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With two snowstorms on the horizon, we headed back to Lowell, MA, hopeful that the weather would not hinder our plans yet again. We had already postponed our return to the Bay Area for our break by one day in order to make up these missed performances, and it would be a shame if all of our schedule shifting had been for naught.
Luckily for us, the weather gods were smiling on us again. We performed to two packed audiences at the 900-seat Durgin Hall, located in the UMass Lowell Center for the Arts. This house of this venue has an odd, asymmetrical design. I am curious if the design imposes any limitations on the audience’s view of the stage. It did not seem to cause any issue for our audiences as they were both boisterous and very into the show.
As we packed up the show, everyone was very excited to be able to return home for a break, including myself. Personally, my spirit and will are broken. As I sit on the airplane and write this blog, I know that I need a respite from everything…the cast, the show, the schedule, life on the road. I am just too mentally and physically exhausted to derive excitement or enjoyment from anything - including performing – and that is extremely upsetting to me. Acting is my chosen profession and I live to perform; however, lately, the passion has escaped me.
How does one keep a performance fresh and exciting after 118 performances and 36 venues? For some, the answer is to just get through the experience and make it work from show to show. For others, the solution lies in adding new bits to the show in order to keep their minds stimulated and engaged in the performance process. And yet for me, the answer is not so black-and-white. While I am constantly having to adapt from show to show and make it work, and while I am always adding and refining character nuances, my dilemma lies in my desire to remain true to the integrity of the character and ultimately, to the integrity of the show. At this point in the tour, it is becoming exceedingly difficult to genuinely experience everything that the character encounters as a new event without feeling contrived and jaded. I am not sure if this challenge will be solved in the course of a minute, day, week, or lifetime even, but I will do my best to work through it being the Virgo perfectionist that I am.
And so I will use my time off in the next week, blog reader, to gain perspective on this challenge, to regain my inspiration and passion for theatre, and to prepare for the remaining portion of the tour. Out of 146 scheduled shows, we have had 118 performances, 1 cancellation, and there are only 27 shows left to do. Our East Coast stint is over – our Midwest days will be commencing soon!
Next stop – the Franciscan Center in Sylvania, OH in a week. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Ah, Connecticut! Why are you so beautiful and idyllic? From your picturesque houses to your quaint historical buildings and businesses, it’s no wonder why Martha Stewart lives here.
After a long, tiresome drive from New Jersey, we were happy to arrive in Westport, CT, and even happier to stay at the super comfy Westport Inn. With its plush robes, Aveda products, five pillows per bed and some of the most comfortable mattresses you will ever sleep on, I knew that it would be easy to get a good night’s sleep for our Fairfield performances.
Situated on the Gold Coast of Connecticut, on the Long Island Sound, Fairfield, CT, has some of the most notably affluent neighborhoods in the country. Due to its extremely low crime rates, Fairfield was ranked in 2006 by Money magazine as the 9th best place to live in the US and the best place to live in the Northeast. This “dogwood capital of the world” is also the home of the corporate headquarters of General Electric. Given its storybook-like appeal, several movies have been filmed in Fairfield, including the 2008 Kate Winslet/Leonardo DiCaprio film, Revolutionary Road, and the infamous 1975 pic, The Stepford Wives. Notable natives and residents of Fairfield include Charles Lindbergh, Hume Cronyn, Jason Robards, Justin Long and Meg Ryan.
Over a period of two days, we performed four shows at the Kelley Theatre at the Quick Center, located on the campus of beautiful Fairfield University. This 750-seat venue opened in 1990. All four of our performances were well-attended and went well. As a matter of fact, all of our Connecticut performances have had good attendance. Connecticut really seems to love Tomie dePaola and Strega Nona!
At one of our shows, one of our castmates, Jess, had about twenty members of her family in the audience. Although they were there primarily for her, it was nice to feel such a warm and supportive presence in the audience, rooting for our little production.
We are in the home stretch, blog readers! Back to Lowell, MA, to make up two performances, and then we get to travel back home for a few days of well-deserved rest and relaxation. Several winter storms are in the forecast, so I am keeping my fingers crossed again that the weather will cooperate and allow us both to perform and journey safely home.
