Olympic Fever

Took a yoga class today that focused on striving towards Olympian work ethic when moving through the poses and balancing the breath, body, and mind, but not being results oriented. Striving and trying are actually good enough; working towards one's full potential. Today I can't do a handstand, but a year from now, perhaps I can get both feet off the ground for 2 seconds. That's something. My goal now is to apply this to other areas of my acting work. The point is, to be in it. To strive for something and not get it is different than just sitting and waiting for the phone to ring. Dallas Travers has helped motivate me to do things I hadn't thought to do before, like write my own Press Release. My local newspaper actually ran one about my work on One Life to Live, but they wouldn't have known if I didn't take the time to do it.

Back to the Olympics, understandably the need for the gold medal comes with $$ of endorsements from P&G. It's sad to see athletes disappointed in themselves when they get the silver or the bronze medal, as if somehow they are bringing shame upon themselves or their country. Carmelita Jeter was such a great example of someone who trained her butt off (and clearly is an extraordinary athlete) and was delighted with her silver. Good for her!! I admire her tenacity and will take a page out of her book.

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Acting - Nice Work IF You Can Get It

Not a very original title, but I had this terrific audition last week where I could do no wrong (except get the part) and a rehearsal for this long running show I'd been a part of, "Rendezvous - An Evening with Brel, Piaf, Aznavour and Friends. Working on these, I knew how much I loved being an actor and a singer. The Rendezvous rehearsal was to make sure we're in shape in case we get bookings because our producer, Terry Moyer, is putting us out there again. It had been two years since we last worked together and we picked up right where we left off. It was fun!

A couple of blurry rehearsal pictures from Rendezvous rehearsal at my home. I have this wonderful piano that never gets used. It's wonderful to have the apartment filled with music. The talent of this cast is amazing: Greg Purnhagen, Katie Geissinger, Philip Anderson and at the piano Tex Arnold.

It's always nice to work. Rejection, rehearsals with no apparent performance, and opening and closing nights happening on the same evening are part of this business. Doesn't make me love it any less.

Tony Awards

I haven't watched the TONY Awards in years. Two people made me watch this year: Neil Patrick Harris and Bruce Norris. Bruce and my husband went to college together and are still good friends. We were rooting for his play, Clybourne Park to win. It did. Last year, after hearing so much buzz about NPH, we watched his opening number on YouTube, his hilarious number with Hugh Jackman, and his closing wrap up song. He's awesome. So, we were forced to watch this year. I was not disappointed by Neil or Bruce.

My attempt to watch the awards show with detachment failed. At one moment I started crying. That was my dream! The scenes and musical numbers did not deter me, in fact, I'm convinced that my singing and acting days are not behind me. I act in regional theatre, soaps, and industrials, but there's got to be more. I'm grateful to to my husband for his endless support in my endeavors and for giving me the best little son in the world (he's 4), and I wouldn't trade them for a TONY award. Yet, my tears were for the goal I haven't accomplished. I came to New York to be on Broadway. I got sidetracked, but in doing so, ultimately got a terrific family. But now that my son is going to kindergarten in the fall, and yes, a lot of my time will be consumed with fundraisers, PTA meetings, and hoe downs, I'm still an actress and there's no reason not to continue pursuing what I love doing. Actor Kathryn Joosten is an inspiring story, she started acting in her 40s.

But all is not bleak. I have an audition this Thursday for D'Jamin Bartlett's new musical and my old show, "Rendezvous: An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour and Friends" is getting a rehearsal resurrection for a possible upcoming show. So, tomorrow, I start the day with yoga, go to a vocal coaching with the wonderful Steven Silverstein, and put myself out there. What's the worse that could happen?

"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!"

