Hi! My name is Tara Tagliaferro, a performer/teaching artist based out of Philadelphia, PA currently on the road this holiday season with the HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS National Tour! I got Shrink Session mid-October this year as a handy work out program to have on the road (perfect for hotel rooms!) and to help meet some of my body/health goals I created in Erin's Magical Manifesters program (scroll down to my blog before to hear more about MM!). I bought this program because it is a beautiful blend of my favorite aspects of working out (kickboxing!) and also supplements my yoga practice with an enjoyable cardio in the same inspiring realm. My three go-tos in a weekly workout now include dance class, yoga, and Shrink Session! What I love about Shrink Session is that it does more for me than the gym ever could with each session's structure and somehow manages to put my mind at peace. There is clear intention and creativity poured into each workout and Erin is the best motivator. She has also created multiple schedules for you to chose from, whichever works the best for what you are looking for, to easily mix into your life. I am pretty new to Shrink Session, so the results have mainly been an invigorating start to my day. I love doing SS first thing in the morning because it sets the tone right in accomplishing other tasks...and makes me walk a little taller. The mantras are something else. As an artist consistently creating my own projects, I love the "What I Dream About, I Bring About It" mantra, sometimes envisioning what I want in my career while I work out. Its pretty extraordinary and brings a new sense of intensity and energy into the program. I would recommend Shrink Session to anyone who is looking for an in-home cardio that doesn't make your just sweat, but feel empowered about life and your place in it. And if you don't want to do it alone, its a party to do in groups!
(Only catch is there won’t be any wine glass clicking celebration of a graduation this time around- BOO!)
But isn’t that crazy- my college senior year was now 4 years ago!? I’m old. For some reason, I still tie the seasons of my life to school semesters. I think I have an obsession with learning...wearing knee socks...and my annual fall outing to Staples for flashy new school supplies...just can’t kick it.
It is pretty funny though to think about all the projects, trips, and discoveries I’ve had over these years as if they were classes...
Freshman year Tara Tag Real World style included beginner courses like An Intro to Philadelphia, Long Distance Relationship 1, Apprentice 101: Touring in a Van Survival Guide, Performing in Cafetoriums, Puppetry for Dummies, Understudying Prep, Renting vs. Subletting, and a special combo of Koresh Dance School and the 12th St. Gym in fitness and dance. It was an intense year performing full time for kids that ended in a paid New Hampshire summer stock vacation with my sweetheart. Not to shabby of a start...
Then sophomore year upped the game and gave me a mixture of practical and fierce with Find Your Fosse Murderess, Commuting to NY, Audition Schlepping 101, Long Distance Relationship 2, Cabaret: How to Create Your One Woman Show from Scratch, Golden Age Comediennes and Class Act Females, Rock Musical Sk/scr/b-elting, Choreographing Junior Musicals, Camp Walnut 1, Cabaret Rewriting and Collaboration, Ukulele for Beginners, and a combo of dance classes in Philly and NY plus yoga,kickboxing, and ballet barre workouts through Groupon and Living Social and a Disneyland trip to wrap it all up. WOAH- Busy year. Bonus! I had an Arizona New Year!
And last year, the junior year, got REAL with How to Co-Star with Leading Men Whom Don’t Dance, But Can SAAANG, Long Distance Relationship 3 (going strong!), Private Coaching Hands On Skills, Whoville 101, Packing for a National Tour (Airport Security would say I failed), Advanced Cabaret Collaboration: Duets, Odd Job Survival Skills, Filing for Unemployment (I think I failed this one too), Understanding Taxes (taught by Poppa Tag), Pink Lady Etiquette, Tanning for Dummies, How to Do Disney World in a Day! (I recommend this course with lots of coffee and power walking...and fast passes), Camp Walnut 2, Double Duty: How to Perform and Teach W/O a Day Off, and many dance, acting, and singing coaching and classes dispersed amongst my two favorite cities, ending with a lot of summer road trips that cruised down memory lane and a Nashville birthday with my family and wonderful guy.
Wowweee.
It’s been an adventurous potpourri of an education- I can’t knock that one bit! Let’s face it; the real world teaches you things school never can. And you’re the writer of your own syllabus- the absolute best! I only hope to pass “Packing for a National Tour” this time around. Get it together Tara!
Sorry for that outburst! On with the blog...
I’m currently in NYC rehearsing muffin top and all for the GRINCH National Tour, elated to be reprising the role of “Mama Who” for a second year! I wake up every morning excited to make my way on the A train to rehearsal and can’t wait to tell this magical story of Christmas cheer and Who-eee goodness all over the country real soon. More on Whoville to come, but let’s rewind a bit first.
What happened this September and October you may ask? Well, here’s what!!!
.the gypsy.
This early autumn I was wheelie suitcase gypsy, traveling between Philly and New York and occasionally home to Jersey, staying with Momma and Poppa Tag and a plethora of friends as Patrick, my talented boyfriend, continued to be a Tennessee star (he’s currently rehearsing “Nick” in THE GREAT GATSBY)!! My couch hopping escapades mostly between Harlem, Washington Heights, and the Upper West Side guaranteed my hosts’ Scmackery cookies, which are inventive little son-of-a-guns that make your mouth water in their combo of flavors. I think its ironic thats its stationed right outside of Broadway Dance Center, tempting me to pack right back on the calories I just burned. Its all due to two words: Maple Bacon. Nom-Nom-Nom-Nom.
A huge thank you to my amazing friends from Greasers to Montclair alums to summer stock sistas and to hometown roots that sweetly giave me their VERY comfortable couches/futons to crash on.
This beginning of fall felt like college again in so many ways, slipping into old routines with former roommates and best friends of mine, staying up late laughing, rehearsing material for class/auditions in living rooms, and just general reconnecting with people I adore. As much as I’ve missed Patrick being in NY, this was extremely welcomed and got me all jazzed about moving! One of my favorite delis in Harlem was even starting to remember my order!!! NY magic.
.I HEART NY.
What I was up to in the Big Apple:
Ziegfeld Society Debut
What a special day!!! It felt like Vaudeville Halloween, getting to dress up in insanely lavish costumes and trick or treat on stage and off with two MSU loves I share excellent performance histories with: Devin Johnson (MSU ’13) the tap wizard and Kelsey “Kiki” Thompson (MSU ’10 with me!) the powerhouse. Too good to be true!
LADY VAUD-GA
I performed two numbers: “I Don’t Care” as Eva Tanguay, the original Lady Gaga, a ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1909 Hit and “Gotta Get a Gimmick” as Tessie Tura from everyone’s favorite GYPSY. Show stopping magic! I will never forget Kiki wailing her trumpet as Mazeppa in my ear. We have sung “At the Ballet” together in summer stock and have now titled our friendship from Ballet to Burlesque. <3>
If You Want to Grind It...WAIT 'Til You Refined It!
