a bit of earth.

care to hear about this super cool idea i have?

well...i'm planning on setting up a small set of shelves on my wall.

what for?

glass jars.

but not just empty glass jars...jars filled with dirt from every country/state i travel to!

on our roadtrip i went a little crazy buying small, glass bottles at different antique stores.

and when i say "a little crazy"...well...i got about 20.

but they're so cool!

all different shapes and sizes.

unfortunately...i got so carried away with buying the jars, i didn't even remember to fill them up with dirt from the states we went through on vacation.

i know. i know.

i guess that just means i'll have to visit the states again.

(fine by me!)

but coolest idea EVER, right?!

(thanks maddy for the inspiration!)

also...a sign that says "a bit of earth" that hangs over the shelves is a must.

xo,

rebecca jane

p.s. have you ever heard the song "a bit of earth" from secret garden: the musical...? not only is it one of my favorite musicals, but a really beautiful song. listen to the broadway recording HERE or a clip from when they performed secret garden at casa manana last summer while i was an intern (which i think is 10 times better than the broadway recording) HERE.

goodbye summer internship.

this summer i had the most AMAZING experience interning at casa manana. i learned more than i could have imagined. i met wonderful people. and i really strengthened my love and appreciation for theatre (and especially the people that work behind the scenes).

it would be impossible to fully describe what all i participated in...but here's a little sampling.

betty buckley awards: i was smiled at by a famous person. and taped microphones on stranger's faces. 

dark week: i helped clean hundreds of stage lights. swept the stage more times than i could count. helped with a deep clean of the costume warehouse. helped clean the set shop. saved a baby bird and was nearly killed by a hobo (...possible exaggeration).

into the woods jr camp: acted as assistant stage manager (ASM) for a week. helped fit costumes. was a backstage quick change helper. fixed hair, did pincurls, and put on wigs.

AND secret garden: helped fit and alter costumes for the show. quick change helper, again. helped with wigs (WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!)

ryleigh came to see a show of secret garden. so sweet.

i'm hoping (and have been asked) to go back soon and help again in costumes.

however, i won't be able to until january.

why?

i'm busy with another show right now...

what is it...?

well...that's a secret...until tomorrow, that is.

xo, rebecca jane

p.s. don't you love suspense?

of snow, microphones, and a famous lady.

three days of working at casa manana. oh it's been such fun! 

tuesday i went up there...and i will confide in you...my stomach had such butterflies. i was simply terrified. i didn't know what to expect. i didn't know what i would be expected to do. i didn't know anyone else that would be there. and if you know me...i don't do well in situations like that.

so i got there...went through the backstage door (THE BACKSTAGE DOOR AT A FAMOUS THEATRE!!!!), and sat down in the green room. luckily there was another intern already there. and i found out she was also going to be working in the costume department. *sigh of relief* another intern entered as did the "main guy" in charge of us. 

we went backstage and saw some "set guys" working on taking down the set of their last show "wizard of oz." we were told to grab screwguns and start unscrewing some wood panels on the stage. the other girls started...and i was left in a confused state of panic. holding a screwgun. and yet knowing nothing about how to use a screwgun. luckily one of the "set guys" noticed the confused look in my eye and asked if i knew how to use a screwgun. i shook my head. he responded by showing me how.

I NOW KNOW HOW TO USE A SCREWGUN! HURRAH!

the rest of the day was spent in all manners of unscrewing, sweeping the stage (oh how i dislike the man who invented snow machines), and working upstairs in the lighting booth labeling light gels. 

we were told we could leave early. an hour and a half early. unfortunately my mother had not been told this. we live an hour away. so there i was. sitting in the green room. preparing for an hour long wait. however, "main guy" came and saw me and realized his mistake. he asked if i would mind coming back onstage and helping pull up tape and sweep (that fake snow will NOT be swept!) since i was still there. of course i didn't mind! it was actually quite a bit of fun. "lighting guy" was still there too. and he and "main guy" started peeling through the layers of paint on the stage and telling stories of each show they'd done there. i laughed quite a bit.

