Attend the tale of USPA!

This past week I melted and belted in humid Tallahassee Florida at Florida State University. It was an incredible week. So I am now giving a very proud shout-out to all those who were a part of this past week's musical theatre intensive. So enthusiastic, so willing, so thoughtful, so supportive, so hilarious, so successful! If every experience could be so grand!
I look forward to working with all of you again.
SEE THEIR OPENING NUMBER HERE.

ARS NOVA with ADAM GWON

ARS NOVA CONCERT
TONIGHT! Tuesday June 16
8:00pm
more info HERE

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130197-Bahorek_Craig_Doyle_Kazee_and_More_Sing_Songs_by_Adam_Gwon_June_16

"Go to the WOODS!"

INTO THE WOODS

by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera

August 4-9

starring

Tony Winner Beth Leavel as The Witch

fellow University of Michigan alumni

Brynn O'Malley as The Baker's Wife and Hunter Foster as The Baker

Jen Cody as Little Red Ridinghood

and Stanley Bahorek as Jack

Directed by James Brennan

For tickets and more info click HERE

or call 412-456-6666

or visit http://www.pittsburghclo.org/

SEE ROCK CITY

I heart Brad Alexander... 's music. I'd covet him, but he's married to a very great gal. This coming week begins rehearsal for the workshop of this great new show:

SEE ROCK CITY AND OTHER DESTINATIONS

book and lyrics by Adam Mathias
music by Brad Alexander

directed by Jack Cummings III

produced by The Transport Group Theatre

excellent.

South Africa, Cape Town end of Arts Camp

Joy.

South Africa, Cape Town Days 3-5

We had three more days of "arts camp" with the kids.

These kids were awesome. They had auditioned to be a part of the camp - though they were picked mainly based on enthusiasm.

HIGHLIGHT: Courtney and I were in charge of teaching an acting class. On the 2nd or 3rd day we decided to introduce "improv" ... so we had each kid perform an "everyday activity" in front of the rest of the group. Courtney and I had written a variety of these activities on pieces of paper (it was like a simplified version of charades) such as... "tying your shoes," "making your bed," "brushing your teeth," "playing cricket," "riding a bicycle." They loved it - and they got the idea right away. (By the third and fourth day they were eagerly volunteering to improv entire scenes!) But my favorite moment had to be when Bukelwa got up in front of the class, picked his piece of paper, read it... and then did the following.

He drew a big rectangle in the air... then drew two circles at each end of the rectangle... then he squatted... and put his arms out underneath this imaginary rectangular object with circles and grunted as he attempted to pick up this very heavy imaginary object...

Puzzled, I looked to Courtney ... neither one of us could figure out what the hell he was acting out! He did it again... drew the big rectangle... the circles... squatted down... and picked up this ...thing...

Finally, I leaned in to him and said, "what are you doing?"

"I'm taking the bus."

Some things were lost in translation.

HIGHLIGHT: On the final day of the arts camp we began the day with show and tell. Many of the kids loved the opportunity to just get up and sing or dance in front of a group. But the most amazing moment came when Thulie (in the photo she is standing in the group of girls all the way to the left) and Lusanda came up to sing. Together they sang,

"The holy spirit come down on us and Africa will be saved. If you believe in God above then Africa will be saved." Then Lusanda recited a sermon or poem...

"I have a pain..."

Slowly our group of class leaders noticed that Thulie, still humming, was crying.

We all applauded their performance, although I think some of us were applauding their strength.

South Arica, Cape Town Day 2

The first day of classes at the Arts Camp. The center where the classes are being held is great. Guguletu is a township - a mixture of small cinder block houses and shanty-town tin houses. Kids from this township walked in to the JLZwane center. Kids from EVEY township in Cape Town are attending these classes. They are being bussed in by volunteers from everywhere! There were 57 kids there this morning at 9:00 am. Clearly from all walks of life here in Cape Town. We've been told that there are three levels of education here. Private, middle, and government. Some kids are from middle but most are from government - which only goes to a certain grade.
The kids eagerly grabbed their bright blue BSA t-shirts and their orange juice and cereal bars. Then we gathered as a group and introduced ourselves. Some of the kids are only 7 years old! We split everyone in to four groups and seperated into four rooms.
We had the most amazing assistant S'bo --- who promised to help us if there were any behavior issues or any translation issues. Almost all of the kids speak Xhosa (the language with three different kind of mouth clicks). I tried desperately to learn and pronounce each kids' name correctly - but my eagerness didn't translate well.
They all also speak english very well - and perhaps are confused when I can't click their names correctly.
We played all of the improv and acting games we had planned... and then some.
The kids threw away their inhibitions and played with ambandon! It was A BLAST!
They high-fived us! and hugged us when we all got something right! Some of the kids were so excited that they took the games and began to lead them themselves! Suggesting ideas and ways to improvise!
During the final hour of the day Courtney (my co-teacher) and I were leaading the hardest game of all. The game in which everyone closes their eyes and collectively tries to count to ten without having two people say the same number. It is VERY difficult for ADULTS to do. And no class all say had reached ten. Then finally in the last five minutes of the day... TEN. The class went wild.
Exausted we are now headed home to bed. 11:45pm.