Home for the Holidays

 Putting the Hadestown recap on hold. Clearly way beyond that point now; 

Yesterday I got to spend Christmas with my family back home in California. I couldn't be more happy than to be here with everyone I love even for just a limited time.

I flew in on the 18th and have been savoring this much needed vacation time after quite a busy first semester in New York. 

Immediately after my parents picked me up from the airport we went straight to In N Out Burger which was such a nice treat after only being able to have Shake Shack burgers. 

Not that there's anything wrong with them, they're really good too, but I mean it's In N Out! They're only available in five states including California! 

I can't even say how wonderful it is to be able to hug my mom and dad after not seeing them for over three months. I'd really taken it for granted, seeing as back on campus we're still being cautious about physical contact outside of classes. 

Just as special was getting to hug a handful of extended family members (VACCINATED) and go look at holiday lights and spend Christmas morning together, making hot cocoa and chowing down on doughnuts and frittatas and quiche while we opened presents.

I didn't ask for much material stuff this year, seeing as how making a wish list wasn't a priority for me since I was so preoccupied in New York with classes and such. All I really could think of to ask for was some winter necessities, like more warm socks and sweaters and thermal clothes for when it really starts snowing. 

I saw on the news that there was a light snowfall the morning of Christmas Eve but it didn't last for long. January is when it's supposed to really start coming down, so I definitely want to be prepared for it.

The holiday festivities are officially ending for me. New Year's will most likely have me confined to bed since I will be getting my COVID booster on the 29th. 

I just hope the side effects won't be as bad as when I actually had COVID at the start of 2021. 

After that hopefully I'll be able to take in more free time while I'm still here before I head back east on January 8th to start my last semester. I'll have just about four months until I finally graduate!

So that's about it. I hope you all have been having a safe but still joyful holiday season. 

Let's keep our spirits up and our minds alert as we are out way through the Omicron period. 

Get vaxxed, get boosted, mask up!

Turkey Lurkey Time

 Well, the city is in chaos mode. Thanks to a little time period called The Holidays. 

For now we'll start with that fateful Thursday that kicked everything off...

It all began early Thanksgiving morning when I really got to experience what going to see the Macy's parade in person REALLY entails. Every three or four blocks barricade off with police directing traffic to cross the street on only designated corners. Lines trailing outside all the nearest coffee shops and clusters of spectators invading each other's personal space. 

And only about 75% of them were wearing masks! I just hope that means more people are getting vaccinated- I still wear one out even though I've been fully vaxxed since summer.

Anyways I really was not up for getting stressed over all this, except for when I literally had to loop around three different streets to find my big sibling and their partner so we could watch the parade together. That had me totally on edge until I finally found them just in time.

Once the parade started, it was without a doubt the best way to watch it compared to seeing it broadcast on TV for the majority of my life. The Macy's parade is the one Thanksgiving tradition I have always been adamant in sticking to every year; it's definitely one I'll keep with my own children in the future.

It was a little hard to figure out who was who on some floats this year; we even sent a video message to our parents asking them to identify this older looking band on one of them- we found out later it was Foreigner!

Despite some mystery celebs on our part, we completely lost our cool seeing the Blue's Clues float with Steve and Joe themselves along with the newest host Josh. The Sesame Street float exclusively featured just the Muppet characters without any celebrity guests or human characters; probably a COVID precaution, but still one of my favorites to see each year!

It was a huge surprise seeing Darren Criss in the parade. I have only seen him in person one other time, back in California when I saw him starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Among other exciting appearances were Sara Barellies and her Girls5Eva costars Busy Phillips and Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jordan Fischer aboard a Disney Cruise Line themed float, Jimmie Allen, Nelly, and so many more!

And of course, the cherry on top is always when Santa closes out the parade on his amazing rooftop sleigh.

When the parade was over we were all famished so we found a popular Thai restaurant and warmed up with some pho, dumplings, and curry dishes. Out Thanksgiving feast was going to be much later that night so we were more than happy to eat as much as we could for lunch.

After that we went looking at the leaves changing in Central Park for a bit before the sun started setting. Then I was able to invite my sibling and their partner up to my dorm where we all just passed out asleep for a few hours. It was a long morning as you can imagine, and we'd had a packed evening the night before when they arrived in the city. 

