Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays to all...

Although much of Minnesota is snowless, it's currently a white Christmas in my parent's kitchen as we mix up our traditional batch of homemade Tom & Jerry's.

Egg whites have been whipped and powered sugar is covering the walls. All in the memory of my lovely Grandma Irene. We salute her during the holidays by mixing up the rum/brandy/sugary/nutmegy adult beverage, because if you were lucky enough to know her, you'll recall her love of a good, stiff drink at  Christmas... or really during any day of the year. 

Cheers to you, Gramma.

And I wish all of you and yours a very happy holiday season. May 2012 bring you many good, great and grand things.

As a little present from me to you, take a listen to one of Judy Garland's lesser known Christmas songs..... (aka my favorite Christma song ever).

:)

With tidings and love,

B

A Funeral and a Cocktail Party

I’m now back home in the frozen tundra of Minnesota to celebrate the holidays, but before I said au revoir to NYC I worked on “Blue Bloods” and “Gossip Girl”… and then took my parents on the “New York Christmas Tree and Department Store Window Display Tour” (maybe this could be a side-job of mine!).

“Blue Bloods” was great. I was a “mourner” at a funeral that was shot in Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral down near Little Italy. This church is absolutely beautiful, and perhaps the best part? Tom Selleck. I’m far too young to remember him as the “Marlboro Man,” but it was fun to see him in person, nonetheless. I also was interested to find he loves bananas. I live for this kind of randomness….

Donnie Walberg isn’t too bad to look at either ;) And then of course there was Bridget Moynihan, who is stunning in person, and made me feel like the bags under my eyes (after 8 hours of shooting!) were offensively visible. Good thing they have a great make-up team that even cared about us backgrounders….

When my mom arrived in the City she showed me an article in USA Today about the very episode I’m in. It’s an epi for “sweeps week” (so cool!) and it centers around September 11^th. (Without giving anything away, yes, the funeral I was at was related to Sept. 11 – chilling, but amazing at the same time). It’s also the first television show allowed to shoot in the new 9/11 memorial.

