This is Katherine Helmond- You might remember her form SOAP or as Mona from Who's The Boss?, or recently as Debra's mother on Everybody Loves Raymond. She's done a great deal of stage work as well and some film too. Well, for reasons unbeknownst to me, Ms. Helmond showed up at my DANCE FINAL last week and stayed for a bit- watching my tap class and such. She must be friends with the head of the Dance Department- but I was so shocked that I refused to believe my eyes. Couldn't be. Why would Mona be here? So I just sort of smiled and tapped and didn't think much of it until some friends of mine confirmed the sighting as valid. Yikes. http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-5383 

ENJOY MIAMI"S SUNNY SEAQUARIUM. A photo journal exhibit by Beth and Aaron! (heeheehee)

Here's the only picture of me at the Seaquarium. We (complete geeks that we are) found the idea of taking my photo standing in front of a photo-booth to be utterly amusing in a mildly ironic sort of way. YIKES! Now that I'm out of the sun and reason has returned, I recognize the humor to be weak and sad, but you might as well enjoy the goofy look on my face!! 

I have loads of pictures from this great and entertaining SeaLion circus show, but as we were in the very tip-top of the nose-bleed section, I wont laden this blog down with too many. Here's the star of the show doing the quintessential showstopper. Quite talented, very delightful. Oh, and a personal note: The weather was maaaaaaaarvelous! 

Aaron said it best: "This looks like a put-on. It looks like a lawn ornament!" 

Look at the crazy flaming fight! They look like tropical dinosaurs. "No wonder these guys learned how to fly.." right Dad? 

In case you had a hard time viewing the animals through all the edible-litter, here's a shot taken from the under-level viewing area. hard to believe these beauties were ever mistaken for mermaids. But I suppose when you've been out at sea for long enough... 

Hey, here's the manatees- this old girl has plants growing on her. Not much of a rolling stone I guess. The flotsam and jetsam there on the water is lettuce, sweet potatoes, apples, and other varieties of produce- and It floats around to be munched! The effect was strongly reminiscent of a garbage disposal explosion and struck my funny bone. 

Heeheehee- these guys are adorably grumpy. 

national geographic style. These birds (I'll have to look him up, i've forgotten his name- soooo many new species and varieties to remember) would sit so still I firmly believed they were decorative props until he blinked at me. 

Look how close we could get to these magnificent beasts! Had he the inclination, thisone could have sprang forth and nipped Aaron's camera hand off! 

Beautiful shot of some rays. I heard of an INCIDENT with Aunt Carol on the trip- she'll have to tell me all about it later!  

Crocodiles and birds alike gather for the mid-afternoon feeding. Let me say this: Those birds didn't wait around for scraps, they fought teeth and beak for their share. Quite bold. 

More than the marine life, i was practically drooling over the exotic native birds that congregated at the seaquarium. Look at this thing! It's all well and good to see it on tv, but in reality it felt very dream like for me. 

Here are som cute sea lions in an up-close viewing pool. They are playful and puppy-like. 

The killer whale, and myself in the aft- marveling at the many complex variations nature has gifted us with... or maybe just psyched that I'm somewhere where the temperature is in the high 80's in mid-may! 

There's the Killer Whale as captured digitally by Aaron, with me across the way with a good old disposable and big gaudy sunglasses. 

Ahoy!

Welcoming the cruisers back to dry land- you landlubbers! No scurvy I hope? (heeheehee)
Hope the cruise experience was wonderful and glad you all had a vacation.

Well,I promised I would do it- and I really musn't put it off longer else I'll surely lose all my ambition to do so. Today, my last official day of classes for term one, is the day (night) I applaud and thank the New York Public Library System for exemplary standards of excellence in service and materials. Specifically The Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center and the NYPL Riverside branch (a few doors down).

