Thursday, August 09, 2007
Camp Broadway OWNS♥
Yes, yes, yes. I am back.Elderly, Oranje.. of course like you guys said there's good within something you don't want to do. And one Sunday from now will be my last vacation before school :(
But enough of that, let me tell you about the camp.
At camp there were at least 100+ people, not over 200 though. We were all broken into 4 groups by age. Like High School. Except the ages were younger and two of each age group was basically the same... they just had to create another because the maximum amount for each group was 22. Anyway, there were the freshmans of Camp Broadway, the Shuberts; age 8-13. The sophomores, the Jujamycans, also age 8-13. The Juniors, the Nederlanders, age 14-17.. and lastly, the Senior group a.k.a my group, the Dodgers, age 14-17.
In my July 15th post, I stated I was to be in the Nederlander group.. but when I got there I was placed under the dodgers. The groups weren't split into all girls and all boys.. so that was good for me.
Through out the week.. actually 4 days to be exact.. we rehearsed for the play Damn Yankees. Who would of thought? It's really possible to learn 3 hours+ worth of acting, singing, dancing and still have time to create your own song, skit, dance and decorate material, in only 4 days, lol!
You see, everyday we practiced all of that.. but in our groups we split in twos and did a showcase of our own. We were to pick out of a hat two musicals. And with those musicals, we were to create a song, using songs from both musicals and combining them into one. With the song, it had to have a story. And with the story, it had to have a dance. So our team leader came up with Oliver! and West Side Story. You might say if you know of them.. "How the heck do you do that?!" Yes.. it was difficult, but we did it. ^^ Look up West Side Story and Oliver! if you don't know of them. But to give you an idea, West Side Story is based on Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare had that version.. but this version was set as two teenage gangs instead of families in New York. And they couldn't get together because of the rivalry between the gangs. Also they were Puerto Rican and American in this story :) I'd like 1to see the movie done for this or the play. I had to look up all the information on it and Oliver! to do the showcase because everyone else knew it, but I didn't x( Oliver!, I don't feel like explaining, please look it up if you don't know :P
To accomplish all of this, I also had to work my ass off! I came home sore everyday all week. Now i'm still a bit sore.. but it's better. 8 hours everyday full of hard, joint aching, hardcore Broadway action, lol. Friday of the play.. it was all worth it. Meeting the most outstanding people.. it was all worth it. But I still question myself if it really was. I mean.. I still hate the fact I even went. Because I was never interested in Broadway, and still i'm not. This just means I can never be with those awesome people, and share the same passions. I'm so ordinary compared to them. They were all amazing singers and dancers. Some of them should of had music contracts.. I seriously met people that can sing way better than most professional artists in the music industry, and some of the most real dancers and actors. And most of them were younger than me.
Last Saturday, I went to see The Wizard Of Oz with most of them at the Fox Theater. I absolutely dreaded it, lol. It was lame, boring, cheesy.. damn I hate those happy musicals. I mean, I don't hate The Wizard Of Oz, but sheesh the live sucks. But through the hours sitting with those people, I saw nothing but excitement and joy on their faces. And I realized.. "Oh crap.. they really love this." It killed me how nerdy they were all week talking about what musicals they loved, what scores they enjoyed, and what dances they wanted to learn, imitating scenes from musicals and plays, lol. But I really envy all of them. It's sad how I can't enjoy things like that.. and it made me realize how much I didn't belong there.. and how I don't really have anything special like that.
Everything I like.. I can live without it. I just enjoy things as a hobby. But these people already set it up as their life passion. They're living their dream and their parents are totally supporting them. I can't hardly do the things I like without my parents hounding me about how pointless it is. And the sad thing about it is, it is pointless. I can't make anything out of it. And I can't really enjoy it knowing I won't be doing it again. It's only a selfish waste of money and time.
Attending Camp Broadway.. I really enjoyed putting on a show.. but it only made me realize how plain my life is.
