This week was spent beginning to make final edits to my portfolio for the portfolio review, as well as being inducted into NTHS and Thespian Society
Monday- Added elements from The Education Project (The cover photo, gathering pictures from the rehearsal process, etc.)
Tuesday/Wednesday- Didn't do blogs
Thursday- Honors Society Induction
Friday- Thespian Society Induction
Monday, June 23, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
3/10/14-3/14/14
This weeks blogs:
-I wrote my "the moment it clicked" monologue
-I began to write "the a-ha fairy" play
-Came up with the concept for the devil/angel play
-The numbers monologue (which we are actually using in the show, YAY)
-Maddie and Ed
-I wrote my "the moment it clicked" monologue
-I began to write "the a-ha fairy" play
-Came up with the concept for the devil/angel play
-The numbers monologue (which we are actually using in the show, YAY)
-Maddie and Ed
3/3/14-3/7/14
This week, I...
-Rianna and I recorded ourselves talking about hormones in education (and I also uploaded it to evernote)
-I wrote my personal monologue
-I began to write The Life and Times of Bill Gates and Joey Smith
-Rianna and I recorded ourselves talking about hormones in education (and I also uploaded it to evernote)
-I wrote my personal monologue
-I began to write The Life and Times of Bill Gates and Joey Smith
2/17/14-2/21/14
This week, I mainly spent my time
-working on my hormones in education piece. I first did a photography set (which can be seen on evernote) and also footage for a film (which I no longer have because I had issues uploading and it took up too much memory on my phone.
-I also got interviews from Paprota and a typed up interview from Zajac
-It took time to upload the Paprota interview, and Zajac's was in an email
-working on my hormones in education piece. I first did a photography set (which can be seen on evernote) and also footage for a film (which I no longer have because I had issues uploading and it took up too much memory on my phone.
-I also got interviews from Paprota and a typed up interview from Zajac
-It took time to upload the Paprota interview, and Zajac's was in an email
Saturday, February 22, 2014
3/17/14-3/21/14
This was the first real week of mainstage work, and if I do say so myself, I made a lot of progress.
We went over the movement piece that Imani and I came up with, and the notes I got back on it were helpful for coming up with other ideas.
The problem with the piece is that I am in the head of the media's perspective of private and catholic schools, which means the piece will not work. However, in discussion with the class, some things stuck out to me, which I wrote in my notebook
but is probably not very legible so i'll type them as well.
-Who "They" is in Teenagers
-We dress ourselves in uniforms as well in the public school system
-The media's perception of education
-High school isn't a social exercise
-The media's perception of privilege in education
The privilege in education in conjunction with the media's perception of education inspired me to write a short play that I began writing this week called "The Life and Times of Bill Gates and Joey Smith"
I also finally got my set design onto paper
It is very simple now and I will elaborate more on it once I get notes, but basically the boards would function as projection screens. They would be on wheels, so that they can move depending on how they would function in each small section of the show. The small detail ideas that I had were to have the edges painted with green or black chalkboard paint, and have different math equations, English terms, and science concepts in glow in the dark paint, so that the audience knows that they are chalkboards and that the piece is on education.
I also wrote the first draft of my monologue.
We went over the movement piece that Imani and I came up with, and the notes I got back on it were helpful for coming up with other ideas.
The problem with the piece is that I am in the head of the media's perspective of private and catholic schools, which means the piece will not work. However, in discussion with the class, some things stuck out to me, which I wrote in my notebook
but is probably not very legible so i'll type them as well.
-Who "They" is in Teenagers
-We dress ourselves in uniforms as well in the public school system
-The media's perception of education
-High school isn't a social exercise
-The media's perception of privilege in education
The privilege in education in conjunction with the media's perception of education inspired me to write a short play that I began writing this week called "The Life and Times of Bill Gates and Joey Smith"
Mission: To expose how the media's portrayal of education or lack of eduction resonates with the youth of today in a negative light
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BILL GATES AND JOEY SMITH
Lights up. Two men stand side by side. To the right is a clearly older Bill Gates, creator of the Microsoft Corporation. To the left stands Joey Smith, a young college student.
BILL
Bill Gates. Age 58. American business magnate, investor, programmer, inventor and philanthropist.
JOEY
Joey Smith. Age 20. College student.
