Lit From Within: Adventures of a Playwright

Time Spent in Airports

2010-11-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

I find myself spending a good amount of time in airports. Not always, but occasionally there's weeks of travel, and thus weeks spent in airports.

This is what happened recently.

I was waiting for my bags at LAX. It's a strange place, a mix of people coming home, people coming to visit; people who know LA like the back of their hand, people who have never seen it before. Baggage claim is the ideal time for people watching. It's amazing to see how quickly people get irritated over the silliest thing.

The board kept changing, and it was announced our bags would be delayed- again. The guy next to me grumbled, "It's like a freakin' third world country up in here." Oh, how right you are, sir! I can't tell you how many times I've been in a third world country and saw people complaining over their baggage claim delays. I mean, the nerve of those airlines! To make us wait for our bags?! The sheer indecency of it all!

That made me laugh. But what I saw next made me sad. A teenage girl, fighting back tears, arms crossed, hoodie up. I didn't know what had happened but I could imagine. I've had to fly more times than I care to count with the heavy knowledge that a person I love dearly was either dying or already dead. I remember coming back from my grandfather's funeral- where I'd been brave, brave, brave- and the second I was out of my parents sight, I burst into tears, in the middle of the security line. I sobbed as I put my stuff in bins, separated my ziploc bag filled of 3 oz liquids and took off my shoes. I padded my way through the metal detector, clad in only socks and tears, and no one said a word to me. It's an airport- there's really no room for humanity. So seeing this girl brought that all back. I thought about walking up to her, just smiling and saying, "I don't know what's going on with you, but I promise it will get better." Even if things don't get better, they do. You know what I mean?

But then a woman walked up to her, hand on her shoulder, low, comforting voice. "Honey, it's not that bad."

The girl turned and snapped at her, "It is that bad! I have to get a new ipod!"

Wow. Wow. I watched the girl yell at her grandma/family member. I waited for my bags and called my ride, pulling further and further away from the insanity of the airport.

And all I could think was, "Perspective. It's useful in more than just 7th grade art class."

With love and the prettybeautiful changing colors of leaves,

Michelle

2010: Being myself

2010-01-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

Many moons ago, I lived in a magical land of dorms, a land called Leavey 5, where I lived on the 3rd floor, and subsequently, the 4th floor. Both of these times, I lived in a room with a girl named Catherine.

Catherine is pretty much all you could ask for as far as good roommates go. Although I don't think this sentence needs to be elaborated on, I will. She was kind, sweet and kept things clean. Also, we really got along. She was whimsical yet practical, compassionate yet realistic when needed.

And though I adore her, I don't usually blog about her, so you might be wondering why now? Well I was thinking earlier about something Catherine used to say to me. The wonderful thing about roommates is that they know everything about you. Catherine knew my life play-by-play. We could do a run down of what was happening with the other like a sports fanatic might do with stats. And thus, she knew when I was upset about even the smallest, silliest thing. Like girls, we'd analyze situations. Often, I'd worry that I'd said the wrong thing, reacted the wrong way. This is what Catherine would say: "So what? I would rather be me and be wrong."

Today I found myself worrying about that what I said was the wrong thing. I worried about how the person would take it. Then I thought about Catherine. And I knew what I said was true- so what did it matter what the other person thought? Because what I said is part of who I am. And I really truly would rather be me and be "wrong" in someone else's eyes than be untrue to myself. So...there you go.

The other thing about this idea, "I would rather be me and be wrong" is that I think it applies to playwriting. Because if you aren't completely true to your voice, I can guarantee you will be wrong. It's wrong to try and write in a voice that isn't truly yours. I know my writing is best when it is absolutely, totally me. And on that side of things, you can find some of my more twisted side here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/michelleweilert

"I'm leaning on this broken fence, between past and present tense, and I'm losing all those stupid games that I swore I'd never play, but it almost feels okay."

Happy 2010, everyone. I think it's going to be great.

With love and hope,

Michelle

Quick post...

