It’s a brave new world…

Last night we also had the first music read-through for the opera with the conductor and principals for Falstaff.  And I was so thrilled that we have 7 of the 10 principals who have been here before.  And the best of all news was that Melissa Parks was one of them!!  She is a wonderfully talented mezzo who is also a very lovely person, and who has, over the last several years, become a good friend.  This is a great cast and promises to be one of the best operas this season.

I seem entirely unable to post anything on a regular schedule.  And I don’t seem to be able to motivate myself to do anything resembling exercise.  Although I think that I may have come to some resolution on that front.  We had our first read-through for  The Tempest on Saturday, and I am in the company of some serious talents and some fairly buff individuals.  And unless I just want to sit around all the time hating them all for their talent and good looks, I’m going to need to do something about it.  This would involve some sort of walking, cycling or other physical activity program to start immediately.  I have 12 weeks to make some sort of progress toward my overall goal.  I’m establishing a public goal of losing 15 lbs. by July 15th!!!  It’s easily achievable and it’s also a great start on getting back to my svelte and Adonis-like former self.  I just have to keep myself from collapsing from the stress of trying to learn my lines and act up to the level of the rest of the cast.

This also means that I will need to go back to actively watching my calorie intake.  This is no fun, let me tell you.  I found a great website that helps you track daily calories.  The problem is, it is no fun actually seeing the calories you are taking in.   Especially when you know that you’ve been at this level for a long time.  I have created a fairly workable wright maintenance diet.  I am maintaining and have maintained this weight for some time with only very minor fluctuations.  The real solution that I need to take is to reduce the calories, increase the exercise and get steady and consistent with both.  And I know that when I first started the blog, a lot of people got frustrated with me for talking about it but never doing anything about it.  This is now where the rubber meets the pavement.  I’ve reached a point where I have to do this or I will bury myself in a depressive funk so deep that I’ll never come out.  So, if you see me out and about, or just think about it, drop me a line with a word of encouragement.

Quote of the day:

“The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.  ~G.K. Chesterton”

As you from crimes would pardoned be, let your indulgence set me free.

Okay, so the news it out, and I can now say that I have been cast in The Tempest!!  And I have the wonderful opportunity of playing the part of Prospero.  I am both excited and nervous about this because this is my first Shakespeare, and I have a big part to learn/perform.  Also considering some of the other actors who have been cast alongside me, I am in very humbling territory.  This production will open in Midvale at the Main St. Theatre in July.  If you’re interested in the full cast list, head over to AtG News to see the cast and short biographical info.

Beth, our director, is someone with whom I have worked many times.  I am always thrilled to be in a show of hers and know that it will be spectacular.  With the talent she has assembled (only a few of which I have ever worked with before, but many that I have heard about) I know that this will be a spectacular production, as long as I don’t screw it up!

Of course, the real thing for me will be, as it always will until I finally lose all my weight, dealing with my girth and maneuvering around the stage.  being twice the size you should be has effects on the knees and back that are more pronounced when you start moving around on stage and interacting with other people.  Not all that easy.  And when you further add to the mix that most of them are healthy and fit, I stick out like a hippo!  So, this might just be the push that I need to finally get the old lard ass out of the chair and onto the treadmill and bike.  I know that the first post I make stating that I have actually exercised will also be marked by a deafening wind created by you all fainting. But, it’s a chance I’m willing to take.

I do hope that you all will come see the show, and don’t mind a little behind the scenes blogging here about the show.  It’s just that it’s sure to be a big part of what I’m thinking in the next few months.  That and how to fit my body into something that doesn’t look like an Elizabethan equivalent of a muumuu.  Not a very pretty mental image, and I apologize for it.

Today’s quote:

“

“I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead. Not sick. Not wounded. Dead.  --Woody Allen”

Yes, I am a thespian…

I have to make a confession.  I am a closest thespian.  I know that may shock some of you.  Others of you may have suspected it for sometime: that certain way that I walk; idioms of speech; the way I hold a cup.  It is no secret that my wife has had to come to terms with it.  But she has been very supportive throughout her personal ordeal with this.  It generally means having to deal with me gone a lot of nights, working the company of many other like-minded people, dressing up and putting on makeup, occasionally wigs.  It’s not an easy thing to accept.

Anyway, all that nonsense is prelude to say that I will soon be seen onstage in my first ever Shakespeare play!  I don’t think that official casting has been announced, but I’m very excited.  And a little nervous.  We’ll have to see how well I do.  If auditions were any indication, the cast will be fantastic.  And Beth Bruner always does amazing things directing.  So, I’ll keep you updated on all the info.

Quote of the day:

“I don't get acting jobs because of my looks. - W. H. Auden”

All the world’s a stage…

Ok, it has been a long, long time.  Life has been very busy and very crazy.  For the last week we have been watching two kids for a couple in our ward who went on a cruise.  Their kids have been a lot of fun, and they are good kids, but no matter how good kids are, if they’re not yours, there’s tension there.  And my kids have been the most involved in taking care of them.  They are glad that it is over, and glad to be back to a regular schedule. 

Add to that, Nathaniel, my youngest, broke his arm this past week playing on the playground equipment at school.  He called me and said, “I feel at recess and can’t feel my arm.”  I rush home, he says he’s feeling better, and so I give him some Tylenol, and tell him we'll check him when we get home.  We get home, and Kris says, “I think I need to take him to the Instacare.”  And sure enough, his arm is broken, and I feel like a crap dad for not taking him earlier.

The opera has started, and I had the biggest scare when I went in for my costume fitting.  I was ushered into the fitting room, and shown my costume, which I recognized from many previous productions (a LOT of the costumes get recycled, and I, being so big, have my own “collection” at Utah Opera)  I went to put on the pants, and could not zip them up!  It was like three-four inches to small!!  I know that I haven’t put on that much weight!  As they go to get some new pants, and I take the old ones off, I notice that they have big seams where they have been taken in when they were out on a rental.  WHEW!!  Still, it was a scare, and I do not want to go through that again.  So It is becoming more important to me than ever that I start making this my priority.

And I am auditioning this week for my first ever Shakespeare play.  I’m excited and nervous.  Having never done Shakespeare, this is a little nerve-wracking for me.  I’m having to memorize my first monologue, and trying to chose one is a bit intimidating.  I know that I’m not that great an actor and as I search through the monologues and consider the great actors that have struggled with Shakespeare and who am I to think I can do this.  But I will and I’m going to have a great time (if I’m cast).  I’ll keep you updated.

Quote of the day:

“The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made. – George Burns”