Isn't it amazing how much the little things in life can impact you? How you can do something that seems like no big deal and it has a really big impact on you? Well, that's been happening to me a few times recently. Where shall I start? I'll start with smelly smells!

     I'll admit, I've been in a bit of a rut lately. My motivation has been incredibly low lately, and I really have found it hard to enjoy the things I've always loved. So the other day I stopped by our international imports store and bought myself some incense and an incense burner. And I have to say: BEST. DECISION. EVER. I love it! It's so relaxing and lovely. The very first time I burned some incense, I ended up falling asleep on the spot I was so relaxed! Now, I burn two sticks daily, and it's really been helping my stress levels. I know I sound like a junkie saying that... but it really has helped immensely. :)

     NOW! Long walks! Long walks are the most beautiful, mindful, and also therapeutic things in the world. I was with a friend the other day, and she wanted to go for a jog/run. I thought about running with her, but I hadn't really eaten anything that day, so I stuck to walking (didn't want to hurt myself or burn out too quickly). It was one of the best decisions I could've made. It gave me a chance to walk through a forested area with nothing more than my thoughts, and to contemplate some of the things that had been weighing heavily on my mind lately. There are some things I wasn't sure about that have become incredibly clear, and I feel better about it. Not to mention, I got to walk down to the river and just watch for a while... it was absolutely lovely. 

     Also, I found out that I have 12 monologues in my repertoire (5 that I need to refresh my memory on) and I've lost 7 pounds in the last few weeks. How did I lose so much so quickly? I started eating healthy and exercising! WHAT A CONCEPT!!

     Much love to all my friends out there.

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     It's official. I'm going to New Zealand!

Well. Maybe it's not official. I mean, I haven't put the paperwork in yet. But I'm doing it! I made the decision today. It's really happening. Come July 2013, I'm off!

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     A bit has happened since the last time I blogged! It's nothing too incredibly critical, but they are things that are either interesting or may change my life for the short-term.

     Last week, I started my Tai Chi Chih class. It's pretty incredible how impacting such a simple use of breath and movement can really be. When I originally joined the class, I thought it would only improve my sense of balance (or lack thereof). I was happily surprised to exit the class with an incredible grasp on a new philosophy and incredible relaxation. I have the class again tonight, and I can't wait!

     In class, I met a girl who may really have an impact on my life after I graduate college. She is a regular intern at Disney and plays a pretty big role there. During the class itself, I introduced myself as an actor. In talking to her after class, she expressed her interest in me as a person and as a performer, letting me know that she would be more than willing to talk to her supervisors and bosses about me, and told me that they are always looking for performers out at Disneyworld and the other parks around the nation. So! There is a very good chance that in the time between when I graduate (December 2013) and when I leave for London (August 2014), I may or may not be working for Disney! Fantastic!

     One last thing that may change pretty soon! Lately, I've been wanting to experience some new styles of learning theatre. I have received the single most incredible theatrical education I could've asked for, but at the same time, I've had the same teachers for 4 years now. I would like to experience what other professors and other schools have to teach about acting and theatre. I don't plan on transferring, but I do plan on studying abroad! I found out today that I can finish my schooling overseas, and plan on doing so! Next fall, I'll be studying abroad in.... NEW ZEALAND! I'm incredibly excited, and cannot wait!

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     Wow. It's been a while since I've updated, hasn't it? Let's change that.

     So, update time. A lot has happened since my last post. For one, I'm no longer working at Brownville Village Theatre. It's been an incredible summer, and the memories that I made there, the friends I made, and the place itself will forever have a very special place in my heart. When I came home, I experienced that unmistakable feeling you get when you come home after being away from college for a year. You know what I mean? Where you're home but it feels more nostalgic than anything else? Yup! I kind of realized through the experience that I'm a very different kind of human being as far as the concept of "home" goes. I really truly feel that home is wherever I am at the moment. And I mean the long-term moment. If I'm out shopping, the grocery store is not my home! But on a serious note, I kind of like this lifestyle. Sure, it gets awkward when people ask where I'm from and all I can say is, "Uuh... Fargo, I guess?" But I like it.

     This school year got off to a bit of a rough start. I wasn't cast in either of the shows this semester, which was a huge blow, considering the last time that happened, I was a first-semester Freshman. But I've recovered. It's given me a great opportunity to try new things! Two new things I've gotten to experience: modeling and fencing! I've got a few photographer friends that have I've been able to photograph for, and I have to say, it's kind of fun! I'm definitely not going to put myself down as a model or start competing to see if I'm the best in the nation, but it's not bad. Not bad at all. Here's one of the photos I've taken recently. This one was done on the fly, where my friend called me up and asked if I could swing by and take pictures with me! Yay for no makeup whatsoever! Au naturale, friends.

 

Photo courtesy of Miss Brittany Rae Stengel.

      So that's one thing that I've started doing lately. But I've also started taking Fencing lessons. I never realized how intense a sport it is! My last lesson was on Friday and my legs still ache! I absolutely loved it, though. I'm catching on pretty quickly, so hopefully I'll be able to improve as much as possible before the rest of the year starts rolling. It's a group that really only meets during the times I'm unavailable if a show is in rehearsal, so that is an upside to not being cast this semester.

