Below is a promised photo from the Open Tent Ourglass 24 Hour Festival I did a couple Sundays ago. Our group taking in the "perfect sunset" we had so desperately been waiting for. In other news, I attended an audition and workshop for the Rising Sun Performance Company last Sunday and have been invited to participate in THEIR 24 hour play festival, Children are Terrifying, this October 25! Very much looking forward to it. I had such a nice time in the FREE workshop (which they hold from time to time, follow them on Facebook, sign up for their mailing list), where we did some theater introduction games to get to know each other, movement, and short form improv. Below is a photo from that afternoon, in an exercise where we had to maintain physical contact with our partner while moving across the floor, while telling a compelling story. Had a fun day yesterday as an audience extra on the People's Court. Certainly not challenging from an acting standpoint, but it's always nice to be on set and see how the cast and crew operate. I loved Marilyn Milian - she was not playing around with her verdicts! So many good one liners. And, got to catch up with another actor friend. All in all, nice survival money day.
Aside from all this goodness, I have an audition on Tuesday for a film project I really want to book! Send good vibes, please! And buy your tickets to ELIZABETHS already! www.elizabethstheshow.weebly.com , tix on Telecharge, or visit United Solo Theatre Fest's website and check out other shows too. Had some excitement last week, working with the Intergalactic Travel Bureau. We set up at the chashama gallery space on West 37th near 8th avenue. I only worked on Friday, but the majority of the group was there Thursday and Saturday as well. Very cool experience, getting people in off the street "guerilla science" style, offering free astronaut food and photos on the moon and Mars. I learned a few things, but mostly let the astrophysicists on hand answer the questions and help book the space vacations!
Definitely from an actor standpoint, it was interesting to just people watch all day, and observe people's body language as they approached this group of wildly dressed people advertising space trips. Lots of enthusiasm, which was really neat to see. Lots of people on their phones, which was a little less optimistic, but hey, it's New York, we're busy. I think the funniest responses were from people who were just straight up DISTRESSED about the whole thing. Overall, awesome experience, and got a mention in the Times. I'm sure pictures will make their way to me in due time to add to my photos page. On Sunday, I participated in the Open Tent group's 24 Hour Play Festival, the Ourglass festival. Open Tent is a really cool group that I just met, who focus on creating theater community in the top of Manhattan, near Ft. Tryon Park / 181st St. They told me that they have done several events now, including full productions, with this being their second 24 hour play festival. The playwrights had gotten their prompts, physical descriptions of their actors, a sentence that had to be used in the script ("I was saving that for later"), and a required prop. The playwrights wrote all night, then the actors met at 9am to get started. Our group lost our director before we arrived, so the three of us self directed and rehearsed on a nearby roof top all day long. At 6:30, we walked over to Ft. Tryon Park for our performance and to see the 4 other brand new plays being performed. Definitely saw some interesting and promising work, as well as had a blast with this great group of people. If you're up in that area, you should check them out. Phew, back on the grind this week, submitting to good things, working on Season THIRTY of TAPNYC (this season I play a Southern wife who may or may not have murdered my mother in law), and of course, preparing ELIZABETHS. The United Solo Theatre Festival opens in exactly one month from today, so be sure to buy tickets to my show and check out and purchase tickets to some of the other shows. Had a very relaxing trip to Ohio, but now I am back in the city and ready to GO!
Working full speed on ELIZABETHS, postcards will be here any day now and be mailed out/placed all over the city. Working on sound the other night, which is a fairlynew frontier for me, but very exciting. Skills I didn't even know I had (of course if any expert sound person wants to take a look at it...I'd be grateful for some input). Received an interesting offer today to be a part of the Intergalactic Travel Bureau guerilla science exhibition this FRIDAY. It looks to be a very interesting time with learning about space! So stop in and book your Intergalactic Travel Midday-8pm, 14th-16th, August 2014, 266 W. 37th Street, New York, NY -- see the link below for more details! Also, follow them on Facebook and Twitter, they have some neat stuff to share. http://guerillascience.org/event/itb/ Went to visit an agent I work with, Albert Bramante at his swanky new NYC location the other day. His advice? Just keep hustlin'. So, I'm going to keep hustlin'. I can't believe I haven't written in a month - too much summer going on!
