recent developments

Hi y'all,

Well, it's been a week since the last blog, but I have a few updates!

First of all, I'm happy to announce that I'll be working Hair for the new musical, Limelight, premiering at La Jolla Playhouse! It's going to be a HUUUGE show...stay tuned for updates lol. This means I'm employed til October - hooray! Which means more money for the big move...things are lookin' up :)

Camp is going well...we've finished blocking our show (Pinocchio), and now just have to really start to nail down the run throughs. The kids are all doing a really great job...well, most of them. Sometimes 7 and 8 year olds can be such...well, 7 and 8 year olds. The show goes up a on Wednesday....it's actually gone by really quickly! I'm so grateful that the wonderful Sami took on camp with me...the first year is for sure the roughest...but she's been AMAZING. What would I do without her?? Who knows. Probably be a lot more stressed than I am. A week from right now we will be SO SO HAPPY. The show will be over, the kids will be happy, the parents will be thrilled, and I will get to sleep in. YESSSS :)

Going back to LJP, Midsummer is going well! The show has gotten down to routine at this point, which is awesome. Basically it means I can function on autopilot a little bit from 6ish til midnight. Learning to conserve energy is a faaabulous skill.

In other news, I'm getting antsy...it's been a while since I've performed/auditioned, and I'm really missing it. A lot. I've been looking at the audition postings on AEA and backstage and actors access, and it's a little bit torturous because I can't do a show until after Limelight, so I can't really go on any auditions at the moment unless it's stuff that starts after October. It's just an exercise in trust, really...there will be more auditions when I'm done at the Playhouse, and then I'll be moving to NY and there will be plenty of opportunities out there.

Patience patience patience.

Trust trust trust.

OH!! ALSO, this week, Proposition 8 was declared unconstitutional. HUGE DEAL! I found out at the end of camp and was SO happy. I just feel like love is love is love....if two people love each other, they deserve to be able to celebrate that love, whether it is hetero or homosexual. When Prop 8 passed last election, I said that I vowed not to get married until it was legal for my friends to get married regardless of sexual preference. Not like I have any prospects, but it was the principle of the thing...if my gay friends couldn't get married, it wasn't fair for me to be able to just because I happen to be straight.

Anyway, it's a small victory, but I'm sure the war is far from over. For now, though, I'm proud to be a (current) Californian.

love, love, LOVE.

A sensible Wednesday blog

Well, I'm working 15 hour days. Yep. You heard me...generally speaking, my current schedule is...

Monday:

8am-4pm: Camp Counselor

Tuesday through Friday:

8am-4pm: Camp Counselor Extraordinaire

5, 6:30(ish)- midnight: Wig Mistress at La Jolla Playhouse for Midsummer Night's Dream

Saturday, Sunday:

11am(ish)-midnight(ish): two shows at the Playhouse!

The good news? I'm making bank...I'll have enough to afford moving to NY if I'm smart about my money after all this! :) And I'm definitely not bored.

The bad news? I'm exhausted. Waking up in the morning is the hardest part...once I get going, I'm alright, but getting started is awwwwful. And, I don't really have time to do fun things. Well, these are fun things, sort of, as long as I don't think of it as "work."

I am so grateful, though. Let's be real...finding ONE job nowadays is rough, and I've come across two well-paying jobs that don't involve sitting at a desk. I get to run around and teach kids about theatre, then come work in one of the best regional theatres in SD. I'm spending time around kids and artists...so I can't complain. And I get to be (sort of) artistic at the Playhouse...getting these weaves under control is for sure a new skill for me. It's my second time working with wigs, and I'm running a whole show myself! Sort of a big deal :) lol.

The wonderful Michael comes in everyday and does allllll of the maintenance (and believe me, for this show, there's a LOT of maintenance to be done). I come in an hour before curtain and make the last few wigs pretty, then start putting the lead wigs on at half hour. Then I run the show and do a few quick changes. At the end of the show, I get to put all the wigs back on their heads, then go home and tumble into bed.

Lather, rinse, repeat. For the next 3 weeks.

I do get a few days off, though...when Erick or Michael can cover for me...yesterday, for instance! I got the whole day off to go to Val and Geoff's beautiful wedding! It was essentially a MET reunion...so many wonderful people that I haven't seen in FOREVER. It made me miss being able to play in Neverland with these kids.

the (in)famous stefamatina

at the beach after the ceremony!

the gang with the happy couple!

