I'm a Jet Setter

I was asked to teach a few audition masterclasses in various cities around the country, which meant I got to travel to places I'd never been before. This winter it was Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. The trips were super fast and I mostly only had a couple hours to explore the highlights between my arrival and my class but it was still fun to wander.

Salt Lake was pretty cool. I stayed at the Peery Hotel, which is the only hotel on the historic register in Utah. It was apparently THE place to see and be seen in back in the 1920s and definitely has the old mining/railroad businessman feel to it while still being updated to modern life. That's one of my favorite combos - history + modern conveniences.



That kind of seemed to be a theme in downtown SLC - brand new buildings sat right next to buildings that felt like they'd been there for 100 years and hadn't changed much. Kind of cool. Like these old buildings - they were surrounded by newer brick structures.


The thing that struck me about the downtown area was that you were in the middle of the city, but if you looked down pretty much any street, oh, look, there'd just be some huge snow capped mountains. No big deal, just the Rocky Mountains there in pain view. I couldn't get over it - to have mountains so close to the city. Very cool to this east coast girl.



There was also a cool tram that ran right down the middle of the streets. Way cooler than a bus.


I didn't have much time downtown, and my friend Natalie, who is from the area, had actually recommended a bunch of fun options to check out including a place that had a super famous dessert apparently, but I couldn't make it everywhere and I knew I wanted to see Temple Square.


After passing by the good ole Joseph Smith Memorial Building...


And my good friend, Brigham Young (little Book of Mormon lyric reference there for ya)...


I found myself staring up at the Temple - pretty beautiful architecture....



And the Angel Moroni on top..


I also went briefly into the Tabernacle, which was open and is (obviously) where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings. I will say, there was something about it that creeped me out a little - I think largely because I was in there by myself and it was eerily quiet, and I have a little bit of a "omigosh, I'm breaking the rules!" complex, so I scooted out pretty quickly. But it was still cool to see. And I bet the acoustics in there are AWESOME.

I feel it's almost insulting to say I've learned more about the Mormon religion from the Broadway musical, which I work on, but I have. And because I work on that show, it was extra cool to see the center of the Mormon Faith, even though it's not my own. I know there's more to SLC than the Mormon religion and I would've liked to have seen more of those parts too. But after my big adventure downtown and at Temple Square, I had about 90 minutes before my class and I was starving - so after many attempts to locate the cool restaurants Natalie recommended, I finally gave up 'cause my boots that day were not exactly made for walking and I had a lovely scallop and spinach salad and a glass of sauvignon blanc at the bar Macaroni Grill right next to my hotel. It was kind of heaven, if less adventurous than I originally intended.

A few weeks later, and just for something COMPLETELY different, I was off to Sin City.


I mean, they start you off the moment you step off the plane. Didn't realize there would be slot machines in the airport, but it makes sense...


Vegas virgin that I was, I thought it was super clever that the airport shuttle tickets looked like poker chips. Oh Vegas, you're know how to be cool...


I stayed at the Luxor hotel, which kind of has an Egyptian thing going on. It looks like this from the outside:



And like this from the inside of that pyramid - I'm standing on the hallway to my room on the 21st floor, looking down.


Crazy right? This was the window in my room...


Also, its true about what they say - if you're inside (and really the hotels are so big you can feel like there's no need to go outside) it's dark and kinda feels like night all the time. I had a lunch and wandered around the hotel and casino, contemplated a massage or pedicure and as I approached the spa, I noticed it was near the pool, so I popped outside briefly. It.was.gorgeous.out. And I'd had no idea - I'd been in the hotel for almost 2 hours and had forgotten it was a gorgeous day. So I promptly went up to my room, put on my bathing suit and sat by the pool for an hour. Um, it was pretty great. Especially since it was the beginning of March.


I attempted to gamble a bit, since I never have and it felt like a "when in Rome" sort of thing.


But mostly, I wasn't into it. I tried to play a few slot machines and mostly I just put my money in and then nothing happened. I only tried twice, but both times, I put my money in, the wheel spun like once or twice and then it was over. Not worth it. So then I figured i could play blackjack 'cause I can count to 21, but those tables were intimidating. It was all very fast with lots of hand signals and I didn't want to piss anyone off by not knowing what I was doing, so then I just wandered around and watched a bit and that was plenty fun for me.




I also spotted this T-shirt in a gift shop that made me laugh out loud. This may be offensive to some, but I thought it was a riot. I was tempted to buy one for Geoff.


