tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23631562604825798452011-08-20T20:14:34.678-04:00a blog about thriving and survivingbfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.comBlogger1731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-25551191931802491722010-02-05T23:46:00.002-05:002010-02-05T23:51:40.189-05:00

Hello blogosphere. I've has some complaints about my lack of blogging. I know, I know, I am so lazy! Well, I've decided to change my ways. But I felt a fresh start was best. I can now be found here:http://brittneyfg.wordpress.com/Please update your readers and blogrolls and whatever else as you see fit!Thanks for hanging in...

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-335628691190965462009-09-30T15:11:00.000-04:002009-09-30T15:11:01.028-04:00

I confess: I have been a hold out on the smart phone pretty much since their inception.  I was really not sold on the idea of my entire life being contained in a single device. Especially since I am prone to dropping things. And/or misplacing them. This is not good when it comes to expensive devices inextricably linked to my survival as a human in modern society. And then I met the iPhone.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-73104299432857870032009-09-29T21:47:00.001-04:002009-09-29T21:47:57.380-04:00

The fun continues at Harbourfront Centre! After my wild and crazy summer working at HFC’s Theatre Camp, September has seen my return to the Centre as an Artist Educator in the School Visits programme.  I really enjoy the title of “Artist Educator,” in case you were curious, because it somehow manages not to take the emphasis off of being an artist.  Artist is still first.  Which I think is

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-70910976310341394562009-09-22T18:49:00.000-04:002009-09-22T18:49:00.128-04:00

Meet Puppet Tim. This is probably the coolest thing I did all summer.  I mean, I also got teenagers to adapt Shakespeare. But no, this is way cooler. After two months at Theatre Camp, I had to find another home for the final session (because Theatre Camp doesn’t run).  I landed at Creative Arts Camp and made maybe the most awesome sock puppet ever.  He was modeled after my co-counsellor Tim,

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-57178899428157075852009-09-21T23:10:00.001-04:002009-09-21T23:10:44.350-04:00

It is officially the first day of Fall.  Which means that summer vacation is really over (and to those of you who say it ended on Labour Day, I say “Shhhhh”).  Now there’s no denying the chill in the air and the changing colours of the leaves.  The season has shifted and it’s time to get back to business.  Or at least blogging.  I mean, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. To be honest, I

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-82932105518339244402009-08-01T19:35:00.001-04:002009-08-01T19:35:02.456-04:00

Me. Bad blogger. I just wanted to take a timeout from the vicious war currently being waged against the fruit flies in my apartment (they’re winning) to apologize for being a bad blogger.  And not just because I haven’t been blogging, because I don’t flatter myself to think anyone has had a personal crisis due to my lack of posting, but because I haven’t been reading any of your blogs either

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-77628870726261178462009-07-01T10:25:00.001-04:002009-07-01T10:25:24.040-04:00

Here are all the details for the Fringe Show I’m stage managing (more on that part later). Come see us! We’re playing at the TRANZAC, which is right next door to the Beer Tent. In fact, you can even bring your beer from the tent into our show and enjoy them together. If you need more reason than that to attend, keep reading. Because there are Communists, too. And singing. And an Austrian. If the

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-36631706364704413192009-06-17T02:03:00.001-04:002009-06-17T02:03:37.636-04:00

The Fringe show I’m stage managing is a collective creation project. More on that to come. And while we don’t yet have a full show, we do have a clever little song. And our wonderful director has a vision about how that song should be performed. This vision includes a verse sung from the booth…and the person in the booth would be…me. Right. Apparently I neglected to mention that singing in

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-19284634388877323862009-06-15T00:42:00.001-04:002009-06-15T00:42:36.318-04:00

The combination of alcohol and a hot tub can make doing just about anything seem like a good idea. No, not that, not what you’re thinking…get your mind out of the gutter! Seriously…So whilst I was relaxing in the wilds of Utah and enjoying a cocktail or two in the bubbles, I agreed to stage manage a Fringe show. And I have no idea what I’m doing. (Let’s just say “Spring Break” and leave it at

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-72524370739531658042009-06-09T08:09:00.000-04:002009-06-09T08:09:00.365-04:00

Greetings from 30,000 feet. Well, sort of. Because I’m typing it up here but I’m not posting it from here. There will be no more forking over of my dollars for modern conveniences (like checking baggage and food…seriously) on this little aeroplane adventure.  Sigh, I remember the days when they actually fed you for free if you spent more than three hours in the air…even if it was crappy airplane

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-25931831393904362612009-06-08T19:56:00.000-04:002009-06-08T19:56:00.719-04:00

It was a huge bone of contention in my relationship that the last time I was in Utah, The Photographer refused to take me to see the Great Salt Lake. He wasn’t interested and his sister said it smelled bad (which isn’t totally a lie…it’s actually the flood plains that stink…), but I really needed to know if it was salty and, if so, just how salty it was. Well, this time around, I won. Antelope

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-31010076548485127542009-06-08T15:33:00.001-04:002009-06-08T15:33:33.613-04:00

I’m full of photos, so I thought I’d share a few more from Moab. These are all from The Photographer (if you want to know more about him, click that link). Except for the ones he’s in, of course. But I took those on his camera and he more or less set them up, so we’ll give him the credit. Delicate Arch. This photo should be viewed larger. Check out his blog to do so. Landscape Arch. The

