Goodbye Summer. Warning: Mushy Feelings and Pretension Abound

It has been a whirlwind of a fantastic summer. About a month ago I completed the Summer Professional Training Program at The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Never have I been surrounded by so MANY intelligent, artistic, creative, and passionate minds. For any of you reading this, THANK YOU for an incredible summer.

It would take me novels to write about all of the revelations I had--both acting and personal--so I'll leave you with this. I am so much more confident in my abilities and future. I understand the nuances of Shakespearean text and acting more than ever before (even if it's just the tip of the iceberg!). I made friends who I am honored to know, and will be huge players in the theatre community. I cannot wait to work with these artists again. I feel at home with a renowned Shakespeare Company, and proud to be an alumni of their distinguished program. I am so FORTUNATE to have family and friends who accept and support my dreams and allow me to take risks without scrutiny. I am excited to be doing the thing I love most in the world.

I recently started bartending, and a lot of the conversations I have with patrons revolve around seizing life. "You're young," they tell me. "Don't let it slip away. You're not doing what you love? Drop everything and do it. Seize your life." Wise words, but always met with a polite and slightly awkward smile. What do I say to that? I am doing the exact thing that I adore. I take a risk every day that I continue in this career--which WILL be every day for the rest of my life. I am--and I say this without pretension, so bear with me kids--an artist, and I live that artistry at every possible moment--when I wake up, when I bartend, when I nanny, when I'm practicing monologues or researching auditions. I know my creative worth, and I owe that to the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, and the creative minds that have supported and mentored me. And I know the same of my fellow apprentices, friends, and family. I am the way I am because I know others who live the same life (acting and non-) and I owe them my resiliency, creativity, and bravery.

WHEW, pretentious and mushy stuff out of the way.

TLDR: I loved my summer. Shakespeare is cool.

Continuing in the tradition of the bard, my next project will be a very exciting production of The Taming of a Shrew by Bad Quarto Productions! This is a very unique show, in that we do not meet for rehearsals until opening night. True to the fashion in which Shakespeare himself would have performed! We practice the text, learn our lines, work with the director to nail the language, character, and performative aspects. Then on opening night we rehearse for the first time as a group and open that night! It's all in the interest of providing the most authentic production, closest to the method of Shakespeare's troupes.

SO it is very exciting, and will definitely be a risky (but rewarding!) production!

The show runs weekends from October 24-Novemeber 8th. Tickets are available at http://ashrew.bpt.me!

Enjoy these last warm weeks, folks (and stay dry!). Autumn is the bomb, but I'm refusing to accept that winter follows.