Next stop – back to Durgin Hall in Lowell, MA. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Satisfied at having been able to perform finally in Maryland, we put the pedal to the metal and hit the road again. We prepared ourselves mentally for another crazy day, complete with a blitzkrieg-like schedule that would take us to not one state, but three states in the course of a day: driving from Maryland, loading in and performing in New Jersey, and loading out and staying in Connecticut.
First stop of the day – Trenton, the capital (and almost the exact geographic center) of New Jersey. Dating back to 1719, the city was originally called ‘Trent-towne’ after William Trent, one of the leading landholders in the town. Trenton was the site of George Washington’s first military victory in the American Revolution: on December 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River to Trenton. Trenton functioned as a major manufacturing center in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and as a result, the slogan of the city became “Trenton Makes, The World Takes”. This motto is still prominently displayed on the Lower Trenton Bridge. In 1968, the city and more than 200 of its businesses underwent significant damage as a result of major civil disturbances that occurred the week following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
We performed only one show in Trenton at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, a setting of Italian Renaissance Revival splendor. This luxurious, 1807-seat venue has been the stage for many world-class artists, including Louis Armstrong, Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington and Bob Hope. Our audience, which numbered in the 100 to 200 range, looked tiny in comparison to the number of empty seats in the house, but was just as vocal and appreciative as any full-size audience. Among the audience members again was our composer, Aron Accurso, who we had last seen at our other New Jersey performance at the Paper Mill Playhouse. It was fun to be able to reconnect with him. Following our performance, we went out to appetizers with Aron, and even let him enjoy the experience of riding in our tour van, an experience that I am sure he will not forget. =)
Our Jersey visit was short-lived, and before we knew it, we dashed onward to Connecticut. Unfortunately, our short two-hour drive to Connecticut ended up taking us over four hours as we encountered all of the notorious New York City traffic. Anxious and bleary-eyed, we arrived in Westport, CT, ready to settle down after a jam-packed day.
Next stop – the Kelley Theatre at the Quick Center in Fairfield, CT. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
After two days in the wonderfully weird city of Dover, we headed back to Maryland for the third time. As we journeyed back to Bel Air, we crossed our fingers, hopeful that our rescheduled performance would not be cancelled due to snow.
Fortunately, the weather gods were smiling on us this time and we were finally able to perform in Maryland. Our performance in Bel Air was at the 908-seat Amoss Center for the Performing Arts at Harford Community College. While we only had one performance at the Amoss Center, the show did have its share of issues: 1) for some strange reason, our load-in took an exceedingly long amount of time, and subsequently, we had less than 30 minutes to prepare both physically and mentally for the show; as a result, everyone’s performance was a little bit off; 2) we had to use the understudies for the second day in a row as Jimmy’s voice still had not returned; and 3) Jess, who plays Bambolona, almost passed out onstage due to extremely low blood sugar. Of course, none of these issues read to the audience (or at least, I would hope that they weren’t obvious to the audience), but they were still detectable by us and unsettling nevertheless.
We ended our Maryland sojourn with a repeat stay at the same, unpleasant motel that we had visited previously. With its noxious rooms reeking of stale cigarettes and its classy beer bottle opener located conveniently above the bathroom toilet, I can only hope that I never have to visit this inn again.
On a brighter note, one of the two newspaper interviews that I did has been published. Check out this article in the Connecticut Post:
We gathered our weak, shaky bodies and motored to Dover, the capital of Delaware. Named for Dover, England, it is the second largest city in Delaware (the first being Wilmington) and is home to Delaware State University. The city’s central square, The Green, is the location of the Delaware Supreme Court, and was the site of many rallies and patriotic events throughout history.
Throughout my stay in Delaware, I constantly felt like I was either in a Stephen King novel or a horror movie. Everything just seemed a little bit…off…about this place – the residents, the locales, everything. Take, for example, our motel, which looked just like the motel from the 2007 movie ‘Vacancy’, the Kate Beckinsale/Luke Wilson movie about a young couple who becomes stranded at an isolated motel with hidden video cameras and realizes that unless they escape, they will become the victims of a snuff film. Not exactly the most relaxing environment in which to stay for a couple of nights…
And then there is the Delaware tap water – it is a lovely shade of yellow-brown and is non-potable. We were warned by several Delaware locals not to drink the tap water. I have a feeling that this water may account for the many odd things that I saw in Delaware.