July 30 -Monday-
My first day at Camp Broadway.. it was lonely.. but by lunch I'd really loosened up. I remember one girl in my group.. she was very crazy. Her name was Lizzy. She was the one I got close to the most that day. She was something else.. and had the funniest laugh. She'll explode with laughter.. and I mean, it gets really high and really really loud, lol. She starts off normal and then, woosh, a burst and glass breaking uncontrollable sirens spill out :D
We teamed up with our director, Brance.. who is almost bald, white and geeky, but awesome! Our crazy hyper drunk choreographer Carole, and our two TA's (teaching assistants) Malika and Jalanie. Malika was this nice, smart, big sister with braces.. actually a couple of people there had braces o.o.. and Jalanie.. was this muscle head guy who didn't take shit, lol. Like some kind of drill sergeant. Whenever he wasn't helping around, I promise you he was doing some kind of exercise to build his muscles! xD But he was cool.
Each group made up their own catch phrase.. like ours went like.. we'd count off the number given to us within our group, and when we'd get to the last person someone would say, "Dodgers in the house!!!" And we'd respond, "Ooooh snap!!" xD Like school spirit but at camp :P
Later we set off to have a class with our awesomely awesome musical director, Matthew Corriel! :] Lol.. he rocked. There he had us introduce ourselfs and what music has to do with us. When it got to me, I told them how I used to be singing obsessed when I was younger, but how it died down and now I mostly listened to Asian music. I was finished with that when one of the boys, Chris shouted out, "Oh yeah!! You're the girl from this morning.. that was listening to that Japanese CD, right?!" lol.. because since I was lonely, I pulled out my Ayumi Hamasaki CD: Rainbow.. the volume happened to be all the way up before I put my head phones on and he over heard. I told him it was Japanese, x) As soon as he said that questions and statements started pouring out.. "You like other Asian music?" "Cool.. you know Japanese?" "Sing to us in Japanese!!" "You know Chinese?" "Have you been to China?" "You know Spanish too? I listen to some Spanish music!" @____@ Omg.. seriously.. everyone was talking at the same time, xO But that's what lighten up my day :) Then Matt told us to sing after doing some notes. When Matt was telling people to volunteer, this boy, who's name was also Matt was like, "I want her to sing!" And then a couple of other people were like "YEAH!! You sing Portia! Sing in Japanese!" D: I was so shocked, I just started laughing and told them i'd be singing in English. Even Matthew was like, "Awww!" I'm like.. oh my god, aren't you the music coach of Camp Broadway?! Why do I have to sing in Japanese?! x( Unfortunately, I didn't sing in any other language.. and that's only because my concentration was fried from all the spot light being on me. x/
We didn't do much that day but meet the staff and stuff.. but we clowned around at lunch some.. and danced a lot ^^ At the end of the day, I was friggin exhausted. T_T
July 31 -Tuesday-
The next day arriving early, Malika told me and a boy named AJ, she was no longer the second TA for our group and was moved to the Nederlanders. T.T She said it was because our group was mostly boys and the Nederlanders were all girl and they had two male TA's, so yeah..
And so the beginning of the day started it. It was marvelous!! So much funny. We were with Dave, the main director, playing games most of the time. The games all revolved around acting and our personality.
First we played something called ZING! You stand in a spaced out circle (well since there were 22 of us..) and the goal is to test your potential in getting someone's attention. We had to scream out "Zing" to anyone in the circle, and who ever we say it to, they can say it back or they do it to someone else. Seems easy, right? Good, lol. So it got a little difficult. The next game was different. In this game we're still in a circle, and each person had to make a noise and a movement of their choice, and everyone had to re-do what that one person did in their own way.. and it goes around the circle until it reaches the person who did it. Then, the person next the them has to start something new. :D Omg, that was so fun, lol. Ex. My movement and noise: Spinning around in a circle and saying "Well, howdy doo!" lol.. the next to me does it, then after them and so on.. then when it comes to me I do it again, and the person next to me goes, "Bom chicka wom wom" and does some sexy movement, lol. It all stops when everyone in the circle does something different :)
After that we went into the womans lounge (my favorite room) and continued our fun. We played another acting game called "Family Photo". Since it was 22 of us we got into 4 family groups. What we had to do: One person plays as the photographer and is in charge of calling out the themes. They call up a family to center stage for the picture then tell the theme. Count down from 5 and that's how long we have to get into character before the picture is taken. (we didn't really have a camera :P) The themes can be anything. People, places, things, animals, colors, fruits, etc. And the family has 5 seconds to act out whatever the theme is and get ready to take the picture. One catch.. no one in the family can do the exact same thing. x/
Ex 1: "Family B your theme is Lindsy Lohan!" So say there are 5 people in this family. The mom is pretending to smoke pot, the dad is hitting paparazzi with his car, the son is rocking back and fourth in rehab, the daughter is being a slut, the older daughter is partying hard. Then the picture is taken :]
Other examples: "Family C your theme is Paris Hilton!"
