Reminiscing

“Homburg” Premieres at Kasser Theater

Hahahaha- I just stumbled upon this epic preview of Homburg- its so serious and makes me crack up. Just watch it to see me trying to get in a corset.

I am in that stage of where I am looking back at facebook photos from the beginning semesters at Montclair State, watching old videos/performances, reading old journals, and just getting all sappy about my college years. Time flies- it really does. Its so bizarre to me that in a little longer than a month- I can no longer call Montclair my home. It has been a beautiful place to live- living in an apartment building with a huge handful of my best friends, the train to New York across the street, a brisk walk or shuttle ride to campus, the town of Montclair with its desperate housewife/shabby chique and artsy appeal- its a town I just feel so comfortable in with the NYC skyline glimmering in the horizon. I am so glad I went here- it was all by accident in a way, but it makes me truly believe in things happening for a reason. I wanted to be in the city so badly, but Montclair was financially more affordable than all the schools in NY that it won the battle. I wasn't even going to do theatre originally- I wanted to do some sort of double major of possibly theatre studies ( a more general, liberal arts based major in theatre that MSU offers) and either history or broadcasting. Could you imagine? I just didn't have all the confidence in the world to think I could pursue performance. I wish I could meet me at age 18. I don't think I'd know what to do with that girl. Hahaha.

In other news, the Luna Stage Cabaret went well and I hope it to be a monthly place where I can try out new material and sing with friends. A huge thanks to Colleen Finnegan for organizing it and bringing young performers together. I sang "Murder He Says"- full through since I've missed the other verses not included in my showcase cut- and a duet version of "Gimme Gimme" unexpectedly with Kiki that we may revive in our senior cabaret! It was so much fun as a duet- who would have known? Fly dove! Sing sparrow!

MORE TO COME SOON!

Life is a Cabaret

Quick Update:

I will be singing in a cabaret at Luna Stage this Friday April 9 at 8. Tickets are $10- come on out! Kelsey "Kiki" Thompson will be joining me. Check out http://www.lunastage.org/ for more details on location and the theatre company. I did a "doo wop" themed cabaret with them last Christmas and it was a blast- I'm looking forward to the weekend!

My senior showcase website will be featuring clips from our audition pieces very soon! Go to http://www.msushowcase2010.com/ to view! Yey for youtube!

***My Meryl Streep Poster, as seen to the above right, that reigns over my bed has been falling on top of me as I sleep recently and usually on days that have been important- like some sort of sign. The first morning she came crashing down on me as I slept was the day of my showcase. I think she was telling me to break a leg or something. And then the second day was yesterday- 5:30 am after I shifted in my sleep- and yesterday also brought some exciting news late in the evening. I think Meryl was saying, "Girl- check your email." I got an email from Harvard accepting me into their Stanislavsky Summer School based off of my MFA audition for Harvard/A.R.T.- and I am completely thrilled to have this unexpected opportunity! This would be a great school to get involved with since I do want to eventually get my MFA in Acting and I know this program would expose me to a lot of rich material and push me to new places too! Harvard/A.R.T is also in my top 2 choices of grad schools that I felt fit me and what I want to the tee and this program would expose me to their methods and processes for actors. So exciting- I would love to make this program work for me along with the Radio City Rockettes training program this summer. We shall see...

So big thanks to Meryl for always keeping an eye out and reminding me of what ferociousness is.

Coming soon:

Website Updates, New Head shots, and The MSU Senior Farewell Cabaret TBA Date and Time- When I go, I'm going like Elsie...

April Update/News

I cannot believe its April. It is officially my last month of my undergraduate career with a one-of-a-kind class who have felt like family the past four years. And a lot has happened since I last wrote- so heres a quick news update before I get all mushy:

Actors Connection Senior Showcase March 28-30

This was just an unbelievable experience. I wish I woke up every morning and spent my whole day taking workshops at Actors Connection. It was an amazing introduction to the business/industry with casting directors, agents, and managers, professional auditions, marketing yourself as a product, and all the skills needed to being a successful working actor competing in the big leagues of NYC. I met and worked with personal manager Bob Luke, Dale Brown of Tara Rubin Casting, Alaine Alldaffer of Playwright Horizons Casting, Barry Shapiro of Herman-Lipson Commercial Casting, Mary-Mitchell Campbell- the current music director of The Addams Family and established Broadway conductor, Joel Carlton of Nicolosi and Company Talent Agency, Rachel Hoffman of Telsey + Co. Casting, and Gary John La Rosa- an accomplished theatrical director/choreographer. It is a mouthful and I feel extremely fortunate to have begun relationships with these established people! My journal is literally stuffed full of notes from all the workshops with all the personal, reassuring messages and guidance these lovely people offered us to continue staying positive, focused, and on top of our game. I am so proud of my class for supporting each other and for presenting wonderful work over the course of the three days. I am excited to see the routes everyone is going to take after graduating and I have the utmost faith in everybody.

The actual showcase performance went by like a blur, but was a lot of fun and so intimate. We each gave individual auditions- abandoning the usual showcase format- of two contrasting pieces. I did a monologue first from "The Lunch Date", a one-act in Garth Wingfield's Dating Games, and a cut from one of my favorite all-time songs, "Murder He Says" by Frank Loesser and Jimmy McHugh.

I received immediate interest from Stewart Talent Agency, Bob Luke Studios, Tsu Tsu Unlimted, Prestige Talent, Thompson Talent, and Michael Cassara Casting. I can't wait to begin the interviewing process and I also can't wait to send out my recently designed post-cards (they are hilarious!) A huge thank you to Actors Connection for truly opening doors and for getting our feet wet in the business!

Other News:

I have started working with a vocal coach- Stephen Purdy- in the city to build and expand my musical theatre repetoire. He has already provided me with new material and a handful of auditioning insight- I love working with him!

I am going to begin working on a new musical project directed and conceived by recent Montclair State Graduate Brandon Monokian with hopes of debuting it next year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. I'm always onboard for something new and am very excited!

I am organizing a Farewell Cabaret performed by the senior class with fellow classmates before graduation. I can't wait to share the stage with my favorite people one last time at Montclair. Its going to be an event. Date and time TBA.

I am also continuing auditioning and weighing my options for the summer.

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I saw A Little Night Music on Broadway right before I embarked on my senior showcase and was fueled by the stellar performances given in that musical. It was exactly what I wanted- absolutely stunning and I think it may be my favorite Sondheim show- sorry Company- you got the boot. I am excited to go home for Easter to spend time with my family and am looking forward to this next month being a giant party and love fest at Montclair.

I love doing what I love. Its so sweet.