Darien DeVries

Last Wednesday was the first audition I’ve done in a long time that required me to have a monologue. I auditioned for the Kaiser Permanente Educational School Tour. I was rather hoping to get this opportunity because it tours locally for ten months and would give me a touring experience I’ve not yet had. Not to mention it pays well and provides benefits! They were looking for people who could play characters between the ages of 8 and 18. The school shows cover a variety of topics from healthy eating to dealing with puberty and conflict resolution. I remember these sorts of shows coming to my school growing up and even though they are a little campy, I absolutely loved them and would be thrilled to perform them. Another interesting thing about this opportunity is that we would be put in a role of peer counselor for the students in the audience. Talk about a learning experience!

I liked the audition process – KP was very strict on the auditionees keeping their monologues to one minute or less. While in some ways this felt like we were being rushed along like cattle, it also meant that no one’s time got wasted. Yes, not even our time got wasted, which I very much appreciated. We were in and out of there in about an hour and could still get lots of other tasks accomplished in the daylight.

I’m pleased with the monologue I chose. I had, in fact, looked at some adolescent monologues I found online. Since I did not have as much time to prepare as I would have liked, I decided, rather than to learn a new monologue, to adapt my story for the upcoming clown show into a monologue.I think it went over well. Although once I finished my monologue, the panel was so nice and polite that it was really hard to tell if they liked me or not. I suppose that’s not too bad of a problem to have.

Needless to say, I didn’t get a callback. Neither did my two classmates who also auditioned. Listening to the names listed on the callback recording, it seemed to us that they were seeking a more culturally diverse cast for the current shows. That’s fine – I recognize that there are plenty of 20-something Caucasian females to go around at any audition – although I think we would have preferred the type being advertised in the casting call. Perhaps they felt because they were under the umbrella of a corporate entity, that they could not put such a thing in the casting call, as it would be perceived as discriminatory. The audition definitely have the feel of something more corporate so those organizing the school tours must need to tread a fine line between the industry norms of corporate office and theater.

Friday evening was our Clown Conservatory show – Fools Come Early or as it is on the fantastic flier my classmate created: Fools! Fools! Fools! I performed my story piece from the first show and I’m rather happy with how it turned out. I wish we were able to do this show over and over for an audience so I could really get the rhythm of it. The audience also liked the coat switch routine with my classmate. Oddly enough, they didn’t seem to care as much about the payoff (after the tussle, I end up with the coat while my partner celebrates her wrestling victory. Then once I scuttle offstage, she claims my tiny hat, which fell off my head, unbeknownst to me.) but applauded for the wrestling itself. While I’m thrilled they appreciated the technique, I hope they were entertained!

I feel that our duck mime piece – Fowl Revenge – went over quite well and that we hit our marks. There were a few last-minute things we’d added that very day that were forgotten in the adrenaline-frenzy of the show, but we received a positive response. Can’t ask for more than that!

Today, I watched part of the video from our show and once again, I need to remember to slow down and really allow moments to happen. It’s never until I see videos of myself that I realize I’m moving too fast through a piece. When I’m onstage, it always feels like I am moving more slowly than I am.

A note on performing for an audience of strangers vs an audience of fellow performers. I don’t like testing a piece out on my fellow performers. It’s not that I dislike them or don’t trust their judgment or anything like that. The problem is that we, as performers, look at artistic pieces with a critical eye. It’s not out of malice – on the contrary, we are often  looking for ways to help our classmates improve. However, we are judging because of that. And knowing that your audience is judging you changes the energy of your piece, just as being nervous when singing tightens up the throat and changes the performance.  When I am in front of an audience that’s there to be entertained, they are hoping I do well. They want me to succeed (because nothing is more embarrassing to an audience member than watching a performer obviously flounder on stage) and are channeling positive energy to that end. But they also have no expectations of me. I can feel myself and ready to go in front of that audience.

Southern Faire is coming around again. I look forward to having lots of audience again. And to singing with the Merry Wives. Hope to see you there!

Well the past few weeks have been a series of ups and downs in my head. For some time, I was feeling like I have not been able to create new material and am right back where I started before coming to this school. However, last week, I pulled out the story I wrote for our very first show at the Clown Conservatory in early October. What I discovered was that while I wanted to make minor tweaks to the piece, I left it largely the same. But when I performed it in front of my class, I received the comment that it didn’t seem like the same piece at all. And I thought to myself “Wow, the piece didn’t really change. But I did.”

