THREE WEEKS TO GO

I can't believe it. The show is in its final weeks. Kate Del Castillo came in as Sally this week and did a great job. I am ready for the show to end its run. It's been an amazing experience on so many levels but it's time to do something else and luckily I have a little break between shows (even though that time will be spent working on my recital). If you haven't already only 15 more chances to see Cabaret.

This week some friends came to see the show - Randy & Rick from San Jose Stage, Bianca, Cristal & Justin. Thank you!

School started this week and I couldn't feel more sick about it - 20 units and no fun classes at all. Someone help me please.

Not much else to report.

Enjoy the Holiday weekend

==)

M.

STILL IN SHOCK

Today I was offered my first Equity contract. I still can't believe it. I will be performing in San Jose Stage's upcoming production of Every Christmas Story Ever Told - a HILARIOUS three actor play. I will write more later but I have to run to Cabaret. Thank you San Jose Stage Company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A SAD FAREWELL

On Saturday evening we said goodbye to our Sally Bowles. My friend Lauren English is going back to school and we had a lovely going-away party for her after the show. I will miss her terribly. Kate Del Castillo (who was out Aldonza standby in La Mancha) takes over the role starting Wednesday. It will be interesting to do the remaining four weeks with Kate - I think the show will be different in its on unique way.

School starts this week and I am not looking forward to it at all. This semester I have to take 20 units in order to be done in December. It will be a challenge but I know I will be able to do it. Not much else to report.

Have a great week y'all

=+)

Martin

VICTORY!!

I can't believe I forgot to post this! (This is an example of how tired I am!) On Saturday I finished the Equity Membership Candidate Program!!! 50 weeks in 3 years and from what I hear that ain't bad (I will have 55 when my current contract ends.)

It has always been my dream of being a professional actor and now I can't believe that my dream turned into a reality. It's amazing what one can accomplish when they really work their ass off. I will be eligible to join the union as soon as Cabaret is over. So here's the countdown to September 21st!

ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY

I can't believe school starts again and I have not had any time off. No rest for the wicked I guess. This past week, Brian Yates Sharber (who plays the MC) had laryngitis so his understudy Noah Claydon went on for him so it was a little bit of madness at the Playhouse. Noah couldn't do the Saturday afternoon show so Brian had to go on as the MC but we cut the songs in Act II in order to preserve his voice. I got to sing the MC's song "I Don't Care Much" which was WAY cool. I got to see a little bit of the show - finally! It's a beautiful moment between the MC & Sally (played to perfection by Brian & Lauren) and it was thrilling to watch & sing.

This Wednesday is our final performance with our entire original company. After 9 weeks of performing the show, Lauren will be leaving us on Saturday (her Sally Bowles is decadently beautiful and I will be so sad when she leaves) to go back to school, my drummer Alex will go to band camp and miss Friday-Saturday performances and Lily Tung Crystal who is one of the Kit Kat Girls will be missing 3 performances this week and Susi Damilano will go on for her again. The business of theatre!

Not much else to report except that I am so tired!!!!!

Have a great week y'all!

M.

HAIR

Yesterday I was as tired as I have ever been but still trekked down to San Jose to catch my friend Nicole Julien and my NDNU classmate Elana Ron in City Lights' production of Hair and I was glad I made it because it is a terrific production of this show. Kudos to my girl Nicole who sang the hell out of her part in Ain't Got No & White Boys (she was Dionne) and I have to name some others in the cast: Michelle Ianiro who sang a kick-ass rendition of Aquarius, Raime Gerardy who played Crissy and RB Embleton who was a hilarious Margaret Mead.

I was blown away by Noel Carey's performance as Berger. Noel was an understudy when I did Into The Woods at TheatreWorks but I really didn't get a chance to get to know him, and it was wonderful to see him a few years later in a role that fits him like a glove. His performance is a showstopper in itself. It was wonderful seeing my pal Raegena Raymond who staged managed the show.

The cast (mostly filled with young college students) was up to the challenging music and the finale gave me chills - I highly recommend this production of Hair - the show has just been extended to the end of the month so catch it before it closes. It is a brave, beautiful and powerful production of a musical that is very relevant to our times.

THE FULL MONTY

Sunday I trekked over the hill to Half Moon Bay to see my pal Patti Appel's production of The Full Monty which she directed (and due to an actor dropping out she also played the role of Georgie.) The show was a lot of fun and it was great to see some of my Secret Garden pals over there including Denise & her husband Bill and Rebecca. My friend Curtis, who is the box office manager at the Playhouse is also friends with Denise & I met up to see the show and we sure did have a lot of laughs. The actress who played the role of Jeannette was HILARIOUS and had some of the best lines in the show like: "If you wanna be in showbusiness you need to get spayed first!"

The rest of the weekend was uneventful and sad in a way - nothing I won't get over but sad nonetheless. Cabaret still has 6 more weeks to go and only 2 more with the delicious Lauren English as Sally Bowles - you do not want to miss her performance.

Tootle Pip!

M.

THE WOMEN ARE COMING!!!!!

Just around the corner from my birthday is the release date for the remake of THE WOMEN!!! I am so excited. I finally saw the trailer the other day and it looks delicious (total Joe Duffy word just now.) The cast list looks amazing - Debra Messing, Annette Benning, Meg Ryan, Cloris Leachman, Candice Bergen, Bette Midler. Could you die? I can't wait!!!!

Go to www.thewomenthemovie.com to see the trailer.

OH WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY

I had the best day yesterday. My sis & I spent the day tooling around the city, went to the DeYoung Museum to see the Chihuly exhibit but of course it was sold out (how does an exhibition get sold out?!) but that didn't stop our fun. We had lunch at Lettuc which is an organic restaurant on Steiner and then headed back to our neck of the woods where we went to see Sex & The City (we loved it!!) and had sushi at Bonsai which is the best sushi restaurant in the peninsula. It was a totally stress free day and a rare one at that. Yay!! Okay must takea little nap before heading to the theatre.

ALTAR BOYZ

Yesterday I had the best time seeing Altar Boyz at San Jose Stage. Rick Singleton has done a great job finding the right 5 performers for this piece and they all shine. The incredibly talented cast includes CJ Blankenship, Manuel Romero, Andrew Willis-Woodward and my friends Darrin Glesser and Sean Patrick O'Connor. I was blown away by Selina Young's lighting - it was truly rock concert lighting. The show is hilarious and offers great funny songs and a lot of heart. Dottie Lester-White's choreography is terrific and there are some wonderful dance solos in the piece. I highly recommend seeing Altar Boyz. That is of course if you have already seen Cabaret. First see Cabaret then see Altar Boyz =+)

In other news - this past week at the theatre felt much better. The drama has leveled off and after a wonderful pep talk from our fearless leader I feel ready to tackle the next 7 weeks of the show.

That's all from me - have a great week y'all!

=+)

M.