BILL
I come from a long line of wealthy entrepreneurs.
JOEY
I come from a long line of... real estate agents.
BILL
I dropped out of Harvard University in 1975.
JOEY
I am considering dropping out of Rutgers University in 2014
BILL
After dropping out of college, I reunited with my childhood friend Paul Allen and started the Microsoft Corporation
JOEY
After dropping out of college, i’ll re-unite with my high school buddies and see what they’re up to.
BILL
I was financially okay after dropping out.
JOEY
I’ll lose most of my savings after dropping out.
BILL
I didn’t have to earn back the money I lost.
JOEY
I’ll have to earn back the money I lost
BILL
I didn’t need college to be a success
JOEY
I don’t need college to be a success
BILL looks over to JOEY
BILL
Is that so?
JOEY
Are you talking to me?
BILL
No, I’m talking to the guy standing next to you. What do you think?
JOEY
No need for the sarcasm buddy.
BILL
It’s what I do. (Pause) So you’re thinking about dropping out?
JOEY
Yeah, and that concerns you why?
BILL
It doesnt. I just don’t understand why.
JOEY
The college thing doesn’t really seem to be for me that’s all.
BILL
So what does seem for you? What are you going to do with your life after you drop out?
JOEY
Who knows? Maybe i’ll travel the world or start my own company like you did.
BILL laughs.
JOEY
What’s so funny?
BILL
You said you come from a family of real estate agents, correct?
JOEY
Yeah.
BILL
Well how are your real estate parent’s going to pay for your trip around the world or loan you all of that money to set up a company?
JOEY
You did it.
BILL
Yes, because I come from a lot of money. I couldn’t have done any of that with a middle class family.
JOEY
So i’ll get a job.
BILL
But you didn’t finish college. So whatever you get hired to do won’t pay too well, and that slightly above minimum wage job won’t give you any time to do any of the things you said.
TO BE CONTINUED……
I also finally got my set design onto paper
It is very simple now and I will elaborate more on it once I get notes, but basically the boards would function as projection screens. They would be on wheels, so that they can move depending on how they would function in each small section of the show. The small detail ideas that I had were to have the edges painted with green or black chalkboard paint, and have different math equations, English terms, and science concepts in glow in the dark paint, so that the audience knows that they are chalkboards and that the piece is on education.
I also wrote the first draft of my monologue.
I know that there is a problem with my education. I don't know if I can exactly put it into the right words, and I may just sound like an ignorant teenager as a go along with the rest of this soc, or rant, but I'm being asked to write about my education and this is the only way I know how. Anyway, back on topic.
My education has holes. I've known that since the 6th grade when I was clearly lacking basic math skills, and the only solution the school could offer me was putting me in an extra standardized test prep class.
That's a problem. I know that Getting a tutor, sitting down with a math book and going over lessons I don't understand seems to be the only solution. I know what I have to do and I am slowly beginning to do that. But why? I ask myself that question everyday. And here's my answer: I need to do well on the SATs. That's why I want to do better in math.
And this is where I'm going to sound like an ignorant teenager. My point may not be valid, but it's MY point and I can't change that. Not right now.
I want to do better in math for my SATs so I can pass a certain bar to get into a good arts school. I'm not trying to do better in math because I value my education. To be completely honest, I don't know what it means to value my education because I have never been put in a situation where I was without an education. That sounds horrible to say, and I will probably get a lot of crap for saying that, but as a middle class, fairly privileged, American high school student, what does it mean to me to value my education?
I have the utmost admiration and respect for children in other countries who fight for their education, I mean hey, Malala is one of my heroes. However, I will never be Malala. I will never know what it is like to have my education taken away from me, and to be threatened to want to get an education, and even though I do believe that a passion for education should be planted into every child's head in the womb, it isn't. It never will be. I don't think we should be blamed for that disservice. Again, I'm not really sure who to blame for that. Blaming can only do one thing: It can change the perspective of education for the generations that come after mine.
Right or wrong, this is my perspective on education as an American High School Student
Sunday, February 16, 2014
2/10/14-2/14/14
This week was short, but I did manage to brainstorm a lot of ideas in the short amount of time that we had.
Monday- I put random ideas that I had and want to incorporate in a list. This is what I wrote down
-Film theatre collab
-"We should be great full and value our education because kids in other places would kill for that."
