To say the weeks following Hurricane Sandy have been an adjustment is a vast understatement. One feels guilty for having lost nothing & rejoining "normal" society at the NY pace. Today concluded with the most beautiful gift from the heart of a couple of a-ma-zing human beings!
Since my last post when I was at my wits end, I almost immediately encountered the most gracious and grateful couple who began my restoration in the belief of good in people of New York City. Slowly but surely I've come across more good than bad, so once again I believe that not everyone is evil.
As many of you may know, I put out the word regarding one of my friends who had lost everything. Now, I know there are big hearts in Texas (and elsewhere) who love to show love, so I sent a dreaded email blast. It was not self-promoting and had no information in regards to upcoming shows/films I'm working on, so I did not mind sending it to... everyone I knew! The response overwhelms & I know there are people giving that I don't even know about and probably never will! But tonight, I returned home from an impromptu solo trip to the theatre (for free) and found a handwritten note from my two favorite Phillies. I was overcome with gratitude & humility and fell to my knees in tears. Its such a clear picture of love and I feel so blessed to be witness to what we're capable of in terms of selflessness! Thank you Zoe & Chance!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
PERSPECTIVE!!!
This is a rant, but I truly cannot contain my heartache right now!
I've promised a post regarding my adventures during the week of Hurricane Sandy, and it will come, but first I must address the way people have been behaving post-Sandy.
NYC can be an extremely generous and forgiving and intimate place, but selfishness dominates this City! Stories absolutely exist of people raising support for those who've lost everything, people have taken car loads of supplies to the needy, spent their weekends traveling out to Rockaway, Staten Island & NJ to lend a hand and a smile.
I AM TRAPPED in Manhattan with the miserable, selfish, ungrateful, self-pitying rich who do not care beyond their trivial needs! The details that have spawned this rant are not as important as the powerless I feel to change it! Tomorrow I will return to work & most likely be screamed at for a very simple and (in global perspective) small miscommunication. What will I do? Apologize (which will go unheard), grovel (because i work in customer service) & wonder how long I can remain polite and civil without rolling my eyes and walking away.
People that I know lost absolutely everything two weeks ago! Some people lost their lives or loved ones. Our City is still not completely repaired! Can we please remember that?!?
I've promised a post regarding my adventures during the week of Hurricane Sandy, and it will come, but first I must address the way people have been behaving post-Sandy.
NYC can be an extremely generous and forgiving and intimate place, but selfishness dominates this City! Stories absolutely exist of people raising support for those who've lost everything, people have taken car loads of supplies to the needy, spent their weekends traveling out to Rockaway, Staten Island & NJ to lend a hand and a smile.
I AM TRAPPED in Manhattan with the miserable, selfish, ungrateful, self-pitying rich who do not care beyond their trivial needs! The details that have spawned this rant are not as important as the powerless I feel to change it! Tomorrow I will return to work & most likely be screamed at for a very simple and (in global perspective) small miscommunication. What will I do? Apologize (which will go unheard), grovel (because i work in customer service) & wonder how long I can remain polite and civil without rolling my eyes and walking away.
People that I know lost absolutely everything two weeks ago! Some people lost their lives or loved ones. Our City is still not completely repaired! Can we please remember that?!?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
9/11 Memorial
So we're fast approaching the 11th anniversary of September 11th and it falls on a Tuesday, again. The memorial to the fallen victims opened last year on the 10th anniversary. The site is only 10 blocks from where I work and yet I continually postponed visiting the site. My mom & sister recently visited from Texas and we decided we'd go out.
The day's weather threatened rain with thick humidity and a few light sprinkles dropped on us as we entered. The entrance lies among a construction site of the new building going up around the area. It will be another several years before the area is clear of construction equipment. Much like the airport, metal detectors and watchful eyes guide you through like cattle. More foreigners than American crammed through the passageways and slowly shuffle through the covered chain link fence that lead to the memorial.
Once inside the memorial, there is a stillness that sets in. Beautifully landscaped, the area allows the space & privacy to experience whatever feelings and emotions you encounter. Each "footprint" of the two towers are lined with the names of the victims from that day. I cannot describe what I felt walking around each pool, but one thing that did stir in me was my identity as a New Yorker. I've no idea what that even means or what qualifies a statement like that, but it almost seemed like the laps around those two "footprints" allowed my love for this City deeper roots.
This tragedy happened one month after I'd visited NYC for the first time as a graduation gift with my mom. I stood at the top of one of the towers in August of 2001 and watched them fall on TV a month later. Everyone should try to get up to visit this memorial. 9/11 affected the whole country, no matter where you physically were when it happened. It's a touching reminder of our vulnerability but also our spirit of unity.
The day's weather threatened rain with thick humidity and a few light sprinkles dropped on us as we entered. The entrance lies among a construction site of the new building going up around the area. It will be another several years before the area is clear of construction equipment. Much like the airport, metal detectors and watchful eyes guide you through like cattle. More foreigners than American crammed through the passageways and slowly shuffle through the covered chain link fence that lead to the memorial.
Once inside the memorial, there is a stillness that sets in. Beautifully landscaped, the area allows the space & privacy to experience whatever feelings and emotions you encounter. Each "footprint" of the two towers are lined with the names of the victims from that day. I cannot describe what I felt walking around each pool, but one thing that did stir in me was my identity as a New Yorker. I've no idea what that even means or what qualifies a statement like that, but it almost seemed like the laps around those two "footprints" allowed my love for this City deeper roots.
