New Magic to Do

Bye Bye Walnut Street Theatre,

Hello Summer in South Philly!

WoW!

(This is so something I would do.)

I think there is no better way to kick off the juicy first chapter of the June summer winds than with this. <3.

And also, I just cannot believe that the spring is slipping away, or more importantly, my first year as a college graduate is all a crazy haze now of memories from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to my professional acting apprenticeship at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. It has indeed been a year as I settle into my new house in South Philly.

Let's play catch up!

.up next.

FLY ME TO THE MOON...

WST Studio on 3 Debut on June 28th and June 29th!!!!!

As a sweet bonus to the end of my apprenticeship, I was contracted on to cover "Woman 2" in the Walnut's closing studio production of MY WAY: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra running May 3rd to July 3rd. Frank Sinatra's voice has taken me to many day dreams of romance through out my childhood till today, getting his "Come Fly with Me" album one Christmas way back when. The album cover alone was enticing enough with Frank looking cool as a cucumber in his dapper suit, gesturing to a blue sky and a runway of planes behind him. A school girl crush immediately developed and I pretended I was the mysterious girl taking his hand on the album cover, embarking on musical adventures around the world at his side. When I was around 9, I staged a dance recital in my Nana's kitchen to all my favorites on that album with a guest appearance by my Dad in a tap duet to "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)." I'll never forget charging my poor Dad for those tap lessons he probably only did to amuse me, but remembering how hard he focused in his debut performance will always make me grin. :-)

And for whatever reason, I think this type of intimate memory is associated with Frank Sinatra's voice and music by a whole lot of people. He's just timeless and you can almost feel his presence in your living room when you play his music-like he's there. There is just something so special about this man, so you could imagine my jubilation to be involved with a production paying him tribute, bringing to life medleys of his music- my heart did leaps!

Then to find out I was going on via my daily email checking one day- I FREAKED OUT! Not only do I respect and admire this talented cast of accomplished actors and musicians to pieces and am beyond pumped to work with them, this score is just my cup of tea, the kind of music I can just get lost in and feel like I'm traveling back to simpler, more elegant times. I have been avidly watching my favorite performers of Frank's reigning era like Dinah Shore (can variety shows like her's please come back!?), Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr, my favorite Carol Burnett, Judy Garland, Pearl Bailey (watch her sing "Mack the Knife" with Dinah on YouTube-obsessed!), Dean Martin- all of them snapping their fingers to the jazzy swing, living in their lyrics, cracking jokes in between phrases, and letting their voices soar. I just love how this music and these brilliant performers make me feel-my world sits still for moment in a paradise!

My Pop-Pop, a huge Blue Eyes fan, is also coming out to see me in this with my family, which means the world to me since I know how much this music means to him and has shaped his life- plus he hasn't seen me perform in years! I love my family so much and am so happy to share this with them.

*So if you are free that Tuesday or Wednesday night of June 28th and 29th, come on down to the Walnut! The shows may be sold out (these performances are the start of the extension week), but standby tickets are available and usually most standbys are blessed with good luck. If not, you can go downstairs and see MISS SAIGON- so look at that!

CLICK ME FOR MORE INFORMATION.*

.and.

I will be performing in Mazeppa Productions Inaugural Season's PIPPIN at the St. Stephen's Theatre in Centre City, Philly (Home of the Lantern Theatre Company). I will be one of the four players strutting around Pippin (played by Evan Faram, former co-acting apprentice at the Walnut I just can't seem to get rid of :-) ) and am starting to get a knack for dance captaining.

I feel like Liza Minelli when I gyrate wildly in the Fosse-inspired moves and am simply falling in love with this wonderful cast of Philly gems. Also, a huge thanks to Matthew Cloran, our director and choreographer, who is allowing me to do both this and MY WAY and for also, cracking me up non stop in rehearsal. <3.

CLICK ME FOR INFORMATION.

.farewell walnut street theatre.

