Movers and Shakers

Okay, so I didn't take this picture, but it's pretty much what my living room looks like right now.

Monday, Monday, Monday. We've hired Mambo Movers to take all of our shit to our new apartment.

Our new apartment. It's gorgeous. It's located on Warnock Street, which is a little side street off of Christian Street between 10th and 11th.

Central air, a great landlord, a deck, a huge kitchen... I just can't wait.

Until then I'm in packing purgatory. Stressed beyond imagination, but I know it will be over soon. And then we will be in our nice new apartment.

Just a few more days. Just a few more days.

I need a beer...

My name is Sara May, and I'm here to recruit you!

Dustin Lance Black, the screenwriter of Milk, accepting his Academy Award:



Beautiful, thoughtful, articulate. Brought tears to my eyes.

On boats, rigging and tech

Our tech process for Honor and the River has been amazingly smooth, considering the huge technical requirements of the show. How do you stage a show in a black box theater that calls for a boat, floating on the river, able to be rowed, combined with underwater and dinner scenes?

Well, thanks to the genius of our set designer, Robert Kramer (he also designed the amazing set for 2007's production of The Dishwashers) and the astute eye of our director, Tom Reing, it was an easily obtainable feat.


First the boat:

Rigged from the "grid" (such as it is in Studio 3...) and controlled by moveable hemp lines on pulleys, the boat easily transitions from calm rowboat scenes to dinner scenes to fast-paced racing scenes.

Speaking of those fast-paced racing scenes:

Nick Park and Kevin Duffin, looking sporty in Megan Diehl's costumes.

Our Technical Director, Andrew Thompson, did an amazing job with all of the rigging. Here he shows Kevin a boat move:


The boat also doubles (when turned over) as a dining room table! Here Ellen Tobie serves some yams to Paul Nolan:


Ellen and Nick, as mother and son, have a moment:


Kevin has perfected his angsty look:


Row, boys, row!


And me, in my tech stage manager mode:
The show's lighting was designed by Dom Chacon and the sound designed by Mark Valenzuela.

Don't miss this wonderful piece. This is one of those rare shows in my experience that has been amazing on all levels-- the cast is not only super-talented but also very sweet, the rehearsal process was wonderful, tech was smooth and now we're looking forward to a great run.

Statistically Speaking...

Still no word on our situation, but I should have more news tomorrow. Currently I'm in tech for Honor and the River, and if you live in the area, you must come and see it. It's going to be an amazing show. I'll post some tech pictures soon.

But for now, please to enjoy something that made me laugh out loud today:

From GraphJam via List of the Day, two HILARIOUS blogs. Check them both out!

Anticipa...

We're in a holding pattern here in the May-Holloway household... things are changing pretty rapidly, but nothing's cemented yet. It's frustrating.

I'm sorry to be so cryptic, but things are really up in the air right now. We should know more by the end of the week.

I'll just say that I desperately, desperately need to get out of this neighborhood. Please keep your fingers crossed for us.

St. Valentine

Wow. Did this guy realize (as he was being beaten and stoned by the Emperor Claudius II and finally, when that didn't do him in, beheaded) that a hugely commercial, arguably crass American holiday would spring up around his name?

I'm guessing probably not.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of the militant anti-Valentine's Day people. I think it's nice to have a special day assigned to tell your someone that you love and appreciate them.

But the relentless jewelry ads, cheaply wrapped chocolates and generic red-and-pink themed stuffed animals are a little annoying after a while.

Deb and I continued our tradition of trying to pick out the most god-awful, tacky cards for each other. We did not continue our tradition of going out to eat, because we're super-duper poor.

But we have each other, a goofy pooch, a bitchy cat and a lot of people who love us. So no matter what life throws our way, we're going to keep on truckin' through.

Maybe St. Valentine would approve after all. I hope that you took some time today to show someone that you love them.

Put a Ring On It

I really resisted posting a ring picture, because I felt it was a little self-important, but then again, I do blog about the various mundane aspects of my everyday life, so why should this be any different?

Besides, I couldn't take the pressure of all of my long-distance friends harassing me about it.

So here you go:



I was quite adamant that I did not want a diamond. We can't afford it, and I want to avoid any stones that may be from conflict-laden areas of the world.

This is a blue topaz, which is the official gemstone of the state of Texas, and also chosen by Deb because it matches my eyes.

She picked it out all by herself. Didn't she do a good job finding something truly original and very personal? She's the bestest.

