Creativity is Flowing and the River is Moving Fast

*
I'm still writing. In this last week I listened to a recording of a radio script I'm working on - a second or third draft, not the final one. It was very helpful to hear them read it. To hear where they stumbled or laughed or said "I like this" or "WTF." And to hear my too often used words. I've been focusing on the script revision and it is slow going. I'm editing content, as well as trying to add appropriate radio script formatting, sound cues, and all of those technical things. I appreciate the producer and the actors taking the time to make this rough, uncut recording of the script so far; it is very helpful. Like realizing that the "slice of life" story I created is fine, but the ending isn't. Right now the characters all seem to just disappear off the edge of a cliff or something. I need to add a little more "oomph" and end with something a little more solid, as well as making my point a little more clear, because it isn't. I also wrote a guest blog post for Portland Center Stage this week, and have started working on another post for them for an upcoming show.

I interpreted a fantastic production of "Eyes for Consuela" at Profile Theatre last week. If you are in the Portland, Oregon area and haven't seen it, yet, I highly recommend seeing the play. It's the first play for Profile in their new space, the first play in the Sam Shepard series, and it is really good. The interpreted performance is over, but the play continues through this weekend. Go!

And I am interpreting a unique play which is making its West Coast premiere at CoHo Theater on Friday night, January 31 (and there will be a second interpreted performance on Sunday, February 2 at 2:00 pm). The play is "Enjoy" by Toshiki Okada. The script has virtually no blocking or set cues or anything other than dialogue. And the actors don't have names; they are designated as Actor 1, Actor 2, Actress 1, and so on. There are names of characters within the play - they are just not written in the script because. Well, nevermind. That would be giving a part of the play away. It is another play worth seeing. The actors do a great job, the directing is solid, and it is an intimate setting for an intimate play.

I realized that it has been over a week since I posted. I wanted to catch up. Because I know I won't be posting anything tomorrow.

I am feeling creative, in spite of some "tension in the field" of my life. That situation has been pervasive and is at a point where it is out of our hands and the process and resolution will take some time. Yet I am holding onto my creativity. This is good. And it's new - holding on when there is a significant event happening and it's winter. The pace right now is busy; I'm in the current, and life is on the move.

Another Must See Play : "Eyes for Consuela" at Profile Theatre

*
Another bit of cross pollination from writing, interpreting, theater.

"Eyes for Consuela," by Sam Shepard, opens next week at Profile Theatre. The directing and acting are excellent; the writing is solid. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, there is an interpreted performance on Thursday, January 23rd; if you are hearing there are other dates you can attend as well.

If finances are something which holds you back from attending more theater, Profile probably has a discount program to take away that reason, too. Besides putting on some amazing plays, they are a part of several discounted ticket programs, starting with the Arts for All card ($5 tickets for SNAP beneficiaries), Chinook Book coupon, Under-30-Rush ($15), up to the still reasonably priced regular tickets at $30. This is good theater for a good price.

This is the first play for Profile in their new home; the first of the Sam Shepard season. Go. See it. And if you're there on January 23rd, you'll see me in my non-writing profession.

Profile Theatre
1515 SW Morrison, Portland, OR
presents

written by Sam Shepard

interpreted performance
Thursday, January 23rd at 7:30 pm

at Profile Theatre
Interpreters: Rich Hall and Dot Hearn

Tickets available online
or by calling the box office 503-242-0080

"Eyes for Consuela" SUMMARY: "Awoken from his dreams, Henry, an American with a quiet past, throws himself into the Mexican jungle chasing after shadows of regret. Entranced by adventure, music, and his own obsession, he finds himself in a game where the rules move to an unknown rhythm and the truth is in the eye of the beholder."

This play runs approximately 85 minutes with no intermission.
TICKET PRICES
Regular tickets are $30.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS are available through these options (you must call the Box Office):
- Chinook Book Coupon.
- Arts Card holders who participate in the Work for Art program.
- Arts for All: $5 tickets for SNAP cardholders (limit 2).
- 30-and-Under Rush: $15 (one hour before curtain at will call for every performance).
*

Writing, Theatre, Quotes

*
I've been working with a national task force for a year on developing a standard practice paper for performance interpreting. We are now in the final edit stages. Truly. We are now at the point where the two of us who volunteered to be the final editors are sculpting and primping and turning the many pages of outlines and ideas and the eleven pages of the first draft, the second one with comments, into a concise and smooth three page document which covers the vastness that is performance interpreting.

But we have it down to very near three pages. And we are at the point of adding an introduction, in which we want to include a quote. That's how far we are in our process - trimmed, dense and accessible, and now time to add the decoration.

