'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 6: Mental Notes

Just got home from tonight's Q2Q. This is all I need to remember for tomorrow.

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 5: A Quote by a Favourite Playwright

This blog entry means I am now caught up to date with my schedule of '30 Days of Inspiration'. Back on track! ....I'm really enjoying this little project so far. I think it's important to grant oneself the time each day to allow room for inspiration, no matter how crazy busy life can get. I know for me, with tech beginning for 'A Night of Shanley', things have felt really tumultuous and really stressful lately. This inspiration project has reminded me daily how much I really love the work.

Tonight's post is a quick one - it's one of many brilliant quotes by John Patrick Shanley, the playwright who is the inspiration for my company Half-Pint Theatre's show, 'A Night of Shanley'. Enjoy friends, and see you tomorrow.

"Choose life over the other stuff. Get out of your head. Live. Dress up. Eat. Touch people. Help out. Give up. Love people. Give your best away. There's more. What's the problem? Relax. You're going to die. Throw a party. Eat off my plate. Sing to me. Meet me in the bedroom. Get a massage. Give one. Let your amazement out into the room. Pry open the box you hide your joy in. Be a poem."

                  - John Patrick Shanley

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 4: The Right

I realize I was going to catch up yesterday and post two blogs. Full day rehearsals have been setting me back a bit, and tech started today for 'A Night of Shanley', so it will be hard to keep up, but I'm going to do my best!

This entry would be "Day 4", even though today is technically Day 5. This is from 'Smart Actors, Foolish Choices', the book I talked about on Day 1. The part in pink hi-lighter really resonated with me. It's a good reminder for all of us.

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 3: A Trip to the Library

I didn't post yesterday. Tsk tsk. It was a busy day, but I still found ways to get inspired.

My inspiration yesterday, was this: The Library is AWESOME.

Every time I go to the Reference Library, I'm surrounded by a sea of giant blue books filled with sheet music, and every time, I ask myself, "Why don't I visit the library more often?"Not to mention, the oodles of classic and contemporary plays, librettos, and scores that take up this little haven on the 5th floor.

I feel inspired to work harder, and to explore new things every time I'm at the library, but lately, I'm there just to print sheet music for auditions, and I don't leave time to just go have fun and see what there is to find. Yesterday, after printing some sheet music, I decided to take time to read a libretto. I chose 'Flora the Red Menace', the first collaboration between Kander and Ebb. Back in July when I did the Banff Summer Musical Theatre Intensive, the director, Amy Rogers (wonderful woman), had told me I need to sing more Kander and Ebb, and two songs she recommended for me were from 'Flora'. Apparently, the libretto wasn't so great when it was originally staged in 1965, although the show marked the Broadway debut of the iconic Liza. The new book was written in 1987 by David Thompson, which was conceived off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. I feel such a rush every time I discover a new show that I know I'm going to fall in love with, and this was one of them. I can see why Flora's songs were recommended to me - she's such a fantastic character, and I see so many similarities in our personalities (attempting to join the Communist party aside). So, thanks Amy!

There you are, Day 3.... a little late. Day 4 to come later today!

Sidebar - The Banff Summer Musical Theatre Intensive that I mentioned earlier is happening again in July! And the wonderful Amy who I speak of will be on the faculty again. If you're a performer and you need a little inspiration yourself, I cannot speak highly enough of this program. Two weeks in the most beautiful place on Earth, with some of the most amazing faculty that the business has to offer. Get into it, friends!

'30 Days of Creative Inspiration' Day 2: 33 Ways.

Today is Day 2 of my '30 Days of Creative Inspiration' project. Reading Smart Actors, Foolish Choices yesterday was awesome for Day 1, and it's definitely something I want to come back to this month.

One really big thing I want to do in this project is see more theatre, which will probably have to wait til the end of the month, as I'm in a show myself until Feb. 16th! I'm both in it and producing it. It's called 'A Night of Shanley', and the show is a double bill of two one-act plays by the great American playwright, John Patrick Shanley. We open a week today!

Today's inspiration is this list I found. I can't find the original source, so I unfortunately cannot credit it; however, I'll put out a universal thank you to whoever the person was that created this list! See below.

I know I personally could be doing numbers 2, 3, 11, 12, 18, 26, 29.... well, really all of them more often, but those are just a few that stand out to me. I love this list. This is definitely something that I'll be printing out today and throwing on my fridge.

