It's Unfortunate. . .

A sad loss. Since I'm super close with Vanessa Redgrave and all that. Seriously though, I enjoy her very much.

Harold Pinter and...

Eartha Kitt. The holidays can be so cruel sometimes. She was a small lady, but a lot of woman. R.I.P.

The Days of Wine and Roses

It seems those days have come to a close. The Depression has begun. Bank account is at a lower level than it's ever been. This is not necessarily a surprise. It's my father's way of handling it that was a surprise. I was in pharmacy filling my Ambien prescription, because I need my pills during times of stress.

He spoke to me with the same sharp tongue that I learned from him. Saying exactly what needed to be said, my ego took the pain. I hung up, bent down in an aisle and wept for a moment. I stood outside the store and felt the chilling wind string my eyes. Freezing my tears until a new ice age could begin.

I returned home and worked. I called him back and apologized and he said we'd talk when I came to visit. Oh joy, oh rapture.

The final countdown has begun. Papers and projects are already underway. Is it truly Saturday? For it doesn't feel like it, it feels more like a Sunday or Monday. Who knows where the time goes?

Lastly, my roommate sang last night in a cabaret at Don't Tell Mama's. The songs were so-so, but her voice was superb. She sang about being a caterpillar, a caterpillar with huge lungs. Since it's Christmas time and I love to hear her voice. I'll share this...



Oh and she sings this to me every night before I go to bed. No lie.

I am Thankful for...

• My wonderful friends (Eric and all the Jeff's I've met) who I am going to New Orleans with. Making me laugh and understanding my eccentricities. No matter how unique they may be.
• My roommate, who has allowed me to feel comfortable in my living situation for the first time in 2.5 years. It's been a nice feeling to have her always close by, I hope she feels the same way.
• My Ex-Husband, no matter who else he dates or if he withholds information from me. He will always have a special place in my heart and soul.
  
• K, the lady who is twice my age, but loves me for me. As I love her for her.
  
• My Florida Lover, who keeps me entertained for hours.
  
• My Australian connection. His wisdom and smarts make me smile. His comments I always take to heart. He is a beacon of positive energy and I know whenever I am down. He will send a wonderful comment my way.
  
• Jim, who lives across the country, but showed me that caring can cross these lands without any trouble.
  
• Anita Morris. Patti LuPone. Judy Garland. Liza Minnelli. Betty Buckley. Barbara Cook. All those Diva's who's voices that have entertained my ears everyday for years.
• My strength and determination. Though sometimes I am the Maid of Constant Sorrow on here. I am in a place I haven't been before, it's a good place.
• My family who is supportive and will always love me. No matter how much of a Wayward Prince I may be to them. To my mother, father, brother and sister. I love them all, even if I don't show it all the time.
  

Thank you all, Happy Thanksgiving.

Diva Divine: Nell Carter

She was big, she was mean and she helped checked Liza Minnelli into rehab before anyone else could! Nell Carter was a lady above all on Broadway who's talents are sorely missed. She died in 2003 from heart complications. Most people will remember her from her short lived 80s show Gimme A Break. I remember Nell as a true performer and Diva Divine!

Annie Mar 26, 1997 - Oct 19, 1997
Angela Lansbury - A Celebration Nov 17, 1996 - Nov 17, 1996
Ain't Misbehavin' Aug 15, 1988 - Jan 15, 1989
Ain't Misbehavin' May 9, 1978 - Feb 21, 1982
Dude Oct 9, 1972 - Oct 21, 1972
Soon Jan 12, 1971 - Jan 13, 1971

You may have spotted Nell in Hair the movie. Or you may have seen her on various sitcoms on ABC. Ms. Carter got her start though from Ain't Misbehavin' where she won the 1978 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress. From the second number where she sang Honeysuckle Rose with Ken Page, to the moment when she belts out Cash For You Trash, and ending with her breaking your heart with Mean To Me.

Nell's rights to the Tony Award were secured with those amazing numbers. Especially when she had competition such as Imogene Coca (On The Twentieth Century), Ann Reinking (Dancin') and her own cast mate Charlaine Woodard.


Nell is [theatrically] legendary because she was supposed to be the original Effie White in Dreamgirls! This is a lesser known fact, but she was signed onto the project. She dropped it to do Gimme A Break. There is a rare 1979 Dreamgirls workshop recording done with some of the original songs that were never used in the show. Nell Carter does sing One Night Only and let me tell you. If she'd done that show, Effie 'Melody' White would've been much bitchier.

In the recording Ms. Carter is singing the song and (I am not sure if it's part of the original show or in the actual studio) someone tells Effie/Nell to speed the song up and Nell just screams, "NO!!!!" Then continues singing. I like to believe that Nell was giving sass to Michael Bennett, but who knows.


