Category: Blogpost

Part of the solution: Part of history!

The second half of Saturday, Nov 1st was spent in Cabaret Heaven. I went to two shows that highlight the extremes of the craft’s spectrum. 180 degrees away from each other, these two shows (and these two ladies) exemplified the different personal energies that a cabaret show can encompass. One was beautifully meditative and emotional; the other was explosive and emotional. Either way, I was struck tonight at how the same stage (The Metropolitan Room) can be transformed from an intimate exploration of one’s personal transformative state to a high-rolling, bongo-playing set on fire. I was a cabaret student yesterday,Continue readingRaissa Katona Bennett & Terese Genecco @ The Metropolitan Room

First Halloween in New York – after much hemming and hawing, I came up with a Living Dead Doll costume completely made from pieces in my costume box and made my face up. Pete opted for a mask made with his baby-faced website logo. We then traveled down to the Chelsea-based New York Halloween Parade. I was used to the Santa Monica Blvd/West Hollywood parade of Los Angeles. However, this was probably more awesome, as New York’s is an actual “Parade” of costumed people walking down the street, separated from onlookers with cameras behind police barricades. Walking in the NYContinue readingFirst Halloween in New York

During the “New Concerts at Tudor City” concert, Hector Coris sang a song from his upcoming musical comedy review “What’s the Point?” It was a lovely, hilarious song both imitating and making fun of the “American Idol” phenomenon. He had fliers of his show, and I immediately took one. Here’s the information – if the show is anything like that one song, it will be a laugh riot night. “What’s the Point?”An Original Musical Comedy RevueMusic by Alan CancelinoLyrics by Hector CorisDirected by Collette Black with: Hector Coris, Patrick Garrigan, Eadie ScottChoreography by Susan HaefnerMusical Direction by Alan Cancelino FridaysContinue readingWhat’s the Point? Original Musical Comedy Revue

We were totally blessed on Monday with a visit from a favorite person of the world of ours…Grae Drake! She’s a fantastic person, movie lover, editor, producer, podcast creator (www.popcornmafia.com/ and featured on an episode of How To Look Good Naked – and she does) and one can not help but be elevated spiritually, emotionally and a tiny bit physically by her presence. She only had 24 hours in New York itself (taking a break drive to and from friends in Connecticut & Boston), so we had to make the best of it. Her biggest “to do” was going toContinue readingFriend Grae Drake Visits New York!

Tudor City Greens Concert…Chilly in the ParkI was extremely happy about my performance at the Tudor City Greens concert last Wednesday (the 22nd). Although it was outdoors at noon in the somewhat chilly wind, we had a great turnout full of enthusiastic audience members who braved the cold, wrapped up like we were. Highlights of the show included Roger Mapes singing his song “Control Queen” on guitar, Sarah Rice performing a lovely ditty about offing her past husbands, and Scott Barbarino and the Bev-Naps singing classic 50’s doo-wop with tight harmonies and a few comedic twists. As the theme ofContinue readingCatching Up On Some Cabaret

I didn’t know Milton personally, but I saw him teach, asked him questions when I could, read his Acting Class and Dreams Into Action books, and saw the change he instilled in others. Thus, I understand Milton Katselas by this research to be an incredibly unique and powerfully wise man. He was not without his controversy (his links to Scientology turned some people off), but I never felt these conflicted with the incredible amount of acting and life-teaching advice he had for us as students. His corporeal presence will certainly be missed by acting, directing, and other creative people aroundContinue readingRIP Milton Katselas, 1933-2008

From Broadway’s Phantom and Chess and 1st National Tours of Cats and Parade Raissa Katona Bennett“Putting Things Away” Director: Eric Michael GillettMusical Director: David Caldwell Saturday, November 1, 2008 @ 5 pmSunday, November 2, 2008 @ 4pm $20 cover/2 drink minimum Reservations: (212) 206-0440www.raissa.info/ This lady, who hosts the Algonquin Salon open mic many a time as well as the New Concerts at Tudor City Greens, is one of the most talented, beautiful, supportive and encouraging people I’ve met in New York to date. She never hesitates to say “way to go” or “you can do it!” when referring toContinue readingShow to See: “Putting Things Away” with Raissa Katona Bennett

One of my oldest friends is Rafael Gonzalez – poet, writer, teacher, spiritual leader. He lives only a few blocks from my mother and taught with her at Laney College in Oakland. He’s one of my oldest family friends, one who has known me all my life. Pete & I had a great time this past weekend, as we were able to see Raphael speak and read some of his poetry (in both Spanish and English). The reading was in celebration of “Doorknobs & Body Paint Fantastic Flash Fiction An Anthology” in association with riverbabble, an online writing magazine. LeilaContinue readingRaphael Jesus Gonzalez visits New York for special reading