TRANSCRIPT:
1
00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,359
Happy Black History Month everybody!
There’s a great post by Alice Walker on
2
00:00:05,359 –> 00:00:07,460
Facebook today I’m going to link to it
3
00:00:07,460 –> 00:00:11,650
below and she talks about how she
initially didn’t want to celebrate
4
00:00:11,650 –> 00:00:15,950
Black History Month because
she didn’t want to just limit it to one
5
00:00:15,950 –> 00:00:20,199
month but this is a great explanation about
why she has decided to start celebrating
6
00:00:20,199 –> 00:00:25,869
it again and also asking the question,
“Who do you believe?” and it’s very powerful
7
00:00:25,869 –> 00:00:31,189
so read it for yourself – I will not even
begin to try to quote her amazing words. Oh
8
00:00:31,189 –> 00:00:41,249
my goodness. So much to tell you. Check
this out: SARAH JONES! This is Sarah Jones’ show
9
00:00:41,249 –> 00:00:45,629
#SellBuyDate. This is the t-shirt I got and the show is incredible.
10
00:00:45,629 –> 00:00:49,389
Let’s just say that my life is complete. And
11
00:00:49,400 –> 00:00:53,739
if you have never seen her or seen
her show and her TED Talks are amazing
12
00:00:53,739 –> 00:00:57,230
but you need to see her in person. Your life is not complete until you do that.
13
00:00:57,230 –> 00:01:03,770
It was mind-boggling. She’s so talented.
14
00:01:04,129 –> 00:01:10,380
The script is so smart. It teaches you and it
entertains you and you laugh through
15
00:01:10,380 –> 00:01:16,650
the whole thing while you’re also in
deep pain. So, go see it. I was sitting very
16
00:01:16,650 –> 00:01:22,830
close to her. That’s my picture with her
on the thumbnail and she’s amazing, so go see it.
17
00:01:22,830 –> 00:01:27,970
I also saw another great performance. I saw
a show called “Lyrics from Lockdown” at the
18
00:01:27,970 –> 00:01:33,340
Actors Gang Theatre, so that is in the
links too. If you’re in Los Angeles
19
00:01:33,340 –> 00:01:37,659
go see it. I believe it’s going to be
playing throughout the country, so go see
20
00:01:37,659 –> 00:01:42,460
that. OH! OK – one more thing. I’m saying for #BlackHistoryMonth, but this should
21
00:01:42,460 –> 00:01:46,850
not limit you to just #BlackHistoryMonth –
you should listen to this every single – I
22
00:01:46,850 –> 00:01:52,030
believe they’re weekly. There’s this new
podcast by @BroadwayBlack which I’ve
23
00:01:52,030 –> 00:01:56,659
been following on Twitter @BroadwayBlack. The podcast is called “Off Book” and
24
00:01:56,659 –> 00:02:02,090
I think their Twitter address is @OffBookPodcast, but I’ll put a link so you can see it. It is
25
00:02:02,090 –> 00:02:03,570
all about
26
00:02:03,570 –> 00:02:09,569
live theater by Black playwrights
performed by Black folks and I’ve only
27
00:02:09,569 –> 00:02:11,440
listened to the first episode and
28
00:02:11,440 –> 00:02:17,870
I am HOOKED! The first episode is with Dominique Morisseau and I went to see her
29
00:02:17,870 –> 00:02:23,890
show, “Sunset Baby” in LA recently, so it’s amazing, it’s inspiring so check it
30
00:02:23,890 –> 00:02:29,900
out. I started my Assistant Directing at the
Boston Court Theatre and it’s been an
31
00:02:29,900 –> 00:02:35,790
interesting ride so far. I have already
made some clear – very, very clear comments
32
00:02:35,790 –> 00:02:45,700
around the casting choices and how we have
to start seeing culture and ethnicity
33
00:02:45,700 –> 00:02:53,670
and race as an important skill that a
person has. So – a lot of White directors
34
00:02:53,670 –> 00:02:58,200
will look at actors and look at purely – what they BELIEVE they are
35
00:02:58,200 –> 00:03:03,090
seeing as “skills” and “talents” and
“experience,” but if they are not
36
00:03:03,090 –> 00:03:10,260
considering that people who come from
backgrounds that are not White,
37
00:03:10,260 –> 00:03:15,090
who are NOT represented on stage – if they
don’t consider that to be a very
38
00:03:15,090 –> 00:03:19,989
important part of having a skill – that White
actors don’t have – we’re not gonna get
39
00:03:19,989 –> 00:03:23,489
anywhere. So we had some good
conversations about it, and most
40
00:03:23,489 –> 00:03:28,180
importantly: they listened – “they” meaning
the staff at the theater, but also the
41
00:03:28,180 –> 00:03:31,590
Director – and so I was really
impressed with that and I think it’s
42
00:03:31,590 –> 00:03:32,810
going to be a great experience.
