Scrawlings

Update on my theatrical summer

2012-07-21T09:12:00.002-07:00

So far...

I have directed Dance Lessons by Josh Koenigsberg.
I have assistant directed Valley of Fear by Steve Lawson celebrating the 25th year of FREE THEATRE at Williamstown Theatre Festival.
I have just started work on assistant directing Row After Row by Jessie Dickie.
I have seen 7 productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival including pieces from the workshop at WTF.
I have seen 1 stand-up.
I have had masterclasses with David Hyde Pierce, Jessica Stone, Lewis Black, and New York Casting Directors.
I have attended multiple Shakespeare classes and will be attending my first improv class today.
I have broken down a massive Broadway caliber set in an 8 hour shift for an overnight strike.
I have experienced a crazy dance party that lasted all evening and had Bradley Cooper, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Leslie Bibb, and Justin Long in attendance.

My second production I have directed is In the Land of Giants by Gina Femia. It goes up tonight as part of an evening of site specific work.

Life is crazy here at Theatre Camp and I can't believe it is already half way over!
Hope everyone is enjoying the real world.
Kosmo

Adult Theatre Camp

2012-06-14T07:32:00.001-07:00

So this summer I will be in the Berkshires living and breathing theatre as I join the directer corps at Williamstown Theatre Festival!

Prepare yourself for some adventures at Adult Theatre Camp! Oh yes, such a place exists, I am living it, and you are all jealous.

Settling in at Willstown.
Will update soon!
Kosmo

Joined Pinterest!

2012-05-14T13:29:00.003-07:00

Check, check, check it out!

http://pinterest.com/megankosmoski/

Cardboard Boxes: Infinite Possibilities

2012-04-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my family moved at least every four years, for various reasons (running from the law). We always had cardboard boxes of various shapes and sizes lying around. My sisters and I used them for everything! We made mazes in the backyard. We put on magic shows. We built sets for whatever make-believe game we were playing.

When I hated my teacher in the fifth grade, my friends and I would pretend ours was a first release bus and hide in the copy room in the library until our bus was actually called (I was a rebel). My friends and I built a fortress out of discarded copier boxes to hide in. The first time I ever saw the principle's office shortly followed. Apparently a fort of cardboard boxes is not the best hiding place.

So when I happened upon Caine's Arcade my heart melted! Caine made an arcade in his father's auto part shop all out of cardboard boxes. It started as one basketball game and quickly grew to include a claw game, 4 star challenging soccer game, and many more! You can pay $1 for 4 plays or for $2 you can get fun pass of 500 plays for a month. He even has each game rigged with a calculator to validate your fun pass.

Amazing and inspiring.

Like him on facebook
Check out his video and website

Miniature Worlds

2012-03-02T22:10:00.001-08:00

I currently am working at skinnyskinny in Brooklyn. We have been working on expanding our plant section and one of my favorite parts of my job is making terrariums!

I can't tell you exactly how we make them or the plants we prefer to use. However, About.com has a great article on making terrariums at home: http://containergardening.about.com/od/floweringcontainergarden/ss/Terrariumht.htm

The little succulents have such character! I love creating these miniature worlds.
-Kosmo

Stenciling

2011-11-28T14:01:00.001-08:00

Tonight I am going Stenciling!!

http://www.powerhousearena.com/newsletters/111128/

Photo Wall

2011-11-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

I am home for my sister's engagement party and an early Thanksgiving with the family. These festivities take place over two weeks and I am sitting at home while my family members are at work. I am not good at sitting at home. So I craft!

Check out the photo wall I completed for my parents' house.

Most of the frames were 5x7, plain, black or multiple four pane matted frames. I needed to break up the monotony.

I want to be an artist

2011-11-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

Who needs art

I wanna be an artist when I grow up!

Gots to Give Me Props

2011-02-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

This is actually two completed projects in one post and subject heading, multitasking! Last fall a good friend and amazing stage director, Kel Haney asked me to assistant direct with her for the upcoming production Good Egg. During the rehearsal process it is clear we are in desperate need of a props design and manager. I have a costume design background and as you know, can be quite crafty, also I knew the script better than anyone. So, I stepped up to the position of props lady!

