CURTAIN CALL

This afternoon was bitter sweet. The curtain opened, we did a little song and a little dance, and the curtain closed, figuratively. And that was the story of my eighteenth stage performance.

I recall sitting backstage and thinking "how many people get to be doing this today?" "is there anything I would rather be doing this Sunday afternoon?" "How lucky am I that I get to take part in something like this?"

Only three weeks ago, I walked into a basement dance studio to begin rehearsal for "Merrily We Roll Along." I took my shoes off and walked in, script in hand, ready for whatever. I met a lot of new people who would be like a second family for the next three weeks. The work was hard. The nights were long. The music was difficult. The choreography was intense. But, in the end it was all worth it.

Now I'd like to recount my experiences on stage so far. Some of this stuff is so old, I actually had to find my resume to remember the names of some of the characters. So, here goes.

How Santa Got His Groove Back.
In the 4th grade I played Santa Claus in a school musical. This was my very first experience on the stage, and I have to say, that play really stuck with me, no matter how embarrassing it was to me for a while.

The Wizard of Oz
In high school I played the Cowardly Lion. This is where I met my best friend James Reza. We always joke about this show. He really wanted the role of the lion, and was certain that whoever got cast as the Tin man was going to have to be a "total fruit." Ironically he was cast as the Tin man.

A Typically Atypical Day
This was my very first straight play. I played a wannabe-terrorist from the fictional land of The People's Republic of Puerto Nino named Carlos Ortega. This was the first time to be joined on stage by my cousin Eric Harris.

David and Lisa
While I was in high school, Eric, James, and I joined a local theater troupe called Youth Onstage. This was a great chapter in my life. This was my first experience in theater outside the school walls. I played David's Father.

Curtain Going Up
This was the second production with Youth Onstage in which I was involved. I played a janitor named Tony. This show was in danger of not happening, as one character was never cast. Luckily Eric came along and saved the day.

Quoth Ms. Raven, 'Nevermore'
Youth Onstage did a mystery dinner theater with this little show. I played The Gardener. This show was written by the director's mother.

The Sound of Music
Back at the good ol' high school, I did another musical. I played Max Detwiler. I really had a great time with this role. I always loved the movie, and specifically I loved the character of Max. I always thought he was interesting - devious yet lovable, mysterious yet harmless. I had a great time playing with the on-stage chemistry between him and the captain played by James.

Annie
I played Daddy Warbucks in a production of Annie. This was a mixed cast of junior and senior high students. I was probably the first incarnation of Oliver Warbucks to not sport a shaved head!

The Playroom
This show signaled a huge step up for me. This would be my last production with Youth Onstage. For this show, Youth Onstage was approved for a grant, and we got to do this show at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. For me, this was HUGE. I finally felt like I was doing some real theater. This show was a very heavy drama about a kidnapping. I played David Michaels.

Heaven or Hell (2 seasons)
During high school, I did this church play in which I played the character Satan two years in a row. It sounds very simple, but I actually learned a lot, had a good time, and got to wear awesome makeup which I designed myself.

Arsenic and Old Lace
College. I moved to Oklahoma City and enrolled in a small private college called Hillsdale. I didn't waste any time and jumped right into the theater department as Reverend Harper in this play. This was my first production to work with director Joshua Harris, who I would go on to work with on six more productions.

Our Town
This was the second production at Hillsdale I did. I took one semester off and jumped right back in as Dr. Frank Gibbs in this show. During this show, I really started growing as an actor, this is where I started taking my craft seriously.

The Odd Couple
Still at Hillsdale, this was my very first lead role in college. I played Oscar Madison. I had a great time working with a great ensemble and working with my counterpart, a Canadian named Colin Miles.

All In The Timing
This show was a new experience. It was a collection of one-acts by David Ives. This was the first show I did made up of separate comedic scenes. I played characters named Joe, Charley, and Pablo.

Improv
Once again, I had a new experience and set of acting skills under my belt. This time I took the stage as myself in an improv scenario. In this show I, along with my fellows, played improv games using information contributed by the audience.

Twelve Angry Men
This was my sixth play at Hillsdale under Josh Harris. I stretched myself to portray the roll of Juror Number Three.

Merrily We Roll Along
I took the stage alongside Eric Harris and under Josh Harris as a big shot Broadway producer named Joe Josephson. This was my first musical in five years. This also marked an important transition in my acting career, in very much the same way I felt being in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for the first time, because we did this show at Lyric Theatre at the Plaza. That was the closest I had been to professional theater.

I realized today that I really like acting. It's hard work, no matter what anyone says, it's very hard work, but it's totally worth it. I've grown to accept that whatever I end up doing with my life, be it music, acting, writing, or film making - it will be something that I day dream about.

I stood in awe as we were striking the set. I realized the amazing thing about theater is this - it's life, it's real, it's raw, it's always new, and if you weren't there in the moment, if you weren't there to experience it when it happens the first time, then you can never really know what it was like. It's not a movie, you can't just pop it back in and watch it again. It captures a story and a moment the same way we capture the moments in our lives that we want to hold on to forever.

It's something beautiful.

23

I felt for sure last night
That once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...

It was my turn to decide
I knew this was our time
No one else will have me like you do
No one else will have me, only you

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

Amazing still it seems
I'll be 23
I won't always love what I'll never have
I won't always live in my regrets

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...

AM? WHAT?