That made me feel better. It seems that my performance has developed in a way that I’m not really conscious of. That performing the same story could look so different from October until now is pretty astonishing. I am also pleased with the further development of the coat-switch piece that I performed with a partner back at that same first show. We tried it out last week and added some extra conflict in the last section – not merely just fighting with one another for the coat, but using all the contact improvisation from Body Awareness class to create a fun, comedic, yet smooth confrontation.

So I still feel like I have a hard time creating new material, but it no longer feels so impossible. That’s something I guess.

So this past weekend was full of performing, which makes me very very happy.

Saturday – Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt! Very fun event organized by sftreasurehunts.com  This event has a lot of devoted return attendees who go the extra mile to come up with a really creative name for their treasure hunt team (there is a contest for the best team name) as well as a theme for their team (for which there is also a contest – Scooby Who totally took the prize on this one!).

At first, we Clown Conservatory folks helped set up tables, cones, and signs to direct the participants to the box office, will-call, and information tents.  Then we got dressed in our makeup and costumes and headed out to entertain the finely clad treasure hunters.  We also collected the door prize tickets. Arleth was highly visible on her stilts, making her the most obvious candidate for collecting these. Two of my other classmates were highly amusing doing a close walk – one person walking very closely behind another, mimicking their gait exactly. I kept myself busy being pedantic with the people in line for the box office, instructing them to keep the line perfectly straight as it was more geometrically pleasing to me.  After a nice break wherein the organizers provided us tasty sandwiches, we broke down the signs and tables for the box office and will-call, and prepared to greet the teams as they excitedly returned with their completed treasure hunt sheet. There was less room for character work at this junction as we had to hurriedly shout instructions to the returning teams so they wouldn’t simply mob the return table.

All in all, a fun day. Very tiring since I walked on concrete all day but I

must admit I really enjoyed keeping my makeup and costume on while traveling home on the BART. Clowns in unusual places, especially those wearing teeny tiny hat, make strangers smile.

A teeny tiny hat is very important.

Monday, I once again performed at the Clown Cabaret at the Climate Theater at 9th and Folsom in San Francisco. This was the All Women Clown Cabaret.  Several of my classmates and I performed some of our entrees we’d prepared for our school show a few weeks back. I really liked having a new audience to perform in front of – clowns really need to be in front of an audience as much as possible and I miss the renaissance faire for this reason, among others. One classmate also performed a brilliant monologue that she’d written, and was lauded for her words as well as the performance – she constantly impresses me. We were also very fortunate to have in the lineup the beautiful ladies of Pi – the physical comedy troupe, Pino the Clown – former Cirque du Soleil and Pickle Family Circus clown, and Michelle Matlock – a clown currently in the Cirque du Soleil touring show, Ovo. Pi performed a clown version of a quick-change act, Pino did an act with her dogs, and Michelle performed a hilarious monologue.

Best of all, we sold out both shows!

Thanks to those very talented ladies whom I’m proud to call my peers.

February Acrobatics Evaluation:

Right leg forward front split: 1 1/2 inches off the floor

Left leg forward front split: 1 1/2 inches off the floor

Straddle split: 2 1/2 inches off the floor

Pike stretch: 11 inches past my feet

Time held in a handstand against the wall: 1 minute 45 seconds

Distance walking on hands w/light support from spotter: 33 feet

Long jump: 6 feet 3 inches

High jump: 8 feet 2 inches

# V-snaps in 30 seconds: 27 (down two from last month as we started with cardio today)

# Pushups in 30 seconds: 23 with knee

# Lateral pull-ups: 17

After the evaluation, there was heavy conditioning, which would not be so worth mentioning had we not done some fun new exercise that I’m certain will have my butt hurting a whole bunch tomorrow. booyah!

Yesterday, we tested out the clown therapy workshops we’d devised on one another. My group chose to do physical therapy while others chose to do psychological therapy. This particular subject made me nervous because I don’t feel qualified to do such therapy. However, our attempts were a valuable learning experience. While clown therapy is not something I’d like to tackle in the immediate future, I’m really glad I tried it and may come back to it later in life when I have more experience as a clown. I like the idea of creating not a workshop for the physically challenged, but rather, an experience. I think I will bring that mindset to all workshop type performances I take on.