Had the pleasure of taking an on camera class at Paul Michael's THE NETWORK last Monday, with Sabrina Hyman, who is a freelance casting director currently mostly working on Royal Pains. It was a lovely class, with an odd number of Ohioans. Got to work on a scene from Royal Pains about an "endearingly shy" young entomologist. Am working mostly on my solo show, ELIZABETHS, which will be presented November 11 at 7:30 as a part of the United Solo Theatre Festival. It will be the world premiere! Lots of work to do, but what an amazing challenge I set up for myself, to play Elizabeth Taylor! I cannot wait to share this piece. (If you want to see, purchase tix on telecharge.com - check out www.elizabethstheshow.weebly.com for full info). I have also been spending a lot of personal time working on dialects and searching for great performances on film and television. It's been so interesting to watch a spectrum of quality, seeing what works and what doesn't. It's nice to be a part of a career that can be incorporated in free time and not feel like work! Heading home to Ohio for a week at the end of the month to get some R&R and brief retreat from the city. Looking forward to doing aquatic activities and seeing my family. But I shall return August 6th and be back in action. It has been a busy few weeks!
Last week, had the pleasure of seeing CABARET, at Studio 54 on B'way. It was a fantastic show -- anything that could be said has probably already been said, but I really enjoyed myself. It was one of those rare theatrical experiences that just felt completely on point. Alan Cumming was EVERYTHING. Also, always a fun time seeing a friend do so well too, another TRIBES alum, Gayle Rankin REALLY owning that stage. I kind of want to see it again... Next, took in Heathers at New World Stages. Such a fun new musical! I usually feel kind of "meh" about movies being turned into musicals + the 80's are not really my cup of tea, but it was fun, and deviated just enough from the movie to be new and refreshing, without losing anything from the film. The actresses who played the trio of the Heathers were fantastic. Not a weak link in the cast. It's a good time, I would recommend if you want to have some giggles. hear some fun new songs, or are a fan of the film. Monday night I had my showcase with TAPNYC, Seriously Funny, at the June Havoc/Abingdon Mainstage. Very nice turnout, and got to meet some new folks I hadn't previously met, and of course see some people I already know and love. Always a delight to perform - can't wait to do another season! Then Tuesday night, attended a screening for a film I did that is being submitted to festivals, directed by Alex Fabela, written by Mark Adrian Ford, The Cold, Proud & Joyful Gunmen. It's a dystopian-western-comedy and is beautiful and funny. So happy to have seen it, and how amazing it turned out! What a fabulous cast and crew - they really found some interesting great talent. They also showed a black and white silent film beforehand, that was so touching and sweet. Will be sharing shortly. Yesterday had a film shoot in Washington Heights for an upcoming webseries called "The Bodega". Love that area. Getting lots of neat stuff in this summer. Of course, all the while, prepping my solo show to perfection for it's performance, Elizabeths, NOVEMBER 11, 7:30, United Solo Theater Fest - tickets on Telecharge. Phew! I had the pleasure this long Memorial Day of visiting a good friend who lives in Los Angeles and exploring that city for the very first time. Of course, I was there mostly for frivolity, but did look at it from a potential future resident's view as well. No plans to move there anytime soon, especially with the fact that I have FORGOTTEN HOW TO DRIVE living in NYC, but it certainly was a lovely time. I can certainly see the appeal! It felt amazing to hike right up next to the Hollywood sign and take in the whole city. In current acting news, I have been cast in TAPNYC's upcoming showcase, SERIOUSLY FUNNY, which will take place June 23rd at 7:20pm in the June Havoc Theatre. I am performing a monologue, and will be accompanied by many other talented actors performing monologues, songs, and sketches. It will definitely be a great night! You can purchase tickets by clicking.... HERE . Still working on ELIZABETHS (tickets are now on sale for this one - November 11!) and becoming Elizabeth Taylor. Quite a challenge I have set up for myself, but I am so excited and thrilled to be working on my own writing. It is a deeply personal piece, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. If I sell out, I get another performance date, so although November is a long way off, make plans to be there sooner rather than later! Casa Valentina