-How can you fully appreciate something that's given to you when you have no clue what it's like to live without it?
-One woman piece
-Projections
-Malala. Fully appreciate and admirer her, but we will never know what it feels like to be in that position.
-It isn't our fault
-Music
-Isolation, but people on the screen to represent how someone is always watching
-Songs I was inspired by: Counting Stars by One Republic, Fat Lip by Sum 41, Teenagers by My Chemical Romance
I also did a preliminary sketch of a set idea:
Tuesday- Imani and I came up with a dance theatre concept
The piece is set to this song, but would obviously have to be changed if we decided to move forward with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6EQAOmJrbw
The setting is a private/catholic school classroom. The metaphor for the entire piece is that children in a private school setting are being taught to be carbon copies of a certain standard of "perfection"
One student tries to break away from this idea by getting a tattoo. Another student sees it, and by the end of the piece reveals it to the class.
I sent this entire idea along with videos to you in an email earlier in the week. (If you have any questions I can fwd you the email again)
Wednesday- I came up with another possible idea that could turn into something, however i'm not sure how I will communicate it just yet.
I want to create a piece that discusses the effects that teenage hormones have in education.
My dilemma here is this: I don't want it to read as "I can't learn because i'm a horny teenager." And I think that if this idea gets taken in a certain direction, it can easily turn into that.
I thought of another movement/theater based piece that involves a teenage girl sitting at a desk listening to a lecture, however her thoughts and the people around her are getting in the way of her focus.
I would want to use projections to display her inner thoughts and struggles, as well as other people around her.
It needs more thought, because I don't want everything else to shy away from the actual message I am trying to convey, however i'm a little stuck right now.
Monday- I put random ideas that I had and want to incorporate in a list. This is what I wrote down
-Film theatre collab
-"We should be great full and value our education because kids in other places would kill for that."
-How can you fully appreciate something that's given to you when you have no clue what it's like to live without it?
-One woman piece
-Projections
-Malala. Fully appreciate and admirer her, but we will never know what it feels like to be in that position.
-It isn't our fault
-Music
-Isolation, but people on the screen to represent how someone is always watching
-Songs I was inspired by: Counting Stars by One Republic, Fat Lip by Sum 41, Teenagers by My Chemical Romance
I also did a preliminary sketch of a set idea:
Tuesday- Imani and I came up with a dance theatre concept
The piece is set to this song, but would obviously have to be changed if we decided to move forward with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6EQAOmJrbw
The setting is a private/catholic school classroom. The metaphor for the entire piece is that children in a private school setting are being taught to be carbon copies of a certain standard of "perfection"
One student tries to break away from this idea by getting a tattoo. Another student sees it, and by the end of the piece reveals it to the class.
I sent this entire idea along with videos to you in an email earlier in the week. (If you have any questions I can fwd you the email again)
Wednesday- I came up with another possible idea that could turn into something, however i'm not sure how I will communicate it just yet.
I want to create a piece that discusses the effects that teenage hormones have in education.
My dilemma here is this: I don't want it to read as "I can't learn because i'm a horny teenager." And I think that if this idea gets taken in a certain direction, it can easily turn into that.
I thought of another movement/theater based piece that involves a teenage girl sitting at a desk listening to a lecture, however her thoughts and the people around her are getting in the way of her focus.
I would want to use projections to display her inner thoughts and struggles, as well as other people around her.
It needs more thought, because I don't want everything else to shy away from the actual message I am trying to convey, however i'm a little stuck right now.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
1/13/14-1/17/13
This week was a good week in terms of getting things done for Girl Be Heard. I had an audition for them this week for the touring company (which I sadly did not get into because of my age) But I still had work to do in preparation for the audition as well as workshops which started up again today after the winter break.
The interesting thing about this week was the way I ended up diving my time.
Monday was spent editing/finalizing/memorizing the 2 pieces I was required to memorize and perform at my audition for the touring company (which I attached in last weeks blogs.)
Tuesday, and this is where it gets interesting, was my audition day, so that took place of my blogs, however, I ended up writing an entirely new piece for my audition an hour before my call time. It was done on the back of an old homework assignment in a cafe in the Village (YAY SO ARTSY)
This has nothing to do with my grade but I feel the need to talk about the artsy situation that happened that day and how it was the first time I genuinely felt like an artist.
