Phew!
My head is still spinning!!
Got to pick up my dizzy body up off the floor!
(breathe, breathe, phant phant, wiping the sweat from my brow asI slowly melt....)
All this crazy chaos is catching up to me. I am fighting off some sort of bizarre bug that has had my fever upping around the 103F mark for about a day. Imagine that. It's sweltering outside and I am under the covers with my teeth chattering. HUH!?
So in a nutshell -
WE HAVE ANOTHER GIG!!!
We have been given a show - four nights actually, from the 12 th to the 16th at a comedy club (big dilemma - how do we fit 12 people on a stage at once that only holds 6 max!!??) and that is going to be right smack during the Just for Laughs comedy festival! We are not at the same general area, but the timing is great cause the scouts from LA are out!!! (I know, I am dreaming in technicolor BUT!!! You never know!!!)
AND I also found out that I have a photo gig for tomorrow - at a club that I have trying to get into since last October - well, they called me, and to my surprise, one of the owners that I was talking to was actually gushing about how amazing he thought my work was and that I was 'the best of the best'!!! I think he said that about 5 times!! (was I counting?? Hmmmm...) But the crazy thing about all of this is that BOY GEORGE is going to be the guest DJ!!! You all remember Boy George from Culture Club!?!? I used to LOVE him!! I once spent $50 to see him in concert (and this was oh, back in 1983!) so this is really going to be a blast from the past!
I had to laugh.
I think I had mentioned several times before, that this summer was going o be the summer that would change my life?! Well, I am still knocking on wood that things go well afterall...
:-)))
Soon to post - images from the last performance of Sex and La Cité!!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Could somebody please pinch me?
I flipped.
It was just beyond strange how just last night, Charlotte and I were talking about putting on this play at a different venue. She had already talked to Samantha as well as other people who had initially brought up the idea - you've sold out 6 shows! That is almost unheard of at the fringe! If you put it on, people will come! There were so many people that could not get tickets, this will be their second chance!
And the day before I was talking to Pascal; we were waxing poetic about how we are both going through withdrawal already - one day after the play!
And last night Charlotte and I mentioned the importance of working together again because we had such an amazing rapport and wrote so well together (this reminds me of the movie Ishtar with Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty - see it!! It's a hoot!!)...
So would you believe that I get a wild and excited message from her - HPK!! You better be home!! AHH!! I have something to tell you!!!
We played telephone tag and at about 7pm - that's when she gave me the news.
The GLBT (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender) Theater festival, would like to invite us to do Sex and la Cité in their festival. They always offer a spot to the 2 best selling shows in the Fringe, and we are one of them!
I almost fell off my chair! I could not believe my ears!!
How outrageous is that!?!?!
I guess sometimes when you ask the universe for help, it sends you a boomerang right in the head!
And I guess that we will all have to work together again - one more time!!!
As if that is going to be a tough thing to do!!!
AHHHH!!
The festival is in mid September, but I am sure alot is going to happen between now and then!!
There is a reason why this blog is called "My life as a Seinfeld Episode"!
How wacky and wild is this?
It was just beyond strange how just last night, Charlotte and I were talking about putting on this play at a different venue. She had already talked to Samantha as well as other people who had initially brought up the idea - you've sold out 6 shows! That is almost unheard of at the fringe! If you put it on, people will come! There were so many people that could not get tickets, this will be their second chance!
And the day before I was talking to Pascal; we were waxing poetic about how we are both going through withdrawal already - one day after the play!
And last night Charlotte and I mentioned the importance of working together again because we had such an amazing rapport and wrote so well together (this reminds me of the movie Ishtar with Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty - see it!! It's a hoot!!)...
So would you believe that I get a wild and excited message from her - HPK!! You better be home!! AHH!! I have something to tell you!!!
We played telephone tag and at about 7pm - that's when she gave me the news.
The GLBT (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender) Theater festival, would like to invite us to do Sex and la Cité in their festival. They always offer a spot to the 2 best selling shows in the Fringe, and we are one of them!
I almost fell off my chair! I could not believe my ears!!
How outrageous is that!?!?!
I guess sometimes when you ask the universe for help, it sends you a boomerang right in the head!
And I guess that we will all have to work together again - one more time!!!
As if that is going to be a tough thing to do!!!
AHHHH!!
The festival is in mid September, but I am sure alot is going to happen between now and then!!
There is a reason why this blog is called "My life as a Seinfeld Episode"!
How wacky and wild is this?
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The final curtain call...
Once again, I am posting when I should be going to bed.
The story of my life - but I didn't want to forget this feeling.
Just too sweet not to remember - tragic to forget.
Well, it was the final night of the performance. We actually had a sold out show and people were scalping tickets at the door! How insane is that!? At least an hour before the show, people were lined up outside the venue - and not only buying one or two tickets, they were buying 6 or even 8! The majority of the cast came by the front entrance, along with Charlotte (the director) who was as stunned as the people who were waiting in line were:
there are no more tickets! After the third person in line, we are all out of the 40 tickets that we have allotted at the door!
What to do? This was not including the people that were supposed to be on the cast's 'guest list'!
What a headache!
And not only that - we had this woman who was in charge of the tickets - bitch on wheels - I named her 'the ticket Nazi' and that stuck for the rest of the show. She was barking out "NO MORE TICKETS! YOU ONLY CAN BUY 2! NO MORE THAN 2! and DON'T GO IN THERE! I HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GO UP!"
What a crazy freak.
But then again, you have to be a crazy freak to be in the Fringe Festival to begin with!
We all piled in - from the back and from the front fire escape exit, bringing with us the clothes, props and other paraphernalia. we needed for the show. Having an extra 20 minutes before the show was a blessing as we were able to set up our costumes and props in record time. At 5:30 - the doors opened up and people began streaming in, and then more people, and more until it was standing room only - and packed to the hilt! People were lined up against the walls in various states of sitting, standing or squatting, waiting for the spectacle to commence.
And when it did, it was grand!