One of the characters was Matt and eccentric, unique, curious personality. My favorite part was collected and finding toys and puzzles for his area of the stage. However, I also made and designed a duct tape wallet for him.

Outside of the Wallet (dinosaur theme)

Inside of the Wallet

Matt's character circuit-bended and used a bent Speak&Spell to explain to the audience how his mind worked. I am not a circuit bender, unfortunately, even though I think I made my roommate believe I was a hoarder for the month of October, filling our apartment with broken children's electronic toys and old wiring. I got my hands on a classic speak and spell and gussied it up with wires, switches and knobs.

... If you don't know what circuit bending is, check it out! Circuit Bending = fascinating!! If it wouldn't drive me insane or make my contained chaos spill from my room into the rest of my life, I would totally adopt the art as part of my own.

I just finished props designing/properties manager for Red Fern Theatre Company's production GENTRIFUSION, which closed Feb 13th. I gathered and created props for six short plays on the gentrification of different boroughs in New York City.

Getting a baby doll to look and feel like a realistic baby, was the most challenging part of props. The answer was a good sized doll, baby hat and booties, and wrist weights secured to the doll. I was pretty proud of the end result.

My crafty side was able to come out in the most unsuspecting prop, a shoe box. In one of the plays a teenage drug dealer, Ernesto, is counting his money that he promptly hides from his father. I made a pimped out shoebox for his money. To imagine it started out as a clean Bass shoe box is quite funny. It just took scissors, duct tape, and sharpie!

Check out Red Fern Theatre Company! They are a great, community centered company that produces socially conscious plays. Highly recommended!

Keep it Crafty, internets!
--Kosmo out.

BABY!!!

2011-01-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

The reason I have been absent this past week, I am now a proud aunt!! Enjoy little baby Addison Marie Siefried.

Holiday Catchup

2011-01-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

Ok so before holidays get too far behind us, I'd love to show off my quick, easy, cheap and cute decorations. I LOVE to decorate! And to rearrange and to host... I should really be a trophy wife in the 1960s (I could just be saying that because I LOVE Madmen. Let's face it the best part would be the appearance, cute dresses- with the over apron, the rest of the life style would bore me or pissed me off. Who really wants to sit around drinking and ironing all day... On second thought, maybe I should reconsider my life choices...)

Any way I digress. Home made holiday decorations, GO!

My first idea was an snow flake chandelier. First of all, we need a bit of mood lighting for the party, also I have a lot of saved up tissue paper from old gifts and Victoria's Secret purchases. I take tissue paper and newspaper and cut different sizes and shapes of snow flakes, you know, elementary school style. Then I hang said snowflakes around my ceiling lamp to block out some of the harsh light (I really love light so I have the brightest and whitest halogen light bulbs in my apartment). I put up these chandeliers in both our entrance way and the living room.

Next we need mistletoe! We all know I love deadlines (some would call it procrastinating, SEMANTICS), so of course I don't go on the search for mistletoe until the day of the party. None to be found. Anywhere. Well with a little google image and some scrap booking paper, vwah la!

Lastly I have a small box filled with last years decorations. All are placed throughout the apartment, radiating holiday joy. The last touch is the string of lights we saved to put around the tree. Well, sorry to say but the season swept by so quickly we never acquired a tree. I finally decide the right place, hang and then plug in.... Only to find the lights have lost their will to live over the past year, one bulb must have given in to the ghost of christmas yet to come and taken then whole string's spirit with it!

Well, if you can't have a tree, and you can't have lights, have both! I was determined to make my own! With presents under it and everything!

A friend of mine at the party recommended to do the same thing next year (with a string that worked) plug in the lights and put green tissue paper around the lights to make it look even more like a tree! Too cute!!

Well, happy holidays all!
Kosmo here reminding everyone to keep Christmas with you, all through the year!

