Big Choices

The last couple of weeks have been filled with big decisions to make. I dislike talking about the choices publically until there's an outcome, thus why the blog has been pretty quiet lately (to reduce any chance of bad karma).

It started off with being offered the opportunity to be Master Electrician for a Yale Rep show. This is usually done by a student of the program a an assignment and learning opportunity. But the student originally assigned to this was reassigned and, this late in the calendar, it's hard to switch in another student to take that person's place. Plus the offer was to allow me a chance to do what I preach. I considered the option carefully, taking into account the situation (some details of which I cannot post) and decided that show was not right for me to be in charge of, although I would still be happy as the usual support staff position. It was then offered to my co-worker, who had mentioned he would not take the job, and he took it right away. Now I get to see him stress about doing the show the Yale way, which requires tons of paperwork to show that everything is being handled as Yale likes it, and support him anyway I can.

The next big choice happened unexpectedly the following week. I was offered the chance to have my position, which is currently a short seasonal position with no work from June to August, to a full-time year-round position. The time from June to August would include running outside events in the theater spaces in June, lots of M & R (maintenance and repair), and some vacation. But there would not be many students around to work with, I would have to stay in New Haven, and the work, although necessary, doesn't interest me as much as working at other theaters. My bosses were very encouraging of my desire to continue working outside gigs during the summer and asked my co-worker the same question later that day. By the end of the week, he accepted the position. It's great for him as he is getting married this summer and it all works out better.

So now I have a summer job to find. While debating if I should take the year-round position, I contact my previous job, Berkshire Theater Festival, and let them know of my interest in returning, to see what they would say. My previous boss, Pete, took note and promised to get back to me soon. Earlier that week, I was asked by a 1st year student to give a reference for one of my interns from that job. This intern was applying for an internship in the electrics department at Glimmerglass Opera, where this student will be Master Electrician. I gave the reference, all the while thinking "I just mailed my resume today to them for the Assistant Master Electrician position as posted in Artsearch. Would it be too tacky to ask him directly?". I screwed up the courage, then asked him about working at Glimmerglass. He was a little surprised but he filled me in on the details and asked me to email him my resume directly as it would take over a week for him to see it from the company. I did so. Now it was time to sit and wait. During this waiting period I declined the year-round position, then I went to NYC for the weekend to get away.
Come Tuesday, I get a call from BTF saying "we've decided to go in a different direction with the ME position, we wish you well, blah, blah, blah" It looks like I trained my assistant a little too well last summer and he's been picked up as the ME - congrats and good wishes to him, I do wish him all the best. I was kinda looking forward to returning as I had really liked my crew and the Lighting Designers I had worked with. Oh well. Then I get an email from the ME at Glimmerglass asking to meet that evening for "a chat". We meet that night at the local coffee shop and proceed to have an interview. The next day I get an official offer from the Glimmerglass Production Manager, I take a night to consider it and discuss the implications with the hubby, who is very understanding and encouraging, and today I accepted the offer.

So this summer will be spent at Glimmerglass!!! It's very well known in the Opera world for its busy summer seasons. Pictured here is the Alice Busch Theater, on the banks of Otsego Lake in Upstate NY, only 8 miles from Cooperstown, NY. By the time August rolls around, we'll be running 4 huge operas in repertory, meaning we'll perform 1 show, changeover to the next show, perform that show, changeover to the next day's show, sleep and repeat. My good friend Jared was an electrics intern there many moons ago, and he called it the hardest job he ever did, but he still loved it. I already know two of the lighting designers coming this summer, Robert Wierzel (with Lillian Groag directing) and Adam Silverman and am excited to work with Shawn Kaufman and Aaron Black. This season, the shows are all about Orpheus, from the Greek myth with Eurydice. Check out the website for more details: http://www.glimmerglass.org/

But this does mean that Jamie will stay in New Haven with his year-round job at Yale and hang on to the apartment. I'm pushing to take Sheba with me so I at least have something special from home. This is going to be a long, exciting, exhausting summer.