Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Summer Has Come!
...and we just had a Memorial Day Weekend to prove it! Peter and I stayed in the City, which ,we re-discovered, can be perfectly delightful on a Holiday Weekend, simply beacuse most everyone else has gone away! The streets are emptier, cafes less crowded, and movies positively cavernous in their emptiness at certain hours of the day...so we caught up on movies and enjoyed the relative calm of the deserted town....
We saw not only the wonderful PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLDS END, but the delightful SHREK III, making us official members of the Summer Blockbuster Society, a thing i have rarely aspired to ....but it was fun and the popcorn was great! Since becoming more aware of the film making process because of our friend Will Bigham who is one of the finalists ON THE LOT, I watced these movies with an eye toward: how did they do that? And ,really, how do they do what they do, these magicians of film? PIRATES particularly was thrilling and huge...and gorgeous and watery and warring and romantic and...well...enormous!But somehow the story got told in a human and honet way, despite all the special effects...that takes artistry of a true sort. And SHREK is simply adorable and witty and satiric and dear. It done't hurt that I want to hug pratically every creature in it, especially that Donkey and Puss and Boots and the Pink Dragon..and the dragon-donkey babies! I revert back to being a 5-year old at movies like SHREK...and love it.
Still no difinitive word from Barter about Peter's trip there, other than that they all agree he could do anything there is to do, and people love him. Of course, they are beleaguered with the normal problems of a successful theatre, and decisions such as this one must be considered carefully. So, as much as we know our friends want us there, we must be realistic: this wonderful theater company has concerns other than just creating jobs for Peter and me to come to....we know they want us there...but it must make good business sense as well. So, actually, we are no further along in our decision making process than we were, because we are not sure where to go next or what we truly want to do...we do know that we are both tired of the wearing and tearing of NYC...and wish to find our creative outlets in a place less abusive...but where? Is San Francisco right for us? A visit out there later in the summer may help us know about that in a better way.
When I sit down and think about what I want for me, it's hard to separate that from what i want for Peter. I want him to be happy and fulfilled as a creative, useful man. And he wants that for himself...so focusing on just me can be difficult sometimes, and this is one of those times. But focus on me...well, I truly have to do that too...so what do i want? More to come on that. I crave being near water. Always have. And as years go by, the more I want that. Where does that fit into everything else? Heck if I know...but, I sense exciting times ahead.
We saw not only the wonderful PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLDS END, but the delightful SHREK III, making us official members of the Summer Blockbuster Society, a thing i have rarely aspired to ....but it was fun and the popcorn was great! Since becoming more aware of the film making process because of our friend Will Bigham who is one of the finalists ON THE LOT, I watced these movies with an eye toward: how did they do that? And ,really, how do they do what they do, these magicians of film? PIRATES particularly was thrilling and huge...and gorgeous and watery and warring and romantic and...well...enormous!But somehow the story got told in a human and honet way, despite all the special effects...that takes artistry of a true sort. And SHREK is simply adorable and witty and satiric and dear. It done't hurt that I want to hug pratically every creature in it, especially that Donkey and Puss and Boots and the Pink Dragon..and the dragon-donkey babies! I revert back to being a 5-year old at movies like SHREK...and love it.
Still no difinitive word from Barter about Peter's trip there, other than that they all agree he could do anything there is to do, and people love him. Of course, they are beleaguered with the normal problems of a successful theatre, and decisions such as this one must be considered carefully. So, as much as we know our friends want us there, we must be realistic: this wonderful theater company has concerns other than just creating jobs for Peter and me to come to....we know they want us there...but it must make good business sense as well. So, actually, we are no further along in our decision making process than we were, because we are not sure where to go next or what we truly want to do...we do know that we are both tired of the wearing and tearing of NYC...and wish to find our creative outlets in a place less abusive...but where? Is San Francisco right for us? A visit out there later in the summer may help us know about that in a better way.
When I sit down and think about what I want for me, it's hard to separate that from what i want for Peter. I want him to be happy and fulfilled as a creative, useful man. And he wants that for himself...so focusing on just me can be difficult sometimes, and this is one of those times. But focus on me...well, I truly have to do that too...so what do i want? More to come on that. I crave being near water. Always have. And as years go by, the more I want that. Where does that fit into everything else? Heck if I know...but, I sense exciting times ahead.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
ON THE LOT!!!!!
...a new tv reality show, On The Lot, on the Fox Net work, about a group of aspiring film-makers, and we as a nation (much like American Idol) get to vote on the final films that make a winner happen! Steven Spielberg is associated with this venture.....AND WE HAVE A FRIEND IN THE SEMI-FINALS!!!!
WILL BIGHAM!!! Remember that name!
Will! and his adorable and talented wife Catherine (Cat) Grey were in the Barter Resident Acting Company with us for several seasons and we all did many shows together. Then, one day, they decided to pursue Will's dream of making movies, directing them and producing them , and Cat wanted to slow down long enough tow begin to have babies with this man she adores, so after he got accepted to Florida State Film School, off they went, and they never looked back, except of course to keep all of us well informed of what was going on with them...so we knew they had not one, but two babies ( I was able to meet the first, when she brought her to us at a rehearsal one day), and move to LA!
Point of interest: our first season there we all formed a group called EARTH, WIND AND POLKA, to perform in the Cabaret Evening at the 2nd Stage...it was a huge success, and one of the silliest things I have ever done (I was Mitzi, of the trio Mitzi, Bitsy and Titzi, and we sang with the band)...the next summer, not only did we perform in the Cabaret again, but Will decided we needed to film a BEHIND THE SCENES...with EARTH WIND AND POLKA, so we spent weeks filming this amazing thing....the Band: Mike Ostrosky, Perry Morgan, Will Bigham and Peter Yonka, with the girl group DESTINY'S LEDERHOSEN: Mitzy,Bitsy and Titsy...