2009-11-15T22:15:00.001-08:00

You guys!!! I know I owe a much longer post to everyone but here's 2 things I wanted to mention:

1. Show in new york in February!! Yay!! Turtle Love Song: An Epitaph will see its 3rd production this February in nyc at the Riant Theatre. I'm very excited. I love this show dearly and can't wait to see another production.

2. I was SWEET DEE for halloween!!! Is this not the best costume you've ever heard of?!!? To be more specific, I was Sweet Dee in the "Nightman Cometh" episode, aka the Princess Waitress. Here's a photo of it. I was the only Sweet Dee I saw so....pretty awesome.

more to come soon...so many updates!

oh wait and this. Ainsley!! Check out my first Ainsley video. There are more coming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ULC7PTo3lM

Watch it and let me know what you think!

xoxo,

Michelle

p.s. the cat in the halloween photo is my awesome friend jessica kaplan. holla!

4 years in California

2009-10-11T21:31:00.001-07:00

Fair warning, readers: This is a sentimental post. Proceed with caution.

Some time ago, I begin to formulate a piece in my head: an open letter from me to my past, specifically my 4 years in California. It’s grown increasingly clear that my years in California are not anywhere near over and yet the years to come are markedly different. I needed to say goodbye to my past and fully embrace my future. Most of my life, I have marked the new year as the beginning of school. With no academic calendar to guide me, I haven’t made a set of goals, a list of resolutions. Instead, I write this letter, my way of closing the page on one chapter and opening myself up to the next.

Dear my four years in California,

You have changed me.

People say you change in college. I knew it would be true. I just didn’t know it would be this true.

I have spent the past months marveling at everything that has happened to me since I sent in my acceptance to LMU. How did I end up here? And how did I end up so lucky? My life is beautiful, enchanted, blessed. And I am grateful for every single moment.

I remember staring at that acceptance letter and wondering how on earth I could ever leave my family and come to school so far away. But come I did. And in the process met so many wonderful people. I could not name all of them. But here’s a tribute to a few.

Allison, my freshman year roommate and forever friend. I couldn’t have been more nervous to share a room for the first time in my life or more thrilled with who I ended up with. Few people in this world can honestly make me laugh until it hurts; Allison is one of them. I love her in ways I can’t explain. No lunch, no visit, no conversations passes without hysterical laughter. We just get each other. Lucky, lucky life.

Barrett, my best friend in the world, a girl who stood by my side through every up and down, side to side, wonky thing to ever happen to me. I believe we have soulmates that aren’t romantic and Barrett is mine. She is my match creatively and she is the ying to my yang. We’ve been partners for years and I can’t wait to see what else we come up with.

Rachel, a buoy who held me up during hard times. The older I get, the more I want to be surrounded by people who knew me when I was younger. People who know my roots, who know me in a way other people can’t. And certainly I want to be surrounded by people who exude sweetness and charm the way Rachel does. She makes me feel at home.

Other friends, Laura, Jessica, Megan, Catherine, the sweet souls with whom I shared laughter and tears….I’d like to name you all but I can’t. Many of us have parted ways as life takes us to different corners of the world. Some remain here in LA with me. All remain in my heart.

Beth, my kindred spirit. If anyone has inspired me to have confidence in myself, it is you because you have always have had complete faith in me. There are teachers who change everyone’s life, I think. I’ve been fortunate enough to have several, you among them. You are my Mr. Holland. (Mr. Holland’s Opus, anyone? Great movie.) More than that, you have become a friend to me, besides being my mentor and I love you dearly.

The LMU admins and staff who helped me along the way….among them, the fabulous Dean Busse, the talented poet Sarah Maclay who may have restored my faith in the institution of teaching…. And of course that doctor who changed my life forever when I walked in with a head cold. Blessings in disguise.

Though this is about college, I will mention my family: my rock, my anchor, my sounding board, my everything. I would not be standing if it weren’t for them. And I think they’d say the same about me.