Let me preface this with a bit of background info: I know not by what power, but by some power it is, the AMDA library is actually one of the best and most extensive in the city- if not in the performing arts realm in general. It is so inclusive and detailed that the Juliard students tend to get haughty about us using 'their' facilities- which is the NYPL Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center. Apparently over the years many people have donated scores and media items to little AMDA out of the kindness of their hearts, maybe from pity or some other such impetus, but like a clever spider the AMDA folk have been pleasantly cultivating a swelling horde of treasured and out of print material that will prove invaluable to my education. Here's the cute little snag: Due to renovations and a most timely decision to move the library facilities, the AMDA library had been closed for most of my crucial first semester here- and then for a few weeks was half-heartedly functioning like some sort of bizzarre musical drive thru, where in you would stroll up to a windowed ticket booth type service area, order the music (sheet, or cassette, script or score), pay a processing fee, and then return to the window in a few hours time (sometimes the next day) and pick up your materials.

No problem, you'd say nonchalantly. Au Contraire, mon frere! Though the library's grand opening was delayed well beyond it's target date of the First week of the Semester, our BIG, HUGE, VERY IMPORTANT musicals project *which required hours and hours of listening, reading and researching very obscure and lesser known musicals* was not at all deterred from the due date arbitrarily set probably a year or more ago when someone sat down to make a syllabus for First Semester students. What, then, were we to do?

As a matter of what I consider to be supreme luck and maybe a bit of grace, on my daily walk to school, in the blocks between 70th and 61st, lies a treasure trove of knowledge and blessed input! The Performing arts library at Lincoln Center is widely considered to be the best in the country- and how right they were! Shelves and Shelves of Musical scores (more opera and classical, but pleanty of Broadway to be getting on with), Volumes and volumes of important texts, interactive exhibits (currently a lovely pair on Donna Summer and the other Harold Arlen who composed the famous Somewhere Over the Rainbow from Wizard of OZ) rows and rows of CDs - which are available not as reference materials, but just like books in a regular library available for checking out at your convenience! This is also true of a whole large video\dvd section- free movie rentals! They have everything from obscure instructinal videos (Play the violin series volume 1) to taped performances of live ballet, opera, symphonic concerts and even some musical theatre, to regular old films like John Wayne in The Searchers or Tom hanks in the Terminal. Let me just say that I don't believe i'll ever go to blockbuster again while i reside here.

One particularly valuable feature is the exclusive and heavily monitered viewing library on the third floor. here you can listen to music that may not otherwise be available for checking out, but more importantly you are able to choose from a huge tome-like catalogue of live theatre\musical theatre\ opera\ dance performances recorded for posterity on film. There are many rules and regulations here, and the staff is reminiscent of a fierce priode of mother lions sheltering their young, but once you've gotten over this the resource is quite exciting. In a smallish room off the main floor you sit in very comfortable chairs and have your own monitor and earphones and computeized remote-control and can view some broadway show! Free! I, in my research, was able to see Ragtime with the original cast, and consider myself most fortunate to have done so, as I may never have given the musical a real chance- and was so very impressed with its scope and gravity, which the soundtrack itself really doesn't illustrate. I can see plays that are greatly impactful but are obviously not still up and running. One can examine the changing and evolving styles of american theatre over the span of seasons and decades!

What i've taken advantage of most, however, is the rental of cds and dvds. I now have half the library's broadway cd collection stored in my media library on the laptop, and i'm sure the other half will be entered next semester as we cover vaudville and operettas untill 1960!

But i am most excited about the classic films i've always wanted to see and have scarce been able to locate in your frindly neighborhood video store.
3 that stand out as "wow i'm gald I rented that (for free!)!" are the following: starring bette davis and henry fonda, JezebelThe Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie for which (Dame) Maggie Smith was awarded her oscar. Dad's been telling me for ages to see The Maltese Falcon if i ever got a chance- and let me tell you, I see why! What a fine film. I happen to love old movies, and appreciate them when alot of folks find them hard to 'get into'. I credit this to my parents and my brother all of whom had a great deal to do with shaping my cinematic taste-buds, but often it takes a certain disposition in this day in age- in this hustle-bustle action-and-specialeffects generation to actually sit down and glean enjoyment from films so stylized, so deliberately paced and so rudimentary in technique and technology. The Maltese Falcon (and another great piece, Some Like It Hot) is a film that needs no special taste for older films. This plot was exciting, rich, *mostly* unpredictable and dealt with subject matter just as prevalent today as it was in 1941. What an engaging movie- one that can be put on a FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME list and nor relegated to a favorite old movies list on a separate piece of paper.