The adorable Ingrid Saxton as Miss Electra with Kiki and Me
A warm thank you to the man behind the piano as well as the whole sha-bang, Mr. Mark York, for putting together such a rousing tribute of musical theatre gold! I joke with Mark that he should hire me as his casting director for the Ziegfeld Society, so excited to have gotten many MSU alums, my boyfriend, and myself involved with his past shows. CHECK OUT THE ZIEGFELD SOCIETY WEBSITE!
Montclair Reunion!
Drop and Give Me 16 Bars!
Alan Souza’s MT Bootcamp class has been the pumpkin spice latte of my fall. My rep book is feeling cozy, yet fiery and ready to take on the town! Working with Alan has been exactly what the doctor ordered this fall- a complete repertoire makeover and spruce up to some oldies, but goodies. Alan is also the best to watch in action; he becomes so passionate about your pieces that he is always on the edge of his seat, shouting truths and subtext at you for fuel. I love it so much and he inspires the teacher in me. The discoveries my class and I had in our pieces due to Alan making them very real was sensational and turned our auditioning world into compelling storytelling. My point of view got a big old work out as I was forced to be specific and true to who I am. Who could ask for anything more?
Musical Theatre Friends and Family- If you are looking for a good class to get your audition bundle of songs really nifty, I recommend Alan. You get to work for at least a half hour every week, which is pretty rare in other classes, as well as benefit from Alan’s musical theatre encyclopedia of a brain to recommend you new material. And he’s just a hoot to boot and a terrific regional theatre director to have on your radar. I’m also just little bit in love with him and the classmates I got to share it all with!
Oh also, my GRINCH keyboard team were the darling class accompanists: Peter Nilsen and Steven Cuevas. Seeing them every week had me itching to sing “Fah-Who-For-Aze!” again!
On Camera
Okay, the Progressive Auto Girl Flo totally inspired me to push past my on-camera hesitations and find my quirky niche in commercial land, signing up for one of my college showcase instructors and casting director for Herman Lipson Casting Barry Shapiro's On-Camera Commercial Technique Course through Actors Connection. At first I thought, “jeez I blow at this and boy, I cannot watch myself for nothing!” But week by week, I soon got over it and began enjoying “thinking like the campaign” and toning myself down. Barry discovered after freezing on my face multiple times that crazy eyes and a weird usage of my eyebrows are a natural default for me- hahaha- it was hilarious...and horrifying torture at the same time. Thank God I adore Barry, who lead our class of characters with an entertaining sarcastic flare, leaving no one at mercy to his cracks. I’m hoping to rejoin Barry in the future in his advanced class and to invest energy towards beginning a commercial career! I am currently freelancing with Philadelphia agent Greer Lange of Expression Models/Greer Lange Talent Agency and will be on the hunt for commercial agents in NY! May be Flo will need a sister...
Tara Tag The Entrepreneur
Around this time last year, Patrick and I both attended an Equity Membership Candidate meeting at the NY Actors Equity Association building. There we met Doug Shapiro, a career coach with The Savvy Actor, who was beyond crafty in his audition guidance and targeting plans plus a regular comedienne. He offered us all free consultations and after trying to schedule a sit down with Doug between both of our out-of-town schedules, it finally happened this September! Worth the wait- I did not know what I was in for. Before I knew it, I was signed up for The Savvy Actor Crash Course MBA Weekend.
Press Packet Magic!
I cannot tell you how in invaluable this course is in having you treat yourself as a beautiful budding business. Marketing, branding, creating focused and motivated yearly goals, financial strategizing...its that scary big girl/real world stuff thats pretty essential in giving actor careers’ forward momentum. We were given well constructed plans and ways to approach and maneuver through just about everything actors face nowadways from website design, to agent hunting, to social media representation, to budgeting life and actor expenses....making the scary stuff actually pretty creative and enjoyable. You should see how organized I am now due to this course: creating a weekly budget control, a task manager, a contact sheet of all the industry professionals I know, a branding statement, new cover letters...its really got me putting everything on paper and focusing on one thing at a time. Doug is now my personal career coach and I couldn’t thank him more for helping me tackle my goals. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SAVVY ACTOR MBA CRASH COURSE WEEKEND!
PS The Career Manual is so worth the investment!
I Happen to Like New York
Other New York high lights included seeing PIPPIN right before Andrea Martin left with college buddy Michael Luongo (both gasping in utter awe), reconnecting with The Growing Studio in taking a two-day master class with Jay Binder complete with sides and coaching sessions (a unforgettable experience), and auditioning all over the place. I have certainly been hustling, but my smile has stayed pretty strong. Even as I accidentally missed my bus and had to run to catch a train back to Philly like a looney, I still couldn’t imagine doing anything else. This career will always keep me young...and running while dragging way to many bags.
Thanks New York. I think I’ll call you home soon.
.The Philly Home Front.
Before subletting my place this November, not coming back until H2$ begins its Walnut run in May, I loved coming home to my Philly house, cherishing my neighborhood treasures and enjoying biking anywhere I needed to go. My roommates and I hosted our 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party and anytime spent in my house was just oober relaxing and wonderful in prepping me for my adventures in NY. I’ve also loved coaching with Philly music director beasts John Daniels and Amanda Morton...and of course singing parlor tunes with Matty Mastronardi into the wee small hours- our favorite way to spend a weekend night. In Philly, I’d been busy teaching and also completing my 4 week online course with Magical Manifesters. I mean just the name of this course alone makes me grin ear to ear. Erin Stutland, the course leader, totally speaks my language...scroll down to read more!
My Coaching Studio
My Living Room for Student Showcase: Grandma's Basement Meets Ripley Grier
I now have a total of 11 students in my coaching studio, four of them bravely preparing for college auditions, one developing his very own daring cabaret, and the rest tapping, singing, and acting their troubles away. I could not ask for a more dynamic and motivated group. Watching them grow into storytellers and share their joy for performing with me has been invigorating and humbling. I learn so much from my students and am always searching for the best vocabulary and metaphors to give them the clearest vision on what they want to accomplish. I know how valuable working one on one is for me and I’m glad to now experience this on the other end. I’m always welcoming in new students at any age or level: CONTACT ME FOR TEACHING RATES/INFO!
