R.I.P. Tinuola Olateju

Another season, another semester, another freshmen from Mounds View High School lost to suicide. On the night of Friday May 28, 2010, Tinu Olateju took her own life. She was a beloved member of Mounds View's class of '13. A beautiful girl who always had a smile on her face. It's terrible to think about how many people are affected by things like this, especially since so many of us have yet to forget what happened just six months and eight days before Friday, what happened with Mitchell. These two freshmen shall never be forgotten and will live in our hearts forever. It's a terrible, horrible thing, but it happens all the time, more then we'd like to think about. And when it happens to people we know and love it really opens your eyes.

R.I.P. Mitchell Pratt

I just learned that a kid in my grade, at my school commited suicide after school today. He was in my last class of the day, i saw him, i even talked to him, if only for a moment. I didn't know him well, but still, it feels like I've lost a friend. The pain is crushing and I can't imagine what it must be like for those who knew him better. I would like to ask you to keep him in your prayers and send good thoughts about it. Situations like these are horrible and I never thought I'd have to experience one first hand. I really hope it doesnt happen to any of you. And one more thing, I just can't help thinking, was I one of the last people he saw and talked to? Was I??

Auditions: The Worst Part of the Performing Arts

I know, I haven't posted anything in months and I'm sorry about that. I promise I'll write about everything thats been going on very very soon but right now, I have one thing I need to write about.
This has most definetly been a very interesting weekend. We opened and closed for SYP's, The Magic Fishbone, adapted and directed by Claudia (directed for my cast anyway) but another very surprising thing went down.
On Thursday for my sister and Friday (right before I left for the show) for myself, Alyssa and I got calls from a modeling and acting agency. They wanted us to come in for a presentation and interview with them on Sunday at 10:30! They had contacted 164 people in the Twin Cities that came in to get interviewed and they were going to pick 50 of those to go through their training school (one weekend per month for six months) called Barbizon. The catch is they wanted over 2,000 dollars per person for a sort of tuition fee. They've had a lot of now famous actors/actresses and models go through them, though. Then, once you 'graduated' from Barbizon, you'd go on to their agency where you would be availible for their hundreds of clients to use for photo shoots, fashion shows, and commercials or ads. Too bad nothing is for sure in this world so you may never get good jobs or gigs through this but the training would be very helpful if you chose to try your luck with a different agency. The person who interviewed us was one of the head-hanchos herself! Ms. Owens. She was very kind and seemed to like us! She made a few comments about IF we were to be accepted, what divisions we would be best suited for. The divisions (that I know of anyway) are as follows: petite division (for people 5'4" and under, for fashion I believer. She mentioned I would be perfectly suited for this one ;D), high fashion division (same thing as petite except for girls 5'8" or guys 5'10" and taller. Ms. Owens commented that my sister would be good for this.), hair (their LARGEST divison), plus size (people with a girls pant size 16 or larger), and commercial and print (t.v. ads and ads for stores. She also said the both of us would be well suited for this). They told us they'd call tonight between seven and nine and they followed through. We got a call from Barbizon a little after eight tonight. The lady who called us talked to my mom for several minutes (with me peeking over her shoulder to see what she was writing down :D). They talked about my older sister, Alyssa, first. I believe she was talking to Ms. Owens... but anyways! She said that my sister was extremley qualified! She would qualify for all the division besides petite and plus sized!! AND she was the only one there who had freckles which was very commonly requested from clients! They wanted her in!! Then, the two talked about me. My mom was told that there many, many girls in my grouping and that they planned on going over them all again tomorrow morning so we'd be getting another call around the same time the next evening. *sighs* I love the performing arts. I wouldn't be the same person if I didn't have them in my life but auditioning and waiting for results is the worst! A very nice thing about Barbizon, though, is they try to contact you as soon as possible, which is very appreciated! Ms. Owens did comment that I was very qualified for it, though. Still, I shall have to wait 'til tomorrow night, butterflies dancing in my stomach all the while.

Time To Catch Up...

Wow. I haven't been on in months! Guess that kinda shows how busy I've been! But not with a lot of stuff... if that makes any sense. :) But anyways. Hmm... what to tell, what to tell. Well, I was in the Ten Minute Play Festival at Lakeshore Players Theatre recently and it was awesome! I got to see some of the Greenies again and meet a bunch of new people as well. Plus, I got to play a wacky girl named Tabitha. Over all, it was tons of fun!
I also learned that the amazing Jim Belich, who played my papa in Greens, works RIGHT across the street from where I might be going to school (or at least part of school) next year!! How awesome would that be??
Oh, and school ended for me on Thursday! It still doesn't feel like summer but I'm sure it will soon! Speaking of summer, most people's summer is more relaxed then the rest of their year (well... at least for the kids in school still :D) right?? WRONG! My summer is booked with so much stuff I might not make it up to my Grandparent's house this year. They won't be happy about that... But back to my summer plans. On Wednesday I'm starting my third year at Lakeshore Players SYP (Summer Youth Project) led by the fantastic Claudia Haas!! I'm super excited about doing that again! And I'm also in Music Man... again. :) It's with Rosetown Theatre and we open on the ninth of July. We perform at the Como Pavillion and it runs for two weekends. Then, the weekend after we close are the performances for SYP. PLUS I have voice lessons on Tuesdays at 1:30 with Moundsview High School's awesome choir director, Mr. Espe!! Those start on June 23rd and run till July 28th, I think. Also, I might be auditioning for another show next week! I know I'll keep busy this summer!!
Well, now that you know every aspect of my summer, I hope you can make it through yours! Haha, just kidding! :D Have a wonderous summer, everyone!! Hope to post again sometime in the near(ish) future! :D
Love,
Sylena ♥