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-9777663267968908412009-06-08T02:37:00.001-04:002009-06-08T02:37:33.657-04:00

More from Moab, even though I am technically back in town…my brain is still on vacation. After our whitewater rafting expedition (I AM HOOKED…that’s all you really need to know), of which there are no pictures online because all we had was a cheap underwater camera and no good action shots because we were paddling, we still had the better part of a day to enjoy Moab. So we decided to go

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-45634748464564593472009-06-01T01:58:00.001-04:002009-06-01T01:58:16.541-04:00

It’s a lizard eat lizard world out there. For more pictures and his version of events, check out The Photographer’s blog. More from me later…

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-51849257233723375152009-05-28T01:35:00.001-04:002009-05-28T01:35:11.351-04:00

This isn’t really theatre related. Except it kind of is. Because everyone needs a vacation. And I’m finally on my vacation now. Which means my blog in on vacation, too. Instead of not writing anything while I take some time off, I thought I’d share parts of my trip (the parts where wireless internet is easily accessible, to be exact).  So, coming at you from the Super 8 in Moab, Utah… The

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-83852356442019132462009-05-16T11:36:00.000-04:002009-05-16T11:36:01.062-04:00

The other day a few of my fellow Tweeters commented on my wonderful Twitter avatar and just how adorable it is (thanks, guys!). I had been thinking of doing a series or something on the blog here and I’m really excited because I finally have access to all my old pictures again (transferred to the new laptop). So at the risk of being a little bit vain, I thought I’d share some of them with you. On

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-36379114056945948432009-05-16T00:51:00.001-04:002009-05-16T00:51:38.776-04:00

Thursday night was…funny. It’s a good thing I can laugh at myself, otherwise this whole “being an actor” thing would probably make me cry. Frequently. How very Strasberg that would be…(and I can say that, I bawled my eyes out studied there for long enough…) I went to my 10:30 PM audition and I really think that the best thing you can possibly do at 10:30 PM in front of people who have been

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-82612263994645866892009-05-14T20:30:00.002-04:002009-05-16T00:54:38.933-04:00

I have another audition tonight. At 10:30. Which is kind of late. But since I don’t function well early in the day, maybe this will be a good thing. I figure it can’t possibly be worse…knock on wood. This evening’s audition is for yet another Shakespeare play (sensing a theme?). One that I really want to be in some day. Hopefully, you know, now. That would be nice. But we’ll see how this

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-88367221745539069962009-05-13T20:31:00.001-04:002009-05-13T20:31:44.361-04:00

The view from my dock on Muldrew Lake. Today I had lunch with a friend who makes films. Because we’ve been saying, “Hey, we should do something…” for at least two years now and that “something” has yet to materialize. We just haven’t both been in the right place at the right time. Until now. We’re both feeling a bit artistically stagnant at the moment and are in need of something to keep us

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-26110568300939897652009-05-13T00:12:00.001-04:002009-05-13T00:12:04.964-04:00

"a quote to show that sir andrew and sir toby create are good frineds in twelfth night?" Thank you for this, Google Analytics. Copy-pasted for the record, did not touch the spelling. Special. Now I want to go enter random words into Google to see what leads me back here…hmmm.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-75387954667682347642009-05-12T15:14:00.001-04:002009-05-12T15:14:42.641-04:00

Sunday I auditioned. Before noon. For and with a really smart, cool group of individuals. Who know where to find this blog (hi) so I’m not going to talk too much about it, especially since what I’m interested in talking about really has nothing to do with the actual audition. In a nutshell, I managed not to psych myself out, to be present, to participate creatively, and even to have fun. I like

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-54127139585507879782009-05-07T19:48:00.001-04:002009-05-07T19:50:49.026-04:00

This was originally intended for elsewhere, but I’m posting it here now. I already blogged a bit about bedbound here. You can also find stellar reviews in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Eye Weekly, and NOW. And if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Last week I combined three of my great loves (theatre, the Irish, and beer) into one awe-inspiring night out.  I was

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-78448265325127072372009-05-05T01:24:00.001-04:002009-05-05T01:24:22.818-04:00

I have two auditions next week.  Both of them are really f&%^ing awesome.  And I’m actually excited.  As opposed to nauseous.  Which would’ve been my feeling two or three months ago.  I think we’ll call that progress. I’m not spilling any details right now.  But there are three possible outcomes: 1) Nothing. Other than that I go to two more auditions. But this is a boring outcome. So let’s

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-45333273804461252762009-05-01T17:58:00.001-04:002009-05-01T17:58:45.719-04:00

Last night I was privileged to attend the opening of MacKenzieRo’s production of bedbound at the Tarragon Studio Upstairs.  And as press, no less (I’ll be blogging about it elsewhere in that context, which I will eventually link to).  Which makes me giggle.  Because it feels like when you’re little and you wear your mom’s high heels and jewellery and put on her lipstick and pretend to be a grown

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-65766896118554267582009-04-29T19:29:00.001-04:002009-04-29T19:29:30.235-04:00

Here is the final instalment in what has been quite the saga.  In short, the show went up this past weekend, went better (for the most part) than anticipated, and closed on a high note.  Despite all the insane weather.  We did our best in the final week, as a cast, to solve as many problems as possible.  We bonded and we worked together.  Or most of us did.  And I am proud of what we eventually

