little helena’s big adventure…

First of all I think she is a fantastic woman. She was full of such life and happiness, and I wish I could sit down and chat with her every monday evening. She loves what she does and you can hear it in the way she talks about it. She is so gracious and humble about her career. I loved hearing about all her different experiences and working with different people.

One of my favorite topics of the evening was when she discussed the fact that she didn’t really agree with the directors vision- in regards to her character of Linda in Death of A Salesman. It was so refreshing to hear that. I had never really seriously thought about when the actor and director have different visions in professional theatre. Its a hard line to walk on. Its an understanding between both people- the director and actor. That both of these people are trying to create the right character.

I have to admit, at the very end of Death of A Salesman…. I started tearing up. Overall, the show was good, but I dont think it was until the very last scene that I was truely invested in the characters. When Linda says, “we’re free….we’re free”… thats where Nancy got me. I love how in the lines previous she says she’s not going to cry… i felt the same way. I could feel her emotions crumbling… and i was right there with her. I have always loved the character of Linda; I always thought she a women of such beautiful simplicity. She is there for everyone… there to listen to everyone, and she essentially runs the family, and keeps it together (as best she can).

Nancy was so great about keeping the idea and love of theatre fresh in her heart. She said she didn’t really get involved in acting until later in her life. She wished she had done it sooner… but she didn’t let her passion die out. She really instilled in me that if I love theatre and love acting… then why should i not do it… why not try it out. She also said “theatre teaches us failure” And i have to admit one of the things that keeps slowly pushing me away is the fear of failure and rejection in the theatre world. You never like to deal with failure, but in theatre its a part of the process. I feel like theatre has made me a stronger person because I can deal with this “failure” on a daily basis.

I was so happy to be able to sit down and chat with Nancy Robinette and I’m proud to find out that we are both Patriots! I found out at dinner that Nancy went to my High school- Yorktown HS. It was so weird, but it was so exciting… it was almost a sign haha. It was great to have that connection with her, and it made her more of a real person to me. The fact that this Yorktown graduate did it… maybe i can to…?

This is my description of the “must do” things in New York…

1) Bethesda Fountain, I went to the central park- saw the Dakota, Strawberry fields, and then sat by the Bethesda fountain for about an hour listening to music and sketching. I definitely needed this break from the hectic schedule. I had about 3 hours to do whatever I wanted. It was great wondering around by myself; I felt so accomplished and gratified to see that I could make my way by myself. I really loved Strawberry Fields; and I had my ipod and I made sure I was listening to Abbey Road to get the full effect. The Bethesda Fountain was also gorgeous. I loved seeing people coming and going. It is a great place to people watch. I also saw this adorable couple, that hugging and it was like a scene out of a movie…not creepy but I did take a picture of them, cause I thought it was a special moment.

2) New York Library for the Performing Arts: Steve, Talya and I went to Library before the performance of South Pacific at the Lincoln Center Theatre; it was right next door. It was full of so many resources I couldn’t believe it. I loved just looked down the shelves and seeing what random and interesting books there were. I found a great book about beginning animation for Disney Movies, and also a book about the history of Burlesque theatre (which made me think of Gypsy)

3) Grand Central Station, Steve and I went on Wednesday March 5. The architecture of that building is so beautiful. I had seen the station so many times in movies and it was great to see exactly what it looked like. There was such a feeling of business; everyone was going somewhere and needed to be there right away. Steve and I also had fun with the whispering corner. First of all, we couldn’t find it, we had to ask a security guard; but then we saw people randomly standing in a corner. Once we finally stepped in, it was so weird! We must have looked crazy with our backs turned and our faces to the wall. It was amazing how clearly I could hear Steve’s voice.

4) Museum: Went to the MoMA on Sunday March 2, with a bunch of people. I loved it. I took so many pictures. It was great to have so much time to wander around the museum. So many different pieces and exhibitions grabbed me. I loved the architecture exhibit. Ever since I took Historic Preservation; I have had so much more respect for architects. What I really loved about this exhibit though, was that the blue prints and layouts were seen as art. There was such grace and specificity in the work.

I also had some geeked out with some works… like the Jackson Pollock paintings, the Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup cans, Van Gough’s Starry Night, Monet,  etc. I really felt artistically inspired and satisfied after our trip to the MoMA.

Layton and I also went to the Met on Saturday morning. Sadly, we had to rush things because we had a show to get to at 2pm. We finally got there, after walking through some heavy rain. We went through the Egyptian exhibit, a great exhibit on fashion (blog.mode) and also I made sure we saw the Gustave Courbet exhibit. I also had another moment when we stopped at some Monet and Georges Seurat paintings.

