Heading to Palm Beach!

I will be playing the role of Curley this fall in Palm Beach Dramaworks' production of, "Of Mice and Men."

This is a play that is "on my list." 

I am tremendously excited and looking forward to a working vacation out of the New York area.

My classes for the fall are covered; I've done all I can to secure my place at each school...so it's win-win!

So excited to live in this world!

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. -Buddha

I just wrapped up another successful semester of teaching. Ironically, my last semester at Montclair State was my best. I had challenges during my time there, but all in all, it was a positive experience. I feel I gained the respect of my students , I can only hope that they got something out of the class in return. Part of me will miss it there, but alas, tis time to move on.

My Theater Appreciation class is seeming to get more and more streamlined; covering most of the same material in a more engaging way. Students are more and more enthused. I received many compliments from students; feels good.

I will be teaching Acting at both Rider and Rutgers Universities in the fall. Nice to know that so many schools are eager to keep me around. Again, Montclair would've kept me if I chose to stay...good to move on on my own terms.

A few weeks ago I completed Improv 101 at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). What an exciting, terrifying experience. I am not good at improv, but acknowledge it is a skill I need to develop. The class was hard; I struggled. I feel I did better than I think I did. I start 201 at the end of the month.
I practically shit my pants every time I go up but, if you're not growing and learning - you're dying.
This is good for me.

I also recently joined the wonderful theatrical group, AMIOS (Art and Music in our Souls). This is a pretty great collective of artists; I am flattered to be a part of it. Among other things, they host an evening of theater every month called, Shotz. Every month, playwrights have two weeks to write a short play (based on a pre-determined theme), then the actors and directors have two weeks to rehearse and stage their assigned play. It's fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants theater but, fully produced. It's not half-assed; the work is quality stuff and I've been asked to return to participate in this month's Shotz, my 2nd; a true compliment.

I have several readings coming up:
One produced by Fundamental Theatre Project, directed by Shirley Knight
Perfect Weather by Eric Fallen
The Medicine Show by David Dannenfelser

Lotsa irons in fires.
Keeping busy as best I can, moving forward.

...till next time.

If at first you don't succeed....

...mixing it up.

Two roads diverged...

I'm at an impasse, I feel.

The acting front has been slow...too slow!
I know its been slow for many however, it still drives me nuts.

On the other hand, my spring semester is underway and things are going well.
My Theater Appreciation class seems to be getting better and better; I'm constantly tweaking, making my lectures more efficient and concise, utilizing new and different media to make it more engaging. It's good, I think I'm succeeding on that front.

Stage Make-Up (both sections) are comprised of a solid group of students; participatory and engaged.
It's nice.
I'd like to think part of this is that my style of teaching is continuing to grow. Again, I say "part."

I'm prepping for the Annual auditions in Philly (I'd love to act in/near my hometown) next month.
...something to do.

Speaking at a symposium at Rider next week on "Acting in Comedy," so that'll be fun in addition to beefing up the CV.
I'm also fight choreographer and make-up designer for a small production in the city next month. The Choking Game written by Kaitlin Colombo, co-produced by my friend, Eric Michael Gillett
Again - fun.

I can't help but consider what the end-game is here...what am I doing?...really? I want to be further along. I used to think that the previous statement pertained to my "career;" now, I wonder if it is more about my life in general...finding happiness. Yes, I'm happiest when I'm working.
But, what is that about?
-some validation thing?
-true joy from doing what you love/meant to do?

What do I do when I'm not working? That is the big question.
Is there something else that can provide me as much joy when I do it?
How do I find/substitute that joy?
Is all this worth it?

No real answers; though I am working to find some....SOME.
It's not all about answers.
I know part of this struggle is that I started this pursuit later in life. I may have mentioned before; I am on two time-lines:
1) my life time line-I feel I should be further along at my age (I KNOW, I gotta get over it...I'm trying!)
2) my career line-starting when I did, being where I'm at after just over 10 years (I'm not counting my time in school at The Academy and Mason Gross), I'm doing VERY well.
It's challenging coalescing the two.

Hosting a bit of an Oscar party tonight, a small one. Should be fun; an evening with good food and good friends.
We'll see how the awards pan out. I certainly have my opinions...

A New Age..

Looks like we made it!
The world did not end.
What will we do within the dawn of this new age? Whether you believed the Mayan "prophecy" or not - I do believe the one truth the calendar conveys is that we have entered a new age/epoch/era...
or whatever....

Will anything change?
Will this change occur on its own? or via our own doing (or undoing)?

