A Heart in the Ground Full of Whales

"...And I hope that all that dirt from Catherine's grave gets caught in your throat and you both choke to death on it!"

Okay, gruesome--but probably the best line I've ever said in a play so far. Or close enough.

But! The one-act plays are over. I had fun with all of the plays I was in. I got to bond with my theatre friends more-- and I got to work with the people I've worked with in the past. I just love AUT --it has always been good to me and it has taught me a lot!

Heart in the Ground - I fell in love with this play from the very monologue that I read during auditions. I found myself in the same situation as Karen (my character) at the time. I was stressed, I was confused and distraught, but, at the same time, I had someone who made me strong, and I was on the verge of losing it all too easily.

Since Jeff cut my thank-you note for the program, I would like to thank him here. Thank you, Jeff L. Schaefer for sharing this opportunity with me. Thanks for being so awesome and creative--and for not giving up on the script. I had so much fun, it made me sad that it all had to end.

"It rained so much that everything was just soaked through with water. Seemed like we were in the mud with everything else. Just heavy and wet." -Karen, Heart in the Ground

(Picture taken by me, 2008)

Whales - This play, I did not expect to get. It had an interesting plot. It was long and had so much to it that one had to listen closely to what the characters said.
I had the rare opportunity to play Grace--a cop/sheriff/ranger who grew up with three other people in a place called Hatteras. I didn't get to know Grace enough to know who she really was and what her character was supposed to be, but I made it a point to make her the fun one.

To Tori Gooden, thank you for trusting me with Grace's character. It was a privilege to have been able to work with you during this rare opportunity. You are awesome and should stay that way.

AU spring production Adam and Eve (Spring 2009). Look, it's the fish we used in Whales. :)

Jenny Does Shakespeare - Okay, now this was interesting. I was the announcer/moderator. I did not show myself on stage at all for this (except for curtain call), but I liked it and it was a great experience nonetheless. Again a rare opportunity.

Josh (Jushua) Dye, thanks for texting me that VERY long text, asking me if I was available for it. It truly made me happy :)

Although the week of the plays was just horrendously stressful for me, I survived it and I am grateful that I did. I learned to appreciate life more and loosen up. Yeah I had several failures, but I saw what's important--and that is the support that I have: my family and friends.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed theatre as well as the reasons I tried to stay away from it for a while. Now I remember. But will those reasons ever be enough to make me stop loving it? I don't think so.

'Til we meet again--


Love to the nth,

Maria Morales Lusica