Shakespeare in the Park

Thanks to a friend of mine I got to experience "Shakespeare in the Park" for the first time sans standing in line for a ticket! :)

The show was "The Twelfth Night". Rain threatened but since it was the weekend where critics were coming to review it seemed likely that the show would go on...

No umbrellas are allowed to be opened during the performance in the theater so after a failed search for a poncho @ Duane Reade and other places (they only had kid sizes) and not really wanting to buy it from the guy wandering the park yelling "Ponchos!", I decided to shell out $10 to get an official "Shakespeare in the Park" poncho w/ last year's logo on it. (Pics taken outside the Delacorte Theater. The statue is of Romeo & Juliet.)

Since it had been raining off & on all day we arrived at our seats to find them wet. Thank goodness for ponchos! Right before the show started a guy and his friend settled down behind us. He was a loud, opinionated talker and later we found he was a guy that not only chose not to shut off his cell phone but had convos w/ more than one person during the performance. Why come to a performance if you're just going to talk on the phone the whole time? - not only are you missing the performance but you are ruining it for others, too!!! Sigh. Kept hoping an usher would nab him but I think they were all preoccupied w/ how to deal w/ the rain.

Kudos to the actors & actresses that did not let a wet set deter them from carrying out their stage directions. Wet butts be damned! ;)

During intermission we were allowed to raise our umbrellas. Then about 1 scene into the 2nd Act Anne Hathaway slipped. She finished the scene but then the play was paused momentarily while they hoped the rain would slow down a bit. Once again, our umbrellas were raised. Finally the rain did become manageable again and the show went on!

The show was great overall. Audra McDonald owned her role and seemed to have a lot of fun w/ it. Not sure I totally bought the chemistry w/ Anne Hathaway & Raul Esparza though. David Pittu was fantastic - although I've only seen him in one other show (What's that Smell?) plus an appearance on "Rescue Me" I'm beginning to think I can expect nothing less from him.

At the curtain call, Julie White cursed the skies shaking her fists but they all had smiles on their faces. At least no raccoons made an appearance. ;)

Note: This pic was taken a few weeks later from the Belvedre Castle. It is a view from the back of the stage/set/seating area.

Burden Me 3

A one act, "Burden Me", that I was in for the first time over a year ago seems to have legs as the playwright keeps getting it accepted to area theaters/festivals. 2 of the 3 original cast members were in the "revival" at the Winter Strawberry One-Act Festival (the playwright stepped in as an actor) but this time I was the lone original. Although I had the lines, our handful of rehearsals pre-performance proved I couldn't be on autopilot (which was a good thing) as different actors meant different reactions. In that respect it made an "old" show new again, which was kind of fun and gave me a chance to do different things w/ the character I hadn't done before!

This time we performed for Awakening Drama in the West Village. And I think it was the best audience we've had as far as audible reactions - you could tell they were catching all the subtleties.

Afterwards, the playwright's wife (and our director) took our cast pic on Minetta Lane. And that was the day. It always amazes me how much work can go into a production and how just like that, it's over. But I guess that's life - weddings, babies, vacations, etc. Lots of prep and waiting and then - there it is and gone. Don't Blink!

Ladies Night!

When my producer and I were discussing publicity ideas for "Call Waiting" she suggested a "Ladies Night" where ladies would get a glass of wine w/ their ticket. Then I offered to provide a treat as well via "Nibbles by Nora" and so "Ladies Night" was set for Tuesday, April 5th, 2009.

In many ways, "Ladies Night" ended up feeling more like Opening Night than the actual opening show did.

My 'rents surprised me by sending flowers to the office, I met friends for dinner prior to the show and was given another bouquet and then another friend gave me flowers at the theater! (I think that's probably the most flowers I've gotten for a any occasion ever!)

The snag was that I was carrying 4 different boxes that held 4 different flavors (chocolate, almond, lemon & vanilla - all w/ buttercream frosting) of frosted cupcakes totally 46. So balancing was a bit of an issue but thankfully I got the cupcakes (and flowers) there in tact. (Did I mention I was up til 3am talking w/ my roommate and frosting said cupcakes and dipping fortune cookies the night before?)