This episode airs in mid-Feb. But, here’s a caveat: Trying to find me in this one will be like playing “Where’s Waldo.” I’m one of 50 “plain clothes mourners” – we’re all on one side of the church – on the other side? Uniformed NYPD!

~~~~~~~

AND THEN THERE WAS….. “Gossip Girl.”

I was so excited to get the call for this one. Not only because it’s obviously such a popular show among my generation, but also because my friend Virginia is borderline-obsessed with it, and kept telling me how much she wanted me on this show. So, I was very happy to text her the good news….

When the agency called, they asked if I’d be comfortable kissing a random actor. I’ve learned in this business that to move ahead, you have to say yes to almost EVERY opportunity that comes your way (unless it’s some obvious sketch Craigslist basement opportunity….) So, I said, “Absolutely. I’m in.”

I was also voted “Class Smoocher” in high school…. So I was qualified.

I was asked to bring three outfits: one exterior outfit, and two cocktail party changes.

Call time? 7:15am. Dear Lord……..

Good thing it was only three subway stops away from my apartment – although I definitely didn’t feel cocktail party-ready when I left my place at 6:45am…. So, THANK GOD for this show’s hair and make-up department, which did it all for us!

Now, again, I signed off on a seriously intimidating confidentiality agreement, so I’m a bit muzzled… which is killing me because I’m dying to share ALL the details with you guys. But, here are some share-able highlights:

WILL see me multiple times in this one as I was a  “featured” backgrounder. (Because of that, I got to work as a union actor for the day!! And, I received my first Screen Actors Guild voucher for this part. Two more vouchers and I can join the SAG union if I choose. Sweet.).

-       I even got a prop, which was quite flat by the end of the day…..

-       The catering for this show is amazing…. Made-to-order omelets, smoked salmon, etc. for breakfast. European hot chocolate, donuts, etc. for a snack and chef-sliced prime rib, salmon and a dessert table bigger than my entire living room for lunch. Heaven? Yes.

-       I was in heels for 13 hours.

- Our shoot location was a famous ritzy hotel.

-       In our down-time, we got to hang out here:

-       I did interior and exterior shots. The exterior shots were cold, but such a blast . I was even given marks to hit and direction from the show’s director.  Plus, I had another fun prop: a bride-worthy (no, I didn’t play a newlywed) bouquet of bright pink flowers, which I, unfortunately, had to give back.

-

- I swear to God that the same agency that casts background for this show casts “The Bachelorette” as well – a few of the guys I was working with HAD to have been on the reality-dating show. They looked SO familiar. Then again perhaps it was just the dapper suits and champagne flutes and my own embarrassing obsession with that show……

-   I saw the majority of the main characters and worked in the same scenes with them.

- In between shots, the hair and make-up people would give us all touch-ups, and once I had to have my bra taped to the inside of my dress because the strap kept popping out….. Obviously you can’t take me anywhere.

-       - And, to round-out this recap of “approved” information, a blonde female principal (who is rumored to be dating Ryan Reynolds) crashed into me at one point and apologized. She’s super nice in person. 

This show is the Valentine’s Day episode… I don’t have an exact air date, but when I do, I’ll post it here.

I’m excited for what the next gig will be when I return in January!

I hope all of you are getting in the holiday spirit – whether there is snow where you are or not – and are successful in wrapping up your last-minute shopping. ‘Tis the season!

xo,

B

Coming Soon...

I owe everyone a post detailing my time on "Blue Bloods" last Friday... and a little more info on my "Gossip Girl" stint today (well, everything I'm legally able to share, that is. That show has one hell of a confidentiality agreement we were all required to sign).

Long story short, I endured 13 hours in heels. And had an absolute blast.

Thanks for all of the excitement and well wishes :)

More to come soon!

xoxo,

B.

Next up...

On Friday, I'll be donning my black and playing a mourner on "Blue Bloods." It feels weird to be excited (for what I think will be a funeral), but I am.....

.... especially if Tom Selleck happens to be at said funeral.

Full report to follow :)

L&O:SVU

So, last Friday I got the exiting opportunity to do some background work on "Law & Order: SVU."

