Is there a book somewhere that gives you simple guidelines for writing a blog? Should I sit down to the computer with a topic? Should I just sit down and write whatever pours out? Knowing that what I write can be read by anyone who stumbles on this page makes me wonder if there are rules I should be following.
Ahhh, who am I kidding? Rules, schmules - I'm gonna write what comes up & see how it goes. That being said, if anyone has any tips they'd like to share on blog writing, I'm totally willing to listen.
This morning got away from me and my time is short. So I'll just give a list of things I plan to write about in the upcoming week:
1) too much beer at Marshall's
2) Potbelly Sandwich Works
3) why Trader Joe's is even more amazing when you're on tour
4) missing people
5) the end of DC
Remember to LOVE!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
WASHINGTON DC
HAIR has been tearing the walls down in DC for almost 3 weeks now. It has been a beautiful, exhausting experience.
I am stunned at how quickly these weeks seem to have passed. Our perception of time is a complicated thing, isn't it? We're barely getting to know the city, but will be leaving it in a matter of days.
Over these past few weeks in the Capital I've met myself outside of myself in various moments: walking up the steps to the Kennedy Center, crossing the bridge into Georgetown, shopping at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market, staring at an Excel spreadsheet to find the error. I have seen myself in these moments as a calm, intelligent, creative person. I've also met myself in these moments: angry with my boss, annoyed with my co-workers, frustrated with my husband. I've seen myself in these moments as a short-tempered, angry, defensive person.
We must never forget that everything in the world is in each one of us: the capacity for enormous love, the capacity for violence. We must always remember that the best thing we can do is to choose love.
LOVE.
I am stunned at how quickly these weeks seem to have passed. Our perception of time is a complicated thing, isn't it? We're barely getting to know the city, but will be leaving it in a matter of days.
Over these past few weeks in the Capital I've met myself outside of myself in various moments: walking up the steps to the Kennedy Center, crossing the bridge into Georgetown, shopping at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market, staring at an Excel spreadsheet to find the error. I have seen myself in these moments as a calm, intelligent, creative person. I've also met myself in these moments: angry with my boss, annoyed with my co-workers, frustrated with my husband. I've seen myself in these moments as a short-tempered, angry, defensive person.
We must never forget that everything in the world is in each one of us: the capacity for enormous love, the capacity for violence. We must always remember that the best thing we can do is to choose love.
LOVE.
Friday, October 29, 2010
OPENING NIGHT!!!!
It is the day after the day we officially opened the National Tour of HAIR. YES!!!
We are in the gorgeous capital of our nation, Washington DC, at the gorgeous Kennedy Center, playing the gorgeous Opera House.
Apparently gorgeous is my word of the day.
Last night was spectacular. The show hit hard in all the right ways - the audience was moved to laughter, tears and (hopefully) action.
We are in the gorgeous capital of our nation, Washington DC, at the gorgeous Kennedy Center, playing the gorgeous Opera House.
Apparently gorgeous is my word of the day.
Last night was spectacular. The show hit hard in all the right ways - the audience was moved to laughter, tears and (hopefully) action.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
HOLY PRODUCTION PERIOD
No day off since September 12th.
16 hour days for the past 3 weeks.
Lots of complaint management.
I forgot that being a Company Manager is so much like being a Customer Service Rep, but without overtime payment.
Thankfully I love this show and love the people involved and love that this is my job.
16 hour days for the past 3 weeks.
Lots of complaint management.
I forgot that being a Company Manager is so much like being a Customer Service Rep, but without overtime payment.
Thankfully I love this show and love the people involved and love that this is my job.
Friday, September 24, 2010
HOUSING COST
Cities #1 & 2 are New Haven and Washington DC, respectively.
Both are housing nightmares.
We are only in New Haven for tech & 4 performances, but those 4 performances happen over Yale Parents Weekend which is the biggest event in New Haven's calendar year.
Awesome.
We're in DC for 4 weeks (which is so freaking cool I can hardly stand it). However our 4 weeks overlap with midterm elections, Army Week, at least 2 film festivals, and numerous other events that blasted the housing prices to around $100/night.
Ugh.
But these cities are only the first of at least 25 that we'll be visiting - I'm looking forward to Tempe, AZ when our hotel rates drop to $50/night.
Both are housing nightmares.
We are only in New Haven for tech & 4 performances, but those 4 performances happen over Yale Parents Weekend which is the biggest event in New Haven's calendar year.
Awesome.
