Today, January 19, 2017 at 5:30pm in each time zone, theaters across the nation are standing up to announce that through the dark days that may be ahead of us, we will be there, standing tall for inclusion of all people regardless of where they are from, who they believe in, who they love and how they got here. We will fight to tell the stories of the people that reflect our humanity (or lack thereof in some cases.) We will fight off the bullies and create safe spaces for everyone to come to and be a part of something constructive and creative. In doing so, in my little opinion, this practice will spill outside of the walls of the theaters and into the streets and into the lives and consciousness of others who will continue to grow and shine that light.
Please go to the website The Ghostlight Project and check it out and join your community at one of the many theaters taking part of this project. As I mentioned before all are welcome, and if you happen to be a part of another movement, that’s fantastic! Bring those friends. Can you imagine what could happen if The Ghostlight Project and the Black Lives Matter Movement worked on something together?
Join us. You don’t need anything but a light and your cell phone light will work perfectly. Personally, I am really excited because this is the first time I don’t have to work when a rally I wanted to attend was happening. You can bet there will be pictures, dear reader!
Will you be there? And don’t forget to share your experience. Use the hashtags, #AllAreWelcom #BeALight and #GhostlightProject.
Last night, I was thoroughly entertained at a small cabaret show produced by Society Cabaret. The show starred one of the sweetest men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and sort of working with. By that, I mean that we did a show together😀, but were never in any actual scenes with one another😞. I had intended to go to his previous show a few months back, but because of my lack of organization, I totally spaced out on it. I was lucky enough that this time around I was more prepared. (Yay bullet journal!- See previous post for reference…)
Now, my friends, if you ever are in the San Fransisco area or even San Jose (because they do have some events there as well) I highly recommend that you treat yourself to at least one of them! (Wesla Whitfield is their next show -fabulous lady and when I was in conservatory, I got to take her masterclass. It was incredible.)
Last night’s performance was located in the Hotel Rex in San Fran and this space is wonderfully cozy and charming. They do pack in the audience but it isn’t uncomfortable. The small menu features delicious looking food that I was tempted on ordering just to try, but seeing how we just came from dinner, probably wouldn’t have been financially responsible. What to do? What to do?
You opt for a bottle of Prosecco, of course. 😋
Then, the lights dimmed and the star of the evening arrived on stage, John Rinaldi. His show, He Said/She Said, was a journey through some great love songs in musical theatre.❤️ Some by men, some by women but all of them beautiful. It was nice to be reminded of songs I hadn’t heard in a very long time like the two numbers from Kiss of the Spider Woman or ones that I have never heard at all. Speaking of never heard at all, his number, which I believe was called “Mrs. Brown,” was spectacular. Beautiful and sad. One of my two favorites of the night. He shared the stage with three other guests over the course of the show. The other fave was a showstopping rendition of “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” Perfectly suited for one of the featured women. The duet of “It Couldn’t Please Me More” from Cabaret was sheer delight. “I Dreamed A Dream” was also fantastic and just made the night even more perfect.
It was a wonderful night filled with lovely songs in a great venue, and as I mentioned earlier, Gentle Reader, you should really check it out if the opportunity arrises.
Speaking of opportunities, since I enjoyed it so much, I was speaking with one of the owners (I think) and I may try and set up a chance to join such incredible voices like John on that stage. I just want to see if I can do it. One of those “if it scares you, you should do it” type things.
One thing that I do need to say: I am so sad that I hadn’t been to one of these events sooner as two incredible singers, Morgan Dayley and Glenna Murillo (both of which I have seen perform in other shows) had their shows last year!! So angry with myself for missing those! 😡
Oh Gentle Reader, all of the performance things I want to do is sometimes overwhelming, but since I want to try them all, I just simple have to go out there and do it, right? Right!
With that in mind, my friends, I have a brunch date to get to.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend, Gentle Reader. Go listen to your favorite cast recordings and sing along. By the by, what are some of your faves? Maybe I will give them a spin while I am out and about. They’d be especially helpful to and from tonight’s rehearsal.
We are six days into the new year and four days into rehearsals for A Chorus Line so HELL yeah, it IS happy.
Of course, I have the Christmas cold (the gift that keeps on giving) that was making the rounds but I am happy to report that the only thing that is hanging around is that doggone cough. Ugh! However, I shan’t let that dampen my spirit.
Since it is the new year, I keep seeing all the “New Year, New Me” campaigns. Do you participate in the whole resolution ritual, Dear Reader? I used to, but many years ago I realized that I didn’t have to wait until the year began again to change a habit that I had that wasn’t beneficial to me. With every sunrise, I could take a chance to make a change, so I have 365 chances each year. This idea hit me in the face like a director threw a wire bound conductor’s score at me. The great thing about this revelation was that it dawned on me that self reflection should happen every day.
So I try and it has helped me quite a bit. Now the one thing that I can’t get it to help with is my time management. LOL! I think the bouncing between two jobs and shows (I have so much fun doing those that I can’t call them jobs) takes up a few hours out of my day. Easily two and a half to three hours. I have tried to use day planners and smartphone apps, but they don’t seem to work for me. For shows, I just assume that I am called to be at rehearsal every day, but then the stage managers often send out emails clarifying rehearsal details. Talk about a life saver! LOL!
Anyway… at the end of August, I came across something called bullet journaling. I began to look at everything about this subject. The end of November came along and I began my journal in December. I have found that I love it! The reason why is because it is all blank pages that I design myself. So I get to be creative and draw all over that bad boy. Granted, Gentle Reader, it isn’t great drawing that I do, but I get to do all the formatting and doodling so I find it a lot of fun and didn’t realize how much time I spend “playing” with it. Getting my left and right brains to make friends has been a chore, but they are becoming acquaintances.
I have found it so useful. Now I have a better grasp on my time. It isn’t perfect, but it is better and it is a start.
So as an ever evolving super curious person, I love being able to change my habits whenever I want, without the idea that the only time I can do it is at the beginning of a new calendar.
How do you keep track of your busy life? Can you keep it all in your head? (I am totally jealous, if you can do that) Have you tried bullet journaling? Let me know in the comments below, Dear Reader.
The Actorvist 