Innermost Thought

Examinations

2008-11-19T06:30:39Z

I've recently been invited to join Examiner.com as their NYC Theatre Examiner. Examiner.com is a new website that's like a Craigslist for information.

Seriously. There are "Examiners" all over the country who specialize in a specific topic within a specific geographical area. I've been invited to write about NY Theatre. My Examiner page will highlight issues and ideas specific to the NY Theatre market. You can read my latest article here.

How YOU Can Help

This column is new so the first few months it's crucial that people read the column and respond. Here are few things you can do to help.

1. SUBSCRIBE. Just above the comment section there is a link to subscribing to the column. That means everytime I write a new article, you can receive it in your Inbox without lifting a finger.

2. SHARE. To the left of the Subscribe button is a SHARE THIS link. If you have profiles on any of the applications in this section please share the articles with your connections, friends, online armies.

3. RESPOND. If you agree or disagree with my thoughts or impressions, send me a comment and let me know what you think. Likewise if you have any ideas about topics that may be interesting to my readership, let me know.

I'll let you know how things go. I'm really thrilled to be doing this.

Prayer for the Mourning #1

2008-10-15T17:40:05Z

When choosing a dog as companion
There can be no doubt
Comes happiness then grieving,
A cost for love, and playing about.

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.

An Innermost Thought

2008-10-14T04:14:47Z

I've heard it said that God created us in "his" image. I don't think that's necessarily true. I think instead that we created God in our image.

Does it really matter what God looks like? If she is then she is and the costume becomes superfluous.

Mermu
-that's what we get when I watch 10 straight episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Recs - Founding partner Tex in the City LLC

2008-10-10T20:30:34Z

I'm working on compiling recommendations for my work in various capacities for my professional website and thought I'd share what I've accumulated so far. This entry is dedicated to the colleagues from my stint as a founding partner of Tex in the City LLC.

“Meredith is an honest, devoted, hardworking, energetic, devoted, tenacious, dependable and utterly delightful spark of life. She commits competely 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 M.L.
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 three people and many of the talented artists and entrepreneurs who came in and out of Tex in the City LLC.

Baby Devlin

2008-10-01T19:38:09Z

Written 9/27/2008 for a group card at a shower for Baby Devlin.

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.

Danskin 2008

2008-09-19T18:09:43Z

Lisa M, Triathete-Legend Sally Edwards, Me and Janet T.

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

1) There are a couple of races in the NJ/PA area I'd like to do in addition to the NY Danskin.
2) Improve my swim technique and swim the 1/2 mile in 20 minutes or less. That's a big goal.
3) Convince my friend Deborah to do it with me. She needs this race and it would be so much fun for us to do it together. So if you know Deborah, call her. Email her. Tell her to do the Danskin with me!

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

Doing the Danskin 2008 - Eve

2008-09-14T03:48:40Z

I'm just about to go to bed before waking up at around 4am to do my 5th Danskin race. This has been a murky year for me training-wise. I've gone on a few workouts but I just couldn't get a solid schedule together what with all of the other things going on this summer.

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! wins 5 Awards at the 2008 Midtown theatre Festival Awards

2008-09-08T22:31:43Z

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!

Opa! garners 14 nominations at the Midtown Festival Awards

2008-08-22T17:46:01Z

Wild Bird Productions' latest production, Opa! earned 14 nominations in the Midtown Theatre Festival's annual awards ceremony which lauds the Best of Fest.
Congratulations to our designers, cast, creative team and crew!

The Nominations

Outstanding Overall Production of a Commercial Division Production Exit Cuckoo Love, Inc. Opa!

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!

Hole-a-Matic Fundraiser for Opa!

2008-06-13T20:17:09Z

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"

The producers and creative team of the new musical Opa! invite you to a special cabaret performance
of

"Hole-O-Matic!"

The All Request Random Pop Show

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

Perspective

2008-06-08T03:03:49Z

Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it.

Thank you, Hillary!

Reflections on a Birthday

2008-06-08T00:11:50Z

For Greg G.

Upon a time
I knew when we were young
That Life would take us
far and varied places.

I never dreamed
but am so pleased to see
That on my life's journey
You'd remain so dear to me

With Love and Respect,
Happy Birthday!