We're in DC for 4 weeks (which is so freaking cool I can hardly stand it). However our 4 weeks overlap with midterm elections, Army Week, at least 2 film festivals, and numerous other events that blasted the housing prices to around $100/night.
Ugh.
But these cities are only the first of at least 25 that we'll be visiting - I'm looking forward to Tempe, AZ when our hotel rates drop to $50/night.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
ORSO
My husband is amazing.
I'm currently working about 6 days a week, 12 hours a day - not as bad as it could/will be, but still a darn long time to sit in one chair and stare at one computer. And deal with multiple fires in need of de-flaming.
Through this period of 12 plus hour days my apartment has managed to pack itself!
That's a lie.
My aforementioned amazing husband has in fact been spending his days packing our apartment with little to zero help from me. It is true that he is currently unemployed, but a more douchey guy would still expect his wife to help at least a little. Not my guy. He has taken on the challenge & is obliterating it. We are almost completely packed and I've yet to tape a single box.
This kind of amazingness deserves a good dinner out with friends. And so on Sunday we had dinner with Chef Andre Marrero & his wife Erica at the esteemed midtown restaurant ORSO, where they coincidentally met and fell in love years ago.
Chef Andre is no joke. He is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and has cooked for such chefs as Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Thomas Keller and Joel Robuchon. He won the Food Network competition show CHOPPED. He is currently the Executive Chef of the Culinary Theatre at the French Culinary Institute and will be cooking the meal for the James Beard House New Years Eve Party this year. Like I said, he's no joke. He's really funny, but no joke.
The food at ORSO was equal in amazingness to both my husband and Chef Andre. Erica brilliantly ordered the meal family style so everyone got a little of everything.
We started with their "pizza bread," a flat crispy bread, reminiscent of Indian papadum, covered with rosemary, garlic & olive oil. Yum.
Next came sea scallops in a mildly spicy red sauce, a vibrant tuna tar tar, and one of the most incredible plates of insalata caprese ever to grace my tastebuds. Buffalo mozzarella really is a miracle cheese. Regular fresh cow's milk mozzeralla is rockin', but the buffalo milk makes the cheese even more creamy, more complex, ever so much more delicious.
We also had an outstanding pizza, topped with figs, gorgonzola, mozzarella, arugula & prosciutto. There are no words for it's deliciousness. Salty, sweet, crispy, meaty. I could eat it every single day.
The center of our meal was the roast suckling pig, acccompanied by rigatoni in meat sauce and broccoli rabe. Holy crispy, milky pig Batman! Seriously. I've never. My mouth is still happy from the meat.
The finale was an almond cookie panino filled with lemon gelato and drizzled with a fresh rasberry sauce. It was reminiscent of lemon meringue pie in flavor and an ice cream sandwich in texture. It was light while being rich, and a perfect end to our hardcore dining experience.
While the food was outstanding, the company was even better. Spending time with such wonderful people is the best part of life. I got a little sad as I realized we wouldn't be seeing these folks for about a year while we're touring with HAIR. But we had Our Last Supper together, and the memories of that pizza & pig will last at least the year, if not a lifetime.
I'm currently working about 6 days a week, 12 hours a day - not as bad as it could/will be, but still a darn long time to sit in one chair and stare at one computer. And deal with multiple fires in need of de-flaming.
Through this period of 12 plus hour days my apartment has managed to pack itself!
That's a lie.
My aforementioned amazing husband has in fact been spending his days packing our apartment with little to zero help from me. It is true that he is currently unemployed, but a more douchey guy would still expect his wife to help at least a little. Not my guy. He has taken on the challenge & is obliterating it. We are almost completely packed and I've yet to tape a single box.
This kind of amazingness deserves a good dinner out with friends. And so on Sunday we had dinner with Chef Andre Marrero & his wife Erica at the esteemed midtown restaurant ORSO, where they coincidentally met and fell in love years ago.
Chef Andre is no joke. He is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and has cooked for such chefs as Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Thomas Keller and Joel Robuchon. He won the Food Network competition show CHOPPED. He is currently the Executive Chef of the Culinary Theatre at the French Culinary Institute and will be cooking the meal for the James Beard House New Years Eve Party this year. Like I said, he's no joke. He's really funny, but no joke.
The food at ORSO was equal in amazingness to both my husband and Chef Andre. Erica brilliantly ordered the meal family style so everyone got a little of everything.
We started with their "pizza bread," a flat crispy bread, reminiscent of Indian papadum, covered with rosemary, garlic & olive oil. Yum.