Off to prepare for the SF Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt!

Well today is all about getting things done and I should really start with a VERY long overdue blog post.

I make a vow right now to post something at least every week, even if it’s short and sweet. Now to catch you up…

Synopsis:

The first term at the Clown Conservatory was fun and trying. There’s the physical challenge, of course, (although I wake up much less sore these days – oh noes, I need more training!) but the emotional impact is pretty significant as well. It is not as easy as you might think to open up, say YES to everything, and to be vulnerable. Vulnerable in the character you present as a clown, but also full of knowledge that what you experiment in your performing work may FAIL utterly in front of an audience. Or that it may only slightly not work and you only have one show in front of an audience so you don’t quite know what didn’t work or how to fix it and isn’t that frustrating?!

Ahem.

While I’ve seen a bit of Commedia Del’Arte and have a basic understanding of the archetypes, we explored it in more depth and I would like more time to study it still. Commedia was rather challenging for me. Mask work in general was very challenging for me. While I feel connected to my body (now, more than ever, that’s for sure!) I still never felt while working with the masks that I was fully able to communicate all I could without use of my face. I played Arlecchino and while I am fairly certain I mastered the walk and overall movement of Arlecchino,  I never felt like I  quite achieved the full character in order to verbally inhabit Arlecchino completely.

Accomplishments:

• My juggling skills have increased 50 fold. I can juggle two balls in one hand and can do several 3 ball tricks. On to clubs!
• I can balance a pool cue on my chin, nose, and forehead for about 30 seconds consistently. Working on shorter dowels.
• Ballet has given me much better balance. I can stand on one foot easily, and can hold in fifth position releve quite well. My posture has improved and I feel that my overall stance is stronger.
• My tumbling has vastly improved – shoulder rolls come easily, cartwheels are stronger – and I can do them on my non-dominant side, I’m on my way to doing a handspring, my arch is more flexible, and I’m only 1 1/2-2 inches from the floor in front/back splits and 3 in a straddle split.
• My ability to open up and improvise has increased, and I feel comfortable once again doing improv acting.

Since the beginning of the year, we have had one show, featuring clown entrees. These are scenes between two or more clowns, although sometimes they are solo with the clown partnering with the audience, that use a general framework for story and outcome, but allow the individual clowns to decide the dialogue, blocking, etc. Entrees challenged me quite a bit and I was concerned that I would not be able to make the two I participated in work for me. I wanted it to be engaging and funny – but most of all, something that connected with the audience. Finally, it clicked for me, leading me to the following revelation:

I don’t have to throw out my former career to be a clown.

I was so happy to escape a life in an office, turning people into numbers that I forgot that that sort of position or status is *exactly* the type of person my clown character could be! The day before our clown entree performance, I worked with my partner to re-envision our entree, Little Bee, with me as a *Career Placement Advisor* !!  (yes, you folks from my CDS past, I DID use the word ‘placement’! I thumb my red nose at your industry taboo word!) This new look at my clown character also helped me put together some fun walk-around business for pre-show, interviewing audience members for ridiculous jobs, mostly animals.

“ah, I see you are here for the wasp position. exactly what is the measurement of your stinger?”

=D

Clown Projects on the Horizon:

• Juggling to music for Core Clowning class
• Circus skills routine for Circus Skills class (if the juggling to music works out, I may use this for both)
• Duck vs Hunter partner routine for Mime class
• Monday, March 1st, Perform clown entree, Dollar Bill, at the Climate Theater in the ALL WOMEN CLOWN CABARET

Now for the official plug:

ALL WOMEN CLOWN CABARET!

Come to the Climate Theater at 285 9th Street at Folsom in San Francisco – Monday March 1st at 7 or at 9!
Get your ticket in advance for only $10  or $15 at the door if they aren’t sold out already!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98829

So my posts are way behind. But this is a good thing as I’ve been kept extremely busy with Circus Center.
I shall quickly recap. School began about 5 weeks ago on September 8th. As it turns out, clowns need to have a lot of skills for their craft. It’s not just all about big shoes, red noses, and cramming ourselves into tiny cars.

