NYC.... What is it about you?

 So I looove NYC! Maybe not just love, obsessed with NYC! I really want to move there after I graduate from SRU. Jet set of summer 2011 was to my fav big city with Mum in tow. I swear every time I get to NYC there is some sort of weather calamity during the journey there. Let's revisit February 2010 shall we- Epic snow storm, cancelled flight, reschedule, connection in Philly, jump in a stand by line, 32 passenger plane,finally land at LaGuardia. Totally fab trip was capped of by being interviewed on the Today Show and having pretty much the whole staff of BHS plus my Florida family see me on NBC! Legit much?! umm yes indeed


Okay so back to present aka July 7: Mum & I are kinda sleeping (me with my HUGE Sony headphones on) on our Delta flight to JFK, when over the PA we're all informed that because of t-storms around JFK we are in a 'holding pattern' which basically means we're flying around in circles. Greeeeeeaaaaaaattttt. 45 minutes later we land...thank you God! Let's fast forward an hour & a 1/2,Mum and me are hoofing it through the mad house that is Times Square, to John's Pizzeria on W 44th for dinner. {Side note here, my friends say I eat so much pizza that they're surprised I haven't turned into a pizza by now.} John's Pizza is D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! Afterwords I found myself in my favorite shop right next door, Theatre Circle. There you can find some of the coolest, kinda random theatre memorabilia ever. Sitting on a bookshelf I discovered the script to Master Class, & mega plus it was cheap. I was pretty excited, also because I need a new monologue-Miriam can't bank on Gypsy Rose Lee forever.


The next morning Mum & I embarked on this walking tour that took us to Ground Zero and out to the Statue of Liberty. {FTR the subway is not as scary as some certain friends described it} Anyways, going to Ground Zero meant a lot to me, not only as an American but because of the play i was in at SRU this spring. In 'Where Angels Have Risen' our setting was at the Windows On The World restaurant which was located in one of the towers. My character Josephine, the waitress/'starving' model/English teacher,along with all my other cast mates worked there and of course we all died, except Megan who left 10 minutes early. Believe me there is SO much more to this play besides the initial shock of our fate. As  I was leaving the theatre after our show two women came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed our performance and how at some points they were in tears. I still feel so privileged to have been a part of it. To think that someone exactly like Josey was going about her regular day, but never made it back to her apartment and gold fish, really made me take a step back. 

Me & Mum

Lady Liberty is in one word: Beautiful. To actually stand there looking up at this landmark that you've only seen on TV or in pictures is amazing. After we explored Wall Street, ate at Mickey Mantle's Sports Bar {I LOVE my Yankees!} and as Mum describes it, "She (me) trekked me on a forced march in the humid heat all the way up to Lincoln Center." Ummmm...no comment! I took pictures in front of the Met and Julliard, and yes I went to their bookstore to buy a shirt. The cherry on top of the night was dressing up, and taking refuge from the rain in the Friedman Theatre to see, wait for it....MASTER CLASS! This show was pretty much the whole reason this trip was planned. I literally almost squealed when I sat down in my seat in the....drum roll please...FRONT ROW! (Row AA to be exact)


**Confetti**

I'm going to go so far to say that Master Class is probably the most inspiring play I've ever seen. As a theatre student I could relate to everything that Callas told Sophie, Tony, & Sharon. A lot of it I recall from my high school theatre class as well as the ones from this past year. Let me just say that Tyne Daly is perfect and completely believable. Your eyes were on her pretty much the entire time, and during her monologues I literally got the chills! I honestly didn't know much about Maria Callas before this show, but now I'm proud to say I 'like' her page on Facebook. 


Out of the 3 students in Master Class Sophie De Palma's story is Miriam Necastro's story! FOR REALS! Since seeing the play a week ago I have read the script 3 times & have dissected the similarities between Sophie & I, and they're pretty uncanny. Callas says that Sophie doesn't have a look - I'm still trying to find what mine is. In high school I was always cast as "the whore" : Abigail in The Crucible & Blanche in Streetcar....theme here? I think so! Maybe it's just some vibe I give off, idk. But in the play this spring I was young, strong, slightly bitchy one. Needless to say Miriam is still trying to find her type. We are always both just  always a little bit nervous. We're both over achievers - Sophie had spent countless hours practicing her aria, & even goes so far as rehearsing the right things to say. I did extra credit in a class that I was already getting a 100% in, and sometimes I finish my teachers sentences, so on all levels I am an over achiever and I am proud to admit it. What about the time in Mr. Kozar's theatre arts class junior year when he made all of us stand on the stage in the auditorium, and say our names loud, clear, & confident because 
"You're on a stage now.People are listening. Hundreds & hundreds of people.They want to know who you are. Don't disappoint them God gave you a voice. Use it."
Or the other instance when I was told my *skort was on the short side to be wearing onstage. Hey, 1) it was a SKORT! and 2) I was wearing tights with it.
 The one huge, big fat similarity that jumped out at me during the 1st act :
  Maria: ....He's broken her heart. Have you ever had your heart                       
         broken?
  Sophie: Yes.
  Maria: Well you could have fooled me. This is the theatre, darling. We wear our hearts on sleeves here.
When I was working on my monologue for my in class performance, like Sophie, I had to revisit the heartbreak that had been haunting me for months. My friend Aaron helped me rehearse one day & he told me if you don't tap into that old emotion no one is going to believe you.Practically the same thing Maria told Sophie. Oh and plus my name in my 4 years of Spanish at BHS was Sofia {Sophie / Sofia, there you go} I have never been able to relate whole heartily with a character before. In conclusion Sophie's story is Miriam's story, the 'hot messes' that we are.




