Sweet Halloween Wishes

Thanks to my great graphic guy, Rob, at whatsyoursigndesign.biz for this fun Halloween card. Have a marvelously magical harvest celebration!

How to Help CA Wildfire Survivors

With the horrors of the CA wildfires emblazoned on TV and computer screens and newspapers, I cannot help but feel a terrible disquiet and desperate need to help the state I grew up in. My adopted Grandma Leta used to live in Escondido where tons of homes were destroyed. I have friends and family in San Diego, San Bernadino and Riverside Counties, and my brother lives in Santa Clarita above Magic Mountain where fires raged as well. Miraculously, all of these people were unharmed, but I doubt that any of us were unaffected.

If someone you know has been affected, or if you just want to help, please investigate the many Red Cross stations or donate to Red Cross directly and there's also America's Second Harvest. I wish I could fly out there right now to wrap them all in a big hug.

Thank you to the brave firefighters, volunteer firemen, National Guard, Marines and other military officers who have fought these fires, and thank you to the incredible volunteers who have been striving to comfort the evacuees. An abundance of blessings, love and support to you all!

Remembering Benny Reehl

I was sad to learn that the "father of the new vaudeville," Benny Reehl, passed away a few years ago. He was one of my directors at the PA Renaissance Faire when the Faire still had a strong Shakespearean improv troupe, and he directed me in the original show, "Bumble, Rough and Tumble."

Benny was a master at physical comedy and was great at inspiring the cast to explore our characters' full range of physical expression. A great teacher, I still remember him painstakingly teaching me to juggle beanbags, and I LOVED our trampoline work. I remember doing a somersault off the trampoline, and as he spotted me, I accidentally nicked him with my nails, and he said, "Those have to go!" But he was very patient, fun-loving and kind-hearted. He touched my life forever.

Kudos and great respect to a master craftsman:

http://mainearts.maine.gov/news/newsletter/2005-2/reehl.shtml

Attitude of Gratitude

It's not Thanksgiving yet, but I had to blog about this today: the attitude of gratitude. Bonnie Gillespie started it with her "I'd like to Thank the Academy" column this week, and I had to accept her challenge. There are so many people who inspire me and rock my world with their kindness, love, friendship, and wisdom. First, there's my guy, Rob, who has been with me on this wild ride since we met in the Shakespeare troupe for the PA Renaissance Faire many moons ago. To quote Jessica Rabbit, "He makes me laugh," and that is one of the greatest gifts ever! There are my soul sisters, the ever essential Tina on the East Coast and Lisa and her family in the West; my real-life couldn't wait until he was born brother, Sean (drummer man for SMUG and Hippie Cream); my "book brothers" and NY family, Carl and Michael and shaman Ataman; my Mom, who always taught me to live life to the fullest; Dad, Lani and John and Johnny Rocket; the Catawissa crew, Mark Sikes and his Casting Corner (actors take heed!), my Singing Nun and Lucky Stiff (MSW and APAC) peeps, all casts and crews actually, Wendy-bird, classmates, teachers like VP Boyle and Marcia Cloyd; writers who make me thrill to read their works, casting directors who've been kind and encouraging in auditions, directors who've helmed projects magnificently and the producers who've produced them; and to all those folks who inspire with kindness, strength of spirit, empowerment and compassion. Thank you for your gifts of friendship, love and insight.

Blog Action Day

My friend Tina is so informed. Since she's an online business owner of The Essential Herbal, she is so up-to-date with whats going on in cyberspace. Today in blogland is Blog Action Day: working to protect and save our environment. Tina's blog captures this beautifully, so please check it out. Thank you!

To Everything... Turn, Turn, Turn

"There is a season.... turn, turn, turn...."

I love this time of year! Autumn has finally hit the East Coast, and as many New Yorkers have been saying, "It's about time!" Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed the extended summer - it takes me back to my Southern CA roots - but there's something about the crisp Fall air that really gets my blood pumping with excitement and anticipation.

Last night, I met up with an old friend from NYU who was production manager of a really lovely 30 minute film I did called Sincerely Yours, which earned me the NYU Craft Award (and which I hope to post online soon). Anyway, we caught up on our adventures while watching the Dbacks play the Rockies, and it was very cool, sipping ale while sharing stories about art, life, and baseball. Jonathan's production company, Myriad Arts, has blossomed beautifully. Definitely check them out!

So many of my friends have been echoing the same sentiment about transformation, feeling a need to refocus, reconnect and create anew. I always feel that way this time of year, and I can't help but wonder if its spawned by the natural changes around us.

There's something about seeing the harvest pumpkins lined up on stands near the small grocery stores and the stalks of corn festooning these stands that just makes me want to celebrate! :) Change is in the air!

For me some of these changes include joining the community of writers for The Essential Herbal. I had written a short story for The Fairy Home Companion a few years ago, and my friend, Tina, has always encouraged me to keep writing. So writing a column for a magazine that just celebrated its 6th year in circulation is a nice challenge.

This is also spurring me on to write my next one woman show. I've written two pieces prior: the serio-comic 10 minute short, CHEER, and the cabaret with a story (or the story with a song list), Love in 35 Minutes. Both received great response and allowed me to bounce around Off Off Broadway. My next piece is noodling around in my head so we'll see what takes shape.

