The Big Apple Experience

To whoever is left

nycsarah — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 07:24:26 +0000

Well I feel as though I have probably lost many of my readers. You probably get stories from my mom and dad, which is the basic idea what I’m doing. However, I feel now that I have been here for 4 months, and have made the decision to stay at least another year, I owe it to myself and anyone who wants to indulge me to put some of the emotional stuff out there.

I will never say it was easy. I feel like moving happened so fast and randomly that I never really internalized it. I also think this was a good thing. It was not until I came home that I realized how I had really uprooted and started my own life. Perhaps this is starting to sound a bit morose, but it has been truly difficult, sometimes. Anyone reading this knows about the death of my grandpa, Sam or Richard, pop or an amazing guy, and it was definitely a life changing moment. I was not with my family when the surgery happened and the waited, or when the post surgery happened, or when they were planning the funeral. Instead I was a PA for the national tour of Sweet Charity with Molly Ringwald. I was busy running errands to Starbucks and to get food for the director. It threw me off because I was so excited about my job. But I realized what really got me here. It was a wake-up call. Going home allowed me to realize that I have an amazing support system, people who really do love and care for me and my family, even when I’m in New York.

Ok so I came back from a tough trip to Ohio, and began working at the York Theatre on a show Asylum. A new musical about Mary Todd Lincoln. I also signed my first Equity contract. For those of you who don’t know about Equity, it is the Union for actors and stage managers. It is really the first step in achieving my professional goals. It was put on the table for me awhile ago, but its a decision I never thought I’d be faced with this early. It is really committing to the profession of theatre. I love my job, if you can’t tell. I’ve already created a professional community for myself at the York. It is an amazing theatre with intelligent and forward thinking artists. I was the assistant stage manager, but I also had the opportunity to build and paint the set for the show. I feel that I really can appreciate my B.A. and all the different things I did at Miami. I also make more money by working all the time, which is a big plus, not to sound greedy

So here are the last 2 important pieces of information…I am still employed by the York. I signed on to do this concert series called Musicals in Mufti. Its a 3 week series, a show a week. They perform on a bare stage, with scripts, and they are all shows by Joseph Stein for this run (they pick different themes and do this twice a season). For those of you who are interested, they are Take Me Along, Carmellina and Plain and Fancy. They get some pretty interesting names to perform as well. The big guy from Wings who played Roy Biggins is in the first show, and Charlotte Rae from The Facts of Life is in the last show. Anyway it should be a good time. I am also doing a Holiday show after this called That Time of the Year. So I am employed until the end of the year, which is very nice.

Last thing, I love New York. I am currently apartment searching with Chris, my roommate now, and Kelly, who was my roommate for almost all of college. Its a horrible, stressful thing; but once we do find an apartment it will be a relief to all of us. I feel then I will really be able to settle a little more into this new world. I am healthy, safe, and happy.

And if anyone who is still at Miami reads this and has read all the way through, I will be returning to Oxford for one night at the end of October. But do me a favor, don’t say anything to anyone else. I need to reward those who actually read this and I want a little bit of a surprise for those who don’t

Its late and unfortunately a typical bedtime for me now. Goodnight and love and thanks to all

Part 2 of 3

nycsarah — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:09:39 +0000

“Vogue, Southamptons, Champagne and Caviar Dreams”. Yes, I was exposed to all three in three short days. As a part of my work on Animal Tales with Family Opera Initiative, I was invited to act as Stage Manager for the benefit concert at my director’s house in Southampton, NY. Now I would hope you all have heard of this place, and if you haven’t let me break it down for you. Think Hilton Head Island, now shrink it, take out all the tourist places and hotels, and make all the houses worth over 5 million dollars. I’ve never seen such ridiculous wealth in my life, it was almost sick. Mostly because it made me sick to think how badly I want to live there. Calvin Klein’s house was 4 down, and by house I mean CASTLE! It was absolutely beautiful though.

However, when I got to Southampton, the real work began. I knew that work was required of my out there, which I was prepared for. I was not however prepared for the S*&t Storm that was occurring with the production team. Everyone was going crazy trying to prepare for the most ridiculous high tea and champagne party. Sounds tough right? Well its funny when you have 3 people desperately trying to find petit fores 1 day in advance of a huge party. We had so much to get ready for and only a few people to get it all done.

