Tag Archives: Tulsa

Chicago, Illinois

August 6, 2013 By in Soliloquy Tags: , , , , , 7 Comments

crayonskyline

I told you so.

I’m living a dream that is years in the making. Getting to Chicago was half the trouble. A move like this can drive most people crazy. It almost drove me crazy.

I’ve been here a month and each day brings a new lesson. But winter is coming (I finished Dance With Dragons yesterday, and I’m still mourning the loss of the series until Winds of Winter arrives) and we are sweet summer children. I’m trying to prepare myself, really I am, but I’m not rushing myself. It makes me feel like I’m wasting some of my time, but honestly I can’t imagine looking back on this month and regretting it.

August is the month of employment.

You ever look at a job listing and think “Oh sweet wounded Jesus, this job is so perfect for me!” It doesn’t happen too often, but when it does – boy it’s a good feeling. Submit the resume and cover letter and pray for an interview. A follow up call or visit helps, I’m told. I could try to convince you, reader, that I know the secret – but I don’t. It’s a little bit of luck, a little bit of confidence, and some natural spin. The only thing you might have complete control over is your resume.

My resume is polished and primed for an education-based arts position, with the right balance of teacher meets theatrical artist. Every job I’ve ever had has lead me to this fantastic career – where I get to spend each day working with children to achieve their hearts desire. Chicago will further my own ambitions to create a dynamic children’s show. I wake up every day inspired to learn and create, and Chicago is the right environment for me to achieve my goals. Everything I need is at my fingertips, I just have to go and get it.

I love Tulsa, and I always will – but I belong here in Chicago. I know it in my soul. So goodbye for now, Tulsa. I’ll see you in my dreams.

We’ll see how I feel after the job market has it’s way with me.

There Are Giants In The Sky

August 28, 2012 By in Life Upon The Wicked Stage Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The show and die are cast. The cast of Jack and the Magic Beans meets again tonight to begin blocking.

I have the perfect place for it, and better lighting, I promise.The kick-off party for the Henthorne Performing Arts Center, home of both Heller and Clark Theatres, was splendid. If you missed it, you really missed it. Great food, great entertainment, great company, and a silent auction to support the councils. I was lucky enough to walk away with an original piece from the auction, painted by Kolby Anderson.

Last year’s auction I took home this beautiful hand-made pottery by C.J. Wells from 3rd Street Clayworks studio and gallery. I have enjoyed it as the centerpiece of our dinner table for a year now. 3rd Street Clayworks, C.J. Wells

I love these two pieces for much more than their aesthetic. They serve as a reminder to me. Bidding on something at the auction is a great way to support the theatre where I grew up. I’ve learned so much from my time there, and I continue to learn more everytime I return. It’s a gem in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’m proud to be a part of it.

If you haven’t seen a Heller/Clark show – you really must. Most recently Max and I went to see the Heller Shorts Festival. If you would like to read reviews, I can direct you to this one and this one. The gist of it is that Heller has always celebrated new writers and performers, and the shorts festival is just one more way they continue to do it. It sells out every year and it’s no surprise – the talent is outstanding!

You can purchase season tickets to Heller/Clark shows by calling (918) 746-5065.

Flying Home

February 24, 2012 By in Family, Soliloquy Tags: , , , , , 2 Comments
Flying Home

It has been a very strange turn of events that found me here, 30,000 feet above the ground. It was a long journey home to celebrate the life and grieve the loss of our very own Martha Blackmore. Her entire family was there to go through this difficult time together.

I return to North Carolina with a cross to bear, but I don’t bear it alone. I will tell her story early and often. If you’re the praying type – send some words upstairs for Roy, Phil, Tim, and Mark. Thoughts for the rest of the Blackmore Clan wouldn’t hurt either. We’re all doing the best we can, but we need some help.