On May 17th, I wined and dined with the fabulous people of the Education Office and my fellow acting apprentices, celebrating and toasting an 8-month apprenticeship coming to a close. Eight months of consistent performing in schools, libraries, churches, synagogues, malls (oh yes :-) ), and event halls through out the Delaware Valley region and of course on the magnificent main stage of the Walnut Street Theatre. We have reached over 54, 400 students within our Outreach season, performing 240 shows on the road, plus conducting 5 workshops! We also were covered by local media television stations and papers when we reached the 1 millionth student in our last week of tour.

Man oh man has it been a whirl.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley became one of the highest grossing kid series musicals to hit the Walnut Stage, adding additional performances to control the school field trip masses. I could have ran FLAT STANLEY until the end of our contract- it had that JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT energetic pace and varied eclectic musical stylings about it and was a giant party to perform. Jennie Eisenhower, our director, was a genius and created a playlist of tween hits for a pre-show pump up that really got these kids jazzed. It was truly amazing to hear 1000 kids belt out Katie Perry's "Fireworks" as we all giggled and readied ourselves at places for the top of show- instant adrenaline rush! And Jenn Rose's choreography, especially our number involving giant beach balls resembling globes, was terrific. I was also absolutely in love with my Donna Reed inspired house dress as Mrs. Lambchops (pictured below) and treasured all my other wacky characters I got to play from Sneak Thief to Bikini Wahini. I also met my current roommate, Miss Sarah Gafgen, in this show, so it was just an all around treat from rehearsals to performances.

Meet Mrs. Lambchop!

The tour kept on trucking alongside FLAT STANLEY performances, our understudy obligations for the short run of the Studio 3 production Speaking in Tongues, and my completion of my Walnut Street Theatre Classes all the way up to May 16th. Here are some favorite winners of life one the road:

Favorite Broadway-torium (def.: fierce school auditorium): Pottsgrove Middle School

I can't find a good picture of the inside, but it was simply exquisite and held over 1000 students. We called that day of 3 NO EASY ROAD TO FREEDOMS in the bitter cold our National Tour Day, complete with a wonderful mic and light system provided by the school, a lunch in their cafeteria (starting my chicken patty addiction) that had a view you would think to get from the top of ski mountain lodge, and a loading dock into the giant wing space. BROADWAY.

Favorite Spot on Between Shows/School Break: Chestnut Hill

We were so fortunate to have a 3 hour break here, a quaint, quiet little village of a town right outside of Philadelphia, and I was even more fortunate to have my boyfriend visiting me on his own tour layover to spend it with. We ate amazing crab nachos, got ice cream, and just explored all the little wonders of this delightful place.

Favorite Food Pit Stop on Tour: Tuckahoe Cheesecake Factory

This day was just magical with their 5 dollar deal of a coffee/beverage with a slice of their homemade award winning cheesecake to eat as we watched the waves crash on the Jersey Shore in Ocean City. I was also so happy to share the Jersey Shore with my tour mates since I grew up vacationing along it.

Favorite Performance: NO EASY ROAD TO FREEDOM on a Model Cat Walk

We arrived at this high school in Delaware to find out we could not use the stage due to a LES MIZ barricade taking the whole thing up and had to perform on wooden cat walks wrapping around their orchestra pit. Also, this school introduced with a drum line concert and that set the whole "America's Next Top Model" mood.

WoW again.

Every school looks like the other as I look back on it all. Times got hard, but still, nothing beat hearing those kids bust out in uncontrollable laughter and answering their well thought out questions in the talkbacks. I was always on my toes, ready to adapt to any change or challenge thrown our way, even when I was under the weather and/or tired. Learning to perform in all types of circumstance was definitely a huge skill to come from all of this. I thank the Walnut for my actor bootcamp this year and will indeed miss it all. I forged amazing relationships at this theatre, especially with the talented apprentices in all the departments, fellows cast mates of A CHRISTMAS CAROL and FLAT STANLEY, and my fellow classmates in my WST classes. I hope to work at the Walnut in the years to come!

Road Kill. Puppet Down.