In the meantime, I'm reading lots of plays, getting wonderfully inspired, listening to lots of new music... Speaking of which, I have to share the appropiately Halloween-ish song, Cuddles the Vampire, written and performed by the band Hippie Cream, which my brother Sean plays the drums for. They are truly unique, and one of my FAVORTIE songs of theirs is called 76 Years Young.... about agelessness. :)

"Spreading our beautiful wings...76 years young." Rock on!

New Music

In the musical Ragtime there is a glorious song about "New Music" and how music can inspire us, change us, bring us to life in ways we never dreamed of... And there is something about NY in the Autumn that simply hums with that same kind of energy.

There is a pulse, a heartbeat to the city, that everyone seems to tune into. And though we've been having a bit of a heatwave lately (cue Marilyn Monroe singing, "We're having a heatwave... a tropical heatwave....") I've been enjoying that Fall frenzy that fills the air.

Since most of my auditions are around Times Square, I've been racing about, dodging taxi cabs and tourists as I make my way to the audition studios that are scattered throughout town. I usually walk by the Broadway theatres on my way to these auditions, and I've been delighted to see trucks parked outside the stage doors where stagehands are unloading set pieces for the new shows. The stage doors are wide open, and it's so cool to get glimses of the blackened Broadway stages. They're almost like clean chalkboard slates, waiting to be filled.

So back to this "new music" I was talking about. On Monday I sang in a BMI presentation of new composers' works. My Singing Nun composer, Andy Monroe, had written a song for me and my Singing Nun co-star, Tracey Gilbert, to sing for the presentation, and it was from his new musical, The Kid. It was such a blast, because not only did I get to rock out to Andy's new tune, but I got to hear some of the other composers as well, and what an absolute treat! Each composer has such a unique sense of style, and it's thrilling to partake of such excellent work, to be hearing it and performing this new music for the first time. Incredible!

What I especially love about Andy's music is that its a great mix of today's pop sound with really strong musical theatre roots. It's part of that pulse I was talking about earlier. And to be able to sing that, to make people laugh and feel and be inspired by this new music, it's an absolute delight!

Kickin into High Gear

You know that feeling when you're shifting gears on a car and you're about to go faster? It's especially exciting when you're driving a stickshift, but even with an automatic, you can feel the transition of gears, and there's this thrill of speeding ahead. I feel like that with my life right now, that I've got my hand on the stickshift and I'm shifting into high gear! Woo!

A lot of people have been asking me about Broadway Idol, and while I didn't make the next round, I've run into a lot of friends who said they had trouble voting or that they never received confirmation that their vote went through. Another Idol contestant whom I ran into at an audition mentioned that his entourage had the same problem, and it surprised me that he didn't make the next round either, because he was really good too, so I'm guessing the process was a bit buggy. All in all, I felt good about my song, worked with wonderful directors and producers, received great feedback from the judges, and have been approached by several new folks who wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed my performance. Also, there's been an outpouring of love and encouragement from my friends and family all over the country who couldn't make the show. So it's all good.

Now shifting into high gear....

I was called in for the new musical Wine Lovers, and get this: the director is Holly Anne Ruggiero, who was one of the judges for the intial Broadway Idol audition. She was such a doll to work with and called me back for the final auditions for Wine Lovers. Today was dancing, singing, reading more scenes. It all felt really good, so keep your fingers crossed! :)

I also booked a voice over for a short film, Coyote, and I did that recording yesterday. So much fun! We spent hours trying the scene in all sorts of ways. It'll be fun to see what the director decides to use for the final cut. Will it be my smokey, sultry voice or my Valley Girl voice? LOL

More stops along the way: I had an interview with an agent, and that was really lovely. Some strong possibilities there. I'm also prepping for a song presentation at BMI for Andy Monroe's next project, The Kid, and I'm just enjoying this wonderful life ride, meeting other people and diggin it that we all have a part to play in this multi-facted gem of a business. So cool.

Zooming off into the sunset. Catch ya later!

Broadway Idol

I love the New York Musical Theatre Festival. I had heard of it a few years ago when they first started up, and it was this yummy little big deal of a festival that has just kept going and growing... like the Energizer Bunny in a field of sunflowers! :)

Two years ago I auditioned for them and received phenomenal response. Then last year I booked the lead in The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun and ended up receiving the NYMF Award of Excellence for Outstanding Individual Performance. Woo hoo!

This year I'm performing in NYMF's Broadway Idol. It's like American Idol but more localized to the New York theatre scene. Jess McLeod is our fabulous director, Christopher D. Littlefield is our rocking musical director, and Eric Louie is our lovely producer. It is a thrill to be working with all of them!

Performances start this Friday September 21st at 10 PM at Stitch Bar and Lounge (247 West 37th Street). If you're in the city, come on by! It's sure to be an absolute blast!

Only in Manhattan

Since I got back from Lucky Stiff, I've been a busy bee! Not only am I immersed in living life to the fullest, embarking on auditions and working on my craft, but I'm making sure to take in more theatre. After all, it's one of the reasons I'm here! So when my voice coach Carl Danielsen invited me to "Hooked," a showcase at The Zipper Theatre, I had to go!

