So I did it! I gave my notice to end my run with FOOLS IN LOVE.
Lou (one of the two founders of MTG, the theater company that produces FOOLS) called a meeting with me today between shows. I thought it was because he anticpated my departure. Actually, in their recent meetings with disgruntled or recently-exited members, my name allegedly "popped up". There was a "cancer" in the group, and Lou, in his...
Last night, right after rehearsal, I hopped on the D train to visit Misti and Raul in their 'hood, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Trevor and Johanna also came down. We were there to check out the Feast of Santa Rosalia, an annual Sicilian street fair with dozens of top-notch Italian food vendors. I partook of the calamari, a pepperoni roll and the tiramisu. I also had my first taste of a brioche-gelato sandwich, which is remarkably similar to what my mom used to snack on when I was a kid: ice cream in a kaiser roll. Yeeeech.
If you Google "asian american actor", guess who comes in 3rd place? Yup, yours truly.
I told Erika, and her reply was hilarious (as usual): "Take THAT, B.D. Wong!"
So it helps to have a background in webmastery and search-engine optimization. (I'm such a geek.)
Crazy thing: as a side effect, if you Google "american actor", I'm freakin' 9th!
Take THAT, Tom Cruise!
Why do I never write in my blog on Wednesdays?
What a day. I got to work at 8 this morning to finish up a project. In the meantime, I got into a very interesting IM conversation with Jim, the new Doo-Wop boy in my show. He's such an awesome guy and a sweet soul. I haven't gotten to know him yet, but you can just tell.
Afterwards, I left to make the matinee -- our call was 12:30. Boy, did I feel weird. As I walked into the theater, it was as if everyone knew what I had emailed Erika earlier that morning. Ah, paranoia. Alas, things were fine. Plus, as a bonus, because Time Out New York was coming to review the show, I got to work with Trevor and Misti again. (They'd been called in.) Yay! But man... for me, it went by WAY too quickly.
After a quick lunch at Fanelli's with Amie (LOVE her), Johanna and Adam, we got back to the theater for our new daily Doo-Wop rehearsal. It turned into a meeting for old, new and potential Doo-Woppers, so no work was accomplished. Maybe tomorrow...
Then there was the Ensemble Meeting. SO much is in the works for this show, including a tour in Korea next summer and a local TV appearance to be taped this Monday. At the moment, it all seemed exciting, but I'm over it. I mean, Staten Island cable access? What a waste of time. I'm gonna quit MTG. Anyway, after all the news, we got to watch two scenes, plus the new Lovers understudies rehearsal. I didn't get out of the theater till about 10:30.
An eventful and productive day, and thank God. I've been praying so hard these past few days for closure on so many issues, and today I got it.
I know I could probably elaborate on each and every moment of the day, but I'm tired. Sleepytime.
There's a fine, fine line
Between love and a waste of your time
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Wow. Last night was one of the best shows ever. OUR FIRST STANDING OVATION!
I don't know where this audience came from, but we were extremely lucky. The kids could not stop laughing, AND as this was our first Monday show, there were a bunch of actors and industry there: everyone from the woman at TKTS who's helped us sell the show, to members of the nominating committee for the Drama Desk Awards. Everyone was really into the show.
I talked to this one guy who was there to support "theater on Mondays". What's more, he'd also seen it at Wings and was very pleased with all the changes, including the new song lyrics and cast members.
Tonight, we're rehearsing to help out the four (maybe more?) new and potential Doo-Woppers. We'll see what happens.
Falling in love again
Never wanted to
What am I to do?
I can't help it
—Marlene Dietrich, 1930
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Yesterday's service at The Journey was disappointing, but deep inside, I kinda expected what I heard. The Journey doesn't "condone homosexuality", but the pastor did discuss the topic candidly, and even acknowledged that being gay wasn't a choice. Then again, he kept referring to being gay as "the homosexual lifestyle" and made parallels to being gay with being a drug abuser. "You can have the 'orientation' but also choose not act upon it." Puh-lease. I'm undecided if I want to go back... I gotta think about it some more.
But it was so great to see Trevor and Misti again, even if it was only for an hour.
After the Sunday matinee, I had so much fun in between shows, hanging out with Erika and Mike (singing New Kids on the Block songs and selections from the brilliant Buffy musical episode) and getting sprayed with machine-gun fire from Amie's breasts (you had to be there). The houses were pretty full for both shows and very receptive.
Saturday was a so-so day, but I do remember waking up from the most amazing dream, smiling and hugging my pillow, and being in an ecstatic mood all day. Of course, I can't tell you what the dream was. (Take that as you will.)
I've been watching the trailer for RENT at least once a day. November 11th, baby... I can't wait!
I've been really emotional all morning. I almost cried twice, listening to the cast recording of Wicked. Yeah, I know: that's so... GAY! Anyway, the songs about friendship and saying goodbye especially got to me. <scratches head>
So, I was going through my website traffic stats, and someone found my site via this article on Fridae.com (Asia's premier gay website). That was a nice blast from the past.