Long Time No Write

Hey hey!! I know I've been promising to write... and I haven't kept up with that promise very well. :/ But I'm back now and with stories to tell! So, my school's musical, the Music Man (see last post), just ended a little while ago. It was a great show with a wonderful cast and crew. The directors were amazing and overall, the show was tons of fun! I miss it constantly and, even though I'm glad I have some more time to do menial things like... oh say homework, I'm sad the show had to end. For those of you who saw it, I'm glad you could come and hope you enjoyed it! I know I did.

I remember, a while ago (hehe), I promised to write a Greenies poem, and while it stinks, here it is:

Moments that last a second
Memories that last forever
The laughs shared
The tears shed
Forever implanted in
Your memory
Hugs and Kisses
Forever... forever
The empty theatre
And blank faces
You look around but
There's no one to be found
You search and search
For the thing lost
Until you stumble upon it;
Those moments that lasted a second
And memories that'll last forever.

TA DA!!! that is my AMAZING (not really) poem I wrote after the Greenies closed!! I miss you all and can't wait till we meet again!!

I have been running around going to soo many shows lately... and loving every minute of it! Theatre is so much fun, if not being in a show, then watching one! It's so much fun to be part of a show and watch it grow and expand right before you're eyes. Like it was for me in The Hanging of the Greens. I remember our first rehearsal, the read through. We were all sitting around the table, taking in the new faces around us, not talking too much. Then go back a month to the Greenies sleepover and see how much we've changed. It truly was a great experience for me and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!
Well, I must go but I hope to write again soon!!
Love,
Sylena (Regan <3)

Music Man

Yes, I have been putting too many things off for too long. I've just been so caught up in all the things going on that I haven't felt like blogging for a while, much less doing some other things. But one main thing I'm focusing on right now is to prepare myself for my school's auditions of The Music Man by Meredith Willson. I am taking a risk and auditioning for Marian, which is a huge thing for me, but I figured, why not? It's my last year at this school and it's not like I'm expecting to get the part. I just thought it would be good experience and, not to mention, that I've had several friends tell me that I just had to audition for her! I guess they think I do something right. :D My director, Mrs. Hershey, says that she will host call backs tomorrow night after the second day of auditions, the day I try out, and will have the cast list posted that night on her website. I don't see how she could possibly get all that done in one night, especially since auditions themselves go till almost five. She definitely has her work cut out for her! So, I just have to wait, with fingers crossed!

Another thing that I will have my fingers crossed for is my brother's hockey team. He is the goalie, and their team is participating in a tournament next weekend, the 16Th. Which is why I have to miss the opening show of The Murder Room, unfortunately. But, they have won few games this season, and we're hoping this tourney will bring us some good luck.

In other news, my class I take Monday nights with Mr. Paulson are going fantastic! I love having something to look forward to on Mondays, especially something as special as his class. I am learning tons of new tricks and I have a blast doing it!

Well, I'm off to go rest up for that big audition tomorrow!!
Love,
Sylena <3

Everything!

It hasn't been a week since closing, but it already feels too long. I miss everyone dearly, but I do realise that I must move on after this week, not completely, but I can't spend the time mopping around any more. For some reason, ever since the end of this show, I have felt like writing a poem. Yes, a poem. I know it sounds odd, but as a writer in training, I feel like, at least for now, I should let my heart lead the way. Close away the senses and distractions and just... write. I personally think I'm better at writing short stories rather then poems or songs (which isn't saying much in the first place) but my heart seems to want a poem, so I will definitely get to work on that.

Speaking of writing, the story my friend and I have been working on for school is completed, but bad. So we are planning on using a lot of our now free time to tweak it and hopefully have a little bit ready to test it out on people I trust, the Greenies. I know that it's not very good, but it's what I love so I know I will keep up with it. Especially if I do decide to go to the fine arts school, SPCPA. I'm still trying to decide between going there or too the high school in my district, Mounds view High School. I love Mounds view, but unfortunately, they don't have very good literature or drama programs. Normally I would jump at the chance to go to a place like SPCPA, but I already know, and have known for quite some time now, the choir director at Mounds view and he rocks! As you can probably tell, I have a good few hours trying to decide, that's if I even get excepted to SPCPA. See, you have to audition for it, depending on what you want to major there, instrument, voice, dance, theatre, and musical theatre, I think those are the five you can pick from.

I was checking up on other blogs and found that Claudia is writing another show for the Greenies and I am ecstatic! I mean think about it, another show with the same wonderful cast, written and directed by an amazing director!! I can't wait, but now I need to leave and clean... ew. I hate cleaning, but it's something that needs to be done! Oh, and to those of you who have been pushing me to get a Facebook, I think you might of won. I am now seriously considering deleting my Myspace and getting a Facebook. :D

Sylena (Regan :D)