"I am woman, hear me roar" is the anthem going through my head this morning, and I have to say it's great to be back in NY.

The request for more Michigan pics has been commented on, and I'm still going through photos to post. I have plenty of stories to tell about my Lucky Stiff adventure, believe me! But in the meantime, I'm back in action in Manhattan! :)

I'm already in the swing of things with auditions, and I've received great response from some of Broadway's best casting directors. What a great feeling to know my work is being well-received!

Ok, I promised pics of my experience in Saugatuck, MI while rehearsing and performing the musical, Lucky Stiff at Mason Street Warehouse, so here are a few to start....

First off, I have to tell you that Saugatuck must be a butterfly haven, because there were butterflies everywhere! A few even deigned to "pose" for me. :)

The town was simply as lush as could be, situated along Lake Kalamazoo. My roomate and dear friend, Gina Milo, and I would picnic alongside the lake during breaks. It was so beautiful!

There were also charming gardens in town and plenty to keep the local artist inspired, I'm sure!


The cast was uber talented, and we all bonded very quicky. The 4 leads, myself included, were all from NY, and the ensemble all hailed from Western University. They were really phenomenal, and our associate director, VP Boyle, kept saying, "There must be something in the water here, because you guys are incredible!"

I have been meaning to blog for the last few weeks, but rehearsals and performances for Lucky Stiff have kept me super busy! Plus the laptop my sweetheart souped up for me is about a hundred years old, so I can't post pics and my internet access is shakey. Don't sneeze or I could get bumped! :)

The minute I get back to NY I'm going to post pics I've taken of this place, because it is so beautiful! Saugatuck, MI is indeed small town America. There's even a Main Street which is only about 2 blocks long and is surrounded by trees. It is SO green here! And the tiny post office only sends mail out once a day. For a New Yorker this may sound primative, but the slow down-home pace is so relaxing and the town of Saugatuck is absolutely charming! Very artsy with lots of galleries, it's a rich resort town right along Lake Kalamazoo, and I love that I can see the water and yachts right across from the theatre, Mason Street Warehouse.

The theatre is AWESOME! It seats over 300 and has a real Off Broadway kind of feel. VERY POSH and fairly new (they're in their 5th season), they have a great reputation. The artistic director, Kurt Stamm, is an absolute delight! One of the nicest directors to work with, he also has a great deal of experience as a choreographer, and I feel like he has helped us approach our characters from a movement point of view, which is really cool.

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are the creators of this little gem of a musical called Lucky Stiff, and I am thrilled to be doing it again. I played Rita in the Off Off Broadway revival 2 years ago, and getting into this character again is like diving into a favorite pair of stiletto high heels... sexy but off-kilter. That's my Rita!

The audiences have been warm and wonderful and so receptive. They're from all over the country! Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Chicago, New York... And they're so generous with their laughter and applause. Many of them have gifted us with standing ovations.

Since I'm the comic villain, I've been overjoyed to hear the laughs that accompany my character, Rita, through this musical murder mystery. She's been written with great humor and heart, and I get the chance to win the audience over with a big, lusty, powerhouse ballad, "Fancy Meeting You Here." So much fun!

My sweetheart, Rob, came to the show opening weekend, and really enjoyed it. Also Andy Monroe and George Demarco from The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun are here to see it, and I'm so jazzed! I love getting to share this ride with so many wonderful people! :)