And finally, finally, my college boyfriend: a person who very much colored my days of higher learning, and someone from whom I may have learned the most. It is very easy to be bitter when a relationship falls apart. It’s much harder to see what role that person played in your life and to not only feel, but be able to express gratitude for that. It has taken me almost a year but here I am. I have come out on the other side a better person. First love is such a tender thing, so private and intimate. Falling in love has so many rewards and so many sorrows. It was not an easy three years, but it was exactly what I needed at the time. In the end, our paths begin to go separate ways. Ours was a college love, the kind of magical relationship that will forever exist in my mind in direct relation to a campus and a very specific corner of LA. And as for the boy, he was a stepping stone in my life: my stop on the way to better things. He is a part of my college years, my past. I only wish I could as easily put him away in a box with the rest of my college memorabilia. Like all matters of the heart, it is not quite that simple.

There is more to the story of college, of course. 4 years of my life. There is always more. Walks across the beautiful campus, poignant moments in diners and cafes, late nights in the theatre building, the exploration of LA, ourselves, our lives. I would like to share more but I would also like to keep it to myself. My own private memories.

There is one last thing I wish to share: the moment I clearly felt myself going places. Maybe as a writer I should use my own words but here I choose to borrow. Music, sometimes, conveys the sentiment in ways written word never could. So while I sat in a darkened theatre in New York City, watching my favorite childhood movie coming to life onstage, Sierra Boggess sang these words and I knew instantly they were meant for me:

“I’d hoped and wished my life would feel enchanted. Wished and prayed the fates would hear my plea, prayed and wow- my prayers are more than granted…. Just look at me and you will see someone beyond her wildest dreams!”

That was 2 months before my first show opened right off Times Square. And that is still how I feel now….like every moment in my life has catapulted me somewhere beyond my wildest dreams.

But the point is, every person in this story, every piece of this collage, has taken me to where I am now. These people, these things, these places have delivered me to this exact moment in my life. And right now, it’s all kind of beautiful. So here’s to the next phase, to my new life, my new me. Let the adventures begin.

love, love, love.

Note-worthy

2009-07-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hellos,

It's been a bit since I updated my blog. I've been busy, busy, busy with writing and life and all those things of that kind of nature. I'm re-decorating my apartment here (although since there is no decorations to speak of at the moment, I guess "re" is a useless addition to the word) and that is way time-consuming. I spend a lot of time looking at things and then not getting them. Choosing what photos/paintings/posters you want to stare at day in and day out is a surprisingly significant life choice. So....I'm fine taking that slowly for now.

In other news, Dallas Morning News did an article about me!!! My 2nd published interview ever! The writer of said article, Kendall Keirkham, was such a delight. We had a lot of common and honestly, half the interview was spent just chatting and laughing. Which I think made for a great perspective for the article. But check it out, please! I'm proud. I especially love getting a spot in my hometown's newspaper. I'll always love my roots.

http://neighborsgo.com/stories/39268

I did a guest spot on my roommate's blog. Check it out, yo! It posted on Saturday, July 18, and it's all about my thoughts on Bruno/that type of comedy. Pretty interesting....in my opinion. And otherwise, the blog is fab. Laura is one thoughtful lady and her writing is definitely worth your time. One entry is particularly fascinating to me. I read it and felt like it related directly to me. I had to look around the room to be sure Laura had not been secretly spying on me and then documenting her observations of my life. But if she can make anyone feel like that reading her blog, it's a sign of good writing, to be sure.

http://cockeyed-optimist.blogspot.com/

I cooked a good meal the other day. I felt accomplished, eating food and knowing I made it. It's good that I could give back something to Laura, who often cooks for me. She's getting me to try all kinds of new things. Turns out I like red peppers....this is break-through stuff, folks.

Have a great week, everybody.

Love and other positive emotions,
Michelle

Pictures worth sharing

2009-07-07T19:22:00.001-07:00

What an unusually excellent photo of my brother and me.

Pictures of life and love, as it happens.

My niece, Lizzie, whom I love.

