Bloggr, connect with me on Hall

niradlrae@gmail.com has invited you to join Hall!       Accept invitation             uses Hall for group chat, one-on-one messaging, file sharing, video conferencing and more. It's the fastest and safest way for your organization to communicate.     You are receiving invitation to connect emails from Hall. If you don't want to receive these emails in the future you can safely unsubscribe.   Please remember you can always go to your user settings page to adjust your email preferences and options.

" y o u . A R E . p a r t "

The Human Heart.

Ever since I stepped foot on this campus, I've regretted never being able to share whatever occurred to me with myself: my thoughts locked up and confined, without my medium to assist in alleviating a clouded and heavy mind.

If only for a moment, I was given the opportunity to breathe and recalibrate my own existence, I think my visits here would have been more frequent.

However, as I've been asked how I juggle it all, I recall something one of my instructors once said to me:

Born This Way - [ Left to right ] Angelina Valente ( percussion ), Milika Griffiths, Hannah Cohen
Chrissy Hartzell, Angelica Staikos, Sheila Ernst ( guitar ).

" You do what you love because you love it - if you didn't, it would not be as important to you, and you would not find it important to give it occupancy in your life. "

Luckily, I have yet to encounter an experience wherein I disdained my fortune, the hand I've been dealt. Because of this whole-hearted acceptance and "soft reception" of the world around me, I can easily say that the hands I've been dealt have been.... Very flattering, actually.

- THE HUMAN HEART -

The Human Heart - Milika Griffiths ft. Company

If you've noticed my attendance here ( or lack thereof ) you can get an idea that I was really preoccupied. If you didn't, it's totally fine, cause I tried really hard to at least keep my eyes open and let my ears take in as much as they could: I tried to be aware and alert to the world while still engulfed with my own plane.

The Human Heart was a cabaret assembled of songs which highlighted tolerance, unity, love and all the positive reinforcements we need to hear daily in our society. I really wish I could have shared the entire experience with you all because it was so beautiful and all it's members - production and performers alike - are well deserving of all their talent, praise, support and love that they never could even imagine existed.

I just wanted to take this entry to identify all of them and give them the thanks that I would never be able to produce with words in any other setting - because this is my most comfortable medium, writing, it's the best I've got to give you.

Just a side note, I haven't read any of your notes ( except Ellington's because he gave me his first and I had to ) so sorry if I miss the opportunity to make references to yours as well!

[ I mean it's just another opportunity to bring up great memories and absolutely fantastic praises when you might even need them the most. Haha. ]

The Origin of Love - Danielle Pierce ft. Company.

Alec - Hey bud! Thank you so much for everything you've done. You're such a charming character and I'm really honored to have been able to work with you. From the times we've killed giants and children of the moon and earth and stuff to the times where we almost changed "Change It" to an all-female plus a bit of testosterone song, you're a real trophy to sit next to. And as eccentric as your quirky remarks might be, the cast definitely wouldn't be the same without someone to thumbs up at the end of Same Love with me, yo. I absolutely adored "Open Road" and what it did for your voice. Congratulations on such a fantastic show and look forward to working with you in the future!

Hannah - MY HANNAGRAM. Love you so much. You're such a joy to work with and as crass as your diva attitude may be, the moments through which you showed your absolute quintessence of kindness and humility are when you're the most beautiful. I'm so happy I met you before I even realized how often you would be present in my life. You have a very amazing voice, and never get comfortable or lazy or settle for where you're at, because there's always room for improvement. I'm really glad we got to work together for your Rider Debut and we have so many more chances to live our lives together, as silly as that sounds. Don't go anywhere, and don't forget, you can always come to me for anything. Stay true, Big Bitch Diva.

Jordan - You're literally amazing. I wish I were kidding. You have an awesome voice and you're such a pleasant person to work with. I really wish we could have hung out together so much more and become greater friends because you seem like a very kind and peaceful soul. So, while you run back to Alabama, don't actually forget that you are fully conditioned in re-tying your shoelaces because of yours truly. Congrats on coming to Rider, doing your damn thing, and leaving your mark. I really hope you stay in touch and continue to be successful, even if it isn't with performing or anything. Best of luck, bud and thank you so much!