I’m also extremely proud of the successful College Prep and Pre-College Summer Program Showcase I organized before leaving town with Matthew Mastronardi on keys (and also an instrumental dose of inspiration in song coaching), hosted in my very own living room with an invited panel of industry guests to offer feedback and musical theatre career and training insight to 5 of my hard working students. My students‘ parents also got to grab a glimpse of what their talented kids have been working on! I cannot thank my guests enough; my living room has never been that alive, humming with musical theatre pride and passion! Shout out to Kate Fahrner, Michael Warrell, Nate Golden, Megan Nicole O’Brien, and Rachel Camp!
**In teaching news, looks like I’ll be teaching at the Walnut Street Theatre in the new year, scheduled for tap introduction and H2$ seminars.
Check out my NEWS on my website for official info in the year to come!
BONUS! Upcoming Philly Performances
He's BA-ack.
I’ll also be back on stage January-February '14 in the Walnut's Kid Series production of ALEXANDER WHO'S NOT x6 GOING TO MOVE, the musical sequel to ALEXANDER...NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY. My entire cast from last year is back and I’m assistant choreographing again as well! Can’t wait- I hear there is a singing dog in this one! CLICK ME FOR TICKET INFO!
Professor Tag
It was a pleasure to make my collegiate teaching debut this fall as well with the senior musical theatre majors at Temple University! The class was called Dress Rehearsal, offering an intro to the business side of things and mock auditions as well to sharpen audition skills. I went to town in offering resource guides for both Philadelphia and New York and loved pre-screening the students before performing for Philly casting/artistic directors. We got deep and I totally fell in love with this class of students. Go get ‘em ’14.
I love Jennie Eisenhower wildly for giving me this extraordinary teaching opportunity and can’t tell you how much she lights up the Arden Theatre Company stage with Ben Dibble in PARADE- what a duo. Just in general too- PARADE was my fall musical pick. My girls Rachel Camp and Alex Keiperwere alongside Philebrities galore singing to the Southland and back in a stunning production. Due to this, Patrick and I spent hours online googling the Leo Frank trial, making our own assumptions. I felt like a History Channel presentation.
Dance and Yoga Time Outs
One of my favorite teachers and choreographers: J-RO!
I also took a little class in Philly, continuing my yoga class cards and temporary fancy gym class membership, plus spending many Sunday nights dancing with Barrymore Award Nominated Choreographer Jenn Rose at Ballet Fleming. I live for Jenn’s warm ups and sultry musical theatre combos. I’m the best kind of sweaty mess at the end!
Less Hustle More Flow
Magical Manifesters sprinkled fairy dust all over the woman I am and strive to be. It’s the first online program I have ever signed up for and is catered to give structure and fulfillment to self starter goals and projects, attracting naturally many artists who operate on their own dime. I really wanted this fall to be a lot about envisioning and mapping out my career and creative dreams, learning to treat actor/teaching artist self as a business (thanks Savvy Actor!) and to see a bright fulfilling future ahead in Wizard of Oz style technicolor. I know I have a big move coming my way and my confidence and drive need to find a center, a way to not doubt my actions, give myself permission for the scary, gain control over my finances, and feel like an energized and healthy lady. With four full weeks worth of module lessons via video and PDF worksheets, journaling, a weekly phone call, pod casts, and other bonus resources, MM has also given me a vibrant community online with open forums for my fellow MMers and I to share our discoveries and what we do. Its pretty rad and inspiring.
Thanks to MM, I have already welcomed in a new cardio program Shrink Session, also created by the Magical Manifester Queen herself Erin (THERE IS NOTHING THIS WOMAN DOESN'T DO!), as an in home and on tour force of nature and am pumped to trade my on-the-run eating habits of Luna bars and trail mix in for dedicating time in the kitchen and preparing actual meals I can be proud of. MM has also helped me get a good handle on budgeting and keeping control of my finances, so I can move to NY with a little cushion. I also am working on my first real Dream Board! I can’t wait to cut it all out and share the finished product! I’ve based it off of the Mary Tyler Moore Theme: “You’re Gonna Make It After All!”
...
So now here I am, staying next door to the George Washington Bridge with my beautiful roomie from college Amanda Catherine Phillips. GRINCH will soon be stealing me away and I can’t wait for another touring adventure. The biggest event I'll be missing on tour this year (my Tag Christmas and Montclair Secret Santa Fest both postponed till January) will be my first college friend Madison Houck's wedding!! I love you Mad- I know your big day is going to be a big smash and I send my love from afar!
The Card I created for Madison's Bridal Shower!
Well rehearsals have been a dream so far, head over heels in love with this company and creative team. It just feels like family and I truly can't get enough of this show. Also, since I'm already in the Christmas spirit, I’m beginning to get ready my holiday mailing list- YIPPEEE! I'm glad 2013 will be going out Grinchy style.
I’ll leave this blog with some recommendations and look forward to writing on the road!!
HAPPY NOVEMBER YET AGAIN!
Love, Tara Tag
Fall Recommendations:
Playwright: Beth Henley- Please let me do a Beth Henley play someday! The women she voices are women I want to know.
Books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series by Stieg Larsson- I’m saving the last one for tour. Literally, I couldn't put the first two down. I read 5 hours straight once from 7am-noon. Now thats good writing. Also, The Queen of Vaudeville by Andrew L. Erdman- all about the Vaudeville Icon I played this fall Eva Tanguay- is an empowering tale of a woman finding her voice fearlessly in a mens' entertainment industry. She was the best kind of a pistol.
Cast Albums: The Grinch!, the musical version is finally available featuring many of my friends ( Lilly Tobin!!) and does the trick for holiday magic, and I can't stop with Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I cannot wait to see this revolutionary piece of theatre.
TV: The Mary Tyler Moore Show- got to suggest a 40 yr throw back. And The Sopranos. I'm always behind.
My Birthday on the General Jackson Steamboat in Nashville with the Tags and the one and only Patrick Roberts!
I can’t believe it! I am freshly 26 years old (I started this blog at 21!), drinking in this month of August relaxation and vacation, winding down from a non-stop July marathon of 8 show weeks, camp shenanigans, studio workshop class, and a little audition dabbling, preparing for a juicy upcoming year of performing and transitioning to New York City, and stoked to be surprised and challenged within this new mid-twenties age. This summer has been spectacular- a Radio City musical size. GREASE and CAMP WALNUT have ended and all the mementos are ready to be scrapbooked, closing a pretty big, unforgettable chapter in my life. From this year, I definitely feel I have grown immensely, feeling new independence as an adult and actor, and a lot more in control of making every day count. As always when I sit down to reflect and blog, I feel fortunate to be, by some miracle, still doing what I love, all while finding new reasons to love it more along the way. Its a real mushy relationship, the total PDA offender kind- just a warning now if you continue to read :-).
I have a lot to blog about, recapping the end to “those summer nights” on stage, Camp Walnut 2013, and other July highlights as well as announcing some pretty exciting news for 2014 thats as irresistible as a Paris Original! I’m too excited to hold it in- scroll down!
