There's an old joke. A lost tourist in Times Square stops a passerby and asks "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" To which the passerby responds, "Practice. Practice. Practice"

But what about Broadway? How does an aspiring producer, singer, dancer, actor, writer, composer, patron, enthusiast, and, yes, tourist get to Broadway? And which show would you choose when you get there?

As an examiner at Examiner.com, I hope to answer these questions or at least propose some options and alternatives. From reviews of the latest big thing to the inside scoop on the next big thing, this is the place to find out about the many kinds of theatre in New York City (Broadway, Off, Off Off, and even Waaayyy Off.)

There are many roads to the Great White Way (and many of them, like the road to Carnegie Hall include a great deal of practice). Which road you travel is entirely up to you and perhaps Lady Luck. This examiner hopes to give you a sense of the sights along each way before you load up the car or hire the babysitter.

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The price is dear but the prize so too.
And though Harley would be proud.
Know that he mourns your sadness
While he waits for you on distant cloud.

Meredith Lucio and Tex in the City, LLC

"With superlative producing savvy and sensibilities, as well as a mastery of the tools needed to succeed in the 21st century marketplace, Meredith Lucio is the real deal. She produced, cast, and directed my first NYC play reading, and in addition, led the audience talkback session. From my very first phone conversation with her to the final moment of the event, I never once doubted that Meredith would fight to ensure that the integrity of my piece would not be compromised in any fashion, and that the experience would be invaluable to me as an artist. I’d work with her again in an instant."
David Graham—Writer “Candy’s Prayer”—Play reading produced by Meredith Lucio for TITC
October 2008

“Meredith is an honest, devoted, hardworking, energetic, devoted, tenacious, dependable and utterly delightful spark of life. She commits completely and never gives up; always giving her utmost and being completely relentless in reaching her goals. Her dedication and persistence are only matched by her passion and, fearlessness and incredibly positive approach. She is a rarity in any business. When other's might balk or walk away, she hangs in there and achieves regardless of the challenges presented. Great team member as well as leader.”
Joseph M, Director of "High Cotton" produced for TITC by Meredith Lucio.
September 11, 2008

“Meredith was one of four founding partners of Tex in the City, LLC. As founding partner, Meredith was responsible for both the administrative and financial aspects of the company as well as the production aspect of the company, which focused on theatrical production, party promotion and event planning around New York City. Throughout the history of Tex in the City, Meredith endeavored to advance her vision of the company through hard work and dedication while staying true to herself and her work ethic. Meredith has an unwaivering belief in her projects and continually produces the best result possible while working inside the confines and scope of each particular task.”
Greg G., Founding partner of Tex in the City LLC
March 3, 2008

“When I met Meredith almost 8 years ago, I instantly knew she was a person I wanted to keep in contact with. She hired me as a performer in numerous Tex in the City readings where she was consistently organized and well prepared for anything. I eventually decided to produce my own Off Broadway play and hired her as the star vehicle as well as a consulting producer. Meredith is a hard working, ambitious, and approachable person to work with and to work for. I would not hesitate to jump at the chance to be involved in any project she is developing.”
Liz W., Actress, Model, Entreprenuer
May 14, 2007

I'm so grateful to have worked with these four talented people as well as the other artists and entrepreneurs who came in and out of Tex in the City LLC right up until the company's dissolution in late 2005. It was a wild, tempestuous, roller-coaster of an experience with many great highs and at times devastating, tumultuous lows. For better and worse, the experience is part of my history. Due in large part to the work and ethics of the four people above and the other talented people I met and worked with along the way, I can honestly say that most of the weight rests firmly on the better.

If I could bestow a gift
Like a Godmother Fairie
I'd grant you charm
To make the world
Bow to your amity

When darkest clouds
Might seek you out
Attach themselves to thee
You'll dissipate the saddest gloom
with happy memories.

Well I did it! And much better than I thought I would. My final time was 1:54:48 which is almost 14 minutes less than my time doing the Danskin in 2004.

My numbers this year look like this:
Swim: 1/2 mile - 23 minutes and 4 seconds
Transition 1: 7 minutes and 42 seconds (This is alot but they also moved the transition area about twice the distance from the swim from years past. This is a great place for me to make up more time.)
Bike: 11 miles - 39 minutes, 10 seconds (14.5 mph)
Transition 2: 3 minutes, 30 seconds
Run: 3.1 miles - 41 minutes, 20 seconds (13:20/ mile. This is another place where I'd like to make up some time next year.)

In general this race just inspires me to want to run more, swim more, bike more, train more. This day is so much fun and I have such a sense of accomplishment. I do wish I had trained more but even when I don't I feel good.

Goals for Next Year

And while we're at it, if you are lucky enough to have an extra X chromosome, do the Danskin with us too!

I feel a little disconnected from the TDT team this year because I've been so out of touch but I'm really looking forward to the race. Part of me wants to relax and really enjoy the race, stopping to talk or help out as many people I can along the way but there's also another part of me who really, REALLY wants to stay under my benchmark time.

Stay tuned.......

Opa! took home five awards at the Midtown Theatre Festival Awards ceremony. In addition to being a full-out good time over the summer, Opa! can now call itself the:

Winner! Best Commercial Production: Opa!

Winner! Best Music & Lyrics: Mari Carras, Nicholas Carras, Nicholas Kitsopoulos for Opa!

Winner! Best Ensemble in a Musical: Demetrios Bonaros, Joseph Callari, Michael Dionissiou, Carolee Goodgold, Abigail Hardin, Jan Leslie Harding, Michael Alan Jacobs, Deborah Litwak, Costa Nicolas, Patrick Riviere, Eric Ruben, Louis Michael Sacco, and Natasha Tabandera for Opa!

