tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56849972011-04-21T20:57:53.453+01:00alan's magnificent plotfollowing a young actor overseas
<img src="http://photo.tickle.com/image/68/2/1/RS/68213608RS275631231.jpg">Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-6455057547343929672008-02-14T23:05:00.002Z2008-02-14T23:44:43.472ZThere are so many things to consider throughout the day: How much should I spend on lunch? Is this the quickest way, or is there a short-cut I don't know about? What is the best spin to put on this line of text? Did I make the most of my day? Do I deserve to relax? Do I take into consideration my friend's feelings enough? Am I a people pleaser to my own detriment?...These are the thoughts,Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-91238758463231929932008-02-09T15:08:00.000Z2008-02-09T15:17:32.424ZIt definitely doesn't feel real...I've finally moved to London. Many surreal moments have overtaken me in the past two days. The sun shines differently and the air smells peculiar.My brain reacts by worrying about the most ridiculous details, which, I guess, is a good thing showing me there is really nothing to worry about.On Tuesday I begin rehearsals for the World Premier of the musical Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-44165777258824524122008-01-23T06:31:00.000Z2008-01-23T15:41:21.807ZMerry MithrasHere I am in my homeland...about to flee it. I've been utterly fortunate to have an entire month away from any sort of stress (besides the illogical ones that occasionally swirl around inside my head). I've been home with family and enjoying myself very much. A week in Colorado mainly visiting distant cousins I usually only see at family reunions gave me the chance to catch up with aAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-81571115481147092962007-09-26T02:02:00.000+01:002007-09-26T02:05:37.088+01:00The Press on When Midnight Strikes Time Out Critics' Choice **** Four Stars, Time Out, Evening Standard and Music OmH “I am happy to say that a West End worthy show is now on at the Finborough, a snip at £13 a ticket.”Katherine Hayes, Extra! Extra!"This is a neat, sweet product, perfectly plausible for a run at a…West End venue"Rogues & Vagabonds “Rancorously diverting…Fenton Gray’s stylish Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-2889240662881042452007-09-14T12:02:00.001+01:002007-09-14T12:14:46.644+01:00My first professional London Musical is now up and well into its run!!!When Midnight Strikeshere are just a few reviews so far...There are good performances throughout with some noticeable talents given the opportunity to shine such as Alan Winner as Greg, with the delightfully self-effacing A Jerk Like Mewww.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/18206/when-midnight-strikeshttp://Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-92058799116872411972007-08-08T16:14:00.000+01:002007-08-08T16:39:23.049+01:00At the request of my dad, here are a few reviews of my recent performances.My review I'm most proud of was in the January/February 2007 Opera Now Magazine:"Candide is a bizarre and wonderful hotch-potch: its hero travels round the world from Westphalia to Eldorado to Venice. On the way, characters die and come back to life and, depending on how you do your counting, there are nearly a hundred Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-2343956562653159392007-06-20T18:23:00.000+01:002007-06-20T18:53:07.384+01:00Who do we love? To what extent do we love them?I died today and you didn't come to the funeral. The last time I saw you, you made me laugh and I enjoyed our time together. The last time I saw you was more than three years ago. Did you love me when I died? Did you cry? Were you far away when my body began to fail? You knew that the end was on its way, but the clock seemed inconsistent. Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-43237290618931583592007-05-17T09:41:00.000+01:002007-05-17T10:10:36.506+01:00I hate refering to the onion metaphor, mainly because I don't like the word onion and i don't like the immediate thought that jumps to mind (that one of eye irritation).Having said that... it is quite an apt metaphor to use. It is something everyone can relate to thus not excluding anyone in any elitist sort of way.Having said that... Rufus Wainwright's new album "Release the Stars" is like untoAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-75245520106383743102007-05-08T21:39:00.000+01:002007-05-08T21:55:19.780+01:00a quick note for those who carethere are feelingsthere are peoplethere is a world where there is much uncertainty and the people in it do not respect the feelings of their peershere we sit in a vast world of opportunity and expectation and with so much going in our favor, we seem to take it for grantedthe west is a free place where we are allowed to protest and stand up against the government if Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1165658814510083342006-12-09T10:04:00.000Z2006-12-09T10:06:54.520ZHomesick All Over The New CarpetI haven't been in America since last Christmas. I'm not complaining because my life over here has been pretty exciting, but I'm at the point where I need some American love. I don't care who you know or who you think you know, Brits are at least slightly depressing. Even if there are a few optimistic, sunny, bright-eyed exceptions, the overwhelming majority of Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1161014303870221592006-10-16T16:47:00.000+01:002006-10-16T16:58:23.880+01:00After a very exciting and useful week at the BBC New Talent 'Be A Musical Theatre Performer' Workshop, I was not selected as on of the five to proceed on to the BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre Competition. Having said that, I've only gained from my experience. Now that the competition side of things is out of the way, I can focus on what I learned in the workshop. All of the fifteen Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1158584221876259722006-09-18T13:55:00.000+01:002006-09-21T13:06:43.233+01:00I