SO
Girl Be Heard is all about storytelling for the most part. That's what we perform. No limitations, no censorship, ectc. The only thing you get criticized about is the writing quality of the story, not the actual story because everything is personal.
SO
Something, which can kind of be inferred if you can read it, occurred in school that day which took up my entire mind set (the day of my audition, yay). So you can imagine how hard it was to focus.
I had 2 pieces I had ready to perform that day, memorized and all. One about double standards (which I had written specifically for the audition), and an edited version of my GBH Unplugged piece I had just performed about a month ago.
As I sat in this Cafe with Beckie after her audition, the more I couldn't stop thinking about this issue. The first thing they tell you in Girl Be Heard is to write whats going on now with you. GBH's specific flavor is the storytelling of the everyday lives of girls. So I made the rash decision to write down exactly what I was passionate about at that moment, and go for it. It took place of the double standards piece, which I loved, but was not as passionate about in the moment.
Turns out, or at least from my perspective, I kicked ass in the audition. Unfortunately my ass kicking couldn't change the fact that i'm 16, which legally makes it hard for them to take me on tour, but this was the first time I gave it my complete all in an audition. My confidence was at an all time high walking in there and walking out.
END OF MY STEREOTYPICAL TEENAGE ARTSY BREAKTHROUGH KICK ASS IN MY OWN MIND AUDITION
I spend Wends. finishing my play for Lisa, Welcome To Eternity, which I can also use to submit for a future Girl Be Heard show.
I ended up slacking Thursday, so i'm going to use that added hour that I spent writing my last minute piece for my audition for this day, since I didn't technically have to blog that day.
And Friday. Well, I spent Friday planning out how this blog post was going to go. It probably isn't that exciting reading on a blog, but for me (and I could be completely off here) It was that stereotypical artist thing I always hear about from older kids.
ANYWAY
There's my blog.
If you have made it to the end of this post, I am so sorry.
The interesting thing about this week was the way I ended up diving my time.
Monday was spent editing/finalizing/memorizing the 2 pieces I was required to memorize and perform at my audition for the touring company (which I attached in last weeks blogs.)
Tuesday, and this is where it gets interesting, was my audition day, so that took place of my blogs, however, I ended up writing an entirely new piece for my audition an hour before my call time. It was done on the back of an old homework assignment in a cafe in the Village (YAY SO ARTSY)
This has nothing to do with my grade but I feel the need to talk about the artsy situation that happened that day and how it was the first time I genuinely felt like an artist.
SO
Girl Be Heard is all about storytelling for the most part. That's what we perform. No limitations, no censorship, ectc. The only thing you get criticized about is the writing quality of the story, not the actual story because everything is personal.
SO
Something, which can kind of be inferred if you can read it, occurred in school that day which took up my entire mind set (the day of my audition, yay). So you can imagine how hard it was to focus.
I had 2 pieces I had ready to perform that day, memorized and all. One about double standards (which I had written specifically for the audition), and an edited version of my GBH Unplugged piece I had just performed about a month ago.
As I sat in this Cafe with Beckie after her audition, the more I couldn't stop thinking about this issue. The first thing they tell you in Girl Be Heard is to write whats going on now with you. GBH's specific flavor is the storytelling of the everyday lives of girls. So I made the rash decision to write down exactly what I was passionate about at that moment, and go for it. It took place of the double standards piece, which I loved, but was not as passionate about in the moment.
Turns out, or at least from my perspective, I kicked ass in the audition. Unfortunately my ass kicking couldn't change the fact that i'm 16, which legally makes it hard for them to take me on tour, but this was the first time I gave it my complete all in an audition. My confidence was at an all time high walking in there and walking out.
END OF MY STEREOTYPICAL TEENAGE ARTSY BREAKTHROUGH KICK ASS IN MY OWN MIND AUDITION
I spend Wends. finishing my play for Lisa, Welcome To Eternity, which I can also use to submit for a future Girl Be Heard show.
I ended up slacking Thursday, so i'm going to use that added hour that I spent writing my last minute piece for my audition for this day, since I didn't technically have to blog that day.
