tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17463358346821874692024-03-13T23:52:35.216-05:00Jonathan W. GillandJonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-56240961225966374362013-03-31T10:00:00.000-05:002013-03-31T21:47:20.928-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Easter Everyone! New blog coming soon! Keep an eye out for it! :)</span>Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-49705910026826508832013-01-14T17:33:00.000-06:002013-01-14T17:33:54.381-06:00"One Year More..."
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January 14, 2013</div>
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One year ago today I moved to NYC. I know that probably
doesn’t mean much to most people but it means a lot to me. It was a full year
of firsts and a year full of hardships. You have to realize that this year
represents me taking one step closer to following my dreams. Dreams that until
this year were so far off that I didn’t really ever think that they could
possibly come true. Dreams that could come to life and fulfill that deep part
inside of me that longs to perform or dreams that could absolutely fall apart
and shatter all over the floor in front of me. Success or Failure? Both are
possible and becoming more real each and every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m at the point in my life that most people forget to talk
about. I’m no longer in college but I’m not quite an adult. I’m in between
homework and having a legit job. I don’t know if this is normal or if it is due
to being an actor or this crazy economy, but I’m stuck in the middle. I’m not
really moving forward and not really moving backwards. I’m just here trying to
make the best out of life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t get me wrong…I love living in NYC! I know that beyond
a shadow of a doubt I’m exactly where I am suppose to be. I have been
auditioning and started to make some really good contacts. I live in a city
that has so much to offer and I am doing my best to soak up as much of the
culture here as possible. But just living in the city is not enough…I need more
or I need to move on to something else.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I feel like sometimes I’m in a catch 22. Auditioning for
theatre takes a lot of time and money. You need to take audition classes, dance
classes, voice lessons, and acting classes. You need to buy audition clothes
and shoes, current headshots and resumes, sheet music, and pay your union dues.
(A union that continues to let too many touring shows to go out nonunion.) You
have to sell yourself to agents and managers just hoping that they might take
you on, placing a little more hope in your career with someone else in your
corner. All of these things take money and while you so very much wish to be
doing all of these things, you can barely pay for NYC rent as it is. But I hang
in there, hoping that one day my luck will change and I can afford a class or
two and maybe find representation. I stay committed to staying in NYC so that
when the chance finally presents itself, hopefully I can grab it and hold on to
it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I look forward to my second year in NYC, I stay positive
in thinking that I will take another step towards making my dreams a reality.
Success or Failure? No one really knows. Maybe that’s what keeps us on this
crazy rollercoaster…<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-79431345737878326722012-12-31T14:20:00.001-06:002012-12-31T14:20:19.251-06:00"2012: A Year of Personal Growth and Reflection"
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January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ok…so once again I fell behind on the whole blog thing. One
of my resolutions for 2013 is to at least blog once a month. Even if it is only
a sentence or two for that month I want to make sure I stay committed to
keeping family and friends updated with something other than Facebook. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<br />
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So lets play catch up:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacey M and I on the Subway!</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>January:</u></b> I
moved to NYC with 2 suitcases and no money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>February:</u></b>
I found a job with NY Kid Club. I also started my first time through “audition
season” and learned some of the do’s and don’ts of the process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcG3zaQPihlC0bsy7OGVyWrfaUP5TCH7viKQv0J7vaU7gHuAjrywbGYuRst4rPDo0-xMOXIvy_Xjcu-K9p8v8HzLf4HcLaIFY9r-co82olaS6mpCnyJqsO77xO3es-SpY4jBMpZE4rc-G/s1600/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcG3zaQPihlC0bsy7OGVyWrfaUP5TCH7viKQv0J7vaU7gHuAjrywbGYuRst4rPDo0-xMOXIvy_Xjcu-K9p8v8HzLf4HcLaIFY9r-co82olaS6mpCnyJqsO77xO3es-SpY4jBMpZE4rc-G/s200/0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NYC Cast of <i>Guess Who's Coming to Seder</i></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>March:</u></b> I
moved into my first sublet with my friends Jessica Howell and David Brown in
Astoria and love it! I also booked my first theatre gig. I was cast in Guess <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who’s Coming to Seder</i>, a reading of a
new musical that was at the York Theatre.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV_A2HuRf88rPEgzOGiKKPRDietLWEdlEv1PVBQmXw80zzfHVrCiUCnMQWEbF0fEXJZ-UjO_huSHlG9sFOAVnp1P-Cy0QI8mEbup5Uzd-V8Q19MVefMD3kVAsesV-Z1YJ9X0S0AIEvnJS/s1600/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV_A2HuRf88rPEgzOGiKKPRDietLWEdlEv1PVBQmXw80zzfHVrCiUCnMQWEbF0fEXJZ-UjO_huSHlG9sFOAVnp1P-Cy0QI8mEbup5Uzd-V8Q19MVefMD3kVAsesV-Z1YJ9X0S0AIEvnJS/s200/0007.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving on the Subway!</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>April:</u></b> I
subletted my sublet and went to Tulsa to put the first production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guess Who’s Coming to Seder</i> up on its
feet with Tulsa Project Theatre.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>May:</u></b>
Finished up with Seder and came back to NYC.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>June:</u></b> I
had my first “final callback” for Jersey Boys.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQScJgASv07JDocpzJPkZRnDLgAR3dgKK3T4KojGzz09Ih2GfRcvFJhDpexDyCduWWqBH0kCQJC3CQ_qTdBvQIslcD5AD2y_nGKpMyma4VbD_Upx1dO7FzLoIxq7V6pIlKqPbz4cv9knIS/s1600/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQScJgASv07JDocpzJPkZRnDLgAR3dgKK3T4KojGzz09Ih2GfRcvFJhDpexDyCduWWqBH0kCQJC3CQ_qTdBvQIslcD5AD2y_nGKpMyma4VbD_Upx1dO7FzLoIxq7V6pIlKqPbz4cv9knIS/s200/0002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gatlinburg, TN<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>July:</u></b> I joined
my family for vacation in Gatlinburg, TN. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>August:</u></b> I
had my second “final callback” for the Les Miserables tour. I was promoted at
work (NY Kids Club). I made plans to move into a new place in Astoria with some
of my best friends from college. I flew to Dallas, rented a Budget Truck, and
drove all of our stuff to NYC. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHKwTfvZBbUrV58uVix7109jFeG678gbqxytjW49osHrLqmT0SzWwv6R_aWlBunxB1ivG0_jW41m-ReS5BQVgn6QeSeEwuRjJrrKTpMgzrt90H3Qi9Yz2FJZXHk_ZfIEIxHRvi-CNPj0q/s1600/0005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHKwTfvZBbUrV58uVix7109jFeG678gbqxytjW49osHrLqmT0SzWwv6R_aWlBunxB1ivG0_jW41m-ReS5BQVgn6QeSeEwuRjJrrKTpMgzrt90H3Qi9Yz2FJZXHk_ZfIEIxHRvi-CNPj0q/s200/0005.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>September:</u></b>
I moved into my new home in Astoria!!! There was a lot of moving things around
and getting settled into the apartment. With a bittersweet goodbye, my
grandmother went to be with the Lord & Papa and I flew back home to attend
the service and celebrate her life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>October:</u></b>
First Halloween in the city and I celebrated it by going out in Manhattan
dressed as a Power Ranger with Natalie. A visit from Hurricane Sandy made for
an interesting lock in for my roommates and I. We are so very thankful to have
stayed out of Sandy’s destructive path. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALJvmi7S4bKB_0EBaugaNCgr5hmNOO7VTGLVD5AKeupmu4_UDkYIiz4nxXyhNFr9WCWRfVdF1kJz80B2kIpEdKD_sb066ZU8USqjiPi4AVuMUGVGDDIR6mldxl9S0KW7Srl4_6Pax_J12/s1600/0006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALJvmi7S4bKB_0EBaugaNCgr5hmNOO7VTGLVD5AKeupmu4_UDkYIiz4nxXyhNFr9WCWRfVdF1kJz80B2kIpEdKD_sb066ZU8USqjiPi4AVuMUGVGDDIR6mldxl9S0KW7Srl4_6Pax_J12/s200/0006.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>November:</u></b>
Unfortunately my parents had to cancel their trip to the city due to the
destruction of Sandy. Had my first Thanksgiving in NYC with the roommates. GOT
MY FIRST NYC CHRISTMAS TREE!!! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
I also used some of this month to look through my audition material to clean
out and prep new material in anticipation for Audition Season (January through
April).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjqiGCL81CwT1QQe1sdFfQul1L1eAXqX_DvvqtaslEQe4pgVsYXQPJFo3_qC4-41TMMAZjde8UssmE-vK15lUc-OW2eKAyJtfuPBfnwjcmOOLkVUD_nwtGpGjxjN_MwVCe1bf6T2lYzzt/s1600/0004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjqiGCL81CwT1QQe1sdFfQul1L1eAXqX_DvvqtaslEQe4pgVsYXQPJFo3_qC4-41TMMAZjde8UssmE-vK15lUc-OW2eKAyJtfuPBfnwjcmOOLkVUD_nwtGpGjxjN_MwVCe1bf6T2lYzzt/s200/0004.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>December:</u></b>
I my first Christmas season in NYC! I went to the lighting of the Rockefeller
Christmas Tree and saw all of the beautiful window displays in the city. I
visit family and friends in Nashville and Memphis and enjoyed so much southern
food and Christmas cheer…I will be working for the next 6 months to loose the
weight I gained in 7 days… </div>
<br />
2012 was a great year. It wasn’t a year full of much theatre
work but it was a year full of personal growth and reflection. From the
excitement of moving to my dream city to the death of my grandmother, this year
was full of ups and downs. I have realized through all of this that the best
way for me to handle this roller coaster of life is to just be true to myself.
