Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Explore With Ashley Leigh Season Three, Episode One: My Take On James Ch...

This Sunday at 7 Explore The World Of Ashley Leigh

Ashley's take on James Charles. Created by Asela Lee Kemper & Lia Rose Dugal Starring: Lizzey Stephenson as Ashley Leigh Directed by: Michael Meyer & West Christy Also starring: Lia Rose Dugal Anastasia Juliet Eismann Erin Jennifer Rose Subscribe! Like! Share! Support! Check out more of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc at: www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions Find out more about writer, Asela Lee Kemper at: https://www.facebook.com/thesakuraink Follow Explore With Ashley Leigh on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram! https://www.facebook.com/ashleyleighe... https://twitter.com/AshleyL71369789 https://www.instagram.com/ashleyliexp...

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Pop Culture & Les Miserables

 

Les Misérables Female Characters & Their Pop Culture Counterparts (IMO)

Eponine




As we have described, Eponine is the classic unrequited love story that has been such a focus impressed upon our impressionable hearts for eons, from classic novels such as this one down through the ages with Hollywood media.  Love is not real if there is not the suffering, the heartbreak and longing over something unattainable, yet perhaps a way to avoid true connection and intimacy by disappearing into our own dysfunctions ending in the death of our souls needing to be reborn.

Rachel Green



Rachel Green, a beloved character from the hit 
90's TV show, Friends, is my choice for a 
pop culture equivalent of an Eponine.  Reflected in
how adored she was, her hairstyle replicated, her clothing, and the obsessive following of her storyline which was a boost to the ratings.  Fans loved to watch her love life evolve and explode, because it resonated with their own dysfunctional outlook on
love and relations.  In the beginning of the series, she
escaped on her wedding day, running from the mate who
did not truly fit her desire for who she wanted to be intimate with
as well as who she truly wanted to be.  We watched as she
pined after Ross, while not knowing that he felt the same,
their overly romanticized storyline of coupling left her
struggling with doubts, insecurities, unhappiness within the confines of
the relationship once secured.  She broke it off, not due to his lack, but
her own degree of seeking outward for validation.  Until she found within
approval and self worth, she would never find happiness and security in love without,
which as we know from the series finale, she did eventually.

Fantine


Recall the story of Fantine, her downfall after 
falling for a man who could not fulfill, who left her in despair with a young child to care for, in a time when a single woman with child was looked down upon.  Through her heartbreak was unending love and devotion for her child and she did what she could in life and in her death for Cosette.  This was not before her dark night of the soul, broken, penniless, in utter agony of soul, she cried out with longing for the hope she once believed in, finally allowing herself the peace of dying to self.  As the light of dawn approached, a new Fantine emerged.

Britney Spears



Love her or hate her, Britney was the pop star, 
bubble gum icon of the late nineties and early 2000s.  
However, in 2007, the image all came crashing down for us, but more so for her as she 
began losing control publicly and, even more,
privately.  We cannot truly understand the 
depth of the nightmare Britney was experiencing
or the true reasons why she acted the way she did,
 but we can examine these actions in light of 
the dark night of the soul of Fantine.  As Fantine's
journey into the darkness of heartbreak was stimulated
by her loss of hope and idealism, so to Britney's loss of
the idealism of youthful desires of life coupled with the
relenting media obsessions reflected that of the depth of
the Fantine storyline.  Through her suffering, the strength
 of Britney, her willingness and perseverance to endure, to 
overcome, and the joy she has found within the journey has become
increasingly apparent.  She stands now a different woman than the girl
we met, because of her falling into her dark night of the soul, she is more 
deeply loved and appreciated.

Cosette




As described previously, Cosette is the character least followed of the three yet the character with the most secure sense of self worth.  The reasons, as previously explained, was that Cosette, despite her early life struggles, never felt without a sense of
unconditional love at any phase of her life.  Even in the dire times of her early childhood, she still felt a deep connection and trust from her mother.  Upon meeting Jean Valjean, she found a real example of a dedicated father who unconditionally loved and supported her as if she was his own daughter.  This afforded her the best of relationship with a mother, despite Fantine's struggles, and a father which allowed her to have a deep abiding security within which allowed her to be comfortable with herself, never lonely, and to be able to express herself within and without.  Although we may desire to obsess over the stories of Fantine and especially Eponine, these will only perpetuate our dysfunctions.  It is Cosette we must eventually become in our journeys toward healing and wholeness.

