Living the Dream!

So today, as I was 6 feet up in the air, swinging by one hand at a speed so great that my eyes became bloodshot, I was thinking one thing:  THIS IS SO GOING ON MY RESUME!   For those of you who don’t know what the heck I am talking about we do a big Tarzan number in one of our shows, and I was doing arial tricks on the Spanish Web!  Sound impressive?  Well, I like to think so! It involves climbing a rope (Jr. High flashback!), holding on with both hands and doing four or five tricks in succession while spinning slowly in a clockwise motion. Then, the rope is spun twice as fast and you slowly take one hand to your hip.  Essentially, you are then spinning by one hand, several feet above the ground!  If only my gym teachers could have seen me!  It was terrifying, yet incredibly exhilerating and one of those things I can’t believe I am capable of.  I have major rope burns and bruises on my wrists and ankles, but I love battle scars!  Hopefully, I will have pictues of it soon.  It is odd being here in Canada on the 4th of July.  One year ago, I was singing the national anthem in front of 1000 people on the deck of a ship!  Today, I was dangling from a web!  What a difference a year makes. 

So for those of you who are wondering, all things Disney are exciting but stressful here in Toronto.  We are done with our first two productions.  I play Esmerelda in one show, which means a gorgeous costume and an amazing wig!  We just finished Hercules, in which I do more dancing in less clothing than I have done since Will Rogers Follies.  It has been a phenomenal  challenge and I have been working my ass off to prove to the powers that be that I am capable of being sexy!  I get to belt up to a D sharp and sing with four of the most amazing vocalists I’ve ever met.  Next, I tackle Cruella DeVil and Ariel.  Each character I play seems to have smaller and smaller costumes!  So, on that note, I will go to bed so I can get up early and go to step class! 

Oh!  But first: I saw Superman in 3D I-Max!  Loved Spacey, the use of the John Williams Theme and Marlon Brando’s voice over.  Thought Brandon Routh did an admirable job, though no one can fill Christopher Reeve’s boots.  My only problem: How old was Lois Land when Clark left the Daily Planet?  15 maybe?  Kate Bosworth=TOO YOUNG.  Rachel McAdams would have been a better choice!  Next up:  Just bought tix for Pirates of the Caribbean for Friday night!  AND…I am seeing The Lord of the Rings musical on Sunday! 

Happy Fourth of July everyone!  Stay tuned for more adventures from Wonder 14!

NYC-ers: if you want to get your Karen fix for the next 9 months, better step it up! I am outta here on June 13, NOT the 17th as previously stated. They upped our start date for The Disney Wonder rehearsl process, so its 9 days and counting until I take off on my next adventure!  Toronto, here I come!  I am overjoyed to have 3 dear friends on this contract with me.  Karl, Ryan and Jeannette, I’ll see you on Deck 5 for a BBC! 

However, this news has me in a bit of a panic.  I thought I had 2 weeks and now its 9 days.  I have to finalize my sublet, get an international phone plan, freeze my GOld’s membership, pack, put my stuff in the storage unit, see all my pals one last time, and try to lose those last five pounds that are still making me terrified to put on a mermaid suit!   So, I better get started!

But first, I saw Light in the Piazza tonight and I have to say that I loved it!  It was beautiful.  That’s the only word I can think of.  Its like The Secret Garden.  The sets, the costumes, the music…all just beautiful.  And what I loved was that the characters sng love songs to one another without belting in each other’s faces!  As a classically trained soprano, it warms me to the cockles of my heart.  I don’t really know what that means, but saying cockles makes me hppy!

And speaking of happiness, I had my last night at Fiorello’s the other night.  Words cannot express my joy.  So I shall not bother. You all know the feeling of leaving your day job far behind.  In this case, far far behind!

So, I will awake for the next nine days straight.  Call me, e-mail me, send gifts (Just kidding.  I mean, unless you really want to!)  I am so excited to get started on this, and to do what I love…but I will miss you all and I will miss New York!  I’ll keep you all posted, and if any of you want to come cruising with me, let me know!  Ariel can hook you up!

Meryl Streep likes Italian food.  How do I know this, you ask?  Well, because she was a guest at my restaurant yesterday while I was hostessing!  As wasone Mr. Robert Duval!   Now, for those of you seasoned New Yorkers and LA-ers who are used to seeing say, William Shatner at Subway, you’re probably thinking "Well so?  Multiple Oscar winners gotta eat too!"  Well I KNOW!  But it still got me to an almost dangerous level of hypernes! Thankfully, the poor soul who had to deal with me afterwards physically sat me down and forced me to bring it down a notch so my head didn’t explode!