We got laughs from the beginning - and not just a few chuckles - but real big belly laughs. Oh that is music to our ears as we all went about our parts, saying and moving in the same ways we had done so often before; but tonight there was a special feeling in the air - perhaps a melancholy for the actors, perhaps excitement or anticipation in the crowd for a show that everybody had been talking about. Whatever it was - the air was electric and we fed off of every single molecule!
The first dance number when Pascal comes out dressed as Brittany Spears was a scene stealer - K and P on either side - hamming it up, hopping around on one leg (P with his jean shorts hiked up right to his butt-crack got the most laughs and gasps when he turned around) and the roar of waves of laughter was contagious. We knew we were off to a good start.
For somebody who has never acted on stage before, I can honestly say that each subsequent night did get a little less stressful, but the rush was amazing, and as intense as the first night. Exhausting when it was over, the residual rush/glow was surreal. No drug can ever come close to that for me. Now that it's over, I feel a little down, a little empty. I miss my SALC family..
I was backstage watching my fellow thespians through the crack in the velvet curtain, beaming with pride that because of what I wrote (along with Charlotte and Samantha for their vision and direction) brought all these wonderful people together-and what a group we were! The chemistry on stage between us was something that I have never experienced before. I have worked on many film sets, small and large, but the level of symbiosis we all shared in the 6 months since the inception of this play was legendary.
Each scene was flawless - each actor delivering their parts with all their energy and conviction, each joke getting more laughs than the previous one. The crowd was lubed up and ready for the big finalé (Yea, I know - punny), but not before I pulled out all the stops for my irate Greek and Italian mothers.
I think it's hysterical how something other-worldly came over me the moment I stepped foot on stage and fell into character-I was a Greekk mother! I held my oversize cross and waved it in Samantha's direction yelling out you go to the DEVIL, my eyes wide open, mouth agape. I could only gauge my successs by the howls and applause after each thing I said. The same thing happened after my Italian mother (and I was so worried that I would get the two and their accents mixed up - the multi-ethnic irate mother...). The scenes were so short - less than 2 minutes, but they felt as if they were less than 2 seconds. As I kept track of the time, 55 minutes slipped by like Buttah on a hot plate. I guess time really does fly by when you are having fun (or ACTING!!).
And before we knew it, we were at the final scene. We all stood on stage -the vernisage scene, waiting for the final lines to be said. And before the final words are said, we all make our way off, one by one, until at the end Big's reply to a Carrie voice over ' Are we still going to buy those shoes?" and Big sticks his head out from the side backstagecurtainn and says absolfukenloutley!
this whole experiencee seemed surreal. I could not have even had a better lucid dream than that moment. Magic.
The final curtainn call - people applauding and howling as we each took our place on the stage. I came out holding my two son's ears which got alot of laughs. I stood there beaming. My work - my baby, my first complete work was out there for all to see. I had to be the proudest mother there - even prouder than my own about me. Well, maybe as proud...
We took one last cast bow - all together after Carrie does her little underweare dance. Looking to my left and right, I realized how very lucky I was to have met so many incredibly talentedd and beautiful people. My life is enriched by their presence and I will never be the same again, but that's a good thing.
Charlotte and Samantha each got gold crowns and bouquets of flowers as the audiencee applauded. My mother (so cute) came up to me and gave me a beautiful bouquet as well, but what moved me to tears was when Carrie took me by the arm, pulled me center stage and at the top of her lungs said : 'And this is our writer!' The crowd began to cheer loudly again, and in that rumble I heard my name being called Hey HPK!! AMAZING! BRAVO! YEA! HPK!. I can't remember the last time I felt so overwhelmed by emotions - if I could describe it in a color, it would have to be a rainbow seen through a kaleidoscope. I will never forget that moment. It wasn't the oscars, but it was my oscars, and the recognition of my work.
God did it feel amazing!
After collecting our things and heading outside, I saw my adoring fans (friends) who applauded as I came out of the building. For someone who spent most of her life doubtingg herself, and putting herself down, hearing friends and even perfect strangers tell you how how fantastic your play was, and how well you acted, and how hard you made them laugh was like ice on a hot summer day - soothing and healing.
Slowly, over the past 6 months, many sides of my bruised personality and soul have begun to heal. It's all so wonderful.
Despite the fact that I am exhausted and wondering what I am going to do next, fearing that I will fall into a down cycle - the flipside to the high I was on, I am optimistic. Speaking with Pascal today, he said the same thing: usually I get into this huge depression, but now I am looking forward to do more projects. This has sparked my creativityy. I want to do more. It's such an exciting time!! To have him say that, and to hear the other cast members say similarr things to me, well, that makes all the days of 3 hours or less of sleep while attached to my computer, and the long rigorous rehearsals worth it. So worth every minute.
After the play, after our cleanup, we made out way to the beer tent where the awards were to be held. We all thought that we had a shot for the 'best text award' but that went to some other play, along with the other top Fringe awards (having your play showcased at the Just for Laughs Festival. Sure, I was mildly disappointed, but at the same time, was not surprised. SALC was not a deep introspective play, nor was it a completely out of bounds/crazy fringe wacky either. Our play was sheer entertainment, and we made people laugh - alot, and I think that selling out all 6 shows every night and having people barter and fight to get tickets for our venue says alot more than what rides on the opinion of 5 or 6 judgess. Our public has spoken!
I apologizee if this post is a little dry, pretty sparse on the humor and puns, but I feel like I am in a strange hot air balloon, floating over the past week of events that have taken place in my life. It's not a bad thing, perhaps my brain has gone into practical mode or auto pilot, and that's okay by me. I need to recoup my energies and heal my funny bone because I know there will be more projects with this amazing group from SALC - how can there not be? We all met for a reason, and with such a success on our hands, it's inevitable that it's only the begining!!
So to all my fellow cast members - I love you so much - you are part of my family now, and I am so proud to say so.
To all my friends and family - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking by me and believing in me. I could not have done it without your support.
And to all my blogger/flickr friends. Your support, kind workds and encouragement carried me over and past some of the most difficult times in my life. You too are part of my extended family and I thank you all for being there when I needed you the most.