I could add words, but I think the pictures tell their own stories.

Something beautiful

2009-07-04T00:10:00.000-07:00

I've noticed most of my entries on here are incredibly upbeat. It's not that my life is an endless parade of happiness and sunshine....I think I just would rather put the positive out into the world. And that's a good thing. A really good thing.

So I recently had a moment so, so worthy of blogging about. Which is kind of rare, you know. A moment so awesome you want to tell the whole weird. Maybe that's why I don't "tweet." Few things in my life I would want to be made public knowledge. And then there is the small fact that the most awesome of moments...well, I wouldn't hand those secrets out to just anyone. But this one I will share.

I showed up to work and Beth had a friend over. "Oh Michelle," she said, "This is Sarah." Then she paused and thought about it. "Oh, you know her- Sarah Ruhl." Of course I know her! I then had a very silly moment where I said, "The Sarah Ruhl? You're...her?" And Sarah laughed and I laughed and we shook hands. Then about an hour later, I'm sitting at Beth's kitchen table and we're all snacking- Sarah brought Mexican food- and I realize: I am having lunch with Sarah Ruhl and Beth Henley. An actual moment in my actual life. And then we discussed Chekhov. The theatre geek in me was going crazy but on the outside, I acted totally normal. Like I have discussion with a Pulitzer-Prize nominee and winner every day or something. And when I left- Sarah hugged me! I hope I am always this excited to meet people I respect and admire so much. Life wouldn't be very fun if I couldn't get excited over things like this.

I wanna talk about my favorite thing as of late. I'm settling into my apartment, which is lovely. I love my roommate and getting closer with Laura has been so great. I've been hanging out with new people. One unfortunate side effect of graduating college was that a lot of people moved away. But getting to know new people has been good. So, anyway - my favorite thing. While I'm getting to know them, they're getting to know me. And it's fascinating, watching someone discover things about you. I've been hanging out with someone who likes to say, "You know what I noticed about you? You..." and then he proceeds to tell me some small detail about me, usually something amazing that I've never thought about. I love getting this different perspective on myself. He's putting all these pieces together and occasionally lets me in on his view of the puzzle. It's neat. I've been laughing a lot these days. Not just anyone can make me laugh, but I find myself surrounded now by people who can.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. I've been thinking a bit about 4th of Julys in the past. This will be my first one in California. Well, cool. I was trying to remember why I couldn't remember last year's- I was in London. No trades. That was an amazing 4th, in America or not. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

xoxo
Michelle

I'm looking at the man in the mirror...

2009-06-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

What an interesting day. I was leaving Beth's house when I heard on my radio that Michael Jackson died. They say things happen in threes, and it seems right, as this was on the heels of Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon. At any rate, I don't have much to say about any of these people other than that they all worked very hard and I respect them for that. They all did some remarkable things.

What I really find note-worthy about this situation was the outpouring of humanity. I was driving down the 405, scanning radio stations, hearing one MJ hit after another, it occured to me that almost every other car driving alongside me must have been doing the same thing. What an amazing moment. Knowing that I was that connected to humanity, that millions of people were probably listening to the same song, at the very least listening to the same man. It was like this subject permeated the air- everyone has this thought somewhere in their minds, it seemed.

And yet, thousands of people die every day. Why does this one matter so much more than others? I'm not sure it can be placed in a ranking like that. But I appreciate the beautiful connection between people that is happening at this moment.

It's a beautiful life. Even on a day filled with death.... People may mourn, but never forget to celebrate life, right here, right now.

Given my few blog entries, it may seem monumental I posted about this. I'm not particularly attached but it caught my eye and ear somehow. On the whole, I'm trying to update this more. Follow me, readers? I'll be around more, I promise.

Hope summer is amazing.

With love,
Michelle

Momma said there'd be days like this...

2009-06-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

Well. I did it. I graduated from college- college!!!