.the upcoming season.
To kick off my 2013-2014 season, I’m over the moon to be making my debut with Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Society in their opening event of the season THE AMERICAN STAGE:FROM OPERA TO BROADWAY on Saturday September 28th at the Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College. I adore The Ziegfeld Society’s Executive Director, President, and Producer Mark York (and his beaming old soul) to pieces as he brings to life eras of musical theatre I wish I lived. I'll be paying tribute to Eva Tanguay- "the girl who made Vaudeville famous"-and getting my Tessie Tura on in "You've Gotta Get a Gimmick!" from GYPSY!
I’m so ready for Mama Who The Sequel this year on tour with DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS The Musical and can’t wait to fall in love with my Who family and celebrate my favorite holiday all over the country. I’m most looking forward to the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio-my first time in Texas in a beyond gorgeous theatre that can get confused for a Disney park ride! CAN’T WAIT! My goal for this year on tour is NOT to cave in and buy everything Grinchy insight- I must control my green fever. Unless its for my Secret Santa....then thats okay...can’t wait to spoil them!
I pray tour doesn’t go by too fast and that friends and family can come find a city to see the show! Mama Who loves company!
Because Patrick, my charmer of a boyfriend, is away until the end of November performing regionally (thrilled to announce he’ll be playing “Nick” in THE GREAT GATSBY- watch out Toby Maguire!) and I’ll be touring right on up to New Year’s Eve, I’m holding off on officially moving to NY until both our schedules calm down and we can make it happen together. My plans are to tentatively sublet in New York City from January-March, while bouncing back and forth form Philly- announcements to come soon that may involve a certain fictional Alexander, with a previous not so good day, NOT NOT NOT wanting to do something or other (hehe)- and getting acquainted with a NYC lifestyle. I am really looking forward to my wintery Big Apple introduction!
And here’s the news I’m busting at the seams with...
A Secretary is Not a Toy!
I am on cloud 9 to announce that I’ll be performing in one of my favorite musicals HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYINGdirected by Casey Hushion and choreographed by Michele Lynch, which is the Riverside Theatre and Walnut Street Theatre spring/summer co-production for 2014!!! It seriously is too good to be true. Not only have I heard about how fancy and inspiring our dynamite creative team is AND have the pleasure to return to two stunning regional theatres, I’m ALSO working with 2 former Pink Ladies Rachel Camp and Lilly Tobin (KateFahrneris giving you ELF at WST for the holidays!) and 1 little Kenickie, the brilliant Michael Warrell, in a show I’ve always dreamed of doing. I’m a huge sucker for anything Frank Loesser and fell for this musical back in the 6th grade when my high school presented it. I saw the whole 3 show run and became the biggest fan- I couldn’t believe how funny it was and would sing “Brotherhood of Men” full out in the shower. My parents bought me the film since I loved it so much and I vowed I would someday do this show! I can’t stop geeking out right now haha! I can’t wait for “Coffee Break”, one of my favorite musical theatre company numbers EVER. I also can’t believe I’ll be doing this all in stunning Vero Beach, FL and on the glorious Walnut stage again, not having to say goodbye to Philly just yet. May be this time I’ll tackle Harry Potter World and Epcot in Florida!!!!!! EEEEK!
Proud owner of a tattered hand me down original score!
And another exciting thing...I have the opportunity to join Actor’s Equity within the contract! I’m not 100% sure on what my decision will be yet (I’ve graciously been granted time to decide if I’m ready), but I am so happy to have the opportunity available. Stay tuned.
While I’m on tour this year and/or working regionally in FL or Philly, I plan to work with Broadway Serves, a service organization comprised of members in the Broadway community searching for community service opportunities to create“change beyond the stage,” in their Broadway Serves To-Go program! Kim Marable, the Broadway Serves Co-Founder and “To Go” coordinator, sent me an inspiring email after inquiring, and I can’t wait to make this a reality with my upcoming casts! CHECK OUT BROADWAY SERVES.
So now that thats all off my heart racing chest, here’s some recaps, additional commentary, photo collages, and videos on all I’ve been up to.
.always be together.
Our last Saturday Intermission Pic win, Head shots forever living on the Walnut walls, Cast Mate Lovin'!
After 109 performances between the Riverside and Walnut Street Theatres, GREASE’s closing at the Walnut felt as electric as opening night all over again. It was like a giant goodbye party and I felt surreal sharing the stage with this phenomenal cast for the last time. Our amazing crew was full out hand jiving in the wings and our hilarious assistant stage manager Debbi Marcucci hid twinkees wherever she appropriately could. I think I ate 4 or 5 on closing just for the heck of it!
GREASE FINAL WEEK COLLAGES
Matt Ragas aka Danny Zuko's pups in full costume backstage ready, my lovely past teacher Heidi Hayes going on for Mrs. Lynch, the darling Tracey Dunn aka Simcox- my dressing room partner in crime, and my usual slide down to places
Prom and Beauty School Dreams...and Roger and Jan at their best
Zuko Crush, Sandy's two biggest fans, Pink Ladies go to the park, and just Eugene <3 nbsp="">
Last Collage I swear! The T-Birds in Training, Cha-Cha dance competition, Pink Lady Sass, and T Bird Hunks
Okay 1 More: Philly Game Rock Stars. I just loved that day.
Our final outing to the Gayborhood had me biking away in tears; it was hard to imagine not seeing everyone everyday- the cruel cruel nature of the business. We had shared holidays together, birthdays, nights on the town, cast members leaving, welcoming new in, many two show day naps and meals, Florida bliss...just so many memories now all blurred into one tremendous experience. I wish every actor out there to have a cast as inspiring, comical, affectionate, talented, and overall priceless as this one. That’s the way it should be. <3>
I want to thank all my friends, family, and students who trekked out to Philly to see GREASE, making this show even more special to me. I also really want to thank all the staff at the Riverside and Walnut Street Theatres along with our creative team Bruce Lumpkin, Michelle Gaudette, and Ken Clifton- being a Pink Lady, not just on Halloween, was a dream come true. Bucket List Check!
GREASE Guests ranging from family, to students, to best friends=THE BEST!
My final two weeks of GREASE were actually nuts with camp starting Monday-Thursday all day, running on breaks to auditions (my HOW TO SUCCEED call included), and my musical theatre studio workshop class with F. Otto Haas Award Winning artist Steve Pacek taking over my Monday night offs. I didn’t have a day off until Christmas in July, which I celebrated in sweats with lots of tea and vocal rest. My dressing room at the end of GREASE became my bedroom- after camp, I would drag the Equity cot in, lock the door, and snooze for an hour or so before getting up to eat, stretch, steam, and get ready for the evening performance. Rinse and repeat. I don’t think my life had ever been that busy! But I knew August awaited with a much needed break.
