The first blog I posted here was called Beginnings in the Middle, about how for a theatre student, your semester sort of re-starts right in the middle. \u00c2\u00a0Now, I am sad to say, it’s time for another beginning. \u00c2\u00a0I am about to begin my final semester here at the University of Michigan.<\/p>\n
For me and many of my peers, the beginning of this semester has meant many things. \u00c2\u00a0First of all, this semester began as soon as the last one ended. \u00c2\u00a0I began dramaturging Spring Awakening <\/em>the day Beaux’ Stratagem <\/em>closed. \u00c2\u00a0I rushed back to school yesterday to continue my research, while all of the musical theatre students auditioned for the show, so we are all ready for our first rehearsal on Friday. \u00c2\u00a0I’ve been receiving floods of audition announcements and calls for designers and crews the past few days. \u00c2\u00a0The theatre department likes to get a running start. \u00c2\u00a0So while I, like most of us, am not ready for classes to start up again, they sort of already have. \u00c2\u00a0I borrowed seven books from the library today. \u00c2\u00a0For the record, I love <\/strong>the stacks. \u00c2\u00a0Today, I traversed both the North and South stacks. \u00c2\u00a0Then, I went over to the Fish Bowl and found images that might help the cast and crew find useful, both historically and thematically. \u00c2\u00a0Now I am diligently thumbing through my books, marking pertinent passages, and figuring out how to best communicate that to the actors. \u00c2\u00a0Friday, I will get to start the actors’ journey through the text, guiding them as best as I can through history, themes, and culture.<\/p>\n Over break, I was busy too. \u00c2\u00a0I compiled a glossary for Spring Awakening<\/em>, which is actually one of my favorite parts of dramaturgy. \u00c2\u00a0I read the script twice, the first time just for getting a grasp on the text and the second to go through and pinpoint any terms, places, or people that the actors may be unfamiliar with or needs further explanation. \u00c2\u00a0I also spent much of my break reading plays for the 2012 National Playwrights’ Conference at the O’Neill. \u00c2\u00a0They receive approximately 900 submissions a year and actually produce 7 or 8. \u00c2\u00a0The first round of plays is read by a whole host of volunteers to weed through the plays that are not right for the conference. \u00c2\u00a0I read twenty plays in all, fifteen of which I read over break. \u00c2\u00a0There is nothing more exciting than a new play. \u00c2\u00a0There is something really invigorating about seeing someone take risks, play with form, and genuinely surprise you as a reader.<\/p>\n