NEWS UPDATE:
I have been cast as an Ensemble Understudy for White Christmas on the Walnut Street Theatre Main Stage and begin rehearsals this week! I'm whipping out my tap shoes and am oober excited to be covering a dancing track in a show set around a favorite holiday in a favorite era with it also being a favorite iconic film! I'm so grateful for this opportunity and also to be starting my membership points with Actor's Equity! The show goes into previews November 9th and runs into next year, closing on January 9th 2011. CLICK ME FOR INFORMATION.
My interview alongside fellow acting apprentice Leslie Nevon Holden with public relations gem Jen Burrini has been published in two parts on The Walnut Street Theatre Facebook Page! Please click and check out the following links:
A Christmas Carol is coming around the bend soon too and opens December 4th. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I am playing Belle/Fred's Wife/Others on the glorious Main Stage apart of the Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series. CLICK ME FOR INFORMATION.
THE OUTREACH TOUR HITS THE ROAD
Touring for almost a month now, the shows are on board the "second nature" boat now, living in my bones, and are a blast for me to perform. Its also exciting because each morning I wake up knowing I have an adventure at hand- never really knowing where we are going, excited for the little treasures that will pop up and surprise us in our travels, and what kind of energy the kids will serve us with. We never know what kind of reactions we will get- some schools' audiences act like they are in the scenes with us shouting out audible comments and in others, all you can hear are the creaks of the old auditorium chairs filled with quieter little ones. It keeps us fresh and on our toes and makes each show a unique experience. Leslie and I have also been extending our knowledge on the new anti-bullying methods making its way into school curriculum, keeping up to date with current bullying in the media to draw to the kids' attention as well as reading books on this growing issue. I have filled my personal journals with many different wordings of advice to offer these kids in our talk backs, which are usually over flooded with questions on our bully themed shows. Leslie and I have adapted the mantra to tell kids that a bully is a human just like you; do not give them superpowers- encouraging the kids to overcome their fears and to always be honest in who they are. The four of us also all share our own personal experiences growing up as well as our passion for why we do and love theatre. I feel like I can write a book so far with all the questions we have addressed and how good it feels to be helping these kids. It is also so inspiring as a 23 year old to read the big print signs all about the school hallways screaming to "dream big" and "be yourself", applying it now probably more so than when I was the one wearing the backpack.
You may be wondering where do I sit on that van? My little section, which we call the the candy kitchen because I've stuffed my storage area with Dots, Mike 'n Ikes, Good and Plenty, Candy Corn, and the occasional cookies that I gladly share for sugar kicks, is right behind the driver's seat (a thank you to Evan for taking the wheel every morning). We switch between the Broadway station on XM (Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone are the a.m. favorites) and Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo usually in the earlier hours with afternoon rides usually busting out the Top 40's station. We roll along in and out of Philly, going across the bridge to Jersey (where I have been welcomed with cheers by the kids showing my home state pride) and into the picturesque Pennsylvania countryside at the mercy of Carlos's GPS (and google maps during the occasional recalculations ;-) ). I laugh so much inside that van!
It has indeed been interesting adjusting to such an early morning schedule, leaving my flat sometimes in the dark and reaching for coffee cups at the Wawa with what looks like the cast of SCRUBS, but really staff at Jefferson Hospital on shift breaks. They sometimes seem to be the only people awake with me, BUT getting to see that sun come up has indeed given me many a sky to be thankful for!
On our breaks in between shows and/or travels, I've done a list of amazing and random things including wandering the campus of UPENN feeling oh so smart, raiding a general store that sold milk in glass bottles, watching a movie with my outreach family in our super equipped van, seeing a shark in a crazy underwater pet store, buying a football which has become the 5th member of our company and a treat for all the open fields we seem to come across, enjoying my first Chic-Fil-A experience while overlooking the water slides of a favorite childhood hot spot Sesame Place (best home videos from there), and most recently sipped with a smile a pumpkin milkshake amongst old Coca Cola pin up girl posters in a retro diner. The biggest upset for me on the tour is that we are not really allowed to wear jewelry, which breaks my heart just a tad, and are in black all the time. Hahaha- oh well- It just forces me to make choices on the weekend with what to wear!
LIFE OFF THE ROAD
October just flew right on by, but I've welcomed in November wholeheartedly and am bundling up more and more. I've been rereading a lot of books from my childhood, feeling the kid in me come out more and more, currently on Anne of Green Gables, who is still my all time favorite heroine. I've also been browsing fashion blogs online fulfilling my vintage cravings, reading magazines from The Rolling Stone to Vogue and my favorite NYLON, and jiving with new music on my IPOD. Everyone get this month's issue of NYLON and let your mind buckle up and drive on a day dream road trip to each American city (sad Philly didn't make their list, but oh well) they feature in their America issue. I have a new love for Portland, Oregon and want to go! Also some artists that have been favored these days on my ipod include Esperanza Spalding ("Apple Blossom" is my number one most overplayed song I can't seem to get enough of), Zoe Boekbinder, Angus and Julia Stone, Blind Pilot, Laura Marling, Elizabeth and the Catapult, the Secret Sisters, Oh Land, and Hank and Cupcakes, who I actually saw perform live on South Street. I love starting my day with any of these guys and their now familiar voices.