We were glad to have gotten some rest before we made our way back toward Central Park for our Thanksgiving dinner at Tavern on the Green. They really have the tavern ambiance down to a tea, especially in the front room and bar where we ended up having our table next to. I just wish the lighting was better for when our family called just before dinner was served. And all the loud chatter and music around us so we could hear them talking about how their own Thanksgiving was going.

To sum that conversation up, it wasn't very long.

Thankfully, we were served our first of four courses for out meal. The most delicious and savory mushroom soup I have ever had, so much so that I've made it a goal to learn how to make my own version. 

My salad course was an onion and lentil salad with red cabbage and balsamic, which was really tasty. I actually had never tried lentils before then, and the onions and balsamic really tied together well with them. 

Then came the official Thanksgiving feast plate, that, while super delicious and with all my Thanksgiving go-to's I really wish had bigger portions. 

I mean I get that they have a lot of guests at restaurants for holidays like this, but this is one of those holidays where you want to stuff your face full of all that turkey, stuffing and potato goodness!

Maybe they could have more buffets at some places for situations like this.

Anyway, back to the food. Amazing white meat turkey and gravy, with luscious masked potatoes and a perfectly seasoned stuffing. I even gave in to the dark meat which I never eat, but this dark meat was the best.

We even had a dessert course; I selected a white chocolate egg nog pudding, which turned out to be a traditional English bread pudding. It had a very light sweetness and was stiff and a lot chewier than I had thought a bread pudding would be.

Even so, this New York Thanksgiving was such a memorable one. It was even more special to have at least one member of my family with me and to be thankful for all the others back in California. 

I'd never thought that I would ever get homesick, not even during the holidays. But after being on my own, living across the country for almost four months straight, I can't deny it.

But, it wouldn't be long now until I would be back on an airplane to come home for Christmas!

Plus, my sibling and their partner were still in town for one more day so we had extra time together.

And what a time we would have.

It's Dying Down, But Getting Back Up Soon

We've all had slumps, right? 

Those moments when you feel like you're doing the same thing day after day, over and over. 

You start to not be as excited about what your day will be since you already know what you'll be doing, and then once you've done everything you supposed to you feel just...meh.

I won't deny it; I've had those moments these past few weeks. Class schedules are second nature now and move along like clockwork. We always have more new work and material to study which keeps me busy, but personally I have kept my time spent outside class relatively simple. I've mostly retreated to my dorm and done assignments or cooked and other little things here or there. Sometimes the best thing I can do for myself is just to BE by myself.

There have been some fun nights out though; most recently I went to see Freestyle Love Supreme and Wicked for some stimulation and escape from my school oriented mindset. It's always nice to have the chance to get away and not worry about the outside world for a few hours some nights.

This coming week should be fun too. I get to spend Thanksgiving in New York! I even have some family coming over to visit, and we're going to get to see the Macy's Parade live and in person after watching it on TV all these years. Then we'll have Thanksgiving dinner at Tavern on the Green and see a matinee of Hadestown the day after!

Mostly I'm excited to see my big sibling and spend time with them. The longer I've been away from home the more I've missed my family. 

I know I'm so lucky to get to live and study in New York like I have always wanted, but I guess I never really felt that it could be so hard to be away from the people I love for such a long time.

Luckily it won't be that way for long after Thanksgiving. I'll only have about two weeks left of the semester, and then I'll be on a plane back to California for almost three weeks for Christmas and New Year's. 

Although, it would be fun to be in NYC for New Year's Eve and see the ball drop in person, but there will be plenty more opportunities for it I'm sure.

So for now, I'll just keep working on my craft and myself and hope that my New York journey picks up again. 

That big city magic can only reemerge bigger and brighter with the holiday season on the rise.

Fun Days, A Birthday, and a Halloweekend!

Last month really ended in such a whirlwind of fun stuff mixing together into celebrations for Halloween AND my birthday!

My school was given a four day weekend for progress report meetings among teachers, and I knew I had to make the most of those two days off...but still had to maintain some student responsibilities at given times.