We performed two shows in Dover at the Schwartz Center, a 596-seat venue. Formerly the Dover Opera House, the theatre was recently renovated in 2001, and converted to the Schwartz Center. Our performances at the Schwartz Center were our first shows back after being away from performing for four days and after being so sick. Everyone was still weak and run down, and for some, all of the vomiting that we had done a few days earlier still continued to wreak havoc on our bodies. Jimmy, our Papa Bambo, completely lost his voice, and as a result, two understudies had to go on (Kevin for Jimmy and Jen for Kevin). Needless to say, our performances at the Schwartz Center were a bit rough, but decent nevertheless. I am sure that with a few more days to recuperate from our stomach illness, we will be back to normal.
Next stop – back to the HCC Amoss Center in Bel Air, MD. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
With our fingers crossed again for good weather and safe travels, we migrated back to Maryland, this time to the city of Frederick. An outlying community of the Washington DC Metropolitan area, Frederick is situated in west central Maryland, and is the third largest area in the state (behind Baltimore and Rockville), with a population of 60,000. Founded in 1745 as “Frederick Town”, it was named for one of three people: 1) Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, one of the proprietors of Maryland (the most likely individual); 2) Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales; or 3) Frederick “The Great” of Prussia.
Frederick has served as a major crossroads throughout history, playing an important role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the Civil War. Due to its geographic location, it functioned primarily as a market town until the early 19th century, when it also became one of the leading mining counties of the US. It is the home of the Maryland Shakespeare Festival, and also the resting place of Francis Scott Key, author of the national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”.
I was excited to be performing in Frederick because I would have the opportunity to see my best friend from high school, Sarma. It had been several years since I had seen her last and I was looking forward to catching up. I was also very excited to see our Frederick performance venue, the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Originally called ‘The Tivoli’, the theatre opened in 1926 as a movie and live performance venue. Although the original theatre was decorated with crystal chandeliers, marble and silk wall coverings, it eventually deteriorated and was flooded in 1976. The theatre was completely renovated and reopened in 1978 as the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Since its reopening, this 1165-seat venue has been dubbed ‘The Jewel of Frederick’.
Unfortunately, immediately upon our arrival to Frederick, eight of our nine tour members, including myself, became violently ill with a NASTY stomach bug. The majority of my two days in Frederick was spent either in the bathroom vomiting, at urgent care, or passed out in my hotel bed. Given our proclivity on the road for eating in restaurants, I imagine that our illness probably resulted from poor food handling procedures at some establishment that we had frequented. I feel like my body has been steamrollered. My body is weak, my voice is hoarse from vomiting, and my diet now consists of chicken broth, saltines, ginger ale and watered-down Gatorade. Not the great start to the Year of the Tiger that I had envisioned!
Fortunately for our group, our Frederick performance, like our other Maryland show, was cancelled due to snow. This cancellation was a blessing in disguise as there is no possible way that anyone in our group could have performed that day in our poor states of health. While I am sad that I did not have the opportunity to see my friend Sarma and perform for her and her children, I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity to do so in the near future.
Next stop – the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover, DE. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Happy to be free of our less-than-satisfactory hotel accommodations and eager to be able to perform again, we embarked from Bel Air, MD, and set sail for Ithaca, NY. Founded in 1790, Ithaca was named for the Greek island of Ithaca, home of Ulysses of The Odyssey. It is located in central New York on Cayuga Lake and is the home of Cornell University. Ithaca has served as a small retail and manufacturing center, producing shotguns, clocks and automotive parts. In the early 20th century, Ithaca was also an important center in the silent film industry, producing many cliffhanger serials which often featured the local natural scenery.
