Elizabeth Anderson

Finals have begun. For some this is a nightmare – papers, projects, cumulative exams! For others it is just a continuation of the average workload without the hassle of daily class attendance. For all it is the sign that we’ve made it through one more year. I, thankfully, am not running around crazy, printing forty page documents or re-reading hundreds of pages. Finals have treated me fairly well this year. I need to revise a few papers, prepare a portfolio presentation, and compile a case study on classroom management. This I can do. What may prove impossible is moving.

I have lived in the Res Halls for four years. Moving out every nine months, I have become an expert at packing my belongings into the back of my little red hatchback Ford focus and transferring them to my parent’s residence for three short months. But I’ve noticed a trend. Every year I leave the dorm with more things than I had the previous year.  Some things are small – new door decs, birthday and holiday cards, hard copies of papers. Others are not – new printer, potted plant, small bookcase. I’m concerned I might have to rent a flat bed truck to get all my things home this year. Thankfully, I’m just moving across town. Where me and my things will be living for an entire calendar year! This hasn’t happened in ages. Of course the consequence will likely be more stuff. (more…)

Graduation is 3 weeks away. Three! That is nothing. One essay, one presentation, and a few costume renderings are all that stand between me and two college degrees. And while I am very much excited to finally have something to show for my four years of work, I am incredibly sad to reach the end of this era. Apparently, they work you harder in grad school.

A friend of mine, a graduating fifth year, created a bucket list a few weeks ago. Things he’s never done at Truman and wants to do before graduation, or just things he’d love to do again. He’s inspired me. Looks like I’m going to be busy in the next three weeks. (more…)

Wal-Mart is short on bandanas, Nerf stock is on the rise, and white tube socks are a rationed commodity. That’s right folks, it’s yet again time for another round of HvZ, aka Humans versus Zombies. In short, the largest and longest game of tag ever played on Truman’s campus. In the minds of its participants, however, it’s something more akin to the end of the world. I am merely an outside observer, an innocent bystander if you will, to this high-stakes, high-strategy, high-energy phenomenon. Yet I feel this places me in a unique position to help you – a visiting prospective student, new Truman recruit, returning alumni or uninitiated senior – recognize the signs of an on-going HvZ round and learn to appreciate the recreational war being waged on our campus, whether you join in or not. (more…)

Nothing is more exciting in the theatre world than opening night. You’ve worked so hard for so long, and now it finally counts. The audience, the people you’ve been attempting to please the whole time, is finally there and all you can do is hope you make them laugh or cry or at the very least feel something. (more…)

According to my planner, one short week ago I was lounging at home, leisurely researching 1930s fashion, frequenting the movies, and baking chocolate chip cookies. However, that seems like ages ago. So much is going on!

We’ve entered the home stretch on the student directed lab show and I’ve been frantically running around trying to organize the final details. Props, set, crew, dress rehearsals, keys – I always seem to forget how (more…)

The computer lab is eerily quiet. Of the hundred-plus computers, only a handful are filled. Last minute papers are interspersed with flight confirmations and MapQuest directions. It can only mean one thing – Mid-Term Break! While many of my friends are off to warmer climates (plans include Disney World, Vegas, New Orleans, and North Carolina) I will be heading the hour and a half to my parents’ house where home-cooked meals and an extensive cable package await.

Some would consider this lack of exotic vacationing cause to pout. And I must admit, when surrounded by those in the process of packing (more…)

 I have decided I love the Missouri Hall (MO) cafeteria. With my crazy schedule, I usually find myself just grabbing a quick bite to eat on my own. But this semester it is clearly going to be different. Over the last six days I’ve run into different groups of theatre people in the cafeteria every day. We finally decided it would make more sense to just meet in OP (Ophelia Parrish – the Fine Arts building) and go to lunch together. Yeah for logic! Now, as we chow down on pizza, grilled cheese, salad, and quesadillas, we also get into debates about the merits of musical theatre, the potential cast list of the next show, and who is dressing as what for the upcoming costume party.

 PB&J on the go, no more!

I am no longer allowed to complain about my stress-level to my mother. She says I put this on myself, and she’s right. What was I thinking! Stage-managing two projects at once!

Rabbit Hole has entered the rehearsal process. Barely a week ago, I was toasting our director in celebration for receiving the show, and now I’m taking blocking notes! Jack vs. Giants, the project David recruited me for, has been having meetings and auditions all week. My email inbox is overflowing and I’m constantly carrying around 2-3 book bags: one for school, one for theatre, and one for food or over-flow. All for the love of theatre.

Jack starts rehearsals tomorrow. We’ll be having a read-through of the text with all the actors and composer. The playwright will be joining us mid-week. Then comes the hard work of learning all the music. In less than a week!  I can only say, glad I’m not an actor. I’ll keep track of breaks, meetings, and props any day, over learning 13 songs in one week.

While I’m down the hall monitoring Jack rehearsals, my fabulous assistants will be ensuring Rabbit Hole runs smoothly. I’m only a few doors down and a text away, though. Hopefully no problems will arise.

The theatre department is a little groggy this morning. Lots of coffee filled thermoses and heavy lidded eyes. A clear sign that this weekend’s 24-Hour Theatre project was a success. This year was my first experience as a participant (previously I’ve only ever watched from the audience), so I’ll fill you in on the inside scope.

24 hour theatre is a gathering of like-minded folk, who love putting on plays, drinking coffee, and staying awake for hours on end. At 8:00 pm on Friday we met in mass, around 50 of us, ready to write, direct, act, paint, design, build and everything in-between. A few encouraging words from our producers, and we were off, breaking into crews and teams to create an entire production from scratch in a 24 hour period.

Throughout the night Baldwin was filled with the sounds of writers typing, technicians drilling, and directors…directing. As the night wore on our ideas got goofier and the coffee stronger, until the 5 am cage fight. Unfortunately, I missed it, but the pictures are epic! With a nap here and there, and fresh blood coming in at shifts to re-energize the project, we somehow survived and at 8 pm on Saturday we were set to present, Weaver of Wishes.

While I doubt we’re going to be up for any Tony’s, the show was a lot of fun. Fairy tales, lyrical dance, Lady GaGa and so much more for a one-time-only engagement. Now, while we walk zombie-like through the halls of OP and exchange semi-lucid memories of hallway bowling, we can only imagine the ridiculousness of next year.

The hard work, waiting, and crossed fingers have paid off! The theatre steering committee selected our submission of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole for this semester’s lab show! My relatively clear schedule has just filled up with auditions, production meetings, and rehearsals.

The lab show, as mentioned before, takes place once a semester. Student directors submit proposals for shows they’d like to direct here on campus. A 5 person committee of theatre majors representing each academic class then selects one of the many submissions. The selected director is then allotted $400 and the use of the department’s Black Box theatre to bring their artistic vision to life.

It’s been a stressful week, waiting for the decision to be made. I understand why actors feel so ill after auditions, anxiously waiting for the cast list to be posted. But now its time to dive in. Auditions are on Monday!