Outside of that, I was super excited arriving at 42nd street that Thursday afternoon. I booked a time slot at the Showstoppers NYC costume exhibition, which was pretty much empty when I arrived. It was almost like I had my own private viewing of the place!

The majority of the exhibit features Broadway costumes, from some of the most newest fan favorites such as SIX, The Cher Show, and Moulin Rouge. And of course they have some the big long running hits like Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Hamilton.

They also have some New York Ballet costumes and props, circus and cruise ship show garments, and some film and television wardrobe displays, notably The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the new Aretha Franklin biopic.

What really puts this exhibit over any museum setup is the intimacy of the whole atmosphere. There's no fencing around the display platforms, so I could really get an unclose look at the details within stitching, fabric, patterns, and textures of the pieces.

I mean the Wicked display alone; they have some of the most elaborate Emerald City costumes featured alongside Glinda and Elphaba's final Act 1 outfits. 

Showstoppers has been such a big success they've extended its run twice already. It was supposed to close at the end of October, but now it's sticking around until December! Who knows? If it stays popular, they may keep extending it until it's permanent!

That was quite the ticket well spent, but so was the next evening when I went to see Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre. It's an Off Broadway venue on 43rd Street that was converted from a church to a show space with a theatre on each of the two floors. 

Little Shop is featured in the upstairs venue, and they have the whole lobby decked out with all sorts of different designs of Audrey Twos. I don't know if they were made for fan submissions or if there had been an open call for the puppet designs before the show opened, but each one had a person's name on its flowerpot and they were all definitely "strange and interesting".

I was super excited to see the show; it's an old favorite of mine music wise, and I even performed in a production back home in California. I got to do all the puppeteering for our Audrey Two, and was partnered up with my older sibling as the voice of the plant. We got to really work as a team, practicing combining my puppet lip syncing with their vocals from off stage. We even got to take our bows together, side by side at the end of the show which was always a special moment.

I got to have my own behind the scenes experience every performance when I would move from each level of growth with the plant. Personally my favorite moment of the show to perform was Feed Me, because I really had to use my entire body to work the plant and go all out as the song gets bigger. Being a part of Little Shop of Horrors will always be a special memory for me. 

Anyways, back at the Westside Theatre that Friday night, we were lucky enough to be getting to watch some amazing understudies as the show's two leads. 

Josh Daniel stepped in for Jeremy Jordan as Seymour, and he absolutely smashed it! And turns out it was his complete debut performance no less! Vocally and acting wise, Josh has the shy, bumbling, manipulated Seymour down to a tea. 

Alongside him as Audrey was Chelsea Turbin in place of Tammy Blanchard, and she really made the character her own. Her connection within her performance of "Somewhere That's Green" was such an inspiration, and tugged wildly at my heartstrings. 

Audrey Two was voiced by a female understudy; Aveena Sawyer, who regularly plays Crystal, one of the three Doo-Wop street urchins. Watching the giant carnivorous plant be voiced by a woman puts quite unique spin on it, and it was almost like it gave the plot a different twist with Seymour being seducted by two alternate personalities.

Janna Djenne Jackson stepped up and brought some sass and vocal power as Crystal in place of Aveena. With the rest of the trio made up of Joy Woods and Salome Smith, they show a true sisterhood and give the rhythm and soulful harmonies of each musical number they are in.  

One of the biggest highlights of this production by far is two time Tony winner Christian Borle, playing miscellaneous Skid Row figures as well as the sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello. He practically steals the scene whenever he is onstage, with the slightest mannerisms and character choices that can send audience members into fits of laughter. 

The puppet design and manipulation was also a huge standout. From the standpoint of a past Audrey Two puppeteer, I was enthralled every time the plant opened its jaw or made the slightest gesture to show it had life and personality. 

I could go on way longer about this production of Little Shop of Horrors, so let me just say now that if you are coming to New York City in the near future you HAVE to see this show!

Immediately after I got home once the show ended, I was thrust into the bustling of costume preparations for a Halloween party happening within the hour on another floor of my building. Already? I assumed there wasn't going to be any Halloween festivities until the official start of the weekend on Saturday. 