However, through hard work and some new good friends, we threw an amazing party. The benefit concert was a complete success and we raised about $20,000 for the show! We drank lots of wine and champagne and fabulous finger food and hob-nobbed with the best of them. I’ve never seen so much plastic surgery in my life!

We did have a lot of fun at the same time. We swam in the amazing salt water pool, laid out on the beach in back of a 64 bedroom mansion, and got to hang out with fabulous people. It was by far one of the most interesting expiriences of my life.

So now for the Vogue part. I have mentioned that my director’s husband is Arthur Elgort, the famed Vogue photographer. He was there the entire weekend and I got to hang out and talk to him and multiple occasions. On the last day, we were hanging out in the kitchen, and talking about websites. Arthur had never seen his own website, so I decided to show it to him. He proceeded to tell me all about each photograph, the model, the place, and the clothes. It was so interesting to here how he worked, as I have never talked to someone in his position before. He also mentioned that he was shooting for German Vogue the next 2 days, and then “that Sarah Jessica girl”. Yeah, Sarah Jessica Parker! He was kind enough to mention how cute and short she was, and oh that husband of her’s, he’s very talented isn’t he. I had to try to not act like the little Midwestern girl that I am and pick his brain about her, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, and basically any important model that’s ever been in Vogue.

So overall it was quite a riduculous trip. I don’t know when I will go back to the Hamptons, but hopefully it will be soon. I am so lucky to have gotten the chance and I am so grateful. Everyone should have a vacation in Southampton!

Wishing I was will on the beach looking at Calvin Klein’s CASTLE!

Sarah

Part 1 of 3

nycsarah — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 03:42:50 +0000

So its been quite a while since I’ve written, and once again there is a lot to catch up on. I’ve decided to do a three part piece, that way you read each one, because I feel like if its too long you will stop reading and miss the best part! I’m nice that way. So here it goes..

This past weekend was the presentation of my first professional show! Thursday and Friday we had three performances, which all went very well. I forgot how much I actually love performance time. The thrill of being backstage, of being a part of a production that is a success, it was the reward I had been waiting for. Another reward of the Family Opera Initiative experience was getting to meet Stephen Colbert! If you don’t know him, find a TV and turn on Comedy Central. You are bound to see a commercial for his show, The Colbert Report. His daughter was in the show, and so he came to see the performance Friday night. He was nice, very complimentary of the piece, and even made a comment at the talk back session after the show. “So what you’re telling us is that hampster’s will never get anywhere and goldfish will never fulfill their dreams…” Now I know that doesn’t sound very funny, but given the context of the opera about animals going to the vet, it was quite hilarious.

It was quite a relief to be done with the piece though. I am not one to complain, atleast I hope not, but this was a rough one. However, I came to the conclusion that if I can tackle this expirience as my first show, then I can do anything as a stage manager. I mean really. I dealt with an insane director, 2 supper Hippie puppettiers, 3 hours of travel everyday, 16 hour days, 23 kids with no other help, and to top it all off, Opera Singers. Ok, so it wasn’t that bad, but I’ve never been so tired in all my life.

I also got another special gift from this production, a gigantic blister on my heel. If you think I’m being a baby, tell that to the ER. Yes, Sarah also conquered the NYC ER! I had to go because I was basically limping for 3 days. So it turns out it was totally fine, but I had to have a doctor tell me how to help it heal. So once again I am left anxiously waiting for Ryan to be a Dr. already so I don’t have to make a fool out of myself.

OK, so this is part 1. If you feel like continuing reading on a fine summer evening, please read part 2. If you don’t, then make sure you tune back in. I’ll leave you all with a little cliff hanger if you will “Vogue, Southampton, Champagne and Caviar Dreams”

Love to ALL

Sarah

a very nice weekend

nycsarah — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:18:35 +0000

I decided to take this weekend to do somethings for myself. I got a new cell phone coming, a razor!, and did a little shopping and ate at Chipotle. I also decided to find a church in NYC. I went to Advent Lutheran Church this morning. It is a beautiful church with very nice people. I must admit it’s very exciting to go to a church that is diverse, people of all races, ages, and sexual orientations. It actually makes you feel like you are in a real community of the world. It was their vacation bible school day, which was so much fun! They sang songs I remember singing with Kim and Jenny at Good Shepard. It does make me miss my church family from back in the day though. It felt really good to be there though. I will still explore other churches, but this one is on the list for a return. Check out the website and see what a beautiful church it is too!

