Times Square

Good morning from Harlem!  The dog's been walked, the coffee's in the cup so let's blog! It is another beautiful day here in NYC.  The weather has been so nice that it's kind of unbelievable... was actually chilly yesterday morning... in August!  Sweet.  Yesterday was our last rehearsal at our practice space in Times Square.  We've been meeting in suite 701 of the Paramount building on Broadway between 43rd and 44th streets for the past two weeks.  Tuesday we move to our performance space at 244 W. 54th street between Broadway and 7th avenue.  It was nice to have the same space available to us throughout the rehearsal process.  Apparently some productions aren't so lucky.  It was also cool to be rehearsing in the heart of Times Square.  Most days I'd take the A express from 125th to 42nd street and walk one long block east from 8th avenue.  Or I'd catch the D and end up at Bryant Park and walk one block west.  It is always a madhouse whether it's 11:00am or 9:00pm.  Masses of people everywhere and you're just trying to work your way through without bumping into too many.  Musicians on the street playing guitar, or snare drum, or ukulele for whatever you will give.  Hawkers promoting comedy shows or discount tour tickets, forcing a pamphlet into your hand.  Tourists looking up at the lights or down at their maps trying to figure out where the hell they are and where they're going.  Street vendors selling water and sodas and magazines and purses and pretty much whatever else you can imagine from their kiosks or the sidewalk.  Throngs massed at street corners trying to fight their way across Broadway or 7th or 42nd.  Buses, taxis, and cars trying to make a turn while the wave of humanity continues against the light.  It's nuts!  But for the past two weeks it has been great... to fight your way through the crowd because you're going to work.  In New York City.  As an actor.

At yesterday's rehearsal we ran the play for the first time without scripts in our hands.  I was taken by how strong the performances were once everyone was freed from carrying a script. And also how funny parts of the play are.  This is a serious play and yet it is filled with much humor.  My tendency, because of the subject matter, is to play the part overly straight(I'm playing a very powerful Washington insider).  Which, to be honest, was completely disingenuous.  I wasn't feeling anything.  Tye(the director) has pushed me to lighten up, to see all that happens as positive things.  To see that even the most powerful person can be a bit of a goof ball!  He is directing me toward my strengths and I think I just might pull this off.  Also, Olivia Negron, who I have all my scenes with, has been very helpful in telling me what her character is thinking... so my actions are in sync with where she is.

Tuesday we start tech(2pm - 10pm) and open a week from Thursday.

Away from the play... I have a voiceover I'm doing today here from the apartment(I'm doing it today, Sunday, as they are doing construction on the church next door and they're jackhammering all day weekdays) and I'm doing another on Tuesday from a beautiful 19th floor studio at 11 W. 26th street.  Also plan on meeting up with Keith and Cathy who are in town from Norfolk, and just might do an open mic performance at Kenny's Castaway in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  

What else?  Have been out to dinner with Mary a couple of times, heard a Brazilian guitar duo with an opera singer at Barbee's in Park Slope, saw Amoreena perform with her improve troop, drank beer and wine with Melisande, asked Diana to please clean out my refrigerator back in Norfolk, had drinks with the lovely Miss Lisa Simonetta near South Street Seaport, and got up with an old girlfriend whom I hadn't seen or talked to in 3 years.

Brett Favre is now a Jet.  Guess I'll be watching that loser team this year.