First Rehearsal, The Angels of Lemnos

My goodness. I am the only non-School of the Arts person involved with this staged reading! Chance is 4th year, Ryan is 1st year, Amanda is 2nd year, Adam is 4th year and Matt is one of the drama teachers. And that's exactly how they introduced themselves. What was I supposed to say? "Hi, I'm Cheryl Ann. I'm 38th year." Needless to say I was a bit intimated.

The rehearsal time was well spent as we read through the script. Except for Chance, we all play multiple parts. Adam stopped us after each new character was introduced and we talked about characterization. Since this is a staged reading, character differences must be made vocally and physically instead of with costumes. I have two speaking roles. My main role is Ellen, Nathan's mother. I love this character; the love she has for her son is very evident. We are combining the doctor and nurse roles so I'll be playing a nurse. There is also a very poignant scene that I'll be doing with Chance.

I actually read the script yesterday and I absolutely love it. It's a very well written play. I really would like to see a full scale production. As we were reading through today, Adam pointed out so much hidden meaning. I am very impressed with this 4th year director.

Despite being the only one not wanting to "act" for my regular paycheck, I am looking forward to working with the NCSA group. There is no way that I will walk away without having learned something.

My Adirondack Chair

I got the call yesterday, informing me that I had won the adirondack chair and footstool. (Unfortunately I didn't win any of the pottery I bid on. Guess I'll have to take a trip to Seagrove soon!)

Mom and I went to pick it up today. The volunteers at Second Harvest were digging my new chair. They all wished that they had bid on it. Cade helped me clean the chair, then we sat in it and I read him one of our favorite books. This will become my new coffee sipping, newspaper reading spot.

Sometimes the simplest things give me the most pleasure.

Art for Lunch and the 30 Second Audition

Ken and I had lunch today at the fire station on Marshall Street. Second Harvest Food Bank hosted a fundraising event called "Empty Bowls". For a $25.00 donation, you received soup, salad, dessert, a choice of refreshing beverage and a beautiful piece of pottery. I didn't really care much about the lunch - I was there for the pottery. (Though I did have a wonderful tomato bisque.)

With 6 tables full of various shades, shapes and sizes of "bowls", making a single pottery choice was overwhelming. Some of the pottery was donated by artists from Seagrove and by local "artists" from Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and the Sawtooth Center. Luckily I had an idea of what I wanted; a small soup bowl with a handle, kinda like an oversized coffee cup. After checking and re-checking each table I finally settled on a tan bowl with a blue and green glaze on the inside. I can't read the artist's signature on the bottom, but I know it came from Seagrove.

After eating we took some time to look at all the items that were up for bid. I bid on two pieces of pottery and a beautiful, handcrafted adirondack chair and footstool. There was only about 5 minutes left until the bids closed so I'm bound to win one of them.

When I got back to the office, Norman asked me if I wanted to be in a play. I said sure, then asked if I had to audition. He handed me a script and told me the director would be there in less than 10 minutes. A young man entered my office and we chatted briefly while Norman finished a phone call. Then the young man and Norman returned to my desk. I read 5 lines and the young man stopped me and said, "That was wonderful. You are beautiful. You're perfect. Will you do it?" Well, with that kind of flattery, how could I say no?

I'll be working with the young man, Adam Woolley, and 4 other castmates for the New Horizons Staged Reading of The Angels of Lemnos. I wish every audition were that easy!

RiverRun: Midnight Shorts

On the way home from Charlotte, I asked Ken if he was up for seeing a midnight showing of several short films at The Garage. He used to go to a lot of the film festivals in New York, so I thought he might like to participate in the RiverRun Film Festival. He was game.

We got to The Garage with plenty of time before the movies. We selected seats in the second row and then we (ok, I) ate popcorn, drank beer and chatted until it was time for the movies.

The first short, Tony vs. Paul, about two guys fighting in stop-motion animation was pretty funny. Ken had seen it before on YouTube. Songbird was ridiculous and gross. One D was about a man and a woman, who live in a one dimensional world, go out to the movies and get attacked by aliens. It was hilarious.

Jane Lloyd was about a woman who grows up and seeks fame and fortune in Hollywood. I thought it was interesting, especially since there was no dialogue. Home Delivery was another animated short. Pregnant lady, zombies. Need I say more? DVD was a Spanish language film. Unfortunately I couldn't read the subtitles. The man sitting in front of me was leaning his arm around his girlfriend.

