Dancing in the Flames

Well, it's been an eventful week.

On Sunday we were scheduled to have our first invited dress rehearsal at the Legion club in Oshawa. We have been using their hall as rehearsal space, and were excited to get a chance to really get the show on it's feet. Hair, makeup, costumes, tights, shoes taped up and ready roll and Brian, our lead dancer comes into the room to tell us that the police are here and that our house is on fire. I thought he was kidding, trying to make our nerves easier before the show, but he was serious. Our house was on fire. We didn't know much more than that. The audience was seated and ready to go, and so we went on with the show. I was upset because of the unknown, we didn't know what the damage was like or what the cause was. But we danced the show. It really forced me to focus on the task at hand and just get on the stage and dance.

The Toronto Sun covered our story: here's the link http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/mike_strobel/2011/02/23/17383066.html

We had our first show last night in Meaford, Ontario. It was a lovely theater and a great opening.

Tomorrow is our show in Putnam, CT. I'm so excited to see my family and friends. It's been a lot of work so far, but oh so much fun. Hope everyone enjoys the show!

Rehearsals :)

"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Pratice is a means of inviting the perfecion desired." Martha Graham

Our time in rehearsals has been a lot of hard work, sweat, tiger balm, laughter, slips, mistakes, corrections, more laughter but we are creating something pretty cool.

Can't wait to share it :) 

xoxo

First Day of Rehearsals

Hey!
So today we start. There are 12 dances, mostly hardsoe. We are rehearsing in a Legion Hall. I can't wait to start. I'm a little nervous about learning all of the material, but it's all about love.
I'll let you know how it goes today. The cab is picking us up at 10:30.
After rehearsal we're going to watch the super bowl either at our house or at a bar.
Let's get dancy :)

Magic of Ireland

Updated Itinerary
Here' the latest info that I have about the tour
YAY Canada in the AM
Really excited to listen to Joni Mitchell on the train...just sounds right  xoxo




Wednesday Feb. 23 Meaford hall Arts & Culture Centre Meaford, ON  
Thursday Feb. 24              
Friday Feb. 25 Bradley Theatre   Connecticut  
Saturday Feb. 26  Nobel High School   North Berwick, Maine  
Sunday Feb. 27   Collns Centre   Orono, Maine  
Monday Feb. 28        
Tuesday March 1    The Playhouse   Fredericton, NB Canada
Wednesday March 2   Riverview Arts   Riverview, NB  
Thursday March 3   Harbourfront Centre   PEI  
Friday March 4 Sydney Casino   Sydney NS  
Saturday March 5 Halifax Casino   Halifax, NS  
Sunday March 6 Halifax Casino   Halifax, NS  
Monday March 7        
Tuesday March 8        
Wednesday March 9 Perth District Collegiate Institute Perth, ON  
Thursday March 10 Sanderson Centre   Brantford, ON  
Friday March 11 Empire Theatre   Belleville, ON  
Saturday March 12 Capital Theatre   Port Hope, ON  
Sunday March 13 Stockey Centre   Parry Sound, ON  
Monday March 14 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Tuesday March 15 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Wednesday March 16 Brock Centre for the Arts   St. Catharines, ON  
Thursday March 17 London Music Theatre   London, ON  
Friday March 18 River Run Centre   Guelph, ON  
Saturday March 19 Chatham Capitol Theatre   Chatham, ON  
Sunday March 20 McMorran Place   Port Huron, MI  
Monday March 21 TRAVEL      
Tuesday March 22 West End Cultral Center   Winnipeg, MB  
Wednesday March 23 Organization of Sask. Arts Council Yorkton, SK  
Thursday March 24 TRAVEL      
Friday March 25 Kamloops Convention Centre Kamloops, BC  
Saturday March 26 Clarke Theatre   Mission  
Sunday March 27 Michael J. Fox   Burnaby, BC  
Monday March 28 TRAVEL      
Tuesday March 29 Central Alberta Theatre   Red Deer, AB  
Wednesday March 30 Festival Place   Sherwood Park, AB  
Thursday March 31 North Peace Cultral Centre Fort St. John, BC  
Friday April 1 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Saturday April 2        
Sunday April 3 Yukon Performing Arts Centre Whitehorse, YT  
Monday April 4        
Tuesday April 5 Mt. Elizabeth Theatre   Kitimat, BC  
Wednesday April 6 Vanier Hall   Prince George, BC  
Thursday April 7 Cariboo Memorial   Williams Lake, BC  
Friday April 8 Southern Okanagan S.S.  Oliver, BC  
Saturday April 9 Performing Arts Centre   Wentachee, Wa  
Sunday April 10 Capitol Theatre   Yakima, Wa  
Monday April 11 OFF/TRAVEL------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Tuesday April 12 OFF/TRAVEL------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Wednesday April 13 Swift Current High School   Swift Current, SK  
Thursday April 14 Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Moose Jaw, SK  
Friday April 15     Minot, N. Dakota  
Saturday April 16 Brandon Valley Performing Arts Soux Falls, S. Dakota  