Punky Brewster



Children of the 80's generation 
recall forever in our hearts the true
meaning of "Punky Power".  For me,
Punky Brewster, played expertly by
the beloved Soliel Moon Frye, represents the pop culture reality of Cosette.  Abandoned at a very tender age by her mother yet Punky was not afraid and through her natural born ingenuity she survived possibly reflecting that deep down 
she felt the unconditional love of her mother.  
This brought her stability, willingness
to open her heart and trust to others, and in fact she did when
she was discovered by Henry, who adopted her.  Thus, like
Cosette, she was raised by a very open, tender-hearted older man
who treated her with unconditional love and support, which 
allowed to explore and express her true self without judgment.

I must express my limitations in listing these pop culture references, in one instance I am showing my age as the majority of these are from the eighties or nineties.  Secondly, all of these women reflect a white, cis-gender heterosexual narrative which is a reflection of my personal history.  I do not want to dissuade or deny the reality of others' history and viewpoint, so please if you have a different worldview, such as POC, LGBTQA+, gender fluid or non-binary, share your thoughts below in conjunction with the topic of relating pop culture references to that of the Les Misérables characters. 




Thursday, March 25, 2021

Cosette: Home At Last

 



While doing research for this article, I discovered the sad reality that although there can be found a wide plethora of Eponine amd Fantine videos, there was scant amount for dear Cosette.  Admittedly, I have been less impressed with Cosette in my past while spending hours playing and replaying the songs of Eponine while I acting them out in my childhood basement.  Like many, I found the tragic and unrequited love of Eponine to fit in with my Hollywood and romantic novel desirable life I was spoon-fed by the media and society since before I can even recall.  Like many, at best, I pitied Cosette for her naïve belief that love was simple, outwardly scoffed at her for merely running to the man freely all while inwardly feeling the pang of jealousy towards her.  All this and my need to linger in the pain of being an Eponine led me away from examining the true story and worth of being a Cosette, so much that until this minute I did not realize that the beautiful, blonde haired, blue eyed girl that is the symbol of Les Misérables is, actually, Cosette.

\
Cosette, born Euphrasie by her destitute and abandoned mother, Fantine (See her story here: https://artistthriving.blogspot.com/2021/02/fantine-dark-night-of-soul.html),  who does everything in her power to protect, love, and secure her daughter's well-being, from losing her job at the factory, then prostitution, then selling her hair, finally dying of heartbreak and disease orphaning her Euphrasie.  Her last wish as she lays in Jean Valjean's arms is that her Euphrasie would be cared for and he promises to do just that.  It is Jean Valjean then that gives her the name of Cosette, as if to separate her from her traumatic beginning, socially as well as emotionally.  With Valjean, Cosette can truly start over and is given the life she deserves. 

Here's the essential factor with Cosette that both her mother, Fantine, despite her struggles, and Jean Valjean, do whatever they can to care for her and provided her with the security of the knowledge that she is loved and that she matters.

This truly runs opposite to the experience of that of Fantine as well as Eponine and in that knowledge dwells an internal strength and sense of hope no matter how dire the circumstance.  As a child, she dreams of her castle on the cloud and it becoming a reality, of such, only affirms her inner peace of self.  

Although he battles with his own demons both inner and outer,  Jean Valjean continues his promise to Fantine by doing what he can to give Cosette a sense of stability in all aspects of her life.  Because of this, she wants for nothing, not just on a superficial physical level, but more so in the realm of her understanding of herself and her wellbeing.  As she grows, her relationship with her dear papa is also one of confidante, she feels comfortable approaching him with her concerns and does not feel any bitterness towards him if he doesn't give a favorable answer.  She trusts him as she trusts herself, within her is an abiding sense of serenity.  She is not lonely when by herself rather she is truly happy and okay  being by herself.  Yet at the same time, she does not lose herself in others nor does she seek external validation from another for her self worth.  When she meets Marius and falls in love with him, it is from this place of inner security, not seeking for his rescue, but as a strong woman in her own right, with much to offer the relationship based on her time developing her own character.

This is how it should be and the end result in our years struggling through our Eponine and Fantine phases.  As we pass through the aching pining away of Eponine into the dark night of the soul of Fantine, we awaken to the light of the beautiful sunrise morning of Cosette, with hope in our heart that we can prevail, we can endure, our security, stability, sense of self worthiness of love firmly grasped, and in no need to seek outward for the gratification of our needs.