Fair is Fair by Geoff Garin

2008-04-25T17:55:40Z

Just read this editorial by Geoff Garin called Fair is Fair.

Geoff is the new campaign strategist for Hillary Clinton's campaign. He eloquently and respectfully writes about the negative campaigning in this primary and the Clinton campaign's perspective. I hope you'll check it out. Here's an excerpt:

What's wrong with this picture? Our campaign runs a TV ad Monday saying that the presidency is the toughest job in the world and giving examples of challenges presidents have faced and challenges the next president will face -- including terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mounting economic dislocation, and soaring gas prices. The ad makes no reference -- verbal, visual or otherwise -- to our opponent; it simply asks voters to think about who they believe is best able to stand the heat. And we are accused, by some in the media, of running a fear-mongering, negative ad.

The day before this ad went on the air, David Axelrod, Barack Obama's chief strategist, appeared with me on "Meet the Press." He was asked whether Hillary Clinton would bring "the changes necessary" to Washington, and his answer was "no." This was in keeping with the direct, personal character attacks that the Obama campaign has leveled against Clinton from the beginning of this race -- including mailings in Pennsylvania that describe her as "the master of a broken system."

Read the whole article here: here.

Who Said This?

Here's another Clinton take on the "character" of the Democratic primary's discourse. Take this quiz and then tell me about the quality of the candidates' discourse.

Uniters Not Dividers

2008-04-11T15:36:51Z

Thought this article in the Weekly Recorder was really good. It effectively points out some of my nagging concerns about Obama that I have not had the time or energy to put to blog.

Here's an excerpt:

IS OBAMA THE NEXT GEORGE BUSH?

By Judi Panasik
The Weekly Recorder
April 11, 2008

As the United States sinks deeper and deeper into what may be another depression it befuddles me that scores of democrats who are crying for a change from the Bush administration may be endorsing and voting for a man who is the better spoken democratic equal of President Bush. Senator Barack Obama is the more charismatic grammatically inclined version of the man who is now running our country. The similarities are all there, but are being ignored by the media and the citizens.

Obama, like the last two Bush campaigns is playing off of the fears and concerns of voters with no real merit behind what he is saying.

In Bush’s first campaign Vice-President Al Gore was faced with the rumor that he was for gun control. That was not an issue with Gore but was put out there by the republicans to take away states where gun control would be an issue. Senator John Kerry faced issues on flip flopping, being criticized as an undeserving war hero and a supporter of gay marriages. Ideas again all proposed and distorted by the Republican Party.

You may ask, how is Obama doing this? In his most recent commercials Obama says that he has never taken money from an oil company, insinuating that the other candidates may have. However, no one can legally take money from an oil company for their campaign, which means none of them have.

What Obama doesn’t tell the public is he has received $213,000 in donations from oil company employees according to Senator Hillary Clinton’s staff. People that work for the oil companies also happen to be involved with Obama’s campaign.

Who currently has ties with oil companies and is running our country?

Obama may not be lying but he’s misleading the public to believe that he is above what the others are not. And with all the money he as raised for his campaign I highly doubt it’s all or mostly come from middle class citizens who are struggling to make ends meet, and even his Hollywood following can only donate so much.

Click the link above to check out the full article.

MiaSays at 917 720 7513

2008-04-07T17:30:12Z

I’ve been doing a little work on My Inner Athlete’s podcast marketing which has been kind of fun. "MIA" now has a phone number where you can sign up for updates leave messages for MIA and hear messages and tips for living a healthy active life.

Call me and subscribe!! 917 720 7513. It’s FREE to subscribe. This is really a cool service. You can call and listen to little tips from My Inner Athlete and also leave me messages about...well....anything. What you might like to hear from MIA, how you’re doing on your quest for health and fitness, anything is fair game on the MIA Mobile number.

So call me. Leave a message.
And do a few jumping jacks while you’re at it. Your inner athlete will thank you.

Twitter

I’ve also discovered Twitter thanks to Daily Tannenbaum. So if you are a twitterer get in touch. I’ve got two accounts; one for My Inner Athlete and one just for me....

My Inner Athlete’s twitter page:
MiaSays

My personal twitter (an homage to this blog) IThought Twitter.

Check it out!

SayNow is free, but your cell phone carrier may charge you for receiving text messages.