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You are here: Home / Archives for Hartford

Escaping is Good

September 13, 2017 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I took my plants back home with me last weekend, hoping to lighten the load that I’ll be dealing with later this week when I move back home. This shefflera was in the aqua McCoy pot – which I loved – but I thought it looked pretty in this Guy Wolff pot. And somehow it needed to be on the French bistro table in the living room.

Done.

I drove back to Hartford yesterday afternoon and watched the show last night. For a Tuesday night audience, this group was wild! They laughed and laughed and had such a good time. I think that, especially in this time of political upheaval, hurricanes and earthquakes, people need an escape. Theater offers an escape. For 2 or 3 hours, one can be transported to another time and place. When that production is just plain funny, what a joy it is to have the opportunity to release in laughter. It is for me, and I know this production very well. Escape to Margaritaville  will be much the same. An escape for those who need one. I’m proud that both Don and I are part of productions that provide that. Laughter helps to heal. In our own way, we’re part of a temporary solution.

Speaking of Don, he’s settled in and is now managing the trip from Jersey City to Manhattan quite handily. He catches a bus a block from his apartment. It gets him to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (the same terminal we use when we take the bus from our neighboring town) in twenty minutes. Rehearsals are a block from the terminal. All good. They worked on music on Monday. Yesterday was what we call the Meet & Greet. When you’re doing a big Broadway musical, the Meet and Greet involves literally hundreds and hundreds of people; producers, publicists, agents, investors, cast, crew, writers, etc. Jimmy was there, as well. Now they’re doing table work. There are script changes and song changes and new cast members to bring into the fold.

That hollyhock is still blooming. In fact, when I left yesterday, there were even more blooms.

I might be leaving tomorrow but all of that depends on Darko and his assessment of the show. If he ‘freezes’ it, that means no more notes from him to the actors and I will freeze my notes as well. We’ll see. He’s rehearsing some sections this afternoon and we’ll see how it goes tonight. It’s a wonderful production, wildly funny and touching and beautiful and magical. As it should be. Once again, Darko has outdone himself. He’s amazing.

Last Saturday, there was a historical preservation tour going on in Hartford and the building I’m in was on the tour. There is a penthouse apartment that sits on the top of the building – all glass – and I’ve always been curious about it. It turns out it’s two apartments and since one is empty at the moment, we were allowed to see it. I’ve always been curious about it so I grabbed the chance. Unfortunately, you take an elevator to the twelfth floor and then you have to climb up three flights of stairs (and there are a lot of stairs) to get there.

In other words, in order to live there you have to be young and in great physical shape.

Nevertheless, I arrived – panting –  and viewed the apartment. It was smallish, same floors as I have here, same sort of kitchen, but the light and the windows and the views! Goodness.

From one of the windows – this view of the Capitol and part of Bushnell Park. Imagine watching the fireworks from here! You can see all the way to the Connecticut River from the other side of the apartment. Beautiful.

Okay. Have to go and send some notes to the actors.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Broadway, Escape to Margaritaville, Hartford, theater 20 Comments

On the Move

September 10, 2017 at 9:22 am by Claudia

I’m antsy as the hurricane moves closer to Tampa/St. Pete. I do my work. I watch the show and take notes. And then I return to the apartment to watch the latest.

The show is in good shape at this point, so I’m skipping today’s matinee and I’m heading home for two days. I don’t know why, exactly, but I want to be there as Irma moves northward. I feel more connected to my family there.

As I’m driving westward, Don will be headed south as he heads to NYC for a month of rehearsals for Margaritaville. Like ships that pass in the night. Or day, in this case.

Too much going on at the moment.

Here are some photos of the set for Midsummer. This in no way shows you how magical it is with the lighting (designed by my old friend York Kennedy) but it’s pretty stupendous as is.

One side: for the scenes in the non-fairy world.

It revolves on a turntable to this: the world of Titania and Oberon and the fairies. The actors can climb up in the house and do. They look out of the windows. They move in and out of the doors.

The set was designed by Alexander Dodge, a longtime collaborator with Darko. He did the sets for A Gentleman’s Guide to Murder  and Anastasia. He also designed the set for the production of Pygmalion  that Don was in a few years back. He’s extraordinarily talented.

The audiences are loving it, with lots of oohs and aahs and laughter. The actors are simply wonderful.

Okay. I have to get moving. I just said goodbye to Don via FaceTime. Sigh.

Pray for everyone in the path of this hurricane.

Happy Sunday.

 

 

Filed Under: Hartford, theater 16 Comments

Books, Sunsets & Late Nights

September 8, 2017 at 9:26 am by Claudia

I’m not kidding. This was what I saw when I looked out my window, minutes before leaving for the theater. Pretty gosh-darned spectacular.

There was a little rain just about to roll in, but only a little. A few drops hit me as I walked to the theater. Then it was over.

I’m sleep deprived as I’m not adjusting to this new nighttime schedule very well. I come back from the theater and I have to wind down for a while. Then I take a bath. Then I try to get to sleep.

And then I wake up at the same time I always do.

Sigh.

The show looks great. We had our first audience last night and a good time was had by all. I’ll post  a photo of the set when the theater officially posts their photos. I always wait until the ‘all clear.’

An interesting phenomenon: I keep getting new followers on Instagram who are male, middle-aged and are either private accounts or suspiciously without many photos or followers. What the ??? I block them, of course. Are they bots? (Bots on Twitter are often without many followers.) Are they fake? Are they insane? Am I on some sort of list?

I imagine this same thing must be happening to lots of women. File that under ‘bizarre.’ Fortunately, the Block Option is at my fingertips. Bye, guys!

The coffee table. I always bring far too many books with me. I’ve accepted that about myself. I panic at the thought of not having anything to read, whether it’s in an apartment on the road, in the car, or in a waiting line. Have to have backup! I’m behind on the NY Times. I’m behind on my crossword puzzles. I’m in the middle of at least three books.

Yikes.

Okay. I have to type up notes and email them to the actors. See you later.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: books, Hartford, instagram 34 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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