We set out the cupcakes and had the wine ready and once we opened the house it was like "this is your life...in New York". People from work, previous shows, new friends and old arrived and made me realize just how far I've come since moving here. They actually came to see my show - some hadn't even seen me act before but they were making an effort to see something that I wrote and directed. It was pretty cool. Even cooler was the fact that everyone seemed to enjoy the show (and the cupcakes - teehee).

Having this group of people come out to support me really meant a lot and made me realize how lucky I am to have such people in my lives! And having an almost full house nearly made up for only having 4 people in the audience the night before.... ;)

Overall, I'd say Ladies Night was a success and now the cast gets a bit of a break before the final 2 shows next weekend!

Up & Running

After a morning of tech (and our first official run thru of the show w/ all it's parts together in the space we are performing in) "Call Waiting" opened to a decent sized audience at 2pm today.

I was asked by more than one person if I was nervous. And found that I was more nervous as a director than writer...why was that? Well, since I was the director I knew exactly what was happening to my show but as the director, well...I just hoped everything would pull together nicely and the audience would enjoy the show! :)

Thankfully I have a talented and smart cast and a talented and smart person running lights/sound so my stress and worry was more the "it's the first show, I hope it goes well!" variety.

Now if we can only get critics to see it! We are listed in The Village Voice (as sisters who are best friends) and in New York Magazine (as a mother and daughter who are best friends) but at least we're listed, right?! An audience member already posted on the Facebook listing for "Call Waiting" that the show reminded him of "Friends" and he wanted to know what happened w/ all the relationships. May the buzz keep building and fill seats!

After the first show was finished and everything was put away, I decided a movie was in order and ended up at Chelsea Cinema to see Two Lovers. When I bought my ticket the ticket taker told me that tonight "Earth Hour" would occur and that the Empire State Building would not be lit. Interesting - I'll have to keep my eye out....

Back to the movie- It is a creepy movie in some respects but all too real in the characters' manipulations and which "side" they share with who, how those people perceive them and how circumstances force them to settle or maybe they're not really forced they just decide to settle. As an audience member you were able to witness every moment but then you leave thinking how in real life you aren't the audience member and how limited your knowledge really is about the people that surround you regularly. So many filters...even w/social networks, you can project the image you want. Very controlled and then...do people even know what their real personality is?! Yes, it's a ponderous movie...

Time for Karaoke!

A couple friends of mine share birthdays close to each other so a few years ago they started having joint birthday bashes. This year it was at iBop. (You can rent a room and each person is charged $7 per hour they are there.) Since the crowd was full of theater folk there were lots of show tunes and outstanding performances and of course the alcohol bolstered the non-theater folk's confidence so fairly quickly there was quite a wait to get the opportunity to sing! So...alas, I did not. Which was okay - my two "go to" songs weren't listed anyway (David Duchovny by Bree Sharp & Excuse Me, Mister by No Doubt) and well...sometimes it's much more fun to watch and sing along! ;)

The American Plan

Thanks to a friend w/ a free ticket, I got to see "The American Plan" tonight.

After we got settled in our seats, I was immediately taken by the set. A pier that w/ little imagination looked like it was sitting out on the water (the slick look of the stage made me wonder how easy it was to navigate for the actors - as the transitions happened in the show, you never heard footsteps).

As the show began I was easily sucked into this time and place and not knowing a lot about the play in advance...I also wondered where it was going...the first thing that struck me was Lily Rabe's voice. I wondered how this character would come across w/ a voice that didn't sound older than the person speaking. How much work was that voice doing for the part?

Mercedes Ruehl embraces her role as a controlling and manipulating mother but although her daughter keeps warning people, it is not until you actually see her doing it that you believe it's possible. Ruehl's character can be grating but she has a charm about her that makes you want to believe she wouldn't actually destroy her daughter's future and possible happiness.

But then...the story twists further when the happiness isn't necessarily in her new found "love" but in the chance to escape her mother.

At the end of the play they flash forward and I wonder how necessary it was to add, as if the audience were given a chance to reflect on the show up until then they probably would have drawn similiar conclusions- however, it does give the characters closure.

