Early Thanksgiving

This weekend, five very important things happened in my life:

1. Picnic opened on Friday night...these are pictures from Acts 1 and 2!  (no Act 3 ones yet)

2. Richard Fisher of Abrams Artists Agency in NYC came to UNCSA this weekend to see Picnic and St. Joan.  Studio IV also did monologues for him on Saturday, and a few of us sang as well.

3. Ayo Davis, the Vice President of Casting for ABC primetime, put all 20 members of Studio IV on film.  The tape will be edited down to 3-5 people and will be shown in the casting office!

4.  My dad's father made the trek from Kentucky to North Carolina to see me in Picnic.  This was the first play he'd ever seen me in at school!

5.  My boyfriend travelled from New York and saw me work for the first time ever.

The feedback from both Richard and Ayo was invaluable.  I have extreme sincere gratitude to them for coming to our school to help us better know how to do our jobs as artists as we transition into the real world.  Richard's comments on our monologues and on Picnic were especially promising and helpful.  It was Ayo's first time on campus here, and she expressed that she would definitely be returning in the future.  I'm so proud of my class, because I know that in our busy week of tech and opening of two shows, preparing monologues, songs, and sides (in one night!) we were able to make a positive impression of ourselves and our school.  As far as having the personal opportunity to work for family that I love with all my heart for the first time, I couldn't have felt more supported and excited.

When I was thinking about how I was going to condense these pivotal 72 hours into a blog, it seemed that I would never be able to find what it was that tied all these experiences together and made them important as a whole.  But as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I realized that what I was really reminded of this weekend is how blessed I am as a human being and as an artist.  

Sometimes in the midst of our hectic schedules here at UNCSA, it's easy to forget that feeling I had when I first got my acceptance letter into the School of Drama; it's easy when you haven't slept enough and are unbelievably busy to think, "there's nothing I would rather not do than go rehearse right now," and it is easy to wish for a smaller load.  But this weekend, with the opportunity our Dean Robert Beseda provided for us to grow in our talent by bringing in Richard and Ayo, opening a show that I am absolutely honored to be a part of, and feeling the support of my wonderful family, I was reminded:  There are hundreds and hundreds of training actors that would sacrifice everything to be in position as an artist at UNCSA.  There are hundreds and hundreds of human beings that would sacrifice everything to experience the unconditional love and support I am given by the people who love me.  

My passion for the craft that I've felt dwindling since the summer was revived.  And as much as I am grateful for the chance to be seen by industry heavy-weights and have a great part in a great show...I more thankful for the passion and love.

--Jasmine Anne Osborne