Either way, almost all the rest of the girls on my floor were in costumes fixing their hair and makeup, so I thought screw it! This is what college life is supposed to be, just embrace it. So I threw together my sexy masquerade bunny look and joined everyone on the elevator.

I don't usually stay in party mode for very long depending on the atmosphere. Luckily the dance playlist was basically throwbacks of the 2000's which was both my childhood and early adolescence. So I was dancing with friends for a while before I started having drinks after midnight.

After midnight- It was now officially my 25th birthday! 

Well, day wise. Time wise, I wouldn't be 25 for another nine and a half hours. But whatever.

Like I said before, I don't alway stay a party person for long, so it was only a little past one-thirty when I decided to call it a night and went back to my floor to go to bed.

I woke up past noon, past my official birth time: nine-forty seven a.m.

 Despite the wishes of "Happy Birthday" from my roommate and the others on our floor, it was sort of melancholy. I'd never spent my actual birthday away from family before. Sure I had taken trips or done fun things in celebration, but it was either at an earlier or later date than the official day.

I was eagerly anticipating the FaceTime call I planned with my parents and siblings that evening. Unfortunately we ran into some technical issues on the first try so we had to go old school with a five line audio call.

Still, I was so happy hearing their voices and getting to catch up on what we were all up to. And getting a rousing out of sync rendition of the Birthday Song was really something! I couldn't help but jokingly complain when it was over and we all burst out laughing.

After wrapping up our call it was time to go to another Halloween party. I did manage to stay a little later than the last one, but after working earlier that night I didn't have as much energy as before. Most of the time I was just standing around with a drink and hardly danced like I had at the last party.

The next day was officially Halloween, but everyone on our floor kept things low-key. We pretty much stayed in the common area, watching movies and sharing the fudgiest chocolate cake ever that my mom had sent over for my birthday. It was so huge and decadent it lasted the whole rest of the week!

Now here we are in November. 

Things can only keep getting better. 

Making Money & Thinking 'Bout You

 Over a month in New York City. Feels more and more like normal as the days roll on.

I am pretty set in my class schedule. I try to keep up being frugal with spending for groceries and other things. 

Good news is now I have a part time source of income! I have a job to go to every Saturday night now, helping out a young family in SoHo. I'm really glad all my childcare skills and certifications can still be of some use.

Since it is only one day week currently, I am still looking for more work with a flexible schedule to fit my class curriculum. New York is not a cheap place to live, that's for sure.

I won't deny, I've definitely made some sizable purchases lately that will be put to use soon. 

I've even been eying other pretty expensive stuff that I know is WAY out of my price range right now. I know I will need to wait a while to even think of buying more things right now, but you never know how long they'll last before they're gone!

That's definitely the hardest thing about managing your money wisely. 

Also walking through SoHo these past two weekends on the way to work...passing by all the big designer brand stores and artisan restaurants. Really doesn't feel any better seeing all that knowing I'm nowhere near close being able to buy any of their stuff.

YET.

Sure I may feel a twinge envious seeing people with all their shopping bags and eating in the fanciest looking places around the city. But I still only just got here! I've got more than enough time to reach those highpoints once I graduate in May.

I'll be able to work full time, go to auditions and open mics to try and book my next role. I could rent a room or sublet a whole apartment within budget and maintain a stable routine schedule for as long as need be. 

I may still be new around here, but that won't stop me from looking ahead to a bigger, brighter future.

Even amidst all the hustle and bustle and excitement of my New York life, I still think about home in California. I still call my family whenever I feel lonely and want to hear their voices, but there have been moments thinking of those who I can't talk to anymore.

Like my grandmother; my Nana. Today would've been her 86th birthday. She's been gone for four years now, which feels impossible.

She was one of my biggest cheerleaders from the very beginning of my desire to perform. She always did her best to come to our school plays, award ceremonies, any big events her grandchildren were part of. Even when she couldn't she still sent her love our way either by a message through my aunts or being the savviest Facebook grandparent I will ever know!

My nana is always with me; I know she's looked out for me and given her hand in guiding me towards the big decisions I have been making in life since she left us. She loved butterflies, so whenever I have seen one fly within eyesight I feel that it's her letting me know she's still here no matter what.

I'll always have a piece of her with me, in more ways than one.