This tragedy happened one month after I'd visited NYC for the first time as a graduation gift with my mom. I stood at the top of one of the towers in August of 2001 and watched them fall on TV a month later. Everyone should try to get up to visit this memorial. 9/11 affected the whole country, no matter where you physically were when it happened. It's a touching reminder of our vulnerability but also our spirit of unity.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
UNCLE VANYA
"Which is better?" I am asked. "Absolutely incomparable. Totally different and each one wonderful." I reply.
Sydney Theatre Company & SoHo Rep. staged Chekov's "Uncle Vanya" (you can Wikipedia the play here). It was a Cate Blanchett sandwich with Michael Shannon in the middle. With each performance I found myself so much closer to this story, literally. First performance was at NY City Center in the last row of the Orchestra right next to the sound booth. Second show in an incredibly intimate space seating maybe 60 people and the audience sat around the performers. The final performance, I returned to NY City Center in the 2nd row, Center Orchestra.
I knew nothing of the play going in to show #1, which is such a fun way to see a performance. You get so caught up in the story with the actors. It's tragic, but they do it so hilariously. You laugh and then realize what you're laughing at and begin to tear up. Ben Brantley's review in the Times puts it pretty well...
"Are these bleak portraits of hope-starved lives meant to be farce or tragedy? Mr. Ascher’s version says, as persuasively and organically as any production I know, that the answer is both. Life is a tragedy because it’s so farcical. And like many of the characters onstage you may find yourself making noises that could mean you are laughing or crying. And you realize just how fine a line there is between the responses."
There is a reason that man is the top theatre critic and I am not... eloquence.
Anyway, the second show was an adaptation by Annie Baker starring Michael Shannon as the doctor. I heard the words of this play so much more clearly. Not that the Sydney Company was difficult to hear or understand, but the stillness and pace of this show crystallized the text so beautifully. At the time, I remember a few key discrepancies in the adaptations with the dialogue that changed a few moments. I'd love to read each play side-by-side to compare the two.
The final performance from second row center orchestra felt like flying. My friend described the feeling after as though we'd had a massage. I LOVE sitting as close as possible and getting to watch the actor's eyes. I read a review saying, "(this show) is like watching 6 prize fighters duke it out on stage". So true! Absolutely stellar performances from every single person that stepped on that stage. Of course, Cate Blanchett was luminous and hard to look away from except that each character was so watchable, you're drawn to them as well. I'm still high from the show, so I have no words of criticism at this moment. If I come up with something, I probably won't add it. This was written in pure bliss!
Sydney Theatre Company & SoHo Rep. staged Chekov's "Uncle Vanya" (you can Wikipedia the play here). It was a Cate Blanchett sandwich with Michael Shannon in the middle. With each performance I found myself so much closer to this story, literally. First performance was at NY City Center in the last row of the Orchestra right next to the sound booth. Second show in an incredibly intimate space seating maybe 60 people and the audience sat around the performers. The final performance, I returned to NY City Center in the 2nd row, Center Orchestra.
I knew nothing of the play going in to show #1, which is such a fun way to see a performance. You get so caught up in the story with the actors. It's tragic, but they do it so hilariously. You laugh and then realize what you're laughing at and begin to tear up. Ben Brantley's review in the Times puts it pretty well...
"Are these bleak portraits of hope-starved lives meant to be farce or tragedy? Mr. Ascher’s version says, as persuasively and organically as any production I know, that the answer is both. Life is a tragedy because it’s so farcical. And like many of the characters onstage you may find yourself making noises that could mean you are laughing or crying. And you realize just how fine a line there is between the responses."
There is a reason that man is the top theatre critic and I am not... eloquence.
Anyway, the second show was an adaptation by Annie Baker starring Michael Shannon as the doctor. I heard the words of this play so much more clearly. Not that the Sydney Company was difficult to hear or understand, but the stillness and pace of this show crystallized the text so beautifully. At the time, I remember a few key discrepancies in the adaptations with the dialogue that changed a few moments. I'd love to read each play side-by-side to compare the two.
The final performance from second row center orchestra felt like flying. My friend described the feeling after as though we'd had a massage. I LOVE sitting as close as possible and getting to watch the actor's eyes. I read a review saying, "(this show) is like watching 6 prize fighters duke it out on stage". So true! Absolutely stellar performances from every single person that stepped on that stage. Of course, Cate Blanchett was luminous and hard to look away from except that each character was so watchable, you're drawn to them as well. I'm still high from the show, so I have no words of criticism at this moment. If I come up with something, I probably won't add it. This was written in pure bliss!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
End of the Rainbow
Tracey Bennett... there are not enough adjectives to describe this performance. The Judy Garland I know is Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". And the writer's were counting on that being the case with most people because they save "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as the closing song.
I was flooded with memories of watching that movie as a young girl at my Grandmother's house and before I knew it, tears poured and I didn't care to wipe them away. Throughout the duration of the iconic song, my mind was flooded with sweet memories that spilled down my cheeks.
The slow moving show had little action with decent supporting characters, but she could've been on stage alone and I'd have stayed the full 2 1/2 hours! Not to say anything against the rest of the cast, because a leading lady stands taller by those who lift her up, but it was her show!
