90 Seconds with Celine or A Dream Comes True

90 seconds with Celine
or
A Dream Come True.


Oh What the hell does it matter what the title is...this blog is BOTH of those things.

It just occurred to me, a year and four months later that I never really publicly shared the in-depth, play by play moments of when I had my Celine Dion private meet and greet.  WTF Feola?!

This is certainly a memory that I don't mind reliving - but I figure I better put it in writing if I ever DO start to forget in my old age.

It's no secret - old friends and new friends that are reading this - I've been a passionately loyal Celine Dion fan for more than half of my life.  From that moment when I was dancing with a gal named Lindsay at the Sadie Hawkins dance in middle school and heard the first bar of It's All Coming Back to Me Now - I was hooked.

It had been the first time in my life that I was truly moved by a voice, and lyrics, and music, and the (7 minute) story...It was the combination of the passion behind the storytelling and this voice that did me in.

That night, I recall this conversation with my mom...

Mom:  How was the dance?
Me: Good!  MOM!  I heard this song, that was something like this (humming) and it's this woman and her voice is amazing and its something about Gone With The Wind and something about coming back to me now!
Mom:....

Well, it went something like that.  Someone in the conversation casually goes, "Thats Celine Dion.." That christmas I got the Falling Into You album.  From 13 years old and on through high school I grew up listening to each album that came out and watched each appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show and Oprah.  I remember cheering her on in my living room at my moms house for every award show and every acceptance speech -  Still, 18 years later, a dedicated fan. (I got less crazy as I got older...)

Fast forward to Summer 2013 during my time as Company Manager on Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812.  A member of the band told me he plays the Cello in Celine Dion's orchestra in Vegas, after I told him I was going to Vegas to celebrate my 30th.  I then revealed that I will be attending her final show of the year.  After a brief chat, he casually says, "...and if you want maybe we can go downstairs and say hi to Celine..." *gulp* "Sure, that'd be cool" I nonchalantly say.

Goes to show you that there are amazing people in the world.  The funny thing is, he never knew that I was even a fan - this happen-by-chance moment ended up being a moment of fate.  The stars were aligned.

He went on to further say we may be able to take part in a back stage tour of the set, in addition to a *gulp* meet and greet!  Two weeks before our trip to Vegas, I got an email from my friend.

I find myself disappointed when I couldn't find the actual email, but it went something like this:

Jeff - looking forward to seeing you in vegas.  I hate to say that someone ruined the backstage tour for us and we're no longer able to give them...

Immediate thought: F$#K

However, I was able to set up a meet and greet for you and your mom at 7:15.  You'll get your picture taken with her and get to say a few words. 

All I remember was calling my mom pretty overwhelmed with emotion telling her this good news.  My thirtieth birthday was going to consist of my amazing mother, my one in a million brother, and my mental cousin Anthony (sorry Ant) and we were going to be in Las Vegas and I will be meeting my idol and seeing her show the night I turn 30.  Sounds good.

The actual experience of standing in front of her will never be fully explainable.

The whole trip was amazing - the sun, the swimming, the night life - amazing.  The process of getting dressed, and getting in the cab, and driving to The Colosseum all happened so fast.  I remember walking through the casino, to the entrance and seeing the happy face of my friend that set this all up.  It was a monumental moment in my life - I had my new friend, my mom, Ryan, Anthony and Bethany and Kelly were there too - i was bursting with excitement.

We were led through an exit door, to another door, that led to a staircase - I remember begin amazing how everything went from glamor to white cinder blocks and iron staircases.  My friend ended up taking us to the dressing rooms and the administrative offices where he introduced us to Rene's son and another family member.  Talk about a fancy waiting room, with some comfy sofas!  Gorgeous!

Now, at this point, it's 7:22 - her show starts at 7:30, and I hear, "OK, you two are first."

This was it - they put us in another room with a backdrop and a camera man.  There was a door open to my far left that I was SURE Celine Dion would walk through any minute.  My mom saw every ounce of my nervous and excited energy - any minute now - now, I'm starting to sweat - and I hear, "Ok, she's coming" from some girl on a walkie talkie - and you felt the energy of the room just SHIFT!

The moment I heard the clicking of high heels on a marble floor I couldn't believe she was about to walk through that door.  And then...she did.  I remember gasping like a big ole queen and starring at her, in her beautiful red ensemble, talking to my mom.

