Q tip wasn't there but we noticed!!

Ok pirate lovers so this past weekend was the second weekend of How I Became A Pirate and I could say we were a man down but we have so much crew that there is no real need to worry. Q tip decided to be normal and go to real work and left us in the capable hands of other crew members. Also this past weekend was halloween and we had alot of pirates and kids in costumes in the audience. It was really cute and fun. Our whole cast at this point has either been sick or is now sick but luckily we have 3 days of down time to regroup before the final weekend. Lots of my Parade family saw the show this weekend and they loved it and was surprised to see me in it. We also had some daytime drama behind the scenes which made for an even more intersting weekend but I'll digress quickly. We also got a second review which I will post shortly and it was amazing as well as the first one. After the show yesterday I enjoyed a very adult evening (get your minds out the gutter) with my mom and friends at Bar Louie and Union. We ate lots of 25 cent wings threw back a few, sang like there was no tomorrow and promoted the next show I am working on which I just might continue blogging for because after last night I was impressed with the cast and I am so glad to being doing theatre but not as an actor for the month of November besides the last week of Pirates!! Also this week I caused trouble as my character does in the show but not intentionally. you see there are only so many buttons you can push and one of them is endangering fellow actors on stage for no better reason then to have your way. Lets face it kids I am grown, black and Fierce so I had to handle myself professionally to say the least. I had the thought all weekend about when this show ends and there are only few that end that I dont give two shakes for but when a show like this, with a cast like this, with a crew like this, and a audience like this I swear to the higher power that I will cry for days on end and be begging God to take me back just one more time. Thats how much I love this show sadly even more than Parade and that was one of my dreamroles.Alas it takes more than just dreams come true to spark that good good!!
So of course I do have some pics of things of that nature because I just do but a little setup.
So today was kind of my first day back in the workforce doing the normal average american thing by going to training and learning a new skill that will only better me in the future. after that I came home, Skipped out on an audition from my agency and I hope they wont be too mad but I was way past tired and needed sleep. After the sleep I got up and realized how bored I was and I needed something to do. Mind you my mom curled my hair this morning making it look cute and stuff and after you sleep on it the cuteness sometimes leaves. It didnt though!! I decided to play in my hair like the lame that I am and do something that I am too lazy to normally do although I use to have to do it all the time but I got older and tired of it. I am so ready for another nap now!!

Opening Weekend new green teeth!!

Ok So Opening weekened went pretty well. opening night was great and we sold out and the Sunday shows were pretty much sold out. I tried out a new green for my teeth but it didnt stay on as well. I also got my first rose (flowers) for the show and it was awesome. they came courtesy of my mother who really enjoyed the show. there were lots of pirate helpers and kids who loved every minute of the pirating action. it was also nice to see familiar faces in the audience today as well. now Saturday was so long and we had three shows. Now somebody asked how could we do three shows a day and my simple answer is - For the love of the kids!! they are the future and present and little gifts from God and they are so wonderful and beyond finding joy I found alot of new things from doing this show. Alas I am on break (a much needed break) for the next three days. Thanking the good Lord who made me because I an wore out, torn down and sweaty as all get out. So happy pirating and hope to see you next weekend at CCT's How I Became A Pirate!!

The Review!!

Theater Review | How I Became a Pirate
Swashbuckling musical light, playful
Saturday, October 24, 2009 3:01 AM
By Margaret Quamme

For The Columbus Dispatch

File photo
Emily H. Cipirani as Jenny Jacobs and Scott Willis as Captain Braid Beard in the Columbus Children's Theatre production of How I Became a Pirate.How I Became a Pirate is a simple, satisfying musical, as breezy as an afternoon on the open ocean.

The one-act by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers is based on Melinda Long's picture book. In Columbus Children Theatre's production, however, young hero Jeremy Jacobs has been transformed into Jenny Jacobs.

Feisty Jenny (Emily Cipriani) is building an elaborate sand castle when she is approached by five rambunctious pirates, who think her abilities might serve them well when it comes to burying treasure.

Led by rough but tenderhearted Capt. Braid Beard (Scott Willis), they teach Jenny to talk like a pirate and, in turn, are taught to play shipboard soccer, enhanced with swordplay and other shenanigans.

Conflict is provided by manipulative Stubby Barbossa (LaRon Lee Hudson), who serves as the ship's accountant because he can count to three.

The play offers plenty of opportunity for audience interaction, with audience members roaring out a hearty "Arrrrgh" at every invitation.

Cipriani conveys Jenny's enthusiasm without going overboard, and her clear, strong voice provides an effective counterpoint to the gruffer pirate vocalizations.