Magic of Ireland

I'm going on tour with the Irish dance show "The Magic of Ireland."  We'll be touring Canada and the US for the next few months. I wanted to share my most recent itinerary. I'm hoping to post lots of pictures and stories. It's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait. Magic of Ireland


Date: Venue       Town      
Wednesday Feb. 23 Meaford hall Arts & Culture Centre Meaford, ON  
Thursday Feb. 24              
Friday Feb. 25 Bradley Theatre   Putnam, Connecticut  
Saturday Feb. 26  Nobel High School   North Berwick, Maine  
Sunday Feb. 27   Collns Centre   Orono, Maine  
Monday Feb. 28        
Tuesday March 1    The Playhouse   Fredericton, NB Canada
Wednesday March 2   Riverview Arts   Riverview, NB  
Thursday March 3   Harbourfront Centre   PEI  
Friday March 4 Sydney Casino   Sydney NS  
Saturday March 5 Halifax Casino   Halifax, NS  
Sunday March 6 Halifax Casino   Halifax, NS  
Monday March 7        
Tuesday March 8        
Wednesday March 9 Perth District Collegiate Institute Perth, ON  
Thursday March 10 Sanderson Centre   Brantford, ON  
Friday March 11 Empire Theatre   Belleville, ON  
Saturday March 12 Capital Theatre   Port Hope, ON  
Sunday March 13 Stockey Centre   Parry Sound, ON  
Monday March 14 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Tuesday March 15 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Wednesday March 16 Brock Centre for the Arts   St. Catharines, ON  
Thursday March 17 London Music Theatre   London, ON  
Friday March 18 River Run Centre   Guelph, ON  
Saturday March 19 Chatham Capitol Theatre   Chatham, ON  
Sunday March 20 McMorran Place   Port Huron, MI  
Monday March 21 TRAVEL      
Tuesday March 22 West End Cultral Center   Winnipeg, MB  
Wednesday March 23 Organization of Sask. Arts Council Yorkton, SK  
Thursday March 24 TRAVEL      
Friday March 25 Kamloops Convention Centre Kamloops, BC  
Saturday March 26 Clarke Theatre   Mission  
Sunday March 27 Michael J. Fox   Burnaby, BC  
Monday March 28 TRAVEL      
Tuesday March 29 Central Alberta Theatre   Red Deer, AB  
Wednesday March 30 Festival Place   Sherwood Park, AB  
Thursday March 31 North Peace Cultral Centre Fort St. John, BC  
Friday April 1 OFF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Saturday April 2        
Sunday April 3 Yukon Performing Arts Centre Whitehorse, YT  
Monday April 4        
Tuesday April 5 Mt. Elizabeth Theatre   Kitimat, BC  
Wednesday April 6 Vanier Hall   Prince George, BC  
Thursday April 7 Cariboo Memorial   Williams Lake, BC  
Friday April 8 Oliver, BC  
Saturday April 9 Performing Arts Centre   Wentachee, Wa  
Sunday April 10 Capitol Theatre   Yakima, Wa  
Monday April 11 OFF/TRAVEL------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Tuesday April 12 OFF/TRAVEL------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Wednesday April 13 Swift Current High School   Swift Current, SK  
Thursday April 14 Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Moose Jaw, SK  

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