By Harvey Fierstein; directed by Joe Mantello; sets by Scott Pask; costumes by Rita Ryack; lighting by Justin Townsend; music and sound by Fitz Patton; hair, wig and makeup design by Jason P. Hayes; fight director, Thomas Schall; production stage manager, William Joseph Barnes; artistic producer, Mandy Greenfield; general manager, Florie Seery. Presented by Manhattan Theater Club, Lynne Meadow, artistic director; Barry Grove, executive producer; by special arrangement with Colin Callender, Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo and the Shubert Organization. At the Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 West 47th Street, 212-239-6200, telecharge.com. Through June 15. Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes. WITH: Reed Birney (Charlotte), John Cullum (Terry), Gabriel Ebert (Jonathon/Miranda), Lisa Emery (Eleanor), Tom McGowan (Bessie), Patrick Page (George/Valentina), Larry Pine (the Judge/Amy), Nick Westrate (Gloria) and Mare Winningham (Rita). Had the joy of seeing CASA VALENTINA last Thursday at MTC. At first, I didn't know what it was all about, only that I wanted to see a couple of friends, Nick Westrate (Gloria) and Mare Winningham (Rita) perform again. I worked at Barrow Street while they were in TRIBES, and loved their performances so much, I knew I had to see them in new roles. As I looked into the play more, I knew it was going to also be a fascinating story I would love. THEN it got nominated for Tonys. Several of them. So it was an exciting night at the theater! The show focuses on a resort in the Catskills where men come to spend weekends cross dressing, in the 1960's. Everything was interesting - and every cast member was on point, giving beautifully nuanced performances. I did drop out a little in the first act, but the second act was very engaging and made me wish i knew more about cross dressing at that time. I did not realize that often straight men like to cross dress, and this play certainly delves into that and the intersection where straight men cross dressing and gay men doing drag queen art meet. I definitely want to know more about the politics that still go on in that regard to this day, and how things have changed. Overall, really neat piece. Amazing acting, set design, and costuming. I definitely recommend going to see. Nick Offerman's Night of 23 Stars Had the pleasure of being last minute invited to this event - a YMCA summer camp fundraiser hosted by Nick Offerman at the St. Patrick's Youth Center on Mulberry (which I had never been to before - very cool space, an old gym). So many fantastic big names in comedy I have a hard time remembering who all was there! A nice grab bag of eclectic entertainment was had, in a fairly intimate setting for a great cause. As someone who LOVED going to summer camps, it makes me so happy that the experience will be had for kids who live in the city and don't necessarily get to experience nature that much. The band from ONCE kicked off the night, backing Cristin Milioti, who was just so cool and lovely. Next up was David Cross, followed by performances by Jane Krakowski, Mare Winningham (again!), Fred Armisen (who was rather impressive), John Glaser, Mike Birbiglia, Seth Herzog, and a super neat improv/acting scene between Jason Sudeikis and Cristin Milioti. Olivia Wilde was there too and she is just too beautiful to handle. Wow. There's probably someone I'm forgetting who was equally fabulous. But it was a great night, and if you're looking for a good cause to contribute to, consider the YMCA, either in NYC or your own home. Spring sure is exciting. Feeling motivated - working out - buying new bikinis - submitting - networking - memorizing my one woman show - and of course, TAPNYC! The Mystery of Irma Vep
