never know for sure. Tomorrow my cast is rehearsing on the stage. On the stage. It's so surreal to me that I'll be performing our show on the same stage that held inspiring work such as The Great Gatsby and Next to Normal.   It's a dream.

No matter how dreamy though, I HAVE to be present this week. Today's rehearsal was our first run through of the show in its entirety. While we made it through with minimal injury, there is still a long two weeks of rigorous work ahead of me and my cast. This show has the potential to be absolutely incredible. This week I promise to be completely and entirely dedicated to living up to that potential and making it a reality. I wouldn't ever want to put anything less than my best on this stage. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to fall asleep to some Demi Lovato, courtesy of my best friend and Summer Backstage badass Adrianna Cota. 

Words of the Wise

My favorite quote of the week so far comes from the lovely Mary Klein, who, when talking to the group about walking passed the In Your Eyes rehearsal during mine and Christina Kroell's song, 

"If your voices could make babies, they'd make little angels!" 

Thanks Mary! 

We've Reached the Halfway Point!

We are officially two and a half weeks into SOS, which means there are only two and a half weeks left of SOS. Which means our show is in two and a half weeks. Yeah, panic mode time.

In all seriousness, the beginning of this week taught me how important it is to know your material. To say I was slightly unfamiliar with a couple songs is an understatement; I had to go through an entire song's choreography without singing my harmonies, or even the proper lyrics. Not so bueno. SOS gives you plenty of rehearsal time, but Monday and Tuesday proved that work outside of the studio is required as well. 

So I buckled down and got to it! The soundtrack of In Your Eyes is on my phone, and I practically eat, sleep, and breathe this show, even more so than I thought I did prior to this week. 

The amount of work I have to put in to this program seems daunting, but I can't stress how it's all worth it enough. When we actually know our stuff, and we sing what were supposed to sing, we create beautiful music with haunting lyrics. We're able to find the truth in our lines when they're memorized and we don't have a script immobilizing us. I was taught that within a professional theatre company, actors may have as little as two weeks to be off book before they even show up to a rehearsal. SOS is providing me with the skills to become successful in my future endeavors as an actor.

Classes this week have been incredible, as usual. We became familiarized with a basic understanding of what a theatre company is through a role playing exercise in Theatre Immersion. The next day we used role playing again in order to get a better understanding of our show's character. Can I just take a moment to say how much I love being surrounded by actors? At my school, role playing games like those would not work. There would always be those kids who wouldn't take it seriously, and would refuse to participate. The kids as SOS are entirely open to any new idea. Everyone is willing to be a part of the journey our instructors take us on, no matter how strange it seems at first. We have all become comfortable with each other, and that strong foundation of friendship allows us all to push each other into being bolder and going further.  I love these guys. 

Also, Tuesday was our last class with Kay Dawson, who taught Dancing and Movement. Under Kay's graceful/angsty/thuggin instruction, we learned five routines, and technique for ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop dancing styles. In addition, she gave us a killer ab workout. We'll miss you Princess Tiana, and I speak for all of us when I say thank you so much for your time, you are simply amazing, and we appreciate you for all of the love you gave us these past two weeks. We love you!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to force myself back to sleep, since I passed out after I got home from camp, and currently just woke up from that five hour nap. See you at rehearsal!

Someone showed up to rehearsal a little too early!

Lion King Group!

It's the circle of life and the best mask group ever. (left) Melissa, Dr. Alec, Marissa, Noam, Ben, and Mary. Not pictured, Taylor the Wildebeest.

Mask and Makeup Workshop

The end of our makeup and mask segment on Friday, July 5. A huge thank you to our instructors, Athena Hagen and Bryanna Patrick, who worked patiently with all of us! I really underestimated how essential makeup and masks are in theatre, thank you for opening my eyes! I had blast.

In Your Eyes Rehearsal

Snapshot of In Your Eyes rehearsal. (from left) Musical Director Sarah Ross, Leah Harris, Dr. Alec Coles, Taylor Schlicht, Hayden Wilson, and Ben Klinkenberg

Day 8

Monday-Wednesday of Week 2, my schedule has been the following:

8:30-9:00am, Yoga (It's honestly harder than it looks, try the Tree pose and then talk to me)
9:00-10:00am, Dance and Movement Class (I'm pretty much a ballerina now)
10:00-11:00am, Voice Lessons (Having my mind blown by musical theory was a bonus)
11:00-12:00pm, Intro to Acting 101 (Earn your pauses!)
12:00-1:00pm, Lunchtime (Or nap time, if you so desire)
1:00-4:20pm, In Your Eyes Rehearsal! 