...and we showed it at the Cabaret after we performed...
so much fun...such a great BEHIND THE SCENES parody....
(Peter just got out our copy of BEHIND THE SCENES: EARTH WIND AND POLKA and we are dying with laughter here...it is superbly funny....wow...really good)...
ANYWAY: So, Cat emailed us a couple of weeks ago to let us know that out of 12,000 entry films, Will's was one of the final 50 that were picked to become part of this new Fox Network reality contest ON THE LOT!!! Steve Spielberg and Mark Burnett are the prestigious producers of this new show and there have been two elimination episodes (an hour on air lsat Tuesday and another half-hour last ngiht, Thursday) and through those two rounds, Will remained!!! So he is now one of 25 or so filmmakers remaining.
And the next episode of ON THE LOT is this coming Monday night, and Cat tells us that it will be the first of the voting rounds.....so of course we will watch and vote for WILL BIGHAM!!!
I strongly advise all who read here to begin watching ON THE LOT and decide for yourself what these young filmmakers are up to...then...VOTE FOR WILL BIGHAM's work!!!
This is sooo exciting!
And in the best tradition of television reality shows that make a difference to the landscape, this one too (like Project Runway or Top Chef) deals with the genuine creativity of its contestants.I like that aspect of it. Makes it not only interesting to watch, but edifying in a cultural way as well......we are watching the next wave of artists, filmic voices....such a good idea. Already, the few challenges we have seen (they had to shoot a 2-minute film in 24 hours, bsed on the log-line: out of time) and they had to give pitches for new films in front of the panel based on loglines they were given...Will really did well at that one....he got high praise...) and already these challenges have been terribly interesting to watch...so WATCH!
ON THE LOT has a sort of odd schedule right now, as it gets established, and will no doubt settle down into a regular night once it gets going...but for now, the next episode is Monday night.....so watch along with us! And I will make sure to keep you all up to date on Will's progress throughout the summer....hopefully he will last that long...i have a great feeling that he will. He is funny, talented and skillful....a terrific dear sense of humor.
SO: BRAVO! WILL BIGHAM, and BRAVA! CAT GREY for being so supportive and loving and making your lives work with such love and joy. I can only imagine how stressful all this is...but we are here to breathe and support you! So, we send love.
Peter and I are off to see the new SHREK 3 movie....!
WILL BIGHAM!!! Remember that name!
Will! and his adorable and talented wife Catherine (Cat) Grey were in the Barter Resident Acting Company with us for several seasons and we all did many shows together. Then, one day, they decided to pursue Will's dream of making movies, directing them and producing them , and Cat wanted to slow down long enough tow begin to have babies with this man she adores, so after he got accepted to Florida State Film School, off they went, and they never looked back, except of course to keep all of us well informed of what was going on with them...so we knew they had not one, but two babies ( I was able to meet the first, when she brought her to us at a rehearsal one day), and move to LA!
Point of interest: our first season there we all formed a group called EARTH, WIND AND POLKA, to perform in the Cabaret Evening at the 2nd Stage...it was a huge success, and one of the silliest things I have ever done (I was Mitzi, of the trio Mitzi, Bitsy and Titzi, and we sang with the band)...the next summer, not only did we perform in the Cabaret again, but Will decided we needed to film a BEHIND THE SCENES...with EARTH WIND AND POLKA, so we spent weeks filming this amazing thing....the Band: Mike Ostrosky, Perry Morgan, Will Bigham and Peter Yonka, with the girl group DESTINY'S LEDERHOSEN: Mitzy,Bitsy and Titsy...
...and we showed it at the Cabaret after we performed...
so much fun...such a great BEHIND THE SCENES parody....
(Peter just got out our copy of BEHIND THE SCENES: EARTH WIND AND POLKA and we are dying with laughter here...it is superbly funny....wow...really good)...
ANYWAY: So, Cat emailed us a couple of weeks ago to let us know that out of 12,000 entry films, Will's was one of the final 50 that were picked to become part of this new Fox Network reality contest ON THE LOT!!! Steve Spielberg and Mark Burnett are the prestigious producers of this new show and there have been two elimination episodes (an hour on air lsat Tuesday and another half-hour last ngiht, Thursday) and through those two rounds, Will remained!!! So he is now one of 25 or so filmmakers remaining.
And the next episode of ON THE LOT is this coming Monday night, and Cat tells us that it will be the first of the voting rounds.....so of course we will watch and vote for WILL BIGHAM!!!
I strongly advise all who read here to begin watching ON THE LOT and decide for yourself what these young filmmakers are up to...then...VOTE FOR WILL BIGHAM's work!!!
This is sooo exciting!
And in the best tradition of television reality shows that make a difference to the landscape, this one too (like Project Runway or Top Chef) deals with the genuine creativity of its contestants.I like that aspect of it. Makes it not only interesting to watch, but edifying in a cultural way as well......we are watching the next wave of artists, filmic voices....such a good idea. Already, the few challenges we have seen (they had to shoot a 2-minute film in 24 hours, bsed on the log-line: out of time) and they had to give pitches for new films in front of the panel based on loglines they were given...Will really did well at that one....he got high praise...) and already these challenges have been terribly interesting to watch...so WATCH!
ON THE LOT has a sort of odd schedule right now, as it gets established, and will no doubt settle down into a regular night once it gets going...but for now, the next episode is Monday night.....so watch along with us! And I will make sure to keep you all up to date on Will's progress throughout the summer....hopefully he will last that long...i have a great feeling that he will. He is funny, talented and skillful....a terrific dear sense of humor.
SO: BRAVO! WILL BIGHAM, and BRAVA! CAT GREY for being so supportive and loving and making your lives work with such love and joy. I can only imagine how stressful all this is...but we are here to breathe and support you! So, we send love.