Milika - I actually cannot deal with how liberated my life became when we finally got to work together: out of all the nights of jams and all of the small gigs we've had, I never once thought that I'd actually be able to share the stage with you. You're a beautiful human being and I'm so honored to know you so well and be able to call you one of my closest friends I've made to this very day in my life. There are no words to convey how much I love you, how much I adore you, and how beautiful you are. Inside and out. See you at the red carpet. I'll have my guitar ready. Hahah.

Dani - JUDGEMENT. I love you. You are such a rockstar it's actually disgusting. Hahah. I'm so happy I got to share the stage with you! You're so awesome and talented and your voice is wicked cool. Whenever you EVER are having an off day or you forget how amazing you really are, just believe me when I say that whenever you would sing "Pretty Funny," I was there with you for every single moment of the journey, every time. You're the best: I can't wait until we work together again. We had so much fun together and I'm so happy that our moments during our closing show were so delirious because that helped me so much. Oh, keep on travelin' thru', boo - it's in the stars for you.

Sam - BET! I absolutely adore you. I know you hear me say it to you all the time and you probably get really tired, but it just doesn't seem to get exhausted, my adoration. You're beautiful, hilarious, talented and overall a goofball. So happy we got to hang out together this semester because I was absolutely unaware and unexpecting of this friendship that has developed. "Brave" illuminated your soul every night and I think that the best thing in any possible moment for a performance is to have fun and love everything about yourself for it. Your capability to do as such gave me something to begin to work towards. Seeing that it's feasible in someone else rekindled my hope. I haven't been able to get out of an emotional rut up until the last production, and during "Brave," clapping with everyone on stage, even to Dani and then to Angelina, Sheila and Wendy - that was the absolute happiest I've been in months. And it just tied into everything else. Thank you. Stay blessed. Bet, homie. Bet.

El - I really think you're so amazing. You're such a great character, such a nice and jovial entity that I'm really happy we've got to have our "DL"-bonding time. We definitely need to hang out more because I actually cannot go another two hours with the funniest caveman still alive. Congrats on your Rider Debut and you did an absolutely phenomenal job. There are no words for how much I adore you and how fantastic you are. Thank you so much for the friendship we've developed.

Chrissy - Why are you actually one of my favorite human beings on this planet? I absolutely love your voice, you're beautiful and there's everything about you that is "yes." Thank you so much for the moments we've shared and I absolutely adore you. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY?! You're hilarious - you already know that; I love you - you already know THAT; your smile makes me bubble and giddy - you probably could figure that one out too. Overall, if I had to work with you in any environment, it had to be this one because I absolutely revere you. Your quirkiness is something I really wish I could embody, if only for a few seconds of my entire life. Thank you for poking me in the eye that one night, because it cleared up my vision to all of the beautiful women on stage who have come so far, you certainly and rightfully one of them.

Emily - HEY GIRL! I really wish we could hang out a lot more because I thoroughly enjoy your company. You're so funny and you have an amazing voice. Just about every time you sang "Who You Are," I didn't know what to do with myself. While I sat on that stool, I actually wanted to cheer for you so much because your talent is surmountable of any obstacle you may face in life. Thank you so much for everything, you're actually so amazing and awesome and I just can't. Keep up the good work and make sure you don't forget that you're actually an inspiring human being.

Kailee - You are so beautiful and you have so much going for you. I absolutely think you're fantastic and you're so hilarious and so talented. I totally miss our acting class together and us failing at life together. But you know that one thing's for certain - I think you have such a beautiful voice and such a sweet and delightful soul that I wish everyone could receive with open arms and make their own. Thank you so much for all of the laughs and smiles, and when we broke down together in Beautiful City, I don't think there was anything wrong with that moment in the slightest. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so proud of you, pero like mi bebe - te amo mucho.

