Westmass. (Read: Westmss)

Oh, boy. I don't think any of us were expecting this. 

There comes a time in a girl's life when she realizes that she needs to tone down her imagination. She needs to stop fantasizing about things before they happen because they inevitably will not be what she's dreamed about. I think a lot of women have this revelation because they're tired of figuring out how crappy their significant other actually is, but for me, it's happened most with trips and adventures. It's not so much that they're WORSE than what I'd wanted or BAD or something, just very, very different. Sometimes, much better than I could have hoped. Sometimes, a bit of a letdown.

Before this trip, I calmed myself. I said, "Molly, do NOT get attached to an image of a, like, a tribe of free-thinking thespians who could absolutely dominate the world of theater if they weren't so grounded and generous. Also, do NOT imagine a gorgeous, sacred working environment with every instrument and costume and carpentry tool known to humanity. And, most specifically, DO NOT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS believe that you will make friends with any of the other interns. That's not what this is ABOUT, Molly. In fact," I said to me, sagely, "in fact, just try not to think about it too much at all."

But, of course, I DID think about it, and, of course, I imagined all those things.

And guess what? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS. It's creative boot camp. The ensemble members are INCREDIBLE, the setting is already breathtaking and it's only going to get better because have I mentioned FALL IN NEW ENGLAND, and there are at least two other interns that I'm hands-down sure I'll be lasting friends with.

We trained twice today, two hours apiece. It's constant movement. Right now, things are a little difficult because we're really following our leading ensemble member's movements, but I think it will become more free-for-all later. 

I'm too worn out to write much right now. I have wi-fi, so I'll be able to keep in touch much better than expected. 

Trips to New York and Boston will be organized!

And guess what? Guests are welcome. Just. So you know that.

Love you.

Post-birthday pre-semester jitters.

Leaving tomorrow for my semester in Ashfield. I'll study with Double Edge Theater, whose mission, if you're interested, you should google. I've been doing a very poor job explaining.

I was originally to study with them last spring and then drop out of school to pursue my dreams of being a homeless artist, reeking of integrity and week-old Kraft cheese, hounding the streets of Baltimore or Scranton or something in the name of artistic freedom (and Kraft cheese, who in this version of the fantasy I would be a spokesperson for), but things changed, as they do, and I'm now going THIS semester, coming BACK to NIU, and then taking a few more classes the semester after I initially would have graduated. So... best of both worlds, right? RIGHT!?

Remember Krymov, who I gushed about in my Russia posts? Or threatened to gush about? Don't think I ever got around to saying what I found so fantastic... anyway, he IS fantastic and his WORK is fantastic, and Double Edge is the closest thing there is to an American equivalent.

What I like about Krymov's actors and imagine I'll like about Double Edge's (I've never actually seen a production of theirs. Leap of faith...) is their commitment to movement, courage and the body. I like performances best when I can hear the actor gasping for breath, or see them sweating. My favorite kind of onstage acting is visceral, messy stuff, full of snot and fear and real, true excitement and maaaaybe a little blood, if the moment is right (a guy in Russia was delivering a really active monologue during one of the weirder war shows I saw there, and he fell off the table he was jumping on and smashed his mouth on a chair. One of the other actors, in a line a few minutes later which I can only assume was about being calmer and more rational soldiers, stuck his fingers into Actor 1's mouth and wiped real, human blood on the table. This was not planned. It was unmatchably powerful). I'm very interested in watching this style evolve and taking part in as much of it's early stages as I possibly can. I think it's a pretty new approach to stage performance.

Double Edge and Krymov also champion the combination of multiple art forms, which I think has been a long time coming. They both use Environmental Theater, a type of staging that involves landscape and audience movement/involvement (the stage's response to Hollywood's 3D obsession).

So aside from the incredible training we'll participate in alongside the Double Edge company, I and the other interns will have ample time to pursue our own artistic projects. While I'm there, for example, I want to work on an idea I have for a one-woman show that is in VERY early stages (PAINFULLY early, please ask me no questions about it or I may burst into tears of frustration). I'll let you know what the other interns are doing.

I'm terrified, excited, and juuuuust a little ready.

See you guys in December! Wish me luck and bravery!

Love y'all.