Dr. Undead's Fright Fest was next, and I was pleasantly surprised that one of my favorite actors, David Joy, was in the film. He played a killer milkman who gets his just desserts. Not only is David nice on the eyes, he's also a very talented actor.

Carlitopolis was just wrong. A funny experiment gone violently bad. Poor little cute furry mouse. The last film, The Caress of the Creature lasted 10 minutes longer than it should have been.

I did have a nice time, and enjoyed most of the shorts. I just wish I had seen them earlier in the day.

Christmas Eve

Do you remember how you felt as a kid, full of useless energy and agonizing anticipation on Christmas Eve? I hope you can remember because that feeling best describes my current mood.

I wish 6 o'clock would hurry up and get here. Ken is picking me up at that time and we are headed to Charlotte.

I wish 8 o'clock would hurry up and get here. Ken and I will be sitting in the audience to watch Tony Award Winner Cherry Jones as Sister Aloysius in Doubt, a parable.

I finished reading the script on Monday. Normally I don't (or rather can't) read the shows before I see them. But, since I've heard so many good things about the show, I wanted to read the book so I could sit back and enjoy the performances. And I must say, the book is absolutely wonderfully written.

Stan Bernstein saw the show in Charlotte on Tuesday. He was in my office waiting for his production team to gather. He looked at me and said he just had to talk to somebody about what he had seen the night before. He was in awe over the production. He told me a bit about the set and lighting and talked about how good an actress Cherry Jones is.

I can't wait to see the show. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Less than 4 hours til curtain!

Go, Go, Go Joseph!

Ken and I attended last night's performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Greensboro Coliseum. While I had never seen the show before, I quickly realized I was familiar with some of the music. (Courtesy of several Andrew Lloyd Webber compilation CDs.)

The big musical numbers were wonderful with their crashes of drums and flashes of light. The cast was full of cowboy and cheerleading energy. The show closed with the Joseph Megamix, a rock/disco medley of most of the major numbers. (I believe this number inspired Jamie to dance-up his curtain calls.) I was highly impressed with the music and choreography. The actual story....well, not so much.

I'm no Bible scholar, so on the way home Ken and I discussed what I thought were flaws in the story:

1.) Preferential treatment by Jacob - I mean, who among us can really blame the brothers for their jealousy? It's easy to understand how sibling rivalry could get out of hand, especially since Joseph was the only one to get the "coat of many colors". Jacob could just as easily made 12 coats, each in a different color. (By the way, the word "technicolor" is never uttered in the show.)
2.) Joseph mouths off - Dreams about "my star being bigger than yours" and "you will bow before me". Hello? The brothers roughing Joseph up and throwing him into the pit, totally understandable. (Selling Joseph into slavery, not so much. Claiming Joseph is dead and celebrating, ok, a little extreme.)
3.) The Golden Cup - When Joseph jumps off the throne and secretly places his golden cup in Benjamin's sack, I thought Joseph was making sure his brothers are well taken care of; after the food runs out they could sell the golden cup for more food. Imagine my surprise when Joseph jumps off the throne a second time to accuse someone of stealing his cup! He searches each bag, knowing full well where he placed the cup. Was this really a test for the brothers to display their unselfishness and penitence? Or was it revenge?

We enjoyed the energetic performance and Ken and I had a fun time discussing the show's ambiguous message. And I'm not embarrassed to admit to dancing around my kitchen this morning pretending my (pink) robe was a (techicolor) dreamcoat.

Ever Wish You Were an Ice Cube?

ACT Classes

I will be teaching an ACT class for the advanced high school students! I am sooooo excited!

Don't Miss This!

I've told you once and I'm telling you again. Do not miss The Little Theatre's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. There are still tickets available for the remaining weekend. Call to make your reservations or purchase your tickets online. However you do it, just make sure you do it, and do it now!

Ken, Mallorie and I watched the show tonight. Despite Ken's pre-show discussion of how, in his humble opinion, Disney is ruining Broadway, I was giddy with anticipation. I was not let down.

First things first. The set was beautifully designed by Gio, the Technical Director for LTWS. I remember when he presented a model of the set during a staff meeting. I was very impressed with his small scale model. I can't even begin to tell you how impressive the real set is. (Maybe it would help if you knew that a theatre in Albemarle traveled up specifically to see our set? They are renting it for their production in June.) My favorite set piece is Maurice's crazy invention. It actually chops wood!