"Hi mom" Celine says, and shakes my moms hand.  I remember looking at my mom and seeing her face so genuine and awestruck when she said to Celine, "You look beautiful" in which Celine responds, "So do you"!

She makes her way to me and I just couldn't believe it.

She is shaking my hand while I'm just gushing to her - trying to fit almost 18 years worth of feelings into 90 seconds.  I go on and on about how she's inspired me and how I was a fan before My Heart Will Go On, and saying how its a dream to celebrate my 30th birthday with her - and she tilts her head to the side, clearly touched by my nuttiness, and says a little "awww, how sweet" and then a "Happy Birthday" and we took a picture.  I don't think I'll ever forget the way her clothing felt - such a weird thing to remember right? I shook her hand again after the photo, cupping our handshake with my other hand, probably borderline not wanting to let go, and overcome with emotion, I breakdown a little, and said something like "This is a dream come true".

No big deal, just 90 seconds with Celine.

Of course the show was amazing - just everything I could have hoped for and more.

I share this story not to brag, but to put a good thing out in the universe.  Good things can happen, and there are good people out there. Dreams come true all the time - I think never losing hope and never giving up is the key.  I always knew that I would get to meet Celine.  I always had a feeling. I just had no idea it would happen so early in my life. Having passion and drive helps too.  Go for it people!

So, yeah...thats my Celine story.   Anytime I am down or sad I know that I can always look back on this memory and a smile will wash away anything bringing me down.  That's a powerful memory.

Why I love If/Then.

WHY I LOVE IF/THEN. 

As many of you know, I'm going through this Idina Menzel / If/Then obsession.  

What if? What if?
What if you wonder?
What if? What if?

One of life's biggest questions.  

I recently read a disturbing article about a child of 8 years old that lost his life because he played with dolls.  The little angel's mother and her monster boyfriend tourtured and ultimately killed the child.    I don't know if there is more to this story, but I wish for a not very pleasant life for the mother and her boyfriend.  When I was a kid, I was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz and I played with all the OZ dolls, figurines, and even dressed up as the wicked witch several times for Halloween.  Unlike this unforuntate 8 year old, I was allowed to be myself, and I was allowed to develop my own personality and become the person that I'm shaping up to be today.  I wonder though, what if I wasn't allowed to play with dolls?  What if I played with dump trucks and wrestling?  

See each choice you make as kind of a loss.
Each turn that you take
and each coin that you toss.
You lose all the choices
you don't get to make.
You wonder about
all the turns you don't take.

Don't think for a second that I spend TOO much time thinking about all of the "What Ifs" and the turns I didn't take because the past is something that I will not dwell on...

I'm never going back...that past is in the past. 

Whoops.  Wrong show.  My bad.  

It's interesting though - the choices we make and the paths we take, and the "how would things have been different had THIS happened instead" are all interesting subjects to tackle and to think about.  This is why I think If/Then is groundbreaking. It's fresh, it's forward thinking and I LOVE it! I love that it opens the eyes and minds of audience members and makes them feel something.  

The multi-layered characters and their relationships intrigue me and they move me each time.  It doesn't matter who - whether Lucas and David, or Kate and Anne, or Elizabeth and Josh - they are all meaningful and played with such depth and realness.  

We've made amazing progress with marriage equality and "being gay" is not as taboo is it was maybe 20 years or so ago and I love that If/Then introduces us to gay and lesbian relationships.  I'm sure many of the audience members are husbands or fathers there to see Idina with their wives or daughters and it's a good feeling to know, that that straight father, or that conservative family man is being shows that two men wanting a child is normal.  Or two women having marital problems, just as straight couples do, is normal.  It is indeed the new normal.  

The story follows Elizabeth after she leaves her life and her ex husband back west to "start her life new" and it shows us the story of two different paths that all start with simple choices, that are often hard to make.  One of the lines that I love, that I so relate to is passionately sung out by Idina in You Learn to Live Without:

You learn to hold your life inside you and lever let it out.  

I'm writing this blog, and deciding to share stories with you because...I don't want to hold my life inside me.  And I feel like I am holding more and more in. So blogger and all of you are my new therapists!  

So thanks to Brian Yorkey for your beautiful, inspiring words and thank you Tom Kitt for your amazing, touching, heartfelt music.  

And thank you mom for allowing me to be me and for supporting my love of music and theater and for just being effing amazing. 

Ok, now go listen to IF/THEN. 

