e_clare: (that's my thesis!)
[personal profile] e_clare
I haven't had this much to say in a while. Bear with me.

The highlight of my life happened earlier this week (graduation and a whole lot of other things aside): I went to an evening of play readings, and I met Tom Stoppard. Not only did I meet Sir Tom, I shook his hand, thanked him for writing "Rock 'N' Roll," and received his thanks for being a fan and coming to that night's event (not his play). I wrote to my thesis advisor today:
As I walked into the theater, I spotted an older gentleman taking a cigarette break. It was Sir Tom, hunkered down on the low stone wall, having a conversation with a young woman. I dithered for a minute, and then interrupted them as politely as possible to introduce myself, and say how much I'd liked RnR. When I added that I'd written my thesis about him, he responded, "Oh...I'm so sorry."
I refrained from replying that he should be, and that my advisor and I had decided he was one of the most difficult authors about whom to write coherently. Ever. Unfortunately, I didn't get to tell him my witty title -- while I'm sure he'd appreciate the punningly awesome humor of "S. Gone Wilde," at the time he clearly just wanted to finish his cigarette and pre-show conversation. Huge thanks are due to Marty Seeger, without whose prompting I probably would have just walked past him and squee'd quietly to myself. Yay, Marty! Also, if anyone cares, the plays were quite good.

In other theatrical news, I landed a volunteer gig as a script assistant at a small NYC theater company. I read a lot of plays last week, and wrote evaluations of all of them. For the most part, they weren't crap -- but they weren't great, either. I've resolved to see a lot more theater, partly for this job and partly because it just makes sense to take advantage of it while I've the time. There are enough events that are inexpensive or free (minus train fare, which will rapidly add up) that it makes a lot of sense. If I happen to scout out a writer who can be the next big thing, that's an added bonus. And that's all I'm going to say about my job search and/or my future, because frankly I'm too depressed-slash-intimidated by the thought of finding work (yes, still) to spend any more time on it.

...okay, one more thing. Subsequent to Monday night's performances, I finally pulled my act together and e-mailed a dramaturg who I originally contacted two months ago about an informational interview. (She took a few weeks to get back to me, at which point I was in England, and when I got back I never called her.) End result: when I go in next week to talk play recommendations with my new boss, I'll also have an informational interview with this super-cool dramaturg. And I'm prouder of that than I probably should be, but it was rather hard to get that e-mail sent out after all this time.

Links:
Neil Gaiman on Studio 360. The interview is from 2005, right when Anansi Boys and Mirrormask came out, but host Kurt Andersen drags the discussion around quite a bit more than those two projects; including what it was like starting out in comics, Neil's brief career as a film critic, and Tori Amos's days as an early Sandman fan.

Young Frankenstein, The Musical has a preliminary cast. Kristin Chenoweth steps into Madeleine Khan's shoes as Dr. Frankenstein's fiancee, and Cloris Leachman steps into...her own shoes to reprise her film role as Frau Blucher. The monster will be played by Shuler Hensley, who is familiar with the territory, and Dr. F. himself is some guy I've vaguely heard of.

Iggy Pop's concert rider hits The Smoking Gun. "We had a lighting designer once, but he went mad so we shot him. It was the kindest thing. Now he's a light of a different kind, one of God's little Gobos in Dimmer Heaven.[...] We will require the use of two dedicated and intensely loyal security persons to be stationed at the entrance to each of the two dressing rooms. Or do I mean one at each? Otherwise that would be four, and I think we only need two, one at each door. Wait a minute, let's start again." Laughed 'til I nearly cried, I did.

And that about does it. This weekend I'm sojourning in Boston with theater friends and meeting up with [livejournal.com profile] olivia_circe to see a Stoppard play. Of course. And tomorrow night there's a new Office, so hooray! I'm really quite easy to please

Raaaahhh, LJ! It's not my fault your clocks are two hours ahead! Why won't you just let me post?!