My days have been incredible. While the schedule is extremely fast paced, I have obtained so much knowledge through all three of my classes. As an actor in the SOS musical, Dance and Movement has enlightened me to the power of emotion through dance, and how my body can be used as a tool to convey different attitudes and moods, whether it be a graceful lyrical dancing or getting crunk with some hip hop. Similarly, the voice lessons this week have focused on our abilities as humans to "turn the knobs" of our vocal chords and access the variety of tools we possess to convey character. In the words of Sarah Ross, "Good singing is good acting," a lesson I took to heart while considering my character in the show. Intro to Acting has been my favorite class; Amber and Catherine have led us through a series of seriously intriguing lessons, each challenging us as actors to view ourselves and our surroundings in entirely different perspectives. They have really pushed our comfort zones, ability to adapt, and ability to be bold and confident with our choices when portraying a character. Yeah. This has all been in three mornings. I haven't even talked about rehearsal yet. 

The rehearsal process for In Your Eyes is so different from high school rehearsals I have been a part of. Our lovely stage manager Mary runs a tight ship; unlike rehearsals at my school, which are productive but pretty casual, the cast and directors are kept to a strict schedule, and our focus and presence in rehearsal is constantly demanded. The necessity of that focus was evident immediately. In three days, we have learned melodies, harmonies, and solos of five songs, choreographed one entire number, and blocked 34 pages of our script. Three days. The level of commitment in my cast and our leaders is phenomenal, and I'm so proud of all the work we've accomplished. Its only Week Two, and I'm only further convinced that I'm really a part of something special. 

Remember when I said breaks from SOS suck? Today, during our end of the day reflection, April announced that we wouldn't be back in the studios until Friday because we had the 4th of July off, and everyone groaned in defiance. April smiled and said, 

"Your sadness makes me so happy,"

and then laughed as she slaughtered puppies in front of the class. Alright, in reality she dismissed us and wished us a happy holiday, but that's still the quote of the week okay. Happy Fourth of July everybody! Watch some baseball while eating some pizza delivered by an Asian man born in a pickup truck in Kansas because 'Murica. 

Lunchtime Friendtime Foodtime

And my new best friend...

...my script. She's pretty.

The fantastic cast of Elephant's Graveyard! Cast pictures of In Your Eyes coming soon!

Words of the Wise

Philosophy to ponder over the weekend:

"We all know how to love... but we don't all know how to antelope." - Samuel "Hap" Nardi

End of Week One

Today was the end of our first week at SOS, and as I left towards the parking garage with fellow SOS actress Alyssa Whatton,  I told her, "Uhm, I really don't even want this weekend break. Want to just show up to rehearsal in the morning?" She agreed. Breaks from SOS suck.

My week was phenomenal. I have never been in an environment that made me feel completely comfortable, while simultaneously challenging me and pushing me beyond my limits. I know that every person participating in this program, adults and kids alike, can look back at this week and give themselves a high five; collaboratively and individually, an enormous amount of work has been successfully accomplished. I am constantly awed by the amount of talent, dedication, and joy that surrounds me every day I step foot in the studio. When I decided to join this program, I predicted that I would have a fantastic time with great people. Now, with this first week completed, I predict that SOS will make my summer the most remarkable vacation of my life. 

SOS 2013 Cast Lists!

Elephant's Graveyard 
(In order of appearance)

Narrator- Danielle Brockman
Hungry Townsperson- Jalon Jackson
Ballet Girl- Anastasia Wrenn
Ringmaster- Sierra Lindsay
Steamshovel Operator- Patrick Lumia
Engineer- Alex Weil
Young Townsperson- Marissa Rodriguez
Tour Manager- Olivia Knuhtsen
Strongman- Aaron Cohen
Muddy Townsperson- Kaitlin Burke
Preacher- James Gangi
Trainer- Jeremy Jason
Clown 1- Mary Klein
Clown 2- Rudy Perez
Clown 3- Melissa Arnaud
Clown 4- Sarah Ottley
Clown 5- Sydney Harper
Marshal- Laura Leader

In Your Eyes 
(in alphabetical order)

Ethan- Alec Coles (Hey, who's that stud)
Hunter- Christopher Fernandez
Darcy- Alyssa Furtado
Taylor- Leah Harris
Spencer- Ben Klinkenberg
Barbara- Christina Kroell
Chad- Samuel "Hap" Nardi
Brad- Jesse Rubin
Riley- Taylor Schlicht 
Benny- Noam Shahar
Mary Jane- Alyssa Whatton
Jack- Hayden Wilson
Counselor (Principal Voice, Bullhorn Voice, Police Officer, Drunk Dad)- Noah Woods

Wheedle: A Definition

Verb. To employ endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something or give one something. You're welcome.

