Goodbye, Michael Scott.

Well, it's been fun. Thank you for making Dunder Mifflin what it was; an enjoyable workplace where all of your employees were safe to be themselves. Thank you for entertaining millions of people across the country. We will miss your humor. I have already put in my resignation at Dunder Mifflin, concluding my association with The Office. I refuse to work at a place where you won't be in charge, and replaced by one of America's biggest idiots, Will Ferrel. You really were the World's Best Boss. 

Wishing you all of the best,
Stephanie

THE SPARROW

This past Saturday, I watched The Sparrow at the Adrienne Arsht Center, and also attended their workshop beforehand. The Sparrow received 7 Jeff Awards in Chicago, including Outstanding New Work, Production, Director, Ensemble, Original Music, Projection Design and Choreography. The production originated at The House Theater in Chicago, and is now touring the country. It was honestly one of the best shows I've ever seen. Along with that, it was also one of the most inspirational shows I've ever seen. There were 5 Southern Methodist University alumni involved in the production. The director, writers, and 3 actors, all graduated from SMU in < 2007. To see alumni actually working and getting themselves out there was an eye opener for me; after so much deception for being involved in theater, and being told it's not a "career", it gave me hope that I can be successful at SMU. If you want it and work hard enough for it, you will be rewarded. Always.


I attended the workshop beforehand. Around 50 people attended, ages 17 through 80-something. There was a plethora of performers, as well as playwrights, directors, producers, even nurses. We learned what The House Theater was all about. They are a collaborative group, working within their own ensemble members, only hiring people who they would want to work with and let them be a part of "the circle." Carolyn Defrin, who plays the lead character of Emily Book, led us through the workshop. She founded The House Theater, along with other cast members. I had a chance to work closely with the SMU alumni, along with other people who attended the workshop, and I understood what the House Theater meant when they talked about the ensemble working as a collaborative, not as individuals.


Their form of storytelling was presented through movement pieces, visuals, video footage, magic, singing, and dance (It was not a musical. I promise.) All in all, it was an incredible production, and I'm so glad to have spent my Saturday with this incredible cast. The experience was unlike any other I've had, and almost a revelation in myself. 


They close this weekend, so you can still catch it. Student Rush is $25. Here's a link:

The Sparrow Miami

Universal Truths

I stumbled upon this on StumbleUpon, and found it hilarious.

Universal truths:

1) Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones.
2) At the end of every party there is always a girl crying.
3) One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger.
4) You've never quite sure whether it's ok to eat green crisps.
5) Everyone who grew up in the 80's has entered the digits 55378008 into a calculator.
6) Reading when you're drunk is horrible.
7) Sharpening a pencil with a knife makes you feel really manly.
8) You're never quite sure whether it's against the law or not to have a fire in your back garden.
10) Nobody ever dares make cup-a-soup in a bowl.
11) You never know where to look when eating a banana.
12) Its impossible to describe the smell of a wet cat.
13) Prodding a fire with a stick makes you feel manly.
14) Rummaging in an overgrown garden will always turn up a bouncy ball.
15) You always feel a bit scared when stroking horses.
16) Everyone always remembers the day a dog ran into your school.
17) The most embarrassing thing you can do as schoolchild is to call your teacher mum or dad.
18) The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the
first given opportunity.
19) Some days you see lots of people on crutches.
20) Every bloke has at some stage while taking a pee flushed half way through and then raced against the flush.
21) Old women with mobile phones look wrong!
22) Its impossible to look cool whilst picking up a Frisbee.
23) Driving through a tunnel makes you feel excited.
24) You never ever run out of salt.
25) Old ladies can eat more than you think.
26) You can't respect a man who carries a dog.
27) There's no panic like the panic you momentarily feel when you've got your hand or head stuck in something.
28) No one knows the origins of their metal coat hangers.
29) Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their arm broken by a swan.
30) The most painful household incident is wearing socks and stepping on an upturned plug.
31) People who don't drive slam car doors too hard
32) You've turned into your dad the day you put aside a thin piece of wood
specifically to stir paint with.
33) Everyone had an uncle who tried to steal their nose.
34) Bricks are horrible to carry.
35) In every plate of chips there is a bad chip.

College.

So, I'm attending Southern Methodist University next year.
That's right.
And I'm ecstatic.

And holy crap.
It's coming up so soon.
I'm graduating in less than two months.

It's been good.
It's been real good.