It is now two weeks before the closing of Manipulation, and there is a slight pang in my heart. This pang always happens when a closing is near. As I am trying to live in the moment, day by day, I still cannot hold back my sadness each time I am about to end a role in a play. I'm also exhausted from performing 8 shows a week, but this is natural, after beginning this role since April 4th. Our show is only 1 hour and 8 minutes long, but somehow the few emotional moments I have with my "stage" daughter has taken a toll. I feel drained. I could probably do this for another 3 months, maybe more, but you never know. Most people have difficult, tedious, and tiresome jobs. But actors have to literally pull their insides out, and pour their souls into another persona. I don't think most people do this on a daily basis. And I am not saying that this is so much more important than other difficult jobs. All I am saying is that it can be exhausting and not as glamorous as some people would perceive. On the other hand, I have been meditating on how fortunate I have been this past Spring/Summer to be working my craft and getting paid for it! A craft I still have much respect for.
I am amazed that I am doing a new intriguing piece for Off-Broadway in the sweet little theatre, The Cherry Lane, in the heart of the West Village where much change has occurred but still has remained a very historical and fascinating area.
In the last weeks, Manipulation was seen by some of my dearest friends. Richard Gere, his lovely wife, Carey Lowell, and Annabella Sciorra, fresh out Broadway's The Mother Fucker with the Hat, came on the same night! Judy Dickerson, vocal coach to the stars, now working with Colin Farrell on his new movie, came to see my show all the way from Toronto. She and I graduated from Southern Methodist University's Graduate school back in the 80's. Two of my college classmates from the University of Miami theatre school came, Terri and Lynn. We roamed the West Village and ended up at the White Horse Tavern, where Dylan drank his final drinks before dying in St. Vincent's Hospital, which sadly is now closed.
Of course, I've had relatives see the show. "Snookie" Rosemarie, my long lost cousin, came with her family from Atlantic City. I took them to the Highline in the Meat Packing district. The Highline is a real urban wonder. A pristine Green highlight in lower Manhattan. A must see!!!
All in all, this last Spring/Summer has been most eventful and wonderful. I have, once again, grown to love where I live, even though I have to guide curious tourists to where "Carrie's" character from Sex and the City, stoop is, and where the famous "Magnolia" cupcakes are! Yes, there are changes. There are now Uber shops, such as Stella McCartney, Jeffreys, Marc Jacobs galore, and the ultimate hotel boutiques, the Gansevoort and the Standard.
But I am still holding on to my locals, such as Bonboniere, Bonsignor, and Pepe Verde, my favorite eating spots, and lest not forget, Annilore, my favorite clothing line on Hudson between Jane and 12th Streets. And there are Incentra and Abingdon Sq., two wonderful bed and breakfast hotels still doing great business on 8th Ave. between Jane and 12th Streets as well.
I have done Broadway shows in Times Sq., and of course this is the ultimate dream of all actors, but I am loving doing this little Off-Broadway show in the West Village, where the streets interweave and have names, such as Horatio, Perry, Bedford, and the confusing, Little West 12th! The entire experience has brought me back to the simplicity of what an actor's life is, but in such an insightful way. I think I love Acting again!
P.S. Got to see President Obama drive by in his motorcade right on the street where I live and wave to him as he was about to arrive at Harvey Weinstein's home for a fundraiser on August 11th. Well, he didn't just wave to me, but it felt like it. I then had to rush off to do my 8 o'clock show. What a summer its been!!!