5) Drama Book Shop, I stopped at the book shop before Layton and I headed out to the Met. It was great to see such a great collection of work ranging in what we are all focused in. I felt like I could look around for a really long time, and basically fill up a shopping cart of plays I wanted to get. I restricted myself to buying things but I did find this one book and really intrigued me. It was a collection of playbills from the early 1900’s. It was just a small little book of postcard size playbills with fantastic drawings of flapper women and other fantastical drawings- I couldn’t resist.

6) Stage Door: I stood by the stage door for a number of shows. The first one was the The Seagull, when I was so excited to meet Alan Cumming and Diane Wiest. They were so courteous and its always great to see people who don’t let their fame get to them. We also met with Ryan O’nan, who played the lead role of Konstantin. He was just standing outside the theatre and we talked to him for awhile. He was so energetic and so different from his character.

Also waited outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and met with 2 of the actors from the show Grace: K.K. Moggie and Oscar Issac. The other stage door we waited at was outside November. Sadly it was horrible weather, but we stuck it out. We met Laurie Metcalf and Dylan Baker, and Nathan Lane for a brief moment before he rushed off into his car.

Well the big trip is over and we are back in Fredericksburg.  Looking back on the trip- it was definitely worth it.  The trip was filled with great shows, great times, a great city, and a hectic schedule.

The trip back was a whole other trip in it self.  First, David, Steve, Talya and dragged our ridiculously heavy bags through the crowded sidewalks to the bus stop. Then we got to the DC to NY bus and found out it wasn’t going to be there until 8, so we had to wait on the streets of New York for about an hour.  Thankfully, there was a starbucks next to the stop (no surprise really cause they literally on every corner in New York).  Then we finally loaded the bus and started the drive back.  We were about 2 hours on the road, and I had just finally fallen asleep and a huge “thud” resonated throughout the bus…. we blew a tire- great.

we then commenced to wait on the side of the highway for the next 2 and a half hours while the police came, and a new tire was put back on the bus.  I was kinda surprised we didn’t have to get off the bus for them to fix it.  But everyone on the bus kept in high spirits so it wasn’t too bad.  We had some great laughs and made a new best friend of the department: James. This guy sat right behind us on the bus and joined in the conversations and made the ride so much more enjoyable.

Then we finally arrived back in DC.  We then had to wait another half an hour for the coach bus to pick us up at dupont circle.  At this point it was about 3am.  everyone was really tired and cold, but we sang disney songs to keep warm.  everyone slept on the bus back, and we finally arrived back in good ole Fredericksburg, VA around 4am.

…today I went to the Met.  Layton and I had to go through yucky rain this morning, but we made it.  i really wish we could have stayed there much longer; we really only went to about 3 sections of the museum.  We went through the Egyptian section, which was absolutely mind blowing.  Everything was so beautiful (Layton and I were drolling over the intricate detail on the jewelery.)  One of the things that really interested me was the amount of work that goes in to categorizing the huge amount of artifacts; everything was done so specifically.  its amazing how they can piece together these findings.  There was a huge hallway with just jewelery and pottery pieces that they miraculously pieced together.

the other amazing section was the temple of Dendur.  The room is huge, and its strange to think that in this crazy busy city there is a place where an ancient Egyptian temple lies.  it had huge windows, and a reflecting pond (we called it a mote).  It was striking to think it was brought all the way from Egypt to NYC.  Personally, i think the most interesting part was so see graffiti on the temple…. graffiti from the 1800’s. In the stone people etched their names and year.  its amazing to see how much the world has changed.

the next section we went to was a fashion gallery- called blog.mode.  It was an amazing collection of fashion throughout the ages.  the clothes ranged from the 1800s to modern designs.  it was amazing to see such detail.  I really loved going with Layton to this collection.  we both were amazed by the work, but i could see the admiration and love for the work in Layton’s eyes and attitude while we went from outfit to outfit.  I looked more closely at the work because Layton was there, I felt like i was enjoying the work more because I was with her.

one of the exhibits that i actually researched and wanted to go to was the collection of artwork by Gustav Courbet. We only had about 10 minutes to look through whole exhibition, which made me sad, but it was better then not seeing it at all.  the collection was amazing to look at, i especially enjoyed the massive collection of his self portraits. the paintings had wonderful detail, and intense emotion, particularly in the sensitivity in the facial expressions.

we also stopped off in the paintings and drawings section of the museum and i got to see some of my favorite pieces.  i saw fabulous pieces by monet, van gouh, and seurat.  it was amazing becuase i got see a draft of the ’sunday in the park’ by seurat and then once we left we were heading to the theatre to see Sunday in the Park with George.  I thought it was so cool that I was seeing one of the real things that he did, and seeing part of his life, that included this painting, performed on stage.