Ithaca is one of the most politically and culturally liberal of the American small cities. In June 2008, almost 6000 members of the Ithaca community formed a giant human peace sign, making Ithaca the unofficial home of the world’s largest human peace sign. Notable native residents of Ithaca include actress Mary McDonnell, and authors Alex Haley (Roots), Vladimir Nabokov (Lolita), E.B. White (Charlotte’s Web), Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone) and astronomer Carl Sagan.
Ithaca Commons is the downtown shopping area of Ithaca, an outdoor pedestrian mall with many boutiques and restaurants. Located right off Ithaca Commons was our performance venue - the State Theatre. Originally an auto garage and dealership, the State Theatre opened in 1928 as a cinema and vaudeville palace. Decorated with a mix of Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance motifs, the theatre has 1626 seats and a painted ceiling containing tiny lights that resemble stars. Although we played to a great, packed audience, it felt weird to return to the show after having five days off. Among our vocally enthusiastic audience members was one of my dear college friends, Cheryl, her two children, Ethan and Ivy, and her sister Claire. Cheryl and I used to perform together in Reno, both in college and at local theatres. Check out this picture from when we were in Into the Woods:
It was so good to see Cheryl and her kids! I loved seeing the excitement on their faces and awe in their eyes following the show - there is nothing better than experiencing the show through the children’s eyes. Plus, I felt happy knowing that I made Cheryl’s children the envy of everyone by giving them small pasta noodle souvenirs.
We ended our Ithaca stay with dinner at the Ithaca Ale House to celebrate the birthday of one of our tourmates, Jess, and the start of the Year of the Tiger (my year!) for Chinese New Year. The snow fell softly on sleepy Ithaca Commons as I walked back to my hotel, and I had a feeling that this would be a great start to my new year.
Next stop – the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
The morning after the snow storm, we packed our van and headed off to Bel Air, Maryland. While the storm did not drop a lot of snow on Massachusetts, it had dumped almost six feet of snow on the Virginia/Maryland/Washington, DC area, shutting down all roads and businesses in the area as a result. We all kept our fingers crossed during our journey, hoping that we would make it to Maryland in a safe and timely fashion.
Founded in 1856, Bel Air is located in northeast Maryland, north of Baltimore. It is teeming with many retail businesses and restaurants. Two of the most notable natives of Bel Air come from a great American acting family: Edwin Booth, one of the greatest American Shakespearean actors of the 1800s, and his brother, John Wilkes Booth, American stage actor and assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.
Unfortunately, after six hours of our seven-hour long journey to Maryland, we learned that our Bel Air performance was cancelled due to the snow. Since we were almost to Maryland, we continued on to our hotel near Bel Air. I spent my time off enjoying a dinner of Maryland crabcakes, working out, blogging and preparing for an upcoming audition. Fortunately, like our cancelled Lowell shows, our Bel Air performance has also been rescheduled. I hope that the weather does not cause any more cancellations in our schedule. Please keep your fingers crossed for us, blog readers!
I have noticed that ennui and restlessness have settled in among the tour members, especially in locations where we are hotel-bound. TV, reading, and the company of others only manage to occupy our attentions for a brief span of time, and we find ourselves searching for additional outlets of excitement. For some, this stimulation can be found in working on audition pieces, play-reading groups, or the playing of board games; for others, this inspiration can be found in long workouts (my personal favorite) or long soaks in the hotel hot tub (my roommate Jess' personal favorite). And yet for others, this excitement can be found in novelty purchases and the peals of laughter that they generate. We all manage to keep ourselves entertained somehow!
Next stop – the State Theatre in Ithaca, NY. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Riding on a surreal cloud of Tomie dePaola-inspired mirth, we floated toward Lowell, MA. The huge winter storm still had not arrived, but was on its way, set to arrive within the next 24 hours.
Located 30 miles NW of Boston, Lowell is the fourth largest city in Massachusetts, with a population of 103,000. Due to its position at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord Rivers, it was founded in the 1820s as a planned manufacturing center for textiles. Several businesses and products originated in Lowell, including CVS/pharmacy, Moxie Soft Drink and telephone numbers (Lowell is the 1st city in the US to have phone numbers). Lowell is also the birthplace of several important individuals, such as Jack Kerouac, Bette Davis, James Whistler, Olympia Dukakis and Ed McMahon. With its motto of “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good”, this arts-friendly community has served as the filming locale of several movies, including ‘School Ties’ with Matt Damon and Brendan Fraser, and ‘The Invention of Lying’ with Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner.
