Contract!!

Got my contract today!!  SQUEAL!!  Yep, its for reals now.

Wow!  Reality is settling in......

One thing I am sure to miss

One thing that I am sure to miss when I leave Chicago is my job at The Chicago Theatre.  I have been working at this theatre for 7 years and everyday is different.  I really love working with the people that I work with. The Theatre itself... well... its AMAZING!!  Built in 1921 and still looking good for almost 90 years old.  Today I had 3 tours and during my break I was sitting in the star dressing room relaxing thinking about all the people who have also sat in this room and so many more who will grace this stage in the years to come.  This truly will be a place I will miss.

Emotions

I knew this adventure would be a roller coaster for/of emotions.  I did not realize that I would feel them all in one day or in a matter of a few minutes.  So far the only emotions I have not felt are anger (and why would I??)  and nervousness (yet to come I know!!).

Tonight I had my final wrap up party with the cast of "Maybe in a Moment". and I started to cry.  It was a happy cry.  But it was a sad cry at the same time.  Yet it was a happy cry... haha (My sisters are rolling their eyes at this point)  During this wrap up party we were asked to fill out a few questions about the entire process, and two questions that started this teary event were "What did you learn about yourself" and "What did you learn about the group".

So what did I learn??
I learned about patience and how I have it, how I dont have it and how I need to express it.  I also learned that yes I can move and be an actor.  From the group I learned so much I could not write it all down.  Everything and anything about mental illnesses, and life living with one.  I was inspired by this one member everyday.  How I could find a connection with the personal stories.  When sharing this with the cast is when I started to feel that sad emotion and then I told the group I was moving.  I got a round of applause!! Which made me more emotional because of the support of the cast.

I will always remember this cast because it was my acting debut and my first professional acting gig!!  Yet, more I will remember this cast for each unique personality that shone so bright when they were on stage.

Two quotes from my inspiring member:
"I went on living despite the struggle"
"Get an Education, It cant be taken away from you"

Where do I start??

You could say this adventure started when I was really young.  But I would rather jump to 2006.  In 2006 I started at Columbia College Chicago in the ASL-English Department.  I was crazy clueless about ASL, Deaf Culture, Interpreting etc.  During my second semester (which now its 2007) I learn about the National Theatre of the Deaf.  Having a BFA in Theatre and wanting to do Theatrical interpreting I thought "wow that would be a cool job".

Jumping ahead- I am reading the Alumni News from The Theatre School, and I read that a student who had just graduated was about to become the President of NTD.  I was SO excited!!  Now its 2009 and I am volunteering at The Deaf Illinois Awards.  At this awards NTD/LTD (National Theatre of the Deaf/Little Theatre of the Deaf) were performing.  AND the current president was at the event.  Towards the end of the event I went up and very nervously introduced myself.  I started the conversation with "You went to DePaul right?"   But because of my nerves I think I spelled DePaul wrong!!  Ha!  We chat for a short time at one point I said I want to work for NTD.  (NOW you see where this is going!!) 

I stayed in contact with the president and finished up my studies at Columbia.  Due to laws in IL graduating and jumping right into an interpreting job is a bit tough.  I was encouraged by an amazing mentor to get involved with a theatre program here in Chicago who were looking to find ways to merge working with their deaf and non deaf clients.  The Theatre Arts Program with Thresholds and Trilogy works with adults who have mental illnesses.  I jumped at the chance and had a crazy 5 months working with this group.  We created a new show called "Maybe in a Moment".  It was filled with personal stories written by the cast, movement and songs.  

In April I received an email from the NTD President asking me to audition for the company!!  I was florid!!  Shortly afterwords I received another email:

I'd like to offer you a position as an actor in our Little Theatre of the Deaf company for this coming season's tour. If you accept the offer, please contact...  

IF I accept??? Sorry but this is a no brainer!!  YES I accept!!  

SO This is where the New Adventures begin!  

In Aug I move out of Chicago back to Mich to my parents home.  From there I move to Connecticut and start the adventure.  I am going to use this blog to write about my adventures and where I am touring and "all that jazz".

I am still in a state of shock and excitement and all the feelings you have when you move into a new adventure.    

Here we go........

Let the Adventures begin!

Welcome to my first Blog.  Welcome to my new adventures.  Welcome.