I never got a chance to write this on the program or say this out loud, but I dedicate this play to you Dr. Bob - you were the best friend a girl could ever have and I miss you so much, but I know that you are somewhere, looking down on all of this and smiling, having a good chuckle, and saying 'Yeaaah!' as the cigarette hangs out of your mouth, slapping your knee - finding me hysterical as you always did. I thank you too for believing in me.
The story of my life - but I didn't want to forget this feeling.
Just too sweet not to remember - tragic to forget.
Well, it was the final night of the performance. We actually had a sold out show and people were scalping tickets at the door! How insane is that!? At least an hour before the show, people were lined up outside the venue - and not only buying one or two tickets, they were buying 6 or even 8! The majority of the cast came by the front entrance, along with Charlotte (the director) who was as stunned as the people who were waiting in line were:
there are no more tickets! After the third person in line, we are all out of the 40 tickets that we have allotted at the door!
What to do? This was not including the people that were supposed to be on the cast's 'guest list'!
What a headache!
And not only that - we had this woman who was in charge of the tickets - bitch on wheels - I named her 'the ticket Nazi' and that stuck for the rest of the show. She was barking out "NO MORE TICKETS! YOU ONLY CAN BUY 2! NO MORE THAN 2! and DON'T GO IN THERE! I HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GO UP!"
What a crazy freak.
But then again, you have to be a crazy freak to be in the Fringe Festival to begin with!
We all piled in - from the back and from the front fire escape exit, bringing with us the clothes, props and other paraphernalia. we needed for the show. Having an extra 20 minutes before the show was a blessing as we were able to set up our costumes and props in record time. At 5:30 - the doors opened up and people began streaming in, and then more people, and more until it was standing room only - and packed to the hilt! People were lined up against the walls in various states of sitting, standing or squatting, waiting for the spectacle to commence.
And when it did, it was grand!
We got laughs from the beginning - and not just a few chuckles - but real big belly laughs. Oh that is music to our ears as we all went about our parts, saying and moving in the same ways we had done so often before; but tonight there was a special feeling in the air - perhaps a melancholy for the actors, perhaps excitement or anticipation in the crowd for a show that everybody had been talking about. Whatever it was - the air was electric and we fed off of every single molecule!
The first dance number when Pascal comes out dressed as Brittany Spears was a scene stealer - K and P on either side - hamming it up, hopping around on one leg (P with his jean shorts hiked up right to his butt-crack got the most laughs and gasps when he turned around) and the roar of waves of laughter was contagious. We knew we were off to a good start.
For somebody who has never acted on stage before, I can honestly say that each subsequent night did get a little less stressful, but the rush was amazing, and as intense as the first night. Exhausting when it was over, the residual rush/glow was surreal. No drug can ever come close to that for me. Now that it's over, I feel a little down, a little empty. I miss my SALC family..
I was backstage watching my fellow thespians through the crack in the velvet curtain, beaming with pride that because of what I wrote (along with Charlotte and Samantha for their vision and direction) brought all these wonderful people together-and what a group we were! The chemistry on stage between us was something that I have never experienced before. I have worked on many film sets, small and large, but the level of symbiosis we all shared in the 6 months since the inception of this play was legendary.
Each scene was flawless - each actor delivering their parts with all their energy and conviction, each joke getting more laughs than the previous one. The crowd was lubed up and ready for the big finalé (Yea, I know - punny), but not before I pulled out all the stops for my irate Greek and Italian mothers.
I think it's hysterical how something other-worldly came over me the moment I stepped foot on stage and fell into character-I was a Greekk mother! I held my oversize cross and waved it in Samantha's direction yelling out you go to the DEVIL, my eyes wide open, mouth agape. I could only gauge my successs by the howls and applause after each thing I said. The same thing happened after my Italian mother (and I was so worried that I would get the two and their accents mixed up - the multi-ethnic irate mother...). The scenes were so short - less than 2 minutes, but they felt as if they were less than 2 seconds. As I kept track of the time, 55 minutes slipped by like Buttah on a hot plate. I guess time really does fly by when you are having fun (or ACTING!!).
And before we knew it, we were at the final scene. We all stood on stage -the vernisage scene, waiting for the final lines to be said. And before the final words are said, we all make our way off, one by one, until at the end Big's reply to a Carrie voice over ' Are we still going to buy those shoes?" and Big sticks his head out from the side backstagecurtainn and says absolfukenloutley!
this whole experiencee seemed surreal. I could not have even had a better lucid dream than that moment. Magic.
The final curtainn call - people applauding and howling as we each took our place on the stage. I came out holding my two son's ears which got alot of laughs. I stood there beaming. My work - my baby, my first complete work was out there for all to see. I had to be the proudest mother there - even prouder than my own about me. Well, maybe as proud...
We took one last cast bow - all together after Carrie does her little underweare dance. Looking to my left and right, I realized how very lucky I was to have met so many incredibly talentedd and beautiful people. My life is enriched by their presence and I will never be the same again, but that's a good thing.
Charlotte and Samantha each got gold crowns and bouquets of flowers as the audiencee applauded. My mother (so cute) came up to me and gave me a beautiful bouquet as well, but what moved me to tears was when Carrie took me by the arm, pulled me center stage and at the top of her lungs said : 'And this is our writer!' The crowd began to cheer loudly again, and in that rumble I heard my name being called Hey HPK!! AMAZING! BRAVO! YEA! HPK!. I can't remember the last time I felt so overwhelmed by emotions - if I could describe it in a color, it would have to be a rainbow seen through a kaleidoscope. I will never forget that moment. It wasn't the oscars, but it was my oscars, and the recognition of my work.
God did it feel amazing!
After collecting our things and heading outside, I saw my adoring fans (friends) who applauded as I came out of the building. For someone who spent most of her life doubtingg herself, and putting herself down, hearing friends and even perfect strangers tell you how how fantastic your play was, and how well you acted, and how hard you made them laugh was like ice on a hot summer day - soothing and healing.
Slowly, over the past 6 months, many sides of my bruised personality and soul have begun to heal. It's all so wonderful.
