Happy Halloween!
Well, I had heard that Halloween was huge in New York City, but I had no idea it was as big as it is. There is spectacular parade through the Village that televised and attracts close to a million people. Everyone knows about New Year’s Eve in Times Square but Halloween in the Village dwarfs December 31st by comparison.
I worked all day while Eric went around town with Nathan & Elizabeth. Robin, my boss’ daughter decided to be Dorothy Gone Blonde 2005 for Halloween (I got to order the ruby Ruby Red Slippers). Since she's a blonde, and Judy Garlend was a burnette - Robin had to make changes to the name. Too cute. Oscar was Toto Gone Blonde 2005 (since he's a light brown color and we all know the original Toto was black). With this change, the early costume choice of a pumpkin (see pictures below) was scrapped.
After work, I jumped on the train to meet up with Eric, Nathan and Elizabeth. I got down to the Village and was overwhelmed by the throngs of people packing the streets. Different roads were blocked off. Security was tight. It was huge. After trying for almost an hour to get through it became evident that I would never reach the other side of 6th Avenue to meet up with Elizabeth, Nathan and Eric.
I finally gave up the ghost (pun intended) and headed home.
Little depressed about it not getting to take part in the festivities and not getting to meet up with Eric, since Halloween was the whole reasoning behind planning his trip up this weekend.
But, what can ya do?
Monday, October 31, 2005
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Changing Leaves & Imagine & Trailer Park
Eric and I met up with Eric’s friend, Mark O’Donnell for brunch in Hell’s Kitchen. Mark wrote the Book for the Tony-winning BEST MUSICAL hit, Hairspray. It was a nice, low-key brunch that was peppered with a lot of theater talk.
Afterwards we lost the WICKED lottery for the third and final time. We kept our chins up and just stepped onto a random bus to see where we’d end up.
We rode up Broadway and got off at 73rd Street and walked across to Central Park. We passed by the famous residence, the Dakota, where John Lennon was murdered and then crossed into the park where I saw, for the first time, the mosaic memorial dedicated to John Lennon.
Eric and I strolled through the park with no real rhyme or reason to our day. It was perfect. We discovered three of the only trees beginning to turn. Finally! There’s color in upstage New York, but so far I haven’t seen much here in Manhattan. I don’t know why but they say the leaves take longer to turn here in the city.
The sunlight and trees were beautiful. Everywhere we turned was a new gorgeous piece of Central Park to try and capture.
We kept walking…visiting my favorite spot, the Bethesda fountain and moving along through the Mall and back down into Time Square. Then we took in The Great American Trailer Park Musical. We were front row, center. I don’t know how it happened, but there we were.
Eric LOVED the show, as did I (it was my 4th time seeing it!). We were hooting and hollering and laughing all through the show. The cast was interacting with us quite a bit and at the end one of the actresses leaned down and wanted to shake my hand. Afterwards I introduced myself to her and she was absolutely delightful.
Eric and I collapsed into a cab and headed home. It had been a LONG day. More so really for him than me – he was out until 3am with Nathan and Elizabeth.
We got home and as we unwound, I introduced him to the First Lady of theater, Elaine Stritch. I had told him about her yesterday and since we were having a low-key evening, I popped in the DVD of her one-woman Broadway show, At Liberty.
He fell in love with Ms. Stritch. This weekend has been Theatre 101 for him.
Afterwards we lost the WICKED lottery for the third and final time. We kept our chins up and just stepped onto a random bus to see where we’d end up.
We rode up Broadway and got off at 73rd Street and walked across to Central Park. We passed by the famous residence, the Dakota, where John Lennon was murdered and then crossed into the park where I saw, for the first time, the mosaic memorial dedicated to John Lennon.
Eric and I strolled through the park with no real rhyme or reason to our day. It was perfect. We discovered three of the only trees beginning to turn. Finally! There’s color in upstage New York, but so far I haven’t seen much here in Manhattan. I don’t know why but they say the leaves take longer to turn here in the city.
The sunlight and trees were beautiful. Everywhere we turned was a new gorgeous piece of Central Park to try and capture.
We kept walking…visiting my favorite spot, the Bethesda fountain and moving along through the Mall and back down into Time Square. Then we took in The Great American Trailer Park Musical. We were front row, center. I don’t know how it happened, but there we were.
Eric LOVED the show, as did I (it was my 4th time seeing it!). We were hooting and hollering and laughing all through the show. The cast was interacting with us quite a bit and at the end one of the actresses leaned down and wanted to shake my hand. Afterwards I introduced myself to her and she was absolutely delightful.
Eric and I collapsed into a cab and headed home. It had been a LONG day. More so really for him than me – he was out until 3am with Nathan and Elizabeth.