Then after my class I got a mini tour of The Strip. Which was pretty fun. Some of these pictures are lousy out the car window but it was fun nonetheless.





Vegas was fun, though it wasn't as fun to do on my own. I really wished Geoff had been there and also thought it could potentially be a fun girls weekend place, but only because the pool was so great and sitting around a pool with cocktails and girl talk is my idea of a good time. But they have pools and cocktails a lot of places. Was glad to experience it though!

A Change is Gon' Come

I've never been one who embraces change easily. Call me a control freak. Call me a creature of habit. Both statements have truth in them. Alison and I used to semi-joke about whichever one of us took the biggest risk could wear the Risk Takers Crown (similar to a Burger King crown, naturally). Well, I'm wearing it now. Though I will say that as the years have passed, I've gotten a little better at it. I'm a bit more open. Or just a bit wiser about how inevitable change is in life.

The day after my birthday this year, I had plans to go to the theatre with my boss, as per usual on any random weeknight. We had time to grab dinner beforehand, so we sat down, ordered, and then he looked at me and said, "Kate? What are you doing with your life?" I don't know when I have been more grateful that someone asked me a really hard question.

You see, I've been toying with leaving my job for about a year now. I've just been too scared to do it. As much as much as I love what I do, I've had to put other things that I want in life on hold to do it. And I know I can't put those things on hold forever. I don't want to. I'd dreamed of working on Broadway since I was a kid and that hasn't changed. But it's not all I've ever wanted. I want to be able to see my family more than twice a year. I'd like to see and spend time with my husband besides when we're falling asleep or shooting a wedding. I want to be available to be the kind of friend I'd like to be, instead of one who is never available to come to anything important in your life because she's always working. I want time to write, to take photographs, to take a vacation. And someday, I want time to be a mom. I know I couldn't keep this particular job and have a child. I don't make enough to cover the cost of childcare if I were to keep working and even if I did, I don't think I'd want to keep working these kind of hours anyway at that point.


So, change was imminent. But I was scared. Because it was looking like the way to get to all the other things I want in life (at least for the short term) was to switch to working for myself and working with Geoff. I've always been a fan of a steady paycheck, and in my head that has always meant a 9 to 5 job. I've pretty much colored inside the lines my whole life and the idea of this initially felt like someone was scribbling ALL OVER THE PAGE. What if I regret leaving? What if I am never as happy as I was when I worked on Broadway every day? What if we can't afford it? What if I can never get a job casting again? What if no one understands why I'd leave a "dream" job? Or what if everyone thinks I'm an idiot for leaving a job with health insurance (or any job for that matter) in a less than stable economy? What if, what if, what if??? There were about 1000 what-ifs. And then Geoff said to me one day, "You spend so much time thinking about what you will lose and absolutely no time thinking about what you will gain." That was a great perspective. And so stinkin' true. And something I still remind myself of on the days that I freak out about the future. Geoff was also smart enough to point out that all we are really changing is that we will be in control of our schedule and it is wide open to do with what we want.

So a month from today I will leave my full time job. Instead, I will work nearly full time with Geoff in his business and still work in casting on a freelance basis - as much or as little as I want and/or as we need. I know there are people who will still hire me to do that, even if I'm not doing it under the umbrella of a theatre company. We will shoot more weddings and now have the staff to shoot more corporate work too. I may start taking on more paid photography gigs, just to see if I like it. If nothing else, I'd be interested to see what it's like to edit photos in a more normal way, instead of between 11pm-1am on a weeknight after I get home from the theatre. So it's a huge change. And its risky. But we do hope to have a family in the not too distant future and if things are going to be tight financially, I'd rather struggle through that when there is still just the two of us to worry about. We may have to cut back on things, and I'm sure there will be ups and downs and adjustments to make, but ultimately...? I'm finding that I'm actually super excited about it. Even more than I thought I'd be. I'm ready for my new life. And I no longer feel like I'm leaving my old one behind. Things are just...shifting. They will be more on my terms. And I feel like a weight has been lifted. The people who've been told this news so far say that they can tell a noticeable difference in me already. Not that a lady should tell her age, but those of you that read this already know that I will be 35 in less than a year. And this month marks the 10 year anniversary of when I moved to NYC. It goes FAST, ya'll. It flies, in fact. And I don't want to feel like life is passing me by anymore. So even though it took me a year to work up the courage and an unexpected (but much needed) kick in the pants from my boss to get me there, I'm finally ready for this change. Now, as soon as I post this and it's out in the world for everyone to see, I'm sure I'll have a mild panic attack and spend a small(ish) amount of time curled up in the fetal position on my bed this evening. I've taken so long to write about this for that very reason. But for the most part, I'm surprised to find that all I can see these days is the "what I will gain" part. And I kind of feel like life is just beginning. *Deep Breath* Leap of faith, here we come.