An Attack Plan for the New Year

2011-01-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

It has been quite some time since I have posted and I have so much to catch you all up on! One of my resolutions this year is to make sure that I post at least once a week, so please check back often. I have many projects up in the air at the moment and many I have completed, each will get their own post (I don't want to overwhelm anyone with just one GIANT post).

This post will simply be a welcome back to blogging and a welcome to the new year. I thought I would share my resolutions with all of you (the more people who I tell the more likely I am to keep them- puts the pressure on).

2011 New Year Resolutions:
(1) Blog at least once a week
(2) Make more of an effort with how I present myself; wear makeup, contacts, and complimenting clothes more often
(3) Do more things that make me happy, and only because it makes me happy; crafting, adventuring, etc
(4) Learn that it is ok to be selfish; go for what I want and take more me time

We will see how I do!
I hope everyone had a safe and joyous holiday! Let's attack this new year together!!

Kosmo out

Cafe Art

2010-06-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Internets,

So as many of you know I do not live off crafts alone; I am forced to work a survival job as well.

Survival Job (n) [ser-vahy-vuh-l job] a post of employment that a person has in order to survive or endure: She works her survival job to pay for rent and utilities so she can live like a real person.

My survival job is at a cafe serving as a barista, I know working for the man!

However, just because I need to dedicate my time to getting money I do not dismiss my inner crafter. The most obvious art created at a coffee shop is Latte Art! I love latte art! Latte art are designs and pictures made by the silky foam of the steamedmilk when skillfully poured into espresso. Lately I have become quite skilled at my heart-u-ccino (like cappuccino, heh) and can even do a heart within a heart! And my latte rosettas are also something to be admired!
The heart-u-ccino can be accomplished by pouring the milk (1/2 foam) from the side of the pitcher first slowly and when the cup is about 3/5 of the way full, pouring faster and then lifting the pitcher to the opposite end of the cup. The heart within a heart can be accomplished by first plopping a dallop before beginning to pour. The rosettais all in the wrist. Begin with silky milk a VERY small amount of foam, pour from the spout into thecenter of the espresso slowly at first gradually getting faster. About half way full start rocking your wrist back and forth until a ribbon forms then bring it closer to you. Once the cup is almost completely full pull the pitcher quickly across to the opposite end of the cup and you have a rosetta!!

My manager has become privy to my crafting skills so when we have promotions or deals she has started asking me to create signs for the shop. (Iwould have photos but my phone was lost last week and all pictures went with it!) Lastly we opened a brand new store last Friday!! Super exciting! The new Gregory's Coffee in NYC is on 39th Street and 7th Ave right behind the giant button in the fashion district! So my manager asked me to make the congrats card for Greg! Here it is:

The front with a layered opening.

And the inside with Greg jumping out of espresso beans!

Being crafty always comes in handy and makes everyday life so much more exciting!
Keep it crafty ;)
~Kosmo

PS I have some really exciting news but I will save it for when everything is definite!

Virtual Crafts!

2010-06-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

So my dad is traveling a lot this summer to attend workshops and take classes at various science institutes and universities. He recently joined Facebook to keep up with family and now that he has almost begun his travels he has been journaling on the site. I made my dad a full out blog on blogger to keep everyone up to date on his journey.

I also set up a photobucket account so he can text all the photos he takes on his phone to the internet and have them automatically sent to his blog slideshow. Here is the link to my dad's new blog! I hope you take note of the craftsmanship of his shiny new online journal and I hope you enjoy his witty telling of his soon to be journey around this nation.

http://skosmoskijr.blogspot.com/

All the Best

~Kosmo

CGrif Invites

2010-06-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry it took so long to post this! Well here are the final invites!

And here is their final website: http://www.weddingwire.com/CaitlinandAndrewGriffin

Also if you have not RSVPed please do!

Please come check back on Saturday, I will be updating more often!

Keep it Crafty!

~Kosmo

Wedding Invites!