Here is my class schedule:

Tuesday-
9:00-10:30 Dance (Ballet this term)
10:30-12:00 Acrobatics
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Core Clowning
4:00-6:00 Individual skills practice

Thursday-
9:00-11:00 Circus Skills
11:00-12:00 Body Awareness
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Core Clowning
4:00-6:00 Individual skills practice

Friday-
9:00-10:30 Mime
10:30-12:00 Acrobatics
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Core Clowning Modular Class (guest instructor)
4:00-6:00 Individual skills practice / Informal Friday performance

So that’s 18 hours of class a week. We also have to read at *least* a chapter each week, meet with our reading groups to discuss the readings, and every few weeks create a performance piece based on the readings. We also have routines to rehearse outside of class.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the classes, although they can be very trying. Acrobatics leaves me feeling like I was hit by a truck the following morning but at the same time, feeling very strong. Although gaining muscle has made me lose flexibility, I feel like a more powerful being. Plus, I can stand on my head now and am working on walking on my hands. Circus Skills is an exciting class because I feel like I can do anything there – Judy Finelli, my instructor, has a way about her and suddenly I am successful in all that I put my mind to there. It’s amazing. Body Awareness and Mime have really helped me be specific in the ways that I use my body, adding new dimensions to each piece I perform. Core Clowning teaches us classic routines and challenges us to make them our own. I am constantly exhilarated and terrified there.

But… as I’ve been told, and learned myself, clowning is all about being vulnerable. And I am finding myself vulnerable doing some of the exercises and routines asked of me. Sometimes they just hit an emotional chord and other times it’s just a matter of doing something totally new and being ready to fail utterly. Failing is safe to do here at school and is actually encouraged because the trying is what’s important. But even so, it takes a certain level of vulnerability. This, of course, leads me to be vulnerable in other areas of my life. But having Arleth here has really helped keep me in balance and I am grateful for her presence.

Northern Faire has also been going on since school started, helping me with my homesickness for my friends/faire family. It also provided a great way for me to practice at least 5 hours a weekend juggling by working at the juggling school!! The past two weekends and this upcoming weekend was/is performing with the Merry Wives and it’s been so wonderful seeing the girls. I missed them so much!! What’s also really great is that I have been able to use what I’ve learned in school to improve my performance in the Wives’ show. For example, my teacher, Jeff Raz, was explaining how to invite an audience member on stage to participate and this proved quite effective for me this past weekend. I didn’t feel like I was dragging anyone on stage but rather that I was inviting them to something very special. I guess I should have always felt this way but it’s nice to have the reminder of purpose.

Our next big project at school is a research assignment. While this may be difficult to do the work on, I will actually be providing new secondary resources for the clown world in general. There is not much written about our field so each of our reports will be adding to the circus library as a whole. which frankly — is really freakin’ cool. I’m nervous about doing the legwork for the research but excited all the same. eeeeeee!!

Up next: CLOWN CONSERVATORY CLASS OF 2010’s FIRST PERFORMANCE!!
This Thursday, October 15 – yes, tomorrow! - at 2:30 pm at Circus Center

If you are in the Bay Area and have a Thursday afternoon free, please come on out and support us first year clowns. The theme of our performance is “Who Am I?”

Again, many thanks for your support, my friends. More updates on my adventures soon!

I’M HERE!! Kudos to Don for the packing and driving with me.  What a saint!

Happy to be settling in. I cannot thank enough my welcome wagon for making sure that I felt all loved upon arrival.  Not only is my gracious host allowing me occupation of his spare bedroom and use of the whole house, but he’s totally fun and has the house stocked with delicious boozy goodness. Many thanks to John & Kristen for helping me unload the heavy stuff from the truck and get it into my room. And I must say that my room is looking pretty spiffy and has become a cozy Darien den! Now to get the other stuff I won’t use so much out of everyone’s way.

In a few days I will be off to Reno to spend time with dear friends before Burning Man. This year it’s really a wonderful gateway to the new dimension of my life. I think it will spark some creativity before attending the Conservatory. It is also where I will be meeting up with Arleth before we *BOTH* start school! We shall shenanigan like  no shenanigan has ever there shenaniganed!!

And let the zany adventures begin! My awesome friend Quinn took me out with her last night to some pubs and aside from some jackassery, a good time was had by all. We saw a cool band, danced, and had some philosophical conversation with a slurry drunk Irishman named Seamus (Shamis?).  The evening finished off with In-N-Out Burger. Om nom nom!! Hooray for a fun girls night out!