I had been wanting to go to the Met for the whole trip, and even though I didn’t get to stay as long as I wanted- it was still worth the trek in the rain.  I felt like i could have stayed there for hours. I want to go back already.  Ill put pictures up soon enough.

I got a new outlook on the world out of the interview I had yesterday. i have been talking a lot with actors on this trip. but i had an interview with Matt Britt yesterday and it was very different. He works as the Production Manager for Serino Coyne Inc. Serino Coyne is the, “largest full service advertising and marketing agency in the live entertainment industry.” i have to admit, i was nervous to go on the interview. this was my first interview by my self. I got to 1515 Broadway, and had to go through security, get a visitors pass, and go to the 36th floor… etc.- it was very different than any other interviews i had been on before on this trip. i had to sit in the lobby for awhile for Joanne, the secretary that helped me set up this interview, to come and get me. I was then sat down in one of the offices and met Matt Britt.

We talked about so many different things; things ranging from living in the city, the performing arts, advertising, internships, and justing being comfortable with who you are in a new place and new career. i learned a lot about their business, which started in the 1970s, and how much it has changed since they began. I learned so much about the process of the making the window cards, which is exactly what i wanted to know. It was amazing to hear about all the different work that goes into each poster. the number of people working on each poster can range from a few to very may and then even more depending on what the producers say or if specialists are brought in to work on them.

I also really loved talking to Matt because when he graduated from college he was a performance major. I felt like we had many things in common- especially in the fact that we both had a passion for theatre and art. This type of job seems to be the perfect blend of these two interests. There is also an element of stability thats tied into the career.

Matt and I got into a off shoot of the conversation when we started talking about that fact theatre is the only business (besides modeling) where it is based on appearance. Any other business… if you base employment on appearance you can be sued. But in theatre you can either be too tall, too skinny, too fat, your hairs too red, or anything about your appearance. Its a tough world in theatre; and you have to have tough skin. Its the nature of the business- no matter how talented you are, sometimes things are based on things that you have no control over. But one of the most important things to remember is that “if you have the fire- don’t let anyone put it out.” One of the things that seems to be a reoccurring piece of information is that - yes, of course there will be hard times, but pushing through them is what makes you who are. You can either deal with or walk away.

Being an illustrator is an amazing tool. everything usually starts with a pen and paper. but one of things about being an illustrator is today’s world is you have to have your voice or medium, but you need to be able to adapt to the world around you; essentially the technology and advancements in todays face paced soceity. You have to be connected with the world; you must stay relevant. Matt commended all of the work the illustrators do; that its essential to the whole process. But you need to be multiple talented, and be able to adapt and learn easily.

there is a creative responsibility to represent the production correctly and effectively. To capture the play in these works of art; and thats what they are…works of art. so many hours and diligent work has gone into each poster. i loved looking around the office and seeing all of the advertisements and beginning sketches hanging on the walls. it was like a gallery, and you could tell how proud all of the people were about their work.

i loved this meeting and i feel like i learned a lot. it reassured to me that there are so many options and things to do in world. i’m not necessarily saying i want to have this job, but in the back of my mind i feel like its an option; and having options is nice. i dont want to give up on anything that I have a passion for, but right now my passions seem to be scattered all over the place. i need to organize and gather all of them… and then i’ll see where i’m at, and go from there.

here are some of the recent posters done by Serino Coyne:

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I was also lucky enough to have 2 coffee meetings today. one with John Miller and another one with Shannon Kear and her friend Emily.

the first meeting was with John. John was such an interesting guy. Steve, Mitch, Karen, and I sat down; and to be honest the conversation started off slowly, but John really seemed to get into get. He kept saying that he had been trying to think of stuff to tell us. It was fantastic to think they he was kinda nervous about our talk, just like we were.

John had some really great advice. He was fabulously blunt about the business. I would much rather I get a clear cut idea about what is ahead of me, rather than a sugar coated one. John said you really have to want it; everyone else out there wants it just as much as you…or more. People are jerks out there, and you need to protect yourself . Being a professional actor is lifestyle that never ends. it a lot about getting your self out there- self promotion. John even told us that some people pay people (agents, managers) to meet with them; to sit them down and make them listen to you.

John talked a lot about his film career; and also about the difference between LA and New York. He said LA is great, focused a lot on film, nice weather, but everything is spread out and you have to drive every where and there is horrible traffic haha. New York is its own world. Everything is so quick and hands on… new york is where its at. There is so much going on, and there always will be.

