A mini run-down of things that have pissed me off during my recent retail adventures...
1) J.Crew
Okay. I can not for the life of me understand the rationality behind their decision to make the perfect-fit v-neck, perfect-fit scoopneck, and all soft tee's online only items. It angers me to no end when I walk into a J.Crew and find the perfect-fit crewneck in every color but I'm forced to pay that killer shipping cost on the v-neck and scoop style(s). Honestly though, what is the reasoning behind this? Store associates roll their eyes when asked about this (I've seen others ask- not just myself - so I know this is a popular issue) and I can't help but hope that one day it will change. I find it a real shame that I walk into a J.Crew and leave without basics... every woman wants a short sleeve v-neck t. To make the issue more annoying... J.Crew is now offering 30% off all tee's... in stores only... so I can get my crewneck at a discount but not the items I actually want. Thanks.
2) Urban Outfitters
Take broken/damaged goods off of the sales floor, get a store credit card that offers discounts of some sort, and stop charging 60 dollars for a pencil thin knits that rip after one outing. Thank you.
3) Abercrombie
Just stop - everything. Really.
4) Virgin Megastore
You can stop pretending to have your going out of business sale that isn't actually a sale because those prices are still out of control... I'll take it to itunes and Barnes and Noble, thanks.
5) Banana Republic
There are new colors out there in this wide world of fabric... you can try to find them.
--
In other news... I hate the fact that West Side Story has a lottery.
My experience with lottos, hm? I have never won. Hey! Let's look at my tally...
Wicked - 19 attempts
In the Heights - 12 attempts
Hairspray - 9 attempts
Title of Show - 5 attempts
Shrek the Musical - 3 attempts
West Side Story - 2 attempts
Do the math... oh student rush how I love thee. Oh and trust me, I am NOT one of those annoying crybaby losers complaining that not every show offers a rush blah blah blah... I will pay full price if I have to but being that I'm in the fiancial situation where shampoo is breaking the bank... it's a tough call. I do wash my hair everyday- that was just an example.
Tomorrow is Impressionism!! I am beyond excited... I am obsessed with everyone performing in it. I TDF'd it so who knows where I'll sitting but it'll be an adventure! I'll post a decent review - I promise.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
...oh man
I just took a look at my last post and realized how pathetic it is that I took the time to write all that out on the interwebs instead of handling it in the real world. I need to figure my life out and I have put the wheels into motion to do so as of today - we shall see what it leads to.
In other news, I am taking a trip upstate for a few days, I will definitely do some thinking while I'm away.
Some light in my life:
1) I have a 30 dollar gift card to J.Crew... what should I buy?
2) NEXT TO NORMAL is coming to Broadway!!!!
In other news, I am taking a trip upstate for a few days, I will definitely do some thinking while I'm away.
Some light in my life:
1) I have a 30 dollar gift card to J.Crew... what should I buy?
2) NEXT TO NORMAL is coming to Broadway!!!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Feeling Alone
To follow-up my last post... we did make the attempt to rush South Pacific and only one ticket was available. My friend graciously let me take the one ticket and went to see another show. To sum it up quickly - Kelli O'Hara remains my favorite female performer on Broadway and Andrew Samonsky is an amazing Lt. Cable - I have a habit of liking Matthew Morrison's replacements more than him. The show is still great and everyone should make an effort to see it if you have not done so already.
I've been on a bit of a down-swing for the past few days. I'm not quite sure what the cause is however, it needs to stop because I feel like a tired-weepy mess. I didn't even want to go to the theater tonight and skipped out of our Wednesday night ritual- that is when you know things are beyond not going well for me. Generally the theater is my happy place- no matter what I'm stressed about or whatever I'm going through can be cured the moment I step inside. However, more recently, I leave the theater and once that joy from witnessing the show has passed I start to feel something else. I can't put a label on the feeling but it is a bit like... a sense of failure/disappointment in myself. I am passionate about the theater... every single aspect and I am beginning to beat myself up for not pursuing that passion (instead of my boring political science degree that is probably going to get me no where anyway).