I have been receiving lots of mail  from the Clown Conservatory with different interesting things to read and contact info for my fellow classmates. And class starts in
2/12 weeks!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG! I can’t wait!! eeeeeeeeeee!!!!

After a lovely respite in New Jersey (oh hush, it’s beautiful there) I am now in the process of packing up my life and heading to the Bay Area! It is very exciting to be starting a new chapter in my life and interesting to be reviewing the last six years by going through all my belongings, deciding what’s important to keep and what I can live without.

What’s *really* nice is that I have a lot of costuming – reminding me once again that while my work situation has not always been ideal, I have had many wonderful performing experiences and memories to cherish.

There are many more such experiences and memories to come! Woot!

Needless to say, I have been walking on air since last Wednesday. You know you are truly happy when even dealing with the DMV can’t ruin your mood. And last Wednesday, anyone who saw me can attest to the exhilirated squealing and jumping up & down.  I have not felt like that in 10 years.

First of all, thank you to everyone out there who supported me in this first part of the adventure. Your kind words, prayers, positive energy, and love really helped me along. You remind me that I’m not alone on this crazy life path and that I have plenty of loved ones watching over me.  Special thanks to: Jon for his role as cameraman and video editor for my audition videos; Mike for his contribution as cameraman for the second audition; Steven, Dennis, Maggie, Kevin, and Ron for the astounding letters of recommendation; Roxanne for the inspiration and guidance; Clare for the headshots. I could not have done it without you guys.

Now that I’ve gotten over my little Oscar- wannabe moment, some ramblings of my mind…

It has been very surreal these past few days. My last day at my job was yesterday. It was bittersweet. While I will miss the people – my students especially – I will not miss the daily grind of office clothing, fluorescent lighting, and making numbers. I wish so much success on my students and hope they will continue to stay in contact with me. It is strange not having a job at this moment. I have enough saved to take care of rent until my relocation, but it is unnerving not knowing when next I will have income.

I am so thrilled that the next chapter of life is beginning. So excited that I start school in September and develop myself further as a performer!  And also relieved that I have these next 6 weeks back home with my family to relax a bit, practice skills that I’ve not had the energy/time to put in before, and reconnect with friends and family. A fellow performer will be visiting me and we can work on skills and putting a show together. Hopefully, she will also be attending the Clown Conservatory as well!

Upon return, I have about 4 weeks to pack up my life and move to the bay area.  It is a good time to purge myself of needless possessions, though I find it very difficult. I will have to call upon some good friends to help me prioritize my belongings – and of course, drink my booze. Yayfun!

I will miss my SoCal friends very much. Especially the Wives. and the Boggards. They have become my family over the past 6 years and while I know I will see them at the holidays and performances, I shall miss singing with MWOW weekly. That’s it, NorCal friends – you gotta step up! =D

The rest of my life is happening and I am actually going for my dreams.  It is an amazing feeling to lose that paralyzing fear that stops one from pursuing their passion. I had it for so long that I can hardly believe that I am where I am right now, especially with how I was feeling two months ago. May this feeling last forever. I truly am in love with the world and cannot wait to spend my life doing what I need – and *want* – to do.

*sigh* I had better get some sleep before my flight!

Take care, friends.

After showing my DVD to a few friends and coworkers, it has become evident that: we done good! Another wonderful friend turned one of my headshots into a cover sheet for everything, and I prepared to take care of the last bits of business. Upon speaking with the representative from the Clown Conservatory, it is just fine that my audition package arrive on Monday.

I had some fun figuring out how to package all my materials. Here I was thinking I would have to find some kind of report folder and add sheet protectors and put this whole shebang together. But the presentation gods left me a gift at CVS: a presentation folder with built in sheet protector pages and a spot in the cover for an insertion. Brilliant! With almost the exact number of pages as I have materials! What could be more perfect than that? Okay, built in pockets for a DVD would be nice but a DVD envelope and a glue stick did just the trick.

I admired my work for a few seconds and even showed it off to the folks at Kinkos. Then into a 2-day mailer it went and it is on its way to San Francisco.

Woot! High five for me.

I will post updates after this weekend as the CC rep said she would let me know when they receive the package.

‘Til next time!