.miscellaneous news/updates.

I really have fallen in love with Philly, especially the theatre community and the mixed variety of productions to get produced about town. I am so excited to be here for Mazeppa's first year as a new professional company, offering lesser produced musical theatre for all ages. Wanting to start my own theatre company someday, this will be an invaluable experience in seeing all the dots connect. After meeting with my college showcase coach Gary John La Rosa earlier this spring on marketing my corky actress image, I am also planning to start a new website design plus expand my repertoire this summer in music and monologues- GET IT. I have been coaching music in Philly with FLAT STANLEY director Miss Jennie Eisenhower, and Stephen Purdy and David Wolfson in NYC. My current plan is to hang out in Philly into the fall as well as manage auditions/classes in New York. This really feels right and I know I have the gusto to make them both work. The Mega and Bolt buses will be my best friends through it with good books, magazines, and music to keep me company on the travel. :-)

.music/literature inspirations.

Speaking of good music, I have indeed been on an oldies kick listening to a lot of Margaret Whiting, Virginia O'Brien (dead pan comedic genius), Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Connie Francis, Laura Nyro, Frank Sinatra, the Andrew Sisters, Teresa Brewer, Helen Forrest, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Louis Jordan and his Tympany 5, and the Moonglows- all of different eras and styles, but all quickening the beat of my heart. I also can't help sneaking in Adele and Florence + the Machine amongst my vintage songbirds- those ladies are out of this world. Laura Nyro's "Stone Soul Picnic" is my summer anthem and I play the film Blue Valentine's "You and Me" by Penny and the Quarters when I miss my boyfriend. <3. Who would I be with out music.

I am also nearing the completion of the Anne of Green Gables series, my personal Harry Potter, but have taken breaks to read The Red Leather Diary by Lilly Koppel, which I recommend to any old soul like me who wishes they were a Manhattan socialite in the 1930s, and Frank Sinatra: The Voice by James Kaplan, which is just an inspiration to any performer when feeling stuck in the mud, making the iconic singer so human and relatable in his struggle and triumphs.

But seriously all, Anne of Green Gables is my girl. These books have me tearing up time and time again and daydreaming of Prince Edward Island. I feel like I'm also growing up with her and paralleling a lot of her hopes and desires. Bella in TWILIGHT did not do that to me.

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As I am auditioning and job searching, taking in the summer air and the tons of Italian pastry shops in my new neighborhood, living for laughs with my friends and family, and excitedly awaiting the next big thing to take hold of me, I am always so amazed by the wave of emotions that flow through me on a daily basis. I need things like music to ground me, and so I leave you with that summer anthem of mine: Laura Nyro's "Stone Soul Picnic."

Have amazing summers everyone. Its been a cold winter, you deserve it!

Love, Tara Tag

The Year of the Rabbit is Off and Hopping!

HAPPY 2011!

(My Model Hunch Face Minus The Hunch)

Hello 2011! I’ve been pretty busy already, dashing between New York City (got to see American Idiot on the Broadway and Playwrights Horizon's A Small Fire New Year’s weekend, which started off the year oh so right), visiting my parent’s home in Jersey for Tag love, and my current home base in Philly. So here’s some stuff that’s been going on worth blogging about:

Up Next…

I will be playing Mrs. Lambchops in Walnut Street Theatre for Kid’s main stage production of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley come April! I am stoked to work with the fabulous Jennie Einsenhower again (our director of Mean Girlz and private vocal coach), be back in a Walnut rehearsal studio, and watch Evan Faram, the acting apprentice playing the title character, become as thin as a pancake. I suggested Weight Watchers as soon as possible. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON SHOW TIMES AND TICKETS.

