Have Lemonade, Will Travel!

I miss the South. A lot. This was the first summer I’ve spent away…and can I just say, NOBODY does summer like Southerners! Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’m sitting here drinking pink lemonade and reading “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” but I would give just about anything right now to be sitting on a porch on one of those last summer days. Going out to a river, the lake, or even a plain ole pool. Then ending the evening with some food made on a grill, catching fireflies, and fireworks. I’d settle for just sparklers. To not see a single fireworks stand all year is super depressing. I just love summer so much and I feel like I missed out this year. I love summer, but not in New York. Only in the South! So there, I guess it still has part of my heart. I <3 AL

As of September…

Life Update:
Got cut after a couple rounds of “Hairspray” callbacks. Which is fine. That’s the furthest I’ve gotten at an audition in NYC so it was all very exciting. There’s a ton of stuff coming up, so I’ll be at all of those as well.

Story Time:
On the train today I saw a daughter YELLING at her mother. Ordering her where to go and what to do. And I have to say, I’ve seen this before, but it never ceases to amaze me. In fact, I lose my freaking mind every time I witness this. One, I can’t imagine ever feeling the need to speak to my mother like that. Second, she would slap me in the mouth before I got three words out. Rightfully so! To top it all off, the ensembles. Both women (because this daughter was AT LEAST my age) are dragging luggage around. The mom had bleach blonde hair and an outfit that said, “this is all I had the energy to put on today.” But the daughter (UGH!! the daughter) is wearing a mini dress, 5 inch HEELS and carrying a powder pink, Chihuahua carrier that would make ANY respectable girl shudder.

So I guess you need the moral of the story. Respect your mothers! And if you do, thank her for raising you the right way that earned her that respect!

Stepping down from the soapbox:
In other news. I am welcoming Fall to NYC. Today I wore a scarf in it’s honor!

oh, oh, oh life.

Well, I was supposed to be moving to the Upper East Side today…but I’m not. Two days ago they called to tell us that our apartment was infested with bedbugs. In the walls. So we’re not allowed to move in. It’s probably going to take 2 months to get everything taken care of. Anyway, it’s all turned out to be ok. At least we found out BEFORE we moved in. And now I’m just going to stay in my old apartment. So, moving on.

This week I got a callback for the National Tour of “Hairspray”! I go back on Friday. The part I’m called for is Shelley, one of the Nicest Kids In Town. She also understudies for Tracy, the lead, in a fat suit. Which I find humorous! So I’m super excited about that. Wish me luck, say a prayer, and I’ll let you know how it goes!

NYC Server Life

Favorite quotes of the night:

“Are you wearing make-up?!”

Sammy: “Kendra, do you have a boyfriend?”
Me: “No.”
Sammy: “Do you like Mexicans?”

“You’re eyes are blue…like a cloudy day.”

I may not have made a ton of money tonight, but I DID enjoy it! Life as a server can be pretty random, but it’s treating me nicely. I’m making waaaaay more money than I did as a host. I don’t have to worry about money at all right now. That’s nice. And I’m moving into a new apartment soon. Signing the lease tomorrow!!!! New address: NY, NY!!! YAY! That’s all I’ve wanted.

aah Summer in the City…

Nothing says summer like three straight weeks of rain.  Today was absolutely beautiful.  Seriously, the first in a long time!  My friend Bobby and I thought we would try the lottery at “Avenue Q”…of course by the time we got there it was raining cats and dogs for a good 20 minutes.  Just long enough to soak our jeans up to the knees.  The funny this was, I didn’t mind the rain.  I just started laughing and when I looked around, everyone else was laughing too.  Entire families were running around, sopping wet, and smiling.  Perhaps because it was a RIDICULOUS amount of rain which went right back to glaring sun, or maybe it was just an awesome day that couldn’t be tainted.  It’s possible that I feel this way because it’s my first day off in seven days!  :)  Bobby and I didn’t win the lottery, but we’ve decided to try our luck again tomorrow.  I have two days off in a row.  I don’t know what to do with myself!

On the career front: I’m starting a six-week workshop with Bob Cline this week. He’s a major casting director in the City and I can’t wait to see what comes of working with him! Then on Monday I’m auditioning for the National Tour of “Avenue Q”…hence the sudden desire to see it. I mean, I know all of the music and I like it, just haven’t had the chance to see it yet. Wish me luck!

It’s been a while.

Hello again!

I thought I would surely update more during the school year. At least during Christmas break. Not true. Sorry. If you have been trying to keep up, just know that I have always been a terrible pen pal, but I will try harder this time.

First year at Circle In The Square complete. Hardest/best year of my life. There’s no way anyone could begin to describe Circle and the goings on, but just know that I have gained an infinite amount of knowledge here…even if just for the fact that I have discovered that actors can never stop learning. There will always be another class to go to and new things to workshop. Bring it on. I’m so excited!

Went to an audition for the National Tour of “Cabaret” on Thursday. My first, official, NYC dance call. I had so much fun. Now, I imagine that they’re not all that fun, but good thing the first one was, makes me want to go to more. I’m learning the audition process. Such an interesting world that I’m entering into. Didn’t get a callback, but had a great time regardless. Not to mention a good workout. Met a girl who said she always considers dance calls a positive thing no matter what the outcome, because at least it’s a free dance class. Love it! Totally my mindset from now on.

I have a few more auditions lined up before I head to Huntsville for a few days. Austin graduates from high school on May 21st. So I’ll be there along with everyone else in my family!

