[mel-uh-drah-muh]

mel⋅o⋅dra⋅ma

  [mel-uh-drah-muh, -dram-uh] Show IPA

–noun

1.	a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization.

2.	melodramatic behavior or events.

3.	(in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries) a romantic dramatic composition with music interspersed.

I have begun to wonder if melodrama is the community theatre solution to avoiding bad theatre. I'm sure I've experienced a great deal of melodrama (in theatre-not just life) but it has only recently really been on my radar. My first struggle with it of recent was last fall at a theatre that I've since worked on two (non melodrama) shows for. I believe it was a good production and that I either don't understand or don't care for the style of melodrama. Last night I went to see another production in the melodramatic style and was equally confused. It was a great time-the show was fun-the endless popcorn throwing was a delight.

But, the next morning I just can't help but wonder is melodrama a choice or a necessity? Is melodrama the easy answer for community theatre to be fail safe? Melodrama as 1. in the definition above allows for dismissal of the rules and the loss of characterization - thus just about anyone who can speak confidently on stage can do it. There is no over-acting. There are no rules other then exaggeration. I would like to one day embrace melodrama - but in my recent experiences - I'm just not there yet.

Labor Day Statement

Driving to church on Sunday, listening to NPR, I heard the host quote the Labor Day Statement of so and so important person I assume. I can't recall what was quoted but what struck me was that someone made a Labor Day statement. I thought to myself how important must one be to make a Labor Day statement? I think I want to be important enough one day to make a Labor Day statement. Then it occurred to me..I could make a Labor Day statement. Who's to stop me? So when you quote my Labor Day statement, that's Kelly with a y. :)

Dearest Peoples of the blogosphere, I here by make this Labor Day statement. Work because you love what you do not for money or power or other motive. Step out and do what you want to do. Did you major in musical theatre and now you're an accountant because life happened but you'd really rather be back on stage? Did you really want to work the 9-5 at the post office, donate to NPR and write children's books in the evenings but instead you're stuck in hotel customer service? Write your books. Work for the socialist govt run postal system, may be one day you'll get decent 'socialist' health care. Oops, sorry I got of track there...

To my five followers and other anonymous readers, I say life is too short to spend 40+ hours a week and 2000+ hours a year doing something that doesn't make you want to do cartwheels in spring grass.

I have finally, 5 years after college, taken the plunge into living off theatre (and worship design). Yes, we're poor but Joe owns our home and we eat well. I sent out resumes to every local theatre I could find online in late July. As of five minutes ago I've been offered and accepted one scene design, offered a stage managing position and two after school teaching positions. All from people who've never met me nor are friends of friends. On my own merit as shown in my resume. (Thanks Nancy and Michael for torturing us with semester reviews) We may be in a recession, but an artist wouldn't know it..we're always poor! Where there is a will, where there is passion, where there is talent, there is a way to happiness. You can find yours.

I spent my Labor Day at a party celebrating the volunteers who make my worship design job a gift and blessing every week. Is yours a Labor of Love? Why not make it one?

Sometimes the little things in life are so big and the big things in life so little and the rest just floats around in the in between. I'm surrounded for the 14th time in my life and 7th year in a row by boxes. Yes, count them 14 1/2 moves in 28 years. El Paso, Virginia Beach condo, VB house, Phoenix rental, Phoenix house, Tucson, TCU dorm, (my parent's move to Austin), TCU house, (2 summers in Wisconsin), DC, Austin Apt, Austin Apartment 2, Berkeley house, Berkeley dorm, Dallas apartment, North Richland Hills. I've slowly moved boxes of books over the last couple of weeks, but it really all comes down to the next two days and I'm out of location 13 for good. This phase of life on my own comes to an end. And so something that should be a little thing in life considering the experience I have in moving is BIG.

In the midst of this preparing to move and incorporate my life with someone else, I've spent two weekends at the lake with family and another week in Austin. Yesterday I had a job interview.

One of those big things that becomes small. I wonder what other folks experiences with recent job interviews are because it seemed I had the job before I even got to the room. I was asked one question - what kind of teaching have I done since none is reflected in my resume. The interviewer then told me all about the program asked if I had any questions and I was off to fill out the paperwork. So, what happened there? Is my resume so stunning? I've spent a lot of time on it, but I'm not that convinced. Did my black skirt, white t-shirt and flip-flops seal the deal? What is it? I am actually a bit disappointed. I was ready for the challenge. I want to be quizzed. I want to have to think and deliver on the spot for the unexpected question. Where was the what do you do when the boy wants to be a princess and the girl want to be a southern Baptist preacher? How do you manage a room of 18 participating kids and 1 disruptor?

Then there is the small things in life that are big. My fiance climbed the tree in his front yard last night to save a cat. I love it!