Day Two...

Well...there were definitely fewer people in the house tonight, but they enjoyed it all the same. I actually enjoyed it too, because I was able to connect one on one with every single person in the house throughout the course of the night. This show has such a personal narrative of a man telling you the audience his deepest darkest hopes and confidences, that it feels fantastic to be able to look everyone in the eye and be bold honest and naked. (Emotionally, that is). ;)
As it figures in the scale of my luck, I am fighting off a cold. But you know what? It's really fine. It's not that grim, it's just kind of an annoyance. I'm not letting it hold me back, and am loading my body with more vitamins and minerals than you can imagine. I'm going to feel tons better by tomorrow. At least I am telling myself that. With colds, positive thinking is half the battle.
Other than that, I am anxious to get back to the theatre tomorrow. I am always excited to get there and do this show. I have so much fun doing this show, that I am always looking forward to getting there. That's awesome, and very rare.
Oh, PS...watching a documentary on Jonathan Larson tonight, I discovered that Jonathan had the same agent that my partner, Matt Conner does...Bill Craver. Small world, huh?
Talk to you all tomorrow.
Peace and love,
SGS

One Down...

Whew! By the grace of God, we got through it somehow! The show went great, and the audience was amazing! Several numbers literally stopped the show. Cold. I've never experienced something close to that. We had a great and numerous house, and thank you to all who came and saw us! We were so nervous before the show started, but as soon as it got going, the house was so warm and responsive that it helped our nerves calm down and let us do the job we came to do. wow. That was a huge run on sentence. I'm really bad about my grammar. Sorry.
Hey, I'm exhausted, you get what you get.
I'll keep you all posted on how it is going the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow will be especially interesting because I will be working at TICKETplace all day, then hurdling to get home, eat, and get to Metro. Ugh! But it will all be fine.
I hope everyone has a great night, and a better day tomorrow. I'll check in tomorrow evening.
FOR TICKETS TO SEE US CLICK HERE!

Pay What You Can of tick,tick...BOOM! Tonight at Metro Stage

Tonight is the first preview of tick at Metro, and it is a Pay What You Can night (the only one). So come on out and see us. I think we are definitely ready for an audience, and tonight is the perfect chance to see it if you are on a limited budget, or are a student, or a broke-tastic actor like myself. Click HERE for more details.
Come on out and see us!

A Sneak Peek at...tick,tick...BOOM!

For tickets, click HERE.

How's the old ticker?

We had our first 10 out of 12 rehearsal day at Metro Stage yesterday, and in an amazing feat of diligence and hard work, teched through the ENTIRE show in one day. Almost unheard of. It looks fantastic, and as Mark Lanks (the lighting designer) said, Adam Koch has designed a set that is totally conducive to good lighting, so his job was made easy.
The lights and set are fantastic and simple all at once.
I rehearsed with the fantastic band the other night, which has two past Hedwig band mates in it, and they rocked the hell out of the score. I am having an amazing time at rehearsal, and there is nothing but positive energy at all times in the room. And laughter. God, we all have laughed so hard through the whole process. What a funny and amazingly talented group of individuals they all are. It gets to the point where I can't wait to go to rehearsal each day...which is a great place to be at emotionally.
I am already so proud of this production, and proud of each and every single person's hard work on it. I cannot wait till it takes flight on Thursday.
Tickets are already flying as well, so get yours HERE.
"Cages or wings?
Which do you prefer?
Ask the birds...
Fear or love, baby,
don't say the answer,
Actions speak louder than words..."
Talk to you all (y'all) (yinz)
tomorrow night.
Luv,
SGS

Sputnik Fashion Night at Merrily...

This past Thursday was the 50th Anniversary of the launch of the Sputnik launch, and since the ending scene of Merrily We Roll Along at Signature Theatre, which is entering it's closing week on Tuesday, ends with the hopeful three gazing up at Sputnik, all of the cast went to the roof of the Signature Theatre for a toast that night. They even fashioned outfits out of tin foil, so I hear.
Below is an example of the tin foil couture that was on display for the roof top gathering, modeled by Tracy Lynn Olivera. Now that is one hell of a hat. I bet it even picks up AM/FM stations.
Merrily closes next weekend, so please do go and see it if you have not by now. It is a fantastic and fun night of theatre. Click HERE for ticket details.

Yard Creations thus far...

So far in the old backyard Halloween display, I have two finished pieces.
The first, pictured above, is a variation on last year's fence climbing ghoul. I decided to give him a break this year. He is now "Gramps". He got a hat added, and a blanket as he lounges on the lounge. He also gets daily visits from Buddha, who has taken a liking to him. (Buddha is TRULY my dog).

The second is a pretty little lady I like to call "Ms. 1930".
Ain't she pretty?



I expect to get some more done later on, since I am strangely off all day today.
More later today...

Buddha Speaks!

Buddha has blogged about his adventures at the pool!Go and give him a sniff!

Here is a little glimpse at the Doggy Dip Day adventure!

More later,
luv,
SGS

Catching Up...

Yeah, I'm still here. I've been spending a majority of my time at Metro Stage rehearsing, and when I'm not there, I'm at home trying to memorize and play piano. The show is going well, I think. I just need lots of repetition, which there is plenty of time for thank god.

This past weekend I got to see and visit with my Uncle Deryck and Aunt Moya, who I haven't seen in 9 years.