There were times this year that I felt so lost and alone and there were times I
felt so surrounded and supported by friends. I’m not sure what 2013 will hold
for me but I look to God to lead me through it one day at a time. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Despite being the outsider for as long as I can remember, I
look back fondly at my early and involuntary declaration of independence and
realize God often seems to know what he is doing…preparing us perfectly for our
tailor-made journeys that lie ahead. If we can only make it through the
madness, endure the hate, the hurt, the shame and sadness…if we can tolerate
and survive the neglect, the rejection or abuse…we often find that even the
most painful of experiences can prove to be of use. They prepare us, season us,
soften us and make us more compassionate…” -James Alexander Langteaux- </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-65395519188207798002012-03-25T14:13:00.000-05:002012-03-25T14:13:13.893-05:00“Life in New York: An Awakening of my own that is a SMASH!”<div class="MsoNormal">January 16, 2012 to January 26, 2012</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">MY FIRST NYC EQUITY AUDITION: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Just two days after moving to the city, I went on my first EPA (Aka: Equity Principal Audition.) Walking into the audition, which was at Ripley Grier Studios, I felt like I was walking into a slaughterhouse. There were so many people (both Equity and the non-equity people hoping to be seen) and with this being my first Equity audition, I felt to stupid and like everyone who watched me walking in knew just how dump I was to all of this. I put my name on the list and sat down. I didn’t get to the audition super early so I was placed on the alternate list at #28. I started talking with an extremely sweet girl named Kristen and she spent some time explaining to me how everything with Equity worked. She was alternate #18… meaning she was totally going to make it into the audition during the EPA. At first they thought that they would get to me before the time was up for the EPAs but they ended up only getting to #24. Right after the EPA was the ECC (Aka: Equity Chorus Call) so I was bumped to the back of the line that was forming for the ECC… #398. For the ECC, you can sign up one week in advance at the Equity building, which basically starts placing you in line. All those on the list are at the front and all those people that just showed up the day of the audition go to the back of the line…everyone still being Equity that is. Luckily, not everyone that had signed up was there so I was bumped up to #70. I spent most of my waiting time playing games on my phone but soon became bored. I went over my music, talked to some people who also were waiting in the ECC with me, and finally back to the phone. After the phone died, I did some people watching. It is extremely funny to me how bitchy and catty the waiting room can be. I mean, aren’t we all here trying to do the same thing? Shouldn’t we want to be encouraging to each other instead of judgmental and rude? I mean…we all have to start somewhere, right? And with the theatre world being so small, why start being a little bitch now? (…anyway…done with my venting for a little while.)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once I finally got into the room, I had already been waiting for almost seven hours. I was ready to sing, that was for certain. I walked in, sang my 32 bars, had a short conversation with the casting director about my time in Dallas with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spring Awakening</i>, and left. I find it funny that it was a seven-hour wait for a two-minute audition. While ultimately I didn’t get the job, I was happy just to have my first audition out of the way. It was nice to be able to just audition and officially start my journey of auditioning in NYC! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As my auditions went on…I found that the waiting rooms never seem to get any better. I find two or three people that I seem to be able to carry on a nice conversation with while others continue to bitch and act like they are more important than they really are. I have also found that I sort of enjoy auditioning. Even when I don’t get cast, I still enjoy the fact that I sort of have a performance opportunity with each audition. My nerves spike just a little, by hands start to sweat, but then I walk into that room, I start singing and just enjoy being able to belt the shit out of my song. Unlike at home or college where I could just sing wherever and whenever, I don’t really have a place here that I can belt. I don’t have my car, I have roommates and neighbors I shouldn’t disturb, and I don’t want to just belt it out right there on the street…awkward. So I’m doing my best to just enjoy audition. Lord knows that if I stay in this career I’ll be auditioning more than actually working. Lol.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">SMASH:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Courtney Chilton, a friend that graduated with me from TU, has been in the city and audition for musicals, tv, and film for a few months now. Upon my arrival, we met up for drinks and starting talking about life. The audition process, if chartered by yourself, can be a very lonely one. Now that I was in the city, she started giving me some advice on TV extra work and the in’s and out’s of finding them. With a helpful lead from her, I booked my first extra work for a new show on NBC, Smash.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The morning of my first extra work was an extremely early one. While I technically didn’t have to be there until 9AM, I wanted to make sure I was early. You see there is a little rule that we go by in the theatre: “Being 15 minutes early is being on time. Showing up at the start time means you’re late.” Since I was already leaving at 7AM and I wasn’t sure of where I was going, I had to be up at 5:45 to get prepped and ready for the shoot. I arrived about thirty minutes early, checked in with appropriate people, and had a seat to wait for further instructions. The first thing they had me do was check in with wardrobe. They had asked us to bring several options so I had two different outfits for them to choose from. They said that they didn’t have a lot of the guys in much color so they placed me in a purple, polo button down and a yellow tie that Jeffrey let me borrow. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I waited, I started up a conversation with a guy who just moved into town as well and who looked just as lost and confused as me. David went to Michigan and moved to the city for musical theatre. He moved from Vegas where he just finished a run with the hit musical Jersey Boys. We talked for a good thirty minutes or so about life and how we were both adjusting to the city.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The lady in charge came out to welcome us and give us a few “Golden Rules” about being an extra as well as some explanations of some filming lingo. Thank God she was helping us out a little! I mean, most of them are common since but you take help from wherever and whoever seems to be giving it freely. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The 5 Golden Rules of Extra Work:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No talking on the set.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cell Phones must be off or on silent. No cell phone should be pulled out and/or seen on set.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do NOT fall asleep on the set.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In case of an emergency, talk only to the person in charge of the extras. Do not go to anyone else!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Do not ask when the wrap will be. You will be told when the wrap happens and not a minute before. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Filming Vocabulary 101:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rolling: They Start Filming<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Background: When the extras should start their business/action. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Action: When the principals start their business/action.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cut: Filming Stops, Actors stop, you don’t say anything, and wait for the next direction.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reset: Go back to the start of the section you are filming.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After our little session on rules and vocab, we were walked to the set. Located only a few blocks from our location, we where in Vinegar Hill (in Brooklyn) at a very nice bar. While David and I were trying to stay together so we could keep talking and actually sort of know someone else during the process, we were separated during the placement process as they placed us on set. The bar had two levels and while he was on the first, I was on the second. This business can be so lonely. I felt sort of like how I felt while at the Spring Awakening audition. None of my friends are here to share this with. Nobody to sit in the waiting rooms with me and “shoot the shit with.” But I guess that is just all part of it. I knew moving here that I was one of the first from my year heading this direction and parts of this journey would be lonely. I guess I just need to find better ways of passing my time. Being on the second level also meant that more than likely I wouldn’t really been seen that much. UGH! First exciting extra work and I would either not make the shoot or be thrown on the cutting room floor.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once on the set, they announced that today I would be on set with Katharine Mcphee and Uma Thurman! Uma Thurman? Now, I’m sure that those of you who have been keeping up with the show are a little confused. How could Uma be on here and what was her character? I guess that’s just one of the plot twists yet to come in the show! Our time on set was just a lot of hurrying up and waiting. You just find ways to pass the time…without your cell phone (Don’t forget out the 2<sup>nd</sup> golden rule!).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At lunchtime, there was a feast!! Is this for real? Is this normal? If so, I want to do more extra work! Mom and Dad don’t worry!! Smash is feeding me extremely well. Lol. From salad to steak, there were a lot of options and a lot to go around. While of course I, along with the rest of those that weren’t union with a TV or Film union like SAG or AFTRA, had to wait and go last in the line, there was still plenty of food to go around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After lunch we sat around for several hours waiting on the crew to get back and get ready for us to be back on set. During this time, I realized that everyone should be prepared for situations like this. In general you should have some sort of audition bag that includes a good book, gum, audition material, headshot and resume, a writing pad, a black or blue pen and a pencil, chapstick, a water bottle, a power bar, and possibly a magazine to go back and forth with between the book. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once we got back on set, we recorded a few more shots that they missed the first time around. They moved on to another space over by the bar and pulled a few people over for specific action while the rest of us just sat by doing nothing. Once I had finally given up on actually having a chance to be seen in the episode and became satisfied enough with just getting a paycheck, they moved to the dance floor in the bar where I was chosen to help. Unless they completely cut this shot, I should totally make it into the episode. I am standing right behind Katherine Mcphee and Uma is within my arm reach. It was so weird to be that close to these people. I mean, I knew that I would see people on set but never would I have imagined that I would be this close. This ten-minute shoot was totally worth the other 9 hours of sitting around, shooting, and waiting. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the end, it was a great day and a wonderful experience. I hope to do more in the future! While they are extremely long days, the pay isn’t too terrible.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">***Please tune in with me to see if I actually make it into the episode! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> It will be Episode 12 and should run sometime in May. Stay tuned and I’ll let you know exactly what date as soon as I know! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">PERSON OF INTEREST:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">After working for the casting company that hired me for Smash, they also hired me for extra work on Person of Interest. I have never seen this show in my life and apparently it is my father’s new favorite show of the season. I find that sort of funny that I ended up working on the set of it while not knowing it and my father loving it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One really interesting thing about working this gig was meeting a guy there who was also from Tennessee. While we were pulling out our Drivers Licenses for paper work, he noticed that I was from Tennessee and explained that he was from Nashville. We sat talking about how he just moved here as well, life in the city, and of course the south. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Overall, it was a very chill day that was very organized. I only spent five hours on set and was paid for ten…that’s always a good thing! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Person of Interest</i> has already run. It was <u>Episode 16: Risk</u>. I only found out that it ran because I had a friend’s mother from Memphis actually message me to tell me that she saw me. It is very quick and during the fight scene, but you can see me for a hot second. <o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-4621577484055106842012-03-25T13:25:00.001-05:002012-03-25T13:28:53.187-05:00“…If I Can Make It Here…”January 14, 2012 to February 14, 2012<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">WOW! I can’t believe that I have already been here for a month! It seems like just last week I arrived in the city. But looking back over this past month, I’ve already had a lot of amazing opportunities and I wanted to share a few with you now.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On my arrival to the city, I moved in with Jeffrey and his wonderful roommates Liz and Avery in Brooklyn. They live by the Parkside stop on the Q train. They have generously allowed me to stay on the couch for the past few weeks while auditioning, job hunting, and apartment searching. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Audition wise, I’ve only hit up a couple of auditions here and there. While I of course want to audition and work towards something I actually have a degree in, I also needed something at the moment that is stable and allow me to pay the rent in order for me to stay in New York. While here, I’ve auditioned for several shows for all over the country including Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde, and Book of Mormon. Also in the performance realm and as many of you know, I’ve also had the opportunities to do some extra work on Smash, Person of Interest, and a couple of audience pieces. (More to come on these experiences in my next blog)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Concerning a job, it has taken me a while to find something…really anything. I applied at over forty places, walking up and down the streets of NYC and stopping in whatever stores that were hiring…that is a retail store. I decided that since I really wanted to enjoy my time in the city, I didn’t really want to wait tables. So at first, I was looking for anything besides the food industry. Unfortunately for me, most stores weren’t hiring until late February or March since most where currently still letting go of their new holiday hires. Finally, after two weeks of searching, I finally heard back from NY Kids Club, a premier children enrichment center renowned for creative and innovative kids classes, day camps, birthday celebrations, and special events. I went through training with the company and have become a part of their Special Events Team. It means that I am only really working Fridays at 3pm to Sunday at 6am. This is a great job where I get to work with children, only work on the weekends, and allows me time to still audition during the week. The NY Kids Club also guarantees me work when I come back to the city if I get a theatre job that needs me to leave the city for a few weeks/months. It is a great job! Now I just need to work my up in the ranks so that I can become a more permanent part of the team and get more hours. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Apartment wise, my findings were similar to that of my job hunt. Looking for an apartment that met what I wanted out of a place was difficult to find. Not only was I looking for a place for myself, I was also looking for a place that I could share with Cynthia, a friend from TU that is moving here in March. In looking for a place, I just wanted something that had a good and safe location, that had enough space for the two of us, and that wouldn’t break my bank account each month. I realized very quickly into my search that I could only have two of the three!! My ideal situation would be something that I could sublet for 6 to 10 months, wouldn’t be more than $800 a month (including all utilities), and enough space for Cynthia and I not to kill each other. Lol. After about 3 weeks of searching, sending about a hundred emails to different sublets, and actually going to see 4 or 5 potential places, my friend Jessica called telling me that she had a room opening up at her place March 1<sup>st</sup>. You may remember me talking about Jessica during my Seussical blog. She went to TU but graduated before I got there. She and her fiancé, David, were looking for someone to start renting one bedroom in their three bedroom apartment starting March 1<sup>st</sup>. And, to add to this already amazing opportunity, they need someone else to start renting in April since their other roommate will be leaving then. That extra room is perfect for Cythia!!! Why Cynthia’s original plan was to move here in March, the new opportunity sort of forced her to wait until April instead. That just gives her more time to allow herself time to prep for the big apple. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Job: Check. Housing: Check. Now I just have to wait for March 1<sup>st</sup> to move in and continue to audition…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S14yEmtToye7scFB4gs8wmIwkqiJVnGeKS0vHckdiPZT3s1fcj5OPu4iNJo7JjMQqwj7cai4S-jpOTmPab9QMKMwizrayw3y3lTRXTGy6y05ZtxC-2cHzm5_LGk7A_ojHD9w2hKIa7MF/s1600/428162_2629628427185_1449570055_32045889_1113668714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S14yEmtToye7scFB4gs8wmIwkqiJVnGeKS0vHckdiPZT3s1fcj5OPu4iNJo7JjMQqwj7cai4S-jpOTmPab9QMKMwizrayw3y3lTRXTGy6y05ZtxC-2cHzm5_LGk7A_ojHD9w2hKIa7MF/s400/428162_2629628427185_1449570055_32045889_1113668714_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-36981176960745862182012-01-11T01:52:00.000-06:002012-01-11T01:57:39.665-06:00The One with the Big Move<div style="text-align: left;">January 11, 2012</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p>MOVING TO NYC!!! </p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UMvmSFKAHpS0xAx_puKf-aZRTQM1g5qmyGp3-sdrIQE2Zpav7oV4fp2tiXxPBUIdIWDYYGuna7jX_s-C4NzJZfhsh5hyphenhyphenJiI7oNNUElvd_U_McZaGTqyxtyuWVwEvnXZ4PstO6QiVyVb5/s400/silbermann-henri-brooklyn-bridge-4800186.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696280183807206514" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Is this real life? Have I finally gone crazy? Am I seriously moving to the city? Yep! I’ve lost it. Moving to the city with no money, no job, and no place to stay.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>I have made arrangements for the next few weeks to couch surf with some friends. I will officially be in the city as of Saturday, January 14. My plan at the moment is to get to the city, find a day job, determine how much rent I can afford, and find a place! My goal really isn’t to go up and there and land a Broadway show. While of course that would be nice, my goal is just to make a living in the city.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>Here’s the deal: I’m at a crossroad. I don’t have another theatre job on the horizon so its time to find a day job. I can’t move back to Memphis since there aren’t really many theatre jobs that I can do. I don’t want to move back to Dallas since I would just go back to my waiting job at the country club job and I can wait tables just as well in the city as I can in Dallas. So ready or not, here I go. Taking that big step. I am finally leaving the south and my sweet tea behind and trading it in for the big city.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>A very close friend shared a wonderful quote with me the other day that I loved. George Bernard Shaw said “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” I’m ready to ask that question. “Why not?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>“Oh the places you’ll go…”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-28714497286704325572012-01-11T01:35:00.000-06:002012-01-11T09:32:02.287-06:00The One With “The One With…”Dec 29 to Jan 2<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3zzOjUX7lJKWapbd42EDeg7su23vf8ll9H_-mR3Lu_q4m93Tk-KJ2AflfEjX7aHseBheJi9i_4tGComHSEtiCKSlkyI5pkxUR6-Yxj2jua-oq3tu8rQc5woN4E2Vume9hxQaC4UxOOoQ/s320/390716_2559140454915_1840781325_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696276100862474450" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Finally it was time to head to Chicago!!!! For the past few weeks, my friends and I had been planning this reunion of friends in Chicago for New Years and the time had finally come! Lynden and I started our trip at 1am on the 29! We drove through the night to meet up with Emily, Alixe, and Sean in St. Louis. With the help of Red Bull and our Chicago belting mix, we made it into St. Louis all hyped up and ready to go Chicago! With a change of cars and adding a few people to our mix, we were on the way to CHICAGO for NEW YEARS!!! In Chicago we met up with Helen and Daniel at one of Emily’s favorite bars that she had found while working there over the past summer. After lunch we spent a little time shopping and then were off to Helen’s for dinner and to meet up with Natalie! Dinner was wonderful! Helen’s mom is a wonderful cook and an amazing host! After dinner and drinks, Lynden and I headed into the city by train for a good night at the clubs…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5bIfwc-PHoBbNK2OFynrF6kbpI9dZRv6yHlFWo3FnhQATBBI76BXwf8kgfKh_hB3bi3a55zVFEv6pizR_bnQj3VkC9t9TrpdGAqpGn5WlUIf38GPbz9pFRTMrNEFhQk86WJ_3MQEf3Ea/s320/392150_2478969456554_1322040109_32411933_1698288613_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696276103878056482" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>New Years Eve we spent in the city. With Helen as our host I knew we were going to get the inside scoop on the city! With sights like the Chicago Bean and seeing the view from the top of the John Hancock building, we were doing Chicago the right way!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Since we were trying to save as much money as possible, we all stayed in one hotel room. There were two double beds, one fold out couch, and my air mattress that I had brought from home. I figured this would be a good test for my mattress since it was more than likely going to be my bed in NYC for several weeks! Lol. Getting ready was actually a lot of fun. So many friends in such a small space calls for only one thing: Lots of alcohol! The club we went to that night was called Excalibur and was only a few blocks from hotel. And so the night began… <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIR_cCRVZFUf5DT7Q9mZbD9XzSJ80p6H7lZywdaISyg1yDKL-htLkaiTeAAiYnETTKLAqycKl_JcUeawzwllZfKJFA45Ry0pC0j7glLBN3N74CSVHuuRO49mKF83vcNH64knNY-oHHYXN/s320/403658_2559124334512_1146120021_32235721_222141498_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696276129302691618" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We decided that our Chicago trip was like a Vegas Trip: What happened in Chicago stays in Chicago. I will only share a couple of stories that I feel like I can share in good humor with no harm meant to anyone. More than likely they won’t be that funny except to a select few…<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">* “Hey, remember the time that Natalie fell asleep before New Years?” lol<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">* “Hey, remember the time that Katie threw up in McDonalds?” BAHAHA! Good times! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The only other part that I will share is after some drama went down, drinks were finished, McDonald’s trip was completed, Natalie was sleeping, and Katie was asleep on the floor in the bathroom, Alixe walked into the room and told us that we had to name this trip. We had to start it with “The One with…” like all of the titles from Friends. You see, we have decided that our group of friends (like I’m sure half of the rest of the world has as well) will be like the TV show. We’ve given everyone their character type and have even started naming some of our episodes. This one would of course be a season finale with a cliffhanger. Good times! <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> It would also be in two parts: “The One With the RedBull” and “The One with the Domestic Abuse”.<o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKNM0yNSlMmb89j3rEiovAO4aIFhLrFkjqBPR3G8Q4vLLrrhTppsKCDYOYMA2M_UIMnS-U9-Kiy2oeLyCMPcrFDuv3f9fsMtw5bF2qmld5_07oCWUOsLoZYiYDy1utxpCyLApTMIgii-T/s320/378742_2467881385667_1511280430_32235010_990165993_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696276094911822242" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The next morning we pack up our bags, said our goodbyes, and those in our van headed back St. Louis. That night we had some amazing St. Louis pizza and did a power hour to season one of Modern Family. We have also decided that we need more power hours in our lives but it is a bit difficult since we all live all over the place now. We now will be doing power hours with each other over SKYPE! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> This is what I love about my friends. That it really doesn’t take that much to enjoy each other. We don’t have to do something big, we don’t have to go do something special, we just enjoy being with each other. While yes we fight sometimes, you fight with family. And that’s exactly what we are: family. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Lynden and I headed back to Memphis and that concluded our crazy Chicago trip!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After this trip and this blog, I’ve decided that all my blogs this year will start with “The One With…” My life hopefully will be a bit like Friends…lol<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-12340197132368029292012-01-11T01:10:00.000-06:002012-01-11T01:21:44.777-06:00From Angsty Teen to Dr. Seuss!Nov 11 to Dec 28<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIZUc3Bl9aNG9CLbsuuYtXfN-doMDqMg6QIGg53nNhfSZ8aTzGWGpDD1ZG1bzMFN0o6O3RRqpmjtosV5Mgk1vYw5Xn5u59VsQdvGSz_SxC-q7R2iow9W0zwjaliwByCAO2jBV71QQo0bs/s400/386964_306472892705720_100000290353467_1190884_1696519135_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696270495862077810" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Seussical the Musical was a huge change of pace! From dead sons and people walking out of a show due to the gays kissing to Dr. Seuss and children, it was a completely different world I was now living in. It was fun to play an over the top character where I could finally put my extremely large eyebrows to good use with all the different facial expressions. Lol.</p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiNL1zn882qpBm_K3kdASMc3ym0FEI45DDF0ZkgnWDxr59UpcJVjVgv_XtSnWtlf0Rbt15ip2pXwSZW6tUVyARSJN7PhWh-zpy7SFC_c_sB25EgPXFBP1mbYJAXtGuWCpPUDPFzfX4oHh/s400/385422_1479967286322_1447980098_31155137_1165817044_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696270471805309762" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It was nice to come back to Tulsa towards the end of the school semester. I was able to spend some time with the Pikes as well as the theatre kids! I was able to do my Christmas tradition with Sean and Alixe of decorating the Christmas tree and sleeping beneath it (And of course we missed the bestie!). Overall, it was very nice to come back to Tulsa. Best of all, I got to meet some amazing new people! Jenny Guy and Jessica Lauren-Howell, two alumni from Tulsa who graduated before I got to TU, we just of few of the amazing new people I got to spend time with. Jessica, who I spend a little time with in Rocky, <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>and I had an amazing time and spent our days searching for the best Margarita in Tulsa. We decided after several weeks of testing, El Tequila won! We celebrated this discovery by going back on night with some friends and each having a pitcher of the amazing drink! SO GOOD! SO DRUNK! Haha! We spent days painting, watching Lord of the Rings, and just had an overall good time in Tulsa.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0DD1MizBTZpHNEmBom28Z2s5rVXlUH9sQiWvTT3BrmD-a0CBxTNN5ou10fRFryHfRCql2SFP_sijEjvE0WelsjYSwc0FP8i9ZpxKTyYePBADWQpJWxl2e7hw9mVWLGI5HmsGGcDz6n8Q/s400/377006_323262544360088_100000290353467_1244316_858932940_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696270467246636114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>With the show running so close to Christmas, it was sort of sad to not be at home with the family doing all the normal Christmas traditions. I realized though that this was probably a new way of life for me. With me planning to move to NYC soon, each Christmas would be different based on work or money. I wouldn’t be able to spend as much time at home for the holidays as I had in the past years. Now that my breaks weren’t scheduled around school breaks, I had to work around work. At least I had work!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>December 24, 2011 12:01 AM: First day since graduation without a theatre job… Officially Unemployed. Lol.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfhdPYfGEqi4VmA8wjOKS4vUIJH0mrkai4jD4f8TrjGT00FajAfC_OqzopA8cVsNi0xUKDvr_3M_xM9oKteY206-4ZDkQNcJn5ypRjxIa4k7-gkI5nNaXH7DP5Jio07JZ48Hdn7Wa9F0p/s400/DSC_0624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696270500606132882" /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>On Christmas Eve I woke up early to drive home. Over the next few days I spent relaxing time with family. With all the time spent away from home this year, it was nice to not have anything planned and just enjoy the time at home. Plus, with a 10 month old crawling all over the floor at Christmas, there was never a dull moment! As I said earlier, while this wasn’t a traditional Christmas, it was still a great one!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-32576713582917796842012-01-11T00:54:00.000-06:002012-01-11T00:59:24.878-06:00Rocky is just a bit Rocky...<div style="text-align: left;">Oct 24 to Oct 29</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>Less than 24 hours after our final show of Spring Awakening, I had to head to Tulsa for my next show. Leaving Dallas was tough. Leaving Erica behind was extremely difficult. Dallas was a wonderful city that I loved living in for the past 6 months. It was safe. It was fun. I had made so many great friends and once again I had to leave a place behind a move on. I hope it gets easier with time…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzyF0bczQY82h2OJ6DVfXgL4-lA6UXxpotOFofggwhCxff9TcxQ1zoFw64_c6Tst69i6U_4EDpJFq3vakYoMbLs2Ieukf9aX9mEHNAkdV2PW92tFitl97hrj41VU3bhHm_3-nlPzhHLSa/s400/392763_291880447498298_100000290353467_1136406_538485291_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696265410651339202" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My next job was a fundraiser for Tulsa Project Theatre. They were doing select songs and dance numbers from Rocky Horror Picture Show and I was playing Riff Raff. (Which is funny for a whole lot of reasons. Lol) It was nice to finally be a part of the Rocky Horror tradition in Tulsa! With Chad playing Frank, you knew the show would be amazing! I was also able to finally perform with amazing people like Claire Kifer Morris, Rebecca Ungerman, and Jessica Lauren-Howell! It was also nice be sharing the stage again with one of my best friends, Sean! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>While I enjoyed the actual performance of the fundraiser, the rehearsals were rough including the director being fired from the production. It was ugly, it was putting us all on edge, but, in the end, the show went off well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>By the time the show’s end came, I was ready to head to Memphis for a few weeks to relax. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-42888908609762357922012-01-11T00:36:00.000-06:002012-01-11T00:48:15.156-06:00“Whether in the summer, fall, or winter of our lives, we always remember our Spring Awakening…”<div style="text-align: left;">Aug 18 to Oct 23:</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZezkRm4nJpxKMQ1MtyQMf-mg-Q_CxHGBA8MNs257vg-4eBjfBDlCs_eHexR_vGOpYlTeIbUhzk8x9ZVaEBaJCETProdiSUtlPOa4dPGYR9oX06bF97HhrLHUl8_w7T-e-woPpRgl_cbNU/s400/6334634879_eed4dc7b1b_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696262465121740066" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On the way back to Dallas I decided to swing back through Tulsa. Most of my friends had already made it back to school for Greek stuff and I figured I could drink with them as they were getting ready to start back. And drink we did! It was nice to be back with the guys again. Dustin and Tommy were starting back for their final semester while Conner and Pool were in Tulsa starting their real jobs. I didn’t really know when I would get to see everyone next so I tried to spend as much possible time chilling as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After a few fun days in Tulsa, it was time to go back to work in Dallas.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I first started back at the country club. I figured two weeks to get back into the groove with them would be nice. I wanted to have my schedule down by the time it came to start up with rehearsals. I also wanted to start working out a little to get prepped for the nudity scene in the show…we still weren’t sure if we were going to have to do it or not (that was she said…you are welcome for that).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Erica called me when I got back in town and we started talking about life and my plan to workout. She told me she was starting a new program and that I should join her. Little did I know that for the next two months, I would be going over to Erica’s house every morning to workout with her. It was actually fun to do it together (that was she said…wow, again. I’m on a roll!!).<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></p><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkzfEEVdEToRXqCd2k3l2iF1WMgp19sO3ifiVMlKazbDhSLb4MxsreqfRcEKihZ9INZ03wCx_6HqwfDCjrh3tepW395dvuSZxIXUAuMnHY8bZIIiWMAPGHFaRyLzCP9UErdIwnHV_NR43/s320/311240_678992167533_44205522_35260496_139931959_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696261503946100930" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A few days before the first rehearsal we had a photo call: Erica (playing Wendla), Adam (playing Mortiz) and I (playing Melchior). The three of us had a “magical” moment in callbacks that we later found out is what got us cast in the roles. As we were singing through “Those You’ve Known”, we all three synced together and just found it. It was this incredible experience and we all three knew the exact moment it happened. This was the first time since callbacks that we had all been together. As Erica and I started with the first photo, the awkwardness setting in. She was on her back and I was leaning over her with our faces about 4 inches away from each other…and I couldn’t stop laughing. While our relationship had started with making out as Natalie and Henry, we had grown past that and very much into Erica and Jonathan. Now as Wendla and Melchior, I was having trouble finding the romantic/physical part of this already blurry relationship. Lol. Was this how it was going to be? Was I going to laugh every time we got close to kissing? If so, I was going to be in a lot of trouble come rehearsal time. Obviously…I got over that. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A few weeks before rehearsals started, I received an email from the director about WaterTower giving me my equity card with this show. Holy shit! “What?! My what card? Equity? You have got to be kidding me! But I’m only 4 months out of college! This has to be way too soon! And me? Why not someone else in the show? It was too soon. I was too young. It wasn’t suppose to happen like this. I wasn’t supposed to even think about that card for at least another year…or two! Now? What was I going to do?” (I know this is a lot of rambling but this is literally how my brain felt for about two months!) I talked to a lot of people about this decision and in the end I decided to take it. I can remember the moment I made up my mind. Erica and I were in the car coming back from a show that we had seen in Arlington, and we were talking about the card. I was telling her my pros and cons and finally she looked at me and told me to take it. </p><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She said if I really needed to, I could drop it and pick it back up later, but that for now, it was the right move. When I got to the first rehearsal a few days later my heart was pounding. I was so nervous about this. The stage manager handed me the equity contract and my mind would not stop running all over the place! “Really?! Now?! Are you sure? But what about this…or that…or”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>…and I signed it. Jonathan Walker Gilland. No going back now. I was officially now an equity actor. I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing…I’m still trying to figure that out. Lol.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>Less than a week into rehearsals the summer became fall…meaning all of the Texas allergies started up. Being the only person in the cast not from Dallas, I took to them really badly. And of course my voice was one of the first things to go. I took several days on vocal rest and work through the allergies. Looking back, I’m glad it happened to me when it did. It made me learn to deal with them throughout the run and to not get behind on my allergy medicine so I could be in the best health I could be every day!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>This show was so much fun to do. I mean, who doesn’t want to sing<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Bitch of Living” and “Totally Fucked” on the stage? I sure as hell want to! This role was definitely a dream role of mine. To play a character that challenges the beliefs of his society and asks people to think with an open mind is truly amazing. It is eye opening to see how a society can turn on someone because he is different, because he actually uses his knowledge of life to challenge society beliefs instead of just believing them because he was told so, and because he doesn’t sit quietly in the back pew while ignorance is being spread around him. This role taught me to be me no matter what anyone else says. It taught me to be strong in who I am and believe in what I’m doing. I am to stand strong so that others may see my strength and be strengthened through me. It told me it was time to rock the boat.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNZV0vstIKwkUBMiOmySG678KCBUhW6Zw8cDIrAvt4-ktTysU2nXGVYNIFwiuWDIYXENJSTPHmdF43Gsfz90RsXQGUAHhjZJE35_p-vCqJb_71vAYtcuX9LIQDCo6uUHrE81oaGkbH02E/s320/299618_235750993147989_100001392694981_648034_980020704_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696261495396664914" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 204px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIejdsSghZgbrH7v5ByHH214tGghMQXxV4iCHBc6SqSn0lYX9AHwZUlfsPtfgED_6BKJljD7WhaI-rQLfUHZn7i-f62RHsUPvrtRk_COF6qyx9bjKZzoewKR3oJnWc-LdYmDIU1wFyN2QO/s320/302345_2165472065623_1511280361_32092337_1918521901_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696261526620065026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I was so surprised to see so many friends from Tulsa come to this show! I mean, I sort of figured some of my friends would travel down to see it but I was truly surprised how many of my friends actually made it down! And my bestie Natalie even made it all the way down from Omaha! She was able to see Next to Normal due to a week off from her gig with the theatre tour but was so excited that she was able to come see this show as well!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuUeZ8z8REd85K0LgQkqR6KwzecUMg1oDXxTf7TrHYbKLvR_uqkbiz4Fi-cL5oerBU1mu74EJAKK4jmoBcCVIgnv4WHCkFAEQB8e1AZwUVEt90WHshrTB5Np7g4YWkK_keZuPbwVu_j2-/s320/321270_10150325084046324_678461323_8343704_2004790379_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696261501322917266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>I am truly honored and humbled to be able to play Melchior in this incredible cast of Spring Awaking. Erica was wonderful to work with again and I can’t image anyone else playing my Wendla. Adam is a wonderfully talented guy who I loved getting to know during the show. Kayla is such a beauty and so talented and I’m glad that I was able to really get to know her before I left Dallas. Of course Simone, Clay, Momma Lulu, Josh, Matt, and so many others were so great and talented in this show as well. I’m glad that my “spring awakening” happened with so many wonderful friends. I’m glad that I left Dallas with two wonderful shows under my belt and with having meet and enjoyed so many talented people.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--></div></div>Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-30828866195837159762012-01-11T00:16:00.001-06:002012-01-11T00:18:17.197-06:00Take me back to Tulsa...July 18 to Aug 18<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The next project took me back to Tulsa… (Sung: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Take me back to Tulsa, I’m to young to marry…” </i>Anyone? No? Ok…) I did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Broadway Your Way</i> with Tulsa Project Theatre, the same theatre I did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Rent </i>with. I’m not going to lie, I was extremely nervous about coming back to Tulsa especially with the way things were left. But I didn’t leave things bad with TPT or did I?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>While some of the times back were a bit rocky, I think it was all part of moving past what had happened a few months ago and moving forward in order to make good theatre. It was nice to be able to see Kyle and Jenna again (seniors from when I was a freshman at TU) as well as perform with some new performers like Claire, Liz, and Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overall, the show was a fun experience and made my feelings for Tulsa be a bit less bitter.</p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgaPt9fHG8RL0zXQ7VZ3TlHgZinliJhNJvB6tYh9PdJTc21dUXaV0UDERVSSg5RBM-cFaSooZPzmNq2CWSxmPhQpUELuOpNEHaoZt-GDmxlSsjo_7KG17mfaXwzIz_AIH7YCOF61NvPQO/s320/294120_1992230574694_1511280430_31952110_1380989_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696254704319695746" /> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXBhDoOOx-v_M0Pr_ef_6k3twJQALlk_uyWoS6yGbgO2Lg3AsuDhGX48jSxJfUEdWVRsGtJMX3wsSTbuSZabYTB52ymqWNFi66u03IvluEZU07U4Oo493toubpsSqWX8ZbgvR7lrsD_O8/s320/298961_1992232014730_1511280430_31952116_8363822_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696254700422113506" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Over the following weeks, I went home to Memphis and finally got to go on vacation. We took a family trip down to Disney World and Harry Potter World! While I was a little depressed after the final Harry Potter came out, going to Harry Potter World definitely made my spirits jump way back up! It was nice to finally go on a vacation that wasn’t just sitting on some beach…I get bored. Lol.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After vacation it was time to go back to Dallas! But I needed to take a pit stop along the way…<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-9988590717725082342012-01-11T00:05:00.000-06:002012-01-11T00:11:21.132-06:00Something Truly Next to NormalMay 10 to July 17<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On my way to Texas, I let Tulsa go. I released the drama and frustration and looked into the future. For the first few days in Dallas, I was staying with Alixe Ward and her family. Alixe is one of my best friends from Tulsa and I was looking forward to spending some time with her. Her family took me in with open arms and welcomed me into their home. I even have a key to their house (Sean doesn’t even have one! LOL!). I got into town, dropped off some of my stuff, and headed down to Uptown Players for my first rehearsal for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Next to Normal</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>As I pulled into the Kalitia Humphrey’s theatre, I was very nervous. I wanted this to be a great experience. After <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rent</i>, I needed this to be a positive time in my life, remind me of my love for theatre, and restore my faith in theatre people. I also wanted this show to be really good. I loved this show on Broadway and I love Aaron Tveit so I wanted to make sure that the first regional theatre production in the country wasn’t a piece of crap. Maybe I was asking too much from my first show out of school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I walked into the theatre, I met the cast, the producers, the director, and the music director. From that moment on life was magical…literally magical. Everyone and everything worked so well together. And the cast was incredible onstage and off. I was nervous about moving to a strange town and starting work with a group of people that that didn’t know. Patty, not only extremely talented, is also the most humble person you will ever meet. She has a new born son and a wonderful partner and they are just the cutest couple you’ll ever meet. Gary…is literally Henry….give or take a few years! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> He is talented and such an amazing role model for young guys in theatre. Anthony is amazing. I mean the nicest, most genuine person you will ever meet. I can’t imagine a better Gabe! And I mean that. Anthony would have given Aaron a run for his money. JBraggs is great too. While I didn’t really get to know him that well during the rehearsal process, we shared a dressing room and “bro chilled” then. Lol. I also met a wonderful guy named Seth. He was the understudy for Dan and the Dr so during the understudy rehearsal, he was my Dan and I was his Gabe. He is such a cool guy and I’m glad I was able to spend a little time with him during this process.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 390px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACe9WhayuSPi1cciivMetaUH5IUvx1H34uu2y1Ls9nc9sCWyzNLnR6moHMtrMf_R6tNislYssJ2Y_6A1WkMkyoh622q6cnWEHYO5mnx-QCylypCGTBY2Vp48MDp8l8abRNkJ0I4Q9b4ET/s400/285651_1931630139721_1511280430_31876847_3501868_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696252594281684370" /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></o:p>The only person left that I haven’t mentioned is Erica Harte, the girl that played my Natalie. Walking into the first rehearsal, I remember seeing her from callbacks. We were the last two standing at callbacks. We both sort of hand this grin on our faces that we were both trying to control…but we really couldn’t help but let it shine through! As we went through our first scene together, we came upon the makeout scene. Now in the past, I have waited until dress rehearsals to actually start kissing. This usually allows for you to become a little more comfortable with the person and make any possible awkwardness go away. As we were nearing the kiss, I was casually still going through the last of my lines, looking at Erica trying to “really feel it”, and the next thing I know we are sucking face! She kissed me! First time through! What the heck was she doing…but it worked. As we came up for air I think I might have been a little red…I was not expecting that at all! But I also didn’t mind. She later told me that she likes to get the kissing out of the way so that by the time the real thing happens, you haven’t built up any tension. She was right. From that time forward our relationship was just truthful on and off the stage. Over the summer our relationship blossomed…not into anything physical, but into an amazing friendship. Onstage we were hot and heavy in the physical world and offstage we mentally connected. I think a lot of people assumed that since I didn’t really have a lot of friends in town and left a lot of people back at college, that Erica and I just sort of filled in where others had left us. But this was different. This was, is, something I’ve never truly had before in a friend. Someone who understood everything about me with absolutely no judgment. I could share anything with her and she could do the same with me. Not to mention the fact that she is truly and amazing person with a wonderful heart. I am so grateful to Michael Serrecchia for casting me, not only for the chance to be in this cast but also to be able to meet such a wonderful woman.