Looooooooooooooong Weekend

Friday after work I went to rehearsal, went to an audition then killed a bit of time by getting caffeinated before I got my playwriting assignment for Who Wears Short Shorts? (Cubed). I got home about 11pm, brain stormed, took a nap and officially started writing the script @ 2am. I finished the script @ around 6am and tried to sleep for a few hours before getting ready to turn in my script @ 10:30am but my bod was so caffeinated and out of whack that is just shuddered. Yikes!

This blog gives further insight into the process.

After the lunch that is referred to in the blog, I then went to tech from 1-4 (during which they took publicity photos) and was tempted to go home and sleep afterward but was afraid if I did - that would be the end. So...I opted to kill time til the 7pm WWSS3 show by seeing Run, Fatboy, Run. I did feel myself drift a couple times (no fault of the movie) but managed to get thru it okay and the movie actually was better than I thought - the trailer doesn’t actually give everything away! Then off to the show - considering the time frame I was impressed w/ what everyone had come up w/ and knew it would improve w/ the 2nd show however...I had another stop to make so snuck out after the first show and went to a friend’s b-day party @ a karaoke bar @ 9pm. Needless to say I didn’t hang around long but I did make an appearance and I also didn’t wake up before noon on Sunday! ;)

Sunday night was opening night of Office Hours and we had a reviewer in the house. We had a couple opening night snags but it is good to have the first show under our belts!

Out of the blue

As opening night of the show is coming up I was making sure what few industry people I know, knew about it. When I was looking up addresses, etc - it occurred to me that I didn't have contact info for the person I met at a recent Commercial Workshop. Hmmmm...

Then something unpredictable happened - the person from the Commercial Workshop called me up! She wanted to know if I could come in and read for a national radio commercial! Well, of course I can! I couldn't believe the timing.

So I took an early lunch to go the audition and found out it was for a Big Lots ad. Which made me even more excited - if I got it, people I know back in NE might actually be able to hear it! :) It was a fun ad, too. I sat and studied the script thinking of different ways to say it and when it was finally my turn I went in the audition room and was recorded reading it twice. She asked me about my Southern Accent that I had listed on my resume - is it natural? Apparently if it had been, she wanted me to use it with full force but instead I just used my Midwest Accent. ;) If I actually book it, I'll record it next week. If don't, I hope she still calls me in for future projects!

Happy St. Pat's Day!

Since I was out of town when the Columbus Day Parade marched down 5th Avenue I was excited to actually be around for the St. Pat's Parade down 5th because that meant it conveniently went past the building I work in! :)

A couple co-workers and I took a short break so we could step outside and catch a glimpse. Lots of bagpipes! While we were watching my co-worker suggested we get lunch @ one of the Irish Pubs nearby (I had told her earlier that back in O, me and a friend of mine used to meet for lunch & get green beers on St. Pat's Day.)

So that's what we did! We headed over to Patrick Conway's near Grand Central. They have a very nice set up downstairs - an escape from those that didn't have to work for St. Pat's and were in full on celebration mode @ the bar above! After we had been sitting there a while someone familiar caught my eye at a table close by. Then I realized 4 of our co-workers were sitting there! It appears that many in the office were celebrating! ;)
Note: You'll see in the pic that I did not get green beer this year. I got Guinness instead. :)

After work, I met up w/ a co-star to run lines. We are supposed to be off book starting tomorrow. Eeek! I think rehearsal is gonna be rough...

Had I not had lines to cram into my head, a co-worker suggested Stout as the place to go for St. Pat's. I looked it up and it looks like a good place to go even if it isn't St. Pat's! Another destination to put on the ever growing list....

I also was asked to be a playwright for Phare Play's upcoming 24hr play festival. I was kind of on the fence about it but when they couldn't find anyone else I decided to give it a try - and maybe being "forced" to write will get the ball rolling w/ me writing new works in general... Oh, did I mention that this festival starts w/ us writing into the wee hours on Friday into Saturday, March 28th - the same day we have dress rehearsal for Office Hours and Office Hours opens on Sunday, March 29th? Yeah...it will be interesting...