It was one of the most fascinating experiences I've ever had and reminded me keenly of The New York Musical Theatre Festival, which I performed in and won an award in last year. This event was more of an intimate concert, a mix of musical theatre and performance art, and The Zipper was the perfect place for it! The theatre has fun, stadium-style seats that are like cushy car seats built for two. And the sound system is great! They also have a lighting designer who has an excellent sense of how to enhance the mood of a song.

Speaking of which, the music was certainly intriguing! There was a very funny song about a man becoming First Lady, written by Drew Fornarola and Scott Elmegreen. Carl Danielsen and Selda Sahin had three passionate pieces about love, life, and travel that are still noodling about in my head. Raymond Bokhour did a music hall number about a British transvestite. The outrageous Aussie, Anna Copa Cabanna, accompanied herself on xylophone and grooved along with what looked like a speak-and-spell. Then there was Corn Mo, a former ringmaster who reminded me greatly of a young Meatloaf. He closed the show with a song he had written for Una, an incredible trapezist who hosted "Hooked." Una climbed up a rope onto a trapeze onstage and did this magical routine while Corn Mo sang about flying like an angel. It was WILD. And beautiful!

Only in New York!

Summer in Saugatuck

So here it is September already. How the heck did this summer go by so fast? My family in Southern, CA are still having a major heatwave, so I hope some cool weather comes their way soon. Today in NY it's sunny and gorgeous and I can't wait to get out there!

But now it's time for a quick picture break. Here are more pics from my Lucky Stiff run at Mason Street Warehouse in Saugatuck, MI:

It was always a lush drive to the theatre. Come rain or shine, it was like cruising through a cathedral of trees!

The theatre itself was in a really neat, industrial-looking building that had once been the town's pie factory. It sat 300+ people and we sold out!

The stage was a great playing space and made me think of many theatres Off Broadway. And our set designer, Todd Engle, was amazing!!! His wife, Ellen, was our Company Manager, and she took great care of us.

Our director, Kurt Stamm, was a dreamboat with a knack for physical humor. Here we are on opening night with the terrifically talented girls in our cast (from left): Sandy Zwier (ensemble), Lindsay Foreman (Dominique), me in the red heels as Rita, and Gina Milo as Annabelle.

"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! :)

I'm having an Elle Woods "Perfect Day" kind of day. :) Seriously, if you ever need a boost, listen to the first song on the Legally Blonde soundtrack - Perfect Day by Hoku - and see if it doesn't put you in a good mood. That song has been bouncing around my head all morning.

I woke up at 6, stretched and exercised, put myself together in a lovely summer skirt and blouse, kissed my sweetheart, Rob, and headed out to my day job.

On the way to work, I chatted with my friend, Tina, who posted this incredible blog today about Sunflower Women: http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/

Tina and I met at the PA Renaissance Faire where she and her sister, Maryanne, worked at the shire's herb shop. Incidentally, my guy Rob and I also met at the Faire when we were cast in the Shakespearean improv troupe, and Rob first introduced me to Tina and Maryanne. We all found a haven in each other as well as lotsa laughs. Now Rob and I are making our dreams come true in NYC, and Tina and Maryanne are successful business women of their own enterprises, many of which can be found at http://www.essentialherbal.com/

Anyway, Tina, Maryanne and I dubbed ourselves "Sunflower Women" since we seem to be always stretching and growing gloriously. Here's to ALL Sunflower Women! :)

I've been so blessed with love and support in all areas of my life. When I arrived at work today, my friend, Jaimee started me off with a smiling salute, "4 days til blast off!" which made ME smile. And my manager, Ross, has been incredibly supportive about this Lucky Stiff gig at Mason Street Warehouse. They've all come to see many of my Off Off Broadway shows these past two years, and I feel so fortunate to have such an incredible team of people who are sharing in the joy.

I was reading about Saugatuck-Douglas, MI where the Mason Street theatre resides and the place looks amazing! This charming resort community has always been a haven for creative people and includes famous visitors like suffragette Susan B. Anthony, aviator Amelia Earhart, poet Carl Sandburg, and pianist Jan Paderewski. I can't help but feel like I'm in good company. :)

Speaking of which, my Singing Nun composer, Andy Monroe and producer George Demarco will be coming out to see me in Lucky Stiff. My guy Rob, famous Swatch billboard designer (see blog below), will also be visiting, and I'm hoping other friends will be able to visit as well.

These past few weeks have been busy, not only with prepping for "take off" but with other projects as well. I recorded a song for Andy's new musical, The Kid, based on the book by Dan Savage. It is really awesome stuff! I was also invited back by The Onion News Network. We had worked together on their upcoming "Country Music" video, and they called me in a few weeks ago to read for their morning show host position, which was a blast! I love working with all these wonderful people!

And now... I'm ready for take off. :) I'll be sure to keep you all posted on my adventures in Michigan. Have a great summer and happy trails!

Look! Up in the sky!