If you know Emily Mark and if you've been reading her blog, you know what she's been through, both physically and mentally, in bringing Belle to life. She never needed to worry. She was absolutely outstanding. I know that I've gushed about Emily before, but really, it's hard not to. Her song, "A Change in Me" brought tears to my eyes. Those tears resurfaced when Belle was admitting her love during the Beast's death scene. I can assure you that I wasn't the only one searching for Kleenex during those moments. It takes an extremely talented actor to affect an audience that way.

Gray and I have, in a sense, grown up together. I saw many of his productions with LTWS in the late 80's and early 90's. I've seen several of the shows he's done with Theatre Alliance in the last 3 years. I've counted myself very honored to have even shared the stage with him. While I've known Gray was an extremely talented actor, nothing prepared me for his Beast. He was, in a word, awesome.

I was also impressed with Miriam Davie (Babette), Craig Faircloth (Gaston) and Wells Albritton (LeFou). The Barnhardt sisters truly were Silly Girls.

Please, don't miss this show. If you are a parent of small ones, bring them! If you are a parent of grown ones, bring them! Even if you aren't a parent, come anyway. It's a wonderful story, outstanding set and exceptional cast.

Mission Accomplished....Sorta

My audition on Monday night went very well. Stan watched as my partner and I read the scene. Before I even got out the door, Stan invited me to callbacks. (Mission accomplished!)

Kelly Wallace and Gesh Metz were at callbacks as well. There were a couple of other ladies there too, but I felt that Kelly and Gesh were my only competition. And I was correct. Kelly was cast.

I'm not upset or sad that I didn't get the role. I've said before that Kelly is a talented actress. Her daughter, Meghan, was also cast and will be playing mother-daughter in the show. I'm very excited for both of them.

Auditions

Tonight I'm planning on auditioning for The Little Theatre's production of Over the Tavern.

The show is being directed by Stan Bernstein. Now, I've auditioned for Stan before. During auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace he didn't even pay attention or look up at me. Since then I have met him and spoken to him on a few occasions. Still, my goal for tonight is to make sure he pays attention to me.

One Talented Toddler

Hope this makes you smile as much as I did!

Simply Irresistible

Flipping through channels tonight I came across one of my all-time favorite movies, Simply Irresistible. One of my favorite quotes comes from this movie -

I just love dessert. It's the whole point of the meal.

The movie stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flannery. Patricia Clarkson, Dylan Baker, Betty Buckley and Amanda Peet costar. The music is absolutely wonderful.

Sweet and magical, this movie never fails to make me smile.

Sunday, Take Two

I was supposed to go to see Mamma Mia! in Charlotte today. Since I never heard whether I was supposed to meet or whether I was to be picked up, I missed the matinee.

Instead, Jake came up from UNC-C and Don, Gina and Shelby came over. We hadn't seen Jake since Christmas, so it was nice being with him. We caught each other up on the latest news (Barbara, Rose, new office move, The Vagina Monologues, etc.) and started "Game Night" with a crokinole tournament. I decided not to participate. Flicking round wooden chips across a "table" that resembles a dart board is not my thing. (I flick too hard.) I cheered Cade who scored some big points for a 4-year old.

We broke for come homemade chili and beer. Some of us went downstairs to check out Guitar Hero, the hot new PS2 game. Mallorie, who originally scoffed at the game, is quite the rocker. Don recovered very well after getting booed by the "audience". Shelby also did well. Allan was kicked off the "stage".

Next up was poker. Now, I've no idea on how to really play poker. I understand the basic concept, but I have to be told when to put in money and how much (little and big blinds). But I love to play especially when it's not real money involved. Just before we broke for dessert, I was winning.

After everyone left, I went back downstairs to watch Mallorie rock out. She let me have a turn, and while I wasn't booed off the stage, it was slow going. Mallorie changed the game to a practice session and after getting the hang of that I moved on to the easy mode. I can't remember the song, but I did fairly well hitting and maintaing the notes. I was even relaxed enough to tap my foot to the musical beat. Mallorie kept asking for a turn and I kept telling her to wait. The game certainly is addictive.

We are all planning on getting together on Saturday. More crokinole, poker and my new favorite, Guitar Hero. Rock on!

Judging Books by the Cover

Okay, I'll admit it. I do judge books based on the attractiveness of their covers. This doesn't make me a bad person, does it? I mean, I recognize that I could be missing some really good books simply due to a lack of pretty packaging. So, when I was at The Strand in New York, after perusing 3 of the 18 miles they claim to have in books, I decided to buy a plain book. Since the book was only $1.00, I knew I'd potentially gain much more than I would loose. The book I selected is a hardback book, blue with green binding. The title, come together, was small; the lettering in plain gold.

