Getting It Done

Well, I officially have a Dr. Mom.  After 3 hellish years of sleepless nights and exhaustive reading, the miracle that is my mother finally defended her dissertation and passed.  Now we can all rest easy…especially my poor dad.

This makes two in the family.  My brother Rob, who has his doctorate in Coastal Ecology, and my mom who now has her doctorate in Educational Leadership…then there’s me, who’s working on putting together a portfolio to get into the fall semester of Columbia’s graduate program in Strategic Communication.  If there’s anyone out there reading this who has some advice on how to get in, please feel free to pass it along.  Ivy league’s are pretty picky, and though I’m qualified to get in, they have about a 20% acceptance rate, therefore greatly diminishing my chances when put up against some of the brightest minds in the world.

In other news, my book proposal has finally been completed!!!  Two months of sweat, tears, staying up until sunrise, hours of research and tons of revision (including one awful experience of losing about 5 pages of solid material right before emailing it to my editor) and it’s done.  The life and times of James Brown is forever ingrained in my head, and although it was incredibly interesting and eye-opening to write a book proposal about his crazy-ass tales of drugs, wives and misfortunes, it was equally as frustrating.  Never having written a story for story’s sake - merely for professors and, well, you -  I struggled to grasp the concept of breathing life into a story and really putting yourself into every situation you’re trying to vividly describe.  Writing truly is harder than it seems, people.  I mean, this blogging crap isn’t, but writing as a profession is a painfully solitary process, and my social life has surely taken a brief nosedive.

I’m now acting as the “Marketing & Hospitality Coordinator” for a new off-Broadway play called “Secrets of a Soccer Mom” under the umbrella of Richard Frankel Productions (The Producers, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, etc.) and although it sounds as if primarily for the 50-plus, menopausal crowd, it’s actually a really cute show that almost anybody can relate to.  Whether you’re a parent or teacher, have been in an Elementary school ever (let’s hope so) or sat through a kid’s soccer game, you’re bound to find it amusing.  Maybe I’m just programmed to say that, but I enjoyed and am now telling all my friends to come see it (for selfish reasons, obviously).

In other theater news as of late, I’ve been lucky to see “Passing Strange,” “Sunday in the Park with George” & “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” in the last few weeks since posting a blog.  Along with about 4 productions of “Secrets of a Soccer Mom” mind you.  Yes, I’ve been busy.  I’ll take them one at a time…

Passing Strange - headlined by a non-singer named Stew (which is glaringly obvious as soon as he opens his mouth) this show chronicles his life growing up in California & subsequently the ol’ “bird flying the coop” drama, following the main character through European trysts with a load of funny, poignant and sometimes painfully repetitive rock/blues songs.  All in all good theater, though I’d only give it a 70% approval, regardless of the NY Times review.

Sunday in the Park with George - I have to start with my ultimate fondness for anything Sondheim, so let’s get that straight.  However, sometimes I have to say the man needed a good copy editor to delete some unnecessary scenes and songs that only make an otherwise superb show drag on relentlessly.  The set was very basic, but the brilliant direction used projections of Seurat’s paintings to create some visually stunning backdrops, ending the show with the famous painting “Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte” perfectly recreated by the cast and bringing the audience to tears.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change - As always, it was hilarious.  One of my favorite small (cast of 4, band of 2) shows highlighting the differences between men and women, relationships between parents & kids, husbands & wives, etc… I read a review that probably captures it best by describing it as “Seinfeld the Musical” - and though it will probably be on for awhile (I think we’re 12 years into it already) it’s one you don’t want to miss.

That’s all for now.  Patti Lupone in Gypsy is tomorrow night’s entertainment, so keep posted…if you care.