Peter and I are off to see the new SHREK 3 movie....!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Another Gorgeous City Day
First to answer my darling brother Richard:
Richard: I am not sure the Red Door I wrote about is the same one in that film, since I neevr saw that film, but the Red Door name is pretty much linked to Elizabeth Arden and if Michelle Pfeiffer was going to an upscale city spa, then yeah, it probably is that one. But, as I said , I didn't see the movie.....but there are a few films that I did see recently and need to write about them, for you to see, Richard and for others as well....but, speaking sister to brother, these are films you will adore and need to see, though two of them may make you terribly uncomfortable to watch.
Peter and i treated ourselves to a night at the movies (rather than going out to a crowded theatre to see my ever adored SHREK sequel....so we snuggled down and ordered Pay-per-View right here in our own cozy living room and went thoroughly into three movies in one evening! That's a lot even for us to watch at one time, but we did it and we loved it.
First we watched a dire and dark thing called CHILDREN OF MEN, a British film, that takes place in 2027, when it has come about that the Earth has become totally infertile and unable to bear children. The resulting upheavals of 18 years of hopelessness are portrayed in the film as cataclysmically depressing and nations have imploded with fear and terror, until England is the only land left with any sort of non-anarchic government, so people from all over have been flocking there...the result of all that inpouring of immigrants has resulted in a militaristic push to rid the nation of all illegal immigrants, and the warring, dark, terribly ruined landscapes are filled with wire pens filled with miserable foreigners waiting to be sent ...somewhere....wherever it is , is not good...ANYWAY: there is a thing called the Human Project somewhere on an island, composed of the worlds' greatest minds...and when a small rebel group discovers a young girl who has actually managed to get herself pregant, the film becomes about how to get that girl safely to that Human Project haven. Of course, the path is made practically impossible by all the groups who war with each other to obtain the girl for their own agendas, and there are killigs, explosions, maimings, betrayals, more killings and bloody wrenchings, and yet more betrayals , until you don't know who is good and who is bad, but it is all pretty damned awful.
Our hero (Clive Owen) finally manages to not only birth that precious baby in some squalorous prison camp somewhere behind horrible refugee walls filled with dirt and excrement and hate, but he somehow dodges all the billions of bullets to finally get her to the foggy bay where the ship called Tomorrow (yep, it's that kind of movie) , we assume, picks her up and takes her to safety...of course, our hero dies at the last minute from a wound he somehow managed to obtain without our knowing it: part of being a hero is to show stoicism til the bloody end....Michael Caine is in it and is wonderful (he meets a martyred but nonetheless horrifying end, as a remnant of the wafting '60's counter-culture, hidden away in the woods with his catatonic wife, until the ugly world gets in and kills him...this made me sad)....and Julianne Moore is the head of the main group wanting to rescue the girl...Julianne also meets a bloody end at the betraying hands of her own comrades...sad to see the stars killed off so early...but somehow right for this, finally, effective and powerful movie. There is not a thing wrong with our planet that is not somehow addressed in this movie. And I for one am in the mood recently to appreciate film makers who give a damn and want to make a movie for the good of mankind rather than for its money......which leads me to the next uplifting bit of cinema:
FAST FOOD NATION....warning: if, for any reason , you want to continue eating at any fast food joints, if you need your weekly fix of McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King, do not, I REPEAT: DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE! If you want to break yourself of the bad habit of eating from cardboard containers and drinking shakes with no milk in them, then by all means see this film. I , myself, will never walk in the door of another fast-food joint as long I live.
This movie opens on the staff-marketing meeting of the Mickey's Company (right there a swipe at the fast food Disney empire of non-nourishing film crap),,,they named the fast food chain in the movie Mickey's...anyway...sales are up and all looks rosy, and the broad smiles on the faces of the men (all men...hmmm..) responsible for product development let you know that their coffers are nicely lined because of this upswing in Mickey's fortunes...their iconic Big One is selling like crazy...the nation is flocking through the pre-fab doors of their thousands of locations......juicy, hot, tasty and popular: the Big One! Greg Kinnear (who walks the fine line between pleasure and its attendant guilt better than any actor I know) is Head of Marketing....The Big One is his baby! Suddenly....a fly in the ointment ( in this case not so far off the mark), trouble in Paradise: the DEO takes Greg aside and asks him to go off on a field trip to investigate rumors that microscopic traces of excrement have been found in their burgers! There is shit in The Big Ones! Ick! So, of course, he sends the Head of Marketing to investigate: how are we gonna package this bit of news? So, off Greg K. goes to some vast part of the Southwest, where the largest meatpacking plant stands, stinking, awful and yet somehow clean looking and shiny...it is near the Mexican border, so we cut to sweaty illiegals schlepping across the nighttime borders and we soon switch to their POV's: indigent illegals needing work and they come to need that big shiny stinking plant in order to make a living.
This Evil versus the Innocents is underscored by Bobby Carnevale playing a lecherous hansome evil stinking sexual predator who nonetheless is Supervisor of The Killing and Cutting Floors! He fucks anything in sight, and I now fear one more thing that may be in our hamburgers,,,but I digress...(do I really?)...
ANYWAY: Greg discovers all sorts of horrors that go on, but he nees his job and covers it all over with a smile (Bruce Willis plays the most amazingly convincing contractor whose outrage at being discovered selling dirty meat is so pure (the outrage) that he almost convinces me that a little shit in our food is part of a well-rounded life...ANYWAY...Willis is brilliant in this movie. And a thorough villain if ever there was one: he personifies our Federal Government as it now stands: duplicitious and all too convincing, turing black to white and day to night, and it's our fault if we waver in believing him. So on the story roles, and it only gets bleaker as, from the illegals POV, we discover the true horror of what ges on in this plant....we are spared nothing: long lingering shots of meat being sliced, cut, stomachs disembowelled, kidneys "pulled", workers arms and legs being shredded in unblinking machinary, the Management blaming drug-free workers for being drug-addicted in order to blame them for the accidents,etcetcetc....it is clear that the cattle are not the real animals: Management is.