(Pictured are Dad, Rusty, Me, Moya, Deryck, and Mom)
They are from England, so visits are not that frequent. Hopefully it won't be another 9 years before I see them again, and I doubt that it will be, since the world keeps getting smaller by the year. It was a lovely visit, and I was so happy to catch up with them, especially since they had never met Matt, nor Buddha, and they also got to see where I lived and worked. The last time they were here to visit, I was living in the Budgetel Inn next to Shenandoah University, still in college. (Some of the upper class men were put up in the Budgetel, which was QUITE lovely, but I digress). So much has changed since then. That visit was merely months before Matt and I began our relationship, which is still going strong almost (and soon to be) 9 years later. Where does time go? Rusty came down to visit as well, and seems to still be doing well. Keep your prayers going strong, they seem to be fueling his fire for life.
Other than that brief and lovely visit, I have spent a majority of my time wandering, muttering, rambling, dancing, screaming, and singing on this beautifully designed (by Adam Koch)set.

Like I said, I am totally psyched for what the show is going to be like, and think that we have gotten a tremendous amount of work done in the short amount of time that we have already had. Matt Gardiner finished blocking the show today. When we finished singing the gorgeous and rising "Actions Speak Louder Than Words", I could barely believe that we accomplished so much already. Everyone in the cast and the production staff is so fantastic, though, that it is no mystery how we got there. I think that we are at a really fantastic place with the piece, and I cannot wait for the next rehearsal to come.
The postcard ad for the show came out today. Here it is...

For ticket info on tick, tick...BOOM!, click HERE.
I will chat more tomorrow night.
G'night Arlington,
SGS

That girl is so funny...

As announced at Signature Theatre's website, I am going to be a part of the cast of Funny Girl in concert. The event is one night only, on November 5th. It stars my former big sis, Jaqui Piro Donovan. This show is a special fundraiser for Signature's outreach programs, so the ticketed price is for a very worthy cause, as Signature's school programs help energize, invigorate and involve youth in theatre.
Come out and see us. You can click HERE for more details. I'll post more details as soon as I know more.
Talk to you all tomorrow evening.
luv,
SGS

Happy Birthday, Chan!

Many Happy returns of the day!

Crazy Guy at OJ Press Conference...

Did anyone else watch this yesterday? This guy is nuts!

Keep on ticking...

(me, Felicia Curry and Matt Pearson)
So, as before mentioned, we've already begun tick rehearsals. Yesterday was our first read/sing through, then we got a peek at the costume sketches.
After that, Matt, Felicia and I went out for a beverage and talked through the show, and how we felt about the different aspects of it. It was a great evening and great rehearsal.
Today we start putting the show on its feet!
More later,
SGS

What's Going On?

Well, The Gil Mead Celebration went great. You can watch it HERE.
It was a fantastic evening, and I got to perform "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd with Donna Migliaccio, which is an honor and pleasure, considering her history with the piece, and considering that she is the best Mrs. Lovett that I have ever seen. An honor to perform for the celebration of Gil's life.

DC THEATRE REVIEWS wrote a nice piece on the evening. The only one I know of anyways.
The whole evening was amazing, and I got to spend a few fleeting moments with Jaylee, swapping conversation on the nights highlights. I felt privileged and honored to be counted in the number of performers doing their thing last night.

What else?
Buddha has been blogging again...1st a post on helping with household chores, then below that a competition on how to caption a photo the best way. Go and help him!












I started rehearsal for tick,tick...BOOM! today. Can I just say that the three of us sound kind of amazing together? I'm not trying to be cocky, but I am impressed at the blend of three totally different vocal types sounding so interesting and hot!
Carolyn linked the WTR interview to her blog, so check it out if you have not so far.
That is about all for tonight.
Got a full day of rehearsal tomorrow, so I've got to go to bed.
Goodnight Arlington!
Luv,
SGS

Doggie Dip Day

Buddha went to a dog swim day at the pool this evening. Be sure to look for his photo log of how it went over at his own website soon. (He's still working on it now.)

Did it go off yet?

One of those times when someone else takes a picture using your camera, but accidentally hits "video" instead. What follows is an awkward freeze.

Gilbert Mead: A Celebration

I will be a part of the Gilbert Mead Celebration tomorrow evening at 6PM in the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center. Gilbert was "one of the most prolific Arts Philanthropists in Washington, DC". He was also an amazing man, who I had the pleasure of knowing. The event is free, and will also be online in a simulcast, and then archived on the site. HERE is the link to watch it tomorrow night, and after that.
Hope you can make it to this celebration of the life of a truly amazing and generous man.

Eleasha has been gone for over a month, yet her picture is everywhere...

1st in this photo, taken of her singing Matt's music at last year's Kennedy Center Millennium Stage Labor Day performance (notice Matt's intense stare at the music as he plays it behind her). This photo appeared in the City Paper a few weeks ago to advertise the Page to Stage Festival, and then it also appears in this quarter's edition of the Kennedy Center News Magazine!




Then, I open my handy dandy little Fall Arts Preview guide in this week's City Paper, and there she is again, in The Women of Brewster Place, coming to Arena this Fall! (I would tell you who the other actresses are, but there was no caption in the City Paper) (can you believe that?)
I'm fairly sure that she'll be on the cover of Newsweek any minute now.
And I'll but those issues and scan them into my computer as well, of course.
*sigh* 2 more weeks till she comes home.
:)
G'night all,
SGS