The Show Must Go On

Hit counter provided by http://www.website-hit-counters.com/ .

Wow, it has been a whirlwind of activity since our show opened on Friday, October 14. We had an 8 pm show on Friday, Saturday and a 2:00 pm show on Sunday. We received standing ovations at each show. And two reviews have come out and they are saying, Wow! It is so exciting! We had a few glitches on our first show but the subsequent shows have been great.

My friend, Geraldine is so excited because this was her very first time onstage. She plays a Munchkin, a crow, a poppy flower, flying monkey and a character in Oz when we are in the Emerald City. I help her with some quick costume changes. We both learned all of the songs with the exception of the four main character's songs. So she doesn't get a chance to do much singing.

I play the part of the Barrister in the Munchkinland scene. And I do sing and dance in that number. And then I sing and dance in the Emerald City. I am glad to not have more scenes that the ones I have because I was worried that my little legs would not be able to keep up. But I am doing great and having a blast! I don't like to toot my own horn so I will tell you what happened after our Saturday night show.

We remove our costumes and make-up before we leave the theater. Geraldine and I were walking out of the theater on our way to the parking area when a man and his wife came up to me and he said, "I just want to say how good you were and I'm so glad you are part of the show". I looked at him because he was wearing a name badge that said STAFF on it. I said thank you so much, what is your name? He told me his name and that he is a part of the Production Staff. He said I can tell that the children performers are Munchkins but when I saw you, I said now she is a performer. That was so cool because even though I have very few lines in that number, it was great to know that he noticed that I was giving my all.

It is great to take our final bows for the night, look out into the audience and see a full house and they are all standing and clapping. I get to do it all again Thursday night through Sunday. After we finished our bows on Sunday, I asked Geraldine how she felt about finishing our first weekend shows. She was so excited and said she didn't want it to end. And I said, exactly and that is show biz! I think she is hooked now. She is currently studying to be a registered nurse but now that she has gotten a taste of show biz, well she may not ever get that out of her blood.

Some of our ensemble cast members are regular performers at Disneyland. Our Dorothy will go back to working as an entertainer on a cruise line once she wraps up in Oz. And even our little dog who plays Toto will go back to the east coast as he is a working dog too. Well, I won't get sad because we have two more weeks of the show.

And now that I have a few days off, I am back to voice lessons every Monday afternoon. Back to doing laundry and cooking for my family. I am enjoying watching my favorite tv shows like Rachel Zoe, Glee and Modern Family. I have to line up some more auditions and give my Agent a call. Yes, it is a crazy life being an actor. You can feel like a gypsy going from job to job. One week you are working then you are unemployed again. But to be a working actor in the theater, oh there is nothing like it.

Very quickly I have returned to finding a spot in the green room where we all apply our make-up and talk about our day. We rush to get into costumes, finding shoes and hairpins. Getting our wigs on just so and grabbing our props. It is a great feeling and it is like riding a bike. It all comes back to you, the smell of the grease paint the roar of the crowd.

Three Films in One Year!

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

Well, rehearsals are coming along nicely. I had a few days off and then back to rehearsing on the weekend. After Saturday's time I went to a party. I ended up leaving at 12:30 and went to bed at 2:00 a.m. I haven't done that in a long time. I made sure to only have one glass of wine so I was not drinking and driving.

I do end up doing quite a bit of dancing after all. Fortunately, there are no difficult steps. Being a dancer is one thing, being in the chorus is something else. We are dancing too but not like the dancers. They are center stage and doing difficult dips, waltzes and ballet moves. It's coming along beautifully.

My partner is an older gentleman who has many years experience as a dancer and choreographer. He has even danced in some shows in Las Vegas and on several cruise lines. He will make me look good! Thank you, Jim! Plus he is very nice. One of the little girls had a birthday the other day and we all sang happy birthday to her. Per parents surprised her with several boxes of cupcakes which she shared with all of us. And that was just great because I realized I had not eaten all day and that cupcake tasted pretty good.

Now I know you are wondering, how can you forget to eat all day? Well I get up kinda late (8:30 a.m.) and I have my morning coffee. I don't like to eat breakfast so I usually skip unless I'm craving protein so I will usually boil an egg. Then I go onto house cleaning, doing laundry, running errands. Then take a warm bath, get dressed and go to rehearsal. We rehearse for 3 or 4 hours. Then I come home, watch late night tv, eat a bowl of cereal and go to bed. Then I get up the next morning and do it all over again. Needless to say, I keep hearing songs from the show in my head all the time.