If you live in NY, or you're coming in for a visit, take a walk to Times Square. And there on 45th and Broadway, you'll see a huge billboard for Swatch. Well, my sweetheart, Rob, created that. Isn't it cool?

He was given the initial design and had to recreate it for billboard use. Since he's currently freelancing from home, I got to watch him work on it, and it was so cool to get a bird's eye view of the whole thing.

To see a piece of art go from the size of a computer screen to the size of a billboard is truly amazing! I am busting with pride! :)

Check out more of Rob's work on http://www.whatsyoursigndesign.biz/

What a Difference a Year Makes!

It hit me today that it was exactly one year ago that I launched my one woman musical, Love in 35 Minutes, and I feel so good! I've been thinking about writing another one woman show, and I'm taking notes as I go. It feels a lot like planting seeds in a garden or cooking different dishes on a stove. I have to wait and see what sprouts or is "done" first.

In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the whole process, and when I think back to last year and all that has come to fruition, I'm just amazed! Like doing Love in 35 Minutes, directed by my dear friend Carl Einbeck, and then going right into The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, working with such amazing people on that piece! Winning the NYMF Award for Outstanding Individual Peformance, meeting all sorts of incredible people at the NYMF Gala, including Broadway stars and producers... Cultivating my craft with awesome people in awesome classes, working on The Onion's Country Music webisode, hitting auditions and seeing casting people and directors respond so powerfully to my auditions, whether it's with laughter, smiles and words of encouragement, or absolute physical reactions like diving onto my resume when I've completed my work. It feels SO GOOD!

Now I'm prepping to go to Mason Street Warehouse to play a character I adore: Rita in the Ahrens & Flaherty musical Lucky Stiff. Not only do I love-love-love the show (I did it at the Astoria Performing Arts Center two years ago), but I also received a note from my mentor, VP Boyle, letting me know he will be Associate Director for the piece, which is awesome!!! Working with VP is like working with Willy Wonka. He's so inventive and intuitive and FUN! He definitely brings magic with him wherever he goes. And I've heard wonderful things about Kurt Stamm, the Artistic Producing Director, as well. A lot of NY actors have nothing but high praise for these two fellows and I'm absolutely delighted to be working with them this summer. Woo hoo!

Fun with The Nunnies :)

This has been such an interesting month in that I've been meeting up with cast and crewmates from The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun. It's been like a reunion of sorts, all of us catching up with each other and celebrating our strides forward. It's been delightful!

Krsitine Zbornik, who played my Mother Superior, recently won a MAC award for her amazing cabaret at the Metropolitan Room. Expect to see this talented funny lady on Broadway soon!

Tracey Gilbert, who played my love interest in Nun, shared this incredible photo with me of her, taken by Gary Matoso who has this phenomenal project called "Everyday People. Every Day." Isn't it cool? I love that I get to share this life ride with all these wonderful people who are passionate about life and making good art. It's very cool.

I also recently celebrated my Singing Nun producer, George DeMarco, who had a birthday last weekend. He is one of the sweetest people in the world, and is so passionate about the theatre. Like Company's producer Steven Baruch said in his Tony award acceptance speech last weekend, "Producers have dreams like everyone else," and I'd love to see George's dreams come true.

Andy Monroe, George's partner, not only wrote the music and lyrics for Singing Nun, but he's also working on a ton of other projects and he wrote a beautiful song for George's birthday called, "By George." It was lovely!

I feel so blessed to have met these wonderful people, to have worked on the awesome musical about Sister Smile with them, and to celebrate each other as we grow as artists and friends.

Such Great Inspiration!

The Tonys were last night and they did a great job, showcasing NY theatre for the whole country to see. There were some inspirational performances. I loved all the musical presentations, and I'm so glad they showed some scenes from the dramatic pieces as well, because those are often overlooked.

Frank Langella is a marvel! Watching him and Christopher Plummer (who was nominated for Inherit the Wind) is like taking a master class. What phenomenal actors! And I loved Mr. Langella's acceptance speech:

"There's a line in Frost/Nixon which says, 'Success in America is unlike success anywhere else. That feeling when you are up is indescribable....' The line then goes on to say, "But there's another feeling -- when it's gone, to somewhere else, to someone else." And I know that feeling. Everyone in this room knows it. I suppose we can't stop people from putting us into competition with one another and once we are here, I suppose we all want to win. But I think we must honor the common bond in us, the struggle, the striving for success, because that's a race you simply can't lose. I am very proud and very honored to live and work among you splendid people, thank you. Thank you for giving me that indescribable feeling. I wish it for you all."

And Christine Ebersole's salute to "the Edies -- may they live in our hearts forever because those who take the journey, when they come and see Grey Gardens, help us get in touch with our humanity and our innate goodness."

Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik affirmed that "musical theatre rocks!" and writer Steven Sater asserted that "dreams really do come true." We singer/actors are so thankful for composers and writers like these two who push boundaries and give us all such wonderful playgrounds to explore in.

Lastly, my favorite speech was from Jay Johnson whom I've loved since I was a kid and would sneak peeks at the comedy TV series, SOAP. Jay won for his one man show, The Two and Only:

"To everybody that ever had a dream, always believe."

