Archive for August, 2009
I get a lot of mass emails from friends and family with interesting stories and jokes… some urban legends and the like. Something made me stop and read a recent message from my father-in-law, Marv.
It seemed to speak so much to my blog post this past Friday, “Much Needed Time.” It was a synopsis of an experiment conducted during rush hour in a busy DC Metro station by the Washington Post, its writer, Gene Weingarten, won a Pulitzer for his article, “Pearls Before Breakfast.”
Joshua Bell, one of the world’s premiere violinists, nee musicians, was playing on a $3.5 million dollar violin for free during the morning rush. And most commuters passed him by without so much a glance, let alone any kind of recognition.
It was an interesting experiment and article, and easily worth the few moments it takes to read it and see the embedded videos. There’s even some philosophy in there (am I not selling this the way I should be?).
The most interesting part is the idea that people (except children, who are more often than not smarter than adults, especially with things like recognizing beauty and the good in everyday life) don’t even realize how good something is unless they’re told it’s good… unless there’s marketing, an advertisement, or a very specific pay off.
I’m not saying people are stupid… I am saying we’re so conditioned. We no longer trust ourselves to feel or get in touch with beauty on a visceral level.
And we’re also too wound up to stop and take anything in…
What are we doing with those extra seconds? Storing them up for some day???
I spent much of the day rushing to meet a last minute deadline… and spent a lot of time rushing to get my work postmarked. We then ran to a discount super store for some household items.
It wasn’t until dinner that I even stopped to look at my husband and smile at him for the first time today.
It wasn’t until I sat down to read this article that I really had a chance to think today.
As tired as I am from all the running around, something amazing happened when I stopped to think and read and breathe… my breathing slowed down, my head stopped hurting, and my body relaxed.
It’s amazing what a few precious moments can do for a day, and a life… especially when those moments are filled with beauty.
–Sue
August 31st, 2009
- “Talk to Me, Harry Winston.” Harry Winston Watch
I got caught in the rain with my husband about a week ago. It was a downpour of epic proportions, and we were umbrella-less.
We had to run a few blocks to catch our train home, and were soaked to the bone… Unfortunately, my watch was too. Condensation has formed in the face… and though it sometimes goes away, it keeps coming back… Making it hard to see and use.
I love this watch, and want to make sure I wear it as long as possible. So I took it to a jeweler, and he tried blowing air into it and checking it for rust (which sometimes happens when water gets into a watch).
Today, my watch has spent much of the day under a lamp (as the jeweler recommended), in my attempt to dry it out.
At first, I was annoyed… but I thought about it, and maybe it’s a signal from the universe… to take a minute for myself.
So I’m taking some time to find my focus and regain my balance.
If you need a minute, I hope I’ve inspired you to take that time for yourself.
Happy Friday!
–Sue
August 28th, 2009
One of the most wonderful gifts I got from the recent “Chrysalis” run was dancing with the cast and crew (ours and others from other shows) backstage to songs from show soundtracks before our show went up.
Everyone was just shaking it out and getting into the zone.
All that energy, all that focus… It was amazing to tune into that, even if only for a short time, even if I was trying to shake my own nerves.
When we were all swaying to “My Girl”, we’d hit a sweet spot. We’d done everything we could do up until that point… the actors were dressed for their entrances, and had already run their lines. We had set up all of our props backstage, ready and waiting for the show before ours to tear down their set, so we could set ours up.
I feel like I’m doing that with my writing right now… I’m shaking things off and getting ready to focus.
I’m trying to find my sweet spot, and listening for my cue.
–Sue
August 27th, 2009
I’m pretty sure his were the first comedies I read… I’m talking about the one and only Neil Simon.
Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound are once again bound for the great White Way this fall.
Click here for tickets, and to see a nice montage of assorted playbills, memorable moments, and a few clips from his lifetime achievement award ceremony at the Kennedy Center.
Curious to see what they come up with…
–Sue
August 26th, 2009
I’m noticing a shift lately… A lot of the ideas I once thought were true for me as a person don’t seem to be true anymore…
I used to think I needed to be “the best” in the room. I’m competitive by nature, and by virtue of having grown up with an identical twin whom I was constantly being compared to. In our family in general , we’re all pretty good at most of the things we try to do.
I used to play tennis. I was self taught… I saw my brother playing with my dad, and I wanted to play too. I spent hours hitting the ball against the wall of the racquet ball court, trying to hit it at least one more time than the previous volley… And once I could keep the ball in play, I started playing with dad.
He told my mom I ran like a deer, and I even wrote a short story about it as a Freshman in high school. I was proud to play with dad.