I got the call from the casting agent on Thursday, who asked if I was free on Friday... and I said, "Well, I sure am!" (Cue me scrambling to clear my Friday schedule...). So, she said great, you'll be playing an "upscale restaurant go-er," call so-and-so number after 10:30 tonight to get all of the info, and bring two upscale dress/costume options (cue me tearing through my closet trying to find two suitable outfits).... I may of may not have made a trip to Gap that night....

So, I call the hotline number and got the info:

Call time: 9:30am

Location: A swanky steakhouse in the meatpacking district

Costume: Fall upscale attire with outer wear and all of the accessories

Cool. So, the next morning, here I am, ready to roll:

I arrived down to the restaurant, and was placed in the "holding room" with the other background-ers (some were to play NY police officers, detectives, the "victim" (how cool would that be?), the perp and fellow diners like myself). Said "holding room" was actually the upstairs bar of the restaurant. So.... I took a seat.... here:

Fun, huh? Sadly, no free mimosas or bloody marys... but the craft services table had a great breakfast for us all ( pancakes, eggs, yogurt, bagels, POPTARTS(!) and other 'grown up' breakfast specialities...)

The wardrobe director then came around to each of us to decide which outfit she wanted us to wear... Of course, she liked the outfit I didn't put on... so to the changing room I went......

Fast forward to the "restaurant go-ers" being seated at our tables. I was seated at a table of four. My "date" and I were out dining with another couple. We had our "wine" (Welch's Grape for the ladies and Welch's White Grape for the guys...) and menus. We were to be in the "hmmm... honey, what do you think you're going to order/well, I can't decide between the grilled salmon or the filet mignon" portion of the evening.  I was a bit bummed, because when I knew I was playing a patron in a restaurant, I thought I'd actually get some food. My former boss even told me I was a perfect fit for this role, as I'm such a good eater. Yes, I love food. But sadly, no food for me. Other people had cake, half-eaten salads and bread on their plates. Oh well.

So, once all of the cameras are in place, it's time to start rolling. Mariska Hargitay and Stephanie March were seated at the table right next to mine. Then, in walked some red-headed guy with orange Crocs and a chef's apron on who was to be talking to them at the table - turns out to be Mario Batali, the celebrity chef. Pretty cool.

They ran the same scene about 12 times, all the while my "friends" and I drank our "wine," chatted with the server and decided on our entrees.

Then we were sent back to the bar (err.. holding room) for about an hour and a half.

(Waiting to be called back downstairs.... about one minute before I decided I'd visit the craft services table for a donut and coffee.....)

My table was finally called back downstairs for the "end of dinner" scene, and guess what?!? I had actual, half-eaten food on my plate! It looked like half a Caesar Salad accompanied by a mashed up piece of meatball(?), with a side of hard artichoke dip. My "date" had a beet on his plate.... random.

Anyways... they did a couple more takes and called it a day! Those playing police officers then went on over to the Law & Order set, which was just a few blocks away at Chelsea Piers. 

I had my timecard signed, and my new friend Rose and I (Rose was the other girl at my table) headed for the subway.

All in all it was a great experience. The casting company I'm registered with also casts for "Gossip Girl," "Blue Bloods" and a couple other shows/movies filmed in the city, so I'll be submitted for those when a right role comes up, too. 

I have no idea if I'll be visible in this Law & Order episode, but if you want to tune in, it airs January 11th.... Look for me in the blue sleeveless dress and gold necklace ;)

Until next time ~

B. 

Belated Thanks

I'm still detoxing from a wonderful Thanksgiving week spent in Florida. 

I got to hang out with the fam, including my adorable one-year-old nephew, make the annual "pilgrimage" to South Beach for a mojito and first-rate meal at Joe's Stone Crabs (where, if I didn't eat enough on Thanksgiving, I surely did here), and of course, reflect on all that I'm thankful for. 

And this year, my list was substantially longer than ever before... and I wondered why.

Is it because that as we grow up we become thankful for even the most seemingly trivial things?

For instance, I'm thankful for the big things: family, friends, my health, people who support me on this crazy and sometimes (very) difficult journey, this entire opportunity as a whole, and countless others.

