Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Home is Where the Horns Are


Three AM sirens, the Mister Softee jingle (ice cream truck), being squished between sweaty 40 year old men, walking 10 blocks to the grocery store, and pushing tourists are now all things that make me feel at home. The most common phrases I hear are, “hey do you like comedy shows?” and “There is train traffic ahead of us. Please be patient” to which I want to answer, “You can’t command me to be patient, I have a job to get too!” Oh yes, you heard that right, a job, I am a bona fide babysitter, and by this time next week I will be CPR and first aid certified as well (I also sometimes have anger issues on the subway). Needless to say I babysit 2-3 times a week on the Upper East Side (aka where the rich people live). I take care of Anna who is 8 and Davis who is 12. I feel as though they are my own kids and I do a lot of carting them around.

I am also continuing to audition a lot. It’s a long process, but every time I go I get the chance to perform, which I cherish every moment of (all 2 minutes I get in front of the casting director…or the intern). I’m also discovering that not every person in the audition room is actually mute. The last few auditions I have gone on they have asked me questions! (I have mastered how to answer the question “How long have you been in NY? “ with at least a 1-minute answer). I will shamelessly post my new headshots below too, which I now have lot of expensive copies of!!




When I’m not being an actor or hanging with kids I’m hanging with other actors and seeing LOTS of shows. “It’s research” is what I am telling my bank account!  I saw Venus in Fur on Broadway this past weekend and fell in LOVE with it! About 5 minutes into the beginning of the show, Thomas (Hugh Dancey) is on the phone when Vanda (Nina Arianda) bangs on the only door onstage because she is late for her audition. Thomas goes to open it, can’t, and returns to his phone call. About this time a voice comes on the loud speaker “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are having technical difficulties, we are going to stop the show and resume momentarily”. Can’t have a show if the character can’t get onstage! I loved it---what a wonderful theatre moment! Needless to say, the show resumed, the door got stuck once again, but no one even noticed till the end. Pretty damn good acting!! Also, seriously, come see this show. All of you. You can stay at our apartment.

The past few weekends I have spent in Nyack, NY, which is about a 35-minute train ride upstate. It is such an adorable small town and feels like an escape from the city. I forgot how much I missed grocery stores, riding in a car, quiet nights, and simply strolling without a purpose. I absolutely love the city, but it’s definitely nice to take mini vacations to suburbia!

Stef returned to her hometown this week, Dayton, OH, and I know she loves seeing everyone, but we REALLY miss her here! We are impatiently waiting for her to come home home! And then she starts her new job at the York! Which means there will be a whole new list of songs she will be belting around the house J

So life is great! We even have friends now that we go out with! I’m the happiest I’ve ever been (but will only be happier when I get in a freakin show!!!!) And Stef is becoming successful in what she wants to do and is loving life! 

In Conclusion: A panda and penguin fighting on the subway, is as natural as jaywalking. Dropping socks on the way to and from the laundry mat is as common as 10-dollar cocktails. Getting a nice looking butt from all the stairs we climb, well,…that better happen soon. It’s all part of this wonderful city we call “home”.

P.S I realize that I was quite amused writing this, but reading it over, it’s not nearly as entertaining…Perhaps try reading it in a Russian accent. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Stefanie's Long Awaited Life-Update

Hey all!

Geez it’s been awhile… I feel like so much has happened!

I’ll start with work.

Pearl’s Gone Blue won “Best Overall Musical” in FringeNYC which is such an honor and it got picked for the Encore Series where the “best of” go on to perform a few more times. So we had that and it really was a great opportunity to work in a new, bigger space. We closed Sept 20 and it was bittersweet: sad to say goodbye to the show, but nice to have more time. J I was also really excited because my Situ got to come see an Encore performance when she was out visiting! So great having family see your work!