In Comes Company

Last night we went to the film premire of COMPANY, which I cast for the NY Philharmonic. Some of you may remember me mentioning in this post that in addition to the 4 live performances in NYC April, it was filmed and will be showing at movie theatres across the country in June. So whether you live in Austin TX, Boston MA, Denver CO, Statesboro GA, Richmond VA, Louisville KY, Honolulu HI, NYC, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Alaska or nearly any other state across the country, you too can see it. It's also being shown in Canada. The performances are great, and besides, Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton have a wrestling match right there on stage and what is better than that?? Click here to find out when it's playing near you. It's playing in most theatres June 15, 16, 19 and 20, but there are a few places with other date options I think. Plus, if you do go, thrill of all thrills, you can see my little name right there in the credits. It's small, but it's there. Note to self: Get an agent and get better billing next time so my parents don't have to squint to see my name.

AND, you can also see the cast perform one of the numbers from the show live on the Tony Awards this Sunday June 12th at 8pm on CBS. Think Stephen Colbert, Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Cryer in a kick line. I know, not to be missed, right? Set your DVRs for Sunday and book your tickets to the movie now!

Is This My Real Life?

I live in New York. I work in the theatre. And so it follows that as a child, I was a special kind. Not more special than your average child, but just a certain kind of special. The story goes that when I was little, my parents would sometimes ask me to sing a little song or recite a poem when family or friends were around. I would promptly do so. And when I finished my performance, I would look at them all and say, "You clap." See? That kind of special. There is an audio tape of me making my Barbie dance and perform acrobatics on her roller skates as I narrated the entire thing in song - for some reason to the tune of "The Chicken Dance". In middle school I performed "routines" on the swingset behind our house, usually to "Livin' on a Prayer" blasting from my pink boombox. It seems my musical tastes were also a certain kind of special in those days. I performed soooooo many "numbers" in my bedroom. I started with songs from "Annie" when I was younger (although strangely I was most drawn to Ms. Hannigan's songs, even then. Hm.) and by the end of high school I had worked my way through Les Mis to The Secret Garden to RENT and everything I could find in between. In high school I was in, (or wanted to be in) every music and theatre related thing there was. I was even voted "most likely to sing on Broadway" in my graduating class. Now, it was not a very large school with about 7-10 theatre geeks total - so it wasn't a huge achievement or anything, This is the same school that gave me the Physics award. And if you know me at all, you know I'm the last person who should win something math or science related. It was just known that musical theatre was what I was into/obsessed with. I majored in music in college, listened to every Broadway cast recording I could get my hand on, and read plays and musicals left and right.

In 8th grade, I went to see the local high school's production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, and it captured my heart and my imagination in a way I will never forget. It has been cemented as my favorite show ever since. As has Sondheim as my favorite musical theatre composer. My first big part in high school was as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I wasn't particularly good, but I was one of a very few who semi-had the soprano notes. My senior year of college I fought tooth and nail for a part in A Little Night Music and for some reason, even managed to beat out the school's star belter for the part of Petra. Determination, man. Well, that and a professor who believed in the value of educational casting (meaning, casting me in the part, as I'd learn more from it than she would have, since she'd played parts like this twice a year for 4 years). So Sondheim is a true favorite. His lyrics are the most emotionally intelligent out there - something I've realized even more as I've gotten older. Now all someone has to do is sing "Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George or "No One Has Ever Loved Me" from Passion, and they can easily turn me into a puddle on the floor.

I remember when I first saw him in person. It was when I first started working at my current job, and I was volunteering at a gala where he was being honored. I've never been the kind of person who wants to meet famous people when I see them. I'm content to just watch them talk to other people and be in the same place as they are. So I think I may've gotten to shake his hand briefly (my co-worker had been put in charge of making sure he was taken care of throughout the evening) and then I was happy to just watch him interact with the other Broadway greats in the room. It was pretty amazing just to be in the same space as he was. If you'd told my teenage self that that would ever happen, it would've been something I could've only dreamed of.

