Musicals

Nudists… Reviewed.

ashharrell4 Comments

This evening, I pleasantly sat down at my computer and googled: “Nudists in Love,” hoping to find some reviews from our opening performance.  I mostly found listings of the show, then I came across a blog called “Fusion on the Fly,” a blog venturing into culinary arts from the perspective of outside inspiration.  Folks, I have been blogged about.  And I have a recipe named for myself and my co-ensemble member Nick.  I should probably mention that the review of the show is not actually very favorable, but I am positively beaming that someone thought to write about me… thanks to Karl for checking out the show and for spreading the word via your love of food!  Check out the blog here.  I’ll have to try out the recipe and see how it goes!

Just another Manic Monday

ashharrell2 Comments

Yeah.  Hello.   Hi, I’m alive.

Honestly, when I don’t write in this blog, the anticipation of my next entry and the realization that I have more and more to write just builds and builds until I have absolutely no drive to sit down and update this here thing.
But here I am.  
I have got a lot going on these days.  It feels good to be busy.  Looking at my last update, I mentioned that I had just gone to an audition and gotten a callback.  Well, I went to two more auditions and ended up getting a part in the musical. (I actually ran into 50 Cent in the hallway of the audition location – yeah, he was casting for his new movie.)  If you want to check out the website of “Nudists in Love” (my musical – not 50 Cent’s movie), you can read about the show and the awesome people putting it all together.  Rehearsals start tomorrow, and the show goes up in August as a part of the NYC Fringe Festival (one of New York’s finest Scottish imports).  

Which leads me to my Tuesday night conflicts with our rehearsals: my new Tuesday night gig at Upright Citizens Brigade.  Yup, I mentioned it here in my last entry, but since then I have worked two fantastic Harold nights and met some wonderful people at the theater.  The internship translates to two free classes at UCB, which I am using for my Sketch 101, and most likely, Sketch 201 classes.  My job on Tuesday nights entails prepping the theater for the show, selling tickets in the box office, checking tickets as patrons enter the theater, and cleaning it all up just after midnight.  It’s a pretty good gig, considering it also allows me free admission to any show at the theater, even if it’s sold out.  Yeah, it’s tough work (especially after working eight hours during the day), but I feel I’m just putting in my dues before I really make it big.  (Only half joking here.)

In other improv news, our sketch/improv group “The Knife Parade” recently went through an identity crisis and renamed ourselves “The Karate Parade.”  One of our members used to be a knife salesman and is now teaching karate to kids, so our group’s moniker seems to be following his career path.  Henceforward, I will refer to it here as “TKP.”  So, TKP enjoyed a fun show last Saturday, opening up for a group called “Sherpa” with another group called “Kape.”  We had a great turnout and a pretty awesome show, so we are stoked for our next public appearance, this Friday at Gotham City Improv with “Bombardo.”  If you’re in the NYC area, you should check it out: 7/18 10pm, 48 W 21st St., 8th floor, $6, BYOB.
What else is new…. hmm… 

I’m going to be moving down to the East Village next month with my pal, Brooke – though we are still anxiously awaiting confirmation from our management company that our application was accepted.  I have been neglecting covering the topic in my blog for my amateurish fear of jinxing the place.  It’s beautiful.  Great big living space, beautiful exposed brick, a TUB, great neighborhood.  Couldn’t ask for much more.  I’m ready for a change from my current location in the Upper East Side.   Brian will be moving up to a nice apartment in Harlem, to live with his fellow theater friend from Palo Alto.  I think we are both ready to escape the incessant construction, loud traffic, and cheap frat boys that litter our ever-decomposing block.  Wow, do I sound a little jaded?  I think I have just finally found my calling as an East Village punk (see Cyndi Lauper at right.)  Too bad I already let my monroe piercing grow in… I would have fit right in!  I’m having remorse.
Have you ever been to Chelsea Market?  I popped in Saturday afternoon to enjoy some free A/C and feast my eyes on restaurant equipment… but MAN oh man – they have some top quality produce in that joint.  If you’re in need of some veggies and fruits, head over there and spend a fraction of the cost.  You wouldn’t expect the prices to be so affordable, given the ultra modern architecture and factory-turned-trendy interior design, but they had a wide variety of amazingly fresh and organic ingredients for CHEAP.  Check it out.

The last note I will end with today (though I have SO much more to cover) are some thoughts on my new Sketch class at Upright Citizens Brigade.  I’m currently in the second week of 101 with Dominic Dierkes (he’s got some fantastically funny videos with his sketch group Derrick).  My most recent sketch involved a heterosexual man’s experience of “coming out” to his gay Dads, and was pretty well received by my teacher and the rest of the class.  This week, our assignment is to write a “character” sketch, or an SNL-type sketch which utilizes the funny philosophy or “game” of a character in any given situation.  Think Chris Farley as the “Motivational Speaker”  (in a van down by the river!)  So if you have any brilliant ideas for a character you’d like to see incorporated into a sketch, please be my muse and comment!
Peace out – enjoy the sun and humidity, NYC.
ashharrell6 Comments

Pardon the inter- ruption… I don’t mean to interfere with your plans for the day, but I… I have something to say.  Oh, and check out the art to the right…. love it.