I'm so so grateful that whenever I'm feeling low, uninspired, defeated... I can grab a $30 ticket to another world that brings me back to what I love! Cheesy? Yes, but go see some theatre and you'll know what I'm talking about!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Shakespeare vs. Shakespeare
This past weekend afforded me a rare, but wonderful, opportunity of viewing Shakespeare back-to-back but in extremely contrasting performances. Saturday night: Sleep No More --an adaptation of Macbeth. Sunday night: As You Like It in Central Park.
Could not be more different.
Sleep No More is held at the McKittrick Hotel, whose entrance blends the feel of Universal Studios Tower of Terror with Disney Worlds Haunted Mansion. It's eerie and sets the tone immediately. I won't go into detail of the experience b/c its truly unique and will never be repeated because of the nature of the piece, which is both exciting and frustrating. The players are in motion moving between the 4-5 floors (I'm truly not sure how many stories this things covered), thru smoke-filled rooms staged as woods, graveyards, apothecary, bedroom, banquet hall. You can follow one actor, move throughout the space freely catching different scenes sporadically, all the while wearing masks! Very strange but wonderful. My main complaint is that due to the nature of the piece and that upon each viewing the experience changes, one would want to attend multiple times HOWEVER the price has soared to $95 per ticket! No discount opportunity exists, so multiple viewings is out of the question. Very upsetting!
As You Like It in Central Park's Delacorte Theatre is, of course, FREE!!! Tickets randomly bestowed upon a friend by a stranger on the street (I heart NY) allowed me a second chance to see this play in one week! Sitting on the opposite side of the theatre from my first experience, I caught different expressions from the actors, who have settled into their characters and are just flying! Its such a magical, beautiful way to enjoy the genius of Shakespeare! To play that stage would be pure joy (even if its one of the tragedies)!
Summer & Shakespeare go together like peas & carrots!
Could not be more different.
Sleep No More is held at the McKittrick Hotel, whose entrance blends the feel of Universal Studios Tower of Terror with Disney Worlds Haunted Mansion. It's eerie and sets the tone immediately. I won't go into detail of the experience b/c its truly unique and will never be repeated because of the nature of the piece, which is both exciting and frustrating. The players are in motion moving between the 4-5 floors (I'm truly not sure how many stories this things covered), thru smoke-filled rooms staged as woods, graveyards, apothecary, bedroom, banquet hall. You can follow one actor, move throughout the space freely catching different scenes sporadically, all the while wearing masks! Very strange but wonderful. My main complaint is that due to the nature of the piece and that upon each viewing the experience changes, one would want to attend multiple times HOWEVER the price has soared to $95 per ticket! No discount opportunity exists, so multiple viewings is out of the question. Very upsetting!
As You Like It in Central Park's Delacorte Theatre is, of course, FREE!!! Tickets randomly bestowed upon a friend by a stranger on the street (I heart NY) allowed me a second chance to see this play in one week! Sitting on the opposite side of the theatre from my first experience, I caught different expressions from the actors, who have settled into their characters and are just flying! Its such a magical, beautiful way to enjoy the genius of Shakespeare! To play that stage would be pure joy (even if its one of the tragedies)!
Summer & Shakespeare go together like peas & carrots!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Clyborne Park
Free of the weight of celebrity attachment, no previous film version to spoon feed the audience, no high flying gimmicks or flashy effects-- just extraordinary characters that are strangely relatable.
Frank Wood & Christina Kirk set the tone from the top! Trust the playwright, follow the actors and enjoy the show! Brendan Griffin makes his entrance as the well-intentioned pastor and keeps pace, while adding his own touch to the scene in progress. Crystal Dickinson & Damon Gupton softly serve the progression of the story, and they truly have their moments in the second act. Annie Parisse & Jeremy Shamos create such distint pregnant (pun intended) moments in both acts!
Having no preconcieved notions on this play, I stumbled into an evening where I could not wait to hear what the next line would be. After a day of work followed by a callback audition, it was the perfect way to complete my day! Cannot wait to read this one when it's available!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Yep, it took this long!
Our road trip was over in less than 4 days, but apparently it takes me much longer than that to chronicle our wonderful adventure! I wanted to include appropriate photos, but all the pictures can be found here. Soon to be posted will be an edited version of our video blog for the trip! I bet you just can't wait for that!
These posts were written from the road...
These posts were written from the road...
DAY 1: TEXAS to SOUTH CAROLINA
After the ridiculousness of finally getting the rental car we needed, filling it with the last of my belongings in Texas & painfully having to leave behind a rocking chair that just wouldn’t fit, we departed this morning on a projected 18 hour trip from Arlington, TX to Charleston, SC.
As I mentioned before, 8:00 a.m. faded to 8:45 a.m. and even that I’m not entirely sure if we were on the road at that point! I had to keep reminding myself we were heading East. I nearly went West out of habit b/c EVERYTHING I’ve ever driven to has been to the West. Plus, I’m a little directionally challenged. My iphone covers for me most of the time, especially in NY, but my family will attest to my track record with getting lost!
Just outside of Grand Prairie (i.e. 30 minutes into the trip) it begins to sprinkle, which turns into a legitimate rain then downpour. This continues for the next 3 hours! Such a pleasant, relaxing way to begin the trip! Hard to enjoy the piney woods of East Texas when the windshield wipers are flailing with aggression and I can still barely see 20 feet in front of me! If you drive a silver, gray, white car, TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS IN THE RAIN!!! The car is packed to the top so all I’ve got are side mirrors and a million blind spots!
