Well I had a fun-filled two weeks. Where to begin? First and foremost, I saw Matrix: Reloaded tonight with Sara and Sue. I generally liked the movie, although I was annoyed and distracted by the CGI fight scenes. They just detracted from the realism because I could tell it was fake (odd in light of the other "effects" I know). However, I think it was a great movie. I felt like I was back in graduate school in a rhetoric and composition class reading one of those assinine critics. But in this case, all the philosophy and "sound and fury" were greatly molded into the movie and the plot. I cannot WAIT to see the final movie as I am sure it is bound to surprise me even more and make me think even harder. Favorite part: The Twins. Just something about the look, the abilities, the accents. I like it all.
So I spent last week in New York for what was originally just a trip to see Eric perform in his final dance concert for Joffrey before he graduated. As luck would have it, I got Jorge to go along with me and from Wednesday to Sunday I had an amazing excursion into New York theatre and life. I can;t even begin to narratize the entire trip. So once again.... a synopsis:
Wednesday:
Flew in, landed at around 10:30 into JFK. Drove into the city and met Jorge's friends William and Scott (whom we were staying with) and their mutual friend Joe at Matt's Grill. After much staring I finally realized that Joe was the Jesus in the Godspell national tour which spawned the cast recording. I found ot have a lot in common with him, and even got a hug, to my shock, when we dropped him off. He was a great guy and it was nice to connect with someone so quickly upon landing. We go to Scott's house. He is the stage manager for the current production of Cabaret and has been withthe show since the beginning. His apartment, in Inwood, is amazing and his memoribilia is even more amazing. He even has Alan Cumming's chair from his dressing room with white body paint marks on it. Too cool. Had a great time talking to him and turned in. BTW, I will always fly Jet Blue when I can. What a GREAT airlines and what a GREAT flight
Thursday:
Started off the morning being shown around Jorge's old neighborhood and walking down his memory lane. It was very cool to say the least to see him exploring his roots. Went back to Scott's and just killed some time there until we had to go into the city where I met Jorge;s friend John. We left Scott's and moved over top his friend Helen's place. What a riot she is and what fun. We ended up splitting for the night to see shows. I saw Movin' Out and they saw Take Me Out. The show was AMAZING. I have no clue where Tharp came up with half of that choreography. And I LOVE Elizabeth Parkinson. The woman is just astoundigly beautiful and amasingly talented. John Selya, whom I had never seen dance before blew me the fuck away as did Ashley Tuttle. I had chills from beginning to end and teary eyes because the show just moved me. So simple and so complicated. I ended up leaving Helen;s to go stay with Joan and Kati and to spend two days with them and Mark (since the trip was originally planned with them). I turned in and had such a peaceful night's sleep.
Friday
This would prove to be the most amazing day out of all four. I started the morning going to the Steps studio of dance to watch Kati take a ballet class and ot meet some of the people Mark used to stomp around with. I ran into William who was playing for the class and has a great time sitting next to him and listening to his awesome choices of songs for the class. The oddest part, but the coolest, was weatching John Lithgow walk into the building and wonder what he was doing there, only to see him come in the studio wearing brown tights, black ballet shoes and a white shirt and going at the barre with everyone else. He left before the floor exercises....of course. Is plit up from the group to meet Jorge in Times Sqaure so we could check up on our tickets for Nine. The whole week and day before I played phone tag with Rocco -- a dear man I have known for a while who is VERY good friends with Chita Rivera and has been with her for most of her career - trying ot get tickets for Nine, the hottest show in town at the moment and the one show I REALLY wanted to see. After all his calling, he discovered that all the house seats were gone and we could only get singles spread out acorss the house. Which was fine with us because at least we were getting ot see the show. Imagine our SHOCK when I go to get the tickets and our seats are 9th row center. Neither of us was well. I returned to the trio, after running all around the Broadway Dance Center trying to find them only to discover they had not stayed there, met one of Mark's former students, walked