Day off tomorrow, so once again a group of us trekked back to the city to catch a few auditions. Plan for tomorrow is Gateway open call, voice lesson, perhaps a little shopping:), as much yoga as I can throw in (haven't taken the hot is too too long), and then close with Episode 3 of Mad Men.
...so basically an exact repeat of last Monday.
We're getting the orchestra in on Tuesday, which is exciting, but also a bit daunting as we won't be miked. I haven't been told to worry about it, so I'm not gonna for now. Just gonna breath deep and "ping" it out.:)
The set looks absolutely gorgeous. I feel humbled to get the chance to perform on it. And I'm in constant awe of the other actors onstage. Particularly our Norma, who is brilliant. We still have two weeks left of show, but I'm already getting depressed about the inevitable closing. Leaving a show is always bitter sweet. Just need to soak up these last few weeks and enjoy each moment.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
NYC and Back Again
Yesterday cast had the day off, so a group of us drove into the city Sunday night and I came back this morning to start rehearsals right again. I'm glad I made it to the city. I spent my day off getting up eaarly early for an open call, then did some shoppingggg, a much needed voice lesson, much MUCH needed YttP yoga class, and closed the evening with the season premiere of Mad Men which was unbelievably amazing. Knew it wouldn't disappoint. Megan is becoming more of a character, which is good, but I'm still not exactly happy about her and Don marrying. I just am not a fan of Don. Peggy, on the other hand.. I mean, it's really her show. Can't wait to see what's coming up for her this season.
Better be off to review my material for our run tonight. Tech starts tomorrow!!
Better be off to review my material for our run tonight. Tech starts tomorrow!!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Cohoes, baby
I've been quite lax about updating the past couple weeks. Much has happened and I believe it's time for a check in:
I'm now officially in Cohoes, NY, performing the role of Betty in Sunset Boulevard. Rehearsals have been going well and the town is actually quite lovely I think. Some of architecture is very cool looking.
The theater we're performing is in the show boat style, with sort of a curvy balcony/orchestra set up, and it's so old, its not rigged for mics. So the whole show we'll be singing with just our voices over the orchestra. People have affectionately nicknamed the theater "Park and Bark" which seems very apt. The voices of the other principles are gooooorgeous and the score, which I didn't know at all before my audition(!), is so, so good. I feel so lucky to be here. And especially with the weather being so gorgeous, I literally feel like I'm on vacation.
Yesterday I got some of the cast together and I taught a yoga class. Two of the girls had been to YttP, so they knew what was going on, but it was one of the guy's first time ever doing yoga , so that was really helpful for me as a new teacher in being specific with my dialogue. Also, because the class was so little, I got to be very hands on, which I never am in my huge (i.e. up to 68 people) YttP classes. Everyone was really appreciative afterward, which was nice, and we agreed to meet again next week. One of the girls does silks, so she said she would teach me some stuff if I liked, which is going to be amaaazinggg. I've always wanted to try out silks.
Today was very Cohoes action packed: Gym in morning, then rehearsal, much needed grocery shopping with the cast, then saw The Hunger Games, which I was super stoked about. I read the books ages ago, so I kind of wish I had done a reread before seeing the movie, but as soon as it started it all came to me. I liked it a lot. The pacing was very slow, which I thought was good and added suspense. Jennifer Lawrence who played Katniss was wonderful. She had some very good eye acting going on, which I appreciated. And the gentlemen who played Gale and Peeta were both very handsome and lovely, so that was a plus.
Afterwards, we all went for sushi at the crazy place called Sushi X. We joked around about it being some sort of sushi strip club, but then it turned out that it very well could have been, as the the decor was quite night club-esque, lit by these multcolored, bright chandeliers. It was very pretty, but a bit harsh on the eyes. The sushi was delicious though.
Off to study the Boulevard!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Spriiiiiing is heeere
Today was a glorious 61 degrees. It was absolutely gorgeous outside. Though I got a little over excited and opted for my flats, ankle leggings and light jacket, which made me a bit chilly come nighttime, BUT it was worth it just to break out mine London Carey Mulligan flats.
