Days of rain leave a grimy cloud cover playing slight of hand games with the full moon. Shocked by the sight of something so naturally out of place in New York City, I stop and imagine this moment was meant just for me.
I'm bruised, sore, scraped and exhausted. I came to New York on business and I can say now, my last nite here, that I did what I came to do. As of tonite, I have made it through the entire New York callback process for Spiderman on Broadway. I'm a small town girl whom is still baffled that I get to experience such wacky, wonderful things in my life. I mean, probability is against me. But I beat the odds. Or at least my perspective is that I do. And then ... I do.
Full moon.
When I got off the airplane at JFK last week from Los Angeles, I stepped onto the first subway platform and it was like the city planned my welcome. In front of the Empire State Building a fireworks display, magnificent and satisfying, glittered across my view. A small boy stood with his father watching. The father wore a Spiderman backpack. Maybe his son's? Spiderman and fireworks over the city - welcome to New York!
In the past week I have had a lot of fun. That's what life at it's best is about to me; fun. And this week I lived it. I met dancers from all over the world at these auditions, I danced like an audition (which is drastically different than dancing like a rehearsal, mind you) for 5 hours on Tuesday, 7 hours on Wednesday and on Friday 8 hours! I sang three times in there somewhere. Cracked some whips for Julie Taymor, the confident woman whom directed the Lion King, sitting directly in front of me smiling a warm, professional smile. I'll never forget her smile of encouragement and enjoyment. I'd like to think I wasn't just asking for her opinion of me, but offering her some smile-worthy entertainment that day she may never forget. It was fun. It was so fun.
After three full days auditioning for Daniel Ezralow, I got to know just a little bit of why he is the man for this job, choreographing Spiderman on Broadway. He enjoys the creative process. He is real about his doubts and courageous in his experimentation. He is wise with art, compassionate towards people, and professional in interaction. I admire these qualities. I want to be a creative force in his process, even if it is only an audition process. I don't care. It was fun. Daniel and his assistants, Erin and Marcus, put us through the ringer with all forms of dance imaginable (even some that definitely don't exist) and then with aerial workouts, stilt play and strength tests. Daniel Ezralow, you are reckless radical and real!
Artistically, this week has left me fulfilled. Walking Times Square's hideous splendor is material enough, and exercising Chaos through dance is enough, but the artistic joy I could have never expected to feel this week lied in how much fun I elicited from my vocal auditions. I've done musical theatre for much of my young professional life. I am no stranger to singing in front of audiences and I have a beautiful voice. But this week, something mature and lovely happened for me vocally; I enjoyed - really savored - singing for other people. I'm not sure I've ever enjoyed it this much. I was only a little nervous, outdone entirely by how much fun I was having. Kimberly Grigsby, Spiderman's musical director worked with we final 15 dancing/aerialist/stilting women, teaching us music from the show (written by Bono and The Edge of U2), two part and five part harmonies. And the way she feels music isn't through the ears, but through the body. She's a dancer inside, though I'm not sure she'd say it. She appreciates dancers and knows how to communicate with us, though, and she spoke words the way a movement artist would relate and assimilate them. That's good direction.
Tonite I celebrated a week well-lived with a dinner with friends at the high end, raw vegan chic restaurant, Pure Food and Wine ... still in my sweaty audition shirt, sweat pants and grubby kicks. Afterwards, I am strolling down the Union Square residential neighborhoods and a man with a heavy accent runs up to me, "Excuse me, Miss? I am from Portugal and ... were you on a television show about superheros?" Yes, it was me, your new favored household superhero. I was greeted by Spiderman fireworks and I am seen off as a superhero. Thank you, New York.
It's easy to see why the full moon's phase might have eluded my calendar planner recently, with so much intense fun happening. But there she is, watching over the city just as she does the desert. Same moon shining on your face as well as mine. And the ability to appreciate things like chirping birds and delightful audition processes is sometimes based in the ability to take five breaths without thinking anything but of the breathing several times / day. Or the simple act of listening harder to someone who offering themselves through words to you. Or the choice to call whomever back tomorrow or when you feel like it.
This is your gig. It's never been done before. You are the director. And we all want you to thrive.
And get some fun out of doing it.
Spiderman Backpack
New York, NY
New York, NY
June 06, 2009






5 Comments:
I think this is my favorite thing that I've read all day. Thank you :)
Beautiful :)
And I have to ask, how was Pure Food and Wine? I'd like to eat there some day. I love New York. ;)
Thank you, both! Joanna, Pure Food and Wine is all it is hyped to be. I had raw vegan aged cheese and exquisite biodynamic wine. I had a raw vegan ice cream cone made of amaranth for desert and a tart with agar agar and desert wine tapiocas! Prepare for the swank NY vibe by bringing a credit card with plenty of room on it:-)
Hi - you don't know me, but you performed at two art shows I was just involved with - and I came across your blog here.
After finding out that you are a raw vegan, and what a raw vegan is, I began to mourn my days as a vegan - which were abruptly ended by the doctors who diagnosed me with Crohn's disease and sentenced me to a life of white bread and chicken dinners, and limited amounts of produce. Noooot coooool.
Because of reading up on all your interviews and writings, I've found a way I can perhaps get back into [raw]veganism - and off medications. What a HUGE blessing. I have to thank you for exposing me to this lifestyle . . . I need to find a way to talk to some doctors/nutritionists first, but I have a feeling my life is going to get a LOT cooler soon.
You're also such an inspiration in how incredibly active you are in ways that seem to fit what you enjoy - you're living out some sort of American Dream. You seem to have this incredible work ethic and drive and wisdom. It makes me stir-crazy and anxious because I'd love to be doing the same.
Thank you!!!
Sara
Sara, I've known several people with Crohns and colitis that have had massive success with raw vegan foods. I don't buy the white bread prescription, either! Give a google to raw food and crohns/colitis. One thing you might come across is this book http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/catalog/books_selfhealcolitis&croh.html.
Oh, I am so glad you are moved and motivated to take your health back!
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