recordings.

So, I should record some of what happened to me when I was in nyc- after all it was two whole weeks of my life!
sarcasm.
but actually, it was a very intense two weeks that deserves some blogspace (new social networking provider? combination?) I learned a lot, about things, about myself, things, the nyc subway, things, walking fast, how hours are like minutes, tap dancing.
all in a day's work. ...class.
And now, at the end of it, I can tap dance. poorly, mind you, but tap dance. whereas I could not even dream of this before, I can now don a pair of tap shoes and wow you for about two seconds.
And I can tell you funny stories of a New-Yorker-ish version of Norm.
And a female version of Jeff.
And life seems more peculiar every time I start to look at it particularly.
I was challenged with new material (read: character) and air quality (read: smog headaches)
and time flying by.
The first week I couldn't even fathom going out after class was over; every day I was totally wiped and just wanted to go back to the apartment (lovingly shared by a friend for two weeks!) and crash. And read. And watch TV (what? TV? existing in my life?), and listen to our neighbors latin dance party. and/or the fire alarm. That's after looking at my disintegrating map forty times to make sure I actually wanted to be going uptown. (I did.)

But the second week was a new story. I was somehow fueled by my knowledge, a feeling of belonging finally started to settle and I could briskly pass anyone walking on the street and give (ah, mediocre) directions to those silly tourists. what do they know?!?!
I went to a show almost every day.

First show in NYC: Our Town at the Bowery St Theatre. It was okay. I had a very high bar for this show, having been in an incredible production of it myself- and honestly it lacked a lot for me in a few ways. But there was a surprise at the end that I was not expecting- something that played on every sensory faculty.. including the smell of real cooking bacon. What an interesting twist! I thought the over-all direction was not very cohesive, and the acting for some of the characters left some to be desired (Not George, though! HE was great!!!), but in all, an okay way to spend an evening.

MY FIRST BROADWAY EXPERIENCE: Promises, Promises with Sean Hayes and Kristen Chenoweth. Amazing! I was blown away! So funny and polished! It also made me fear for my ability to do this because of the wonderful dancing, and I can't help but be jealous of the people who have been doing dance their whole life.

Second Broadway experience (well, off-broadway): Next to Normal with Alice Ripely, Brian d'Arcy James, Kyle Dean Massey, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat, and ....I can't remember his name but I'll fill it in later. INCREDIBLE. I have too many words or no words to describe this experience. It was breathtaking in many different ways, and truly moved me. all words seem pathetic, so I'll stop here: literally INCREDIBLE; without credit enough for it's due.

Third (well, fourth show): Sondheim on Sondheim! What a different show from the rest! I was not sure what to expect from this show (I only knew it was a revue/tribute of/to Stephen Sondheim) and I thought it was effortless the way they put everything together- the staging mixed with the technology of 50+ (? I can't judge numbers, give me a break) tv screens all over the stage in varying planes and  heights. They make up the whole set (stairs, platforms, flats) with pull-away parts that came together to form a large screen. It was pretty magnificent (I was trying not to think about how much it all cost!) and the actors were lovely. My favorite moment had to be Norm Lewis' interpretation and performance of "Being Alive" from Company. It was intense. At moments that I started to drift from the show (hey, it happens)- by the end of this song, he had everyone's complete attention. So much passion- and I was impressed as it is a 'clip' from the show and doesn't have the entire rest of the play to back it up or be fueled by. He was wonderful. and the applause after the song was the longest out of everything else.

Fifth: Race, written/directed by David Mamet. What a disappointment. Horrible. I have almost nothing good to say about this show, I'm sorry. It was really terrible. I was totally turned off from the first thirty seconds, and I thought about the possibility of leaving at intermission because I didn't want to have to sit through it (I ended up sitting through it). I tried to pick apart whether it was the writing, directing or acting that was horrid; but I think it was a mess of the three. Mamet should NOT have directed his own piece, it was the total demise. His bias of the work was so evident by it being shoved down our throats. The pacing was totally off (way too slow and weird.), the writing was all about these biting one-liners (which is maybe Mamet's style, but MAN I don't like it), the actors made amateur mistakes (flubbing lines??!?! stopping lines short where someone is supposed to cut in but they don't?!?!?! dropping energy like it's hott?!?! what is this!?!? Broadway!? I can't believe it?!?!), and the racial jokes were too much to handle. There was an uncomfortable air- a white-man's apologetic plea and guilt-induced laugh . I'm sorry, but I did not give a standing ovation, I stood (sat?) my ground, even there in the second row. I clapped sitting down, thanking them that it was over, and hoping desperately that they will do better tomorrow. It's a sad day when I spend $70 on a show this disappointing. and BROADWAY? ah.

Sixth: The Fantasticks. Okay! Well, again, I had no idea what to expect from this piece, and I was pleasantly surprised overall. In the beginning I wasn't too impressed because the style was different than what I usually jam with and/or different than what I was expecting. It's very circus-y. Actually, quite like a circus. I had only heard one song from this show before seeing it ("Much More"), and I imagined the way I would direct that piece, or how I would sing it-- and it was so different in the full show. It had a Brecht-ian air to it, a meta-theatre feel that kept you as a distanced audience member watching the action as social commentary. It's not that I didn't like what it had to say; quite the opposite. I thought it was well-done in the style it was done in. I think I would just be interested in directing it differently-- what would it look like to make it less Brecht-ian; not to over-sentimentalize it (which could easily be done), but to make it less like a performance within a performance? I loved the Mute's character. How interesting!
Overall, a good ending to my nyc show experience. Thank GOD it wasn't Race I ended on. It almost was! But I didn't want to leave with a bad taste in my mouth.

Well, there's show reviews for you. More on the classes later. I'm tired, and it's 1am.
figures.