Not so secret project

Last year in August, I was told about a play that was looking to cast an American woman, and that I should go check it out, so I did.
I found out that they were putting on a play that was an adaptation of Joan of Ark and that the subject was women in war and how the military has affected their life.
What I didn't realize at the time was that it was basically your own story; I didn't figure that out until I saw the script with my words and my story. Obviously, I have never been in the military but I did grow up in a military family and through my Dad the military has always played a very big role in my life. One of the things that has always been a big part of my memories of my dad is how patriotic he was and that he always was so very proud of his country.

 

The play consists of 6 women, all from completely different backgrounds and all with different stories that are all equally fascinating. Some are sad, some are tragic and some are just bad-ass. 

Now, if you know me you also know that I don't have a problem being center stage but that is usually because I am saying something funny or rude, but this is a whole other ballgame. This is personal and honest and to tell you the truth, it scares the hell out of me. I am going to be on the stage in front of 100 people trying not to pee my pants or forget my lines. 

One of the most interesting things about this whole process is that we are constantly asked to go through these exercises that make me feel so uncomfortable. I get a headache every time I am there. I participate as much as I can, but sometimes I just have to sit down and watch, which is really bizarre and interesting at the same time.
Sometimes, you get a prompt of what to do and you are supposed to just go with it and there are a few ladies who just go with it. They roll around on the floor and beat up rolls of fabric, kick a helmet across the room, lay on the floor and play dead.
I just sit there and think "How the f*** did I get here?" After a couple of days, I have come to realize that this is the creative process; this is where they get their ideas, and in the end, when everybody has gotten off the floor and taken pictures, scribbled stuff down in a hurry and are done whispering to each other, they suddenly have a story.

Since I have started to rehearse, I have learned several things:

My world just got a whole lot bigger.

I learned how to march.

There is no way you can ever look stupid in front of theater people; there are no boundaries to ridiculousness.

I can sing in front of a group of people.

A Russian, Israeli, Turkish, German, American and a Kurd can be in a room together and get along famously.

Everyone has a story that is worth telling.

The play is called Kriegerinnen which means Warriors, and will be playing for a full year starting on the 12th of June in Mannheim.

See you soon,
Julia