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-24706866588670987692009-04-27T14:53:00.001-04:002009-04-27T14:53:30.319-04:00

  Ok, no he isn’t.  He’s actually one of my new favourite people. His name is Jordan. And he’s quite a talented actor. But for the purposes of this post, he is a jerkface. Before I launch into my serious thoughts on this production, I thought I would share this fun little moment from yesterday’s closing… There is a lovely moment in I.iii of Twelfth Night when Sir Toby urges Sir Andrew to “

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-29416820045273457832009-04-25T10:42:00.001-04:002009-04-25T10:42:13.121-04:00

My wonderful boyfriend took pictures at our final dress, so I have a few to replace my “artist’s rendering.”  We were missing our Malvolio, so I have none of him from that night.  Also, it should be noted that I was playing with the photo editing software and The Photographer cannot be held responsible for my choices…Enjoy! Olivia and Cesario Feste Sir Toby Belch Maria (AKA Me!)

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-69249223043116966822009-04-23T12:23:00.000-04:002009-04-23T12:24:14.830-04:00

Artist’s rendering of the cast of Twelfth Night (AKA me and MS Paint).  Since apparently the pictures we took are not online anywhere.  Close enough. Well, friends, the insanity comes to a close this weekend.  I’ll be sure to come back with the post-mortem on what I learned. For now I’ll just say that the producer talk went well.  And for all the chaos and madness, the show is coming together

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-46222823423028038942009-04-15T07:43:00.000-04:002009-04-15T07:43:00.277-04:00

Later today I have a coffee date with the producer of the show I’m in right now.  This is a last resort, a desperate attempt at salvaging some shred of professionalism in this production.  I’ve tried other avenues to no avail.  And so, here I am, preparing for a mid-morning Starbucks tête-a-tête...because it’s what I feel I have to do. There comes a point in any production that’s headed south

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-1611197976652876862009-04-10T13:27:00.003-04:002009-04-10T13:41:58.434-04:00

This post is completely unrelated to theatre or the arts, really. But it's an email from my sister, The Writer, and is actually too funny not to share. Also, it sort of deals with the joy of a "day job." She has a bright future ahead of her. Also, she swears a lot...so if you're offended by that kind of thing, you should probably stop reading now. Still reading?Ok, don't say I didn't warn you..

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-59533471534182963952009-04-08T17:32:00.002-04:002009-04-08T17:39:04.309-04:00

Ken Davenport, Broadway and Off-Broadway producer and fellow theatre blogger, is hosting a theatre bloggers social. Because sometimes having conversations in the real world makes those in the inter-world more interesting. Also, theatre people are fun. Here are the bare bones details:Thursday, April 23, 20096 PM - 8 PMPlanet HollywoodBroadway @ 45th St.New YorkMr. Davenport does request that you

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-30773888217465725532009-04-07T09:46:00.000-04:002009-04-07T09:46:00.129-04:00

I was going to title this post "Why I want to have Gordon Downie's babies" but I thought maybe that was taking my love of The Hip just a bit far. Just a bit, though. Gordon Downie on tour, circa 2007Image courtesy/copyright mikelastphoto.com(The Photographer took this, so don't steal it. He also gave me a print of it for Valentine's Day one year...)Today, April 7, The Tragically Hip are releasing

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-82901431897997673882009-04-06T15:32:00.000-04:002009-04-06T15:32:14.112-04:00

I am in a show right now. One I was hesitant about accepting a role in. Partly because it seemed like an odd casting choice (it no longer does, in the context of this production) and partly because my last experience working in non-professional theatre was somewhat disastrous. But I went for it, because nothing risked, nothing gained. And because it seemed wrong and unfair to write off any

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-21802136384555375522009-03-31T15:02:00.004-04:002009-03-31T15:11:04.441-04:00

As promised for the WTD photo challenge, here is my standing on books picture, based on what I have available at the moment (the majority of my collection is at my parents' house in Michigan). It sort of felt like taking a class picture...I also included my own journal on the side. Because I heart it. Notably absent are:Shakespeare First Folio (too heavy to travel well)Angels in America (because

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-7907552618288054252009-03-30T12:59:00.003-04:002009-03-30T13:04:43.148-04:00

Today is my birthday. This means one very important thing: I get CAKE!! And cake never fails to make me happy. Especially when it's chocolate. But I don't have a picture of today's cake, because I haven't seen it yet. So I thought I would share this picture instead. It's even theatre-related. Last year I started rehearsal for a play on my birthday, a play in which many chocolates were eaten

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-60880295394769263322009-03-29T23:10:00.003-04:002009-03-29T23:32:59.534-04:00

Remember when I said Toronto didn't do much for World Theatre Day? Well, that may not be true...It started when Ian Mackenzie took a picture of himself standing on a stack of books for World Theatre Day. Then Kate Foy did it. Then Simon Ogden did it. And then Rebecca Coleman joined in (I like her nailpolish!). Before we knew it, we had a little meme going. And Ian had the idea that maybe we

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-5385795342985472172009-03-28T17:46:00.004-04:002009-03-29T23:09:57.323-04:00