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As the show began to come to a close, I was not ready to leave Dallas….or Erica for that matter. Erica had told me out another theatre in town that was auditioning for Spring Awakening. I told her that I was way too old to actually play Melchior (and she said the same thing about Wendla) but that I would at least go and audition to see if I could do Hanschen. The funny thing is, we both got cast as Melchior and Wendla! I didn’t have to say goodbye to Dallas yet!</p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30unawBI2i-au9zj6SMioHVX_RbHqmIvV8Q9riZiilsRVNmr57Y7Xo67vtLE8qkfpC3GIvBGDXzdJrtIZ5jKoDKRVAqYNdz-ixyVQ3kR09hQ5Jtxj7ODitQzZh1qmG3zvv4nw1j9vFq83/s400/254937_617509490817_194601593_33283024_33795_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696252587606188562" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I did have to say goodbye to Next to Normal though and Uptown Players. What was this? Why did this show affect me so much? How did these people mean so much to me in such a small amount of time? It’s because of the amount of respect that everyone had for each other. On one of the last nights while I was in Erica and Patty’s dressing room (a place that I found myself on a usual basis before, during, and after the shows), Erica and I were talking about Spring Awakening and how we hoped that, like Next to Normal, it would be a positive experience and that with such a young cast, we could leave negativity and problems at the door. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Patty, being the amazing woman she is, looked at us and told us to only surround ourselves with people who loved us and wanted us to succeed. She wanted us to surround ourselves with encouraging people and to leave those with negative and demeaning attitudes behind. Looking back, that was some of the best advice I had gotten all year. With this being the start of my career in theatre, it was time to let go of the past, let go of the negativity, and move forward with people who loved and supported me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I left Next to Normal with a challenge: to find another production that contained this amount of love and talent. Challenge Accepted! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-1091780618620676912012-01-10T23:35:00.000-06:002012-01-10T23:41:31.334-06:00The End of TUApril 17 to May 9<sup>th</sup><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Trouble at TU! I don’t want to drag up anything from the past (I have dealt with the issue and moved passed it quite successfully) but I just want to take a moment to talk about something that made my last few weeks of Tulsa a living hell. TU Theatre Department is crazy. The faculty are crazy and manipulative and liars. They blame their problems on everyone else from other teachers, students, and even other departments. They never ever think that they could be the problem. (A legit theatre actually fires you yet it is still not you…hmmm.) I don’t feel that way about all of the faculty members but several of them yes. I should always trust my gut. When you don’t trust someone as far as you can throw them, then you shouldn’t trust them to take care of things in a responsible way.</p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyaeICf_gwlJkjSjIkv_zo9EEWxC-tCwOyAWHZdyZlO75-sYxvAu1VT8YuN6HLT1kxcHe5At0XTsDoUtS0h5FAXSh2Mu8ajXJahAd8gTgYdr1bo05arpmofbWknuv4o3OsVMpGDrat6uh/s400/223302_1303145177283_1190070871_30982237_7365768_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696245075043663122" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Kyle Dougan, a TU Theatre Senior when I was a freshman, actually said it best: He stood the entire group of freshman up and placed them in a line. He told us to look to our left and then to our right. He told us to take care of each other and to respect each other. He told us that the people next to us was how we were not only going to make it through the department but how we were going to make it after we graduated.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A hint to TU Theatre students in the future: Trust who your gut tells you to. Trust yourself. Fight when it tells you to fight. Stand up for yourself and don’t let people walk all over you. Soak up the good and throw away the bad. Don’t get wrapped up in the drama and when they try to pull you down, band together as students and rise above it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The last few weeks of school was filled with a lot of goodbyes, a lot of parties, and a lot of alcohol! From the last TU Theatre Banquet to the last Pike Beer Olympics, I was able to say my goodbyes to everyone that I needed to while I also enjoyed the last few traditions of school. Senior T-Shirt Night, Senior Video, Theatre Last Wills, Pike Wills, Last Pike Chapter, Senior Night at M Dill’s, NYC Showcase Trip, and Graduation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I can’t believe that college is over. It seems like just yesterday my parents where bringing me to school for Freshman Orientation. That just yesterday Lynden and I where sitting in my empty dorm room the first night on campus, watching High School Musical 2. That just yesterday was our first class and M Dill was walking us through the steps of how to be a freshman. That just yesterday we rushed and became Greek. These people became my friends. These people became my family. Supporting me know matter what.</p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdBVymGTQPxM3jWHRJpovqzVTgb87RYF-Jch9Bc5E3Vx99b6ybU29pviv2RjOOB4WjlB8GuNDzdPbFOwJKkmtb976EM24SfCccHtfUHi7CGQSB8fP0kM39ZfUSH_mYxfELC3wpq7ND6z6/s400/229341_1771875859656_1322040109_31817731_2792685_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696245080537506306" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But this is just the beginning. It is the end of one amazing chapter and the start of a new one. “Oh the places you’ll go!”<o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-1550909472791018152011-04-12T10:52:00.000-05:002011-04-12T11:05:22.138-05:00“NYC! Just got here this morning…3 bucks...2 bags…1 me!”<p class="MsoNormal"><i>April 2 to April 5</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Trying to pack for my first New York audition was impossible. I mean, I had put it off long enough. So the night before my flight I started putting it all together, checking and rechecking to make sure that I had everything. From audition book to dance shoes, I was ready. I went to bed excited and nervous. I usually have trouble sleeping before I leave to go somewhere, especially for an audition, but I was so tired from my past two weeks that I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow. The next morning I got up and drove about two hours to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. While that was the most podunk airport I have ever been to, it was about $250 cheaper to fly out of there instead of Tulsa which made it totally worth it! The flight to Memphis was short and the flight to NYC seemed to fly by since I was doing character work for Rent.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally here in New York! That song from Annie is so right! “3 bucks, 2 backs, 1 me!” Except it really is more like “Charging this all on the credit card and hoping I make it back, 2 bags, 1 me!” While in New York, my friend Taz (who is an amazing dancer and I am so thankful to her <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span>) let me crash on her floor for the few days that I was there. On Saturday night, we basically just walked around the city, grabbing dinner at the Wild Oats Café in the Financial District and walking through Time Square.</p> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd349HCEA9sGDZFMbZjzUpyQ9IsIekQRFJbLnd50SLMh4u9KWKeyrLOe7vhSkHlBt9FSeLKeUJrMojisn7jFNI2raITN0IP2mTV8SpYi9Htz2neU4oR4m2rdJJe5Q5vkD_F0yYcK28Yfkf/s400/DSCN1498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594727225644752290" /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Sunday morning I got up and met a friend for coffee. M-Hunt use to go to TU but transferred up to a school in the city this past year. We spent the morning jumping from theatre to theatre trying to figure out what Taz and I were going to see that day. We tried and failed at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Book of Morman, Spiderman, Anything Goes, How to Succeed in Business</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Catch Me If You Can</i>. Taz had never seen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">American Idiot</i> before and with it closing in two weeks, I told her that I didn’t mind seeing it again. Actually, I loved seeing it again! I love this new genre of musical. While it isn’t exactly the type of musical that I could be in, I still think that it is an amazing musical that speaks a lot about my generation. After the show let out, we walked around the city a bit more and then headed back to Queens to rest for the rest of the day. I worked on my song and sides for my Legally Blonde audition and went to sleep early so I was all rested the next morning.</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Monday I got up, got ready, and headed out to my audition. On the way, Taz and I stopped to see if we could grab tickets for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Catch Me If You Can</i> that night. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t running on Monday since they were still in previews. Hopefully I can see it when I come back in May. Taz got me to Pearl Studio and showed me around the building. She left to head to dance classes and I headed to take a breath and grab a tea from Starbucks. After my tea, I went back to Pearl and checked in with the person working the audition. I waited for about twenty minutes and then was walked into the room. I did my two sides and one song, talked with them for a few minutes, and then headed out. I was probably not in there more than five minutes. But you know what? It was fun. Yes there were nerves but I seemed to enjoy that. After the audition, I decided to just walk the city. Since Taz was in dance class, I had the day to do with as I pleased. I started walking uptown and once I got to about 57<sup>th</sup> street, I decided to head to Greenwich Village. I wanted to see the area that I researched for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I Love You Because</i>, the musical that I directed this past January. I think by the time that I got to the village I had walked at least 7 miles and my feet where killing me. I sat down in Washington Square Park, where the Washington Square Arch is located. Taz met up with me and we headed out in search for something to eat. We looked for O’Dennehy’s, the bar that I based our ILYB bar in. Online it is called O’Dennehy’s but on the building it say Mr. Dennehy’s. It is really a cool bar with great food and even better when paired with a Guinness. After lunch, we headed back uptown. She went back to dance class and I headed to Columbia University to check out the campus. I spent most of my time in the main courtyard and also took a stroll down greek row. I knocked on the Pike house and got a tour of it. I find it so cool that the Greeks have houses up there but realized that the university owns the housing. The Greek students pay the same as every other student for room and bored to live as a Greek in the house. That night Taz and I explored the city a bit more and headed back to Queens.</p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciTUWfI1tzrgg10OHEySSLWGb9fg7Adp775iRvQC-fgb1OEvQ1h7qD_lOaFuXAMojfwQTp5T6EtMpAi8yu-zFC6nPZaUgWoEi1ReLTb0qdpNwtfLyO8SJdvPqclaweEyN0UsV6s-wwKYM/s400/6c4fb343378e0d198268d7c5cd4141ac4f8b4954_l.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594728338095295554" /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>On Tuesday morning Taz took me back to the bus stop and sent me back on my way. I am so thankful to her for all her help this weekend. From letting me stay with her to getting me around to my audition, she was a huge help! While at the airport, they announced that our flight was delayed due to a storm that had already ripped through the south and was heading toward the Northeast.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t received a call from anyone with the Legally Blonde production so I take that as a no to being cast in the show. While I would have of course loved to tour Asia this summer and be in Legally Blonde, I am not that upset. I knew coming up here that I would more than likely not be cast but did so anyway to figure out how NYC auditions/callbacks run as well as a start to getting my face/name out there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am still really excited about this summer! Like I mentioned last time, I will be working in Dallas, TX this summer playing Henry in Next to Normal with Uptown Players. This theatre is the first theatre to get the rights to the show since it left Broadway in and will be the regional debut for N2N! So after graduation, I headed to TEXAS!!! <span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">…anyone have a spare room or a pool house in Texas that I could stay in for two months? <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-84480174541486333472011-04-12T10:34:00.000-05:002011-04-12T10:46:27.108-05:00Keeping It Classy...<i>March 12 to March 20, 2011</i><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Spring Break was so much fun this year. For the past few years, spring break has been a quick trip home and then back to Tulsa for a little sleep. While similar this year, it wasn’t exactly the same. Less than 24 hours before I left for Memphis this time, I called Jeffrey and Sean, two fellow musical theatre majors with me at Tulsa, and we decided to have an impromptu road trip to Memphis. Jeffrey did this with me over the Christmas break of our freshman year and Sean and never been to Tennessee before so we were all in for a trip! With promises of parting on Beale and lunch at Texas de Brazil, they decided to join and we left Tulsa on Sunday.</p> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8buFT0KJplKcF2JG1OuxQn5ubjfygev8PARfZkHCRLOr6495vn6d1Oh7_5p7ywSOPmGca-chXo-j21VAXaGLOoGJoKlF5oxf3V1RnvhB9_1jjcRrioGoz2cfNOyBDrKofc03sqQsttQu/s400/DSCN1339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594723662060605234" /><p class="MsoNormal">About an hour into our trip we started seeing signs for “Free Wine Tastings” for several different wineries in Arkansas. I have seen these advertisements for years but have never stopped because I was by myself and always in a hurry to get either home or back to school. Lynden and I always joked about stopping one time but never got around to it. So this time the boys and I decided to stop and go for a little taste. We stopped at the <a href="http://www.wiederkehrwines.com/"><span style=" text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;">Wiederkehr Wine Cellars and Vineyard</span></a> for our first tasting. Coming into the town was a bit creepy since it was so small and we hadn’t seen anyone since leaving the interstate. Once inside, we were given a tour of the winery which was followed by the free tasting. While the boys are really wine people, I am! Red, white, sweet, bitter, desert: I love wine! Now when I say that, most of the wine I drink is cheap and on a college budget. I hope to do more winery visits to increase my knowledge and understand of what is actually a good wine and what isn’t and how to pair wines with certain foods. After we finished with the tasting, we decided to get back on the road again. Most drives back home suck! Arkansas is a terrible state to drive through but it was fun with the boys. Most of our time in Memphis was spent drinking…it was spring break people. This was really the first time that I have been 21 in Memphis and had friends who wanted to go out drinking. We hit up the Flying Saucer, the Memphis Ghost River Brewery, and of course partied on Beale several nights. Lynden and her boyfriend Josh joined up with us our first night on Beale. Lynden’s mom, Betty, kept Emery so that she could join us. I haven’t had that much fun at the bars in a while. It was so nice to be able to share the “Beale Experience” with the boys and of course with longtime Memphis friend Lynden! It was also nice to be able to get to know Josh a little better as well. We also ate incredibly well while we were in Memphis! Momma and Daddy cooked for us the first night, had Corky’s for lunch, Huey’s for dinner, Lynden’s step-mom (Donna) cooked her famous “Bacon Grease” meal, and we did Texas de Brazil right before we left. SO MUCH FOOD & ALCOHOL IN JUST 3 DAYS!!! …but remember…this is our last spring break so we had to make it amazing! On the way back to Tulsa we got off the interstate again at the winery exit and hit up 3 other wineries in the area for their free tastings. It was the perfect end to our trip!