I was planning on doing this post on December 31st but I had a show and then we all went to a super swanky New Years party at The Drake Hotel here in Chicago. Then I was going to do it yesterday but I spent the whole day in bed watching Black Mirror and eating takeout. So here I am January 2nd sitting in my bed about to move to a different apartment in my building and feeling great. Let's review 2017 shall we?
January- I started a my first NYC restaurant job at ABCKitchen and I signed with a talent agency. February- Wes and I went to a burlesque show at Coney Island for Valentines day and it was one of the weirdest most offensive things I have ever done. We learned about the dangers of subletting from the wrong people. Lost $700 to one of those wrong people. Moved out of a bad living situation under the cover of darkness, and signed our first lease in an apartment in Washington Heights with some lovely handsome roommates (shout out to Garrett and Greg and Garrett's mom for making that all possible). I put together an Ikea bed all by myself without instructions. March- Went to some cabarets, played some board games, worked a lot, auditioned a lot, saw some broadway shoes, trudged through snow, lived my best NYC life. April- My last month in NYC because I found out at the beginning of the month that I was offered a contract with Carnival Cruise Lines. I said a lot of goodbyes to friends that became very close very quickly. Right before I left the city I had another callback for Beautiful, didn't hear anything, packed up my stuff and went on my merry way. I got a passport for the first time and left the city to cruise with my best friend (shout out to Montez for being the best). I left the country for the first time in my whole life. May- I started rehearsals for one of the most choreographically challenging jobs I have ever done. I met some of the best people I have ever met in my life. I worked with some of the most brilliant people. I pushed myself and saw results I was really proud of. I was proud of me this month. June- I MOVED ONTO A CRUISE SHIP. I always said I wanted to work on a cruise and perform and travel and I finally got to do it. I lived in a tiny cabin but it had rugs so I liked it (if you've ever worked on a ship you know that rugs and string lights make your cabin look like a real home and that's really important.) I met an bunch of people from a bunch of places I had never been or thought about going to. I got a new appreciation for different cultures and I fell in love with it. July- I paid for my parents to cruise and see me perform. My dad had never been on a cruise before so that was a really special thing for me to be able to do. I paid back my mom all the money that she fronted me during my NYC endeavors (which was a lot) and I got a killer tan. I got a really bad cold while my parents were on board and I thought I was going to die. No joke. I had a moment coughing backstage and i thought I was going to die and everyone was just going to find me in a sparkly two piece costume unconscious on the floor. The cold made it into the blog as one of the most monumental things that happened this year because I have never performed feeling worse in my life. But I did not miss a show. I was proud of myself this month too. August- This is the month I encountered body shaming for the first time. I debated about whether or not to put this in the post but it was important for me this year. For the first time in my whole theatrical life I had people talking to be about my weight as if I was severely out of shape and unhealthy. I was told that I needed to keep the weight off I lost during the sickness I had (I lost 10 pounds in 4 days) otherwise we were going to have a "talk" about it. I was within my contract and was hired as a curvy girl. People that had never met me and were just looking at my weight on paper told me to drop some pounds. I am thankful every day for the people that were around me during that time and helped me deal with what was being told to me (You know who you are). Just when the thought crossed my mind that I didn't want to be on the ship anymore and that it maybe wasn't the best environment for me guess what happened.....I GOT AN OFFER FROM BEAUTIFUL. I said my goodbyes, packed up my cabin, got everything in order, and was off the ship in 3 days. Flew to Canada and started rehearsals for my freaking dream. September- I opened as Janelle Woods in Ft. Worth, TX. I cried. I shook. I sang my heart out. I stayed in a really nice hotel and then learned what tour was all about and saved my money and never did it again haha. I met even more great people. It took a bit for some people to warm up to me but that's just because this business can be petty as hell (see my previous post entitled "go to a practice room and get your shit together") but eventually everyone was great. Everyone is great (special shout out to those of you who welcomed my weirdness and grew with me as we learned what it was like to be on tour. You guys actually saved me). October- I flew my mom to see the show in Reno, NV and had a wonderful week with her. I surprised her and I never get to surprise anyone because I am terrible at keeping secrets. I flew Wes to Sacramento, CA for two weeks and we got to go to San Fran and sight see. We ate a wonderful dinner at a wonderful restaurant and didn't have any cash for the Valet. We dressed up as Jessica Rabbit and Peter Rabbit and ate a lot of take out. November- I spent Thanksgiving with my mom and dad and Wes's family all together and it was wonderful. I surprised my best friend since 8th grade (shout out to Robert!!!) that I hadn't seen in two years and got to see him perform. I, of course, cried because that's what I do every time I see him onstage. I did my first meet and great with Beautiful and signed a lot of autographs. December- I moved to Chicago with Wes (we are here for two months on tour) and performed at the Palace Theatre. I was very cold. Turned 26. Went to a fancy new years eve party. Sang at a benefit for BCEFA (broadway cares equity fights aids) with the cast of Hamilton and Wicked. I SAW HAMILTON. I spent way too much money on food. Laughed a lot. In 2017 I got my equity card. Something I have been dreaming about since I was 10 years old. I joined a national tour and got to sing a solo onstage 8 times a week. Thankful doesn't even begin to cover it. This year was a dream. I fell in love so many times with so many different people. I laughed more than I thought possible and I became more and more aware that I had more than the average person and that I should be thankful and humble. There were some downsides and I definitely cried a lot. But I learned a lot of things about myself. I learned a lot about life and relationships this year. I never expected all of these things to happen and they did. Dude, someone in charge of the universe must really really like me. 2018 will be the year of: Taking care of myself. Physically and emotionally. Being better with my money. Being honest with people about the way I feel and not letting fear get in the way of that. Letting my mom brag and be proud of me in public without getting annoyed. Smoothing some of my edges because there is no need for them to be so sharp. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Happy New Year Everyone! I am blessed to know you all.
1 Comment
mom
1/2/2018 12:30:31 pm
the three words (forgive---evidence of the Ruach ha Kodesh in you) put me in tears and Yes, Yahweh loves you especially for i gave you to him the second breath entered your lungs...you are an example of His work...I love you so ver very much
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AuthorMiki. 26. NYC. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical National Tour. Archives
January 2018
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