Coming home today in such a good mood made me realize how much weather affects my mood. I think that's why spring is my absolute favorite season: it literally smells and feels like new beginnings, like possibilities. Yes, I'm aware it sounds hokey, but it's true! Spring makes it feel like anything is possible. I can't wait for the trees to come back alive.
Alright, done with the hokey.
This week has been quite slow for auditions, so it's been kind of chill. Luckily I'm scheduled to teach a LOT this week, so that plus work means I'm still keeping busy. Yesterday I took Traditional Hot yoga with my good friend, Emily. It was her first time going, so I wanted to tag along and support. When we walked in, to our surprise, Mr. Greg Gumucio aka founder of Yoga to the People, was teaching. He's in town this week, so I suppose he wanted to grab a few classes. The whole first row was taken up by teachers (they all knew he was teaching of course). It was quite amazing. The hot is a very interesting experience. It's sooo so hot (obviously, yes, but really...hot). 105 degrees, maybe more (in fact, I'm sure it was more yesterday). You start with a breathing excercise and then you go to town. 26 poses, same sequences every time, but alllways different. I usually feel claustrophobic and even nauseous during class, and you do the while class standing in front of a mirror so the whole point is you LOOK at yourself (or rather look THROUGH yourself). A lot of times it's hard for me to look in the mirror. My ego gets in the way. I have to remind myself its not about looking at the body, its..finding the calm within....I'm still figuring it out. I'm quite new to the practice, so I don't know exactly my opinion. But I do like it. It's taken a while, but I'm at the point now where I look forward to class. The hot room is the place where you can sweat out all your stuff, laugh, cry (like really cry. Everything can just sort of erupt and you start sobbing, and that get's someone else to sob, and soon half the room is crying, same thing with laughter. The hot room is the place to let. it. out. and leave it out.)
After class, Em and I went to Panera for lunch- the first Panera in NYC. My greatest sadness moving to the city was that there was no Panera here, but NOW it has arrives and still sooo delicious.
Coming home today in such a good mood made me realize how much weather affects my mood. I think that's why spring is my absolute favorite season: it literally smells and feels like new beginnings, like possibilities. Yes, I'm aware it sounds hokey, but it's true! Spring makes it feel like anything is possible. I can't wait for the trees to come back alive.
Alright, done with the hokey.
This week has been quite slow for auditions, so it's been kind of chill. Luckily I'm scheduled to teach a LOT this week, so that plus work means I'm still keeping busy. Yesterday I took Traditional Hot yoga with my good friend, Emily. It was her first time going, so I wanted to tag along and support. When we walked in, to our surprise, Mr. Greg Gumucio aka founder of Yoga to the People, was teaching. He's in town this week, so I suppose he wanted to grab a few classes. The whole first row was taken up by teachers (they all knew he was teaching of course). It was quite amazing. The hot is a very interesting experience. It's sooo so hot (obviously, yes, but really...hot). 105 degrees, maybe more (in fact, I'm sure it was more yesterday). You start with a breathing excercise and then you go to town. 26 poses, same sequences every time, but alllways different. I usually feel claustrophobic and even nauseous during class, and you do the while class standing in front of a mirror so the whole point is you LOOK at yourself (or rather look THROUGH yourself). A lot of times it's hard for me to look in the mirror. My ego gets in the way. I have to remind myself its not about looking at the body, its..finding the calm within....I'm still figuring it out. I'm quite new to the practice, so I don't know exactly my opinion. But I do like it. It's taken a while, but I'm at the point now where I look forward to class. The hot room is the place where you can sweat out all your stuff, laugh, cry (like really cry. Everything can just sort of erupt and you start sobbing, and that get's someone else to sob, and soon half the room is crying, same thing with laughter. The hot room is the place to let. it. out. and leave it out.)
After class, Em and I went to Panera for lunch- the first Panera in NYC. My greatest sadness moving to the city was that there was no Panera here, but NOW it has arrives and still sooo delicious.