</p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQF0p_ySqFQp_1ZyZVGw3jECNzZQtRE0AFlYG_En4cvEr_fuPjdcS5eeu7UIYa-qJ12oXBOzmDgWaF1n1Mi8UMRtszw1Wppi3Iz5kuWBpR-8sRHW29LsNwyaxrTYJStB4Iqm7_zJFaqIw/s400/DSCN1353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594722539384269762" /><p class="MsoNormal">I am so glad that the three of us were able to do this. With graduation quickly approaching, it was so nice to be able to share Memphis with the boys. We have spent so much time together over the past four years: good times and bad. We have seen each other make breakthroughs both professional and personal and have seen the true heart of who each other is. Most people don’t get to know friends this well. Most people have shallow relationships with meaningless ties and no trust. Not us. While of course they get on my nerves at time, as I do on theirs, I love them very much. I will truly miss them next year. Hopefully our paths with cross again after graduation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Senior Bucket List:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>One Impromptu Road Trip: Check!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></li></ul><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-74488935452670252502011-03-14T12:19:00.000-05:002011-03-14T12:32:47.551-05:00The Audition Weekend<i>March 3 through March 8</i><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So like I talked about in the last post, I have spent the past few days auditioning for summer/year-round jobs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On Wednesday I drove to Memphis to go ahead and get a portion of the drive over with. I’m really glad that I did this! I was able to spend Thursday with family and not even thinking about the auditions or school. I could relax and start getting my head in the right spot to audition. I went out to Brittanie’s house with Nana and Grandmother and saw little Tuck. On Friday morning momma and daddy drove me to the airport at 4:15AM and I flew standby with Airtran.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> (Btw, for any of you who don’t know, you can fly between $49 to $99 on standby with Airtran if you are between the ages of 18 and 22.) </i>I got the first flight out of Memphis, rented a car in Atlanta, registered with SETC at the hotel, and headed to my cousin Doug’s house since I was staying there. Friday was a great family day as well! I went to lunch with Doug in the Marietta Town Square and then came back to the house to spend some time with Ashley and the kids. That night I had dinner with Candy, Taylor, and the kids. It really was so nice to be able to sit and talk with everyone! I miss them all so much!</p><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovoEseOsfYSErNbg3p7JY3SVeU5Os3tBZC69NpoP-aaVar6-GFZRw-gBLhalWPtfvGUAqY-ecT8_EDAPi9rxj06qJNwScx6hn6q88bluaXFt902GNnnw8yuL8rEGCLl0mN3L6Xs7sOkZT/s400/Logo_-_vector_-_original_-_swirl.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583989685026997506" />Saturday was the longest day of my entire theatre life! I woke up at 6:30AM to shower and start warming up since I was one of the first auditions of the day. I stopped at QT (thank the Lord for QT and that Atlanta has them!) and grabbed a breakfast biscuit on the way to the hotel. Once there, we had a mandatory meeting at 8:30 and I had to go into the audition at 9. In SETC, they take 40 people at a time into the audition room and you see all the other people in your group audition as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I actually knew two of the people in my group! Bentley Black and Bobby Becher, guys I know through Memphis and Bama, were a couple of audition slots ahead of me. After the audition, the callback sheets from all the companies went up. I was called back to 20 different companies! While I was so feakin’ excited about all the callbacks, it meant that I had to fit all of those callbacks within that day as well as the dance callback. I took a few minutes to plan out which companies I really wanted, where they were located, and get my all my thoughts down on paper. After I took some time to look through everything, I went from room to room and signed up for my callbacks. They started at 12:30 and ran nonstop until 11 that night. From just talkbacks to singing 5 or 6 different songs on video and improv, all of the callbacks called for me to do a variety of things to help the companies get to know me better (I guess). One company even took measurements of me on the spot! I really wanted to say “I’m sorry, but Crista (TU Costume Professor) is the only one that can do that to me at the moment…or at least buy me dinner first!” The dance call was not as hard as I thought it would be (which of course is a good thing). My most exciting callback happened after the dance call. It was for Dave Clemmons Casting, a talent agency out of NYC. I went in and sang “I’m Alive” for them again. I also sang “Close Every Door” and “Don’t Stop Believing”. After I finished they called me back for two different things that they were casting: Link in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hairspray </i>at Flatrock Theatre Company in North Carolina and Warner in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Legally Blonde</i> Asian Tour. So basically, I am heading up to NYC to audition for Warner on April 4<sup>th</sup>. While there is no way that I will actually get this, it is exciting that I got a callback! I was so excited that they would even consider me for the role!<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PGO_BD3P2X6gSOav1JyIgZ5BIz8wIQ0niVHYhI1xQ2rU7SY20ixuSoNoyTVPhx8xZT32vx3j-L4YyOKIF3YWr2c4f1H_z3PkhKplxHLYSRmx62QXVsM55ovE5MVmzaeLqubmY6hVRkO-/s400/legallyblondetitle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583987765724749922" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>By the end of the day I was completely worn out. I realized that when I got home at 11:45PM that I hadn’t eaten anything all day except for the biscuit from QT! I guess my nerves and excitement from the day just kept me going. When I got back to the house, Doug was still up and we talked about the audition and the callbacks. It was so exciting to be able to share that with him. Even though Doug and I are about ten years apart, I’ve always felt like I could connect with him the most. I’m not really sure why and that’s not to say that I don’t love being with the rest of my family, but I just really enjoy sitting down and talking to him about the future and life. Maybe it is because I have looked up to him for so long and seen him have a successful career and an incredible family at the same time. We don’t get to actually talk a lot, but the times that we do get I have truly enjoyed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On Sunday, I went back to the airport at 5AM, dropped off the rental car, and flew standby back to Memphis. I spent the rest of that day catching up with emails, grabbing a bit of sleep, and once again visiting with family and friends. On Monday I left Memphis and headed to Dallas for my Next to Normal callback.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc3JfJEs4Tejh_saw-89tTGnBTWSPJ_Ks9CL1dF-rqzlbTXdQF6CXU8qhuBlI_DOGffwLZnYwV1LUMX1rDU-RL3IrjemmjbrNBiorD0iptEdnkVDJBKJHrGot0YJFO7JqznJ42SgAlEGV/s400/Next-to-Normal5s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583987377975982610" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Next to Normal callback was the most relaxing and stressful callback that I have ever had in my life. First of all, everyone there was from Dallas except me. They all knew each other and it felt like I was imposing on their already established family (or at least that is how I felt). The auditions started and they took all those called back for Henry into the room. We sang “Perfect For You” and the pianist talked to us a little on acting through the piece and what those casting the show were looking for. After we went over the song, we all left the room and came back one at a time for our audition. Afterwards that, they made the first cut! Only two out of seven moved on and I was one of them. I have never been to an audition like this before! I mean, I love that they do not waste your time but it is crazy that they just cut you like that! After the first cut, several of the older people in the “theatre family” started talking to me to figure out who I was and where I was from. After we sang our next song, “Hey #2”, they cut the other guy and I was the only one left standing for Henry. I then did a couple of different scenes with some of the other people remaining for different roles. The director came out and told me that while I was the only one left, that since I did not have housing in Dallas that it might affect whether or not I got the role. He then thanked me for my time and I headed back to Tulsa that night. I was so excited that I was the last one standing and figured that since I was wide awake I might as well drive back. I made it back into Tulsa around 3AM.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The next morning, Tuesday morning, I woke up to a phone call from Uptown Players in Dallas. They had cast me as Henry in Next to Normal. I asked them when I needed to accept the role by and they told me Friday. I asked for an extension since I still had my audition for Legally Blonde on April 4<sup>th</sup>. They said that they would wait for me and to call them on the 5<sup>th</sup>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This weekend was exactly what I needed. It showed me that for where I am in life and my training, I am exactly where I am suppose to be and that I can compete with those around me. This was an extremely great boost for me and could not have come at a better time!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So I might be in Dallas for two months this summer! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> Anyone have an extra room for a poor college graduate?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-61711834115413926502011-03-03T09:04:00.000-06:002011-03-03T09:12:32.619-06:00“Summer Auditions…honestly I just need a Job!”<p class="MsoNormal"><i>March 3, 2011</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This past weekend I auditioned for a regional production of Next to Normal. Upstage Players in Dallas is putting it on in the Uptown of Dallas. Honestly, I didn’t even want to go at first but I went anyway since I knew Natalie wanted to go. The trip ended up being a lot of fun. Nat and I are no strangers to road trips for auditions. In December we drove almost 20 hours in 36 hours to audition for the SETC prelim in Jackson, Miss. On Sunday, we spent the entire day catching up and singing to showtunes…life was good! We got into Dallas around noon, grabbed a cheap lunch from a grocery store, and headed to a secluded parking lot to change/get ready/warm-up. Once we got to the theatre, we were literally there for ten minutes. We filled out our audition forms, sat down in the waiting area, and as we were sitting down they called Natalie’s name to go and said that I was on deck. I finished cutting my music down to the correct 16 bars that was requested and my name was called about two minutes later. I went in, sang “Open Road”, they seemed to enjoy it, was asked to sing my second piece, I decided to actually enjoy myself a little, and sang “Totally F**ked” from Spring Awakening. When I told them my second piece they were like “excuse me?” and then laughed because I think they thought I was saying that I was f**ked. I finished my second song, finished my audition, and Natalie and I were back on the road! Eight hours of driving to Dallas and back for a 4 minute audition…wow!</p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L5ZukHwrfGvpKfPeiZVe30cG1VIm4CDwoLveDzpn3wHtggx9o31tPqQddyeky4ZwiaaYTfbNTs6Zt-9yaX_ByIaamMml1jHxjDd5WTgvIWgMTutdydNIlQ2vMDddh_aRvZMtjkJslHGl/s400/20110303_RENT0303.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579870041373687666" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For the past few weeks, I have been making preparations to head to Atlanta for SETC, Southeastern Theatre Conference, a large regional theatre audition. My audition is on March 5<sup>th</sup> at 8:30 AM. On Tuesday, I heard back from Dallas and was called back for the show! I was so excited except for the fact that callbacks are on Monday. So this week, I went to Dallas this past Sunday, drove to Memphis on Wednesday, driving/flying standby to Atlanta on Friday, auditioning for SETC on Saturday, driving/flying standby back to Memphis on Sunday, driving to Dallas on Monday for my callback, and driving back to Tulsa on Tuesday in time to get to my classes and Rent rehearsal! THAT IS SO MUCH DRIVING!!!!! This is going to be a long week…hopefully and good long week though with lots of job offers!!!! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> I will keep you posted on how the weekend goes! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Also, TU has been in the paper a lot in Tulsa with advertisements for Rent. Last week there was a group shot in the Urban Tulsa with a great article about TU working with Tulsa Project Theatre. Today, Cynthia and I are on the front-page header and 3<sup>rd</sup> page of the Tulsa World! So exciting! Check the articles out at:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tulsa World:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20110303_272_D3_CUTLIN896963&archive=yes">http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx subjectid=272&articleid=20110303_272_D3_CUTLIN896963&archive=yes</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Urban Tulsa:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A36463">http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A36463</a></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-5128560415551234682011-02-12T00:42:00.000-06:002011-02-12T00:51:08.064-06:00I'm an Uncle!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmB1yANmzJNdzIKl5tA6QDCZr1m8cFbunQPHcHiUkV7fpCap_ftrxGqIZ4y6kq6RI1doAnjLKU6ZT6x1fifqDga9bO5DS744cjKWXA1zUPdSNMTslCngWMeklf5ESCvWDY2fqA3hGKG83/s1600/172787_1611959428153_1511280430_31515055_8336240_o.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmB1yANmzJNdzIKl5tA6QDCZr1m8cFbunQPHcHiUkV7fpCap_ftrxGqIZ4y6kq6RI1doAnjLKU6ZT6x1fifqDga9bO5DS744cjKWXA1zUPdSNMTslCngWMeklf5ESCvWDY2fqA3hGKG83/s320/172787_1611959428153_1511280430_31515055_8336240_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572691767175302402" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Today I became an uncle at 2:18pm. At the age of 21, I finally watched as one of my siblings brought another human being into the world. I mean, I didn’t really watch cause that’s just gross, but you get the picture. Jonathan & Brittanie Golding, my sister and her husband, gave birth to Tucker Wiley Golding, a beautiful eight pound baby boy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That is crazy to me. The fact that Brittanie is only three years older than me and yet she is married and has a baby absolutely blows my mind. I’m not anywhere close to that point in my life. I mean, I love babies…and that is a total understatement. When there is a baby near I have to hold it. They call me the “baby hog.” But having one of my own at the moment is a terrifying thought. I’m too young and too selfish at this point in my life. Isn’t it at least good or healthy that I can realize this? I mean, I want a career in the arts…in NYC…for at least several years before I even want to think about kids. Maybe I should at least find the person that I want to actually start a family with first? Yes, that should be the goal at the moment.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbK3eZMR85D8VpcQc0BNRmrCNhlLYNoM5N8WjVm_lgfFhOuimrYY2XLJ_8m9svH3yXoP-bmzNe2vI310jGJGpF3vIXHR8Nm5nen8XKXOH0I03UqStTxfe2GitV4B-h2ozexxYcmfpZ1Xw/s320/175093_10150154801522265_566302264_7988608_23515_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572691550098650418" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Anyway, to my new baby nephew: I want to share with you one of my favorite poems. It is a poem that was read to me at a young age and one that follows me, continually pushing my forward and not allowing me get stay in one spot too long. I hope that it does the same for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was relevant to me on the first day of preschool and just as relevant to me today as I look to make the biggest step in my life: graduating college and moving to NYC. Always remember where you came from but never be afraid to challenge yourself and those around you and dream about all the places you can go…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Oh! The Places You’ll Go! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">by Dr. Seuss</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Congratulations! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Today is your day. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’re off to Great Places! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’re off and away!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You have brains in your head. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You have feet in your shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You can steer yourself any direction you choose. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Oh! The Places You’ll Go!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll be on your way up! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll be seeing great sights! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Except when you don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Because, sometimes, you won’t.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And your gang will fly on. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll be left in a Lurch.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">No! That’s not for you! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Oh, the places you’ll go! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">There is fun to be done! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">There are points to be scored. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">There are games to be won. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Except when they don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Because, sometimes, they won’t.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">All Alone! Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">And will you succeed? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Yes! You will, indeed! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;"> </span></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Kid, you’ll move mountains! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Today is your day! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">Your mountain is waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FFFF;">So…get on your way!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Love you Tuck! </p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-87931550046140951552010-11-22T21:59:00.000-06:002010-11-22T22:13:42.009-06:00“All great things must come to an end…"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXH2QMnGYI0V3kA3cqHZwb4sC8rq9lhkMn6UNyFTUipXRJjgGW0kzVXxkzUjcolNo8BrXQMa8-_SurnTb59m3LEWLOnsOSiS903BEGxfKNUkomwucakAd2ZcUmRsbK0Aou0hG1Q1eulOj/s1600/CIMG5631.JPG"></a><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">December 7, 2009 to December 14, 2009</span></i></p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiqoTkgeq9a4kqIyUgdIQugDx0YvF3zf7BU1rhy8aX0tqawl5nQd8UDxyVWWPun_jVOwL78v8afHKDTckZXXaCQKZH_o-T2Pfa5wX8T0Fcex5sKLFYeM_8f0x82S3Py2nmGO0MqrdLO-V/s320/CIMG5624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542592340172611554" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wednesday night I saw </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We Will Rock You</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. This show was pretty good. While the plot line was terrible, the singing was nice and I think brings Queens songs to a new generation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thursday night I saw </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Legally Blonde</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. It was in previews and so it was only the sixth time that they had had a live audience. I love the show and the music. This production was a bit rough though. The leads were famous pop stars from Britain and that was why they were in the show. Hopefully they will replace them soon and actually put some musical theatre people in there.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friday was the Mountview Christmas Concert. This was sort of an emotional night for everyone. The Mountview kids were upset since their headmaster was leaving to start another school and </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was upset that this would be the last time that I would see most of these people that I had grown so close to in the past 4 months. A few of our IES Administrators were there to see the show and I was able to say goodbye to them as well.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Saturday I moved out of Chester House. This was the last time that I would see the Kellys. Evan and I told the girls goodbye and they headed off to the airport. I’m not gonna lie, it was a little sad to tell the girl goodbye. I mean, people that I had shared so much time and life experiences with that I had only known for four months had come to mean so much to me. Hopefully our paths will cross again! Since I wasn’t leaving until Monday I went to spend the next two days with Leonie. Evan and I took the bus down to Wood Green together. I was heading to Leonie’s and he was heading to Alana’s. This would be the last time that Evan and I would see each other. He was the first one of the group I met and the last one I would leave. He was the only other guy from the States and we actually h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">ad a lot in common, more than I feel like he led on to. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">Evan was a great guy, had fun where ever and whoever he was with, and had an amazing spirit about him. I left Evan at the bus stop in Wood Green. He walked one way and I the other. At last, I had left the only other study abroad student and headed to Leonie’s. That night, Leonie and I made dinner and fell asleep while watching </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Steel Magnolias</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, a movie she had never seen before. </span></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhhTgQXL5gw-McCMMKf36C5KrT7Lr-SpnPgTwsy_9Mj575vL_-RjTf96DDlffjmdv4RPDbhoH30tEf6ntUTfMM28w0bbQ4uIffdUdEe96LTOApQOghwCbcQLjmpCYAoxjpMXdcohtAqCI/s320/CIMG5619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542592351549578178" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">On Sunday I played Beer Pong with the Brits! </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> We set up the table in the kitchen of Leonie’s place and I proceeded to teach them how to play. The entire day was wasted away with drinks and friends. It was so nice to spend my last day with Leonie, someone that I had grown so close to while in London. I’m not sure why, but I absolutely fell in love with Leonie. She is such and caring, sweet, fun, loving person who absolutely loves Americans and our culture (I guess that gave me a one up! </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">). That night, Leonie and I talked for hours…I mean like we didn’t fall asleep until 4:30am! We sat in her bed, looking through her skylight to the stars, and just talked about life and the end of my journey. While some say that I should have gone out and had a crazy night on my last night in London, I couldn’t have imagined anything better than just lying in bed with Leonie and spending my last night with my best friend in London. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Monday I flew home. Oh how I will miss London! Went to bed at 4:30 and was up by 7 am to get to the airport in time. Leonie was going to travel with me since she was heading back to Bath and her tube stop was only one stop past mine. We left Leonie’s place and headed toward the Airport with all of my luggage as well as Leonie’s things. I had two big bags and two carry-on items and she had a bag and two smaller bags as well. Getting on the tube with all of our stuff was hilarious. The tube was already crowded and trying to squeeze in there with all of our luggage wasn’t easy. I had to stand up on the tube, holding my luggage for at least 20 stops.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once we were on the outskirts of the city on the west side, I was able to read adjust the luggage and grab a seat. When I got to the airport it was time to say my final goodbye to Leonie. This was more difficult that I thought it would be. We unloaded my bags onto the platform and then just looked at each other for a few seconds. It was obvious that neither of us wanted to say goodbye. We hugged for a few minutes and allowed a few tears to fall from our faces. This was hard, the hardest of all of the goodbyes. But hopefully this won’t be the last time we see each other. She promised to visit me during her 3</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">rd</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> year, my senior year in college. Hopefully she plans on keeping that promise! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I boarded the plan around noon and went straight to watching my first movie, 500 Days of Summer. In the middle of this movie, the captain came on the intercom and said that the engineers had found a problem with the plane and that it would be a few more minutes. A few more minutes turn into an hour or so and I finished my movie. After the movie, the plane was finally ready and I flew home. Seeing Momma and Daddy in the airport was so nice, but a little sad too. The trip, this amazing opportunity, this semester abroad, was finally over.</span></p> <span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This was it. This was the end. This was the final part of study abroad experience. I couldn’t believe it was over. Something that I had planned and worked so hard for was over. I had traveled to several countries, seen friends from home, made new friends in London, partied and drank in London club and bars, worked hard for Mountview, and found a new drive in my theatre training. I have learned so much about theatre and about who I am as a person. I struggled through a lot during this time but feel like I grew and came into my own. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33FF33;">I can’t explain it fully in words but this trip, this journey, changed my life.</span></span></i></b></span></span><!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-38418844501605296602010-11-22T19:46:00.000-06:002010-11-22T19:53:06.145-06:00“This week…Anything Goes!”<p class="MsoNormal"><i>November 30, 2009 to December 6, 2009 </i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With classes now out of the way, we moved off of the normal timetable and on to something new. This week’s focus was all on our show, either <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Anything Goes</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Me & My Girl</i>. I, along with Kelly McCue, were in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Anything Goes</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Monday was really rough. We finally finished working scene by scene and put the whole thing together in a run (and we open on Thursday…wow we’ve got a long way to go!)</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tuesday I saw Little Voice with the original cast. It had one of my teachers in it as well. Once again it was really neat to watch my teachers from class on the actual West End! SOOO COOL! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday saw the Postgraduate at Mountview do their “Song & Dance” Performance. On Wednesday night I saw La cage a Follies at the Playhouse Theatre. This show was amazing! I didn’t think that I would actually like it but it was incredible!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thursday I saw the other group of second years perform <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Me & My Girl</i>. After their show finished, we quickly transformed the room into our set up for Anything Goes and had our dress rehearsal. The first years sat in on this run.</p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbqHQHD_oC2AjTCaqOKwWHwWpS6LVevQ8kLgMbBNAVRn5eBUYtttPHQlyf9UuUNfDU6wrvWroZa0_Z5wDI39pRo6FXZ4jvnc42wQsuAnPDEJBD9D85zOdRChNW3OJCG_ds_2AZmlbNjkM/s200/CIMG5595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542557005394774898" /><p class="MsoNormal">Friday was our performance of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Anything Goes</i> and the other group of seconds years and all the musical theatre staff sat in on it. After the show, we all headed to the Duke and celebrated. Good to know that nothing changing from country to country…we’re all Drinking Majors with a Theatre Problem...</p> <img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNoNRPVhAB4kxtmjDxfUNIbSzJeYdjMptWk3v3vOZZB_N7bKBNGEfqfI33BIM3jY_fj4kfC7mvGGwYLMLqYkoYzfChyphenhyphenWhHgvwK5ln8Z4qq4LhPGx4D-JMp67s97Xa35TW5fpWMN8Pz5Ev/s200/17861_1228079391392_1511280430_30706776_5987477_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542556198973112594" /><p class="MsoNormal">Saturday the four American took a trip down to Abby Road to take the a photo just as the Beatles did so many years ago. After that we headed to Harrods just to see it one more time (first time for the girls). That night the Kellys and I headed to Alexandra Palace to go ice skating! That was the first time in my life that I have ever ice skated! I actually only fell once and that was only after an hour and a half of already skating. They started to play a Micheal Jackson song, I started dancing, missed placed my feet, and fell…but it was worth it. I loved ice skating and I can’t wait to do it again.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-43736188177819163222010-11-22T18:52:00.000-06:002010-11-22T18:59:39.655-06:00“Last Week of Classes”<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>November 23, 2009 to November 29, 2009</i> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Class wise, this week wasn’t too terrible. I had a song due here and a paper due there, but the main focus of this week was seeing as much theatre as possible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Monday we had a Christmas party in Pylaties.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Tuesday I saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Priscilla Queen of the Desert</i>. One of my teachers from Mountview was the understudy of one of the major roles. He did an amazing job! I was so impressed with the show. Probably was one of my favorite shows while I was over there!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday I saw Mountview’s third year musical theatre students in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Chorus Line</i>. I have actually never seen the show before but the did a great job! Scenery was very simple which allowed for the acting, singing, and dancing to really shine through.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Thursday I saw Parade in a community theatre in London. It was awful! I mean awful! From the dialect to the singing, it was terrible. I started thinking about how bad a community theatre production of a show with a British dialect in the States would be and tried to enjoy it just a little more. Amazing show…terrible production.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Friday was my last day of classes at Mountview! On Friday I saw the other half of Mountview’s third year musical theatre students in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Into the Woods</i>. Once again, not too bad. The concept though was weird though and I didn’t really enjoy it. I feel like they took risks and made decisions, it just wasn’t the right one. The students were very talented though. Wish I could have seen the other cast as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Saturday I went to Brick Lane Market with the Kellys and Chloe, one of the girls in my class at Mountview, to get vintage clothing for our shows the following week (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Anything Goes</i> & <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Me and My Girl</i>). On Saturday night I saw Shawshank Redemption and it was the second to last performance of it on the West End.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday I saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Jest End</i>, the West End equivalent to Broadway’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forbidden Broadway</i>. It was so funny!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Like a said, a full week of cramming in theatre!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-85690446464295389882010-11-22T18:49:00.002-06:002010-11-22T18:52:09.361-06:00“Wow, only a Month Left!”