I open at the close

I've been going to the Utah Theatre Association conference for the past three years; this weekend I attended my last conference.

One of two selfies I took the entire trip.
This is Max Ferrin and I.

I want to pull in something J.K. Rowling wrote in Harry Potter

I open at the close.

Of course, in Rowling's context of the book, it was talking about death. Me? I'm not that dramatic (This is the part where you laugh because what have I been doing since junior high). The close, or end, of UTA was when I really became public about not wanting to pursue a life in theatre.

Crazy, right? I remember the days when all I wanted to do was go to Juilliard and go on Broadway. I would spend all day touring the Juilliard website just so I can figure out every single way to be part of the 3ish percent that got in. I knew every thing about that school.

Just so you know, their mascot is unofficially a penguin.



Let's be real, I get hurt on the daily.
This happened the first night. "Inverted ankle"

I want to be a journalist/news broadcaster. I write well and someone told me I was pretty enough for that profession. Good to know the standards are high somewhere. If I was a journalist, I want to write opinions or do my own column. I am sassy enough and satirical enough and quite frankly, I rock that shiz.

I really appreciate everything theatre has taught me and given me. It may not be for everyone; however, I recommend it regardless. The life lessons that theatre provides are stunning, thought provoking, and great teaching tools. In theatre we can learn how to properly handle situations, such as adultery, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, family situations, friend situations, politics, rape, depression, death, suicide, you name it. Theatre can change one's understanding, thus changing a life.


This hotel was basically the
Ogden Tower of Terror.
Built in 1927 and haunted. I know first hand.

Last year, the keynote address was given by an actor/director from the Utah Shakespeare Festival named Michael. I don't know his last name. The thing that sticks with me, to this day, was if I could do anything that wasn't theatre, do it. The life of theatre is hard and financially unfulfilling at some points. It's not a family career. You could say this was the seed that brought me to where I am now, deciding against my one hobby I've had all of junior and high school.

The number one thing I was reminded this year was no matter anyone's beliefs or opinions, I should respect them. I have my own beliefs, no one else HAS to believe what I do. I can share my opinion, but hating someone is never okay just because I don't agree. I think this is something everyone must learn. How else will the world become better?

  This gem was in my hotel room. The hotel was full of really old paintings and pictures and photographs. For three days I couldn't decide what the woman was looking for behind the bushes. Based on the history of the hotel, I decided she was looking for a dead body.