Autumn in Philadelphia at America's Oldest Theatre

The 2010-2011 Professional Acting Apprentices (Me, Carlos Aviles Ruiz, Evan Faram, and Leslie Nevon Holden at Invited Preview of No Easy...)

The other day in rehearsal, as I was playing with slide whistles, kazoos, an xylophone, and other kiddie musical props at my place in the wacky instrument pit of Emperor's New Clothes rehearsal, it totally donned on me that it is fall outside and for the first time since pre-K, I am not in school. Last year, I completely fell in love with learning and breaking down walls in the classroom setting that I couldn't imagine life any other way, especially away from Montclair. But here I am, standing on my own two feet in the city of Philadelphia, and falling in love with my acting apprenticeship at the Walnut St. Theatre!!

What I've been up to at the Walnut...

It feels almost impossible to condense the past month's happenings into a nutshell since it has been a whirlwind of events and hard work, but I will gosh darn try! My time with the three other acting apprentices has been spent:

The Ladies of the Touring Outreach Company (Me and Leslie Nevon Holden)

*Staging our four outreach tours in 5 day rehearsal processes for each over the past month

Our 2010-2011 Season includes Emperor's New Clothes, Mean Girlz R Bullies 2: The Musical (I'm obsessed with this title being text message friendly and also the fact that its a musical), The Boy Who Cried Bully, and No Easy Road to Freedom- SEE "ON REHEARSALS" FOR MORE ABOUT THE TOURS

*Learning the ropes of this battleship of regional theatres that is the Walnut through meetings with our home base in the Education Program office and amazing seminars with all the different department/program directors

I can get lost wandering the Walnut and diving into all its historical pictures of past performances and old show posters displayed on the walls from the lobby to the offices. There is one of Audrey Hepburn performing on the Walnut stage that always makes me smile and strut with a little more oomph when I pass it ;-)

*Assistant Teaching at the Walnut Theatre School Two Acting Classes for Kids

I am already having a ball with the kids and we've just begun! I feel like a kid again myself and love playing the theatre games with them and hearing them bust out in laughter. I was told on the first day by kids in my second class that I look exactly like Dory in Finding Nemo and totally took it as a compliment. Kids rock.

On Rehearsals...

My main job as an acting apprentice is making up the Touring Outreach Company with my fellow three acting apprentices that goes to schools all over the PA, NJ, and DE area. We are just now on the final stretch of rehearsals, performing our preview of the last staged show Emperor's New Clothes this Tuesday at a Philadelphia school, with previews of Mean Girlz... and The Boy Who... already performed with warm welcome for kids at the current Walnut Adopt-a-School in Philly. We officially kick off the tour on October 7th, performing through May up to three possible shows a day, traveling in a van packed tight of all our costumes, sets, and props. We are our own stage managers on the road and are also in charge in hosting talkbacks with the kids after every show and may also conduct possible acting workshops within their classrooms under another program called Team Walnut that compliments the tour shows.

Mean Girlz Rehearsal- Morgan (Me) and the New Girl Ellen (Leslie Nevon Holden)

With all this said, this has been one heck of a month, learning four shows in less than a week's time each with all the lesson plans and technicalities of the tour to boot. There were times where I thought my brain would explode due to all the lines and information being piled in! I play over 10 characters amongst the four shows and have been working hard on developing each of them. My mind and focus feel like they've been through actor bootcamp, getting the workout of their life as they jump from show to show, as well as my confidence in making big choices and trusting myself. Working with four different directors this month has also been extremely challenging and rewarding- all of them pushing me in different ways and having me define my characters further.

I must say, I do have the most fun with Mean Girlz... playing Morgan, the queen bee of Nicodemus Middle School, in jeggings and a blonde wig, as well as voicing and manipulating her posse of puppets, Mary-Kate and Ashley. It is so Mean Girls Regina-George inspired and I have to say it- so fetch. I have a scene with myself between Morgan, Mary-Kate, and Ashley that sometimes I feel crazy in, essentially talking to myself, but I do enjoy hopping from voice to voice with sass!

Ashley, Morgan, and Mary Kate are so FI-ERCE at Nic Mid.