Although the production value and acting was well executed, the play itself is certainly not an uplifting one (and has it's lulls). Especially when it is confirmed what happens to these characters. This play shows a character that tries to fight what appears to be her destiny and then eventually succumb to it. Great for drama on stage but makes you reflective on how such things play out in life. What effort is in vain and what effort is not is often not known until you have that "flash forward" distance to reflect.

All this "deep thought" aside, we had some talkative older audience members behind us that became a show of their own as people within earshot of them would laugh in response to them and not the show. Gotta love live theater! Oh - and Julie White was sitting in the row ahead of us, too. :)

Keeping Busy = Lack of Blogs in the New Year

So I was trying really hard to make myself wait until I got caught up with last years blogs before posting in the New Year and by doing that I'm just getting farther behind so.... Here I am posting. And when I post belated posts - I will point them out in present time, because even though they may be delayed there's still some good stuff to be shared....no, really! ;)

Currently my time spent outside of the work day has been occupied with casting and starting rehearsals for a play I wrote and am directing for Phare Play Productions called "Call Waiting". Back in Omaha, (a couple drafts back) it was called "Why Can't This Be Love?" and had a reading @ the P.S. Collective sponsored by the Shelterbelt Theatre. Although I had decided I was moving to NYC at that point 2 years ago (read this article and you'll see what all I was up to about the time I decided to prepare for a leap - crazy), I would not have imagined that said script would be getting produced in NYC 2 years later. In fact, I had shelved it, aside from an excerpt posted on my site. I never felt it was quite ready yet. But Phare Play saw the excerpt and asked me to submit the play to them for consideration. After looking it over and finally tweaking and adding things that I should have done a long time ago I did submit it and now...here I am!

It's a shorter script (no intermission) but one that I hope people will find entertaining and easily identified with. While directing these scenes and watching them being brought to life I've had this sensation of being in a weird time warp of past and present as I reflect on the path the play/script has taken and the real life situations I've experienced and witnessed that inspired it juxtaposed with being in the present and accomplishing something that wasn't even in scope 2 years ago.

I am very fortunate to have a talented and professional cast to work with. Even though we are only in the first week of rehearsals they are adding their own special touches to their characters and we aren't even off book yet! I can't wait to see how the show grows as they become more familiar with the script and their castmates. I know there's a lot of work ahead but I'm truly excited about the potential of the finished product!

So when I'm not directing...I'm baking. I'm in the process of starting an online baking business w/ an emphasis on "bite size treats." Right now I'm figuring out a plan of attack or launch or something like that... In the meantime however, buzz has started and that has motivated me to get a website in the works - www.nibblesbynora.com , start a Facebook Group - Nibbles by Nora and make sure I have a logo (which was created by the very talented Pam Felthauser.) Of course, looking @ the economy it is probably not the best time to start a business but I'm being cautious and it is encouraging that last week, USA Today had an article on their front page about bite size treats thriving in bitter times...so that may be a good sign? We'll see...

In other news- Although I was unable to be there, Amerigo the Brave was shown on the big screen this past week for the Omaha Film Festival and seemed to get fairly positive reviews. The guys from H-Minus have submitted to other festivals as well, so I'm hoping they get one accepted near me soon so I can go see it! :)

On 2/25 I became an "aunt" again. A friend gave birth to her second child/son, Hunter Troy. I've only seen one cell phone pic but he is quite the cutie and has a bit of both Mom & Dad in him. I'm told that his new 4 yr old big brother was the first one to visit Hunter after his birth and they got the meeting on film. I hope to get a visit on the calendar to see him in person later this year. ;)

And this Tuesday I'm headed out to Vegas for a fam vacay (yep - we'll all fly in to meet each other - I don't think we've actually done a fam vacay since a trip to the Mall of America about 10 years ago...) and then Friday we'll depart and I'll head to Cali to visit my West Coast friends and see one of those friends in Opening Night of "Taming of the Shrew". Then it's back to NYC on Sunday!

Needless to say, multiple to-do lists are made daily but everything will get done in due time...yes, even blogging...even when it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, at least it still is on the list! ;)

Coming Up Next....

So, due to the stars aligning just right I managed to find myself w/ a sizeable role for a full length play w/in an interactive play that opens in December. And I'm currently trying very hard to buckle down and get my lines memorized so I'm off book sooner than later!

