maomao

The Chinese new year had been treating me much kinder than to January 1 New Year!:) (Touch wood!) I think my mojo may be coming back. And oddly - I think I owe it to NIXON IN CHINA and an extremely bizarre aria called I am the Wife of Mao Tse-Teung. It is this crazy evil aria that ChianChin (Madame Mao) sings at the end of Act II - basically about how amazing Mao's little red book is - of course - it is in an opera written in American by Americans during the Cold War - so - it is not treated in a very pleasant light. They decided to make the character a "shrieking coloratura" and she has an aria that never drops below a high Bflat from what I can tell. In my mental depressed freak out - I lost all my confidence in my high notes - and they were gross and cracky - and despite ALL of Candace's efforts to get me to sing (even taking me to her school to record music) - they just weren't happening. I was a mess - and would randomly start crying because I was far more upset about Carousel than I was letting on...even to myself. So - I got a hold of this song - and decided I wanted to sing it. I expected it to be HORRIBLE - because - it's freaking HARD and HIGH. But I started singing it and Candace came out and said "holy shit! Where is that coming from!? I've NEVER heard your High Ds like that! They are so strong and clear!" And over the course of the week/weekend I kept on singing it - and she said - every time! Those Ds! I don't know where they are coming from but they are there!" And I was hitting Es and Fs like I haven't before! Something about being given to be a "shrieking coloratura" made me NOT a shrieking coloratura - but gave me the freedom to bust out those high notes strong and loud! And this - very bizarre aria and very bizarre way of "practicing" gave me confidence in myself again to go out and conquer the world - not matter what stupid VLOG music directors thing! Why? Because I AM THE WIFE OF MAO TSE-TEUNG! It is INCREDIBLY strange - I know - but hey - whatever works! So that's how I got my vocal mojo back...

My dance mojo came in the form of a Burlesque number in my theatre dance class - where I apparently managed to be sexy for once - instead of Disney! AND dance on the rhythm!

I took an improv class today! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I've been extremely scared of improv because there is no script - just your imagination - but the catch is - you are supposed to be funny - not glittery or shakespeare. I thought I would fail miserably - but I don't think I did. I just had a lot of fun and the teacher said I did a great job! It might be the acting class I need! Since I am always told to be more 'natural" and that's what improv is - "being natural" and "truthful" to the situation! AND - if I decide to take a full course - it is the CHEAPEST by far of any acting class I've found in the city! WOOHOO!

Then - there are two boys - oddly placed in the universe --- who - maybe show a little promise. I'm afraid to get too excited - but to the best of my knowledge - neither of them has ever dressed up like a pirate or superhero...but that's only to the best of my knowledge. One has pictures where he is surrounded by some people dressed as pirate - but he, in fact, is in normal street cloths...which - is a good sign...knock on wood!