A look into what’s current and on the horizon. Music, acting, writing and personal likings.
What’s coming up?
June was an extraordinary month of music and performing. We finished our run of L’amant anonyme on June 21st at the Baruch Performing Arts Center.
On June 29th, I joined St. John’s Lutheran Church at Saint Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue for a meaningful day of services. We sang for their Solemn Eucharist (leaflet) and Festal & Benediction Evensong (leaflet).
Acting
Uta Hagen, Respect for Acting.
I couldn’t recommend this book enough for the performing artist. Hagen’s process for the actor has been transformational in the way I view my characters and humanity. Her understanding for how to express and present the human experience is transcendent.
“We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. ‘Be like one of us!’ ‘Don’t put on airs.’ ‘Don’t be so fancy!’ It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary and leads you to the mediocre. This insistence on conformity, on being like everyone else often prevents us, for instance, from potentially training something as practical as our speech.”
Music
I’m currently deep into the world of Kurt Weill. Particularly, The Threepenny Opera. One of my favorite performers of all time is Beatrice Arthur, and her performance in the show is brilliant to me. I derive incredible inspiration from artists of the past. I enjoy referencing their artistic expression as I live and express in the 21st century.