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/winners.html

Congrats to all of the Tony Award Winners and nominees. Not only did you entertain brilliantly this year, but you moved people to expand their horizons, and you inspired artists like me to keep on growing. Bravo!

It has been such a weird time. My grandmother passed away on 5/19, so I flew out to CA to be with my family. We poured over old photo albums and shared so many stories. My Dad said he would scan a lot of the black and white photos and send them to me on a disc, and I'm grateful for that. Seeing where we came from, what our families went through, it's all very eye-opening. Pictures of my Dad as a child looked just like my brother as a boy, and I found an old high school pic of my Mom that for me was like looking in the mirror.

My grandma was named Eleanor and she was born in 1918. Her mother, Leila, was a great believer in music, so she schooled all three of her girls to play an instrument, and Eleanor played the trumpet. When I first heard this, I thought it was so wild, because Eleanor had always been such a quiet, subdued person. I hope she felt great when she blew her horn.

I think it's so interesting that my brother and I came from a musically inclined family, because the arts are so essential for us both. My great-grandmother Leila would've been delighted that Sean and I are both making our livings with music and art. There's a great freedom of spirit and a lot of love.

Blessed be.

Laundry and Laughs

Last year I had the lead in a short film called Laundry, playing a high-haired laundress with a thick New "Yawk" accent. It was a fun film that had a "Clerks" (in an East Village laundromat) kind of feel to it.

We filmed in the wee hours of the night, and a great deal of it was improvised, which is interesting considering I just did some improvisational filmwork for The Onion News Network last week. Ha!

The director, Julia Suo, wanted my character to have a wild and crazy hairdo, so she brought in a hair artist to sculpt my hair each night (it's shown mid-sculpt here). It took about an hour each night and you don't even want to know how much hairspray was used! There are stills of the final 'do on my website: http://www.lauradaniel.net/laundry.htm

And for the full reel, you can catch this quirky little film on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mswi_6z_R6U

Hope you dig it. :)

So much to blog about - I hardly know where to start! These past few weeks have been full of inspiration! Friends, family, and fellow artists have been my muses. :)

First, my little brother, Sean, put out an album with one of the bands he's drumming for: SMUG. These guys are so unique and it's cool to hear my little bro rock! Check 'em out! www.smugband.com

I also saw two former "nunnies" from The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, showingcasing their own unique personal works.

Robby Stamper, the musical director for Nun, premiered one of his compositions at the York Theatre's 4@15 showcase, and it was great. What a treat to hear and see new up and coming artists. Really Phenomenal!

And then I saw Kristine Zbornik's cabaret at the Metropolitan Room. This show is beyond compare. Seriously, I have never seen anything that comes close to the hauntingly wild humor of Kris' show. It is darkly comic, outrageous and moving, a true tour de force. Simply Google Kristine Zbornik and you'll see what I'm talking about. Go see her while you can!!!!

Lastly, I got to work on a webisode of The Onion News Network last week, and it was so much fun! Those of you who know The Onion know it's very satirical, so I don't want to spoil this upcoming webisode by giving anything away. Suffice it to say that I got to work with some really awesome folks, including Miss Babs and the Kickin Boogie Band. Everyone was at the top of their game and I enjoyed getting to work in such a professional and improvisational environment. It felt like a cross between Christopher Guest's films and SNL. So much fun!!!

I just wanted to voice compassion for all effected by the VA Tech tragedy. I wish there was something I could do. My thoughts and prayers go out to all.

The properties of TYPE

I've been doing a lot of homework lately, inspired by Brian O'Neil's "Acting As a Business" and Bonnie Gillespie's Actor's Voice columns on Showfax.com. Throw Harold Guskin's "How to Stop Acting" into the mix, and I feel like I have 3 sage advisors on my team! :)

Lately, I've been exploring my "type," which can be a very effective tool for bringing clarity to one's work. I'm often cast as the quirky young heroine and have been compared to Kristin Chenoweth, Reese Witherspoon, a young Bernadette Peters and Madeline Kahn. A few friends also suggested I have a young Megan Mullally quality and another friend insists I'm a young Bette Midler. I think that's because I have this big personality and big belt voice in a tiny little package. :)

However I'm perceived, I feel a great sense of self, and I love doing what I do. It's a pleasure to sing, create and explore possibilities. I'm diggin the ride.

Springtime in the City

Even though Winter is fighting to hang onto the Big Apple with its icy grip, Spring is triumphing throughout the city. Trees are starting to bud with bright blossoms, and the newly planted daffodils in Central Park are standing defiantly against the winter winds.

I love this time of year. New York is glorious in all its seasons but I get a real charge out of the Spring.

Yesterday my guy and I walked through Central Park - a la Fred and Judy in The Easter Parade - and it was blissfully quiet (a rarity in Manhattan). When we headed home, we passed a hat shop that was stocked with fun frilly bonnets, and I just marveled at the charm of this incredible town.