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[Last night,] towards the end of the night, we ended up at Nowhere Bar on 14th Street and 2nd. I've always really liked that place—great jukebox, fun divey vibe, huge space—much like its sister bar, Phoenix. I met this charismatic guy named Doug, who reminded me of a younger Christian Bale with a mischievous side. But wow, how appearances deceive. He looked about my age, but turned out to be only 21, and after some conversation, it was so evident how young and naive he was. Not ignorant, mind you. He just had very different perspectives on everything from the recent events in Israel to rents in New York to Madonna. (Oddest moment last night? When I realized that when I was in line to see Return of the Jedi, he wasn't even born! He was a FETUS when I bought the 12" remix of "Borderline"... ACK!)
Today, I'm supposed to see The Great Official Subway Musical, but there's just no way I can tear myself away from work so early. Paul's the musical director for the show. (Sorry, Paul!)
I'm looking forward to the weekend: six shows, two with major industry in attendance.
Tonight I'm going to a rooftop cocktail party at the South Cabana Rooftop Bar at the Maritime Hotel. It's a birthday party to celebrate my friend, Alex's birthday. I loathe going to parties alone. As the party progresses, I'm normally okay. It's just that first couple of minutes when I stroll in that I find particularly awkward.
Anyway, Alex has been moving all over the place the past couple of years—L.A., Europe, Maine—so it's been hard keeping up with him. You may remember me talking about him: a few years back, for his birthday and to coincide with the paperback release of his first novel, I created a mini-website for him: AlexanderChee.com. (That reminds me, I really need to update it.) He's also got a most excellent blog.
So yeah... anyone wanna go with me?
Last night, Misti, Raul and I met up at Rodeo Bar on the East Side, hopefully the first of many Doo-Wopper Reunion get-togethers. Annelisë (a current Doo-Wopper) coincidentally was walking by, saw us through the window, and joined us. Johanna (another current Doo-Wopper) and her sister stopped in later, as did Trevor.
Nadine (a former... current... I'm not exactly sure) is a manager there, and she totally hooked us up. (Thanks, Nay!)SEE PICTURES from today!
Last night was Misti and Trevor's last official day with Fools in Love. It wasn't as sad or bittersweet as I had imagined it would be. That's probably because, I just know they're not going to be out of my life anytime soon (like so many castmates before them), so I was okay yesterday. And also, we had a hysterical show (behind the scenes), followed by a grand party at Art Bar in the West Village, so I was fine when it came to say goodbye.
Yesterday also marked my first visit to The Journey, a "casual, contemporary Christian church" with a focus on artists and the arts. Although I pray daily (sometimes constantly!), I feel like I have an uneven, at times superficial relationship with Christ, and as of late have been looking for ways to fix that. I went to Catholic school for over 10 years, so going to church and having a specific time set aside for God is pretty much ingrained in me. It was a wonderful service; I've actually never experienced anything like it. I'm used to stained glass windows, pipe organs, and old guys in robes. This service has two Jumbotrons, a live band and a dance troupe. I went with Misti & Raul, who had been going for about 8 or 9 months, and with Trevor, who was also going for the first time.
I'm excited to go next week, but at the same time wary. Next week's topic to be discussed is "What to Say to a Friend Who's Gay?" The very fact this topic is even coming up reassures me, but only to an extent, since their stance is that the Bible is "truth without error". So their interpretation should be quite interesting.
... he grabbed my heart right out of my chest, threw it against a wall, and had it land right in a trash can.
Ouch.
JUST ANNOUNCED!
Visit BroadwayOffers.com (or call TeleCharge) and use code FL89EML — and get tickets to FOOLS IN LOVE at 50% off!
This offer is good for ANY performance in 2005, BUT this sale ends on August 31st. After that, tickets go back up to $40.
Buy now, BUY NOW! :-)
See you at the show.
Trevor's back, Trevor's back, Trevor's back!
He went home to Ohio last week for his grandmother's funeral, and I didn't realize how much I'd miss him once he left.
I'm in a very good mood.
It looks like Doo-Woppers, Version 3 is about to roll out.
We recently added Annelisë to the troupe (until she leaves on the 21st), and tonight, new MTG members, Amie and Jim (cute!), went through "Doo-Wopper Boot Camp" of sorts by running the show with us... without a rehearsal!
It was fun for me, but I'm sure nervewracking for them. But they seem really excited to become part of the show so quickly, and I'm really looking forward to working with them.
Tonight after the show, I went to Jake's house for a barbecue. Of course, since I got there 6 hours late, the party was winding down and all the burgers were gone. WAH! But it was fun.
Jake's done an amazing job — with limited funds nonetheless — of transforming his concrete backyard into a plant-filled oasis. I helped him early on, by renting the Zipcar to transport 70 cinder blocks and a LOT Of dirt from the Lowe's in Red Hook.
I noshed on the yummy homemade cheese dip, had a bunch of Amstel Lights, and caught up with Henry, Brandon, Jonathan, Alex and Martin.