Our performance venue was at the Durgin Hall Center for the Arts at UMass, a uniquely-configured 900-seat venue. We had a very late load-in at UMass, but unfortunately, did not get the opportunity to perform at this venue. Our two shows were cancelled due to snow (although very little snow accumulated in Lowell), and we got an unexpected day off to rest and relax in Lowell. (On a brighter note, our Lowell shows have been rescheduled and we will be returning in a couple of weeks).
While in Lowell, I participated in my first newspaper interviews with The Connecticut Post and The Delaware State News. While both interviews were conducted via phone, I still found them to be a bit intimidating…let’s hope that my answers were coherent and intriguing!
Next stop – HCC Amoss Center in Bel Air, MD. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
From amiable Amherst, MA, we rambled to the capital of New Hampshire, Concord. Situated near the geographical center of the state of New Hampshire, Concord has a population of 42,000. One of the most notable residents of Concord was Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. The weather in Concord was cold and crisp as a huge winter storm was making its way toward the Northeast.
Lately, road weariness and disorientation have set in. I often wake up in my hotel room, unsure of where I am or what day it is. Travelling in the van has become a tedious, but necessary venture, and I find myself wishing that we were at our destinations moments after we have embarked on our journey. Nevertheless, I try my best to keep my spirits elevated and make the most of every opportunity that presents itself.
Our performance venue in Concord was at the Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts, a cute two-tier, 1306-seat theatre. We played two sold out shows to boisterous audiences, and both shows were sharp and brimming with great energy. The highlight of our performances in Concord? Tomie dePaola*, the author/illustrator of over 200 books, including the ‘Strega Nona’ stories, attended our second Concord performance! It was a delight to meet Tomie – he is such a wonderful, charming and radiant individual. He joked with me about how I had lost weight since the last time I saw him and how I had paid for his swimming pool. This was definitely one of the best moments of the tour for all. [*For more information about Tomie dePaola, please visit his website at www.tomie.com.]
Next stop – Durgin Hall at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, MA. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Following a brief flat tire delay, we hit the road again, this time bound for Amherst, MA. Located 73 miles west of Boston, Amherst, which is also called ‘A-Town’ or ‘The Herst’, has a population of about 35,000. This town is home to three colleges: Amherst College, Hampshire College and UMass Amherst. Amherst is named for colonial governor Jeffrey Amherst, a hero of the French and Indian War, who, according to legend, won Canada for the British and banished the French from North America. He was also infamous for considering the use of small pox covered blankets in warfare against Native Americans.
Amherst is the birthplace of Emily Dickinson, the prominent and celebrated American poet, and Noah Webster, author of the American dictionary. Other prominent Amherst residents include actress Uma Thurman and author Augusten Burroughs. Like most of the New England towns that we have visited, Amherst was bitterly cold.
We performed one show to a packed audience at the UMass Fine Arts Center, an 1800-seat venue with a great local crew who are proud of their theatre. Our performance at UMass was the first show since I have been sick where I have felt physically well enough to perform. Of course, my cold still persists, but I have learned how to cope with it. Sudafed, Sudafed, my kingdom for some Sudafed!
As this was the first show at which R.J. was running sound completely by himself, there were a few sound issues, but nothing that was not insurmountable. I had to improvise and cover a few times, but it kept me on my toes and kept the show fresh. With time, I know that these issues will be corrected as R.J. gets more comfortable with the show, but I always love a good challenge.
While in Amherst, we went to the local Buffalo Wild Wings, where they gave us fitting crowns. We went out to eat one evening with a couple members of the local stage crew. I have noticed lately that we are starving for new social contact and interaction as we spend the majority of our time together. We swarm newcomers voraciously, eager to learn every aspect about them. Perhaps we have learned everything that there is to know about each other or perhaps we have grown weary of each other. I hope that it is not the latter, but increasingly think that this may be so.