I am really enjoying getting to know my fellow acting apprentices as we develop relationships on stage and off as well as the rest of the professional apprentices at the Walnut serving the different departments. I really respect my fellow actors, each of them with their own amazing backgrounds of how they fell into theatre, and feel inspired by them and excited to spend the year in their company. I also really love how passionate and artistically accomplished the directors of the different departments are at the Walnut, lighting up when they share their stories with us in our seminars. It totally gets my motor running and reminds me of the power behind hard work. I am beyond grateful to be working at such a tremendous theatre that really cares about the development of young professionals and producing theatre that serves a large community. The Walnut has the largest amount of subscribers out of any regional theatre in the whole world, so what I am learning from this place and how it operates is an education in itself.

I also am completely inspired by the children I am beginning to meet on the tour and in my classes. It's pretty funny to be back walking the tiny hallways of schools decorated in adorable art projects and whimsical murals, hearing bells go off (we have already been involved in a fire drill), and hearing the kids' audible reactions as we perform (we already had a kid run on stage to dance with us!). I don't think one show will ever be like another! Also remembering my own childhood and how magical theatre alway seemed to me, I love knowing that I can spark something inside these kids that may make them want to perform someday. This feeling makes every show important to me as well as knowing how important the messages of our shows are, especially the ones dealing with the seriousness of bullying, which a lot of kids are facing today. I can't wait to share on-the-road tales and look forward to beginning the tour this week! For more information on Touring Outreach, click away right here!

What I've Been Up to in Philly...

*Exploring my darling neighborhood from hipster and artsy South Street to the mouthwatering smells of deliciousness that wrap around the Italian Market- Its dangerous for a girl who loves anything vintage and used as well as pizza and gelato like me!

*First Friday in Olde City- I got to visit art galleries for free!

*Curtains at the Walnut Opening Night and After Party

*Pig Iron Theatre Company's Cankerblossom in the Philly Fringe Festival- It was one of the wackiest, yet enjoyable pieces of theatre I have ever seen and I really respect the seemingly limitless aspirations of this theatre company

*Philadelphia's Magical Gardens- I felt like I fell down the well to Wonderland. This gem is literally a minute from my apartment!

*Theatre Horizon's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee featuring my fellow MSU MT graduate Rachel Camp and my hilarious Mean Girlz... director Jennie Eisenhower- This show is just a treat and I sobbed during the "I Love You Song" due to those two wonderful stars of ladies.

*Classes at the 12th St. Gym (Free Membership with my Walnut contract :-) ) and Koresh Dance School- I am now obsessed with Zumba.

Coming Soon...

I will be playing Belle/Fred's Wife/Others on the mainstage in the Walnut Street Theatre for Kids musical production of A Christmas Carol! Click this link for more information and contact me if you are interested in attending- I can get you a half-price ticket!

*Auditions for Understudy Opportunities for the Mainstage/Independence Studio Productions- Very excited!

*Jennifer Burrini,the WST Public Relations Apprentice, interviewed Leslie Nevon and I for the popular Walnut Street Theatre Facebook Page on our backgrounds and more detail to our specific apprenticeship. There are interviews already posted with the education and casting/literary apprentices to check out and ours will be coming soon! I will post the link as soon as its available and had a great time chatting with Jenn and Les!

_____________________________________________

WOW! So I just blogged my face off, but hope everyone is having a wonderful fall with the weather FINALLY changing over and scarves and mittens coming out of hiding! I have been eating/drinking anything made of pumpkin and encourage you all to do the same.

CHEERS!

Bayonet Electricity!

A little more footage from this summer's production of HAIR because I just love it so much and can't let go of the hippie inside. I'm the girl in the rainbow knit sweater and jean shorts (as shown directly up top and below) and the third zombie on death row to sing in "3-5-0-0." That "Let the Sunshine In" was closing night for the show and the entire season, resulting in a bucket of tears. I miss this tribe. Please enjoy!



"Three-Five-Zero-Zero" (CLICK ME)

"Let the Sunshine In" Backstage View (DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ME TOO!)

COMING SOON: Life in Philadelphia at the Walnut Street Theatre

The Walnut Street Theatre Circa 1938

Bye-Sees Summer

My Summer in New Hampshire Captured on Video:

Check out this behind-the-scenes picture/video montage made by the amazing acting company member Jesse Havea that documents the first two shows of the Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company and all its shenanigans:

MWV Theatre Company 2010

Peace Out New England- you were way too good to me

(The Girls Dressing Room during HAIR.)

IN OTHER NEWS-

I have just settled into my beautiful new apartment in my first ever city to call home- PHILADELPHIA! Check back soon for the scoop on my acting apprenticeship with the Walnut Street Theatre and my Philly adventures. I have already downed my first cheesesteak. YESSS.