One Show Closes, Another Begins

Sunday night we closed O Captain, My Captain. I was definitely sad to see it go-- I always love working with Bill Van Horn, and with the addition of Greta Bradbury, who played Walt's silent-but-ever-helpful niece, we had a really fun run.

This was one set I will miss-- it was totally immersive and absolutely gorgeous.



Mr. Lincoln, the centerpiece of our show:

Look at this room. Incredible, right? The audience was literally a part of the action. They really loved sitting on the period furniture, and the fact that we left the lights up for the whole show was a new experience for most audience members.


Melissa and the Little Giant:


Greta, Melissa and I pose with John Wilkes Booth:


Greta Bradbury, future stage manager:


Bill had been growing his Whitman beard for over a year, and declared that he was getting rid of it as soon as the show closed. He made good on his word!

Before (unhappy Bill):

Greta's mom Monica and Chrissie, our house manager, watched as the beard came off:


Do you need scissors or a weed-wacker, Bill?


After! (happy Bill):

And whatever you do, don't miss our next show, Honor and the River. It's an amazing play with a stellar cast. And the set is going to be pretty awesome for this one, too.

Besides, how could you resist these cuties? Kevin Duffin and Nick Park, contemplating rowing and other manly things. (Photo courtesy Sara Allen)

One show closed, another opens soon... the theater wheel just keeps on turning.

And on a totally unrelated note, Deb and I may be moving. Like, soon. Things are getting really bad here on 2 Street and it's time for us to get out. Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes well. We think we've found a great place... more on this really soon.

Weekly Image Update

It's been one of those weeks... we're finishing up the run of O Captain, My Captain while rehearsing our next show, Honor and the River. Add the excitment of the engagement and you get a very tired Sara.

But we've managed to squeeze in a little fun, here and there...

Starting on Monday night, which was officially the Walnut Street Theatre's 200th Anniversary. Can you believe that? It's just amazing to work at a place with so much history.

After a WONDERFUL performance highlighting most of the musicals that Bernard has produced over the past 30 years, the staff of the theater celebrated with actors from many many past productions. It was an incredible evening-- truly a family reunion. It was so lovely to see everyone all dressed up.

The Besties, looking damn fine (l-r: Melanie, Amanda, me, AJ, Deb):

Yay! We're engaged!!!!


Curt Dale Clark, that gorgeous hunk of a man, getting squeezed by me and Amanda:

Me and Melanie took the party to Coco's afterwards, naturally:



Doesn't Amanda look gorgeous and effortlessly cool, as usual?


Later in the evening, things got silly:


We had a really big snowstorm this week-- it dumped almost 3 feet on us during the course of the day. Now, as a Central New York girl, I scoff at a mere 3 feet of snow, but this is a lot for Philadelphia. Naturally the next day everything was a grey, slushy mess (because the city of Philadelphia apparently doesn't believe in plowing) but for a few hours that night, we enjoyed the pristine white blanket over our messy city.

Hyde was so excited, he kept bounding around in the snow banks and generally being impossibly cute:

Our street, looking pretty for once:


My garden took on a new look:


Even the Christmas lights looked cool and winter-y:

Yay for snow and someone to cuddle with!

Commitment

I'm sorry I've been away for so long. It's been a busy week.

BUT, for those of you who haven't heard... drumroll please...

Deb and I are getting married.

Yes! It's true! I'm over the moon. It "officially" happened on Monday-- I picked her up from the airport, and right there, in the middle of all of the traffic and noise, she kissed me hello and put a ring on my finger.

Now before you ask, I have no more details. We don't know when, or where, or how (especially how... I don't know how we're going to afford this...) but it's going to happen. Soon, or relatively so.

Right now all I have is a ring and a promise and a lot of joy in my heart.

And I know it's not legal yet, but the fact that Deb and I are going to make a lifelong commitment to each other in front of our friends and (hopefully) our families is enough for me right now.

Right now. Someday the world will recognize our commitment and dedication. Someday.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Hometown Pride

Isn't it weird the places we consider "home"?

For me, home is the small town of Homer in Central New York, and the city of Philadelphia.

To that end, two things have recently given me some hometown pride.

First, this SNL Weekend Update Commentary (he even mentions Ithaca!! And it's so funny 'cause it's so true!!! Plus he even takes a few shots at New Jersey!!):



And this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the Walnut Street Theatre. Click here for the link.

I think both of my homes are pretty darn awesome. Squirrel hunting and mouth breathing jokes included.