Despite the fact that I am exhausted and wondering what I am going to do next, fearing that I will fall into a down cycle - the flipside to the high I was on, I am optimistic. Speaking with Pascal today, he said the same thing: usually I get into this huge depression, but now I am looking forward to do more projects. This has sparked my creativityy. I want to do more. It's such an exciting time!! To have him say that, and to hear the other cast members say similarr things to me, well, that makes all the days of 3 hours or less of sleep while attached to my computer, and the long rigorous rehearsals worth it. So worth every minute.
After the play, after our cleanup, we made out way to the beer tent where the awards were to be held. We all thought that we had a shot for the 'best text award' but that went to some other play, along with the other top Fringe awards (having your play showcased at the Just for Laughs Festival. Sure, I was mildly disappointed, but at the same time, was not surprised. SALC was not a deep introspective play, nor was it a completely out of bounds/crazy fringe wacky either. Our play was sheer entertainment, and we made people laugh - alot, and I think that selling out all 6 shows every night and having people barter and fight to get tickets for our venue says alot more than what rides on the opinion of 5 or 6 judgess. Our public has spoken!
I apologizee if this post is a little dry, pretty sparse on the humor and puns, but I feel like I am in a strange hot air balloon, floating over the past week of events that have taken place in my life. It's not a bad thing, perhaps my brain has gone into practical mode or auto pilot, and that's okay by me. I need to recoup my energies and heal my funny bone because I know there will be more projects with this amazing group from SALC - how can there not be? We all met for a reason, and with such a success on our hands, it's inevitable that it's only the begining!!
So to all my fellow cast members - I love you so much - you are part of my family now, and I am so proud to say so.
To all my friends and family - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking by me and believing in me. I could not have done it without your support.
And to all my blogger/flickr friends. Your support, kind workds and encouragement carried me over and past some of the most difficult times in my life. You too are part of my extended family and I thank you all for being there when I needed you the most.
I never got a chance to write this on the program or say this out loud, but I dedicate this play to you Dr. Bob - you were the best friend a girl could ever have and I miss you so much, but I know that you are somewhere, looking down on all of this and smiling, having a good chuckle, and saying 'Yeaaah!' as the cigarette hangs out of your mouth, slapping your knee - finding me hysterical as you always did. I thank you too for believing in me.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Coming to a close.
I can't believe this - in a few hours, we will be performing our last play. The final show of an incredible run for Sex and La cité.
I am so afraid that I will be a blubbering mess tomorrow because:
- it was such an amazing experience, so complelty incredible, so educational, so wonderful.
- I haveconsideredd these people as part of my family, well, my extended family as the little one I have here is getting smaller (with only my mother and Grandmother still around) so the cast has become my surrogate family. For 6 months we have hung out together, shared our dreams, ourvulnerabilitiess andstrengthss - we have been so close, in such an intense period of time; it's going to be like cutting off a limb when we go our own ways. And it's sadbecausee I think we were all starting to develop stronger bonds as each show finished.
- I will just miss all the fun and intensity we had as a group, seeing the genesis of this project, seeing all these beautiful souls mature into their roles, how each one took on something of themselves and made each character their own. Let me tell you, this sure beats a 9 to 5 job!!
- I will have to find something else to do with my time and energy and if I don't soon, I am going to crash and burn quickly.
And that scares the shit out of me.
Cause when I work intensely, and then it comes to a screeching halt, it's hard to get back to a 'normal life'. This group, theserehearsalss, these late night pow wow sessions with Samantha and Charlotte, my little heart to hearts with Miranda, Spiro, Steve and the others - that bonding, that sharing will be not as intensee as it once was as we go about our own separatee lives. I have shared so many things with these people - I have shown them sides of myself that most people never see - I showed them becausee I felt comfortable, and in trying to be a good actor, you have to sometimes make yourself vulnerable. I am not weakenedd by the experience - on the contrary, I feel stronger by having shared and opened myself up and been confident about who I am and what I do (I also know that actors are generally a neurotic bunch of people so I fit in well) and not be judged by them.
I realized alot of things from working on this project -
1) I have to follow my dreams - no matter what happens. I think I have a talen tt and I want to share my gift and bring happiness to others. It makes me so happy to know that this play will be the start of many careers - even if mine does not take off, I really don't care. Just knowing that I was able to help someone realize their dreams makes it all the worth while.
2) I love working and being with artsy people - I can hang out with computer geeks and morph with the best of them, but when it comes down to me spending quality time with people - these are the kind of people that keep me alive and happy.
3) Discipline - both in acting and writing. I finished this play, I acted in it and studied my part. it was so inspirational to see my fellow actors do the same. Wow.
4) To always follow my instinctss. This whole project was done on the basis of my instincts - and I also applied that to my personal life as well. Sure there have been ups and downs but with every day, I learned something about others as well as my self. And that alone is priceless.
5) the value of friendships and faith - those two words say it all.
I could go on, but it's almost 2:15 and I need sleep. I have a huge day tomorroww and then on Monday an appointment with the CBT clinic and then taking pictures at a corporate function in the afternoon. Urgh. I will not be looking pretty Monday morning.
But Friday's show was another sell out! It took a while for the crowd to warm up, but once they did, they were really howling! And we were all on our marks - every single one of us sharp and shining.
Sigh.
This still seems like a dream.
And tomorrow is going to be so sad, but it doesn't have to be.
This could be the start of something big.
And I have a funny feeling it will be, cause my crystal ball says so...
;-)
I am so afraid that I will be a blubbering mess tomorrow because:
- it was such an amazing experience, so complelty incredible, so educational, so wonderful.
- I haveconsideredd these people as part of my family, well, my extended family as the little one I have here is getting smaller (with only my mother and Grandmother still around) so the cast has become my surrogate family. For 6 months we have hung out together, shared our dreams, ourvulnerabilitiess andstrengthss - we have been so close, in such an intense period of time; it's going to be like cutting off a limb when we go our own ways. And it's sadbecausee I think we were all starting to develop stronger bonds as each show finished.
- I will just miss all the fun and intensity we had as a group, seeing the genesis of this project, seeing all these beautiful souls mature into their roles, how each one took on something of themselves and made each character their own. Let me tell you, this sure beats a 9 to 5 job!!
- I will have to find something else to do with my time and energy and if I don't soon, I am going to crash and burn quickly.
And that scares the shit out of me.