I think the picture pretty much says it all. Tonight is Earth Hour. From 8:30 to 9:30 we give our planet a break by turning off the lights. And hopefully everything else we own that draws power. It's an opportunity to take a break from all the technology in our lives, light some candles and maybe just enjoy each others' company. Or look at the stars. Sure, turning off your lights for an hour

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-54260671453092684072009-03-27T19:15:00.000-04:002009-03-27T19:15:00.612-04:00

I've been thinking all week about what I could contribute to World Theatre Day and, the truth is, I haven't come up with much. At least, not on a large scale. I have my little blog here with which to share my theatrical thoughts and artistic ideas with all of you, but I haven't much of a theatre home out in the real world at this point. So other than going to play rehearsal tonight, which I

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-53317958789710457342009-03-27T19:09:00.002-04:002009-03-27T19:12:54.861-04:00

The following is Augusto Boal's World Theatre Day Message:All human societies are “spectacular*” in their daily life and produce “spectacles” at special moments. They are “spectacular” as a form of social organization and produce “spectacles” like the one you have come to see.Even if one is unaware of it, human relationships are structured in a theatrical way. The use of space, body language,

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-18329845713400817502009-03-26T11:58:00.004-04:002009-03-26T12:36:14.801-04:00

Kris Joseph over at Struts and Frets posted this today and it has me thinking about things I'd perhaps forgotten or overlooked of late. In his post, he talks about the real threat to theatre: the theatre community. The theatre has been dying for years, if you ask many of us, and yet it has endured and survived through all manner of hardship, including its outright ban in certain times and places.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-4725146859681613452009-03-25T11:35:00.001-04:002009-03-25T11:35:00.358-04:00

I really resisted the urge to make that title a musical theatre reference. I just wanted you all to know that. Someone on Twitter turned me on to this website yesterday (I'm sorry I can't remember who it was, please let me know if it was you!). It's called FlyFi and it's designed to suggest new music you might like based on the music you already do. All you do is enter the names of some of

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-42463214400194024822009-03-25T01:04:00.001-04:002009-03-25T01:04:01.020-04:00

I used to work at Victoria's Secret. Then I was a camp counsellor (ok, well, I've been doing that since I was 16). Next came being a professional internet surfer receptionist. Now I walk and board dogs. Although I'm looking for something else on the side while I develop a larger clientele. I kind of want an Etsy store because I think it would be fun...but I digress.Part of figuring out how to be

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-91351727244356867002009-03-24T20:50:00.003-04:002009-03-24T21:39:42.741-04:00

Last week I blogged about my adventures as a Theatre Camp counsellor for March Break. I never did quite get to give you all the scoop on our grand finale, though. And now, Tuesday, I've had just about enough sleep to finish the story and to reflect on the experience.To recap, in case you haven't been following, my Theatre campers were 22 energetic girls and boys, ages 7-13, with varying levels of

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-47134736068110977592009-03-20T00:02:00.002-04:002009-03-20T00:06:18.302-04:00

My theatre camp kids rehearsed their show all day today. With almost no complaints! They were super excited about costumes and I was super impressed that the very first time they put it all together, they managed to get through on their own. The Director and I decided not to say anything so they would learn how to cover their mistakes. And they did. And the next stumble-through was less

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-1031056144995556122009-03-18T23:41:00.004-04:002009-03-18T23:41:00.659-04:00

Cast, block, rehearse. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Paint. Repeat.The Curse of the Shadow Creature is seven pages long. It includes two fight sequences, a journey underwater to Atlantis, and, of course, a happy ending. We have a mermaid, a fairy, a dog, a wolf, two Grim Reapers (they're brothers), Sir James of Bond, three dragons, a mouse, and, of course, princesses, to name a few. And it

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-59814687010353599822009-03-18T22:04:00.004-04:002009-03-18T22:11:44.250-04:00

The beautiful and talented Natasha Richardson passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2009 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a skiing accident. A sudden and tragic loss, Ms. Richardson's death will be mourned throughout the film and theatre world. She was theatre royalty, a Redgrave, and while we are saddened by the loss of her life at 45, for those of us who loved watching her, we lament, too

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-69904144019247173112009-03-17T22:22:00.003-04:002009-03-17T22:43:59.801-04:00

Day two, here we go!We started our morning with some relaxation and team building exercises. It started well and they managed to untie themselves from a wicked human knot. But the group dynamic is shifting as we see who is really interested in theatre and who is just here because they couldn't get into Circus camp. Which is fine, it just changes the energy. By the time we got to working on

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-41681062326982068572009-03-17T13:51:00.000-04:002009-03-17T13:51:00.906-04:00

My lovely little protege, a friend of The Photographer's sister, has been on an exhausting audition tour of basically every prestigious theatre school in the US of A. She has been everywhere from Minnesota to Juilliard, learning the ins and outs of auditioning for theatre programs. And I have been supplying advice and encouragement via email throughout the journey (despite my own audition

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-90779461892845618662009-03-16T23:34:00.004-04:002009-03-16T23:50:26.204-04:00

Let me preface this by saying that I have been a sleep away summer camp counsellor/arts and crafts director for seven years. I have also directed kids in grades 1 through 9 in productions (mainly of modified Shakespeare). But I've never done theatre camp...Today was nothing short of insanity. Chaos. Well, organized chaos. Loosely organized. 22 wonderful, loud, energetic, enthusiastic, wild