We share the same birthday month, and therefore the same birthstone. I vaguely recall when I was younger visiting my Nana and finding a beautiful gold ring with the most shimmery opal stone I have ever seen. Whenever I visited after I was always looking around towards the shelf where the ring stood delicately stored in a small box.

Years later, when I was around seventeen or eighteen years old, my Nana gave me the ring in that little box. She said she always knew how I admired it, and wanted me to eventually have it for my own.

Nowadays I wear it around my neck on a chain, but sometimes I slip it on my finger and watch the opal's flecks glisten against the slightest light.

Almost instantly relaxes me, centers my thoughts. Like my Nana is right over my shoulder, comforting me.

This Saturday I will turn twenty five. I know she'll be there with me, the love and spirit of her family to keep with me even when far away.

I will never let that change.

I love you, Nana. 

Your Shannie girl

Blending Right In

 In three days it will already be a MONTH since I first arrived to stay for good here in New York.

The time just flew by so much faster than I thought. I guess being used to the Los Angeles atmosphere and California vibes for pretty much all my life so far, I didn't think I would adjust to big city life so quickly.

Turns out my mindset truly was MADE for the Big Apple! 

I'm just glad I have been so eager to go out whenever I have free time and find some events to be a part of as a new New Yorker.

October 2nd was the March for Abortion Rights, starting down at the city Supreme Court building in Foley Square and going all the way up over a dozen blocks to Washington Square Park. 

I arrived prepared with a sign I hastily made the night before, pink glitter spilling off all the handprinted letters as I carried it through the streets and subway.

Nonetheless I displayed it proudly as I walked along fellow supporters, all genders and all ages standing together in support of all womens' right to choose. 

We were also graced with the presence and support of Amy Schumer, Jennifer Lawrence, and various city activists, office candidates, and Congresspeople. One real double take moment was right as we were approaching Washington Square Park, we passed by actor and Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham standing along the curb with a fist raised up in support.

Once we reached the park, I was surprised to see there was already packs of people there just enjoying themselves. From that and the hundred some turnout from the march, it looked like it would be impossible for everyone to fit! 

Honestly I still don't know if they all would have, since most people were wondering the same thing and just left after that.

The next day I was probably the most excited for. I attended my very first Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction in Shubert Alley. I'd only ever seen pictures from past years, and didn't really know what to expect outside of show merchandise and live auctions I could NEVER afford to enter. 

It was far much more than I ever thought. Used costume pieces and makeup! Props and design sketches! Scripts, librettos, and various books on any areas of the industry!

Unfortunately, when you're living on a student budget and still seeking work you can't afford to spend much. Still I was just as happy getting to be there and see everything the flea market had to offer. 

Even hold some of them...like a pair of silver slippers from WICKED, worn by Jenna Leigh Green who was my first Nessarose when I first saw the show back in Los Angeles!

I was also mindful of keeping my eyes open to see anyone I recognized, whether actors, dancers, or producers. And I was pretty lucky!

After seeing him play Beetlejuice almost two years ago, I got to meet Alex Brightman and tell him I had left a letter for him at the stage door...but never knew if he got it or read it. 

No matter if he did or not, he still appreciated it and even complimented my Defying Gravity shirt that I've had forever. I probably got it back when he was still playing Boq in the show!

I also spotted Broadway journalist Eddie Shapiro at one of the live auctions, where a signed edition of his book on Broadway leading ladies was up for grabs. Not his autograph though; they were the autographs of all the actresses he interviewed for the book!

Except Carol Channing. But no biggie.

Helping to emcee the auctions was Jennifer Cody, who has had notable standout roles in shows like Urinetown and Shrek the Musical. And she's the voice of Charlotte from Disney's The Princess and the Frog! AND she's married to Tony nominee Hunter Foster and sister in law to Tony WINNER Sutton!

All that slipped my mind though when I went up and asked to take a picture with her. I was so giddy to share that this was my first Flea Market and I had just moved to the city. Jennifer was so sweet and welcoming to me and I honestly can't find the words to describe how wonderful that made me feel.

Writer, actor, and On Broadway radio host Seth Rudetsky had a table right across from the auction and we took a picture together as well. I got to tell him what a fan I was of his Stars in the House video series and he gave me a discount card for his next live Broadway Breakdown concerts.