We do manage to out run the rain and a potential tornado (hey, we were under a watch for most of the day—unbeknownst to us) and make it across to Shreveport. Oh, we also tried to stop at a winery and pick up some local wine, but like all good, small Southern towns, they’re closed on a Sunday. In an attempt to honor the state we’ve just entered, we stop for lunch at Popeyes. Almost immediately regretting this decision, we stick with it. Slow would be generous in describing the service and it could’ve been longer had my brothers decided to wait for the mild chicken wings they ordered cause the spicy ones were finished first. Big theme down here: SPICE. Spicy chicken, spicy sauce, spicy personalities.
I mention the time it took cause the rain caught us! Ugh! Luckily, I’m a stellar getaway driver and by the time we were half way thru the state, we were ahead of the storm again! Lots of casinos in LA, as well as billboards advertising counseling for a gambling addiction. In addition, we spotted more than one billboard referencing absent dads or encouraging signs to spend time with the kids. You think the two might be related?
A quandary popped into my head, “what is the poorest state in the nation”. You’ll be happy to know this particular road trip will today be traveling thru 4 of the top 10 poorest states: LA, AL, SC and #1 MS. Woohoo! Our second failed detour of the day took place outside Jackson when we tried to check out a State park. It cost money, of course it does! U-turn!
At the Alabama state line it was time for me to pass the keys to Adam! This became my favorite stop of the trip so far J Somehow, this state lasted forever. Failed detour #3, trying to find Starbucks justified by needing gas. Naturally, we did NOT find an accessible Starbucks (only to come upon 30 min down the highway) but on the positive side we did get to do a bit of sightseeing in Birmingham. Lovely city! 
Apart from a bathroom stop in creepsville in Georgia, not much to mention. I should praise my brothers, who have been very indulgent of my need to play any and all musicals on a road trip and sing at the top of my lungs! I can’t do this in NY without disrupting anyone that shares a wall with me and possibly some passersby on the street. This is why I miss my car!
Moments before passing from Georgia into South Carolina the clouds finally broke! Moonlight fell across the hood of our car as we made our way into the last state of phase 1 for ROAD TRIP 2012 (must be written in all caps).
Just 30 minutes from our destination, we all got a bit of a wake-up call. Let’s just say 18 hours is a lot for one day! We locate our dear brother’s apt and Adam wakes him with a phone call. It only takes one try to get him at 4:45 a.m. Now, one might think we’d go straight to bed… wrong! ZB recently returned from his deployment plus he had to show-and-tell his home. Clearly excited and we were a willing audience “oooo-ing” and “aaaah-ing” on cue, but genuinely. We finally all found our beds at 5:15 a.m.
DAY 2: CHARLESTON to CINCINNATI
Dragging myself from my bed for the night (aka one of the many sofas Zac has in his home) around 11:30 a.m., I wander into the living room where I find my brothers. Adam & Joey still out, but Zac bright-eyed with Starbucks in hand already being up for a couple hours. We stir the other two and sloooooowly prepare to face the day.
A little rearranging of bags and minus two boxes, we create another spot for a 4th passenger! Now, keep in mind Zac has been deployed for the past 4 months and his first meal in Charleston, a city known for its incredible restaurants, where does he want to eat? IHOP! If you know him at all, this will not surprise you in the least. His quote, “I’ve spent the last 4 months defending you, and I want to eat at IHOP!” Who can argue with this?
Delightfully stuffed with a nutritious (uuhhh…?) breakfast, we take a quick driving tour of downtown Charleston. Such a charming city teaming with tourists! We all decide it is our favorite place on the trip and Zac is the most grown-up of all the Nelson children. He has a mortgage, lives in a beautiful city, and an IRA! 
Pandora helped move us down the road! Just outside Columbia, I glanced in my side mirror (remember, no rear view) and I saw a small green car drift onto the shoulder then completely off the road. He pulled back into his lane quickly trying to correct himself, but over did it and crossed into the next lane. Cutting back quickly to stay in his lane sent his car into a spin and helplessly I watched in my side mirror as two cars swerved off the road into the median to avoid hitting him. A truck veered off to the right but the car was perpendicular to traffic and before it disappeared in my side mirror, I saw it get hit by a car that could not stop. This wreck happened about 6 cars behind us on a very busy highway. We immediately called 911 and reported the wreck. The police I’m sure were dispatched and I guarantee we are not the only folks who called that in. We decided not to turn back, because it would’ve taken us behind the wreck and we wouldn’t have been able to get to the authorities anyway. I prayed a prayer for all involved and kept the hands at 10 and 2 the rest of my drive. Hard not to think what might’ve happened if we’d been 6 cars back.
In Asheville we paused for a healthy dinner at Five Guys Burger. At this point it had started raining AGAIN! Zac took over the pilot seat and we ventured our way into the Appalachian Mountains! Earlier we tried to stop at Abbott Farm Store to buy some pecans, but today was a funeral for Mr. Abbott so they were closed. Of course! Joey is required to do a bit of reading over the break so collectively we listen to an abridged version of “A Tale of Two Cities”, which I think Zac and I are more interested in than Joey, and definitely Adam. Such a great ending! Good one Charles!
