An update for the ages.

HELLO THERE!

I keep being a fart about updating my blog. I'm sure all my faithful blog readers keep checking for updates, only to have their hearts dashed and their weeks ruined. Well, here you go, Chiara Atik.

As my trusty dog Baxter sleeps by my side, I will recap all that has befallen me in this past month. I am SO sad Dear Brutus is over now, because it was a great time, a great part, and great people I worked with. We had a lot of people come see it in the mere week it ran, so that was really awesome. Nothing like playing to a full house!....mainly of elderly ladies, but isn't that what theater is all about? And now I will show you a couple pictures from the show, courtesy of our director Kymm:

There's me bein all sad about my husband kissing another lady, played beautifully by Jeff and Karen.


And then in the magical wood, the tables are turned! Now I am beloved.


Me realizing I'm still Jack's wife as Joanna (Karen) realizes she isn't. Hah.

There ya go!

So once it was over, I really wanted to keep working with Zephyer Rep and the Wings folks, so I auditioned and got cast in their next show, a rockin 80s all-chick Midsummer Night's Dream! Hooraw! I've only been to one rehearsal but it was very promising, it's cool to see chicks acting male roles better than I've seen actual guys do them. I'll be playing Snug the Joiner, the slightly off Mechanical who ends up playing the Lion in the meta play. I'm having a great time perfecting my vacant stare and general confusion at everything happening around me. It's really great to be a dim character in Shakespeare, because everyone around you is saying freakin Shakespeare and then there's you, picking your nose. Note: I would never pick my nose on stage, let alone in Shakespeare.

Also, last week I made my guitar singing and playing debut, also at Wings, in their first cabaret with the lovely Angel Drake. I even got a clap going! That was cool. Although I messed up a chord, right after I sang the word "fuck". I guess I got too excited about saying it.

And yesterday, I did my first job on the set of the new HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire"!!! It was an incredibly fun day, we got to be on their main boardwalk set which was so intricate and authentic I really felt like I was at the beach, even though there was a huge blue screen where the ocean should be. Movie magic people!!! The crew was great, which is so important when you're on set for 10 hours straight. And I loved being dressed like the littlest sailor girl. Oh, you want a picture?....Ok.


Anything else? I've reviewed two shows for Broadway After Dark and have 3 more lined up in the next couple weeks, which all came from this silly blog, so I'm VERY happy about this. I'm seeing lots of good theater for free!

And how is the rest of my life??? Hahahaha, I laugh in your face, the rest of my life doesn't exist. I'm trying my best to use my sparse free time correctly: seeing my friends, drinking with my friends, going on dates (with the same guy I've been going on dates with for 5+ years), and catching up on my favorite shows. Those being American Idol, Ghost Hunters, and LOST. Do not judge me, but if I miss any of those shows you better believe I'll be cranky. I guess that's not really a good threat, but it's the best I can do, I'm still reeling from the Boardwalk 5:15am call time.

Anyone watching LOST by the way? Isn't the last season amazing? Every Tuesday is another piece in the puzzle fitting together. Tonight is Ben's Sideways fate--can't wait! I actually saw Michael Emerson at Hill Country once and got too nervous to say hi. He was having fun out with his pals, and didn't need some fangirl drooling over him. To this day, I kick myself in the shins thinking of the things I would have said to him, like, "I wish you would get trapped on MY island", or, "Hey, you're the guy from the show where you keep getting punched in the face! Cool dude."

It's probably better I didn't speak to him at all.

Until next time, friends.

American Soldiers, and Happy New Year!!!

Hello!

Again, I apologize for my absence. I'm in a brand new show, premiering at Theater for the New City on Jan 14 called AMERICAN SOLDIERS. Details can be found at kadm.com and http://theaterforthenewcity.net/americansoldiers.htm AND in the New York (freakin') Times: http://theater.nytimes.com/show/24392/American-Soldiers/overview .

It's about a young woman who returns to Long Island from Iraq and attempts to bring her boyfriend and sister (me!) along with her to a new and un-bullshitty life in Colorado. Without revealing too much of the plot, it's heartbreaking, compelling, and real family drama that will make you rethink what it means to be a soldier, an American, a member of a family. It's good. And yes, it's funny too. It's probably the most experienced and professional group of people I've worked with, and it probably shouldn't be a surprise that I'm the youngest person involved. I'm learning more every day and just being in such an intimidating and hallowed space as TNC is overwhelming. Confession: I listened to Matchbox Twenty's "Bright Lights" (about a girl who moves to NYC....yes I am lame) while walking down 9th St which is draped in holiday lights sipping my Peppermint Mocha and heading to rehearsal--and I believe that feeling of belonging and content and success and giddiness was what I've been trying to accomplish ever since I decided as a child that I wanted to be a professional actor. Whew, that was a run on sentence if I've ever seen one!