I'm also thankful for the smaller things, like, having a friend who will sing show tunes with me for HOURS, liking Cliff Bars enough to eat them for dinner during weeks when I need to save some $$,  for having my Grandma in my life for as long as I did or even for knowing I can head down to Rockefeller Plaza tomorrow night to see the tree lighting.

Sometimes we're thankful for the small things. Sometimes we're thankful for the big things. And sometimes, we remember how thankful we are for EVERYthing. 

Lastly... I'm thankful for all of you, who read my rants and provide some free therapy ;)

~B.

Fall-ies

I'm super close to Central Park, so today I tore myself away from the "Untold Stories of the E.R" marathon on the Discovery Channel and went for a walk around the Reservoir.  It was a gorgeous day out, and I found the Reservoir walking/running path so pretty, it now has me contemplating taking up running.....

... but then I remember winter is (sadly) fast approaching. 

Enjoy this lengthy fall weather we've been having!

~ B.

Uptown Girl

I'm officially a resident of the Upper West Side. Yay.

It took four loooong days of moving suitcases, small appliances, groceries and every other household essential you can think of up four flights of stairs. 

And, it was equally hard work watching the guy from IKEA haul my bed, dresser, futon and mattress up the stairs all by himself. He's destined for sainthood. 

So, after long waits at IKEA,

Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target (thanks to the NY Marathon we had to wait 1.5 hours for a darn cab....)

 and B & H Photo (ok, I lie. This wait was not long. The store has based it's operating system off of Santa's Workshop's model. I've never seen an electronics store like it!), I present to you, my new apartment: 

I think it's pretty cute.

If you knew me in high school, you might understand the significance of these three seemingly-random "decorations" (yes, that's an oil can on the right):

And, although I'm pretty well settled, I still have a few things to hang on the walls....

.... but have decided to wait for a professional -- or my dad -- to help me hang them without completely ruining the walls. 

And, another perk? Garrison Keillor lives in the (MUCH more luxurious) building at the end of my block. This street seems to attract us Minnesotans....

So, what's next? A couple more classes (I'm in a prime-time TV class that starts next month), auditions, auditions, auditions and obtaining a part-time job. Shall be a good time. 

And, I promise to be a more on-the-ball blogger :)

xo,

~B

We're makin' progress!

GOOD NEWS. I have a home... and a bed.... and the Internet... and all of those other necessities. I'm waiting on one more piece of the puzzle, and then I'll post some photos!

Check back in the next day or two :)

In the meantime...

I'm still "homeless," but get to move into my new apartment in 11 days. Color me mucho excited. I can't wait to update you all on the new place, and the moving stories I'm bound to acquire. My mother and her friend Susan are moving me in again - you'll recall they moved me into my first apartment, too. So, hilarity is sure to ensue in some form or another.

In the meantime, take a listen to this. I found it pretty awesome, although I don't know that if I were singing a duet with Tony Bennett I'd opt for the Cotton Candy Blue. I'd go the route of the Marilyn Platinum Blonde. But then again, I'm no GaGa. Enjoy!!

xo,

B

Currently a couch-surfer....

I apologize for my absence..... ever since I found my PERFECT apartment in the Upper West Side (thanks in no small part to my kick-ass pitbull of a  realtor Judith), I've fallen off the blog-o-sphere.

I get to move into the 4th floor of a beautiful brownstone in November.... until then, I'll be sleeping in five different "beds" during the month of October. One, being my bed in Cannon Falls, MN :)

In the meantime, I'm playing the role of "transient." Since I can't start my part-time job until I have a permanent address (oh, how laws can be annoying), I'm spending my days seeing the city as a tourist again. I even went to a movie by myself today for the first time EVER (I saw "50/50." Totally recommend it unless you're the type to get embarrassed if you start sobbing in the theater........)

So, check back in a week or so for my random "stories of the city."

Oh, and thoughts and prayers go out tonight to Steve Jobs and his family. 

As I type this blog on my MacBook, I can't help but admire his tenacity and reverence for "the dream." 

Bravo, sir.

