Falling

My mother, a teacher, and I notoriously dread Fall. We're more into a beachy-pina-colada-lounge-chair scene than frolicking through the leaves-wine-tasting kinda vibe. We both turn the channel when those back-to-school ads come on TV, and cringe when we hear the word "September."

This summer has been incredible. I've had lots of fun and worked really hard. I played Hermia in an off Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was my second Shakespeare show with this director, and I thoroughly enjoy working with him. He lets the actors work through every moment specifically and technically and then asks us to throw it all away and "speak the speech." The cast was beautiful and talented. The director believes that Shakespeare himself is our greatest teacher. I must say that I agree completely and have learned more about acting and myself in this production than I have in a while.

Midsummer closed Sunday, and Monday I began rehearsals in Portland for the Intermezzo Foundation's production of Into The Woods. I worked with the company last year in Belgium after a recommendation from my voice teacher. We performed Nine in Brugges in one of the Royal Theaters. It was thrilling to bring more musical theater to a European crowd. I played a small role "Momma Madelena" who sings "The Germans at the Spa." The director gave me a lot of ideas and freedom, and I ran with it. It was such a ball.

This summer the company moved to Portland. Into The Woods was my first Sondheim show and I loved every second. The music was challenging and exciting, the creative team was inspired, and I learned a whole bunch. I've wanted to play Little Red since I was a little girl. As an adult, I only slightly cringed when I realized how dark the show, especially Little Red, can be but then it's Sondheim. I should have known.  And as Little Red says "I know things now..."

The director of Into The Woods is in a league of his own. I enjoyed working with him so much that I want to move to Florida and continue to study with him. He's one of the founders of the Pearl Theater, where another of my favorite mentors is a resident actor. There is no M.F.A program at his school, but if there were, I would seriously be considering it. He's that good.  The musical director/conductor is all you could wish for in a musical director: a brilliant, specific, perfectionist with a heart of gold. I've known him for a few years now. Each time I work with him I feel myself being brought up (or carried!!) to the next level of professionalism. The creative team made this production such a dream come true.

Wait, I wanted to write a post about the fall, and here I am recapping the summer. I guess that's part of looking forward, looking back as well...

Well, I found some things to look forward to about the fall. Here are a few

1. Fall fashion - I've been lusting over some items online

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=22422600
2. Halloween fun
http://halloween.easternstate.org/halloween
3. Fall in Central Park

4. A "back to school" party ?!

Falling has never looked so good

at any rate--aar 

PANDORA

I love pandora.com I think it is such a great idea. I love listening to the music they suggest. I love how you can give something a thumbs up and then they will play more music like that. It's totally brilliant. I first learned about it at a party with some of the musical theater kids from University of Miami. The party was a blast and now I feel like my music education continues daily.

Currently listening to:  "The Winner Is" Danna/Devotcka from the "Little Miss Sunshine" Soundtrack, oh so good. Thanks pandora ;)

I also really loved the movie, "Little Miss Sunshine." I wrote an essay about it when I was working on my college application for The New School. The movie is such a treat, and the pageant scenes reminded me of my years dancing competitively. Where would we be today if the time spent tanning legs, or buying curling products for our hair was spent on developing a sense of self that comes from within? 


I also started reading Proust after the movie, because I wasn't that familiar with him. I loved what Steve Carrel's character says about Proust. Proust believed that it was through suffering that we became more alive. The best experiences of our lives can come with much suffering and we are better for it.  This allowed me to see that in my life some of the shining moments came from moments of real sadness where I felt completely alone.  There is something in the sorrow and hard times that can allow real beauty to show.  I have now learned to see hope on even the darkest horizon and let the beauty contestants fight amongst themselves.

There's what I've been thinking...

at any rate--aar

Summer at the Shore

Nothing says summer to me more than the Jersey shore. 

No, I'm not talking about scary self-tanner, bumpits, and steroids.

I'm talking about walks on the beach, Springer's Ice Cream, the Shack, cute lifeguards, the Rocking Chair (where my parents met in Avalon), the Board Walk, sky full of stars and the smell of the salt air. There is nothing more perfect than falling asleep listening to the ocean.

I hope everyone gets to go to the beach at some point this summer. So far this summer I've been to a few beaches: Long Beach with my roomates, Portland with the Intermezzo gang, and Fire Island with old friends. Don't get me wrong I love any beach, any time, any where, but I still must say I love the Jersey shore.

I even wrote a paper about how much I loved the shore when I was in high school. My godmother, Aunt Sally Ann moved down the shore when I was younger and I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to deal with her being away. She used to live next door to us in Philly, it turns out having an Aunt down the shore is the best thing ever. I would go down for weeks at a time and those memories are some of my best.

I think my parents and I are headed down the shore either tomorrow, or the next day.

I can't wait.         

Adorable Student

Here is a clip of one of the darling Irish dancers from the Deirdre O'Mara School of Irish Dance
She's two years old, be prepared to gush :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAwSEdXfO_c

Hey!

How are you? The majority of us hear this question all day, every day. But how are you, really? Facebook asks "What's on your mind?" And we answer with (a random sample from this minute's updates)

"Got a new phone and needs numbers"
"Just saw Inception, the top didn't drop, what does that mean?!"
"I lost a tooth. Not mine, a friend's"
"I'm so broke, I can't even pay attention"

I love it.

In today's world, between texting, emails, bbm, tweets, and blogs,we have the means to tell millions of people exactly what is on our mind. But in truth, people rarely say what they mean. With all of this added technology in the quest of making us better communicators, is anyone actually sharing her point of view?

How are you?
I'm good.
How are you, really?
I'm stressed, but still good.

Maybe we created all of these means of communication to make it easier. It's hard to be honest with ourselves, let alone others. Some people may ask those questions as a socially acceptable way to begin a conversation. Some people may ask because they don't know what else to ask. Some people have it so in grained in their greetings that it's all one phrase "Heyhowareya?" Some people genuinely care how the other person is dealing with life.

Whatever the case may be, I'm trying to be more honest. I want to listen more. I want to ask questions and care about the answers.

Let's use our points of view to create positive change in the world.

Let's help each other grow into the most complete versions of ourselves.

I've decided to place faith in the technology. Letting a blog keep me honest, attempt to communicate better,
so AAR - at any rate
here's where I am today.