Selfie courtesy of guest writer Sierra Lindsay, read her perspective of the dreaded SOS Audition Day below!

SOS Student Guest Writer: Sierra Lindsay

The monologues are prepped, thighs are on fire from hours of dance rehearsal, and the music is so interwoven into brains that forgetting seems almost impossible. It’s audition day at Arizona Theatre Company’s Summer on Stage! 

As a newbie to the dynamic of the five-week theatre camp, the audition process was more than daunting. The prospect of performing a monologue, a song, and a choreographed dance in front of a long line of judges (though the wonderful people in charge here at SOS refuse to refer to themselves as such) was terrifying, especially coming in as an amateur, with no vocal or dance training to speak of. These anxieties were coming from myself, however, as everyone, staff and student alike, were completely dedicated to making the whole group feel at home and comfortable in their own skin, and they quickly soothed any fears with a few kind words or a high-five that spoke just as much. It’s only been four days, but the camaraderie in this band of theatre enthusiasts is quickly becoming stronger and stronger (maybe it was the tossing game with four balls going at once!). 

The day started promptly at 8:30 with some body warm ups (not kidding about the fire in the thighs - there were songs written and sung about it over the course of the day) and jumped right into vocal auditions. I was the most stressed about this audition, for reasons including but not limited to: being unable to hit any of the notes, getting the timing wrong, sounding like a pterodactyl, or forgetting to say my own name. Called out in numerical and alphabetical order, we waited our turn in groups of five in the standby seats, jittery and humming tunes under our breath, hearing different voices through the closed doors, and I just kept thinking about how there was no way I could raise that bar, not with the amount of talent in our class of 31. But hey, that was no way to think. I turned my thoughts for the positive and waited to be called in. What was the worst that could happen?

Well, I forgot how to introduce myself. Don’t follow in my footsteps, kiddos. It was a bad time for everyone involved. Despite my momentary brain-crash, I made my way through the song. I was asked to do it once more, and this time really embody the character - Taylor, a cliche “dumb blonde” with some secrets to hide - as I sung, and I forgot about looking stupid, or sounding awful; I went with the character, and finished feeling excited and energized, pumped full of happy adrenaline. It didn’t really matter whether or not I hit every note - what mattered was that I enjoyed myself, and that it was such a positive learning curve for me. 

In the downtime between vocal and dance auditions, the classroom across the hall became a dance studio. We tripped and fumbled our way through our audition piece (“Anger Management”) a good five or six times, moaning about our sore thighs and cheering each other on when we all got the right move on beat. A quick note in advance: I have about as much dance coordination as a rhinoceros. Things get ugly. Luckily enough, we got to audition in groups of four according to our assigned numbers, so if I was doing really badly, there would always be someone else to steal the spotlight while I adjusted myself. We practiced and practiced until, finally, my group was called out on deck, and we gave last-minute critiques and help before we were sent in (the change of alignment from facing the mirror to facing away from the mirror was a bigger problem than anyone anticipated). For all the trips and missed moves, it was fun. Sweaty, embarrassing - on my end, at least - but the only harsh judges there were ourselves. Everyone in charge has provided such a safe environment for us to express ourselves that there was never any fear or being looked down on or perceived as stupid; everything we bring in they already love, and whatever else we try they will love even more, as assured by Amber during morning yoga on Wednesday. 

Finally, to wrap up a long day of nerves, triumph, bonding over lunch, costume fitting, and lots and lots of humming the songs from the musical, we were randomly assigned to groups to read the sides from In Your Eyes. Probably one of my favorite parts of the whole day - in just maybe an hour, our little group of five rehearsed different characterizations, interpretations, and just plain ridiculous ways to perform the scene, with lots of bonus touching and exaggerations. It was amazing to get to go so over the top with a group of people I’ve only known for a few days, and feel comfortable and happy doing so. 

At this point, we’d been in and out of the audition room so many times it felt routine, and waiting in the wings we finished up our blocking and let off some steam with some quality twerking in the hallway. We breezed our way through the short scene with only a few holdups, all of which were adorable and no-sweat. Returning as successful auditionees, we tried our hands at mask-making, which included the sharing of too-few scissors and glue and bemoaning our lack of art skills. I mean, hey! We’re actors, right? Who expected a crash course in proper eye-hole cutting technique? 