The production's seven songs, backed by recorded music, are nautical and offer some surprisingly complex harmonies.

The pirates interact with the gleeful abandon of 5-year-olds freed from parental supervision.

Willis' Capt. Braid Beard moves with authority while keeping an eye on his back. Hudson's Barbossa is suave but not too frightening, and Kurt Barger's Jacque Latoe is light on his feet and eager to embrace Jenny's new teachings.

As hypochondriac Wheezing Stephen McGee, Bruce Thompson brings out the "rrrr's" in all his ailments with wit, while Danielle Mann's Milt Skeeter bolts out snippets of musical-comedy numbers, despite her shipmates' admonition that "Pirates don't sing show tunes!"

Director Nancy Shelton Williams keeps the slapstick under control and balances comedy with a warm sense of family relationships.

Brightly colored and vividly patterned costumes contribute to the sense of fun. Swordplay, pistol-brandishing, threatened plank-walking, strobe-created lightning and loud thunder add just enough of a sense of menace to maintain the excitement.

The show is best-suited for children 4 to 7, but older siblings might take secret pleasure in it as well. Its lighthearted spirit is refreshing.


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• Columbus Children's Theatre will present How I Became a Pirate at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. today; 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday -- and various times Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-8 -- in the Park Street Theatre, 512 N. Park St. Tickets cost $10 to $20. Call 614-224-6672 or the Ohio Theatre box office (614-469-0939) or Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000).

Another opening and 3 show day!!

So How I Became A Pirate is open and doing quite well and today is a 3 show day and we have been reviewed and Margaret Quamme had so many wonderful things to say. I am sure I am coming down with something and just trying to make it to Monday. My mom is coming to the show today and Rachel came last night and had a ball. I am loving all the little kids that want autographs after the show and wanting to shake my hook. It is really a pleasure to be entertaining kids and see the way their faces light up. everyone loves a bad pirate right??

Gerald Schwab (Qtip)!!

So heres Pics of Our assistant stage manager getting down with the get down! have I mentioned He is like the best. Really if you want something done anything really it gets done and not halfway either. Again Him and the crew are the greatest!!!!!!

My Make up Process!!

So pretty much here is a progression of my makeup process everyday for every show until November 8th!! gotta love theatre and dim lighting!!

Green Teeth and TEch 2&3

So We are fullspeed ahead on this show and tomorrow we are having a preview/ last dress rehearsal before we open Thursday night!! woot!! we finally found something to make my teeth green and keep them that way and it worked out really well even though I can still taste wax in my mouth. I have to say we have the best technical staff on the planet right now they are so on point its kinda sick but they are beyond amazing.
LAst night I injured myself pretty badly because I fell down the stairs.Alas I tried to take picture but they didnt come out well so boots! Currently icing my leg and trying not to do too much. I just lost my train of thought but I'm sure I will return with more!!

Behinds the scenes!! TEch day 1

So Pretty much this wraps up tech day oneI still have some backtracking to do but I will move right along!!

A Little backtracking ...

So I realized quickly that I should backtrack a little bit to share some things with you guys before moving forward. So I created this blog for the simple purpose to share with people the lowdown of my life especially during this show HOW I BECAME A PIRATE which is in tech currently but we will be open this coming Thursday. Before this I had a blog for Parade Which was an amazing show and Won awards for best musical and nominated for 6 others I believe and I got to be apart of and play one of my dream roles Jim Conley which was amazing by the way!! Below are pics and a video !!
Now to get a little bit closer on the timeline because that was back in February and March. During the beginning of September I got a call to come in for HIBAP from my wonderful friend and costar and choreographer to come in for this show. I didnt put too much stock in it but I wanted to at least try because I have auditioned time and time again for this theatre but I never seem to make the final cut. As it turns out I did the day I turned 23 and I couldn't be happier about it. So we have been in rehearsal since September 8th I believe and it has been one heck of a ride !!! The schedule was Sunday thru Friday although most Fridays we didnt have rehearsal. So I had no time for anything else but I am glad with the decision I made because through all of this I have grown so much as an artist, actor, singer, dancer, pirate, person,adult, sword fighter and it is a blessing to be around great people that push for greatness and have made me that much better. Can I just say Sword Fighting one more time because my partners and I had to put alot of work into that I mean after the Basic training we were drilling like crazy and then the actual fight choreography comes and I was blown away and not to give the whole show away but I fight alot in this show!!

Welcome

Okay I'll make this short because I will be full out blogging tomorrow but glad you stopped by to check out the blog and take the journey with me through tech week through the run of How I Became A Pirate!! Pictures, Behind the scenes and much more!!