I am looking forward to the screening of the film, White T. We are waiting for the film to be finished, it is in post production right now. When the screening is scheduled, I will be invited along with the other actors to walk the red carpet. I have come along way from working on background on television and film projects to actually have a role in a feature film. So I will let you know more once I know more. My contract says that I have to make myself available for any additional pick up scenes, interviews and advertising of the film. No worries so long as it does not interfere with my current production.

And I did another film earlier this year, Attack of the 30 Foot Chola which is also in post production. And I did another film, Lean Like A Cholo. Wouldn't it be something if all three films were released this year? This is turning out to be another great year for my acting career and I know next year will be even better.

It's Not the Poconos!

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

My family back home is vacationing in the Poconos mountains in Pennsylvania having a good time. I do admit that Fall was my favorite time of year and I still miss the changing of the leaves. However, I am relaxing by the pool and getting ready to eat dinner before I go to rehearsals tonite.

The show is going great, many talented folks. There are the dancers, the children who are munchkins and some of the vocals are beautiful. Can't wait to see the sets and I've heard there are some great effects too. My part is coming along nicely and I am not sure if I will be dancing after all. I had to learn the dance just in case and I'm glad I did. We will see if my costume fits because whoever wore it before me sure was tiny.

I am meeting some new folks and making some new friends. I forgot how much I love doing musical theater. All day long I was humming some music from the show. I'm trying not to get too comfortable here at home. Have to start making dinner soon before heading out the door for a late rehearsal.

The kids are off for a few days. I have to admit they are as cute as they can be. They are so talented too. One little girl was telling me that she is taking dancing lessons in every form, except hip hop. I was not surprised that she picked up the steps very quickly.

There are some other acting jobs out there and I am hoping to get some more auditions before the show is completed. Well, I would love to go away on vacation sometime soon. Maybe we'll go to Big Bear before it snows up there. The weather is still in the low 90s which is nice for swimming. It seems hard to believe that we will actually get to use the fireplace again.

Okay, I have to stop yawning and gear up for tonite. Later, folks!

Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead!

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

We started rehearsals last night for the Wizard of Oz. I think I heard this song in my sleep all night. It was a long rehearsal, singing, dancing. I haven't done in a musical for a very, very long time. I am hoping that it will all come back to me but I admit it is taking awhile. Of course this was just a first rehearsal.

The little children that are playing munchkins, poppies, crows, etc. are so precious. Their little voices were so sweet as they were singing. It's going to be a great show!

I ran into the Ex. Producer of the show as I was leaving and he gave me a big hug and told me how glad he was that I am part of the show. I told him how excited I am to be a part of the show too and how all this dancing is going to help me lose weight! I won't need a personal trainer since we are dancing five days a week. And as it comes closer to show time, we are rehearsing six nights/week.

"Wicked" is coming back to the Pantages theater November 30 to January 30 and I am so excited, even though I've already seen the show twice. I have to get some girlfriends together to see the show again. I made the mistake of listening to the soundtrack all the way home from rehearsals and of course now I can't get those songs out of my head too.

Well, wish me luck people! I am going to need it to keep with these little munchkins!

Oh My Goodness!

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

Well, it has been a sad day watching all the events from 9/11 all over again. After watching for most of the day, I had to change the channel and watch some HBO. I also wanted to just thank God for all his blessings, most especially for my family and to get the chance to enjoy living! We had a lovely barbeque and afterwards took a dip in the pool under the full moon. It felt great!

I decided to stay off the computer today and in the evening checked my email. I received an email from a photographer that I know. He wanted to know if I would be interested in shooting some pix for a LA designer. Would I? You bet. Now I do not consider myself a model. I am an actor. But for this photographer and this designer, yes I could certainly model for you. So we shall see what is what. It was too late for me to call him on a Sunday night but perhaps we can talk tomorrow.

I still have to review my contract for the Wizard of Oz. I looked at it briefly but I have to review it in depth before I proceed. I had a costume fitting on Saturday. I went a little early and got to meet our Tin Man. He was really nice. We were both frantically trying on our various costumes. He looked great. And I had to have my dress taken out a little due to boobage. I guess whoever wore this costume before me did not have that much on top. But me, oh sometimes I wish there was a little less boobage, but what can you do?

Tomorrow is Monday which means voice lessons in the afternoon. Early dinner and swimming laps in the evening. I'm really not a morning kind of gal. But that's okay.