My brother, who's a drummer in LA, always reminds me that we live in miracle cities, because anything can happen. Even today's Casting Corner article by Mark Sikes echoes that sentiment:

"Once a week, once a month or just whenever you need the reminder, tell yourself that you're here. Just that. You're here. You made it. No, it's not always a perfect town, but you are here and that's more than a lot of other folks can say. You're following your dreams and that alone is truly invigorating. "

Fancy Meeting You Here

A few years ago, I played the character of Rita in Lucky Stiff at the Astoria Performing Arts Center. It was such a blast and I always hoped to play Rita again. Well, Mason Street Warehouse offered me the role! I'm so excited about it. Everyone at the callbacks was so professional and at the top of their game, so I know it's going to be an incredible show.

I also had an amazing experience at an audition few weeks ago. I was auditioning for the 78th Street Lab, which is currently producing The Nibroc Trilogy. I had the pleasure of meeting the playwright, Arlene Hutton, at the audition and she was so generous with fabulous feedback on my monologue. We chatted a bit and she invited me to the show to get to know the characters of The Nibroc Trilogy, and I was absolutely enchanted. I cannot recommend this show enough! It was beautiful! There was a Tennesee Williams kind of flavor to it, but there was also so much warmth and humor that made the piece wonderfully unique. I also found the subject matter (the growth spurt the US was going through in the post-war 50s) so appropriate for today's world, for looking back to the past to see what kind of changes we need to make to create a better world today. It was about family, and I have a feeling a lot of people could relate to it. The show was haunting, charming and is sure to delight many audiences, I'm sure!

Finally, I also heard from the folks for The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, and there's good work being done there. Things are moving right along and it'll be exciting to see what develops.

Stay tuned!

Big hair and callbacks.

I have to laugh at the irony of my last two callbacks, because they both required big hair, a big voice, and big everything else.

Now the nature of callbacks can happen at ANY TIME - from immediately after the initial audition to 24-48 hours later, or sometimes even months later! As an actor, I'm asked to prep very quickly and then make changes on the fly. But it's a wonderfully fun ride.

My most recent callback was for The Onion's upcoming webcast about a fictitious country singer, and it was hysterical! I read from the script, improvised a scene with the director, then I sang a little bit of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 and received great feedback from everyone including the cameraman and an Onion worker who could hear me from outside of the audition room. It felt GREAT!

The week before that I was called in for the lead in Lucky Stiff at Mason Street Warehouse. It was lovely to be considered for the sweetly heroic Annabelle, but I've played the comedic villain, Rita, before and I have a strong understanding of that wildcard of a character. I prepped for Annabelle, went in and sang, and they liked my sweetness, but asked for something a little more whacky. Well, that was like handing me the keys to a sportscar! I bounced into a fun and feisty song and when I finished, they said, "Oh! You're more of a Rita!" :) So they gave me the script and asked me to come back.

It was so freeing to get to play such a ballsy, unbridled character like Rita again, and it was a great lesson for me to not over-think auditions, to just do what I do and embrace my own bigness. My auditions since then have yielded great feedback and interest. Directors have taken time to chat with me and have asked me to show them more of my work. It's been very cool.

For Lucky Stiff, I made it through the final round of callbacks. The director only had one request... that I go with "Big hair! Big EVERYTHING!" So I had a blast playing with my clothes, hair, and of course the script and music, and the director was absolutely delight with the results.

The lesson learned: "Your playing small doesn't serve the world." And since I'm just shy of 5' anyway, it certainly doesn't make sense for me! I've always felt larger than life, especially onstage, and that's where we can be as wild and free as we want to be. "Free your mind and the rest will follow."

And as a friend of mine used to say, "Embrace your 3 B's! You are big, bold and beautiful!"

Enjoy the ride!

It's not even Spring yet and I'm already a busy bee!

There's snow all over New York, showing that winter is reigning supreme, but my heart and spirit and schedules are more akin to Spring Fever! I've been getting so many calls for audition appointments and workshops for future productions, and it's great!

Yesterday, I recorded the lead role of "Lilly" in a demo for the new children's musical, Lilly's Big Day, and what a treat that was! The music was AWESOME and made me think of fabulous composers like Jule Styne, Irving Berlin and Stephen Sondheim. Just joyous, quality stuff! It was a delight to sing, and it was a thrill to dive into the role of a 4 year old mouse!

A producer once told me I had a great voice for cartoons, and I tell you, after yesterday's experience, I really do want to do more in the voice-over realm. SO MUCH FUN!

The neat thing about doing a recording is that you get to hear the "playback." The sound engineer plays back what you just recorded so you can assess if you need another take/recording, and so it was really neat to just hear the scenes unfold after performing them. It reminded me of voice-over work I'd done for a short film a while back: nothing done in sequence, so the scenes were all crystal clear on their own, but once it was all put together for the final product, wow! Magic!

Our music producer for Lilly's Big Day was Josh Margolis, and he was just great! Carl Danielsen, an actor of great warmth, talent and humor, composed the music and played the teacher, Mr. Slinger. The clever script, adapted from Kevin Henke's book, and the lyrics were written by the lovely Selda Sahin. She also voiced one of the students. Emily Whyte played my mom. Adam Shonkwiler and Emily/Ginger rounded out the cast, and everyone was so sweet and lovely and had such unique voices. It was a thrill to do this recording with them, and I look forward to our further adventures.