MORE TO COME ON THIS FILM and the third one we saw....right now: gotta go teach!
Richard: I am not sure the Red Door I wrote about is the same one in that film, since I neevr saw that film, but the Red Door name is pretty much linked to Elizabeth Arden and if Michelle Pfeiffer was going to an upscale city spa, then yeah, it probably is that one. But, as I said , I didn't see the movie.....but there are a few films that I did see recently and need to write about them, for you to see, Richard and for others as well....but, speaking sister to brother, these are films you will adore and need to see, though two of them may make you terribly uncomfortable to watch.
Peter and i treated ourselves to a night at the movies (rather than going out to a crowded theatre to see my ever adored SHREK sequel....so we snuggled down and ordered Pay-per-View right here in our own cozy living room and went thoroughly into three movies in one evening! That's a lot even for us to watch at one time, but we did it and we loved it.
First we watched a dire and dark thing called CHILDREN OF MEN, a British film, that takes place in 2027, when it has come about that the Earth has become totally infertile and unable to bear children. The resulting upheavals of 18 years of hopelessness are portrayed in the film as cataclysmically depressing and nations have imploded with fear and terror, until England is the only land left with any sort of non-anarchic government, so people from all over have been flocking there...the result of all that inpouring of immigrants has resulted in a militaristic push to rid the nation of all illegal immigrants, and the warring, dark, terribly ruined landscapes are filled with wire pens filled with miserable foreigners waiting to be sent ...somewhere....wherever it is , is not good...ANYWAY: there is a thing called the Human Project somewhere on an island, composed of the worlds' greatest minds...and when a small rebel group discovers a young girl who has actually managed to get herself pregant, the film becomes about how to get that girl safely to that Human Project haven. Of course, the path is made practically impossible by all the groups who war with each other to obtain the girl for their own agendas, and there are killigs, explosions, maimings, betrayals, more killings and bloody wrenchings, and yet more betrayals , until you don't know who is good and who is bad, but it is all pretty damned awful.
Our hero (Clive Owen) finally manages to not only birth that precious baby in some squalorous prison camp somewhere behind horrible refugee walls filled with dirt and excrement and hate, but he somehow dodges all the billions of bullets to finally get her to the foggy bay where the ship called Tomorrow (yep, it's that kind of movie) , we assume, picks her up and takes her to safety...of course, our hero dies at the last minute from a wound he somehow managed to obtain without our knowing it: part of being a hero is to show stoicism til the bloody end....Michael Caine is in it and is wonderful (he meets a martyred but nonetheless horrifying end, as a remnant of the wafting '60's counter-culture, hidden away in the woods with his catatonic wife, until the ugly world gets in and kills him...this made me sad)....and Julianne Moore is the head of the main group wanting to rescue the girl...Julianne also meets a bloody end at the betraying hands of her own comrades...sad to see the stars killed off so early...but somehow right for this, finally, effective and powerful movie. There is not a thing wrong with our planet that is not somehow addressed in this movie. And I for one am in the mood recently to appreciate film makers who give a damn and want to make a movie for the good of mankind rather than for its money......which leads me to the next uplifting bit of cinema:
FAST FOOD NATION....warning: if, for any reason , you want to continue eating at any fast food joints, if you need your weekly fix of McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King, do not, I REPEAT: DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE! If you want to break yourself of the bad habit of eating from cardboard containers and drinking shakes with no milk in them, then by all means see this film. I , myself, will never walk in the door of another fast-food joint as long I live.
This movie opens on the staff-marketing meeting of the Mickey's Company (right there a swipe at the fast food Disney empire of non-nourishing film crap),,,they named the fast food chain in the movie Mickey's...anyway...sales are up and all looks rosy, and the broad smiles on the faces of the men (all men...hmmm..) responsible for product development let you know that their coffers are nicely lined because of this upswing in Mickey's fortunes...their iconic Big One is selling like crazy...the nation is flocking through the pre-fab doors of their thousands of locations......juicy, hot, tasty and popular: the Big One! Greg Kinnear (who walks the fine line between pleasure and its attendant guilt better than any actor I know) is Head of Marketing....The Big One is his baby! Suddenly....a fly in the ointment ( in this case not so far off the mark), trouble in Paradise: the DEO takes Greg aside and asks him to go off on a field trip to investigate rumors that microscopic traces of excrement have been found in their burgers! There is shit in The Big Ones! Ick! So, of course, he sends the Head of Marketing to investigate: how are we gonna package this bit of news? So, off Greg K. goes to some vast part of the Southwest, where the largest meatpacking plant stands, stinking, awful and yet somehow clean looking and shiny...it is near the Mexican border, so we cut to sweaty illiegals schlepping across the nighttime borders and we soon switch to their POV's: indigent illegals needing work and they come to need that big shiny stinking plant in order to make a living.
This Evil versus the Innocents is underscored by Bobby Carnevale playing a lecherous hansome evil stinking sexual predator who nonetheless is Supervisor of The Killing and Cutting Floors! He fucks anything in sight, and I now fear one more thing that may be in our hamburgers,,,but I digress...(do I really?)...
