Bleed in Blue

So in the end Gabi and I braved the snow in order to go see the show last night. Was quite the epic journey considering there was still a lot of snow on the roads. But Gabi's car handled it pretty well and I was amazed how cautious all the other drivers were being for once. Was still scary but we did pretty good I think.

And somehow still managed to get there just in time. lol Like the bells had just started going off when we walked in so we got our tickets and ran up and made it just in time. Sadly weren't that many people due to the snow but yay for those who did go! As I love watching shows during Open Dress. Well I mean first off they're free for me and I dunno, I really like watching it with just crew and staff 'cause you know everyone is there to enjoy and have fun.

But yes...saw Sweeney Todd live for the first time. Absolutely amazing! I didn't think it would outdo the way they did Les Mis. But it did! O_O I mean holy shit! A million times better than the movie in my opinion. Highly recommend going to see it if you can if you happen to be around here as its worth the price. I'm considering paying to go again during one of the actual shows (though I obviously won't have as nice of a seat as I did last night, lol Since just got to sit in the front as not many people there). Because everything they did was just...aghaphiph amazing! And they make you jump like a million times and oh the blood...oh the blood. lol The end was freaking creepy too! But I don't want to give it away in the odd chance someone on here might go see it. lol

But yeah really really damn proud to have been part of the crew on this. Just as I was for Les Mis. Granted I did more work on Les Mis than I did this one but it was still fun and the show was just...ahhh mindblowing. ^_^ Totally worth the scary trip. lol

~Lyn

Today at work we (as in the costume shop which was only 4 of us today) managed to set off the fire alarm.

Go us. XD

See our iron has issues. And lately it seems to get dirty on a regular basis. Most likely due to the CRAPTASTIC costumes we are renting (and really they should be paying us instead considering all the repairs we've done on them) from Western Costumes since they're super old. So we keep having to clean the damn thing.

So today Lauren was determined to get the iron 100% clean so she's steaming away with the cleaner and the rest of us are like "do be do" totally not noticing anything until suddenly the fire alarm goes off. And we're all just sitting there like "...whut?" And Lauren's all "wtf, did I do that?"

Yup. It was us. XD Though tech thought it was them as there was smoke going on with some of their stuff so it might have been a combination of both...but still...definitely us that are mostly the cause. Since when we came back up after the firemen came in and all, we THEN realized how smokey it was. lol It's so sad that we didn't even notice 'cause the lighting is so bad up there as is.

Though luckily no one was upset about it. In fact all the actors seemed pretty happy to have the break. lol Was pretty amusing seeing them all stuck outside in their costumes. But yeah sadly it did get us a bit behind in our stuff and so today was crazy with us rushing around...though granted I'm not sure how it could have made that much of a difference considering how behind we are is determined by how far the actors are in tech. *shrug*

~Lyn

Guy, my boss, the head of the costume shop, was just laid off today.

We were all kinda in shock over this. Granted we've been working for Tiffany now instead of directly for him due to him having a lot of health problems and just not being able to take it on. But it wasn't for that reason they laid him off. They're getting rid of his position entirely which is kinda like "...whu?" to me as I don't understand how things will work in a costume shop without it especially since Tiffany is even saying she has no idea how much longer they'll keep her. Guy was also the only full time employee in the costume department. Even Tiffany is only an overhire.

See why I'm not sure I want to continue this career? As its pretty much the same situation in a lot of theaters. And its gotten worse because of the economy.

I mean it actually didn't affect me that much as I only expected to be on this job up through this week and I'm actually surprised that I may have work next week mostly just because Elena (the head stitcher) and I have been the only ones really available every day so I've been called in a bit more even though I'm pretty low on the totem pole in term of skills and experience there. But poor Elena was counting on having at least 3 more weeks and then coming back in August when the new season starts. But now she most likely won't be called back until maybe October as that's the next big show.

She was fighting back tears the whole rest of the day and I kept trying to distract her to stop her from having a breakdown right there. Luckily she's having dinner with a friend tonight so she won't be alone while she lets the impact hit her. I mean at least I'm still at home and can bum around until I find the next job and had planned to do that anyways. She's on her own and whatnot. And it's such a shame too because she's really good. I mean really good. And yet even she is having such a hard time finding work. And I didn't expect them to ever lay Guy off at all.

~Lyn

So preview night was last night and oh man the show was amazing~! Quite different from when I saw the show at the National DC theater but still insanely good. ^_^

Though I was sad they took out a number of the big changes they were going to have. I think because they just couldn't get them to work. Like there was supposed to be a pipe over the stage dripping blood periodically but I didn't see it. I thought I did for a moment but if that was it, it was hardly noticeable.

The fake boobs were barely visable XP Which disappointed me far more than it should. lol As the reason we had them was so the whores would look like their boobs were showing through their clothing without any real nudity.

And they changed Javert's death so that he shoots himself in the head instead of jumping off a bridge and the original idea was that he would be attached to a harness and lifted up into this window over the stage that would then turn red. But I guess they decided it was too hard and just had him fall over and the stage turn red instead. XP

Otherwise it was mindblowing! The Cosette was the cutest I've ever seen and the Thanediers were epic! Master of the House was probably the best number of the whole play as they added in a lot of great gimics. I loved our Javert like woah. And it was just so exciting to see all the stuff I worked on on the actual stage finally. ^_^ I'd ramble more about it but I know I'd just bore most of you, lol.