Next stop – the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
After a brief visit to Peekskill, NY, we returned to New York City, this time to perform at the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center. I love the energy that I felt the instant we reentered the city – this truly is a city that doesn’t sleep, constantly bustling and thriving.
Over the course of two days, we performed three shows at the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center. The TriBeCa PAC is a 913-seat venue located at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Our shows were well attended, drawing school audiences and public spectators, including our producer, Eva Price, and our booking agents, the Brad Simon Organization.
As I had mentioned in an earlier blog, I had bought a ticket to the NYC Ballet to see ‘Sleeping Beauty’. On Friday night, I treated myself to a delicious monkfish dinner and went to the ballet at Lincoln Center with four others. Our seats were in the Fifth Ring, which meant that not only were they cheap, but they provided the best overall view of the stage. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was a lovely and beautiful ballet, and the perfect experience to cap off our almost full week in NYC.
Unfortunately, our New York visit ended on a bittersweet note. Our Technical Director/Sound Designer, Craig Freeman, departed the tour after our final TriBeCa performance. Being the ultra-talented individual that he is, Craig was offered a great opportunity on Broadway: the A2 position for ‘A Little Night Music’ (he will be the second to the lead audio person for the show). I know that if I had the opportunity to work with either Angela Lansbury or Catherine Zeta-Jones, I wouldn’t turn it down, so I can only wish Craig the best in his new endeavors on Broadway. Farewell, Craig…you will definitely be missed!
We now have a new tour member, R.J. Romeo, who will be our technical director/sound op until the last week of the tour, at which time Craig will return to the tour for our final week. Because we have spent almost the entire last four months together, everyone on tour is like a family. Like any family, it is difficult to see a family member leave home. And like any family, it is fun and exciting to welcome new members into the clan. I am sure that R.J. will become part of our Strega Nona family in no time.
We waved goodbye to Craig and NYC, and attempted to hit the road for Amherst, MA, but unfortunately, a flat tire hampered our departure. I couldn’t help but think that perhaps it was a sign from the universe, telling us that it was not the right time for us to leave New York City.
Next stop – the UMass Fine Arts Center in Amherst, MA. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
After a refreshing two days off in NYC, we packed up our belongings and returned to the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts in Brooklyn, NY. It was the first time in the tour that we had returned to a venue at which we had previously performed. Although our two performances in Brooklyn were for small, yet appreciative audiences, the shows were exceptionally tight and full of energy since everyone was rejuvenated from their time off in the city.
Immediately following our Brooklyn shows, we journeyed a short distance to Peekskill, NY. Located 41 miles north of New York City, Peekskill is situated on a bay on the east side of the Hudson River. This early American industrial and manufacturing center is now an artist colony, and is the birthplace of actors Mel Gibson, Paul Reubens and Stanley Tucci. It is also the location of the school that was featured in TV’s ‘The Facts of Life’. L. Frank Baum, the author of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, attended military academy in Peekskill, and it is believed that the yellow brick road in Peekskill provided inspiration for the same element in Baum’s ‘Oz’.
We performed two packed shows at Peekskill’s Paramount Center for the Arts. This two-tier, 1024-seat theatre originally was built in the 1930s as a movie theatre, and recently has been renovated. The theatre continues to show movies in addition to plays and other musical performances. Even though my sinus infection was still lingering, I was feeling physically stronger and better, and created two great performances that day in Peekskill.
Next stop – the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center in New York, NY. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
After a long, grueling week of twelve performances, everyone was exhausted and ready for a little break. We were excited to have two days off in New York City to relax and recharge.
I love New York City – the energy, the people, the attractions. Having two days off in the city was just what my mind and body needed after almost four weeks on the road. In the spirit of the NYC-based Letterman show, I have composed a top ten list of some of the best things that I did during my two days off in the Big Apple:
- On one day, I walked almost 100+ blocks. Since our hotel did not have a fitness center, I had to get my exercise in somehow - might as well get some exercise and take in the sights of the city.
- I visited a drama book store and bought ten plays. There is no better place than New York to pick up the latest and newest dramatic works.