Why I still don’t regret my degree in Theatre. Or Why Theatre people are AWESOME!

Why I still don’t regret my degree in Theatre.

Or

Why Theatre people are AWESOME!

So, I was jamming out to some showtunes as I got off the A train at 44^th Street.  It was one of those days where all you need is a little NEXT TO NORMAL or some WICKED and you do that power talk thing and imagine that you’re in a movie walking up the street (a la Natalie Portman in CLOSER) except with a kickass soundtrack blaring behind you.  Anyone ever do that?  Just me?  Oh….

*cricket…cricket*

ANYWAYS.  I’m always on the look out for new things to write about, and this particular day, I got off the train at 44^th and realized I was 35 minutes early to the job at the theater.  And then I got to thinkin’, and I came to the realization that my punctual quality came from being a theater major, because ya JUST weren’t late to rehearsal…and Tech?  FORGET IT.

So, I was always in a “be on time/early” mode.  And then it hit me.  My training program trained me not just for theater…but, for the real world. 

Here are a few more reasons why theatre people are the best to have around, also a few reasons why being a theatre major was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made:

1.     Always on time (see above).  I realize that we’re not ALL on time...but you know. 

2.     Theatre people, especially those pursuing a career in theater while working a day job, are resilient.  The amount of rejection that we get, whether your path is acting, singing, producing or design, we get rejected…A LOT.  Its always, ‘I didn’t get this’, ‘I would have been perfect for that…’ ect.  I’m guilty at this, too.  But we always ALWAYS manage to accept the fact that ‘maybe that opportunity wasn’t meant to be because something better is coming up’ and brush off, and move on.   After of course we lose a day or two by staying home and eating Chinese food and watching Sex and the City reruns – or maybe that’s just me…

3.     We know what its like to work hard.  We took theatre classes, AND other classes, AND went to rehearsal, AND worked on theater projects AFTER rehearsal into the night, AND got up for our 9am History of Theatre Architecture and Design class (shout out to Rebs).  We love what we do.  We work VERY hard.  It’s in our blood.  We can’t help it. Even at our day jobs – we work hard.  We need the money, we know you make more money by working harder…we work hard indeed.   Nothing is really ever handed to anyone in this business – there are a select few that are more blessed than others – meaning they come from money and don’t have to worry about a day job, but since nothing is ever handed to us, we have to work all that much more harder.  And furthermore – we work hard for minimal amounts of money, and the final product is payment enough.

4.     We love what we do – I mean, we just do.  We are some of the most devoted and committed people that ever existed.   When we commit to something -  it is done at its upmost highest quality, and it was done with love and passion.  The money factor was something that didn’t phase us in college – we didn’t care that we may be looking at weeks of unemployment, we didn’t care about taking out that extra Sallie Mae loan (damn her) so we could finish our degree.  We find a way to help out a friend for a reading, or a workshop, we take time to act in a one act just because we love it.  We know that everything else will fall into place and that it will ‘be fine.’ 

5.     We work hard.  We party hard.  Well…maybe in our younger days.  Theatre people understand the work load.  We understand that its hard work – we also understand opening night, closing night, and Feola Fridays (for all you SRU peeps).  Therefore – we know how to kick back, relax, and have a really fun time….(that may or may not end up with an apartment full of people singing La Vie Boheme.   For the most part, in my college days, the partying was simply fun and clean times with rum and coke – when I moved to New York City, I noticed that the partying was a little ‘harder’ and would immediately withdraw myself from those types of crowds – see how smart theater people are! J

6.      When you move to New York City, all you hear about is how hard it is and how expensive it is and blah blah blah.  As a new New Yorker I didn’t have a knowledge of where all the affordable places to eat were, or where the free events are.  Well, having been in NYC for (going on) six years, I can probably take you to breakfast, lunch, AND dinner, and a few events including Broadway in the Park, some museums, all for under $50 bucks in a day.  Yes.  We New York theater know how to have a GREAT time on a budget.  We have to.  Even at that – in college, we learned how to eat and live on a budget because some of us had to live on a budget and manage it ourselves.  But New York Theater people know where the $3.00 falafels are, we know where the $3 happy hour drinks are, we know what bars will show you the BEST time (Maries Crisis), we know when museums have donation day (pay what you want upon entrance as opposed to the set $25 fee). 