That’s all I have in me for right now. It’s almost 2AM. I will try to post again so and more frequently so I don’t feel like I have to play catch up!

have yourself a merry little christmas

This is my favorite time of year!  And New York might just be the best place to experience it.  

School is out, which is a weird feeling.  On one hand, it’s really weird to think that I’m not going to see the basement or see my friends for 3 weeks, but on the other, it’s really exciting to not have to be up that early or constantly having to prepare scenes.  

On the topic of school….this term has been great.  I have met so many people that are very important to my life and it’s so great having friends in this city.  People that really care about you and about your work.  Because that’s what we’re all here for, so the support is enormous!  Had an evaluation on the last day of school.  All of my teachers were very encouraging and some surprisingly so.  For instance, my Shakespeare teacher said that I had a true sense of the text, a presence in my work, and that he is excited to see my monologue and scene work next term!!  Not too shabby!  One thing I am going to have to do over break…work out!  We have a lot of physical classes, so I’m going to have to keep up with that over break if I don’t want to die when I get back.  haha!  Who am I kidding though?  We all know I going to sit around and eat tasty, holiday foods the whole time.

I’m also trying to work a lot over the break.  Maybe save up some money so I don’t have to be too crazy about work once school starts up again.  Oh, and I have some really good friends at work.  We have a lot of fun.  I don’t know who said that New York is a lonely city, because I do not have that problem.  I’ve been pretty blessed it that area!  The Huntsville people that live here are actually the hardest to come by.  I see Katie Broad, obviously, and Emily pretty regularly.  But I have yet to see David Thorton, Chris Bowser, or Jere Hunt!  Chris Clark stopped by work the other day and I have seen Will Cooper a few times.  And even though I don’t see everybody too often, it is really nice to know that they’re here.

I will leave you with my holiday plans.  Christmas Eve:  one of my teachers asked me to sing at her church and then  some people are spending the night at our house so that nobody has to wake up alone on Christams day!  On which I’m sure we will sit around eating and I think we’re going to see a movie..which is a typical Christmas tradition for me, so I made it very clear that it had to be done!!  haha!  And New Year’s Eve……I think I’m going to be a crazy person and hang out in Times Square to see the ball drop.  It will probably be miserable, but I feel like I NEED to experience it! : )

Anyway.  That was an extremely long post, but it’s been a while and there was a lot to be said.  So if you have stuck through this far, thank you.  Happy Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s and all that jazz.  For those of you I won’t get to see, I will miss you and I will be thinking about you, believe me.  I love you and I will see you in the new year!

On the street where I live.

Yep.  That’s a view of the Empire State Building from my neighborhood.  Queens may be a trek from the city, but we’ve got the best view.

I missed my first day of classes today.  Don’t eat at TGIF!  You miiiight have an allergic reaction to their food and have to go to the doctor.  Just sayin’!

Not going to lie.  I’m super ready for break.  Maybe that’s just because the air is so thick with Christmas spirit!  There are so many things to do here at Christmas and not enough time.

Oh speaking of.  I’m not going home for Christmas break.  I will be here, celebrating with my little New York family.  We had a fabulous Thanksgiving together, so I think it’s going to be just as great for Christmas.  And if you know me, I pretty much embody Christmas spirit.  So I’m going to do everything possible to make people’s break good, even though we don’t get to be with our friends and families back home.  

So for now, Happy Chrismahanakwanzaka (I have to be politically correct because I live in the North now.  :P )!

Survival of the fittest.

That’s me! I have survived the first week of school and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be really fit when this is all said and done. haha! We have so many physical classes, which is AWESOME, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to be sore for the next two years. We take dance, physical acting, and combat. So I’m pretty excited about that, they might be my favorite classes.

Other than that, I have various acting and singing classes. Today I presented a Shakespeare monologue (which was terribly nerve racking) and I have a Sonnet due next week. I perform my first scene of Monday in Scene Study class. We’ll see how that goes.

Thus far, I am really enjoying all of my classes and I’m pretty calm about the whole process. It is nice not being the stressed out person for once! haha! I mean I’m sure I’ll get there, but for now, I’m good. It just feels amazing to be in a place and a program where I feel I belong. Belmont had its issues right from the start, but I have not had anything to complain about here.

I work AND got to school on Broadway. What’s not to love?

And I leave you with my sonnet for next week!

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

NYC….

Just got here this morning
Three bucks, two bags, one me

Ok the whole two bags thing isn’t true. I definitely had a cargo load shipped up here, but that’s ok. And HEY! I finally made it to New York and things are looking great so far! Katie and I got an apartment in Sunnyside Queens, which is a pretty fabulous neighborhood! Lots of families and lots of things to do. We can get to Manhattan in about 30 minutes so that’s not bad AT ALL! Oh! And we found out that cab rides are only $11 from school. Not too shabby.

Anywho. We have a three bedroom and yesterday we got a third roommate. His name is Daniel and he goes to Circle with us. So that’s good, because we really didn’t want to get some random creeper off of Craig’s List!

And who says Mondays aren’t good days? Not only did we find a roomie, but I got a job! That’s right ladies and gents I will be working as a hostess at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. I’m pretty excited about it. They’re right in Times Square and only 8 blocks from school. Woohoo!

That’s basically all right now. I start school on Sept. 15th, so I probably won’t have much going on til then. Unless something interesting happens on the job! I’ll keep you posted!