Today I took a jazz class at Broadway Dance Center. I went with my friend, Molly. It was both of our's first time at the studio. The teacher was hilarious and had tons of energy. Her warm up was very intense and fast paced, so it was challenging to pick up. But her combo was very lyrical contemporary like, so picking it up was a bit easier. Dancing lyrical feels sooo delicous. One of my goals this year is take. more. dance. I want to rock the movers calls because I know I can, I just gotta get myself in gear. Two classes a week. That's the goal.
After a wonderful Grey Dog lunch with Molly, I went off to update my audition journal. My goal this year is to systematically keep track of all my auditions, working up to 100. I've got to get better and updating right after each one. The holes that I've found are documenting who is in the room. I have no one's name written down and that's a very important detail. Good thing to realize I suppose.
One thing that I found myself writing is that I'm too chill in the room. I've got to show off my personality BUT I do not want to be fake in any way. How the heck do I stay true to my self, be energized, but not false??? Hmmmm...I made a list of people I need to get coffee with, people who inspire me, because I need to pick their brains....
So after a long night of taking and teaching yoga and then cleaning the studio and getting home at 12mid, I think its time for bed. Tomorrow bodes full of yoga, dance, and people. A happy Friday indeed.:)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Sunday after many Sundays
It's been a miiiiillion years since my last post. I've developed a new resolution is to blog more, so here I am!
This morning I woke up at the 7am to teach yoga in YttP's Brooklyn studio. BK is seriously beauuuuutiful, bright, airy, lots of space, plants hanging from the ceiling, and the student are so chill. Urgh, soo into their yoga. It was very inspiring.
After yoga, I hopped on back home to grab lunch and take run in Central Park. It's been weeks since my last run and it was definitely tough to jump back into it. Inhaling a bowel of carrot sticks and hummus right before probably wasn't a good idea but of course when I made it home I felt shoooo good. Yummy, joggy.
There was an audition tonight for My Fair Lady at the Narrows Community Theater in Brooklyn. Now, My Fair Lady is a dream show of mine, so even though the gig would have no pay and it was all the way in BK, I wanted to audition and see what happened. HowEVER, I did not realize that the audition was the last stop on the R train. As in, it took me an hour to get there. The audition was happening in the St. Patrick's church "community room," but when I got there I literally could not find where I was supposed to be, walking all around the random Brooklyn church with my giant backpack and bag full of shoes, clothes and yoga mat. I finally forewent the audition because hour commute plus no pay plus already being in another show equaled not worth asking a random stranger where I was supposed to be. Instead, since it was Sunday, I went to mass! Again, haven't been in a few weeks and it did feel quite random to be in random, actually very beautiful church in Bayridge, Brooklyn.
After church, I went to St. Marks YttP and took a double candlelit, 7 and 8:30p, and helped clean the studio. Tonight was "deep cleaning" night so the studio got all of us staying to help pink berry frozen yogurt. However, since I'm being a Vegan for a week, I couldn't eat any. Proud of myself for the will power though. We stayed until 11 cleaning, and due to train delays, I didn't get home til 12. And of COURSE, I had to catch up on the new Downton Abby tonight. (BATES!!!)
So, so tired and have to get up super early for one of those non-eq open calls tomorrow. 6am it shall be. Have a good night!!
xo.
This morning I woke up at the 7am to teach yoga in YttP's Brooklyn studio. BK is seriously beauuuuutiful, bright, airy, lots of space, plants hanging from the ceiling, and the student are so chill. Urgh, soo into their yoga. It was very inspiring.
After yoga, I hopped on back home to grab lunch and take run in Central Park. It's been weeks since my last run and it was definitely tough to jump back into it. Inhaling a bowel of carrot sticks and hummus right before probably wasn't a good idea but of course when I made it home I felt shoooo good. Yummy, joggy.