ANYWAY: Greg discovers all sorts of horrors that go on, but he nees his job and covers it all over with a smile (Bruce Willis plays the most amazingly convincing contractor whose outrage at being discovered selling dirty meat is so pure (the outrage) that he almost convinces me that a little shit in our food is part of a well-rounded life...ANYWAY...Willis is brilliant in this movie. And a thorough villain if ever there was one: he personifies our Federal Government as it now stands: duplicitious and all too convincing, turing black to white and day to night, and it's our fault if we waver in believing him. So on the story roles, and it only gets bleaker as, from the illegals POV, we discover the true horror of what ges on in this plant....we are spared nothing: long lingering shots of meat being sliced, cut, stomachs disembowelled, kidneys "pulled", workers arms and legs being shredded in unblinking machinary, the Management blaming drug-free workers for being drug-addicted in order to blame them for the accidents,etcetcetc....it is clear that the cattle are not the real animals: Management is.
MORE TO COME ON THIS FILM and the third one we saw....right now: gotta go teach!
Monday, May 21, 2007
A Day in Urban Heaven
....translated : The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon on 5th Avenue at 54th Street! I had some luxurious and helpful hours there this past Saturday, and am glad for it: a seaweed body wrap (done by the strongest, most skillful technician named Donovan, a 66 year old woman who has worked at Arden's for 25 years!)...a deeply comforting facial, done by one of their gorgeously trained Russian facialists ...such softness and comfort, combined with rigorous pore cleansing...then a Red Door Signature manicure...followed by what they call a Heeling Pedicure, which took hours, it felt like, due to the sad, calloused nature of my abused and well-worn feet! By the time I left that palace of beauty, I felt like a newborn, soft and moist baby! Yummmmmmeeeeeeee!
I promise to take better care of my feet! And the area around my eyes! I promise.
Peter was gone that day, as well as the day and night previous, becuase he went down to Barter Theatre to talk with Rick and others about possible ways he could contribute to the growth of the company, if he and I should decide we want to return there for the 75th Anniversary year...we love that place and those people so very much...and Peter felt like he was coming home, he said, when he entered the environs of the town. He was picked up at the airport by the dear and smart Joan B....I do miss her very much...she and I used to share the most levelling and clarifying talks in her office...i like her, which is why I miss her....they supplied Peter with a company car,so generous, and he stayed in our old suite at the Inn #206...memories....Our dearest Ann and Chris J. then fed him one of their fabulous dinners at their wonderful Copper Lantern Bed and Breakfast...wish I had been there for that...and surrounded Peter with love, I have no doubt....since we shared our wonderful Scotland jaunt with Ann And Chris, I have missed their humor and energies...THEN, Peter saw the Mainstage show and went over to our pals Mark and Cherie Devol's house to catch up on life...so, Peter was set for a day of talks and ideas...on the whole , with time spent with dear ones Rick and Amanda, Nick Piper, et al, from what he tells me, he had a great time, learned a lot and loves Barter more than ever before. I missed him, but was glad for the private time as well....glad to see him on his return Saturday night....we have been talking about possibilities ever since, though of course, the final choice is Barter's to make....if it is meant to be that we are to go back there, then we will...if not, other adventures await. Of that I am sure.
I am grateful that everyone was so warm and good to Peter during his few hours there. Thanks to all. You are, and have been, in our hearts, ever since we departed from there two years ago.
SO, along with my Elizabeth Arden adventure, I had one or two othters, including a swell night at The Rubin Museum with Ken Kliban on Friday night. We had exotic martinis and sat through a wild and charming concert of Suphala, the Tablas Drummer in the downstairs auditiorium...she had two violinists with her , one on either side of her, and the music they produced was...well...it reminded me why music matters to being human....it is so not about formality or expectation, but rather about spirit and play. It was gorgeous. Deeply.
We then roamed the 6 floors of galleries and were all alone in doing so...a wonderful thing to roam those gorgeous floors when others are not about...i felt moved by the sheer space the art was in, as well as the art itself. Wonderful. Wonderful. The human spirit is indescribably ingenious, unexpectedly inventive and expressive. Wonderful.
And I enjoy spending time with my old pal Ken. We have shared at least one national tour (SOCIAL SECURTY), time spent driving around LA and environs, much offstage and backstage time spent talking about life....we became friends on that tour....and his history with other parts of my life go all the way back to Paul's days at Circle Rep....so...spending time on a Friday evening with Ken, is, finally, a familiar and good thing to do. Too long not done. I tend to settle down into a comfortable nighttime ease at home with my husband. I really do need to get out more, as they say.
From what I know I am still on hold for the Adam Sandler project...and have been asked to do another reading of JOSIE AND THE WOMEN OF TOMBSTONE...now called I MARRIED WYATT EARP...in July...this time, I think, Graciela Danielle is directing the reading....that will be good. And I love Michele Brourman's music for this project. So, it will be fun to revisit. I look forward to it.
So, the next few days will tell us more about our future. But isn't that true for us all?
I promise to take better care of my feet! And the area around my eyes! I promise.
Peter was gone that day, as well as the day and night previous, becuase he went down to Barter Theatre to talk with Rick and others about possible ways he could contribute to the growth of the company, if he and I should decide we want to return there for the 75th Anniversary year...we love that place and those people so very much...and Peter felt like he was coming home, he said, when he entered the environs of the town. He was picked up at the airport by the dear and smart Joan B....I do miss her very much...she and I used to share the most levelling and clarifying talks in her office...i like her, which is why I miss her....they supplied Peter with a company car,so generous, and he stayed in our old suite at the Inn #206...memories....Our dearest Ann and Chris J. then fed him one of their fabulous dinners at their wonderful Copper Lantern Bed and Breakfast...wish I had been there for that...and surrounded Peter with love, I have no doubt....since we shared our wonderful Scotland jaunt with Ann And Chris, I have missed their humor and energies...THEN, Peter saw the Mainstage show and went over to our pals Mark and Cherie Devol's house to catch up on life...so, Peter was set for a day of talks and ideas...on the whole , with time spent with dear ones Rick and Amanda, Nick Piper, et al, from what he tells me, he had a great time, learned a lot and loves Barter more than ever before. I missed him, but was glad for the private time as well....glad to see him on his return Saturday night....we have been talking about possibilities ever since, though of course, the final choice is Barter's to make....if it is meant to be that we are to go back there, then we will...if not, other adventures await. Of that I am sure.