I am playing "Diane", the leader of an all female theater group that is putting on a trial play in which the audience can vote to overrule or sustain and the play skips or continues to progress accordingly.

A lot of work is ahead but I'm excited to be a part of this production and if you're in the area - come see it! :)

Here are more details from the email blast...

THE ANASTASIA TRIALS IN THE COURT OF WOMEN Genre: Comedy

by Carolyn Gage The Emma Goldman Theatre Brigade, a radical feminist theatre group, is at it again - implementing their innovative lottery system to insure theatrical equality. They each draw the role they will play out of a hat each night before the show, but tonight there's a critic in the audience and t he sisterhood is put to the test when some of them don't draw the role they want. What follows is the trial of five women accused of denying Anastasia Romanov, the infamous daughter of Tsar Nicholas, of her identity where the audience becomes judge and jury. They rule on objections during the course of the play, creating a new show with every performance. A courtroom drama based on history wrapped in a backstage farce with a healthy dose of audience participation thrown in for good measure, The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women presents a profoundly engaging excursion into the interactions of women who are survivors and abusers. Open: 12/03/08 Close: 12/14/08 Schedule: Wednesdays - Saturdays 8PM, Sundays 3PM Theater: Roy Arias Theaters - Off-Off Broadway Th Address: 300 W. 43rd Street 5th Floor New York, NY 10036 Google Maps Cost:$18 General Buy Tickets Online or Call: SmartTix at 212-868-4444 Company: Little Hibiscus Productions Official Web Site: www.littlehibiscus.com Beth Adler Lisa Theater: Titus Andronicus; Phare Play Productions: Office Hours; The Tempest; Fifi, Effie and the Donut Lady; Ensemble Studio Theater: Bluff and Berlin '45; Barrow Group Studios: Punchline; Theater-Studio: The Greatest Love; Instant Shakespeare Company: Othello, Hamlet, the entire cycle of history plays, The Vagina Monologues; Love Creek: Beyond the Horizon; Sauce for the Goose, Women of the Wild West, No Plums, 3 Widows and a Corpse, In a Wicked Mood. Television: Lipstick Jungle; Parco, P.I.; One Life to Live. Film: P.J.; Dance Salsa; numerous short films. Corporate trainer with Performance of a Lifetime. Molly Church Amy Molly Church is a graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. After taking a small hiatus from the theater, she is thrilled to be back on stage again and working alongside Christine and with such a tremendous group of actors. Some favorite roles include Judy in Callback, Caddie in Snake in Fridge and Helena in an all-female production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has also been featured in a handful of independent films, most recently Group Therapy and The Super Amazing Movie. And she is proud to have been cast in her first television show, working alongside Denis Leary in Rescue Me. Molly would like to thank her family and friends for their continuing support. Ashley Diane Currie Athena Ashley Diane Currie is ecstatic to be playing a woman again. She was educated at The Atlantic Acting Conservatory, where their use of common sense and vulgarity made her feel quite at home. She's studied with Scott Zigler, William H Macy and David Mamet. Her favorite roles have included Natasha in Make Believe (her most recent role), Cassius in Julius Caesar and Josephine in the short film The Duel with Elwood Gentry Productions, official selection Secret City Film Festival 2008. She has also acted with the sketch comedy groups spurn and Mind Bleach. Love to Mom, Dad, brothers David and Bryan, and everyone else who makes her smile. Remember, folks, don't throw flowers, just throw money! Dianna Lora Marie Dianna Lora was born in Harlem raised in the Bronx and now is kickin' it old school back