7.     New York actors know how to make it work.  They can do a catering gig, get a 2 day gig doing extra work, and babysit a few nights a week and then be able to take time off and audition for 2-3 weeks straight.  Some know how to get a big commercial and can live off that for 3-4 months straight.  Theatre people will always be able to hook you up with a Temp Agency, with a catering gig, or will be able to refer you to a babysitting gig, or a part time job as a server.  We’re masters of the temp gig and can probably get you something if you ever needed it.  Sharing the knowledge is powerful. 

8.     Fun.  We are fun.  In the work place, at rehearsal, during tech, in interviews…we are fun, happy people.  Although, it seems the longer you live in New York City the easier it is to be bitter and miserable and negative – I have to say, I feel blessed that I’m not there yet.  And I hope never to be. 

9.     We are incredible problem solvers.  From that one moment when I was working an Off-Broadway gala and realized my slacks were way too long – all I needed was some assistance and some gaff tape and I had perfect pants.  We are good at all kinds of problem solving – which makes us really good at any job that we want to be good at.  When I first started as a company manager, I was sort of surprised at myself at how good I was at putting out fires – and then when my superiors also noticed, that was a “aha moment” for me – I was like, wow…I’m good at problem solving.  A GREAT skill to have.  Not being afraid to make decisions – stems from my training in acting (Thanks David and Laura!)

10.  Finally – why theatre people are wonderful is because we are so willing to help each other and be supportive.  We are incredible team players – we want to help each other succeed.   When you’re in college, that’s really the only way to succeed – to support one another.  I’ve remained true to that in New York City, and its taken me longer to be successful (however, success is a rolling thing…it just doesn’t ‘happen’).  New York actors tend to more of a “push you in front of a bus” attitude rather than a “let me help you meet an agent” attitude – and most of the time, the former are the types that get ahead further.  But I’m a ‘stand on my principles’ kind of guy, and no matter how long success takes, I’ve decided to take the kinder, helpful, supportive path.  Again, that stems back to my college days training. 

So basically – all of my friends should be employed because we are incredible! J

The Best Mama Rose is...?

Hi Friends:

My restless nights tend to be spent on YouTube watching old Celine interviews or how Mariah Carey's voice has been getting worse and worse - I love to see things progressing over time.  I originally wanted to blog about which was my favorite Mama Rose - but then I thought it would be fun to see how Gypsy productions progressed.   What do you think?  What ARE your favorites?

Hello friends!!!

So, funny story - I wrote a blog a few days ago that I've neen wanting to post on here, but simply saved it on my laptop with no intentions of sharing it.

UNTIL TODAY. 

When I found this picture on facebook -

Here's what I had to say: 

Don’t be an a**hole.

I’m trying to be a little more brave when talking about issues and things that irritate me, things that I don’t agree with and things that I’m passionate about.   I tend to worry about what others, family and friends, will think of me, or how their opinion will change of me by me saying and expressing some of the things that I want to express.  This will come to an end as I only get one shot at being the fullest, best me possible.  So if there’s something I want to talk about – you can be sure it’ll be here.  :)

I’ve been getting a lot of incredibly fabulous compliments, as of late, in regards to my good manner, politeness, my positivity, and my niceness.  Sometimes it is really difficult to accept these compliments because I cannot imagine being any other way - so these amazing compliments, I feel, are kind of undeserved because being positive, nice and polite comes SO easy to me.  Sure, I have to work to be that, but its easy fun work.   I make a conscious effort to be all of these, and I wake up daily with two goals: 

Put positive energy out there and don’t be an asshole. 

I took a seminar, maybe a year or so ago, on commercial producing and someone asked one of the producers, “What advice do you have for aspiring theatre producers?” and the producer said, “I was at an event where someone asked Sutton Foster for advice on working professionally in New York City, and she said ‘…just don’t be an asshole.’”  The point of this was the whole idea of one’s reputation and how you treat one person, whether good or bad, will be remembered and it will effect the way you are perceived by others, and that in turn turns into some form of success. 

For some reason, this resonated with me so deeply. 

I’m trying to make for a positive blog, but sorry folks, it’s about to get real negative – Ready.  Set.  Go. 

This blog isn’t me preaching on being kind – that’s not what I’m doing.  Some people are kind and some are assholes – that’s just the way it is.  This is my complaint as to why nice people are still finishing last.  I recently had drinks with a dear friend, and we were talking about how we tend to, at time, fall for assholes.  

