Hot, Humid But Smiling In D.C.

Smoke or be cool. I mean, not hot. Yeah. I'm in D.C. Cool is better. (One can smoke outside restaurants  here.) My gosh! It is so hot here!  I am not used to the humidity and my hair is so curly!

I got in to D.C. very late Sunday night. I'm a stage manager, so I had to then unpack and set up my household. I was sitting outside at 5am and saw a bird panting, with a worm in its beak. I thought...what are you doing? It is so early! And then, for the first time realized I was watching the "early bird catching the worm."

D.C. is a wondrous place so far. Walking distance to the offices is a street of old world charm. Walking a very short distance takes me to my rehearsal room. (One melts if one tries to walk much further..)

My apartment is charming. I have a washer and dryer in the unit! Yay!

I started work in earnest today. Still moving a little slowly. I've clearly forgotten what jet lag and humidity can do to one. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to turn dangerously hot. Great!

But oh, I love Shakespeare. And he's dead so he won't be offering any contrary notes to the director!

Yay for new things.

How cool to be in the Capitol when all the world is looking.

I'm gonna try to see my congressman while I'm here.  What the heck! He is Republican but he is still entrusted to represent me. I want to talk to him! (I write him all the time. His name is Buck McKeon.)

Maybe I'm just enchanted to be in charge of a company again. I love actors.

One (actor) just walked my way. He is walking his little fluffy dog named Fang. We chatted for a few. He leaves on Monday. His show closes Sunday. Ah, well... perhaps we'll work together one day.

I found out today my cast is 40! Yikes! They told me 34, forgetting to count the extras. Should be quite interesting and exciting.

More soon... with pictures!

Leaving. I Am A Gypsy.

On my way to D.C. this week. I've packed two boxes, clothes and stage manger stuff. Off they go tomorrow.

I don't want to leave. I want the work but I don't want to leave my home. I don't understand why I can get really good paying work on the other coast but can't get work here. It makes no sense. There are a gazillion stage managers on the East Coast. (And yet they hire me.) There are a million out here on the West Coast. The local theatres bring in East Coast stage managers. We keep trading places. How is that efficient or cost-effective?

Theatre has become too weird. I've finally started hearing from colleagues something I've witnessed for a long time. We are losing work due to age discrimination.

Accept it! It is true. I can get my students jobs nearly everywhere. The theatres want applicants trained by me, but they won't hire me.

I'm doing JULIUS CAESAR. I love this! Can't wait. But, I have to travel across the country! Why can't I do this here?  Do you see what I am saying?

The Dead and The Living.

Flight Of Fancy.

So,

I'm watching streaming Netflix... Star Trek Voyager to be precise, and as I watch all the talent and know-how the crew exhibits in the face of constant disaster I start wondering what I would be able to contribute. I'm a very bright individual but all I really know, after all these years, is how to put on a show.

What if we're stuck circling a singularity? Hmm. This crew person says, "Oh, I'll adjust the dilitheum crystals in the engines and we might be able to reverse the polarity of the tachyon waves." Another crew member says, "That would only work if I reprogram the computer to determine the exact moment of event horizon." A third says, "What if I go out in the shuttle craft and send a beacon into the center looking for intelligence?"

What if the Borg want a war? OOOH! Battle Stations! What would my battle station be?

Hmm.
I could say, "Well, I could put on a show! Maybe CORIOLANUS! Yes. That would show those Borg about right and civil liberties and Republicans! "How about HAMLET? Always inspiring. The Borg and Klingons might like that one.""Maybe QED in light of the singularity problem. At least it about science." "How about MAN OF LA MANCHA or CYRANO to lighten the mood?"

Well. I'd be just about useless. I do know how to type and to create documents and use excel. But I only know how to use excel to make charts of theatrical moves. I can upload pictures. Is that helpful?

I'd have to go to the galley and make food. My pork ribs turned out dry today, but the vegetables and macaroni salad were perfect. I could feed the crew! I can make beds and clean floors, though I'm having a bit of trouble getting up from the floor these days. I can negotiate better working conditions. Really useful in a battle. I can hug and do a limited amount of first aid. But... What I really know is THE THEATRE! Really. Come to the holo-deck and See a Show! (Begs the question.. Are there Actors on a Star Ship?)

Looking for one's real value in the face of high tech or other.. catastrophe!

I know. We will always need theatre if only to examine the choices we've made in each and every emergency. Theatre keeps us human. It does not guarantee survival. Theatre comes later or first but not during.

I should take a look at our earthquake kit.