I planned on writing this really meaningful blog entry about college, and how it changed me, and the people who meant the most....but then I got kind of busy....enjoying my life. And though I definitely still plan on doing it at some point in the future, that point is not now. Right now, I'm enjoying SUMMER.

Since we last talked, lots of amazing things have happened. All those shows I mentioned opened and went so well. Here is a photo from the Ursuline show: this is EXACTLY how I imagined the turtle went I wrote the script. And may I say, Miss Nina Bolka directed this play to perfection. I was so happy I wanted to cry. But instead I laughed. Because, well, it was funny.

And now I'm just a working girl, living in LA. But not working like that.....you know what I mean. But I like it. Life is good.

And now, as per request, my "note from the playwright" from my senior showcase. Enjoy, my lovelies. Expect another update soon....there is much to say.

A note from the playwright:

So here’s the thing. I think theatre should be fun. If it’s not fun, why are we here? That being said, it should also be moving. Not in that after-school special kind of way, but in the way that it’s nice to have some sort of message, to let the audience walk away feeling something. And that is why the 3 plays you are about to see (or just saw, depending on when you read this) are a mix of comedy and drama. Because that’s what life is- a mix of some truly hilarious and some truly awful things all happening to us in this short span of time that is our life here on Earth. If you can’t laugh about these things, well, that’s your first problem right there.

I write plays. That is what I do. I put them on, because there is a thrill in live theatre that you can’t get anywhere else. And it occurred to me that I’d done my shows in NYC and some in Dallas, but I’d never really done a show here, at LMU, my stomping ground, you know? So I decided it was high time for this to happen and thus, here you are, at the show. I can’t imagine a better way to end my 4 years at LMU. This school has been so kind and supportive to me. When I was just a baby freshman, Ron Marasco put me in Beth Henley’s creative process class and my whole world opened up. I read her plays in high school and suddenly I was sitting across from her! Theatre is magic. I truly believe that. And this show is my thank you to LMU, and my farewell. In one of the shows you see tonight a character says this about art: “It makes people feel things. It’s changing lives.” This school, and the people at it, have changed my life. And for that I will be always grateful. I am grateful to them, and I am grateful to all of you who have come out tonight. It means the world to me.

As a side note, playwriting is only part of the production. Directing is a whole other animal. I have to extend my deepest thanks to my dear friend, Orchid Taira for lending her directing skills to this production, a vision the two of us came up with together. It’s amazing what wonderful things can happen when people come together to create something.

So enjoy the shows. And also….enjoy your lives. We only get one, you know.

With love,
Michelle Weilert

Shock and awe

2009-04-04T17:21:00.001-07:00

Here's something that has never happened before: someone requested I update my blog! So I decided I should jump right on that before they change their mind!

But seriously, I have something to say this time! There are things going on. For real, my internet childrens!

1. I have a website! A real, live, awesome one! Brilliantly designed by Curtis Peel, I will say that this website is very, very me, while maintaining some air of professionalism. A great balanace. Check it out, won't you? It links you back here (my blog) but check out all the other pages too! Bio, works, contact, links. Fun stuff! You can find it here:

www.michelleweilert.com

2. In other blog-worthy news, there are shows coming up! You can see this on the upcoming shows page on my site, but let's review, shall we?

April 23-25, 2009, Foley Patio, LMU: Orchid Taira and I are putting on 3 of my one-acts! I am directing "Gate 48B," and she is directing "youPhone" and "Turtle Love Song: An Epitaph." This is TLS's world premiere! Hurrah! Also, in a weird little twist, I am playing the lead in TLS. Me, acting? Yes, that's right, kids, I'm back onstage. And it feels...amazing. To be perfectly honest, I've missed it. It makes me see my writing in a whole different way....and I love it.

3. The Ursuline shows. There is nothing like a jaunt to the good ole alma mater.....The weekend after my shows at school, I will go to Dallas to see two of my one-acts performed as part of Senior One Acts in the UA Black Box, aka my old stomping ground. TLS will be directed by the very beautiful and talented Miss Nina Bolka, and "The Flats: The Real SoCal" is directed by the equally talented, but not equally tall, Miss Erin Dooley. It should be great.

