Attention Idaho and Utah Parents, Teachers, Students, etc... who Love Musical Theater

I am excited to announce that Paul Canaan, Broadway veteran (Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Folles, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde), and co-founder of “Take it From the Top” will be presenting combined singing/dancing/and acting workshops in Rexburg, Salt Lake City, Lindon, and Park City, Utah April 11-15th.

Take it From the Top is a NYC based theater and arts education workshop that allows young artists around the country to learn from Broadway Professionals. The workshops are designed to allow participants to increase their talents, while having fun in a creative, professional, and exciting environment.

I will be traveling with Paul to these workshops and let me tell you… these classes are AMAZING! I have watched Paul teach in Orlando and other cities and not only is there an incredible amount of education provided, but the experience is so fun!

Seriously, if you are a teacher, parent, student, artist, or know someone who loves musical theater, this is an amazing opportunity to learn from a top professional while having the time of your life!

April 11th- Salt Lake City, UT
April 13th- Rexburg ID
April 14th- Lindon, Utah
April 15th, Park City, UT

To register and find out more information about a workshop near you, check out www.takeitfromthetop.org, or contact me directly with questions.

That Great Day Has Finally Arrived!

When I moved to my new apartment five years ago, the neighborhood was just starting to really take shape. 107th and Columbus was too far north to be the Upper West Side, too far south to be Harlem, and too far East to be Morningside Heights.
Rather, it was just a little pocket of residential buildings and restaurants waiting to be given an identity.
I love my apartment. One block from Central Park, two blocks of 3 subway lines, and a busstop outside my front door. It's pretty perfect.
Today as I was running errands I saw something that warmed my heart and brightened my soul. I saw an outward symbol that gave my neighborhood worth.
There is was, a short 8 minute walk from my apartment... A Whole Foods Grocery Store (opening late summer 2009).
No more Central Market and Bodega grocery shopping for me!!!

Winter Break in FLORIDA!

This last week I packed my bags and headed down to sunny Florida with my bestie Paul.
We flew to Orlando where we met up with friends in the touring cast of "Legally Blonde" and spend two days playing and soaking up the sun at the Grand Bohemian Hotel (gorgeous).
It was so great to see old friends Ven, Sarah, and especially to spend some quality time with our old college/NYC friend Jeff McLean.
After a NYC winter, it was wonderful to eat brunch outside and walk around at night without a jacket. Ah, to live in a city with year round summer... how splendid!



After Orlando, Paul and I drove down to South Beach to meet up with friends Wade, Patrick, and Joe. We stayed at the Gansevoort Hotel (AMAZING) and enjoyed pool side lunches, roof top evenings, and great Mexican food and NOBU Miami dinners.
It was a spectacular weekend with friends and I am glad the Florida winter break tradition has returned.
Carlos my dear, you were missed!

Chicago, Chicago. I Just Wanna Say...

Last weekend I was able to escape the horrible NYC winter- not for the balmy sun and beaches, but for an even colder winter vacation in Chicago. Even with the freezing temperatures, Paul, Carlos, and I still managed to have an AMAZING time.
Paul and I were scheduled to arrive in Chicago around 8pm, however, due to a delayed flight, we did not get in until close to midnight. No problem... Carlos and our dear friend Clark were waiting at the hotel for us, and fortunately, we were right next door to a Cheesecake Factory (an old favorite). The vacation started off on the right foot celebrating Carlos's Birthday with a sundae at 1am.

Thanks to Carlos's friend (and now my friend) Mark, we were able to attend not one, but TWO tapings of the Oprah show. Jennifer Hudson singing live at 8am is freaking amazing! Turns out, I am also a fan of Steve Harvey- he taught me how to "Think like a Lady, Act Like a Man." Good advice.

After the 2 Oprah tapings we took a disco nap to prepare for the nightlife. In addition to our friend Clark being in town, our friend Eddy is also living in Chicago (both performing in Mary Poppins). We met up for dinner in BoysTown and enjoyed a great dinner with drag entertainers. Always a good time.


That night was a blast with Me, Paul, Carlos, Eddy, Clark, Mark, and Kristy out and about enjoying each other- and the new friends we met at the bars. Of course, Carlos always gets a little carried away and performed a scarf dance ("I'm giving you Slumdog Millionaire") in the middle of the bar.








The next morning we enjoyed brunch with Patrick's mom. Sadly, Patrick could not join us in Chicago, but we still got some O'Brien blood representing.
We spent the day walking Miracle Mile, eating great Mexican food, and relaxing back at the hotel.


The final night in town, Paul, Carlos, and I went to the observatory at the top of the John Hancock bld for dessert and cocktails. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend with my besties.

Sometimes You Want to go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I have a group of good friends who have a standing Happy Hour date at Therapy every Thursday (for the non NYmidtowners, Therapy is a bar, not psychoanalysis).
Unfortunately, I have class most Thursday nights, but every now and then I get a chance to swing by and see the folks.
Now THIS is the kind of Group Therapy I can get on board with!
Thanks to Pedro for always keeping me in the loop and organizing this.

Joe, Me, and Patrick

With Jim Moore- who I adore!

The Ladies of the Hour- Alicia, me, and Tracy

Michael, Karyn, Tracy, and Jason.