And Friday. Well, I spent Friday planning out how this blog post was going to go. It probably isn't that exciting reading on a blog, but for me (and I could be completely off here) It was that stereotypical artist thing I always hear about from older kids.
ANYWAY
There's my blog.
If you have made it to the end of this post, I am so sorry.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
1/6/14-1/10/14
This week, I got the news that there is an open call for current Girl Be Heard company members to audition for the touring company. The touring company is the on call team that gets to perform their pieces upon request of different colleges, conventions, and events across the nation and possibly globally within the next year or so.
I sent over an email expressing my interest, and here is my official response
NEW:
I sent over an email expressing my interest, and here is my official response
Hello Briana -
Thank you for your interest in Girl Be Heard's Touring Company. You have been selected to audition for an audition. To guarantee your space, please respond back to this message within 24 hours. If we do not hear from you we will give your space to someone else.
We have schedule your audition date and time for:
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14th at 7:05 pm
at
One Potata Productions
80 E. 11th Street - Suite 301A
New York, NY, 10003
For this audition we ask you to bring:
- Two contrasting pieces of work you've written, memorized and performance ready. These can be contrasting in themes, tone or content. These can be pieces you've previously written for Girl Be Heard shows.
- A hard copy of your headshot (or photo) and a resume
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Best,
Ashley
From Monday-Wednesday, I wrote an entirely new piece based on a specific prompt the directed suggested I write while workshops were still going on:
Doube Standard
He can do it, why can’t I?
He can wear a tanktop to school but when I do it i’m
“showing too much skin.”
He can have a new girlfriend every week, but when I go from
one boyfriend to the next i’m “a slut”
He can brag about the newest girl he’s banged but word gets
out that i’ve slept with someone i'm “easy”
He can talk about how hot Kate Upton is, but god forbid I
mention my crush on Adam Levine and i’m “degrading my place as a feminist”
He can dress as if he just walked out of bed without a
question but if I decide i don't want to wear eyeliner that day, i’m “sick” or
something else is wrong.
He can curse like a sailor, but I can’t drop the F bomb
because “it isn’t lady like.”
He doesn’t have to be mad for any specific reason, but when
i’m mad “I’m just on my period or
something.”
He can stand his ground and be called “a man”. I stand my
ground and i’m called a bitch
He’s told that being a man means being the strong one, being
the man means being the one in control, being the man means being the one with
the last word, but i’m told that being the woman means being the one to nurture
and care, being the one who’s fairy tale ending is getting married to the
prince.
Does this mean that i’m not allowed to be the strong one?
Does this mean that i’m not allowed to be the one in control? Does this mean
that i’m not allowed to have the last word?
Does this mean that it’s not his job to nurture and care?
Does this mean that he is what completes a girl’s fairy tale ending?
He can do it. Why can’t I?
as well as a new piece, I spent the rest of the week making edits (which ended up basically we-writing) to my piece that I performed at Girl Be Heard Unplugged this past December. Here is the original piece, and below it is the edited piece:
ORIGINAL:
What I’m scared of is so not feminist of me. What I’m scared
of isn’t that big of a deal to most people, but that’s because most people have
had this. But when I tell people, they say: “Oh, big deal. You’re being
dramatic.” Or “That’s a stupid reason to be upset.” But I say it is. And I say
that I’m not being dramatic. All
of my friends, they have had boyfriends and “experiences”. But me? I’m just
innocent old Bri. The one who is too awkward to find anyone to like her. The
one who has the romantic experience of a toilet brush.
This
scares me. It scares me that no one will ever look at me that way. I’m scared
that no one will ever want to be with me. I’m scared that when prom comes
around, all of my friends will have dates and I’ll be that person who goes
alone and third wheels everyone.
People
always talk about slut shaming right? Well I think people should start talking
about virgin shaming. Because it is a big deal to some girls. Girls are looked
at differently for it. Girls are bullied for it, and that is just as bad as
shaming a girl for the opposite reason.
It isn’t feminist of me, I will admit. It isn’t a big deal
to most people because it was a rite of passage to them. So when I tell people
what I hate most about myself they say “That’s no big deal.” And maybe they’re
right, but it doesn’t make it suck any less.
