I have spent the last two lovely weeks visiting with my wonderful sister, Patty and her family in their new home in Maryland. I was able to walk my nieces to school, celebrate Thanksgiving, and re-introduce myself to the East Coast chill. It has been absolutely glorious!
But tomorrow, I embark on my biggest adventure yet:
I AM MOVING TO NEW YORK!
You read that right! After about three years of talking and wondering and panicking and contemplating and wishing, it is a dream come true.
If you’ll recall, I took a trip to NYC in January of this year, doing a bit of scouting while I saw friends and took an amazing Suzuki Training worksop with my USC professors and mentors, Steve and Robyn. I realized quickly that I would need my Equity card (Actor’s Equity Association, the professional union for Actors), if I wanted to come anywhere close to getting into a professional audition. They don’t see just anyone... So, I did that, too!
I AM OFFICIALLY A MEMBER OF ACTOR’S EQUITY!
This journey began with an understudy gig at CalShakes in 2011, continued through my internship at B Street Theatre in Sacramento in 2012, and was at a standstill for a couple years while I continued to do non-union work around the Bay Area. I got to play some awesome roles and work with outstanding artists during that time, but I also wanted to aim higher, and sure, getting paid (more) would be great, too! After my trip to New York in January, I was offered two roles at Pacific Repertory Theatre, one in May and one in October/November. That left a big “hole” during the Summer months, and despite multiple auditions, nothing came through. That happens. A lot. It’s part of the business. But! I got the opportunity to understudy with San Francisco Shakespeare Festival earning enough weeks to go Equity, followed by support from PacRep at the end of my recent stint in Moll Flanders making me official! They even changed the program to include the * by my name, noting that I was now a member of AEA. How cool is that?
I told myself (around May) that if I didn’t book a union gig after Moll, that it was the universe telling me it’s time to move to New York.
No gig. It’s time.
One of my dear, lovely cast mates from Moll, Howard, told me to “take a big bite,” upon hearing of my intentions to move to the Big Apple. And that is exactly what I intend to do. I was blown away by the support, well-wishes, and love from those who knew I was going for it. I really can’t thank you all enough for the encouragement, most especially from my boyfriend Will. He has been incredibly supportive of this decision, and I feel so darn lucky to be with him. I needed all that encouragement, and I will continue to need it throughout this journey. I’m so excited for the unknown, and yet it also totally scares the freckles off my face! All I know is that it is a BIG adventure, and I’m finally diving in. That being said, I will take any tips, advice, contacts, food recommendations, you may have about surviving a life New York. I’ve got lots of layers, a sturdy jacket, and a new pair of winter boots to start...
What AWESOME friends (who don’t particularly do karaoke) do at karaoke when they find out you’re moving to New York: sing Ol’ Blue Eyes to me.
Love you, Laura and Rose!!!
And now to get you in the holiday spirit, I give you my Christmas commercial from Oriental Trading Company! (This one features the kids more, but be sure to watch until the end, to see how the spirit of Christmas is instilled in my Mom character):
And another fun one: Santa Sighting
And this is a fun behind-the-scenes look: making the Halloween one
For those of you I didn’t get to see or say “see ya later” to before I left, let’s be sure to get together when I’m back home for a visit! Love to you all! I am beyond thankful to have you in my life!