I encourage you all to take a look at the list for yourselves! But for me, it's time for numbers 2 and 4 - Carry a Notebook Everywhere, and Get Away from the Computer. See you tomorrow for Day 3!

30 Days of Creative Inspiration: Day 1

Ah, the "dry season", as many of us actors call it. Being in a brutally gruelling industry is hard enough (but still wonderful, don't get me wrong!), but around this time of year, things can seem even more bleak. I've decided that this would be a PERFECT time to find ways to feel even more creatively fulfilled than ever, dry season or not.

So, today starts 'Esther's 30-Day Creative Inspiration Project'. Every day I'll find, and share something that inspires me as an artist. This will include books I read, shows I see, finding new discoveries in the show I'm in, 'A Night of Shanley', articles, photographs, and whatever else might be out there.

Today is Day 1, and I have to accredit today's inspiration to my dear friend, Ryan Browne, a fellow actor. A couple months ago when the industry had completely shot my self-esteem, he suggested this book to me, which I finally got around to picking up. It's called 'Smart Actors, Foolish Choices - A Self-Help Guide to Coping with the Emotional Stresses of the Business'.

The book isn't focused on acting technique, or how to have a great audition, or the tricks of the business. The book is for the emotional psyche of the person, not the actor. This is something  that I know is really going to benefit me, and even though I've just started Chapter 1, I think this book will help me feel better about myself, both as a person and as a performer. Over the next 30 days, you might see this book come up again.

I'm also extremely interested to hear suggestions from all of you wonderful people in the industry out there! What inspires you - any specific books, movies, something you stick on the back of your door or on your fridge, or plays on in Toronto right now? I'd love to hear what you've got.

This next month is really my own, live version of 'The Artist's Way'. It's going to be good!

Baking Day - through the years. A Holiday tradition!

It's no secret that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Ever since I was little - everything about Christmas made my heart flutter, and... well, I'm still little....... just older. Whenever I see trees for sale outside the grocery store, the first shipments of clementines and egg nog, and kids visiting Santa Claus - I turn five again. Of course, everyone has the generic holiday traditions, and everyone has more specific, varied traditions within their family or amongst groups of friends. My favourite of all has to be Baking Day. This event over the years has created quite a following with my friends, and I love how it brings people together.

How'd it all begin? It was during the time I was home schooled, so maybe when I was thirteen or fourteen-years-old. I went with my Mom to her friends' Christmas cookie exchange. It was a weekday morning, with a couple of her close ladies. I loved how happy everyone was, not to mention the abundance of wonderful Christmas sweets. I wanted to have an event like this too! But obviously like, fun, and like, hip, and like, for adolescents, and we'd play like, Simple Plan's 'My Christmas List'.

My first year back in school, I was fifteen-years-old, when the first Baking Day came to be. Over the years, more people started attending, we threw in adding old school Christmas specials on VHS, complete with early 90s commercials (since not everyone could fit in the kitchen!), and the recipe for 'Esther's Special Hot Chocolate' was created. This has become a Baking Day favourite, and the recipe to this day still remains super top secret!

.....And now here we are - eleven years later?!? Which boggles my mind - how crazy to think that a tradition has carried on this long! Old high school friends still attend the event too!

Along with watching 'Muppet Christmas Carol' on Christmas Eve, and decorating the tree, this is my favourite holiday tradition. As Baking Day is tomorrow, I'd post some photos of Baking Days through the years. Take a look, maybe you'll see your very own wonderful self!

 Baking Day 2005, Jenni, Heather, and Katherine

 circa 2005, Miriam, Jenni, Steph, Candance, Meaghan, and Allie

 Famous chocolate chip cherry cookies... that still get made every year!

Cassie and Kristen... these lovely girls still come every year! And holy crap, this is actually from seven years ago.

 Baking Day 2009 with Steph Seaton!

 circa 2009 - Kristen and Steph at Baking Day four years later

Sssshhhh... we're hiding from the gingerbread house monster? I don't know.

Baking Day 2010... the first one living downtown! With Amanda.

 Baking Day 2011 - Cassie smashing some candy canes!

 Baking Day 2011 and Kristen is still here! Along with the awesome Simon.

 Baking Day 2011 post chocolate attack.

 Baking Day 2011 - Phil, post icing attack

Baking Day 2011 - watching Muppet Family Christmas while the rest of us are in the kitchen

.....excited to see what photos shall surface this year! Baking Day tomorrow!