I am grateful that everyone was so warm and good to Peter during his few hours there. Thanks to all. You are, and have been, in our hearts, ever since we departed from there two years ago.
SO, along with my Elizabeth Arden adventure, I had one or two othters, including a swell night at The Rubin Museum with Ken Kliban on Friday night. We had exotic martinis and sat through a wild and charming concert of Suphala, the Tablas Drummer in the downstairs auditiorium...she had two violinists with her , one on either side of her, and the music they produced was...well...it reminded me why music matters to being human....it is so not about formality or expectation, but rather about spirit and play. It was gorgeous. Deeply.
We then roamed the 6 floors of galleries and were all alone in doing so...a wonderful thing to roam those gorgeous floors when others are not about...i felt moved by the sheer space the art was in, as well as the art itself. Wonderful. Wonderful. The human spirit is indescribably ingenious, unexpectedly inventive and expressive. Wonderful.
And I enjoy spending time with my old pal Ken. We have shared at least one national tour (SOCIAL SECURTY), time spent driving around LA and environs, much offstage and backstage time spent talking about life....we became friends on that tour....and his history with other parts of my life go all the way back to Paul's days at Circle Rep....so...spending time on a Friday evening with Ken, is, finally, a familiar and good thing to do. Too long not done. I tend to settle down into a comfortable nighttime ease at home with my husband. I really do need to get out more, as they say.
From what I know I am still on hold for the Adam Sandler project...and have been asked to do another reading of JOSIE AND THE WOMEN OF TOMBSTONE...now called I MARRIED WYATT EARP...in July...this time, I think, Graciela Danielle is directing the reading....that will be good. And I love Michele Brourman's music for this project. So, it will be fun to revisit. I look forward to it.
So, the next few days will tell us more about our future. But isn't that true for us all?
Sunday, May 13, 2007
A Sparkling Sunday
...cool and perfect.....Peter and I are recovering from a food and drink evening here at home last night, with my darling niece and her Alison...we had cocktails at 7:00 (a yummy pitcher full of Moscow Mules!) with warmed brie and pears, delectable fresh little sausages Alison brought us from her favorite NJ butcher....yummy! Then Peter made the most wonderful marinated steaks...and we chowed down for hours, it felt like...so, since we are so unused to eating lots of red meat, we are feeling it a bit today...also, we topped the evening off with the most delectable chocolate fondue and fruit ....and a board game or two around the table....very late into the night...great great fun...and to day we are in recovery!
I have a small work session with a terrific student at 6:00 in preparation for an upcoming audition, but otherwise, I have been cleaning up after the party, reading Buddhist psychology and doing the NY TIMES crossword puzzle....it is a sparkling day and when we (finally) woke up today, Peter and I both walked the doggies around the neighborhood....we drank in the air like it was the fresh water we needed to cleanse our sated bodies...
Honetly, I do wonder what the future brings. Both Peter and I are up for anything, really, aggreeing only that we are both rather weary of this crowded and filthy and noisy City. Neither of us are that in need of what the City has to offer that we are undyingly committed to living here much longer. We returned from Barter Thetare several years ago to checkout whether this was a true feeling or not...we agreed we needed to further investigate how we felt about living away from NYC...but, I think we have finally understood it is not where we are, but that we are together and that we do things with our life and time that mean something to us. To work just to work....no matter what the work...to work because it is what we are supposed to do (ie: in a Broadway show) we now realize is ot what matters to us...what matters is that we have meaning...that we create meaning...that we serve others meaningfully. We have been discussing this a lot today, as Peter prepares for his visit down to Barter to talk with Rick adn others about how he might beable to serve there, without being a fulltime actor. He does not want to be onstage all the time....he wants time to do other things with his time and energies...write music,etc. Enjoy the mountains and surroudning countryside, like we never did have time for before. I appreciate that he is attempting to specifiy and ask for what he wants. Life is too precious to waste on things other.
If by some chance we do return to Barter...well...I'm not sure how I could contain all the joy i would feel. Also, I am curious how, if we do return, how Rick would utilze my energies. He has a wonderful company he is very happy with, set up in ways that are very effective and pleasing to him. Why would I want to upset that in any way? I have always treasured Rick's ability to be loyal and maintain solid working relationships with people he cares for. Just because we decide we want to go back there does not mean I want him to upset his company's balance for our sake. Both Peter and i want to genuinely be of use and serve the Barter Theatre...otherwise why would we want to go back there? So, Peter's visit should tell us a lot. He will have lots of meetings while he is down there. Lots of talks about how he could help on the administrative end. Should be an interesting visit for him. I will miss going with him. But this is his time. Everyone knows I am there in spirit anyway. Part of me has never left there.
I have a small work session with a terrific student at 6:00 in preparation for an upcoming audition, but otherwise, I have been cleaning up after the party, reading Buddhist psychology and doing the NY TIMES crossword puzzle....it is a sparkling day and when we (finally) woke up today, Peter and I both walked the doggies around the neighborhood....we drank in the air like it was the fresh water we needed to cleanse our sated bodies...
Honetly, I do wonder what the future brings. Both Peter and I are up for anything, really, aggreeing only that we are both rather weary of this crowded and filthy and noisy City. Neither of us are that in need of what the City has to offer that we are undyingly committed to living here much longer. We returned from Barter Thetare several years ago to checkout whether this was a true feeling or not...we agreed we needed to further investigate how we felt about living away from NYC...but, I think we have finally understood it is not where we are, but that we are together and that we do things with our life and time that mean something to us. To work just to work....no matter what the work...to work because it is what we are supposed to do (ie: in a Broadway show) we now realize is ot what matters to us...what matters is that we have meaning...that we create meaning...that we serve others meaningfully. We have been discussing this a lot today, as Peter prepares for his visit down to Barter to talk with Rick adn others about how he might beable to serve there, without being a fulltime actor. He does not want to be onstage all the time....he wants time to do other things with his time and energies...write music,etc. Enjoy the mountains and surroudning countryside, like we never did have time for before. I appreciate that he is attempting to specifiy and ask for what he wants. Life is too precious to waste on things other.