Every inch of my being wants to completely turn my life around and put myself in the right direction. Switch into the acting program at Pace University, finish my literature minor, submit my work to play writing programs, audition for various theater programs across the city (Circle in the Square, etc), and get involved in the community theater at home this summer. Why haven't I put this plan into action yet? I don't know - and that is why I can't bring myself to do it. I have this voice in my head (sounds an awful lot like my mother actually) that keeps telling me if I were meant to do this I would have done it already. It really eats me up inside and I hate this constantly assaulting my brain.
I have been concerned about this for quite some time... however it is really starting to have an impact on my every day life because after a while of doubting what you're doing - you just shut down - or at least I do anyway. I feel helpless and I don't really know how to bring the subject up to friends and family without them laughing at me. I believe that is the source of my problem, actually. A lack of support - no one around to encourage me. I have a chip on my shoulder because I was never exposed to the arts as a kid, I understand the theater is expensive and that times were tough, but I refuse to believe that five repetitive trips to Disney World benefited me in any way - the theater definitely would have. If I had been exposed to it and realized this passion at an earlier age I can't help but think the idea of my involvement/pursuit would have been accepted gradually over time and possibly evolved into support or encouragement. It just frustrates me to talk about a new play I've written with my friends or tell my mother about an audition I want to do when the responses are always "...well that stuff is so competitive" thank you but I obviously know that. If I could get any positive reinforcement at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Both acting and writing involved intense criticism from every direction - I would love to have positive reinforcement from my own family. I am extremely confident in my abilities - forget that- I'm confident in every aspect of myself whether be my appearance or my creative ability. I know that if I go out into the big scary world - the sea of starving artists - that I have the skill to make something magical happen. I just wish that other people could see it as I see it, recognize it, and just to receive a pat on the back would make me relax a little bit. But I digress, things happen for a reason and eventually I'll find the right path - with or without the support.
Ah gawddd - I hate writing so much about myself and my problems. It is so much easier to write and complain about things than it is to shut up and conquer them. Excuse any grammar or spelling errors in this post as I'm about to pass out and take a nap or something.
I've been on a bit of a down-swing for the past few days. I'm not quite sure what the cause is however, it needs to stop because I feel like a tired-weepy mess. I didn't even want to go to the theater tonight and skipped out of our Wednesday night ritual- that is when you know things are beyond not going well for me. Generally the theater is my happy place- no matter what I'm stressed about or whatever I'm going through can be cured the moment I step inside. However, more recently, I leave the theater and once that joy from witnessing the show has passed I start to feel something else. I can't put a label on the feeling but it is a bit like... a sense of failure/disappointment in myself. I am passionate about the theater... every single aspect and I am beginning to beat myself up for not pursuing that passion (instead of my boring political science degree that is probably going to get me no where anyway).
Every inch of my being wants to completely turn my life around and put myself in the right direction. Switch into the acting program at Pace University, finish my literature minor, submit my work to play writing programs, audition for various theater programs across the city (Circle in the Square, etc), and get involved in the community theater at home this summer. Why haven't I put this plan into action yet? I don't know - and that is why I can't bring myself to do it. I have this voice in my head (sounds an awful lot like my mother actually) that keeps telling me if I were meant to do this I would have done it already. It really eats me up inside and I hate this constantly assaulting my brain.
I have been concerned about this for quite some time... however it is really starting to have an impact on my every day life because after a while of doubting what you're doing - you just shut down - or at least I do anyway. I feel helpless and I don't really know how to bring the subject up to friends and family without them laughing at me. I believe that is the source of my problem, actually. A lack of support - no one around to encourage me. I have a chip on my shoulder because I was never exposed to the arts as a kid, I understand the theater is expensive and that times were tough, but I refuse to believe that five repetitive trips to Disney World benefited me in any way - the theater definitely would have. If I had been exposed to it and realized this passion at an earlier age I can't help but think the idea of my involvement/pursuit would have been accepted gradually over time and possibly evolved into support or encouragement. It just frustrates me to talk about a new play I've written with my friends or tell my mother about an audition I want to do when the responses are always "...well that stuff is so competitive" thank you but I obviously know that. If I could get any positive reinforcement at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Both acting and writing involved intense criticism from every direction - I would love to have positive reinforcement from my own family. I am extremely confident in my abilities - forget that- I'm confident in every aspect of myself whether be my appearance or my creative ability. I know that if I go out into the big scary world - the sea of starving artists - that I have the skill to make something magical happen. I just wish that other people could see it as I see it, recognize it, and just to receive a pat on the back would make me relax a little bit. But I digress, things happen for a reason and eventually I'll find the right path - with or without the support.
