pop. SIX. squish. uh-uh. cicero. lipshitz
On September 6th, I shimmied right on into rehearsals for CHICAGO at the Media Theatre, closing my summer stock season only two days prior. From the very first staging of "ALL THAT JAZZ," I knew this production was going to be very special and a personal challenge for “strong mover” Tara as my jaw dropped watching all the fierce SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE worthy tricks this company could flawlessly do. I felt like Dorothy when she steps off her front porch into Oz for I definitely wasn’t in Kansas anymore. This was going to be new territory for me. I stood there knees knocking in my worn out character shoes, praying that at the very least my flexibility could flop out a split. I had a lot to live up to, so I raised the stakes and got my first pair of shiny black La Douca’s (ELIZABETHS!). Step 1 in feeling like a Fosse goddess.
ALL THAT JAZZ with Sam Shep (Dance Captain Beauty) and Jocelyn Issac (My Personal Faute Turn Coach :-) )
EYES!
Rehearsals ran at a wicked pace, for CHICAGO is just one big production number after the other. We had a lot to learn with a majority of the choreography being based off of our own improvisations and creativity, making for a truly collaborative process. The sweat dripped, the bunions formed, and the muscles worked hard each day, lucky to have a big bowl of pasta and DANCE MOM episodes waiting for me afterwards. It was exhausting, but of course amazing. I felt electrified by both our team of directors and casts’ talents. I even began reading THE GIRLS OF MURDER CITY by Douglas Perry, an in depth book covering the true trials and events that inspired the musical. I loved slipping away into this sinful 1920s underworld, quite an unbelievable era of sensational crime. And these women at its core, driven by passion to the edge, are not the typical musical theatre leading ladies. There are darker pasts and this thrill of danger within all of them. They are stunning creatures of the night, providing plenty of meat to chew on for us ladies in rehearsals. YESSSSSS!
The original "Roxie Hart" inspiration- Miss Beulah Annan, photographed after shooting her lover in 1924
She played the song "Hula Lou," which is in our pre-show music, over and over again in the hours after she shot and watched her lover die
I also have to say that I just love this cast plain and simple. It started pretty early on and it still going strong today in all our backstage shenanigans and our strong commitment to the show. It feels like family and we spend most our time laughing when we are not on stage (maybe even a little bit onstage too-sshhh!). I will always be eternally grateful to the sexy ladies of the chorus for always helping a sister out with the more difficult moves, especially our dance captain Sam Shep and choreographer Jenn Rose. I’ve become a better dancer because of it and am so happy to have had this opportunity. Its swell, isn’t it?
The CELL BLOCK TANGO Ladies (R-L: Liz, Veronica the Spread Eagle, Mona, Hunyak, June, and Annie- Don't Mess with Us.)
LAST WEEK OF PERFORMANCES:
CLICK ME FOR MEDIA THEATRE INFO!
Also, check out some coverage/reviews:
Justin Guarini on NBC Philadelphia with footage of ALL I CARE ABOUT IS LOVE
Delaware County New Network: CHICAGO is Sleek and Sexy!
Montgomery News: Sassy, Sexy, Sizzling!
Fig Media: CHICAGO Razzle Dazzles at the Media Theatre
"The main characters are backed up by a fabulous ensemble of dancers/actors, who move through the show with athleticism and energy. The female ensemble is especially impressive—their opening number in the Cook County Jail, “Cell Block Tango,” is always a show-stopper."
Excerpt from FIG MEDIA REVIEW- GET IT!
The Cast of CHICAGO with Director Jennie Eisenhower on Opening Night
Opening Night with the stunning sweetheart Jess Latshaw (Miss POP in the show), who just so happens to have her own wonderful blog, THIS LIFE IN WRITING. I love everything she has to say, so check out. Jess is also the Velma cover, so her and I can be found every night back stage doing “NOWADWAYS” and “THE HOT HONEY RAG” full out wherever we can find the room. Jess is ALSO teaching me to play the ukulele, a new hobby I’m taking on! It’s a pretty awesome friendship on and off stage as POP and SIX are indeed cell buddies. <3.