I may have stated before, this past year brought with it some tremendous opportunities, as well as some harsh life events:

*I shot and co-produced a SAG Short film in LA
(I must say, while I'm proud of the work, I'm also pleased of the make-up effects I pulled off. Thanks Scott Ramp!!)
*I shot a pilot with Michael McGlone
*I performed in an Off-B'way production of Tennessee Williams' last full-length play with the incomparable Shirley Knight and the magical Alison Fraser
*I actually booked another play but couldn't do it because it was in conflict with the above!
*I taught more courses this year than ever
*I was invited back to teach at Rutgers University (that's now 3 schools where I currently teach)
*I will be teaching a new course for the winter session at Rider U., "Great Performances in Film."
among other things...

But there were also some adversity that my family faced:
* My father struggled with his blood pressure that caused much instability; i.e. stroke-like events (one occurred right in front of me - literally caught him in my arms as he was collapsing)
* My father was in a terrible car crash that claimed my uncle (his brother). He is on the mend, I'm thankful to say, but it was rough going there for a while; what can I say? the guy's a fighter!
* My brother is still in the midst of a nasty divorce. It is taking its toll on him, our family, as well as his kids...obviously. Sad.

Anyway - blah, blah, blah....this too shall pass.
While 2012 was not all bad, far from it in fact, I'm fine with its passing.


I'm hopeful for 2013.

Happy New Year everyone!

Finish line...

Wow...
I did it! My busiest and most packed semester - EVER. What a couple of months.
Lesson learned - 5 classes in a single semester is just too much to commit to.
While I feel I have made it work, this semester was not without its challenges:

"Sandy" disrupted EVERYTHING. Between the actual storm and the slow process of"finding normal," we lost about 3 entire weeks. Syllabi and expectations needed to be re-configured. All-in-all, we made it work. While I released students from a few assignments, classes were still challenging. I fear one class in particular I never really got back. It was what it was.

My biggest obstacle was how booked myself out of Acting these past months. I had few auditions and not working in my field drives me crazy. Furthermore, when I'm not doing what I've been trained to do, I feel like a bit of a fraud teaching when I'm not doing it....does that make sense?

...so, I gotta fix that.

I'm ready to end 2012...let's get beyond this Mayan bullshit...

Where's 2013?

Perspective shift-

This is what I witnessed outside my window on Sunday evening as Sandy came ashore:

Outside my window, the parking lot below my apartment complex

Marin and Columbus Blvds., just before the electricity went out.

Pictures by Wesley Broulik & Mandy Haskin

Truly horrible what I witnessed. When the tide came in - it felt like what we saw in Thailand.
Water submerging thousands of cars.
A day before the storm, I decided to park my in an elevated, covered lot. Mind you, I called the JCPD to ask if I was in a flood zone (btw, Jersey City - your information service SUCKS - could find usable information online - anywhere). Anyway, whoever I spoke to at JCPD told me that my location would be safe for flooding. Good thing I ignored them. Though to be fair, nobody expected this.

I moved my car on the basis of possible wind damage as I am parked by a large pole and a tree. Best $46 spent - ever. Again, ALL the cars below were destroyed, totaled...except mine. Not bragging, not at all - just incredibly grateful.

We had no power, nor water since yesterday I'm told.
I won't share how we dealt with toilet stuff. 

Fortunately, my friends, Wes and Mandy kept each other company. We pooled our perishable food and cooked what we could, minimizing lost food, playing board games and using our crank-radios for information.

During day 1 after the storm, Wes and I explored the area and was just blown away by what we saw: people living on ground level or basement apts/homes - totally destroyed. Lives forever changed.

I am very, VERY lucky. Just lost some perishable food.

I'll be heading back either tomorrow or Sunday. I've gotten word that the power is back on...
it's now about the water.

Don't know when I'm going to be able to get into Manhattan as the PATH is down, indefinitely.

All my classes have been cancelled for the week. Been sending out e-mails to my students - some adjustments will be made, but we will do what we can do...hoping all my students are safe, well and warm. 

I'm making the most of my time here at home. I left two days ago: I woke up to darkness and devastation and came home (to PA) taking my nephews and niece out Trick-or-Treating two nights ago reminded me how truly fortunate I am. 

On that note - My brother is finding normalcy. I've been helping him move into his new apartment. He's been making a wonderful home for himself and his kids. He deserves this break and I'm happy to help him settle in.

Also helping my parents clean up after the storm has been a priority. Comparatively, West Chester was barely hit by Sandy - not to undermine those who suffered damage: some power outages, downed trees, leaves and limbs everywhere - but nothing like what I left in JC. 

Anyway, it'll be nice to know my parent's home will be ready for winter.

Witnessing/surviving an event like this, shifts perspective on things....not sure what's going to happen next. 

Makes you stop and think about what's really important and what one truly wants/needs out of life.