Over the past four weeks, my average bed time was somewhere in the neighborhood of 5:00 AM. This morning I got up at 7:00 AM to get ready for my Greek IV class. Greek, for me, has not been at 7:30 since Greek I and II.

My alarm went off this morning, and I literally almost screamed. Then when I realized that it was my alarm, I almost cried.

I have a 7:30 and an 8:30 class, but no 9:30. So I have a big stupid break at 9:30. This semester is going to be rough.

I decided a long time ago that the AM is supposed to be at the end of the day and not at the beginning of the day. I have no idea what's going on right now. I feel drunk, and I'm just waiting for LOST season 3 to start. THE END.

WINTER NIGHTS

This winter break has been interesting. My hopes were very high. It seemed that my expectations were a little too optimistic for a moment. Yet here I am. I'm finally experiencing some life again. This break has been both disappointing and completely surprising at the same time. It's not that it turned out bad, it just simply turned out much different than I thought it would.

Christmas was great. So many years had been earmarked by materialism and jealousy over gifts, friendships, and family ties. But this year was somehow different. This year was authentic and beautiful. It seemed that my parents spent less money on gifts this year, and somehow the entire day was more fulfilling. Everyone seemed to be genuinely connecting and enjoying the company of those around them. It was refreshingly simple and authentically merry.

I've been spending time with friends these days. For the first few weeks, I was basically flying solo. Tonight was great for instance. Josh and Jaclyn came over to my house. Josh did impressions of comedian Todd Barry doing Star Trek characters and Jaclyn wowed us with her recitation of the Greek alphabet which I had only taught her the night before.

Eric met up with us and we were off. We went to Josh's house to get some things and talked about the idea of getting another tattoo tonight. He didn't. We left there and listened to some Explosions In The Sky and Josh Ritter. I would strongly recommend checking out those artists.

We met up with James at Starbucks and proceeded to Paddy's. Paddy's is one of those immortal anomalies which will remain in my heart forever. It's a hole-in-the-wall Irish pub. We started out with some stew. Amazing. James ordered some Curry Chips. Equally amazing. I got bagers and mash, which is sausage, mashed potatoes, squash, cherry tomatoes, and a roll. This food is so heavy you could sink the Titanic with it, again. Since the waitress, who has waited on us many times in the past, forgot to put my order in at first, so she offered us free desert. We ordered the bread pudding. Titanic, prepare to sink once more.

Now we are at Nordaggio's coffee house. I absolutely love this place. The night is close to perfect, and yet, I know somehow that it's only beginning. I'm feeling that feeling again. You know the one. Love is in the air and I'm gonna go get my coffee.

Dan

Listening to: Explosions In The Sky

DON'T FORCE IT

Trying to force artistry is like trying to get the really annoying girl at the party to not talk - You might get a few sympathy points for trying, but it just aint happening.

For several days now, I have been in a creative drought. I've been listening to a lot of good music these days. I've been surrounding myself with all the things and people that inspire me on a regular basis. All those familiar faces and places, I've got them all. Yet for some reason, when I sit down with my guitar and a notebook, all I can seem to do fake my way through some uninspired lick or generic recycled line.

Sometimes I get cold feet. I listen to all this great stuff, look at all this great art, read all these great books, watch all these great movies - and then I find myself saying "you're not gonna make anything as good as that." I keep comparing myself to other people, wondering if I'm gonna stack up. Sometimes I foget that I do my best stuff when it's just me and my head is clear and I couldn't possibly care less what people think - when I've got something personal to say, when it strikes me.

I guess I've just been trying to force it. I feel all these amazing songs just sitting in my brain, and I can't find the way to get them out of there and onto the page. Maybe I've been too wrapped up in execution and the process. Maybe I need to let myself be submerged in circumstance. If I just let life happen and make the most of every day, maybe I'll observe something worth writing about along the way. Maybe instead of resorting to the things which, until now, have been sure fire inspirations - maybe I should give something unexpected the chance to be inspiring.

That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to put the guitar up and stop looking over at it. I'm going to stop looking at the empty page. But as soon as life happens, I'll be there to take notes.

-dan

CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Joy to the world, it's time to party.

The Delta-EBB Christmas party is tonight. It should be a ton, or possibly more, of fun. I'm bringing marbles, cards, and dice as a gift. Thanks to Dakotah.

There was a basketball game tonight. Both the girls and guys teams won by like thirty points. That was fun.

I'm thinking about starting an online radio station.

DR. QUIROZ

So, it's 10:00 A.M. on Friday, and I don't have class today. So why the heck am I awake so early? I'll tell you.

Last night was the Choir concert here at Hillsdale. It was actually really good. Afterward, I ran into Dr. Shaw, my Greek professor among many other classes, who told me I was looking sharp. I believe his exact words were "almost dressed up." He then asked me if I wanted to teach his 8:20 Greek I class for him in the morning.

Now, there was no way I was going to turn this down, so I said yes. He informed me the chapter they are going over is the chapter over "liquid verbs" which is just any other verb who's stem happens to end in lambda, mu, nu, or rho. So, I sat down with my old Greek book, brushed up on liquids and hit the proverbial hay.

Four hours later, when my alarm was going off, I must admit I was pretty close to just rolling back over and going straight back to bye bye land. However, I did not. I got up and walked proudly down to the classroom ready to teach. When I got there, Dr. Shaw was slightly surprised to see me, but relinquished the class to me.

Class went very well, and now I am in the library writing this. I hope to be back to sleep within the hour. Night.