Dear theater building,

You, or rather HWJ, may want me to leave, but I won't.  Because you make for great fun.  Your couches? Genius.  Really comfy, and really not conducive to doing work.  But that's okay, because you make for great times.  Like jumping on the couches tonight.  After everyone had left... it was amazing.  We tried to get the attention of the music building monitors, but they weren't having any of it. 

So, I just wanted to say that I love you.  And your couches most of all. 


love,
hannah

Dear this evening,

This class is gonna have to get better, or there's going to be a weekly feature on here of letters I write on Wednesday nights.  There's more. 

And then there was a master doodle, I'm talking three-quarters of the page, and an experiment in how well I can write with my left hand. 

I'm going to have to find something to keep my attention in that class. 


love,
hannah

Dear Anarchy,

I was told today that if our generation does not take up anarchy, then we are truly screwed.  And, at the time I might have written it off as the sort of leftist utopian blah that can happen around here.  But this evening, I am finding anarchy quite invigorating. 

I don't know if I wrote the email in the most effective manner possible, but it has just become overwhelming. THDA students spend much of their free time together talking about how frustrated they are by the department and requirements that don't make sense. 

There might be some good that comes by THDA...

Here's hoping that it all goes well. 


love,
hannah

Dear Creon of Thebes,

I'm really sick of your ass.  Tonight, instead of talking about you, I was reduced to giggles.  Get out of my life.  This is what Myriah had to make of you. 

I'm sick of you.  Get out.  Antigone? I banish you from my life.  Three times is too many!


love,
hannah

Dear neighbors,

I apologize that I am playing the same three songs over and over.  They're not even really that good.  Except that they are that good.  They are that good.  In their own special way.

First there's Boogie Shoes which I associate with television.  Obviously for So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm also pretty sure that there's a Sports Night episode that this song is in.  I've been craving some Sorkin recently.

Then, there's September.  Somehow, I always remember that this song exists when September is almost over and it feels too late.  Caitlyn knows this all too well.  I wish that it was about October, cause then it would fit perfectly into my life.  It's one of my favorite songs ever, and it would be that much better if it was about my birthday.  (23 days until my birthday by the way.)

Finally, there's Cooler Than Me, which doesn't quite hearken back to disco the way the first two do.  This song reminds me of this summer.  Mostly Ben and Casey singing along as drove away from the show every week.  And, believe me, we all knew when the "shhh" came.

There are all so danceable! Can you tell I'd rather be dancing than working?


um, yes. 


love,
hannah

Dear Eclipsed,

You are an incredible, incredible play.  Beautifully written, built, sculpted, loved.  You are beautiful. 

Go see it if you're in the Twin Cities.  Eclipsed at Frank

If you're not in the Twin Cities, hello.  I miss you.  And wait to hear from you. 

As for Eclipsed, I don't think I'll have a huge problem writing a big old paper about you. 

It's actually Monday, so here goes the end of my Sunday. 

Ann's playing Neutral Milk Hotel on her uke everybody.  True love. 


love,
hannah

Dear Glee,

I kind of can't stand you anymore.  Like it's painful to watch.  Because, let's face it, the only reason I watch you anymore is because you're such a part of pop culture right now.  But if you weren't? I don't think I could take it.  You're offensive, but try to play it off as an in-joke, your plots are frustrating and more often than not, your characters get lost in them.  You've lost so much of the character you started out with. 

You suck.

And you make me want to throw a slushie at my computer.  If only your music wasn't so damn catchy. 

Shut that Rachel Berry girl up!


love,
hannah

Dear Lalaine

You were in Easy A! Good for you.  Granted, you were only in it for like three seconds, but you were very recognizable.  Go you Lalaine. 

And go Easy A, for making this a perfect Friday night.

Yes. 


love,
hannah

Dear Undercovers,

Your theme song sucks. 

Otherwise you aren't bad.  You are a spy show, so I'm sorta gonna like you no matter what. 

It rained all day long today.  I mean it, all day long.  And so there were worms on the ground everywhere.  And I thought of walking to the campus center from Dupre with Claire and pointing out every worm on the walk. 