I sent an email to a wonderful Artistic Director I know who had a lovely quote last year about why we go to theatre, why theatre is important. I don't remember it now and I would need her permission to include it, anyway. But while I wait for her reply, I've been doing some 'net surfing to see what else I can find. I've found a few gems, although they may not fit our needs; or they may fit our needs with the addition of another quote about why interpreting performances is important.

I've now accumulated a short list of my favorite quotes (so far) and thought I'd share a few.


"Theater is life with the dull bits cut out." - Alfred Hitchcock

"An actor is a sculptor who carves in snow." - Lawrence Barrett

The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life. - Oscar Wilde
*

Transition Day

*
My work week is not yet done - but almost. One job location is done until Monday and tomorrow I don't have any work, other than some paperwork. But Thursday brings my final interpreted play for the 2012-13 season: "My Children! My Africa!" atProfile Theatre, 7:30p at 3430 SE Belmont in Portland. (Pssst: if you don't need the interpreted performance, you can still catch the play this weekend. It is worth seeing - well written, directed, and acted. It is the final play for Profile Theatre in the Theatre! Theater! space since their lease was not renewed; rumor has it it is becoming a tea storage space for the Tao of Tea? Profile Theatre will start their next season, with the plays of Sam Shephard, in January 2013 in their new home in shared space at Artists' Rep in SW Portland.)




After the play on Thursday night, I'm going to go for another late night float. It's been over a month and I'm ready for another float session. I also believe the float will get my physically ready for the weekend.


Then it's Friday! I will be heading to Port Townsend that day, where I will be attending a writing workshop with Lidia Yuknavitch. I read her memoir (Chronicles of Water) and listened to her at a one-day mini writing conference in January. Her workshop sound exciting, fun, and a little good-scary. I'm looking forward to the workshop in a location I've really only passed through and with an author I've never taken a workshop from before. New adventures!


I'm looking at my writing plan for after the theater season is done. I don't have another play until late August, so I'm hoping to devote some of that theatrical interpreting preparation time to writing instead. (Although I just about have plans completed for a third theatrical interpreting workshop for this summer. More on that as it develops. But it looks like I might have a theatrical workshop offering for mid/late July - it will be fun!)

So - this is a transition day. No work per se - a little work tomorrow - and then three days devoted to writing. Sounds like a plan to me!
*

What a Great Week!

*
This has been a busy week - all in a good way.

I will confess that I am still not caught up on my "21 Moments" prompt writing yet. I thought I would be able to do it this week - get caught up and get back on track - but that hasn't happened. And I'm okay with that, because it's been a really good week. I'll focus on getting some more writing done tonight and tomorrow before work.

This week I had the pleasure of interpreting two plays. And not two performances of two plays - two different plays.

One play was "My Children! My Africa!" by Athol Fugard, put on by Profile Theatre on Tuesday. They've started a new program called Inside Out: Community and School Tour. The first stop was at Roosevelt High School, where Rich Hall and I interpreted the free performance. We had a good sized Deaf school audience and it was fun. The play is well written, well directed and well acted - I really like this play. The Deaf students, overall, enjoyed it and it was nice to see some of the kids I haven't seen for a while, and a few I saw not too long ago at a different production. This play is still running and you can buy tickets. And for signing audience members, Rich and I will be interpreting the play again this coming Thursday, May 23, at Theatre! Theater! at 7:30 pm.

The second play was "The People's Republic of Portland" at Portland Center Stage on Thursday. This is a one-woman show, comedy, and very funny. Lauren Weedman has done a great job of getting the people and things who really do "Keep Portland Weird" and she does it with humor and takes us on a fun ride. This was a challenge to interpret because there was no script, it's fast paced, and humor is a tough thing to interpret from English to ASL - but I felt prepared and I feel good about my interpretation. The play has a basic structure and some common stories - but the order and some content and even some of the stories are mutable - improv, stand-up comedy. So I prepared for this play by seeing it many times (I think 7 in all, including rehearsals). I had a blast interpreting the show and we had a large interpreted section - which was awesome.

I was able to do the two shows in one week for a couple of reasons. Normally I wouldn't do that - because theatrical interpreting takes so much time and focus. But with one of them being a one person show, that meant that I only had to juggle my own schedule for preparation - and with nine performances a week to choose from and because the rehearsals were open, I was able to prepare early and long for this play - on my own schedule. It was also made possible because Rich and I are a good theatrical team. We approach the work similarly and I feel our prep and theatrical interpreting styles are very compatible. He's  a good interpreter and and easy to work; I enjoy working on plays with him. This is the third Profile Theatre play we've done together this season and the plays are by the same author (that's what Profile Theatre does, if you don't know - they select one playwright for the season and present a range of the playwright's work) - so not only do Rich and I work well together, but we are familiar with the playwright's work and style. So theatrical interpreting this week was smooth despite being unusual in terms of interpreting two different plays in the same week.