Winner! Best Supporting Actress: Jan Leslie Harding for the role of Xenia in Opa!

Our final award, in addition to having bragging rights, also came with a monetary award:

Winner! Producers Award for Excellence: Double Play Connections and Wild Bird Productions for Opa!.

I'd like to give a special shoutout to the incredibly talented cast and crew of this summer's production. The book, music, and lyrics positively leaped off the page and into the wonderful world you all created. It was a pleasure to work with you all.

Be sure to keep up with future Opa! happenings at our Myspace page: www.myspace.com/OpaTheMusical.

And once more cuz it's so much fun to say...

Opa!

The Nominations

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical
Cleopatra
Eighty-1
Love, Inc.
Opa!

Outstanding Music & Lyrics
Cheryl E. Kemeny for Cleopatra
Mari Carras, Nicholas Carras and Nicholas Kitsopoulos for Opa!
Marc Castle for Love Incorporated
Mary Stewart David and Clive Chang for Eighty-1

Outstanding Costume Design
Holly Cain for OPA!
Irma Escobar for The Higher Education of Khalid Amir
Isabelle Fields for My Life as a Bald Soprano
Katie Gunning for Writer's Block
Cheryl E. Kemeny, Debra Poruban, Elizabeth Lyons and Alexandrea Kemeny for Cleopatra
David Withrow for Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants

Outstanding Scenic Design
Anne Allen Goelz for Opa!
Eliza Brown for Couldn't Say
Steph Tucci for The Wendy Complex
Mira Gibson and Michelle Crouse for Childhood Montana
Ji-Youn Chan and Lauren Rockman for Exit Cuckoo
Tony Zimbradi for Love Inc.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Joseph Callari for the role of Costa in Opa!
Daniel Lincoln for the role of Phileas Fogg in Eighty-1
Kyle Minshew for the role of The Mirror in My Life As a Bald Soprano
Jonathan Rayson for the role of Casey in Love, Incorporated
Matthew Surapine for the role of Caesar, Quintus Delius in Cleopatra

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Cidalia Alves for the role of Mardian in Cleopatra
Jennifer Blood for the role of Faith Stillman in Love, Incorporated
Carolee Goodgold for the role of Sophia in Opa!
Melissa Labbadia for the role of Cleopatra in Cleopatra
Nicole Weiss for the role of Fixey Fix in Eighty-1

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Brayden Hayde for the role of JP Passepartout in Eighty-1
Costa Nicolas for the role of Panayiotis/Young Costa in Opa!
Patrick Riviere for the role of Manos in Opa!
Eric Ruben for the role of the Priest in Opa!
Tally Sessions for the role of Landon/Bragg/Various in Love, Incorporated

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Jenn Anaya for the role of Princess Aleysha in Eighty-1
Abigail Hardin for the role of Eleni in Opa!
Jane Leslie Harding for the role of Xenia/Young Xenia in Opa!
Hollis Scarborough for the role of Aura/Jen in Love, Incorporated
Jennifer Van Buskirk for the role of Soothsayer/Ponthinus/Fulvia in Cleopatra

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
-Cidalia Alves, Kyle Brenn, Daniel Hague, Gregory Kisken, Samantha Kulish, Jessica Labbadia, Melissa Labbadia, Laura Piacenza, Joseph Santaniello, Matthew Surapine, Jennifer Van Buskirk, and David Vogel for Cleopatra
-Jennifer Blood, Jonathan Rayson, Hollis Scarborough, and Tally Sessions for Love, Incorporated
-Demetrios Bonaroa, Joseph Callari, Michael Dionissiou, Carolee Goodgold, Abigail Hardin, Jan Leslie Harding, Michael Alan Jacobs, Deborah Litwak, Costa Nicolas, Patrick Riviere, Eric Ruben, Louis Michael Sacco, and Natasha Tabandera for Opa!
-Daniel Lincoln, Nicole Weiss, Brayden Hayde, Jen Anaya, David Albiero, and John Anthony Lopez for Eighty-1

Outstanding Choreography (Fight/Dance/Physical Movement)
Jeremy Bloom for the physical movement choreography of The Wendy Complex
Igor Goldin for the musical staging of Love, Incorporated
Kate Loprest for the musical staging of Eighty-1
Merete Muenter for the Dance Choreography of They Walk Among Us
Wendy Waring for the Dance Choreography of Opa!

Opa!

This where I'll be Saturday night in NYC. You should come join us. There's a rumor we're going Greek dancing afterwards!

Time Out NY called it a "...gleefully goofy, shamelessly entertaining neolounge"

"Hole-O-Matic!"

by the MAC award-winning duo of Karen Mack and Michael Holland

NYC club favorites Michael Holland and Karen Mack return in a "you pick the hits" format of their multi-award-winning mix of music and madness! Each night's selections cover about 300 different artists and five decades of the best (and worst) of past, present and future pop. Expect deranged medleys, lush harmonies, dubious trivia and a rockin' good time.

Saturday evening, June 14 at 7:30 pm
at the Duplex - upstairs at the Cabaret
61 Christopher St. @ 7th Avenue

The evening will benefit the upcoming production of Opa! at TBG Theatre in the Commercial Division of the Midtown International Theatre Festival. All tickets include show and 2 drinks.

Tickets: $85 or be an Opa! Patron for $125
(patron ticket includes premium seating and a ticket voucher for Opa! Show)

If you can't attend, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the production. (All donations in excess of $50 will automatically be entered in our TONY pool)

For reservations: OpaTheMusical@gmail.com or 347-524-4264

For more information about the show please visit www.OPAtheMusical.com or email me!

Tickets for Opa! now on sale at www.TicketCentral.com
Show dates for Opa! July 19 – August 6

Thank you to Opa! sponsors:

JaM for Life Foundation

Thank you, Hillary!