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-14505991019941408652009-03-14T16:39:00.008-04:002009-03-14T17:50:03.396-04:00

This is my Dino-Dell, the laptop I got when I went away to university and have had ever since. It's old, it's slow, it has a broken key (but no dead pixels) and until I can afford to purchase a replacement, it is my faithful connection to the internet world. This is my new modem. It's small and rented. I paid some man $50 to come to my apartment to plug it in (that was literally all he did)

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-85402260981473292522009-03-05T14:36:00.003-05:002009-03-05T14:39:46.536-05:00

Tomorrow, March 6, marks the 175 birthday of the city of Toronto, my hometown. In honor of the occasion, things are happening all over the city celebrating history and culture. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet, but I will certainly be out and about. If you happen to be in our fair city, check out all the fuss. Here is the schedule of events downtown and around town! Enjoy!

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-32788652177064341652009-02-24T14:53:00.002-05:002009-02-24T15:13:26.646-05:00

I had an audition this past weekend. I didn't mention it because, while I enjoy being honest, my tenuous grip on my self-esteem requires that I not broadcast all of my failures. But it was a good audition. And my work paid off. I got cast.But I wasn't thrilled. I wasn't disappointed either. I was just hesitant.The production is Twelfth Night, which I think I mentioned everyone is doing

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-37994781731518119812009-02-19T13:52:00.002-05:002009-02-19T13:57:48.365-05:00

If you have any interest in arts or culture (and I assume that since you're here you do), you should read this post at The Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. It is written to an American public, but I think it has universal appeal. After all, what with Obama-mania hitting Ottawa today (and the White House liveblogging about it), it is our moment here in Canada, too. And throughout much of the world.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-28631614140309995692009-02-19T13:30:00.002-05:002009-02-19T13:41:44.295-05:00

Well, I think the blog post says it all. It's been a theme this month. For which I apologize because, as themes go, it isn't terribly interesting. It's taking me some time to get into the rhythm of my new life--the one without a 9 to 5 job. Most days it's wonderful, but it can also be boring. It's a work in progress--isn't everything?Not having the internet at my fingertips has really made

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-65483139250681030422009-02-15T16:01:00.003-05:002009-02-15T16:09:30.235-05:00

Why does it seem that everyone is producing Twelfth Night this spring/summer? I have no objections, I am just curious. I have seen audition notices for at least six upcoming productions, and today the NY Times announced that Anne Hathaway will be playing Viola in the Shakespeare in the Park production of the same this summer.I have no objections, I am just curious--why this play now? Thoughts,

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-13009943562453538722009-02-13T14:16:00.002-05:002009-02-13T15:13:07.798-05:00

I am still behind on blogging. I've accepted it. It will be solved when it's solved. And that's all I can do about it for the moment.That being said, it is frustrating to be behind in the conversation. I've been doing my best to keep up on the news, but I am clearly still missing bits and pieces. Mainly, I mean the conversation on the Canada Prizes for the Arts and Creativity. The

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-39590806870987081392009-02-11T15:17:00.000-05:002009-02-11T15:17:01.646-05:00

Tomorrow we will be one year away from the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. I, for one, am very excited. I am not a huge sports fan (except for hockey), I am not an athlete, I am not even an Olympic nut (I don't much care for the summer games). But there is something really cool about the Winter Olympics coming to Canada. And I am going to celebrate it. Sadly, I only have

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-23680227583895324942009-02-11T11:47:00.000-05:002009-02-11T12:39:44.673-05:00

I've been off the blogging for the last week or so because I no longer spend eight hours a day in front of a computer. There are approximately 437 unread posts, no exaggeration, in my Google reader. I feel out of touch, disconnected. I no longer know what the conversation is about because 15-30 minutes a day on the internet is not enough time to figure it out. These are the time limits imposed by

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-50272565956952401252009-02-03T11:45:00.002-05:002009-02-03T11:47:46.328-05:00

I am on the express computer at the Toronto Public Library right now. This is an interesting experience, to say the least. I have been neglecting my blog because I lack the internet and because I am actually out in the real world auditioning at the moment. But I thought I'd take a minute to say I miss the internet. And all of you out there in it. Keep it real. I'll be back soon! Like later

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-65436776891205803022009-02-02T10:58:00.003-05:002009-02-02T10:58:02.257-05:00

Ritchie ValensJ.P. "The Big Bopper" RichardsonBuddy HollyToday marks the 50th anniversary of "the day the music died." On this day in 1959, Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, and Ritchie Valens died when their plane crashed in an Iowa field. Called "the first rock 'n' roll landmark" by Jim Dawson, a rock historian, it was an event that helped cement rock in the pop culture landscape

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-65696757312976440012009-01-30T09:49:00.002-05:002009-01-30T10:03:53.035-05:00

Two quick things:1) There are some interesting comments on my blog (and elsewhere) this morning. I would encourage everyone to check them out. See my blog post "Budgetary Fallout 2009" and Praxis's post "Canada Prizes for Arts and Creativity." Check the comments sections. Opposing view points welcome. Discussion is necessary. It's really the only way progress is made.2) Check out Chase

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-29972052108780013132009-01-29T15:22:00.004-05:002009-01-29T15:41:41.030-05:00

