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First, let me begin by apologizing for neglecting you for so long. I feel sort of like a Catholic entering confessional after a year of sinning. It’s been about 6 months since my last entry. So much has past that it would cheapen the memories to rehash it all to you.

Right now I stand in the greatest transition period of my life. I literally have 5 days until I am finished with college. I say finished with college not that I have graduated. To be frank, my final on Friday determines whether or not I graduate. I’m quite stressed about it. I feel I will pass. I feel I will graduate. I just don’t want to jinx it.

This evening I was standing in my kitchen discussing with Sam, my incredible roommate (On the subject of roommates, I have really lucked out this semester. My roommates are incredible and I really don’t want to leave them), how we had to make sure I didn’t leave any of my dishes. This subject caught me off guard as it finally sunk in that I was moving out. Moving out of an apartment I adore and leaving roommates I adore even more. I know I can do this and I know there is more out there for me than Mary Wash. I’m not one of those people that can be in school for the rest of their life and I’m really looking forward to actually getting a job. In the same respect, I don’t know where I will be in a month and this fact scares me to no end.

What does the future hold? To be honest, I have no idea.

My sister graduated! Mary graduated from Lesley University in Boston last May.  I know I’m a little late and wrong on my updating of my blog.  Forgive me.  Anyways I was lucky enough to get to go up to her graduation.  I’m super proud of her. She’s a total rockstar.

Last week I spent 4.5 hours in the High Museum.  I explored every gallery I could and ended up “accidently” crashing an opening night recepection for their new exhibit.  The exhibit which took me by suprise was Young Americans by Shelia Pree Bright.  It’s a series of photos taken of 20 somethings which the American Flag in their interpretation of what America means.  These five were my favorite shots.

Photo Credit: Sheila Pree Bright from her website http://www.sheilapreebright.com

Mary and I went to see the Blue Man Group last night.  It was AMAZINGLY FUN.  It was theatre and a rave at the same time.   It was really incredibly fun.  Everyone should see them if you ever have a chance. While reading the program before the performance there were two reviews one of Macbeth at BAM and one of Gypsy.  It was so cool to be able to say I had already been to those performances.    Boston has been a great trip.  Part of me is not ready to leave.  I only have two more days then DC then Newport News then Georgia on the 27th! I’m so excited for this summer but still very nervous.     

“You can’t be a part-time artist. You can’t be a part-time poet, painter, or photographer. You’ve got to love it so much that you go to bed thinking about it, and you wake up thinking about it. I can’t think of doing what I do any other way.”
- John Swannell

Photo Credits: John Swannell from his website www.johnswannell.com

My final project for Ideas In Performance This video was originally shared on blip.tv by dwebe8pl with a No license (All rights reserved) license.

A. I’m addicted to Red Bull.

B. I can’t stop coughing.

C. Clartin + 2 Red Bull = The most distracted person on the planet.

Today is going to be a ridiculously long day.

9-10: Writing 3 more play reviews
10-11: Work
11-12:15- Modern Dance Final
12:15-12:30- Review Bio to talk to Griffith
12:30-1: Mtg. with Griffith
1-2: Lunch?
2-5: Calling Prosective Students
5-6: Management Mtg.
5:30-7: Half Hour ’til Showcase
7-9: Musical Theatre Performance Showcase
9: Finished Day

Last week we went to see “Death Of A Salesman” at Arena. For the first time, I finally had that moment Gregg has been talking about in class. I let myself experience the moment without thinking about the sets, the costumes, the deeper philosophical meaning behind Arthur Miller’s story. I sat in this theatre in Crystal City and had one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Finally several days later, I have thought enough about what happened to actually tell you. Disclaimer: you’re about to read some personal shit and its slightly long but since this is my blog and this is about my experience in a production, I think its okay.

The beautiful thing about theatre is you have an audience whose been running around all day and finally they come to the theatre. They sit down, the house goes dark and they see a brief moment in someone’s life presented for them on stage. They come with all of their life experiences and the experience they have in that theatre will be shaped by the experiences they bring with them. -Gregg Stull (generously paraphrased, he sounded a lot more intelligent)

So there I sat at Arena Stage and the lights dim and the life of Loman’s was presented for me. Arthur Miller is one of my all time favorite playwrights. I know “Death Of A Salesman” very well. I’ve read it, discussed it, watch the film version. I knew what to expect. Looking back, I didn’t really know what to expect.

