I love...
Geoff
Maroto
My family
Geoff's family
My friends
The Earth
Theatre
Sunshine
Water
Grass in my between my toes
Sand under my feet
My Life.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
SPRING
Spring is in the buds.
The buds are everywhere.
They stretch open.
Suddenly spring is everywhere.
The buds are everywhere.
They stretch open.
Suddenly spring is everywhere.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
NOT EXACTLY EVICTED
On Thursday we received our renewal lease in the mail. And we received a brutal lesson in NYC real estate.
My husband and I moved into this apartment in 2005. At that time our rent was $1200/month. In the past 4 years our rent has increased to $1385/month, each year increasing by the city-mandated percentage.
On Thursday we opened our renewal lease to find that our new rent will be $1725/month.
Ummmm...what???
Geoff called the NYC housing authorities to find out if it is legal for the landlord to increase the rent so much. And here's where that brutal lesson comes...
If you are in a rent-stabilized building and paying "preferential rent" - your rent is lower than the listed market value - the landlord may increase the rent to the market value upon renewal of your lease. No warning necessary. No explanation necessary.
It feels like a slap in the face.
This is our home. We've been good tenants. Our rent is always on time, we help our neighbors, we don't complain about the shitty state of the building. We have even brought other tenants into the building when apartments became available.
But here's the magic of the world in play - yesterday during the rainstorm, the windows in our kitchen & bathroom started leaking into the apartment...as they often do when it rains, because our management company has not, in almost 5 years, been able to fix this problem.
What incredible timing!!
It was a little bit like the universe reminding us that we do not want to continue living in this shithole. I was so angry that the landlord would hike up our rent...until the dripping started.
Those drips nudged me into a place of acceptance & peace.
Thanks for the memories, 171. I'm happy to leave you behind.
My husband and I moved into this apartment in 2005. At that time our rent was $1200/month. In the past 4 years our rent has increased to $1385/month, each year increasing by the city-mandated percentage.
On Thursday we opened our renewal lease to find that our new rent will be $1725/month.
Ummmm...what???
Geoff called the NYC housing authorities to find out if it is legal for the landlord to increase the rent so much. And here's where that brutal lesson comes...
If you are in a rent-stabilized building and paying "preferential rent" - your rent is lower than the listed market value - the landlord may increase the rent to the market value upon renewal of your lease. No warning necessary. No explanation necessary.
It feels like a slap in the face.
This is our home. We've been good tenants. Our rent is always on time, we help our neighbors, we don't complain about the shitty state of the building. We have even brought other tenants into the building when apartments became available.
But here's the magic of the world in play - yesterday during the rainstorm, the windows in our kitchen & bathroom started leaking into the apartment...as they often do when it rains, because our management company has not, in almost 5 years, been able to fix this problem.
What incredible timing!!
It was a little bit like the universe reminding us that we do not want to continue living in this shithole. I was so angry that the landlord would hike up our rent...until the dripping started.
Those drips nudged me into a place of acceptance & peace.
Thanks for the memories, 171. I'm happy to leave you behind.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
EMBRACING CHANGE
Here's the big news...
In October I will be heading out on the road with the National Tour of HAIR as one half of the company management team.
The tour will go to many places, including Washington DC, Chicago, Arizona, California, Florida, Boston, Seattle, Minnesota. There is a possibility that we will even head to Japan for a few weeks. I am beyond excited to start this journey, and know that I will learn so much. Plus it will give me a foot in the door of the union I need to join to be a full Broadway manager.
Details will follow, but suffice it to say that I am blessed.
In October I will be heading out on the road with the National Tour of HAIR as one half of the company management team.
The tour will go to many places, including Washington DC, Chicago, Arizona, California, Florida, Boston, Seattle, Minnesota. There is a possibility that we will even head to Japan for a few weeks. I am beyond excited to start this journey, and know that I will learn so much. Plus it will give me a foot in the door of the union I need to join to be a full Broadway manager.
Details will follow, but suffice it to say that I am blessed.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
FINAL PERFORMANCE, BUT NOT REALLY
Today is the final performance the original cast of the 2009 Tony winning revival of HAIR will have on Broadway.
Beginning Tuesday we will have a brand new cast rocking the Hirschfeld each night.
I'm excited for the shift, mostly because of the amazing opportunity it gives the original cast to bring this show to London.
And I'm excited to see our new cast in action - they are quite a talented group.
But I am also sad.