4. Shelly-O productions!! We've got way more than half of the episode already shot, and will finish the remaining scenes soon. Then it's post-production time! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished production...and of course, showing it to all of you!

5. The New York show!! Orchid is about to leave to do the casting but I can reveal one piece of casting already....we've got our lead! In the form of the super-talented Maria Blasucci, who continually cracks me up. Check her out in her webseries, link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXhhsJG9PI

6. Um.....what else? I'm graduating! May 9th! It's happening, for reals! Hopefully shortly after that, my full-length play will see at least a staged reading here in LA. I'm working hard to finish it!

Thanks for everyone's continued support. Please check out my website and let me know what you think!!! You can email me a comment or post one here. Hope everyone's April is great.

Love,
Michelle

New shows

2009-02-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Well, hey there everyone! Can you believe it's almost March? Unreal! So, here's the update.

I got back from NYC a little while ago and saw the second production ever of "Connection." The show went really well. It was great to be back in the city and see Barrett and Melody. Sad news, actually- Melody is moving to Paris!! For love and music, and I guess I can't think of a better reason. But I am sad because Melody is the one actress in NY that I feel really gets my work. There is a unique tone to my comedy and I think if you don't hit it right on the head, it's like listening to music that is just slightly out of tune. Melody nails it every time. I'll miss her, and hope she comes back to NY someday!

While in the city, I saw the new Moises Kaufman play, "33 Variations." Amazing! I believe it's still in previews, and the day I saw it, Moises came onstage and said that they had cut pages and added pages to the script that very day. I loved it. The play touched my soul. And inspired me, made me remember why I love the theatre. I hope one day I'll be up on that stage telling an audience about how I cut and added new things to the script that day. It's good to have dreams....and better to have the ambition to feel like maybe I could really do it.

Also- SNL afterparty! So fun! Has everyone heard the new Lonely Island CD? I'm in love with it. I met Jorma outside of 30 Rock. What a nice guy! I also talked to Akiva again. The TLI guys are genuinely nice and fun to talk to. I was reading an article about them, and Andy is quoted as saying, "I love dick humor. I have since I was 12." I realized, right then, that the same is true about me! As ridiculous as that is to say....yes, I love dick humor. I love very smart, clever humor, but man, dick humor- it gets me every time.

So. The upcoming shows. Here's the list.

April 30-May 2: Two one-acts of mine are opening at Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas. "Turtle Love Song: An Epitaph" by me, directed by Nina Bolka, along with "The Flats" by Barrett Johnston and I, directed by Erin Dooley. I'm really excited about this show. Mainly because I know that both of these girls get my humor. In fact, I really prefer to have my shows directed by girls. I think they just "get it" in ways guys don't.

May 11: My one-act, "youPhone," is being done at the American Globe Theatre in NYC as part of their 15 minute play festival. Hopefully we'll advance to the next round, and if we do, I'll let you guys know what the other dates are.

May ??: A staged reading of my full-length play that I'm currently working on under the mentorship of Beth Henley. It's so fun to work on, and I can't wait to see what happens for my characters. Date to be determined!

May 9: I graduate from college!!! Not entirely relevant to my playwriting life...but exciting nonetheless!

AND....here is the thing I am most excited about. My dear friend, Orchid Taira, and I are starting a web series. The first episode is written and ready to shoot. I think it's going to be really great. The only thing that will be greater is when Barrett finally moves her pretty self out to LA and the 3 of us can all work together. I'll post the link when the series is online.

I hope everything is going well with you guys! Almost spring break time!

With love,
Michelle

So this is the new year....

2009-01-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

New year, new me. In the past, I haven't believed that phrase. I don't know what about it bothered me but I just couldn't buy into that philosophy. I have always felt I remain fundamentally the same, no matter how much things change around me. But this year...I'm not so sure. I feel different. And it feels good. I feel like for the first time, it is a new year and I really am a new me. And life is both thrilling and scary, at the same time.