Before that break...
camp walnut: iPods and iPads and iPhones #ohmy
The campers of 2013 are going down in the books- my socks were blown off across the boards from the littlest ones singing loud and proud in the Discovery division to our teen performance camps breathing new life into SEUSSICAL JR. and Shakespeare’s 12TH NIGHT like mini pros. It was an absolute treat to witness so much hard work, creativity, and most importantly, support pouring out of these kids. The applause and laughter had rock concert volume and I couldn’t help but be sucked into that magic alone. I think the Walnut shook! This year, I was hired as an assistant director to the Development 1 division, which is comprised of the youngest kids who audition for camp and have some previous theatre experience. With fabulous director Alyssa Mulligan leading the way and our dedicated counselor Amanda Shur, we had the daunting task to write a musical play, cast it, and stage it in less that 4 weeks from scratch. To think that our show didn’t exist before July is just incredible. Through prompt questions, brainstorming, playwright-ing exercises, character development, and many many improvs, our play iPods and iPads and iPhones #ohmy was born! Inspired by the timeless Wizard of Oz, four technology obsessed kids get sucked into a strange ozPhone app that appears mysteriously on their phone, taking them on a journey that teaches them to work together, put their phones down, and of course, that there is no place like home. The ozPHone had a parallel universe to all the beloved lands and characters of the real Oz including caffeine addicted Dunkin’ Donuts munchkins trapped in Candy Crush Saga, Glindora the Good playing personalized radio stations at your request, the masterful Searchcrow with his Angry Birds Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Jeeves, Tin Match.com who can oil your rusty heart right on up, the Cowardly Fruit Ninja of the Amazon.com forest, the great and powerful Siri of Oz, the Big Emerald Apple: Home to Sim Citizens, and of course the evil Wiki Glitch of Temple Run pining after her sister’s ruby red charger (thank you props!). We even had kids play Instagram color fixes as trees Willow, Early Bird, Toaster, and 1977 in the Amazon.com forest! It was such a hoot, writing a smart phone version of WICKED’S “Popular”..."Whenever I see someone less technological than I....” as our opening number, parodies of songs from the 1939 movie musical...”Follow the wireless road”...and even a little Macklemore lyric rewriting. I could not be more pleased with the outcome of all these kids’ ingenious ideas on an important issue. I 100% teared up in both their camp presentation and final show for their parents and loved ones.
In addition to assistant directing these Devo1 delights, I taught improv to all camper levels and dance to discovery and developmental groups. This was my first time officially teaching both improv and dance and these classes made my mornings glow before afternoon rehearsals. All my improv groups really tapped into their listening skills and began trusting the spontaneity of their imaginations- it was so great to see the difference in comfort from their first week to last. My dance classes went better than I thought, ending the final class with staging and a combined understanding of movement and storytelling in “Revolting Children” from MATILDA. One of my groups even presented “Revolting Children” on the main stage! I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I also now need to see MATILDA on Broadway more than ever!
My Devo 1 Kiddies, the card they made my directing team, and the best camp evaluation EVER.
Thank you Camp Walnut 2013 for exceeding all expectations and for bringing the kid out in me again and again. Between the magnificent kids, directors, counselors, and performances, it always felt like one giant team. Rewarding experiences like this make me so happy to be a teaching artist!
.musical theatre therapy.
I have been dying to take class and work with Philly gem Steve Pacek (Evolve Studio Creator, 11th Hour Theatre Company Artistic Associate, and Breaking Bread Theatre Founding Member) ever since I heard fellow actors in the Philly community rave about how it’s like having your own personal MT spring awakening. I am now happy to boast that I am one of those raving people, who just can’t enough. Steve lead a workshop this summer that may have been the most freeing musical theatre class I have ever taken, reigniting my passion in telling stories through song, lifting me out of my head, and serving me a gigantic breakthrough on a plate that I’ll never forget. If you are a Philly actor, do yourself a service and sign up. If you’re in NY, head on over to the Jen Waldman Studio where Steve teaches. I swear I would create an infomercial for Steve if I could, yelling “Go Go Go NOW! Steve is the answer!”
Steve created the safest environment I’ve felt in a long time decorated in affirmations encouraging us to choose faith over fear, centered by grounding viewpoints work that warmed up our bodies, emotions, and imaginations, and energized by a candid and raw connection all of the classmates shared. It felt like there was a mattress full of love underneath us all for support. There was also never an urge to force or be anything that wasn’t true to us.
For this summer session, we mainly looked at pieces that scared us, facing fear head on. Naturally, I choose sexy pieces, 11 o’ clock numbers with scary notes, but the ultimate scariest being “Cabaret.” Sally Bowles has been a secret dream role I’ve been too afraid to even admit I want to play.
I had to pain my nails green.
"I don't think people should have to explain anything. For example, if I should paint my fingernails green, And it just so happens I do paint them green, Well, if anyone should ask me why, I say: I think it's pretty! " SB
Working on “Cabaret” in class was an experience I’ll never forget. I connected to the material in a new way that completely shocked me and took me on one hell of journey to a dark place I never thought I could understand. It was a revelation and I felt nothing like Tara. Steve had me escape the fear in my head immediately and put Sally’s reality in my body with strong physical intention. By committing to the physical actions, the emotions were triggered and just poured out of me like a well that nothing could stop.
This class really was therapy, filling my journal up with a wealth of discoveries, and reminded me that I’ll never be done learning. I’ll never know what I’m really capable of if I don’t go ahead and try, especially the really scary things. I also need to remind myself to never rush the process- I won’t know where I’m going with every piece and that’s okay. And watching my classmates take huge risks with open hearts....man oh man...I don’t know why I didn’t bring kleenex to every single class. I did however stop wearing mascara.
Thank you Steve, accompanists Dan Kazemi and John Daniels, and all the brilliant people I got to share class with. You not only where the richest cherry on top of my summer Oreo ice cream cake (my favorite all time cake), but the decadent hot fudge and fluffy vanilla frosting and hidden Oreos buried inside. That delicious.
Now off to run wild in August...
.community theatre roots.
It just so happens that I was lucky enough to be home for a cabaret benefit my old community theatre, the adorable Villagers Theatre in Franklin, NJ, was throwing to raise money for Broadway Cares and celebrate the casts of their annual summer teen productions since 1998, labeled Teensvill, past and present. When I was asked to come sing Madame T in “One Day More” with other LES MIZ alum, I jumped at the chance. I hadn’t been back to the Villagers in 9 years and I simply had to go.