http://adventnyc.org/index.html

So anyway, my mom reminded me that I have some dishing to do as well. First of all, for anyone who knows who Steven Colbert is, his daughter is in my show! For those of you who don’t know who he is, check out his show on Comedy Central. He was on the Daily Show for a while and then got his own Emmy nominated show. She is a sweetheart and has become one of the kids who don’t leave my side. Also, just so you all know, my director is Leonard Berstein’s ex-wife. She is currently married to Arthur Elgort, a famous Vogue photographer. And last but not least, I will be spending next Tuesday and Wednesday in South Hampton! Yes, million dollar homes here I come! We are doing a benefit for my show there at my directors house. That will definitely get a blog posting, and hopefully some amazing pictures!

Anyway, thought Id fill you all in on my recent and upcoming adventures. Emily Camm and I will be hanging out in the city next Monday, which I cannot wait for! Other than that, this is tech week so goodbye to everyone I talk to for a week. I will be alive and well after I get through Friday.

Love you all, and I miss you all!

Sarah

wow…

nycsarah — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 02:06:29 +0000

Well, its been quite a while since we’ve talked old friend. I am now in week 2 of my workshop. It is flying by so fast. I am going to give you all a little run down of my day at workshop, just because its kind of funny to me.

6:30am – wake up

7:30am – get on the subway

8:25am – get on the train to New Jersey

10:00am – start the workshop, aka running back and forth for about 2 hours in 100 degree heat to make coffee, copies, errands of all kinds

12:00 – get ready for 24 kids to show up outside, maybe eat lunch if I’m lucky

1-5 – deal with 24 kids making huge puppets, singing opera music, and telling me I’m either engaged to one of the actors or calling me Mommy, because they think its funny

5:00pm – do about 100 things so we can live at some point before the night is over

6:00pm – leave New Jersey

7:30pm – get home from a very long day, do about 2 hours more of work on the computer

12:00 – crash for the night, after vegging out in front of the TV for an hour, watching my favorite TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Sex and the City”, “Will and Grace” and basically anything on Bravo.

So that kinda gives you an idea of what I’ve been doing since last Monday. Other than that, my best friends from college Elissa and Cole came to visit this weekend. They also brought along Billy, who is from the Bronx and we met up with Sidney, my friend from school who lives in Long Island. We had an absolute blast. Although I was tired the entire time from a long week, we still managed to check out the MET, Times Square, Bryant Park, Long Island (Great Neck), SoHo, China Town, and many other interesting places. It was so special to have good friends come and visit me.

Other than that, I pretty much work all the time. I might be working as a PA for 3 weeks on the tour of Sweet Charity while they rehearse in NYC! We will see if they call me back, but it sounded good when I talked to the production stage manager. Life is pretty sweet, even if it is absolutley crazy.

I am starting to miss home though, and I look forward to the time I am able to come back. Ohio might not have been as boring as I thought. I am very proud to say I am from there, even if it is a red state.

Hello and LOVE! to everyone who is reading this. If you are, then I miss you.

A very tired Sarah

What a difference a week makes

nycsarah — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:05:18 +0000

Well, this post is a long time coming, I apologize for those of you sitting at your computer anxiously awaiting my next post, which I know is all of you (hope you got the sarcasm on that one). So let me tell you the story of the past week.

This weekend Liz, my good friend and roommate from Miami, came to visit Kelly and I. It was a blast to have her here. Here’s the great stories of the weekend..

1. I went to meet Kelly and Liz in Park Slope, which is Brooklyn. So I take the F train to get there. Well I went the wrong way on the F train, kinda dozed off/stopped paying attention on the subway, and ended up in Jamaica, Queens that is. Well that was pretty bad, if you look on a map, you can see how far off I was, its pretty amusing. Its bound to happen every so often, at least I keep telling myself that.

2. We went to Coney Island on Saturday! And let me tell you, it was the most interesting place I’ve ever been to. First off we walked the boardwalk, which is very cool. Kelly shot the freak, its a game with a paintball gun and a kid in a pit wearing protective gear. She actually hit him a few times too! Then we watched a 24th Annual Mermaid Parade! This is why we went to Coney Island in the first place. It was literally 2 hours of people dressed up as mermaids, fish, sea creatures of all kinds, and even sea monkeys. I’ve never seen so many pasties and naked people in my life. Then we decided we had to ride a ride, or it wouldn’t be a real trip to Coney Island. Kelly and Aaron were less than enthusiastic about some of the scary carnival rides, so we finally decided on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Turns out, we got on the kiddy ride…We must have looked really special let me tell you. So then Liz and I want to ride a real ride, so we get on Break Dancer. Its like The Scrambler on puree. It was lots of fun, crazy scary, and at one point a guy threw up on himself. Well that made the ride last about 20 minutes, so I think we got our $4 worth. We ate lots of great fried fair food and had a fantastic time.