Ah gawddd - I hate writing so much about myself and my problems. It is so much easier to write and complain about things than it is to shut up and conquer them. Excuse any grammar or spelling errors in this post as I'm about to pass out and take a nap or something.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Walk it out...
This morning, while waiting for the subway, a very old homeless man told me that I walked like a cricket. Nothing else was interesting today.
Tomorrow's festivities will include;
and;
It should be interesting.
Tomorrow's festivities will include;
It should be interesting.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Between blogger and fire...
I have no idea why the formatting got so messed up in my last post - I'm not really cut out for this blogging stuff. WHATEVER. Time moves on... just wanted to add that I think fire alarms need to stop going off in my building and therefore if I do not answer phone calls for long periods of time it would be because my phone is in the (apparently) burning building. Thank you.
REVIEW: THE STORY OF MY LIFE
The Story of My Life is only one of three original musicals to arrive on the great white way this season (both [title of show] and 13 opened and subsequently closed shortly after). I can't say where it stands against the other two being that I never saw 13... I can however say that I think it lacked an unidentifiable something that [Title of Show] had. Please forgive me for not explaining the story however I feel like I shouldn’t explain too much of it being that most of the show revolves around one big spoiler that I think you should witness live.
Perhaps this unidentifiable something the show is missing is related to the score. Neil Bartram's score is very beautiful however; I could not help but be reminded of Sunday in the Park with George. Sunday comparison aside, I found the score to lack any surefire standouts and/or catchy melodies that I could hum to myself on the subway ride home. It’s certainly not a cast recording that I’m dying to see made, either (hello Tale of Two Cities… the concept recording is not enough). The orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick sounded wonderful but couldn't make the score any more memorable. The music was good enough to move to story along without being a distraction or being repetitive however there were a few moments where I wished they would wrap it up and move on to the next scene.
The set was quaint and actually worked very well with the story - it reflected the simplicity of the show as a whole. The lighting was a hot mess. I’m hoping that this was due to the fact that they’re in their preview period and that everything will be cleaned up by the opening. While on the subject of lighting- I found the transitions through time to be inconsistent... sometimes we hear this very Grapes of Wrath swoosh sound and then we come back to present day with a light change. Simple enough, right? Well… just when they’ve led you to believe that is in fact how these time changes are going to work they go back in time once again but this time without our corny swoosh – but this time with a light change. That’s quite fixable though so I’m not harping for hours on technical issues like I usually do.
I give Will Chase and Malcolm Gets all the credit in the world for carrying on the way they did. Both performances were heartfelt and vocally impressive. Both men are on the stage for the full 90 minutes and showed full commitment to each and every line. Both actors have their individual moments which are (thankfully) more memorable then the shows other elements. I have to say the standout (for me) was Malcolm Gets and I wanted so desperately to turn around and slug the Will Chase fan girls sitting behind me. (Warning: off-topic rant approaching) Honestly though, it never ceases the amaze me how rude people are… who in their right mind giggles, quotes RENT, talks the entire time, and then has the audacity to take photos at a performance? Granted I only paid for a student ticket but there are people all around you paid upwards of one hundred dollars to sit in those seats and in the words of Patti LuPone “How dare you! Who do you think you are?” – really. Rant complete- I could go on and on about how rude those girls were but it really isn’t worth the web space.
I would definitely recommend catching The Story of My Life at the Booth. It’s 90 entertaining minutes – nothing life changing – but enjoyable. It’s a simple story about two friends and how they impacted one another’s lives. If anything go to show your appreciation for originality in the theatre as we become more and more swamped with the “Shreks” and other film adaptations headed our way. I have nothing but respect for the investors and producers who decided to take a risk by bringing a show like this to Broadway - hats off.
P.S – The student rush policy is amazing. $20.00 two hours before the curtain and from what I’ve witnessed – most of the seats are located in the orchestra. (photo credit goes to playbill.com)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
I do love you...
But I simply do not love you all enough to write you individual emails, facebook messages, text messages, and/or call you to tell you about my daily adventures and general happenings. The solution has arrived and it is in the form of this blog. I hope to update every few days. Enjoy.
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