!6 year old Lovely Lady Jazz Hands
My old theatre scrapbooks! So intense.
Teensvill was a summer paradise an awkward drama geek like me craved and where I lived for ensemble bits and beats in musical theatre, playing “The Telephone Hour” belter Nancy of the sung “Hi Nancy!” in BYE BYE BIRDIE 2003 and Whore 2/Miserable, The in LES MISERABLES 2004. Our Les Miz School Edition came complete with a turn table and several Broadway Kids grads who had done LES MISERABLES on the Bway as Young Cosettes, Young Eponines, and Gavroches, stepping up into leading roles as Jersey famous teens. Teensvill was my 15 and 16 year old Broadway; I felt so cool to be surrounded by such talent in the area and to be in my first big productions outside of high school theatre. The friends, the theatre community, and the home away from home I got at the Villagers became an unmatchable aspect of my young adult life. My parents became concession stand favorites, I got my first paid job as a camp counselor there, and I truly worked my way up from ushering and idolizing main stage shows, to their summer teen camp, to their black box children's’ theatre shows dubbed Kidsvill, to readings in their playwright series, to an extra in an Arthur Miller main stage hit, to finally these beloved featured cameos in musicals starring all 13-19 year olds. What a community theatre career I lead and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
The small, but mighty LES MIZ REUNION and one of my all grown up campers Jack, now working at the Villagers, who I saw for the first time since 2006! Beautiful moment!
It was fantastic getting to catch up with people I haven’t seen since those teen years (a few new brides!) and see the newbie teens owning their performances, currently presenting LEGALLY BLONDE. I felt very nostalgic and super old, especially seeing our Young Cosette lead LEGALLY BLONDE in the “Bend and Snap” and the above past camper now a camp counselor himself. Geez louise! So proud of the Villagers for still giving teens their stage for the summer and so glad I got to be a part of this event!
.times in tennessee: the bible belt boogie.
Nashville Sights!
After Camp Walnut concluded, I went home to good old M-sex, NJ to spend quality time with my family before flying south with my parents to Clarksville, TN! My parents and I haven’t had a family vacation outside of the Jersey Shore since Disney World ’99- I bet you’re thinking “Clarksville...hmmm...interesting choice....”- hahahaha, but we planned this getaway to see my boyfriend performing at theRoxy Regional Theatre just outside of Nashville! I had been looking forward to our little escape all summer long, missing Patrick hard core, and thought it was about time I went to TN after my A minus state report in the 5th grade all about “The Volunteer State.” (My main reason for picking TN- after obvious choices NY and CA were taken- was because the state animal is a raccoon and I loved “Meeko” in Pocahontas. 10 year old decisions.)
The Roxy Regional Theatre!
Inside the Lobby! I love this old painting of the theatre and love that SINGIN IN THE RAIN is the chosen marquee- the show Patrick and I started dating during back in 2010!
Day Trip Swimming Find!
Nashville Day 1 Walk!
Nashville Day 2: Country Music Hall of Fame! I loved reading all about country comedienne of the Grand Ole Opry Minnie Pearl!
I truly had a terrific time that of course went by entirely too fast. I feasted on Southern cookin‘ (and fast food! eek!) like there was no tomorrow, swam in nature’s secrets...and indoor hotel pools, listened to so much live music, did a little line dancing, played my first game of pool, took fierce hot yoga (If you happen to ever be in Clarksville, hit up Raja Hot Yoga- the nicest people run this place!), lounged in my hotel, visited the the Country Music Hall of Fame, and got to ring in my 26th year with Patrick and his beyond lovely cast and then on a frickin‘ showboat- my birthday surprise!!!! PARADISE!!! As much as I loved our time in Nashville and out in Kentucky to see the Land Between the Lakes, my highlight was getting to see my favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein SOUTH PACIFIC with my very own “wonderful guy” lighting up the stage and my killer “Roxie” from CHICAGO 2 years ago Alicia Jayne Kelly starring as “Nellie.” It was a delight- what a wonderful cast of talented, down to earth people!!!! And I just love watching Patrick perform-its the best to see the one you love doing what they love...and not to mention, pretty damn well too!
My perfect birthday aboard an old timey showboat all secretly planned by Patrick.
That mac and cheese was IT.
And it was also so good to be with my parents for more than a hot minute. They were awesome vacation buddies who were especially hilarious when playing games like “20 Questions” in the car. I love them. It was really hard to say goodbye to Patrick, but I couldn’t be prouder or more happy for him. I can’t wait for the next time I see him!
.jersey shore ice cream parlor beginnings
and
back to my first summer stock. Oldies But Goodies!
My 2007 Show Place Cast Promo and Celebrity Visit from Ray Romano!
Me now at the Show Place Ice Cream Parlor with college buddies Jannah Tabbachino and Brandon Monokian reliving my singing waitress days!
I’ve been a little spoiled this summer. A few days after I got back from TN, I packed right back up again to spend a weekend in Ocean City, NJ and get my Jersey Shore dosage in a beach town I’d never been to before. My dear dear friend from college Brandon Monokian took on his first summer stock gig this year with the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company in NJ and I couldn’t miss his closing show playing “Nana/Crocodile/Pirate” in one of my favorite musicals PETER PAN for the world, featuring some other MSU and Philly friends as well! PETER PAN was my first ever Broadway musical and it was beautiful watching little ones seated near me be just as captivate as I was once upon a time. I’ll admit it; I was crying during the clapping scene to save Tink and at the end when Peter tells Wendy she’s too old to go back to Never Land- gets me every time.
Brandon and I then spent Saturday wandering the shore near his house for 3 hours (I’m semi tan due to this!) and then hit Long Beach Island, home of the Surflight Theatre and my first ever theatre gig as a singing waitress at the Show Place Ice Cream Parlor! At the mere age of 19, I spent a summer living in Beach Haven, NJ, eating root beer floats for breakfast, swimming in the ocean every day, riding my bike to our casts’ secret beaches and by the bay, performing old fashioned gems every evening (sometimes some singing telegrams too!), and then going for midnight strolls on the sand to cap off the night. It was literally the best first theatre job I could have had and even gave me early waitress training. It was also one of the best summers of my life.
Back at the Show Place!
That's my signature on the wall behind the cash register about the 42nd Street Original Bway Cast Member- it was so cool to see that again!, the current adorable cast, my massive sundae, and Brandon and me in our sing-a-long hats!
My mouth can't help but still drool at the site of this chicken wing marvel. CHEGGGGG! It was an old late night favorite.
Brandon's home view of the bay and high lights from our walk to the end of the Island!
The Boardwalk!