So many worms!


love,
hannah

Dear friend,

Dear Inside the Actor's Studio,

You are one weird piece of television.  I was wasting some time on YouTube, and came across an interview from your show, and I was once again struck by how weird you are.  Who thought that you would make good television? Who came up with that stupid questionnaire? Why does James Lipton talk like that? Is every movie you talk about a gem to be treasured forever?


love,
hannah

Dear Alejandro,

What did you do to Gaga?

Are you the one that keeps calling her?

What did Lara teach Gaga?

There was another fire alarm this morning.  This time, thankfully, after my alarm has already gone off.  But really, it's three in like, seven or eight days now.  A crummy way to live.  Hopefully, it will pass.

Who cares about the chorus?

I don't.  I've never understood the appeal of the chorus as an actor or as an audience member.  I also don't watch a lot of Greek theater. 

I really need to finish this essay, but I just can't get into it.  I keep using the word "embody" in the hopes that I will somehow embody a student who actually understands this. 

Enough ranting, time for page three to magically appear!


love,
hannah

Dear performance,

I used to like you.  Now I am not so sure.  You see, you've shown up a lot today, and not in ways that are that enjoyable.  I'm not saying that you should hide yourself from me, but I would appreciate it if you would look for ways for us to meet that are more agreeable. 

I don't like debating with you, but some engaging will do.

Consider this my performance of procrastination and an engagement with the texts forced upon through school.  Which may or may not be a social construct.

I don't really care. 

My schedule is baffling. 


love,
hannah

Dear second fire alarm,

Not cool.  Neighbors? Just keep the door open while showering so that the steam can vent! Otherwise we will not get the chance to actually live in our rooms.  Damn. 

Also? I was so startled, again that I left my music on and dropped my pen.  My ink pen. On to my sheets.  My pink sheets.  So now there's a giant blue spot where my pen leaked onto my sheets. 

We will always remember this fire alarm. 


love,
hannah

Dear Dumbass Club,

You might just save my life this semester.  Otherwise I'm not sure how I could understand what "performative outlook" meant.  Or means, because I still don't really know.  To write vague or specific? To write about the text, a mere skeleton, or about a performance that may not actually exist? To write with any sort of serious intention, or to write quickly and without thought and see how things turn out? To care, or not to care?

No matter what happens, the Contest has been put into place, and Tuesday's phrase is, "and that will take place."  A most excellent phrase. 

I might just love the Dumbass Club, and it is happening almost as I predicted it. This may be my least favorite class, but the Dumbass Club will make it better.

Even if we have no idea what's going on. 


love,
hannah

Dear Kagin dance parties,

Sometimes you suck.  But when you don't suck, you are so so good.  And you make me sweaty.  And wish that I spoke Serbian. 


love,
hannah

Dear Maria Callas,

I've been listening to you all day in an attempt to get real work done.  It has been my hope that your dramatic voice and lack of lyrics in English will help me to focus on the thousands of words I have to read before Monday.  And the hundreds of words I have to write, more than I anticipated this weekend.  I have much more time than I did last weekend, but much more work.  For the most part Maria, you're a nice Saturday afternoon homework companion.  You make it seem less like I am sitting in my room wishing that the college would turn the heat on already.  Maria, I do hope that you are not too loud for our neighbors, because you might be called into action more often now. 

Some of the things I'm working on are even interesting, but I'm much more interested in the wine and cheeses, and Jesus camp planned for this evening.  So much better, right?

Yes, I know Maria, wine and cheeses and Jesus camp has nothing to do with school desegregation, but a girl's gotta have something to work for, right?

Exactly Maria, exactly. 


love,
hannah

Dear couple in front of me,

Tonight, at Kol Nidre services, you were sitting two rows in front of us.  You were a most adorable couple.  During the Hebrew I couldn't understand I would just watch you two.  You would whisper to each other, and lean on each other.  And then, when you fell asleep on each others shoulders during the sermon? It was so cute.  I want to be like you two someday. 


love,
hannah

Dear fire alarm,

Thank you for happening today at 7:30 in the morning.  I understand, it had to happen, when the door to our bathrooms is closed, the steam builds up and that causes the alarm to go off. 

It was crazy, mostly because I went into total auto-pilot.  I jumped up, put on my glasses, slippers, and a jacket, without even thinking about it.  Amazing! Without even thinking about it at all, I was out the door in less than a minute.  It didn't last all that long, but it was an unfortunate way to start the morning. 

