Why Chicago?

Again- I found myself wanting to write a blog post full of explanations and, almost, apologies for wanting to take the life path that I want to take. Again I remind myself, I don't need to explain myself. I need to be confident in my choices. And excited! And I am sooooooooo excited about my move to Chicago in August. So so so so excited! Here is why I am excited:

Once upon a time, I went to a summer program at Northwestern University called The National High School Institute, or more informally- Cherubs! They have several programs including film making, journalism, music, and theatre arts. Of course, I applied/auditioned for the Theatre program as well as the Musical Theatre Extension. I was accepted to both. I packed up, took my first airplane ride EVER, and arrived in Chicago. I had only been to Chicago, maybe once or twice before, but I was young and I don't really remember it too well. I was immersed in my craft for the first time EVER. The closest I had gotten to this was going to week long musical theatre camps that I wish could have lasted the whole summer. This one DID! I quickly learned just how behind the curve I was. We started talking about this guy called Stanislavsky and another guy called Chekhov. There was another dude called Meisner and many many other people who I quickly learned I should start learning about. Everyone else seemed to know the significance of these people except for me. I was self conscious, but I soaked it up like a sponge. I knew I was worlds behind my peers, but it didn't matter because at least I was learning and exploring. I acted in a crazy, weird show and saw others performing crazy, weird shows. I made friends/contacts that maybe one day I will be able to connect with again. We saw big shows and small shows performed by professional actors. I continued into the Musical Theatre extension and began to learn that maybe I should learn to belt and be a little more alto-y than soprano-y. I was 17 (and during the summer turned 18). What I learned there opened my eyes to what would be expected of me in college and the professional world and I still use some of the tools I learned many years later. I was 17 (and during the summer turned 18). I have been trying to get back to Chicago ever since.

There was a brief time in the middle of my college experience where I thought that I might try going somewhere else to start my career. London? NYC? Maybe even San Francisco or Washington DC? But the thought of Chicago is what I kept coming back to. And when I got out of college/got engaged it became more apparent to me that Chicago was not only the right choice for me, but the right choice for US.

I feel like there is more freedom in Chicago. I will actually be able to start my own project, if I wish. The atmosphere is more collaborative and less commercial. The LOVE of ART is there versus the love of money. THAT is why I have chosen Chicago. Maybe I can travel to NYC every few months and go on an auditioning spree too, but Chicago seems like the place to make my HOME. And all I have ever wanted was a place to call home.

So now I have only a few months before the big move. I am moving with my friend from my Casper College days, Cheyanne. She just graduated from North Dakota, so the timing was right on her end. We will be moving into an apartment somewhere in Chicago land sometime at the beginning of August. I plan to continue working my job with Victoria Secret (at least to start out) and start auditioning. Heck, I might even self-produce/write/direct/stage manage something! I don't know really what will happen, but rest assured- I will make it happen! And Chicago is the place to do it.