I like this company of actors very much, and I love the work they do together on stage, and I feel a little like a junior in high school when all of your senior class friends graduate and move on together, and you're left remembering how cool it was to be friends with those folks.
But, if I follow that metaphor through, then I'm about to become a senior, and I'll very soon be caught up in planning the prom for this new class. And the graduation.
It must be tough to be a high school teacher. Always saying goodbye.
Beginning Tuesday we will have a brand new cast rocking the Hirschfeld each night.
I'm excited for the shift, mostly because of the amazing opportunity it gives the original cast to bring this show to London.
And I'm excited to see our new cast in action - they are quite a talented group.
But I am also sad.
I like this company of actors very much, and I love the work they do together on stage, and I feel a little like a junior in high school when all of your senior class friends graduate and move on together, and you're left remembering how cool it was to be friends with those folks.
But, if I follow that metaphor through, then I'm about to become a senior, and I'll very soon be caught up in planning the prom for this new class. And the graduation.
It must be tough to be a high school teacher. Always saying goodbye.
Friday, March 5, 2010
PROCRASTINATION
Today I'm having one of those days where I just don't want to go to work.
There's no reason - I love my job - I just don't feel like going.
So it's now 16 minutes before I like to leave and I'm writing this entry. I've looked at my Facebook page at least twenty times (nothing has changed...) and have caught up on all of my friends' blogs. I've scanned the online sale at Crate & Barrel and checked my email, personal & business accounts. So what to do now?
I suppose the only thing left is to turn off the computer and get dressed for work.
That's the problem with procrastinating...you eventually have to do thing you've been delaying.
Shucks.
There's no reason - I love my job - I just don't feel like going.
So it's now 16 minutes before I like to leave and I'm writing this entry. I've looked at my Facebook page at least twenty times (nothing has changed...) and have caught up on all of my friends' blogs. I've scanned the online sale at Crate & Barrel and checked my email, personal & business accounts. So what to do now?
I suppose the only thing left is to turn off the computer and get dressed for work.
That's the problem with procrastinating...you eventually have to do thing you've been delaying.
Shucks.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
SECRET
It's hard to have a really exciting secret that you just can't share yet (and no I'm not pregnant).
I just keep remembering that my life is progressing exactly as it should and that the people around me love me and that I love them and that soon I can share my exciting secret and start writing about the journey that follows.
We are all one.
I just keep remembering that my life is progressing exactly as it should and that the people around me love me and that I love them and that soon I can share my exciting secret and start writing about the journey that follows.
We are all one.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
GRAY
Another gray day
inside another gray week.
Has the sun left us?
Heading outside but
keeping the light in my heart
bright for all I love.
inside another gray week.
Has the sun left us?
Heading outside but
keeping the light in my heart
bright for all I love.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
SAME ART, DIFFERENT BUSINESS PART 2
In 2006 I was getting married.
So - logically - I chose this busy, life-altering moment to also change career paths.
I've never liked sitting still. :)
In April of 2006 I began working as a company management assistant for Elizabeth McCann and Joey Parnes. They were producing a play called WELL on Broadway, in addition to producing to the Tony Awards. (Side bar: the Tonys were the Sunday before my Friday wedding...holy insanity).
Broadway had always been foreign to me. Prior to seeing Liz & Joey's production of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? in 2005 the only thing I'd seen on Broadway was THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. And I hated it.
That's being kind.
I ABHORRED it. I wanted to puke. It was everything that I didn't like about musicals and more. I'm sure there were redeeming qualities, but in my idealistic youth I sure as hell couldn't see them.
But here I am, about to get married, and working on Broadway.
WOOLF (and AVENUE Q if I'm being fair) changed my opinion of what Broadway theatre could be. And WELL continued that change. I realized that if producers existed who were willing to take risks, then good art could actually be seen on Broadway. Wow. AND the artists could actually get paid a respectable amount of money for their creations.
This is the point of this entry. I really didn't mean for it to be about my journey, though it's hard not to get caught up in yourself. Here's the point:
Non-profit theatre exists to give life to art. If you look at the mission statement of pretty much any non-profit theatre you will see that they exist to bring plays & musicals to life, or to "support" artists, or to develop new work. These are incredibly important goals - they are essential to the survival of art. The amount of brilliant plays that would never be produced without non-profit theatres...it hurts my heart to think about it.
These theatres are financed in large part by governmental grants, corporate sponsorship, and individual donations of $1,000 or less.
For-profit theatre exists, by definition, to make money. And this is where it is important to think hard and shake off your preconceived notions about what "making money" means.