If by some chance we do return to Barter...well...I'm not sure how I could contain all the joy i would feel. Also, I am curious how, if we do return, how Rick would utilze my energies. He has a wonderful company he is very happy with, set up in ways that are very effective and pleasing to him. Why would I want to upset that in any way? I have always treasured Rick's ability to be loyal and maintain solid working relationships with people he cares for. Just because we decide we want to go back there does not mean I want him to upset his company's balance for our sake. Both Peter and i want to genuinely be of use and serve the Barter Theatre...otherwise why would we want to go back there? So, Peter's visit should tell us a lot. He will have lots of meetings while he is down there. Lots of talks about how he could help on the administrative end. Should be an interesting visit for him. I will miss going with him. But this is his time. Everyone knows I am there in spirit anyway. Part of me has never left there.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Catching Up
...is hard to do, lately....the days fly by with a variety of activities,and yet, somehow, with the semester ending, it seems like I am freer than i have felt in a while...I am reading Thoughts Without a Thinker by the Budfhist psychologist Mark Epstein, which is an incredibly brilliantinsight into The Four Noble Truths and how they bear on modern psychological schools of thought....also, it's a reminder of just what a tue pioneer the Buddha was in the exploration of the human being....he understood so much under that tree, and nothing since has exceeded those understndings, those knowings....those experiencings. The true nature of reality. How we live in delusion most of the time, thoroughly unaware of those delusions. We build our lives, in fact, entire worlds on those same delusions. I am enjoying Epstein's book so much.Paul gave it to us months ago, but like so many of the wondrous books in our Meditation Room, it has gone unread until there is time to read it. And I now have the time.
Went to a fun commercial audition this morning, before two students arrived later int he agternoon, and i had fun at it....I just recieved a First Refusal for shoot dates in LA later this month, and will go to a callback tomorrow (on a Saturday!!!) ...for GAIN DETERGENT...teaching has been keeping me far too busy to accept most commercial auditions, so my agents are real happy now that I have time to give them. And my fate seems to be urgin me West: I am still on hold forthe Adam Sandler movie and may have to fly West for a meeting on that, and now this possible commercial shoot....hmmmm.. is ht eworld trying to tell me something.? I do wonder. But, as ever, time and the unfolding of events will teach me what I need to learn. Peter flies to Virginia on the 17th...he is quite busy too, but wondering, as am i ,where the next bends in the road of Life will take us. At least we are happy as happy can be being together. We are sharing so much in this Life of ours.He bought me a webcamera and enrolled us in Skype so now I can see Paul and Stephen when we chat between coasts at night. It is too much fun. Also, miraculous. The very idea: they are in San Francisco and we are here in NYC and we can talk and see each other as we talk!!!! kids today will grow up i a world entirely different from the one I grew up in....progress and time...miracles...we keep changing and growing....growing and transforming...i wonder if that will ever include not killing each other one day...not killing and living in Peace.
So, the days move forward. Starting in June, a group of Steinhardt Grad students will begin to study with me. I think we'll read Shakespeare together.
Went to a fun commercial audition this morning, before two students arrived later int he agternoon, and i had fun at it....I just recieved a First Refusal for shoot dates in LA later this month, and will go to a callback tomorrow (on a Saturday!!!) ...for GAIN DETERGENT...teaching has been keeping me far too busy to accept most commercial auditions, so my agents are real happy now that I have time to give them. And my fate seems to be urgin me West: I am still on hold forthe Adam Sandler movie and may have to fly West for a meeting on that, and now this possible commercial shoot....hmmmm.. is ht eworld trying to tell me something.? I do wonder. But, as ever, time and the unfolding of events will teach me what I need to learn. Peter flies to Virginia on the 17th...he is quite busy too, but wondering, as am i ,where the next bends in the road of Life will take us. At least we are happy as happy can be being together. We are sharing so much in this Life of ours.He bought me a webcamera and enrolled us in Skype so now I can see Paul and Stephen when we chat between coasts at night. It is too much fun. Also, miraculous. The very idea: they are in San Francisco and we are here in NYC and we can talk and see each other as we talk!!!! kids today will grow up i a world entirely different from the one I grew up in....progress and time...miracles...we keep changing and growing....growing and transforming...i wonder if that will ever include not killing each other one day...not killing and living in Peace.
So, the days move forward. Starting in June, a group of Steinhardt Grad students will begin to study with me. I think we'll read Shakespeare together.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Yeow!
As they yell all the time in the original script of OKLAHOMA!!! YEOW! And they usually throw their cowboy heats and bonnets up into the air when they yell it ....Yeow! (Hats aloft).....well, it is sooooo gloriously gorgeous outside in the Springtome NYC today that that is what I feel like yelling too! YEWO, indeed! And there is promise of such lovely weather continuing throught the weekend! Which is so truly good...all we must do is go to the Opening Night of ROSE COLORED GLASS, which Peter has written lovely music for, but other than that we can do with the weekend as we wish, and that makes me happy indeed. Puppies will get some extra walk time in Riverside Park, I suspect.....lucky puppies.
