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
