RESOLVE

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. I'm all for constant goal-setting and planning for the future (as absolutely anyone who knows me can attest), but connecting it to the turn of the calendar seems arbitrary and thus especially difficult to uphold. While some find ways to make resolutions practical and manageable - Suze Orman does this well for the January 2012 O - I and others find them to mostly highlight deficiencies and add unnecessary weight to very human shoulders.

May I make an alternate suggestion? Instead of deciding now who to be next year, take the opportunity to take stock of the year almost-past. Record accomplishments, surprises, progress and moments of joy. I did this for the first time this year and a few things happened. I remembered special moments from 2011 that otherwise might have remained buried in my mind, stuck under current to-do lists and plans. I replaced that nagging fear of remaining stagnant for just a little while with pride in what I was able to get out and do in 365 days. I got even more excited about ongoing projects after reviewing where they started and where I/we want them to go.

My list includes everything from paying off a large chunk of debt to securing my first freelance writing gig to getting my first tattoo. I limited myself to 10 items (okay, later I added a bonus #11) so that I wouldn't pressure myself to think of everything. I tried to vary the areas of my life to which each item applied so that my list was well-rounded (e.g. was not skewed to mostly professional changes and milestones). And I wrote the whole thing in a sketchbook with many colored pens so that the list itself is as vibrant as the experiences it references.

What's on your list for 2011?

COMMUNITY

A word about community theater.

I am about as big of a Broadway snob as they come. (I'm sorry, it's true.) But even I make a point to see all kinds of productions, from Off-Broadway to Fringe to local productions of both established works and originals. Sometimes it's because I know the people putting on the production, sometimes it's because I love the show, and sometimes it's just to support local theater. My favorite community theater moments have been when I am delivered a huge dose of humility about my Broadway-centered-ness. Nothing is better than a killer production with local talent that exceeds your every expectation.

Luckily for me and my community, that has happened twice in the past month.

Photo: Nick Berard

Forward Theater Company's The Farnsworth Invention was a masterpiece. The intricacy of Aaron Sorkin's language and the depth of plot detail would have stumped almost any other group of actors and creative staff, but this incredible ensemble staged a gripping, intelligent, moving piece of theater. I was enthralled and left in a state which is incredibly rare for me: speechless.

Photo: Greg Anderson

Four Seasons Theatre's RENT was the regional theater premiere of Jonathan Larson's bohemian rock opera. It is a personal favorite of mine - a staple in my all-time top three musicals - and this particular production was honestly one of the best I've ever seen. This cast was awe-inspiring, their habitation of their characters so complete I forgot the familiar faces and simply fell into their story. I can't stop thinking about how excellent it was, and I can rarely say that - even about Broadway shows.

MAKING NOISE

The fact that these videos came out on the same day just felt so right to me. They are both must-see.

TWO-MINUTE BROADWAY REVIEWS

For the last few years, I've visited New York every October. It is the perfect time of year in the city, with beautiful weather and a rush of fall theater openings. This time around, a friend and I achieved a special feat - seeing five shows in three days (and for a grand total of $150). It was, to say the least, an incredible weekend.

Here's what we saw and what I thought:

FOLLIES
(Friday evening)
The best: Jan Maxwell, Jane Houdyshell's "Broadway Baby," the mirror dance, staging, costumes, set design, lighting. Showgirls in awe-inspiring costumes haunted the action. A cast of some seriously impressive women filled the stage with an ensemble power rarely glimpsed onstage anymore. The past and present intertwined beautifully both in image and in storytelling. And I'm still thinking about Ms. Maxwell's incredible dramatic performance.
The not-so-good: Not much. I was somewhat conflicted about the show-within-a-show staging in Act Two, but I mostly came around to it.
Rating: 9/10

GODSPELL
(Saturday matinee)
The best: The astoundingly tight and talented young cast, Telly Leung's impressions and piano playing, "By My Side," audience interaction. This cast sets the bar for all other young casts on- and off-Broadway, now and in the future. Inventive and modern staging support both plot clarity and the pure fun of the show. The fourth wall is shattered so completely even Hair's interactivity pales in comparison. Challenging content is dealt with thoughtfully and via spirituality rather than religion.
The not-so-good: I never expected to willingly see a reenacted crucifixion; I am still dubious about that choice and experience. At times, the music felt staid and appeared to be holding the show - and especially cast - back.
Rating: 7/10

SISTER ACT
(Saturday evening)
The best: Sarah Bolt, dancing nuns, Catholic humor, glitter. Whoever cast Ms. Bolt in Kathy Najimy's original role gets a gold star - she's perfect. The best moments all involve the choir of nuns performing. And the only show with more sparkles is Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which means Sister Act has ample eye candy.
The not-so-good: Pacing, consistency, leads hitting their high notes. I was not a fan of the changes to the plot from the original movie, and I felt they spent too much time on Deloris' many conflicts and not enough on the nuns getting musical. There were many very flat moments in both certain performances and certain belted notes.
Rating: 5/10

SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK
(Sunday matinee)
The best: Everything aerial, costumes, lead actors. The flying was slow to come, but when it finally appeared, it brought tears to my eyes; it was an incredible effect and spectacle. The villains' costumes were stunning. Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and Patrick Page make the very most of their roles through terrific performances.
The not-so-good: Everything else. The book and music are mostly muddled and, even more unfortunately, often boring. The female roles are laughably weak in the few places they do exist. The land choreography was glaringly bad, seemingly half-assed in both design and execution.
Rating: 3/10

THE BLUE FLOWER
(Sunday evening)
*Off-Broadway at 2econd Stage Theatre
The best: The entire ensemble's performance, all of the music, the new language created within the show. It's really easier to say what didn't work than what did with this piece. I was riveted for the entire show and felt it was mostly perfect. The book is intelligent and intricate, the music delicate and beautiful, the performances so good I forgot they were performances at all. (Special props to Aaron Serotsky, who performed the lead role so brilliantly that I was a bit offended he was the understudy.)
The not-so-good: Change the title (I suggest "Poof Poof Poof Poof") and whittle away the German avant-garde theater bits for length and clarity and the show is absolutely golden.
Rating: 9/10

WRITING FOR AMERICA

My brilliant friend Lauren (such a great name) started her brand spanking new job this week and it's pretty much one of the coolest jobs on the planet. She's a writer for Obama for America and is already all over the OFA 2012 blog. Take a gander at her recent look at diversity and the federal courts ...

 

The whole blog is excellent, capturing news out of the west wing, stories from OFA's organizers, and so much more, like the highly entertaining recent looks at the GOP debates. Check the cloud of occasionally important but mostly ridiculous things mentioned at the latest debate, below.

Head on over to check the blog out for yourself. And while you're at it, leave a comment. You may just end up writing the comment of the day!