Nell's last famous Broadway role was in the revival of Annie in 1997. She played Miss Hannigan. Now I would give my left ball to see Dorothy Loudon in the original run. I would gladly give up my right one to see Nell in the revival! Therefore leaving me ball-less, but a happy homosexual.

Enjoy Nell singing Mean to Me. You will always be remembered Nell.

Diva Divine: Ann Reinking

We'll pretend it's May 1st because I said I would do this the first of the month from now on. I'm going to just give appreciation to a diva of my choosing in the month. Patti will get her dues, but not for the kickoff. I present to you:

Ann Reinking

We probably would remember her in this way: Dance and voice. Probably one of my favorite dancer's next to Ms. Morris. She was Bob Fosse's muse (after Verdon) and she spent massive amounts of time making sure his choreography would be remembered.

Productions
Dancin' – 2009
The Look of Love – 2003
Fosse – 1999
Chicago – 1996
Tommy Tune Tonite! – 1992
Dancin' –1978
A Chorus Line –1975
Chicago – 1975
Goodtime Charley – 1975
Over Here! – 1974
Pippin – 1972
Wild and Wonderful – 1971
Coco – 1969

Her credits are many and she is most known for her starring and choreographing the still running revival of Chicago. Some say she copied Gwen Verdon's very own vocal qualities to a T. Be it intentional or not, Ms. Reinking has always had a distinctive croon. Anyone who can kick that high is an okay dame in my book.

My favorite role of Ann's would have to be the flop role of her life: Good Time Charley. She played Joan of Arc in a musical that was told from King Charles (Joel Grey) point-of-view. Odd right? I read an old TIME magazine review of it. They said, and I paraphrase:

Joel Grey was a one trick pony, performing the same song and dance over and over again. However, Ann Reinking was therefore a prizing-winning Clydesdale who strutted around the stage.

I would love to see those legs strut any day!

Legally Pink

Just got back from the Betty Comden Memorial. Waited outside 2 hours and it was totally worth it. Here's some memorable songs that some of the divas performed:

Beth Leavel, Karen Ziemba and Stephanie J. Block — New York, New York from On The Town
Lucie Arnaz — 100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man from Wonderful Town
Christine Ebersole — Our Private World from The 20th Century
Phyllis Newman — A Shoo-In from Subways are for Sleeping (she won her Tony in that role)
Judith Blazer and Mary Testa — Ohio from Wonderful Town
Carolee Carmello — I'm Going Back from Bells Are Ringing (my favorite performance in it all)
Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway — Neverland from Peter Pan
Lillias White — I Can Cook Too! from On The Town (She was a hot mess! Broken leg, funny green sequin hat and reading the lyrics off some paper)
Leslie Uggams — My Own Morning from Hallelujah, Baby! (Her Tony Award too)
Elaine Stritch — Some song from a movie they did Lyrics too (haha!)
Lypsinka — A BRILLIANT act while syncing to another song from the movie Stritch sang from
Barbara Cook — Some Other Time from On The Town (SHE SANG THIS TO AN ENTIRE HOUSE WITH NO MIC! It was unbelievable!)

Now onto Part two of today...Legally Blonde! I feel so gay...wanna know why...here's why:



It's not permanent don't worry. I just figured it's a rare occasion, might as well go a little out. I'm gonna feel like such a weirdo riding on the subway, but alas we do what we must do...

How did we come to this?

Some bad things have happened today, things that are pushing my toward tears. For example:

I'm meeting my ex (who I am friends with and is coming to the show with me) boyfriend's new boyfriend who he has gotten very serious with and blah blah blah. It's not that I'm jealous, hardly jealous. From the way he describes him, the new guy has the same hobbies as me. That's normal, but I then wonder what I've done wrong to not merit the attention. Does that make sense? I know it's nothing I've done WRONG per say, but it brings me close to tears when I think about it. I don't know why.

Another issue BIGGER that's bringing me close to tears and might just do it is that my mom called me today and informed me that my parent's health insurance no longer covers me. I've been on it since I'm still in school. Well, apparently my dad intelligently took a new health insurance that doesn't offer a Student Rider. Meaning if your child is in school and they have proof they are included. Nope. He didn't.

Since I'm now 22 that means I don't count as a child in general. So I'm currently without health insurance. Here's the REAL kicker and the reason I may cry. It may be the sole reason I can't go to China with my school. I'm going to write an email after this entry to the people asking what I should do. I need a photocopy of my health insurance card for the application. Even if I get it, the card won't be here by October 12th.

I refuse to cry now, but I may be shortly. I don't believe that it's over so quickly. Before it even began. My throat is closing up...I have to go.