12
March
2008
On Wednesday, I was extremely busy. In the morning, I got up early to get tickets for the matinée of my choice. A lot of my close friends went to Mary Poppins. I did want to go see it, but I knew I would regret it if I did not go and see The Phantom of the Opera. So I headed to the Majestic Theatre to purchase tickets. I got a cheap ticket in the mezzanine. Well it was not that cheap…but it was better than I thought it was going to be.
I then met Latera at the subway by Bryant park and headed downtown where we were going to be Jon and David for a voice lesson with Tom Burke. It was a rather terrifying journey because we went on the elevator to the 4th floor and the elevator broke for a while and I panicked…luckily Latera was there to keep me sane hehe! The lesson was extremely helpful, yet a little intimidating. I was really frustrated because I left my music book at home so I had to sing a song that I knew but was not confident on. So, I sang Find your Grail from Spamelot. I did well and he was able to bring back a voice that has been missing since I got mono freshman year. I really need to work on my confidence when it comes to singing. I am very uncomfortable with it. I get nervous that I am not good enough and that I need to stick to plays- even though I do not want to.
I then headed to the Majestic theatre- actually I ran to the majestic theatre. On the way, I got a text from Patricia Phillips letting me know that my name was on the list and that I could meet her after the show at the stage door. So, I headed up the mezzanine. I was really far away from the stage, but it was still amazing. I thought the Phantom, however, was a little disappointing. He came off way too mean and the actor that played the title role at the Kennedy Center was a lot more captivating. Patricia Phillips was wonderful. After the show, I headed to the stage door and waited a few minutes while she was getting out of her dress. She came downstairs, gave me a huge hug, and showed me around the theatre. It was cool to go down beneath the stage and see how all of the technical elements worked. We then sat in the house and discussed her career and her experiences. She was really interesting and said that I just need to keep training and working, and never stop singing!
Posted: Contacts, Dreams, New York, broadway, music, show
7
March
2008
Tuesday, I traveled to Brooklyn by myself for my first interview with Amy Graves. Amy was a professional actor since she was young and now has established and owns her own children’s theatre in Brooklyn.
The journey to Brooklyn was rather insane actually. A guy flashed a young woman on the train and then a homeless man came up and asked me for food and a hug from a pretty lady (I told him where to go)!
So, I finally met Amy at Connecticut Muffin. It was a lovely coffee shop by Prospect Park. When she walked in I knew there was no worry and I was not nervous at all. We talked about how she got into the business. She actually went to NYU. She talked about the importance of confidence. She tries to instill that into all the children in her theatre company. Her message of confidence really effected me. There are times when I retract and lose focus and sense of what I am doing because I lose confidence in myself. Her message of keeping that confidence definitely helped me.
Amy also discussed the importance of her family. She chose to give up the actor’s life for the moment because her family was more important. She said there is a point where one needs to get there priorities in order. I think that made a lot of sense. She said when her daughter is a bit older she might go out and audition again- but for now the theatre was what she was focused on.
The class also went to see Patrick Stewart in Macbeth at the BAM. I did not like it. It effected me and it did its job- but it was too loud , I was too high up, and I did not like being frightened the whole time. The acting was wonderful, and the new and revolutionized concept was also amazing- but I did not like the blood, the noises, and the horrific scenes. I certainly apprecreiated the art and was grateful to the actors- but it was just not my cup of tea.
Posted: Contacts, New York, brooklyn, show
7
March
2008
On Monday the class saw Gypsy starring Patti Lupone. It was the first preview run and the first run with an actual audience. Unlike any other show I have been lucky enough to see- most of the audience was there to see Patti. When she came onto the stage, there was un uproar from the audience and the show simply stopped for a minuite. When Patti was done with her grand number- once again the show came to a stand still. Yet, Patti kept in character and it was amazing how she could stay in the moment like that without a flaw.
There were a few technical difficulties. I am not sure this was because it was the first night of preview though. I do not think that a show would go out of techs if it was not ready. At one point the curtain got caught and I could see an SM running in the background and also the side marker seemed to not want to work in the first act. I think these were mistakes that could not be controlled and it really did not bother me.
It was an honor to see this show and to be able to see such a star perform.
Posted: New York, broadway, show
3
March
2008
I woke up this morning and planned to audit an acting class with Steve, Helena, Karen, and Latera. We headed downtown to 14th st. and we simply could not find it. I thought this as an opportunity to take the bull by the horns and head off into NYC by myself. I got on the subway and headed uptown. I got of at 73rd street West.
The first plan of action was to head to the Dakota. No, there was no Yoko around- but there was a sense of peace around all the taxi horns. The actual architecture of the building is stunning! So, after the Dakota I headed to the American Museum of Natural History. With a student rate, I was able to get in with a decent price. It was nice to stroll through the exhibits at my own pace. and sit when I wanted to so that I could have an even greater look at particular exhibits. Teddy Rooservelt is my favorite president, so the best part was sitting outside and just looking at the statue that stood so tall on the steps of the entrance.