~~~~~

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way that I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." - Steve Jobs

~~~

Dream big, friends.

xoxo,

B.

Apartment Searching in NYC

I will soon be moving from my little orange apartment in Hell's Kitchen. It's bittersweet.

This was my first "home" in NYC, and I've had a lot of great times here.

However, I'm excited to get into a place of my own.... and have walls that aren't BRIGHT orange.

I'm currently waist-deep in the NYC real estate scene.

After running into countless dead-ends via semi-sketchy apartment search websites and  Craigslist, I was counting down to my first nervous breakdown since moving here.

Thankfully, Melissa, my former voice teacher extraordinaire, came to stay with me this weekend. Among our many adventures, she wanted to check out the semi-annual Eileen Fisher sample sale in the Village. I thought, what the heck, it'll be my first sample sale experience. Yay.

I walked out of the store with a beautiful new fall jacket..... and...... A REALTOR!

Yes, Melissa and I made friends with a wonderful lady who works for a large real estate firm.... over a cashmere sweater.

Funny how life works out sometimes.

So, wish me luck. I have showings tomorrow and hope to have something locked up by next week.

After this is all said and done, I'll be back with crazy audition stories and my normally-scheduled blogging :)

-B.

I 'Heart' the A-Train

Why, you may ask, do I love the A-Train so much that I devote an entire post to it?

First of all, it's an Express train. Last week it got me from Midtown to my friend's enviously large apartment in Washington Heights in only 20 minutes.

On Monday, it got me north of Washington Heights and to my headshot session, miraculously, on time. (Ever since I've moved here my flawless "on-time" record has been tarnished a bit - shameful.)

Today it got me to Brooklyn on the first leg of my new apartment search (more on this hellish hunt later....) and offered SNACK service. How many airlines even offer snack service anymore?!?

Well, okay, it wasn't the MTA offering snacks, it was Reggie... or Tommy... or whatever his name was, the self-proclaimed "Manhattan Candy Man," loudly marketing his 'fine candies' by singing "The Candy Man Can" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. And good news, folks! Today he had TWO candy offerings. Peanut M&Ms and Welch's Fun Fruits (since when do fruit snacks qualify as candy?). And... it gets better. Because today, and today only, the Fun Fruits were buy-one-get-one. 

I couldn't help but laugh. I found his sales tactics highly entertaining, and, I give him credit. 

Just another day on the A-Train....

-B.

9.11.11

I REMEMBER....

- I was in the hallway of my high school, just heading into the Algebra II classroom when I heard the news

-  watching the second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center on live TV, and then hearing about the Pentagon and United 93 hitting near Shanksville, PA

- our Phy Ed teacher telling us to look up and realize this was probably the only day in history where there wasn't a single plane in the sky

- celebrating my cousin's birthday that night, but instead of opening presents and engaging in the usual birthday party chit-chat we were glued to the unending news coverage

- wearing red, white and blue ribbons on our volleyball shoes for the rest of the fall

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strangely enough, my uncle was living in the exact apartment I'm living in now during 9/11. That  day affected me in a way that's hard to explain... but then again, given the circumstances, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has problems articulating their feelings about such a massive and intentional blow through our country's heart.
But, now, living in this city and having visited Ground Zero about a dozen times, it feels different. It feels more personal.

I just got back from walking through Times Square and was amazed at the feeling of calm reverence that has enveloped the city today... even despite the increased security and feeling of "being on alert."

My heart still goes out to all the men and women who lost their lives ten years ago... and to the families they left behind.

We're re-building, but we'll never forget.

Hurricanes, Earthquakes & Floods. Oh My!

So, I've begun taking stock of what interesting situations I (and my fellow New Yorkers) found myself in these past 2 weeks. Here's the run-down:

-AN EARTHQUAKE

Whhaaat? I'm going to be completely honest and admit that I didn't even know about said earthquake until I got home ten minutes after it happened. I had wandered down the street for some Pinkberry frozen yogurt, when, upon my return, I felt a slight sway. My balance has never been something to brag about, so I thought it was in my head or thought I was so invested in my fro-yo that I tripped. But, once I got home and opened my laptop, everyone was all a-twitter about an earthquake; so cool, I can say I've survived an earthquake.

