Is it hot in here or is it just the global warming?

Whoa. We’re certainly having a pretty mild winter here in the northeast – apparently last month was the hottest January on record for the world overall. What’s the temperature been like in your neck of the woods?

Shelter Sundays
Despite the weird weather, I’m continuing to make my way every Sunday night to Shelter Sundays, my theatre company’s weekly workshop where actors, writers, and directors challenge themselves and each other to refine their respective crafts. If you’re in New York and would like to join us, visit www.theshelternyc.org for more info – your first visit is free!

Bhi Bhiman is Awesome!
If you’re looking for some new and fun music to add to your playlist, check out Bhi Bhiman. I just love his voice, and some of his lyrics are pretty hilarious. He’s featured on Spotify, if you’re on that awesome music service; you can also listen to his album on Rdio - signup is free.

Cheers!

Maybe the Mayans were right? Guess we’ll find out soon enough…

Greetings from sunny California, where Santa (wearing huaraches and board shorts) has come and gone, which means it’s time for new year’s resolutions! This year, I’ve decided to be more me: I’m going to let my authentic self shine through more in my career, craft, and personal life. That’s why I’m calling it “2012: The Olivia-en-ing!” (it’s even got its own theme song) – what’s your theme for 2012?

Fairy Tale Reviews
In case you missed it, I directed a play that was part of The Shelter‘s Fairy Tale, which got great reviews and was Critic’s Pick in Backstage. Here’s one of my favorite press quotes, from Theatre is Easy:

The Shelter is to be applauded for the work it’s doing — developing new theatre and building creative relationships at a time when small theatre companies are dropping like flies. Its approach to making theatre is both practical and optimistic.

The Actors Fund Channel
And if you’re looking for some inspiration or guidance to help you stick to those new year’s resolutions (!), check out The Actors Fund channel on YouTube – they’ve got a bunch of great videos, podcasts and interviews featuring lots of great info and cool people like Joel Grey, Al Pacino and Julia Murney: http://www.youtube.com/actorsfundorg

Here’s to a happy new year!

So I’m definitely feeling the holiday spirit coming on, like a nice hot cup of apple cider, warming me up from the inside… Can’t wait to get back to California and share these warm fuzzies with my friends and family. What are your plans for the holidays?

Fairy Tale
Life is feeling especially happily-ever-after right now, because my show opens this weekend! I directed Terror on Haxos 9, one of five original plays being performed as part of The Shelter‘s Fairy Tale at the 45th Street Theatre, tonight through December 11th. Fairy Tale features five classic fairy tales re-imagined in a grown-up world; for tickets & info, visit www.theshelternyc.org.

Gimme Shelter
Check out this awesome little video by The Shelter! The piece features an inspirational poem, performed by several Shelter members (including me!): www.indiegogo.com/theshelternyc

Happy Holidays… see you in the New Year!

“Ever Present Shelter” by Michael Kingsbaker, performed by members of The Shelter. View again and show your support at http://indiegogo.com/theshelternyc

Hooray! I’m directing a play that will be performed as part of Fairy Tale, an evening of five original plays inspired by classic fairy tales, written and produced by The Shelter. The show runs from December 1st through December 11th at the 45th Street Theatre. Tickets & info here.

If you’re unable to attend a performance, please consider donating to the company; your tax-deductible donation will directly support The Shelter’s 2011-12 season, including the world premiere of Fairy Tale.

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I’ve already got the Butterball Hot Line on speed dial…

My friend Erica McLaughlin has a great idea: why not create a shared office space for performing artists? I'm excited to help her make this happen! Go to www.indiegogo.com/workofyourart for info on how you can help.

That’s right, you’re invited to a party! It’s the first official fundraiser for The Shelter‘s next production, Fairy Tale, coming up in December (details below).

The Shelter Party @ Lobo

Monday, November 7th at 7pm
218 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY
$10 at the door gets you free appetizers (while they last!) and drink specials.
Specials include $6 margaritas, and if you like margaritas, you’ll LOVE Lobo margaritas!
As a special bonus, we’ll be reading three hilarious, original Shelter shorts guaranteed to please.

The Shelter Presents: Fairy Tale

Five short plays, each inspired by the classic fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Washington Irving and Charles Perrault. I’m directing Jonathan Ashley’s Terror on Haxos 9, inspired by the Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel.