I'm heading back to LA very soon and life is about to hit warp-speed again. Once school starts, everything will go crazy. My last semester in college. Wow. I feel like it's going to go faster than I can even imagine. Even right now, as quick as I think it will go by, well...faster than that even. Back to LA, then NYC in February for my show, then 2 shows in Dallas in April/May. And then, May...graduation! Yikes. And yay. A weird mix of emotions about the things coming up in my life.

The only other thing I want to say is that right now I really love life. I especially love the surprises it brings, day after day. And what I have finally learned is that the surprises are not the things you cannot do...but rather the ones you can.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2009.

With love,
Michelle

I'm posting! Be proud!

2008-12-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

Alright, I'm truly a terrible blogger. But this is really just my website to promote my shows until I get a real one.

So what's the word, you ask, my internet children? Oh, it's big. Well...let's not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, first, let's go back in time!

http://www.laloyolan.com/news/1.393779

BAM! My first ever interview. I thought a nice throw-back would be a good Holiday treat for all your readers out there (who are you, by the way? I feel like I haven't properly introduced myself. We should really get a two way dialogue going. Maybe get some dinner later? Too soon? Yeah, you're right. We'll see.) So check out the intervew. It's adorable, to me. So young, so naive...so....8 months ago....

Anyway, the other news is another show in NY!! Riant Theatre again, this time for the winter series. More details to come, but the show opens on Valentines Day! And yes, don't say 'aww' yet but it is a romantic comedy....the best kind....about internet dating! But with a happy ending. Not the kind you see on CNN. It's called "Connection" and it was first done at Jesuit College Preparatory in Dallas, TX back in January 2007. I'm excited for it to get onstage again. More details to come about my director, actors, and times, of course. Spoiler alert: It might involve Melody Federer! Don't get too excited yet, readers....we'll see.

And for those in the DFW area, I have 2 one-acts opening here as well. I will tell more about them later. They are part of a series of one-acts being done at Ursuline Academy, my good ole alma mater. Sometime around late April or early May. They are night and day comedies. The writing process for both was incredibly fun. I can't wait to see them on their feet.

Well, I am trying to get myself sleepy. As I typically am when I blog. It's kind of working.....wow, literally, right after I typed that, I yawned! So good night, dear readers. Or good morning...or good day. This is the internet, after all, you could literally be reading this anytime! How about this instead...well wishes to all of you in this holiday season!

With love,
Michelle

I am really horrible at updating this.

2008-08-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hello internet!

Isn't life lovely? It's a rhetorical question...no need to answer.

Since we last spoke (or rather, I typed, you read) a lot has happened! My show is NY was amaazing. The actresses and actors brought it to life! (Ha..a bit of a pun since one of the characters is dead. Silly!) Melody directed it like a complete pro. I was so so so proud. We ended up getting the most 1st place votes of the night, but we did not have the most points. Or, to put it more simply: We won popular, not electoral. Nonetheless, it was a great success and the next day I turned 21.

Sometimes I feel like saying I 'turned' 21 sounds like I achieved something. But really, I didn't. I just went to sleep and woke up and oh look, now I'm 21. Not much of an accomplishment, really. But I digress.

Then I went to Dallas about a week later for the 1st production of Gate 48B! It was so amazing. Paul Difi absolutely blew me away as the guard. His costume and his character were perfection. I was so proud! And Bayli's directing was fab. Ms. Bone was all silly and put a thing in the program about me. I was honored!

Then when I got back to school, I said to myself, "Hey that show went pretty well...maybe I'll enter it into a contest." And then I did. Oh, but the story doesn't end there, my friends! About 2 weeks later, I received a call from the Riant Theatre that my play had been selected for their Strawberry 1 act play festival! I called darling Melody, and cast her in the role of Jodie before I even got a director, because I knew she'd be wonderful. And she was. I went up to NY in July to see the 2nd production of Gate 48B, this time at the Riant Theatre, and I was really happy with it. The first show had some slip-ups, but the 2nd night was one thousand times better! And in the end, the show advanced to the 2nd round, and Melody was nominated for Best Actress of the series! I was so happy with how everything went. You can actually look up stuff about this show on youtube, and it was available to watch online. Very exciting!