Next came sea scallops in a mildly spicy red sauce, a vibrant tuna tar tar, and one of the most incredible plates of insalata caprese ever to grace my tastebuds. Buffalo mozzarella really is a miracle cheese. Regular fresh cow's milk mozzeralla is rockin', but the buffalo milk makes the cheese even more creamy, more complex, ever so much more delicious.
We also had an outstanding pizza, topped with figs, gorgonzola, mozzarella, arugula & prosciutto. There are no words for it's deliciousness. Salty, sweet, crispy, meaty. I could eat it every single day.
The center of our meal was the roast suckling pig, acccompanied by rigatoni in meat sauce and broccoli rabe. Holy crispy, milky pig Batman! Seriously. I've never. My mouth is still happy from the meat.
The finale was an almond cookie panino filled with lemon gelato and drizzled with a fresh rasberry sauce. It was reminiscent of lemon meringue pie in flavor and an ice cream sandwich in texture. It was light while being rich, and a perfect end to our hardcore dining experience.
While the food was outstanding, the company was even better. Spending time with such wonderful people is the best part of life. I got a little sad as I realized we wouldn't be seeing these folks for about a year while we're touring with HAIR. But we had Our Last Supper together, and the memories of that pizza & pig will last at least the year, if not a lifetime.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
WHERE DO I GO
In the fall of 2009 the idea first came up: let's send Kit on the road with the touring company of HAIR.
I have been working in theatre since 1996, when I got my first job as an Actor-Tech for the summer stock production of the historical outdoor drama HORN IN THE WEST. Each night after raking the sand stage to make it barefoot friendly, I pranced around in early-settler clothes & was painted (very un-PC) to look like a Native American.
Things have changed a bit since '96 and, after about 10 years as a carpenter, welder, props artisan, and stage manager, I have been working with acclaimed Broadway producer Elizabeth McCann and her exceptional team, led by executive producer Joey Parnes, since April of 2006. I've worked on some inspiring pieces of theatre with this amazing group of people (my favorite: PASSING STRANGE - don't know it? learn about it).
In 2008 we began the transfer of the Public Theater's production of HAIR to the Great White Way. It was a trying process, with more hardship than a musical about peace & love should ever cause, but in the end we mounted a truly spectacular production. It won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical as well as numerous other awards that year. HAIR's writer, Jim Rado, said, "It was a show about now when we did it. Now it's a show about then – but it's still about now."
This inspiring production will blow minds across the country beginning October 22nd in New Haven, CT. And I will travel with the show as the assistant company manager. I'm forever grateful to: Sue for planting the idea in the first place, John & Kristen for picking up the tasks I can't do from the road, Liz for supporting me from the first time we talked about it, Gaydon for being sad that I'm going, and Joey for embracing Sue's idea and understanding the value it has for my life.
Come back often and read about:
Peace. Love. HAIR.
I have been working in theatre since 1996, when I got my first job as an Actor-Tech for the summer stock production of the historical outdoor drama HORN IN THE WEST. Each night after raking the sand stage to make it barefoot friendly, I pranced around in early-settler clothes & was painted (very un-PC) to look like a Native American.
Things have changed a bit since '96 and, after about 10 years as a carpenter, welder, props artisan, and stage manager, I have been working with acclaimed Broadway producer Elizabeth McCann and her exceptional team, led by executive producer Joey Parnes, since April of 2006. I've worked on some inspiring pieces of theatre with this amazing group of people (my favorite: PASSING STRANGE - don't know it? learn about it).
In 2008 we began the transfer of the Public Theater's production of HAIR to the Great White Way. It was a trying process, with more hardship than a musical about peace & love should ever cause, but in the end we mounted a truly spectacular production. It won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical as well as numerous other awards that year. HAIR's writer, Jim Rado, said, "It was a show about now when we did it. Now it's a show about then – but it's still about now."
This inspiring production will blow minds across the country beginning October 22nd in New Haven, CT. And I will travel with the show as the assistant company manager. I'm forever grateful to: Sue for planting the idea in the first place, John & Kristen for picking up the tasks I can't do from the road, Liz for supporting me from the first time we talked about it, Gaydon for being sad that I'm going, and Joey for embracing Sue's idea and understanding the value it has for my life.
Come back often and read about:
- the transition from a resident of New York City to a resident of Everywhere,
- getting to know the folks in the traveling company,
- the effect HAIR has on people across the country,
- what it's like to travel & work with my husband,
- and THE FOOD. I plan to eat good food everywhere we go. And talk about it until you want to eat it too.
Peace. Love. HAIR.
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