45 Bleecker Theatre

I just got back from tech rehearsal for Got You, and had to gush about 45 Bleecker Theatre.

For one thing, you can't miss it. There's a giant "45" painted on the doors, and the place simply oozes art!


The inside is a combination theatre-lobby and art gallery. There are some amazing paintings on display!

And you know what floored me? A few years ago, I had auditioned there for an Off Broadway show, and I remember thinking at the time how much I would love to perform in the space, because it's so open and inviting. And now I am!

How cool is that? :)

Busy Bees!

So much good stuff going on!

First, Got You, the play-reading I'm doing, has a website:

http://michaelsmallnyc.com/got_you/


We're in the Bleeker Theatre today, doing tech (lights and sound), and then we're performing on Thursday and Friday at 9:30 PM if you're in the mood for some dark comedy in the Village. :)

It's really cool to be part of something in the beginning stages, seeing it all take shape.

I have so many friends and cohorts working on projects too - I have to give them a cheer!

My Shakespeare coach, Deloss Brown, is directing a new play, Boxed In, starring Ron Voz, the lovely gentleman who worked with me in Lucky Stiff at the Astoria Performing Arts Center.


Selda Sahin and Carl Danielsen, who had me sing the title role in their demo of Lilly's Big Day, are doing a reading of their new musical based on Jane Austen's "Persuasion."

And Andy Monroe, who composed The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, is going into rehearsals for The Kid, his new musical slated to be staged by The New Group in 2010.

Really exciting stuff! Bravo, everyone!

Overnight Success

I was reading about the new movie 9 the other day, and was surprised to discover that the feature film was based on director Shane Acker's student film of the same name.

He completed the 11 minute short film in 2004, received an Academy Award nomination for the film in 2006, and was awarded various honors from film festivals all over the world.

Nurtured by producers Jim Lemley, Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov, Dana Ginsburg, and Jinko Gotoh, 9 was released on 9/9/09 and it's on my must-see list.

It also made me think of a student thesis I did quite a few years ago called Sincerely Yours, which won various honors at NYU (including an acting award for yours truly) and how, if the right producers had picked up the film, perhaps it could have grown some "legs" like 9 did.

Then I came upon an interview with one of my favorite authors, Charlaine Harris, whose books include the popular Sookie Stackhouse series, upon which HBO's show True Blood is based. Apparently, Ms. Harris got her start by taking a creative writing class in St. Louis! And after twenty-five years of getting her books published, she is now "an overnight success."

I just love these instances of people doing what they love to do and putting their work out there. And how many years it took for these projects to really zoom!

Some projects only take a few years to catch on while others require growth over time, and it's a great lesson to keep investing in yourself and what you love to do, and to put your work out into the world.

Speaking of, I'm doing a reading of a new play called Got You next week at the HOWL Festival. I'm working with some of my Kaboom folks from last summer: Penny Ayn Maas is directing, Fred Rose (pictured far right) is performing with me, and Michael Small is the playwright. I'm also working with the delightful Heather Laws (seated right) and Jeremy Ellison-Gladstone (left).

Performances for Sept. 24-25 at 9:30 PM at 45 Bleeker St. Lobby Theatre. Tix are $10.

Hope to see you there!

To Serve and Protect

This morning, on my way to sign up for auditions, I passed a group of policemen assembled at Columbus Circle. They all stood at attention while one fellow held the American flag and another officer read the names of their comrades who had passed away 9 years ago at the World Trade Center. I caught them just as they were finishing the list of fallen heroes, and they bowed their heads for a moment of silence.

I stopped as well and bowed my head, thinking of all the people who were lost in that tragedy.

A few other pedestrians stopped as well, and I thought, "Wouldn't be it amazing if everyone stopped at the same time to pay their respects?"

And some people actually stopped and bowed their heads, but a lot of people still zoomed by us on their way to work, and I too, had to leave as well.

Of course, I'm still thinking of those warriors, standing so tall, hoping they are strong and brave and true. In this cynical world, it seems there are some folks who constantly preach negativity and seek to undermine others, but when I think of all the officers, fire-fighters and medical personnel who lost their lives trying to save others on 9-11-01, I am overcome with the good that can manifest in humanity.

And I have hope.

Blessed be.