People invest their own money into these productions. N0t $1,000 of their money. More like $250,000.
Approximately 4 out of 5 times that a play or musical is produced on Broadway, these people lose most (if not all) of their investment. That's crazy. That means that if there are 10 investors equally spread over 10 shows, only 2 of them will see a return on their investment. 8 of them will lose money by producing theatre that they (hopefully) believe in.
My favorite difference in the two forms of producing theatre is this:
Approx. average weekly salary for an actor working at an NYC non-profit*: $650/week
MINIMUM weekly salary for an actor working on Broadway**: $1,605/week
A director working on a Broadway show receives at least a 5 digit guaranteed payment for the work they will do. They also receive a small weekly guarantee every week the show runs. They also receive a portion of the profit if any exists. That adds up to an enormous sum of money.
An author can easily make, in a 6 month run that doesn't even recoup it's entire investment, upwards of $200,000.
What is my point? Same art, different business.
Commercial theatre does not exist solely to make money for the producers & investors - IT ALSO MAKES MONEY FOR THE ARTISTS.
There are so few outlets for these people to make a decent salary - Broadway gives them one.
I'm proud to work in a business that can help give artists a good life.
So - logically - I chose this busy, life-altering moment to also change career paths.
I've never liked sitting still. :)
In April of 2006 I began working as a company management assistant for Elizabeth McCann and Joey Parnes. They were producing a play called WELL on Broadway, in addition to producing to the Tony Awards. (Side bar: the Tonys were the Sunday before my Friday wedding...holy insanity).
Broadway had always been foreign to me. Prior to seeing Liz & Joey's production of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? in 2005 the only thing I'd seen on Broadway was THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. And I hated it.
That's being kind.
I ABHORRED it. I wanted to puke. It was everything that I didn't like about musicals and more. I'm sure there were redeeming qualities, but in my idealistic youth I sure as hell couldn't see them.
But here I am, about to get married, and working on Broadway.
WOOLF (and AVENUE Q if I'm being fair) changed my opinion of what Broadway theatre could be. And WELL continued that change. I realized that if producers existed who were willing to take risks, then good art could actually be seen on Broadway. Wow. AND the artists could actually get paid a respectable amount of money for their creations.
This is the point of this entry. I really didn't mean for it to be about my journey, though it's hard not to get caught up in yourself. Here's the point:
Non-profit theatre exists to give life to art. If you look at the mission statement of pretty much any non-profit theatre you will see that they exist to bring plays & musicals to life, or to "support" artists, or to develop new work. These are incredibly important goals - they are essential to the survival of art. The amount of brilliant plays that would never be produced without non-profit theatres...it hurts my heart to think about it.
These theatres are financed in large part by governmental grants, corporate sponsorship, and individual donations of $1,000 or less.
For-profit theatre exists, by definition, to make money. And this is where it is important to think hard and shake off your preconceived notions about what "making money" means.
People invest their own money into these productions. N0t $1,000 of their money. More like $250,000.
Approximately 4 out of 5 times that a play or musical is produced on Broadway, these people lose most (if not all) of their investment. That's crazy. That means that if there are 10 investors equally spread over 10 shows, only 2 of them will see a return on their investment. 8 of them will lose money by producing theatre that they (hopefully) believe in.
My favorite difference in the two forms of producing theatre is this:
Approx. average weekly salary for an actor working at an NYC non-profit*: $650/week
MINIMUM weekly salary for an actor working on Broadway**: $1,605/week
A director working on a Broadway show receives at least a 5 digit guaranteed payment for the work they will do. They also receive a small weekly guarantee every week the show runs. They also receive a portion of the profit if any exists. That adds up to an enormous sum of money.
An author can easily make, in a 6 month run that doesn't even recoup it's entire investment, upwards of $200,000.
What is my point? Same art, different business.
Commercial theatre does not exist solely to make money for the producers & investors - IT ALSO MAKES MONEY FOR THE ARTISTS.
There are so few outlets for these people to make a decent salary - Broadway gives them one.
I'm proud to work in a business that can help give artists a good life.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
SAME ART, DIFFERENT BUSINESS
For my entire professional life until I was almost 29 (that's a mere 10 years, but still...) I worked exclusively in non-profit theatre. And it was good.
I worked in many different capacities, from actor to stage manager to carpenter, and I worked on many different plays, from Hamlet to Breath, Boom! to Miracle Brothers. And I loved it.
I was creating art, and though my contributions to the creation of that art were small, it was fulfilling and always different and exactly what I expected I would do with my life.