Why this picture? Meh, why not?Today I haven't been up to speed on blogging. And last night I was too yoga-wrecked to write anything. Also, I feel like I have a ten second attention span right now. It's great for Twitter, not so hot for blogging (and if you haven't yet joined Twitter, I think you're missing out). So today I am just reading all the interesting things all of you out there have

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-85919296971340162602009-01-28T20:53:00.000-05:002009-01-28T20:53:00.894-05:00

"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."Lilla Watson, aboriginal educator and artistSo the budget is in and it hasn't toppled the government. It isn't perfect, but it isn't completely useless, either. And Arts and Culture are once again worth investing in, thank goodness. Which

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-58620186022441577352009-01-28T11:39:00.004-05:002009-01-28T12:24:04.654-05:00

This past Friday I was privileged to attend the sold out opening night of Praxis Theatre's production of Stranger, a show developed in three workshops over two years. I've been waiting to tell you about it until I could link to my thoughts on the production (which were committed for posting on The Theatre Centre Blog). Fortunately, Stranger runs until February 8, so there is still plenty of time

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-81871748911545261782009-01-28T11:16:00.003-05:002009-01-28T11:35:53.113-05:00

John Updike, Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, passed away yesterday at the age of 76 after battling lung cancer. Updike is best known for his Rabbit novels. His writing has been met with both disdain and praise from critics and readers alike. He had a talent for poeticizing the every day. Learn more from his obituary in The Globe and Mail or in The Toronto Star.On a personal note, Updike is

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-83466562318102704412009-01-27T15:15:00.002-05:002009-01-27T16:28:41.734-05:00

When today started, I had one audition booked for next week. The kind that I just scheduled, not submitted for. Now I have three auditions booked for next week. With two on the same day. And I got them from submitting. And now I'm all panicked and agitated. I don't consider auditioning to be my strong suit. And very, very rarely do I find it fun. I need to get over all this, I realize.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-84430349903975427692009-01-27T10:47:00.002-05:002009-01-27T11:19:33.798-05:00

All this budget previewing is getting old. It's an obvious attempt to lessen the impact of a giant deficit when the government officially announces it today. I'm not sure it's going to work, but every article I read about what's already been revealed suggests that the actual announcement will be without surprises, having already been covered ad nauseam by every major news outlet in the

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-87203454689175680332009-01-26T15:55:00.003-05:002009-01-26T16:20:00.722-05:00

This is my favourite thing on icanhascheezburger today. Super smart, I know.Some days I arrive at my blog directly, some days it's in a roundabout fashion. Today is the latter. I blame the plethora of interesting things on the interweb. Also, I just spent some time contemplating Praxis Theatre's production of Stranger, which will be posted soon somewhere else. I will link to it then. But the

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-74938239735538425132009-01-23T12:09:00.002-05:002009-01-23T14:10:16.682-05:00

I don't have a whole lot to say today and was planning (am still) to tinker with my blog formatting (I am still new at this, I don't speak html, and I don't love el blogo yet). Then I was bored and surfing the web and I saw something I felt merited blog postage.So, my current day job contract is up at the end of the coming week (anyone hiring?) and, as a result, I am hunting for new

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-63074287628486472682009-01-22T19:03:00.000-05:002009-01-22T19:03:00.904-05:00

Theatre Passe Muraille, one of the birthing places for many of Toronto's independent theatre companies, announced yesterday that it finished its fiscal year with a $39,560 surplus. This followed a year when the financially strapped TPM had to call the city of Toronto in for help. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's pretty impressive. Even cooler than that is TPM's membership in the Creative Trust

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-81639601644704796582009-01-22T15:09:00.000-05:002009-01-22T15:09:15.124-05:00

There was a conversation on Twitter yesterday that reminded me of this story so I thought I would share it. It's absolutely one of my favourite theatre experiences. And one of my best quick thinking recoveries.I ended up at RADA through a study abroad program run by my university: every semester our drama department sends 16 lucky students across the pond to wreak havoc on a British institution

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-88512812683854517832009-01-22T12:04:00.002-05:002009-01-22T12:06:38.206-05:00

My blog got a lot more traffic than usual since I posted my interview yesterday--I am holding Rob responsible. Very cool. Both that and the great comments were a pleasant surprise this morning. I have a post planned for later today, but since I haven't yet gotten to it, I just wanted to say thanks! Oh, and keep stopping by, it only gets better from here!

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-5986602056199166562009-01-21T15:27:00.000-05:002009-01-21T15:27:30.309-05:00

My blogger friend Rob over at Inukshuk Adventure posted this interview some time ago and I decided to play, too. So here is my interview--Rob being the interviewer. And let me just say, I am impressed with the questions he came up with given that we don't actually really know much about each other. The interweb is neat. And yes, I do realize this is somewhat reminiscent of those survey things

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-70792427951162164932009-01-21T11:24:00.002-05:002009-01-21T11:30:50.578-05:00

First an actor accidentally slits his own throat, now a director shoots another actor in the head during rehearsal. Are we all so busy that we can't take five minutes to CHECK OUR PROPS??? Even a prop weapon is a weapon and taking the few minutes to check that things are as they should be with it might save someone's life. Just saying.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-26756229716909818222009-01-20T16:19:00.003-05:002009-01-20T16:21:33.362-05:00

created using http://www.wordle.net/

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-65959899883759966942009-01-20T10:03:00.004-05:002009-01-20T10:10:21.132-05:00