There was an audition tonight for My Fair Lady at the Narrows Community Theater in Brooklyn. Now, My Fair Lady is a dream show of mine, so even though the gig would have no pay and it was all the way in BK, I wanted to audition and see what happened. HowEVER, I did not realize that the audition was the last stop on the R train. As in, it took me an hour to get there. The audition was happening in the St. Patrick's church "community room," but when I got there I literally could not find where I was supposed to be, walking all around the random Brooklyn church with my giant backpack and bag full of shoes, clothes and yoga mat. I finally forewent the audition because hour commute plus no pay plus already being in another show equaled not worth asking a random stranger where I was supposed to be. Instead, since it was Sunday, I went to mass! Again, haven't been in a few weeks and it did feel quite random to be in random, actually very beautiful church in Bayridge, Brooklyn.
After church, I went to St. Marks YttP and took a double candlelit, 7 and 8:30p, and helped clean the studio. Tonight was "deep cleaning" night so the studio got all of us staying to help pink berry frozen yogurt. However, since I'm being a Vegan for a week, I couldn't eat any. Proud of myself for the will power though. We stayed until 11 cleaning, and due to train delays, I didn't get home til 12. And of COURSE, I had to catch up on the new Downton Abby tonight. (BATES!!!)
So, so tired and have to get up super early for one of those non-eq open calls tomorrow. 6am it shall be. Have a good night!!
xo.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Middle of the night wordage.
I haaaaate staying up late, because then I will inevitably snack. And wouldn't you know, I'm typing this with peanut butter fingers. At least I didn't finish the whole jar. Wish I could say the same for that pack of fig newtons last night. Today was such a frantic day though: running all around the city (in the rain) for props for Aquila and then straight to rehearsal for our Showcase Fundraiser cabaret. That's gonna be sweeeeet. I'm excited to see everyone perform (including our teachers!!!) and I'M singing a song, so that's fun.
...I think detailing my day was me trying to justify eating peanut butter straight out of the jar. But it was raining, and I didn't have an umbrella! It has protein in it! It was organic! I had a banana too! argh.
Something pretty exciting is my sister's bachelorette party which is this Saturday. And I randomly have this Friday off work, so I get to go home early. Happiness! Somehow I got into looking up quotes today, trying to find something that reminded me of Jamie. I reeeeally love quotes. I keep I quote book, which I've had for a few years, but nothing in there popped as something to give to her in my maid of honor toast. Whenever I approach writing something, I usually find some sort of quote that relates to it (I don't know if I can name all the school assignments I began with quoting somebody..haha). So, the internet hasn't yielded anything, but I have some time (the wedding is Sept. 18. Oh that's right, weekend before showcase. hmmmmm..). I'll just have to keep going to Yoga to the People. At the end of each class, as we lay in final shavasana, the teacher always reads a quote, and it's ALWAYS a phenominal one. This is one they did the other day, written by Oriah The Mountain Dreamer:
The Invitation
"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments."
It's hard to think about peanut butter after reading that, huh? I think it's time for bed. And, you know? I wouldn't mind if it rained tomorrow.
Goodnight!
...I think detailing my day was me trying to justify eating peanut butter straight out of the jar. But it was raining, and I didn't have an umbrella! It has protein in it! It was organic! I had a banana too! argh.
Something pretty exciting is my sister's bachelorette party which is this Saturday. And I randomly have this Friday off work, so I get to go home early. Happiness! Somehow I got into looking up quotes today, trying to find something that reminded me of Jamie. I reeeeally love quotes. I keep I quote book, which I've had for a few years, but nothing in there popped as something to give to her in my maid of honor toast. Whenever I approach writing something, I usually find some sort of quote that relates to it (I don't know if I can name all the school assignments I began with quoting somebody..haha). So, the internet hasn't yielded anything, but I have some time (the wedding is Sept. 18. Oh that's right, weekend before showcase. hmmmmm..). I'll just have to keep going to Yoga to the People. At the end of each class, as we lay in final shavasana, the teacher always reads a quote, and it's ALWAYS a phenominal one. This is one they did the other day, written by Oriah The Mountain Dreamer:
The Invitation
"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments."