Due to our late start and food breaks, we are due to arrive in Cincinnati around 2 a.m. Zac finished out the day driving the 6 hours from Asheville, NC to Cincinnati. Adam license to drive past 11 p.m. has been temporarily suspended. Oh, we had another failed detour to Starbucks outside Knoxville, because it’s just the way things have gone on this trip. We did find a Starbucks on the north side of Knoxville and beat them closing by 10 minutes! YES!!! Two older women warmly but quickly greeted us and encouraged us to order. Hehe! They were still very kind and wished us safe travels on our journey! I like Kentucky!
We rolled into Cinci a little after 2 a.m.
DAY 3: CINCINNATI to OSWEGO, NY
The lights flip on and the sound of an airplane safety announcement begins courtesy of Zac. I’m so glad he’s home from his deployment. 8:45 a.m. says my phone. My alarm is set for 9:00 a.m. but when Zac is hungry, this becomes the priority for the group. Luckily, Hunter is already awake and the boys are compliant so we pile into Hunter’s very green, environmentally friendly Prius to go downtown for breakfast at a Belgium waffle place. Adam put it best, Cincinnati is a place “that once was”. Meaning there are many buildings that probably looked great when they were first built but have been boarded up and abandoned. We drove thru Hunter’s campus and saw all there was to see before hugging our cousin goodbye and heading to the Falls.
Zac had a tip on a great German deli in Columbus, which marked our first successful detour! Quick, off the highway stop in a cute little spot. Not a ton to report from the road after that apart from another failed winery stop. Many farms exist in Ohio. We contemplated visiting some Amish, but our goal was to make it to Niagara Falls for sunset so we had to stay the course!
Pennsylvania lasted all of an hour or so. Not much to report at all there! Then as soon as we rolled into New York, we were greeted with a toll booth. Ah, good to be back!
After a few wrong turns, we make it to Niagara Falls at the perfect moment. Sun just about to start changing the color of the clouds as it disappears behind Toronto. Stunning! The Falls go on forever! So beautiful and powerful. Not as deep as I thought, but expansive! The boys did not quite dress for the weather. They’re still dressing for Charleston with shorts and flip-flops, so they were a little whiney! Lots of beautiful pics!
Back in the car for the final leg of the trip. Only 3 more hours to Oswego, NY. We are crashing with a mom of a friend of Adam’s that he met thru DCI two summers ago. Yep, it’s a bit of a stretch, but my brother is the type of guy that genuinely connects with people, so its no surprise the four of us are more than welcome in her home. We roll in about 11 p.m. under a thick blanket of stars! I love being out here!
DAY 4: OSWEGO TO NYC
We entered into a realm I’ve been only once before… Drum Corp International. If you’re reading this with no clue as to what this organization is- take heart, you are not alone. I respect passion, whatever the expression, and there is no doubt in my mind that spending a summer riding buses all over the country, sleeping on gym floors, rehearsing 10+ hours a day in the summer sun and paying to do all of this, requires passion.
The house we slept in was provided by a friend whom Adam met a couple summers ago bussing around the country! Through conversation both last night and this morning, I learn the entire family is totally down with this world. Mom even volunteered with the corp. and traveled around herself. Respect. And the dear woman brought us bagels for breakfast and made us coffee as she and Adam and her son shared stories.
Due to our deadline to have the car returned by 6pm, we had to bid farewell. Such a fun, random stop in a town I didn’t know existed! Reluctantly we piled back into the car and began the final leg of our journey. I’m probably the only feeling reluctant about getting back to the City. For Zac, Joey, & Adam, it’s the second half of this adventure, the destination, but for me, it’s back to work and the conclusion of my 
break. I’d be lying if I said I drove a little slower, and was more than happy to stop for lunch, and take our time getting back. It’s a good thing we were aiming to be back in the City by 4pm cause the traffic was as expected, but we did make it to Astoria, unloaded the car and returned the rental all before 6pm. Not before having one last near death moment as we were turning into the car rental return, but we escaped unscathed!
It was a wonderful adventure that could’ve easily stretched over a couple weeks, but I’m pretty proud we covered over 2800 miles through 13 states in 3 ½ days!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Oh Daylight Savings...
So, pulling out at 8-ish is looking more and more like it's going to be 9-ish :) Forgot that we "sprang" forward last night!Either way, with the car packed and coffee brewed, we are moments from embarking on a VERY long day in the car!
PLUS, we are missing the ACC Conference Final between my beloved TarHeels and Florida State! Then Selection Sunday, we hours of unneccessary tutorial on how the brackets are selected for the great tournament! Having not followed NCAA this season, I'm not broken up about missing it, but you better believe I'm filling out a bracket and throwing in some money in a pool! (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you must be one of my acting friends-- don't worry about it).
But the road isn't getting any shorter, so I'm going to wrap this up and write again when we've got a few hundred miles behind us!
ROAD TRIP 2012
On the eve of our journey from Texas to New York, my youngest brother Joey groans with complaint about having to read "A Tale of Two Cities" over the break. I assure him not to worry, I've already downloaded the audio book and on the first leg of our trip (non-stop to Charleston) we can listen to the book 6 times... it's an 18 hour trip!
So, for those that may not be aware I am driving from my home in Arlington, TX to New York by way of Charleston, SC & Cincinnati, OH & if we can fit it in Niagara Falls! Oh, and we have to be back in NYC by Wednesday evening!
