Hudson Valley Life Magazine cover and interview!

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The big message.

So the big message came on the final night of Pericles. There we were, getting ready in a typical closing night energy; no one wanting it to be over, but resigned to do our show one more time, go have a drink, kiss and cry and scatter to the four winds. The make-up went on as usual. Getting dressed was usual...then the call came at five minutes. The Artisitic Director gethered us together in the green room. I expected the usual, "thank you for a great season" speech which is heartfelt and earnest. It came and was sincere. We started to disperse for out final prep and he said, "oh, and Bill and Hillary Clinton are here." There were the unusual gasps and expressions of disbelief then "No, no, no I'm serious" with a large gesture from his mitt like hands, "they are sitting front and center and if you see them I don't want you to freeze like dear in the headlights. There are secret service around the tent so be aware of that and...that being said, it's just another show."
The energy in the tent was now anything but usual. Every one's pace quickened, lines were run, every snap and button was done up, postures straightened and we could all feel that we were going to have and amazing night. For myself, the exercise was to simply be in the moment and accept it. Live in it and walk hand in hand with it. When we hit the stage it was exciting and edgy. We had a blast with the show and it went very well. The text work by just about everyone was as good as it's ever been. A tight, crisp show. The dance number brought down the house and when I glanced at our guests of honor they were beaming.
At curtain call, the former President of the United States and the Secretary of state lead a standing ovation. Think of that...and I have ever since.
What's next? Command performance?
I finally went to sleep at around six the next morning after the usual goodbyes after a most unusual night.

A third message.

The third message I received from the universe came in the very tangible spoken word from a personal manager working out of New York.
After being encouraged to see Much Ado About Nothing by another friend in the industry, the Manager came. This was significant since she had already been up from the city to see the other show. She had other clients in the show, so it made sense for her to see it though it was a big effort for her to get there. Bottom line: she came.
After the show, she threw her arms around me and said "You were wonderful. You need to be in New York. It's a crime that you aren't working constantly!"
Short of having a piano fall on my head, I don't think I could've received a clearer message!
Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment. I look forward to the insights to come!
More messages to come on this exciting adventure!
See you next time!

Message #2

After the closing night performance of Much Ado, a short, sweet, octogenarian German lady approached me with a bouquet and a bag of Lindor Truffles and said "I have seen you for six years and have seen this show three times and Pericles twice, and I just love what you do on the stage. You are wonderful." She handed me both items and I almost wept on the spot.

Really...

Why NYC? First message.

The first message I got from the universe that I should stay in New York, came at the tent during the last week of the season at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. A board member approached me before the show, took me by the arm and said, "I'm so glad you're here right now because I wanted to talk to you!" A little concerned, I replied, "...yes?" Then she began, "I've seen Much Ado About Nothing many times, but I've never seen Leonato played with such depth. In your performance I could finally see how much he loves Hero and that he takes responsibility for what he thinks is his daughter's disasterous mistake."

We went on to tlak about the circumstances and particular lines that lead me in my interpretation, the lynch pin being his line in the middle of a raging monologue, "Why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes?" A deep insight to the character when that line interrupts and changes everything.

So the message seemed to be that someone really saw and understood on a deep level, who the character was, through me. Does it get any better than that for an actor?

More messages from the universe to follow. Thanks for reading.

NYC

I return tomorrow to beautiful New York City for the Autumn and new work possibilites are happening all around! Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks for checking me out here while I get this blog rolling!