First Day Back

So today was the first day of classes at Maryland for the 2007-2008 school year, and what a year lies ahead! Sp much going on, so much to anticipate, and so much growing to occur. I can't wait! First of all, it's so nice that people are back in College Park. I love seeing all of my friends and peers in the theatre department. It's great to just jump right back in and start working with everyone - which is what we've done with Urinetown. However, I luckily only had one class today: Voice for the Actor with Leigh Smiley, possibly the nicest, smartest professor in the department. Class was very interesting today - and it was just the introduction. I highly look forward to becoming more body aware and sufficient, which is what that class teaches. It is in this class that I will be working with actress Tovah Feldshuh next week!!!! After Voice today I spoke with Leigh and she asked if I would be interested in being one of the six who get to sing and work with Tovah during her master class on September 10th. Apparently Scot Reese had mentioned me along with a list of possible candidates for the group. So of course I jumped on the opportunity! I am so thrilled that I will be working with such a talented, inspiring woman as Ms. Feldshuh. But I'm equally thrilled that the faculty is finally knowing my name! And not just that, I'm being reccomended for something!! Oh, how far I have traveled from this time last year when I was a wide-eyed, overwhelmed transfer student to now being a chair in UTAS and working in the D.C. film and theatre scene. This business moves quick, but I love it. Now to set my goals even higher. For without them I have no place to grow. But first I need to pick out my songs to work on with Tovah and e-mail a list to Leigh...

Tonight was also out first official Urinetown rehearsal. First I will say that the show will be amazing. The creative and design teams are phenomenal. PHEN-OM-ENAL! Scot Reese, Maryland's resident musical theatre efficianado is at the helm in the role of director. Such a nice, inspired man. I have so much to learn from him. He's also teaching my Black Theatre class as well. The choreographer, who's name escapes me at the moment, has a great idea on organic choreography. However, I am not a dancer. And playing around tonight proved to test my limits. I will give it my all however, no matter how foolish I look. Who knows, it might work for my character? We also ran through almost the entire show music-wise with our music director Dr. Sparks. When the entire cast began on the opening song it was very exciting. I love that rich, full sound of a musical theatre chorus. Everyone belting and acting. So much energy coming forth. Very thrilling. Everything coming together for the first time. A birth, a ceremonious emergence of work and thought spewing forth for the sake of our passions. We love it and that's why we do it. And that's why this show will be successful and wonderful. As much fun to watch as it is to be in. SO COME AND SEE IT. We start performances on October 11th, 2007. Exact dates and time are on the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center website: http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/2007/ You can purchase tickets there as well...

Well, that about wraps up my day so far. So many things accomplished, so many things to accomplish. I love my life and my career. Dreams do come true to those who stick it out, so I'm workng hard! Tomorrow I have three classes, one of which is movement with the infamous Leslie Felbain. But first a CORE class at 8 a.m. which I'll need to be up at 6 a.m. to get ready for. So now, to bed!

Step Up 2

A film schedule can be slightly greuling - and I'm only doing background work!!! Last week on Monday and Tuesday I did some extra work for "Step Up 2" which is now filming in Baltimore. I'll be doing it more for them this coming Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday. So, for the next week I'll be getting up at 4 to catch the mark train by 5:50 and begin work in Baltimore. I can't complain though, so far it's been a lot of fun, just tiring. I'm pretty excited about tomorrow though because there are just ten of us as opposed to the hundred last week - even though I was in a featured group. So chances are I'll be getting noticable screen time in this movie! That's very exciting. I like doing extra work and would really like to get my SAG card by doing this. I submitted for another movie on Saturday that will be filming in town in September. It's called Body of Lies and is slated to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe. That would be fun, but we'll see if anything fruitful comes of that. But for now, we'll work on Step Up 2 and be satisfied.

I spent today searching for images for my Urinetown collage and ordering my textbooks from Amazon...and watching t.v. and cleaning. I still have a lot of work to do on my Urinetown preparation, but that will be finished in the next week during my time in holding on set. I have so much to finish before classes begin. Some shopping to get done and booking to accomplish. I need to give some focus to UTAS activities too. So all of that within the coming week. It will be a load that I've taken on this year, but I need it. Anything to expand my resume I will gladly tackle. But I also get the feeling I need a hobby. I mean, I don't know if I'll really have time for one, but I need something to expand myself spiritually as well. Maybe I'll delve deeper into Eastern culture. It is something I've been interested in for a while. We'll see?

Catching Up

So it's been a long time since my last post and quite a bit has gone on since that I've wanted to blog about! But for some reason I never fleshed out my urges into actions and my blog has thus fallen into disrepair and become outdated. But no need to worry, as I know you all are, because this post shall clarify everything and get you up to speed on the life of Chase.

So the summer is winding down and I feel a sense of unaccomplishment yet achievement with what I've done. This summer I've worked with Roundhouse Theatre, acted in a new play at the Fringe festival, and am now doing background work for "Step Up 2 the Streets." I've traveled to NYC twice, saw some great theatre, and got to see some good friends. But is that enough? What have I done with all of my other time besides sit around and watch daytime t.v. I guess I've been preparing for Urinetown a little, but other than that, not much. So I've accomplished one of my goals: do a show (any show) in D.C. But I've been very lazy otherwise. This needs to stop. Maybe school will knock me out of this weird cycle I've slumped into. who knows?

Speaking of the Fringe... our shows went well for what we had. The audiences seemed pleased enough. It was overall adequate for the Fringe, which I don't know if that's something to be proud of or not. It's another addition to the resume at least. Besides acting I was privelleged to see two really great shows: Cautionary Tales for Adults and Hamlet? That Is The Question. Both were a lot of fun. I knew people in both, so that's why I went, but it turned out to be a truly great experience both times. Great casts, great scripts, and great productions. Why couldn't I have been involved in something more like these two? Maybe I will be in the future. Who knows? The future is a murky water. I'm not even sure what I want out of my career anymore. Satisfaction and happiness of course. But what else?

This weekend I'm going to Abingdon for a week. Visit my family and see some more friends. The Virginia Highlands Festival is going on. It will be nice to go to that for a day or so. When I get back to D.C. I will be doing background work for "Step Up 2" and preparing for my return to school. I can't wait.