Our next coffee meeting (after eating Lunch at a great burger place called Paul’s- Da Burger Joint) was with Shannon and Emily. Latera, Emma, Steve and I had a grand adventure just getting to Gregory’s Coffee. Then we found these two gorgeous girls sitting by the window and we sat down. They were so personable and seemed really excited to talk with us. They really gave me a great perspective about living in the city. They both came from different areas; Shannon from the west coast (CA) and Emily was from Pennsylvania. Shannon even gave us great company for New York apartments. Both of the girls talked a lot about working with film/commercials, and also working with SAG. They had so many random stories to tell us, and that really made everything seem really comfortable; also that everyone makes mistakes and they learn through those mistakes.

today i got a great amount of information and….caffeine haha.

today was full of so many things. we started off this morning with a meeting at the Looking Glass Theatre. We met with the Rapscallion Theatre Collective. They were a great group of people. You could see just from talking to them the amount of passion they had for theatre. It was great to see an off-off broadway venue. We got to look around the theatre and see the conditions. It reminded me a lot of our black box. It seems like a great place to start off, to get your feet wet. We met with Lauren-Reinhard Tiongson, and also the rest of the board of Directors, which consisted Christophe Anderson, Reynold Malcom Hewitt, and also other members of the production team. There were in tech week, so they were bouncing around the theatre.

we started off with the introductory conversation: our names, what our focus is, etc. Really quickly the conversation got really fun. They asked a lot about our class, and they really loved our program. It was great to hear someone on the outside who really want to hear about our department. But of course, we were there to hear about their experience. So we talked a lot how they started their company, and what kept them going. We had a great converstion and it lasted for about an hour and half. It really didn’t feel like that long.

Some of the things that I remembered from the meeting vaired from really broad advice and really great stuff that I had never thought about. Lauren talked a lot about Off-Off Broadway and how that its driven by the passion. Laruen said its, “not about the money, causee there just isn’t any.” They actually seemed to enjoy Off-off Broadway more, because there was so much more creative expression involved. Lauren said that theatre is a responsibility. Essentially a responsibility to bring art and creation into the community, and also a responsibility to yourself, to satisfy your creative need.

I loved how they talked to us really realisitcally. They were pretty blunt about the business, and that it definitely a business. You must be realistic, and know your limits and know how far to push your self. They said don’t be afraid to audition for something you might not get. Who knows, the director may have an idea about a character…but you could change it…

One of the greatest things Christophe said was that, “New York is an island, dont burn your bridges.” The buissness is so fosuced on networking and working with people, and name dropping. You have to make your experiences really positive and strong. You have to stand out; be confident but not that cocky.

The one thing they kept pushing was to keep active. You must keep honing your craft; take classes, workshops, community theatre, etc. You have to constantly keep auditioning. You would much rather be waiting to hear back from 5 people rather than just one.

over all, I had a great time chatting with these people. They had such comradery, and it was great to hear that they went to the college and then came back to NY to start this theatre company. It made me really excited, maybe i could start a theatre company with friends- haha sounds great, crazy… but great.

today was a day full of adventures…. we started off with one idea, but had to change- cause we got lost.  i’m glad we got lost.  i would much rather get lost sooner than later, and have the looming feeling of the time that I get lost in the big city.  we (Later, Karen, Steve, myself, and Talya for part of the time) planned on going to the HB Studio to audit a class.  but alas, we missed it cause we were lost and couldn’t seem to find bank st.  We wandered around and stopped by the New School info desk, Parsons info desk, and then eventually got our bearings and found HB.  we were so happy when we found it- it was so gratifying. we took pictures outside the building to capture our achievement. we eventually went inside, and they were so nice about everything, and we got the class schedule and planned to come back and sit in on a class.

then we wandered a block and got to the New School of Drama.  we went inside and met with a cheerful woman for admissions, she answered our questions very graciously and full of information.   from the building we could see water, so the next obvious choice was to go to it.  we took beautiful pictures of the scenery and board walk.  it was such a beautiful day and it was great to be outside, and in New York.

we grabbed a smoothie and then Latera, Karen and I got to Battery Park… wandered around, saw an acrobat jump over 4 volunteers, saw lady liberty from a distance, and then decided to take the Statton Island Ferry.  We saw lady lib up closer and got pretty chilly while standing on the deck.  We walked around the area- the best part was seeing all of these kids getting out of school. we heard so many different dramatic conversations in a bout a 15 minute span- hilarious.  ( i dont miss high school) haha.