around with them while they shopped and then met Jorge outside the theatre. I decide to pop backstage (I say it so nonchalantly) to thank Rose, Chita's assistant after Rocco left, for getting us the tickets. I totally remembered who she was and the best thing was that she assumed we would want to come backstage after the show and already had myname at the top of the list, introduced me to the bodyguard who was going ot walk us through the security and barricades. Again....NOT well. At ALL. We saw the show, which was absofucikinglutely AMAZING. Banderas was nothing short of brilliant, Chita was amazing, Masterson was surprisingly good, I loved Benanti as I have before, and Krakowski blew me the fuck away (including a shocking moment on her exit in her solo when were boobs fell out of her sheet as she flew into the ceiling upside down holding onto a note). I wish I could see the show over and over and over again. The show lets out and we go backstage and wait around for a bit. We finally get walked in and we walk across the stage...ACROSS THE STAGE. I got to see the water container bckstage that feeds the backstage wall fountain and center minipool ( I kid you not). I had to touch things left, right and sideways. As we are walking back we see Krakowski in her costume (a nude dress with spangles) standing on the stairway, but neither of us wanted to interrupt her. We hang around outside Chita's dressing room waiting to go in and chat and the chorus memebers are walking up and down and around and I am spying things backstager and realizing just how similar it is to how I have done things in shows down here. We go in to meet her and she actually remembers me, although not my name, and gives me a hug and a kiss and Jorge as well. We chat for a while and then talk about Rocco and she proceeds to try and find something to give to me to give to him. She first gives me a flower that she realizes will not make it back and then hands me her dog's marrow chew toy. I was laughing my ass off. It was great to see her again. We walk out and as we do, we run into Krakowski and Jorge is the first to speak up and talkto her and I follow suit. Then as we pass the stairwell to head outside, we see Banderas and Masterson and my heart stopped. We chatted with them for a SHORT while. He is the most HUMBLE and effusive actor I have ever met. Jorge and he even had a convo in Spanish. We walk out into the cool New York air and bask in the amazing night we have just had. I mean AMAZING. I am on cloud nine. Oh but it is not over. We have to meet Scott backstage at Cabaret because he is going to give us a backstage tour after the show. Amazing. Getting ot just hang aroudn in their green room and walk around on the stage. Then we get to meet the perofrmers, including Tom Bosley and Deborah Gibson. I just could not believe this night. While we were waiting aroudn before the show was over I ran into Markk's friend and former student Dana whom he was supposed to meet up with, so I just connected with them after and split from Jorge. I walked with her and her boyfriend Billy to meet up with the trio and then off to dinner. They are SUCH nice people and it was a hoot talking to Billy because we shot the shit about everything from theatre to philosophy. I had a great time. It seemed almost a shame to go home and go to sleep.
Saturday
My last day. Not as exciting but fulfilling. I saw A Day in the Death of Joe Egg with Eddie Izzard. Great show. Spent most of the afternoon by myself walking around and sitting in front of the New York Public Library soaking in the atmosphere and writing thank you cards. And then meeting up with the trio and Eric and his family to have dinner. And then to watch his concert which was a lot of fun. Then everyone went out and I went back to the apartment tp clena up and pack up and get ready for my flight early in the morning.
Ater a bumpy flight back I landed, headed off to a studio rehearsal, which no one showed up to, then to Footloose auditions, which lasted for the next two days and now I sit here reflecting on what my life is like now graduated and jobless and wishing I was back in New York with all those great people having a great time. I need to find a job if for nothing else but to move and get away from all the crap and my life here and to start anew and to start pursuing a goal that everyone else seems to have faith in for me. Things are winding down an people are going to be leaving soon. While I have this empty feeling in my stomach and a sense of great loss and sadness I know that things will be just fine. I am going to miss you MF. So now, back to work I go, and back to setting the groundwork for the rest of my life.
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