Cause when I work intensely, and then it comes to a screeching halt, it's hard to get back to a 'normal life'. This group, theserehearsalss, these late night pow wow sessions with Samantha and Charlotte, my little heart to hearts with Miranda, Spiro, Steve and the others - that bonding, that sharing will be not as intensee as it once was as we go about our own separatee lives. I have shared so many things with these people - I have shown them sides of myself that most people never see - I showed them becausee I felt comfortable, and in trying to be a good actor, you have to sometimes make yourself vulnerable. I am not weakenedd by the experience - on the contrary, I feel stronger by having shared and opened myself up and been confident about who I am and what I do (I also know that actors are generally a neurotic bunch of people so I fit in well) and not be judged by them.
I realized alot of things from working on this project -
1) I have to follow my dreams - no matter what happens. I think I have a talen tt and I want to share my gift and bring happiness to others. It makes me so happy to know that this play will be the start of many careers - even if mine does not take off, I really don't care. Just knowing that I was able to help someone realize their dreams makes it all the worth while.
2) I love working and being with artsy people - I can hang out with computer geeks and morph with the best of them, but when it comes down to me spending quality time with people - these are the kind of people that keep me alive and happy.
3) Discipline - both in acting and writing. I finished this play, I acted in it and studied my part. it was so inspirational to see my fellow actors do the same. Wow.
4) To always follow my instinctss. This whole project was done on the basis of my instincts - and I also applied that to my personal life as well. Sure there have been ups and downs but with every day, I learned something about others as well as my self. And that alone is priceless.
5) the value of friendships and faith - those two words say it all.
I could go on, but it's almost 2:15 and I need sleep. I have a huge day tomorroww and then on Monday an appointment with the CBT clinic and then taking pictures at a corporate function in the afternoon. Urgh. I will not be looking pretty Monday morning.
But Friday's show was another sell out! It took a while for the crowd to warm up, but once they did, they were really howling! And we were all on our marks - every single one of us sharp and shining.
Sigh.
This still seems like a dream.
And tomorrow is going to be so sad, but it doesn't have to be.
This could be the start of something big.
And I have a funny feeling it will be, cause my crystal ball says so...
;-)
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Talk of the town!
So the play is a roaring hit! Last night was wonderful! The energy was high and we played to a sold out - standing room only crowd. There was one point where Samantha attacks the guy (Gino) that she picks up at a bar and leans him against a table, but this time, the table broke!! Nobody was hurt, but it made for an interesting ad lib! We all went with the flow - and I ran on stage yelling: "Oh Dio Mio! Gino what are you doing?!! And what have you done to my table?!?!"
The rush is still rushing in my head and I can't believe that after Sunday, the gang that I spent 6 months of my life with will be over. Well, not 'over' but there will not be the project that linked us all together. I guess that means I have to write another play then!!
Here are some of the comments people have been leaving behind on the fringe website:
If these people can turn a Mae west orgy into a spectacle, then I am looking forward to what they can do with a spoof of a sequel!! I heard from a friend who heard from a friend who heard from someone who saw one of the rehearsals that it is gut busting pee in your pants funny!! Gotta see it!
"Charlotte, have a cup of 'shut the fuck up' " - and other one line zingers had me in stitches! Funniest thing since Cheese Whiz!! A MUST SEE!! They all look so much like their characters - quite uncanny! A must see for all fringers!!
Oh my god!!! SO SO SO SO SO funny!! The house was packed and everyone was howling w/ laughter. The cast even looks like the girls! Do not miss this show.!
Alright . . . this show isn\'t good. Stop with the good reviews! The whole show revolves around a gimmick . . . that the characters are played by drag queens. Which is funny for all of 120 seconds. There is nothing else creative or good about this piece. YES, they look VERY much like the TV characters . . . but should they get laurels for the show just because of that?! NO! Hmmm. The characters are played by drag queens?
It's smart - true to the TV show, not only do the girls look like the originals, they have the characters mastered. Throw in a hilarious supporting cast and a genuinely sharp script and it's a hoot. OK - maybe I didn't belly laugh all the way through (which isn't to say that I didn't at all - I did), but I did get that warm glow that Carrie Bradshaw and co weren\'t quite done...This is a fun. fun show!
Really funny!! I thoroughly enjoyed it - well written and well acted! In fact I will go back to hear the lines that I missed because the audience was laughing so much!!! Great show!!!
Not sure if the last reviewer saw the same show, or slept through the production! These girls (not drag queens!) play their characters so well I had to remind myself a couple of times that it wasn't Kim or Cynthia on stage playing Samantha and Miranda. Lots of laughs and well set in the Montreal context. If you enjoyed Sex in the City then this is a must see. Contrary to what is being said by the poster above, the cast is not made up of drag queens! (although there are some in the show).
Sex in la Cite isn't gimmicky; it's a funny and entertaining play. The cast totally has these characters nailed. They deserve extra kudos for that. If you want to be entertained - you can't go wrong.
Contrary to what is being said by the poster above, the cast is not made up of drag queens! (although there are some in the show). Sex in la Cite isn't gimmicky - it's a funny and entertaining play. The cast totally has these characters nailed. They deserve extra kudos for that. If you want to be entertained - you can't go wrong. PS - the venue has air conditioning AND sells beer! whoo-hoo!
"Abso*?!@inglutely" fantastic show... SALC has somehow managed to capture the spirit of SATC exquisitely - not an easy feat! Every bit of the sexiness, hilarity and charm of the girls\' adventures in New York was brought back to life in Mile End in with some very clever, uniquely Montrealais twists... The actresses portraying the four main characters simply NAILED their characters - body language, facial expressions, the real deal.. Not to mention the lines they were given; the script was freshly punny and yet true to the original style, over-the-top in just the right places - I wasn't the only audience member actually howling with laughter! Drag show at Chez Mado, Melissa Ethridge, Gino (sorry) dance routine at Thursdays... me, I loved this show, bro. You, bro, you go see it.
i am an avid watcher of sex and the city. I came to see this show with ALOT of expectations. I was not disapointed AT ALL! it was fantastic.. i loved the girls..(carrie good but abit whinny at times) samantha>she's awesome, really WOW! miranda and charlotte are funny as well. i LOVED the other performers, the singers were bang on!...thought the show reflected montreal and all it\'s personality and it's sexuality.... Therefore i recommend that all of you see this show and enjoy it for what it is> a really cool and well executed fringe show!!!
