BWW Blog: Well, Hello Week 2

Hello Broadwayworld.com, Its me, Lea. Another week, another blog and I survived another round of classes. It means having to get good grades, rehearse and hopefully survive this semester without passing out.

Monday, I had visual storytelling where I had to show raw footage that I shot of people doing activity. The hardest part is going to be interviewing classmates and other people that are not related or friends and this is to be done in two weeks. To me, its terrifying because I'm shy when I talk to new people. I don't want to make them feel weird about the situation and I don't want them to think of me as weird. The big questions I have are how am I going to do this? Who can I interview? What can I ask without sounding absurd?

My Asian performing arts class had us look at posture in Balinese dancing for males and females. We were told to pick an animal and describe why we picked this animal. Then we had to choreograph movements that are based around that animal's description and traits. I chose a butterfly and with help from classmates I was able to show how a butterfly is shown as a free, light and peaceful creature. These are traits I did not think of at the time. I'm more literal and I thought it was going to be hard but it turned out to be nice seeing my classmates showed their pieces.

For contemporary theatre class, we had to read Fences by August Wilson. For anyone reading this blog who is taking theatre classes, there is a good chance you will encounter August Wilson's work. I have encountered two of his works in my lifetime either in English class or drama class or finding them on my own leisure time. I have read Joe Turner's Come and Gone and The Piano Lesson. I knew August Wilson was a great playwright. I just never understood why. The minute I starting getting into Fences, I understood the power of words in Mr. Wilson's work as a playwright and his ability to create characters like Troy in Fences. The class got asked if we thought the character of Troy was an evil person or was there something more. We got to watch clips of the last Broadway revival with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in their Tony winning roles as well as the film version. We also watched a clip from the original production with a very young James Earl Jones (or in my words a very young Darth Vader or Mufassa).

For Middletown, I enjoy getting to see my cast members. Again, I have a big smile from laughing. That is what I love about being part of a show: its all a big family and you are creating something together. Our poster is finally out which means its almost close to opening night. I got to the point of memorizing my lines. I feel like I know my lines but I brought my script with me and tried not to look at the script. I definitely want to get my lines memorized perfectly before our tech runs and opening night. Now it is time for rehearsal every night, getting my lines memorized and bringing my homework so I can get them done in between breaks.

Just because I'm in rehearsal, it does not mean I have to lose everything else. The play is first priority. I just have to schedule my time to see friends and do homework. Valentine's Day is coming up. I do not know if I have rehearsal on that day so I thought why not celebrate a little early with my own valentine: my boyfriend of almost three years. We decided to make it simple due to my schedule and the club fair which was also on that day. We went to have pizza at Gino's which is across the street from campus and we finished up "Zootopia" a movie that I watched half way in the past. I gave him a cute Valentine's day glass filled with Hershey Kisses. Thank goodness, I have wonderful support from a guy like him who was happy to push up our Valentine's day celebration by a few days.

Speaking of Club Fair, the club I am a part just had its first General Board Meeting or GBM. I'm a part of the Filipino club on campus called F.L.I.G.H.T. (that stands for Filipinos Learning to Instill Growth, Honor and Tradition). Of course we have club day, and our events include FLIGHT to the Stars (a talent show) to look forward to.

Sunday was a big day! I was in Manhattan on a rainy day, but that was not stopping me. My mom and I went to this restaurant called An'nam which serves Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine to have lunch and also meet up with mom's cousin. This place is a favorite spot for my parents and I when we are in the city. If you are in New York go to them on 48th street between 7th and 8th avenues (or the way I tell it, across from Springsteen and next door to Bronx Tale) This place makes one of the best scallion pancakes and pan-fried noodles. I would have taken a picture but as soon as it comes, we dig in. Vietnamese restaurants are more known for their porkchops. My mom says this place makes the best porkchops. I'm not a porkchop eater but take my mom's word for it.

Afterwards, I took a walk to the Shubert Theater to go see a play that was my Christmas gift: Hello, Dolly! I have no words to describe it other than amazing. I went in there fresh but I only knew one song which was "Elegance". Bernadette Peters (who I still remember as Lily in the film version of Annie and playing Leigh Conroy in "Smash") was spectacular. An image that I adore is that of Dolly Levi coming down the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens in the famous red dress and big headdress. Just seeing Bernadette come down those stairs getting thunderous applause is like seeing a treasured moment in time. Victor Garber whom I always remember seeing as the first one to sing "I Don't Need Anything But You" in Annie was fabulous. Seeing both of them together doing this legendary musical is like witnessing a masterclass. What a joy it was to see seasoned Broadway actors like one of my favorites from Hair, Gavin Creel in his Tony Winning role, Kate Baldwin, Melanie Moore (P.S. I think I just added Ermengarde to my list of roles I want to play), Will Burton, Jennifer Simard and the newbies like Charlie Stemp and Molly Griggs (Minnie Fay is another dream role of mine). The audience was loving every minute of the show: each of the characters got entrance applause, the train got applause, the choreography and the title song got a standing ovation. Before the show and at intermission, I texted and sent pictures to my high school guidance counselor who saw this production. I told her I absolutely loved it. Thank you, Hello, Dolly!, for showing me what a legendary musical this is. If you have not seen this Tony Winning production I have three words for you: Go see it.

The only thing I regret missing is stage door which I always do but unfortunately it was raining and I had homework to finish and I can't afford to get sick before we start performances. Well, another week has passed. I have no class today because of the Lincoln's Birthday holiday but I still have rehearsal and that means I got to get my lines memorized and get finished on my homework. Enjoy some of the picture highlights of the week.