We got home and as we unwound, I introduced him to the First Lady of theater, Elaine Stritch. I had told him about her yesterday and since we were having a low-key evening, I popped in the DVD of her one-woman Broadway show, At Liberty.
He fell in love with Ms. Stritch. This weekend has been Theatre 101 for him.
Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd...
Eric and I tried for the Lottery to see WICKED this afternoon. It was the first stop of our day. We were hopeful, but our names weren’t drawn.
We walked Times Square and toyed with the idea of seeing a movie. Saw II – the follow-up to the grotesque thriller I wrote about a couple weeks ago. The weather was chilly and we were ready to get inside somewhere.
As we walked down Broadway, crossing 49th Street, we talked about Saw II and discovered a kinship of things dark. The timing couldn’t have been better because we passed Eugene O’Neil Theater where the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd is running.
We continued down Broadway and I gave Eric a brief synopsis of Sweeney Todd and the more I talked, the more intrigued he became. It was sounding more and more like his kind of show.
I had wanted to see the show since it opened for Previews a few weeks ago. Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite shows by Stephen Sondhiem. There’s been a lot of mixed takes on the revival. The show has been completely re-imagined and staged. It is unlike anything that’s ever been done before. Normally the show is huge, large scale musical with a full orchestra. This production is done on an almost completely bare stage, with ten actors who are also the show’s musicians. Each character – lead or ensemble – plays several instruments throughout the show and none ever leave the stage.
I thought the concept sounded fascinating, though I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it without a full orchestra to capture the score. I still wanted to see it though.
Eric piped up and said he’d be interested in seeing it if I was. We got in line at the TKTS ½ Price Booth in the center of Times Square. It was 15 minutes to showtime, so there wasn’t much of a line. We got up to the window and I remembered that, at the actual theater, they had cheap seats in the Mezzanine. We decided to stay in the TKTS line and see what they had to offer. TKTS had $55 “obstructed view” seats up in the balcony.
I thought we could do better going to the theater, so that’s what we did. When we got to the theater people were already piling in. We went to the ticket counter and found $35 tickets in the Orchestra section, just off to the side. They were also slightly “obstructed” but the price was better and the seats were closer.
We took them.
From the moment the show started, I knew we were in for an amazing. The music and acting was superb and the show on a whole, completely captivating. It was also great to see theater legend Patti LuPone on stage. Patti was the original Evita on Broadway years ago and has also starred in many other musicals. I was also completely taken by Michael Cerveris’ portrayal of the title character, Sweeney. He brought different nuances to the character and made him even more dark and heartbreaking.
At intermission Eric and I talked non-stop about the first Act. He was loving it and said the show was a perfect choice for him. I confided in him that I have short (very short) list of “Dream Roles” that I would love to play.
Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE
Sweeney in SWEENEY TODD
Proctor is one of the greatest roles written for the stage. Arthur Miller, the show’s playwright, is one of my all-time favorites. I love his play The Crucible. I been in one production, as Rev. Hale, and I look forward to having the age and talent under my belt to play Proctor.
Sweeney is one of the deepest, most tragic, and powerful characters in musical theater. Sondhiem writes for brilliantly for actors who sing. I love the layers and facets to the character of Sweeney Todd.
When the show was over it received a well-deserved standing ovation. I thought it was incredible. The stark bareness of the staging only added to the compelling thrill of the show.
Eric loved the show and sang bits and pieces for the rest of the day.
Visit: www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com
We had sure-thing tickets to SLUT: A WHOLESOME MUSICAL tonight, but we tried the lottery for WICKED anyway for the evening show…and again, lost.
Visit: www.wickedthemusical.com
We hopped on the C Train and headed down to Chelsea to eat at Dallas BBQ on 23rd. I had been craving BBQ for days and Eric obliged my craving. After dinner we were back on the C heading back up to see SLUT.
When we got to the theater I was greeted warmly by the House Manager who recognized me as a repeat patron. She was happy to see me bringing someone else to see the show.
Eric and I enjoyed SLUT. There were a couple of understudies in tonight and they did a good. I noticed several things that were a tad bit off, but overall they well. I know being an understudy has be crazy…you rehearse and practice just waiting for the possibility of going on.
Visit: www.slutthemusical.com
Afterward, Eric wasn’t quite ready to call it a night. He sprung for a cab and we rode uptown to my apartment, dropped off our stuff and then met up with Nathan and Elizabeth at G – the slick martini bar on 19th Street.
The place was PACKED and the spirit of Halloween was everywhere. More than half of the crowd was sporting their costumes a day early. All the bartenders were pirates…half-dress pirates.
I was exhausted from working all day and spending all day about town, so I made it an early night and headed home to bed.
