Managing the shop and my life.

Hello all still with me.  Yes, it has been over two months since my last post and I am sorry.  My hiatus is not because I had nothing to write about but because I haven’t had much time to write.  I have been thinking of you all though....honest.  I feel like it would be rough to try and highlight my entire 2 months away, but I will try and give a couple things to catch you up on my life.

Since my last couple posts I have seem many shows come across my work table, machine, and desk.  Remember 2 months ago we had three operating theatres on any given night.  The last two months of shows consisted of...

·  Keating Theatre:

o Next Fall was running at nights and Closed.

o Under Six and 7Up (Children’s Write a Play piece) were Teched and currently running in the mornings for local schools.

o Jericho (World Premier) was Teched after Next Fall and Currently running at nights.

·  The Goldstein Cabaret Theatre:

o Shake Rattle and Roll was Running and Closed in this space.

o Reel Music Teched and is Currently running 10 shows a week.

·  The Gompertz Theatre:

o The Last Romance was Playing at nights and Closed.

o Sophie Tucker Last of the Red Hot Mammas Teched and opened as a Special Event running 4 weeks (This is the show I recently dressed).

o Shake Rattle and Roll moved to this theatre for a 2 week extension due to its popularity and Closed.

o The Gompertz Theatre went and is currently under renovation and the new theatre wing that will hold one more Cabaret Theatre, a Lab Theatre, a new full time bar and restaurant, new bathrooms, new dressing rooms, etc. is being constructed and set for a soft opening In late July.  The Renovated Gompertz Theatre will hold our Summer # 3 show.

·  Extra shows:

o Our associate director is taking her one women show previously done here at FST on the road to a theatre in New Hampshire for a short special event run.  We prepped all things needed and sent them on a plain with her.

Mind you, as a part of the production team, besides my stitching and dressing duties, I am responsible for helping strike, load in/set, hang/focus lights, etc. to get all these shows up and running.  I have been a busy boy!

Besides that I have been working on my own designed dresses again, managed the costume shop by myself for a week when my supervisor was out of town for conference, booked my trip home to Seattle, Kellogg, and Spokane in the middle-end of July, and turned down FST's offer to stay another year with them.  Yep, that means come September 2, 2012 I am jobless and without a place to live.  Now, the current thought in your head is, "What are you doing after that and where will you be going?".  Correct?  Well, plain and simple....I don't know and nothing is planned.  Yes, am quietly freaking out inside!  AND, YES, that means I will be home soon!!!!!!! July can not come fast enough!!!!!!

Other happenings since my last post:

·  My arm has healed and I have a huge scar on my favorite shoulder (yes I have....had a favorite).

·  I went to the New York Yankees Spring training game against the .

·  I got a gig bartending at the Keating theatre before shows and am making tips on top of my current stipend.

·  Met multiple new casts, designers, directors, etc. and have made more contacts and friends.

·  Been to the beach and a couple pools in town that we break into.

· Have been working on my tan as things continue to warm up here.

·  Am planning my FIRST EVER trip to Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

·  And have been to Joyland Country Dance Hall and am working on my status as a regular.

Also recently I have been missing home and the good old days more.  A year ago this weekend I was sitting with my fellow theatre majors and walking across the stage getting my college degree after 4 years or tests, trials, and hours of hard work and play.  I see how much I miss those people in my life and those moments of exploration.  Don't get me wrong though... I have loved my current times spent and what I have been doing and learning.  I am proud to be a Whitworth Theatre Alum and I am proud of those that have come before me, with me, and after me.  I am honored to be a part of this family.

Well, that’s life.  Nothing wild and crazy, but defiantly a lot of hard work, some play, and memories to boot.  I am currently working on trying to figure out my life come three months from now.  Who knows where I will be and where my boxes will be shipped but I am excited.  I am learning to trust more and just jump.  As I was just finishing up my thoughts here Pandora chose to play this song.  Dream Big by Ryan Shupe & The Rubber Band.  Its words remind me to go for my dream and to see what happens.

I miss you all and hope the start of your summers off well.  I will be better about posting more as my next years plans arrive.  Love you all and blessings!

 P.S. Here are some random pictures from the past 2 months.

Hospital waiting room to get my stitches out.



Kathy and I after closing night.



Orioles team at Spring Training Practice.

 

Yankees warm up for Spring Training Game in Sarasota, FL.



My game view from a $10.00 standing room seat.