43
00:03:32,810 –> 00:03:39,239
Alright so now I’m gonna show you my
time here in Mesa this week. My big “This
44
00:03:39,239 –> 00:03:44,930
Week as an Artist” was mostly my
performances in Mesa, so here goes what
45
00:03:44,930 –> 00:03:52,690
happened in Mesa. Alright, enjoy see you later. (in Mesa) Here in Mesa. So now I’ve just unpacked and I’m in my room.
46
00:03:52,690 –> 00:04:01,300
We have Tech at 2:30 and the nice thing is
it’s in walking distance , so we’ll head over at 2:15
47
00:04:01,300 –> 00:04:07,110
and I’m getting the One Drop t-shirts ready!
48
00:04:07,110 –> 00:04:17,030
We’re going to give these away to some young people tomorrow. I’m thinking about doing trivia
49
00:04:17,030 –> 00:04:23,110
questions about the show, so I’m EXCITED! And I feel so very, very, very fortunate and we’ll have a great time
50
00:04:23,110 –> 00:04:24,990
So I’ll check in with you later. Bye!
51
00:04:24,990 –> 00:04:30,730
Tech rehearsal is finished. And it went really, really well.
52
00:04:30,730 –> 00:04:34,530
It’s so nice to come back to a place we’ve been to before.
53
00:04:34,530 –> 00:04:42,990
And it is now early enough – it’s 7. And I’m back in the room and I’m just going to chill out, relax
54
00:04:42,990 –> 00:04:50,570
We have to be at the theatre at 8:30am for the young folk. OH MY GOODNESS! YOUNG PEOPLE!
55
00:04:50,570 –> 00:04:58,110
Alright. I’m getting ready for this morning show. And I woke up a little nervous. I’ve been…
56
00:04:58,260 –> 00:05:02,980
…I kind of tossed and turned last night. My acting teacher taught us in high school that
57
00:05:02,980 –> 00:05:09,740
nervous energy is good – as long as you use it the right way. But it’s so different to be with high school students,
58
00:05:09,740 –> 00:05:13,940
it’s different to be in a new place. So – we’ll see. So I’m doing my hair.
59
00:05:13,940 –> 00:05:23,480
So. My hair is one of the hardest parts because – like this is anything new to any woman at all, but
60
00:05:23,480 –> 00:05:36,580
it never quite does what I want it to do. So we’re going to see what happens – and, because I wear a high ponytail,
61
00:05:36,580 –> 00:05:45,040
I HAVE to get it right on the first try, or I never get it right again. So…I’m going to be turning you off
62
00:05:45,040 –> 00:05:46,840
until I get it right.
63
00:05:46,840 –> 00:05:56,280
This is as close as it’s going to get. You’ll see pictures maybe from the show and my hair is much shorter
64
00:05:56,320 –> 00:06:02,560
it’s up here and I just didn’t have time to get a haircut band so I’ve got these weird long pieces hanging down,
65
00:06:02,560 –> 00:06:10,300
but (giggles) this is IT! There’s the look for the Census Worker/Dad/Grandma/Fanshen.
66
00:06:10,300 –> 00:06:20,400
So. Next on to make up and I don’t wear a whole lot of make up in my daily life, so it feels like I have a lot on,
67
00:06:20,400 –> 00:06:27,880
but I really don’t – I basically do some cover up, for these bags. And a little eyebrow situation and some
68
00:06:27,880 –> 00:06:40,840
mascara. A little eyeliner and some blush, and a little bit of shiny things here – I don’t even know
69
00:06:40,840 –> 00:06:46,280
what that’s called. But I’m going to work on that now and I’m going to stay inspired by MIZZZ SARAH JONES,
70
00:06:46,280 –> 00:06:57,500
#SellBuyDate. I’m going to try to channel her amazing energy today. Check in with you once I’m all ready.