<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">November 16, 2009 to November 22, 2009</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Yeah, only one month left so it is time to get down to business and make sure that I’ve seen and done everything that I wanted to do. On Monday night I came home and made a list of everything that I had to do before leaving. The list was long but I knew that with organization and planning I could do it!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Tuesday I had a realization in Song Presentation class. I figured out the reason why I love Mountview so much: the other students you are studying with want you to succeed as much as you want yourself to succeed. This week in song presentation we had to bring in songs that where challenging for us through either the notes or the style and so people brought in songs like “Once Upon a Time”, “Pity the Child”, and “Defying Gravity”. When someone was up there working on the song with our teacher, everyone else was on the edge of their seat, so excited with the progress and the risk that everyone was taking. I love that they aren’t sitting there hoping that someone will crack or forget their words or just give up. Even if someone does crack or forget a word or two they just continue to encourage and push each other up. Everyone does the work outside of class and so in class we are able to take things to the next level! That is why I love this school so much. Also on Tuesday we had our “Acting Performance Night”. It was a night were everyone had a scene or two from Heda Gabbler that they had to rehearse on their own and then perform for all the staff and the rest of the year. It was a wonderful night to see everyone else’s work and progress on the scenes as well as getting and giving feedback to one another.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Wednesday I got my ticket to see the midnight showing of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">New Moon</i> in Wood Geen. I was really excited about seeing the show especially since I would be able to see it six hours before it was even released in the states. I probably wouldn’t have seen it at midnight if I was in the states but I really wanted to Facebook a few people back home after I saw it just to make them a little jealous. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Friday started every early…at midnight actually. Kelly R and I went to the theatre in Wood Green to see New Moon. I ended up like the movie a whole lot more than I thought I would. I mean, they changed a few things here and there but that always as to be done when making a book into a movie. Overall, I felt that they did a great job and the acting in this movie was much better than that of the first one. After we left the theatre it took us almost an hour to get home since it was 2:30 in the morning and we had to take several different night buses to get back to Muswell Hill. After I wonderful little three hour nap, I was back up to get ready for school. The second portion of my Friday ended up being a very long day after not sleeping so much the night before. Not saying it wasn’t worth it, just saying I was a little tired, that’s all. Despite the fact that I was tired, I had the best singing class that day. The head of music, Rob Archibald, filled in for our normal teacher who was sick that day. Instead of going over our Christmas carols like we were suppose to, we had a singing improv class. It was the best class that I’ve had at Mountview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the end of the class, each of us had come up with several different scenes for a new musical, an opening song for that musical, as well as one of the main songs in that musical. It was so nice to kick back and enjoy making music with everyone else in the class. That night I went and saw The Laramine Project down at the Strand Theatre. I’d never seen the show before and thought that it would be interesting seeing it from the perspective of people from another country. When I got there, I realized that Rob (the head of singing) and Sam (head of dance at Mountview) where there. I didn’t realize until I got there that Rob helped direct and put music to the show. It was a special performance that was for charity and so afterwards there was a talk back with free wine. It was so interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts on the show. Three of the cast members where Americans so it was nice to talk to them about the show and to hear their responses to working on the show.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Saturday was a busy day of checking things off of my “London To-Do” list. I got up early that morning and headed into London city center to go to Westminster Abby. I spent several hours in the Abby that day going from chapel to chapel to see all that there was to see. At the Abby I saw King Edward's Chair (the throne on which British sovereigns are seated at the moment of coronation and has been used at every coronation since 1308), Poet’s Corner (where I saw the tombs and memorials of Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, David Garrick, Sir Noel Coward, T. S. Eliot, and Oliver Goldsmith), the oldest door in London, the largest, oldest, and best preserved medieval floor from the 13th century, Henry VII's Lady Chapel, and the Nave (a tribute to those who have severed in the British Armed forces and where they have a their Tomb for the Unknown Soldier). After leaving the Abby I walked around the city center and made my way toward Trafalgar Square and then on toward Fleet Street and Drury Lane. I finally found myself in Covent Gardens and I decided to see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Woman in Black</i>, a show that has been showing in London since a month before I was born.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Sunday I work on a couple of things for school and planned out my week so that I could make the most of my last week of school.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-41862026095255067692010-11-22T18:49:00.001-06:002010-11-22T18:49:38.747-06:00“Back (Dancing) on My Feet”<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>November 9, 2009 to November 15, 2009</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">This week started off with dancing and I felt like I continued dancing for the rest of the week. On Tuesday, all the second years at Mountview had to perform in “Choreography Event”. It is basically a dance concert that is made up of only the second years. We did the entire thing on our own from choreographing it to performing it. Many hours were put into rehearsing these numbers and having several dress rehearsals and in the end the night was a wonderful success. I was told by several of the staff at Mountview that it was one of the best choreographic evenings they’ve ever seen. So hats off to all the MT Second Years at Mountview!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Friday night I went out with a group from Mountview to a place in Palmers Green called Inn on the Green Pub. It was a great night out to reward ourselves for a great week and job well done with choreographic evening. There was lots of dancing, live music, drinking, and fun to be had. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">On Saturday I headed to Harrods for the day to do my Christmas shopping and get all of the souvenir shopping out of the way. That place just amazes me. It is so big and once you go in, you spend hours just looking at everything…just looking though because you can’t afford it. Anyway, three hours and a drained bank account later, I headed back to Mussel Hill. That night I headed to Leonie’s for a birthday party for one of the girls at Mountview. It was again just a really great night to chill and enjoy being with each other. It was at this party that I realized that I only had one month left in London…my days were numbered.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-35279460150197742232010-11-22T18:46:00.000-06:002010-11-22T18:48:42.575-06:00“A Rough Week Back”<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">November 2, 2009 to November 8, 2009</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week was a hard week right from the start. From readjusting to getting up early to catching up with schoolwork, I just felt like I was running a race in which there was no finish line and that wasn’t even dealing with any of the emotional rollercoaster I was on. While I knew there where plenty of people that I could talk to and get help from in order to move forward, not only with Papa’s funeral but also with classwork, I just felt alone. I felt like I just was so far behind that there wasn’t a way out of this. But I took each everything one day at a time. I did only what need to be done that day and then moved forward. By the end of the week, I was caught up class work wise but emotionally I hadn’t exactly smoothed out yet. I took that weekend to write and catch up with my blogs. I was able to take that time to finally say what I wanted to say and to help me move forward. Once I finally had time to sit and actually reflect on what had a happened, I was able to cope with it just a bit better.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That week was also Novemeber 5</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night"><span style="color: windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Guy Fawkes Night</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> (or "bonfire night"). Basically there was a plan called “The Gunpowder Plot” to burn down Parliament. It was led by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Catesby"><span style="color:windowtext; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Robert Catesby</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, but Guy Fawkes was put in charge of its execution. He was arrested a few hours before the planned explosion, during a search of the cellars underneath Parliament in the early hours of 5 November prompted by the receipt of an anonymous warning letter. The commemoration of the failed plot is held on 5 November in the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">United Kingdom</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, during which an effigy of Fawkes is burned, often accompanied by a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireworks"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">fireworks</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> display. “Remember remember the fifth of November/ Gunpowder, treason and plot./ I see no reason why gunpowder, treason/ Should ever be forgot...”</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746335834682187469.post-85845731529764422672010-11-22T18:45:00.000-06:002010-11-22T18:46:04.356-06:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Coming Back</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, October 28, 2009 to Sunday, November 1, 2009</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The plane right back took forever. Not only was I traveling at night and couldn’t sleep on planes, I also didn’t want to come back. I still had this overwhelming desire to stay home and be with my family. But I couldn’t and Papa wouldn’t have wanted to me stay at home. When I finally landed in London, I jumped on the tube headed home. For the first time in almost twenty four hours, I was able to sleep. Probably wasn’t the safest thing to sleep on the tube but I was so exhausted and I had thirty-five stops on the tube to go so there was no way I was going to make it the whole way awake. Once I was back at Chester House, I took a proper nap on my crap of a mattress. That night, I tried to go see <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Silence the Musical </i>but didn’t make it to the theatre in time. On the way home, I grabbed a bottle of wine and when I finally made it back in I crawled into bed and watched a movie as I fell asleep.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thursday morning I decided that I was going to do something with my day. It was the last few days of my fall break and I had to get myself up to do something. With a new found since of adventure, I headed to the city centre of London. My first stop of the day was St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is a huge church in the middle of London that had the best view in London…only after five hundred and twenty-eight steps to the top of the Cathedral’s dome. The church is also full of other cool things to see such as the tomb of the Duke of Wellington, the Whispering Gallery, the American Memorial Chapel (dedicated to the US servicemen based in the UK who died during WWII), and the St. Faith’s Chapel, also known as the OBE (Order of the British Empire) Chapel. After I left the church I headed towards the Thames River to walk the River Walk. I took the River Walk heading in the east and finally ran into the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. I ate lunch at a small café right outside of the Tower of London, next to the Thames River, looking at the Tower Bridge. After lunch I figured that since I was down there already, I might as well do the Tower Bridge Tour. It wasn’t anything too special besides the amazing view from the top and the part of the tour that takes you underground to see the inner workings of the bridge. I walked around the City Hall area for a little while and then headed north toward the Gherkin building in London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the time I took a few pictures of the Gherkin and walked a few more minutes, it was time to head home to get ready to go out for the night. That night we celebrated a couple of birthdays for the week from Mountview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went to a couple of different bars down in Soho and ended up having a great…crazy…night!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Friday I packed up a few things and headed off to Bath, England with Leonie, one of the girls here at Mountview. She actually lives in Wiltshire with her family, a small city right outside of Bath, and that is where we stayed for the weekend. On Friday we took the bus from London to Bath and her dad picked us up at the station. This was the first time I’d been in an actual car here. I’d of course been on the bus to get to and from school but riding in the car was so much different, I actually realized that I was indeed on the wrong side of the road! After a wonderful dinner of fish and chips with the family, Leonie and I headed out to the bar with one of her best friends from home, Ollie. The next day Halloween and was our day out on the town…well, countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went all over the area seeing Lacock Abbey (where the first two Harry Potter classroom scenes where filmed in), Silbury Hill,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the locks of Wiltshire, and Avebury Stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The most interesting part of the day was when we went to Avebury Stones and walking into a cultish gathering of some sort…it was Halloween and they were all wearing capes and had staffs and where all chanting something. They starting out just telling stories and it was very interesting to listen to but as soon as one of the guys said “Let’s all join hands and sing” I decided that we should probably peace out. That night we stayed in and enjoyed the company of her family as we watched The X Factor (Like American Idol…only British) and The Patriot. I would just like to say how much fun and awkward it was to watch the Patriot with a room full of the people pulling for the other side. It is interesting though the things that you end up debating with them but in the end, it is simple: you lost, we won. End of Story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next day was our last day in Bath and seeing as how we had to leave by noon, there wasn’t much of a day to be had there. But there was still one thing left to do in Bath…the reason for going there in the first place…Stonehenge. When we got there, the weather was crazy! The wind was blowing so hard that it was knocking me over and the rain and hail mix that was coming down at the same time didn’t really help out either but it was worth it. I mean, Stonehenge is just a bunch of rocks and is much smaller than I thought that it would be and we had to stand behind a fence to actually see it, but it was nice to see it. It is one of those things that I wanted to see just to say that I’ve been there, you know? After we finished at Stonehenge, we headed back to Bath to catch the bus home. While I had had a great time in Bath this weekend, it wasn’t enough for me to forget about my journey back home and move forward. This next week of school was going to be rough.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Jonathan W. Gillandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00086555488858025416noreply@blogger.com0