In other news…

The reviews are in and I refuse to spell check them:

"I wish there was even more, thats how much I liked it. I loved all the characters. Sam (Tara Tagliaferro), the bully, and Zoey were so diffrent, even though they were the same person." Student at Westfield Friends School on The Boy Who Cried Bully

"My favorite part is when Sam was pretending to beet up Nate. Its fun to see a real play out of TV. Yours Truly, Aiyanna"- On The Boy Who Cried Bully

"Wow! You're play that was preformed for us was cool! I loved how it was funny, while you can learn from it. You all played your parts very well and if you messed up, (which I don't think you did) I couldn't tell. Your acting was HILARIOUS and the puppets were perfect. I especially liked the puppets and how Tara did their voices."- Renna T of the 6th Grade on Mean Girlz...

"I really enjoyed your play. The songs were nice. It looked like your really enjoy acting. Good Job!" Bryan of the 7th grade on Mean Girlz

"Dear Walnut St. Actors, I like the play soow it was niec." Micayah at Westfield Friends on The Boy Who Cried Bully

"If Sam wus the bulle what beusuces she took her hat ffo, Wus you in class whit her." I hope this one is favorable, but I'll take it anyway!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaahaha!

Leslie Nevon Holden, fellow acting apprentice, and I photocopied a ton of the letters we received from the kids for our own personal Outreach press packet aka decorations for our fridges. Its all too endearing and makes me just love this job! The New York Times review should be coming soon...

____________________________________________________

"If You Breathe, It Breaks..."

Jillian Louis in The Glass Menagerie at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio on 3

The Glass Menagerie embarks on its tour route this week after a nearly sold out run at the Walnut, becoming the theatre's 1^st National Tour to take wing. I had the fortunate invitation to slip into GM rehearsals whenever I had free time, watching the four gifted actors work through and explore scenes before it hit the intimate studio space. It became my rock after long days of touring, sucked immediately into the dreams and conflicts of these characters. I began understudy rehearsals shortly after opening and had an amazing time getting to taste Laura’s world. Finding my Laura opened up tiny little doors inside me, these terribly fearful ones that I always try to keep shut. Growing up, I was exceedingly shy and let peoples’ hurtful words, stares, and/or judgements cut through me like a knife. Theatre became my medicine and it lead me to find my voice, stemming a confidence, but without it, I could see myself falling to Laura’s frail nature, so easily breakable. The staging of the play, directed by a favorite Bill van Horn, is really quite something too because it allowed me instantly to find grounding and to not feel like I was working. It’s a solid road map that completely serves every character- I just had to ride it. Jillian Louis, the actress playing Laura in the production, is just incredibly moving and natural, breaking my heart every time I’ve watched. Watching her has been a master class in itself; she is the type of actress I aim to be in her commitment to her scene partners and never-ending discovery.

With all this backing me, I definitely do feel ready to go on and am proud to say that. Evan, the Tom/Jim understudy, named us the JV Menagerie. It has simply been an honor and pleasure of an opportunity. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TOUR.

ON TOUR...

The Educational Outreach Company went through many alterations and adjustments with the arrival of the new year, saying good bye to our company member Carlos Aviles, whom moved back home to Puerto Rico, and welcoming aboard our new acting apprentice Brian “BK” Elam from West Philly. BK quickly learned all his tracks over the holiday lull and we were back on the road, new van and all, in no time. We lead our first round of workshops in January on Diversity with junior high kids, in which we devised our own lesson plan full of theatre games and activities. SUCCESS! On the many snow days stuck inside the office, we read through letters from our adoring fans (refer to above), many accompanied by awesome stick figure drawings of the four of us in which we never looked better, and wrote personal messages back. I’m starting to gain a reputation as the Bully of the Delaware Valley, tomboy tough in The Boy Who Cried Bully and nasty blonde bitty in Mean Girlz R Bullies 2: The Musical. My mom and dad are so proud. Also in the office, we have been researching and reading plays for next years Outreach Season, which has become a fun hunt, and application processing next year’s hopefuls for the 28 apprentice positions offered amongst all the departments. It’s a little scary to think that pretty soon, I’ll be waving good-bye to this job. What will life be like without a jam-packed van, I-76’s traffic, looming smells of cafeteria lunches, school bells belting during scenes, yearbook papparazzi, pre teens in UGGS, principal offices, and hallways papered in finger paints?