Seth made this AMAZING cake!!

Val and Geoff are two of the most wonderful people in the world. I was humbled when they asked me to sing their song at their ceremony ("Always" by Atlantic Starr), and "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" with two of our friends, Egbert and Michael. It was a blast, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of their special day! I wish them a beautiful marriage and a bright, happy future!

The wedding was also amazing because I was reunited with some of the best people in the world. I guess it was one of those "you don't realize how much you miss it until you don't have it" things...I didn't realize how much I missed being with everyone until I was back together with them. It'd been almost 10 months since I'd seen Ash and Seth...NOT ok. I don't even remember the last time I had seen Ryan, either. It made me so happy to see them again, and to get the Walnuts back in the same room...or at least most of us :). It's nice to know, though, that no matter how far we roam, we'll always be able to jump back into each other's lives.

This very moment, I'm sitting in Starbucks in La Jolla, relaxing for a moment between camp and the show. Only 2 and a half more weeks to go...

starbucks in one hand, hairpins in the other, I'm conquering this summer!

remember: love, love, LOVE.

Go go go Joe!

Last week was a whirlwind!

We tech'd Joseph in two days, then had shows for the rest of the week! I really had a great time reconnecting with old friends. It's crazy...I haven't seen some of those people for like, 2 or 3 years, and it feels just like yesterday! I think MET is a time warp.

Playing the Narrator was a blast. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to learn the role! It's definitely a part that I look forward to playing again (hopefully a few more times).

Me and Muppy :)

Me and Max (Joseph)

I also played Potiphar's wife...and got to wear one of my favorite costumes to date! Check it out...

On our off-nights, Tina and I got to play the best part of all...the CAMEL!!! It was hysterical...probably one of the funnest things I've ever done on stage. We were only in the camel for a couple minutes, but we were hot messes by the end. Here's our pre-camel and post-camel portraits...

Here's a full-body shot of the Camel legs...gives a whoooole new meaning to "camel toe."

Of course, I dressed up for the closing show! Decided to rock the fabulous boat party dress, with my post-camel hair. I couldn't resist a super-classy/sassy-in-the-mirror picture...lol

MET has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. The people, shows, the experiences, the love. No matter how long you've been away, somehow you can pick things up right where you left off. I couldn't be more grateful for the family I have there, and I know no matter how far we travel, it's only a matter of time before we find ourselves back at home. :)

.love, love, LOVE.

I love me some SDMT :)

Yesterday, I was honored to perform alongside some fabulous people at a benefit for San Diego Musical Theatre! The Producers, Erin and Gary Lewis, asked if I would sing "Nothing" from A Chorus Line, since it's the third show of their upcoming season. Of course I said I'd love to! It was a wonderful little event, and I'm glad I was able to make it!

(L to R) Me, Reggie, Amy, Don, and Jill

SDMT is a really incredible company producing musical theatre year-round in San Diego. I played Ursula in their Bye Bye Birdie a couple years ago, and it was definitely one of my favorite theatre experiences to date! I can't wait to hopefully work with them again!

Here's their website for more info!

http://www.sdmt.org/

Giant Update!

SO much to catch everyone up on! It's been a really crazy last couple months. This blog feels like it's looong overdue...and it feels like SO much to tackle, but here goes!

WILD PARTY

Here are some piiictures!

A sensible photo-collage (top to bottom, L to R): Eddie & Mae, the end of Wild, Wild Party, more Eddie & Mae, Max & Queenie, even more Eddie & Mae, the Fight, Queenie, Burrs, Kate & the Gang.

The Cast and Joel (our SM)

Lital and I

Not only was I in the show, but I doubled as Annie's wig mistress...and was SO happy about it.

Eddie & Mae

My costume!

The coolest surprise...We made it into the costume display case!

I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my last year in college. I honestly love everyone who was involved in the show, from everyone in the cast to the entire crew. The rehearsal process felt SO long...I wish the show felt just as long, but it went by so quickly! All of a sudden, there we were at closing night curtain call.

I wanted that last curtain call to last forever. We stood there, after our last company bow, for what felt like minutes. It was probably only 20 seconds, but to feel all of that love from the audience and from everyone onstage and backstage was incredible. I don't think I'll forget that feeling for the rest of my life.

MT 4

The whole class, plus our professors!