Yankees dugout.




As night falls on the game.  Felt like summer in Spokane!

 

Final Score :(  But an amazing time still.



Only in Sarasota do people drive to Super Target like this.



My designers hard at work shopping aStein Mart.



NO ONE should EVER even try to eat this candy bar!

One of my favorite customers to visit my bar. Yes, thats her own over 70 year old hair. Note this is a classy creeper photo.

Lets leave this one at, I motorboated those cougar boobs(Pink top). I didn't even ask, I was just grabbed and pushed into them.  "Totally real" if there was any question!

Anna Marie Island City Pier.

Foundation set for the new Gompertz Wing.

Stitches...no really.

Warning: This post contains a picture of a body wound!!!

For those of you that haven't heard, last night I was able to view the inside of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital ER.  I went for a little visit!  As Sophie Tucker - The Last of The Red Hot Mammas was closing, I was walking Kathy back to the dressing room and that's when it all happened.  I looked back to make eye contact with her mid conversation when I ran my left shoulder into an old fashion wall sconce that lights "Actors Alley" (the hidden walkway to and from the dressing rooms to the stage in the Gompertz Theatre).  I shook it all off and went on with getting Kathy undressed.  I soon found a good sized hole in my arm....this is the point if you don't like cuts you will want to sconce down quickly...

After getting her settled I cleaned  the gash out and continued with a scheduled photo shoot with the actors.  After the photo shoot I texted a couple wound pictures to my two nursing friends asking if they thought I needed stitches.  After they and my mom talked me into it, in fear of a bad scar, I was off to the ER at 12:30 AM.  I was checked into the waiting room and given my name tag....so I wouldn't get lost I was told.

After finally making it back to the hospital room all my info was taken and I was given an updated tetanus shot just to be safe since the lantern I hit was so old.  I was asked to get into a gown (I was so stoked!) and then they saw I was in a sleeveless tee and told me never mind.  So much for for finally getting to live out my dream of walking around the hospital bare assed.  The doctor soon came in to see me and work was started on my arm.  He was super cool and had a great sense of humor...and let me tell you, he had to with all the shit I was giving him trying to be extra happy since some of the nurses weren't.  Yes, I'm that guy that tries to make people happy when they are down....even at 2:30 AM.  I told the doctor,
"I have a weird question."
"Okay, what you got?"
"Well, I work at Florida Studio Theatre and I am the costume intern there.  I sew and stuff for a living and on a regular basis use all sorts of stitches in my work.  Will you be using a certain type of stitch on my arm today?  I mean, are there different kinds of stitches?"
Doctor laughing a bit, "Yeah there are I guess.  There are running stitches, cross stitches and others.  Lets take a look and see what we got here."

After cleaning me up, and numbing the area on my arm,
"Well, on you I am doing a simple interrupted stitch.  I wouldn't try and use this stitch on your wardrobe stuff unless you want things to fall apart."
Me laughing, "Sounds good."

I also decided to be that guy again asking,
"So does this mean I get a sticker for getting my tetanus shot?"
Laughing he said, "Sure."
"LAGIT!"

We both talked about productions showing at FST and what I wanted to be.  We also talked about shows he has seen on Broadway.  He was a great time!  I was coached on my stitch care for the next week and he was off wishing me the best of luck on my career and life.

After being discharged I was walking out and realized I never got my sticker!  I asked the front desk people for one and they looked at me like I was crazy.  Not a thing in the ER huh?  I even asked the valet guy outside if he had any kind of sticker and he laughed at me.  You cant blame a guy for trying right?

‎Long story short: 3 hours in the ER, 1 almost worn hospital gown, 1 updated tetanus shot, 4 stitches (yes I asked the Doc what type of stitch he would be using on me), multiple askings to the nurses/Doc if I was going to get a sticker for being a big boy with my shot, and one self taken photo shoot in the hospital room later I was finally sent home.

Workman's Comp. claims were filed today and FST will be covering my bills I guess. I will make another visit back to the ER in a week when it is time to take out the stitches.  Well, I guess now I can say I have been sent to a ER and Sarasota/Sophie Tucker has left its mark on me forever.

All the buttons and threads that make up my life to date.

Once again, another fail at trying to be good about keep you all up to date.  I have been plenty busy though and have lots to talk about.  January was rounded off well and February came and went with in a flash.  It is amazing to think this week will mark 6 months of living and working here in Florida.  Yep, you better believe that I will be in the office bright and early asking for my 6 month raise come Tuesday. 