The 45th Street Theatre
December 1 – 11, 2011
Buy Tickets

Cheers,

If you’re anywhere near New York City this weekend, you should totally come to this party TONIGHT. It is going to be EPIC:

The Shelter presents
MAD LIBS Party!
When: TONIGHT, October 1, 9pm until ????
Where: Whiskey River, 575 2nd Avenue between 31st and 32nd Streets

$10 donation at the door gets you happy hour prices until 1am. And a buck gets you a MAD LIBS sheet. Yes, MAD LIBS! Best entries win prizes. Yes, prizes! Good prizes.

It will be a ______ (expletive) ______ (adjective) night!

Fall-ing Back
I’m so excited that fall is finally here – my favorite season! Especially because I get to feed my ravenous TV addiction with new episodes of my favorite shows: some of my faves include 30 Rock, Boardwalk Empire, House and Parks & Recreation. What are yours?

Gimme Shelter
I’m pleased to announce that I will again be directing a one-act in The Shelter‘s upcoming fairy tale-themed show this December. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to work with such a wonderfully innovative company! Watch this space for more details…

Going to the Store
I recommend multiple viewings:

via Videogum

Murderous Baby Girl
Cuter than Rick Perry. But still pretty scary!

via Just Capshunz

Organizational Charts
Today’s business lesson.

via Seth Godin

Puppy Licking Cat
Best comment: “look all the fucks the cat gives”

via Videogum

Big Money
This is just a good game. Go play it! See what kind of high score you can get. I got up to $31,000 once. Because I am awesome.

Anastasia (1956)

Yul Brynner is an opportunistic Russian businessman looking for an impostor who can pass as the Grand Duchess Anastasia, and Ingrid Bergman is the mysterious lady who happens to fit the part. In fact, she fits so well she may actually BE the real Anastasia! But nobody knows for sure, because she’s also crazy! But Brynner doesn’t seem to care! And neither do we really, because after a while all we really care about is OMG ARE THEY GOING TO GET TOGETHER OR WHAT??? It’s just like that other movie FROM THE SAME YEAR, where Yul Brynner shares the screen with a pretty white lady and they do a waltz loaded with all kinds of sexual tension! (Anastasia has a tension-filled waltz scene too. All together now: “One-two-three! One-two-three! Yul-Brynner-is-hot!”)

Also, Yul croons and plays the guitar in this one. Which is hot.

“I am totally shredding right now.” – Yul Brynner

Silk Stockings (1957)

This is a musical remake of Ninotchka, which I have never seen (but it’s totally on my list!), with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Fred Astaire, in one of his last starring roles in a movie musical, plays opposite Cyd Charisse (she of the long legs). And okay, so they may not be the best at acting and singing, but BOY, can they dance! Everything that is lacking in their scenes and songs together (chemistry, human connection, storytelling) suddenly comes out in their dancing. It’s like a kind of dance porn: you just want to fast-forward through all the “scenes” and skip the weak little  “plot” so you can get to some hot hoofing action!

Some of my favorite dance-porn from this movie: Charisse does the best dance about lingerie ever (btw, that is totally how I get dressed every morning), and Astaire and Janis Paige get funky on a boardroom table (can I please have that green dress she’s wearing? and those shoes too). But the most interesting sequence is a number that was added specifically for Astaire: “The Ritz Roll and Rock”, in which our man Fred does a little send-up of the then-emerging rock-and-roll genre, and symbolically bids farewell to movie musicals by smashing his iconic top hat at the end.

Watch the whole darn thing, why don’t you (and keep in mind HE WAS IN HIS LATE FIFTIES when he made this):

Eat your heart out, Elvis.

Oh, and by the way, as with all the films in a previous Classic Movie Club post, both of these movies ALSO took place (for the most part) in a mythical place called “Paris” where nobody speaks French and everyone talks with either an American or a British accent. Good job, Hollywood!

So what other classic movies do you think I should watch? Which are not set in Paris? Or “Paris”?

September is National Preparedness Month! Hurricane season isn't over yet. Visit www.ready.gov for lots of great info.

This is the second issue of my “e-zine”, a series of brief periodic updates that I send out to keep in touch with people I like. If you’d like to receive these updates in your very own inbox, you can sign up here! Okay? Cool.

What’s next, Mother Nature? A tsunami in Kansas??

So I thought I was done with earthquakes when I left California, and after living through Hurricane Gloria in Boston, I thought I was done with those too… but I guess not! Anyway, I survived the crazy natural phenomena here in New York just fine this past week. How did you fare?

I’ve spent the summer focusing on professional development, taking classes with image consultant Sam Christensen, and also with Dallas Travers, the Actor’s Advocate. I’m feeling much more confident about my “business” skills as an actor, and ready to dive back in for the fall season!

Stay dry!