Then last season, I happened to be seated in front of him at the first preview of Sondheim on Sondheim, a retrospective of his work featuring both his well and lesser known songs, stories of his life intercut with interviews with the man himself. At the point in the show where (in a videotaped interview) he shares a fairly brutal thing that his mother once wrote to him in a letter ("My greatest regret was giving you birth"), I had an overwhelming urge to turn around and hug him. I almost had to physically restrain myself. I wanted to be his friend. So much it nearly made me cry. Another unbelievable moment that my musical theatre-obsessed younger self would've nearly passed out over.

Cut to last weekend. I had the opportunity to cast the concert version of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY for the New York Philharmonic, which had only 4 performances over a weekend. The director, Lonny Price, has always been incredibly kind in asking me to cast things for him. This was the biggest thing yet. I didn't really realize it at the time, while we were in the trenches of it this winter, trying to get various stars (it was partially a benefit after all) to join the cast. But last week, I went to the dress rehearsal on a Thursday afternoon, and there, again, I was in the same room as Stephen Sondheim. This time, attending a rehearsal of one of his shows that I was a part of. He was just there, reading the New York Times and waiting for the rehearsal to begin. It was overwhelming. And a feeling I never want to forget. Now, after 10 years in NYC, I'm as jaded as the next New Yorker. I don't really think twice if I pass Laura Linney on the street or see Ethan Hawke at an opening. And like most people, all I can usually see is the parts of my job that drive me nuts. But this was one of those moments where I truly can't believe I get to be a very small part of the Broadway community. Seeing Stephen Sondheim waiting to watch a cast that I put together? Even this jaded New Yorker has to admit...it's humbling. And kind of amazing. And something that would've made my 15 year old self absolutely pee her pants. That being the case, can you imagine how I handled actually seeing the dang thing performed the next day? Lets just say, it was emotionally overwhelming. Which really took me by surprise, I have to say. I've worked on a lot of Broadway shows. But this was different. I just felt so blessed. I kept thinking back to my younger self. If you had told me then that I would be doing what I do for a living, let alone, being a part of something created by a composer whose work has made such an impact on my life, I never would've believed it. Not in 100 years. Probably would've passed out and peed my pants at the same time. So I'm truly, truly grateful.

For those that are interested, the show was filmed and will be shown at movie theatres across the country starting June 15. I'm sure I'll cry all over again.

When The Boss is Away...

...the staff will bring dogs to the office for the day.


This is Daphne. Stephen, my co-worker, was dog-sitting her for the weekend and her owner hadn't picked her back up yet, so he brought her in on Tuesday. Corgies aren't even on my Top Ten Favorite Breeds list, but she was pretty durn sweet when she curled up under my desk. It's amazing what having a dog around does for morale. We should do this more often.

On the Other Side

We made it.
We lived.
Some parts even went well.

My feet were really angry at me last night. And oddly, my calves were in knots this morning. No idea why.

But we survived. 4 hours of sleep between Saturday and Sunday and it didn't end until 3am last night/(this morning). But we're on the other side of it now. And we're grateful. And just trying to have today be a slow day.

Some gorgeous settings and moving vows and emotional grooms were the highlights for me. And the horse was pretty cool too. I think everyone should try to attend an Indian wedding at some point in their lives. Gorgeous.

*sigh* I think we're going to head to the wine bar on the corner to enjoy our Memorial Day before next week hits us. And have some of this.

Down with Wednesdays

I’m not having it. Work makes me want to hide under my desk and never come out today. This job has absolutely made me dyslexic. My job + Geoff’s crazy season = minor melt down for both of us. I definitely almost cried when they didn't have my prescription at the pharmacy today. If that tells you anything.

And now I feel I’m potentially on the verge of splitting personalities.

I don’t like today.

Hey Ma - Guess What I Did Last Night?

Yup. You go to a rock star party, you end up doing crazy rock star things. Like getting a tatoo.
Of course, given the degree of rock star in my blood, this one obviously lasts 3-5 days.

Last night was the opening of American Idiot on Broadway. It was pretty stinkin' awesome.

The cast at curtain call. Billie Jo Armstrong (Greenday) in all black on the right


At the party there was a grafiti artist making a mural on the stage all night at Roseland. Which was amazing. I swiped this picture from my friend Quinn's Facebook album.