Sometime during Act 1, there was this moment where Willy Loman is talking to himself; he crossed the stage and something about his action. All I could think of was that’s my father. My father is Willy Loman. The moment past and I tried to push it out of my mind. The fact Miller allows us to see into Willy’s dementia, to be in his mind, to see what he is seeing. It’s completely real even if in reality it isn’t. But then again, what is reality. It’s subjective.

Then after intermission, we see Linda tell Willy his sons were going to take him to dinner and he goes out into the city on his mission. When that moment happen all I could see was my family on stage. I don’t know why but suddenly I started to cry. Not sobbing (circa Talya and Emma’s experience during Next To Normal) but just tears streaming down my face. I wasn’t sniffling, that was Layton rocking the allergies. It was a type of crying I had never experienced before. I believe crying is a person’s way of processing excess emotion he or she doesn’t know how to process. I cried for the entirety of Act II. I was with the Loman’s at every step, in every moment. To explain it in further detail would cheapen this experience. During the discussion in class, I’m not sure I’ll be able to contribute.

On our way back to the vans, I overheard Mary and Mitch talking about the production. One of them said “It makes you think what if I become Willy Loman? How will my children turn out?”

What if you were raised by Willy Loman?

How will I turn out?

I found the pictures!

I’m missing days worth of pictures.  Pictures I distinctly remember taking. Where are they?

Oh Delaware.  I love you. You take five seconds to get through.

The bathroom on the bus confused me to no end.  Lets just say I covered it with entirely too toliet paper and sat down.  There wasn’t a light.  That is why it was so confusing. 

The last three days have been a whirlwind which I desperately need to blog about which I will this evening.
I have my map. I have my directions. I’m ready to go into this adventure on my own for the first time.  I spent the weekend exploring to become familiar with the city and now …..I have my first interview at 1.

ready. set. go.

The Museum Of Modern Art. To be perfectly honest, modern art isn’t something I always appreciate. Not because I think I could do it as well as the artist but because I sometimes feel stupid when I look at it. I don’t always see the big picture or meaning of a piece and I feel uneducated when everyone around me does. That being said enjoy this photo post (which I will edit and add photos to as soon as possible).

Strawberry Fields made me irrationally angry. I adore The Beatles and although John Lennon isn’t my favorite Beatle (that title lies with Ringo), visiting Strawberry Fields was a stop I had to make while in NYC. When we went there in the morning (around 10 am), there was no one around. It was very quiet and peaceful which was what I expected from a memorial. Then on the way back out of the park (noonish) this is what we experienced. A second later, I realized how superficial it all was. The flowers weren’t there for his memory. They were placed there to draw the attention to the memorial so tourists would stop and the man placing the petals around would be able to ask for money. Heidi warned me of the odd hippy types which hang out at the memorial but I didn’t realize how true this moment would be. As we exited, I saw several stands selling John Lennon merchandise. Why do people try to profit off the murder of a man? It seemed so superficial in memory of a man that tried to change the world.

Today was a day filled with adventures (circa Atlanta and Aly). Reggie, Mary, Sully, Karen and I went forth on the adventure that is called New York City. We wanted to become as familiar with the city as possible before going out on our own. The day included exploring Central Park, The Bethesda Fountain (in Central Park), Strawberry Fields (in Central Park), Hot Dogs, and The Seagull at Classic Stage Company and Next To Normal and 2econd Stage.

Friday, February 29

We left Friday morning for a 6 hour long bus ride to the glorious city of New York. Once we arrived we dropped off our luggage and hats at the  http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ny… Residence Inn] on the Southwest corner of 39^th and 6^th. It’s a beautiful hotel and I’m living with Mitch, Emma and Bobby for the week.

After dropping off the luggage at the hotel and getting pizza (Gregg is fantastic and gave us dinner), we hurried for our first performance.  http://www.springawakening.com/ Spring Awakening] is amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The experience seemed similar to a rock concert. I really liked that the music was separate from the book of the musical. While the classic musicals hold a very special place in my heart, the trend of the book and music being separate entities is one I greatly appreciate.

While driving to Target last night I heard a Mercedes commercial on the radio. The announcer was discussing passion and said:

“Every person needs one thing in this world that they are passionate about it. Just one. Whether it be music or sports or like us Mercedes.”

