"Which one of these auditioners look deluded enough to be a Player? Which ones look like they want to be put through hell?"

This was said by one of our playwrights in residence here at the Barter.  We had a picnic and were all sitting around discussing how we came about getting the Player job, and she said she was really good at picking out people who had Player material, then said the quote mentioned above.

All of the new girl Players auditioned at UPTAs.  One of the boys auditioned at "locals" (auditions held in Abingdon in December), another is a Player from last year (you can do the program for 2 years), and the third auditioned to be in Beauty and the Beast and was offered a Player contract.  

It's so interesting to hear where everyone comes from.  Most of the Players are from around Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.  Others are from Pennsylvania, Alabama, Louisiana, and, of course, Nebraska/Iowa.  :)  There are so many different accents, and I've already started saying "Y'all" like, all the time.  

A lot of them went to private schools and a lot smaller programs than the ones at UNL.  We are actually quite lucky.  To have an Opera program that does 2 mainstage and, usually, a couple readings of a new work and a Theatre program that puts on 4 mainstage and 4 Theatrix shows each year, we are blessed to have the opportunities most others do not.  Most of the Players do only 3 shows a year.  One of them said their college doesn't even offer a Shakespeare class.  People often brush off UNL's performing arts programs, but they shouldn't.  We are getting opportunities most other college students don't.  Remember that.

Today in rehearsal (now only about 3 hours left of rehearsing before tech) our coach looked at me and said, "There was no acting going on in that entire scene."  I felt such a feeling of accomplishment.  

A funny thing that I haven't mentioned earlier, our coach doesn't believe in Talent.  He says it like its a bad word.  He constantly says he's a "scientist of the theatre" and he doesn't know what exactly Talent is.  Putting Talent into the equation means that some people without this "Talent" can't get better with their craft.  

I tell you what, it was so relieving knowing he wasn't constantly thinking "that girl is soooo unTalented" in our first couple of rehearsals.  Not using the word Talent puts everyone on the same playing field.  It lessons the need/want to size yourself up against other actors.  Just something to ponder.

I have to leave for electric changeover.  The next three hours I'll learn all about lights in a dark, haunted theater.  

I miss and love you all.