One day, he told me that it’s good for me to play with him, and any other experienced player, so I can play a better game.
I realize I’ve gotten to a place with my writing where I’m comfortable, and now I’m ready to play a better game.
–Sue
August 25th, 2009
Having been a part of the festival circuit in NYC this summer, I took in a few of the shows on offer, and I was initially dismayed.
A lot of these shows aren’t really about social commentary or a deeper reflection on the human condition. Instead, many seem to quote national ad campaign taglines as punchlines and have 3D stereotypes running their mouths off.
The craft that at times has kept me struggling for years (I still tinker with the first play I ever wrote) seems to have been tossed aside, along with the idea of creating any kind of lasting piece of theatre that anyone will care to revive in 50 or 100 years’ time.
Do I sound like an old crank, yet?
Realistically this kind of disposable theatre is nothing new. Theatre “of the moment” like political satire, cabaret, and other “guilty pleasures” have been around for ages.
And though I aim to produce works that will not only stand the test of time but still be relevant long after I’m dead and gone, that’s not the aim of every writer.
Nor is every audience looking to be challenged. Not every audience wants to put in the work. Some just want to sit there and watch (or even be pandered to as many of the shows I’ve seen recently seem to do).
Though I don’t appreciate or seek out these shows (I saw all of these shows out of obligation), that doesn’t mean they’re not valid, or worthwhile for the audience they attract. Because in the end, it’s about getting folks to go to the theatre.
And who knows? Someday, some of these same theatre goers might develop a taste for theatre… graduating from Velveeta to an aged brie.
–Sue
August 24th, 2009
I’m back to filling out applications… to figuring out what my next move as a playwright, and our next move as a production company are going to be.
We already have something in the pipeline for the next few months, but I need to think long term and long range.
I don’t know if it’s like this for other small businesses, but growing up, watching my parents open one small business after another (with varying levels of success), I really don’t remember this much paperwork.
Then again, I was too young to know or see any of it.
If nothing else, it helps direct my focus and spread the word.
–Sue
August 21st, 2009
- Photo by Scott Rosenblum
We had one more night for me to see the sun rise, and I did. But it seems the sun has set for “Chrysalis” at the Strawberry One-Act Festival.
As I sat watching our show in the audience, I tried to send the actors telepathic messages during the show. (Mostly stuff like, “You’re doing great,” “Don’t forget to turn on the radio,” “Louder, louder…” “Beautiful!”)
It took a while for the nerves to subside, watching them up there. They seemed so large and so small at the same time. Towards the end, when I let myself enjoy what I was seeing , my heart was filled with so much joy.
I was there for all the nights of rehearsal, I know what it took to make this show happen, and though we didn’t walk away with a prize, it was a valuable experience and a wonderful chance to see this show on its feet.
And I did get a first from this show… a mention in someone else’s blog. Thanks Joy (for the mention and coming out for the show last night)!
–Sue
August 20th, 2009
It’s going to be a Wild Night (we’re the first show in part #2) tonight! A butterfly is going to come to life. Stars will be born and die. And the sun will rise and fall.
A pretty good night of theatre if you ask me.
Keep your fingers crossed for us to advance to the Finals this Friday night!!!
–Sue
August 19th, 2009
.JPG "The Prize Fighter from http://www.superstarsofboxing.co.uk")
I mentioned last night that I spent the first performance of “Chrysalis” backstage.
In addition to our wonderful moment together, Scott and I got to see our actress Hanna warm up.
The play starts with Millie (Hanna’s character) in a white robe.
Hanna sat in the robe backstage before our show. She arranged her accessories for later in the show. Paced back and forth a bit. And then began moving around to relax and loosen up her body a bit.
Hanna was doing windmills with her arms (rotating from the shoulder and making a full circle with her arms) and then leaned forward a bit, as if she was ready to jab.
It was in that moment that I’d seen the prize fighter in her. It was in that moment that I fully appreciated who this woman was. Where she had been to get to this point (she’d been a dancer for many years until she was injured and could no longer dance… she’d lived in Mexico for a while and traveled quite a bit) and where she would be in a few moments — out in the ring, up on stage, still going, still fighting after all these years.
She gave a wonderful performance, better than anything I’d heard in rehearsal. It came to her, all at once. In front of the audience, her adrenaline kicked in, and she gave it everything she had.
I can’t wait to see her do it all again on Wednesday night.
Click here for your tickets to Wild Night #2, this Wednesday, 9/19 @ 9pm.
–Sue
August 18th, 2009
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