Monday, November 16, 2015

Our Time

Something is stirring,
Shifting ground ?
It's just begun.
Edges are blurring
All around,
And yesterday is done.*

100 days ago (give or take a few missed days here and there), I wrote a blog (Not a Day Goes By) and started an idea for The Actor's Friend: #100daysinthelifeofanactor. I started it to help motivate my students and, of course, myself.  I have accountability groups with The Actor's Friend and I love our time together. The most important part for me is to practice what I preach.
Day1: This is where it began,
Being what we can.

Oh boy, am I glad I did it! 

Feel the flow,
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening.
Don't you know?
We're the movers and we're the shapers.
We're the names in tomorrow's papers.
Up to us, man, to show 'em ?*

For regular readers of my blog, you know that I use Sondheim lyrics as my theme. Often, I use just a few lines from a particular song but, in this case, I think I owe it to Sondheim and to us all to include it all! We all have moments of feeling down and the summer was particularly hard for me after returning from a summer stock gig. There were no auditions and it was so hard to stay positive. Instead of feeling sorry for myself I decided to be proactive.

It's our time, breathe it in:
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn coming through,
Me and you, man,
Me and you!Feel how it quivers,
On the brink ?
What?
Everything!
Gives you the shivers,
Makes you think
There's so much stuff to sing!*
And you and me,
We'll be singing it like the birds,
Me with music and you the words,
Tell 'em things they don't know!
Up to us, pal, to show 'em ?
It's our time, breathe it in:
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn, we're what's new,
Me and you, pal,
Me and you! *







I LOVE my actor friends. It is a tough business full of jealousy and competition but, with the right attitude, we can be the best support to one another. Maybe the positive American influence is getting to me, but I feel it. I feel so motivated and excited for others too.




Day 77: celebrating the life of one of my favorite teachers,
Anne Meara






Feel the flow,
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening!
Long ago
All we had was that funny feeling,
Saying someday we'd send 'em reeling,
Now it looks like we can!?
Someday just began ?
It's our heads on the block.
Give us room and start the clock.
Our time coming through,
Me and you, pal,
Me and you!
Me and you!*

Day 98: When Chris Noth told me I should be on Broadway


Something is stirring,
Shifting ground ?
It's just begun.
Edges are blurring
All around,
And yesterday is done.
Feel the flow,
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening.

Don't you know?
We're the movers and we're the shapers.
We're the names in tomorrow's papers.
Up to us now to show 'em ?
It's our time, breathe it in
Worlds to change and worlds to win.
Our turn coming through,
Me and you, pal,
Me and you!




Years from now,
We'll remember and we'll come back,
Buy the rooftop and hang a plaque:
This is where we began,
Being what we can.
It's our heads on the block,
Give us room and start the clock.
Our dreams coming true, 
Me and you, pal,
Me and you!*


*Our Time from "Merrily We Roll Along"
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

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