But it got me to thinking about New York and other favorite places of mine, namely the Grand Canyon and Disney World.  Now, I remember very well seeing each of these three places for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the this feeling of pride at being a part of them.  I’d seen pictures, movies, commercials, but to actually stand in Times Square or to walk down into the Grand Canyon or to see the castle…those were experiences I’d always dreamed of, and they did not disappoint.  My ages were 11 (Disney World), 15 (New York) and 24 (Grand Canyon).  I’ve seen them many times since, but I am proud to say that my awe, wonder and excitement at their existence has yet to fade!  And so, I admit freely to being excited to see actors I’ve admired in the flesh! I also admit to owning geeky geology books about the formation of the Grand Canyon.  AND I admit that I’m so excited that I’m guarenteed 5 days in the parks in Orlando this August.  I love that I am a part of NYC.  I love that I am a part of the magic of Disney.  I love that I have looked up from 3 miles down in the Grand Canyon.  They are places that have captured my imagination and I hope that I never take them forgranted.

That goes for other things too.  For me, the obvious one is music! You can hear a song a million times on a CD or an I-pod.  But what about the first time you get to sing it to an audience with an orchestra behind you?  Or what about hearing it being played and/or sung for you by someone you care about?  The things that are ordinary can be made magic in an instant!  So don’t lose the joy of living in New York.  Go to the park on a spring day or walk up and down Broadway and feel the energy that drew us all here (or wherever you live!)  Don’t let life make you forget about living!

Wow!  That was a sermon if I ever gave one!

Ok, my Wonder-ful readers, brace yourselves:  Looks like I have some new friends!  I will be spending the second half of 2006 keeping company with Ariel, The Blue Fairy, Blonde Muse and Cruella DeVil back on the Disney Wonder! 

Now, for those of you who speak Disney, I know what you’re all thinking:  "Can Karen dance? "  Ha! I fooled you all!  Yes I can!  In fact, I’ve done a lot of dance shows, including Will Rogers Follies, 7 Brides, Footloose (twice), and Superstar (thrice!).  The question I’m curious about is not "can I do the track?"  I know I can and I’m really looking forward to it.  No, my question is why?  For whatever reason, I’ve been put into a dramatically different track than I had last time.  On one hand, I’m flattered. Disney thinks I’m versatile, which is the best thing a performer can be.  On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder if they found me lacking somehow the first time around.  I’m not asking for reassurance here, I’m just thinking out loud. And you all get to hear! 

Truthfully, its gonna tug my heartstrings a bit.  Although, I think Ariel will be just as good a friend as Belle and I’ll like Ms. DeVil even better than that narcoleptic Princess Aurora!  But Meg was my girl!  I loved her so much and missing her will be very hard for me.  On the other hand, my Hercules is in Europe getting stabbed by the Sharks every night, and I can’t imagine falling on my weak ankles without him to catch me!  Plus, I get to go back to the Wonder, bank some more cash and add another Princess to my list!  Therefore, I shall embrace my inner blonde and get my rear end to the gym!  Because if you all thought I was a workout freak last time, wait til the motivation of seashells and a fin kicks in!  Wow…this is the first time I’ve used this blog as a sounding board. I don’t know how many of you actually read this, but its nice to have people to bounce my thoughts off of!

Oh and I just thought of one more plus about this! I get to have my first NYC spring, a Toronto summer and a Bahamaian winter!  Not too shabby for ‘o6!  So to all my New York friends (old and new!) its springtime in The Big Apple!  Let’s make the most of it!

In Serendipity, John Cusack asks Kate Beckinsale what her favorite New York Moment is.  Well, I had mine last night!  I was going to see a movie and I somehow ended up chatting with Sutton Foster about how gorgeous her engagement ring is!  Why, you ask?  Well, thanks to a friend (whose shall go nameless, but you know who you are!) I got to watch the final dress rehearsal of "The Drowsy Charperone!"  For the uninformed, its going into previews this weekend and stars Sutton Foster as a beautiful Vaudeville star about to marry a handsome young man.  There are many wedding guests at a country house, including a British butler, a senile dowager, an Italian playboy, two tough-but-funny gangsters and of course, the drowsy chaperone.  Identities get mistaken, pastries are baked and wackiness ensues!  Its really wonderful, and a tribute to those great old musicals where no one had to die or wear a puppet!  The greatest part about it, I won’t reveal, but it involves a running commentary by a huge fan of musicals.  GO SEE IT!