2010-05-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

I got another freelance wedding invite gig!! A friend of mine, Caitlin Smith, is getting married on August 5th and a few months ago I got hired by her to do her wedding invitations. Her wedding inspirations were Monet's Water Lilies, a quote from the Turtle and the Pheonix, and birds for their cake topper.

I played around with stamps and water colors and came up with these three samples:

I am in the process of creating the final invites; I already have 5 completely done, 25 just need writing, and 30 need to be started. I think I should have them done by the beginning of next week. I won't post the final image until they are sent out (to not ruin the surprise for the guests).

All the of the stamps are embossed (and feel really frickin cool, if I do say so myself), each invite is completely hand made and cut from watercolor tablet paper.

I hope you enjoy,

Kosmo

Sketchy McSketcherson

2010-03-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been sketching again! It has been beautiful out so I have been able to go to the park and be inspired by the world around me. Also at work I get a lot of down time while the show is going on, so I have been able to sketch there as well.

These sketches at the moment are not leading up to anything, just a nice hobby. Who knows, if I really enjoy one it might fuel another project or evolve into something more.

Here are some of the sketches:

This one was originally going to be someone on the verge of speaking. I started to sketch a person's lips but it was conveying something totally different to me with each line I drew. Eventually it became this scene of water crashing against rocks. Can you spot the bird trying to get to her nest?At my subway transfer station there was a little boy hiding from his mother behind a trashcan. To him it was like playing a game, he wanted his mother's attention so badly but as the game went on and she did not participate he gave up and resigned to just sitting there alone behind the trashcan. In this drawing I wanted to convey that innocence and playfulness with a touch of loneliness.

Lastly, my Times Square. At work I was trying to think of something to sketch and a co-worker suggested Times Square. I had actually drawn a sketch of Times Square about a week prior and had hated it. Then she said well fine draw a tree! I love drawing trees!! Well then draw a natural Times Square... whatever that means. So I sat in the theatre and drew this.

Now where you come in: If you have an ideas for sketches or for inspiration for a sketch please send them to me! I love assignments!

Hope you enjoyed my drawings! I have couple other projects that I will update you on next week once I make a little progress on them.

Enjoy the nice weather!

Kosmo out.

Theatre projects!

2010-03-03T20:48:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to write this for quiet sometime! I am currently working on three theatre projects all of which are very exciting and very different from each other.

The Grunt Work

Since January I have been interning with Ensemble Studio Theatre working as the assistant to the season producer, Annie Trizna. I have been learning how the administrative end of a theatre runs and making lots of connections. Of course it is not all producing, I get to take out the trash, make copies, and run lots of errands but I am learning a lot.

It is a part time internship so I don't get paid but I do get a three hour class once a week in return for my services. Our class is based around the needs of the interns. Some weeks it will be a master class with a member of the company, while other weeks we will have a lecture on managing an Off-Broadway theatre. It all depends on what we want more of and want to learn more about. Also, as an intern class we are developing our own theatre piece. Each intern has a hand in writing, directing, producing, and performing in the piece. At the end of our internship we will present it as a showcase for the company and friends.

Trying Something New

A close friend of mine, Jessica Pearson, a director residing in DC and founder of the Hobo Jungle Theatre Company, has written a play that is going to premier at this summer's Capitol Fringe Festival in Washington DC. She was looking for artists to get involved in anyway possible. So I tossed my hat into the ring! I am going to be her head of marketing!! Marketing is something I have not done before but would love to try it out. My sister has offered to give me pointers being an experienced PR agent. And since I work close to the head of Marketing at EST, he has also offered guidance on my endeavor. I am planning on really diving into this project later in the month.

Directing... as I tend to do!

A couple artists who work at the Henry Miller Theatre with me have been itching to do some work. I asked around and found a great script written by a good friend of mine Steven Spotswood. The play is called Fire Burn and follows three spirits who are closely connected to the fabric of time. These characters are first presented as the three weird sisters from Macbeth. It is a interesting and fun script, SO much to play with! We are going to try to present a reading of it before the end of March. If not we will then try to present it at some point over the summer.

