Two Up and One to Go

We are now in week 4 of OHTC and we are down to rehearsing our last show Girl in the Freudian Slip.  Is It Hot! and Vaudeville Show went up this last weekend.  And boy was it stressful.  Our first full run of Vaudeville Show happened the morning of our first performance.  To say we were all stressed would be an understatement.  Tempers flared, feelings were hurt, pants were shat, and somehow at the end we pulled it together put up some great shows and like a good family forgave each other and moved forward.  If you want to see pictures of me in the shows go to the Opera House Theatre Company's Facebook page.  Unfortunately the webmaster for their official site quit and moved east.  So guess you got to be part of that evil community of facebook.

Things are finally calming down here.  The theatre is warming up because we're finally have consecutive days of warmth which for me means plenty of outdoor running.  Which is amazing.  Rehearsals will ease up a bit this week with us only focusing on one show.  We jokingly say we have 9 days of rehearsal left (we only have 3) but we have 9 days worth of rehearsals which is plenty of time to put up a show.  A bit stressful but ironically we've been through worse.

So I got my butt grabbed by an old lady today during one of our performances.  I dress as an Irishman and I "woo" the women a.k.a. old women of the crowd.  You know how in The Producers the old women are pegged as horny old women?  Well, funny thing about that, it's really true.  They're the ones that really love us flirting with the audience.  So I was flirting with one of the old ladies and I improvised a line and said "Irishmen have hot buns" and she decided to squeeze one of my hot buns.  I think she approved from the huge smile she had on her wrinkly face.  I think I might of made a return customer out of that woman.  In other news I'll be starting up an Irish-themed stripping business in Philipsburg on my off-days.

We sort of have internet at our house due to a really friendly neighbor.  The funny part is he won't allow computers that aren't macs on his network because he doesn't want viruses.  He runs an internet business out of his house and swears by them.  So all of us in the house get internet except two people who have PCs.  Poor guys but right now the extra money I forked out for a mac seems well spent.  Ha

I'm really looking forward to Thursday because that's when our rehearsals finally end and we finally get time off.  I've been working every day since June 6th.  I'm ready to end the cycle of continuous work and enjoy the performance aspect.  For all of those out there who think us actors do nothing but screw around and play, try working my schedule sometime and then you'll realize it's not as simple as that.

But on the whole things are good.  The shows are going to be successful and it's going to be an epic summer.  It really feels like this was the decision God wanted me to make when I got offered the job up here.  Things are falling into line and I'm having the time of my life.  I wish I would have started auditioning for professional jobs sooner.

Tale of Two Internets

Due to a virus that infected our router and a paranoid business owner that we borrowed our internet from...we no longer have internet.  So here I am in the Daily Grind drinking my Hot Chocolate and eating a warm pastry to update my blogger faithful on what is going on in the 'Burg.  Rehearsals are going well and we are now on a 9am to 2pm/4pm to 9pm rehearsal schedule.  We get a two hour break but it's deceiving.  It's odd to have a full lunch/dinner during that time and not be too tired for the evening rehearsal.  I decided I'd work out then eat during it since I don't really have the internet to catch up with anyone and plus it's nice to feel energized for the evenings rehearsal.  Right now we have put Girl in the Freudian Slip on the back burner until Is It Hot! and the Vaudeville Show are up and running next Thursday and Friday, respectively.  The shows are really starting to show the semblance of something great and people's characters are really shining through and you can see these characters become real people that people can relate to.  I think that's one of the fun parts of theatre is when you see fleshed out characters on stage.  You can tell anxiety is high because we have less than one week before we perform on stage but in reality it's more like 2 and half weeks with how much rehearsal time we have devoted to these shows.

One of the funny parts about acting in this small town is everyone knows the actors.  We were in last week's edition of the newspaper (yes they're weekly) and so anytime we go anywhere whether it's the grocery market, restaurant, ice cream parlor, candy store, gym, wherever, we are bound to get a question about how the rehearsals are going.  It's a close knit town.  It really is awesome.  I'm loving the atmosphere of it though.  Just missing the internet though.

It's been blistering cold up here the last few days.  The people of the town said it hasn't been this cold in a long time.  We were approaching record lows and we almost got snow two nights ago.   Yes on June 17 we almost got snow.  That wasn't a typo.  But it's finally warming up and it's finally decent running whether.  Oh interesting fact about my gym before I log off for the day.  It's owned by a group of Seventh-Day Adventists.  So it's closed on Saturday.  Interesting huh?  It made me kind of think to myself that if Seventh-Day Adventists and Mormons ran a town they could probably ruin the weekend for everyone.  Hahaha.  Anyway.....I'll keep you guys updated on the rest.  Take care everyone!

Live from Philipsburg, Montana

It's been over a week since I moved to Philipsburg, MT.  Here are a few quick facts about my new home:

It has a population of 914 people.