-A "HURRICANE"

The best part about this "hurricane" (besides the fact NYC was very lucky and in no way got the brunt of the storm as forecasted) was the preparation for said "storm of the century." My house guests for the weekend, who were forced to stay two extra days because of flight cancellations, and I made sure we stocked up on the 'essentials.' The essentials, of course, being: Cliff bars, eggs, $5 trail mix (?!?), apples, Koala Yummies (yes, they still make them!), bottled water, soda, coffee and a few options in terms of adult beverages.... We filled my entire bathtub in case the power went out and we weren't able to flush the toilet (thanks to the ever-knowledgeable Jacquelyn Wegmann for texting me that tip before the storm..). We attempted, with no luck, to find an extra flashlights. We made it over to Bourbon Street for $5 Pre-Hurricane Hurricanes (we couldn't resist!) and we even managed to attract the AccuWeather.com reporter, who, despite our haggard appearances, insisted on interviewing us on how upset we were the stores in Times Square all closed early. (Ironically, we weren't upset at all -- See, Mom! Actor training is paying off already!)

Besides our individual preparation, the city itself prepared for the impending storm, and essentially shut down. Words can not express how creepy an empty Manhattan is (think end-of-the-world movies, and you'll get a good sense of it).

Empty 42nd Street

Palm trees secured in Rockefeller Plaza

Times Square clearing out

So... we buckled up for what was predicted to be a hide-in-the-closet-because-glass-is-flying kind of storm.....

Embarrassingly, we slept through most of Irene's show.

AFTER THE STORM:

You should be able to see the George Washington Bridge here.... This was the morning Irene blew through.... it was pretty flippin' windy, but nothing compared to what up-state NY and Vermont got... 

Taxis lined the curbs Sunday morning, and the streets were empty. People were laying in the middle of 8th Avenue taking pictures.

NYC was luckily just side-swiped, and Lower Manhattan did see some flooding, but overall, we fared well.

After being pent-up for an entire night, we happily celebrated a night out after we emerged from my apartment.

Besides all of that excitement, Katie, Kristin and I walked about a thousand miles, seeing the sights, doing some shopping and eating some cupcakes and sushi.  All in all it was a great and memorable visit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week I'm heading home to good 'ol MINNESOTA. 

My week will be filled with:

Friends

Family

A(nother) wedding

A much-anticipated trip to my cabin in Wisconsin

and

a few visits to the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. 

Yay.

I'll be back blogging with my "fair"-share a good stories in a week. 

Until then~

xo,

B.

Good night, Irene.

So, we're gearing up for what they're saying is the Storm of the Century for the NE.

Hurricane Irene just shut Broadway down for the entire up-coming weekend. First time ever.

She also already ruined Kristin and Katie's travel plans, as their return flight for Sunday was already canceled, and the soonest they can get out of here is TUESDAY. So, I'll have them around for a few extra days, which will definitely be welcome.

My sublet Paul emailed me yesterday. The subject of his e-mail was "Hurricane!" and here's what it said:

Brooke,
I don't know how to prepare you for a hurricane, except to ask if you're ready for this.  Are you ready for this?

-Paul

As of now we have food, one flashlight and two bottles of wine.

I forsee another grocery run in our future. And then, yes, Paul, we're ready.

I'll keep ya'll posted!

-B.

Meet Me at the Fair...

Tomorrow marks the first day of the 2011 Minnesota State Fair.

It also marks the first day in FOUR YEARS that I am not running around like a crazy-person making sure interviews are confirmed, Information Booths are stocked, Grandstand Photography release forms are ready to go, employees are happy and everything is in place for the big, opening day. Yes, it's the first day in four years that I'm not working for the Fair. 

And, I'd be lying if I said I don't miss it a little......

and the Pronto Pups, San Felipe Fish Tacos, Mini Donuts, French Fries, Cheese Curds and Sweet Martha's Cookies.......... you get the picture :)

So today my blog is dedicated to my many great friends who are gearing up for the Great  Minnesota Get-Together. "Break a Leg," guys :)

PS- I can't be too sad... I'll be visiting in a week!

Also, I have a good distraction as my cousin Kristin and friend Katie arrive in NYC tomorrow. Watch out Manhattan. Shenanigans will ensue.

~B.

Pomp & Circumstance... and a little "Don't Cry for Me Argentina"

It's been a little over a week since I and my fellow Group D-ers "graduated" from Circle in the Square. Our final Cabaret was very, very memorable... for many reasons. We spent the ENTIRE day in the theater (which was the temperature of a meat locker) where we went through a dry-run, dress rehearsal, and then finally, the performance in front of friends, relatives and teachers. The day was shaping up to be flawless...

