I'm aliiiiive!

Yes, it's true, I've finally found five minutes to sit down and write in my dear darling blog. American Soldiers was a great experience, and has since come to a close. We had a great audience turnout, much more than I've experienced in Off-Off Broadway especially in the BITTER cold we've been having. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) my performance was not enjoyed by the two critics who wrote us up. Figures that my first actual New York reviews were unpleasant. But I say they were fortunate because now I understand that feeling and also understand how little it really means in the scheme of my career. One reviewer thought I, as the actor, had not decided what my character thought about what was happening or where her loyalties stood. I found that interesting, because first of all, I'm not stupid and of course I made choices. But besides that, I'm not sure how necessary it is to know how every character feels about every aspect of any situation. I'm not sure they ever need to know anything! Ever heard of Beckett? Pinter? Those characters are never entirely disclosing everything. Ugh, it's not even worth it to argue when the person you're arguing with is on the Internet and gets to judge you as their job.

The other review, from a very large publication, was just plain mean-spirited and I feel sorry for people who feel the need to project negativity on the undeserved. But enough about that, as it doesn't bother me anymore. The show was good, people liked it, just not the people who write on the Internet! Rawr.

But of course, in typical Julia busybody style, I am already in the thick of rehearsals for another show, and the character couldn't possibly be any different from Marie. Yes, I finally get to play an ingenue, and it's awesome. In Dear Brutus by J.M. Barrie, a bunch of strangers are invited to a mischievious ageless (Pucklike) man's house, where it's said on Midsummer Eve a magical wood appears. If you chance to enter the wood, you can experience what everyone there desires: a second chance at life. For my character, whose husband is in love with another woman, the second chance is the possibility of never marrying him, and therefore never being a wistful, sad pathetic creature. And it's a COMEDY!

As you can see, I'm really, really excited for this show. Everyone in the cast is spectacular, which is so important when doing period pieces. I'm using my Adler training more here than I've ever been able to before (the classical training anyway; how to sit in a chair, walk in heels, not be a clunky awkward thing, etc) and it's great to work with people who have the same vocabulary and understanding of the time period. And I love, love, love the challenge of working with a British accent. And this is RP, the mother of all British accents--this is the "oh, dear", and "Rather!", and "We're awfully sorry" accent that is so crisp and proper that my mouth feels weird after doing it for a while. It's hard not to get wrapped up in the character when you change how you walk, sit, and speak! I'm sure people who know me well will get a kick out of me being chased through the forest by a suitor wearing a flowery pink dress and holding a parasol. Hopefully the audience will laugh too. That's the other hard thing....this comedy is so specific. It's all about timing and inflecting the right words, so I'm lucky to have such generous and smart scene partners.

So come to Christopher Street and see me! We're at the Wings Theatre and the showtimes are weird so I'm going to list them here for clarity's sake:
Saturday 2/20 2p
Sunday 2/21 2p
Tuesday 2/23 8p
Wednesday 2/24 8p
Saturday 2/27 2p
Sunday 2/28 2p

Press, Industry, and Ticket Line: 212-627-2961

More info at theateronline.com

Anything else? I'm tickled pink that the Saints have won, as were the thirtysomething people gathered at my apartment. Many thanks to all who brought copious alcohol and pretty much gourmet food (including an awesome NFL cake) (thanks Lisha). Ummm, I have no Valentine's plans despite having a boyfriend. We may just eat chocolate and watch TV. That's pretty romantic to me. Not spending money is also romantic. Wow, I'm old.

Ok, I have to find time to update more often. I'm very pleased with all the work I keep getting, but it's making it very difficult for me to actually DO anything. Alright, I promise my next post will be soon. Soonish.

Website, Video, Parties = Sleepy.

Sooooooo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPJoep7O0k&feature=player_detailpage
Here's the video introducing my Pink! character, Samantha. I encourage you to check out PinkthePlay's YouTube channel to see the other videos as my fellow cast members are brilliant and awesome.

Also, http://www.pinktheplay.com has been completed and is now the most fierce place to be on the web (except here, of course).

And the Henry plays have been getting some nice press after being booted out of Prospect Park by Michael Jackson's memorial (which, I mean, we have to let that go. Free Shakespeare is wonderful, but MJ is MJ). Besides we had a kickass marathon yesterday of both plays and had a great turnout. Including Lisha, who I very unprofessionally winked at while "setting up the English camp."

AND tonight is the big party for Pink! at Volstead on 54th st. 9pm. All the cast will be selling dollar Jello Shots, looking fabulous, with themed drink specials. And I can only assume the music will be amazing--lots of Brit Brit. So come out for a little bit and drink with me! If you mention my blog I'll buy you 5 drinks. Not really. Well, maybe.

Also, check me out one more time in Henry V next Sunday the 6th in Prospect Park. Here's a picture of me as the Boy, full of exuberance and bug bites: (and shut up, they totally had water bottles back then!)

Oof! Or Sunday

I will begin this post by mentioning I got fired from that heinous reception job because "I wasn't a good fit for the company". Yeah, wasn't a good fit to fill in at the front desk for four days for basically minimum wage. They just didn't like me cause of my Kohl's top. Deal with it bitches. I've got a much nicer setup in a construction company in an office with not one, but TWO sassy Jamaican ladies. Thank you Jesus. I really, really love it there. Who knew accounts payable could be so much fun?!

So yesterday I may have overexerted myself. I had an all-day workshop with two fabulous casting directors and while it was a bit intimidating I ended up learning so much and really enjoyed myself. Watching others almost teaches you more about acting than actually acting. I was awkward, but I'm always awkward, so what else is new. I think the most important thing I learned was knowing your material well enough to make informed choices. I mean, I know that's a thing, but this stressed the importance. It was obvious when people didn't know where they were or what the context was. And even if that info wasn't available, they didn't create a reality for themselves. Others, on the flip side, from the first word drew a whole environment with their body language and tone and expression. It was really fun to watch that--I definitely stole some things.

Then I mosied down to the Financial District, limping from a blister and unable to put a band-aid on my sweaty foot, for my next endeavor: a Shakespeare company. I always go out for Shakespeare things just to keep it fresh. Not that it gets old, but I just like saying those fancy shmancy words. Like "timorous".

Then the scariest thunderstorm ever happened. I got drenched since somebody (Jason) forgot to bring an umbrella to his lunch date with me. Like completely soaked in a hilarious way. Luckily I had time to duck into a bathroom and make myself not look like a swamp monster for the next audition, for a play I found to be seriously funny and awesome. But a day has gone by without a callback, so alas. It started out so well too--they were very excited to see my Big Love credit. Nobody seems to know what that was. It was in the New York Times people! Headphone jacks! Newspapers are dying :(

THEN off to visit my one blog follower and her merry roommates. Poor Lisha, working made her sick. Get better! Comment on my blog so I feel like I have friends and then people will see "oh look a comment she's not just rattling on to herself like a crazy person".

So, by 10:30 pm, a full 13 1/2 hours after I left, I plopped on my bed and gave Baxter a squeeze, which he returned by immediately running away from me.

Today was uneventful except I prepared for my Columbine callback tomorrow (!!!!) and had a Julia moment: I was fumbling with my phone on the street, and this very trendy girl walks by and says, "I really like that bag!" I smile, look up and say, "thanks", as I notice I am standing in front of a bag store. D'oh.