After the show I met the SUPER sweet and CRAZY talented Alexandra Silber. Al should seriously teach her own master class on how to cry on cue because a) she did it fabulously & b) I can't do it to save my life and I would def take that class! She signed the cover of my script for me, and was really excited I brought it in. FTR my MasterClassy-ness was the subject of her evening tweet. Ha! We talked about how I follow her blog and how it makes me laugh. Yes Al,now you know London Still reaches someone. As of Friday night Al Silber is one of my new fave people.


As I huddled underneath my $5 umbrella that night I met these really cool Australian girls who are taking theatre classes here. Me & the one were both wearing Meramids Tears nailpolish. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm obsessed! Any who, one of the girls says, "Hey look at that bloke with the Union Jack umbrella. Now I don't feel as bad about mine being completely obvious too." I look over and sure enough on down the street there is this tall, dark haired 'bloke' holding a Union Jack umbrella, and he looks oddly familiar. (voice in head) Waaaaaiiiiiittttt is that?....Yes! Yes I think it is! There trying to be incognito, but at the same time looking completely obvious, was British actor (umm duh) & Sierra's boyfriend Tam Mutu. I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous (in a good way) this evening was turning out to be. To cap off the night I met the amazing Tyne Daly...no big deal or anything.

Mum cheesin real hard & enjoying her red
velvet cupcake

Saturday Mum & me woke up bright and early for our tour of NBC Studios where I was the only one on the tour of 25 that knew the name of Jimmy Fallon's house band...Questo & The Roots. Aren't any of you people on Twitter? Then we shopped for my brother at the NBC Store, and ate cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery.


The Stage Door Tour at Radio City Music Hall can be summed up in one word...AWESOME! When we stepped into the auditorium my jaw literally dropped as I took everything in. No picture or video can ever reproduce the sheer grandeur that is Radio City. Days later I'm still blown away!It is on my bucket list to stand on that stage. Oh yeah, I met a Rockette too. Her name is Stephanie & she's 5'8". At 5'5" i miss the cut by one measly inch.

Stretch

As the newly elected Historian of the first ever SRU Musical Theatre Society, and I plan on taking my job very seriously. First order of business...new dance wear. The solution: Capezio dance company supply, and I came away with new jazz shoes, leg warmers (in love!) and a leotard because I think it's impossible for me to squeeze into my old gymnastics ones these days. I was also delighted to discover that they have a store in Cleveland. This year of SRU musical theatre is going to be boss! And as historian, things are going to be getting very very real up in this!


Around 4:10 pm Saturday you could find me chilling {it was hot as HELL outside!} out side the stage door of the MTC waiting to meet the one person I've only dreamed of meeting for the past 2 1/2 years-my inspiration. From outside I can hear Tyne Daly hurling her final monologue, no joke. Bad ass much?! You bet! Especially because she doesn't have a mic. People start coming out of the theatre and all I hear is praise. Each time the stage door opens my heart literally stops.(and that was quite a few times, I could have died peeps!) Then Sierra finally comes out & I'm like OHMIGOD! Is this happening? This can't be happening! Someone pinch me! But as I was by myself no one did. 
During this time I have no recollection of what was happening around me.


Miriam: Sierra, could you sign my script for me?


Sierra FREAKING Boggess: Aww yeah sure!


Miriam: OHMIGOSH ( and i'm still thinking this isn't happening!)
        Those like 6 times you tweeted me were probably the best  
days ever!
After this I honestly have no recollection of what we both said, except she thought my sundress was beautiful! *squeal* I have never been more speechless in my entire life than I was in that moment. There are so many more things I wish I could have said, but life is about living in the moment right? I will remember this day forever!

"Second place is the first LOSER!" :]

Mum & I went to Top of the Rock. It's our favorite. The view of the skyline is thrilling and I didn't know that I was a bit afraid of heights! 


Tourist next to me: Look how HIGH we are! If this glass gave out we'd probably be dead before we hit the ground.


Miriam: Ohhh wow, yeah....[back's up slowly] Mum! I think we can go eat now


Saturday night we found ourselves on our way to see this one show starring this one guy named Daniel Radcliffe...maybe you've heard of him?! But wait! A side story.....
   So we had plenty of time before the show so we stopped at the Yankees store in search of Derek Jeter 3,000 gear. So I get this super cute hat and because we have plenty of time I run it back up to our hotel room. After I drop it off I go to met Mum in front of the Godiva chocolate shop. Anyways, I'm standing on the corner waiting to cross the street & I'm obvi dressed up for the show, when this equally well dressed guy next to me says "Well don't you look classy in your pink & white Calvin Klein sundress"
Mind you I wore this dress for graduation last spring & do you think anyone at Brookfield High School knew it was CK?! That's a negative. Needless to say I felt pretty amazing. I love New Yorkers for this reason!

  How to Succeed in Business was fantastic!! Dan Radcliffe was a triumph...so dreamy. In the audience that night was Rupert Grint & Tom Felton from the Harry Potter series. I can say I was in the same room as Harry,Ron,& Malfoy. Yes, I'm such a literature nerd. The show reminded me of the show my Mum watches,Mad Men. Some of the character types were exactly the same. It was a magical show (magical hahaha) and the stage door crowd was like a mob. NYPD even called for back up, and this one person had actually climbed into the side walk tree! Wait a minute that was me.....NOT! bahahaha


    Sunday morning Mum & me had breakfast in Rockefeller Plaza, but then it was off to JFK for our flight back to Pittsburgh. So here I am back home in good old Brookfield, Ohio relating my travels to friends & family, breaking in my jazz shoes, soaking up the rest of the summer, and working. One thing that's for sure is I will remember this trip forever, and to quote Wicked "I'll be back for good someday to make my life & make my way, but for today we'll wander & enjoy"

"Someday I'll be living in this big old city...and all you're ever
gonna be is MEAN!"