It was hard to go back to sleep. 

It was unfortunate.  Oh well. 


love,
hannah

Dear next door neighbors,

I don't really appreciate your music with a really strong beat at 12:30. 


love,
hannah

Dear fellow ITS students,

We are going to survive this class.  We are.  Because I have a new plan, I would like to introduce you to "The Contest."

Click the title of this entry and start listening at about 45 minutes.  This will elaborate and entertainment. 

A new phrase every day perhaps?

Something to help me pay attention. 


love,
hannah

Dear Haribo gummi bears,

I think that we are going to spend a lot of time together this semester.  We're going to go through a lot together.  I just think that you should know that we are going to have a very intentional friendship, albeit a little one-sided.  And then there's the fact that I'm going to eat you. 

I'm surviving my excess of night classes, I just don't feel like I'll get used to them.  It makes the reading so much chunkier.  "Read this whole book for next week.  See you then!" And they go so late! Tonight Prof K was telling us about her night class experiences, and how she would always stay late.  "I'm not trying to brag about my nerdom...I'm just telling you." She makes that class worth it. 

Waiting for everything to be put into place.  I'm so close now, just waiting for my internship. 

In other really exciting news, Commencing has taken a new step forward.  I'm really looking forward to everything that experience could be. 

Please please happen. 


love,
hannah

Dear syrup,

You are awesome.  It's really too bad that you don't taste good on your own.  Or rather, you do, but it is not socially acceptable, or wise, to sit and just eat syrup.  It would also be very messy.  I enjoy you so so much.  You make so many things taste better, and most of them taste pretty good to begin with. 

It should be known that I did not have breakfast at Sunday dinner, even though it is an option.  Just this morning, which was wonderful. 

This weekend was amazing.  And thankfully I got just enough work done to be free, but here we are at Sunday night, and there are probably other things to do.  I'll only do a little bit more before collapsing for a while. 

Good luck to those traveling. 

Here's hoping my mouse stops doing weird things.


love,
hannah

Dear slam poetry,

You blow my mind. You get cooler and cooler every time.

I maybe want to give you a try...?

We'll see.


love,
hannah

Dear Jewish New Year,

I love that you come right at the beginning of school. Really. Because just as I am trying to start over, here comes the perfect opportunity. A time to make Jewish New Year resolutions. It's perfect. Although, this year I think the goals were stated before I got to school...

I just think the timing is perfect.

The Jewish calendar aligns quite well with school.


love,
hannah

Dear Friday,

I have nothing to do for you! Really, no plans until 8 tomorrow. And lunch. I can always get started on work for the weekend or for next week. Cause really, I already gotta get started.

I'm going to miss the first week of class, cause I don't have anything to do yet, and there are weird events all the time. Ice cream today, water bottles, theater department meetings that aren't all that important. I get to spend a lot of time on the theater department couches. Talked with some interesting people...

What am I going to do with you Friday? Probably finish season 5 of Doctor Who.

In other news, the boys next door to me really like music. And I might have to speak spanish for my internship. My mom will be very happy with that. It makes me a little nervous, but I'm so (s0) ready.


love,
hannah

Dear night class,

I survived you! The time has finally come for me to take not one, but two night classes. Oy. And I was worried, especially after gaining a reputation for falling asleep in every class freshman year. And maybe sophomore year as well. However, I made it through the first class without even yawning.

The initial wave of stress from syllabi has begun, but that brings new reasons to hole punch and collate things. Which makes it all go away.

Many adventures today, my first trip on my bike in the Twin Cities, and most of an afternoon wasted on a bench and on the couches in the Theater building. I'll say, a day well spent.

And night that didn't end too bad either.

Oh, and the consensus from this evening's class? The most important film of our lifetime is Lion King. Sadly, the only line I could instantly recall from the movie was, "I killed Mufasa!" Which didn't feel like something I wanted to share with the class.


love,
hannah

Dear wall in front of my desk,

In the span of just five days, and only one day of class, I have gathered five post-it notes on you. Five. Some have easy tasks which can be done in five minutes, but others are going to require more thought. Like a new adviser. Which really just requires the guts. I have to no reason not to.

I think you are going to be home to a lot of post-it notes this year.

I am surprised by how many people I actually know.


And overwhelmed by how many new faces there are.


love,
hannah