Until, 20 minutes before the show was set to start, Callum (aka, Boy Wonder - the 16-year-old in my group who undoubtedly will find himself on "Glee" within the next two years) accidentally spilled my entire water bottle all over the front of my dress. So, naturally...... I find this funny. Like, really, really funny. And so does he. We spend the next 3 minutes in a state of noiseless hysterics... you know, the kind of laugh where no sound comes out (and no oxygen goes in) because you are laughing SO hard? Fast forward to me frantically trying to find a hair dryer, successfully doing so and spending the few last minutes before curtain-up blow drying my dress... and shoes. Voila. Disaster averted.

Now... minutes before the show started, we all lined up in our opening number positions, and waited for the familiar piano introduction of "To Be A Performer." When said intro is heard, we all did what we had done 20 times before... shuffle out backwards, in a line and mid-stage, in theory, would PRETEND to run into each other/look surprised/begin to fight to get each other off of us, etc. However, this time around something went wrong (see YouTube clip from my previous post... if you haven't already).

Yes, the majority of us FELL OVER. 

I hit my mark like usual, then noticed people going down in front of me. Then I noticed the poor people in the front of them still backing up, only to be sucked into the chaos because they had no clue of the pile-up behind them.

 It was like watching the Titanic sink-- you know something is wrong, and you know you should help in some way, but you can't move. 

In the video you'll notice our accompanist, Noel, laughing, and probably thinking to himself, "No f-ing way this happening."

Also, if you happened to be sitting next to our director, Kimberly, you would've heard her matter-o-factly say, "Oh shit."

Well, good news. We all played it off well and nobody broke an ankle or even ripped a dress. 

God, we're good. 

So good, in fact, that the audience (my parents included) thought it was choreographed... and so good that our choreographer thought we threw it in at that last minute as some sort of "senior prank." HA.

So, after that, of course I couldn't stop laughing, but had to try and control myself at least until I sang my song, and exited the theater. I sang "The Boy Next Door," exited up-stage left, and that was that.... (my video is floating around YouTube somewhere if you really want to see it....)

All in all, Section D's Cabaret was a huge unique, unscripted and unpredictable success (kind of like Group D itself).... Despite some of us literally falling on our butts during our "Broadway Stage Debuts." Congrats, guys. We made it.

Don't we clean up well?

Mom and Dad made the trip out to NYC :)

However, this was not the end of our time together. One of my group members, Joseph Callari, and his wonderful wife, threw us a graduation party at a great Italian restaurant in Times Square. Not only was the food, wine and conversation wonderful, but Joseph presented us all with "Rising Star" awards and framed Actor's Vow poems. What a guy! We also gave individual awards that were just for fun. I got the "Comedienne Award" as I "have the most ridiculous talent for doing teacher impersonations." Color me honored.

Our awards

Good times, good food, good friends

Besides my parents visiting NYC for the Cabaret and grad party, my sister-in-law was able to spend a few days with us before she headed up-state for work. Here's me and Carrie in Times Square on the way to the party:

This week has been spent tying up loose ends, hanging out with my Circle friends (many of whom have sadly already left for wherever it is they call home), meeting with various consultants, and planning the next steps in my post-school life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am happy to report that I auditioned for my first Broadway show. 

Yesterday my friends Nikki, Amanda and I went to an open call for the role of the "Mistress" in EVITA.

Waiting... on the floor :)

(Since it was an "open call," anyone can show up - union/non-union and everyone in between.) We arrived at 11am to sign up.

It was held at one of the largest casting firms in the city... yet, I don't think they were even ready for what  was in store for them....

Imagine the scene, if you will: 

~Casting for one of the biggest revivals to hit B-way in a while, not to mention this revival will star Ricky Martin as Che (which personally seems a very strange casting choice, but no one asked me).

~An open call (aka: cattle call) for ONE role.

~ Over 300 girls in a room designed to comfortably seat 100.

 Can you see where I'm going with this??

The first list, which I was #70 on, was torn up and a new list was put out... causing all 200+ of us in the room to rush the sign-up table. Tears, cat fights and complaining ensued. And when the atmosphere calmed and the casting company instituted the single-file line rule, I was #151 to sign-up. 