"Family A your theme is Blue!" this was hard for us because it's a color.. so what we did was think of things that were blue or had to do with the color: water, the sky, a captain of a ship, a suicidal person or alcoholic :D
"Family B your theme is an elephant!" "Family C your theme is California!" "Family A your theme is grass!" "Family B your theme is an Orange!" "Family B your theme is the serious family!" "Family B your theme is the stinky family!" "Family B your theme is the psychotic family!" So yeah.. we had some with that :]
Afterwards, we played a different game called "Freeze!". It's where two people start a scene and someone yells "freeze!" and the two people stop. Then who ever yelled it takes the place of whoever they froze and turns the scene into something different using the position they took :]
Afterwards we did it again but with an object. With us it was newspaper rolled up and taped, but the object can be anything you want it to be! So with the object, it has to be the center of the scene or used for something in the scene.
THEN.. we finally finished our fun with playing the alphabet game. This was the most difficult. Here you have two people create a story and everything they have to say has the follow the alphabet.. it also has to follow the story, make sense, and each person can only say one thing! So who ever starts automatically has to say something that starts with an A.. then so on.
Ex. Two Cheerleaders waiting to go to the mall: C.L. 1: Aren't you ready to go to the mall? C.L. 2: Brittany, will you stop freaking asking?! I'll go when i'm ready! C.L. 1: Don't get an attitude, I just wanted to know. C.L. 2: Enough with it though, you've asked 3 times. C.L. 1: Forget I asked then.. C.L. 2: Great idea! But stop asking anyway, loser. C.L. 1: How can you be so bitchy? C.L. 2: I rather be bitchy than annoying! C.L. 1: Jeez.. I am so glad you didn't make captain!! {end example} Lol.. fun right? But it gets hard when you get to letters that suck ^^ Oh.. I totally forgot C xD IGNORE THAT!! Lol.. you get the idea.. just don't forget letters :P
So after all our fun we had to do work :] We split into our teams and worked on our showcases, the Oliver! and West Side Story skit.
Then after that we went up to the Grand Salon room and practiced the dance we learned with the Nederlanders and also learned a new dance. Omg.. that two hours was HORRIBLE I was so annoyed by those Nederlanders. Why? None of them knew what they were doing! x( And to top it off.. that stupid director for the Nederlanders Rachel was such an idiot and thought she was so cute. I didn't like her from the beginning because she kept picking on our group director. And apart of our dance we had to put our arms around people and lean on them and walk behind them in a line with your arm on their shoulder? The girl she put me next to was way shorter than me. She was under 5 feet and i'm almost 6 feet. Her name was Allison. When I tried to tell Rachel we needed to get switched, she was like, "No.. it's just wrong because you're doing it wrong." I was trying to show her what would happen when we did it but she didn't even watch and told me to get back in line. Then she was the ONLY person who got my name wrong. She didn't even make the common mistake which is pronouncing my name 'Poor-tee-ah', since it does LOOK like that. This idiot says, "What's your name? 'Poor-tah'?" And at first I though she just said it wrong, but then she was like, "Well 'Poor-tah', i'm gonna move you.." I was like, "It's Poor-sha.. not Poor-tah. You know, from Shakespeare?" I mean jeez.. it's a normal name and you're in Broadway! I wanted to say, "Oh my God, the name Portia is from Shakespeare, it's not hard, it's a normal name, so why the hell don't you know how to say it, you extra thick dumbass?! Did you finish school?! Why are you here? I think you need to be a TA lady..." xD
Anyway, the beginning of the day was most fun, but the ending was soooo exhausting. Why? Lunch was at 12 pm, which was fun.. but do you know from 12:30 to 3 we did nothing but dance and from 3 to 4:15 we sang and 4:15 to 5 pm we exercised?! Omg.. what the hell?! I hated that day in the afternoon, lol.
Pictures from that fun day at lunch♥
We didn't take pictures of our fun games because we didn't have time for cameras :/ But as you can see, at lunch we had bananas with our meal.. also a huge dosage of fun :) Photos taken by me.I came early this day. We have to be there at 9am every day and I got there at like 8:40 something. My mom found a faster way to get to the theater.. because I kinda would be late a couple of minutes the other days.
