A Little Pick-Me-Up

It's been a long week of GODSPELL tech. On days such as today, I like to remind myself of things that make me happy in order to counteract the exhaustion and any frustration I might feel (my voice is tired - I get frustrated when it doesn't do exactly what I want it ta do). Because when I like something, I want everyone to know about it, I shall link and share these things with you.

Alfie Boe singing just about anything. I find this video stunning and charming. Obviously, watch all of his Val Jean stuff as well. Unreal.

Hipster Animals - This tumblr is AMAZING. I have been following it since Day 1, and am addicted to it. Dyna Moe, who also did the art for MAD MEN YOURSELF, started it in March or so. Get into it.

Murder, She Wrote - It streams on Netflix. All of it. Obsessed. Angela Lansbury has been a personal hero of mine for many years. I want to play Mame and Mrs. Lovett so desperately! I wish that JB would occasionally be incorrect, but really, Jessica Fletcher can do no wrong.

WHAT THE BUCK SHOW - Michael Buckley is the greatest of all YouTubers. I'm not really into celebrity gossip, but I love Buck's videos. He is hilarious in every post, and a great Twitter follow as well. I watch him regularly, but if ever I am sad, I absolutely make sure to watch something of his.

My beautiful, darling friend Nikka is going on as Velma Kelly in the Broadway production of CHICAGO in less than a week. That thought pretty much makes me want to explode with happiness.

This pig.

Regina Spektor - She is more wonderful than words can express.

I have recently become a WORDS WITH FRIENDS addict. I'm okay with this. My castmate Michael (with whom I am playing three to five games at any given moment) has informed me that I have a problem. We were playing WORDS WITH FRIENDS with each other on our phones whilst simultaneously playing an actual game of Scrabble with some other castmates last night. Just sayin' here...I don't think I'm the only one with a problem...

Eddie Izzard - Was obsessed. Am obsessed. Don't see this trend stopping any time soon. Many of his shows also stream on Netflix.

My friend Al Silber's delightful blog.

Jeff Buckley's perfect album GRACE.

UCB - Getting to see my brother do improv most Tuesday nights (when I'm in the city, anyway) has been amazingly fun. His team is brilliant, he is ridiculously talented, and I'm glad more people are getting the chance to fall in love with his abilities and appetite. He is the best friend in the world. Also, his dog is adorbs.

ModCloth.com - Dudes, I spend way too much time and moolah on this website. I love it so.

The number of nerds in this current cast I'm working with is off the hook. We're pretty much all Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/Musical Theatre/Coloring Book fanatics. I'm so very much at home.

Coaching - I love teaching. I'm definitely working with some of my castmates once this week is over. People want to learn Scottish and RP and such. Happiness.

The fact that Alan Rickman, Paul Gross, and Nina Arianda are all going to be on Broadway within the next few months makes me crazy happy. Let's just get Mark Rylance and Janet McTeer to stick around for awhile, and I'll be all set.

I'm blessed to count a great number of witty, compassionate, warm, soulful people among my friends. That's also a big stress reliever. I'll put out a tweet or a fb update, send a text to a choice pal or two, and I'll probably be laughing sooner rather than later. Lucky. Blessed. And now, tired. Another long day of rehearsal lies ahead.

Who's Afraid of Vanessa Bell?

Quickie here, as I'm meant to be packing for Krakow (going for only about two days, but I do have to wake up at the disgusting hour of 6am). I may be on vacation, but I still managed to get a spot of acting in! A couple of my friends here wrote a screenplay called BILLY & NESSA, based on the relationship between Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell in their youth and early careers/marriages. They wanted to hear it aloud and in its entirety for the first time, so they recruited a few actor friends (among them, Yours Truly) to do a reading. I got to read Vanessa, along with the occasional nurse and such. So incredibly fun! As I've been doing a lot of readings in the past year, it's only fitting I should do one even when I'm away. :) It was quite good, and as Sarah and Fi stayed with me in New York while they were doing a lot of their research (reading the sisters' letters and the like), it was fitting I should be there the first time they shared it with a group of people.

This morning was also my turning point. Every time I come over to visit, there is an official turning point. What I mean by that is, there is a definite day when I start sounding less American, I can feel my speech rounding out, and musicality swooping in with tremendous force. I start phrasing things differently, and my inflection just goes all kinds of crazy. I love it. Especially since I genuinely don't force it - this transformation occurs because my ear automatically starts adjusting and adapting to what I'm hearing. I just sit back and listen for enjoyment's sake more than anything. A much more delightful and less dramatic version of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.