watched a documentary last night about the 'End Timers' in America. It reminds me so much of my southern Baptist upbringing. It made me a bit worried last night. Obviously the UK documentary was on a subtly anti-evangelical Christian bias, but it seemed like the facts were well supported. The one thing which has frightened me for a while now is that in places like Dallas which is one of theAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1158057227515926942006-09-12T11:03:00.000+01:002006-09-16T13:14:13.933+01:002,500 young singers auditioned hoping to get one step closer to their big break into musical theatre. I am one of 15 that did. Annually, the BBC holds an international professional competition that is attended by all of London's big names in producing big West End shows and also huge films. The winner gets £5000, a huge recording contract, plus everyone will want them to be in their next show.Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1157031404447764972006-08-31T14:31:00.000+01:002006-08-31T14:36:44.460+01:00Its 2:30 pm and I haven't left my room today. I got up at noon after having some drinks last night and here I sit in front of my computer where I have been since waking. I've checked and sent emails, looked for friend on myspace and tinkered around with videos and quizzes. I'm sitting here because I feel a little glum and the more I sit here the less I feel like doing anything...I think I'll Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1154263030594213822006-07-30T12:48:00.000+01:002006-07-30T14:07:29.363+01:00Here we are at a very exciting time in life...Tony and I are now living together in perfect harmony...(almost).I have (earlier in the month) performed in the 50th Anniversary Production of Bernstein's 'Candide' at the Wales Millennium Centre with the Welsh National Opera's Youth Opera straddling the roles of Voltaire and Pangloss. I had the responsibility of narrating the entire musical and Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1152607281597564492006-07-11T09:40:00.000+01:002006-07-11T09:41:21.613+01:00I have been spending this past week in the most beautiful countryside in the French county of Vendee with my newly wed partner. We’ve been rambling over all the narrow roads winding all across the fields of grain and corn and wild flowers. On our journey throughout this county and the county of Brittany we have passed though tiny French villages that date back past our grandfathers’ Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1150210071758461932006-06-13T14:53:00.000+01:002006-06-13T15:47:51.813+01:00Paper cups of tea.In a conservatory of only 600 students, everything seems more cosy and welcoming. It is more difficult to be lost as another number when there are as many students in the whole college as there are in one lecture hall of any major US university. Granted some people enjoy getting by blending in with every other university student with their college lettering and fraternity/Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1147780279419314372006-05-16T12:23:00.000+01:002006-05-16T12:51:19.470+01:00Row your boat. When the weather is nice it is such a pleasure to get out on the little lake in Roath Park and have a row. I'm not great, and we don't go very fast, but grab a few drinks and bring a picnic and you have for yourself a wonderful afternoon. The lake is peppered and seasoned with ducks and geese and swans and sea gulls, though to Tony and I sea gulls are the rats of the sky. I Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1146319007441149522006-04-29T14:51:00.000+01:002006-04-29T15:45:19.786+01:00After some nice Easter holiday relaxation, I'm now working on my final end of year assessment (a short piece of theatre I have to perform as my final exam), Moliere's "Tartuffe", and Bernstein's "Candide". The role I'm most excited about is Voltaire/Pangloss in "Candide". I was asked to fill in last minute when the actor meant to play the part had to back out. I walked into day one of Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1141049956990842242006-02-27T14:03:00.000Z2006-02-27T14:19:18.310ZClosing in on the final few months of my college life. I cannot believe it has gone so quickly. London is now my new destination. My plan is to be moved into a flat in london before 2007. I graduate from here in July and Tony (my partner) and I will then figure out when we will have saved enough money and when he can transfer jobs. I'm working on being able to live without worry because I Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1140865573340679242006-02-25T10:39:00.000Z2006-02-25T11:22:03.573ZHere I am in a weird limbo of sorts. I've just performed in four showcases: one in Cardiff, one in Manchester, and two in London. So far, half of my colleagues have had a phone call from an agent even if they have no interest in that particular agent. It's just good to have interest, huh? Well, so far, I've come up dry. Dry as a lizards decaying skeleton in the Sahara. But our head of acting Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1140014674265387882006-02-15T14:30:00.000Z2006-02-15T14:44:34.320ZThe final two performances of "The Architect" are upon us. What an amazing play by Scottish playwright, David Greig. I've taken so much away from playing the role of Billy it will be a shame to see the end of the show, and yet I cannot complain because I have a couple of very exciting weeks coming up. Next week I tour across the UK with my course mates performing a showcase of our talent. We Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1134430448238174632005-12-12T23:25:00.000Z2005-12-12T23:34:08.250ZA wonderful thing it is to return home... And yet to be greeted by sadness. On this coming Thursday, the day I get to Lubbock, I am singing in a memorial service to honor the life of friend and husband to my choir director, Pete Zetterstrom. Such a horrible loss. Leaving behind a 8 year