Reflections on Rock
or The Evolution of Laura Daniel

I just finished VP Boyle's Pop/Rock Workshop, and I feel absolutely reborn! The homework was awesome: listen to rock, look at rockstar style, and play play play!

I am reminded of the film, School of Rock, but this class was for musical theatre performers who needed to expand their skillset for the current explosion of pop rock musicals. It was a BLAST! I watched all of my classmates go from straight-laced musical artists to sexy soul-singers, and it was a pleasure to bloom with them.

I think the most startling realization of all was that, like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, I had the power all along. :)

I was reminded so fiercely of my early musical career where I played Dorothy in The Wiz. Unusual casting, I know, but I became known as The White Girl with Soul. And later when I was cast as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, people were astounded at the rockin roar that would come out of me.

Even recently with The Singing Nun I found myself serenading the audience with 60s pop in the midst of a dark musical comedy.

So I'm bringing "Sexy Back" to myself, and I'm having so much fun! The cherry on the cake is that my auditions have become this free-spirited raucous romp! At last Friday's RENT audition, the creative team were generous with praise and excitement about how much they liked what I did. So if people are having fun with me, I know I'm on the right path. Rock on!

What a wonderful world

It has been such an interesting month! February is known for being one of the coldest months of the year, but I have felt such a great deal of warmth and friendship and creativity.

I started the New Year with VP Boyle's Pop Rock Workshop. One of our first assignments was to create a journal and have fun decorating it. So I brought out my old paintsets and started crafting! I tell you, I felt like I was 5 years old! It was such a joyful experience, and every time I've taken this notebook out to write in it, I've felt fabulously creative!

Ironically following this positive pulse, a lot of cool projects have been coming my way. A friend asked if I'd sing the lead role in a demo for a new musical, and a producer I met from the NYMF Awards Gala has asked me to workshop another new musical.

Last night, I performed in Astoria's Playmaking Program, and the producer Taryn Drongowski already asked if I could take part in the next series. It was so much fun! The plays were written by Horace Greeley middle school students, and various actors and directors with a wealth of Broadway, Off Broadway and regional theatre experience helped bring the plays to life.

The young writers were brought onstage and sat in a director's chair while we performed their plays. You had to see the smiles on their faces! All of the kids were simply beaming and everyone had fun! There was lots of laughter and such a sense of goodwill and kindness. It was a pleasure to be a part of it.

4 auditions in one day! Gotta love it!

I remember when I first moved to the city, and I'd be in line, waiting all day to be seen for one audition, and I'd hear other actors talking about all the auditions they had lined up for the day, and I'd think, How can they do all that in one day?

Well, I now relish the opportunity to go from one audition to another.

On Monday morning, I started at the Actors Equity building and sang for Musicals Tonight. Then I changed into a stunning red dress and boogied down to the Hilton Theatre to audition for "Young Frankenstein." I jumped back into my uggs (it was 10 degrees, remember) and I trekked down to another studio to audition for "Xanadu." I've been taking a Pop/Rock workshop, so I was prepped with fun material for this upcoming Broadway show. Soon it was after 1 PM, and I had an appointment in Chelsea for the new rock version of "Carmen," so I hopped the subway and cruised down to the studios. I did another quick change into jeans and a sexy black top, and I was ready to ROCK! My audition ended at 3 with the creative team applauding for me above their heads like it was a rock concert. That felt GREAT!

And today I hit two auditions: one for the upcoming musical of Shrek and the other was a dramatic audition for The Women's Project. And I received great response from both! I feel so much freer in my auditions now, I feel good about my work, and I sense that I'm making an impact. People are really responding to my work and it feels fabulous!

And I used to wonder how it was done. :)

You know you’ve made some progress when people start asking you, “How did you do it?”

I have been the lucky recipient of this question a few times this week and it’s been a bit of a surprise. I guess it shouldn’t be, because I’m always at work on my craft, always thinking, “What else can I do to make my work better?” Whether it’s in a song or a monologue or my physical workout (since my body is my instrument I have to keep it in tune). I am often reminded that as much as I look ahead, I also need to savor the moment as well as give myself kudos for the leaps I’ve made.

This week I was at a birthday party for a dear friend who has ties to much of the Broadway world, and the party made me think very much of the NYMF gala, because the room was full of established Broadway people (from stars to directors and casting directors) as well as up-and-comers, and it was so interesting to be in the midst of all that.

A lot of people were buzzing about the work I’d done on “The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun,” and that was really cool. It was so great to meet new peeps, reconnect with old acting buddies and to share stories.

The main theme of the evening was the celebration of growth. Very fitting for a birthday party.

And as I go through my day, juggling auditions and life and work and play, I realize how fortunate I am. I have worked hard to get here and I have much farther to go, but it’s such a cool thing when people ask “How did you get to where you are?” It makes me proud of my hard work, knowing that the seeds I’ve planted have taken root and are growing.

Going Blog-Wild!

Blame it on my friend Tina. She started this. And I am SO GLAD she did! When I first heard about blogging a few years ago, I was reluctant to post "my stuff" online, but over time I've come to realize how utterly cool, inspiring, and helpful blogs can be.

