Spring Bring-rah rah rah

Spring Break, or the Easter Holidays in the old country, is a time where American people all flood south to soak up some warmth and seaside cocktails. Miami and LA were the most popular choices this year, though others were known to simply go to New Jersey to enjoy a spa. Some even went skydiving.

I went to the Bronx Zoo and have no regrets.

I’ve decided that if I ever come into means of independent wealth, I will buy a house with vast grounds and then purchase a tiger. This tiger will be named Growley and he will be my tiger; my Growley. Anyway, on a more serious note, Tapirs are strange looking animals.

I strongly advise anyone in New York to visit the zoo when they have time; the variety of animals is very impressive. Just be prepared for a lot of walking. And the Madagascar house smells awful and the reptile house *laugh* is out of use at the moment due to the accidental and unintended release of one of the world’s most deadliest cobras. Luckily, the reptilian Houdini has been recovered and all is well. Still…it’s rather hilarious.

Hopefully, everyone enjoyed Spring Break and good luck to the second years graduating at the Majestic Theatre this week–with guest speaker James Lipton, which is rather impressive.

Look out for backstage blogs coming soon   xx

“Can you Breathe?” “No!” “Good.”

So I was in the East Village today, Orchard street to be specific, getting a corset fitted.

This is an experience quite unlike any other. Finding the little store itself was a quest but when I did, I was led into a little dark room in front of a mirror where the lady took one look at me before asking what colour I wanted. I said black. Then, suddenly, she’s tightening a corset around my torso and yanking the laces. It looks good, it will come in useful for school but here’s the truth…

Everything they say in the films is true.

Corsets suck the air out of you and end up giving you a shape God did not mean for you to have. You can’t bend over, you have to sit and walk a certain way and you find yourself speaking in a breathy voice. Your back also starts to ache after a while. But it does look good.

However, this blog is not meant to be about corsets–though that is all anyone at school can talk about right now. This blog is about bucket lists, or lists containing all the things that matter to you. Part of our training is to spend a day completely alone where we must compose a list of everything that is important to us as people. The results of this…crying alone in Central Park. But it does open your eyes to certain things. For example, my pets mean a lot to me. My emotional prep for our Greek tragedy, when I had to imagine the death of my daughter Iphigenia, was picturing my cat being killed. Silly to some people, but not to me.

I’ve learnt that my friends are very important to me. My little urban family, who refuse to let me pay for anything when I go to their pub because they know how broke I am. Who talk long hours about musicals with me. Who always know when something’s wrong and who don’t care that I’m younger than most of them.

I’ve learnt that I’m grateful to my teachers. My acting teacher, whose most recent advice was, “Look in your mirror every morning and say, ‘I’m young, I’m clever, I’m witty and I’m beautiful. I is a badass’.” My movement teacher for turning someone who “couldn’t dance and got kicked out of ballet” into a student who can now do classical and jazz pirouettesas well as the tango, the waltz and now has the ability to hold “the plank” for over a minute without respite. Thank you to VP teacher for casting me in the dream role and to Jim DeMonic for loving Scotland as much as he does.

However, what I learnt most was that I’m really grateful to my parents. In New York, stage parents can be seen everywhere–forcing kids to model, act, sing, dance and enter beauty pageants. My parents never did this to me, I did it to myself. I’m grateful I got a decent education as well as the opportunity to apply to a good university and study English. I’m sorry I didn’t do the safe thing. Though, in my opinion, an English degree is just the same as a drama degree. What do you do with a BA in English?

On a different note, getting a cheap ticket to see Daniel Radcliffe in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” was amazing. That boy is genuinely talented; some one’s obviously trained him hard. His singing, dancing and acting is very strong in this show–go see it if you can, very cheap student rush!

So there’s so much work ahead. Liam, Audrey and I have to choreograph our final dance project under the theme “awakenings” as well as do our blackbird number, where I get to sing and dance at the same time. Both will end up on YouTube. I get to perform Les Mis in a few weeks as well as final acting scenes and then onto exam plays.

And while we may have no money, we have our health. I realised yesterday I haven’t had meat since December. I never thought I could manage being a vegetarian, but I became one without realising it.

Pancake Tuesday and St. Paddy’s on the way.

Go, Web, Go!

So I managed to scrounge and blag my way into two Broadway musicals this month, which is great because I secretly enjoy watching them more than plays but don’t tell the Academy.

