I’m back. Really, really tired, but I’m home.
These trips to and from NYC are always tiring, especially if you haven’t been there in a while. I was going to take the bus in but found out at the last minute that the schedule was wrong and I had missed it, so Don drove me south to the train station and I managed to catch the train. The train is always noisy on the weekends but this one was full of Yankees fans headed to a game. I found out this particular route was called The Yankee Express and it made a special stop at – I can’t quite remember – maybe 156th Street? Anyway, it’s the stop for Yankee Stadium. Once they got off, the train was fairly empty.
Arrived at Grand Central, ran to the bathroom, took the 6 south to Union Square. Then I had to kill time until the afternoon segment of rehearsal. It was raining, so no sitting on a bench in Union Square. I stopped at Strand Bookstore.
The Strand is always crowded and can be overwhelming. But I did peruse the first floor and found the book I was looking for:
Maggie O’Farrell’s newest. This picture was taken on a table at Whole Foods, where I also passed some time eating a bit of lunch.
Then I headed to the theater, which is only a few blocks from Union Square.
It was neat to finally meet the cast in person, having only worked with them on Zoom. I introduced myself to the stage manager and sat down quietly. Every time an actor saw me, there was a beat, and then recognition. “Claudia!”
And Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty were there as well, both of whom I know from Anastasia, as they wrote the words and the music for that. And Ragtime, Once on this Island, and the show I’m working on: A Man of No Importance. It was so lovely to see them again.
I had taken a risk, going in for yesterday’s rehearsal. I really needed to see a run-through, but I didn’t think that would happen. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what day might be best. I’m glad I chose yesterday because, at the last minute, the brilliant director John Doyle, decided to do a run.
I can’t say enough about John’s brilliant staging, the acting, the concept – I was shaken at the end of the run. It’s going to be beautiful. I don’t want to give anything away, but John directed a production of Sweeney Todd with Patti LuPone that was innovative and brilliant and AMONI (shortened version of the show I’m working on) has the same kind of concept.
What made my day, as I’ve been worried about only coaching the actors from afar, was John’s approval of the dialect work. He was very complimentary. Some of that has to do with the ensemble nature of this piece and hearing what others are doing which leads, I think, to something fairly cohesive. Anyway, I was very happy. Though I do have notes for the actors, which I will write up later this morning.
Then back home via the bus, but I had to kill at least an hour in Port Authority before it left. By the time I got home, I was tired and my back was complaining from the uncomfortable seats on the bus.
Don picked me up from the station and had dinner waiting.
Today, I’m going to do nothing but read and write up my notes and then email them to the actors.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
Awww…when son first started doing marathons, , we stayed in huge hotels in NJ…a mile or so from Port authority…quick ride anyway…he and I did the bus back and for5. On mara5on day, he went early. I went in later and shopped my way to the park to wait for him to run by…daughter came with us a few times…then when the girls and I started going to NYC…we stay near Broadway…we go when prices are cheaper now…like winter…daughter and family go often as one grand living in Brooklyn…daughter has found a tiny room there to stay…I hope to go this winter or spring…will stay near Broadway…and near the little diner I like…my last trip was for a late 70 birthday in 2018…we plan a late one for the 75 birthday…waiting on safe for Nana and Covid…I read that book on Netgalley…enjoy it…glad you are home and safe…exciting day for you.
happy belated birthday, brenda! hope you could spend it as you wanted and were happy. may it be the start of a terrific year ahead for you and your family!
sorry for the delayed wish. been sick for the past week and days and dates have been a bit blurred.
hope you are well and safe.
sending a wish for a happy sunday. and a hug, too, if okay.
kathy
Thank you, Brenda.
Hope you had a lovely day on your birthday.
Stay safe.
We went to Palm Pavilion…outside at Clearwater Beach…my fav veggie burger (exc Carmel, CA)…my daughter’s flight was cancelled, but she will be here late in October, and we will celebrate. We are used to doing it at any time. We had memorable gifts…the boys, son, and his wife…filled in books to NANA and MOM…things they love about yours truly…I am filling one in for them that they got me…we had the best vegan cake ever the next day. The bakery in St. Pete had to wait until SAturday to do the cake…hurricane. I do not like parties, big celebrations, etc. This was my son, his darling wife, and the two little boys. The boys played a song for me…guitar and drums. Next Friday, one week after mine, we do it again for my sweet son. THANK YOU for the wishes…I appreciate all of you. I do have one wish…I wish that America would wake up…I wish that people would quit whining and complaining and realize that we could have it worse…look at those forty miles south of us and the devastation…I have quit so many blogs…I love this one…Claudia, I adore you…am thankful for you. Kathy…all of you…we have much to be thankful for…and we are blessed…keep reading…keep writing…keep painting…keep keeping on. I am ancient…LOL
Sounds lovely, Brenda!
