When Two Worlds Collide

I'm a bit of an open book. I can't hide too many things in my life - especially Christmas presents from my kids, but that's a different story. I have certain areas in my life that I try to keep separate from others. Not out of deceit or purpose, it's just easier that way. Less to explain. For example, I don't want to have to explain to parents at my kids schools what it is that I do for a living. Not trying to be coy or elusive, just keeping it simple. I don't go into detail at work (a bastion of liberal thinking!) that I'm Catholic and go to church (nearly) every week and send my kids to Catholic schools. Way too much explaining to do.
So imagine my terror when my hockey buddies, a group not known for it's finesse or theatrical savvy, found out what I do and where I do it:
"Mamma Mia? Dude, that's awesome! We gotta come see it so we can make fun of you."
Hockey is a world of its own; a brethren, a fraternity with it's own language - "Bert, throw it to the middle next time and stop playing like you read it in a book!" - and a level of communication that is both brutally competitive (and utterly impossible to repeat here) and darkly loving. We talk in a coarse and rough way; it's rude and inconsiderate and downright mean - and we love it. We call each other every name in the book, degrading each others sexual preference, be it for person or animal, and ridicule job and life choices (Though spouses and children are generally off limits; girlfriends, not so much.)
Theater, of course, is my life's devotion. The nuance, the commitment, the disappointments. There is so much that goes into the life of an actor, and so much acceptance and tolerance that is expected and welcome. It's how we, as artists, grow. We love the unexpected, the different, the inappropriate. It brings freshness to a performance and is the life blood of creativity - and seems, in so many ways, the exact opposite of the hockey culture.
Friday night saw the terrifying collision of these two seeming disparate worlds as the first of my many hockey buddies (this time it was Scotty and his girlfriend Linda) came to the theater and experienced, firsthand, their own "Minut" and "OC" (my aforementioned nicknames) singing and dancing to Swedish Pop songs! The terror was all mine, I'm sure, as I know they only expected a fun night out at the theater, while I, on the other hand, had very different expectations.
I can stand in front of 1500 people on a nightly basis, sometimes with family or industry people in the audience, and perform unfazed. But cross my hockey world with my theater life? I literally broke out in a cold sweat:
"Oh man, I can' believe Scotty is out there?!"
I found myself nervous and preoccupied. I laughed at my folly, that I would be more disturbed that a hockey player was in the audience than a casting director or producer. Or my mother! Ahh, the power of the hockey brethren!
In the end, Scotty & Linda had a wonderful time, topped off by pictures in the back of the theater with us 3 "spandex clad" dads.(Yes, we're STILL fundraising for BC/EFA.) Now I've got some blackmail material if Scotty starts to give me a hard time!

In general, the show is going very well these days. I find myself very interested in audience size and response, as so much of our performance seems based on this. But it's an intriguing equation to contemplate. This past Wednesday proved to be the smallest house (audience) the show has had in 8 years! Dreadful, and tough to get the energy up for and to play to. Then Wednesday night? SRO! Great house, lots of energy!
You never can tell. But the show continues to be a blast to perform.

Catch-Up

Sorry, sorry, sorry! I realize it's been nearly two weeks since my last post. The excuses abound, not the least of which is I had my PDA (phone) in for repair, and that's where I do most of my writing (I'm doing it now, in fact) and my desktop seemed to tank at the same time (hence the need to purchase a new HP 750GB hard drive, 8GB ram, Intel Core2Quad processor, for you computer geeks). But luckily I'm back in the running.

*Thank you to all concerned about my voice after my last post. It was tenuous and a bit frightening, but I did make it through the show. I actually seemed to get stronger as the show went on, but I was very nervous that it wouldn't last.