Highlights On The Road:

*TAP-SPEARE- Leslie (other female acting apprentice) and I’s program of trading shuffles off to buffalo for soliloquies- has become a brilliant alternative to sleeping in the van or reading trashy magazines on lay over time. We need to make T-shirts.

*Coining the phrase Broadway-torium, which are the FIERCEST auditoriums on the school circuit

My Current Winner: St. Martin de Porres

*Performing on an Into the Woods set at Brian Lowdermilk’s old high school (of the Kerrigan-Lowdermilk MT composing team)- He wrote their Alma Mater!

*Our First King of Prussia Mall Pit Stop- Window shopping only restrictions.

*Drinking Evian water bottles during Catholic School Week (in honor of Mary Catherine Gallagher, the SUPERSTAR of catholic school girls)

Aside from apprentice life, I have been filling my free time full to the brim! On the stage I got to see the exquisite Meg Buzzard star as Marian Paroo in The Music Man National Tour with good friend Seth Eliser shipoopi-ing his life away as a River City youth, the Liberty to my Bell Rachel Camp of my MSU graduating MT class rock out as a falcon in the hilarious The Three Musketeers (The Later Years): A Musical Panto at People’s Light and Theatre, and another beautiful MSU grad Ashley Tobias be absolutely adorable Off Broadway in the The Ohmies, which made me feel like I was on a pre-school play date. I also have began classes at the Walnut Street Theatre School, which include Audition Technique with Kate Galvin, the casting director at the Walnut, and Advanced Acting Scene Study with the theatre school coordinator Jose Aviles. You can barely see the wooded floor in my room as it is covered in scripts and scores. I will need a warning for visitors.

I am looking forward to a few upcoming auditions, a giant list of shows I want to see (which includes a trip back to MSU and also my boyfriend’s Thomas and Friends tour stopping in Camden, NJ and Madison Square Garden in NYC), and celebrating Valentine’s Day with said boyfriend. I also cannot wait for sunnier days and warm weather. I want excuses to frolic and go to the art museums!

Finally...

My New Year’s Resolution (stolen from Anne of Avonlea):

I’d like to add some beauty to life. I don’t exactly want people to know more…though I know that is the noblest ambition…but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me…to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.

With that said, stay warm and beautiful!

Love, Tara Tag

A Peppermint Mocha Flavored Update

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Walnut Street Theatre Mezzanine Lobby during the Opening Day A Christmas Carol Cast Party

Licking stamps in between sips of warm peppermint goodness, I have been finding myself making up any excuse to kick back during my spare time in a snuggly coffee shop this holiday season, eager as ever to write to my family and friends about my life at the Walnut St. Theatre and send my best wishes to the new year ahead. I have some exciting news that is already making 2011 look pretty darn good and feel blessed to be leaving 2010 behind with one of my favorite Decembers yet!

THE UPCOMING NEWS:

I have been cast in the Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio Production/National Tour of The Glass Menagerie as the LAURA understudy! I remember studying the Tennessee William's classic in an English Lit class in high school, voicing Laura out loud in the classroom group readings and instantly entranced by her sweet fragility. I had no trouble imagining this woman off the page; I remember just understanding her and feeling for her so deeply. I haven't reread the play since nor have seen it live, but it had such a lasting impression on me that I am ecstatic to be involved with this professional production! The show will begin a short run on the 3rd Floor of the Walnut in mid-January and then will hit the road and travel through March as the Walnut's 1st National Tour. CLICK ME FOR MORE INFORMATION.

