More Success

Congratulations to Marie Elaina! She had a VERY successful audition with Carnival Cruise Line yesterday! For details, talk to Marie Elaina . . .

Emerging Actors, Sounding to Find Truth

Adding Sound Effects to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” has required me to be at rehearsals the past few nights. There is a change in the show . . . a change in the actors every night! The show is taking shape as the actor’s find the truth of their characters . . . each one finding body movements, idiosyncrasies, fears and courage . . . Randy takes the time to uncover and encourage the instincts that are there and to guide them – and, with Lynda and Bruce’s professional background, characters are grounded in reality.

Living with a mental illness, people are haunted daily by emotional ghosts . . . they are truly emerging through the actors on stage now at NYCA. And Peter, as McMurphy comes along like a kid in a candy shop, poking each one of them – until it turns back around to him. Great Job Cast and staff . . . the show is shaping into something truly amazing!

- Doug

Coffee Talk and Old Friends

At Matt and Miranda's Wedding - Matt was most entertaining on the dance floor - introducing to his new family the fun loving and skilled "Dance Side" of himself - Can we say coffee, anyone? - since Matt ground up quite a bit!

A mini-NYCA reunion also took place . . . Hillary Goldfarb was there and excited to hear we were doing "THE ADVENTURES OF ALADDIN' in May - She told us that when she was at NYCA (for her many, many years) "Aladdin" was "hands-down, the best spring musical ever!" Mike (from Troupe Vegas, the early years) and Jeff (from "Aladdin" back in 2001) were there too - Mike is now a member of the Film & Television Electricians Union and Jeff is an actor!

What a great day! - the beginning of a new family and the celebration of a long line of NYCA Theatre Family members -

What's Behind Door Number One . . .

The set for 'Cuckoo's Nest' is almost done - we now have a window and soon there will be no way to escape!
Suppose - just for a moment that there was a place that you can go where the OUTSIDE world doesn't affect you - that all of your basic needs are met - Would you voluntarily sign yourself in? - or wait until they sign you in? When you see 'Cuckoo's Nest', you'll know what I mean and maybe have an answer . . .

With a SM in the Nest . . . Cuckoo's in a Good Place

Great Rehearsal last night - Act II is in a really good place - now we just need to get through the sickness to a full cast. Did I mention that Marley is Stage Manager for the production and how good it is to have a SM on board - it really frees me up to focus on the cast.

For all of you who know Matt - he and Miranda are getting married this Sunday - Our Best goes out to them!

Building the Cuckoo's Nest

'Cuckoo's Nest' is coming along quite well -
Tom's got a good start on the set and Doug's been working on the sound -
Special thanks goes to my Tuesday production class for making a recording that will be used in the production -
and . . . to the great dynamics amongst the cast members.

Multi-Threat Performers Find Their Way Out of the Box

Yesterday in working with two of my private dance students, we had discussions regarding breathing, centering, alignment and strength - and how they all work for you as a performer . . . the differences and similarities from the dancer to the singer to the actor - which got me thinking -


Most of our students who have been with us for many years have grown accustomed to how the stuff works together in supporting different techniques - techniques that are used by different teachers in building skills in their own discipline. But what has come to be expected is not what is necessarily given anywhere else. NYCA is one of a few places that truly provides for the interrelationships of all the disciplines in the performing arts. Working together, building skills and techniques for the "multi-threat" performer. I am proud to say that the direction that NYCA provides has been most helpful to our students, and the results are evident in all of their achievements. I don't normally take the time to give "props"" to the teaching staff, but today I decided to go outside the box.

O-Standing to Standing-O

Congrats goes out to Marie Elaina for being cast in a Regional Production of Disney's High School Musical - (Hey, you never know - doing the show twice with us can lead to a third . . . love and embrace it, devote to it and finally, get paid for it!)

This past weekend, NYCA proudly presented Troupe '08 - an outstanding performance by everyone - when the audience jumped to its feet at the end of the program Saturday evening. They all knew how much the hard work paid off. A sweet ending to Troupe '08 and a beginning for more great work to come - I'll truly miss this troupe - but I look forward to Troupe '09 and more good times.

One Flew Over, Many Came Together as the One

Excellent rehearsal last night of "Cuckoo's Nest" - 1st official rehearsal off-book and the cast did a great job -
Now we're able to work it and give it the dimension that the play deserves.
Looking forward to our next rehearsal . . . .
- Randy

Headless Horseman's Excellent Season Has Begun

Doug and I went to the Headless Horseman Saturday evening (they opened last weekend) and I have to say props! to all of them - From parking to exiting the property, everything was handled very smoothly and professionally - The Haunted Houses were better than what we experienced with the NYCA Troupe out in California this summer - It's not just an evening of fright - (although screams and chainsaws echoed through the night air) - but this was an evening of entertainment - I highly recommend you check it out for yourselves!