DIFFA DALLAS

I am still reeling from the extravaganza that is DIFFA Dallas. 

This over the top haute couture event thrown by my bestie Jim DiMarino (the "Will" to my "Grace") was just spectacular to say the least. I may have to do two or three posts because it was all very overwhelming. I was a part of the opening number, singing Lascia Ch'io Pianga with rap artist Jordan Frescher. I think we came up with a new genre called...wait for it...wait for it...

OpeRap.

In all seriousness I am actually really inspired at the idea of mixing modes to create new fresh ways of hearing old tunes. Purists may cringe, but I think a younger generation might be turned on to Opera if it was presented in a new and exciting way. The wheels are turning....

This not for profit organization is truly a special one. I was very honored to open the event and floored at the massive scale of it all!

About to take the stage

Behind the scenes. Photos by Kristi and Scot Redman, see more at StyleSheet.

On the runway....photos by Randy Anderson.

Absolutely phenomenal right? I mean, it's too bad how unattractive they are....how sad. 

;)

More to come!

Actors Equity Turns 100

Another centennial today with the Actors Equity Association!

I became a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA thorough my work on All My Children, and As the World Turns. I have always been so thankful for the great working conditions these Actor's Unions have given us over many many years and for being a part of this fabulous actor's community in New York City.

Happy birthday AEA!!

My sassy centennial gold card and commemorative pin

Creative Friends Creating - The Producer

Waaaaay back when, I talked about wanting to promote the many outstanding creative minds that surround me. Well, this is the moment! I would like to begin spreading the creative love and supporting the artistic endeavors of my cohorts in crime whom I respect so greatly.  Oh that reminds me...I saw Jekyll and Hyde on B'way this week. Deborah Cox is fierce. The end.

This month's edition is subtitled....

The Producer

Mr. Steven Midura....aka Florenz Ziegfeld The Third is starting his own production company of musical theater concerts and reviews to for corporate events, theaters, and cruise ships from the ground up.  How amazing is that? And what a massive endeavor at that. He does it all, directs, choreographs, bedazzles the costumes AND even styles wigs. He has the help of a wonderful support system in Springfield MA and has teamed up with the fabulous Sara Janik to create his masterpieces. I first met Steven working for Crystal Cruise Lines and we definitely bonded over an Evita wig gone bad. Here we are during his show that we put together just for the crew on board.

We are VERY serious about sequins and lashes.

Ok so last week he put up his first full fledged Broadway review and I was thrilled to be a part of it. It had everything from Dreamgirls, Wicked, Cabaret, Chicago, Rent, Smokey Joes Cafe, Sister Act, Legally Blonde, Fosse, and....Gypsy...twice.  PHEW! Got to love a good ol backstage cell phone pic that actually turns out quite fancy. As you can see his costumes are fantabulous. 

"Louise" from Gypsy. Dylan is just jealous of my outfit.

Backstage

Onstage

The week was so hilarious on so many levels and I met some pretty awesome people as always in the business of show. Very good times. :)

Become a fan of Shows4You HERE and please support live theater!

Re-affirming...Again

There was a time when I would look around at my world as a performer: the crazy schedules, the vagabond lifestyle, the constant live out a suitcase-where is my suitcase-how much does it cost to bring a suitcase?, travel ordeals, and high drama, and I would think to myself, is this worth it??? I want more. I need more. More in a way that is less. This is too HARD. I need simplicity, and stability, and this isn’t fulfilling me in the way that I had imagined when I was a dreamy 18 year old musical theater student.  I left the business. I became a full time make up artist, working in sales and worrying about keeping my health insurance and watching a meager 401k build. I became, for lack of a better word, miserable. So I took the plunge back into the cold waters of the NYC audition scene. 


Fast forward four years and three contracts later, I now can officially declare with no hesitation that performing truly is the the thing that brings me the most happiness. Now if and when the little ones come along and I may have to shift back to the white picket fence on a NYC rooftop and a "normal" job, I will be happy with that life too. But it is really gratifying to have reawakened the passion that made me go into this crazy world to begin with. My shows these past couple of weeks were far from perfect in my perfectionist world, but it is beyond satisfying to put that tight grip on “perfect” aside to LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE on stage to a gracious audience. 


I say gracious because at the end of the cruise I had a guest take my hands, look me in the eyes and tell me I was spectacular. I am truly not saying this to brag...I was honestly completely shocked! I felt like such a fish out of water most of the time that to have this word (normally used to describe the Macy’s Day parade) flattering and humbling. The other biggest compliment I got was from a crew member who told me she was feeling depressed here until recently, and she credited our friendship as one of the main causes for her shift towards happy. (I just made that up. Shift towards HAPPY. Do it. The word is elusive but just shift towards it and see what happens-I dare you.) There are such wonderful people here, and I love getting to know them all every day in such close environment. 

Here are the few costume pics I could shoot quickly before they were torn off for the next number. I am normally used to one or two fast changes per production show. Here, if it’s NOT a quick change, I wonder if I are doing something wrong....and as you can see these are not your average costumes!

Courage

Well, well, well. Defying Gravity never felt so scary, or satisfying. It was seriously like when I went ziplining for the first time. First terrified, then a major adrenaline rush, then a desire to run back up the mountain to do it all again. It is remarkable when one actually is forced to let go of their inhibitions and stop over analyzing, things just happen.  I was greeted to my cast cheering when I walked out of the dressing room and let me just say, one can perform to a thousand strangers, but when you get the support of your peers, you feel beyond fulfilled.  Talent acknowledging talent is a beautiful thing. I have decided that I have worked hard and I deserve a cheeseburger and fries. I am going to eat now and feel really great about that too. Maybe I deserve a strawberry cheesecake as well? I say yes.