First Rehearsal!

I can't even begin to express how I'm felling, the high that I'm on right now! This is the most amazing andrenaline rush....wow!

Tonight was the first rehearsal for my completed script "The Breakup" (the title is in draft mode). Words can't describe how thankful I am for both Angela and Amy to participate in this reading. They immediately jumped on board and became invested in something so personal for me. I couldn't have asked for a better pair to be involved. Like Erykah said "I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my shit." I'm the person that's somewhat hesitant to have anyone read what I write because I'm afraid of what their reaction will be. It can make sense in my head but for a piece to have legs and go somewhere it'll need to make sense to those who read it. Furthermore for the audience to truly experience the spirit of the piece those reading it have to make it their own....and these ladies were doing that tonight.

My living room became a theater and I sat watching my words, thoughts, feelings and imagination come to life before my eyes. My dream was manifesting in front of me and I'm sitting here wondering "did that just happen?" I remember when I was the actor on stage trying to understand what the director wanted, was I expressing the feeling that was intended and now I sit in the director's chair. What an incredible shift!

I'm in absolute ecstasy, thank you!

The Breakup!

I'm ecstatic because I've completed my second piece. The first was a monologue and this is a script with two characters. I was encouraged to keep writing by a couple of my friends and I did. Of course, its still in draft mode but the MOST exciting part for me is that its ready for a reading. I've already got one person who's volunteered to read (thanks A!) .....this was my goal in 2010, to complete a piece so that it would be ready for a reading. I finished the monologue but I specifically had in mind a script with 2 characters.

The Breakup is about just that....a breakup. But I wanted to show the emotional and manipulative side of some breakups between women. I commonly hear straight people say "it must be easier for women." They have no idea! Women are driven by emotions therefore making our relationships overload on emotions. Now think about that desperate emotion when you're loosing someone....times 10. That's what I wanted to bring to the stage. Show that reality.

A short draft

G1:     Don’t put your fucking hands on me. (pause) I’ve been calm but DO NOT put your hands on me.

G2:    (desperate) I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry. I don’t understand what’s going on and I just.....will you please stop packing and talk to me? Just talk to me, please. I love you, why are you doing this to me?

G1:    (shocked) To you? Wow (mumbling to self)

G2:     Stop packing! You’re being ridiculous (begins shoving her away from the suitcase)

G1:     What are you doing? Let me go!

(G1 begins shoving G2 away and begins loosing her cool. G2 begins shoving back)

G2:     (attitude changes and becomes manipulative) Look at you, you're acting crazy!

G1:     Oh my God! This is insane, YOU are insane. (throws down clothes that are in her hand and tries to walk away)

(G2 grabs G1 with force to stop her from walking away)

And thus far....

(I began writing this just before the new year)

In less than 48 hours it'll be a new year, 2011. I began writing pieces for this play earlier in the year and with making this determination to really dedicate time to manifesting this dream I want to make sure that it doesn't' fall to the back burner, yet again. This blogging is definitely helping me remain focused and reflect on my minor victories and obstacles that will tell for a great story once my play is complete.

While on break at work I began reading through my older piece called "I Am" and really liked where its going. That piece started with interviews that I was doing of friends, recording them sharing their experiences and kind of creating an account of the many faces of lesbian women. I'm excited to begin that process again because the piece can go almost anywhere. Its really interesting to realize that I'm taking on the task of telling the stories of queer women of color, specifically my friends. Because the reality is that, as of now, they're my main inspiration and resource. Sorry ladies! HA! (that thought just made me giggle).

So this morning I began writing another piece that I'm feeling pretty good about. As I began writing it I started thinking, this topic I'm writing about has been written about over and over again. What will make my story, my piece unique? Then I was reminded that I'm ultimately writing a theater piece so THAT is where I have the ability to do something different. How will I visually convey the feelings of the actors? What movements, facial expressions, what decisions will the actors make in their voices? This is very EXCITING!