Those shows did not make money. They were not supposed to make money. They were produced to showcase the art.
And then I hit a wall and could not see how I could make a life for me and my family if I did not make a change. I observed the many different people doing many different jobs and realized that all of my previous experience seemed to be leading me to produce theatre. So there, I'll be a producer!
Folks, this is easier said than done.
I started looking for a path that could lead me to this goal. It seemed that if I learned about the workings of theatre from a management perspective I could open more doors for myself. I observed company managers and thought, "I could do that. That job fits me."
And a company management assistant gig opened up at exactly this time. Kismet?
I have to run to work now, but will continue this tomorrow.
I worked in many different capacities, from actor to stage manager to carpenter, and I worked on many different plays, from Hamlet to Breath, Boom! to Miracle Brothers. And I loved it.
I was creating art, and though my contributions to the creation of that art were small, it was fulfilling and always different and exactly what I expected I would do with my life.
Those shows did not make money. They were not supposed to make money. They were produced to showcase the art.
And then I hit a wall and could not see how I could make a life for me and my family if I did not make a change. I observed the many different people doing many different jobs and realized that all of my previous experience seemed to be leading me to produce theatre. So there, I'll be a producer!
Folks, this is easier said than done.
I started looking for a path that could lead me to this goal. It seemed that if I learned about the workings of theatre from a management perspective I could open more doors for myself. I observed company managers and thought, "I could do that. That job fits me."
And a company management assistant gig opened up at exactly this time. Kismet?
I have to run to work now, but will continue this tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
COMPLICATED
I think perhaps we make life more complicated than it is. And love. And work.
Maybe just a little less pre-thinking, and a little more simple response can help.
Maybe just a little less pre-thinking, and a little more simple response can help.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
PASSING STRANGE
Not only is PASSING STRANGE my favorite musical ever, it's now also the first movie with my name in the credits. Sweet.
"And should the mask begin to fall, my chorus comes in like a 12 foot wall so you can't see me."
Pure poetry.
"And should the mask begin to fall, my chorus comes in like a 12 foot wall so you can't see me."
Pure poetry.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
SOME THOUGHTS
When dealing with family it is almost always better to nod and smile.
Days go by quicker when you buckle down and do the work.
A new year is like the grown up version of back-to-school. We should get a new outfit too.
Sometimes the sun shining on windows in NYC looks just like fire.
It's not enough to love. You have to share that love.
A child is pure beauty, even when dripping with drool.
Days go by quicker when you buckle down and do the work.
A new year is like the grown up version of back-to-school. We should get a new outfit too.
Sometimes the sun shining on windows in NYC looks just like fire.
It's not enough to love. You have to share that love.
A child is pure beauty, even when dripping with drool.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2010
2009 was...well, a year. There were amazing parts, and terribly challenging parts, and a lot of just plain boring parts. But, and I feel this every January, I'm ready for what's next.
In 2010 I want to continue my work on friendship-strengthening. More brunches, fewer months without seeing anyone but Geoff and my co-workers.
In 2010 I want to refocus my attention on my personal spiritual growth. I definitely let that slip off the plate in 2009 - not nearly enough meditation or self education. I want to get back in touch with the heart of me, so that I can continue my growth into a more complete human.
In 2010 I want to continue to grow in my career. I've realized that company management is something I very much enjoy, and I want to keep on the path to becoming a full manager. I am open and willing and very excited about this journey.
In 2010 I want to get a clearer picture of the plan for my life. Will we go the family route? If so, when? Will we remain city folk, or get a house in a different community? No decisions are ever definite, but we need to more clearly know our wants in order to make them reality.
In 2010 I want to live and laugh and love as fully as possible.
In 2010 I want to continue my work on friendship-strengthening. More brunches, fewer months without seeing anyone but Geoff and my co-workers.
In 2010 I want to refocus my attention on my personal spiritual growth. I definitely let that slip off the plate in 2009 - not nearly enough meditation or self education. I want to get back in touch with the heart of me, so that I can continue my growth into a more complete human.
In 2010 I want to continue to grow in my career. I've realized that company management is something I very much enjoy, and I want to keep on the path to becoming a full manager. I am open and willing and very excited about this journey.
In 2010 I want to get a clearer picture of the plan for my life. Will we go the family route? If so, when? Will we remain city folk, or get a house in a different community? No decisions are ever definite, but we need to more clearly know our wants in order to make them reality.
In 2010 I want to live and laugh and love as fully as possible.
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