Anyway, we were SUPPOSE to go on a tour of the Fox Theater that Wednesday.. but we didn't because as they told us, "it would of gotten too chaotic and we would of used a lot of rehearsal time getting everybody back on track." How insulting.. we aren't THAT disobedient. T.T So instead of a tour, we talked to a lady working on the technician staff. She told us a bit about things and we asked questions and what not.. found out a lot about the Fox and set design and preparation, how they move huge props or how long it takes to set a stage, the cast, and what professionals do and all that.
Later we were treated VERY specially at lunch from all our other days, lol. We got a dinner really.. angel hair pasta, garlic bread, broccoli and squash, salad and any drink of our choice. Then.. we had cake!! All thanks to Allison. Yes.. the shorty girl Rachel put me next to. But I liked Allison, she was so small, cute and sweet. Hard to believe she had turned 16 that day :O
Anyway we got two delicious cakes, and then we met with some guests. Since lunch ran longer than usual, we went straight to our classes and worked the rest of the day.
Here are some pictures taken on that day :)
These are pictures from that morning. Since I was early, I pulled out my CD player and relaxed before a hard days work. I totally shunned myself from everyone else, x) (girl in the back with the CD player, lol) They were all taken by Vinne with Lizzy's Camera (white girl), and the last one with my horrible old camera. My new camera wouldn't work, the lens wouldn't come out.. so I had to use this old two pixel camera, x/
Lizzy's expression is priceless. You'll be seeing that a lot, lol.
Aj, me and Bria..
These pictures were taken at lunch after eating Allison's cake. I forgot to get a picture with her. T_T
August 2 -Thursday-
I don't really remember what happened this day. But I do know two things: Our group totally went crazy early in the morning, at lunch, and we did A LOT of working.
At the beginning of the day, for warm up exercises, Lizzy brought her iPod and Brian bough his iPod boom box. We cranked up "Get me bodied" by Beyonce' and danced forever. Then, for some reason having a lot of free time.. we taught Rachel.. the choreographer I disliked.. how to do some hip hop dances :D The main dance we taught her was the Super Man :)
I know I didn't like Rachel... but I gotta say, the lady knows how to dance. She could dance her ass off.
We made a video later that day at lunch playing the song and showcasing Rachel doing the dance. :3 She couldn't remember the steps from the verses of the song, so she added in her own steps with a little bit of Broadway. It was pretty good.. considering the camera was all friggin' shaky x/
Later that day we put all the dances we learned alone with the dances the Nederlander's did. We practiced our Broadway medley, and the songs our group had.. we cleaned up our gypsy showcase, and we practiced, practiced, practice. Because tomorrow was the big day :]
Here are pictures from that day-
Darnisha.. whipping out your camera when you know i'm taking a picture?! lol.. Brian and Matt in the back. Matt the music director, not Matt in our group x)
Chris acting awesome x3
Bria popping in the picture, Lizzy and Justin.
Montague and Bria.. also Chris behind Bria and Matt sitting on the floor ^^After leaving, my mom and I ventured to the store to find a cute yellow top and black skimmer for my outfit. We were to were all black for the gypsy showcase, black and yellow/ gold for the base ball skit, and some sort of apron or house wive attire for the 1950's styled 'Six month out of every year' performance. I finally found what I needed. Later, my mom pulled out this beautiful old dress of her grandmothers.. it fit me perfectly for the performance :D
Ah, the last day of camp... T.T Aw.. I know.. it's true I hated the fact I went, but of course I miss these people and they'll be in my memories for ever. I hope I see them next year. x/
So! Arriving a bit early, I ventured down the busy streets outside the Fox for the last time.. to get ready for acting and singing that is. As soon as I arrived with my things, we immediately did our warm ups! We must have went through our routines like 50 times.. so exhausting x( Because from 9:30 to 12:15 we rehearsed without breaks. One of the members of my group, Bria, sprung her ankle during this. T.T We had the TA's take care of her then. Then we ate and practiced coming and waiting through the hall that enters the stage. We took pictures too :] Then we watched the Shuberts and Jujamycns rehearse. During that we went over our lines and reflected personally over our upcoming performance. After all that it was about 2 pm.. the show was to begin at 3:30 pm, so we had only and hour and a half for three more rehearsals and time to go to the grand salon and change clothes waiting for the audience to come. We rehearsed the whole Damn Yankees play, then the Camp Broadway medley and the our group gypsy showcases. During the wait in the Grand Salon, we took pictures also.