Toward the end of January I was finally able to cash in my first ever NHL game experience and watched the Tampa Bay Lighting beat the Washington capitals in over time.  It was great to finally be back ice side since Brett Sports and Spokane Chiefs hockey was such a large part of my life these past 4 winters.  The game was a much faster game and the skating was much cleaner but I will say I still love the rawness of Jr. Hockey.  My first NHL game was a success and hopefully someday I will be able to make another game.  Maybe a trip and a Devils game with my Big Brother…Beers, Bros, and Ice!

 
 

 

In February some of us interns decided that we were tired of going to the same bars time after time and created “Adventure Fridays”.  I will report my favorite thus far was finally going “Joyland Country Club”.  Not quite a “Big Al’s Country Club” like at home but all in all a good time.  Joyland is much more of a line dancing hall as apposed to a country swing hall like Big Al’s.  Since that first visit I have been back for line dance classes.  Talk about a good time. Old people getting down right next to hot girls in short shorts….oh and cheap beer too ($1.00 Red Solo Cup Night anyone)!

I also found the Florida State Fair this past February….yes it was weird to be at the fair in February.  It was not only my first Florida fair but also my first ever state fair.  I didn’t find any Fair Scones like I know from the Washington State Fair but I did find anything and everything possible fried.  Pickles (SO GOOD), every candy bar you could imagine, sticks of butter, and even Kool-Aid (don’t ask me how).  I saw an alligator show and met Landon (small boy that got to go up on stage and play with the gators, watched a lumberjack competition with floating log running, watched the National Elvis Impersonator Competition semifinals,  saw and fed a huge giraffe, saw the bears sponsered by the owner of the Yankees, visited an old fashion town called “Cracker County”, and ate so many fair foods.  It was s full day of people watching and good laughs.  I even got a little sun burnt too.  Talks about “Pauly D. Problems” when I used my apricot face scrub the next morning and my face peeled like crazy (yes that was a season 5 Jersey Shore reference). 

 
 
 
 

  

 

  

 

 

Valentines Day also came and went and I really felt the love this year.  I usually am against forced actions of love on this day each year because I feel like love and special actions should be shown all the time and year round, but this year I gave in.  I sent out a couple small care packages and I was sent special gifts each day of the week until Valentines Day.  Thank you all for your special gifts! 

Weeks ago I went over to

Saint Amends Circle

and visited the 2012 Ferrari Car Show. 

 

Talk about a ton of money parked in one area!  There I even found a car that I wanted to get my nephew Cannon.  I also wanted to share this fun picture set.  This is a car that I really liked and wanted to drive off in.

This was the owner of that car (yes I creepered this picture from a distance).  One, how does she own this car, and can I also own it?

 

At work I have been extremely busy.  In the past month I have helped in the organization and move of FST’s entire costume storage in preparation for our 6.4 million dollar renovation and expansion of the Gompertz’s theatre on campus, I over saw the pull and remount of Sophie Tucker – The Last of the Red Hot Mammas, prepped the next three shows that will be starting/opening in the next 6 weeks, and I have been spending lots of time do my own pattern making with a new system.  I have been working tons of hours and sadly been missing my time spent on the beach, but I really feel like the higher ups here are seeing my work and successes.  Even just this week I was invited to take part in a director/designer concept meeting.  I feel like I was able to give some good ideas and thoughts on the upcoming show.  After the conference call the director asked me if I had any questions or thoughts and I did.  She kept using the word “Iconic” and I brought up that that really stuck with me.  After a good talk about how that could help in the build of this show, and some looking at some of Hoppers paintings the director was really seeing some good things for the show that she didn’t even think of when just on the phone.  I HELPED!!!!!  She was very pleased with me and even asked me to come up with some more ideas and research on iconic looks and we would meet again soon.  HOLY SHIT!!!!

Besides work I have been busy in my personal life too.  I recently have jumped back on the workout world trying to lose some pounds and shape up for Caitlynn and Ben’s wedding in July.  I hope to be under 200 at that point and super tan come that late July weekend.  I have also continued looking into options I have come September when my internship is over.  I hope to be able to go up to New York City come summer and set up a couple meetings with connections of some friends already working on stages there.  All that off work excitement aside, my biggest news to report is the purchase of my New York Yankees Spring Training game against the Baltimore Oriels here in town. 

