Month: March 2017

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What’s Yours is Mine as Well by Jenna Downs

I, the props mistress, have the job to single out, create, and search for approximately four hundred knickknacks and doodads.

The current show is You Can’t Take It With You, I, the props mistress, have the job to single out, create, and search for approximately four hundred knickknacks and doodads that are hung and set on every surface of the set. Every drawer is filled will papers while every nook contains something unusual. Behind the set lies two full prop tables lined with butcher paper outlining each and every prop that gets brought on and off stage.
The prop house (or just up the wooden stairs in the maintenance building) has dust coating the floor and the beams hanging low enough that you run the risk of bumping your head against the old wood. Piled from floor to ceiling, on every landing, are mementos from each show Catalina has put on. Hobby-horses and wooden half trees I painted from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, casino chips from Guys and Dolls, saloon swinging doors from Scapino!, flower darts I made for Into the Woods, wooden train cut outs from Schoolhouse Rock Live, big, lumpy suitcases from The Diary of Anne Frank, and a dagger alongside a bag of chunky glitter from Peter Pan are just a few things I can recognize. Up in boxes high on the shelves are patriotic paraphernalia, burlap sacks, bedding and pillows, every kind of telephone you could imagine, books of all shapes and sizes, tea cups with saucers, camels without candleholders, fake rats and parrots, umbrellas of every color, old radios and record players, fake flowers bursting from buckets labeled “nature,” it’s all there and waiting for the right show to come around where it could be dusted off and set under the spotlights.

In the case of this show, a very specific list of items was provided for the Properties Mistress. Chinese inkwells and the small bearded head of a man were just two of the items I could identify that I did not have among the numerous shelves. I was then put in the position to use what could be salvaged and completely transform it into something different. I repainted a plastic skull to make a ceramic dish to hold various kinds of taffy. Paintings and pictures were pulled and loaded into the golf cart to be pulled apart and decorated to match the time period. Porcelain plates were washed and dried, silverware counted and matched–everything that was pulled out for the show had to be noted and organized in order so that we wouldn’t have to put back more than we needed to.

I was then put in the position to use what could be salvaged and completely transform it into something different.

Onstage, there was a desk whose owner was a playwriting dramatic who put every word down on paper. Naturally, that meant that said desk must have papers and letters of all shapes, colors, and sizes filling drawers, covering surfaces, and in the trunks beside the desk. When I pulled out a plastic tub of paper materials that had been accumulated of the years, I brought it back down to the stage to sift through papers that obviously wouldn’t work. I began picking up letters and noticed that beautiful handwriting and terrible scrawl were all directed toward a singular name: Naomi. Sure, I figured that just a handful of letters could have been donated to the theater department (it wasn’t that uncommon), but among the letters was various poetry from a “secret admirer,” pen pal letters from foreign countries, faded school records, and numerous post cards from aunts and uncles.

I began picking up letters and noticed that beautiful handwriting and terrible scrawl were all directed toward a singular name: Naomi.

I felt as if I was meeting someone for the first time; her writing suggested that through her creativity, she would find herself somewhere in the field of English as a career. Her family and friends from all over the states had sent postcards from museums and bookstores that would intrigue her. It was a brief meeting, almost like a quick conversation during a passing period. I had found something that was left in a bin to age in the prop house for the next decade or so.

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be found, or even to be put in the prop house, but to me, the props mistress, creation and repurposing is essential to a successful production

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be found, or even to be put in the prop house, but to me, the props mistress, creation and repurposing is essential to a successful production, and through Naomi’s contribution to the theater department,You Can’t Take It With You became an even more convincing production, and as a techie, I give you my thanks, Naomi.

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Reflection on the Women’s March of January 21st, 2017 by Jessica Almos

On Saturday, January 21st 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, people from all over the world came together to participate in the Women’s March on Washington D.C.

On Saturday, January 21st 2017, the day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, people from all over the world came together to participate in the Women’s March on Washington D.C. Although Washington D.C. was the main event, there were marches in almost every city in the United States along with many marches across the globe. Rain or shine, people were marching. In South Lake Tahoe, which is my hometown, people were marching in snow that was up to their waists.

Everyone at these marches wanted to take action to make their voices heard. Not only were people marching for women, but also the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBT+ community, pro-choice, climate change issues, and so many more. The vulnerability of everyone openly fighting for what they believe in created a united community all across the world. The Women’s March organization set forth the guidelines that there would be no hatred or violence, because the march’s purpose is to speak loud enough that the oppressors are forced to listen.

“Justice for LGBTQP+,” “Women for Revolution,” “No silence no violence,” and “MY body MY choice.”

One of the towns that participated was Monterey, on the CSUMB campus. When my friends and I saw that there was a Women’s March so close to us we decided immediately that we wanted to participate in it, even though it was forecasted to rain all day. On that Saturday morning we went to the art room to make various signs to carry during the march. After looking a long time for inspiration on the internet, everyone had prioritized what they wanted on their signs, saying things like: “Justice for LGBTQP+,” “Women for Revolution,” “No silence no violence,” and “MY body MY choice.” I was unable to figure out what was most important to me, so mine said “I am VERY upset”–with the “VERY” written in red.

Arriving was an experience that I will never forget. The event planners were expecting a turn-out of 80 people to come, but by the time the event had started there were thousands of people on campus ready to march. Though it was such a large group of unfamiliar people, I felt comfortable because I knew we all had a common cause–standing up for ourselves and for others who were unable to do so. I even met a woman who had a similar sign to mine that read “There are too many issues to put on one sign”.

Once the march actually started, everyone moved as one unit to start marching towards the gym where the speakers would soon be speaking about various topics. I knew there were a lot of people behind and in front of me, but it wasn’t until we started going up a hill, and I could look down to all of the people walking behind me, that I realized that there were actually thousands of people marching against hate in Monterey. There were thousands of signs and t-shirts displaying what people cared the most about, all within the theme of basic human rights.

Once we got to the end of the march, we were invited to sit closer to the front to be near the speakers. Looking around at the gym, it was hard to believe we could fit all participants in the march but everyone squeezed on the floor and bleachers so everyone could be present. The speakers had so many valuable things to bring to the table about human rights and how we can come together as a community and not back down to those who think they have power over us.

The community that has arisen since the events that have caused such fear throughout the nation has given me a sense of security, and seeing this community in action helped me realize that the world has been through many rough times, but that there will always be hope as long as people come together to make their voices heard.

The speakers that  I saw made a huge impact on me. They were able to speak about what they cared about so clearly, and inspired me to work on how I present my beliefs to the world.
The community that has arisen since the events that have caused such fear throughout the nation has given me a sense of security, and seeing this community in action helped me realize that the world has been through many rough times, but that there will always be hope as long as people come together to make their voices heard. The Women’s March of 2017 helped me feel like I was a part of a movement that will influence the world, and I will continue to fight for our needs as long as it is needed. The Women’s March stood as a sign to the world that we will not give up our fight against oppression.