I'm hoping to go to Las Vegas sometime soon but now that we are starting rehearsals very soon, that may not be possible. Darn!!! I haven't been there for awhile and I really want to see my brother soon. And now that the temperature has gone down, I'm ready to go. I will keep my fingers crossed cause once rehearsals start, I won't be going anywhere. Sometimes I wish I could clone myself. My goodness, two Lisa's running around LA? That would be crazy, indeed!

The Land of Oz

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

Yes, the musical production "Wizard of Oz" is being put on once more onstage. I auditioned on August 2 and did not hear anything for two weeks. Then the Ex. Producer called me and offered me a role as one of the Munchkin Royalty. I sang a song from the show for my audition. I sang, "It Really Was No Miracle". In the movie version, Dorothy actually starts the song and the munchkins join in. Well they must have liked me because I do have a contract in my hands.

We begin rehearsals on September 19 and the show is the last 2 or 3 weeks of October. I'll have to double check those dates. I know it will be a lot of work in rehearsals and then actually putting on the show. I have a wardrobe fitting next week. Yay!

I was called into audition for a film on Monday but as I looked at the audition it was for a deferred payment. That means you work on a project and if anything comes of the project, then you get paid. If nothing comes of it, meaning it does not get picked up at any film festivals, then you never get paid. Forget that. I have worked too hard and too long to not get paid for my work. You want me, then pay me. Simple as that.

I saw a very interesting article and subsequent video. It was called "F*ck you, pay me! They talked about the importance of having contracts and how everything is spelled out in the contract so there is no misunderstanding as to who does what. If you work hard on a project and complete the project you should be paid. If something occurs and the project changes somehow, you either renegotiate the contract or get paid and then this new change is written up in a new contract. Makes sense to me.

There is nothing wrong with paying your dues. When you are in a learning phase, the knowledge you gain is essential for future projects. If you have a mentor, even better. There is nothing like being on the set of a film and just learning. But after awhile you want to have an actual role with lines, blocking and actually working. It's so rewarding when you do get a chance to perform. And then when you get paid, then you know that you have moved up to that next level.

My friend, Andy already told me that he plans to be in the first row! So sweet. Well in the meantime, I just finished another round of head shots with a new photographer. It was fun and can't wait to see the final two that I have chosen. There's so much to do and not enough time.

Rebecca and I are going to see the movie, The Help. Great book and a good movie. Yes, I saw it already but it is so good that I want to see it again. And I have to call Sweden and see her in Pasadena. I have to tell them both that my film, White T is being released soon and we have the premiere on September 29 in Hollywood. Yes, I get to walk the red carpet again but may choose not to. We'll see how it goes.

No voice lesson tomorrow because of Labor Day but I resume the following Monday. Hopefully, a quiet day today resting, cooking out in the backyard and swimming. Love long weekends. Do I miss being back home? Yes -- occasionally but most important are family and I do miss them. Our niece, Melissa was married yesterday. I hope she had a lovely wedding.

Times continue to be tough for our country, the economy. But we have gone through so much and I know that we will all get through these difficult times. It takes patience and resilience and thinking outside of the box. But every time I try to get away from show biz, I get pulled back in again. So someone up there is trying to tell me something.

Do Re Mi

Hit counter provided by www.website-hit-counters.com .

Well, I was a little nervous because I haven't taken private vocal lessons in quite a few years. But, it is like riding a bike. You get back into it and I was on my way with my vocal warm ups. I had a free half hour class today and it went really well. I told my instructor that I have not had a principle role in any musical theatrical productions but I have auditioned and been placed in the chorus. And, lo and behold, I did remember some of my previous training.

I am really impressed with my instructor and am looking forward to my classes. I don't want to just do songs from the show because before you know it, that's all you hear day in and day out. And then by the time the show comes around you get sick of the same songs over and over. That is what happened when we were doing Camelot. I love the show and love the songs but I never wanted to hear "in short there's simply not, a more congenial spot for happily ever aftering than here in Camelot" again!

But it was a great time and a great show. I occasionally think about the other cast members. You get to be like family because we see each other so often. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to do this new show but all I can do is try. I saw that my black tap shoes need a little repairing, so off to the shoe repair store tomorrow.

Well, getting sleepy so off to bed I go. Another good day with great information that I downloaded. Some good tips from some of my online friends. A good lunch of leftover chicken enchiladas and a prayer for my son who is going through some difficult days right now. But otherwise, I am so grateful for the many blessings I have received like having a great family, new opportunities and a chance to do what I love, which is acting and singing again.