I’ve also been ASMing Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: A Musical at New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and it has been one of the best experiences. I’m working with a stellar cast, an amazing director, a top-notch stage manager, and just an overall outstanding production team on this amazing show! It really is proving to be a very positive experience. This show is playing at the Signature Theatre (an off-broadway house) and it really is a lot of fun! Recently, we’ve been getting amazing reviews, which has been nice to see that the hard work is paying off! I’ve been making some great friends and it’s really been good to work with Sarah Hall. She’s really awesome at what she does and I have learned sooooooo much from her!  I’ll be super bummed when it’s over…

I’m about to start ASMing Give a Man A Mask at the York Theatre (which is where I interned 3 months ago) And! I will most likely be earning my Equity card through this contract! Very exciting stuff! (For those that don’t know, Equity is the stage managers/actors union.) Rehearsals start Oct 24 and are only for 3 weeks and then a weekend of performances.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people that I’ve talked to in the casts or production teams of these shows are shocked that I moved here only 4 months ago and that I’m only 22. I guess that’s a good thing. I definitely feel like I’ve been here longer and sometimes I feel like I’m way older than 22…. But I think it should be promising to others that yeah you have to work your way up, but you can do it!

Hmmm… what else is going on?

I had my first urgent care visit… that was exciting… Those that know me know that I have a dread for doctors just because I’ve been to so many with different health issues in my life… so it literally took my roommates forcing me to do to the urgent care. And I’m glad I did! I had an infection in my thumb from a bug bite that started infecting my blood and was causing streaking on my arm from the veins getting infected. So as soon as I walked in they pumped me full of anti-biotics through an IV and gave me a prescription. Since then, I’ve been good to go!

We had our house-warming party, which was a lot of fun! All (or most) of our closest NYC friends came over and we just drank and enjoyed the view and our new space! Unfortunately, I don’t remember a lot of the details because my anti-biotics plus the 2 or so glasses of wine I had did not mix well. (even though it was said there would be no issues) But I do remember feeling really lucky to have such a great group of friends that have our backs! And of course it is so great that Karli has been inducted to the group so seamlessly.

There were mushrooms in my room! This is a recent advancement in my life. I got home a few days ago and noticed white stuff sticking out of my wall and floor… and after looking closer realize that there is a mass of mushrooms. I was pretty ticked off today to say the least. The landlord came and fixed it though so hopefully the garden in my room is closed down.

So now I’m home in Jersey with the Cross family! I am definitely enjoying the little escape from the city. I have been working pretty constantly with a day off here and there for the past 2 months so I am using these few days to just detox… and do laundry! I forgot how convenient it is to have laundry facilities within feet instead of blocks… 

Next Wednesday I will be heading back to Ohio for 8 days and saying I’m excited wouldn’t even cut how anxious I am to get home. I’m already packing my schedule full of seeing friends from school and home, family, visits to UC and Miami, and getting my hairs chopped since I don’t trust anyone else with my luscious locks. I realized that it’s been 5 months since I’ve been in Ohio and while that may not seem long for most people, it’s the longest I’ve gone without home. Milo better prepare himself for the overwhelming amount of love and attention. He’s really the only one I miss…. J

As far as Lys goes… She has been babysitting a lot, seeing shows, and out with friends!! Actually we barely see each other anymore… our schedules are pretty much completely opposite of each other. I’m rehearsing usually all day during the day and she babysits in the evening.  I’m jealous of her social life since I barely have time to have one. I have been taking Karli out to explore and such! It’s so great having a third roommate because there’s always someone to hang out with! J The other night we watched Fried Green Tomatoes and had a wonderful movie date night after we did some grocery shopping! I’m sure Lys will update soon with more details about her adventures! She’s been harassing me to get a move-on my life update so she can do one of her own!

I feel like so much other stuff has happened but I can’t really figure it out. There has been a lot of romance updates in our apartment but that’s not for everyone to read on this blog… haha! You’ll have to ask us personally for details!!

Well I’m going to go watch the Apple media event to see what the iPhone 5 is all about… I am able to upgrade whenever I want but I’ve been holding out to see what this madness is going to be. So yeah within the next few weeks, I will be an iPhone owner! (about time, right?!)

Love you all and hopefully see most of you soon!
Stefanie