Still more

I have been interviewing, auditioning, and applying for a whole mess of things for the summer and next year. Everything is kind of up in the air at the moment but I will keep everyone informed as I go.

All the Best,

Kosmo

Wedding Crafts

2010-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

Long time no post! Well, I have a lot to catch you up on however this post is JUST for wedding crafts.

My sister is getting married on Feb 27th!! SQUEEEE!!! Crazy right?! I finished the invitations, they have been sent out and received! The final invites look like this:
All RSVPs are being done online so I also designed and created the website for her wedding. She wrote all of the personal information and filled in the info I was not sure on. But the rest was me (especially the madmen-esque portraits of the wedding party).

Click here to see my handy work.

Kosmo out

Usher Crafts

2009-12-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I had a new craft post. Even with my crazy schedule lately I have still made plenty of time for crafts! Actually, my ushering job really helps in that department. See, every Broadway house has their playbills delivered to them in bundles and each bundle is held together by twine. At our theater we put out about 45-50 bundles a show, with 8 shows a week the discarded twine builds up. The average person would feel fine about throwing all this twine away but I am a hoarder and also hate throwing away anything that could be used in a craft project of some sort.

As this twine is building up, some of the ushers made bracelets, anklets, and bookmarks to pass the time during the show. I grew tired making simple braids and knots and was curious as to what I could create with the twine. On Halloween all the ushers at Henry Miller's were sad by the lack of decorations. So I dedicated a show to making a halloween spider web and spider to decorate the usher closet. It actually turned out rather well!
After the success with the web I was motivated to create more with the theatre twine. I knotted lots of twine together and started to crochet! I have never really crocheted anything other than a simple chain for a knitting project before. Once I connected the crochet chain instead of doubling back I found how to easily crochet in the round. I created my first hat!... the only issue was I didn't think of how the chain will not stretch and the hat is REALLY small. (That's my usher friend Candice in the picture by the by)

I am now in the middle of creating roses for all the ushers. I have knitted 8 usher roses I only need 7 more (If I include my HM and AHM). I am going to dye them red and give them out at our holiday gift exchange on December 19th.

Keepin' crafty!
Kosmo

The Show

2009-11-21T06:25:00.000-08:00

Fallen Angels went up again last week. It was really amazing to have another chance to put it up. We didn't have as many rehearsals this time but the ones we had were so much more productive. I think that I was in a better place this go around. Only having two and a half weeks plus having to wrangle up an audience to meet my minimum was very stressful. For the first performance I felt like I had to rush to put on something that looked complete, so the emphasis was on blocking that worked and could be remembered by my actors without fear of train wreck. The first time around we barely had time to discuss, I hated that I was telling them to do things instead of asking questions and arriving at something together. I enjoy collaboration and without it I feel like I am doing a disservice to the scene, my actors, and my self.

Leading up to the November 18th performance we had time to delve into the script. On troubled areas I got to ask questions and the actors were able to dig into their characters and the situation. We also had more time to just have fun and enjoy the scene. Half of one rehearsal I had Anna and Melissa just play actor games. Noel Coward made this play fun; it's silly and fast paced and completely melodramatic! We all knew that but we had to really experience and remember that it's ok to go on stage and just have fun with it! And my ladies did! They just went with it and the scene became something new and exciting. It was a true performance, completely ready for an audience.

You have one last chance to see it! Our last encore production is Dec 2nd and 3rd, once again at the producer's club at 10pm. You can purchase tickets online (since we are a special guest scene we are not listed on the purchasing website so just click any other scene for that evening) click here and scroll down to the correct night!

Megan Kosmoski, Professional Theater Director

2009-11-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

Last week I made my Off-Off Broadway debut with Noel Coward's Fallen Angels at the Producer's Club in Midtown Manhattan. It went so well! Thank you, everyone who could come out and see it! Actually we were asked to come back for their Festival Favorites of the season. Due to a conflict we can only perform one of the nights, so if you missed it we will have another performance Weds November 18th! Also we have been asked to perform again in December, however, I haven't had a chance to discuss it with my cast so who knows. Tickets are up on TheaterVision's website here.