Wow!...WOw!!...WOW!!! Finally a show in the fringe that SCREAMS TALENT! Professionally handled...and those Drag Queens! WOWZA PASCAL! Not to mention those four gorgeous girls! WELCOME BACK LADIES!!!WE MISSED YOU!
I loved it! I wasn't expecting much, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! The show was terrific - the cast has the characters down pat, and the writing is fantastic - funny, witty, fast-paced, and clever! Great show! Definitely a "DO NOT MISS" show!
Christine Ghawi carries the play very well, and Anne McMaster and Alexandra Valassis have the speech and gestures of Miranda and Samantha down pat. The play is wicked funny and really alot of fun.Peter Koussioulas is gonna be huuuge bro!
The main characters are bang on and loads of fun (and so are the supporting ones!!!). In fact, I'm sure the original staff in NYC would get some great laughs watching this as well!!! I had a few friends join me for the show and they all shared my opinion. Loved it! Now, go and enjoy it while you still can!!! Well, done everyone!!!
Painful, painful, painful... i\'ve watched plenty of sex and the city and this made me laugh very slightly once or twice. why is this show selling out?
Good show!!! Interesting twist on some characters ... P.S. Peter is a hunk ... I would have loved to be in Alexandra's position.
We think that the people who wrote the bad review (at least the first one) were not at the show because the drag queens don't appear until about 15 minutes into the play!
Well, you can't please everybody...
The rush is still rushing in my head and I can't believe that after Sunday, the gang that I spent 6 months of my life with will be over. Well, not 'over' but there will not be the project that linked us all together. I guess that means I have to write another play then!!
Here are some of the comments people have been leaving behind on the fringe website:
If these people can turn a Mae west orgy into a spectacle, then I am looking forward to what they can do with a spoof of a sequel!! I heard from a friend who heard from a friend who heard from someone who saw one of the rehearsals that it is gut busting pee in your pants funny!! Gotta see it!
"Charlotte, have a cup of 'shut the fuck up' " - and other one line zingers had me in stitches! Funniest thing since Cheese Whiz!! A MUST SEE!! They all look so much like their characters - quite uncanny! A must see for all fringers!!
Oh my god!!! SO SO SO SO SO funny!! The house was packed and everyone was howling w/ laughter. The cast even looks like the girls! Do not miss this show.!
Alright . . . this show isn\'t good. Stop with the good reviews! The whole show revolves around a gimmick . . . that the characters are played by drag queens. Which is funny for all of 120 seconds. There is nothing else creative or good about this piece. YES, they look VERY much like the TV characters . . . but should they get laurels for the show just because of that?! NO! Hmmm. The characters are played by drag queens?
It's smart - true to the TV show, not only do the girls look like the originals, they have the characters mastered. Throw in a hilarious supporting cast and a genuinely sharp script and it's a hoot. OK - maybe I didn't belly laugh all the way through (which isn't to say that I didn't at all - I did), but I did get that warm glow that Carrie Bradshaw and co weren\'t quite done...This is a fun. fun show!
Really funny!! I thoroughly enjoyed it - well written and well acted! In fact I will go back to hear the lines that I missed because the audience was laughing so much!!! Great show!!!
Not sure if the last reviewer saw the same show, or slept through the production! These girls (not drag queens!) play their characters so well I had to remind myself a couple of times that it wasn't Kim or Cynthia on stage playing Samantha and Miranda. Lots of laughs and well set in the Montreal context. If you enjoyed Sex in the City then this is a must see. Contrary to what is being said by the poster above, the cast is not made up of drag queens! (although there are some in the show).
Sex in la Cite isn't gimmicky; it's a funny and entertaining play. The cast totally has these characters nailed. They deserve extra kudos for that. If you want to be entertained - you can't go wrong.
Contrary to what is being said by the poster above, the cast is not made up of drag queens! (although there are some in the show). Sex in la Cite isn't gimmicky - it's a funny and entertaining play. The cast totally has these characters nailed. They deserve extra kudos for that. If you want to be entertained - you can't go wrong. PS - the venue has air conditioning AND sells beer! whoo-hoo!
"Abso*?!@inglutely" fantastic show... SALC has somehow managed to capture the spirit of SATC exquisitely - not an easy feat! Every bit of the sexiness, hilarity and charm of the girls\' adventures in New York was brought back to life in Mile End in with some very clever, uniquely Montrealais twists... The actresses portraying the four main characters simply NAILED their characters - body language, facial expressions, the real deal.. Not to mention the lines they were given; the script was freshly punny and yet true to the original style, over-the-top in just the right places - I wasn't the only audience member actually howling with laughter! Drag show at Chez Mado, Melissa Ethridge, Gino (sorry) dance routine at Thursdays... me, I loved this show, bro. You, bro, you go see it.
i am an avid watcher of sex and the city. I came to see this show with ALOT of expectations. I was not disapointed AT ALL! it was fantastic.. i loved the girls..(carrie good but abit whinny at times) samantha>she's awesome, really WOW! miranda and charlotte are funny as well. i LOVED the other performers, the singers were bang on!...thought the show reflected montreal and all it\'s personality and it's sexuality.... Therefore i recommend that all of you see this show and enjoy it for what it is> a really cool and well executed fringe show!!!
Wow!...WOw!!...WOW!!! Finally a show in the fringe that SCREAMS TALENT! Professionally handled...and those Drag Queens! WOWZA PASCAL! Not to mention those four gorgeous girls! WELCOME BACK LADIES!!!WE MISSED YOU!
I loved it! I wasn't expecting much, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! The show was terrific - the cast has the characters down pat, and the writing is fantastic - funny, witty, fast-paced, and clever! Great show! Definitely a "DO NOT MISS" show!
Christine Ghawi carries the play very well, and Anne McMaster and Alexandra Valassis have the speech and gestures of Miranda and Samantha down pat. The play is wicked funny and really alot of fun.Peter Koussioulas is gonna be huuuge bro!