old and a 4 year old, and a loving wife, Pete passed last week. I have been supremely touched and left to Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1133350799737758242005-11-30T11:34:00.000Z2005-11-30T11:39:59.786ZSo the Threepenny Opera begins tomorrow and we only have a few dress rehearsals. It has been an interresting experience so far and I am looking forward to the performances quite a bit. It will be one of the most dynamic pieces I've been a part of so far. Brecht has a masterpiece. The comentary on life's unyielding trials is augmented by his particular style of breaking theatrical conventions Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1132236047356350182005-11-17T13:39:00.000Z2005-11-17T14:00:47.396ZLife on the East of the Atlantic has proved to be splendid. I am pleased to say that I have been progressing in my craft and am looking forward to leaping out into the professional world of entertainment. There I stand with a choice - do I pursue a course that will perhaps provide me with a larger income or to I continue to develop the art I love and sacrifice fame and money. Some may say its Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1117113481949223992005-05-26T14:03:00.000+01:002005-05-26T14:18:01.956+01:00Weeks have passed and I still cannot bring myself to delete the number from my electronic address book. I don't know why I cannot yet. Perhaps it is because I was not able to attend the funeral and burial. There is a numbness. There is a disturbing numbness that comes from being an ocean away.Inspire. How does a man inspire ambition to seek those absurd dreams?At a decisive crossroad a teenage Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1095253084706979572004-09-15T13:18:00.000+01:002004-09-15T13:58:04.706+01:00A fancy dress party marked the coming of another birthday. Another year older...Another year wiser? Mine and Lindsey's birthdays fall within 3 days of one another so, why not have one big night of too many alco-pops. As the blue liquid trickles down its well-wetted path, I feel the first hint of a messy night. WKD Blue is the drink of choice, but after so many grams of sugar, one must move on to Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1094469882321228092004-09-06T18:07:00.000+01:002004-09-06T12:24:42.320+01:00My brain is beginning to pickle itself. I am itching to begin classes again at the great Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Two weeks from today I will be hurling myself back into rigorous training for so many hours a day. And needless to say, I absolutely love it.
I have been working throughout the summer at two separate jobs. One of course my pub job, and the other a job with Cardiff Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1083753448258668892004-05-05T11:37:00.000+01:002004-05-05T11:40:39.873+01:00My first semi-public performance outside of the USA...
I perform my End of Year Assessment tomorrow at 10 am. It is the first time that I have been onstage by myself since I've been here at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. It will be the first time I've performed in front of people who are not either in my year at college or one of my tutors. I call it semi-public because anyone is Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1083319824405250162004-04-30T11:10:00.000+01:002004-04-30T15:54:22.340+01:00The Pub. Thursday night. I had just left a technical rehearsal at College that ran a bit over, so I hopped on my trusty two-wheeled piece of lightning and cycled to work. The night consisted of my manager running around stressed as usual barking ever so often about the next task he wanted to be done. The main manager is on vacation for 2 weeks. This means that John has to take care of the Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1082230779372781382004-04-17T20:39:00.000+01:002004-04-17T20:42:33.450+01:00Just got back from Paris. Well besides the wonderful Notre Dame and the Musee D'Orsay, give me London any day. Now I don't know if it was the language barrier that put me off or the general Parisian attitude. They weren't so much rude, they just seemed to think that they were better than you. Sometimes they would try tell you the score lightly, but nonetheless, they had their nose set so Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1074593917670687452004-01-20T10:18:00.000Z2004-01-20T10:20:03.466ZThere is a park only ten minutes from my house, walking, of course. Cutting through the middle is a stream with a bridge. This bridge supported me as I stood for a bit to reflect. I looked down into the playful water and saw Bea - My Grandmother. Whether her spirit was actually lying in the water there is not for me to say, but the tear that surfaced in my eye was entirely real. Thus began Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1070997434716218542003-12-09T19:17:00.000Z2003-12-30T12:33:47.936ZI've just finished my first term at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I am very pleased with the progress I am making. The feedback from my Lecturers is very positive yet gives me direction on where I need improvement. The two projects I've worked on this term have been Impro, a project on improvisation in the theatre, and Building a Character, a project where we delved deep into theAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1068128264104749472003-11-06T14:17:00.000Z2003-11-06T14:17:42.303ZI have to have a strong sense of importance. Living in my home town all my life did just that. Nothing was terribly new to me, so it made it possible for me to step farther out of myself because I felt comfortable and at home. I could waltz into a coffee shoppe and choose a new person to talk to. No matter how much I say I love Cardiff, which I do very much, I'm not at home yet. I've not yetAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1067336134506093812003-10-28T10:15:00.000Z2003-10-28T10:15:33.880ZI've begun a segment of life where something seems to have slipped into place.