During the gypsy showcase, I messed up twice.. but the lead characters messed up worse. Lizzy and Ouin forgot to turn to the audience before the third music break.. and Quin was off key during most of his solo performance.. so I was all together disappointed with it. -sigh-
During the first performance with the Dodgers, Six Months Out Of Every Year.. I was also disappointed.. but only with myself and the girls. We all looked marvelous, but most of the girls didn't know the words to the bridge of the song. It is quite tricky.. but they should of got it down. Me, I did everything right, but I didn't put in enough action. I was so bland and normal.. like I had been doing it forever and I was tired (as I could see from the video..) The Nederlanders were good with all their performances.. T-T I'm mad my aunt didn't record theirs..
Our big acting scene, it was perfect! Completely satisfied and proud :3 But the Shoeless Joe dance break that followed.. sucked for me. But did good in the Heart music break and dance break.. the shoes I wore made me look bad though D:
And the last performance of the Camp Broadway Medley was great! Mistakes?? Yes. T.T Not so noticeable though.. so I'm glad. :)
After we finished, I met with my mom, aunt and her co-worker and said goodbye to all group members. I was to see some of them the next day at the Wizard Of Oz musical.
Here are pictures from that Friday :)
Early in the morning before rehearsal, Darnisha was putting the swatches we docorated on the Camp Broadway robe :) Ah, I forgot to take a picture of mine x/ It painted cherry blossoms all along the edges, a flag of Japan and America and put my name in blue glitter.. also a black and red Vivienne Westwood orb ^^;
At lunch after rehearsal. Ah... I look so high.. I leaned in to late.. I was just about to blink and smile, xD
Darnisha being stupid at lunch^^ No people.. she's not flipping you off.. that's her pointer finger x)
Quin and Aisha being feirce on stage!
Aisha, Lizzy and Justin :] I told you Lizzy'd have crazy expressions. x)
Bria and Zakiyia dressed up for their showcase :]
Darnisha and Chris before their showcase..
Lizzy dressed as Oliver for our showcase :]
The housewives x3 Lizzy, me and Sharra. All the girls had aprons.. I was the only one with a 1950's dress.. o.o'
Aisha and Lizzy♥
Aisha and Bria inside the Grand Salon with everyone else :)
Ey.. who told Justin to get in the picture? :o Anyway.. yeah, group picture before the performance!
Darnisha and Chris before their showcase..
Lizzy dressed as Oliver for our showcase :]
The housewives x3 Lizzy, me and Sharra. All the girls had aprons.. I was the only one with a 1950's dress.. o.o'
Aisha and Lizzy♥
Aisha and Bria inside the Grand Salon with everyone else :)
Ey.. who told Justin to get in the picture? :o Anyway.. yeah, group picture before the performance!
I'm above the white guy with the red shirt, hehe ^^August 4 -Saturday-
Summary!! Lol.. I arrived a bit late, I sat by Justin (TA) and most of my group members, plus only some of the Nederlanders. The musical sucked.. I love the Wizard Of Oz.. but I guess when I was younger?? It was freezing, I shivered through out the performance.. met up with friends during half time.. took no photos :( I regret not saying anything to some people.. -_-;
After it ended, took photos.. but only with Darnisha and Chris because we were all waiting there on our rides :] One day at camp, I think Wednesday or Thursday, there was a commercial set at the fox and the car they used was still there, so we took pictures on it.. even though we weren't suppose to touch it x3
Darnisha, Chris, & Me♥
Oooh.. look at the beautiful Fox Theater (background) :DAfter that, Darnisha left, Justin left, and Chris left when my mom finally came :) I can't wait to go next year! To work and see everyone again.. i'm still waiting on the DVD to come. Can't wait to see it. But! My aunt recorded some stuff with the camera. It's not perfessional, but yeah.. you get to see some of it. Too bad she missed BOTH of my acting solos and the Nederlander's performances. I
Labels: camp broadway, events, life, poine's pictures, videos