Catch Me If You Can

January 8, 2012 By in Family, Friendship, Soliloquy, There's No Cure like Travel Tags: , , 2 Comments
Catch Me If You Can

Well hello again, Minneapolis! It’s nice to see you again. Is that a new bed skirt?

I can’t believe I made it through two layovers and three flights without having to talk to a soul. It’s for the best. I wasn’t feeling too well.

I get nervous, and then when I start to think about being nervous – I get sick. It happens more than it probably should. The only way to fix it is to calm down, which is surprisingly difficult to do when it’s what you need to do. I’ve been like this all week, more so than usual. My parents took Max and I out to dinner the other night, and halfway through my chicken burger, I lost my appetite and then I started to worry about the inevitable loss of my dinner. In my childhood I would fast on show-days because of this phenomenon.

Cool story, right bro?

From the window of the plane I could see my bag.

Can’t get butterflies without the butter…? Sounds like that could be a good idiom for it. It’s not that I’m going to choke under the pressure, obviously. Simply choosing not to eat is not healthy and nigh-on impossible for the 10 weeks I’m on tour and single week leading up to it. Besides, I love food. It’s delicious. Om nom nom. I choose instead to eat light fare and take some tums. It works, but is it a permanent solution? I’m still nervous. A fair amount of stage-fright is good for the soul, but this feels different and it’s steadily becoming more overwhelming. Maybe it was just the flight, because I do feel better now. Truth be told, it’s not just touring that gets me in my head like this. I’m almost positive I’m doing damage to my stomach lining. Isn’t this how ulcers are born? Is that a myth? Am I over-reacting and causing more anxiety? How do people deal with anxiety? What are the alternatives? Anxiety medications? Counting to ten? Bulk-orders of tums?

In other news, I probably love Max more than I should – and I miss him. I miss you too, Tulsa. I miss your sunny, 70-degree January days. Try to fix up that construction on I-44 before March. To all of those I’ve left behind, know that I love and miss you too. But it’s almost crippling how much I miss Max when we’re apart.

As for you, Minneapolis, I have a man in a cosby sweater to meet at Liquor Lyle’s. It’s the 3-for-1s, they get me everytime. I ought to put on a sweater myself – Tulsa’s 70 degrees spoiled me and I wasn’t halfway prepared for the 20s that Minneapolis has to offer. Can’t get too crazy tonight though, rehearsal starts tomorrow! I’ll be damned if I spend the night in a bath tub again, amiright Michael and John?

Let the Winter 2012 Tour commence!

Hello!

August 29, 2011 By in There's No Cure like Travel Tags: , , Leave a comment

Ah, WordPress. It’s nice to see you again. Choosing a blog server is a difficult and lasting decision. It’s as important as choosing a surgeon or a doughnut. Lord knows livejournal isn’t where this blog should be hosted. Nor is xanga quite what I’m looking for. Back in the day, i would install wordpress on my own server/host and be fancy-schmancy with it. I guess I’ve grown past that. Or I’m just more interested in content now. Yeah, let’s go with that. I’m interested in content.

So here we are, WordPress. Chillaxing at Max’s Apartment in Tulsa. Cox Communications (I don’t get paid for this endorsement, mind you) sent us a handsome technician to set up our internet today. Offered him a beer, but of course he couldn’t accept. Too bad because he was a beautiful, beautiful man.

I hosted a fantastic going away party for myself on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out to wish me well on my journey and get a little silly. I crawled into bed at 4:30, so I’d say the party was a success. I wish I had pictures to share, but I will have to count on others to supply the hard-copy memories. I know I saw Teresa with a camera…

Now I have four more days here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Things to do? Continue studying lines for the next gig, pack my bags, and spend as much time as I possibly can with Tony and Al. After all, they are leaving two weeks after I am, but will not be returning for some time. I will be going to visit them as soon as I’m financially able, but that could be months! To all my other friends and family, you know I adore you too. I’ll more than likely see you when I come back in November.

OR WILL I?

I will.