Check this out: Emily Whyte, a friend of mine from VP Boyle's Musical Theatre Forum started The Ulitmate Theatre Homepage with some of her buds, and it's a great site! Lots of helpful links for NY actors: http://www.theatremafia.com/ultimatetheatrehomepage.htm

And the thing that I love most? Their BLOG! It goes hand in hand with their site very nicely and gives more in-depth, hands-on, been-there-done-that experience which is GREAT! I wish it had been around when I first came to NY.

Tina also stumbled upon this blog which she sent me, and I LOVE the little glimpse it gives into the life of a Hollywood screenwriter: http://juliegoestohollywood.blogspot.com/
Blog on, Julie!

And of course, there's Tina's blog, which I am always inspired by: http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/

It gives this New Yorker a lovely glimpse into the PA countryside, and I am always warmed by Tina's humor as well as inspired by her knowledge. Rock on, soul sister!

So put on your blog-shoes and jump into the web. It's awfully cool!

"I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends."

I feel like Ringo today, though, gods help me, my brother would cringe with that comment. He is a consummate drummer, and while he does give props to Ringo for some interesting playing, ask Sean about any Beatles album and he can list off who the actual studio drummer was. That boy knows his craft!

Which brings me to today's blog: knowing my craft and knowing that I owe so much to my friends and family who have been there for/with me on this wild acting ride. There's my Cali family, whom I just saw a few weeks ago, and boy do I miss them! And then there's my East Coast crew:

There are my friends, Carl and Michael and Ataman. It's said that in NY your friends become your family and this is especially true of my three amigos. :)

There's also my friend, Tina, who is an entrepreneur in the herb world. She started her own magazine over 5 years ago, The Essential Herbal, and I have learned so much from her! A business is a business, and show business is really no different from any other. We all have to perform in some way, shape or form, and we all need to invest and research and challenge ourselves to grow so that our products and crafts grow.

And I would be nowhere without my guy, Rob. He's my best friend, the love of my life, and a true partner in every sense of the word. Since I met him as a fellow actor, he certainly knows the ups and downs of this ride, and he's been with me every step of the way. He left the biz and went into graphic design and marketing, and LOVES it! The cool thing is that I've learned from his lessons as a bigtime marketing director, and it's helped me to see my job as an actor in a much clearer way.

I love that! I love that we all can learn from each other as we share this wild ride together. It makes it that much more fun!

I just got back from CA a few weeks ago and a friend of mine was asking me how the trip went. Well, it was lovely. The weather was perfect! Sunny Southern CA can be so glorious at times! And I had a great visit with my family. It's always so cool, knowing that my acting career will usually bounce me around between the two coasts where I have so much love waiting for me. And that got me to thinking about all the love and support I have in my life. I have people cheering me on each day as I work towards my goals, and I'm cheering for them right back!

In CA, there's my brother, Sean, who is an incredible drummer. He had broken his hand before Christmas, but instead of that deterring his career, everyone was comparing him to the one armed drummer from Def Leopard, and Sean's students (he teaches drums while he gigs) were in awe of his ability to play one-handed. "You're amazing!" one student said, and indeed, she hit the nail on the head.

My little brother amazes and inspires me. He really makes magic happen with his drums and I can see as well as hear his artistry when he plays. Truly incredible.

I also saw my parents. My Dad and his wife picked me up in San Diego and we had the yummy treat of spending the day at the beach. What a way to start the New Year!



I also had a lovely visit with my Mom and her friend Kathy. They had both come to NY to see me in "The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun," and it was great to see them again, to share in laughter and love, to talk over happy memories and to get excited about future possibilities.

It's neat to see my family growing as individuals and to feel the love when we all come together. We all learn from each other and I feel like I make so many discoveries every time I go West. :)

Happy New Year!

One of my dear friends, Tina from The Essential Herbal, and I tend to celebrate the New Year by saying, "This is our year," and indeed this has become a wonderful affirmation.

2006 was full of leaps and bounds! It started with two short films: Laundry, which put my hair through the Bride of Frankenstein test, and Divine Intervention, which allowed me to play the Goddess Aphrodite (post-op plastic surgery). Both were fun films that gave me the opportunity to work with great people.

And speaking of... I had the pleasure of working with the fabulous VP Boyle in his Musical Theatre Forum. What an incredible workshop! I cannot recommend it or VP enough!

I was inspired to write my own one woman show, based on that journey, and the result was Love in 35 Minutes, an homage to the search for love via musical theatre with everything from Irving Berlin to Charlie Smalls. It was a successful show and I played to sold-out audiences Off Off Broadway.

Zooming off from Love in 35, I landed the title role of Sister Smile in the New York Musical Theatre Festival's production of The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun. It was a dream-come-true, working with some of the best people in the industry, and I was honored with NYMF's Outstanding Individual Performance Award of Excellence.

Now with 2007 kicking off, I have some fun projects cookin. I started with a callback for a leading role in the short film, "The Winter Father," and I'll be bouncing into VP's Pop/Rock workshop this Friday. I'm really looking forward to a bright and bubbly New Year.