Shakespeare on Location {Romeo & Juliet Inspiration}

It is finally here! Tomorrow I start my first project for my Advanced Directing class. I have spent the first three weeks of the semester preparing and planning for this to begin and I am thrilled to start.

Our assignment is to direct a 10-15 minute scene from any of Shakespeare's plays, and to rehearse and perform it in a non-theatre space somewhere near or on campus. I have chosen Act 5, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet. This is a very well-known scene which holds the duel between Paris and Romeo in the Capulet's tomb, and the lovers' discovery of one another's deaths and their decision to take their own lives. My location is off campus in a cemetery, set to perform in the dark of night. It is going to be beautiful (I hope!!). 

I have been making great use of Pinterest and Tumblr to find inspiration for my scene, and here are a few of the images I am taking with me into the design and rehearsal process:

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My cast is made up of six of my friends from the theatre department, Kaycee and Brit as Romeo and Juliet, Jimi and Brian taking the roles of Paris and Friar Lawrence, and lastly Colyer and Patrick finish with Balthasar and the Page. I cannot wait to start working with them and to see what all they bring to the table. I have great faith that it is going to be a wonderful time and a project I am proud of. Hopefully I will have pictures from the event to share with you :)

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor {BUT Olympics 2012}

This weekend was the Second Annual BUT Olympics (BUT standing for BU Theatre of course)! The Druids --student society leadership team-- puts on this field day for the entire department at the start of the year as a fun and competitive community building event. The professors were our referees and the day was a complete blast! Last year was the first go around and we had a great time but our numbers were few. This year almost half the department showed up to participate! Woo!

Each year is assigned a different color. The seniors are what?! RED HOT! Then the juniors were blue, sophomores yellow, and freshmen were in green. Last year's reigning champs, the class of 2014, won AGAIN and the seniors... well, we came in last place. But all in all it was such a fun time. The weather was beautiful Saturday morning, some of the nicest weather we've seen since school started. I would definitely call this weekend a success. I can't wait to hear about the BUT Olympics in 2013 even though by then I'll be long gone and graduated (crazy right?!).

Bailey Jean Photography {The Beginnings}

Earlier in the year, I convinced three friends to let me take their headshots. Headshots are vital for performers as they go hand in hand with our resumes at any audition, interview, etc. I hadn't a clue what I was doing, I just knew I wanted to give it a try. Since then, I have learned so much more about myself, my camera, and my style. Once school started I offered my headshot services to our department and was so surprised to make fifteen appointments right off the bat. I'm still learning, but this is something I am not giving up. Photography has always been an interest and now it is becoming more of a reality. I'll keep you posted, but I believe this is the beginning of a great new adventure :)

PS. Aren't my friends good looking? Sheesh! ;)

More than {Canaries}

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"What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And He pays greater even greater attention to you, down to the last detail-- even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated... You're worth more than a million canaries." Luke 12:6-7, The Message

So Much to Time, So Little Do {Or something like that...}

It's been one of those weeks. Two of those weeks. And a half. You know, those weeks where you wake up with so much motivation, a to-do list a mile long, and the perfectly scheduled day ahead only to hit the snooze button and with it zap all of those things out the window.

It's been one of those weeks.

Classes started, Lifegroup picked up, planning started for the student society.. add work into the mix and I'm pretty set. "It's really not that bad. Not too much to handle, it just sounds like a lot." I can't tell you how many times those words have come out of my mouth leading up to this semester and within the past 18 days. I like to have everything under control. I'm simply one of those people. But the thing is, I can't and don't have everything under control. Ever.

My year ahead is full. Abundantly full! And I am so thankful for it. My God is a good God who has blessed His daughter well, and I am so thankful. But I cannot hoard these gifts and try to master them on my own. They take daily surrender. Surrender back to the One who gave them to me in the first place. Who has trusted me with them. Surrendering, for me, isn't easy. And honestly I haven't been doing much of it.

The things I love become part of a to-do list when I have too much on my plate. People I hold dear have to be penciled in and rescheduled time and time again when I put off my homework or spend too much time on Pinterest (let's face it, that's a regular thing).

This blog, which brings me so much joy, is on the back burner under about six other things, and that saddens me. Amidst all of these things, these opportunities I have and passions I've been given, I've started comparing. Her blog has more followers. She's more joyful and she's not doing nearly as much as I am. Why does he get the spotlight? Why can't I just get a little more attention? 

He this... she that... It's a never ending cycle. And it puts my focus on my insecurities and weaknesses in the world's eyes rather than handing those over to the One who delights in filling those places.

But there is grace. Hallelujah, there is grace! 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

I am forgiven, I am wanted, I am loved. And so are you. It does not matter how many things I check off my list or how many people I impress, none of that can change my standing with the Lord. He always calls me worthy. He always has time for me. He always sees me and welcomes me back into His arms, and that is where I should want to be first and foremost.

My priorities must shift in the coming weeks and I am sharing all of this with you so you can help hold me accountable. I admit that I am weak in many areas, but I'm believing that the Lord will step into those areas of weakness and show me His great mercy and strength, revealing more of Himself to me than ever.

So do bare with me :) And I pray that wherever you are feeling weak, you will feel an abundance of God's goodness, provision and strength as you surrender those areas. Know you can expect great things from your Father! He delights in being your Savior!

And while I'm being honest, here is a glimpse into this week's mess. Isn't it lovely? Praise the Lord, there is grace! And a sweet encouragement from a friend reminds me that my schedule isn't everything. The Lord is still good, day in and day out :)