Brandon and I got to see some lovely theatre friends before their sold out performance of LES MIZ playing at the theatre, inhale the infamous CHEGG chicken wings (LBI’s Chicken or the Egg magic above), and then relive my summer of 2007 now as a guest at the Show Place. It was so nice to finally go back after all this time...and eat a Music Man sundae again- its ridiculous! I hope to go back to Ocean City this fall for more Brandon and artist relaxation time. This trip was a retreat and I'm super impressed with how strong and beautiful the Jersey Shore looks- JERSEY STRONG!
My last August road trip with three of the most fabulous ladies I know took me to upstate NY to the place where THIS foursome friendship all began- the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, NY. I worked the summers of 2008 and 2009 at the Mac, performing summer stock style in 14 musicals total, 2 children’s theatre shows, 2 end of the season cabarets, and numerous Friday and Saturday night coffee house appearances post performances. I look back on it now like it was the childhood of my acting career, so special, so fulfilling, and the first professional theatre to really feel like home. I can’t even tell you how giddy I was the entire day, reliving Mac-Heaven (as we call it) memories at the mexican restaurant Destino’s I actually turned 21 in way back when, and then seeing two Mac favorites dame Monica Wemitt and the wonderful John Saunders put their spin on GYPSY. So many emotions ran through me as soon as I stepped into the comfort familiarity of that theatre, hugging ushers and theatre staff like no time passed at all. It was such a beautiful trip and a much needed reunion...with some much needed margaritas. ;-)
A Few Mac Memories
Kat, my Mac roomie both years and love of my life, in our first ever show together MY FAIR LADY!
A CHORUS LINE gave me my first lead in a professional production! I can't get over my long hair and fierce sash. Val and Kristine <3 .="" font="">
My favorite Mac show of all time: SWEET CHARITY! I'm giving you FRUG and dynamic duo Andrea and Kellyn- LIVE ITTTTT!
My summer really has been the best strut down memory lane! I hate to see it go, but am big time excited for...
.upcoming fall: tara’s real world fall semester of teaching and taking class.
.Professor Tag.
That’s right. This September, I will be subbing a senior musical theatre majors’ course at Temple University select days forJennie Eisenhower, the beautiful new Barrymore award winning mommy and star of the Arden Theatre’s season opener PARADE. I am thrilled to have this exciting opportunity, extending my teaching to an aspiring professionals level, and to share my experiences of life after college with these soon to be graduates!
.tara the teacher coachings.
I’m really blessed to announce my 1-year anniversary of my private in-home studio! On top of my tap tutoring, audition and monologue prep , and musical theatre coaching with neighbor and best friend Matt Mastronardi that I offer, I’m also taking on my first students preparing for college musical theatre auditions and will be bringing my musical theatre coaching to a whole new level with aims to present a showcase to family and friends. I just love being a part of these kids’ early discoveries and am always amazed by their fearlessness. I am especially feeling like a proud momma to three of my students in Camp Walnut’s SEUSSICAL JR! After a wonderful run in Studio 3’s intimate space, they will next be the opening season show of the Walnut Street Theatre’s Main Stage Kid Series this September. I know- they are big deals!
CHOREOGRAPHY THROWBACK MARCH 2013
MY 3RD PLACE AWARD WINNING "SUMMER NIGHTS" GOYA COMPETITION
GROUP DANCE NUMBER!
SO PROUD!
.walnut street theatre outreach.
Flashback!! My Apprentice Company in NO EASY ROAD TO FREEDOM!
I cannot wait to meet the 2013-2014 acting apprentices (oh gosh I feel old again- I was in the 2010-2011 apprentice class!), observing fierce director Christina May tackle the outreach show NO EASY ROAD TO FREEDOM, which I actually did on the road, for the apprentice Touring Outreach Company. My rehearsal period throughout September of my company’s 4 outreach show repertoire was a highlight of the apprenticeship, getting to work with Philly professionals right off the bat and establishing relationships that have really blossomed over my 3 years in Philly. I hope to direct an outreach show down the line, revisiting my apprentice days touring schools and my love for educational theatre!
.enrolled.
My favorite back-to-school, spicy season of learning is on its way and before I hop on a year ride to Whoville 2, subletting in NY, and 1960S Manhattan secretarial studies, I wanted to use my free fall time for focus and growth in my own created real life semester. I’m putting my audition repertoire back under construction and exploration and am also excited to be in my first on-camera commercial class! So far, I’m enrolled in NY based director Alan Souza’s Musical Theatre Audition Boot Camp and NY CD Barry Shapiro of Herman & Lipson Casting’s On Camera Commercial Technique course offered through Actor’s Connection, as well as meeting with Savvy Actor career coach Doug Shapiro. I’m also looking to take class in Philly again and get a nice healthy blend of Philly and New York! My journal is ready to be filled!
One of my goals for this season is to audition for and meet agents, both in Philly and New York. I submitted to a small handful of Philly agencies for commercial and television work, have a few interviews coming up, and hope to take seminars and master classes in New York City throughout the year. I applied for the Shoe Fund, offered through the Actors Fund which I nudge every actor to take advantage of, to get a new pair of audition knock outs to hide my large boat feet. Literally- its a fund to help you look styling in the audition room and you can take advantage of it every 12 months. My ModCloth wish list has the next 6 years picked out!
Its also time to get my body back in shape, jumping on the same 1-month gym membership Living Socials deal I did last fall for this insanely fancy Center City gym. I’m racking in the discount yoga class cards as well in nearby neighborhood studios as the good yogi in training I am: favorites being Yoga Garden on South Street and Wake Up Yoga on Passyunk. I’m thinking of pushing myself in some inversion workshops too, interested in teacher training in the future. While I was home, I lead my mom through a cleansing 45 minute yoga blend of restorative and modified poses to help her alleviate stress and muscle soreness. I loved it! I also have been reading Yoga Journal, educating myself on the everlasting positive effects yoga can give your body, mind, and spirituality. It feels like my church. May be someday I’ll preach it to the choir!
Sharon Tag Corpse Pose Rockin'.
.good reads, good TV, and good movies- AMEN.
I also have been finding the time to kick back and read, start new TV series, and watch a film here and there. PORTLANDIA and NEW GIRL(I would gladly live with Schmidt, Nick Miller, and Winston in a heart beat) are my favorite TV comedies before bed, usually laughing myself silly to sleep, and THE SOPRANOS is my current “boyfriend and me” show- I’M SO GLAD I’M FINALLY WATCHING THIS! I cannot wait for MAD MEN’S final season, a show I’ve been watching religiously since 2009, and for GIRLS and PARENTHOOD to get back on the air- the only 3 shows I’m up to speed with. TV is really something these days- there is just so much to choose from that I almost have a mini- panic attack over what to watch next. DOWNTON ABBEY, 30 ROCK, I LOVE LUCY- from start to finish, and AMERICAN HORROR STORY- I loved Season 1, but haven’t started Season 2 because I can’t watch it without boyfriend Patrick to hold during really scary parts, are all on my list. I’d also love to re-watch SEX AND THE CITY, missing those Carrie Bradshaw narrations, now as an adult instead as a teenaged college student, and CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL just because I can and I love Ferguson.