As I set out to create this blog, as I performed the songs of Cosette, increasingly I found her so much more enjoyable than others.  I felt a sense of lightness of being embodying me that was absent in the heaviness of the other two.  The reality is, at one point I lived with the fullness of the heaviness of Eponine, the constant longing for a love to rescue who never would or could, then the heartbreak and loss of idealism in my Fantine phase, that now at last I find myself as I deepen further into my recovery and emotional healing, the lightness of being that is Cosette.  As I shed more and more my dependency on another, as I forgive and release the toxic and those that harmed, I find strength within and peace abiding, finally home at last within and without.  Thus, I approach relationship of any variety not from a place of lack but increasingly from a place of fullness.










And now, a message from Glamour Dave #glamourdave #thedoctor #timekeys

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Out Of The Ashes


Nate & Laura & How They Met Episode Six: Out Of The Ashes Directed by Michael Meyer & West Christy Written by Lia Rose Dugal & Erin Jennifer Rose Kiyah faces a big life change, Ashley & Nate Campbell decide to move their relationship forward while Samantha & Nate Fisher cool things down, Samantha & Brent resolve their differences & plan for the future, Jessica finds closure & takes a step forward, Laura leaves her old life behind & begins anew, Nate Fisher encourages Laura. The five girls celebrate! Thank you for watching! Please subscribe, like, & share. Don't forget to ring the bell to be notified next time we post a video! Comment your thoughts below. We always reply & will subscribe back to you! For more about Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc & watch other works: www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3B... Support at: www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions Nate & Laura & How They Met on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14056282... Music from Season Two of Nate & Laura & How They Met provided by: Jen Ambrose: www.jenambrose.org https://soundcloud.com/jenambrose https://www.facebook.com/pg/JenAmbros... http://www.youtube.com/user/AmbroseJen Rowyn Lucca: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcIm... https://soundcloud.com/rowynluccamusic Delphi Ravens http://www.facebook.com/delphiravens DJ Michael J. Hearne: https://linktr.ee/DJMichaelJHearne

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Equinox 2021: A Beginning & An End

 


Who I Was, Who I Am

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

When I set out for this photo shoot earlier today, two black cro-ravens flew overhead, a symbol my ex-husband and I referred to ourselves as, 'a pair of ravens'.  It was ten years ago today that I walked down the aisle hoping for my fairy tale dream of wedded bliss only to have realized a nightmare beyond my comprehension.  As I ponder my life these last ten years, I realize the woman I have become would not be had it not been for each moment, even the moments of suffering, extreme despair, and, at times, fear for my very own safety.

So much has indeed changed for me, within and without.  The wedding dress which so easily fit ten years previous did not fit around the hip and waist area.  (Hence the need for the corset!) Oh, how time increases the gravity of our bodies!

But other more profound changes have become a reality deeper than that of the physical, ever changing as it is.   I look back and recall the girl I was on this day 2011, a fraction of a girl forced by many to remain infantile, in order to be under their sway and control.  Internally I was shaky, always looking beyond myself, seeking comfort and stability from external validation, never attaining and never comfortable within my own skin. 

How different the ten year span of time in me! Increasingly, I find myself more assured of my own worth without the fear of seemingly selfish.  As I push through the pain of removing that which holds the element of toxic, as if through birth pains pushing ever outward and away, I make room more and more for that of healthy, positive love within and without.  

As my favorite high school teacher, Fernando Nugent, so dutifully preached in me, "No Guy Is Worth It", I concur but add to that with finality, "I am worth it."

Ever increasing in strength, empowered by love of self and from others, I discover true joy and happiness, at peace at last, fulfilled in my ultimate and truest self, my potential.

So, on this day marks an ending, love spoiled by the abuse of another, his loss at last realized and my gain for the freedom I have acquired in every sense.  And, in that, a new beginning, as I truly spring into action, taking hold of my life's reins in my own power, fully alive, fully empowered. 


Roar

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar

Friday, March 19, 2021

Wanderlust Theatre Company Means To Inspire Connection

Jessica "Jae" Unker, one of the founders & producers of Wanderlust Theatre Company

Nestled in the heart of the Applegate Valley, just outside of Ruch, Oregon, the happy, little winery of LongSword rests and it is there where Southern Oregon's newest, burgeoning theatre company holds its productions.  The theatre is Wanderlust Theatre Company and was founded by Jessica "Jae" Unker, Nathan Green, and Kate Vangeloff. Still in their infancy as a production company, however, these three are no stranger to the professional theatre world, having been in and out of the realm across the country in a variety of means, from acting, marketing, to directing.  

LongSword Winery

In 2019, they launched their first production with "Neverland", an original adaptation of the classic story of Peter Pan.  Wanderlust asserts its difference in Southern Oregon from other theatres because not only is it held in the natural, rural environment but the actor and audience voyage together through the landscape, touching in a very real way the story.  Together, the actor and the audience are joined in the immediacy of the story unfolding, in a fashion that is truly up close and personal, dynamic and alive, leaving no room for complacency.  