Here's a picture of 12-year-old me as Lucy in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!". That was 7th grade at Piedmont Middle School in San Jose, CA. while my dad was stationed there. I remember a few things from that performance. 1) I was afraid to make an ugly face in my first real production ever. So when Snoopy "licks" my face and I'm supposed to say, "Dog germs! Yuk!!", I couldn't do it facing the audience. 2) the song "Schroeder" was really high. And 3) for months after I would sing the songs in my head and go over mistake I made.

Years later, I'm now having the wonderful opportunity of directing this show at the Clinton School for Writers and Artists in Manhattan. The kids we've assembled (a cast of 33) are quite amazing. From our Charlie Brown down to the smallest (in size) chorus member, these are a talented bunch of kids. We had to double cast a couple of roles, they are that good! Everyone I tell about this show has a happy memory, either of being in it or seeing it or wearing out the album! The great thing about being in a school for writers and artists is that the parents tend to be talented as well. I've needed lighting and sound consultants, costume & set designers, and music transposers and I've been able to find them all in our Clinton community.

Rehearsals are going well and I'm looking forward to our blocking rehearsal on Monday. The following week, we'll be ready to stumble through the show a little bit. It's been a lot of fun, which has once cemented the idea for me that I love directing, teaching, and working with kids.

More to come as we get more into the rehearsal process.

Performances are March 17-19th.

Auditions Are Done!

The monologue workshop class was a success. My students--all girls--all talented and beautiful worked hard on their pieces and were ready. I'm very proud of them. LaGuardia and Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts were this weekend. Most of the girls participated in them this weekend. Most got called back. My heart breaks for all the kids who did not. This matters so much to them. Some of best actors never went to school here, but it's no consolation at the moment. I know rejection, so I know how they feel.

Teaching these kids was a really great experience. It had been a while since I've taught this age group, and it showed me that I really like teaching and have something to offer. I do hope to do this again next year. I would like to teach a two week workshop in the summer culminating in a production for parents and friends to come, so really it's more like a performance workshop.

I'm going to be co-directing a middle school production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" Takes me back to my middle school years when I played Lucy in that production. I remember being so concerned how I looked that I didn't want to make the ugly face when Snoopy licks me and I'm supposed to say, "Eww, dog germs!!" I turned upstage. I was no Meryl Streep. I've gotten over that now.

As work begets work, in the middle of all this, I got a co-starring role on "One Life to Live" as Maid #2 at the sleazy Minute Men Hotel. I won't give a way the scene, but the man who was in the scene with me, John Wesley Shipp, starred on Guiding Light years ago as Dr. Kelly Nelson. He was chased by a woman named Nola, played by the terrific Lisa Brown. Where are they now? Well, John showed up in Llanview and Lisa revived her role on Guiding Light the week of it's final run.

Anyway, it was very exciting for me to be in a scene with John, and when you see the scene you'll laugh, but it was still great. I used to watch him on GL after school. The soap my mom had on. I only got to see the last 1/2 hour because I got home after it started. My husband doesn't understand the draw to soaps and I guess with reality television creeping into the airways, the viewing public doesn't want them anymore. But with One Life to Live, the only soap in New York, I want it to last! I've appeared on OLTL 7 times, not including all the extra work I did before that.

My husband and I are still looking for that one job to give us some financial security, but we have each other and our sometimes wonderful kids!

Monologue Workshop Going Great!

The monologue workshop is off to a great start. We've had two classes, and the girls (no boys this 'round) are working on their second monologue. We've been doing improvs, cold readings, and working on introductions. Too much "ums" and "uhs" but that's why we're practicing!

The girls were much better prepared the second class and are excited about their pieces. Their first monologue choices were all good. I've given them a second one. Nice contrast, too. Trying to explain to the kids that they don't need a happy and a sad piece. Contrasting can also mean different moods or character. They all have that. We need to continue to work on staging and presentation.

I've said this many times before, but I want the kids to be happy and learn something they didn't know before. The High School audition process here in New York is very competitive, with thousands of kids auditioning for a few spots. I would love for all my students to get into the school of their dreams, however, what I really hope for, is that they feel good about what they've accomplished.