Belize: All day today it's felt like Thanksgiving. Soon, this...ruination will be blanketed white. You can smell it--can you smell it?Louis: Smell what?Belize: Softness, compliance, forgiveness, grace.Tony KushnerAngels in America: Millennium Approaches

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-17564277416662014252009-01-19T10:51:00.005-05:002009-01-19T12:33:12.026-05:00

I really, really dislike not having an internet connection chez moi. The plan to go web-less was originally conceived as a cost-savings measure and was feasible, given that I surf from 9-5:30 Monday to Friday. But since I've gotten more heavily involved in the online community this plan leaves me feeling very disconnected on the weekends, as if I'm missing some very important appendage. It

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-61749011201883211822009-01-16T17:18:00.002-05:002009-01-16T17:26:58.567-05:00

Well, it is Friday and it would figure that I've come down with a nasty cold. I plan to eat some chicken soup and spend my night in bed with a good book. Hopefully it will clear up quickly: there is so much I want to do this weekend! Like go see some Next Stage Theatre Festival!! With any luck I will make it to at least one show and I would encourage you to do the same...Until Monday, my

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-68995251211423050272009-01-16T11:09:00.003-05:002009-01-16T11:36:49.076-05:00

J. Kelly Nestruck posted this in his Globe & Mail blog this morning. It reminded me that I did, indeed, read about it earlier this week. I just never got around to blogging about it.The National Theatre in London is planning to broadcast several of its productions live in movie theatres throughout the UK, making the theatre more accessible to those outside of London. Tickets at the movies will

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-42672816968124404132009-01-15T18:00:00.000-05:002009-01-15T18:00:01.014-05:00

"We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights, and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself."--Bertolt BrechtLyn Gardner of The Guardian wrote a post today in her Theatre Blog about theatre's role in world

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-81041535067046418552009-01-15T17:06:00.004-05:002009-01-15T17:11:48.713-05:00

President-elect Barack Obama's open letter to his daughters explaining why he decided to run for president. It's all over the web. And with good reason.Dear Malia and Sasha, I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-89671237113868984262009-01-15T10:22:00.007-05:002009-01-15T17:12:19.202-05:00

My first year at university the head of the drama department told us that the difference between actors from our school and actors from other schools is that actors from our school have ideas. I wasn't sure what exactly this meant at the time, but I know it sounded exciting. What he meant was that when we graduate, it is with ideas about what is means to be an actor and what it means to be an

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-73220180300410691992009-01-14T13:09:00.002-05:002009-01-14T13:25:22.059-05:00

I was kind of bummed that I missed the Rick Mercer Report on TV last night. Fortunately, Michael Ignatieff tweeted the link today. Here it is: Rick Mercer helps Michael Ignatieff move into Stornoway. And here's a link to Rick's website and blog. Now maybe he can help Stephen Harper with the budget.

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-7522261075703079822009-01-14T11:07:00.004-05:002009-01-14T11:26:25.671-05:00

Where to begin today...I actually have so much I want to blog about that I can't keep up. I had a story I wanted to share today, but I think it's going to have to wait. Instead, we'll stick to fun things and current events. First, the fun:I found this website via Malene Arpe's Stargazing blog. You upload a picture and they turn it into a version of the now iconic Obama poster. I think this

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-79428765638307215172009-01-13T17:26:00.002-05:002009-01-13T17:33:23.071-05:00

I have about 3 seconds to write this blog post as I am on my way to further punish my body pilates, but I thought it worth mentioning, mainly because it's brand new so you can still get in at the beginning, that I really like the CBC's Being Erica. Maybe it's just that I relate. But I actually think it's one of the more interesting ideas I've seen recently. And I like her. There's also a blog

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-68954018444196880922009-01-13T11:11:00.008-05:002009-01-13T12:50:47.242-05:00

Finally, here is the story, as promised, of my latest audition adventure. While it is absolutely ridiculous and I in no way condone my general unpreparedness, I'm quite proud of myself. Turns out the "No Excuses" rule in my life is working. So here it goes:Backstory to this: I found a really great monologue in a book and I really want to do it for something. I haven't worked on it. I haven't

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-38363573378176248132009-01-12T16:18:00.002-05:002009-01-12T16:44:27.488-05:00

The TAPA Blog just posted about a clinic offering free legal advice and services to artists in Ontario. Artists' Legal Advice Services, or ALAS, is a collection of lawyers and law students who donate their time to help address the legal needs of Ontario's actors, artists, writers, filmmakers, dancers, musicians, et al. They generally deal with "contracts, defamation, copyright, trademarks &

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-61967713382111180932009-01-12T14:45:00.004-05:002009-01-12T15:00:04.026-05:00

If you're part of the theatre scene in Toronto you probably know the Praxis Theatre blog. One of the best-written blogs out there, it is a source of frequent inspiration for many of us--it is the theatre blog we all aspire to write. I'm happy to report, too, that it (and, by association, Praxis Theatre) is run by a very friendly bunch of theatre artists. And they have offered some wise words