We've packed the last of my belongings into the back of a rental car. The only boxes that remain here at my parent's home are full of Peter Cottontail books, baby blankets, high school & college items that are too sacred to throw out but too irrelevant to move up to Manhattan. It's been a fun, nostalgic day looking thru ALL my old stuff and reliving the glory days of my athletic career in high school and college, which seems like a life time ago now.
The drivers: Me, and only me because according to Budget's rental car agreement all drivers must be 25 years old. But let's face it, Adam (age 22) might climb behind the wheel at some point. Joey (age 14 and definitely NOT driving) will be moaning about his homework in between asking when we're stopping for food!
Our first stop will be Charleston, SC to greet & celebrate our Air Force brother, 1st Lt. Zac Nelson who is recently home from his first deployment!
More from the road later...
So, for those that may not be aware I am driving from my home in Arlington, TX to New York by way of Charleston, SC & Cincinnati, OH & if we can fit it in Niagara Falls! Oh, and we have to be back in NYC by Wednesday evening!
We've packed the last of my belongings into the back of a rental car. The only boxes that remain here at my parent's home are full of Peter Cottontail books, baby blankets, high school & college items that are too sacred to throw out but too irrelevant to move up to Manhattan. It's been a fun, nostalgic day looking thru ALL my old stuff and reliving the glory days of my athletic career in high school and college, which seems like a life time ago now.
The drivers: Me, and only me because according to Budget's rental car agreement all drivers must be 25 years old. But let's face it, Adam (age 22) might climb behind the wheel at some point. Joey (age 14 and definitely NOT driving) will be moaning about his homework in between asking when we're stopping for food!
Our first stop will be Charleston, SC to greet & celebrate our Air Force brother, 1st Lt. Zac Nelson who is recently home from his first deployment!
More from the road later...
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Sit with me a moment...
Last month, I wrote one post. Sheesh! I was a little busy! I'm already doing better! Just to warn you: I'm in a contemplative mood having just completed my second Zumba class of the day (yep, I'm hardcore) and the endorphins are running rampant so I must write.
Tonight, I attended "Rabbit Island", which is a play that's a part of the Frigid Festival here in lovely Manhattan. Slightly ironic title of festival being that this is the warmest winter I've had the pleasure of experiencing! My dear friend and wickedly talented actress, Mel House, shined in this piece directed by the fabulous Aimee Todoroff. Both of these lovely ladies I came to know through a group called The Drawing Board, which is a mass of writers/actors/directors who come together monthly to read & discuss original work. I know I've written about this before but LOOK, now we've got a website. Sooooo fancy!
Also in attendance were several members of The Drawing Board and we collectively chortled at the hilarious truth of the situations and ramblings of each character. Post-show mingling lasted all of 5 minutes before we hugged our goodbyes and dispersed to our individual agendas. I lucked out with a train buddy for a portion of my trip. The talented Rachel Leslie, who is heading off to Cleveland to do a run of "In the Next Room". See you in May, Rachel.
Grant me a moment... after spending weeks on end dwelling on my character for "Anatol" and spending hours in rehearsal and then in the theatre during our run; finding new friends and relationships, both on stage and off; performing for friends and family... I now sit at home, alone, and strategize about finding the next endeavor. As I said in my previous post, each project brings you into a new mini-family (if you're lucky) and each character brings you a new best friend. When its over, it's like moving away from a place you only recently discovered but know deeply. Plus you're leaving behind the character, whom you've come to know intimately, and fight for, and cry with, and love, but you have to let them go. I suppose this is how it always goes. The disconnected ones who can just walk away unaffected may appear lucky, but as hard as it is, I love being so invested that the end hurts.
Its the inexplicable, transcendent moments on stage or film that keeps us coming back for more! For all you believers out there, its like that moment when you're in complete communion with God and you're pure & free. Nothing else in this world can touch that moment!
Tonight, I attended "Rabbit Island", which is a play that's a part of the Frigid Festival here in lovely Manhattan. Slightly ironic title of festival being that this is the warmest winter I've had the pleasure of experiencing! My dear friend and wickedly talented actress, Mel House, shined in this piece directed by the fabulous Aimee Todoroff. Both of these lovely ladies I came to know through a group called The Drawing Board, which is a mass of writers/actors/directors who come together monthly to read & discuss original work. I know I've written about this before but LOOK, now we've got a website. Sooooo fancy!
Also in attendance were several members of The Drawing Board and we collectively chortled at the hilarious truth of the situations and ramblings of each character. Post-show mingling lasted all of 5 minutes before we hugged our goodbyes and dispersed to our individual agendas. I lucked out with a train buddy for a portion of my trip. The talented Rachel Leslie, who is heading off to Cleveland to do a run of "In the Next Room". See you in May, Rachel.
Grant me a moment... after spending weeks on end dwelling on my character for "Anatol" and spending hours in rehearsal and then in the theatre during our run; finding new friends and relationships, both on stage and off; performing for friends and family... I now sit at home, alone, and strategize about finding the next endeavor. As I said in my previous post, each project brings you into a new mini-family (if you're lucky) and each character brings you a new best friend. When its over, it's like moving away from a place you only recently discovered but know deeply. Plus you're leaving behind the character, whom you've come to know intimately, and fight for, and cry with, and love, but you have to let them go. I suppose this is how it always goes. The disconnected ones who can just walk away unaffected may appear lucky, but as hard as it is, I love being so invested that the end hurts.