This summer 2021 they will birth their second production with an original adaptation of "Dracula", starring Kate Vangeloff as Dracula and directed by Nathan Green and Madeline DeCourcey.  A delightfully talented, passionately committed, and ethically minded cast rounds out the story with equally passionate and dedicated crew.  Three different sets will help to birth the story as audiences travel between as the story unfolds.  Look for such rising and upcoming Southern Oregon talent as Jessica "Jae" Unker, Kate Southern, Nathan Green, Abby Brown, Amelia Rose, RuRu Painter, Raven J. Slayton, Brandon Kinsey, Andrew McGill, Tim Coatney, Tiffany Schechter, Elle Schechter, and Tasia Simon.

Amelia Rose & Michael Meyer at Dracula auditions

Wanderlust Theatre Company prides itself on being a company resting between community theatre and professional theatre, perhaps, "professional community" is an apt description.  The heart of the founders is to inspire and educate amateur actors on what it means to truly be professional, working actors while staying true to the core of creativity and art.    Thus, the artistic creation and helping to inspire connection within the community is vastly more important than notoriety and fame.  

As I sat down with Jae Unker at the Dracula auditions, she told me that what they look for in an actor are those willing to play, to give of themselves freely and with full commitment, and to come alongside the rest of the cast in a true familial ensemble.

To reflect on the idea of the thriving artist, Jae believes that to thrive is to be fully alive and to abide constantly within your art, no matter the circumstance, to be truly exploring, sharing, and helping to inspire growth and change through creativity in their community and the greater reality.

Wanderlust Theatre Company's Dracula opens June 11, 2021 and runs through July 18, 2021.  For more information on WTC, head over to: 

Wanderlust Theatre Company

https://www.facebook.com/wanderlusttheatreOR

Support Wanderlust!

The Dracula Production team, (l to r), Kate Southern, Madeline DeCourcey, Sharif Abdulrahman, Kate Vangeloff, and Nathan Green. 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Explore With Ashley Leigh! Season Three! Trailer! Are you ready?


Explore With Ashley Leigh Season Three Trailer!
This Sunday at 7 pm!
We'll be live chatting during the viewing!
See you there!
Created by Asela Lee Kemper & Lia Rose Dugal
Starring: Elisabeth Stephenson "Lizzey" as Ashley Leigh
Directed by: Michael Meyer & West Christy
Also starring:
Lia Rose Dugal
Anastasia Juliet Eismann (Annie Juliet Eismann)
Erin Jennifer Rose (Erin Rose)
Subscribe! Like! Share! Support!
Check out more of Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc at:
Find out more about writer, Asela Lee Kemper at:
Follow Explore With Ashley Leigh on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram!

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Episode Five: Like A Moth


Episode Five: Like A Moth Directed by Michael Meyer & West Christy Written by Lia Rose Dugal & Erin Jennifer Rose The four girls reconnect & catch-up, Ashley & Jessica meet, Samantha hears from an old friend, & Laura & Scott recall how they met. Thank you for watching! Please subscribe, like, & share. Don't forget to ring the bell to be notified next time we post a video! Comment your thoughts below. We always reply & will subscribe back to you! For more about Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc & watch other works: www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3BRHHFFFfYY5QvVrLFYig Support at: www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions Nate & Laura & How They Met on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14056282/?ref_=ra_gb_ln Music from Season Two of Nate & Laura & How They Met provided by: Jen Ambrose: www.jenambrose.org https://soundcloud.com/jenambrose https://www.facebook.com/pg/JenAmbroseMusic/ http://www.youtube.com/user/AmbroseJen Rowyn Lucca: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcImnoxE2WG3OHoJhQh3oPA https://soundcloud.com/rowynluccamusic Delphi Ravens http://www.facebook.com/delphiravens DJ Michael J. Hearne: https://linktr.ee/DJMichaelJHearne

Sunday, March 7, 2021

No Going Back To Normal, None To Go Back To

 


As we face the reality of shifting out of quarantine life, often is expressed the belief that finally life can revert back to normal.  However, normal, a construct of our own minds, is ever shifting based on the reality of one of the only constants in life, change.  Yes, we will re-open to full capacity, Covid-19 itself won't be as threatening, but life as we knew it pre-covid will never return and should not.  For there were aspects of that way of life, both personally and collectively, specifically that of burying and hiding from the toxic ever-present that should never be nor can be returned.  As any recovering addict can attest, returning back to the dysfunction is not necessarily safe, as it is not healthy, even though in a sense it may feel comfortable.


