Looking in the Attic

A few days ago, I was just rummaging through my stuff in my mother's office and I couldn't find the thing I was looking for. I kept looking and looking and looking until I had looked almost everywhere. The last place to look was the attic. The attic was a mirror of the weather outside. In the summer, it is so hot that I can hardly breathe. In the winter, it is so cold that I need my winter coat to go up there. The stairs are steep and a weathered shade of red. My feet were so cold, I thought about running down the stairs to get my slippers but decided against it because then I would have to endure the entire experience over. I got to the top of the stairs and saw the rows and rows of never-ending boxes filled with useless junk that my father will never get rid of. I had forgotten what I was looking for but started to rake through the piles of paper and old appliances. I got bored after about a minute of this so I decided to go to the secret room that was hidden behind a door with the mirror on it. The lock was rusted so it took me a while to open it. I walked it and it was pitch dark filled with the toys that I had used as a child. I remember sword fighting with my sister there and breaking the light bulb in the process. I left that room to go to the room behind it, where a teepee stood. It was a room of silence. I liked it. I could just stay there for hours. And that is exactly what I did!

The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder

Over the weekend, I attended an incredible performance of Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth, at Fordham University in New York City. Before seeing it, I read the play and was very confused by the plot line. I didn't really understand what was going on because there were dinosaurs and mammoths and so many other wacky things going on onstage. There were times when the actors would stop playing their characters in the middle of an act and say things directly to the audience as themselves. One thing I really enjoyed about the play is that for the third act, as written in the script, the actors have difficulties and many of them are ill. Because of this, they  move the entire audience over to a different theater space and do a quick run through, also written, before the act begins. It is very thought provoking and had so many good actors. I encourage everyone to read and see it!

Time Goes On

The crisp wind of this time slices your face as you walk around.
The vibrant colors of the world piercing your eyes, trying to get a good spot in your heart.
The sounds of the crows blast your ears off in a cemetery.
The pie that your mom has made tastes like the perfect pumpkin.
You smell her beginning to make dinner.

The air sends chills down your spine, making you shiver.You gather around the fire.
The crackling of the bark and the whooshing of the wind become one.
The hot chocolate runs down your throat, coating it with warmth.
The kids all run out to play, flying down the hills and making angels in the fresh powder.
The evergreen tree gives off fumes that draw you around it with your loved ones.

The air has a sweet smell to it when it comes, filled with honeysuckle.
You can spend days outside looking up at the bright blue sky watching the clouds pass.
You feel the soft rain pattering on your arms as it trickles down, cooling you down.
The distinct sound of your rubber boots, rubbing against your feet.
The bunnies have fun frolicking in your garden as the flowers wake up.

Your skin burns as the hours grow longer.
You chase your friends down the street as you hear the ding of the ice cream truck.
The rainbows are painted across the fresh canvas.
The popsicles melt in your mouth as the fruit flavor stains your tongue.
You sit out on your lawn until the wind picks up again.

The Thief of Always

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker is a fantasy novel that I have just begun to read. If you have seen my last post, it was inspired by a theme from this novel. It follows a boy named Harvey who is fed up with the lousy weather and seeks to find some fun at a place called the Holiday House. So far it is an amazing story and I can't wait to get further into it. I love books that have some magic in them. One of the characters in the story Mrs. Griffin says, "Nothing's perfect...because time passes...and the beetle and the worm find their way into everything sooner or later." My personal interpretation of this is that all good things must always come to an end and will always fade away. Nothing can be perfect because nothing stays in this world for too long. Everything keeps leaving this world but as it does, new things come into it!

December, The Snowy Child

December likes to run around the street, putting icicles on houses or frost on the grass. When December walks up to you, you feel cold, but warm at the same time, as if his personalty makes up for the bitter weather he creates. He likes to hide behind snow mounds and create a pile of snowballs so he is ready to attack at a moments notice. We have fun with December, but sometimes, we can't wait for him to leave. The freezing winds and snowflakes he blows at you can get tiring to deal with. But all the same, he is amazing and shouldn't change one thing about himself because we all can, and must, live with the cold!

Aladdin On Broadway

One of my newest obsessions is with Aladdin the Musical which is now on Broadway. Being a long time Disney fans paired with my love of musical theatre makes this be perfect for someone like me. My voice teacher just introduced me to one of the songs in the musical, "Proud Of Your Boy", which was supposed to make it into the original movie but didn't make the cut. Once I heard it, I fell in love with it. It has a beautiful melody and a wonderful message. The song is all about Aladdin singing to his mother about how someday, he will make her proud. Since this song also fits perfectly for my vocal range, I am practically singing it day and night! If you haven't heard of this musical before now, you've got to check it out now!

Auditions

One of my passions in life, in addition to reading and writing, is drama: the world of theatre. My first production must of been when I was about five years old. It was an opera (did I mention I also sing?). Even so, I actually surprisingly wasn't one of the featured singers at my young age or even singing at all for that matter, but back to the point. This post is to teach young people interested in theatre about auditioning. How do you audition? What should you do? What shouldn't you do? All of these questions will hopefully be answered by the time you finish.

First off, the way you present yourself at an audition is crucial. Once you step into the audition room, the director is watching how you act from the beginning. You don't want to act nervous or scared even though your heart is probably racing faster than it ever has before. Standing up and performing in front of people can be scary, but letting your nerves get the best of you is not something you want to do. I have been auditioning for quite a long time now and I still get butterflies in my stomach before I start to perform. The best thing to do is take a deep breath and relax. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of your performance because if it is good enough for you, it will most likely be good enough for them.

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions if you are confused about directions. I am sure the director will gladly help you to understand. Directors can be a bit frightening when you first meet them but once you get to know them, I am sure they will be one of the best people you will ever meet.

Finally, you want to memorable at your audition so you stick out. Always project your voice so that the director can hear you and never put the lyrics or lines right in front of your face. This muffles your sound and will definitely get in the way of you getting the part. Last but not least, have fun with your audition. If you are standing on stage nervous and shaking in your boots, everyone in the room will feel nervous for you as well. If you go on stage with a smile on your face and confidence, you will be able to have fun and do well at your audition. It pays off, trust me.

                                     

The Age of Miracles Review

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker is an amazing science fiction novel that I just began to read in my class, Reading and Writing for Self Discovery. It follows a girl named Julia who has just learned that the earth has begun to spin slower than usual. It is her recalling all of the unbelievable things that occur as this slowing continues. Her family grows apart and she faces new challenges that she has to deal with. When the book first started, it is effective that Walker pulls you right into the initial conflict: the slowing of the earth. The short sentences are strong and work in getting the main point across. I really enjoy the way Walker describes Julia's surroundings in detail so that you can really picture the scene in your mind. Reading it has helped me learn about using things that provoke fear or struggle for your protagonist as the theme of your story, it really helps the reader understand how they are feeling. It's an excellent novel for all types of readers and I strongly recommend everyone to pick it up and start to read. It goes pretty fast once you get into it!
                                                     

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to my new blog! I am currently a freshman at School of the Arts, and new this year, I am taking a creative writing course for my major. I really enjoy reading fantasy books but I like writing a mix of realistic fiction and fantasy. You could say I am a mix of a fantasist and a realist. I enjoy reading books such as Harry Potter. Long series usually really get me hooked if they have to do with magic. Reading is one of my passions because it helps me to learn how to become a better writer. In my stories I always like to believe in the impossible or very unlikely because who knows, it could just happen. My blog is all about having fun with the arts and learning new things along the way. I hope you enjoy!