Date: 2006-10-19 07:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] perseph12.livejournal.com
You met Tom Stoppard? *Has literary fangrrl moment* Sounds like you handled it with grace, though...

Thanks for the linkage :). Have you picked up Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things? It's incredibly enjoyable, fun and twisted and keeps me up far too late at night.

Date: 2006-10-19 02:01 pm (UTC)
ext_14351: (a million ways to be [harold & maude])
From: [identity profile] e-clare.livejournal.com
Hee! I certainly didn't feel graceful, but I kept the flailing to a minimum. Mostly. Once I got past my opening ("Hi, um, I'm so sorry to interrupt but I had to introduce myself, because you're Tom Stoppard -- and my name's Emily...") it was a lot better. *is a big nerd*

I haven't picked up Fragile Things yet -- it's certainly on my list, especially with Megan's stamp of approval. :) And I'm sure it would be more fun than Middlemarch (my other current read) on the bus ride this weekend...

Date: 2006-10-19 02:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mirror-dancer.livejournal.com
oh how exciting! mr. stoppard in the flesh. and i'm glad marty made you go over and talk to him. :)

Date: 2006-10-19 02:07 pm (UTC)
ext_14351: (a million ways to be [harold & maude])
From: [identity profile] e-clare.livejournal.com
Me too! It would have been really pathetic if I hadn't, I think we all agree.

PS. Are you up for a phone call later, to discuss plans for next weekend?

Date: 2006-10-19 06:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mirror-dancer.livejournal.com
yes pathetic is the word that springs to mind.

um, phone call? i'm up for phone calls. i have dance from 6 to 9 or so tonight.

Date: 2006-10-19 05:38 pm (UTC)
newredshoes: possum, "How embarrassing!" (Mr. Jeffries (Valhalla))
From: [personal profile] newredshoes
!!!

Dude!

Freaking huzzah! On all of it!

*cheers!*

Date: 2006-10-19 05:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sadai.livejournal.com
Oh yay! I'm soo happy for you friend! That totally surpasses graduation and such things! :-)

Date: 2006-10-19 06:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oraveles.livejournal.com
That? Is sooo cool. My theater-doing, play-loving friend is visiting me right now. Her jealousy is through the roof. And she wants to read your thesis.

Date: 2006-10-19 06:10 pm (UTC)
ext_14351: (silhouette [episode ii])
From: [identity profile] e-clare.livejournal.com
Seriously? Does she want a .pdf or a .doc? :)

I'm alternating between "I can't believe that happened!" and "Huh. Not really a big deal, in the end."

Date: 2006-10-19 06:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sweetcncrd.livejournal.com
i can't believe you met tom stoppard! that's amazing....i'm so happy for you (and a bit jealous, but after all your hard work thesisizing, i feel you earned it more)

we still need to swap reviews one day!

Date: 2006-10-20 02:30 am (UTC)
eccentric_hat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] eccentric_hat
Congrats on the volunteer gig! Sounds like a nice way to be productive while you're still in the search. Congratulations, too, on getting the informational interview; it's true that those things never sound like much when you announce them, but for some reason it's hard to get oneself to make them happen.

Date: 2006-10-20 02:33 am (UTC)
eccentric_hat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] eccentric_hat
And I completely forgot to say how mind-blowingly awesome it is that you met Tom Stoppard. You definitely deserved it after your loyalty to the man's work ;-)

Oh, and, thanks for the heads-up on The Office, which I probably would have missed otherwise.

Date: 2006-10-20 03:41 am (UTC)
ext_14351: (dwight schrute investigates [the office])
From: [identity profile] e-clare.livejournal.com
Thanks for the good wishes.

Ironically, I did miss The Office tonight because Tivo got too smart and decided it didn't need to record it. :(

Date: 2006-10-20 11:46 am (UTC)
eccentric_hat: (Default)
From: [personal profile] eccentric_hat
Oh no, how sad! Stupid machines thinking they can tell us what to do...

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