My Proudest Producing Moment

The full company of Carner & Gregor's Barely Legal Showtune Extravaganza

I would call this specific performance my proudest producing moment thus far. This is Carner and Gregor's Too Much (the finale from their song cycle Island Song). This was the first time this piece was ever performed. I loved being a part of it and having the chance to work with Sam, Derek, Marlo (the director), and these super talented kids. 

Island Song deals a lot with the reality of living in New York City. There is beauty in every aspect of it, but there are times when it can become overwhelming. There is so much that we, as New Yorkers, have in common simply by just living in this city. Island Song streams together these connections that we all have with the thousands of strangers who are also trying to make it here. It's a beautiful work and I cannot wait to see it performed in its entirety. 

Here are a few other videos from the Barely Legal Showtune Extravaganza (which I produced) that are part of Island Song.

So Many Windows (Holland Mariah Grossman, Charlotte Maltby, Claire Kaiser, 

Zaccheaus Kimbrell, and Matthew Fracher)

Kathryn Boswell (CCM): So Far From Pennsylvania

Traffic Island (Matt Savoca, Tyler Lenhart, Blair Goldberg, 

Zacchaeus Kimbrell and Kathryn Boswell)

Host Andrew Kober performs After Hours

Mini Updates, and more sights from the city I love

Guess who has to be moved out by Thursday?

Guess who keeps getting majorly distracted with Pinterest, LOST and Angry Birds while packing?

This girl! 

I'm so sick of packing but happy to be weeding down my stuff to the essentials. Lots will go to Goodwill and the like, most will be sent home to Florida. 

A blurry mess. 

I'll be traveling to London with four suitcases. THAT IS IT. I don't know how missionaries manage to live out of only two. That sounds like my idea of a very bad idea. I need just one suitcase for all my coats! Another one for all my Louboutins. Wait....

Everything has felt surreal because most of it was happening on paper. Now that I am taking steps to go, it has started to feel more like a reality. I am nervous excited, but mostly excited. I think this will be such an amazing time for me and I am so ready to go and put every last ounce of effort into my master's. 

Aside from packing, I've been taking some time to go see more of my favorite NYC sights and do some of my favorite NYC activities. 

One of my favorite Central Park spots... provides a lovely view of Essex House

Beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral. My work errands often take me that way.

First off: Royal Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet. Brother and Sister Peterson gave me a ticket and I was so blessed to go! Tickets were nearly impossible to get, and not only did I have one... I had one in the second row, center... valued at $200! My jaw dropped in the first 2 minutes or so and it stayed that way for the rest of the performance. It was absolutely the most professional piece I have ever seen. The quality of the acting and artistic direction was fantastic and I look forward to seeing RSC in London!

RSC's Romeo and Juliet at the Park Avenue Armory

The theater space was built inside the Armory building as a full-scale 

replica of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England. 

Last Friday, we hit up the MoMA for the Free Friday admission. It's always amazing to me to see what is considered art and it inspires me to continue creating work. It was fun to visit the MoMA with someone who is not as fluent in the visual arts because I get to see how they experience a specific work for the first time. Luke did have some very funny reactions to some of the pieces, but also appreciated the more classical art.

Installation piece at the MoMA. Multi-colored projected slides.

On Friday we went down to South Street Seaport. I know there is not much there, but for some reason I really love going down there. We had dinner at Johnny Rockets  (which is so not my fave, but whatevs) and then got caught in a monsoon.

View from the deck of the South Street Seaport. Love the view of 

the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Queensboro (?) Bridge. 

Afterwards, I made myself go home and pack... AGAIN.

NYC Bucket List

 I'm leaving in less than a month. I'll only be gone for a year, but a year is too long to be so far from this awesome, awesome place. I've put together a list of the things I know I want to do before I leave. 

1. Stroll through the MET

2. Saturday morning brunch at the Life Cafe, followed by a pit stop at Veniero's

3. Row boats in Central Park followed by lunch at the Shake Shack

4. Golfing at Chelsea Piers 

{not because I am good or anything, historically, I've had one good hit}

5. Cloisters and all its Medieval beauty

{after 3.5 years in NYC, I still have not been there... I mean, it's basically in Upstate New York}

6. Mets game also with Shake Shack 

{this should possibly be the last thing on the list, considering I hate baseball, and also Queens}

7. Andrea Bocelli concert in Central Park. 

{Tickets are ubber sold out, but this lucky girl is the holder of 4 tickets}

8. South Street Seaport and Staten Island Ferry

9. Late night cupcake from Sweet Revenge and a stroll through Washington Square Park

10. Sit at my Central Park bench on a Saturday afternoon

{not in a million years telling ANYONE where it is. Back off.}

11. Bike Riding at Governor's Island?

{Second to last on the list}

12. Check out the newer exhibitions at the MoMa

{I haven't been since they did that Tim Burton one}

13. Dinner in Little Italy. Doesn't matter where, though I am partial to S.P.Q.R.

14. Conservatory garden in Central Park @105th and Fifth 

{can't believe I haven't found these yet, but who ever just wanders in 

that general direction for the fun of it? Not me}

15. Sunday afternoon at Sheep Meadow

16. See more shows 

{honestly, the only things I really need to see are Follies and War Horse, though I would see Priscilla or How to Succeed once more}

17. Chelsea Market for brunch***

Feel free to come... or not. :)

Sights of the City I love: Take 2

The days come and go, and each day is a day closer to my big move across the pond.

Crazy how quickly things happen.

I'm beyond excited. And frustrated... but the latter is due to the huge amounts of stuff I own.

Where does it all come from???

Well, here are a few more little gems as part of my "Sights of the City I love" cycle/theme/whatever.

 One of my favorite Italian Places in the Village. Trattoria Spaghetto.

 Street outside La Maison Francaise in Greenwich Village.

 Popbar. Passion fruit? Yes, please!

 Washington Square Park on a sunny, perfect Tuesday afternoon.

 Bethesada Fountain on my way back from work.

 Grand Central late at night.

Cafe Lalo for Chad's birthday.