This caused me to start thinking about passions. In IDEAS, the word passion is thrown around a lot. We’ve said that people do theatre because its what they are passionate about. They cannot see spending their lives doing anything else.

During the roundtable discussion, Brandon said that stage management is something you have to be passionate about. It’s the type of job you will always be doing and it is an exhausting job.

I have realized that as much as I love stage managing, it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. Still, it is a role I am passionate about and I miss doing when I’m not working on a production.

This semester is the first time (except for Freshman year) since my freshman year of high school in a while that I am not stage managing a production. I’m focusing on graduating and figuring out what I want to do after graduation.

Katie has mentioned in her blog how she has numerous passions that she wishes to incorporate into her life. Mary, Steve and almost everyone else in IDEAS feels the same way. To say one only has to pick one thing they are passionate about seems silly to me. Life is about discovering everything about this world and being passionate about those things that make you tick.

So, if you want something
And you call, call
Then’ll come running
To fight, and I’ll be at your door
When there’s something worth running for

Happy Note: I’m going back to Atlanta next summer! I’m going to be working at Georgia Shakespeare! I’m really excited. Atlanta is one of my favorite places in the world and I’m so excited I get to go back.

I spent the weekend  researching New York theatres.  I haven’t gotten as much done as I wanted to so this week is going to be very very busy.  I’m confused about what excactly I want to find out and where I want to go with this project and with life.  I’m still trying to figure out what questions I want to ask.

On the bottom of my oatmeal container is a number to call for questions and concerns.  You can call it and they will answer questions you have about oatmeal.  Why can’t there be one of those for life?  A number to call whenever you have questions about anything.

Bill Clinton is coming to Mary Wash tomorrow.

Don’t let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become.

I realized my main fear tonight.
I’m afraid I’ll loose my passion for theatre because I’m so worried about being able to pass my classes.

Tonight was so much fun.  After a week filled with doing homework and being completely responisbile and me looking forward to a weekend of the same, I threw caution to the wind and went to the snior countdown casino night.  It turned out to be an amazingly fun night.  I got to hang out with people who I had been friends with for the last four years and had a great time.  There was only one bit of disappointment in the evening….

See at the end of the night there was an audtion and the “money” you made throughout the night you could use to auction with.  Well there was a video camera up for auction.  Lucia, Latera, Sommer and I had the bright idea to try to win it for this class.  After we begged/pleaded/tried to sell off our first born child we came up with the grand total of 1 million 93 thousand “dollars.”  Then the moment came.  The auction for the camera. We bet. We lost. By 5,000 dollarsish.  Now if all the seniors in this class would have came out we would have won the video camera.

It makes me wonder why on this campus is there such a block against school sponsered events?

O well it was by far one of the best nights of the semester.

From Sunday’s New York Times

“A visual artist has his own universe,” Mr. Veggetti said.  “If you want to approach it, you have to underdstand it, first of all, and see how that universe can approach yours.  The art of theatre is an art apart.”

When I tell people from home or in general that I’m a Theatre major normally I get some looks. In my family it seemed kinda natural, Carol (my oldest sister) majored in Art History and Studio Art (I think), Mary in Psychology, Kerri (my cousin) got her masters in voice and Erin (my other cousin) majored in Theatre, Scenic Design. My Grandparents did Stained Glass for a very long time. My Grandma, Mom, and Uncle do beading. Basically my family is slightly artsy in their own special way. Point….searching for the point…. there was one coming up and I can’t remember what it was.

love,
Donna

It worked!

Okay the other thing I wanted to try was uploading an mp3 to my blog but I’m not sure how to do that so we will stick with the youtube for right now..  I really want to use this in my digital story if I can figure out how to make it fit.  Its called Feeling Good by Michael Bublé.

xoxo,
Donna

Hi. Welcome to my blog. I suppose that is what one is supposed to say when they begin a new blog. My name is Donna Weber. Eventually I’ll fill out the “About Me section.” This is my lovely blog for Ideas in Performance. I’m wicked excited about it and I think its going to be a great and enlightening class.

I’m incredibly frustrated with the themes of WordPress. I wanted to use a different picture as my header or change the colors of the layout but after 1.5 hours have given up. This layout will be good for the time being. Hopefully I can figure out out to switch it up a bit. ‘Til then this will work.

I think a nap is in order. Have a lovely day!

xoxo,
Donna