*There are many things to catch up on, and I can't remember half of them, but I will say the most recent and thrilling was the opportunity to share my MM! good fortune with my family this past weekend as my Mom, brother John and sister in law Sue, her friend Val and my brother's daughter (my niece) Erica came to the show over the weekend, all the way form Michigan! They actually had a busier two days than I did, shopping at Bergdorf's, seeing BILLY ELLIOT and MM!, dining out, taking taxis - I'm exhausted just thinking about it! But it was a treat to see them and share the joy of "the Mia", topped off by dinner at Joe Allen Restaurant, the perennial theatrical fave. Thanks for coming, guys, it was a treat!

*Also of note last week was my first "personal day". I'm allowed to take 2 days off a year for purely personal reasons (not sickness or vacation, just a day off). Now I'm not the kind of guy who takes days off easily. A few years ago I was doing a Broadway (lite) show called TWENTIETH CENTURY with Alec Baldwin (great guy) and Anne Heche (can you say CRAZY?) at the Roundabout Theater. I was sick as a dog one day, terrible flu, but you can bet I dragged my ass to the theater and got up on that stage. The show must go on, eh?

In any event, I had never planned to take a personal day even when I learned, in early September, that my daughter's Theatrical High School debut would conflict with my performance. She would just have to suffer without me, I thought. Well, last Friday morning (after a Thursday night of prodding by my fellow MM! cast members - Allison: "Are you crazy?", John: "You have to go!", Beth: "It's like suffering through root canal, but you gotta do it!"), I awoke with a start and realised, as her debut was that night, that I couldn't miss it! It was not out of guilt or obligation but the sheer joy of seeing my beautiful daughter, who had worked so hard over the last few months (between school and all her extra-curricular activities) - that I knew I HAD to attend! So I called my extremely understanding and gracious stage manager (Andy) and company manager (Tony) and explained the situation, and with their blessings I was off.

HUMBUG HIGH (A modern adaptation of Charles Dickens A CHRISTMAS CAROL) was a huge hit (not, in fact, root canal at all!) and the star (in my eyes) was the illustrious performance of "Madge the Dead Lunch Lady" inhibited with verve and comic gusto by my daughter Brigid. Bravo!

I promise to try the daily posting this week. There's always a lot going on, so it's easier to keep up by doing it daily rather than playing catch-up.

Slainte!

This Is A Test. This Is Only A Test.

Okay, I'm a little terrified today:

Yesterday, a Sunday back from a great Halloween off. Two great shows, a nice run through Central Park (and battling the aftermath of the NYC Marathon) and a birthday celebration (Beth Leavel's) in between and all was well. I finished the second show. Went to my dressing room to change and I suddenly sneezed. Twice. No big deal, I thought. I finished getting dressed, left the theater and headed down Broadway to my destination - home. It was two blocks away that I realized I left my wallet in my dressing room. I walked back and Mike, our doorman, let me in. I tried to say hello - but nothing came out! I got my wallet, headed back out and walked for a few blocks, talking to myself, trying my voice - nothing! I stopped at Starbucks, thinking a warm Venti Hot Chocolate might sooth the chords - I couldn't even order! I had to whisper in the barista's ear, "Venti hot chocolate with skim milk and whip cream." I think he thought I was making a pass at him. But I was terrified. I've never had this happen. Not a sound came out. What do I do?
Went home, took a hot shower, tried to rest my voice the rest of the night and all day today. My poor wife is having a rather invasive (read:colonoscopy) medical procedure today and I wanted to be there for her. Now I can only support her in a non-verbal way. It's 12noon now, I can feel it getting better, I only hope I can find my upper vocal register before 8:00pm tonight!

Quick story under the category of "New Yorkers - you think you know everything":
I'm running up Central Park West, against traffic and amidst all the Marathon finishers. Thousands of people are out and milling. It's hard to run, but I'm making my way. Suddenly, a man on a bike, pulling up next to me and also riding against traffic, points to my left with the directive "Dude, sidewalk." Not wanting to start an argument, nor giving in to his admonishment, I simply comment, "Yes, it's there."
His response? "You should be on it."
I found the irony of the situation to hard to leave alone and what came next, if I do say so myself, is what separates free thinkers from the rest of the world.
"I'm sorry", I said in a somewhat fake Hispanic/Italian/foreign accent, "I don't speak English. But I know an asshole when I met one!" And off I went.
I'm sure it's not the first time that line has ever been used, but I found the absurdity of the situation just too outside the norm NOT to respond.
New Yorkers - you think you know everything!