And it lead to this not so good thought…. should we sacrifice our good nature in order to be romantically, or even professionally,  appealing to others? 

Of course my instincts tell me no and to maintain this way and blah blah blah and love will find you and blah blah blah, but I can’t help but think, Was Sutton Foster wrong?  Is the way to get what you want maybe and the way for people to respect you is that you SHOULDN’T be kind and sweet and all that mushy stuff?  Is all of that a turn off?  Is it a sign of weakness? 

There are times professionally, I know when I need to be tough and stern – never mean.  Never name-calling.  Never belittling others.  Tough is one thing.  I feel like I can be that, but yet, once I’m anything other than sweet its like I shock people.  Even when I’m sad about something, people tend to see this in me and ask me what is wrong and that is a lot of pressure on someone – to always be smiling and happy.  It’s hard. 

I guess my issue is really one of frustration in finding one self.   It’s an issue of – which is the real you?   And which YOU should you display at certain times.  I’m a totally real person, so I honestly just want to be me 24/7. 

I’ve heard every excuse in the WORLD as to why I wasn’t right for someone.  Here are just a few:

Your personality is too big.

You’re too much to handle.

You’re WAY too nice.

You’re WAY too aggressive.

You’re being bratty.

It’s like – well…DUH!  Sure I’m all of these things – but why is it a bad thing?

Another thought – and I guess I’ve found the answer – it is – being you isn’t the problem, it’s finding someone to appreciate and adore all of the things that make you YOU.  Right?  Just getting there is the hard part – but I guess that’s the journey. 

Without any Fear

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!


2011 is over.  Sitting here in my home, knowing that I am here with my mother and my brother is such a blessing.  I am one of the luckest guys I know.  I get to be sitting here in my beautiful home decked out for the holidays and then in a week or so, I get to be in my awesome Brooklyn apartment.


I do this at the end of every year - I get sentimental and I blog, and in all honesty - I blog the same thing - .....And a happy new year.  Lets hope its a good one - without any fear.


What powerful words.


Wishing everyone a beautiful 2012 with good health, happiness, success, and prosperity in careers and relationships.


So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young


A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now... 

An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin

I've recently discovered something.

I have this awesome opportunity to blog and share how I feel about what shows I experience around NYC and I NEVER blog about it. 


Well that changes now.  


If you follow me on twitter or keep up to date on my facebook page, you might notice that I either give something a "GO SEE THIS" or a "DONT SEE THIS" with nothing really to support how I feel.  So, here we go.  My first review!  :-)


This past week, I had the distinct opportunity to see the final dress of this one of a kind show.  Being a musical theatre fan, I have a huge respect for both of these incredible artists.  Shamefully, I have to admit - prior to my living in New York City, I don't think I've owned or really listened to either of these artists, but still knowing who they were.  I've actually met Mandy a few times.  I was an intern at Classic Stage Company when Mandy graced the stage with his commanding Prospero in The Tempest.  After that, I knew that Mandy Patinkin was a name that I needed to know and continued to educate myself.  


Had I not been invited to this final dress, I don't think I would have purchased tickets to attend this show.  I'd rather watch a play or a musical, and a concert type is not really my thing - or so I thought.  


From the moment Patti and Mandy stepped on stage, from the moment the lights came up on the two of them, from the moment the audience erupted into applause and tears, I knew that I was about to be taken on the ride of my life. 


They share the stage with such grace and elegance and there is a respect that they each have for each other, is so obvious to us all.  Both performers remain equal and neither upstages the other, but rather they enhance each other and compliment each other like no other duet out there.  


SPOILER: I will not give many things away, but I will say one thing.  Mandy and Patti - when you think of these two names, you think of Evita.  Songs from Evita seemed to be the obvious thing to do, so I assumed that they would NOT do anything from the show.  I am new to the Broadway community.  I was not around in 1980.  I've never heard Patti LuPone sing anything from Evita.  Let me tell you - from the moment Patti stood in that spotlight, lifted her arms as if she was addressing the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada, and began to sing:

It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you

I was sitting there, tears pouring from my eyes, and almost shaking.  This is why I believe in and LOVE the POWER of live theatre.  One human being, 20 feet away, was physically altering my current state.


That is power.


This show is truly a gift from the Broadway Community.  A gift, to see these two dynamite performers unite and bask in each other's talent.


GO SEE IT!


:-)

http://www.pattiandmandyonbroadway.com/