~Lyn

A while ago I mentioned I made young Cosette's dress for the Les Miserables show. Welp here's photos of it (before it got torn up XP)


Isn't it cute? XP

( Close up of front panel )

Speaking of work, today I took a file to several pairs of leather boots...and totally destroyed them. XPXP And yesterday I was sand-papering dress shirts. While the other distressing girls poured vasoline on the revolutionary boys' leather pants. Oh how I love this job.

~Lyn

So today was the first rehearsal for Les Miserables at the theater so we finally got to meet the whole cast. There was a "Meet and Greet" in which the actors, staff, techs, etc. all got to go to and they showed us a slide show about the plans for the show.

...and oh my god I'm freaking excited! O_O I had no idea that like the author of the play gave Signature (the theater) the "Ok!" to do this crazy totally different version of it. Well like the play itself is the same but the way its done is so unique. I mean the motto for it is "Vive le Different" after all. But man its going to be intense and bloody and crazy. XP

And I get to be part of it. ^_^ *so happy*

~Lyn

Ah man, been a busy busy busy week. And now going into yet another busy busy week. x_x; But at least the costumes for the play are done! So one less thing to take up my time.

I mentioned it a while back but sure not many people read it. The first play of the semester was A Midsummer Night's Dream and I was "costume shop manager" for the show. The costumes all turned out amazing and I watched the show on Friday and omg, it was so cool! Our version was probably one of the best versions of the play I've ever seen. It may just be a college level play but damn was it good.

I'm soooooo proud of everyone. I know pretty much the entire cast as some of my friends were in it and then I met the rest from working on wadrobe in the past and so have become friends with a lot of the usual actors. All the fairies were punk and it was hilarious! So much creative humor went into it. We even had exploding flowers. XPXP And Alex was the best Puck ever, man! Mohawk and all.

Well, I could ramble about the play forever but I don't think many of you are interested in the details of it. Wish I could get a copy of it though to show everyone. Hm, maybe I can try. But anyways, now to show you my pride and joy. The dress (yes, I said dress, omg, I made a dress XP) I made for the show.


The dress for Titania, or as I like to call her "Titty". Many thanks to Jillian for letting me take pictures of her. Though sadly this picture does NO justice to the way it looks on her. She was gorgeous on the stage in it. The bottom part flares out and does a "swoosh" number when she walks. And yes, the fabric is see-through but she's got a bodysuit underneath. The fabric is both green and purple, it changes as she moves. And all the applique on there I drew myself and sateened stitched around every single one in green.

Though a few details I'm not satisfied with it on. First off, I thought Leon or Sarah was going to be putting some closure on the cuffs for me. Obviously they aren't. x_x;; And she's been wearing it open like that. Blah, so I may go in (if I can, I don't think I have time though) and put at least something on there but I also don't want it to be too tight on her wrists. See, that's why I was hoping someone would at least safety pin it close for her during the shows. Since I don't get to see her when I'm in the shop. Ah well. That and the fact that the shirt comes open in the front....not intentional and I've been debating fixing it or just leaving it like that. lol 'Cause it does kinda give a nice sexy look to it. XPXP

And then yesterday I also went to the Renn Faire! Finally! Haven't gone in years. ;_;

( More Pictures )

Blah, now I go to do hours upon hours of school work. x_x;; Nnnnggggh.

~Lyn

So today (ok, technically yesterday since its now the 23rd) was the last show of Haroun and the Sea of Stories. So now I'm a free person for about a month or so until they need me for Wild Duck but that one only lasts for a week, not 2 weeks and is not til December. Though sadly I'll have to work on my birthday and since its a weekday this year, means I won't really have any free time that day. >>; 'Cause I go to work after classes end really. Bah.

But yes, Haroun is over. And while I feel relieved that I have free time again, also feel kinda sad. It was really fun in the end and some of the actors won't be doing the next show. One girl was actually a international student just for this semester so she's leaving. ;_; And the next play won't be directed by Holly either so it just won't be as fun. Holly even made little tiny booklets for everyone with their name on the cover, the first line of the play inside, the promo image, and the cast/crew photo (which I am in! yay!).

Though the next play is a period, Victorian Era play, so yays! Excited about that, or at least the costumes anyways. XP But no way this guy can be as cool of a director as Holly. No one beats Holly.

Saturday night we had probably our worst show but it was made up with today's, which was definitly one of the best. Though Bolo did manage to almost lose his pants completely today as the snaps came undone (again) but apparantly the audience didn't notice him lose his pants, only the actors did. ^^; And I managed to save the day by finding a safety pin for him to hold them up for the remainder of the play.

~Lyn

I haven't been around much because I've been working like crazy lately. Most of my free time has gone to school work since I've been working 6-11pm almost every night.

Doing wardrobe for the shows isn't bad really. It can be pretty fun too but very tiring. The part that gets to me is doing the laundry and ironing after each show. x_x; Bah. But at least there's two of us so we've been switching that part off.

Last night was opening night and it went pretty well with minimum goofs. And I got all my timings for costumes done right, even the really hard ones. Yay. ^^

Finally watched Death Note episode 1 last night. It was pretty. *_* And I love the music and all. Prolly will end up actually downloading it (been watching on youtube) once I have room to do so. Though every time Light speaks, I keep hearing Tamaki instead. XP And I took a sneak peak at the end of ep. 2 and eee, so happy, Yamaguichi uses his "Noin-voice" for L. *_* Wai! So sexy!

~Lyn