When It Rains...

Have you ever noticed how good news tends to arrive in two's and three's?

Yesterday I got word that the musical Hell's Belles will be doing a round of backer's auditions (readings for producers) at the end of February or first week of March. I'm so psyched to play Judy Garland and Janis Joplin again!

I also got a call to take on a yummy role in a new short play for a festival, so that's exciting!

And I had a great audition this week for Playwright's Horizons. I tell you, the connection of being in the moment and supporting the playwrights words with my voice and action... felt fabulous!

When it rains, it pours!

Meryl Streep's compassion for characters

I've been feeling like a rose in bloom - in the Winter no less!

So much good stuff going on. Good growth.

After working consistently on stage through Dec. 2011, I'm now back to game-planning, taking my next steps: researching classes, teachers, audition material, nurturing ideas for solo shows and web shows.

Always open and receptive to inspiration.

Which leads me to the great Meryl Streep.

There's a delicious interview with her in the December issue of Vogue. She's a big history buff, supporting the National Women's History Museum, and a Force of Nature in all she does. I was interested to learn she is a shareholder in Community Support Agriculture, "proselytizing for  safe, organic, ecologically sustainable food." I love the pic of her above that Annie Liebovitz took in the broccoli field at Sol Flower Farm.

And there's food for thought for actors. Meryl says, “With any character I play, where she is me is where I meet her. It’s very easy to set people at arm’s length and judge them....but to live inside that body is another thing entirely. And it’s humbling on a certain level and infuriating, just like it is to live in your own body. Because you recognize your own failings..."

At 62, she joked that she was probably the oldest person ever to be on the cover of Vogue.”

But I LOVE that! What a great testament to beauty - inside and out! And it makes me think of all the women in my life like my Mom, my grandmother, even dear friends who've hit 60 and have kept on blazing trails.

(Mom and me)

I like what Meryl says about growing older: "I have always liked and been intrigued by older people, and the idea that behind them lives every human trauma, drama, glory, jokes, love.”

So keep on living out loud, no matter what age you are. Blaze your trail! ;)

Breakthroughs in 2012

3 days into 2012, and a consistent message has appeared. 3 times, no less!

It's about perceived barriers, and how people will often put up roadblocks before beginning to pursue a goal.

They'll say, "I'd really like to have that, but I can't because...______ (fill in the blank)."

Look around that roadblock. What's on the other side?

A barrier only has the power to stop us if we let it. And more often than not, what we perceive as a barrier is just a small hurdle or a speed-bump.

So look at perceived barriers in your life, and empower yourself to go around, jump over, walk through or push past them.



Like one of my favorite songs from The Doors says, Break on through to the other side!

(Photo credit)

2011: A Great Year of Gigs!

It's been a really great year. I went from auditioning steadily to performing steadily. And I got to work in all these great spaces like the Jerry Orbach Theatre at the Snapple Center, The Mint Theater, the June Havoc Theatre at Abingdon, the gorgeous theatre at 80 St. Marks, and the Midtown Theatre at HA Comedy Club. I also performed in staged readings and mini concerts at Ripley Grier and Pearl Studios. And I wrote a sketch for and performed at The People's Improv Theatre.  

These are all places where I've auditioned for gigs since my arrival in NY, so it was an accomplishment to be hired to perform in these theatres, to completely claim the space and fill it with such wonderful characters.

And the characters! Wow! I feel so fortunate to have played Judy Garland and Janis Joplin in "Hell's Bells," a Bette Midler impersonator in "Maybe This Time," the patient, upbeat wife in "Steve Cohen and the Sweet Spot," and a punk rock mom in the musical, "How to Marry a Divorced Man."
 

I also had the pleasure of revisiting "The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun" in Andy Monroe's birthday concert for The Trevor Project, and got to sing one of his other songs from "Garbo Talks."

I had 2 films come out this year. One was a short I made a few years ago, playing a New York laundress in "Laundry." It was shown in various "Women in Film" festivals throughout New York, thanks to director Julia Suo.

I also played Marty's Dream Mom in Hippie Cream's independent feature film musical, "Marty's Magnificent Day-Glo Dreamathon."

Thank you to all the great directors, writers, casting directors and producers for inviting me on these wonderfully wild and creatively fulfilling rides!

In the midst of it all, I've shared great adventures with my husband and partner of countless years, Rob. We went to Vegas last year for his job and are looking forward to visiting again this year.

I have also learned a lot from my support job in the business world. It's funny because my Committed Impulse teacher, Josh Pais, had recommended a few years ago to treat each job we do as if preparing for a role, to be completely present in each circumstance. My brother, who's a drummer for Hippie Cream, has also recommended this. And you know what's happened? I've found I'm able to apply the business skills I'm learning from my day job into my acting gigs, and I'm able to apply my acting skills to my business gig. I'll even be teaching improv and role-play workshops there in 2012!

It's really fascinating how opportunities present themselves when we're open to them.

So what have I learned this year? A sense of focus and trust, of being driven and putting my foot on the gas coupled with being open and letting go.

It's a wild ride, this life, and I can't wait to see what's around the next corner!

Happy New Year!

Tale of a Tribute Artist: "Maybe This Time"

I've been so busy! I haven't had a chance to write about the staged reading of the screenplay for "Maybe This Time." It was a few weeks ago, and it was such a blast!

Written by Marco Kujovic and Richard DeFonzo, it's a lovely romantic comedy about a Liza Minnelli impersonator and his quest to find true love.

I was going to say this was my first show working with a tribute artist, but looking at the shows I've done, that's not entirely true!

In The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, I played Jeanine, the Singing Nun, and the story was told by Sister Coco, a drag queen nun. As wild as that sounds, Sister Coco was a great fictitious voice to shed light on the Singing Nun's true story.

In Hell's Belles, I worked with 2 ladies who were marvelous impersonators of everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Ma Barker with shades of Ethel Merman. :) It was my incredible pleasure to take on Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, and a host of other iconic women.

For "Maybe This Time," I played a Bette Midler impersonator and the best friend of the lead character.

We didn't wear any costumes for the reading, but it was incredible to watch the men transform with their voices and bodies, "becoming" Liza, Cher, Joan Rivers. And I felt the same way as Bette.What a blast to play such a larger than life lady!

It was such a privilege to work with such talented folks!

Ooh! I must amend the costume comment! There was one costume piece that Richard brought: a white hat he wears when he plays Liza in his solo show. In the screenplay, there's a moment in the movie where the lead character goes to great pains to prepare for his entrance onstage as Liza, and the final moment is donning that fabulous white hat.

When Richard put that hat on.... I got chills.

It was magnificent, and I wish these gentlemen the very best as they work to get their film made. It was a pleasure to be part of the process of having it seen and heard.

Cheers!

Next Up: Playing Bette

Tomorrow, Dec. 5th, I'm playing a Bette Midler impersonator in the staged reading of the independent feature film, "Maybe This Time."

It's a delicious romantic comedy about a Liza Minnelli impersonator named Robert who's looking for love "in all the wrong places."

The film chronicles his adventures in and out of love, and I play his best friend, Mona, who's also a bit of a matchmaker. I have some really fun scenes, and am having a blast with the cast.

The reading is Dec. 5 at 7 PM at Ripley Grier Studio "L" on 520 Eighth Ave.

Hope to see you there!