The main characters are bang on and loads of fun (and so are the supporting ones!!!). In fact, I'm sure the original staff in NYC would get some great laughs watching this as well!!! I had a few friends join me for the show and they all shared my opinion. Loved it! Now, go and enjoy it while you still can!!! Well, done everyone!!!
Painful, painful, painful... i\'ve watched plenty of sex and the city and this made me laugh very slightly once or twice. why is this show selling out?
Good show!!! Interesting twist on some characters ... P.S. Peter is a hunk ... I would have loved to be in Alexandra's position.
We think that the people who wrote the bad review (at least the first one) were not at the show because the drag queens don't appear until about 15 minutes into the play!
Well, you can't please everybody...
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Playing to a sell out crowd!!
It's official! We have sold out all of our shows at the box office! The only tickets you can get are at the door - and you have to be there pretty early and there are a limited amount at that!
The show last night was a smash - late show 11:15pm and well, I sauntered in this morning at 4am, drunk as a skunk, laughing all the way home!! What a scream.
I am having so much fun!
And people love the show!
They loved all the actors who did a kick ass job!!!!
And they LOVE the script!!
I am so happy that I took the leap of faith and took the chance to do something that I have never done before...
So two more shows (not including tonight). I have a feeling that tonight's show is going to be special for some strange reason...
Apparently, David Duchovny and David Letterman are in town for the Grand Prix.
would that not be a hoot if one of them or another celeb came to see my little play!?!?
LOL
More details tomorrow ;-)
The show last night was a smash - late show 11:15pm and well, I sauntered in this morning at 4am, drunk as a skunk, laughing all the way home!! What a scream.
I am having so much fun!
And people love the show!
They loved all the actors who did a kick ass job!!!!
And they LOVE the script!!
I am so happy that I took the leap of faith and took the chance to do something that I have never done before...
So two more shows (not including tonight). I have a feeling that tonight's show is going to be special for some strange reason...
Apparently, David Duchovny and David Letterman are in town for the Grand Prix.
would that not be a hoot if one of them or another celeb came to see my little play!?!?
LOL
More details tomorrow ;-)
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The Premiere!!
Well folks!
This was the night!!
The Premiere!!
AND IT KICKED ASS!!!!
AHHHH!!!!!!
It's 3:20am and I am a little tipsy and way happy but had to check in to say that the play was a SMASH SUCCESS!
I cant' tell you how exciting it was to hear the people laugh at all my jokes, even the stupid ones we as a cast had heard so many times before! It was such a rush to see all the actors hit their marks, have fun with the lines, laugh and interact with the audience. I can't tell you the kind of high it was to hear and see the people applauding when we came out for our bow.
I am flying...
And it's a beautiful view up here!!
And after the show, I can't tell you how many people came up to me and congratulated me on such a phenomenal play, wonderful writing, and my role as the irate Greek and Italian mother.
They actually laughed and clapped when I walked off stage!! Twice!!
I was floored.
Completely!
I could not believe it!
And for the first show, there were only really minor flub ups!
But the whole cast was shining, and we were all happy, and the energy was grand, and the magic was in the air, and at that moment, I knew that this was exactly where I wanted to be - center stage, with my fellow actors, in front of a receptive audience, loving my words, wanting to hear more, wanting to laugh and be a part of this magic called theater.
OH GOD!!
I am on such a high, but at the same time, I am a little numb. It feels like this was all a dream. But the wildest part is that starting Monday, we have 3 back to back nights!! And apparently we are already the buzz of the festival!!!
I am flying.
And I can't believe it.
I never n a million years thought I 'd get my feet off the ground.
But I have, and I see the horizon, and the skies are clear, and is the dawn of a new day ;-))))
This was the night!!
The Premiere!!
AND IT KICKED ASS!!!!
AHHHH!!!!!!
It's 3:20am and I am a little tipsy and way happy but had to check in to say that the play was a SMASH SUCCESS!
I cant' tell you how exciting it was to hear the people laugh at all my jokes, even the stupid ones we as a cast had heard so many times before! It was such a rush to see all the actors hit their marks, have fun with the lines, laugh and interact with the audience. I can't tell you the kind of high it was to hear and see the people applauding when we came out for our bow.
I am flying...
And it's a beautiful view up here!!
And after the show, I can't tell you how many people came up to me and congratulated me on such a phenomenal play, wonderful writing, and my role as the irate Greek and Italian mother.
They actually laughed and clapped when I walked off stage!! Twice!!
I was floored.
Completely!
I could not believe it!
And for the first show, there were only really minor flub ups!
But the whole cast was shining, and we were all happy, and the energy was grand, and the magic was in the air, and at that moment, I knew that this was exactly where I wanted to be - center stage, with my fellow actors, in front of a receptive audience, loving my words, wanting to hear more, wanting to laugh and be a part of this magic called theater.
OH GOD!!
I am on such a high, but at the same time, I am a little numb. It feels like this was all a dream. But the wildest part is that starting Monday, we have 3 back to back nights!! And apparently we are already the buzz of the festival!!!
I am flying.
And I can't believe it.
I never n a million years thought I 'd get my feet off the ground.
But I have, and I see the horizon, and the skies are clear, and is the dawn of a new day ;-))))
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Night Stalker
This is one of the photos I took of my friend Alex's body paintng - it was an impromptu shoot - she was completly naked except for a little g-string. The detail in the painting is incredible. The photo is pretty neat if I do say so myself ;-) 
A quick pop in while I can!
Hello my dears!
I just wanted to pop in to let you know what has been going on!
CHAOS!!
We are having our first show on SATURDAY!! YEP!! THAT'S IT!
SATURDAY the 11th at 7:30pm!
I am soo nervous!! I have been loosing sleep over this - I have this fear that I will go on stage and freeze when I hear the people laughing. Imagine that - me standing on the stage, with curlers in my hair, a god awful nightgown, silly slippers and looking like an angry Greek/Italian mother!! It will be a sight to behold that is for sure!!