Sean - You are absolutely a magnificent human being. I'm really honored to be working with you and to be learning so much from you, just by being in the same learning environment as you. You're such a sweetheart and I always adored the notion of working with you - from Misanthrope right up to here, it's been an awesome privilege. You are a fantastic performer and thank you so much for all your support and amicable personality, it makes me feel so much more at ease. Congratulations on the show and look forward to working with you again!

Angelica - I can't even begin. First off, congrats, I love you and you're so beautiful and amazing. And every time I say these words for everyone it's because I have so much love for each and every one of you, but it dulls not in the slightest. Your voice is remarkable and your hair is crazy good. I absolutely love you and you make me so happy. I'm so excited to work with you next semester - just another excuse for us to hang out all of the time and love and love and love. Thank you so much for being you. You're such a godsend.

Change It - [ Left to right ] Angelica Staikos, Chrissy Hartzell, Kailee Graham,
Emily Elliot, Danielle Pierce, Samantha Funk, Hannah Cohen, Milika Griffiths.

Lauren - Happy birthday and thank you for working on Human Heart! You've been part of the family since day one and I really loved spending time with you because I rarely got to see you anymore. I miss our acting class and wish we could definitely figure out our lives so we can hang out a bit more. Hope you have a fantastic birthday and congratulations on the show!

Jordan - I can't even. I love you so much. You're the funniest and even when rehearsals got dry and unbearable long before tech week hit us, you made it oh so very bearable. You took very good care of all of us, myself intensely included, and for that I thank you. You did a fantastic job and I can't wait to read your punny card. What else is there to say! I hope we get to work together. Other than that, keep on chasing your dreams: you're super talented and no matter where you go, you're always going to be loved. Thank you!

Cassie - CASSIE CASSIE CASSIE I'm so happy I got to be one of your cast members! Working with you on the show was so much fun. You are actually one of my favorite human beings and I'm so excited for the next time I get to actually hang out with you, mandated and obligatorily so. But, really, thank you so, so much. I'm so happy you were part of this as much as we were because it was definitely a journey I would not have rathered gone on it with than you and everyone else.

Brave - Sam Funk ft. Company.

Angelina - Why are you so talented? I am so happy and pleased and I just am a bundle of excite whenever I have to be graced with your existence. Thank you so much for all your support and all your hard work and you're just insane - INSANE. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And now we get to make music. Yes yes yes yes. CONGRATS ON THE SHOW AND FOR BEING PERFECT, YAAAAY!

Sheila - You are so adorable and I couldn't physically emanate happiness to convey to you how happy I am for the both of you. Thank you so much for all of your hard work and being such a fierce queen with that guitar. Work. Love you, homie g.

Wendy - WENDY! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. You've helped me so much you don't even understand. I can't begin to explain or even fathom how far I've come because of this experience. Congratulations on your engagement and I'm so honored I was part of the family that supported you in this big step in your life. I never told you, but the last performance was for you and Sheila, so I really hope you guys lived up there as much as we did. Thank you so much, and happy marriage!

Rebecca - Well, it would be unreal to say that thinking of what specifically to say would be easy and simple, and the obligation to commemorate you is nothing short of will and commending. Thank you for everything you have done. I have grown so much this semester, and I appreciate it so much, SO much you don't understand. You are brilliant and such an amazing director, I am so happy that I got to work with you on this project, that you confided so much trust and love in all of us, and from the deepest atriums of my heart and inlets of my soul, I thank you humbly and admire your professionalism. Thank you, Rebecca, for giving me an opportunity to do what I love and making the whole opportunity another reason why I love who I am, where I'm at, and all the people around me. This was truly inspiring and I would never think of trading this experience for anything in the world. Congratulations and thank you, again, for such a great experience.

Beautiful City - Jordan Giddens ft. Company.

The Human Heart.

:: Photographs taken by Diana Cooper.
<3 ~ Monty.
=]