<3

Gliddy Gloop Gloopy...

"If I hold back, I'm no good. I'm no good. I'd rather be good sometimes, than holding back all the time." Janis Joplin

Hello everyone!!!!

So much has happened since I last blogged- the biggest news being I turned 23! I had a wonderful birthday welcomed in by Cathedral Ledge at midnight, this glorious rocky overlook of the Conway village and our company's favorite spot to gaze at the stars, a energy boosting HAIR stumble thru, Dairy Queen fast food (I somehow always end up in a Dairy Queen on my birthday-totally by choice- entering a heavenly coma with a Blizzard), a fabulous performance of The Full Monty in the evening, and was ended by a mini post show celebration at my favorite bar and restaurant the Moat with cast and crew! I could not imagine turning 23 any other way, especially without this amazing group of people I have been blessed with filling my summer days.

Backtracking...

Leaving the glitz and glamour of Hollywoodland with the closing of Singin' in the Rain was really tough- I just wasn't ready to say goodbye to Lina Lamont. Even though I ran an Act 1 marathon backstage hopping from one quick change to the next with my amazing dressing team, I had an absolute ball on stage bringing to life one of my favorite characters from my childhood. And I must say, I think blondes do have more fun :-)

The Girls Dressing Room

The Full Monty was another wonderful experience, getting the opportunity to work with director Richard Sabellico, lovingly nicknamed Uncle Dickie by tech, who provided me with a lot of insight on acting and theatre. He made me hungry to work harder and dig deeper. I also extremely enjoyed watching the six guys who bared it all grow over the course of our rehearsals from my spot behind the piano. Rehearsals were just always a pleasure- all of us extremely comfortable with one another- having to pause a lot for laughing attacks. I also enjoyed watching Elaine Stritch and Ruth Gordon clips to help me embody the old show biz aura and ball buster sass I wanted my Jeanette to emulate. I must say it was a lot of fun transforming into Jeanette- husky voice, gray hair, and all! And I lived for those flip shades- check out the pictures in my previous blog.

Our last show of the summer HAIR, which a lot of us could not wait to begin, has finally opened and now looking back on the last few months, I feel I have had an irreplaceable summer that totally took me by surprise- growing immensely as an actress and a person. Shipoopi-ing in River City, to getting all dolled up in Hollywoodland, to being retired and living in Buffalo, NY, and to now being a free spirit fluttering without reserve about the stage with my amazing tribe of hippies, I just don't think there could be a better way to end this summer of adventures. I have stepped into so many unique shoes this summer and have learned so much from telling each one of these stories. HAIR is a show I wish on any actor to do once in their life because the message is so strong and beautiful and it is so extremely freeing. Just read the book Good Hair Days by Jonathon Johnson to get the power of this show! I loved also turning to my dad to hear his memories from the 60s, getting an amazing education on a startling time period of pressing change. And the music- making playlists of Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, etc. to go running to and to rock out to before the show PLUS watching Youtube clips from Woodstock and other music festivals- has been beyond amazing. Bringing the closeness of our summer stock family- all our little tight nit relationships and individual personalities- has also made this tribe something so special. We have been through a lot this summer and we have taken it to the stage. There are no words to describe singing songs like "Hair" and "Let the Sunshine In"- they are almost outer body experiences. I could talk about HAIR and how grateful I am for hours. *Quick story*: I was out in the house during intermission groovin' with audience members our second show and showering them with love when a woman I recognized from town came up to me. We had dressing rooms next to each other in a fabulous consignment shop and she was enjoying my friend Meg and I dancing around the shop in all these vintage pieces. She asked if we were actresses- she could sense it- and we invited her to see Hair. Just seeing her in the crowd, going up to her and kissing her cheek, and hearing she was having a beautiful time put me on Cloud 9! I LIVE FOR THIS!!! A huge thanks to our director Nathaniel Shaw for giving us this magical piece.

So I am beginning to wrap up my beyond incredible summer nestled in this stunning mountainous scenery, and though I am off the wall excited to move to Philly and begin my apprenticeship with the Walnut, I know I am leaving a summer that I will refer back to as a little old lady as one of the best of my life. Its just that simple. Doing things like hiking up waterfalls on days off, running past ski slopes every morning, feeling like every night is a sleepover party with my fabulous roommates, and even sitting in our "green room" before shows that more resembles a trailer park bbq with coffees in hand- I am going to miss it all.