I bought a special "rock" outfit. Which was basically all black with a studded belt and big ole earings. Big hair and smoky eyes too. Naturally.

Me and Jillian, one of my co-workers


Oh, and in addition to the grafiti artist, there was a drag queen DJ dressed as a majorette. Or something. Makes for a good party.


I took a bunch more pictures on Jillian's camera, (since I'm an idiot, no pun intended, and forgot mine) so more pictures may be forthcoming if her little point & shoot got anything good.

The show was great, the party was great and I got home at 2am.

On a Tuesday.

That's right. Rock Star.

Lets Be Honest

OK, this is what's happening.

January is busy at work. We're casting 5 readings with large casts in the next 2 weeks, planning a trip to London for auditions (I don't get to go, I only get to plan it) and I'm casting 3 freelance shows with a co-worker the last week in January.

So it's busy.

I got a little spoiled in December when I had time to blog on a regular basis. I fear I will be a bit MIA this month. Which is a shame. Because I have Thoughts to share. I haven’t blogged about our time after Christmas where we had a day or two to be at home and I tried new recipes (including my new favorite salad dressing of all time. A-mazing). Or our New Years Eve (which involved just the two of us ordering in, having champagne and watching the latest episode of The Jersey Shore. Don’t judge. It was amazing.) Or our Christmas time with Geoff’s family, which was a lovely day in CT, great time with the nieces and nephew and some terrific conversations.

So those things happened. And I will share some recipe pictures as soon as I’m able. 'Cause they were yum. And I was feeling very gourmet and chef-like and slightly proud of myself and my mad culinary skillz.

But I just wanted everyone to know why I might be a bit blog-lite this month. We’re alive and quite well. And haven’t forgotten you. By they way, according to my site map, someone in Australia recently read my blog. So I guess more than just my mom and Alison and my college roommates have read this. Interesting.

So, if you do live in Australia or Holland or somewhere amazing like that (or even Nebraska or Toronto for Pete's sake) and you read this on any kind of regular or semi-regular basis....maybe say hi sometime. Because unless you are some sort of scary cyber stalker, I bet I would want to be your friend.

I'm just sayin'.

Thursday - 5:46pm

Sometimes, when my co-worker Stephen (also known as "Button", you may remember) gets real antsy and ready to be done with work, he sometimes will put post-ists all over my desk. Or paint with white-out on my file folders. Or throw highlighters and paperclips at the back of my head. Or fix my hair. His creations are truly inspired. This was his what he created today (again, forgive the iPhone picture):


And from the side...

All About Eve

Have any of you seen this movie? I'd never seen it until we were working on a benefit reading of it at work. Its pretty great. Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Thelma Ritter, Celeste Holm and Marilyn Monroe in a tiny two scene part. Its about a young ingenue who insinuates herself in to the company of an established but aging stage actress and her circle of theater friends. And the drama that ensues. Some pretty great one liners too.

Well, this past Monday The Actors Fund put on a one-night only benefit reading of the screenplay, and my boss and I cast it. And even though it was a long, drawn out. stressful process, actually sitting in the theatre and watching it on Monday night was pretty awesome, I have to say. We cast Annette Bening in the Bette Davis part and Keri Russell as the young ingenue who appears sweet and wonderful at first but eventually causes all kinds of trouble. Angela Lansbury, Cynthia Nixon, John Slattery (Mad Men), Peter Gallagher, Joel Grey and Brian Bedford rounded out the rest of the cast. And Jennifer Tilly played the Marilyn Monroe part. Quite geniusly, I must say. Even though "geniusly" isn't a word.

And sitting there, as they took their places on stage, was one of those moments where I thought…ok…I do actually love my job. It drives me nuts most of the time, but to be in that theatre on this one night when these incredibly talented stage actors (because even though half of them are famous from TV or film, they all got their start on the stage) come together just this once to create this story…at the risk of sounding cheesy, it felt pretty magical to me. And maybe it's because the movie is ABOUT the world I live in…Broadway…producers, directors, playwrights, actors…all the dramatic (and at least slightly, if not entirely crazy) people that I work with on a daily basis. There is something incredibly romantic and historic and…just magical about working in the theatre. There would have to be considering the crazy hours and horrible pay. But on Monday night, all the bad parts were forgotten and I just enjoyed the amazing experience of having been a part of something so special.

Sorry it's a bit of a blurry picture, but here are Annette Bening and Keri Russell at the curtain call.