It was such a positive and exciting day, and I can only imagine how much closer this group of kids will get over the next four weeks of the camp, if this mere four days is any indication. I’m already regretting not being involved the past three years I could have been! Today pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, which is exactly why I chose to enroll. I sung and danced in front of people for the first time, made some new friends, even made a mask and got a surprise ride home from two lovely SOS pros. Tomorrow will be our first day in our casted roles, our new ensembles, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what our brilliant directors have up their sleeves. It’s going to be one hell of a time.

Pic o' the Day

"Today, be adventurous. Everything you bring in here we already love. Whatever else you try, we're going to love even more." -Amber Tibbits. Photo courtesty of https://www.facebook.com/atc.ed?fref=ts

Day 3

Yesterday and today were spent learning and rehearsing audition material for both the straight play and musical. Alongside Amber and Katherine, we've been soaking in the knowledge of Music Director Sarah Ross (my personal high school choir director, it's funny and slightly disturbing hearing her sing In Your Eyes lyrics about wearing dresses that will compliment the ass) and SOS Choreographer Dan Uroff to prepare ourselves for vocal, dance, and acting auditions. I don't know if it's Dan's sweat inducing audition choreography, or if it's the daily required yoga, but I'm not going to lie, my thighs are a little sore. 

And, okay, it just hit me: AUDITIONS ARE TOMORROW. 

There are thirty one students involved in SOS. I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated by the amount of talent in one studio. On top of being the nicest, most genuine people I have met, everyone, and I mean everyone, was born for theatre performance...as if the directors weren't enough to get me a little anxious about auditions.

However, our teachers don't just teach us to hone in on our talents. For the past three days, they have been instilling self belief and confidence in us, and teaching us to be aware of not only our talent, but of our body and its capabilities. The thing that put me most at ease, and completely sums up the atmosphere that I have been surrounded by these three days, is a quote directly from the genius of Amber Tibbits, our second British genius, just as we were finishing our morning yoga:

"Today, be adventurous. Everything you bring in here we already love. Whatever else you try, we're going to love even more."

Namaste. 


 

Pic o' the Day

Reading the script of Elephant's Graveyard with Summer Backstage student and one of my best friends,  Adrianna Cota. Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/atc.ed?fref=ts. And yea that's comfortable.

Day 1

We were standing in little circles in the lobby of the University of Arizona's Tornabene Theater, all casually chattering, greeting familiar faces we had seen at Thespian Conference, introducing ourselves to people we had never met, and it all just felt right. Everyone was friendly. Everyone was kind. Kind of quite too, yes, which is extremely unlike theatre kids, but that would be short lived.

April Jackson, SOS Program Director, stood on a chair and said, "Hello, and welcome to ATC Summer On Stage!" She had what she would later refer to as a "big goofy smile" on, and she would proudly wear that sunbeam smile all day. In fact, the entire SOS Team did. Every adult involved in SOS was excited and happy, and I could tell they all wanted to be there. It made me excited and happy. I knew it was going to be a good day, and I was right. To kick start the camp, we played a variety of ice breaking games. I met an outstanding array of people, all different, all special, and all so beautiful. Most importantly, they were all hilarious too. We all clicked immediately, and I could already feel a bond forging between us as friendships were established. 

Other than games, we were introduced to the scripts we would be bringing to life this summer; Amber Tibbits, the director of the SOS musical, announced half of us would be performing the world premiere of In Your Eyes, a musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, while Katherine Monberg, director of the SOS straight play, announced the other half would be performing the play Elephant's Graveyard by George Brant. After reading both scripts, I was blown away. The level of artistic freedom, and the content of the scripts, instantly gave me a feel for how this summer's work would be, that is: a lot of it, a lot of it being painstakingly hard, but all of it being entirely rewarding. It's work I wouldn't be able to experience in a high school setting. And to me, that's the most exciting part of this program so far. 

Oh, and I can't write a post without mentioning Stephen Wrentmore, the Artistic Director of Summer On Stage. He's brilliant, he's inspiring, he's hilarious, and he's British. 'Nuff said.

Introduction

Hello! My name is Alec Coles. I am currently a Senior at Marana High School, and I am participating in the Summer On Stage program through the Arizona Theater Company. Sycophancy aside, the Arizona Theater Company is the most impressive theater I have ever attended. I have seen four shows at the theater, and each show has entranced me with is caliber of production excellence and showcase of talent. Believe it or not, I'm not even being paid to say this. I had heard about SOS through my good friends and SOS alumni Cassidy Ray and Alyssa Whatton, and I was immediately interested. Theatre is my passion. There is no comparison to the invigorating feeling that overcomes me through acting, singing, dancing, or a combination of all three. SOS provides an outlet for high school students who share my interest in theatre to showcase their own talents and to grow as artists. I invite you to follow my journey with ATC. This summer should be truly unforgettable.