I just finished the book, and I must say, it was pretty good.

Jack and Amy are two twentysomething singles living in London. Jack is an artist working part-time in a gallery and prowls the bars by night looking to score. Amy is a temp with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. When the two meet at a party, they spend the whole night talking. Jack starts out trying to seduce Amy into a casual fling, he ends up falling for her hard.

The book alternates he said-she said chapters. Although it's pretty predictable, there are some laugh out loud moments. Apparently the authors, Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees became a couple while writing the book.

V-Day. Until the Violence Stops

Well, I am done "Reclaiming Cunt". At least for another year. The 2007 production of The Vagina Monologues was earlier tonight.

Peg, Annemarie, Andrea and I were a bit nervous about our "Wear/Say" montage. All of us were dropping lines during a quick run-thru earlier today. We ran it about 10 times before the show started and, I'm happy to report, we performed perfectly.

My first monologue was "The Crooked Braid" which I had never seen performed. In the monologue, an American-Indian woman recounts a tale of abuse from her husband and finally decides to cut off his braid, his mark of pride, while he slept. It's a very difficult piece, inspired by the women of Pine Ridge Reservation. It's a beautifully written, haunting monologue and I especially wanted to honor the voices of these women. Finding the rhythm of the piece was challenging. During our final dress rehearsal I made several of the women cry. That was my goal for tonight.

The stage was dark except for the spotlight on me as I sat in a rocking chair. I looked out at the audience and saw their outline. As I delivered the monologue, I could sense that I was connecting with each person in the audience. As I delivered the last lines of the piece and as the spotlight went out, I could tell the audience was speechless. There was no applause, none was needed. As I started to exit I could hear the sniffles. And I saw the tears in the eyes of a few of my castmates who were waiting backstage. I achieved my goal.

"Reclaiming Cunt" was my last monologue, and the same one I did last year. I originally planned on a costume that was similar to the one I wore last year. (This was last year's costume.) Instead I decided to reclaim cunt in an elegant manner. I wore a burgundy gown with black opera gloves. Everyone loved the visual. I mean, there I was, in formal dress, expressing how much I like the word cunt.

I nailed this piece as well. My only gripe is that I got cut off. After getting the audience to yell "Cunt!" along with me, I usually end by "singing" the c-word in a very loud voice, complete with outstretched arms. Unfortunately they called the lights after the audience shouted the c-word for the second time. Oh, well. There's always next year.

We won't have attendance or money statistics for several weeks, but I believe the fundraiser was a success. I felt it was a success, for me personally, as well as for all the women (and a few men) involved with the production. As Eve says, "Pussies Unite!"

Ah Yes, I Remember It Well

I flew home from LaGuardia last night. I didn't have a problem using the kiosk to check in. However, there was one flight that had been cancelled and two others were delayed. There was one passenger who was irate and quite a few more who were grumbling to the ticket counter agents. What these passengers should have been doing was counting themselves very lucky that it wasn't Christmas and it didn't snow.

I worked for The Office of Consumer Affairs at US Airways during the Sabre computer cutover in December 1997. At that time US Airways employees were in the midst of a computer system learning curve, further impacted by increased holiday travel and a huge snowstorm in the North.

US Airways Sees More Check-In Problems
Charlotte, Philadelphia, Boston, Las Vegas Expect Delays
AP
PHOENIX (March 5) - US Airways passengers were encouraged to check-in using the company's Web site while the airline continued to work Monday to repair malfunctioning check-in kiosks that created long lines and delayed travelers in some cities over the weekend.
The Tempe-based airline hoped to have the kiosks repaired by the end of the day, said US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant. "We're hoping," he said. "There probably won't be one silver bullet that we can find to fix everything."

Problems with kiosks in Charlotte, Philadelphia, Boston and Las Vegas began Sunday after the airline put a computerized reservation system in place, delaying some passengers for at least an hour and a half in Las Vegas and Charlotte, the airline's largest hub.

The system is a consolidation of the reservation systems of US Airways Group Inc. and America West Airlines, which combined in 2005.

Elise Eberwein, an airline spokeswoman, said passengers should check in for their flights online so they can avoid possible lines. The online check-in option was shut down for part of the weekend because of the system consolidation.

"One of the problems contributing to the problems yesterday was the Web check-in was unavailable," added Durrant. "Folks who are accustomed to doing that can do that again."

Durrant said there were flight delays Sunday but that US Airways flights were "running fairly on time" Monday. There were no cancellations, he said.