I realized while I was working at the Crwys Pub serving bitters and lagers that I was truly happy.
I don't think any one instance in my life caused me these feelings of contentment, but they are still pulsing through my body.
Its brilliant.
My school does not produce any undue amount of stress since it is exactly what Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1067008150785375632003-10-24T16:09:00.000+01:002003-10-24T16:09:10.720+01:00...and the question remains
Why must I feel such a strong desire to be in intimate company with men?
Today my heart is aflame with passion and desire.
Movie reels captured the images of two nights ago and replay them one thousand times over in my head.
The initial contact followed by the exchange of glances-
Such electricity enslaving my body as we danced.
Our bodies fuel for the energy of the Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1063472449737183362003-09-13T23:51:00.000+01:002003-09-15T08:49:41.523+01:00As the plane neared the British Isles, the towns came into view. Though dark, the yellow-sprinkled countryside was altogether inspiring.
After having been delayed in Dallas, Texas due to unsavory weather, we'd missed our only opportunity to make it to London on that particular day. We were delayed and would not be arriving until 24 hours after our scheduled arrival time, setting us to land in Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1062299032978082082003-08-31T04:03:00.000+01:002003-08-31T15:54:00.080+01:00For the past four days I have fought back fever and body aches with the seemingly futile weapons of medication.
Every time my fever breaks, it returns when the Ibuprofen wears off.
This morning I found myself in the worst sweat during this illness.
My fever broke, and the fever medicine had long since left my system.
I was so very hopeful that my body was on the up-and-up.
I took a nap because I Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1061841941329929922003-08-25T21:05:00.000+01:002003-08-26T16:19:58.790+01:00The '81 Chevy pickup glares back at me as I shuffle back to the imprisoning corrugated iron building.
Two and a half months of my life have ticked away while I perform my mindless day-to-day activities.
Such repetetive duty. What good comes from a summer where 8 hours of every day are spent taming the wild blades of grass and slapping healthy shine down on a series of well-trodden hallways?
"Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1061554252367016592003-08-22T13:10:00.000+01:002003-08-22T13:10:52.413+01:00Good morning, sunshine.
You have no idea how my mind has been pumping this morning.
This struggle between love and moving - it's immense.
I want to see you today, and tomorrow, and the day after.
Thank you for our conversation last night.
We will both thank ourselves as the months roll on.
Our tears will flood the sink and run to the floor.
Our tears will gradually lessen.
Our tears will stop -Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1061219600063587652003-08-18T16:13:00.000+01:002003-08-18T16:13:20.110+01:00I fear it less now.
This transition upon me.
Friends heading off to college whom I'll not see for perhaps years.
I fear it less now.
I fear less the transition in the relatinship David and I share.
I sincerely love my man and he me.
Should our lives grow apart we will rejoice with each other for the time we shared.
Should our lives grow closer together we will nurture each other until we die.
So Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1061157207190352172003-08-17T22:53:00.000+01:002003-08-17T22:53:27.083+01:00"Just 4 more," the instructor gingerly spoke hoping to keep our faith in her workout rutine.
My muscles burn and my lungs pump gallons of air in and out of my nose and mouth. As the sweat beads around my hairline it gains weight and tickles my face as it splashes onto the imitation hardwood studio floor. Watching my body expand and contract in the mirror, I begin to think about the morning and Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684997.post-1060978356296962602003-08-15T21:12:00.000+01:002003-08-15T21:12:34.760+01:00Congratulations on finding me! I am a most fortunate soul, I assure you. I am perhaps the only person you know that is travelling to Wales. I am probably the only person you know that is studying theatre in Wales. I am definitely the only person you know that has dressed up as Dr. Frank-n-furter on multiple occasions, and is studying theatre in wales. My school is the Royal Welsh College of Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136775176850251676noreply@blogger.com0