Ned Donovan - Ithaca ‘12

Hey everyone,

The reference in the title is how I feel (and I think most of my classmates feel) right about now.  Sophomore year is not easy, and part of the reason for my silence is the amount of work needed in the last couple weeks.  So we’ll recap to start.  Children of Eden entered tech week, and my life went away.  Then Children of Eden opened, and the amount of energy to keep that show alive is immense.  It’s not just that our production is great (which if I do say so myself, it is), it’s that everyone is onstage almost the entire time.  When not onstage as a character, the “storytellers” are there to help the audience along.  Think a giant Greek chorus that sings and dances.  So there’s very little room for water breaks, and to keep energized for the entire show is a daunting task.  I think we succeeded however, because we’ve had nothing but fabulous reviews.  Here are four examples (one, two, three, four).  As Eden opened, everything started to set in, such as the knowledge that the second acting review of the year is coming up in about three weeks, singing review is this afternoon, final projects for classes have kicked into full swing, and frankly there are so few hours in the day that sleep is basically not an option.  This may sound like I’m complaining, and that might be the lack of sleep talking, but the fact of the matter is, I love every second of what’s going on.  The challenges are many, but all of us seem to be pulling through and working to create some really fantastic work together as a group.

Hey everyone,

So it’s been a while since my last update, mostly because the last couple weeks have been extremely stressful.  But here we are, it’s September 7th, and I think I can finally start settling into a normal schedule.  Upon arriving here the theatre department was dealing with the Dillingham Renovations (which are awesome by the way), auditions for the fall mainstage season, and just the acclimation of the new freshman class, as well as the returning students back into the swing of things.  Auditions went very well, and I’m pleased to say I’ve been cast as Shem in Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden.  Last year around this time it was really hard to come in and become adjusted to the new atmosphere and classes, but with that year of familiarity having gone by, the year has just started without a hitch.  I’m really happy with all my teachers and classes, and I’m excited to get down to work.  Review is coming up in only about a month, or a month and a half…so it’s time to buckle down and get stuff done.

Hey everyone,

It’s been a busy few days and it’s about to get a whole lot worse, and I will absolutely not be posting for the next week, just not enough hours in the day.  So I thought I’d let you know what’s been going on in my life:

First off it’s review time.  This friday (the 17th) is my vocal review for the department of theatre arts.  Myself and the other Musical Theatre freshmen will be going in alphabetical order and perform two 90 second songs for the performance faculty, and any of the students who wish to watch.  We watched the sophomore last week and it was phenomenal, so hopefully we can match up to them.  I myself am performing “My Romance” from Jumbo (an early Rogers and Hart musical), and “Goodbye” from I Love You Because (a modern show loosely based off Pride and Prejudice).  I am third on friday, and hopefully everything goes well!
My next review is on monday the 20th, and I have my acting review.  I am performing a scene from Picnic with Amberlee Weber; I am playing Hal, and she is playing Madge.  We’ve had great success in our rehearsals so I’m kind of itching to get review past us.  Hopefully that goes well also.

Secondly we have Freshman Cabaret coming up.

Hey everyone,

I wanted you all to know about a phenomenal thing that came out of a bad thing yesterday.  Yesterday my friend Ben (playing the lead in New Brain) deemed himself too sick to perform, and his understudy was asked to step up.  Andrew Karl (Ithaca College Musical Theatre freshman) is the understudy and he began working mid-afternoon to be prepared for last night.  We got to sit in the audience and watch his performance, and I want everyone to realize just how phenomenal it was.  Cat Stephani (playing Lisa the homeless woman) was also sick, and she performed the show, but asked to not be in the big dance number.  Her understudy Deanalis Resto (Ithaca College Musical Theatre sophomore) stepped up for that number and was also phenomenal.  I would just like to give my congratulations to the two understudies for their performances.

For me this is testament that this program is truly great.  The understudies’ performance could easily have gone without noting they were an understudy, and no one would have cared.  They were professional, poised, and dead on for all their lines and blocking.  Congratulations to them!

~Ned Donovan

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share with you a review written about our production of “A New Brain” here at Ithaca College.  It’s a great review, and you still have tonight, tomorrow, and two shows on saturday.  www.ithaca.edu/theatre for more information.

Here’s the review.

~Ned Donovan