That is totally me in the pink from last year's production!
I am so pleased to announce that I will be returning to the Walnut Street Theatre to be in A CHRISTMAS CAROL again!! I will be Mrs. Cratchit/Others this time around as well as the Dance Captain. This production was a gift to be in last year and let me release all my crazy Christmas spirit energy. This show will awesomely mark my 1-year friendship with Matt Mastonardi, meeting in last year's cast and now someone I cannot imagine Philly without-our 4th show together!! I also get to be working with CHICAGO director Jennie Eisenhower again on this project, another person in Philly who means the world to me. I already am excited about this cast and creative team, including the 2011-2012 acting apprentices- WOOO!-, and being back at the theatre that was home base all of last year. I also cannot wait to put on a hoop skirt again. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ARIZONA FOR THE NEW YEAR
other wonderful stuff.
*I recently hopped an early train to Princeton, NJ to be a part of the McCarter Theatre Center’s Youth Ink! Day O' Play Readings hosted at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South. I felt pretty at home walking into a high school again, instantly flooded with memories from my adventure filled Outreach Tour days at the first whiff of tater tots- pretty magical.
I spent the day with fellow actors from Philly and NY being cast in 10-minute plays written by the students of WWPHSS, the majority of these young playwrights hearing their words for the first time come off the page. These students had been fine-tuning their plays under the nourishment and support of McCarter teaching artists for a few weeks and all had solid first drafts to offer. I had a blast reading a range of works and offering encouraging feedback to the students. The Youth Ink! Program at the McCarter is quite exceptional, something I wish I had to unleash my restless imagination as a teen as I was always writing in journals, too embarrassed to share my stories/ideas. I noticed every play written definitely had a unique voice and was unafraid to delve deep, which is such a courageous quality to bring out of these students. I think this program uncovered a lot of hidden talents and I applaud the McCarter for that! I held onto copies of the scripts the students gave me and am still fascinated by some of the stories, issues, and themes they went to tackle. It was a great way to spend otherwise an ordinary Thursday!
*I also did another reading for the Education Office at the Walnut Street Theatre for Walnut’s staff and a group of 40 middle school students of the newly written outreach play, ONLY 13. It was another rewarding experience and I was even interviewed via flip cam by one of the students in attendance in how to overcome bullying. I will always support Walnut’s Education office in all the new plays they add to their Outreach repertoire. The responses these plays get out of kids, hitting hard on important social and educational issues, are tremendous.
Congratulations to Tom Quinn, the Director of Education and the playwright!
*I am a Groupon/Living Social Deals addict, as I’m racking up the cheap yoga classes, museum trips, and massages. I just started my yoga classes at Power Yoga Works and cannot wait to accomplish a headstand. My massage is my treat for closing CHICAGO :-).
*An adorable couple on the New York City subway told me in passing that I reminded them of Imogene Coca. Total compliment for she’s an old school, wacky comedienne! And she rocked that bob. Started watching her on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS with Sid Ceasar. Yes YouTube!
Imogene is the best name I think I've ever heard. I wish we were besties.
*Thanks to the boyfriend Patrick Roberts, I am now very much invested in Harry Potter after we watched all the films together. I did read the first book and a half of the second back in middle school, but somehow fell out of the series and never recovered. I’ve remained clueless all these years and it feels so good to finally understand Potter references and terminology. No longer in the dark! I am happy to say while watching the films I predicted all of the romances and Snape came out on top as my favorite character. I also plan to use Julie Walter’s “Mrs. Weasley” as inspiration for my Mrs. Cratchit. Patrick is going to re-read the series with me this winter after I finish THE HUNGER GAMES, which I’ve just begun. I feel like I’m in an exciting Book Club. PS I’m always looking for recommendations!