Bonus: I am dressed kinda slutty for some of it. Not sure whether that would deter or encourage you, but there it is. Needless to say I have stopped eating entirely.

That isn't true. I literally just had McDonald's for dinner. But I didn't Super Size! Baby steps.

Aaaanyways you can get tickets on Smarttix. And while you're at it you can vote for me on the NY Innovative Theatre Awards website! Not till it opens obviously, but I'm in a plugging mood so!: http://www.nyitawards.com/oobshows/show.asp?showID=1566

Oy! So much to go over. My Charger boys are the #2 seed which means I am a happy happy lady. I got to scream at them when I was home for the Bengals game, and the crowd caused 3 penalties!!! Awesome. And for Xmas, I raked in some serious loot including a Chargers sideline beanie, Chargers earrings, a Chargers sweatshirt, and that's just football stuff! I'm lucky my family knows the only thing on my mind in December are the Bolts.

Also, news flash: it's cold over here. Really cold. So cold I need Baxter the dog as a body warmer. Thank goodness he is a willing participant. And it sure is a bitch to get up when you can feel the cold seeping through the window and you're cuddled under the cover, sheet, and blanket in pj's and fuzzy socks with Baxter snuggled also under the covers with his head curled around your elbow. Oof!

But seriously, 2009 has blessed me with jobs on movies, TV shows, and principal roles in 6 shows! I was so busy but so so happy and can only hope that 2010 makes me busier, happier, and richer! This decade has been kind to me, guiding me from braces-clad, awkward 13 through my first love, first heartbreak, first kiss, marching band competitions, San Diego Junior Theatre, college, New York, parties, old friends and new friends, my first apartment, second apartment, first dog, a fairly healthy 5 year relationship, watching my sister grow up and my parents become actual cool people--through right here, right now, as a 23 year old actor in her Manhattan flat. My biggest dilemma is what to do on New Year's Eve. Which is tomorrow. Times Square is out. Any last-minute thoughts or ideas for next year???

Happy New Year blog readers...I hope your decade was as lovely and eventful as mine and hope the 2000-teens will both entertain and teach you. But most importantly, let's all remember that tomorrow is for drinking, and I mean drinking a lot. Cheers.

PINK! is over...for now.

Thanks so much to everyone who came to see us! I've never had such universally gushing responses toward a play before--people of all different kinds loved it, young and old. I was approached by many strangers and asked if the events in the play had ever happened to me as a kid (they haven't, I would never hide my diary in such an obvious place!), or if I really was a lesbian. That was awkward...not that I can convincingly play someone who kisses girls but just awkward in general to declare your love of boys to strangers. I was also told by a lot of people, also some strangers, that they identified with my character the most out of the 5 girls which was the ultimate compliment to me. Granted I wasn't an evil villain, I was a misfit kid, but how awesome that I got people to see through Samantha's eyes. This show also got me really good at crying onstage. Which I think is the hardest thing to fake. Anger, laughter, and fear are all pretty straightforward but actually tricking your body into crying is so damn hard. By repeating the scene over and over and also finding words and actions of other characters that triggered tears helped immensely....and of course all the other girls were so good and the moment was written so well I never had to fake it. Actually last night the tears came so quickly and easily I kind of just sat back and let them happen.

Things haven't been going great on the personal front, but I'd like to think the tears were just frustration, exhaustion, and regret that the show's over. But who knows.

In happier news, I was offered a small part in a new movie from the same company who worked with me on "Last Chance", which is now in post production. I am thrilled to work with them again since I had so much fun on the last shoot. And there are dogs involved! Maybe Baxter will get a cameo. Don't be a diva Baxter.

And in awesome news, remember the show I did back in May for the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival?! It got picked up for the Manhattan Rep Theatre Fall Play Festival! Yes, "T.A.B." returns October 28 at 8pm and the 29-30 at 6:30pm. If you weren't able to catch the first incarnation, I highly recommend coming to the festival. It's a provocative and touching story and much of the old gang is reuniting which gives me joy. Nothing is more awesome than collaborating with actors more than once.

If I find a review of PINK! I'll post, but that's it for now. I have another audition tonight as well, because, well, I don't understand what "take a break" means. Heh.

Hooray!

I got cast as Samantha in Pink!

Details to follow but let's just say after that 2 and a half hour callback I'm glad I have something to show for it. The script is great, the part is so wonderfully good, I can't believe my phone message. So for today, if you happen to call me, I may answer with a squeal. And you'll know why.