MANILA, Philippines?Oh yeas, as you can tell from the title, I?m back in New York City. I arrived in the middle of a very sunny Valentine?s Day. My mother was a little worried, as a snowstorm had just passed through the northeastern part of the United States, leaving many inches of the white stuff everywhere.
As we touched down, I could see that the ground was covered with snow. The sight left me giddy. Then again, New York in any weather leaves me that way.
I?m currently ensconced in very familiar territory: a few blocks away from the theater district, which is perfect! I will definitely be making my visit (nope, pilgrimage would be a better word, methinks) to a few shows during my extended stay in the city. I?ll also be taking quite a few long, long walks (I have the proper shoes, plus my foot is healing nicely), something I love doing whenever I?m here.
Meanwhile, my primary reason for being in New York is work.
One, I?m doing a reading of a new musical called ?Allegiance,? a dramatization of one of the darker moments in American history: the Japanese internment in World War II. I had my first rehearsal today, going through music alone for the first couple of hours, and then was joined by more members of the company, which includes George Takei (?Star Trek,? ?Heroes?), Tamlyn Tomita (?Karate Kid II,? ?Heroes?), Michael K. Lee (?Miss Saigon,? ?Pacific Overtures?), Paolo Montalban (?Pacific Overtures?), and Kevin Gray (?Miss Saigon?). Not everyone was there today though: Michael has just finished his run as Chris in the Korean production of ?Miss Saigon? and will be joining us on Wednesday, while Kevin is currently teaching in Florida and will be with us on Friday.
I had previously done a reading of ?Allegiance? in Los Angeles ... the reading next Monday is another step forward in its development. The cast is now bigger and there?s a lot more music. Some of the material previously performed has now changed, either with additional lyrics or a completely different intention. It?s all very exciting, and I?m happy to be part of it.
Two, I?ll have my own three-week cabaret series at the Caf Carlyle. This hallowed room has been home to many amazing artists, such as Frank Sinatra, Barbara Cook, Eartha Kitt, Christine Ebersole, Woody Allen, and Elaine Stritch. My series runs from March 9-27. For more details, please visit www.thecarlyle.com/entertainment.
cfm.
I had dinner tonight at a restaurant called Joe Allen to go over the repertoire collected and our rehearsal schedule as I had a bowl of soup and munched on a salad. It?s a good mix of the old and new, homegrown and foreign, serious and funny. It?ll be a fun evening and I?m very excited!
As for the more personal pursuits, I?ll be celebrating my 39th birthday here! My New York barkada and I will be heading out to dinner, and I will be celebrating alongside one of my best girlfriends. She and I used to traditionally ring in the big day together as our birthdays are only three days apart. Let the merriment begin!
Now, I?m back in my hotel room, watching the Olympics. I think I?ll go now ... watching figure skating is important.