It did require waiting outside in the cold at seven in the morning until ten when they opened the box office, and it was $30, but “Spiderman: Turn off the Dark” was certainly worth it. New York loves two things. A failure and an underdog. So while the critics gleefully love to slate a new production during its early days, the public love to see it rise from the criticism and become a sensationalthing to see. And it really was; no wonder they were filming the audience’s reaction because the show is utterly spellbinding. I was sceptical about the music, being a Schwartz, Webber and Les Mis fan, but it was actually very good and worked well with the rest of the piece.

It was also Valentine’s Day and our school created a system of sending “candy-grams” to people. There was the cruel and high-school ish system of posting a list of every one’s names and then marking which people had any. I thought this was horribly unfair until I saw I had two and then thought it was great. But if you can’t be shallow on Valentine’s Day, when can you. And while one candy-gram was anonymous, the other was signed so to this person–who knows who they are–don’t sign the card, that defeats the purpose. But thank you…I’m making you a home-made card in gratitude.

The other show I saw was “The Addams Family” which was also wonderful, Nathan Lane being the fantastic stage actor that he is–I can die now that I’ve seen him in the flesh. However, I can’t afford to see any more shows for sometime on account of (cough) insufficient (ahem) funds.

Hope all had a nice Feb 14th. And remember…Roses are red…violets are blue. Some poems rhyme…

But this one doesn’t.

http://www.youtube.com/user/addamsfamilymusical?v=_BkF-btvKJo&feature=pyv&ad=5362808302&kw=the%20adams%20family%20broadway&utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=The%2BAddams%2BFamily&gclid=CIXKvtHtjacCFaE65QodcB2Udg#p/u/3/ZWRdC-HrgOk

Post Fire

So the fire at school is basically all people have been talking about at AADA. Even though midterms are coming up, every one’s attention is more focused on the fact that the elevator isn’t working.

Greeks have finally arrived in Styles which means no more Commedia Dell’ Arte. So everyone is getting used to walking around in togas fashioned out of bed sheets. More lines to learn by far as well as extra research and the student body all running around NY trying to find the right addition of their play. It saddens me that at a certain book shop, they don’t know the author of “Electra” and once they are told it’s Euripides, they then inquire if it is a play or a novel.

On a more exciting note, Panic at the Disco have finally finished their third album. They’re in New York right now promoting it. This is especiallycool because they’ve never come to Scotland. It’s been six years since the amazing first album so about time for a new one.

Also, I have to let everyone know about Nelly’s Pub, located on 33rd and Madison. My friend Susan works there and it’s newly opened. The brunch menu is great with a range of different international dishes and a free Mimosa or Bloody Mary when you order–even on a Sunday.

And finally, we were assigned duets in Vocal Production. In AADA, this is the class where you record yourself singing and create a little portfolio of songs. I’ve been given “A Little Fall of Rain” from Les Miserables. One of my favourite musicals, so a good piece of motivation to get through the dark midterm days.

Until next time. Enjoy the Super Bowl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loNQBXZalcA

How Was School? The Usual…It Caught Fire

So Monday was interesting for all the AADA students when a real fire broke out within the very old building.

All of Madison Avenue was clogged with fire trucks as they arrived promptly on the scene to deal with the fire that broke out in the basement. The alarm went off while I was in my Acting Styles class, dressed completely as Pulcinella. In opposition to what you are ordered to do during a fire drill, everyone delayed their escape by grabbing all their belongings and then we set out to go downstairs and outside.

It wasn’t until my section and I left the classroom and we could smell burning and smoke that we realised something very real was happening. As well as the smell, students were running in panic down the stairs rather than meandering. Everyone eventually got out and no one appeared to be hurt but we could already hear the sirens approaching the scene. It was pretty exciting and a little bit scary.

All I could think when someone said it had started in the basement was that I hoped it didn’t spread to the library or the costumes. The fire squad arrived and, I kid you not, there were at least seven trucks. They decided the best course of action would be to break the windows in order to get in. Genius, boys. The front door was still working pretty well.

We did make the news…that was pretty cool

http://www.dnainfo.com/20110131/murray-hill-gramercy/fire-breaks-out-at-american-academy-of-dramatic-arts

All Is Well

So when your computer comes down with a deadly virus it does feel like the world is coming to an end all around you.