xo
Good morning Claudia! What a grand day out you had yesterday. I enjoy your adventures when going to the city. Getting on a train for a one day trip feels incredible to someone who lives where all travel is by car. If I took the train to Denver for a day, it is a 270 mile trip and a 7 hour ride one way. An incredible ride, but slow. Longer by bus. To have the choice to leave the car parked and let someone else do the driving while I read and ogle the landscape…. nice. I stayed with my Aunt in DC and riding the metro was incredible.
You describe your professional life with such joy. It’s wonderful to listen to someone who takes pride in herself and how others learn from her. Standing on the outside watching you teach a dialect makes me realize all the individual components that make up putting on a play. It’s mind boggling. When I watch a play, it all seems so smooth. I had no idea. The cost of a ticket seems small when you realize all the time and preparation going into those performances. The arts are so important.
How nice to have Don waiting in the wings with dinner. (I thought that was funny, but probably just clucky. 😊)
There’s so much that goes into a production!
I loved ‘waiting in the wings!’
Stay safe, Verna.
may i simply echo verna’s second and third paragraphs? (thanks, verna.) :)
glad you made it through that travel glitch and are home. was it raining on you from hurricane ian? hope not.
the strand looks like a nice place to spend some time and money. :)
happy, safe sunday to everyone.
kathy
Yes, it was rain from the hurricane.
Stay safe, Kathy.
You always make me want to go to New York, but I haven’t the knowledge about getting around the city that you do. We just recently watched booksellers, it was either Amazon or Netflix, and it was fascinating! If you and Don haven’t seen it I would recommend it. By the way, I am trying to hand sew for my blitheness and it’s making me a bit crazy. I think I should try a version of your adorable hat. You and Don stay safe
We saw The Booksellers when it first came out and loved it.
I haven’t attempted sewing for the girls yet. Too scary!
Stay safe, Nora.
P.S. I have to add…I lived 30 miles (for five years) from where the hurricane hit in South Carolina…they just keep coming…
xo
Glad you’re home safely after a busy day in New York. I’ve only been to New York once and that was in 1969 so I can only imagine how much it has changed. My girlfriend and I spent a week taking in all the usual tourist sights. It was fun.
I bet with all your quilting experience you would have no trouble making a wardrobe your girls could share. There are various books of patterns out there. I’m looking for knitting patterns, too.
Enjoy your week.
Hugs, Elaine
Quilting is a straight line, sewing clothes is entirely different. I am going to try my hand at one of Moshi Moshi’s patterns. Gulp.
Stay safe, Elaine.
What an exhausting day!
Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favorite authors and The Marriage Portrait was a fascinating novel. I don’t know how O’Farrell comes up with her ideas her research is extensive; she never disappoints me.
Hamnet is one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. I don’t usually go for Historical Fiction because it seems like an oxymoron to me. But knowing how great Hamnet was, I very much wanted to read this one, too. Looking forward to it!
Stay safe, Betsy.
Apologies to one of my favorite Red Sox fans for having to endure all of those Yankees fans!
I hope they were as well-behaved as my own NYY fan family and friends :)
Welcome back to our city, so happy that you were fulfilled rekindling some of your longtime work relationships. It is always good to return to one’s nest though!
Regards to you both from us both
They were very excited and very nice, Naomi, so all is forgiven!
Love the city, of course, and I always appreciate being able to spend some time there.
Thank you, my friend.
Stay safe.
I’m so glad that the trip and the day went well and how fun to finally have face-to-face with your cast and the team. It sounds like a good day, too (apart, perhaps, from the crowded train ride) and a visit to the bookstore makes every day even better! I’ll be anxious to read about the show when it opens. Do you and Don go to the openings?
Generally, I don’t go unless I happen to be in the city. I stopped going to openings when I was working at the Globe. I coached over 80 productions when I was there and I lost my appetite for Opening Nights. The only opening night I went to in the past 7 or 8 years was Anastasia’s.
Basically, when you’ve done as much theater as Don and I have – hundreds and hundreds of shows – opening nights lose their appeal.
Plus, I’m an introvert. Too much energy expended.
Stay safe, Jeanie.