The BFA/Honors in Music Theatre Senior Class, 2010

Ohhh gosh, the MT4 experience. It was such a whirlwind...unless you've been in the class, you can't fully understand the insanity that it is. For those of you who don't know, MT4 is the top level of Music Theatre training classes at UCI. We take 3-4 shows and condense them down to a half hour abridged version. This quarter, we did A Little Night Music, Footloose, and Avenue Q. It was a CRAZY process, but in the end, it all came together lol... we weren't sure that it was going to, but it did...and I'm so glad!

THE RETURN OF THE EPIC BOAT PARTY

SO excited!!

Highlights (top to bottom): On the deck with Sami, Frannie and Kev, With my sweet sister Merkins, dancing!, Courtney, me, Ian, and Kara

The Senior Class of 2010 after the Boat Party :)

So I wasn't able to go to the Boat Party last year and I was really bummed...but lets just say...this absolutely made up for it! :) We had over 100 people on the boat, and it was AMAZING. Definitely a fun way to spend one of our last nights in Balboa!

GRADUATION

My graduation announcement!

A giant group of love

Andreas, Ian, Danny, Courtney, Annie and I got to sing "Heart and Music" at the Arts Awards Ceremony...such an awkward picture...

Yay!

Kevvy and Me :)

Eddie and Mae are graduating!!

Bali'ho at Graduation. LOVE.

The girls of Bali'ho Upper

Family (top L to R): sisters, Papa, Grammy, the whole family at dinner :)

Good smile, Mom

Myrona, Dennis, and Gary...grateful just doesn't cover it :)

It's funny how one day can make you so happy and so sad at the same time. Happy because it was such a crazy accomplishment...after 5 years, I graduated with a BFA in Music Theatre from UC Irvine. Honestly, if you had asked me 3 years ago, I never ever would have thought that I would end up here.

The whole day was amazing! We woke up and Sami, Courtney and I went to breakfast at Rose Bakery Cafe down PCH. Mmm. Then we went to get our nails done, then back home. Then Courtney, Danny, Annie and I went to the Arts Awards Ceremony, where Ian, Andreas and the rest of us sang "Heart and Music," and sat through a bizarre Awards Ceremony. After that, we met the rest of the gang at the Commencement Ceremony...which was surreal to say the least. I couldn't have felt more in love with all of the people sitting around me. No matter how much or how little time I spent with each person in school, I loved them all and felt so grateful for each of them.

After the ceremony, everyone went off to get dinner with their families. My family and I went to a fabulous Italian Restaurant on Balboa Island, called Ciao! It was SO good...and so nice to just sit and talk with my family on my island, my turf, my home. :)

Then the fun began: A giant group of about 15 , maybe 20 of us met back up in the Arts Plaza at school for a GIANT photo shoot (as soon as Danny gets the pictures posted, I'll put some up here!). It was such a great way to have some fun and have a final hurrah in the good ol' Arts Plaza. After that, we went back to Bali'ho for some champagne, and spent hours talking and laughing, enjoying our night all together.

WHAT NOW?

Goooooooood question. First of all, I moved back to SD for now. It was a tough choice, but all in all I think it's a good one. I'm saving money, getting ready for the big move to NY. Ideally, I would have loved to stay in OC until moving to NY, but I got a job in SD...which is pretty cool news...I'm working at the La Jolla Playhouse again!! The wonderful Michael offered me a job working wigs/hair at the Playhouse for the summer. Yay! I'm starting out working Midsummer Night's Dream, then hopefully I'll work other shows until Sept/Oct...depending on when I book a show. It's a pretty sweet gig...can't wait to get started! Til then, I'm doing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at CSUN with MET. I'm playing Narrator, and super excited! The drive up to the Valley has been rough, but it's been a lot of fun working on the show and reconnecting with everyone at MET.

I promise to keep this thing more updated...the past few months have been filled with lots of changes!

Always,

love,love,love.

remembering to breathe.

Yes, I know. I still need to finish my blog about New York! But lets just say, things have gotten crazy.

Here was my day:

845am: get up. Jump in the shower. Pack my whole life up to take to school.