Its the inexplicable, transcendent moments on stage or film that keeps us coming back for more! For all you believers out there, its like that moment when you're in complete communion with God and you're pure & free. Nothing else in this world can touch that moment!
Monday, February 27, 2012
"Anatol"
It's 2:26 a.m. and I've just come home from an impromptu joint cast party for the closing night of both "Anatol" (a play I was in) and "The Odd Couple" (a play I was not in, but we had the same producer). I have to be at work in 4 1/2 hours, but you can't not go to closing night festivities. Its just bad form.
Alas, the inevitable pain of the end of something wonderful. I've become accustom to spending hours with charming, beautiful people and living in a fantasy world of our making, or Arthur Schnitzler's making. I believe when my alarm goes off in the morning and I know my day will not end on stage, I will feel a little blue. Each project brings you into a family. Sometimes those families are dysfunctional, but many times you find an immediate connection that grows very deep very quickly.
The cast of "Anatol" overflowed with beauty, both inside and out. With two dashing men and seven sultry, stunning, sexy (trying to find more "s" adjectives) seductive sirens, we put up a darn good show, led by our visionary director and run by our incredible stage manager. Not to mention our awesome volunteer stage hands! I don't think I've yet realized how much I'll miss this particular family, but I know its coming!
Gotta find another project so my days can end with a curtain call again!
Alas, the inevitable pain of the end of something wonderful. I've become accustom to spending hours with charming, beautiful people and living in a fantasy world of our making, or Arthur Schnitzler's making. I believe when my alarm goes off in the morning and I know my day will not end on stage, I will feel a little blue. Each project brings you into a family. Sometimes those families are dysfunctional, but many times you find an immediate connection that grows very deep very quickly.
The cast of "Anatol" overflowed with beauty, both inside and out. With two dashing men and seven sultry, stunning, sexy (trying to find more "s" adjectives) seductive sirens, we put up a darn good show, led by our visionary director and run by our incredible stage manager. Not to mention our awesome volunteer stage hands! I don't think I've yet realized how much I'll miss this particular family, but I know its coming!
Gotta find another project so my days can end with a curtain call again!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Ode to Winter 2012
Dear Mother Nature,
On behalf of all New Yorkers from Staten Island to the Bronx... THANK YOU for the best January we've experienced since Erin moved to the City!
I felt it was necessary to acknowledge that, while we did have a few bitterly cold days including a couple with snow, this has been the most mild January I've ever endured. The high was 58 for crying out loud!
I seriously reevaluated my life in Manhattan last winter and thought maybe the superficial, botox-injected Barbies of Hollywood might be okay if I gave them a fair shot. Luckily, I hate moving and so I stayed. I think this is God's way of telling me I made a right choice! He loves me that much!
Usually, looking ahead to February (aka the month my singleness is reemphasized by a holiday) is a bleak prospect filled with dread, but the high is 60 tomorrow. YES!!!
On behalf of all New Yorkers from Staten Island to the Bronx... THANK YOU for the best January we've experienced since Erin moved to the City!
I felt it was necessary to acknowledge that, while we did have a few bitterly cold days including a couple with snow, this has been the most mild January I've ever endured. The high was 58 for crying out loud!
I seriously reevaluated my life in Manhattan last winter and thought maybe the superficial, botox-injected Barbies of Hollywood might be okay if I gave them a fair shot. Luckily, I hate moving and so I stayed. I think this is God's way of telling me I made a right choice! He loves me that much!
Usually, looking ahead to February (aka the month my singleness is reemphasized by a holiday) is a bleak prospect filled with dread, but the high is 60 tomorrow. YES!!!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
I GOT A CALL!!!
Yes, I received a phone call from a commercial agent yesterday to come in for a meeting! My first meeting in NYC! So grateful! Now let me back up a bit...
For the past couple weeks, I've been taking a workshop organized by commercial casting director, Amy Gossels. She's got quite an extensive resume of projects she's cast, so working with her at all is good exposure. Plus, she's got a very precise, clear way of directing a commercial audition. The class was incredibly helpful and I never felt there was any time wasted! For the final class, she invited two commercial agents to watch our work and receive our headshots/resumes.
The very next day I got a call from one of the agents to set up an appointment to come to their office. We'll have an interview, I'll read a few commercials cold (no rehearsal) and then we'll see. If they like me, I might start free-lancing with them, which could lead to signing with them. Who knows! Either way... its been a good week.
For the past couple weeks, I've been taking a workshop organized by commercial casting director, Amy Gossels. She's got quite an extensive resume of projects she's cast, so working with her at all is good exposure. Plus, she's got a very precise, clear way of directing a commercial audition. The class was incredibly helpful and I never felt there was any time wasted! For the final class, she invited two commercial agents to watch our work and receive our headshots/resumes.
The very next day I got a call from one of the agents to set up an appointment to come to their office. We'll have an interview, I'll read a few commercials cold (no rehearsal) and then we'll see. If they like me, I might start free-lancing with them, which could lead to signing with them. Who knows! Either way... its been a good week.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Nominees
Very pleased with this years list of nominees for the Academy Awards! Certainly a year for women, but just great work all around. I still have a few films to see before the big night, but I'm proud to state I've seen many of the films with a nomination (yep- spending all my tip $$ on the movies).