I could bore you with full reviews here, but it's late (or early, depending on your point of view) so I'll restrain myself. Suffice it to say this: the NYPL is probably my best friend and most useful tool here in New York so far. Maybe Someday I'll be earning big bucks as a broadway actress and will finally be able to drop some cash in that Donations box I pass guiltily every week upon entering and exiting!!!!!

Love you all greatly- Be home soon,

Beth

A whole lotta trouble over a little idol... 

And a whole lot more trouble (not to mention angst) over the color of a dress! At least the Maltese Falcon appeals to greed and crime- this dress was just MUCH ADO ABOUT Very Little Actually. Nothing like a good case of Yellow Fever to put things in perspective though. 

"Little Girls! I am in my Prime!" . . . ASSASSIN! ASSASSIN!! 

Where the magic happens... Thank the fates for small miracles like taxes going toward something wonderful! 

I Have Returned!

GoodMorrow Friends and Neigbors,

Let me apologize in brief for the terrible dryspell here at the Blog. What with the Florida trip and finals fast approaching, things have been chaotic to say the very least, but not a day has gone by without my wishing I were posting. If only I could be a professional journaler!

Second on my ever-growing bullet list of items we need to discuss is my Sister's Wedding. I know alot of you were unable to attend, understandably, so let me fill you in (again, in brief. When pictures are available I swear I'll do a full-out report, pulling out the stops and giving you the best society column I can manage, but for now, I'll cut to the chase!). The flight down was lovely. After the 5 hour greyhound bus ride to and from Boston a couple of weeks back, this seemed like a jaunt on a commuter train (except for the pressure related ear-popping and the beverage cart)! I tell you, in all honesty that it felt as if I had just begun to settle in when the Captain announced we would be beginning our descent into the Ft. Lauderdale Area. It was somehwat late at night Friday when we arrived at the Miami Holiday Inn, and as chance would have it, Mum was in the Lobby to greet us! It seemed we were the last to arrive, as i couldn't leave until after my afternoon acting class, but I'm told Danny and Rachel WORKED on friday, thus they take the prize for last across the finish line.
Saturday morning dawned beautifully, and I finally got to see those palm trees I had glimpsed in the dark of Friday evening. What a fun and exotic location! It felt so very differsnt from all the places I've been, even L.A. and Virginia Beach, which are both warm\beachy climates. Some people had a view of the port from their windows and we could see thw HUGE Royal Carribbean Cruise Ship that we would all be boarding in a few short hours to attend the ceremony and reception.
Many members of the Fam had a scattered Breakfast Buffet at the Holiday Inn dining room, but not the Bride! She was having her Hair done in a very princess-ly fashion (again, you'll see pictures soon I hope.)and at 9:45 AM we all boarded a small fleet of shuttle vans and were taken to the Cruise Ship! After a seemingly interminable length of time spent standing around like so many herded cattle we finally. . . (skipping over some real tedium here) . . . boarded the ship.
What an exciting thing! It was like being in an indoor-city! Shops, restaurants, attractions! It was lovely. I'm told the boat boasts a mini=golf course, a cinema, bowling alleys, arcades, casinos, an Ice-skating rink and more than several swimming pools. What a luxury! I'm sure the fam is finding plenty of things to do out there on the open ocean!
The wedding took place in a fun lounge\banquet hall with big cushy couches and armcairs. Quite the most Comfortable wedding ceremony I've ever attended, and very well orchestrated too. Not a hitch, not a moment of stress (well, none that i could see, but then I wasn't a featured player :)). All the Wedding party (and guests too now that I think of it) Looked Very Lovely. -Possibly my favorite ensemble of the day was my cousin Sean's "Tux"- which was actually a t-shirt with a picture of a tuxedo torso printed on it- compete with a carnation boutineer!
Sharon was radiant, I shed a tear or two and then was wrangled into pictures and then (gulp) singing! I sang a wedding song by wedding singer Glenn Navis called Take My Hand. I probably should have taken my brother's advice and finished my drink before I got up there- it may have eased my nerves! But, The happy couple were pleased with it, and that's the important thing. I sincerely hope it was a gift they will hold in their hearts as I cherish the giving of it.
Then, in the very same room (very large mind you and multi-functional) the reception was held. The food spread was very impressive, and even with my picky tastes I found plenty to enjoy. I tell you, I even tried Salmon, which I have always wanted to sample, but have never been willing to shell out the money on something with such slim chances of being palatable. This salmon, however, was FREE! It was not bad folks. I'm not a seafood eater (much to the chagrin of my New-England blood), and while this was fishy, it was much more tasty than any other fish I've ever sampled- with the exception of Shark (which, whenever I eat it is always quite thoroughly covered in alot of teriaki sauce, so who really knows if shark is yummy?). Only one person could find nothing to eat, but pizza was ordered and all was well!
The whole affair was lovely, and my one wish is that more family could have had the chance to attend. All in all it was a rather small wedding- and I missed the Reardons! Then, those-who-were-not-sailing were asked to leave the boat and none have been heard from since!
I can't wait to hear about the rest of the adventure!

