Jenn goes back to college!

It wasn't that long ago that I was working in a coffee house, spent every waking hour that I wasn't working in front of a tv, thinking things to myself like "This is awesome. Only four hours till the rerun of Psych comes on." It was a wasted life. I was bored and tired. I barely spoke to anyone. I was in bed by ten everyday. I had no idea how good I had it.

Greetings from Santa Maria, CA. I tell you, when I was offered this job, it sounded way too good to pass up. I get to be in California, a hop skip and a jump away from my friends. I get to be eight miles away from the beach, THe hottest it gets here is a scorching 85 degrees, and I get to be in Ragtime!
I'll never forget the night I saw the Ragtime opening on the tony's and thought "I gotta do that." The ten years to follow that, the role of Sarah topped my "to do before I die" list. So when I got the offer of Ragtime ensemble and Sarah's understudy, I snatched it up without looking back. So what if there was no travel stipend? It's california! So I have to pay rent- who cares? Um ok.

I am now living in a seven bedroom two bath (you read that right) house where I have effectively begun my journey back into college. Don't get me wrong. Ragtime is awesome. It's closing tomorrow and I have to say it's been one of the greatest shows I've ever worked on. The other actors in the show are fantastic. The musical I'm currently working on, Hot Mikado is great too. the work is amazing. Its the house.... THE HOUSE!!!!!!

It didn't sound so bad when it was described to me. I mean when you hear about a seven bedroom hous with a tennis court, your immediate thought is mansion, right? I was thinking terraces, pools, weekly maid service, luxury- what I got was chicken coops, ant infestation, a kitchen that could give you vd and extreme poverty. Something that wasn't explained to me effectively when I got this contract was that this theater company, while it is a respected Equity house is also a conservatory. A two year college for theater folk. So I don't share this house with other actors, i share it with STUDENTS. 18 yr old theater kids who have never left home before, never had to clean up after themselves before most of them aren't even allowed to by alcohol! (not that they don't drink- they just don't do it legally.)

It's not all bad. I've actually had alot of fun here. I never really had that stereotypical college experience you see in the movies- this is kind of like that. The kids are cool. It's made for an interesting summer! More stories to follow.

and there ya go.