So, we came back to sing for the casting directors, only to find they were running 1 1/2 hours behind schedule, and would be opening up two more casting rooms. Two of which, unfortunately, did not have piano accompaniment. Of course, where did I end up? Yep, in one of the 'a capella' rooms. So... I sang my 16-bars, managed to stay on-key, and was relieved to have had a very nice woman in my room who smiled and said, "Nice!" after I had finished. 

Then, just like that,  a moment I have waited years for was over in 30 seconds.

But you know what? It was fantastic. Even the feeling of being herded like cattle was fun, because I did it. 

Chances are very slim I'll ever make Broadway. But, now I can never say I was too scared or didn't think I was good enough to try. And that perhaps means more in the long-run, anyways.

So, that's that. There will be more auditions for me in the future, and actually a few next week.

But, getting the first one under my belt feels fantastic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although it's been over a week since school ended, I sometimes have trouble believing those crazy/draining/emotional/wonderful 7 weeks even happened.

On our last day I snapped some pictures... which prove I was actually a part of all this craziness...

Callum and I back at the scene of  'the water-bottle vs. blue dress' crime.....

Walking out for the last time... Thanks, Circle in the Square. It's been a blast.

AND SCENE.

~B.

Mi Scusi

Please excuse the fact that I've been a delinquent blogger as of late. 

It's been a big week, and tomorrow is a semi-important/big day as well..........

I'll be back this weekend with great stories.

Promise.

So, this past weekend was insanely and ridiculously amazing... and to describe it adequately deserves more energy than I currently have... however, I couldn't wait to post this gem:

Our Cabaret's opening number:

The "fall" was not scripted.

But, in my humble opinion, turned out to be BRILLIANT. 

~B

Life is a Cabaret

So, guess what? I SUCCESSFULLY managed to be 95% "private in public" for my final Acting Technique exercise. And, I say "95%" because I don't think ANYONE can block 15 people intently staring at them in their underwear out of their minds completely. Anyways, I did my tasks (applying make-up, tweezing my eyebrows, eating my Cliff Bar and stapling my resumes to my headshots) and then did my final "essence of privacy" task, which was rehearsing my Cabaret song in my underwear and character heels. Besides getting a bit of the famous "Brooke Dillon Red Splotchy Chest Rash" (I blame the heat and the general uncomfortableness of the exercise), I fared well! Our instructor seemed to be quite pleased, which was great and I was pretty happy with myself for stepping so far outside my comfort limit. 

FOLLIES!

On Sunday, my friends Chelsea, Lexie and I attended the opening preview for "Follies" on Broadway. We had 4th row seats and the show was amazing!!  

And... because we're geeks, we got Follies souvenir glasses.....

I also was able to get Mary Beth Peil and Bernadette Peters' autographs on my Playbill. I would've liked to have gotten a few more, but the linebacker in front of us wouldn't budge.... even when we tried to win him over by batting our lashes..... jerk.

Mary Beth Peil - she's also on "The Good Wife"

The legendary Bernadette Peters

And, speaking of shows..... our CABARET is tomorrow!!!!

My 14 fellow talented classmates and I will be performing on a legitimate Broadway stage. 

YAY.

Of course, that also means we are nearing the end of our summer together. Friday is our last day of classes :(

Good thing we've got one HELL of a "graduation" party to look forward to on Friday night.

xoxo,

B

Today promises to be very memorable.

If all goes as planned, Acting Technique Class will culminate in me singing "The Boy Next Door." In some stranger's apartment. In my underwear and heels. 

While 15 people watch.

Hmmmmm.

Stay tuned. 

A good friend/former co-worker sent me a package about a month ago. Although said package never arrived (and was probably a huge disappointment to whoever's hands it ended up in) she gave me "package round 2" when I saw her last week. Among other things, she included an "inspiration a day" box, which I've found incredibly motivating... especially in these last couple tiresome and emotional weeks of class.

So, it's like I get to open a fortune cookie every day, and if you know me you know I'm a quote-aholic. Here's one I just loved: 

You were not sent into this world to do anything into which you cannot put your heart.

- John Ruskin

So, there's a little inspiration for you on this Friday :)

My weekend will consist of Cabaret rehearsal (we take the stage this Thursday!)......

Nikki, Callum and I "hard at work" in the theater this past week....

..... and sitting 4th row at the opening preview of "Follies" starring Bernadette Peters, Elaine Page and Danny Burstein.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. 

Happy Weekend, all.

xo,

B.