Black nail polish, not just for goths

Patent leather shoes get used a lot in theater especially for those formal wear party scenes. The problem is sometimes they crack or get scuffed and torn up on the set.

My favorite trick for patent leather shoes is black nail polish.  It is great for covering up scuffs and cracks that may happen but unlike regular black shoe paint it is also has some shine.

Moving in circles

Last night the show I'd been working on for the last six weeks closed its run here in Minneapolis and we packed it up to send it off to Broadway.

In my work I've been incredibly lucky to work on a few shows that are headed to Broadway.

Packing up a show that is headed to Broadway and saying our goodbyes or rather our see-you-soons feels different than our regular closings.

Closing nights with our regular company members there are these conversations "What are you working on next?" "When are you back here?" We see each other frequently outside of the theater and run in the same social circles. Even people from out of town who are in shows often return maybe once every year or two for a show.

Packing up a show that is headed to Broadway feels different. First it is a different system and requires a different kind of organization to make sure all the pieces are accounted for and all the information is passed on. There is also excitement and energy.  Happiness for the cast and hope for a successful Broadway run mixed with a little sadness of letting go of something you've been working on.  Wishing you could go and see something you've worked on to its exciting destination but knowing that when the alarm clock goes off in the morning it is on to a new show or project.

In theater it is easy to remember that we move in circles and that our paths cross often because they are always crossing on this great round earth.

Being Prepared

I haven't updated this blog in forever but I've been thinking about using this blog to share some of the tips and tricks I've learned from all these years of being a wardrobe girl.

The other day I had a nintern following me for the day.  She is working as a wardrobe supervisor at a summer stock theater this summer so she wanted to follow and see how things were done.

She was asking about about what to do in wardrobe emergencies. I explained that a lot of this job is thinking on your feet and being prepared to spring into action.

During that performance a pair of pants shredded down the center back and then crossways across the seat.  I had to stitch up the rip during a two song musical interlude then do a better fix during the intermission.  The intern got to watch the excitement.

Stuff like that doesn't happen every day but it is the part of the job that is really hard to teach.  The being prepared, staying calm and thinking quick when things like that happen.

Powderhorn Love

The last week the neighborhood I live in has been in the news. Basically some teenagers attacked a woman in the park by my house. They were in the process of attacking two girls in a garage just down the alley from where I live. The kids were apprehended.

I have to say I am amazed by my neighborhood. I am blessed and lucky to live where I live.

First of all let me say that my neighborhood is a great place to live. The park by my house hosts all these great events throughout the year like The May Day Parade and the Art Fair . People enjoy the park on a daily basis. People fish in the lake, walk on paths, have outdoor theater performances. In the winter there is ice skating and people cross country ski and snow shoe in the park. In the winter I skate in the park at least once a week. I actually can't wait until skating opens up for the season.

There are fireworks in the park for the 4th of July. Not big sparkley Downtown fireworks but fireworks over the lake with neighbors and friends.

There is an Art Sled Rally in the winter where people slide down the hill home made sleds that look like Speeders from Star Wars.

A group of neighborhood photographers have been running a 365 neighborhood photo project for two years. Check it out here.

I am proud of my neighborhood. In response to these attacks neighbors have organized a peace vigil in the park tonight. It's BYOFire Pit (if you have one) or Hot Beverage to share.

The mother who was attacked wrote a letter encouraging compassion and love for the kids who did this.

Another neighbor wrote an essay for MPR

I bought a condo in the Powderhorn neighborhood six years ago. Some days I wish I'd waited when I see how cheap real estate is now. But then I walk a half a block to the park and I am reminded again why I love where I live.

Wardrobe Girl and Homework Guru

Sometimes I go above and beyond the call in my wardrobe girl duties. This week subbing in a show for a coworker was no exception.

There are kids in the show, well teenagers really, and with them comes homework. While I don't do all that algebra business I do hand out good advice on things like poetry and book reports.

One of the girls in the show was working on poems. She had to write several poems for school. I don't think she was excited about it. But I told her about hearing Susan Marie Swanson speak at a conference and how she had gotten this third grader who claimed he didn't have anything to write about because it was just him and his dad to write a beautiful poem about his dad making frozen pizza.

She wrote and awesome found poem using words and stage directions from the show. Super cool.

I also managed to make a quilt square of a chinchilla for the show inspired quilt. I will post pictures once the quilt is finished.

Wardrobe worst case scenario survival guide- Shoelaces

So the worst thing happened. Yep right in a quick change the shoelaces broke. Not a little broke but like super really broke somewhere in the middle of the shoe lace holes.

OK so I'm armed with shoe laces.

I've run through this scenario in my head a gazillion times. But it didn't go the way I thought cause the shoes were too tight on the kids foot for me to lace.

If shoe laces ever break in the middle of a quick change again I'm going to take the remaining lace and lace it through the top two holes and tie a bow, or maybe a knot. Like the tap shoes I had as a kid.

If I ever find myself without laces (this won't happen. I'm armed with shoe laces) I will sacrifice the lace from my hood on my hooded sweatshirt.

Dance on Broadway

Earlier this summer I had the fabulous idea to start buying the paper so I could have the coupons. I figured if I saved enough money this would pay for itself.

My plan backfired because after I read the paper and the ads and clipped my coupons I still had the Target ad staring me in the face for the rest of the week. Usually I read the paper that someone brings into work and I look at the Target ad once before someone else takes it.

So I had lots of time to think about the game Dance on Broadway for the Wii.

Hello, I work in theater I totally needed this game. Plus I decided that this game would get me in shape.

The in shape part hasn't happened yet but I don't really play it all that often because it is summer and I have been playing outside more.

Anyway I love this game. It has songs from musicals like Chicago and Cabaret which is perfect since I'm working backstage on a Kander and Ebb show called The Scottsboro Boys (go see it for real. It is amazing).

It also has selections from Hairspray, The Lion King, Fame and Little Shop of Horrors.

There isn't a dance pad for this game so you dance using the remote like in the Just Dance video game.

I recommend this game for anyone who loves dancing and who love Broadway.