Wish me luck tonight!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Happy Halloween 2009!

So much happens so quickly backstage on a Broadway show that it's hard to keep up sometimes:

*Last Sunday we began an in-house scavenger hunt game titled "Bats, Rats and Riddles" (put together by our brilliant stage management team headed by the incomparable Andy Fenton!), consisting of clues in a book that lead to more clues, located inside AND outside the theater (often at OTHER Broadway shows) that concluded Friday night with the best team winning a top prize of a clothespin memento in the shape and form of a witch. A fun game meant to enhance the morale of the company - mission accomplished! Five teams of five or six members fought for supremacy, and yes, it's true, my team won. Hail to the victors! Clues were as cryptic as "Travel where it was red and blue - but not anymore, now yellow and blue will open the door" [Answer: the Broadway Theater where The Color Purple (red and blue) once played, but now Shrek (yellow and blue) is playing.] Or "Travel quickly through the stormy night, to see the NHL and NFL fight" [Answer: the Palace Theater, home of West Side Story and the (NHL San Jose) Sharks and the (NFL New York) Jets.] Told you they were cryptic. But fun none the less!

*Wednesday we began collecting for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids by stopping the show at the final applause and making an audience appeal for donations. Our "Sky", Eric Morris, well spoken and articulate, made a generous and gregarious speech to a very appreciative crowd. Not just seeking donations, items are also sold, including our signed posters ($40), CD's of various Broadways casts singing Christmas carols ($20), a Mamma Mia apron ($30) and a Mamma Mia recyclable grocery bag ($10). The sentiment is well placed and altruistic, but (and I know this is an unpopular opinion) I think it's a bit much to do it after every show for six weeks. Talk about gilding the Lilly!

*Amidst all the offstage hoopla, I do enjoy my time onstage enormously and often, still, find myself looking at other actors in various moments and find some small discovery of joy or happiness. I think, ultimately, that the core of my character "Bill" is all about joy and adventure. He's a real man with many dimensions, but he's an action taker who doesn't wait for things to happen to him. He goes out there and looks for it. And that's what appeals to me!

Credit Where Credit Is Due

I play hockey with a bunch of crybabies!  Everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame and apparently they think I can give it to them. Assuming anyone beyond my family reads this blog, I now bestow celebrity and stardom on the following slackers:
Doug, aka "Bert", aka "Kovalov"- you're a weaselly puck hog, but you're also an artist so you get a bye.
Scotty - if you weren't such a (word I can't print here), you'd be okay too.
Uri - there, "Stinky", I mentioned your name, now stop complaining!
Coco the Racist Goalie - haven't seen you for a while, we miss your whitty, racist comments.
Fuzzball - Where the hell are you? Raising gerbils in Chicago?
Paulie - When you're not hungover, you're great between the pipes.
Billy - Ditto, only in front of the pipes.
Big Nick,aka "Gigantor", aka "The Ice Manatee" - Your girlfriend Scotty called, wants you to pick up some tampons at the grocery store.
Big Mike, aka "The Snow Ape" - Thanks for the continual supply of lefty equipment.
Terry - Seems you got swallowed up at the U.S. Open. Venus Williams shove a ball down your throat, too?
Val, aka "Valishnikov" - you're socks look snazzy, but you gotta finish, my friend.
I'm sure I've missed a few and I know I'll hear about it, but for a ragtag group of posers, it's more fame than you deserve.
Best,
Minut, aka "The O.C."
There, now that that's out of the way, we can get back to the business of "The Mia", as we call it.

Monday's show was like a group hangover, only with a great audience. They were very into it, but the end of a long weekend, and the knowledge that we're still in the middle of a 13 show run left us reeling from the long weekend.  But we're pros, so we take it in stride and move on.