By Charles Ludlam. Directed by Everett Quinton. With Arnie Burton and Robert Sella. Running time: 2hrs. One intermission. Lucille Lortel Theatre - Through May 11 I've been intending to write for a while about the lovely time I had at The Mystery of Irma Vep at The Lucille Lortel Theatre a few weeks ago and it just keeps getting away from me. WHAT a fun evening of theater! I have to admit, I thought for a few moments that there were three actors, when in fact, there are only two very quick paced and talented actors. The costume and character changes were so seamless they made me believe there was another one of them! At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by this feast of theater, but my giggles eventually turned into full laughs as I got enveloped in the world of the play. There were a few tiny hiccups, but the actors handled them masterfully. I couldn't help but imagine also how skilled the costume run crew must be, and what chaos must be going on at all times. I love the intentionally kitschy design, my personal favorite aesthetic. Lots of hilarious gags, including a nasty looking stuffed wolf, a wooden leg, and more. I definitely recommend going to this one if you want to have laugh for all the right reasons, and be impressed by some well toned character acting muscles. The Cold, Proud & Joyful Gunmen - Written by Mark Ford Also last week, had a day of filming for a film written and directed by my friend, Mark Ford. Called the Cold, Proud & Joyful Gunmen, this post apocalyptic western-ish comedy is seriously hilarious. I play Barman Tex, a barman in a questionable establishment who gets invaded by these shady characters. I can't wait to share it with you when complete - there was a lot of talent on that set and I'm sure it will be great! I've also been attending my TAPNYC troupe meetings, perfecting this monologue for upcoming showcases. Lots of new faces this season, lots doing superb work. Will this be the season we up our 75% success rate?! I have seen some excellent work in the past few weeks and would love to open my inaugural blog post with these experiences.
It's been a downtown couple of weeks, with The Junket, at the Culture Project, followed by a reading of a new work, Half Moon Bay at the Barrow Street Theatre (where I also, when I'm not acting, work), and Buyer and Cellar, also at the Barrow Street Theatre. The Junket is a one man show, presented by the Culture Project in the East Village. It is written and performed by Mike Albo, who I instantly took a liking to. The show is described as being, "A cross between Sandra Bernhard and David Sedaris" by Entertainment Weekly, and, "A densely packed rumination on professional ethics, love, self-delusion, and the ambiguity of artistic integrity. It is unambiguously hilarious" by NYtheaternow.com. I have to agree on both counts, and had a great time watching this show. I laughed aloud, many times, and really had to take a step back and think about the state of journalistic integrity. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone with a sense of humor, those in journalism, concerned about the future of print and new media, etc. There is nothing not to enjoy, even if a couple jokes fell flat, it only made it more human. Next up on my schedule was Half Moon Bay at the Barrow Street Theatre. This was a very well attended reading, of a new show written by Dan Moyer and beautifully read by Will Brill and Keilly McQuail. I cannot wait to see this show staged. It is a sort of younger generation Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? about the genesis of a questionable relationship, and the choices we make throughout life, and how they affect us. I was fascinated by the idea of what we tell people when first meeting them, and what we do not choose to disclose. The more the story unraveled the more fascinating it became. I've been thinking about it all week. Definitely keep an eye on this as it develops. Lastly, but not least, I saw Buyer and Cellar, also at Barrow Street Theatre. I had seen the show previously (three times), but wanted to see the new actor, Christopher Hanke, in the one man comedy by Jonathan Tolins. I am so pleased to have had the experience of seeing the show with two different actors. The show is a lovely "what if", regarding a mall that exists (for real) in the basement of Barbra Streisand. The show has been running since June 18, 2013, to great success and acclaim. I would definitely recommend seeing this one for lots of laughs, and an extra recommendation for Barbra fans, who will love the references through the text. Whew, what a whirlwind of entertainment! So happy to have this stepping stone to keep myself and others updated on my adventures in acting and otherwise. Best, Beth |
AuthorIt's me, Ellie Mae, and these are my adventures in acting. And more! Archives
April 2015
Categories
All
|