Well, I usually write on Mondays as a way of welcoming the week and allowing time for myself to focus on what I have learned. My internship at Tara Rubin Casting has been like a dream come true, and it’s difficult to se this dream come to an end. However, tomorrow (July 8 ) is my last day with TRC and it’s hard to say good-bye. All of my thank you notes have been written but as I sit at my desk its just hard to think I will not be sitting here next week. I thought that originally I would be here through the end of August, but they had a lot of great intern applications for this summer and rather than just pick one, they gave multiple people opportunities, and cut the commitment time shorter to brace for the volume of people. But, I am not without a plan!
Contrary to popular belief, I will not be one of those people on the street holding a cardboard sign, that says “Hire me as a casting Intern,” rather I have been accepted to intern with Cindi Rush Casting and Stewart and Company Casting. And starting next week, I’ll be spending one day a week with Cindi Rush and the remaining four with Duncan Stewart and Benton Whitley in their casting endeavors. Did I mention that Stewart and Company cast La Cage Aux Folles? Oh, this is going to be good….
Before I get to far along in my thoughts and adventures, I need to thank Rance Wright. He is amazing!!!! I found out rather short notice that my internship was ending, and when I called to ask him for his input (I mean he has helped me out so much along this whole journey) he called some of the casting directors he works with and was able to find me other places to intern. Luckily, I had already worked with Cindi Rush and Benton Whitley in Rance’s Master classes (shameless plug) and so they knew me. I love how things have a way of working out. Really I feel like this I meant to be. And on top of all of this, I will now have THREE internships instead on one this summer, SWEET! So, THANK YOU Rance (Pops) you are the best!!!!
Just as a side thought, Rance is always so eager to help his students and is always saying things along the lines of how happy he is to help us, but I’m telling you watch out, because one day Rance Wright is going to be a big deal!
Going back to my life in the theater and what I’ve seen and done. Since the last time you heard from me, I saw Death Takes a Holiday and Unnatural Acts, both are shows running off Broadway – I may have exhausted the Broadway show pool – but they each had something to offer. So I guess I better being so I can tell you about my adventures in Central Park and the amazing firework show that NYC had to offer!
Death Takes a Holiday: This musical, based on the film with a similar title, is produced by the Roundabout Theater Group (the same people doing Anything Goes) with musical by veteran Maury Yeston (Nine and Phantom). Overall the production was extremely beautiful taking place in an Italian Villa and fully embracing the 1920’s style of life. The costuming was beautiful and the scene where the character “death” dances with another character was a blast. I feel like I am a sucker for the Charleston and a flapper ensemble, and lets just admit it; the 20’s were just fun. Getting back to the story, the entire premise is that “Death” decides to become human for a weekend and joins a Baron and his family in their Italian Villa parading as a Russian Prince. He falls in love with their daughter and convinces her to join him in death when he returns to being “death.” So, just a general view. Now for my opinions. The music was absolutely beautiful. Sweeping and big, all encompassing the bigger fuller musical theater sound. However, there were still issues that needed to be worked out with the ensemble singing at the beginning of the show. It was rough! Also, I did not like the lead girl, I thought she was “acting” and I was not a fan of her voice. Very subjective. And the story was still a bit stagnant at moments. I wish that the characters would have really allowed for the story to settle more in them and make it mean more – it came across as surface level. But, alas, these are nit picky comments, so I can’t overly complain. One more thing to add to my list of things that didn’t work was the set. This musical calls of something truly beautiful and the set used a lot of “cheesy” looking curtains that made things feel cheap. Not a good way to present something you want to be overly beautiful. All in all, it wasn’t to shabby, not my favorite, but something beautiful to see and appreciate.