At Boston's Logan International Airport, lines were unusually long at US Airways' check-in counter on Sunday, but no flights departing Logan were canceled because of the malfunction, airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said.

Lines were somewhat shorter Monday as all US Airways passengers checked in with staff at the counter, rather than using the kiosks, Orlandella said.

"There have been no major problems - it's just an inconvenience," he said.

Michelle Mohr, another US Airways spokeswoman, said the airline's Pittsburgh kiosks have not been working since Sunday morning, but that additional local staff had been assigned to help passengers and disruptions were minimal.

"We're putting some fixes into place," she said. "We're working night and day and have a team dedicated to bringing those kiosks back online."

US Airways is advising travelers to arrive at the airport two hours early for domestic flights, Mohr said.

Even though many passengers were affected by this past weekend's Sabre to Shares cutover, it was nothing compared to 1997.

NYC, Friday Afternoon

Well of course I didn't get much sleep. I was too keyed up to stay asleep. I think I saw some part of every hour.

Neither one of us had any problems checking in and we both breezed through TSA security. Our flight was delayed in departing, but I didn't mind. I just sat back, grabbed the US Airways In-Flight magazine and enjoyed the ride.

Ken had arranged a limo to take us from LaGuardia into the city. I felt a bit like a celebrity! It took a good 45 minutes so I was able to close my eyes for a bit. We arrived at the hotel and dropped off our luggage since our rooms weren't ready.

The weather was cold and a bit drizzly. We hung around in the MoMA (that's the Museum of Modern Art for you non-New Yorkers) gift shop and stopped at one of the millions of Starbuck's. We walked down Broadway to locate some of the theatres and then we walked to 5th Avenue. (I bought some mascara in Saks.)

We headed back to the hotel around 2p and were able to check-in. Each of us took quick naps and after freshening up we headed out for dinner. We ate at this really neat Italian restaurant. (I can't remember the name of the restaurant...it was something Italian.) The food was wonderful and the service excellent.

It was a bit more windy as we walked to the theatre. I didn't mind. I was too excited about seeing my very first Broadway show.

Dreams Really Do Come True

Can you believe that I have never seen a Broadway show? Wait, let me clarify that. I mean, I have seen several touring productions of Broadway shows. Cats, Rent (3 times), and The Producers are among those I've seen in Greensboro and Charlotte. Mallorie, a mere 14 year old, has seen two(!) Broadway shows. And while I've been to New York several times, mostly for shopping, I have never attended a Broadway show.

That will change tomorrow.

Ken and I are flying to NYC and, over the course of the weekend, we will see 4(!) shows. I am incredibly excited.

There's no better person than Ken to make my dream a reality. He lived in New York for 10 years, so he knows his way around the city. He's also very up on the latest Broadway news. Ken and I go to all the local theatre shows together, and since he's my best friend, I simply can't imagine a trip like this without him!

Alright, it's getting late. I really need to head to bed as we have to get up at o'dark thirty to drive to Greensboro for our flight. I hope I can sleep....I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

Oh, Eve....

Play's Controversial Title Leads To Complaints, Change

POSTED: 11:08 pm EST February 6, 2007
ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- A modified marquee in Atlantic Beach has been drawing some attention. "Hoohaa" replaced a word in the title of a play after a driver complained about finding the previous wording offensive.

The marquis for Atlantic Theaters advertises a number of plays including, the Masquerade Ball, Band Jam, and now The Hoohaa Monologues.

Some said hoohaa is a strange word and that its definition depends on its context, while others said it sounds like a country band. However, it's not a band at all. In fact, most people know hoohaa by a different name -- vagina.

"We got a complaint about this play The Vagina Monologues," said Bryce Pfanenstiel, of the Atlantic Theater.

The Hoohaa Monologues is a replacement title for The Vagina Monologues -- a well-known play about that part of the female body.

"We decided we would just use child slang for it. That's how we decided on Hoohaa Monologues," Pfanenstiel said.

They did this after a driver who saw it complained to the theater, saying she was upset that her niece saw it.

"I'm on the phone and asked 'What did you tell her?' She's like, 'I'm offended I had to answer the question,'" Pfanenstiel said.

Some parents said they applaud the title change.

The theater said they're trying not to offend anyone, but the publicity doesn't hurt.

"We hope people understand we're trying to do the right thing. But as far as doing it for attention, we're a comedy club, we do all kinds of shenanigans," Pfanenstiel said.

The play is being brought to the theater by a group of law school students and all of the proceeds are going to various charity organizations. The director of the play said she was going ask the theater and comedy club to return the title back to its original name.