We walked Times Square and toyed with the idea of seeing a movie. Saw II – the follow-up to the grotesque thriller I wrote about a couple weeks ago. The weather was chilly and we were ready to get inside somewhere.
As we walked down Broadway, crossing 49th Street, we talked about Saw II and discovered a kinship of things dark. The timing couldn’t have been better because we passed Eugene O’Neil Theater where the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd is running.
We continued down Broadway and I gave Eric a brief synopsis of Sweeney Todd and the more I talked, the more intrigued he became. It was sounding more and more like his kind of show.
I had wanted to see the show since it opened for Previews a few weeks ago. Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite shows by Stephen Sondhiem. There’s been a lot of mixed takes on the revival. The show has been completely re-imagined and staged. It is unlike anything that’s ever been done before. Normally the show is huge, large scale musical with a full orchestra. This production is done on an almost completely bare stage, with ten actors who are also the show’s musicians. Each character – lead or ensemble – plays several instruments throughout the show and none ever leave the stage.
I thought the concept sounded fascinating, though I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it without a full orchestra to capture the score. I still wanted to see it though.
Eric piped up and said he’d be interested in seeing it if I was. We got in line at the TKTS ½ Price Booth in the center of Times Square. It was 15 minutes to showtime, so there wasn’t much of a line. We got up to the window and I remembered that, at the actual theater, they had cheap seats in the Mezzanine. We decided to stay in the TKTS line and see what they had to offer. TKTS had $55 “obstructed view” seats up in the balcony.
I thought we could do better going to the theater, so that’s what we did. When we got to the theater people were already piling in. We went to the ticket counter and found $35 tickets in the Orchestra section, just off to the side. They were also slightly “obstructed” but the price was better and the seats were closer.
We took them.
From the moment the show started, I knew we were in for an amazing. The music and acting was superb and the show on a whole, completely captivating. It was also great to see theater legend Patti LuPone on stage. Patti was the original Evita on Broadway years ago and has also starred in many other musicals. I was also completely taken by Michael Cerveris’ portrayal of the title character, Sweeney. He brought different nuances to the character and made him even more dark and heartbreaking.
At intermission Eric and I talked non-stop about the first Act. He was loving it and said the show was a perfect choice for him. I confided in him that I have short (very short) list of “Dream Roles” that I would love to play.
Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE
Sweeney in SWEENEY TODD
Proctor is one of the greatest roles written for the stage. Arthur Miller, the show’s playwright, is one of my all-time favorites. I love his play The Crucible. I been in one production, as Rev. Hale, and I look forward to having the age and talent under my belt to play Proctor.
Sweeney is one of the deepest, most tragic, and powerful characters in musical theater. Sondhiem writes for brilliantly for actors who sing. I love the layers and facets to the character of Sweeney Todd.
When the show was over it received a well-deserved standing ovation. I thought it was incredible. The stark bareness of the staging only added to the compelling thrill of the show.
Eric loved the show and sang bits and pieces for the rest of the day.
Visit: www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com
We had sure-thing tickets to SLUT: A WHOLESOME MUSICAL tonight, but we tried the lottery for WICKED anyway for the evening show…and again, lost.
Visit: www.wickedthemusical.com
We hopped on the C Train and headed down to Chelsea to eat at Dallas BBQ on 23rd. I had been craving BBQ for days and Eric obliged my craving. After dinner we were back on the C heading back up to see SLUT.
When we got to the theater I was greeted warmly by the House Manager who recognized me as a repeat patron. She was happy to see me bringing someone else to see the show.
Eric and I enjoyed SLUT. There were a couple of understudies in tonight and they did a good. I noticed several things that were a tad bit off, but overall they well. I know being an understudy has be crazy…you rehearse and practice just waiting for the possibility of going on.
Visit: www.slutthemusical.com
Afterward, Eric wasn’t quite ready to call it a night. He sprung for a cab and we rode uptown to my apartment, dropped off our stuff and then met up with Nathan and Elizabeth at G – the slick martini bar on 19th Street.
The place was PACKED and the spirit of Halloween was everywhere. More than half of the crowd was sporting their costumes a day early. All the bartenders were pirates…half-dress pirates.
I was exhausted from working all day and spending all day about town, so I made it an early night and headed home to bed.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Eric Arrives Pre-Halloween
A friend from Kentucky, Eric, arrived tonight…late. He’s here for a long weekend to take in all the Halloween festivities.
It will be great to see him again (he was my first semi-house guest when I moved up May 1st. We hung out during his layover on the way to Paris.) and together we’ll explore Manhattan.
I met him at Port Authority and we headed home and met up with Elizabeth for dinner at Orbit (a great jazz restaurant literally just around the corner).