Ok, so the weekend was fun and exciting, a great end before I started my first real job out of college ever. Monday morning I arrive at my new job, dressed very nicely and very nervous. I walk into the studio and to my horror, find out my director thinks she has lice! So I have the lovely job of going to get Lysol wipes, cleaning the chairs and vacuuming the couch and all the cushions and pillows. I can’t begin to describe the things I began thinking about my new job. Well, despite an interesting start, after that was smooth sailing. I basically have a list of things to do and they let me sit at a desk and do it. This is no desk job, but its nice to have freedom to get things done on my own time. The first day of work was fantastic, a few errands and a ton of emails later, and the day is already over!

Its Thursday today, and the job has only gotten better each day. My co-workers are fantastic. They are lots of fun, very intelligent and its a very comfortable working environment. My director is brilliant and everything a New York director should be. The music is great and I can’t wait to start the workshop and get to meet all the actors and kids.

Chris is doing well, although jobless for the moment. I am confident that he will get a job soon, maybe a waiter? The true NYC actor way to live. Kelly started work on Monday as well, and from what I can tell she likes it, although she is gonna have to get used to a 9-6 schedule, I don’t think that’s in her blood yet.

I am really looking forward to this weekend though, because my parents are coming!!! I cannot wait to show them around my city and take them to all the non-touristy parts of NYC. We are seeing Drowsy Chaperone on Sunday, but other than that I am in charge of the weekend. Can you believe it? Marla is letting ME plan their vacation! Now I know I’m getting older.

2 final things. First, congratulations are in order to my cousin, Leslie, for graduating with a degree in Respiratory Care Technology. I’m still not exactly sure what it is, but very exciting none the less! Way to go! Second, I might have another job for right after I finish this one. Yes, I have a shot at being a Production Assistant for the Broadway Tour of Sweet Charity. I wouldn’t be going on tour, but I would be working during their rehearsal process in NYC! Very cool if you ask me.

Well anyway, I need to get back to work, break times over. But keep looking for updates, etc. I’ll try and be better about it now that I have a better hold on my schedule and my life as a working girl.

Love To All!

Sarah

Exploring

nycsarah — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:33:54 +0000

There is so much to do in the city that never sleeps, it becomes a little overwhelming sometimes. None the less I have begun exploring parts of New York that I would never have seen as a tourist here. For example, I went wandering in SoHo the other day and found a great little bar that has a bluegrass happy hour on Thursdays. Ryan and I will definitely be checking that out when he comes. Also, I've now been to Williamsburg, Queens, and Astoria. I've seen a high rise apartment on Central Park West, and a hole in the wall bar with cheap beer in midtown. Aaron, a friend and Kelly's boyfriend, is an intern for NFT, Not For Tourists. Its an amazing book that tells you all the ins and outs of the city that you really need to know. So anyway there was a party to release their Queens book. We got lots of free wine, beer, food, and even a year pass to a museum! Things like that make this city exciting and so interesting. I also got to go to see Three Penny Opera with my friend Nick. It was an amazing show with Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Cyndi Lauper and a fantastic cast. Its closing in two weeks so it was nice to get to see it before its gone.

I had my first meeting with my director and stage manager as well. It was very comforting to be in a meeting and start feeling like I do have the qualifications and know how to be where I am. We talked for about 2 hours and got a lot of things started. I don't actually start until the 26th, but I already have a bit of a work load. I feel like once I start working I will feel a bit differently about the city and being here. It will most likely only add to the love I already have for the city, but at this point its one day at a time.

Other than that I pretty much spend a lot of time hanging out with Chris at the apartment and then we go exploring at night. We will see what tonight brings. Tomorrow I will hopefully get out to another part of the city, perhaps Stanton Island. That's all for now, and that's to everyone for their responses. Its nice to still feel connected to friends and family.

My love always!