Just as other major life catastrophes, such as 9-11, life as we know it will never return nor be the same.  For those of us alive prior and during 9-11 can attest, the way we existed prior has never returned.  Aw, the nostalgic simplicity of the 90's, am I right?  However, the 90's in all its glory as remembered was at best naïve and in other words, lacking in the full transparency that true awareness of the underbelly of darkness of such things as terrorism were apparent but not wanted to seen.  For it is a very true aspect of human nature, that we, as a collective, shy away from that which causes pain and anguish, fear and insecurity.  However, the truth of the matter is, as I have discovered, that experiencing pain is inevitable in life and in surrendering oneself to the journey, we find the power to transform beyond our limited conceptions, become stronger, wiser, and more capable than before.

Such is the case with the pandemic of which we are experiencing and slowly emerging out of, for this last year 2020 and part of 2021, at least for now, has been one where we have witnessed great depths of pain, struggle, suffering that which we have tried to hide from, but no longer could or ever should.  During our times of forced isolation, we have had no other option but to sit with ourselves, without distraction, witnessing parts of our realities, inner and outer, that are detrimental to our health within and without.



This has caused many to revolt in ways both outwardly aggressive or passive as well as privately.  We wish to stop the pain, to run from our fears, so we use coping strategies in hopes that will ease our discomfort, which only increases the duration of our suffering, not appeases.

Social media and public life in general is ripe with a aching void of divide as none other in history, racially, culturally, politically, spiritually.  However, I would reckon to believe this division was ever present and continuously building as these differences as well as dysfunctions within and without were not recognized and healed.  

In my own circle, I have close friends on a variety of spectrum, each responding to the uncertainties of today from the framing of their own fears.  Anger, in both subtle and violent means, is most often the reactive option to these feelings, but the answer is never discovered.  I have friends that seek to find peace within the confines of political rightness, mostly on the left, trying their best to choose the right words and terminology to be accepted.  Also, I have friends more aligned to the right side of the spectrum who feel unheard, disrespected, and lash out within that place.  Friends that believe wholeheartedly that if we all got the Covid19 vaccine this whole thing would go away, perhaps it shall, perhaps it won't.  Friends that have been infected with Covid19 that feel suddenly immune, perhaps they are, perhaps they aren't.  

Personally, I am choosing not to rush back to life as we know it, choosing to allow myself to continue "quarantine life", not in fear of the virus but in a need to continue to heal my mind, heart, and soul, to be a better, more whole person.  In that regard, truly I am not fully ready to return and I am becoming aware that I am not alone in this thinking.



As my good friend, Randy, used to tell me, "We are all living the human condition the best we can."

The point is, we are living in shaky times of uncertainty.  The normal we crave is a false construct of our own making with the hope to instill some form of comfort in a world we cannot ever control.  The only solution in my view, coming years of recovery stemming back to 2006, is to go within, examine all of ourselves both positive and negative, seek healing in all variety.  This affords us the ability to slow our mind, to heal, and to overcome the dysfunction internally and socially.  

It is only in healing our own illness that we may heal without. 






Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Noah Fitterer, Nate Fisher from Nate & Laura, has a message!

Episode Four: Fire, Fire Everywhere (But Not A Match To Make)


Nate & Laura & How They Met Episode Four: Fire, Fire Everywhere (But Not A Match To Make) Directed by Michael Meyer & West Christy Written by Lia Rose Dugal & Erin Jennifer Rose Kiyah & her mom visit a lawyer, Ashley owns her shit, Nate & Samantha have a second date, Samantha & Brent face off, Nate Fisher seeks advice from Bodhi & Nate Campbell, Laura re-discovers her passion. Thank you for watching! Please subscribe,like, & share. Don't forget to ring the bell to be notified next time we post a video! Comment your thoughts below. We always reply & will subscribe back to you! For more about Cafe-Girl Productions, Inc & watch other works: www.cafegirlproductionsinc.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3B... Support at: www.patreon.com/cafegirlproductions Nate & Laura & How They Met on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14056282... Music from Season Two of Nate & Laura & How They Met provided by: Jen Ambrose: www.jenambrose.org https://soundcloud.com/jenambrose https://www.facebook.com/pg/JenAmbros... http://www.youtube.com/user/AmbroseJen Rowyn Lucca: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcIm... https://soundcloud.com/rowynluccamusic Delphi Ravens http://www.facebook.com/delphiravens DJ Michael J. Hearne: https://linktr.ee/DJMichaelJHearne