This is hard to admit, but I finally for the first time ever watched BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S. I know- it’s a bona fide classic- how did I go this long? Well, I happen to have just read FIFTH AVENUE, 5 AM by Sam Wasson as an early study on the HOW TO SUCCEED era, all about Audrey Hepburn, the classic film, and the dawn of the modern woman. The poor book had been patiently sitting on my shelf after an impulse buy on tour in 2011 and I felt it was time to dust it off. I read the original Capote novella back in college and had no intrigue to see the movie because I heard of all the differences, especially with the happy Hollywood ending straying from the book’s less sparkly Holly Golightly portrayl. I must say I wish there was a little more of the heartbreaking Holly Golightly evident on the silver screen, but when its comes to Audrey Hepburn for me...it just doesn’t matter. Her and Julia Roberts are my two actresses that can do no wrong and I can watch them simply exist for hours and be fascinated- my very own movie star royalty. All hail.
I also read BOSSY PANTS this summer in between laughing fits-I don’t know how I managed. Tina Fey is my hero and hence the reason 30 ROCK is on my TV attack list. No more talk on this- just read it.
A huge thank you to my dad for having HBO because that means I am a proud new member of HBO GO! Ohhh my online TV and movie watching is complete. I started things off right with the indie flick RUBY SPARKS, all about an unusual way a writer suffering “the block” finds a magical romance. I’ve been wanting to watch this for some time, being a huge fan of Miss Zoe Kazaan, “Ruby” herself and the applaud-worthy writer, who has a a performance/artistic career I big time admire. I totally got caught up in Ruby’s endearing and natural spark and the film made me ponder over how everything in life doesn’t really need an explanation. It also made me want to buy a type writer and become a novelist. My gut however says I should stick strictly to blogs and dorky poems for my boyfriend.
.i should like to give you a kiss.
Just wanted to share this since I miss him a great deal and we just celebrated in July 3 years of a good, healthy out-of-town-theatre-gig-surviving, NY-and-Philly-back-and-forth-bouncing, actor-actor relationship. WOOOOO!!! I don’t know what life would be like without Patrick Roberts anymore; he’s the Peter to my Wendy...minus the flying through my window late at night ;-).
Since I knew we weren’t going to be together on our anniversary in July and Patrick is the master of romantic surprises, I decided to cook up my own surprise for this occasion and beat him to the punch. While Patrick was in Italy, I gave him a care package, which included Golden Oreos, our favorite midnight snack, and a copy of the original PETER PAN, which I urged him to read. I read HARRY POTTER for him, so I figured it was now his turn! PETER PAN, TUCK EVERLASTING, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE SECRET GARDEN, and the complete ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series are books I hope to always pass on, especially to my future little ones, since they were major sources of my childhood imagination and continue to be. I usually have one of these named books under my pillow as a sleep remedy if I’m having trouble drifting to dreamland. And I think PETER PAN takes the cake for ultimate before bed adventure.
Surprise!
For our anniversary on Patrick’s last June visit to Philly before heading down to TN, I sneakily told him the Walnut St. Theatre was throwing the GREASE cast a “gala” at this swanky Centre City Hotel- free food and drinks. Patrick was in and that was that. Little did he know, it was just going to be the two of us thanks to Living Social Deal Getaways! I also decided to write a little speech about our relationship thus far (DORK ALERT!) and give him a little treasure that may be the very reason PETER PAN is my favorite. I gave him a thimble, a kiss to bring with him whenever he’s away from me alla Peter and Wendy. I have a matching one on a chain and I promised him that they had magical powers to get us through the distance. I also had the excerpt from the book when Wendy and Peter exchange these innocent kisses printed to be our first decoration to put up in our future apartment together. I have never seen Patrick so speechless and genuinely surprised (thanks GREASE cast for playing along!) and it was like we pushed a pause button on life. I think the best part out of all of it is that Patrick had just finished reading the book- the timing couldn’t have been better. It was one of those nights I’ll never forget and am so proud to say: GOT HIMMMMM!
.dream boards.
My good friend from college Kelsey “Kiki” Thompson and I read this article our first year out of school together about how to craft you own dream board. A dream board is basically a collage of all the things you want to do in life to keep vividly in front you, especially helpful when your vision gets blurry. You can fill it with quotes of inspiration and pictures of people you love, destinations you wish to travel to, pets you wish to own (a bunny!)...practically anything the lights up a smile on your face. We vowed it would be a project the two of us would do some rainy day together, but since the two of us haven’t lived in the same city (YET!), we haven’t seen our dream boards come to fruition. But I kind of started making a NY Dream Board file on my own for when I move and one for life dreams like to go to Prince Edward Island and pretend to be Anne of Green Gables for a day. Sorry Kiki that I jumped the gun! But I swear, our dream board sleepover with poster board, backdated magazines clippings, scissors, and glue sticks will happen!
I really encourage this whole dream board thing, even if it is just a lousy file on your computer like mine currently, to keep you feeling productive and alive. One of my dreams on my board is attend the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University- just thinking about it puts a glimmer in my eye! Try it...dreams are chicken soup for the soul. Remember those books? So good.
.25 in a nutshell.
25- a year that began magically in Disneyland with the boy I love holding my hand and ended with that same boy in the country charm of Music City. A peaceful start and a peaceful ending to a successful year that spotlights how much love I’m lucky to have in my life. I’m not going to lie- I was insanely nervous for this year, beginning with sharing the stage with big deal Philebrity leading men- Jitters!, then off to Whoville to perform my first professional leading role in a musical and make my national tour debut-even more Jitters!, and lastly to the Sunshine State to become a senior in high school in one of the most iconic musicals of all time- JITTERS JITTERS JITTERS! But all of it-the highs and the lows tossed into the mix, the seemingly never ending separation from my talented boyfriend off on his own adventures, the over 160 performances I gave from GRINCH to GREASE and even the little cabaret that could with my boyfriend in Philly and my breakthroughs in the classroom setting- really taught me to trust myself, continually nourish artistic desires, never be afraid to fall down or feel stupid, and accept those jitters as a great feeling of being alive. I thank myself for moving out of my own way a lot this year when it could have gotten ugly. You were an incredible year 25- I only hope for more like you. 26- I bet you can be even more bad ass. :-)