We have been rehearsing since last week and this week we are stepping up the pace - every night until showtime. We are doing full dress rehearsals - which means that we have to do our scenes and change in and out of costume in the allotted time (60 minutes). It's pretty chaotic. 12 People running around, looking for the right props and clothes - and we are rehearsing in somebody's apartment - not even on stage yet and we are still all over the map, but I have the uttmost faith that everybody will shine - Big will be the best big, Carrie will be as charming and quirky as ever, Miranda and Steve will be lovingly neurotic (along with the Bride of Chuckie doll!!), Charlotte and Samantha will wow them with their wacky and wild personalitlies. Then we have Pascal - the drag queen extrodinare who kills me and puts me into stictches every time he does his fake french canadian accent (and those legs!! Better than mine! I am so jealous!), the wacky waitreess/Mellisa Ethridge/aspiring waitress/Carrie Bradshaw groupie (and talk about doing multiple roles! Hats off to her!) and the two mooks - Gino and Sprio (who also have multiple roles) - I stand in awe in front of these people. As a group - it's incredible the amount of chemestry and energy we have together! And on their own, they are some of the most amazing, tallented and beautiful people I have met in such a long time.
God. I hope that this never ends, that we will continue to work together, that this is not just a one shot deal/flash in the pan.
I hope not...
But I have faith - and today, I was reminded that "HPK - you wrote this! Has it hit you yet, as you sit here, listening to the lines that you wrote!?!" It was true - this is my baby. People will be laughing at my jokes! And so many jokes packed into one play! They are one after another! Pretty outrageous! I asked a friend to take photos during out last dress rehearsal at the venue - hopefully he will be there and the pix will turn out! As soon as I get them, I will post them!!
And the photo thing is going well! I was part of an exposition lately and it went really well. Didn't sell anything, but made some amazing contacts, met up with a good friend of mine who I had not seen in 14 years (he still kept my poems that I wrote him 14 yeas ago!! I was so touched!! he was like my brother - keeping me out of trouble and my shoulder to cry on when I needed it.) He wants me to work on a calendar he is making soon - and it's funny - all these people who are popping into my life lately - old friends that I have not seen in YEARS, new friends that I am making - how the play came together and how I am making contacts through that, it's pretty wild and exciting!
And, AND - this woman called me who saw my website and wanted to know if I wanted to do some product shots for her and her company. This might be a steady gig and I am really excited to start! WOW! My head is spinning - I must try to keep it on in one piece!
So on that note, I am posting a few photos from the impromptu shoot that I did Saturday (the unexpected job that just fell into my lap!) and talk about 6 degrees of separation - the girl in the photo knows the main character - the girl playing Carrie in my play!! WILD WILD WACKY SHIT!!
Here is her website - http://www.killerboots.ca
Very cool girl - and her name is the same as mine - but she spells hers with a C.
Strange coincidences!!
Whooooooooooooo ...
I just wanted to pop in to let you know what has been going on!
CHAOS!!
We are having our first show on SATURDAY!! YEP!! THAT'S IT!
SATURDAY the 11th at 7:30pm!
I am soo nervous!! I have been loosing sleep over this - I have this fear that I will go on stage and freeze when I hear the people laughing. Imagine that - me standing on the stage, with curlers in my hair, a god awful nightgown, silly slippers and looking like an angry Greek/Italian mother!! It will be a sight to behold that is for sure!!
We have been rehearsing since last week and this week we are stepping up the pace - every night until showtime. We are doing full dress rehearsals - which means that we have to do our scenes and change in and out of costume in the allotted time (60 minutes). It's pretty chaotic. 12 People running around, looking for the right props and clothes - and we are rehearsing in somebody's apartment - not even on stage yet and we are still all over the map, but I have the uttmost faith that everybody will shine - Big will be the best big, Carrie will be as charming and quirky as ever, Miranda and Steve will be lovingly neurotic (along with the Bride of Chuckie doll!!), Charlotte and Samantha will wow them with their wacky and wild personalitlies. Then we have Pascal - the drag queen extrodinare who kills me and puts me into stictches every time he does his fake french canadian accent (and those legs!! Better than mine! I am so jealous!), the wacky waitreess/Mellisa Ethridge/aspiring waitress/Carrie Bradshaw groupie (and talk about doing multiple roles! Hats off to her!) and the two mooks - Gino and Sprio (who also have multiple roles) - I stand in awe in front of these people. As a group - it's incredible the amount of chemestry and energy we have together! And on their own, they are some of the most amazing, tallented and beautiful people I have met in such a long time.
God. I hope that this never ends, that we will continue to work together, that this is not just a one shot deal/flash in the pan.
I hope not...
But I have faith - and today, I was reminded that "HPK - you wrote this! Has it hit you yet, as you sit here, listening to the lines that you wrote!?!" It was true - this is my baby. People will be laughing at my jokes! And so many jokes packed into one play! They are one after another! Pretty outrageous! I asked a friend to take photos during out last dress rehearsal at the venue - hopefully he will be there and the pix will turn out! As soon as I get them, I will post them!!
And the photo thing is going well! I was part of an exposition lately and it went really well. Didn't sell anything, but made some amazing contacts, met up with a good friend of mine who I had not seen in 14 years (he still kept my poems that I wrote him 14 yeas ago!! I was so touched!! he was like my brother - keeping me out of trouble and my shoulder to cry on when I needed it.) He wants me to work on a calendar he is making soon - and it's funny - all these people who are popping into my life lately - old friends that I have not seen in YEARS, new friends that I am making - how the play came together and how I am making contacts through that, it's pretty wild and exciting!
And, AND - this woman called me who saw my website and wanted to know if I wanted to do some product shots for her and her company. This might be a steady gig and I am really excited to start! WOW! My head is spinning - I must try to keep it on in one piece!
So on that note, I am posting a few photos from the impromptu shoot that I did Saturday (the unexpected job that just fell into my lap!) and talk about 6 degrees of separation - the girl in the photo knows the main character - the girl playing Carrie in my play!! WILD WILD WACKY SHIT!!
Here is her website - http://www.killerboots.ca
Very cool girl - and her name is the same as mine - but she spells hers with a C.
Strange coincidences!!
Whooooooooooooo ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)