The Rent Welcome Wagon- Page 22

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 9:34pm

fave from DG - Ain't no Party.

Fave from CL - At the Ballet

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 9:39pm

the bird's name is "slippery"

it was a gift and we still don't know what sex it is let alone how old...

we've only had him/her a month or so - he/she seems to like us although he/she will bite a bit....

we are trying to find a vet we can trust and see what's what...

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 9:39pm

you should have heard Ramona Keller sing Ain't No Party, she ALMOST stole the show from Ms.Holliday when I saw it
what did you think of the recent Actor's Fund Concert Version of Dreamgirls?
Updated On: 11/24/04 at 09:39 PM

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 9:43pm

no doubt... Mona always could blow for real...

we did "Buddy" together back in the day.

I think she's great and I'm really happy for the recognition she is getting right now....

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 9:51pm

So are you based in NYC now? Are there any shows you're dying to see?

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:05pm

I've always been based in NYC - even when I'm not here...

I live in the "tri-state" area now - not in the city proper... can't handle all of that anymore.

show's I'm dying to see.... not really - more like movies I'd LOVE to make!!!

f

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:06pm

Slippery? Is there a story behind that?

We've had our birds for years and we still don't know their genders for sure...you have to get DNA testing done to really know, and that's expensive and painful for the bird.

Does Slippery fly?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:07pm

I am definitely with you on that!! What movies are you looking forward to? I'm keen on the Phantom flick and The Woodsman. so do you have any stage plans coming up or are you going to focus on your screenplays, big spoons, etc.?

[MeliMel]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:07pm

Thanks for answering Fredi!

"this - right now

thrilling audiences all over the world

seeing the world and getting paid for it

doing what you love to do and always knowing within yourself that you gave it your all ("what I did for love...")"

That I agree with 100 percent, as with the work idea. I know it's work. This just happens to be a work where I can explore other "people", characters whether it be on stage in an audition or just sitting quietly reading a play. This work allows you to step a bit beyond the boundries of self into an "expansion/extension of you" persay. This work excersises you mentally, physically and emotionally in incomparable ways.

I completely understand what your saying though, I mean I'm moving to New York with a little more than $4000 in my pocket, on a whim, with a minimum wage job and with intention to add another one to it, with no assurance that I will find a roomate or apartement, no certainty on whether or not I'm getting in to any school at all, no real connection or idea of where to begin a "career" or get my foot in the door in New York. All I have really is determination and will to take a chance. Still I say bring it on!

Also about the business being business, by no means did what you say sound b****y or harsh; lol I live in Los Angeles, you don't need to tell me twice. The world of pretense and fake smiles NEVER ends here. When I told my high school drama teacher that this was what I wanted to do all my life he warned me never to get comfortable with someone in the same business as you. It's all part of the game, you may make aquaintences but you will never make friends, loyalty and honesty are double edge swords in this game. Once in a blue moon you might find something to defy that, but more often than not your own your own and it's everyman for himself. Totally, I'm defenitly not looking at Broadway through rose colored glasses here, it is what it is, I have no high and mighty expectations. I'm not doing it for the business, if I get paid for whatever it is I may have the chance to do then so be it, I just want to do it. There are so many things that I get out of performing that I can't even put into words, the experience is priceless despite the consequences.

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:25pm

well Mel...

you're no different than I was... except I was in school - with no idea how to pay for it!!! (paid student loans for 20+ years....)

Since every day is a roll of the dice - you might as well go for it!!! Especially if you know deep within yourself that this is your calling - you'll never be happy doing anything else. I know. It's too big a part of who I am and I have made many, many sacrifices for it, believe me.

You've got a lot more going for you than many who come here. You have more than enough to get an apt (if you look in the right neighborhoods) and you've already got a $job - which is extremley important - all I can say is YOU GO GIRL...!!! You are well on your way.

I'm preparing some survivial in NYC tips for another reader... pm me with your email and I'll be sure you get a copy.

BREAK A LEG DIVA!

FWB

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:26pm

Mel, have you checked Craigslist? I'm not even planning to relocate for another few years and I've got my eye on the market. Brooklyn and Queens seem much MUCH cheaper than Manhattan. (Not that that's saying much!)

[bwaybabe87]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:26pm

thanks for the audition info

Part of what I love most about theater is the "family" aspect. Would you say that more of your shows have been that way?

And hey to all of u broadwayworld peoples I haven't been on here since the summer :-p Do you kno wuts goin on with Seth's chatterbox?

