I gave my final exam on Tuesday. It was bittersweet. A part of me is ready for the school year to be over, but another part is a little sad to bid this semester goodbye. My arts management class has been amazing. I know for a fact the students learned a TON, and it was so much fun for me to be back in the classroom. Next semester I'll be teaching introduction to theatre. I was given permission by the chair of our department to give it a bit of an overhaul and to structure it how I'd like. I'm very excited about this. Those classes are often really heavy, concentrating on a lot of theatre history. I want to put a more modern spin on things and treat it like the "theatre appreciation" class it should be. I want to train and nuture a future theatre AUDIENCE. My textbook is super cool. It has lots of pictures and articles from current or recent shows and I even counted 46 people I know who are pictured! I'm hoping at least half of the NINETY+ people in there will find it interesting. Needless to say, with NINETY+ students, there will probably not be a lot of paper-writing. (Cuz Mama don't wanna grade all that, yo.)
You'd think now that classes are over that things would slow down. NOPE! On Monday, I head down to Montgomery for a week of work at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the theatre from which I earned my MFA. I loved the 15 months I spent there as a part of my graduate work at Alabama. (For stage management/arts management, you spend 9 months, or one school year, at Univ. of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, then move to the Shakespeare Festival for the remainder of your time to work for the company as a production assistant.) It has been a dream of mine ever since I graduated to be asked back. On Tuesday, I start rehearsals for a staged-reading of a new play. It's a part of the Southern Writers' Project and is being considered for future production by the Festival. I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and making some new contacts. The most fun part is that one of my Cornell students is working there and will more than likely be cast in the reading. Small world. They're putting me up in an extended-stay hotel suite, so Marcus and Dean are coming with me for the week. I think their plan include fishing in the pond outside the theatre and swimming in the hotel pool. Sounds like a plan. My days will wrap up at around 5:30pm, so we'll have the evenings together to play, eat and visit.
The next week, I head to Greensboro, NC for a quick training session at the Southeastern Theatre Conference's central office. I think I told you that I'm the State Auditions Coordinator for Alabama, so I have to go and learn the software and the ins-and-outs of the job. I'm excited about seeing the SETC office and learning all the stuff for my new position, but I'm REALLY excited that I may be able to meet one of my blog friends! Ilina of Dirt and Noise lives close to Greensboro, so I'm hoping we can meet up and say HI in person! This will make me feel better about the fact that I'm missing BlogHer this year. Marcus's 20 year high school reunion is the same weekend and there's rumor of a reunion of his band, Bikini Red, while we're in town. I musn't miss that. On a totally unrelated note, (actually, it is kinda related) Marcus was in a different band before Bikini Red. That band? Was called TYH: Turkish Yak Herders. Marcus was lead vocalist for both. When asked to describe their style, he said "Think INXS meets The Cure meets John Cougar Mellencamp." Um, ok. I really REALLY hope there are videos of that floating around at my mother in law's house. They are probably hidden in the basement right next to the showchoir tapes. Anyway, for those of you who ARE going to BlogHer, I expect a full report. And maybe a text message or two. I'll give you my number.
Other than that, I'm gearing up for my first super-hot Alabama summer in 8 years. I went in CVS yesterday to get a card for our Manny, whose last day was yesterday, crrryyy, and noticed they had flip flops on sale buy one get one free. And so I did. I now have 6 pairs of flip flops, 5 of which are black. In my defense, one pair has polka dots and another has rhinestones on the straps. They look good around my fresh spa pedicure. (I mean, if you're paying the Manny to be there all day and you finish your work early, you might as well take a moment for yourself, right? Plus Mother's Day is Sunday.)
What's everyone doing for Mother's Day? Or is it a surprise? I got something neato for my mom, but she reads this blog, so I can't tell you about it. (MOM! DO NOT OPEN THAT PACKAGE! PUT IT DOWN! IT'S FOR SUNDAY! We are those people who shake gifts. We can't help it. My grandma started it.)
Go ahead and tell them what you got me. I won't read it. I promise! Heh-heh. :) Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there in Blogland!
Posted by: J | May 06, 2009 at 02:36 PM
School's out, and I have to research!
What does it mean that you are the state auditions coordinator? I think I may send the boy to your conference next year (or do you have to be invited?) he is getting pretty excited about learning drama at college!
Posted by: Hotch Potchery | May 06, 2009 at 05:39 PM
You will have to wait for my post on Sunday (or Monday) for our Mother's Day events. We have a little planned, but it is a surprise!
Sounds like you have a fun but busy summer ahead. I don't like flip flops - my toes don't like them at all actually. So, I tend to live in tennis shoes, sandals, and slip on shoes. That is year round actually - I RARELY wear dress shoes!
Posted by: AJU5's Mom | May 06, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Oh, you're about to be busy! Have fun with all of your travels!! I wish I could go to NC with you... fun!! And I'm totally a gift-shaker too. :)
Posted by: Heather | May 07, 2009 at 08:58 AM
I like the idea of training a future audience. I love theatre (god how cliched is THAT statement!) but am sure that like anything, you can always learn more and enhance your experience.
5 pairs of flip flops? Go girl, rescue that economy!
Posted by: eva | May 07, 2009 at 12:47 PM