in Harlem. She graduated with a B.F.A from Ithaca College and is a proud Mercersburg Academy graduate. Her proudest moments were playing Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Queen Margaret in Richard III, and a stint as a saucy maid at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire where she learned high falling and swashbuckling. Dianna would like to thank her friends and family for their endless love and support! iSin Ti Soy Nada! Emily Murray Melissa Recent theater credits include Gloves Off! Nabokov Vs. Wilson(Dolly) and The Visit (Ensemble) Payomet Performing Arts Center, Truro MA. 37 Stones or the Man who was a Quarry (Erin) Working Mans Clothes productions, NYC. A Boy's Life (Karen) The Zipper Factory, NYC. Gloves Off! (Dolly) and Left at the Harbor (Daughter) The W.H.A.T. Theater, Wellfleet MA. Film credits include A Woman Called Job (Cathy) One Brick Films. All the Queens Women (Nightshade) NYC. Currently a finalist for the Actors Studio. MFA The New School for Drama. Through Compassion, strength comes. Peace. Brooklyn Scalzo Betty Brooklyn Scalzo is thrilled to continue her love affair with Phare Play. Brook has directed Dance at Bataan, The Food Chain, The Lady and the Clarinet, The Raft and is co-directing Phare Play's Pants on Fire. Some of her favorite acting credits include Sideman, Sweet Charity, Anything Goes, Romeo and Juliet, Parallel Lives, The Dumb Waiter, The Beaux Stratagem and Charlotte's Web. Proud member of Actor's Equity. She would like to thank Chris and her family and friends. Sara Towber Jenny Sara began her professional career at the School of American Ballet, performing at the New York State Theater. While attending Smith College and graduating with a degree in Literature she performed throughout the Pioneer Valley with various companies and The Ohio Dance Theater. Upon returning to New York and hanging up her dancing shoes, she has studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, The Neighborhood Playhouse and The Matthew Corozine Studio. Favorite roles include Bonnie Jean in Brigadoon with the Heights Players, Babe in Crimes of the Heart, Valerie in Imagining Brad with the Matthew Corozine Players, and Julie in Pizza Man with Little Hibiscus Productions. She also originated the role of Mia in On The Rocks written by Dina Laura. She can be seen in several movies including Center Stage, Mona Lisa Smile, The Forgotten, as well as many student and independent films. Nora Vetter Diane Nora is excited to be in her first show with Little Hibiscus Productions and to be working with director, Christine Vinh Weems again! You may have seen her in other NYC productions with the Summer Strawberry One-Act Festival (Francine in Jump! - Top 4 Finalist), Phare Play, Queens Players/Secret Theatre and Reality Aside Theatre. Previous regional productions include a staged radio play of Trip To Bountiful (as Thelma, costarring Tammy Grimes and Joel Vig), The Rainmaker (Lizzie), You Can't Take It With You (Essie), Steel Magnolias (Annelle Dupuy), Lend Me A Tenor (Maggie) and Toxic Avenger: The Musical (Sara). www.noravetter.com Lexi Windsor Donna Lexi recently performed in The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and Around The World In A Bad Mood at the Duplex in NYC. She also performed with New York's Ziegfeld Club in the production, Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic of 2008. A native Oklahoman, she performed in the 2007 centennial production of Oklahoma! at Lyric Theatre starring Kelli O'Hara. Favorite credits include: A Chorus Line (Val), Grease (Marty), Sweet Charity (Nickie), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), Once Upon A Mattress (Winnifred), & A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania). Lexi currently performs on Spirit Harbor Cruises out of Chelsea Piers & also enjoys performing for the troupes with the USO of Metropolitan New York.

