A Return...

So, after 2 months away from my lovely little blogger world, I have returned. For all of you faithful readers (yes, Cherri - here you go!), I apologize for the long absence, but you will understand why...I hope.

I am back in London to finish up my Master's program after being in Odessa, Texas for the past 2 months playing Ophelia in the Southwest Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet (in case you were wondering). It was a rough start for me there. I was a bit lonely after being surrounded constantly by insane drama school students! However, I settled in and, perhaps it was the meteor shower in August that changed it all, I really began to enjoy myself in the Lone Star State. My cast was wonderful (a special shout out to all who are reading this!), I was really proud of the production and the work that I did and the people in West Texas embraced me with open arms. I will never forget that.

During all of this, I had to create my portfolio for my degree. As you recall, the University let me go to America to do this role as substitution for my MA Graduation Project. So, my thesis and my portfolio all had to do with Ophelia. I turned in (TODAY!!!) an enormous binder with all of my work, including my rehearsal diary, essay, DVD's of the production, newspaper articles, photos, script, scene breakdown, word list, fight choreography (yes, I ended up choreographing the armed and unarmed fight sequences because we lost our fight choreographer. go east 15 gold star in stage combat!), schedules and I think that's it. It was a whole heck of a lot of work but I got it done and am thrilled with how it turned out. I worked my butt off along with trying to make this role my own and I think I came out a better actor, student and person for it.

So, I apologize for not updating this on a more regular basis. I was simply swamped. I flew back into London in Saturday morning and it's nice (albeit a little odd) to be here. I saw all of my friends and classmates back at school today and was caught up on all of the gossip from the past month and their projects. I am sad to have missed them. :( We began rehearsing for our Showcase today. It's next Wed., Oct. 3rd at the Criterion Theatre in the West End in London. So exciting! We get about 3 1/2 minutes for a scene with a partner and a group song. That's it. Hopefully, the agents and directors see enough of a glimpse of something they like to talk to you. We shall see! My friend, Miranda, and I are doing a scene from a Maxim Gorky play called Philistines. It's fantastic and we are thrilled to work on it.

One more bit of news...I am returning to Odessa, TX on the 7th of October to take on the role of Ann in Arthur Miller's All My Sons. It is a fantastic part, Cynthia is directing again and many Hamlet-ites are returning. So, it's a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to it. Then it is back to London to make a real go of things. Ah, the uncertainty! ;)

Thanks for catching up and I will write after the Showcase to let you know how it went and wrap up this year. It certainly has been an adventure, thanks for joining me on it...

A parting shot of "Crazy Ophelia!!!" I mean, look at that hair!