Stage Makeup!

This semester I happen to be taking a stage makeup class. You know, the general (but extremely fun and creative atmosphere) class where you learn how to make yourself look really good, a different age, gory, an animal, and even a different gender. Well this is fun and all but these general topics (and the fact that halloween is rolling around) have sparked my interest in doing something more. So the past few nights I decided to play around with some different designs (mind you, I still haven't done the practice for the look that is ACTUALLY due yet) but this is good practice anyway. While I was going to so a few tutorial videos, I realized that I forgot the cord for my camera at home. I did the looks anyway. Instead, I took some pictures that I'll post here. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen these already. If you don't follow me on Instagram, you should. @21jockey

Anywho, here are the designs. The first is a snake, the second the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. 

Staying Positive

Many people know me to be a very spunky, outgoing, and all around positive person. I see the good things in life and appreciate the small (and sometimes seemingly unimportant) things. I use each new life experience, whether good or bad, as a lesson. But lately I've been struggling to continue to be my normal, positive self. I've been dealing with catching up on work, sicknesses and deaths in the family, and people who just don't seem to understand. When things like this happen, I get a little down on myself. I start to develop anxiety (I have NEVER had anxiety about anything EVER!) and become very emotional. Near the end of the whole ordeal I realized that there was really nothing more that I could do but to just move on. And I did! The people who were understanding have been absolutely great. The entire thing made me a much stronger person because I learned how to deal with all different types of personalities. Besides STAYING POSITIVE (which is the main point of this post), there was one other thing that I found to be the most important lesson that I've taken away from this.

I have learned how NOT to treat another human being.

I understand that people get tired of excuses but sometimes things just happen. There is no way of preventing that. It's just life. And sometimes, when that happens to a person, you can't turn your back on them. You should try to empathize and work with them. Although it may seem like an inconvenience to you at first, it may make a huge difference in someone's life. I learned this important life lesson because someone who I had looked up to as a role model decided that they didn't have time to try and work with me and it really hurt. I would never want to make anyone feel the way that I felt in this situation. I've decided that from now on, I want to make sure that I don't blow people off. No matter how frustrating someone is, I would rather work with them, talk to them, and see things from their perspective before I make decisions about them. Because sometimes people just need to be shown a little compassion. Especially in a stressful time.

Back to the point of staying positive. The only thing that really kept me sane throughout everything was talking with my parents. I know they are always there for me and I am so grateful for that. Most people don't have parents who support their children like mine do. They are truly saints. I know that I can always call, whether it be during the work day or 3 in the morning. And the whole time, they continued to tell me that I just need to stay positive. It will all work itself out in the end and will eventually be over with. (Actually, that's something they've told me my entire life). And you know what? They were right. It's over. The stress has been lifted and now I can focus on getting things back in order.

Tonight they took me out for an early birthday dinner seeing that I will be gone on my actual birthday (in a week. Yay 19!). Dinner with them would have been enough but they also happened to pick me up a gift. Part of that gift was a ring (which makes this gift even cooler than it is with the meaning behind it because I absolutely love rings). On the ring is engraved the phrase "I promise to STAY POSITIVE". It's a nice little reminder from them of something that has been a huge part of growing up. (I'll put a picture below). I plan to wear this ring all the time and whenever I look at it I will always be reminded of what's really important in life.

"Happiness, that's the great thing. The important thing is to be happy" -Our Town

And the only way to be happy is to remain positive.

Also attached below is a picture taken of me today (after everything was finally over with) and you can just see how relieved and relaxed I look.

-Jackey

The First Weekend of Rehearsals!

This past weekend I had my first set of rehearsals. Let me tell you, this is the most difficult dancing that I have ever done but it is also the most fun I've had in a very long time.

The nice thing about working five and a half hours away from home is the fact that I'm meeting new people. I know almost no one here and it's great! I love making connections and networking. Sure some of my fellow performers and I have mutual friends but for the most part everything is new.

This is also the first time I'm really living away from home. My college is only an hour and fifteen minutes away from my hometown and I have a car so it is fairly east to get home when I need/want to.

I am completely new to this style of dance. Because our show is all about current pop hits, all of the dancing is Hip Hop and a little bit of Latin. I am mostly a tap dancer, I also do ballroom, jazz, and just started contemporary. At least I have a bit of experience with the Latin through the ballroom training. Because Hip Hop is so new to me, it seems very strange (and difficult at times) to move my body in such a different way. I've been really practicing this week though and I feel that I am getting better and better every time. I think this is probably the most intense workout I've ever had as well. I thought Scottish Sword Dancing was hard but this ranks right up there! On the bright side, I'm going to be super fit by the end of the summer!!!