  1. Walking around with a four-month old kitten in a knapsack on your person is not generally regarded as “normal” by Upper East Siders.
  2. Upright Citizens Brigade trumps all other improv comedy schools.   
  3. The Ritz (well I’ve only seen the first half so far) is extremely funny and entertaining, and would be even better if I were a 50-year-old gay man.
  4. I have gotten pretty good at making auditors laugh (with me, not at me) – while still not getting a job in a show.
  5. New York gets kind of cold in November.  What will January be like?
  6. It is not as easy as I thought it would be do wash all of my clothes in one day.
  7. Like I said, UCB trumps all others, and one reason is this, which talks about the SNL performance at the UCB theater last night, which raised money for the Writers Guild Strike Fund and figuratively smashed poo in the producers’ faces. 
  8. The Lower East Side has some very interesting live music venues.  Some notable names include “The Living Room” and “Arlene’s Grocery.”  Good times. 
  9. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is an outstanding piece of literature, but according to my roommate, not a very good Broadway musical. (This is not to be confused with Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein, which is reportedly the best musical in the history of musicals.  I have tickets for the December 30th matinee!)
  10. When you find a good pair of boots at Steve Madden for 20% off, you should buy them in two colors.  I know I did.
  11. Another reason to defend UCB’s superiority is the fact that there will be a (and you are soooo lucky to know about this before the fact) live performance of NBC’s Emmy-winning TV show 30 Rock tomorrow evening, also at the UCB theater to raise money for the writers who struck out, I mean – are striking.  Check out this desperate craigslist post.
  12. I learned how to do links today.
  13. In an effort to emphasize how amazing UCB is, I will inform you that I signed up for “201”, the next course in the series of classes formed by some of NYC’s best comics.  I love these classes, and hopefully one day, can show you- whoever you are- that I am funny.
13 is my lucky number.  That’s all folks.  
Oh, here’s something cool you should watch if you like indie rock – an awesome artist named Levi Weaver, who I saw last year at the Imogen Heap concert and is coming to my town next month.  And yes, we are myspace buddies – and we message back and forth like BFFs.  For ser.

http://www.youtube.com/v/zArJiI2x4vw&rel=1&border=0

Artsy Fartsy Week

ashharrell1 Comment

All it took was a great piece of advice: 50 mg of Benedryl, a glass of milk, and early to bed. Got this from both my mother and my Aunt Ingrid, and THANK GOD… Monday night was the most solid night of sleep I have had in a quite a while. Thankfully, I awoke Tuesday morning feeling rested and “ready for my close-up.” It was the big day: headshots. The one thing in an actor’s career that can define her, display her, and get her cast (or not). With the help of Roberto and Carol, my headshots turned out great! Now, I just have to pick up the CD, pick my favorite pictures, make any necessary touch-ups, and print print print! I will hopefully have all this done in time for the open call I’m hoping to attend in mid-October. To celebrate the completion of my much-dreaded photo shoot, Brian and I went to see Julie Taymore’s “Across the Universe,” the artsy fartsy, acid-tripping, glorious Beatles movie-musical studded with cameos from Bono, Salma Hayek, and the likes… I had read reviews of the movie that just knocked it down – but… I LOVED IT! I felt that it is the type of movie that appeals to a wide variety of people. It is my personal observation that singing in movies makes certain viewers feel uncomfortable or awkward, but the familiarity of these songs makes the show completely accessible to all. I mean, who doesn’t like The Beatles? Most notably, the scene of “Strawberry Fields” was enchanting. Julie Taymor’s vision whisks the audience away to a special place for just over two hours – simply fantastic! I would love to see it again, especially after Brian discovered the cast is packed with Broadway stars! And speaking of Broadway, last night we went to see “The Color Purple,” starring Fantasia. Though our seats were in the very last row of the theater, the stunning music and beautifully conceived visuals effectively translated Alice Walker’s literary masterpiece to the stage. Despite Fantasia’s breathy and croaky speaking voice, her character seemed well-developed and the singing (especially at the end of the show) was quite well received by the (very) enthusiastic audience. But I think my favorite performance was Sofia’s empowering solo, “Hell No!” Next on our list of Broadway shows to attend is the Broadway revival of “The Ritz,” playing in previews at Studio 54. I just love love love living with someone who not only knows all the best shows out there – he knows how to get the cheapest possible tickets! As for this weekend, not quite sure what is in store… maybe some piano bar lounging, or some painting, reading, strolling through the park… whatever I do – I am quite content being in greatest city in the world.