Dear 2011

Dear 2011,

It's really great to finally meet you... welcome to my life. I have to say I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite a while, and if I'm honest, I have really high expectations for you. Hopefully by the time we part ways we'll have some really amazing stories to tell. Together (and I mean this in the cheesiest, yet sincerest way possible) we can make some dreams come true.

I plan on stepping it up this year, and really doing all I can, so all I ask of you is that you open a few doors for me, and throw me a bone now and then. If you could keep the tragedies to a minimum and let the good times roll for my friends and family that would be great as well.

Thanks a million, let's have a good one-

-Travis Lincoln Cox

"The List"

* Exercise (a lot)

* Blog (more)

* Write (a lot more)

* Act (as much as possible)

* Organize my Life (easy peasy)

* Budget ($$$)

* Take More Pictures (of everything)

* Live with No Regrets

**As for this Blog**

I am going to revive the old Blog schedule. So, if you care to read... this is what you can expect:

Movie Monday- I'll lend my opinion on a random movie that I will have watched that week.

Tough Guy Tuesday- This is really just me using the public eye as motivation to exercise. you can expect weekly photo updates on my (not sexy yet) body, and any random workout tips I might feel are useful.

What the Wednesday- There are a lot of crazy videos on the internet. On Wednesday, I'll post a good one.

Theatre Thursday- This could be anything remotely related to Theatre and/or acting. ie: a play review, a something cool I learned in class, a script I read etc... I'll try to keep it interesting.

Photography Friday- I have a not so secret passion for photography. On Friday, I show off. I post one of my favorites from my collection.

Thanks for taking the time to read! Happy New Year!

-Travis

Thespian Thursday - Anton's Uncles

Well, I would love to review DSC's production of 'Miss Saigon' on here tonight... but I really just have to review the production of Los Angeles City College's production of 'Anton's Uncles' I saw here in DC first. I can't help myself. For those of you in 'Miss Saigon,' I promise I'll get to you next week. Sorry!

Anywho, as you know I'm in DC and loving it. My wife competes in two days and so far she has been LOVING all of her workshops. It makes me happy to hear that. We (my mom, mother-in-law, and myself) had some free time tonight after some sight-seeing and I thought it would be nice to spend some time with Whit and catch the production of 'Anton's Uncles' hosted by the Kennedy Center tonight.

Now, I could just say "it was amazing" and go to bed. Because it was. Amazing. Really. Absolutely brilliant. That said, I will take a few minutes to tell you why.

[I sincerely apologize to the director/playwright/choreographer and also to the actors because I don't know anyone's names... if you stumble across this blog and you do know their names please let me know so I can praise them shamelessly.]

'Anton's Uncles' is a 'deconstruction' of Anton Chekhov's 'Uncle Vanya' which is an extremely hard thing to explain and I'd be lying to you if I told you that I completely understood it. The point is this: it was a piece of theatre unlike anything else I have ever scene before. 'Anton's Uncles' literally takes every theatrical element available and interweaves them together seamlessly. Humor, passion, music both in song and dance, costuming, lighting, set, sound, etc... This production is an excellent example of what paying attention to detail can do. All of the elements are incredibly strong.

As I am going through all the thoughts in my brain I'm realizing how hard this is to explain. 'Anton's Uncles' is very... artistic. It has very specific, usually unrealistic blocking. Not so much blocking, but choreography... Even during the moments where there is no music I would still call it choreography rather than blocking. And when there is music it becomes something so fantastic! Without warning, the lights shift into a deep, saturated, almost club-like, very stylized look, and all of the characters break out into huge energetic dancing that is such a joy to watch, and then, again without warning, everything is jerked back into the subdued "Chekhovian" type of acting.

Some moments of the production even became beautifully absurd. With the stage manager dancing with the actors, a Justin Timberlake reference, and hilarious dance numbers whose sole purpose was a set change. Even a moment when the actors pulled an audience member on stage with them... and it worked! Everything was just so tight. So tight! I can't imagine the hours that must have gone into that production. Everything was so crisp and clean and perfect.

Anton's Uncles is really one of those shows that you come out of with a whole new perspective on what theatre is and what theatre can be. I commend the actors for their incredible dedication and talent. I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time. And to the incredible lady who wrote, directed, and choreographed this piece... there really is only one word to describe you: genius.

Well done to everyone involved. I hope this isn't the end of the road for this script... if somehow you get the opportunity to see it. Do.

-Travis_

Good Always Trumps Bad

I just noticed that it has been almost a complete year since I've bothered to post anything here on this page... That's a long time sure, but considering everything that has happened in my life since then it seems like it has been much longer. I could write a big long comprehensive blog about all the things that have happened... but I won't. For two reasons. One, I don't think anyone reads this anyway. Two, if you did read it, it would bore you.

Instead I'll write about something much more interesting... now. Now is a beautiful time for me. I'm married to a beautiful woman and we're happily going on seven months. I'm part of a show again to the first time in half a year, and it's nice to be back in the game. I'm playing the part of File in 110 in the Shade, and so far so good. What makes it even better is that my wife, and my best friend are both in the show with me. I really think that it's going to be one of the best shows that I've ever been a part of. There really is so much good in my life that I almost feel bad mentioning anything remotely bad. But I will, cause we all need a little drama in our life. Just know, reader, that the good in my life, is definitely trumping the bad.

I auditioned for Crucible on Tuesday and I actually felt really good about my audition. I think I applied all the things I've learned in the past and really had a good go at things. But then I wasn't called back today. And even though I know that a. Just because I wasn't called back doesn't mean I'm not going to be in the show. And b. There are way more factors than just "how good my audition" was that go into making a casting choice. I still feel the sting of disappointment. I was really excited about this show, I mean... it's The Crucible! It's THE SHOW! It's legendary in it's amazing-ness. And it looks as though I'll be in the seats instead of on the stage. I'm trying my best to be a good person, and be excited for my friends who did get called back, but I'm still down about it. Dumb huh.

On a positive note I had the incredible opportunity to watch some of my peers audition for the show. It was so great because I got to put on the eyes of a director and see what things stand out for the good and for the bad. I had three different sections of notes. One section of things for me to remember next time I audition. One section for things that Michael did that I will emulate if ever I direct a show. And one section where I kind of... evaluated each persons performance and recorded what roles I felt they would be good for. It was so amazing that it almost makes up for not getting a callback. I hope I have more opportunities like that in the future.

As for those who do end up in the show, congrats! I can't wait to see it!