AotA Opening Weekend

So by the time "Adam of the Apes" was ready to open I had managed to get sick (sinus/cough - general phlegmy loveliness) but preferred it be me than members of the cast (some had already been suffering w/ yucks during rehearsal). Still it totally left me wiped and on edge for the opening and there was still some tweaking to do as the actors got more comfy w/ their roles and running the show in its entirety. Sigh.

That all aside though this group of actors certainly work their tails off every night! Most of the characters are very physically demanding and keeping the energy and pacing up for 2hrs is no easy feat. I asked a lot of them but I wouldn't have if I didn't think they could do it - It's a talented group!

We were reviewed on Sunday and you can read it here.

2 more weeks to go! I'll only see it once next week but am excited to see how the cast continues to settle into their roles. And hopefully I will have shook this cold by then, too! ;)

Directing Chimps!

Here are details on the new full length comedy I'm directing. And here is a link to press photos.

Only 5 more rehearsals 'til preview night!!!!!

ADAM OF THE APES Genre: Comedy Written by Oliver Thrun. Directed by Nora Vetter The story of the Dawn of Man undergoes some comical revisions in "Adam of the Apes" when human twins are born into a community of chimpanzees. This farcical satire--which isn't for the kiddies--takes on topical debates such as Creationism, Evolution, and Women's Lib while the twins, Adam & Eve, grow up in a chimp society and actually introduce thinking into the previously "thought-less" rainforest. Originally written at The Crucible for American Theater Workshop and making its Off-Off-Broadway debut at The Theater for the New City, "Adam of the Apes" is sure to leave audiences laughing in spite of themselves, with much to discuss and debate after the show. Previews: 09/17/08 Open: 09/18/08 Close: 10/05/08 Schedule: Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm Theater: Theater For The New City Address: 155 First Avenue New York, NY 10009 Show Map Phone: 212-254-1109 Directions: Take the L train to 1st Avenue or the 6 train to Astor Place Cost:$10.00 Buy Tickets Online or Call: Ovat at Company: Theater For The New City Official Web Site: www.theaterforthenewcity.net Ashleigh Awusie Girl Chimp #1 Ashleigh Awusie found her way into performing arts at the age of four as a dancer, and soon there after an actress and singer. "My craft is my playground," Ashleigh says. Theater credits include the role of Mama in an Off- Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, Shakespeare in the Park with the Public Theater, and Jenny of the Morgue at NYU. Film credits include American Gangster and the independent film, Bad Men. Ashleigh recently finished a summer tour of It's the Economy Stupid with Theater for the New City. She is currently working as the Marketing Assistant at a theater and as a company dancer and instructor in the House of the Roses Volunteer Dance Company. Thanks family! Bill Bria Chimp #1 Bill Bria hails from Ann Arbor, MI, where he got his BA in the Visual and Performing Arts from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Bill also spent a semester studying in London at the British American Drama Academy. His most recent projects include Little Hibiscus' "Pizza Man" and "Fragments", Phare Play's sketch comedy "Mind Bleach", and the film "November 31st" from Winter Twilight Productions. He has directed and written a handful of plays in addition to acting, and would like to thank Mom, Dad, and James. Jonathan Craig Adam Jonathan Craig (Adam) is an actor and teacher from Connecticut who is thrilled to be collaborating with Oliver Thrun for a second time (they appeared together in "Happy Hour" at The Big Little Theater in July 2006). He was last seen as Theseus in Tuckaberry Productions' A Midsummer Night's Dream in Brooklyn. A graduate of Iona College's English and Theater Departments, Jonathan trained at the Actors Studio MFA Program at the New School, and studied Shakespeare with Louis Burke at the distinguished Stratford Festival Theater in CT. Some past credits include: Noises Off (as Tim, Playhouse on the Green, CT), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius, directed by Louis Burke), Twelfth Night (Sebastian and Malvolio), Visiting Mr. Green, An Inspector Calls, Charley's Aunt, and Year of the Hiker. Matt Gerathy Chimp #2 Since 2002, Matthew Gerathy has worked in Australia with Campbelltown Railway Street Theatre(2002), the Illegally Parked