Last weekend I spent all morning at the Oriels Training Practice and felt right at home like working my last 5 summers at the Avista Stadium with Indians Baseball.  My game is on the 18^th this month and you can bet there will be a post show review. 

Things have been warming up here which is great form my soon to be tan skin.  It has been getting a bit muggy which I am daily assured that will be the usual…in all honestly, I know it will be humid.  I will get use to it already!


What I come home to everyday after work. View from my front yard



My life the next three weeks will consist of work in the shop in the mornings and dressing Miss Kathy Halenda (plays Sophie Tucker) each evening.  The show opened Monday and was paired with FST’s annual fundraising event.  This year the theme was “Hard Hats and Tails” in collaboration with the New Gompertz Theatre construction (one of our two Main Stage theatres).  The donors paid $150.00 a ticket for dinner and the show and then FST hoped to get more out of them.  The night was full of formals and tuxes and was a good time.  

Taken by Sarasota Magazine at Hard Hat and Tails - FST

Everyday here is different in ways and I miss my family at home and on stage but I am doing well.  No worries for this small town kid with big city dreams.  I was even able to watch the DVD of Next to Normal last week and also watched the behind the scenes DVD that was made by Ashley Picciallo (played Natalie).  It was rough and makes me miss them even more but I am glad to here they are all doing well back at home.  Hopefully I can meet up with a couple of them if I make it up to the city this summer.  You have to love how money will be the factor in that.  I am doing well but things are always on the watch you know.  Just days ago I was able to pay off my Whitworth due student loans in full leaving only my one set of federal loans.  It feels so freeing to be finished with one set of loans.  I am grateful for my education and where it is taking me these days.  Today I formally asked for a small stipend raise and was quickly reassured that it was being taken care of and I should soon see my negotiated amount.  Every little bit extra helps.

This all seems a bit of a hog-pog of thoughts but I wanted to catch you all up.  I miss you all!  From the stage left wing of Sophie Tucker, as Paul Harvey would say, “Until next time.”

My life is something "Next to Normal".

Once again I fail at the weekly updates...I am truly sorry for those of you that check this on a regular basis.  A lot has happened in the last month of my life.  I honestly don't know how I am going to dictate it all out on blog so you can understand the happenings of my life, but I am sure going to try.

Shortly after Christmas my mom came down to Florida for the first time ever and visited her baby boy hard at work.  She was here for almost a full week and I tried to cram in everything Floridian possible so she could really get a taste of what I am doing and where I am calling home for the next months.  She saw all three shows that were playing in the theatres here, seeing my show Next to Normal twice, and even sitting in on a studio invited run of the next Cabaret show that opened the week after she left.  Tours of all the stage and studio spaces were taken and my favorite restaurants and hang outs were also visited.  Mom and I even enjoyed a beautiful candle lit sidewalk side dinner outside my favorite simple restaurant...that wouldn’t have happened at home for her in late December due to the cold factor.  The Saturday she was here we visited the weekly street market and bought some fresh produce for the dinner she made for my roomies later that evening.  The guys were stoked to have some good 'ol Mom cooking.  Mom and I shared New Years 2012 together sitting barefoot on the couch drinking a bottle of wine while flipping back and forth between the TV specials.  I couldn’t have asked for anything different in the moment.  Some times simple is best.  On my Monday off Mom and I had a busy day full of the Ringling Museum of Art on the Ringling estate, picking up shells together on both Lido beach and Siesta Key Beach, Lunch at Taiwan Flats (amazing taco place), Saint Armin’s Circle (shopping/craft store central...high scale and low scale), and a sun set dinner at the Salty Dog Restaurant (featured on the Food Network).

 
 
















 














 






















Mom's trip made me once again so grateful for the love that she and I share and I was so glad that she was able to meet the important people in my life in Florida.  While the trip was short, the memories that we had will never be forgotten.  Seeing her face light up with every adventure was my favorite part!

With the beginning of January came the prep and hype of getting ready to close Next to Normal that I and many others had been working on for over 3 months.  Where this time was full of amazing memories and gags causing much laughter, the time was also filled with knowing it was all coming to the end and our lives were about to be anything but normal again.  Trust me when I say I spent many nights the last weeks tearing up for no apparent reason.  The people in the cast had touched my life without me even knowing I am grateful for that. 