I saw August: Osage County while I was there, and wow wow wow. Amazing show. Amazing acting, amazing production.

And finally....in this long update....I put on a play festival in Dallas! Yes, I was actually in charge. It went up at the Sammon Center for the Arts, and it was actually in the newspaper under "Things to do in Dallas." Exciting! We did two shows in 1 day, and sold the 2nd show out! Yippee! It seriously could not have gone better. I was so happy, and also thrilled that I got to spend a day with such fun people, who I owe lots of thanks to for all their help.

I may post pictures on here later but for now I wanted to update everyone on what's happening in my world. My next production (that I know of) will be at Ursuline in December. Details to come!!

I hope everyone's summer has been magical.

With love,
Michelle

The thing about blogging....

2008-04-12T22:30:00.000-07:00

So, here's the thing about blogging.

It bothers me because it makes the assumption that people care what you think. And I don't really know that I believe people care about my opinions on dinosaurs and ketchup and movies and kitty cats. I mean, I really don't know. When I put on a play, you aren't really seeing what is necessarily my opinion or what I think....it's about my characters.

Regardless, if I am to have a blog, I think a lot of it has to be my own opinion. So, here's what I'm thinking about now:

I am only vaguely interested in internet blogs. I am far more interested in celebrity entertainment websites (my boyfriend thinks saying entertainment sounds better than gossip...and I agree, although I have now ruined it by mentioning that which I was not supposed to mention.) I don't know why- I don't particularly care about many celebrities, but it is so fun to read about their lives! Maybe it's just getting away from your own for awhile. Ah, a turn to the personal....I think people have always been interested in celebrities' lives but I think there is too much of an invasion on their privacy now. I am perfectly happy just to hear the stupid things they say in interviews and/or about their many illegal escapades.

I feel like if I was getting interviewed all the time, I would probably say some pretty dumb stuff too. And it'd be so easy to get it taken out of context! Say I'm talking about a movie featuring a lot of obese people and I reference that the characters are similar looking, and then the next thing you know, the headline is "She thinks all fat people look alike!" Well, I don't! I only bring this up because I heard someone say that very thing at a party last night. And I will argue that all fat people do not look alike!

That was kind of silly. It reminds me of another time in one of my english classes at school when someone was talking about how useless the pinky toe is. Because what does it really do? It's hard to say what it does or does not do, but I can almost guarantee you would miss it if it was gone. Honestly!

They have an option for labels for this post, which I suppose helps people reference what this post is about. I really want to label it with random things like...midgets, bird feathers, the letter C, and electrical outlets. None of which I've talked about. But believe me, I have a thing or two to say on all of those subjects.

As a side note, I suggest a fun website to go to:

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

(is that totally weird? You come to my website and I say, oh hey thanks for coming but you should actually go here instead. It's totally better. Weird, man.)

That's all for now. I am looking at those lolcats. But I think they are a little bit more of lqtm cats (laughing quietly to myself!)....it's a more accurate description. Thanks to Demetri Martin for capturing the essential truth on internet laughter in one short acronym.

With a moderate amount of affection (not love...I don't really know you that well, internet...),
Michelle

2008-04-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

This is a photo from the show "www. dating . com-edy." Will Arbery is pictured here playing the lead character of Brian.

Blogging?

2008-04-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

This is my official blog spot for all business in the playwrighting world! I decided I wanted to create a space to let people know about my plays and everything going on with them.

In the next 2 weeks, I have 2 shows opening up and I thought it'd be fun to have a place to post pictures and talk about what happened!

I'm also thinking about posting photos from my old shows and a little info about them. What do you guys think?

First post. Dunn dunn dunn! I don't have much else to say so, until next time...

- Michelle