[KateMonster]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:33pm

Hi Fredi,

It has been a lot of fun reading your posts. It is so nice of you to take the time to spend with us. I've been a fan of yours since I saw you in Rent shortly after it opened. Some friends and I actually did the line for rush tickets for you once. You brought us some great coffee and treats. Rent was our first experience actually getting to meet Broadway performers and to have you be so nice to us was something we've never forgotten.

Now, it seems like a lifetime later, I am a mom and had the pleasure of taking my daughter to her first show to see you in The Lion King. You were amazing.

I'm holding out hope that you'll do Hairspray one day. I'd love to hear you sing "I Know Where I've Been."

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:35pm

Hi again, Fredi.

I'm glad you posted that about the illusion of a 'broadway family'. People paint a very nice picture of it but it only makes sense that it's all cleaned up for the general public. That seems to have happened a lot with the Rent OBC, the Big Black Book makes it seem like one giant lovefest. Would you say that that has any basis in truth? Were you guys friendly or was it the usual work-only atmosphere?

ETA- a few questions about the move to broadway. What kind of extra rehersal time and work did you have to put in and did you think that the move was a good choice at the time?

Updated On: 11/24/04 at 10:35 PM

[bwaybabe87]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:38pm

he warned me never to get comfortable with someone in the same business as you. It's all part of the game, you may make aquaintences but you will never make friends

This is making me nervous And yet I still want to do it..am I crazy? haha

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:38pm

*Part of what I love most about theater is the "family" aspect. Would you say that more of your shows have been that way?

I'm happy to say that the majority of the have been great and I have dear friends in my life to this day dating back to my very first show...

of course, you get out of things what you bring to them dig? It's a fine line to walk because you must put your "professional" self on first.

*Now, it seems like a lifetime later, I am a mom and had the pleasure of taking my daughter to her first show to see you in The Lion King.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?
and thanks for the kind words - but that gives me the warm fuzzies to be sure....

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:41pm

You said you were NYC-based, but you live in Barbados. How does that work? Sounds like a lot of plane trips.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:43pm

"It's all part of the game, you may make aquaintences but you will never make friends"
i guess that most def. does not apply to Idina and Taye..hehe they're so cute together but anyway
sorry, thread-jacking, shoot me if you must

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:46pm

And even Taye said in the Rent Bible that he at first was stand-off-ish because he tended to be weary of the phoniness in the industry where people are hugging and kissing and saying they love each other when they barely knew each other. (I'm paraphrasing.)

Smart cookie, that Taye.

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:47pm

*the Big Black Book makes it seem like one giant lovefest. Would you say that that has any basis in truth? Were you guys friendly or was it the usual work-only atmosphere?

our love for each other was (and is) incredibly genuine and, of course, became cemented after Jonathan's death. We always had an extra good group - I believe that had a lot to do with Jonathan's Karma translating into the casting. There are no accidents in life you know....

After all these years - though we don't hang all together really - I think it's safe to say that we still have that "familia" feeling towards each other. Of course, I can only really speak for myself and I will say that i consider each of the "15" a brother or sister to me.

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:48pm

*
This is making me nervous And yet I still want to do it..am I crazy? haha

no crazier than the rest of us

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:49pm

Isn't being crazy one of the standard requirements?

[insomniak]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:52pm

Crazies make life worth living. Rock on to all of us.

It makes me happy to hear that the Rent OBCers weren't entirely putting up a facade for the crowds. Have you seen the whole gang in all at once since the reunion concert? Do you talk with them on a regular basis or is it a sporadic thing? Am I asking too much about this?

Oh, do you celebrate Thanksgiving now that you're in Barbados? Got plans for Turkey day? I'm not a fan of the food, but I like seeing my family.

[N0tThatGirl213]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:54pm

So you don't need food or sleep, insomniak? Can you share these secrets with me?

Maybe then I could get cast in something...::grumbles::

Updated On: 11/24/04 at 10:54 PM

[JoAnne1]

Posted: 11/24/04 at 10:56pm

Barbaods & NYC

I spent 21/2 year flying back and forth
16 month with LKGT
now hubby is up here (14 months so far) we'll intergrate the kids summber by summer - and then the entire family will be here (until high school is over)...we'll see after that.


It makes me happy to hear that the Rent OBCers weren't entirely putting up a facade for the crowds. Have you seen the whole gang in all at once since the reunion concert? Do you talk with them on a regular basis or is it a sporadic thing? Am I asking too much about this?

*not asking too much - but I think those ??'s have already be answered...


*Oh, do you celebrate Thanksgiving now that you're in Barbados? Got plans for Turkey day? I'm not a fan of the food, but I like seeing my family.

we are here in the state...


Isn't being crazy one of the standard requirements?

you betcha!