I'm very excited about performing so much this summer, and after experiencing this weekend I already know that I definitely want to be working here at Valleyfair as a gazebo performer again next summer as well! It's a great group of people. The cast of SMASH! contains some of the nicest people I have ever met! Everyone works so hard and wants the best for the show. My bosses are a joy to work for and are always willing to answer questions and help the performers out as much as possible. I love that we work as a team and that we are not in a sort of "dictatorship" as some jobs tend to be.

As a performer, I only work part time until June 1st. So I'm going to use my free time to rehearse and also explore the surrounding area a little bit. I've never really spent much time in Minnesota so this will be a good chance to get to know where I'll be living for the next few months a little better. I've actually only really visited Minnesota twice. The first time was when I was really young to tour with a children's choir. We didn't get to do much 1) because we were touring 2) because we were all pretty young. The second time was in 8th grade for a mission trip. For the majority of that I stayed in a small town where we were working. We stopped at MOA for a short while on the way home but that was really my only experience with it.

If any of you are free this summer you should come visit Valleyfair in Shakopee, MN (which I found out is pronounced SHOCK- OH- PEE not SHACK-OH-PEE darn Wisconsin accents). It's a great place for the whole family. We have roller coasters, water rides (don't forget the swimsuit), live entertainment, and an area for the young ones! If you do come, make sure you stop by the gazebo to see SMASH! (just not on a Thursday. We don't work then).

Hope to see you there!!!

-Jackey

Thoughts on the Boston Marathon Bombing

Wow... I have so many thoughts running through my head about what went on at the Boston Marathon and have no idea how to express them all.

I had heard nothing about the bombings until I had arrived at rehearsal around 6 this evening. I do not own a tv and have been trying to cut down on using social media sites. I heard through word of mouth that something was terrible and that people couldn't believe what went on. After some conversing, emailing, and google searches I had gotten enough information to understand that there was a bombing at the Boston Marathon and it wasn't until later in the evening that I got to watch the videos and view the pictures.

My first thought after reading the articles was, "Oh God, I hope my cousin is alright!"

She was running the marathon for the second time in a row but got pulled off of the course by officials at 25.5 miles due to the explosions. She and her team are alright.

I took the time tonight to finally look at the videos first and then the photos. I literally jumped when the explosion went off in the video. It looked like something that belonged in the war zones overseas.

The photos were the hardest part for me... At first I didn't really want to look at them. I didn't want to look at the tragedy that had been bestowed upon Boston. But after some thinking, I realized that it was something I needed to do. I feel that if I hadn't, I would be in some strange form of denial. I looked at as many as I could find and all I can say is that they sickened me. Pictures of sheer terror, runners and bystanders knocked to the ground, blood strewn across the cement, debris falling from all over, people being rushed away on stretchers, etc. etc. etc.

And for a moment, I had to set my laptop down and cry. Mourn for those involved and for their families. Mourn for our country.

We have hit rock bottom.

How could something like this happen in our country? America, the land of the free. The place where foreigners come for a BETTER LIFE. To escape wars and bombings and violence. The country that makes it a point to not only look out for themselves but for others as well!

My strongest feeling about this entire situation is disappointment.

I am disappointed that our society has come to the point where violence like this is an every day thing. Planes flying into buildings, mass murders of elementary school children, and bombs. How messed up are we? To become so DESENSITIZED to these situations. To say "Oh that's right, there was a bombing today" and then just continue on with our lives like nothing ever happened.


I am also disappointed in the media and their "great" way of diluting EVERYTHING. On Yahoo!'s home page the two biggest headlines were "BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING" and "OZZY OSBORN ADMITS A DRUG RELAPSE" What?! Have we become that superficial? Do we just not care anymore? Are we trying to deny that our world is (excuse my language) going to shit?

Things are happening. We all need to open our eyes and find a solution. We need to stop ignoring things when they don't go our way. It isn't going to magically fix itself!

I think people are too sheltered. Not just because the media and the government glazes things over, but also because we choose to be....

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And in times like this, I look to God. Judge me if you want on my beliefs, I don't care. All I know is that I trust the Lord because He will protect me. Us. All of us. And because of this I am not afraid.

That's what this is all about right? Scaring people?

Pray for Boston. Pray for Boston even if you don't believe because it can't hurt. Keep those people in your heart and stand up for your country whether the threat be from overseas or state side; it doesn't matter because NO ONE has the right to ruin other people's lives like that.