It's hard to think about peanut butter after reading that, huh? I think it's time for bed. And, you know? I wouldn't mind if it rained tomorrow.
Goodnight!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
As I drink my third cup of tea today..
Sooooo much has happened since I last blogged. I suppose I'll start by discussing the two extremely important viewing experiences this weekend that I experienced.
The FIRST: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two.
The SECOND: a new musical entitled Jennifer the Unspecial.
Now, I'm one of the biggest Harry Potter fans I know, having literally "grown up" with Harry (I read the first book when I was 11 and the last book when 17) so, of course, I was quite thrilled for the final film installment. And how disappointed I was when it did happen for me. I've accepted long ago that the movies will never remotely live up to the spirit of the books, but I've appreciated what they are and the work put into them. BUT, this finale sunk far below any justification for a positive reaction. In my opinion.
There are many, many reasons for this, among which being the totally unnecessary revamp of the final duel between Harry and Voldemort (Harry deserved his Voldie-lecture, with the entire wizarding population watching. Not a drawn out scene of Harry and Voldie flying around the castle alone shooting sparks at each other. Just sayin'). Uhnuhthuh thing that was bothersome would be that it seems that most of the character moments were perfunctory, rather than fleshed out (Fred. FRED. Molly Weasley? Neville deserved better too..). That's all I'll say for now, as this is not a Harry Potter blog. I just had to get that off my chest..
However, very happily for me, I saw my wonderful roommate Jacob Samuels, perform in a new musical at NYU's Grad Musical Theater writing program. I had a couple other friends in it as well, so of COURSE I was going to check it out. It was written for childrens theater, so it took place in a middle school and dealt with themes of acceptance, friendship, being yourself, but it was seriously hilARious, the music was kickass, and the cast was wonderful. The story was really cute (time travel took up most of show, so we met history guys, like Shakespeare, Lincoln, Beethoven, dinosaurs..) and funny. The cast had amazing voices as well. I love sitting in the front row in a little black box and being belted at. It's just completely nice to be reminded that theater is pretty awesome and I'm pretty lucky to have the support and training to spend my life doing it.
I gotta go catch up on my thank ya's cards. Next update coming vehry shoooooon.
The FIRST: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two.
The SECOND: a new musical entitled Jennifer the Unspecial.
Now, I'm one of the biggest Harry Potter fans I know, having literally "grown up" with Harry (I read the first book when I was 11 and the last book when 17) so, of course, I was quite thrilled for the final film installment. And how disappointed I was when it did happen for me. I've accepted long ago that the movies will never remotely live up to the spirit of the books, but I've appreciated what they are and the work put into them. BUT, this finale sunk far below any justification for a positive reaction. In my opinion.
There are many, many reasons for this, among which being the totally unnecessary revamp of the final duel between Harry and Voldemort (Harry deserved his Voldie-lecture, with the entire wizarding population watching. Not a drawn out scene of Harry and Voldie flying around the castle alone shooting sparks at each other. Just sayin'). Uhnuhthuh thing that was bothersome would be that it seems that most of the character moments were perfunctory, rather than fleshed out (Fred. FRED. Molly Weasley? Neville deserved better too..). That's all I'll say for now, as this is not a Harry Potter blog. I just had to get that off my chest..
However, very happily for me, I saw my wonderful roommate Jacob Samuels, perform in a new musical at NYU's Grad Musical Theater writing program. I had a couple other friends in it as well, so of COURSE I was going to check it out. It was written for childrens theater, so it took place in a middle school and dealt with themes of acceptance, friendship, being yourself, but it was seriously hilARious, the music was kickass, and the cast was wonderful. The story was really cute (time travel took up most of show, so we met history guys, like Shakespeare, Lincoln, Beethoven, dinosaurs..) and funny. The cast had amazing voices as well. I love sitting in the front row in a little black box and being belted at. It's just completely nice to be reminded that theater is pretty awesome and I'm pretty lucky to have the support and training to spend my life doing it.
I gotta go catch up on my thank ya's cards. Next update coming vehry shoooooon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)