Associated Actors and Technicians or AAT if you will is a student sponsored organization at Weber State University that operates through the Department of Performing Arts. This semester AAT will be producing (in part with the Department of Performing Arts) The Cradle Will Rock, A Plat in Music by Marc Blitzstein.
The Cradle Will Rock is the story of 26 characters in Steel Town USA. It is a 1930's political satire concerning, mainly, Unions for steel workers. It involves a lot of hot topics, such as; prostitution, unions, protesting, and money-crazed men.
With some clever cast-doubling our amazingly-talented director, Trent Cox, synthesized 15 brilliant Weber State students from the Department of Performing Arts to be the vehicle for these characters to come to life.
Tonight we had a rehearsal to present a thing called "Source Work." For those unfamiliar with source work, don't feel bad! I didn't know what it was till this past semester. Source work is an object or pictures or really anything that reminds or represents the show at hand. In our case, The Cradle Will Rock. The Source Work rehearsal was great. From pictures to purses, and power points to helmets. All different reminders of why we have gathered to put on this production. For me it reminded me of why I do theatre.
In a conference about two-three years ago I heard a quote from Anne Bogart. She said "I do theatre because real life is unacceptable." It sounds a little morbid and odd but for me I totally agree. When life is getting me down and I need a release, I sing. Life CAN be unacceptable. We as a society use this "escapism" as a way to get away from our 9-to-5 jobs, church responsibilities, and sometimes even our kids. For me this escapism is art; theatre primarily.
How lucky am I that I get up and get to study in all its entirety, theatre?
Tonight's rehearsal reminded me of that.
Recently I have started to shift my focus a little. I am working on me solely. I started with my beliefs system. I am LDS but I was not acting like or upon it. I believe so why wasn't I believING? So THAT was my first priority and it remains and will remain number one.
Next I am working on financially securing my future. Saving more and spending less. Not gonna lie, I do not understand the value of a dollar. For real. This one is hard. I am working on it though. It will get better. That's all that matters.
Finally I am working on just dating and having fun with my friends. I am a totally lovable person! Why have I not been sharing this??? Oh well, who knows why. From now on; it's nothing but up.
till next time.
-tay