The Bleecker Street Pizza Experience

Had a show tonight and managed to get to the theater area quicker than expected. Decided to wander and see what might be good for dinner outside of the few blocks I was already familiar with...

With much delight I discovered Bleecker Street Pizza not too far away! I had heard about this place since before I moved here but had yet to try it.

I went inside and placed my order and while I waited I picked a beverage - Diet Orange Sunkist Soda - but my pick changed after I saw it was expired. (Apparently not enough people like the Diet Orange.) I opted for Coca-Cola but I have to say when you want Orange, Coke just doesn't do it.

Another guy got his pizza about the same time I did and complained about it being "burnt" just based on the visual of dark spots on the crust. The guys behind the counter were irritated - it wasn't burnt, it was just from the oven. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing...

Headed to the theater to eat this popular pizza and....well, it kind of reminded me of Totino's. Which isn't bad, except that I have a feeling a whole pizza of Totino's would probably have been cheaper than the slice I got from Bleecker! ;)

Light or Dark?

Tonight I went out w/ other Nebraska transplants to celebrate one of their birthdays.

We started the evening @ a restaurant that I actually walk past almost everyday while going to work called - Wu Liang Ye. They had a Lazy Susan in the middle of the table for people to share food but we had just enough plates that the idea didn't work very well. There still was sharing but just not spun to your plate - you had to reach! ;)

Afterwards a drink (or two) was in order....but where? We went to Mark't where I had a Peche Lambic that although pricey, for the taste it is worth it!

Then it was off to McSorley's! NYC's oldest continuously operated saloon, where the only beer choices are light or dark. We encountered a line to get in and it was just cold enough to make us rethink our decision but we waited it out and managed to get a table once inside! The place was packed so we were told to double our order while we had the server's attention! In no time @ all the multiple mugs headed our way and were slammed to the table. Drink Up!

I was later told by a co-worker that they treat the ladies well there so that's how we got the table (there were 2 guys and 2 girls in the group). So guys, if you go...make sure you have a token female along to help you get seats! ;)

Opening Day/Tech for Spring Shorts

The first show of the Spring Shorts run is being performed today, but first...tech!

Since we had to get up kind of early for tech I decided to make peppermint patty brownies to hopefully feed and perk up actors, crew, etc and give them minty breath!:) They seemed to go over well - thankfully - I was a bit worried that the "non-patty" part was a little tough but people went back for seconds so no worries! ;)

After tech we had around an hour break to find some food and get back for the afternoon show. Of course Mother Nature had chosen that block of time to down pour outside. Sigh.

The one-act I am in is the last one in the show so there is a bit of time to kill. I decided to read the other actor's bios in the program and discovered that an actor in another one-act had gone on tour w/ The Christmas Carol thru the Omaha Playhouse! Small World! So I asked him about it and he actually knew people I did and had an appreciation for the kind of productions they put on (because as a general rule an Omaha Playhouse production doesn't mean squat to those in NYC). And he is originally from the NYC area too, so for him to have an appreciation for even Omaha in general was kind of unexpected and nice and he's touring again this year too!

My roommate came to the show so she could actually see me on stage acting and when the person selling tickets asked her how she heard about the show she said - My roommate is in it...and those are her brownies! lol

And as the show run begins I found out that I have been cast in another show w/ Phare Play! Rehearsals start the day after this show closes. It is called Office Hours and I play 2 characters - Pam Gerard (Bitchy News Producer) and Sharon Freeman (Sexually Frustrated Therapist). Should be fun! ;)

Totally Random (Celebrity Siting)

Headed down the stairs @ the 49th street subway stop, trying to wind down a cellphone convo before I lost my signal and all of a sudden a white tennis shoe flies past my head and lands next to me. Uh........