UPDATES:

*I move to Philly the first week of September and begin the 7th at the Walnut! My parents showed me pictures of my place and I am a little bit in love. I am happy to know that my brownstone apartment was built in the 1800s and that there is a Whole Foods a few blocks away plus a used book store and record shop. I cannot wait to date this city!

*My website is also going to be getting some work done, which includes a reel from my college theatre career, favorable reviews from this summer, and new pictures. Again, big thanks to Peter Nilsen- my website designer!

I hope all my beautiful friends from college, home, and past jobs had stunning summers and are pumped for the fall. I cannot wait for the leaves to begin turning.

"She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.
She's got everything she needs,
She's an artist, she don't look back.
She can take the dark out of the nighttime
And paint the daytime black."

-Bob Dylan

The Full Monty Opening Night Photos

This gig's an echo...

Good Old Jeanette. She was a hoot.

CLICK 'EM TO MAKE EM LARGER!!

Update Coming Soon,

Meanwhile....

Singin' in the Rain Opening Night Photos

Loving life as Lina Lamont. Huge thanks to Miss Loriann Freda, the entire cast and crew (especially her costume girls), and LIVE RAIN for making this show such a treasure and a ball to perform.

Click 'em to make 'em larger!

What a Glorious Feeling

From Anne of Green Gables:

Diana Barry: I wish I were rich, and I could spend the whole summer at a hotel, eating ice cream and chicken salad.
Anne Shirley: You know something, Diana? We are rich. We have sixteen years to our credit, and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens.

(Gestures to Sun)

Look at that. You couldn't enjoy its loveliness more if you had ropes of diamonds.

UPDATE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE:

EEEGODS! I bid farewell to River City last night and it was actually quite sad! The Music Man 'twas the fabulous kick off to our season at the Mt. Wash in all its old fashioned Americana fabulousness. Being a fan of the Robert Preston/Shirley Jones film version and adoring the music as a kid, I was happy to get the chance to sing this iconic score for very excited audiences who were ready to hum along. From collecting silly bands (they are all the middle school rage) with our children cast members, to the women's dressing room raps and reality TV show "The Real Housewives of River City," and to having a blast marching through the house during "76 Trombones" and dancing the "Shipoopi"- we kept it fresh and fun every night on stage and off and it was a wonderful show to dive back into after our rehearsals during the day. So I am really glad I gave Iowa a try. And...BALZAC.

I have been exploring the VHS collection of the ski lodge I am living in-its pretty fierce- and found all the "Anne of Green Gables" movies, which I use to watch countless times in my childhood and haven't seen since. It has been beautiful reliving those films on my meal breaks, being taken to stunning Prince Edward Island and into Anne with an e's wild imagination. I cried my eyes out! I opened this blog with a beautiful scene in the first film between Anne and her best friend Diana that I think of when I stare at the sky in NH. I have never seen such illustrious sunsets and skies nor so many stars at night.

I also have been reading David Mamet's True and False-something I recommend all actors to read- and this used book I bought off the sidewalk in the city near the Met published in the 1930s called Listen Little Girl: Before You Come to New York by Munro Leaf, which is this brilliant manual that resembles How to Succeed..., but only for women. There is this amazing chapter on theater and this opening passage is just the bee's knees:

"Any one who thinks of the theater and the people of the theater in terms of mere practicality is a fool. Like patriotism, religion, and mother love, acting has an unexplainable factor that makes mince-meat of drab reality and logic. You have had at least a clue to this if you have ever taken part in any sort of performance at anytime in your life. It doesn't matter whether it was the Sunday School Christmas play when you were one of the Three Wise Men at the age of five or the Tuesday Ladies' Club's rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream; there was, I guarantee, a fine flush of frenzy about it that made the show's "going on" the most important thing in the world."

--I just love that statement. Thanks Mr. Leaf.--

Other happenings include my parents making their first visit up for 4th of July to NH, securing an amazing brownstone apartment in Philly for next year that makes me smile from ear to ear, organizing a MSU 2010 newsletter with fellow classmate and current roommate Shannon Connolly, filming the silent picture and talkies my character Lina Lamont stars in in Singin in the Rain, and just getting ready to open this crazy beast of a musical. I'm in love with this character and am happy to be doing another musical I grew up with amongst an extremely hardworking cast and creative team. I can't wait to get pied in the face every night and to be a blonde!

My summer really has been amazing thus far and I am grateful for each day. More to come soon!!!