- I enjoyed a lovely walk from our hotel, located conveniently near Times Square, to Lincoln Center, where I met my castmate Jimmy, and bought a ticket to ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the NYC Ballet. From Lincoln Center, we then perambulated through Central Park to the Upper East Side. There is nothing better than having good company and good conversation during a leisurely stroll.
- I spent an entire afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, taking in Egyptian and Asian antiquities, admiring paintings and ornate furniture, and absorbing the art in the American Wing.
- I spent one afternoon walking through the Fashion District to Herald Square and then to the West Village. Walking past the assorted fabric and trim stores and the Parsons School of Design reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows, Project Runway.
- I saw the musical ‘Next to Normal’, which overall, I thought was good. The performance that I had hoped to like the most, I actually liked the least; however, I was pleasantly amazed by two other actors in the show. And to top it all off, my ticket, which was orchestra seating (with a few sightline issues), was only $40.
- I saw Yasmina Reza’s ‘God of Carnage’, which I thought was excellent. I had originally tried to get a ticket to ‘A View from the Bridge’ with Liev Schreiber and Scarlet Johansson. When I discovered that the only tickets remaining for this show were standing room only, I scurried to the Jacobs Theatre, where I scored a great fourth row center seat to ‘God of Carnage’. I laughed so much during this 90-minute, intermission-less comedy that my sides hurt and tears spilled down my cheeks. The cast of Christine Lahti, Annie Potts, Jimmy Smits and Ken Stott was superb and I got to meet 3 out of 4 of the actors after the show (check out my picture with Annie Potts!)
- I ate a great and surprisingly cheap meal at Dallas BBQ at Times Square. Who can complain about a filling, delicious meal that costs less than $10?
- I ate one of the most delicious pieces of cheesecake that I have ever eaten at a restaurant called Junior’s, that is located right next to the Booth Theatre where ‘Next to Normal’ is playing. Their Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake is to die for!
- I reinvigorated my soul, spirit, mind, body and creativity. Nothing like a couple of days off doing things that you love to recharge your batteries.
Next stops – the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts in Brooklyn, NY, and the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
Sorry, blog readers, for the span of time that has lapsed since my last post. My internet access for the past two weeks has been sporadic, and I have also had an extremely jam-packed schedule, filled with my great performances and experiences.
Now back to my adventures…
We departed from the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse and ventured onward to Storrs, CT. Named in 2005 as “America’s Best Place to Avoid Death due to Natural Disaster”, the city of Storrs, CT, is dominated both economically and demographically by the University of Connecticut. Notable residents of Storrs include author Wally Lamb and Samuel Pickering, a professor at the University of Connecticut who inspired Robin Williams’ Mr. Keating character from the movie ‘Dead Poets Society’.
I have enjoyed both of our Connecticut visits (Hartford and Storrs) so far on the tour. All of the cities are picturesque and look like they should belong in a storybook or fairytale. And yes, the temperatures are cold…very, very cold. But that is what long underwear and down jackets are made for, isn’t it?
Our performance venue in Storrs was at the Jorgensen Center at the University of Connecticut, where temperatures were freezing both outside and inside the theatre. Although this theatre has the capacity to seat 2630 people, our audiences were probably in the range of 1200-1500 people. Rather than performing on the actual stage in this space, we performed on a smaller raised platform that was placed in front of the stage. The dressing rooms in this theatre were so chilly that many of us put on our costumes quickly, trying to expose the least amount of skin possible, and then layered our down jackets over our costumes for added warmth. Quite a sight to see!
Our Storrs’ performances went well, but not without two major hiccups. In our first performance, the cardboard canister that anchors our pasta noodles popped over the set and was visible to the audience, with a huge FedEx label in plain sight. It was funny to follow the audience’s eyes as this occurred. In our second performance, two castmates missed an entrance (due to a backstage injury), and a costume and set change went horribly awry as a result. Of course, in theatre, “the show must go on”, as the old adage says, and we managed to maneuver our way around both situations with minimal detection by the audience.
Next stop – New York City, NY, for a couple of days off. Until the next adventure…
Ciao!
XOXO-
Janine