we eventually ended up back Mid town, and had a second to run back and upload my pictures cause my camera was full- eek. and then headed off again… this time to T. Schreiber Studio.  Karen and i went to their Information Session, and got to speak to the whole faculty.  The people who work there are full of so much energy.  I love it, the environment they have created is so warm and exciting.  One of the things that Karen and I were most exciting about the beginning classes for film.  I’ve always wanted to try film, i’ve never really had the opportunity to try.   This beginning course is so flexible, and the people there really now how to work with people with many different ranges of experience.

we rushed back towards the theatre where we going to see Gypsy  with Patti Lupone.  it was a great experience, It was great to see a Broadway legend, that so many people respected on stage.  There may have been some trips and mistakes in the show, but in some ways thats something I liked.  It made the show more relateable- we all make mistakes…sometimes the curtain doesn’t close- so what, you find a way to close it.

today was full of so many things….so many people, so many steps, so many subway stops, and so much fun.

Painting by Marcel Duchamp

Toe upon toe, a snowing flesh,
A gold of lemon, root and rind,
She sifts in sunlight down the stairs
With nothing on. Nor on her mind.

We spy beneath the banister
A constant thresh of thigh on thigh–
Her lips imprint the swinging air
That parts to let her parts go by.

One-woman waterall, she wears
Her slow descent like a long cape
And pausing, on the final stair
Collects her motions into shape.

X. J. Kennedy

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we talked about this painting this morning during my principles of design class.  I had never heard of the painting or really the artist- Marcel Duchamp.  His “work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post- World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the Western art world.”  I was lucky enough to have my computer in class, so I could look up the picture.  I love how broken down the piece is.  Even with the broken aspect of it there is great cohesiveness and unity.  There is such elegant movement.

later today, i checked out the book “The Theatre Posters of James McMullan” from Gregg’s library.  I started looking through it and found a quote from Jim McMullan that really connected with me and what I felt in response to the painting “Nude Descending a Staircase.”

Jim McMullan: “I don’t invent from thin air, but from my response to real physical information…The vitality of the human body, closely observed in its idiosyncrasies, is what has always fascinated me about the posters of Toulouse-Lautrec…the body itself became a quickly understood gesture like the movement of a mime or a dancer.”

I can see what he is talking about,and I can see it Duchamp’s work as well.  The human form has obviously been a subject for design and art since there was art; and it will continue to be.  Personally, i’ve always been daunted by the human form.  I’ve taken classes and workshops and had live models… there is so much to take into consideration when drawing each line.  If it is off by just a centimeter the whole shape is off.  I love the words McMullan uses: vitality, idiosyncrasies…etc.  I also greatly admire Toulouse-Lautrec.  I can see admiration for Laurtrec in McMullan’s work.  There is such focus and attention payed to the emotion behind the body position and facial expressions.  So much is said with so little.

I was lucky enough to be able to talk to Jim McMullan for about 20 minutes this past Friday.  The converstaion started off slowly and kinda generically.  I could tell he had answered these types of questions many times before; and he was hoping for more intriguing and personal questions.  I reasured to him that I didn’t want to sound like a broken record and what I really wanted to hear was his story, not just a formula as how to make it as an artist.  Be bluntly told me…”You just have to be talented.”

This made me question though… what exaclty is talent?  Some people are so talented, but are never really “discovered.” I thinks a combination of being talented, of course; but also being in the right place at the right time.  Jim McMullan told me that he was working at drawing book covers, and doing theatre posters just came about because a friend (another artist who designed theatre posters) passed along his name to the Lincoln Center Theatre.

My conversation with Jim McMullan puts things into a more “blunt” perspective.  Jim was very to the point.  He said he’s always been a devoted reader, and is focused on the “density of writing” and interested in “serious dense subject matter.”

He’s very grateful that he’s had the opportunity to do what he does.  He describes designing the theatre posters as a way to reach the audience and pull them in. Each poster is an identity- an opinion.  He also told me something that I never really thought about before. The posters make the the actors feel good about the production. It’s true- I love seeing the posters…i love seeing them go around campus, and people stopping and looking at them.

I had a really great talk with him, and I’m so grateful.

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ok so apparently i stumped gregg on what i’m doing for my research topic for ideas. what i want from this trip is essentially to soak in as much as i can. I want to see the city and i want to see the people. the reason why i took this class was to hopefully find out what i want to do vocational in theatre. i feel like there are so many options that i haven’t even fathomed. there are so many ways i think i can be involved in the theatre as work, but still love it as my passion.

if i could find a world that perfectly blended my love for visual art and theatre… i would take it. or at least start learning how to do it now so i will be able to do it in the future.

i’m going to set up a meeting with gregg to hopefully buckle down on something substantial. i trust gregg, and hopefully we can come with some thing to do with my self.