day two. wednesday. more sweeping. oh me oh my. however after an hour of that "costume lady" (EEP!) came and asked if there were interns available to help. SCORE! we spent all morning in the fabric trailer (THEY HAVE A TRAILER SIMPLY FOR FABRIC!) going through some old curtain fabric that had been donated from the prop department. 

that afternoon, however, was spent doing a spring cleaning in the costume warehouse!! she was literally throwing out (for goodwill) all of these old costumes they didn't want/use anymore. it hurt my heart as i filled up trashbag after trashbag with costumes. she saw our faces and said we could take whatever we wanted they they were throwing out. me = "AAAAHHH!!! YES!!!"

i brought home three costumes that dearly needed a home.

day three. thursday. i woke at 5:30 am. i left the house by 6:00 am. we got there 7:15 am. what was the game plan for the whole day? a giant awards show rehearsal in the morning...and the actual show that night. i was assigned to "costume lady" all day! DOUBLE HURRAH! 

the betty buckley award show. named in honor of the tony award-winning actress, the betty lynn buckley awards celebrate excellence in high school musical theatre. all local high schools that produce a musical are eligible to participate in the program. a panel of judges votes for a winner in each of 16 award categories. each school nominated for "best musical" is able to perform one of the numbers from their show at the awards show.

each high school was allowed to use ten microphones for the main singers/performers in the number performed at the awards show. there were rehearsals that morning/afternoon and then performances that night. i was given the opportunity to help tape microphones on the performers for rehearsals and shows.

one. i had no idea what i was even doing at first.
two. i'm far too short to be taping microphones on tall people.
three. putting tape on stranger's faces...is awkward.
four. I LEARNED SO MUCH! what an awesome learning experience.

and you know what made the day even better...? BETTY BUCKLEY SMILED AT ME!!!
oh, happy sigh.

longest day ever (after returning home at midnight)? possibly. but such fun! since then i've been resting up. however, today i started a whole new adventure. my mother and i (and two friends) decided on an improptu road trip to joplin, mo to help the tornado victims from the devastating storm last week. please keep us and the residents of joplin in your prayers this week as we work in the debris.

xo,
rebecca jane

hello summer :)

summer OFFICIALLY started for me today! 

i had my last class this morning and am finishing writing papers this afternoon. 

so i guess *technically* it begins tomorrow. 

but those are mere details. 

even though summer has only begun for me today...that hasn't stopped me from already starting with the summer-esque activities. 

such as:

being with friends.

going to see plays.

reading a book outside (on my new AWESOME mat).

and wearing bright colors.

hello summer!! :)

this week starts a new chapter in my life with the completion of my final high school class and the beginning of the internship with casa manana. i must tell you...i'm scared to death. but, hey, just keeping up with my "one scary thing a day" goal (not really goal...it's just happening like that), right? 

i could squeal!!!

...ok...i did.

several weeks ago i found out about a summer apprenticeship available at casa manana (a really big, prestigious theatre here in north texas) and applied. i wasn't really sure what it would encompass...and if i would even be able to be one.

last week i got an email from the man in charge saying i had been ACCEPTED!! he said usually they only accept college age kids and that i was going to be the youngest...(eek!). 

*dying* 

the very first meeting is next sunday, when i'll find out exactly what i'll be doing. but this is what the website page said:

The Production Department of Casa Mañana is now accepting applications for Apprentices for Summer 2011. 

Apprenticeships will encompass the following design and production areas:

Costumes/Wigs/Make-Up

Lighting Design and Stage Electrics

Sound Design and Engineering

Technical Direction, Stage and Shop Carpentry

Stage Management

Scenic Art and Properties Design

Production Management

does that not sound like the most exciting thing ever?! i'm SO thrilled about learning, learning, learning everything concerning theatre design/production! such. excitement.

so instead of trying out for anne of green gables at a smaller theatre, like i had planned, this is what my summer looks like! and i can not wait.

xo,

rebecca jane

p.s. picture above from music man last weekend! more on opening weekend soon! :)