All of my friends have had all these boyfriends and
experiences and wild nights out. But me? I’m just innocent old Bri. The awkward
one who you’re parents love because they know you won’t be up to any funny business
when we hang out. The one who’s Friday nights include a box of Oreos and a Tim
Burton movie.
Call me straight edge, call me a prude, and call me socially
awkward. I’ve heard it all. And sure, it could be worse. I could be pregnant or
on the streets or dying of cancer. I get that and I thank my lucky stars every
day that I’m not. But every day, I’m looked at like I’m some porcelain doll. So
I dress in all black and wear a lot of eyeliner and leather to try to mask
that, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who comes home and cries because
of my lack of a life.
Why is that? Why are we shamed if we have too much fun, and
shamed if we don’t have enough? Why are we defined not by how many
accomplishments we have made, but how many hookups we have had? Why are we slut
shamed AND virgin shamed.
It’s what being a teenager is, I get it, but man it hurts
sometimes.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
12/16/13-12/20/13
This was my schedule for this week:
Monday- Girl Be Heard Unplugged
Tuesday- Reflection
Wednesday- Dan Assignment
Thursday- None (That's on me, take off points accordingly)
Friday- Homecoming Concert
GBH Unplugged Reflection:
I haven't done many performances with GBH thus far, but out of the others I've done, this one required the most effort and work. Not only did I write and direct my piece, I also had to perform in it. Keep in mind, After last years mainstage, I devoted I would never act again. Little did I know what the next year held for me. My directing fellowship ends in 2014, but I am a company member of GBH until i'm 21, which means it is encouraged to perform.
I'm getting off topic here, but anyway, Performing means that I was once again faced with one of my biggest issues: My stage awkwardness. During our blocking rehearsal, I had to work with the fact that I have a very hard time looking natural on stage. What made this experience easier is that all of my pieces were real life examples of mine, so I wasn't playing a part. All I had to do was be Bri. However, i'm not even totally sure what that means yet.
I was faced with an issue 2 hours before the performance. The director decided it would be best to cut the entire first page of my script, which threw me as well as the other actors in my piece a little off. I wasn't expecting it last minute, mostly because my writing/casting process had been strictly me, however everything did work out in the end and there were no forgotten or misplaced lines.
I know that I need to find a new blog assignment now because the Girl Be Heard season is over. I will resume again at the end of January, which is also the end of the marking period. I wont have any performances to work for, so I will spend next week trying to find something new to work on.
Monday- Girl Be Heard Unplugged
Tuesday- Reflection
Wednesday- Dan Assignment
Thursday- None (That's on me, take off points accordingly)
Friday- Homecoming Concert
GBH Unplugged Reflection:
I haven't done many performances with GBH thus far, but out of the others I've done, this one required the most effort and work. Not only did I write and direct my piece, I also had to perform in it. Keep in mind, After last years mainstage, I devoted I would never act again. Little did I know what the next year held for me. My directing fellowship ends in 2014, but I am a company member of GBH until i'm 21, which means it is encouraged to perform.
I'm getting off topic here, but anyway, Performing means that I was once again faced with one of my biggest issues: My stage awkwardness. During our blocking rehearsal, I had to work with the fact that I have a very hard time looking natural on stage. What made this experience easier is that all of my pieces were real life examples of mine, so I wasn't playing a part. All I had to do was be Bri. However, i'm not even totally sure what that means yet.
I was faced with an issue 2 hours before the performance. The director decided it would be best to cut the entire first page of my script, which threw me as well as the other actors in my piece a little off. I wasn't expecting it last minute, mostly because my writing/casting process had been strictly me, however everything did work out in the end and there were no forgotten or misplaced lines.
I know that I need to find a new blog assignment now because the Girl Be Heard season is over. I will resume again at the end of January, which is also the end of the marking period. I wont have any performances to work for, so I will spend next week trying to find something new to work on.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
12/2/13-12/6/13
This week, I had the goal of sending in my pieces for Girl Be Heard Unplugged, which is a show that Girl Be Heard has every season that features new work by the active company members. We were told to submit anything we have been working on over the season, and at least one piece would end up in the show. I decided to submit my three strongest pieces (or at least the pieces I felt were the strongest). They were already in draft form, so I spent this week making final cuts and edits. I have copied and pasted them here:
PIECE 1
PIECE 1
(Lights up on 3 teenage
girls and an older, middle aged woman. The girl in the middle, Briana, is
sitting across from the middle aged woman. The two other girls to her sides,
Bri and Ana, stand beside her.)