With all the packing and "last time" events that the cast and crew shared there was also some networking happening.  YAY!  The most impressive part of all this was that they were asking me for my information to share with others.  Stacia Fernandez (lady in the red dress I have talked about so much), took my resume home to Mama Mia and told me it would be on their wardrobe supervisors desk first thing when she got back to the office.  She also talked to be about how she would be going home and working but also looking for another big gig as a principle.  I was told to be ready because if she got a gig she would be negotiating in her contract that I would be her personal dresser and that I would be getting a call to move to the city and I would stay with her until we found me something.  YIKES!  Leo, the father in the show that I also dressed, also took my resume home and has already passed it on to two people.  Strangely enough, he is best friends with Bobby Pearce (Tony Award Nom. for his 2003 costume design on the Broadway musical Taboo).  Bobby came to see Leo the week before closing and I was told that they talked quite a bit about me and my dressing after the show.  Bobby asked for my information and also told Leo that he would be sending off my resume to the wardrobe supervisor in charge of the revival of Death of a Salesman (previews open in Feb.).  As I was stocked, I knew I wasn’t ready for that so soon and that I wanted to finish some things here in Florida.  Good to know my info is getting out there though and people are talking.  I also have made some great contacts that share my same business and stage morals and I am honored to have people like Scott Guthrie as a reference on my resume.  It was reassuring that I could actually do all this when EACH cast member told me to stay and touch and they would be listening for jobs for me.  It’s not everyday that you are offered a couch to sleep on until you find a place to live in NYC if that’s where you end up.

Good byes were rough and I think I spent closing weekend mostly in tears/a funk.  I was again reminded that theatre is amazing and brings people together unlike anything else can.  A friend mentioned to me at one point that in this profession we will have to say goodbye to more people in our lives/careers than any other profession, but we are also lucky because we will meet so many more amazing people too.  Wow, how true is that!?  Not only did I have to say goodbye to the cast recently, but I had to say goodbye two days later to one of my housemates/a best friends here.  Matt decided to go home as the internship had given him what he wanted and didn’t see much more coming from it.  I support his decision but let me tell you, it sucks on my end.  Life is not the same and the apartment just doesn't feel the same.  I am not good at byes to begin with so these last weeks have been extra rough.  In fact, I went to see a show the other night (since I now have my nights back again) and I should have been sad and crying during most of it.  I had nothing else to give and sat there stone faced but moved. 


Matt and I at the Sports Page Bar.

I have since gotten back to my 9am-6pm schedule in the Costume shop and am working on a couple cool projects.  I have started to learn the Russian dress making system that my boss learned at a NYC dress making school in the 70's.  I have drafted a body block for a size 6 model and will use that along with some learned draping to make three different dresses.  One, a 30's evening dress, another, a 40's cocktail dress, and lastly, a period corset dress.  Pictures of designs soon and pictures of the process as it continues.  I was also recently given my own show to work on.  I was given a long time revival for FST, Sophie Tucker – The Last of the Red Hot Mamas.  It is an inventory pull show for me but I am getting to do all the prep, paperwork, and work on the show.  Learning lots with it and finding that I am pretty good at it (small shoulder brush).

The best part of the show closing is that I get to come home and be a real person cooking dinner, I am getting to go see things at other theatres, and even catching some sporting events.  Tomorrow I will be going to get some $10.00 student rush tickets for Made in America at the Sarasota Ballet (performing at the Asolo Theatre).  ALSO THIS WEEK!!!!!!....I am going to my first NHL game!!!!!  I will be seeing the Tampa Bay Lighting vs. the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night in Tampa.  A friend got me tickets because she knew how much I missed going to hockey every week like I did all through college with the Spokane Chiefs.  SO STOKED!!!!

Life is anything but normal for me but I am learning slowly and in hard ways sometimes that that is okay.  I have learned through working on N2N that there is never a “normal” and something “next to normal” is okay.  It's about the process and living!  I have lunch with a woman that dressed in Broadway for over 10 years next week and I am trying to figure out life after FST.  At this point, I struggle with it all everyday but I try to remember to trust and know there is plan for me...if I could get a copy of that plan though I would be okay with that :)


Next to Normal Cast and Crew - Florida Studio Theatre 2011

I miss home still but am excited about the idea of getting to come home for a short period of time in July for the wedding of two amazing friends....and heck yes I will be sporting the Maid of Honor title (well not really but doing the duties that come with it).

Off to go play in the sun on this day off! :)