The Long Game

I went to a script reading tonight for my fellow solo performer, Barbara Brady. She’s an excellent writer and storyteller and is currently developing her second full length solo show. Readings are the last on-book performance before getting it memorized. And then the audience gives feedback and changes and tweaks are made to the script before finalizing it. Then the performer takes the show on the road to fringe festivals and what not, where the show gets reviewed (hopefully). And if they are good reviews – excellent! If not, then back to rewriting the script. Or sometimes the performer moves on and starts a new story. Lather, rinse, repeat.

No two stories are the same. Some take years to develop while other scripts are written quickly with a certain amount of success. For me, when it comes to writing, I play the long game. I am in no hurry to finish a script if I think important details require more research. I have dedicated 2025 to mainly research over performance. I had one show in February and will have a couple of more in June, but that’s all I have on the calendar.

Unless someone asks me to perform, and then all of a sudden, I’m available!

Acting!

A still from my last acting class.

Alright, time to decompress. Good night.

Monday, April 14, 2025:

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No Flash Photography!

I had a show tonight along with three other storytellers. I think it went well. However, one of the cardinal rules in the theatre is “no flash photography” while we are on stage, which quite frankly, really bums me out. I want people to snap all sort of pics while I’m on stage! That’s like free publicity.

Fortunately my friend and fellow performer, Irma Herrera, snapped some pics of our post-performance announcements, and by the looks of it, I was just as dramatic during our announcements as I was in my actual show.

STALK ME ONLINE! THERESADONAHOE.COM

Like seriously, what am I doing? I look like I’m dancing and while saying, “come check out my website!“

Although I am pretty good at taking pictures of cats and sunsets, I am lousy and taking pictures of people so I am grateful for Irma. She always remembers.

Mi Amiga

Alright, I’m exhausted. I will leave you with all the flash photography I took today.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025:

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Day 183 -Make The Most of It

Today I got up, went on a walk, did two loads of laundry, ordered a fitted sheet on Amazon, got a hair cut…

Yup. I got a hair cut.

I didn’t mean to get a hair cut. I hadn’t planned on it. I was checking out a used clothing store, and there it was, right next door- a hair salon….open and everything.

So I got three inches taken off. I feel so light and bouncy.

Then I was in search of some used furniture but the shops weren’t open *sigh*. I really need to get some storage cabinets for my apartment but I don’t want to spend a lot of money. And I don’t want to assemble anything (*cough cough*IKEA), but if I have to, I will for the right piece.

Later on I went on a short evening walk and as I was heading home my calendar alert reminded me that actor Geoff Hoyle was performing on Zoom tonight so I got to catch his show. He is such an amazing performer. I was inspired.

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It’s been such an adjustment adapting solo performance to the limitations of Zoom (no camera/sound crew to help) especially inside my small studio apartment. But watching Mr. Hoyle gave me hope, as he too, had to move his furniture around, as he too, was confined to one space in his house, yet made the most of it.

I must make the most of it.

Saturday, September 12, 2020:

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Day 178 – Bandwidth

Well, it’s all about perspective I guess. Today it got up to 93 degrees in Oakland, but all I could think was, “hey at least it’s not 100 degrees like it was yesterday.” It’s the little things- and turns out, 7 degrees really does make a difference.

I was grateful for the slight drop in temperature because I had my solo performance show tonight via Zoom, which meant my loud swamp cooler was turned off and all my windows were closed for 23 minutes as I gave my monologue. And then afterwards I kept the cooler off and my windows closed because I wanted to be able to hear the other performers while myself remaining unmuted. Turns out, I laugh too loud and it was sucking up bandwidth and the host muted me for the rest of the show. Oh pandemic, you slay me. I can’t wait to be able to laugh out loud in a theater again and have it be a good thing.

The show went great! Everybody took it up a notch! I am exhausted now, but not only did the evening go well, but it’s now 66 degrees outside and a cool breeze is cooling down my apartment. A perfect way to end the evening. Good night.

Monday, Labor Day, Sept 7, 2020:

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