I went to a most fun voice-over audition for a jewelers business this morning at my Access Agency....those particular agents have been so patient with me over the years, as I have come and gone, according to my acting work and teaching work as well...but since the early days of the J.Michael Bloom Agency here in New York, these agents, through thick and thin (and there have been many times of both description) have stayed loyal to me, and I to them. They are, and have been a part of my life for decades now, and I can honestly say I owe much to them, including such luxuried as my West End AVenue co-op and my relative security! Good agents, no matter the times. We have stuck by each other. This morning marked the beginning of return to that scene, since now that school is done, I will have more time to go to more voice over and radio auditions. And so I shall.
Friday, May 4th NYC
Yet another YEOW day! Quite beautiful outside.
I meet old pal Ken Kliban for brunch in a couple of hours and look forward to it. We have much to catch up on. His wry sense of silliness should go just perfectly with this flawless sunny day.
I went to a most fun voice-over audition for a jewelers business this morning at my Access Agency....those particular agents have been so patient with me over the years, as I have come and gone, according to my acting work and teaching work as well...but since the early days of the J.Michael Bloom Agency here in New York, these agents, through thick and thin (and there have been many times of both description) have stayed loyal to me, and I to them. They are, and have been a part of my life for decades now, and I can honestly say I owe much to them, including such luxuried as my West End AVenue co-op and my relative security! Good agents, no matter the times. We have stuck by each other. This morning marked the beginning of return to that scene, since now that school is done, I will have more time to go to more voice over and radio auditions. And so I shall.
Friday, May 4th NYC
Yet another YEOW day! Quite beautiful outside.
I meet old pal Ken Kliban for brunch in a couple of hours and look forward to it. We have much to catch up on. His wry sense of silliness should go just perfectly with this flawless sunny day.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
The Sun Comes Up
...as ever....and the men started drilling outside our windows early...it is one of those city-required co-op building repair projects that have to be done every 5 years for the safety of both the building and the passers-by below: fixing the pointing, the mortar between layers of brick,etc. Our building is good at upkeep. The New Yorker's firm need to control his or her world is highly evident in the building residents here at 890. No problem, large or small or even miniscule, escapes the scrutiny of those who want it done their way! You know the image of the little Italian grandmother,wrapped in her black shawl, who sits at her window and reports on all the doings of her street from her P.O.V. of superiority, and by whom nothing passes? It sometimes feel like we have an entire cadre of little Italian grandmothers who, with internet access, report and complain about every little thing this building goes through. And they want it fixed RIGHT NOW! No area is safe from their scrutiny, from the basement washing machine room to the tip top of the building, where the workmen (have the misfortune of having to) start work each day on this pointing project: our little IG's (as I shall call these italian grandmas from now on) have something to say, an opinion to get on record, a demand they want met. But, you know? Why not? It's their home and their life...i admire their strength in asking for what they want. Commenting on what they see as wrong with the planet. Their planet.
Sun brightly shining...and I feel better today than I have in a while. Will meet Paul D. for coffee, then coach a Steinhardt student (a favorite of mine who is beyond gifted...yet ignored in casting far too often, so we are working on her upcoming auditions for the school show)..then a few hours in the afternoon with my 46-10 Village Group....we are transferring from night time to afternoon hours because we are using the Dining hall space where we want to put on the play we have been rehearsing...today is our first day in that space. These wonderful older people remain a joy to work with. I cannot believe I have been working with them for a year now. Amazing. At times, hair-raising and exhausting, but what isn't these days? I love those people at 46-10 Village. A group of vital people growing and going on.
For my birthday in April, Peter gave me three wonderful green growing things: bamboo, an Asian Money Plant and what are looking to be some deep red amaryllis bulbs, and we planted each in their own garden bowl of glass rocks and fresh water and soil...sitting on the table that bridges our two desk areas in our office, by the windows that face north, these three green things are thriving and looking happy as happy can be.....healthy andshooting out into the world with new growth. So glad they are there. Green and oxygen-rich. Reminders of the on-goingness of life. Now, that is fresh! Green and fresh. Three small bamboo stalks, each elegantly firm in the clear glass rocks, forming a tiny community, three strong. A small wall against the dark...beacons of green. They are giving birth to small side shoots even as I type. So wonderful looking - mouth-wateringly alive. And the three fat amaryllis bulbs, cozied down into rocks and water in a shallow clear glass bowl...bursting with life. And the braided money plant. Clearly happy in its square soil-filled container of glass and crystals....
I have forgotten how much I love gardening.
Sun brightly shining...and I feel better today than I have in a while. Will meet Paul D. for coffee, then coach a Steinhardt student (a favorite of mine who is beyond gifted...yet ignored in casting far too often, so we are working on her upcoming auditions for the school show)..then a few hours in the afternoon with my 46-10 Village Group....we are transferring from night time to afternoon hours because we are using the Dining hall space where we want to put on the play we have been rehearsing...today is our first day in that space. These wonderful older people remain a joy to work with. I cannot believe I have been working with them for a year now. Amazing. At times, hair-raising and exhausting, but what isn't these days? I love those people at 46-10 Village. A group of vital people growing and going on.
For my birthday in April, Peter gave me three wonderful green growing things: bamboo, an Asian Money Plant and what are looking to be some deep red amaryllis bulbs, and we planted each in their own garden bowl of glass rocks and fresh water and soil...sitting on the table that bridges our two desk areas in our office, by the windows that face north, these three green things are thriving and looking happy as happy can be.....healthy andshooting out into the world with new growth. So glad they are there. Green and oxygen-rich. Reminders of the on-goingness of life. Now, that is fresh! Green and fresh. Three small bamboo stalks, each elegantly firm in the clear glass rocks, forming a tiny community, three strong. A small wall against the dark...beacons of green. They are giving birth to small side shoots even as I type. So wonderful looking - mouth-wateringly alive. And the three fat amaryllis bulbs, cozied down into rocks and water in a shallow clear glass bowl...bursting with life. And the braided money plant. Clearly happy in its square soil-filled container of glass and crystals....
I have forgotten how much I love gardening.