Dropping off my lap top at the Geek Squad department in Best Buy was like leaving your child in the A & E ward overnight. It was awful and stressful and every other nasty emotion. No Internetaccess and no email access, as well as no way of doing homework, meant that I had four days of complete pain. However, after forking out a ridiculous amount of money, it was healed. Health care for computers is just as expensive here as it is for people, clearly.

Meanwhile, the Fall first year AADA students have all been getting into Commedia Dell’ Arte. This means making masks, sewing costumes and adopting the mannerisms of animals. Do not ask what is happening in this rehearsal; we operate on a strictly private level.

Next week, onto the Greeks!

Home Again

So the blog writing is officially back, after a break.

Many of us have returned from our winter break by now and are reacquainting ourselves with old New York. As the bus from the airport chugged along in New Jersey, my first sight was the New York skyline. I could see Twelfth Avenue, the Empire State Building and the New Yorker Hotel. I didn’t know that the latter was so clear to see on the skyline so it was quite moving to see it on arrival. But I’ll get back to that; first, two weeks in Scotland.

This sight you see before you, readers, is a prime example of the company I used to keep. I don’t really need to say much more, except that I wish I could bring said company with me to New York so that they could keep me amused during the more stressful days. To be fair, this is a slightly misleading picture…this person is actually mentally sound. Most days.

One of the nicest things about where I used to live is it’s right by the Water of Leith, which is especially pretty during the winter. There’s a quietness about this place that New York obviously does not have. It’s a good place to take a walk and plug the earphones in for a while; something I thoroughly enjoyed doing when I was there.

A lot of people don’t see what I see in my cat. She’s never been especially attractive or easy on the eyes and she’s not very friendly. In fact, unless you have food for her, she’s extremely bad-tempered and irritable. But I like to believe that underneath all her hostility lies a gentle and more amicable feline soul.

While being back in Scotland was nice and a decent break from the city, it was great to come back to Manhattan. Nothing really changes in two weeks; everyone is still the same here. However, the city is extremely pretty in the winter–even if this comes at the cost of a bone-chilling temperature everyday. So if any newcomers or oldies are feeling homesick, just grab a friend and go for a walk. That’s what I did on my first night back and I instantly felt loads better. So yes– school is stressful, the to-do list is beyond a joke, we have no money and the weather is freezing.

 But at least it’s New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ACWi-Jm-o

Back to School

At this point, new people are moving into the New Yorker and the winter class at AADA has just arrived. Welcome, to all these people. Though you’ve come at a cold time of the year, the fall classes all hope that you like the school and will enjoy your time there.

However… for the fall class, the first week has already proved a stressful one. Though all the new teachers are great and the new classes exciting, there is so much work to do it is beyond comprehension. Along with this, the books I ordered a month ago have failed to arrive….though the money has cheerfully disappeared from my balance. Fantastic.

But to all new arrivals, go and check out the boards and head on over to some of the social events. They’re especially good at the beginning of a term and an excellent way to meet people as lost and unfamiliar as you.

Hope everyone had a wonderful new year and that 2011 will end up being good, rather than frightening and stressful

Section One

So this is a little overdue, but I did promise I would write a post for the wonderful section one.

 After the first week, we had our first inside joke. Pablo. After this, there was never a dull moment for the fifteen members of the acting class. We’ve seen screaming matches, near fisticuffs, bad language, illness, amazing singing, waltzing, crying, laughing, casual racism and tons and tons of repetition 

So Merry Christmas everyone and a big thank you from me to everyone from section one, for making the first term at AADA an incredible one. You get me?

The Homecoming

So right now, the New Yorker residence is mobbed with people checking out and people dragging their suitcases down to the lobby so as to jump in a cab and leave for the holidays. If I hear one more person complain about the train journey to Connecticut or New Jersey, I’m going to break something. Right now, I’m praying for a Christmas miracle–simply hoping that my flight will go according to plan and that I’ll get on the plane without being maimed or arrested.

I really hate flying.

I’m going to really miss New York and the way it goes all out for Christmas, but hopefully everything will still be there in January. On another quick note, I get a lot of emails and a few comments from people asking about EHS and the school. All I’m allowed to say is that all their information is on their website. By all means, ask students’ opinions but they cannot give advice–only their own experiences. Thank you.

So…one more Christmas bite before the boarding of the plane. Happy moving out/going home day, New Yorkers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpb9EbmvM5M