71
00:06:57,500 –> 00:07:05,920
FINISHED! My eyebrows are pretty harsh, but I think that’s OK, ’cause they’re going to be looking at me
72
00:07:05,920 –> 00:07:08,320
from the audience.
73
00:07:08,320 –> 00:07:16,760
To hairspray, or not to hairspray? So you see these little things? That’s what I was trying to avoid, but
74
00:07:16,760 –> 00:07:20,920
that’s alright. I was thinking some bobby pins could work, or I’m just going to let it go and maybe
75
00:07:20,920 –> 00:07:23,840
it’ll dry up for later tonight, but
76
00:07:23,840 –> 00:07:31,700
now, what about my edges? Do I put hairspray or not? I don’t have a problem with edges, I think they add
77
00:07:31,700 –> 00:07:38,980
well, they’re natural – it’s what’s there. But I don’t know, I’ll see – but wish me break a leg I’m on my way
78
00:07:38,980 –> 00:07:44,020
and I’ll check in after the first show! BYE!!!
79
00:07:45,820 –> 00:07:52,600
The show with the young folk is FINISHED! And they were wonderful. These were high school students from
80
00:07:52,600 –> 00:07:54,780
all over Mesa. And their
81
00:07:54,790 –> 00:08:00,310
questions and responses were fantastic. So we asked, “What did you get from the show?”
82
00:08:00,310 –> 00:08:06,970
“What was your takeway from the show?” And one student said, “This has been going on a really long time.”
83
00:08:06,970 –> 00:08:10,900
And I’m like, “YES!” YES. Right? It’s not
84
00:08:10,900 –> 00:08:14,410
just about US in this period right now
in this bubble, like the importance of
85
00:08:14,410 –> 00:08:20,290
understanding the history around why we
treat people the way we do based on “race.”
86
00:08:20,290 –> 00:08:27,380
And another student said, “Well, you
can’t judge a book by its cover.” Another
87
00:08:27,380 –> 00:08:34,370
student asked whether we thought it was
lucky that my brother had an
88
00:08:34,370 –> 00:08:39,669
African-American judge – so if you haven’t
seen the show, I share the experience of
89
00:08:39,669 –> 00:08:46,240
a time that I witnessed my brother being
brutalized by the police, and in his
90
00:08:46,240 –> 00:08:52,590
trial he has a Black judge who ultimately reprimands the cops
91
00:08:52,590 –> 00:09:00,390
instead of my brother – and so this
young man asked, “Do you think he was lucky to have that
92
00:09:00,390 –> 00:09:06,330
Black judge? And it was so telling about which
part of the show spoke to him. So – it was
93
00:09:06,330 –> 00:09:11,240
wonderful. I’m off to do one more in
about an hour. We’ve got Dr. Neal
94
00:09:11,240 –> 00:09:17,280
Lester from Arizona State University
Project Humanities tonight for the Q&A
95
00:09:17,280 –> 00:09:21,540
and then I’ll be back and I’ll
check-in here.
96
00:09:21,540 –> 00:09:28,980
Ahhh. Second show down. Great audience. Great
conversation.
97
00:09:28,980 –> 00:09:34,819
So grateful to Dr. Neal Lester who’s
now like a brother – and it just was
98
00:09:34,819 –> 00:09:45,219
another magical evening and…I’m tired. I’m
TIRED. But then again, if this were on Broadway
99
00:09:45,219 –> 00:09:47,759
I’d being two shows in one day
100
00:09:47,760 –> 00:09:53,259
regularly – so I think I could handle it. I do
think I’m getting a little bit of a call
101
00:09:53,259 –> 00:10:03,910
So that’s all she wrote. Thanks for going on this
journey #ThisWeekasanArtivist. Oh No!
102
00:10:03,910 –> 00:10:10,399
Before we go what are your goals? Oh my
goal: we will book one more show this
103
00:10:10,399 –> 00:10:15,490
coming week. We’ll try it. What are your
goals this week? What did you accomplish
104
00:10:15,490 –> 00:10:16,750
last week?
105
00:10:16,750 –> 00:10:23,670
Write a comment, tweet something, make a
video and tell me what you did. Alright.
106
00:10:23,670 –> 00:10:25,630
Hang in there and…
107
00:10:25,630 –> 00:10:27,130
talk to you next week!