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