Congratulations to Me

nycsarah — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:27:16 +0000

Well I have amazing news to share with everyone. I got a job! Yes after only one interview I am employed as the stage manager's assistant and the director's assistant for a show called Animal Tales. Check out the website http://familyoperainitiative.com. Its a work in progress and so there is a 3 week workshop to work Act II. The cast has 9 adults and a childrens chorus of 20-25 kids. The piece is a opera musical and I will be the one letting the composer know about changes, etc. So anyway, this is an amazing opportunity and a great project. I also get to go to the Hamptons for 2 days for the preview! I don't know a lot more except the I will be working from June 26th to August 7th(ish). The workshop is July 10-Aug 1, and its being done at Montclair State University which is 30 minutes outside the city. I will be pretty much busy as hell during the workshop, so if you are planning on seeing me, come before or after that, hah.

In other exciting news Chris had his first day of work yesterday! He got to meet cast members from Wicked, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, original 42nd Street and Grand Hotel, and the newest cast member of Desperate Housewives, Gwendolen Yo, Madeline's maid. Ok so I don't watch that show so I could be messing all these names up, but either way she had a camera crew with her and shes famous. All this on his first day of work! Oh and the shoe store is LaDuca, not DeLuca. Check it out!

Also, Kelly got a job too!! She's working at an architecture firm as a junior architect (which just refers to how long you have been working) doing exterior and interior design work.

So they say good things come in threes, well I actually think that's deaths, but within 2 days all three of us got jobs! New York City is being pretty good to us and its only going to get better. Well that's all for now, I'm going to go enjoy the fact that I have a real job!

Let the star sightings begin!

nycsarah — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:04:12 +0000

Well, a small little update. Last night Chris went to a club with a new friend and got to meet none other than Alan Cummings. If anyone watched the Tony's he's the actor who sang from the Three Penny Opera opposite Cyndi Lauper! Yeah just hanging out in the VIP lounge, and there he is. So needless to say I will be there with him next weekend.

Another exciting piece of news, Chris got a job today! Its with LeDuca shoes, yes he will be a shoes salesman, but that's not the cool part. DeLuca sells shoes to every Broadway show and famous actor. If you look up their website, you can see all the famous people who buy their $500+ shoes. He starts work tomorrow and was told that a famous actor is coming in with a film crew. This really is the coolest city in the world.

Although I don't have any personal sightings or exciting news, I do have my first interview tomorrow morning. I am hopeful but nervous. I did find out that Stephen Colbert's kid was cast in the show, so maybe I'll get to meet him!!! That's all for now, but hopefully I will have some good news tomorrow and a real job!

Weekend Update

nycsarah — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 18:59:21 +0000

A lot has happened since Friday, so I will just start at the beginning. On Friday, Chris had his first audition. I went down to midtown with him and hung out in the studio while he waited to be seen. In true theatre fashion he had to wait about two and a half hours for his 2 minutes in front of the producer, etc. So anyway, I waited and then I met Natalie Lanni, a good friend from Miami, and her mother at a pub in midtown. I ate lunch with them and then we met Chris after his audition was over.

Friday night we just hung out with a friend of Chris' and watched TV, nothing too exciting. Saturday we had lunch with Lisa Campbell, Nick and Neal Stimler at the apartment of some friends of Lisa. It was a great time, we had good sandwiches, fruit, chips and amazing brownies courtesy of Lisa. It was nice to see Miami people and get to hang out with friends. After that we walked back to our apartment. This weekend is the Puerto Rican pride festival, so needless to say our neighborhood was insane! There were people everywhere, but it was so much fun to be around all the festivities, people, and music.

So that brings us to last night…Chris and I went downtown to go out with some friends. Kelly, her boyfriend Aaron and his roommate John, and a friend of theirs Brad met up with us and we hung out on their rooftop. Then we went to a bar in downtown. After that Chris and I headed for the subway to go home. Well, we got a little lost. And although it only took us a few stops to figure out what we did wrong, the subway trains only come about every 30 minutes that late so it took us almost 3 hours to get home…We didn't get to bed until 5:30.

It was bound to happen at some point I suppose, and I didn't feel unsafe or anything, just a little stupid. Well tonight the Tony's are on which means Chris and I will be glued to the TV watching all the wonderful Broadway shows we will be working on soon (and by soon I mean about 5 years). For now that's all. I will let everyone know how my interview goes on Tuesday, hopefully I will have a job soon!