Unnatural Acts: A strong and thought provoking play based on a true and tragic event: the purge of a group of gay men at Harvard University in 1920. The catalyst was the suicide of Cyril Wilson, assumed to be gay, which led Harvard to get rid of the group of homosexuals associated with him, evidently to avoid scandal. One by one, ten students and one instructor suspected of being part of Wilson’s cadre of homosexual friends were interrogated by a “Secret Court” of high level administrators which determined their “guilt” as homosexuals, or their “innocence.” Most were found “guilty” and were expelled. We learn, by the end of the play, of the blight the investigation and expulsion cast on almost all of their lives. It’s a fascinating and very clever theatrical choice that the only characters we see in the play are the eleven directly affected men. The Harvard disciplinary board is a dark presence, its activities illuminated only by the monologs of the accused young men called in to testify and responding to questions. All focus is on the men themselves, their lives, personalities, purposes, sexual drives (though oddly, nobody seems in love), interactions, and the effect on these of the punitive purge. At the start of the play, the eleven react variously to Wilson’s suicide. Some close friends feel grief and attend his funeral, acting as pallbearers, while others who knew him casually are more distant. As the play advances, though, the noose tightens equally around all of them. The design elements of the play were beautiful. The costumes, lighting, and minimal sets were just perfect! I watched the show wanting to still dress like they did by then; we used to be so much classier. However “Hailed” this production is, I still like it could have been done better. Having so many characters made it difficult to care intensely for them, and all of the theatrical conventions felt contrived. There were choreographed dance movements and I felt like this wanted to be the gay Spring Awakening rather that find its own voice. With recent events this play has become a hot ticket item, but I left the theater wanting for it to be better.
All of my theater opinions expressed, I now turn my attentions to life in the city. Luckily for me, one of the Sister Missionaries from my mission has moved to NYC for the summer, and has provided an exuberant amount of fun for me. We spent our Saturday playing in Central Park and eating amazing Italian food. We decided to meet up and spend a day playing in the park. After a few hours of walking through (not knowing where we were going – and only making it to the half way point of the park before turning around) we spent a lot of time just enjoying it and making future plans. Its interesting how many people think that the park is their back yard and they are out there laying on a towel in their bathing suits. We found the Shakespeare in the Park location – to bad all the free tickets were gone- and played at some castle there. We also went through the Zoo, and debated going in, if you know me you know I love Penguins, but alas the line for Zoo tickets was ridiculously long. Perhaps another time. Maybe we should do more “cultural” New York things, well see. However, the highlight of this trip (besides the Lobster Ravioli and chocolate dipped Canoloi) was our trip to the “Waffles and Dinges’ wagon. This bright yellow wagon serves gourmet Belgium waffles topped with all kinds of amazing things. The best thing this topping (I can not pronounce the name to save my life) that taste like gingerbread, but it spreads like Nutella. It was just perfect. We ate it and wanted more – but we knew better. So we kept on walking to burn what we had consumed. I’m so glad Allison Saunders is here. It is just more fun to explore the city with a friend.
For the holiday, our office closed on Friday and Monday, so I had time to sleep and relax and catch back up on my life. Although I am not a fully paid and privileged employee, I still feel the grind of NYC life. So, the rest was welcome. I think we all know how nice it is to awake without an alarm clock bringing you to life or worrying about time. Oh time, it’s easy to waste and impossible to gain back –its such an interesting thing to me. Nothing too exciting. I spent Sunday in Brooklyn with my Uncle Charlie, who owns an AMAZING home in historic Brooklyn – its absolutely beautiful and made me just stare with admiration and longing. All I know, is that when I return to NYC, that’s where I’m living! He had a bit of a get together and I was able to meet more of my relatives and be continually introduced as the gorgeous Lebanese side of the family. Oh its wonderful. Its good to have family. I am grateful for all they do and the willingness the have to take care of me and just openly love me. It’s a blessing. The holiday itself (Monday) was actually really nice, the city was empty and I was able to do some grocery shopping and get home really early. It was nice. And then the fireworks that night! Oh wow. Each year the fire works shows alternates taking turns from either being on the east river or Hudson. This year it was on the Hudson. Lucky me, that’s Jersey Side. We were able to sit on our porch and watch the show. Huzzah! It was gorgeous. They set six barges in the river (all of course sponsored by MACY’s – I mean. Really, what do they not sponsor) and each barge gives the same show. So, you see six of the same show. Its absolutely breath taking and beautiful. And of course the newspapers estimated the cost of the show to be at a million dollars. Of course New York. Of course.
I’m working on Provo Housing; almost have it all figured out. I’ll be glad when that is over and done with. And next week I start my new set of internships. How exciting. I’ll admit that I am excited to return to school for the next year, having to look for a real job and get health insurance (gulp) is frightening. But, I have another year to work it all out. Right now I’m working through transitions. Life is all about transitions. Best to learn it now. The wise are usually ready, or at least willing to accept what comes their way.
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