Great Weekend!

Unbelievably exciting day and matinee performance! Not sure why, considering it's a humid, rainy day in NYC (and weather always seems to effect theater audiences), but I'm thrilled for it since my Aunt Kathy and Cousin Amy are here, visiting from Ohio and celebrating a certain someones 70th Bday! Happy Bday, Aunt Kath!
Funny clout moment of the day: I called Joe Allen Restaurant, the famous theater hangout, for dinner reservations for us and was told they were all booked up.  Then I "mentioned" that it was too bad, "I can only make it between my shows."
"What show is that?", I was asked.
"Well I'm in Mamma Mia, so I can only make it for early dinner.  And I DID work for Joe in the past - I was a waiter at Orso Restaurant (owned by Joe Allen).
The maitréd's response? "Well sir, you need to tell us these things first. Of course we have a table for you."  MM! membership has its privileges.
*And if the matinee was fun, the evening show was beyond!  What a day! Must have been something in the air.  Responsive, excited - full audience on their feet by the end!  When they're clapping along during "Take A Chance", we know they're a good audience.  Favorite moment? After the show and the cool down and the exit and the autographs outside the stage door and the walk through a rain-soaked Times Square and getting to my gate at Port Authority Bus Terminal I'm waiting in line for my bus with a young couple I'm front of me - a well dressed Indian gentleman and quite pleasant date.  After 5minutes of waiting, and some odd staring, he finally asks, "Are you with the...are you in the Mamma Mia?"
"Yes, I am."
You would have thought he was meeting Gandhi himself.
"Oh my gosh! It is you! I thought you were him, cause you look like him, the beard and all... Look-" he points out to his compatriot, "It's him! You were wonderful. The whole show - wonderful. Wonderful! So much fun!"  And he went on like that for the whole bus ride.  It was delightful, again, to chat with fans who are so appreciative of not only my work (which is nice to hear) but of the show itself.  Believe me, it's hard to come down from a day like this.  I didn't get to bed till almost 2:30am!
*Sunday, a different story.  Nice audiences, receptive, but not very enthusiastic.  We all felt like we were performing a show with a big group hangover. Whew!
*We're now we're halfway through a 13 show run. Brutal, but challenging!

I Went To The Theater And A Baseball Game Broke Out!

I was brought up to believe that you were nice and respectful to people. Especially your elders.  Decency and kindness were inbred in me.  I'm from the Midwest.  It's a trait that I fought against most of my youth.  I wanted to be different, unique. Not rude, but I never wanted to follow the status quo. I wanted to be "different".  I decided to be an actor.  To come to New York, where the action is.  Where people speak their mind and get what they want and "don't take no crap from nobody!"  That's what I wanted, too.  I thought.  Now, I'm not so sure.
I watched the Yankees battle the Angels tonight in the ALCS (you would think there wasn't a show!) and I came to a realization:  In Detroit - the place of my youth, the home of my heart, the anchor of my soul - in Detroit, we hope to win.  We hope to succeed.  We hope that with enough hard work and resilience and dedication (and maybe a little bit of luck) that we'll succeed and win that Pennant or that Stanley Cup or that we'll survive this economic downturn and come out the better for it.  We hope, with decency and humility as our backbone, that these things will come to pass.
In New York, they EXPECT it.  With no humility, no decency, little forgiveness and simply no class.  It's crass and ugly and comes at you like a truck driver on NoDoz.
"When we win (not if, but when), it's because we deserve it!  Not that we've worked hard or dedicated ourselves to the task or overcome obstacles (many of which may be true), but simply because we're New Yorkers and we're entitled to it. Period.  And everyone else can go f --- themselves.  And if by chance we should lose, anyone else's victory is inconsequential because it's not a New York victory."  To quote Billy Joel, this is the "New York state of mind."
I'm glad I've made the realization.  It allows me the clarity to do my job unfettered from the vagaries of petty regionalisms (Go Tigers!) and focus on the task at hand.  The job and task I love to do so much. Act.