*I was doing some online research of The Glass Menagerie and could not get over how stunning the original Laura, actress Julie Hayden, indeed was. Va Va Voom!*

A CHRISTMAS CAROL AND WHITE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COMBO

Leslie Nevon Holden and I backstage for A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol had a fantastic run, playing to mostly sold out audiences and adding performances to suit even more bus loads of children and families. Performance wise, it was like running a mini-marathon of Christmas cheer, engaging the entire ensemble on stage for its' one hour time, only scurrying off stage for quick changes as we bounced from past to present to future. I was very proud of what our creative team and cast accomplished, feeling like a Hallmark Season's Greeting card come to life. I also just loved twirling in my hoop skirt, hearing the little kids lose it over Marley's ghost (you'd think we were in a haunted mansion haha!), feeling like a Jane Austen romance, and full belting "GOD BLESS US EVERYONE" in unison for the final moment. I looked forward to my favorite dance and scene as Belle with Young Scrooge every show as well as the the little squeals of delight bursting out of the audience during the final song when it snowed right above them. It was a magical experience for both the audience and us.

Speaking of snow, I had a u/s run of White Christmas, in love with the coy and controlled 1940s style choreography, feeling like an old movie musical chorus girl. It has been an amazing test for my feet and my brain learning dance numbers so quickly and the whole process has felt like a privileged master class. White Christmas plays until January 9th and is just a treat. CLICK ME FOR MORE INFO.

OTHER NEWS:

*My WST School Advanced Musical Theatre Class presented our Fall Showcase on November 30th, in which I sang "A Little Bit in Love" from Wonderful Town and "Sing Happy" from Flora, The Red Menace. Both pieces were two songs I may never have sang without our instructor Heidi Hayes' push to challenge ourselves with material out of our comfort zone. I was so glad that my parents and a handful friends got to come see me do non-traditional Tara numbers and thanks this class for making my fall Tuesday nights a paradise and for all the ounces of support and encouragement. In the new year, I will be taking two classes, Audition Technique and Advanced Acting, plus a specialized musical theatre audition intensive a few Saturdays in January. Heidi's class inspired me to load my plate full, always fueled by the possibility of growing and unlocking new doors inside! I also will keep up with my weekly Ballet Tone, Zumba, and newly added Yoga classes at the gym and will also be trying to get into the city some days off to visit Broadway Dance Center or take some possible master classes.

*The Touring Outreach Company has been on our condensed holiday leg of our touring schedule, going out on the road alongside our A Christmas Carol schedule and now right before schools go on break. Its so nice when faculty and the kids themselves come up to us after shows or in between sets to let us know how much our show means to them. We have been feeling the love especially this week in the Vineland, NJ middle schools, having amazing talk backs after Mean Girlz R Bullies 2 and feeling very welcomed by the guidance counselors. Leslie and I have also begun this new lunch break program in which I teach her tap in exchange for Shakespeare monologue coaching on tour, prepping us for spring auditions and keeping us in shape. Today it was hilarious flap ball changing in our character taps through the cafeteria lunch line to the teacher's lounge- haha! It really gives us something to look forward to and keep us active on our days with long breaks!

*I got so extremely close with my cast of A Christmas Carol-baking and decorating my first ever sugar cookies for them (they must have been special people if I ventured into the kitchen)- and fall into even more laughing attacks with my fellow acting apprentices everyday on our adventures. I just love when I'm in good company and that I am. I had a bunch of friends also come out to see A Christmas Carol, which meant the world, also proud to be giving them a live tour of my new Philadelphia life. My boyfriend, who lives in Astoria and will be going on tour come January, got to spend a week in Philly and it was the delicious icing on a perfectly frosted cake of a December. One of our high lights of his trip was walking through Dickens Village at the Macy's on Chestnut because I literally turned four years old.

So many friends and family members to love this holiday season makes me feel like

one happy WALNUT roasting on an open fire.

Wow its late.

I shall leave you with a beautiful montage the yet again amazing Jesse Havea put together from my summer production of HAIR in New Hampshire and also the debut of my long overdue acting reel.

All is calm. All is bright.

Here's to the Happiest of New Years! Love, Tara Tag

"HAIR Montage" and "My College Acting Reel"

Please Watch and Enjoy!

.

I Am All Around Thankful!

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:

Behind the Curtain Q&A with WST Acting Apprentices

A Glimpse at WST Touring Outreach

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