The 13

December 22, 2006 by Dennis Baker 

We are officially done with the first semester. It has been a wild, crazy, hard, fun first semester. I leave for LA on Saturday and will return Jan. 2nd and immediately begin rehearsal. The general feeling during the end of semester evaluations was pretty good. We all have things to work on, but the teachers seemed pleased with our work.

Two males in the second year will not be returning. One was asked to leave and the other is taking a medical leave of absence. Even though we do not have classes with them, their absence will be felt. In light of that I was thinking about my class. We have become very close. I think we are coming together as one cohesive unit without losing the individuality of each person. In fact we are all pretty different and I think that makes us a great group. I have spent 40-60 hours a week with these people, and now that I am on vacation I have this feeling like something is missing. The feeling like there are twelve parts of me scattered across the U.S. for the next three weeks. I feel that I am not completely whole. The break is much needed, but I will be glad to get back to the 13.

Filed under: Acting, Graduate School, Rutgers
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The Country Wife

December 8, 2006 by Dennis Baker 

Well you know how I said that I don’t think I had to worry about “The Country Wife”, the first show for next semester. Well I was wrong because I was cast in the show. Originally the role was given to an MFA III actor, but that actor had to back out due to finical problems. At the end of acting class last week our teacher told the class to recheck to call sheet as there were going to be changes. I never gave it thought as I assumed the role would go to either a MFA III or II actor who was read at the call backs. Later that day I was called by a fellow MFA I who saw the call sheet and my name on it. The ironic thing was I was never called in to read for the play. The only time I auditioned for the director was my brief two minute monologue. It came to my knowledge that our Head of Directing and Acting, have some say in casting and someone must of thought I could do it.

I was honored to be cast in a mainstage show and am looking forward to working with some MFA III and II actors that we hardly get to see. The likes of Christopher Halladay, Nick Farco, Julie Cotton, and Teresa Stephenson, to name a few. We have our first read through this Sunday and we begin rehearsals January 2nd. As classes don’t resume till the 14th, we all have to come back early. Luckily I already booked the flight to come back on the 2nd as Karen has to go back to work.

You can read more about the Country Wife at the Wikipedia link. Also below is the picture of the costumes designed by Samantha. She is a third year costume designer and this is her final project. You can click on the photo to see a larger image. My costume is on the far upper right. Yes, the one with the feather in the hat.

Filed under: Acting, Graduate School, Rutgers
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