Working On Concepts...And On Hopes For The Next Two Semesters.

This image showed up rather randomly on one of my feeds today. And it makes me homesick for the Lab Theatre at UAF (which has a control system like this). And it also makes me contemplative, considering what could be done with a similar system (or equivalent) in another venue that, based on classwork in it, inspires me. That is to say the Green Room for Theatre UAF.

Some little while back (~2 years ago) I submitted a concept to the SDA (the Student Drama Association at UAF) for something called (depending on who you spoke with) either 'The Portable Playhouse Project' or 'Carl's thing'. The idea was to create productions that would be separate from any of the various Winter Shorts productions which the group does on a semi-regular basis, or from the Famous For Fifteen play reading event that the SDA also produces. I was spurred to the idea because it seemed as though there could be much more being done, perhaps even something like weekly (or bi-weekly) showcases. And, admittedly, I was looking for personal opportunities to showcase my work as a director and, more importantly, as a designer.

For various reasons the submission was voted down. After which other issues caused me to put such ideas onto the proverbial 'back burner'. But the flame on that back burner never went out. And after toying with presenting one of them in other venue on campus I have some definitive ideas shaping up that can be produced in room Theatre 101 (ie: the Green Room). So, off and on over the last few months, I've begun to do some pre-production work on these projects. That has included considering the existing technical support structure which is (or was, when last I was on campus) in place in the venue.

I grew into my current theatre knowledge with what some today consider archaic systems. Things like two scene manual preset boards connected to a set of a dozen dimmers. So the idea that that is basically what the Green Room is equipped with and which is used for class purposes (such as Lighting Design classes, etc) doesn't phase me. However seeing the image of this board today reminded me that there are other options. And those include such things as shoebox dimmer packs and laptop based DMX control units. Which, funnily enough, were one of the phases of the 'The Portable Playhouse Project' submission, since the concept was to allow for performances in whatever space might be available (much like the educational touring productions I worked on back at The Little Theatre On The Square, etc).

So as long as I can arrange scholarships/sponsorships/funding to get back to school in the Fall, I intend to reserve the Green Room and produce at least one (and preferably more than one) event/show in it. And if possible I'll use the better aspects of 'The Portable Playhouse Project' concept. Because one of the variety of things I have learned over the years is that research is never really wasted.

Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum
 
A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise.

Details and other ramblings to follow.

All Right Class, Time For Some Review...And A Very Brief Look At What Is On Deck.

Hello!

To any and all of you who might be new visitors here, having followed links on other websites, welcome!

To those of you who are prior visitors, please bear with me as I spend a paragraph or so reviewing past exploits for the newer folks...Thanks!

Introduction:

"NOT QUITE THE WORLDS OLDEST UNDERGRAD"

Which is, in the main, a documentation of my returning to school since the Fall of 2010 and the activities and adventures connected to such. And, truth be told, it also includes some discussion of my artistic efforts, both theatrical and non-theatrical, as well.

Some history:

For a variety of reasons, both personal and academic, I left my initial collegiate career after I had received my Associate of Arts degree and transferred to the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign but prior to being awarded my Bachelors degree. After leaving school I worked in a variety of theatrical and non-theatrical positions including as a technician at the Walt Disney World resort complex. Eventually (2003) I began a succession of what I call 'full time freelance gigs', ranging from locations in Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, etc... During these gigs, especially one in which I was on tour with a series of educational shows that performed in elementary and middle schools and in which I interacted with the students involved with the producing theatres educational program(s), I became aware that, above and beyond any potential professional benefits inherent in receiving my degree, I had a deep craving to not end up wishing someday that I had taken a chance. When that particular gig (which had lasted ~3 years) ended and I ended up 'at liberty' (a term some of us in the entertainment trade use for being unemployed) for the entire year of 2009 I decided that it was time. I had previously looked into the University of Alaska Fairbanks and decided that it sounded like it might be a 'good fit'. After applying, I was pleasantly surprised by the offer of some scholarship funding which, truth be told, was really the only way I could return to a full time educational program. Thus, in the Fall of 2010, I boarded a plane and flew to Fairbanks, a city I had never before seen or visited beyond various webcams and online informational searches.

That said, there have been a variety of adventures which followed. Some ups, some downs. Some challenges. Challenges such as, due to financial issues, having to spend an entire academic year 'couch surfing' and using various other methods of 'non standard housing'. Even with those challenges I was able to maintain my grades and keep moving forward.

Frustratingly I did hit a set of glitches within the past year, including having the committee for one of my scholarships decide that no prior recipients would be granted scholarship renewals for the 2013-2014 academic year. And a very rough Summer stock gig that, in candor, became a disaster. The ultimate result was that I have had to take another, albeit briefer, 'sabbatical' and so have had to shift my expected graduation date from Spring 2014 to Spring 2015.

All that said I am still committed to my course and, occasional bouts of self-doubt notwithstanding, I am still focused on returning to school in September 2014 so that I can finish the remaining 11 credit hours needed for my degree. Yes, because of how scheduling seems to fall it will take two more semesters. But that just gives me a chance to accomplish that much more portfolio and skill building, both through personal projects and by taking some additional studio art courses. I'll need to have at least 9 credit hours per semester to qualify as, at minimum, a part time student. The current plan has me taking 10 hours each semester, with the required mathematics course and one of the two required lab science courses in the Fall. Then in the Spring I'll take the final required lab science course and fill the additional space with studio art classes.

That's the history. And the plan. And the update.

Before I close, here are some links of note:

My combined portfolio: A portfolio of my various work and projects, both theatrical and otherwise. 

My general Tumblr, which is something of an eclectic mix of art, art history, architecture, quotations, and various other miscellanea: Semi-Random Shavings

And finally, should you be willing to help support my educational goals, please go here:


Help Me Continue My Educational Momentum

Thanks again to everyone for all of your support. I don't know that I have the words to express how very much it means to me.

More soon-ish. Till later.

A Minor Vent

I apologize but I am going to release a little-ish rant.

It really, really frustrates me when I am attempting to keep a positive mindset and someone basically tells me "Well, just forget about it. It'll never happen."

I may have a great many faults but I'm kind of proud of my stubbornness, at least regarding certain things. I've already had to loose another academic year. I cannot, with four plus months to go, just put things off again. I cannot and will not shelve my plans.