Eric and I caught up on the train ride. I filled him in on my future/hopeful work on the Julie Taymor film. As I started talking I saw all these pieces coming together in my mind that I hadn’t really considered…
On Broadway a month or so ago, I saw the musical Lennon which was based on the life of John Lennon. Then I went to the Paul McCartney concert with Arleta. Two weeks ago I ordered the first two Beatle Anthology CD sets.
I kinda feel destined for the Julie Taymor film…can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
It will be great to see him again (he was my first semi-house guest when I moved up May 1st. We hung out during his layover on the way to Paris.) and together we’ll explore Manhattan.
I met him at Port Authority and we headed home and met up with Elizabeth for dinner at Orbit (a great jazz restaurant literally just around the corner).
Eric and I caught up on the train ride. I filled him in on my future/hopeful work on the Julie Taymor film. As I started talking I saw all these pieces coming together in my mind that I hadn’t really considered…
On Broadway a month or so ago, I saw the musical Lennon which was based on the life of John Lennon. Then I went to the Paul McCartney concert with Arleta. Two weeks ago I ordered the first two Beatle Anthology CD sets.
I kinda feel destined for the Julie Taymor film…can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
A Soldier's Play
Tonight I got a last minute ticket to A Soldier’s Play starring Taye Diggs.
It was an incredible play centered around a murder investigation on a Louisiana Army base during World War II. The victim, Sergeant Vernon Waters, is a black NCO. The investigator sent by the Army is a black officer (Taye Digg’s role) is forced to square off against Waters’s white commander. It confronts prejudice and internal racism.
The play was also the made into a movie years ago. I haven’t seen it, but I’m told that if I watch I’ll see a lot of African-American actor’s making their film debuts – including Denzel Washington.
Visit: http://www.secondstagetheatre.com/soldier/
It was an incredible play centered around a murder investigation on a Louisiana Army base during World War II. The victim, Sergeant Vernon Waters, is a black NCO. The investigator sent by the Army is a black officer (Taye Digg’s role) is forced to square off against Waters’s white commander. It confronts prejudice and internal racism.
The play was also the made into a movie years ago. I haven’t seen it, but I’m told that if I watch I’ll see a lot of African-American actor’s making their film debuts – including Denzel Washington.
Visit: http://www.secondstagetheatre.com/soldier/
Thursday, October 27, 2005
So...close...
Major disappointment.
Because of traffic and having to work late, I missed the fitting. They can reschedule me for Monday, but again work interferes.
The dilemma of wanting to work in the arts but also needing steady pay to actually live.
Because of traffic and having to work late, I missed the fitting. They can reschedule me for Monday, but again work interferes.
The dilemma of wanting to work in the arts but also needing steady pay to actually live.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
My First Film ????
I got a call yesterday about the Julie Taymor Beatles musical-film. I went to the Open Call a couple months ago. I’ve gotten two calls. One for a work that would be filmed in December and now a second call about Peace March scene that will be filmed next Tuesday.
They’re interested in me for an extra role that would be semi-featured. They’re interested in me because of my size and presence.
I am thrilled! I have a fitting tomorrow.
They’re interested in me for an extra role that would be semi-featured. They’re interested in me because of my size and presence.
I am thrilled! I have a fitting tomorrow.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Ark (NOT a Commentary on All the Rain in NYC of Late)
Elizabeth came back late last night. She’s been in Atlanta celebrating her birthday with her family and boyfriend, Nathan. She worked for a couple of hours in the morning and then had a dance glass.
I returned my furry little friend and took the train to Brooklyn to make a Target run. I met up with her afterwards and the two of us ventured off-Broadway to see a new musical called, The Ark.
The show is a rock, pop, r&b, and gospel musical re-telling of Noah and the Genesis’ story of The Great Flood. The show is now in Previews, I think it opens next month. The show had some rough spots (which will probably be worked out over the next couple of weeks) but what problems it had it made up for with a talent and heart. I think this show is an ideal family show. It’s great for kids but has enough power and pull to keep adults enthralled.
You can hear some of the music on their site. Check it out if you have the time and the inclination. If you’re planning a visit NYC any time soon…ask me about getting tickets.
Visit: www.thearkmusical.com
I returned my furry little friend and took the train to Brooklyn to make a Target run. I met up with her afterwards and the two of us ventured off-Broadway to see a new musical called, The Ark.
The show is a rock, pop, r&b, and gospel musical re-telling of Noah and the Genesis’ story of The Great Flood. The show is now in Previews, I think it opens next month. The show had some rough spots (which will probably be worked out over the next couple of weeks) but what problems it had it made up for with a talent and heart. I think this show is an ideal family show. It’s great for kids but has enough power and pull to keep adults enthralled.
You can hear some of the music on their site. Check it out if you have the time and the inclination. If you’re planning a visit NYC any time soon…ask me about getting tickets.
Visit: www.thearkmusical.com
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