Vehicle Company (2002-2004), Theatre Nepean (2002-2005) and the Circle in the Square Company. He has also worked with the Australian Television Film and Radio School on several short film and feature film length productions. In 2004 he received his Bachelors of Acting in Sydney, Australia. This is Matt's first appearance in New York. Sana Haque Sana Haque is a very versatile actor who has been a part of the off off Broadway theater world. Sana received her theater training at City College of New York. She has recently completed a summer theater tour for "It's the Economy stupid or the Turning point", played the role of Marietta in "Tambourines to Glory", completed a full length indie film "Shadow if we have offended" and a commercial for Out and Back production "Need laser hair removal?". She has performed in numerous City College drama dept productions. Sana would like to thank Oliver Thrun for giving her a chance to show off her talent. She would like to thank all the 4 people for still standing behind her. Most of all, she would like to thank her cat Senn who brings her constant peace, happiness and pain. David (Zen) Mansley Elder David Mansley (Elder) has appeared in well over a hundred plays and has also carved out a niche as a voice over artist for cartoons. Favorite stage roles include: Claudius, King of Denmark in HAMLET, Preacher Haggler in DARK OF THE MOON, Maillard in THE SYSTEM OF Dr. TARR AND PROFESSOR FETHER, Ali Alligator in UNCLE WIGGLY and, most recently, "Hell Oil" in TNC's annual Street Theater. He has also played the role of Macbeth on both coasts. He is listed in Wikipedia for his voice work on the cartoon show TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and also plays multiple characters on the network series CHAOTIC and SPEED RACER - THE NEXT GENERATION. Feel free to "google" him if you want more information. Al Miro Chimp #3 Al Miro was recently seen on stage…or rather in a parking lot in Henry V, for Shakespeare in the Parkinglot. Other Credits include: Angelo in Measure for Measure, The Cherry Orchard, (Circle in the Square PW), Daddy Issues (Phare Play). Tony and Tina's Wedding (Hoarse Raven Theatre), Into the Woods, The Seagull, The Actor's Nightmare (Exit 22). TV: "Intelligence" (CBC), "Alice, I Think" (Comedy Network). Al is a graduate of the Circle in the Square Theater Conservatory, where he got plenty of opportunities to get in touch with his animal instincts! Dani Suder Girl Chimp #3 Dani Suder TNC credits: Lizzy Strata in Phallic Fables, Krystals in Collapsing Unvierse ( a musical), Buddie's Mother in The Further Adventures of Uncle Wiggily, Bloolips in A Month in the Cafe, as well as TNC's 2007 Street Theater production, Buckle My Shoe. Other theater credits: The Greedy Queen in Rumple Who at 13th Street Rep, Tansy in The Nerd, and St. Bernadette in The Saint Plays. Dani will appear in her film debut, Playing Doctor, (Jazzmyn Banks, 2009). She has recently been featured in several NYU and NYFA student film projects. Dani holds a BFA in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. My love and gratitude to husband Doug for his loving encouragement and support. Congrats to Oliver! Aimee Todoroff Girl Chimp #2/Snake Aimee Todoroff is an actress and director with her BA in Theatre Performance. She has performed professionally on stage, film and television. Most recently, Aimee played the lead, LouAnne Hightower, in the New York debut of "Messiah on the Frigidaire" by John Culbertson. Other roles of note include Maggie from "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and Estrella in Jose Rivera's "Sueno." This production marks her debut with Theatre for the New City. Aimee would like to thank her friends and especially her family for their continued love, faith and support. Extra thanks go to Nora Vetter, a truly fearless leader. Oliver Thrun Oliver Thrun as a writer has had two of his short plays, “Daniel and Spencer: Friends Forever” and “Sisyphus Bound” performed at TNC’s Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. “Adam of the Apes” is his first full-length play. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America. Nora Vetter "Adam of the Apes" marks Nora's NYC directorial debut. Besides directing, she is also an actress who has recently been seen on stage for Phare Play Productions and The Summer Strawberry One-Act Festival (Top 4 Finalist!). She thanks the cast/crew for this chimp-erific experience and hopes you enjoy the experience of watching this talented cast bring Oliver's words to life. www.noravetter.com.

