Photo Shoot with MoDeZinz Photography and Design!

My friend Monica Dodge of MoDeZinz Photography and Design is doing a photo series on love: specifically what makes couples unique. Since Joe and I are both actors, we decided to do a shoot of us portraying some of our famous couples from theatre, film and pop culture. We shot at the beautiful Glove Theatre (the site of my recent wedding), using some of their gorgeous costume pieces. How often do you get to do a photo shoot with one of your favorite friends AND your husband at your wedding location 

(which happens to be a theatre)?

LORD & LADY MACBETH

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS & JOHN PROCTOR

SID & NANCY

ANTONY & CLEOPATRA

Monica is a longtime friend, and it's so awesome to see her photography progress over the years! She's based out of the Capital District in NY, but she sometimes finds herself in NYC. Check her out!

Just A Writer Alone In The Woods...

It's been a busy summer! Here's a long overdue recap of my playwrighting residency at Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, NC.

 I have three new plays in the works, but carving out time to sit down, relax and let the writing happen is difficult. I can write a page of blog material in ten minutes, but it could take me three hours to write a page of dialogue for a play. Creative writing is just a slower process (for me, anyways). After writing and performing my one-woman show, A Woman In Progress, I found myself with a renewed passion for writing. When I found out that I had been accepted to Brooklyn College’s MFA Acting program, I knew that in the fall, I would have very little time for anything but my studies. If I wanted to crank out another play, or two (or three), it HAD to happen this summer.

Wildacres exceeded my expectation in EVERY regard! The artist’s cabin is separate from the main retreat to allow for privacy and focus, a brisk 20 walk (/hike) down the gravel road. The cabin is beautifully appointed, generously sized, and inspiring in and of itself. The grounds and facilities are gorgeous. The best part by far, though, is the staff. I have never felt more at home with a group of people I just met. I’m referred to as the “cabin dweller”- the affectionate nickname given to the current resident artist. 

 Fred and Mary Kay- my surrogate grandparents for the week! 

The amazing Sherry Lovett- storyteller extraordinaire!

The property is stunningly gorgeous. I mean, how can you NOT be inspired by this?

It was a productive week! I'm almost completely finished with a draft of a new piece called His Brother's War, the first installment in a three-piece adaptation of Aeschlyus' Oresteia.

I'm so grateful to everyone at Wildacres for this wonderful opportunity!

Spring Performance/ Awards Ceremony

Friday evening my students performed their spring show- the last time I'll get to work with the older ones who are graduating out of the program. It is equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking to see how far they've come since we started working together and how close to my heart they've become. I'm a weeping mess every time I think about our last day together, but I'll spare you too much mush... Enjoy some photos of my adorable kiddos!

Handing out the Most Promising Dancer Award to a deserving young man. 

All of the Dance Award Recipients.

Being a diva star...

Posing with the Most Improved Dancer Award Recipient. I'm so amazingly proud of this kid and how much he's improved since our first class together two years ago!

Chillin' at the afterparty! (I DIDN'T eat a hotdog... don't worry! :)

This little lady ballroom dances! So talented! :)

Deep in conversation...

With one of my former dance students (and Dance Award Recipient)- I LOVE it when my former students come back to see me after they've graduated the program!

I. LOVE. MY. JOB. 

Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

I had my first meeting today with my six future classmates and Judylee Vivier, the head of the MFA Acting department at Brooklyn College. Professor Vivier shared with us a beautiful passage that really spoke to the journey of an actor, and I had to share it!

Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium: and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not  your business to determine how good it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly--to keep the channel open. You do no even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."

This passage really resonated with me. Particularly the bit about it being "not your business to determine how good it is, nor how it compares with other expressions." Can you imagine a world in which actors did not compare themselves and their performances to other actors- a world in which we allow ourselves to be free enough to follow our impulses, regardless of what they look and sound like? It's something I strive for constantly and this piece reminded me how important it is to do so. 

Are you regularly able to "keep the channel open"? If not, what challenges prevent you from doing so?

Catching up...

Wow! I've only been out of town for three weeks, but it feels like three years! I promise a more substantial post soon, but for now, here's a link to my wedding photos.

In other news- I'll be running my 3rd Tough Mudder on Mother's Day! I'm psyched! Check out the course here!

Anti-Violence Art Show at the NY Aquarium

Yesterday was my last day teaching for three weeks, and though I'm THRILLED to have the time off for the wedding and honeymoon, I'm going to miss my little ones like crazy. They're all convinced that I'm going to have a baby soon because "That's what you do when you get married" but as I tell them all the time, I have 180 children at the moment- why on earth would I need any more?

Last night, my students' work was displayed in an Anti-Violence Art Show along with the works of a few other YWCA afterschool programs at the NY Aquarium. I adore my students and I love my job, but admittedly, the areas that the YWCA serves are under-served in many ways, and violence is a very real part of growing up in Coney Island, Brownsville and some of the other rougher parts of Brooklyn. Under the guidance of my colleague Erin Welsh, the kids created artwork that reflected how they felt about the violence that surrounds them, and what they hope for their futures. Words cannot express how proud I am of my accomplished, intelligent and talented students.

With some of my awesome students!

With the art and drama specialists from my YWCA site!

Why I LOVE Donors Choose!

Got $10? $5? $1? Teachers spend SO MUCH personal money on supplies when classroom budgets fall short- Donors Choice allows you to pick a classroom project to help fund and the kids in the class send thank you's! Joe and I donated to Donor's Choose as one of our Wedding Favor Charities. Check out their website!