~~Well, Unfortunately, this post was not as brief as I had wanted and now I'm afraid i'll have to wrap it up! i have plenty of schoolwork to be getting on with here and with a sigh, I must say goodnight for now. Stay tuned for the next items on the agenda: Extolling the virtues of the New York Public Library System, and Miami's Sunny Seaquarium! ~~


Distractedly yours,
Beth!

Just a few short days till MIAMI!! Very exciting stuff. I won't even really get a chance to think about it though, since this week is so packed. Extra dance classes, extra speech classes, extra rehearsals and extra voice lessons all leading up to finals. i really don't even know if I'll be able to pack untill thirsday night! Tomorrow I have performance day in musical theatre for our second song (Since you stayed Here -from Brownstone) and then Wednesday {THE VERY NEXT DAY} We have performance day for our third song (Little Girls -from ANNIE) !!!! I am quite harried. [But smiling, don't worry!]

Then Miami

Then right bqack to work!! Haahaahaa. Then Finals... the Home- and while at home I plan to sub as much as possible for the little Brocktonians, as they are in school until the 30th of June because of Snowdays. I want to take it easy as much as I cane though too, because second semester I hear is grueling!!!

Well, love to All,

Beth

June 3rd

Hello everybody! I sincerely hope my little tutorial didn't do more harm than good and proved at least somewhat helpful. Upon re-reading I think maybe I over-complicated, but we'll see.

I am posting just a few words right now, as it is past my bed-time. The words are this: June Third. June 3rd, folks, is the last day of my first semester. As May third wanes rapidly into may 4th I have to tell you how very excited I am. My second song in musical theatre is coming along quite well (knock on wood) and upon the successful completion thereof I will get to start my third and FINAL song for the term. It will be Little Girls from ANNIE which was my last minute wild card choice that I didn't really think my teacher would consider! How fun!
In VPS we are all now working on shakespeare monologues for the final demos and mine is one of Goneril's speeches from King Lear. Very nasty lady is Goneril. Lots of meaty stuff to sink my teeth into. Now I have to re-read Lear though- a daunting task when I am already swamped. Even for one who enjoys Shakespeare as I do, it isn't like skimming through nursery rhymes or even a thick but contemporary work of literature. I have my work cut out for me- and that doesn't even begin to describ how meticulous I have to be with the diction, articulation, breathing and vocal projection with the piece- since this is my VOICE PRODUCTION and SPEECH class- so I can't just act up a storm and hope my intensity makes up for any technical fuzziness. No sir, this is what my friends and collegues call: A pain in the rear end!
hahahahaahahha heeheehee. Oh well, It's good for us. I should do fine.
The dance is driving me nuts (maybe more on that later- it deserves it's own entry) sight singing is ok and acting should go well. I love my scene partner. She and I went downtown to the east village yesterday to get a sense of the setting of our scene. We had fun even though it rained. ALL the food shops looked and smelled delectable and made me wish I had brought lunch money- but we'll go again and I VOW to sample the cuisine!
Allright, I'm overdue for my 40 winks as it is- but tomorrow's post will be about the Bootleg copy of WICKED I was just watching.

Goodnight everyone- have a pleasant day!!


Love and Well Wishes
Beth