I looked back and see Judah Friedlander! Complete w/ his trademark trucker's cap (of course I didn't catch what it said) and glasses. As he scurried down the stairs to retrieve his shoe he said to no one in particular - That was a first! I kept moving w/ the flow of traffic as he rushed passed the rest of us and broke into a run as if a subway was coming - but it wasn't. Then he kept that pace as he weaved thru the crowd and disappeared from sight.

No Water Needed

When I was headed to St. Pat's to get publicity pics taken a week ago I walked past the Rock Center and saw them putting together what looked like some new version of the octopus ride where the Xmas tree used to be.

Today I found out that it was not in fact an amusement ride but an electric fountain. Cool.

Headed back already

Because calories don't exist when you travel (har) I had mentioned that a Lamar's Donut for breakfast would be good since I can't even remember the last time I had one, so while I got ready for the day (I actually got to sleep in a little) my 'rents were kind enough to get some for me! :)

Then it was on the road back to Omaha again and to meet my bro @ Hollywood Diner for lunch. One of my friends stopped by the diner too, to say goodbye one last time as she rushed for her matinee call. Where does the time go?!

Time to say goodbye again.

Lotza Miles

Another early morning as I got up to meet a friend for breakfast @ the Green Gateau in Lincoln. (I got to drive a car!) Came home and the 'rents and I hopped in the car to head to Omaha again to pick up my bro and journey on to see my g-rents in Iowa.

I requested lunch @ Runza and discovered they had new burgers (see pic). The server @ the drive thru saw me take pics and asked if we were visting. Uh... I apologized to the others for making them look like tourists, assuring them that they'll probably pay me back when they visit again in NYC. ;)

On to Iowa. My grandpa hasn't been doing all that well lately so it was nice to see him in person rather than just hear about him from a distance. I don't want to borrow trouble so am just hoping for the best as it seems his health shows signs of slowly improving.

Back to Omaha, my bro was kind enough to offer to take the 'rents back to Lincoln so I could use the car for the rest of the day as I made more visits.

Picked up a friend so we could go visit another friend, her little one and meet her mom. I just can't get over how fast kids grow!

Then my friend and I took off for the Playhouse to join her hubby and get moonlight tickets for Company!

The show was sold out but luckily not everyone showed so we got in @ the last minute. As we took our seats in the balcony I discovered the person I was sitting by was a former co-star of mine!

After the show, we joined members of the cast @ Goldbergs and other actors happened to be there too! It was so great getting to see people I hadn't expected to and catch up.

Found out that today was the first day in 102 days that the temp had rose about 60 degrees in NE. Lincoln was just 3 degrees shy of 70! Glad the nice weather decided to show up while I was here! :)

The Visit Continues

My friend dropped me off @ Panera on her way to work where I took advantage of their free wi-fi while waiting to meet a friend. I was wearing my "Joba Rules" shirt ($5 @ Modell's!) and I overheard an older guy comment on it to his wife and the other couple they were sitting w/ @ a nearby table. When they were getting ready to leave, he came up to me and asked if I was a Yankees fan. I said I was a fan of Joba. He told me I'd be a fan of the Yankees once I went to a game. Doubt it, but nice thought.

My friend arrived and after much gossiping and catching up it was already time for my next connection. The 'rents came to Panera to pick me up and then it was off to Cheeseburger in Paradise to meet another friend for lunch. Time flew again and I was running late to meet another friend @ her house to see her new baby! Got some pics and then it was off again to MJ Java to briefly say 'hi' to the guys I filmed Amerigo the Brave w/. They are filming their next short already and once again it is quite the challenging script! Can't wait to see what they do w/ it. Where to next? Moonlight tickets for Cliffhanger! @ The Playhouse. Then a meal @ Camille's Sidewalk Cafe (another great place for free wi-fi!) and it was back to The Playhouse to see some of my friends in the show on opening night!

Afterwards, the cast, friends and fam went to Old Chicago for some eats. Lots of laughs and great stories shared. (I also got the impression that if some sport store was able to sell "Joba Rules" shirts in NE they'd make a killing!)

Late again! And we still need to get to Lincoln....night.