     Other than that, I've gotten to enjoy a lot of downtime and time with friends (and working out) that I've never been able to enjoy before. It's kind of nice to be able to relax and have fun this semester (while still working hard on my acting. Don't you worry, folks, I haven't forgotten my job!)

     Oh yeah, and I'm makeup and hair designing our production of "Servant of Two Masters." It's going to be pretty outrageous!

      And on one last side note, I promise, I will start updating this much more regularly. I'm pretty upset with myself at how bad I've been about this so far. Ta ta for now!

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     This summer, I worked at Brownville Village Theatre in Brownville, NE. It's a town of less than 200 with a repertory theatre right smack dab in the middle. When I got the job, I wasn't really sure what to think. I had to say, before I got here, my expectations were very low. I envisioned working in a one-street town in the middle of the desert with a tumbleweed or two strolling by. Boy, was I wrong. The area was stunning, the town was gorgeous, and the theatre (although it was a little small) was a lifechanging experience. I have learned so much this summer as an actor. It's pretty phenomenal. I couldn't have been happier. This is a picture my good friend Johanna took of the area:

     You should check out her blog. Her name is Johanna Jackson with the Jujubee blog! Anyway! Tonight was the first night that we closed one of our shows here at Brownville. It still hasn't quite set in. The show we closed was actually my favourite out of the 5 that we rotated this summer. The other 4 will be closed the next 3 days. It's hard to believe the summer's already over. I have to say, I am excited to return to my old apartment. Back home, I live in a little efficiency by myself. Here, I live with 13 other people. Needless to say, the privacy change was the biggest shock. However, I love my theatrical family here and will be so sad to say goodbye. Although the shows we did were silly, it's sad to see them close.

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     First things first, I would like to express how much I love Sir Ian McKellen. I think he's absolutely fantastic. An incredible actor that has done more for the theatrical community than any of us can ever thank him for (but to start with, thank you, Sir Ian, for helping to reserve the Rose Theatre's ruins). I found out a while ago that at one point in time when I was a kid, I could've seen both Sir Ian AND Sir Patrick Stewart in a production of "Waiting for Godot" that was playing in the West End while I was visiting London. I've seen Sir Patrick since then, in "A Merchant of Venice," but I still have yet to see Sir Ian perform live. Fingers crossed, knock on wood, I'll be able to see him at least once in my life.

     Now, getting down to business with business cards. As I said before, I've really started to think more about marketing myself as a professional. I have my website (which I hope to have a permanent link for at some point in my blog template...), but I've been meaning to buy business cards. As one of my friends pointed out, I should buy ones that include my headshot. So using zazzle and a beautiful template that someone made, I fashioned this:

      On the back will be one of my favourite headshots. I like it! I plan on buying a box of these once I'm financially stable again (these next few months are going to be a little hectic... Now that my summer stock job is just about finished, I'll be looking for something new soon). So that's that! It's weird to think I'm buying business cards for myself now. I know this is a little over-dramatic to say, but it really does feel like I was just a kid yesterday, and was wishing to grow up. Now here I am, about ready to order my first box of business cards. Time really flies, doesn't it?

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Hello, Friends!

     Being as this is my first blog I feel the need to introduce myself. My name is Stephanie Piper. I'm a senior in college studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Performance. To put it simply, I'm an actor.

      Lately, I've been thinking a lot about making that step into the professional world. Even though I still have a year and a half left before I graduate (I'm in a 4.5 year program and will graduate December of 2013), I want to be as ready as humanly possible for the big bad world. This summer (inspired by friends at a summer stock theatre I've been working at), I've already set up a website, have a good idea as to what kind of business card I want to order, and have started setting up more social networking sites for myself. I think I'm going to wait to create a facebook fan page until I graduate, but eventually that will come too. I feel like there are a few really great reasons to start a blog. Most importantly, I feel like this will be a great way to chronicle my journey throughout the next several years. It's going to be an adventure, to say the least!

     I'll briefly tell you about my ambitions and goals you'll be following as you hear my story. The best place to start is the beginning. I wasn't a big actor in high school. I was only in 4 plays before I came to college, and all the roles in said plays were very small (to say the least). At the time of my graduation, I wanted to go into singing, and more specifically Opera. I was originally going to go to a school in St. Louis to study Music/Vocal Performance, but ended up following my boyfriend at the time to a completely different school. It's often said that following people you're in relationships with is stupid and reckless, but it lead me to my passion. At this school, I decided to pursue a degree in theatre for a year and then return to the dream school at another time. Instead, I fell head over heels for the theatrical world. Now, I'm getting close to graduating and my ambitions have soared higher than I could've ever expected. A year ago, I studied Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre in London, and ended up falling in love with the city. In August of 2014, I plan on moving back to the big city for good. I hope to be studying for an MFA at one of the drama schools there, but if not, I will start my career overseas. It's going to be an intense and positively terrifying journey to get there, but I'm more than ready to take it on.

"We don't live for realities, but for the fantasies, the dreams of what might be. If we lived for reality, we'd be dead, every last one of us." - Michael Shurtleff

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