The town was named after the famous mining engineer Philip Deisdesheimer, who designed and supervised the construction of the ore smelter around which the town originally formed.

There is exactly one stop light.

Businesses here are referred to in the singular such as The Bank, The Bar, The Market, The Store, The Candy Shop, The Ice Cream Parlor.  (As you would guess everything is expensive due to no competition)

The Opera House Theatre Company is the main draw here in this town.  The town doesn't really come alive til we open.

Anyway so that's the short facts about it.  As for the company I work with 5 other actors and live with 6 people here including our playwright and tech crew (our tech crew consists of one person, you're rockin it Amelia).  I usually run in the mornings and find different methods to work out my body then as well.  I won't have enough money to get a gym membership until I get paid which is Sunday.  Praise the Lord.  We open in 10 days but oddly that feels so far away because we have 3 rehearsals a day: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.  So each day feels like the equivalent of 3 days since we have 3 days of rehearsal in one day. 


We work on all 3 shows every day.  Usually we rehearse Girl in the Freudian Slip in the mornings, the Vaudeville show in the afternoons (since that's the best time to sing), then Is It Hot! in the evenings.  By the end of the day you are so worn out that you really don't want to do anything but you go over a few lines and memorize as much as you can and repeat the process the next day.  


We're lucky this year because we have the internet.  We're not barred from the outside world which has its advantages and disadvantages.  


Advantages:  You can still hear from me.  You can get caught up with my theatre life.  We can shop online.  I can update my blog.  Facebook.  Get awesome ideas for great sketches.


Disadvantages:  You can still hear from me.  I can shop online.  Facebook.  While getting awesome ideas for great sketches I stumble on completely pointless ones from youtube and waste time.  


As you can see our directors see it as a necessary evil.  I'd say all of us abused it too far the first few days but now it's getting used appropriately.  


Things are going well here.  We're still putting everything together and we still have a lot of work to do but now we're down to crunch time and things will get a lot more hectic.  But in the meantime here are so pretty pictures of the town so far.  :)

 Backside of Theater

Frontside of Theater

Broadway of Philipsburg

My itty bitty room

Fresh Taffy Pull From the Sweet Shoppe

Rehearsal in the cold Theater (Notice Everyone is in Winter Gear, No heating in theater)

View from outside the Theater

Talk About Epiphanies

It seems like when times are rough you seem to get flooded with the answers you deeply seek.  Interesting isn't it?  I think it's the combination of the extra effort that is required to get through the harder task and the humbled mind that is willing to take answers that makes it feel that way but in any case it's amazing what you see.  First of all, in what I thought was a horrible weekend I learned a few things. 

1.)  You're friends are usually right but even when they know they are they still respect your dumb decision not to listen to them.  Maybe being a true friend is the best preparation for having idiotic children.  But in any case my friends saw that I was getting myself back into a bad relationship everyone said so but lovingly said, "But we'll respect your decision."  And then when it fell apart did they say "I told you so."? Of course they did...but lovingly.  I have learned that you may have all the insight of Ghandi but when you're looking at your situation from the first person view sometimes the third person view gives the proper perspective.  So kudos to my friends.  You taught me something.

2.)  Leaving my family is hard.  Man I love my dysfunctional family.  Yet even though we're not perfect I'll miss all the stupidity that is us.  I got good parents.  I got good brothers and sister.  I got good aunts and uncles and cousins.  My family is definitely legit. 

3.)  Props to my Bishop for giving me the way I'm going to stay focused on God during the summer.  Reading the Book of Mormon in 60 days?  Genius.  You'll be getting a thank you letter from me in August most likely telling you how this has helped me throughout my summer.

4.)  Binky, my new director, already sounds legit and awesome.  Period. The End.  You heard me.  I'll most likely be making jokes all summer long for her.  Binky probably could speak fluid French in Russian. 

5.)  I hadn't been done in the dumps in a long long time like this last weekend.  And looking back on it I feel awful for being like that.  It isn't me.  I don't know how people can spend weeks upon weeks being down on themselves.  It's so much work being bitter.  lol  Plus you don't get to laugh much.  Really lame.  Plus when I'm not smiling chicks don't get to scope out my hot dimples.  That's right ladies....dimples....two of them....*wink, wink*

Big Stuff Up Ahead

I guess there's a lot happening right now in the life of mychal. First of all I've graduated college with my BA in Theatre and in a few weeks I'll be off to Montana to start an acting job up there with Opera House Theatre Company. It's bitter sweet. I never thought I'd say this but I love Pocatello. I've grown to love this black hole of a town. But at the same time it's time to move on to better things. The other thing that presses me is leaving someone who has my heart for the summer. Though not ideal but necessary. I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't wish I could pack her in my bags with me. Ha ha. But luckily I get 3 days off a week and it'll make for easy travel and visits. I'm scared to see the talent level I'll be acting with. You live as a big fish in a little pond for so long you forget that you really are a guppy in the ocean in reality. All I can do is be as prepared as possible and work my tail off and enjoy my craft. :) So while the future seems a bit scary it's exciting. New challenges and new doors being opened.

