23 Things To Do While 23

Last week I turned 23! It's hard to get excited for your birthday when you have passed those landmark birthdays, not to mention I almost completely forgot. Between already saying I am 23 for about a month now and because while I was at home in Colorado I had a mini celebration with my family I almost completely forgot there was more celebrating to be done!

I had just the perfect birthday! I spent the afternoon eating brunch at Ann Sather's and then spending a couple of glorious hours on the beach with my good friend Lucy!

This seagull was pulling some West Side Story territory wars with us

Perfection!

Aww precious! 

And if you thought my birthday couldn't get any better than this, you would be wrong! My incredible girlfriend threw me a surprise party. I got to celebrate my birthday with so many people I love and admire. 

Isn't she the greatest!

Colorado crew...represent! 

In honor of turning 23 (and all those articles about stuff to do before 23, like this one or this one) I have come up with a list of 23 Things To Do While 23 Years Old. 

DISCLAIMER: Attempt at your own risk. 

1. Learn to play an instrument. Like the ukelele, because they're cute and quirky

2. Take a dance class. Beginners Ballet for adults... anyone? 

3. Learn how to stand on your head. 

4. Take voice lessons. As fun as the mortifying fear is, I am thinking about kicking it in the butt.

5. Sing at a Karaoke bar.  Out loud (see mortifying fear above). 

6. Cut your own hair.

7. Binge watch the entire series of Breaking Bad in one night. 

8. Play Bingo at a retirement home. Practice for later on in life. 

9. Get really good at painting the nails on your right hand. The true sign of dexterity.

10. Buy an original piece of artwork. Bonus: Art fairs are really fun. 

11. Make an original piece of artwork. 

12. Get super dolled up for dinner at McDonalds. 

13. Try out a brand new recipe. You can only eat so much pasta.

14. Learn how to budget out your month. But for real. 

15. Try face painting. On yourself or others. 

16. Read at least 15 new books. Reading is so much more relaxing without a due date. 

17. Throw a silent dance party. Interpret that as you will. 

18. Buy a bike. 

19. Learn how to make balloon animals. 

20. Learn how to knit. 

21. Learn all the lyrics to One Week by Barenaked Ladies. Show off at parties. 

22. Write and illustrate a children's book. 

23. Sit on your front porch dressed as an old person and yell obscenities at people as they walk by. 

Enjoy! 

Check back with me in a year and we will see how I did! 

Emily in Wonderland: An Adventure at The Lookingglass

Last night I had a dream about some of the incredibly talented people from The Lookingglass Theatre. I figure that if I am dreaming about them, I probably miss them a lot.

This past weekend I closed my first professional show, In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story, and it was the greatest theatre experience of my life. Thanks to the wonderful people of the Lookingglass Theatre I  learned more about professional theatre, stage management, and the creative process than I ever could have sitting in a classroom. Whether it was because my job responsibilities put me in a great position to observe and learn from the  incredibly talented group of artists or said group of artists were particularly full of wisdom and knowledge to share.

Having been a part of the process from the very beginning of rehearsals I had the pleasure of watching the whole show evolve (pun intended). From the progression of the thought-provoking and emotional script, to the actors discovering and rediscovering their characters, to the immense amount of prop choreography I felt like I had front row seats to every stage managers dream!

I can't quite pinpoint why exactly made my job so great.

Maybe it was because I have worked in two landmark Chicago buildings: 

The John Hancock Building

The Historic Water Tower Water Works

Or the fact that some of my dinner breaks looked like this: 

Or this: 

It could be the gorgeous set, designed by Colette Pollard, that transported me out of the city and into a magical beautiful location: 

It might even be the Pride that the Lookingglass paraded (pun intended) on closing night:

It could be that the kids were so well behaved and so much fun to be around:

But really I think it is that I got to work with a hugely talented group of artists! 

From Sarah Gmitter who wrote an enticingly thought-provoking script that made me laugh, cry, and taught me more about Charles Darwin than I ever though I needed to know. 

To Jessica Thebus whose directing style allowed for the actors to ask questions, play, and discover the inner workings of these complex characters. 

The designers, whom I did not get to know very well personally, but who created such an aesthetically pleasing show that frankly I think the first time I saw the set under lights I might have cried just a little bit. 

And Tess Golden and Jeri Fredrickson who combined playfulness with a organizational prowess that made the tracking of props and script changes look as easy as baking a cake from a box. Not to mention Tess did it while very pregnant. 

And to the cast who when they wren't making me laugh and feel like part of their little family awed me with their talent and stamina to perform a show like this sometimes 9 times a week. 

And my new friends in the crew who despite my plethora of questions and the noisy, energetic kids I always had in tow still decided they liked me and helped me every step of the way. 

Thanks to all of you for welcoming me, teaching me, and inspiring me. This is one experience I wont soon forget and to be honest I hope to work with all of you again sometime. 

So I guess what I am saying is, we should take this show on tour or something, because I miss all of you and that would clearly be the easiest way for all of us to be together again.