Loved seeing Melissa McCarthy nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Bridesmaids"-- hilarious! Also, surprised to read this is Gary Oldman's first nomination. He's such a wonderful actor! Rooney Mara got a nod for "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", which I completely agree with, even though she's up against giants like Meryl and Glenn, but she gets to put on a beautiful dress and go to the biggest event for film!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because my favorite award show is coming up Sunday evening, the Screen Actors Guild Awards! My mission is to find someone with cable and invite myself over to their house to watch!
Loved seeing Melissa McCarthy nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Bridesmaids"-- hilarious! Also, surprised to read this is Gary Oldman's first nomination. He's such a wonderful actor! Rooney Mara got a nod for "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", which I completely agree with, even though she's up against giants like Meryl and Glenn, but she gets to put on a beautiful dress and go to the biggest event for film!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because my favorite award show is coming up Sunday evening, the Screen Actors Guild Awards! My mission is to find someone with cable and invite myself over to their house to watch!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Already....?!
January 15th... did this sneak up on anyone else?
I'm blessed with many things to work on and subsequently overflowing my brain. It's an interesting problem to have and the characters I'm working on are battling for my full attention, but its a good exercise. Hopefully I will work on multiple projects throughout my career!
For starters, I'm in the midst of rehearsal for Anatol by Arthur Schnitzle with City Show Productions. I have the pleasure of playing 'Gabrielle' and getting to verbally spar with the title character, playing with years of suppressed emotion and layers of subtext. Delicious!
Also, I've decided to tip-toe into the world of commercials. Working with the busy commercial casting director, Amy Gossels, I've found I have a knack for this type of work. We meet with agents next week, so we'll see where that might be heading!
I'm also continuing to exercise the acting muscles with Wynn Handman and the uber-talented group of actors that attend his bi-weekly class. It's such a safe place to explore, which is what every actor needs!
Not to mention the full-time, pay-the-bills-for-the-time-being job at The Greenwich Hotel. Speaking of which, my bed is calling to me! The alarm is going off at 5:00 a.m.
I'm blessed with many things to work on and subsequently overflowing my brain. It's an interesting problem to have and the characters I'm working on are battling for my full attention, but its a good exercise. Hopefully I will work on multiple projects throughout my career!
For starters, I'm in the midst of rehearsal for Anatol by Arthur Schnitzle with City Show Productions. I have the pleasure of playing 'Gabrielle' and getting to verbally spar with the title character, playing with years of suppressed emotion and layers of subtext. Delicious!
Also, I've decided to tip-toe into the world of commercials. Working with the busy commercial casting director, Amy Gossels, I've found I have a knack for this type of work. We meet with agents next week, so we'll see where that might be heading!
I'm also continuing to exercise the acting muscles with Wynn Handman and the uber-talented group of actors that attend his bi-weekly class. It's such a safe place to explore, which is what every actor needs!
Not to mention the full-time, pay-the-bills-for-the-time-being job at The Greenwich Hotel. Speaking of which, my bed is calling to me! The alarm is going off at 5:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012
And so it's begun! Our final year (according to the Mayans)! Rumor has it that the world won't end til December, so we've got some time. Phew! Cause I've got plans!
Now, I spent a good portion of my work shift last night brainstorming, in between "ooohhh and ahhh- ing" at guest's fancy attire as they headed out for the evening. I LOVE beginnings. I love the possibilities that exist at the start. I always loved a new school year, new basketball season, new project to rehearse-- because I'm still afforded the opportunity to imagine the result. Then we get a few weeks in and the image inevitably shifts-- good or bad, it shifts.
So here we are at the beginning of a year! This is a pretty big one! I could sit here and spell out a dozen resolutions like: exercise every day, only have candy for dinner once a week, start brewing decaf-- but I'll inevitably fail at some point and feel disappointed in myself. Don't get me wrong, I do have many self-improvement goals in mind that I plan to fail at, but I'm not going to punish myself for them. I'll reward myself when I DO accomplish a little goal. I think positivity will be my theme for the year!
To be frank, I'm not sad to say goodbye to 2011. Learned a lot, laughed a lot, cried a lot-- ready to be challenged by the unexpected opportunities that NYC will present and the miracles the good Lord will show me!
Now, I spent a good portion of my work shift last night brainstorming, in between "ooohhh and ahhh- ing" at guest's fancy attire as they headed out for the evening. I LOVE beginnings. I love the possibilities that exist at the start. I always loved a new school year, new basketball season, new project to rehearse-- because I'm still afforded the opportunity to imagine the result. Then we get a few weeks in and the image inevitably shifts-- good or bad, it shifts.
So here we are at the beginning of a year! This is a pretty big one! I could sit here and spell out a dozen resolutions like: exercise every day, only have candy for dinner once a week, start brewing decaf-- but I'll inevitably fail at some point and feel disappointed in myself. Don't get me wrong, I do have many self-improvement goals in mind that I plan to fail at, but I'm not going to punish myself for them. I'll reward myself when I DO accomplish a little goal. I think positivity will be my theme for the year!
To be frank, I'm not sad to say goodbye to 2011. Learned a lot, laughed a lot, cried a lot-- ready to be challenged by the unexpected opportunities that NYC will present and the miracles the good Lord will show me!
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