So, somewhere between the glamourous costumes, the sweet humor, and the bubble wrap (don’t ask, but it was really funny!) I found myself inspired to do "this" again.  I don’t know about you all, but over the last few months, I’ve almost forgotten that I’m an actress, not a hostess.  Its something I never thought could happen to me.  I scoffed at people who got here, got a day job and stopped auditioning.  I now I understand why it happens, but that show last night made me decide to fight that with all my being.  Maybe its seeing a Tony winner out of make-up, grateful to have an audience full of friends.  Maybe its chatting with Lisa (Spelling Bee Actress extraordinaire) about what color she painted her dining room.  Maybe its being with people who’ve done what I’ve always dreamed of and are still themselves (only with better stories!).  Whatever it is, I found that feeling again that things I want may be within my reach if I just can remember to grab for them! 

Well, my friends, it was a night for the books, and it will be hard to top!  So that’s my New York Moment, Mr. Cusack.  (Actually, my New York Night, I guess!)  And to my official tour guide of the Marriot Marquis, who needs summer stock when you’re around?

So, the Oscars!  YEA for "Crash"! Don’t get me wrong, I loved those Gay Cowboys, but "Crash" is still haunting me.  I agree with Ang Lee’s Directing Oscar wholeheartedly though.  Everything else though, was up in the air for me.  I think I’d have picked:

Picture: Munich or Crash

Actor:  Jaoquin Phoenix (Come on, he WAS Johnny Cash)

Actress:  Felicity Huffman (June Carter was more of a supporting role)

Supporting Actor:  Jake Gyllenhal (Jack stuck with me more than Ennis)

Supporting Actress:  Amy Adams (WOW!  See "Junebug")

Original Screenplay: Match Point (Just see it and you’ll agree)

So, with all the glory of Oscar Night over, I had my own amazing night yesterday.  Lisa Howard’s cabaret, "Inspiration" was last night and it was an amazing experience!  It was sold out (as many of you discovered when yout tried to get tix!) and the energy in the place was incredible!  Lisa broguht the house down, especially with what is becoming her signature song, "Infinite Joy", by William Finn. I was so lucky to be a part of it and I will remember it forever!

Then, I worked a 12 hour shift today, so there is no explanation for why I am still awake, let alone writing coherent sentences! On that note, good-night all, and in the words of lyricist Steven Tomac, "Be Where You Are!"

So, I have my NYC cabaret debut, albeit as a back-up vocalist.  But no complaints here, as I get to sing back-up to my upstairs neighbor and fellow Firestone High Alum, Lisa Howard!  For the uninformed, she is one of the stars of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, (which you should ALL see!) and she is doing an very unique cabaret, Inspiration.  It is at Ars Nova, 551 W 54th St, Sunday March 6, 8pm. (www.smarttix.com) She is singing some great stuff, including Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Sreisand, as well as musical theatre.  So, if you’re around, check it out.  Believe me, this girl’s voice is unparalleled and I am so happy to be on stage with her.  Also, the other back-vocalists are B’way actors and the Musical Director of Spelling Bee is playing and arranging the music for us singers and the band.  So, I’m in amazing company, and so grateful to have this opportunity to work with some very talented people.  That and I got to hang out backstage at the Circle in the Square! 

Oh and I have found a day job.  I am a reservationist at Cafe Fiorello, which is right across the street from Lincoln Center.  Its a very nice place and the hours are flexible.  (Mainly because we are all actors, as 99.9% of all restaurant staffs here are!)  So I will be making some cash, answering many phone calls and eating lots of good Italian food, as they feed us lunch and/or dinner.  Thankfully, my gym is right on the way back to the bus station! 

Thats it for now.  More info as it comes in…I know you are all riveted to your seats by my amazing stories!

So this is blogging, huh?  Pretty cool.  Well, to those of you just joining me (and that’s all of you, because as the title aptly states, this is "my first blog") HI!  Here I am in NYC, finally.  After making my living as a typically nomadic creature, I’ve settled in Weehawken, NJ.  I decided it was time, since, thanks to Mickey Mouse, I have enough of a nest egg to live here sans cardboard box and starvation.  I have a fantastic apartment with one roomie and a dog.  My friend (and B’way star) Lisa lives uptairs.  I can be in Times Square 15 minutes out of my house.  I can see the Empire State Building from my doorstep.  And the rent is less than a private yacht. Not Bad!

I am beginning the ever so joyful day job search, but again thanks to the Mouse, I can be selective and not take the first crap job that comes along!  Auditioning when I can, but most of them are for summer gigs and as far as I know I have one.  Reconnecting with old pals and meeting new ones. Oh and seeing all the Oscar nominated films.  Come on, you guys know me!  My top choices of 2005: Narnia, Walk the Line, Capote, Munich, Good-Night and Good Luck and MATCH POINT!  Go see Match Point, it rocks.  Great writing and acting and for those of you familiar with my past relationships, you will see why I found it so interesting!

Well, I am off to Target to buy a few furnishings and groceries.  More later everyone!  This is a nifty invention, this blogging thing!