Enjoy your night. Let those you love know it because you never know when things like this will happen. Life is too short to think that you can just do it eventually.

-Jackey

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
~Proverbs 3:5

Resumes?

"Resumes can be..."

That's how I started this post about four days ago. I still don't have a good way to finish off that sentence. But I guess that kind of IS the best way to put it. Resumes, just like monologues, are a pain. They're an absolutely FANTASTIC (and necessary) tool for getting ANY job but they can be crazy as well!

First of all, the hardest thing about resumes is figuring out the perfect format for you. Every acting resume has the same basic structure but the little things you do to it are really what make it your own. While it's great to personalize your resume, you also have to make sure that it stays simple and sleek. If there is too much going on on the page, whoever is reading it will be completely turned off.

The second thing that can be irritating about resumes is remembering to continuously update them. Busy performers know what I'm talking about. You need to keep adding your newest and best roles and getting rid of older less important things. I find that I tend to remember to add things but forget to take others off.

The third actually doesn't really have much to do with the resume itself but more so the program on which it is typed out. I'm not a super tech savvy person so I just use Microsoft Word. I know others use Excel and whatnot but with my tech skills I find Word to be the easiest. Most of the time. Sometimes some strange things happen that I don't know how to fix and that can be very frustrating.

All in all, I actually enjoy building my resume but it definitely does have a few roadblocks.

-Jackey

Monologue Stresses

I think monologues may end up being one of my most reoccurring topics. They are one of the most difficult and time consuming parts of an actors auditioning process.

When it comes to monologues, I end up being kind of a perfectionist. Now, I'm no expert on finding them and whatnot but I do know what I like and I also know what fits into the guidelines that I've been given; and sometimes those two things don't always mesh.

Most of the time, I find a monologue that I think I like and also fits into my guidelines (if you don't know what these are, read my previous post "paperwork, Paperwork, PAPERWORK!") so I start working on it. After a short while, I realize that I actually hate the monologue and decide to throw it away and start over. It's a painful process but on the bright side, when I find something that I really do connect with, it ends up being really quite good.

Currently, I am on the search for 5 monologues. 2 Shakespears, 2 Contemps (dramatic and comedic), and 1 Wildcard (something with a dialect). So far I have two. Ugh! One contemp (which, depending on the way you do it, could be either comedic or dramatic) and a wildcard (southern dialect).

To be perfectly honest, the thought of finding the Shakespeare ones scares me to death!

At this point in my "career" I am a contemporary actor. I do mostly Musical Theatre and some contemporary straight plays. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to do Shakespeare because really I would! I've just never gotten the chance to do any. Therefore, I have no experience with it. The thing that intimidates me is the fact that everybody else in my class has had at least SOME Shakespeare experience. But I will continue to search and try my best because it's always great to try new things. In the long run it will definitely make me a better and more versatile actor.

-Jackey

The Joy of Music

Yesterday the cast of Our Town watched a screening of John McGivern's Around the Corner in the Young Auditorium on the UW Whitewater campus. Why? Well because John is playing the role of The Stage Manager in our production of Our Town. Exciting as that is (believe me, it's pretty darn exciting), that's not what this post is about. This post is about an event that went on before the screening of the show.

While the cast and other audience members were mingling in the lobby, a large group of older men wearing red sweaters started to gather at the front of the room. Nobody really paid them much attention until they all started lining up in a choir formation and a single note was played from a pitch pipe. They started to sing and a crowd slowly gathered in front of them. We stood and watched as they began their first song and the director introduced the group. This group was called The Country Gentlemen and they were a barbershop chorus. Not a quartet. A CHORUS! They were delightful to listen to and the great thing about this particular experience is that it brought the old people and young people together. Everyone was enjoying the performance, I saw smiles from all age groups. I even got to polka with a fellow castmate when the group performed Roll Out the Barrel; which was fantastic because you all know how much I love to polka (and if you don't, lets just say that I absolute love it).

The whole audience had so much fun. I think it is so incredible that music can be such a bond building thing. The college aged cast loved it, the elderly loved it, the middle aged adults loved it, there were even a few young children there who you could tell were also completely enthralled. And even better than that, you could tell that the men performing enjoyed this more than anyone else. They were in their own world while singing and their faces absolutely lit up during the applause.

The fact that music brings people together is just one of the many reasons why I love it.

-Jackey

Also, John's show was awesome and you should all come see Our Town the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of April at the Young Auditorium in Whitewater, WI. Hope to see you there!