Though I didn't buy anything that day, I made a ten dollar donation to Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, which all the proceeds of the auction and flea market benefit. Over the course of thirty years, this event has raised over twelve MILLION dollars for the organization alone. 

This year's Broadway Flea Market made over 753 thousand dollars! Broadway fans really know how to give!

With all that weekend's excitement, I should have expected the events of this week. I came down with a bad cold and had to be holed up in my room, and observe my classes virtually through Zoom. But hey, at least I wasn't still in California. 

I've been resting as much as I can, drinking lots of water, typical sickness stuff that my mom would recommend. Zicam is a pretty effective cold medicine thank goodness, so now I'll never have to drink Emergen-C again. Natural fruit flavors, yeah right!

So this weekend is going to be a recharger. Staying in and staying focused on keeping up with classes and assignments, like I promised myself I would.

Making it here is going to be all about hard work for a while. 

At least I feel right at home.

New Normals in a New New York

A mellow Saturday evening. 

Supposed to be a theme party with other students tonight, but there was a positive test for COVID.

Just when I think we're finally escaping it...

Everyone on campus is cooperative about the mask requirements. The problem is more likely when we go out into the city and there are people not following public policies. Absolutely frustrating!

I get this is busy city and all, but when the pandemic first began New York City was one of the most adamant cities to initiate COVID restrictions. Practically every business was closed down and so many people remained under quarantine. A lot of jobs, loved ones, and time was lost for everyone.

Now, thanks to a lot of patience and finally administering vaccines to a vast majority of the city, the Big Apple has come back to life. And for me, to be right in the center of it all after spending my childhood dreaming about it...there's no words to describe these feelings.

All the times I have ever been here just to visit, I always have seen a show. Mainly musicals, since they're my thing. 

Last night, though, I got to see my first Broadway play. 

Pass Over, written brilliantly by Antoinette Nwandu. 

The story is a raw, emotional roller coaster, with touches of comedy and whimsical illusions and transformation melding into the conflicts of racial injustice and rising above expectation.

I felt genuinely privileged to join in the standing ovation at its end, for the extraordinary cast of 3 men who took this audience on such a journey. If anybody is coming to New York hoping to see a good show, I sincerely urge you to see this one!

Mostly this week, though, I was very adamant on being present minded in classes and new lifestyle adjustments for my well being. Trying to be frugal, making better choices regarding meals and physical health.

That hasn't stopped me from discovering and experiencing this new inner city life.

I try to find new areas near campus or beyond to explore in my free time. I keep my eyes out for new stores to browse in, restaurants to eventually try. I see all sorts of different fashions, body types, personalities walking back and forth through the streets, and wonder what their New York life is.

Of course, being in a new state across the country hasn't stopped me from making family connections. I get a text message almost every day from one or both my parents wishing me a good day or good night, and I'm always the one to call at least once every few days.

I wouldn't even be here in New York without their support and love to keep me going. There will definitely be some trying times ahead, but as long as I have family and friends on my side I'll never think of giving it all up.

After all, it's only just the beginning...

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of...

 10 pm. Eastern Time, in Midtown Manhattan.

I'm really here. Hopefully for good.

There's lightning flashing through my dorm window, thunder rumbling in the distance. 

The Met Gala was only a few hours ago just over forty blocks east. 

Wicked had its official reopening tomorrow at the Gershwin, as well as Hamilton, The Lion King, and Chicago.

Big Broadway news broke today that Beetlejuice is coming back this spring in a new theatre.

Mom and Dad helped me move in, they leave tomorrow at noon. 

The AC unit in my room keeps turning on and off sporadically. Rain is coming down harder outside. Had a brief chat with my new roommate over weather differences between here and her hometown.

It's been very nonchalant for me today. Like I was expecting myself to be overly excited and have butterflies in my stomach when I first came into the building of the Academy. 

But no.

My mind has been as ease; seems like I've already processed the idea that I am going to be living in the city of my dreams, across the country away from family and friends and the only life I've ever known. 

This is the start of a whole new chapter. For deeper self discovery, for success, maybe even love?

I guess we'll see...