Wonderful friends in a great city

I had an especially awesome weekend this past weekend, during which I was reminded of what amazing friends I have in New York. On Friday, Lindsay and I got a quick dinner, and then went to see Jule Styne's "Bells are Ringing," the Encores production with Kelli O'Hara. Kelli was fabulous as always, and it was so neat to see her in a role that transitions her from her typical ingenue character into a true leading lady. She played Ella, and was hilarious! The whole production was great, including Lindsay's friend, Kim who played a dancer!

Me with Kim and Lindsay after
"Bells are Ringing"

Saturday was busy with auditions and work, then I grabbed a quick bite with Sherrie before going to the Redeemer Recent Graduates potluck. It was so much fun to hang out with the girls from my small group who I have not seen enough of lately!

Small group at the Redeemer Potluck

At Radio City Music Hall
with the boys!

Sunday was even busier, as William, Geoff and I got up bright and early to go see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at 11:30 am! I had never seen the Rockettes before! What a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

The living nativity at the Christmas Spectacular!
Please note the camel in the upstage left corner!

Great show in NJ!

That was followed by brunch with friends at Eatery, a delicious new restaurant that I look forward to going back to, and Starbucks with Sherrie! THEN the adventure began... Sherrie and I hopped on the NJ Transit and took the train to New Brunswick to see [title of show] at the George Street Playhouse. Since I saw the show's opening preview on Broadway two and a half years ago, I've loved it...Since I burned the CD for Sherrie two years ago, she's loved it! It also happened to star my friend Lauren Kennedy, so it was just a show not to miss! It was fabulous, and there was a Qdoba right down the street. What a great night for Sherrie and Emily!

All of us outside Eatery after brunch. I'm not sure why
my face looks like this. I was probably talking. Typical.

For multiple reasons today was not a particularly good day, but I went on a lovely walk with Dan! The weather was beautiful in NY and about 60 degrees...a huge improvement from the freezing cold weekend. Dan is just the best person to cheer me up, and we had a great time walking through Riverside Park and enjoying the last of the fall foliage!

Sweet Dan and me on our walk by the river!

Countdown to NC: 2 days! :)

I can't believe we're halfway through November!

I haven't posted in quite awhile because I've been so busy! I also had a two-week marathon of sickeness... one cold and sinus infection after the other, so almost everything but auditioning and working was pushed to the back-burner so I could get a little more sleep than I've been getting, and try to get well.  I'm on the uphill now, I think, thank goodness! Being sick really makes singing auditions a challenge.

Since I returned to the city on November 2, I've been on twelve auditions...some good, and some not so good. The good feedback that is interspersed with "Thanks for coming in today, have a good one" is what keeps me auditioning. I got called back for a tour yesterday, so that was exciting! I sang my song, and they said they wanted me to come back in to read for a role. My reading audition went really well, and they wrote a lot, and said positive things...hopefully that's a good sign! They're auditioning for two more days, so I'm trying not to be too hopeful. The crazies have been out in full force again this week (crazies = psycho musical theatre people at auditions), and my friend Dan and I had a great time people watching at an audition yesterday.

Other than auditioning, I've been working a lot, taking a few classes and coachings, and seeing some shows. I saw Ground UP's production of "Letters from Algeria" with Will on Friday night, and "Scottsboro Boys" with Sherrie on Sunday. The direction of "Letters from Algeria" was really awesome, and it was a very solid performance. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is so neat to see what an amazing theatre company Ground UP has become.  The founding members are all from UNC-Chapel Hill! "Scottsboro Boys" was definitely eye-opening. Broadway is certainly grittier this year than in the past, with shows such as "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" and "Scottsboro Boys" but I think it is an interesting turn for the theatre world. "Scottsboro Boys" was irreverent at times, and in some ways offensive, but so well-directed and creative. There was a protest before the show with people shouting that the story of the Trials of the Scottsboro Boys were not appropriate material for a minstrel show etc. That being said, I am so glad I saw it! The talent was unreal, and it was a very moving production.

The fall leaves are at their peak right now in NY, and the park is absolutely beautiful. I find myself walking out of my way, just to walk on 5th Avenue by the park and enjoy the fall season. I know before long it will be snowing, so I'm trying to soak up this last bit of colorfulness. :)

I have five more auditions to get through before Thanksgiving, and I couldn't be more excited to come home! My NC trip in October was mostly spent in Chapel Hill with friends, so I'm looking forward to some quality time in Raleigh with the family.

Carolina Girls -
A bunch of my UNC friends were all together
this weekend celebrating a friend's birthday. It was wonderful
to see everybody and catch up! :)

City Lights!

The kids were so excited
about Halloween!

It's the second day of November, but now that Halloween has passed, several places in New York are being decked out with Christmas lights. Living in New York over the holidays has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm so excited to see the city transform into a winter wonderland of holiday decorations! The five-year-old starts her first day of ice skating tomorrow, which means it's officially turning into winter in New York!

Lindsay and me ready for the Wizard of Oz dance call.

Life here just gets busier and busier, and now more often than not I'm going to two or three auditions in a day, instead of just one.  Being invited in for auditions, and having audition appointments certainly makes life easier, but I'm still going to the "line up at 6 am" auditions too. Last week, I put in about forty hours of nannying, and went to seven auditions. That's a productive week if I ever had one! :)

I do not have too many New York stories because I have been in North Carolina for the past five days. It was a good trip, but I am also happy to be back in the city.

NC Girls at the Homecoming Tailgate!