Connectedness and Emotion

My second interpreted performance of "Wicked" was today. I had friends in the audience and it was a matinee. I don't love matinee performances as it is not the time of day I feel most energized and alert, but I tried to set myself up for success. I had rehearsed the heck out of it since the last performance, knowing where my trouble spots were.  I decided to take as much of the positive energy from my tribe as I could and channel it into the performance.

I had a few rough spots and a couple of silly mistakes, but overall, I think it went very well. My hands were shaking before the show, which is unusual. I had eaten, so I'm pretty sure it was nerves and emotion.  This was cemented when I almost started crying like 3 times during the show. Luckily, the tears came at appropriate moments - during, "I'm Not That Girl", "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed".

I felt really connected to the character of Elphaba this time - in a way I haven't before. I was thinking about it on the way home today and I realized that she is like Mark in "RENT" - a little alone, an observer, somewhat misunderstood.  Their lives are not conventional in some ways and I sometimes feel that way - like my life's purpose is not on the traditional trajectory - marry, kids, happily ever after. I am a recorder, a watcher, I have other things I'm supposed to do.  I think I'm okay with that, but sometimes, it is just the realization that other people experience that, see that happen to people.  I don't know if that was all it was - it was good to have people from my tribe there - I felt like something was really complete in the day for me.

Anyway, it was a good day. I'm exhausted but happy.

Baby Steps - One Down

I finished reading "The Hunger Games" today! Finally, I finished a book! I have been starting and stopping for so long now, I actually wondered if I would ever finish another book...Seriously. Now, I'm dying to read the rest of the trilogy, but I also have a show to rehearse.

So, in case you are wondering, I spend much of the day today going through "Wicked". I went through the whole show one time, page by page, song by song. I rehearsed all the "in unison" songs several times before I started the whole show run-through and then I did them again when I was done. I plan to do them at least 3-4 times in the morning and evening and I am working on a couple of my solo songs - just some tweaks to be sure the story is clearly conveyed. Yesterday, I did the whole CD and did the "in unison" songs 3 times each.

All in all, a fairly productive weekend, if I do say so myself.

One Down

The performance of "Wicked" went pretty well last night. One of our translations was just way too complicated and we didn't pull it off, but the song that is almost all in-unison signing went very well, so I was happy.

We have a couple of weekends to refine and work and make the second performance spectacular. :)

I'm happily exhausted today. I am co-sponsoring a workshop tomorrow, so I have to stay upright until that is done.

Wicked, Wicked, Wicked

And for a change of tone, "Seasons of Love" from "RENT" - a version I hadn't heard before. :)

Broadway Babes

I'm working on "Wicked" right now.  Love this show. :)

Busy Busy Bee

I have really hit the ground running this weekend. I have the show, I have some other work that I am struggling with, I have the show...Lots of running around, lots of work.  I'm a busy, busy bee this week.

I love "Wicked" though and I can't wait to interpret the show. :O)

What I'm Rehearsing Now...

Defying Gravity - performance from The 2004 Tony Awards show

Happy Eighth Birthday!

"Wicked" Tidbits

I couldn't resist this...I LOVE this show.

Day 7: Defying Gravity for real

"I'm through accepting limits, 'cause someone says they're so. Some things I cannot change, but until I try, I'll never know."  ~Elphaba in "Wicked" from the song "Defying Gravity"

Tonight was a blowout of all blowouts for my track record of interpreted performances.  There were co-workers, family members, Deaf audience members in the audience and I did the best possible job I could do. 

We hit every piece that required simultaneous signing and I felt emotionally engaged the entire time.  Sometimes, it is easy to fall out of a show while interpreting.  When I was younger, I was afraid to show some of the emotions I was feeling as I interpreted specific characters. Interpreting is so intense sometimes - other people/character's emotions, experience and language flowing through you.  Tonight, I felt like I struck the right balance between conveying the emotional content and not stealing focus.

I'm happy.  I usually think, "I should have done this differently. This wasn't clear..."  Tonight was not perfect - there is no perfect interpretation.  But I'm pretty sure the people in the audience depending on the interpreting got most of the story and the emotional content, as well.

It was a good night.  I love interpreting theatre.

Today, I am pleased with my level of commitment, my self-discipline in rehearsing this week and today.  I gave it my all and I got an extremely satisfying result.  

Watching "Wicked" was GOOD

I went to see the show tonight - for myself, for pleasure.  I didn't bring my script and I tried not to think about which character I was interpreting and what each line means.

The first night we saw the show, the actress playing Elphaba was the understudy.  She was quite good - the whole show seemed lacking in energy a little bit (I can't remember what day we went..a Wednesday?).

Last night, the energy was there.  The woman who played Elphaba was AMAZING.  She gave me head to toe chills in her first song.    Click here for to read a bit of the Oregonian review.  

I love this show because it is about appearances, about politics, loyalty, friendship, diversity and self-esteem.  Lofty topics for a Broadway show, but hell, we loved Les Miserables, so this should be cake.

"Wicked" Appearances

I went to see the show tonight for our rehearsal purposes. The energy was definitely Wednesday evening energy. There were a couple of understudies which is not always a bad thing. The Elphaba understudy had an excellent range in her voice - I liked the deeper, meatier notes.

Seeing the show only served to make me nervous again. I wonder how much of my anxiety comes from the fact that I don't interpret all day every day anymore. I miss the work - I miss the brain activity. It is so different from processing paperwork and reading a million emails a day.

Things are coming along in the translation department - lots of ideas marinating in my brain (Thanks, Todd!). I hope I can do the show justice.

I love the whole idea a la "Into the Woods" of nice and good not always being the same thing. We are so fooled by appearances and assumptions. If someone looks a certain way, they must fit into this personality category. I hate that. It boxes people up and doesn't allow for us to be individuals who are complex and different in so many beautiful ways. I also understand the moment of epiphany when you realize that the only thing you can really control is your own behavior and response and that others are going to do whatever they are going to do, whether we manipulate or grab or try to change their minds. That is such a freeing moment - the moment we discover how small we are in relation to everything and how big we are in relationship to ourselves.

I'm going to stop babbling. I'm tired now. Going to bed.

Defy Gravity.

Defying Gravity - Interpreting for "Wicked"

I am rehearsing for the interpreted performance of "Wicked", a show that I love dearly.  The only problem is that it is quite complicated and I am struggling with translations that will equal the brilliance of the show...

Right now, I am focused on the pièce de résistance- "Defying Gravity".  I feel inadequately prepared for this song...ironically, I have interpreted the show before and I didn't feel that my translation lived up to the hype.  I went onto YouTube and looked up "Wicked" ASL performances and found a plethora of students...ahem..."interpreting" the songs, but I am still worrying over the song.

I'm posting the song here and welcome any ideas regarding imagery that you get when you hear the song - doesn't have to be from an interpreter - can be from anyone who is inspired to help a desperate person or who loves the show. :)  I understand the meaning of the song, but I just need to open my mind to some of the imagery and some of the possibilities of the song that I haven't even wrapped my mind around at this point...This is a truncated version of the song since the only legal copy available is from the Tony awards. 

Thanks in advance!

The interpreted performance is on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7:30pm at the Keller Auditorium.