West sees East & Awards Night

"Jump" has made it to the top 4 one-acts of the Strawberry One-Act Festival and we will be performing at the Awards night tonight as well as finding out if we are indeed an award winning one-act or not...

This coincides w/ a visit from a friend of mine & her hubby that live in Cali! They also have friends that live in Philly so the whole group came down today to visit and got to see "Jump" sans costumes/props in tech.

After tech, I introduced them to what glorious eats can be found near Union Square. We started w/ lunch @ S'mac and then dessert @ Max Brenner's (They kept telling us our wait was because they were cleaning the table but when we got up there it still wasn't cleaned...hmmm...).

Afterward, we wandered Forbidden Planet where I spotted a "Shatner/Hasslehoff '08" shirt and my heart was given a start when I got a call from my dad that my grandpa had been taken to the hospital. The wrong combo of meds messed up his vitals so he was under observation. I can't wait to go back in September and see him - the docs just don't impress me w/ how they've been handling his health.

Then we took a look @ the cheap book racks outside of The Strand. My friend & I thought we were standing out of the way to chat when all of a sudden a guy stuck his head out the door and asked if we were selling books. We told him "no" and he told us we were standing in the book selling line. Oops - sure enough. Of all the places, that's where we found to stand! lol.

All too soon it was time for us to part ways but I will see them again in October on their coast so the next visit won't be too far away... ;)

Back to the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre @ Symphony Space to get ready for the awards show performance. We were the first group to perform so after we were done we got in our "dressy" clothes and then sat out in the cafe and got ourselves a drink. We joined the awards in time to see the last performance (and as luck would have it, the award winning one-act) and the director & best one-act award given out and that was that. They handed out gift bags to all who attended. The items inside were a bottle of Strawberry Bicardi Silver, 1 piece of strawberry candy and a tea candle w/ a holder that had tropical fish on it.

The subway ride home proved to be interesting as when I transferred to the "N" @ 42nd, I had the misfortune of being in the same subway car as 3 rowdy girl teens (?). They seemed drunk as before they even got on, one of them tried to put their foot up on the doorway ledge as the subway kept moving. Initially I thought I was in the clear as I thought they had gotten in another car but then they moved to the one I was on in hopes of finding a place to sit. Of course their behavior caused people to move as one went on about seeing people's "undy arms", another started throwing her M&Ms (from the M&M store, which in my opinion are just a little too expensive to be wasting by throwing them @ people...) and when a guy confronted her about it, she wasn't phased - it just amplified her mouthy-ness. Another guy on the subway had been watching them but not saying anything and one of the girls asked how old he was (he was probably a little younger than me) he said - How old do you think I am? The girl said - I don't know but you look like a child molester because you keep looking @ my friend & she's 13. (I don't really buy that age but who knows..) He said - Well, that's not very nice. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when they got off @ 39th Ave in Queens. Sheesh.

Festival & Marathon

It was a mish-mash of a weekend.

"Jump!" opened at the Strawberry One-Act Festival.

(Note the pic of me in my costume - I'm wearing my old cheerleading shoes and the socks were meant to cover my tattoo but apparently it did peak out as I got some comments after the show...oops. I guess I'm a church lady w/ a past!;) I'm also wearing a cross necklace that came in a "Buffy" set I have - teehee. Also note the guy in the stocking cap in our cast pic - he is not that much younger than me but played my son at the end of the show. Eh. It worked.)

"Jump!" is the first show in the lineup for our section - which is good because we can leave right after instead of waiting around (or watch at least the 2nd half of the show after us and the rest in the section) but it is bad because often times the first one up has a harder time sticking in the heads of the audience than the last one. (Since advancement in the festival is based on audience votes...having the audience remember us so they vote for us was kind of important!)

Aside from a near slip and fall on some lettuce on the ground (another actor spills her salad on stage in the show). I think it well well!;)

Will see what happens...
My friend from Boston came into town to see the show and also be in the city to prep for the NY Half Marathon on Sunday.

After the show, we got her pasta'd up at John's Pizzeria and then went to see Wall-E. Admittedly, I wasn't all that eager to see the movie but I'm glad I did. I loved seeing how much they could do with so little dialogue.

Cut to the next morning where I went to the race and stood watching for her about the time she thought she would cross thru. I never did get my eyes on her. But I took a pic of where I was instead! ;)

Finally made connections w/ her @ Battery Park. We wandered the various booths (and got free mini Jamba Juices) and then my friend headed to another friend's to recoup while I performed another show. Later we met up again and watched another movie via rental this time - 27 Dresses. Once again, a movie I wasn't all that excited to see - it proved to be cliche after cliche but at that point we weren't looking for anything too brain boggling to watch anyway I guess! ;)

The Strawberry One-Act Festival posted videos of our show online - but you have to pay to watch them. My parents did and for the money they paid were a bit disappointed in the quality. When I watched the rest of the shows after ours on Saturday I saw a guy w/ a recorder that used the full size tapes and during the last show the tape stopped and he had to switch it! Eeps! And they charged for that?! You'd think they could upgrade...maybe. It seems like there has be a decent amount of money brought in but what do I know...

Hopefully the Strawberry One-Act Festival blog will post semi-final results soon... :)