When the Phillies lost, even I was a tad bummed because I could feel the pulse of this city weaken a bit. I think everyone sporting the red and white were royally pissed that the post-game celebrating and cheering up and down Broad Street had come to screeching halt right before it was about to get wild. My Phillies knee socks were indeed a hit as part of my Philadelphia tribute of a Halloween costume, decking out in a hodge-podge of Philly sports apparel, buttons honoring my new home and neighborhood that made me look like a TGIF waitress, a cheese steak contest winner t-shirt, and to complete it all, liberty bell earrings.
What Else I've Been Up To...
*WST School- I am having a ball being an assistant teacher to two acting classes, working on presenting an acted out version of Dr.Seuss's The Sneetches in one and scenes from the adorable musical Honk! in the other. I look forward to each Saturday morning to see what these kids pull out from under their sleeves. I also am enjoying my musical theatre class with Heidi Hayes offered to us in our scholarship with the adult advanced division. I look forward to each Tuesday evening too! Its nice to have this as an outlet to try new stuff, break down some barriers, and learn from other actors.
*The Seagull at Montclair State University, visiting many beautiful friends from my graduating class and seeing a stellar production of a Chekhov favorite. I invested myself fully into this show and went on an emotional ride. Thank you again to the beautiful Julie Lawrence for always staging incredible productions! It was also so nice to be back at Montclair seeing people who mean the world to me.
*I have decided to sponsor a little girl through Save The Children in Latin America, something I always wanted to do, and have also become a one time member or the ACLU, proud to be supporting two beautifully different, but equally important causes.
*Apprentice Potluck Hosted at my Brownstone with stage management and production apprentice roommates Bekah Wachenfeld and Kimberly Lewis- I created a pumpkin platter with everything from the classic pumpkin pie to pumpkin whoopee pies! Fall heaven.
*Winter Wonderland 11th Annual Silent and Live Auction at the Walnut Street Theatre on October 29th- I really enjoyed mingling with the well dressed subscribers, board, and Walnut staff with tray in hand, becoming known as "crab cake girl" and enjoying enticing people with my favorite hors d'oeuvre- "caramelized figs drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette with goat cheese on a cracker." Did your stomach just grumble?
*Evenings enjoyed at the Wilma Theatre and Arden Theatre Company seeing their current shows. I want to buy and read Ghostwriter by Michael Hollinger again and again.
*Voice Coaching and Lessons with Jennie Eisenhower and Mike Borton- keeping the voice in shape- as well as maintaining weekly classes at Koresh Dance School and the 12th Street Gym for the bod ;-)
I have been keeping in touch with friends and family as best as possible, even pulling out the pen and forcing my mind to slow down with hand written letters. There is something about getting mail and ripping open an envelope that for me is just more special than an email-though thank god for gmail and facebook (the fb friendship pages are the new addiction). I also love how much character the stationary design can show as well as all the cross-outs and room allowed to doodle. Many of my actor friends are out there doing amazing things and it thrills me hearing about their experiences and where theatre is taking them.
Congratulations to my dear friends who are currently performing this fall who include:
*Kellyn Uhl at the Goodspeed Opera House doing How to Succeed...
*Nadia Vynnytsky on the Legally Blonde National Tour
*Emily Afton on the Hair National Tour
*Katerina Papacostas at the North Shore Music Theatre doing A Chorus Line
*Rachel Camp at the People's Light and Theatre Company in The 3 Musketeers (The Later Years): A Musical Panto
*Two MSU Graduates Ashley Tobias and Aaron Catano on the Virtually Me! A Cyber Musical Tour
*Ashley Picciallo at The Armory Theatre doing It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
Lastly, I am just thankful to have so much to want to share and write about. My life has been crazy busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am thankful to be in a field where I never stop learning and am inspired to care about bigger things in the world. I am thankful for the new relationship I am in and very happy about, my beyond brilliant family, my beyond brilliant friends, and for the uninhibited imaginations and curiosities of children that send my mind dancing off the page. I am also thankful for being at the Walnut and in Philadelphia right now, meeting more brilliant people, and am HUGELY thankful for those 3 beauties I share a van with every morning: Evan Faram, Leslie Nevon Holden, and Carlos Aviles.
I'll officially end this blog with some hilarious pictures taken on the road by John Rose, the friendly media technician who worked our mics in the Pennsbury School District, of Mean Girlz...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Mean Girls R Bullies 2- CLICK TO MAKE LARGER
