The Director Sector

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So, it’s that time of year again.  You know, that time when you look back at the past year and wonder, “What the hell was I thinking?”  In order to answer that, let’s do a quick recap of the year:

• Taught at a local high school - loved it
• Concurrently performed in Seussical as Vlad Vladikoff
• Met my current girlfriend and started dating her
• Wasn’t rehired at the school due to a lack of positions available
• Enjoyed the summer off work
• Tried to find another job
• Performed in Dearly Departed as Royce
• Proposed three different plays to direct
• Rejected twice, the third was approved
• Found another job at another school
• School started back
• Auditioned for And Then There Were None and All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
• Didn’t get cast
• Hated my new job (What was I thinking?)
• Received approval to direct The Faculty Room with a 32 day production time
• Days later, I resigned as teacher
• Spent the next 32 days (including Thanksgiving break) putting together a play, from start to finish
• Tore a ligament just before Thanksgiving
• Spent Thanksgiving alone since I couldn’t move
• The Faculty Room opened to moderate succes
• Christmas break begins

So, looking back, here are my resolutions for this year:

1)  Get the hell out of Dodge.   I’ve been stuck in this town for seven years now — it’s time to go.  Sometime in the next few months, I want out.  Hopefully, as soon as Fiddler on the Roof is over, I’ll find a job somewhere else.

2)  Get into grad school for Directing or Acting.  This will definitely help with #1.  I love the theatre with a passion (some say it borders on obsession!), and I want to pursue it as a career option.  Getting my MFA in Theatre is the next logical step.

3)  Failing that, work professionally in the industry.   I can’t guarantee I’ll get into grad school, cause I may not have the qualifications — but I can use this year to gain some meaningful professional experience in the industry, to better improve my chances of getting into grad school this year.  I did get a letter from a grad school that I applied to earlier, that basically said “You don’t have enough professional experience to get into our school program.”  To which my mind replied, “If I could get a professional gig, why would I need your school?”   –but that’s another blog.

4)  Enjoy my time with my friends.   As focused as I am in getting the hell out of here, I need to take the time to enjoy what I have here — my friends.  I know I’m going to miss them when I leave, so I should remember to enjoy them while I’m with them.

5)  Stay active.  The worst part about my situation is that I’m in an area where there are few theatre opportunities outside of an academic setting — it’s a struggle to stay involved.  I need to stay involved, for the sake of my sanity, for my blog, and for my career.

6)  Get fit.  I know everyone makes this resolution.  I’m not trying to get uber-buff, or lose serious weight, but rather to just improve my overall health through moderate exercise:  crunches, pushups, walking a little more, etc.  Physically, I’m close to where I want to be.  It’s just a matter of getting that extra bit of muscle (like, 5-10 lbs), and staying there.

7) Keep blogging.  I’m not entirely sure how many dedicated readers I have, but I do know that a few people read whenever I update:  to you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I resolve to keep blogging for the year of 2008, and hopefully gain some insight into my profession, as well as offer some insight into others’.  I know the biggest struggle with bloggers is maintaining the commitment to do it.

Here’s to success!  May you all have a happy, happy new year!

-Director