Much Ado About Something

So a lot has been going on in this month of March.  First of all I've been battling through that nasty bone bruise on my left leg.  I had to have x-rays on it just to make sure there was no fracturing and there wasn't.  Too bad there isn't a clause if there's nothing when they do the x-ray I don't have to pay for it.  Oh well...life goes on.  Second I am now going to work for Operahouse Theater Company in Phillipsburg, MT.  In case any of you are thinking: Where's Phillipsburg, MT.  It's right past here:

In actuality it is right by Helena and Missoula.  It's actually a pretty nice little town.  I'm really excited because it was my 1st pick of where I wanted to go.  So it'll be a nice fun adventure this summer.  I also attended ACDFA.  It was awesome.  Tons of amazing dancers and talent.  Great to get better at it and I think it may have changed my direction that I want to take in graduate school.  We shall see.  Ciao Ciao Bloggers.

I~Move finished last weekend and this weekend there were no broken ankles to be had by any dancers.  My stint as a dresser was over and made a few new friends.  But importantly most of my focus has been on waiting.  Waiting to hear from a theater for a job.  I'm really hoping I can get a job this summer.  So if any of those theaters that called me back are reading this...Yes I want to work at your theater.....and bad.  But rehearsals go on for Danson.  And my leg from last week's capoeira mishap is feeling much better and the contusion just looks like a bruise on my shin now.  Just got to keep icing it and babying it but I can dance, run, hop, and jump on it.  So that's a plus.  Well, back to work I go and watching my phone like a hawk for a call from one of these theaters.

When I~Move, I~Move fast....home

I've been doing costumes for I~Move: ISU Dance in Concert for the past week.  It's been really nice to be around dance types and get to help out in an ISU production.  It's been a while since I've been backstage for one.  But on Saturday evening I started to feel a bit run down and thought I was just exhuasted. But I ended up going up right after the show was over and leaving the other dresser to wash costumes (to which I'm very thankful.  Thank you Laura!) But I got home and the flu bugs of all flu bugs.  It was an 6 hour trip down AWFUL-TOWN.  Horrible horrible flu.  What I thought was funny though was my little sister comes out of her room this morning and says, "I had the WORST night ever.  I couldn't sleep at all because Mychal was being so loud."  Evidently even though I was puking my guts out I didn't have the worst night in the house last night.  Hannah did.  Haha.  Luckily today it's better but I have no energy.  I'm just trying to figure out how I'm sore in my calves from this thing.  How in the heck do I get sore in random spots from the flu?

One Legged Man

So today started like any other day....hitting my alarm a million times for extra sleep before waking up in my usual panic to arrive on time for yoga.  But unfortunately it ended with a bag of frozen mixed vegetables on my right shin.  In my capoeira class a fellow classmate got out of control and hit me with two cheap and ugly kicks.  The first being right in my shin which stopped the class with the teacher yelling at him and the second with a shot to the groin a.k.a. balls which stopped the class permanently with the teacher ending everything.  The pain wasn't too bad but after playing dresser tonight for i~move it finally gave up the ghost and now I sit praying for the ibuprofen to kick in and for a miracle to happen so I can work out tomorrow.  It looks like I'll be limited to swimming if this is the case.  It's times like this where you get super discouraged.  But I'm going to push through this.  I got too much stuff to do.

I'm On Blogspot Now

What I'm Doing

I finally gave into blogspot, but my reasoning for it is different.  I'm not joining because I just got married and I'm going to log on the cutsie things my spouse does or my future chronicles of my marriage life.  I'm not married so that's not my purpose.  Haha.  I'm using this blog to give a good summary of how each day or group of days helps me with my theatre, acting, singing, and performing endeavors.  I want it to be a good look at how much work, dedication, and sweat and tears I put into my craft.  Also to be able to look back and see how much of a blast I had doing it.

So in that vain I recently returned from RMTA which was a blast.  I learned so much from that conference and it was nice to now how I measured up with other talented actors.  But as life goes on so does responsibilities so it was right back to work as I am currently a dresser for Idaho State's production of I~Move: ISU Dance in Concert.  Basically I keep the costumes nice and tidy and clean for the dancers.  Plus it keeps me close to all my great theatre & dance friends and gives me an extra production credit.  Bonus points.  I'm ready to be back at school as I was gone all last week for that conference and I'm excited to get back into the groove of dancing again.  I've missed dance in all of its wonderful glory.  I'm ready for some awesome Modern, Capoeira, and Hip Hop.  Calling it a night.  Goodbye Blogspot World til I write again!