creativity, happiness

Inspired: My happy list

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I’ve been thinking a lot about the next phase of my career as I wind down my consulting work. To help me figure out which step to take next, I started creating a list by asking myself the question, “What makes me happy?” I didn’t censor nor edit myself in any way, a rare state of mind for me. Here are the first answers I found. Crank up Pharrell!:

1.) Working with others, especially creative and funny artists like the people who worked on Sing After Storms
2.) Phineas
3.) My cutie nieces
4.) Baking bread
5.) Walking through Home Goods and fantasizing about decorating my next apartment
6.) Shopping at Whole Foods, especially in the produce section
7.) Seeing old friends greet each other on the street
8.) Stretching and walking
9.) A good story in any form
10.) Seeing someone live their passion and rise to their potential
11.) Autumn

What makes you happy?

 

Life

Inspired: Take the Sign You Want

by Christa Avampato
by Christa Avampato

Signs are everywhere. I snapped this one yesterday. I was really trying to capture the “Risk Everything” and while taking the photo then saw “Caution”. It made me giggle out loud. New York City, and the Universe as a whole, give you any and every sign you look for. Best to look for what you want and grab it!

discovery, dreams, Life, risk

Inspired: Everyday’s Chance

From PinterestLife is a daily series of once-in-a-lifetime chances. Keep taking them.

art, grateful, gratitude, theatre

Inspired: Nothing but love and gratitude for Sing After Storms

The amazing cast and production team of Sing After Storms! (Love to Marita, Celia, and Anuja who aren't in this photo, but who are an integral part of the team!)
The amazing cast and production team of Sing After Storms! (Love to Marita, Celia, and Anuja who aren’t in this photo, but who are an integral part of the team!)

We wrapped our final performance of Sing After Storms at the Thespis Theater Festival last night. Now, I feel nothing but love, gratitude, and joy. All of the stress, long hours, and enormous amounts of energy and effort were absolutely worth it from beginning to end. Now I just want to say thank you—to everyone who supported the show, who attended a performance (or 2, or 3!), and to the incredibly talented cast and crew that made this dream happen. I promise you this: I will do everything in my power (and then some!) to continue to carry this show forward. We’re just getting started.

dreams

Inspired: Dive into your dream

And they can call me crazy if I fail
All the chance that I need
is one-in-a-million.
And they can call me brilliant
if I succeed.
Gravity is nothing to me.
Moving at the speed of sound,
I’m just gonna get my feet wet
until I drown…

~ Ani DeFranco

Amelia Huckel-Bauer, one of the amazing cast members of Sing After Storms, sent me this poem the day after our opening night. Ani know how it goes for people with big dreams. She’s someone who would rather dive in and drown than stay safely on the shore and wonder what might have been if she had tried to swim. Ani, and Amelia, I’m with you.

art, dreams, work

Inspired: Don’t settle for less than great

From PinterestWe tell ourselves, “I’m much better off than a lot of people. This is good enough.” We get what we settle for. If you are a dreamer and a doer, good enough will never be enough because you know you can do better. Get out there and work hard for exactly what you want because everything takes hard work. There is no easy path. There is only good work that takes effort, energy, time, and passion. Give your best everyday to exactly what you want and you will find yourself in the midst of a life you love to live.

art, risk, theatre

Inspired: First, you must leap

From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Whether we fall or fly, the first step is the same: we must leap. I’d much prefer to try and fall than wonder if I could have ever flown. Congrats to the Sing After Storms team on a wonderful opening. You said yes, took the leap, and you didn’t just fly—you soared.

art, dreams, theatre

Inspired: It’s Opening Night of Sing After Storms

Grinning playwright / director moment captured by the life-saving Robert Flitcroft
Grinning playwright / director moment captured by the life-saving Robert Flitcroft

This picture will be my expression from now until the end of our Sunday night performance. Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Thank you times a million to everyone who played a part in getting us to tonight’s opening of Sing After Storms, particularly the stellar cast and production team who gave everything they have and then some to make this happen. In the immortal words of Hall & Oates, “you make my dreams come true…” Let’s go, on with the show!

art, business, courage, determination, theatre, work

Inspired: Opening Night of Sing After Storms = Two Year Anniversary of My Company, Chasing Down the Muse

Say go!
Say go!

Tomorrow marks two important milestones: the opening night of Sing After Storms and my two-year anniversary of starting my company, Chasing Down the Muse. If someone had told me two years ago that June 18th my first original play would open in New York City with the talented team that’s on board, I would have laughed myself silly. When we take a chance, a really big chance, amazing things can happen. It’s all possible: yes, we can sing after storms, and yes, we can chase down the muse. First, we must have the courage to begin. Then, it’s a matter of daily dedication and effort.

theatre

Inspired: Tomorrow is the last day to buy discounted tickets for Sing After Storms

To healing!
To healing!

Opening night of Sing After Storms is Wednesday! We’re so excited to welcome all of you to the theater this week. Our $10 advance ticket deal ends tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17th at 8:45pm. After that, tickets will be $20 cash at the door for all performances. Grab your tickets in advance for all performances at this link: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sing-after-storms-friends-family-and-fans-discount-tickets-11129220799

See you at the theater!