Doctor
So Briana, do
you want to tell me what's wrong?
Briana
I'm depressed
Doctor
And why's
that?
Bri
Yeah why's that? You have so much to be grateful
for! Loving parents, good friends, a bright future. What more could you ask
for?
Ana
I can answer that.
Bri
Excuse me?
Ana
I can tell
you what more she could ask for.
Bri
Well now I'm curious. Shoot.
Ana
Well for one, she could ask for a treadmill. She's
packing on more pounds. She can stop over exaggerating every little thing. She
could get people to actually like her. Oh, and she can stop being a burden to
everyone.
Bri
What was that
last part?
Ana
She's a burden
Bri
No she's not.
Ana
Yeah she is. She has her parents spending all of
this money on her SAT classes, trips into Manhattan, and this therapy session
too. She bothers her friends with every little problem she has. They talk about
her behind her back all the time
Bri
You’re a liar
Ana
How so?
Bri
Her parents
do those things because they love her, and her friends listen to her problems
because they care. And you have no proof that they talk about her behind her
back
Ana
Well who
wouldn't? She's a stress case.
Bri
No!
Ana
Yes!
Bri
No!
Ana
Yes!
Briana
Guys!
Doctor
Briana, is
everything okay?
Bri
Yes!
Ana
No!
Briana
I... I don't
know
Doctor
Who are you
talking to?
Briana
Myself
Doctor
Do you do that a lot?
Briana
I guess
Ana
You guess? Give her a straight answer you idiot!
Bri
Stop that! Briana, tell her whatever you want.
Briana
Yes. I do
Doctor
When did this start?
Bri
Um, I really don’t know. Probably when puberty
started.
Ana
Because that’s when she became disgusting
Bri
Stop that! She’s beautiful
Doctor
So middle school?
Briana
Um, yeah.
Doctor
And in your head, are you talking to anyone
specific?
Briana
Yeah um, two of me.
Doctor
What do they say?
Briana
Um, one’s pretty good I guess. Talks me through
problems, gets me through the day.
Doctor
And the other one?
Ana
The other
one?
Briana
The other one
is….
Ana
Honest
Briana
Brutal
Doctor
Define brutal
Ana
I’ll define brutal for you. I tell it how it is. I
don’t sugar coat things for you like little miss sunshine over here.
Bri
Hey!
Ana
Does it hurt? Maybe, but you wouldn’t last a day
without me. I protect you.
Briana
She protects
me.
Bri
Don’t listen
to her! She doesn’t protect you, she brings you down! She tells you lies to
make you disgusted with yourself.
Briana
But she makes me feel disgusted with myself.
Doctor
Can you give
me an example?
Ana
Here’s one! Remember freshman year when you had a
crush on Brett and he found out? He tried to let you down easy and all by
saying he just saw you as a friend, but he was lying. There was a different
reason.
Bri
Briana don’t
listen
Ana
You don’t
have to listen, but you already know the reason. You’re…
Bri
Don’t
Ana
Fat. You’re a
cow.
Bri
She isn’t fat. She’s slightly overweight and that’s
nothing to be ashamed of. Curves are good. They’re healthy
Ana
Not when she
can barely run two feet in front of her.
Doctor
Briana?
Briana
Huh?
Doctor
I asked if
you could give me an example of something she says to you.
Briana
Um, things
about myself that I already know I guess.
Doctor
Such as?
Briana
I’m fat.
Bri
See what you
did!
Ana
Hey she said
she already knew.
Doctor
Anything
else?
Briana
Well, I’m…
Briana
& Ana
Ugly, awkward, boring, weird, stupid, unexperienced,
oversensitive.
Bri
That’s it!
Ana
Way to interrupt. That’s rude.
Bri
Really? I’m
the rude one? You’re destroying her!
Ana
I’m just
repeating what she already knows.
Bri
Yeah because
you’ve been drilling these adjectives into her head for years! You’re horrible!
Ana
Flattery
won’t get you anywhere.
Doctor
And it’s only things like this?
Briana
Um, not
really.
Doctor
What else?
Briana
She talks me
into things, out of things.