10am: go to see the 4@15 presentations

noon: grab a quick lunch with Sami-Su

1pm: rehearse for Footloose

2pm: rehearse for A Little Night Music

3:30pm: class

4pm: ditch the rest of class to meet/rehearse for Wild Party

5pm: voice lesson

6pm: sitting in rehearsal (called at 7)

7-10pm: rehearsal for Wild Party

Ooookay....see why I've been running around like crazy?? So far on the list is MT4, Wild Party, the cabaret I'm singing in on Friday (TOMORROW), callbacks for Pajama Game this Sunday in SD, then Mazie's cabaret at 7:30 in Hermosa Beach.

THE WORLD IS EXPLODING.

It's so funny...I've been so stressed out lately, but honestly, couldn't be happier. I think I thrive under this kind of pressure...so much to do, so much going on...and it's been like this with everyone I know lately. I realized though...it's all stuff that I love. I'm spending my last days in college completely filled from day to night with rehearsals, music, friends, dancing, and LOVE.

How lucky am I?

I promise to post more soon...including my new website that will be up and running SO soon!! And some updates from rehearsals, including Eddie and Mae's Backstage Video Blog! Haha yep. You heard me.

Also, I came across that picture from our BFA showcase in NY the other day. Have I mentioned how much I love these people?

love, love, LOVE....remember to breathe.

NYC 2010, Part One: Showcase.

Wow. Well, it's been a week since I got back from NY, and I've been thoroughly ignoring the blog! I guess I feel like there's SO much to update on...and until right now, I didn't really have the time to sit and write. I think the best way to do this is to post a couple installments...Sooo here's the first one!

I got to New York the Friday of finals week, with the wonderful Courtney aka "Shmooples." We met Eric and Deidre at Deidre's place, then we walked to Eric's, where I spent the next few days.

So the latest news, my best friend Eric got hired as a singer on a cruise ship!! Really awesome news, minus the fact that it meant we only got to see each other for a few days before he had to leave for Florida. I spent the first few nights at his place, and got to play with his roommates Brian and Sarah (yay new friends!). Eric and I got to catch up a lot, and he even talked me into buying my very first lululemon hoodie! Anyway, the whole gang got together to throw Eric a goodbye/birthday party...and it was wonderful.

Back to business...Showcase was just incredible. Stressful? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Successful? YES. The actual day of the showcase felt like Groundhog Day. We got to the theatre at noon, tag-teamed the Kent kids (who are all wonderful amazing fun people and our new friends), and started tech. We re-spaced the whole showcase to fit the Beechman stage, then walked to Myrona's apartment. All 11 of us (including Dennis, Myrona and Gary), took over the whole apartment and the getting ready process began! Then there was the fabulous girl taxi adventure (if you were there, you know lol). We finally got to the theatre, and started the showcase extravaganza! We did the show three times...while the Kent Showcase was happening, we hung out in the "clubhouse"...which was basically a tiny little room curtained off...filled with EVERYONE'S stuff. Here's a look at us trying to take pictures in the clubhouse...

The last show of the night, family, friends, and alumni were invited to come, in addition to agents/managers/casting directors. It turned out to be just as wonderful and supportive as when we performed at UCI...it was AMAZING to see so many of our friends in one place again...not to mention how cool it was to have so many UCI MT generations in the same room at the same time!! Just another reminder as to how big and beautiful our UCI family is...I feel like when I move to NY, I'll be moving home, to a community of supportive, exciting, and loving friends! Here are some pictures from the after party!

Andreas, Courtney and I...totem pole?

Cayce and I...yes...he's in a boy band.

Frannie, Me, Kayla and Lital

Megan and I!

There were some other very important guests at the 8pm show...my Dad, my Aunt, and my cousins! Dad flew in from California, spent a few days at my Aunt's place, and they all came down to see showcase. I'm so blessed to have had my family there...I wish I had taken a picture of us all together!! My Dad stayed a couple more days...stories to follow.

If there's one thing I came to value (even more than I already did), it's my friends. There were multiple moments during these past few weeks where I looked around and realized that these are the people that I'm going to be friends with for a very, very long time...and I couldn't be happier. Thank you for being there when I need you, when I don't need you, and when I don't think I need you (but I do). You guys are the greatest, and I'm so blessed to have you all in my life! Here are some more highlights from the trip...

Danny, Me, and Kev in Times Square

Lisha and I went to screme!

At Vynl for Kev's birthday! (no, they're not all ours)

Kayla, Kev, Me and David in Central Park

That's all I got for now...installment number one complete. The next one? I'll talk about post showcase and the shows I saw! Until then...keep on truckin.

And remember, love, LOVE, ...