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-34629315212098993222009-01-12T14:35:00.005-05:002009-01-12T14:44:53.243-05:00

I just finished reading Joseph Boyden's 2008 Giller Prize winning novel, Through Black Spruce. I happen to think it's brilliant...and would be brilliant as a play (because I'm partial) or film (because, well, it would).Boyden is an incredibly gifted writer/storyteller. His latest effort follows the younger generations of the Bird family; their story began in his first novel Three Day Road. Will,

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-34247452350914649812009-01-12T13:58:00.003-05:002009-01-12T14:05:50.773-05:00

So far this year:I've had an audition saga (story still to come).I've been hit on by a lazy-eyed, probably intoxicated, Eastern European creeper on the TTC.I've forgotten essential-to-my-existence post-its at the office over the weekend.I've scalded myself/destroyed my kitchen with black bean soup.I've spent an hour and fifteen minutes on the TTC due to a lack of communication with my car service

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-17359513857235936952009-01-09T13:34:00.001-05:002009-01-09T13:37:21.092-05:00

I am literally drowning in work at my desk: invoices, shipments, updating the reception manual before the new girl starts. And I haven't had any real caffeine today: I was trying to avoid coffee in an effort to cleanse my system. Then I realized it was stupid. Now I'm going to make myself a cappuccino and get down to business. Sit tight, I have a story from last night and I will hopefully get

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-74151996248294763292009-01-08T15:47:00.000-05:002009-01-08T15:47:00.205-05:00

My favourite Ginger co-worker just alerted me to a new yoga studio in our office neighbourhood. Trinity Yoga has opened its doors this week. Located at 65 Bellwoods Avenue, Unit 3, it is offering free yoga and pilates classes for the month of January! The fine print: they ask for a one-time $10 donation to The Redwood, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence; you have to

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-7371533043676545852009-01-08T14:42:00.003-05:002009-01-08T17:45:02.148-05:00

Today I want to talk about one of the many bits of wisdom I picked up in Theatre School. Now, Theatre School is quite different from, say, Business School or Medical School or any other kind of School. It’s unconventional, to say the least. The good Theatre Schools are, anyway, and my alma mater certainly falls into that category.Today’s lesson is about how Casting Directors have no

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-25592286419277615732009-01-07T17:44:00.001-05:002009-01-07T17:47:31.723-05:00

I have an audition tomorrow night and, true to form, no audition monologue. Or, rather, I have options and have just not yet chosen one. I've been tempted to cancel the audition approximately 6,315,479 times in the last week but I will not allow myself to be such a cop out. It's my own fault because this is how I roll, but I honestly did think I would have more time to work on it and that

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-29458022993411124072009-01-07T13:02:00.003-05:002009-01-07T13:21:08.160-05:00

I may have, at some point, mentioned my distaste for reality television and how I think it is destroying our culture and our minds. I'm sure I could go on about it ad nauseum but, frankly, I have more important things to do today. I will, however, note that MTV has begun their onslaught of "reality" fodder, premiering both The City and Bromance. Neither of which I will be watching. The reason

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-67606618625017055992009-01-07T10:25:00.003-05:002009-01-07T11:01:13.775-05:00

Last night was my first trip to the theatre in longer than I care to think about. This hiatus from theatre-going has been due largely to a) lack of funds and b) lack of theatre (I lived in Michigan for nine months, it isn't exactly a hot spot for theatrical production). So I ventured out last night with a very cool friend of my mother--The Sludge--to see We Will Rock You at the Panasonic Theatre

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-25483105995462328992009-01-06T10:38:00.003-05:002009-01-06T10:55:41.949-05:00

A great moment for Canada's other art last night. While less exciting than their games against the USA on New Year's Eve and Russia on Saturday night, Team Canada nonetheless brought home the gold for the fifth straight time in the World Juniors Hockey Championship. Roy MacGregor's account of the victory is here in The Globe and Mail--I love the nuanced ways in which our patriotism displays

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-18800794260164843422009-01-05T13:16:00.004-05:002009-01-05T16:00:05.925-05:00

I long ago gave up on making big plans for New Year's Eve as very rarely did the fancy, expensive plans live up to expectations. Without a doubt, I have had some excellent New Year's Eve experiences, but, more often than not, the best ones were spent just hanging out with a few favourite people. One of the best to date was dinner and a movie with my long-distance boyfriend. This year was

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-29569896955740165522008-12-22T14:52:00.003-05:002008-12-22T15:07:02.979-05:00

Adrian Mitchell, celebrated British poet and playwright, passed away Saturday at the age of 76 due to heart failure. In his lifetime, he produced a body of work to rival the very best, from the Greeks to the modern day, while seeking to make poetry more accessible to everyone. He left journalism to write more and quickly became a part of the growing British movement for performed poetry in the

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363156260482579845.post-35053149676046242832008-12-22T13:57:00.003-05:002008-12-22T14:45:06.134-05:00

MTV has just announced that they have 16 new reality shows in the works. 16?! Apparently ratings have slipped (or tumbled) causing them to rethink their programming choices to hold on to that coveted youth demographic.But, here's the thing, I am not an effing demographic. And I, frankly, cannot deal with anymore mindless MTV drivel being paraded around like content. Nor do we need anymore

bfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874511458271612067noreply@blogger.com0