Across the way, I saw Central Park. I was rather hesitant to go in by myself. After seeing the Devil’s Advocate with the scary scene in the park I was slightly nervous. I know that seems utterly ridiculous- but that is how I felt. As I walked into the park. I felt peace all around me. I entered where there was a large lake and I just sat at its edge for half an hour- just coming to terms with where I was and how I was feeling. I then headed over to the Bethesda Fountain. As I sat by the fountain, a calm and confident feeling came about me. I was here, alone, reading She Stoops to Conquer and I was fine. Many dogs kept getting attracted to me-Lord knows why-but I was able to spark conversations with people my age who live in the city and that was really great. I got an insight into where some of them lived and what they did and how they felt about the city. It was nice to see how talkative and welcoming a lot of the people are here.
So I ended up at 72nd East while leaving the park. I was not sure where to go next- so I just started walking towards 42nd assuming there would be a few Subway stops on the way. Fate then led me to the Temple Emanu-el. I had an interesting and enlightening personal experience.
Today was a fantastic day.
Posted: Uncategorized
3
March
2008
Tonight, after Legally Blonde, the class was honored with a tour backstage of the Palace Theatre. Natalie was gracious enough to show us around and give us a splendid tour. It was great to meet with her and realize how real and how like us she is. It was great to walk through the dressing rooms and see the reality of the life under the stage.
We walked through the guys’ dressing rooms and then Natalie led us up a steep winding staircase to the stage of the Palace Theatre. I stepped onto the stage- and I had chills. I scoped about the seats- trying to wrap my mind about many there were, about how many people there could be in the audience in one night. I stood centre stage, and looked down on my feet. My feet were there, so were my legs, and then I realized where I was standing and what I was doing. Chills came all about me and I could not keep in the tears. If it was not for Natalie and the gracious tour, I am sure I would have fallen to my knees. Other than moving to America, this was the greatest night of my life. That is not an exaggeration- tonight, I realized that this life is for me. I realized that this is what I want to do. I want to do this, I need to do this, and the more I am here I am realizing I can do this.
The can part is the section that has been keeping me from my dream. Granted, with the way I look right now I have a small range- but that can change. And it will. But before this trip, my dreams and my goals were unattainable. I felt that I could never make it. But thanks to the city, and thanks to some kind words from friends, I realize that I am the only one that has been hindering myself from my goals. I am so caught up on that small range that I feel that there is no hope for me. But, that range can change, and even if there was a smaller range- that does not mean that I will not be successful.
I was on that stage, and it was a monumental experience for me. It was enlightening- and now I am ready-ready to allow myself to make this happen.
Posted: Dreams, New York, feelings
3
March
2008
It has been a day and a half- and I am in New York City. As I got on the bus at DuPont Friday morning, I was so anxious. I was scared and I thought what the hell am I doing!? I’m off on this trip and I am really OK! The first night we went and saw Spring Awakening. It was the first Broadway show I have ever seen and I was certainly not disappointed. It was a great production. The story, the music, and the lighting design was amazing. I am sure I need to put some sort of artistic critism into this- but I just can’t right now.
Yesterday, I went to canal st. It was really awesome. I bought an I LOVE NYC t-shirt, postcards, a shot glass – and it was great to be a tourist for the day. I am using this weekend to do that so in the week I can handle the contacts and just get it together in the city. I also got a metro card yesterday. It was a great experience to go on the subway. It was actually easier than I thought and not sketchy at all. Yesterday, the class saw The Seagull. It was a beautiful production and Diane Wiest and Alan Cumming were wonderful. There were points of the production where I lost the focus and where the actors lost my attention, but I immediatly was brought back into the moment with the comic quirks created by the actors and the text. Also we saw Next to Normal last night. It was a really intense musical with an extremely dramatic plot. I thought the story was really touching and it really got me thinking about the effect grief can have on a person, especially the effect grief can have on a mother. The death of a child must be so monumental and painful- and I felt Alice Riply who played as the role of Diane (the mother) portrayed the effect of grief honestly and graciously. I also was effected by the haunting son in the musical. At points, I felt Gabe was malicious and that made me very uncomfortable. Grief, fear, anxiety can become stronger than the person it is consuming and take on its own life form- how pertrifying. I thought the music was really good. Yet, the song about electric shock was a little distasteful for me.
Today, I went to the MoMa. I walked in with an attitude that I was not going to get anything and that I was just going to look at these pieces of art work and not appreciate it because I did not understand it. But there were some art pieces that really touched me and effected me. It was really great to see that! I was able to apprecitate, accept, and even be effected!
I am starting to adore this city. I want to go and explore- alone and make this work!
Posted: Uncategorized