My last week has been networking central. I feel like mostly all I do is exchange business cards, send out resumes, and go out for drinks. Last Friday I spent my morning with Clubbed Thumb Theater Company sending out mailers. I think I am loosely considered an intern for them now. For the past month I have been sending out resumes and letters of interest for spring and summer jobs/internships/productions and the due dates are all finally approaching, which means I should hopefully be contacted soon.

Speaking of being a professional please check out my professional website all about me being a director: http://megankosmo.webs.com/

~Kosmo out

Directing, Modeling, and Shmoozing!

2009-10-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Directing Angels
I am directing a scene for the Coward's Morality Evening Festival with TheaterVision- Playtime. My roommate found the ad on Backstage.com and I sent in my resume and proposal; in a weeks time I was contacted to arrange a series of interviews. Following the interviews with a stipulation of audience requirement, I was offered the job. I choose the scene, I choose the actors, I am responsible for rehearsals, and personal marketing, a lot to do but I am up for the challenge. The tagline states: An Evening of Noel Coward’s Smart, Sophistication and Convention Defying Morality. The two women in my scene are torn between their better and worse selves. These two parts of them are divided by content love for their husbands and passionate lust for a foreign lover. The scene is smart, quick witted, and driven by sex, manipulation, and desire. Never a dull moment! I would love for everyone to come check it out... I do have that audience requirement!

Click here to purchase tickets! The tickets are $20 but you get a full evening: four scenes, four stand up comedians, and $3 beer and wine! At The Producer's Club in midtown Manhattan Oct 28& 29 10pm.

A Model Citizen
I have been applying for some modeling jobs since I moved to NYC. I modeled over the summer for some local photographers and built a portfolio, so I thought why not! I applied for a Sears Print ad two weeks ago and was called this morning for a phone interview. The company organizing it fully submitted my portfolio for consideration for the shoot and asked me if I wanted to join their website to get information on regional GoSees! It's kind of cool. I am going to wait to see if I hear anything back before joining... Scams happen often but here is to hoping!

The Shmooze fest that is my life!
So last week was the opening of Bye Bye Birdie (we don't need to discuss reviews here). Along with the rest of Front of House, I was invited to the Opening night Party!! It was the sweetest party I have ever attended. The party took place at the Hard Rock in Times Square and we had the entire downstairs: six rooms, a plethora of bars, tons of food all catering to celebrities and Broadway socialites! I partied with the cast of The Understudy, Sal from MadMen, and everyone from the show! It was a lot of fun. The ushers all bonded as did the HMs! We had a FOH dance party. Finally, to end the night, myself and two other ushers had a conversation with Bill Irwin who promised to come and hang out with us before the show sometimes.

And now...
I am currently spending my time looking up internships and fellowships for the spring, summer, and next year. If I truly want to direct I need to meet directors, once I meet directors I need to get them to give me AD jobs, then I can convince theaters to actually let me direct a full show on my own. Also I need to train with more places before I start to look at grad schools.

Life is crazy and fast-paced. I am just trying to keep up!
Kosmo out!

Directing!

2009-10-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

So I am an employed NY director! I am going to be directing in a Noel Coward series called "Coward's Morality" with Theater Vision. I just found out and will post more details later but for now check it out I am official:

http://theatervision-playtime.com/shows.php

Look at Weds Oct 28!!

2009-09-29T13:59:00.001-07:00

So I have spent my day knitting, cooking, looking up jobs, hanging with the ladies. I am about to get ready to leave for work. But I have a few things on my mind. Things I want to do. I figure I'll put them out there, into the world, work towards them and one day complete them (some sooner than others).

I want to...

Travel more-- Internationally, country wide, as many places as possible
Pick up cello again, I miss it
Learn German
Do theatre in Germany
Take art classes
Attend the Edinburgh Fringe Fest in Scotland
Live in Chicago for a bit
Go to Grad School
Live in Italy and REALLY learn Italian
Work with children again
Be a founding member of a theatre company
Direct!

That's all for now.