From Concerts to Chinatown

From left to right: Me, Lauren (from Australia!), Molly, and Anders

Between pre-production for And then the Fall and miscellaneous social outings, this week has been an exciting whirlwind full of new people, places, and ways of living. 

On Wednesday night, a group of us (, including my fellow DePaul classmates Molly and Anders,) rocked out at the Tenacious D concert, most famously known for its lead vocalist Jack Black. Although the music isn't quite my style, it was a fun and exciting night that allowed me to explore West London and the concert scene here. Jack Black was hilarious as ever, and watching two "older" men rock with their guitars was perfect mid-week entertainment. The concert food section also offered a "Pick & Mix" sweets area, which I took full advantage of. While others around me were boozing on British beer and cider, my sweet-tooth-self devoured a cup of British candy, most of which I had never tried. (Fizzy strawberry gummies and vanilla fudge cubes are my top favorites.)

My Thursday and Friday consisted mostly of preparing for rehearsals next week, which involved a production meeting, mark-up (tape-out), props sourcing, and plenty of preliminary paperwork. Although the general stage management responsibilities in the UK are similar to the US, many of the theatrical terms used here are different, and the separation of responsibilities between the stage management team is also unfamiliar to me. (I'll touch upon more stage management news later.)

Today, I met up with one of my sorority sisters, Allison, to explore Chinatown due to our week-long craving for Chinese food. (Allison also happens to be studying abroad in London this semester - how convenient!) Although Chinatown is only a few blocks long, it was definitely well-worth the visit. There's a wide range of restaurants and buffets to choose from, as well as a few interesting supermarkets and shops selling varieties of identifiable hanging meat and squid - very interesting, to say the least!