Catch-Up Post!

Annnndddd I fixed it! I'm pretty sure I wasn't able to upload new posts or photos because my automatic sign-in had timed out. I have had a jam-packed few days and I'm so excited to share them with all of you!

I've had a super busy but super super fun week! I really needed the trip home to reboot. To be honest, I have recently been discouraged by moving to and living in the city by myself. At first I thought it would be like starting high school, where I only knew one person, but Nardin only had 450 people so that theory was quickly tossed. In New York, you almost never see the same person's face twice in a row walking to work or going to the store or getting on the subway. Even if you get on the same car, on the same train, at the same time everyday! It's unlike any other place I've ever been in my entire life. Despite the 8.4 million people, it can be a very lonely place. It took me some time, but I'm starting to be a little less shy and a little more out-going! I've also seen some new places in the city this week so that has been pretty uplifting.

Wednesday was an especially great day. We had a great rehearsal. I just love being with the cast every day - and I realize I've typed almost that exact sentence in nearly every blog post, but this group of people is just unbelievably talented. I can't get enough of them.

On Wednesday after rehearsal Elizabeth and I went out to grab a snack and a few drinks. The bar we went to was right across the street from Madison Square Garden (MSG) and the James Farley Post Office which takes up TWO CITY BLOCKS and is famous for bearing the inscription: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds". I can only imagine the frustration my Buffalo friends are feeling reading this because this absolutely not true of the postal service in our town. Anyway, I digress. It was a beautiful afternoon and we had a great time! This was also my first time at a rooftop bar and we sat outside. I'm super grateful I have her to guide me through this adventure. I'm learning so much from her, and she's just a really fun person to work and hang out with.

Before I knew it, I had had three beers, some food, and it was 85 degrees and sunny: I definitely had an extra spring in my step on my way home. On the train I met a very sweet family visiting from Belgium. A mom, a dad, a grandma, and an adorable little girl named Elisabet. She was about 9 months old and she was NOT feeling the hot, crowded, smelly 2 train uptown. I felt so sorry for her, she looked really uncomfortable. So naturally, I started making goofy faces and having a conversation with her. Me and another nice man on the train got her to smile and it made for a much more pleasant ride home. Once I got off the train I had my first PinkBerry frozen yogurt! It's a lot like Yagoot back in Cincinnati, but not as tart, so I still like Yagoot the best, but it was still delicious. While we are on the subject of food, actually, I'd like to mention for those of you who might not know this, but tater tots are a pretty big thing in NYC. I asked Elizabeth about this while we were out and she said she assumed it was an American thing because they aren't that big of a deal in Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most restaurants in Buffalo and Cincy don't often offer tater tots as a substitute for french fries or other sides. I've been to places that FEATURE tater tots served in different ways. I mean, tater tots are great, but I guess I don't really get it. Sigh, I digress again. Maybe this would be a good time to move onto the rest of the week.

Thursday was full of more awesome times. Another great rehearsal. Although I can't remember exactly, I'm pretty sure that I just came home and slept for two hours before ordering sushi. I was exhasuted. On Thursday we talked a lot about promoting the show and the company itself and the fundraising party we have coming up on Monday, which I will be helping out with. I'm super excited. We also talked about ticket sales and moving into the space in a few weeks. It was a very exciting conversation. We're getting closer and closer to tech and I can hardly wait.

Now for the most exciting day of the week - Friday. On Friday, Craig, Rachel, Jude, Jimmy, and I went to see a show that another cast member is in in the East Village! The show, D Deb Debbie Deborah by Jerry Lieblich was put on by clubbed thumb productions and held at the wild project in the East Village. In order to get to the East Village, I had to take two trains, walk down one of New York's VERY long train-connection paths (a sticky, hot underground tunnel from train stop to train stop), and quite a few blocks through Alphabet City to get to the show on 3rd Street. The Renthead in me was singing all the way down Avenue A (in my head of course...)! The show was just incredible. Stacey, our friend who was in the show, did an amazing job and the entire show, from the casting, to the acting, to the direction and the design was just outstanding! We had a great time. Jude and I got to travel part of the way home together, so it was really nice to get to talk to him. He's a very sweet person and very interesting to talk to. D Deb Debbie Deborah was actually stage managed by the original stage manager of From White Plains! His calls for this show were amazing. The play is brilliant and I would highly recommend it. You can find the NY Times review to this production by clicking here.

Today's rehearsal was also a lot of fun! I got to run some more errands and we not only got a lot done but had several super goofy moments, which is always nice. Today I also got to meet the original Dennis of From White Plains, Karl Gregory. That was awesome. It's really fun getting to have a common experience to talk about with everyone, especially From White Plains, which was such a huge part of my life and theirs as well. We also started doing line notes a little bit today and I got to run lines with Rachel, Aaron, and Jude. It was so much fun. Now that we're getting further into the process I've been getting more and more responsibility/jobs everyday and I absolutely love it. I feel so honored to be working at Fault Line and I'm just so excited to be here. Yes, yes, redundant, I know, but it made for a good segue, right?...

And now, here comes the shameless plug you've all been waiting for!!!! COME SEE OUR REALLY COOL PLAY, AT THE TABLE by Michael Perlman! It's really an incredible show and I'd love for as many people as possible to see all of the hard work that has been going into it. If you can't make it to the show but would like to be involved, you can always make a tax-deductable donation at www.faultlinetheatre.org.

"At the Table tells the story of a diverse group of friends on their annual retreat away from the city. Expecting good times and casual conversation, as liquor flows and tongues loosen, what emerges is a struggle to define their own identities. No subject is taboo and no issue is safe. While exploring who they believe themselves to be, they discover how others see them and where they stand in the ever-changing landscape of 21st century politics."

I have included a video update of our first week of rehearsal. Please take a minute to check out this and more updates on the show and rehearsals by following us on Twitter, Facebook, and tumblr!

Okay, okay, here we go, everyone's favorite part of the blog - the part where I shut up and you get to see the quote of the day. While there have only been two since my last post (someone downstairs is getting sloppy), I admit I lost both of them...oops. So to make it up to you, I decided to pick my own. This one was given to me by one of my favorite people on this earth, the one and only Joan Ricca. Mrs. Ricca was one of my teachers in high school and the first director I ever worked with. She is the reason I'm stage managing today. Thanks, Joanie! Love ya! Enjoy the weekend, readers!

Quote of the day: "Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." - Asha Tyson