This week I also had the pleasure of doing another job with a client I very much enjoy working with, and with another interpreter I haven't seen for a long time whom I also really enjoy. I can't and won't say anything more about that - it's all confidential. But I just wanted to mention that as another really positive and grounding experience this week.

Last night I also went to the opening night gala for "Artists Among Us" at Trinity Episcopal, where my partner is showing four cold wax and oil pieces. I love the four pieces she has hanging (the show runs through tomorrow). It was great to see all the different art and wonderful to see our friend Allan Oliver, a fabric artist, whom I haven't seen for awhile.

Then the final "great thing" was this morning. After talking to someone yesterday about the garden, I realized I really should harvest some of the spinach and lettuce and kale. I didn't want to kill off the plants and thought I should wait. But Betsy told me that the spinach bolts easily and I should harvest some - to not worry, it will keep growing more leaves. And in reality, it grows more if it gets trimmed! So this morning I decided to make breakfast with, guess what? Fresh spinach and herbs right out of the garden. I cooked them up with some Vidalia onions (my favorite!), added a little tumeric and sprinkled on some grated three hard cheese blend. Yum!

Oh - no - the actual final thing is that I also harvested some kale. We have two kinds growing and one of them has really taken off with the wetter and cooler temperatures (it was a little early for the plants when we had the 85-90 degree weather a couple of weeks ago). I had a bag of Tuscan (?) kale in the refrigerator and harvested a lot of ours from the garden this morning. So right now I have five trays of kale in the dehydrator. I'm making two flavors of kale chips - one made entirely from our garden. This will be fun and I'm excited to see how long it takes and how it turns out. The taste test of fresh versus bagged kale chips. And, yes, I did eat some kale as I picked it. We also have a big container of lettuce, kale, and spinach for salad from the garden. I do see that we will be eating spinach and kale three meals a day plus snacks, very soon.

A good week. And while not much writing happened, I did pick up a few inspirations from things I saw on my travels around Portland this week and I picked up some energy from all this goodness. That will have a positive influence on my writing and I'll be getting to that after a few errands and things I have to do to get ready for next week. Which will be capped off by an out of town writing workshop.

Things are looking good.
*

Mecca, James Beard, "Making it in Tough Times"

*
I should be in bed right now. I will go to bed in a few minutes, as soon as I finish writing this and send it out into the world.

Really. I will. I have to get up very early tomorrow. Remember that time is relative. For someone who works until past midnight several days a week and goes to plays on other nights of the week, getting up at 7:00 AM is very early, indeed. Not so for my running and mountain climbing friends, I know.

But what's up with the title of this piece? It's my creative live over the past couple of weeks.

Last week I interpreted "The Road to Mecca" by Athol Fugard at Profile Theatre. And it was wonderful. The play is beautifully staged and acted and directed. The story well told. And my team interpreter was awesome to work with. And I feel we did well. I also had the opportunity to see someone I haven't seen for a few years who attended the performance - himself a playwrite, author, sign coach, and more.

Last night I interpreted "I Love to Eat" by James Still at Portland Center Stage. That is also well staged, the actor does a marvelous job of being James Beard, and it is a fun show. I would have loved to have had a larger Deaf audience - but those who were there for the interpreted performance were awesome. And I was prepared for that play and I had fun doing it.

Then tomorrow, yes. The reason I'm getting up early is because I'm going to a one-day writing conference put on by author and editor Jessica Morrell : "Making it in Tough Times." There is a great lineup of presenters throughout the day, promised writing time and "instant feedback" (optional). I am very much looking forward to tomorrow. Early, but worth it. Tomorrow will be a day of creativity coming in and I am looking forward to it. One friend from out of town is spending the night because she's going to the conference, too. And one of the Monday writers is going, as well.

This is a good time. It's been a little busier than I like for the past three weeks - but for good reason. The next month my schedule slows and I will take the time to enjoy it before the onslaught of March and another round of creative output for two theatrical performances and poetry competition.

And my editing of the book continues, as does the feedback from and to my Monday writing group. That is going really well. I still have some edits to finish for this week's submission to the group, but I did finish up this week's feedback for the other writers.

Yes - Mecca, Beard, Making It. Thank you universe for these inspiring and pleasant experiences.

For now, good night. And may sleep come quickly!
*