*I have been sneaking in amazing theatre on off days from CHICAGO in Philadelphia, highlights including 11th Hour’s THE BOMBITY OF ERRORS (peed my pants laughing), Arden Theatre Company’s AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (my favorite play of all time!), my old college’s A CHORUS LINE (Get it MSU!), 213’s YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE (old fashion vaudeville splendor), and CHITA RIVRA: MY BROADWAY at Bristol Riverside. Okay, Chita just knocked it out of the park- I sobbed and had a theatrical rebirth watching her. I saw Chita a few days before we opened CHICAGO and it was exactly what I needed to give me the sexy confidence needed. That woman is a living legend of musical theatre. I nearly died when she blew a kiss to the air for Gwen at the end of her performance of NOWADWAYS- so beautiful. Her stories, her passion, her singing, her strutting, and the one battement she wacked in there will stay with me forever. I love Broadway dames; they are a special breed. No one makes 'em like that anymore.
*I’ve been scoring deals on the Mega and Bolt buses- finally getting my first dollar tickets- to visit my boyfriend in NY and audition/take class. I took the CHICAGO Audition Technique master class taught by Melissa Mahon, the current “Go-to-Hell-Kitty” and one of five women in the world to play all female roles in the Broadway CHICAGO, at Stage Door Connections. This woman IS CHICAGO. I had a blast and was just in awe of all the detail Melissa shared with us on Fosse and his motivations. We learned ALL THAT JAZZ and THE HOT HONEY RAG within two hours and I discovered less is so more. I look forward to taking more classes like this through Stage Door Connections.
Coolest News Update....
I made my big move mid September with college chum and recent Barrymore Award winning actress Rachel Camp (so proud!) and our new friend Andrew to the Passayunk Square neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Our new home, nicknamed Grimmauld Place (which I now finally get), is a treasure with an apple tree and fire pit in our astounding backyard. Our backyard seriously gets mistaken for a city park- its out of this world! I fell very much in love with my new home and neighborhood- a solid mixture of young hipsters and Italian grandmas-and seriously couldn’t be happier. We already had a Pumpkin Carving House Warming and a Mini All the Jazz Halloween Party to celebrate fall festivities with Philly loves. I look forward to the upcoming holidays with my wonderful roommates and to making our new house feel more and more like home.
My Grandparents in Scranton, PA- Are they not the cutest?
Also, I just wanted to say how much I love my family and how much I wish I was with them right now. My grandmom, Rita Bubernak, recently had a stroke and is on her way to recovery, and my Pop-Pop, Harry Bubernak, has been hospitalized as well for needed medical procedures. Both in the same hospital, they are pulling through and holding each others' hands while resting. My mom and dad have been back and forth between PA and NJ and always have found time to call me each day, AND have even seen my show three times. I swear I have the best family in the world. I can't wait for the holidays to see all of them. I am blessed to be 24 with both sets of grandparents alive and beautiful. My family has given me irreplaceable memories. LOVE.
That is just about it.
I’m beginning to dream of a White Christmas (that snow right before Halloween totally egged me on) and am already getting together my holiday card mailing list. I’m also looking forward to scheduling more classes in Philly and New York before the year lets out. In trying something new and random- I’m going to submit for the reality TV show WORST COOKS OF AMERICA. I mean, why not? Also if you really know me, you know I’m a perfect candidate. I mess up Lean Cuisines.
I miss my amazing friends from summers past and college, which now seems so long ago. A lot of my friends are off and about on national tours, regional theatres all over the country, and living the dream in the Big Apple. I’m always missing and thinking of you all and how you all have shaped me.
I’ll leave you with this picture that served as a Facebook default for a little while. I live to work with the people I love again and again and I thank God for always bringing those cherished ones back into my life. I hope to get some AT THE BALLET footage on here that Patrick shot backstage from this production of A CHORUS LINE. He makes a few appearances lip-syncing that crack me up.
A CHORUS LINE with Favorites Kelsey Thompson and Andrea Doto
My best to all of you and stay warm as the weather chills. Look at Norman Rockwell paintings and get pumped for the holidays!
Love, Tara Tag