Doctor
Such as?
Briana
She talked me out of going to a party today
Ana
Hey don’t
blame that on me. You were invited out of pity.
Bri
Liar. You just don’t want her to have fun.
Doctor
And how did
she do that?
Briana
Convinced me it was a bad idea. I’m not really a
party person anyway
Ana
You aren’t.
Bri
She could be!
Doctor
And why’s that?
Briana
I’m…
Briana
& Ana
So awkward.
Bri
Again.
Lies. She’s perfectly capable of socializing at a party.
Ana
But the
question is, does she want to?
Bri
Do you
want to?
Briana
Even if
I wasn’t so awkward. I’m not really sure if I’d want to
Doctor
So it’s
not just a self-confidence thing?
Briana
I don’t think so. I’m not a people person.
I don’t think so. I’m not a people person.
Ana
See?
Bri
Be
quiet.
Doctor
I see.
(Pause) Well we only have about 5 more minutes, but I’ll tell you what I think.
Ana
Lay it
on her doc. She’s hopeless
Bri
She’s
not hopeless she just needs help. A lot of help.
Ana
Just face
it. I’m not going anywhere.
Doctor
Well,
you can’t have a little voice in your head always telling you the bad things
about yourself. It just isn’t healthy.
Bri
See!
Doctor
But
everyone has flaws. It’s just life.
Ana
See!
Doctor
So
here’s what we’re going to do. You and I are going to work together so that
those two voices in your head can become one. Okay?
Briana
How are
we going to do that?
Doctor
That’s
up to you.
Briana
I don’t
know.
Doctor
You
control what goes on in your head, even though it may be hard to believe.
Bri
It’s
true.
Ana
Yeah, it
is.
Bri
Did we
just agree on something?
Ana
Shit...
I think we did.
Briana
Whoa,
you’re right.
Doctor
So can
we do this?
Bri
Truce?
Ana
Yeah..
why not? Truce.
(Bri
and Ana shake hands)
Briana
Yes.
END
END OF
PLAY
PIECE 2
So Wrong, It’s
Right
I want to be a feminist. A feminist doesn’t fan girl right?
A feminist doesn’t wait outside a concert venue for hours just to get a glimpse
of that cute guitar player. A feminist doesn’t scream on the top of her lungs
for an encore. A feminist doesn’t do this. A feminist isn’t someone whose day
can be made by listening to her favorite song. A feminist doesn’t measure her
life in the amount of concerts she has attended. A feminist doesn’t fantasize
about band members.
A feminist doesn’t do
this, but I do.
What lifts my spirits isn’t drinking my favorite Starbucks
drink. What puts me out of a depression isn’t curling up with a good book. I
don’t live for an applause or an “I love you”. I live for my music. Music is
what gets me out of bed in the morning. Music is the reason I’m still here. I
save all of my money to see my favorite bands in concert. I have more band
merch than friends. Warped Tour is my Christmas.
If being a feminist
and having a slight obsession with something that brings me most of my
happiness is wrong, well then I don’t want to be right.
PIECE 3
What I’m scared of is so not feminist of me. What I’m scared
of isn’t that big of a deal to most people, but that’s because most people have
had this. But when I tell people, they say: “Oh, big deal. You’re being
dramatic.” Or “That’s a stupid reason to be upset.” But I say it is. And I say
that I’m not being dramatic. All
of my friends, they have had boyfriends and “experiences”. But me? I’m just
innocent old Bri. The one who is too awkward to find anyone to like her. The
one who has the romantic experience of a toilet brush. This
scares me. It scares me that no one will ever look at me that way. I’m scared
that no one will ever want to be with me. I’m scared that when prom comes
around, all of my friends will have dates and I’ll be that person who goes
alone and third wheels everyone. People
always talk about slut shaming right? Well I think people should start talking
about virgin shaming. Because it is a big deal to some girls. Girls are looked
at differently for it. Girls are bullied for it, and that is just as bad as
shaming a girl for the opposite reason.
So as it turns out, pieces 1 and 2 were picked for the open mic. Which means I have to DUN DUN DUN perform. It's pretty cool because most new company members usually only have one piece in the show. The show is next monday, so I will spend this week memorizing my work completely and working on stage presence because lets face it, I don't really have any
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