Is anyone as shocked as I am that Christmas decorations are up in stores, carols are being pumped through sound systems and we are in the middle of the holiday season!? How did that happen? I feel like I went off and got married and got lost in a time/space continuum (my little tribute to "Heroes").
Italy was absolutely perfect and I could not have asked for a more beautiful time as a bride, as a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. It was exactly what Seb and I wanted! A celebration of... everything!!! Thank you all for your gifts, cards and prayers.
And now, Sebastian and I are back... and on the picket line. We came home ready to start our new, "normal life" as husband and wife, but since we've returned to NYC, it has been anything but normal. This Broadway strike has prompted us to stand by each other and our fellow union brother and sisters. This is their/our only voice in the BUSINESS of show. I know many see theatre as "play", but for those of us who have chosen to dedicate ourselves to it, it is our livelihood. It is how we intend to buy a home (apartment), have children, and raise a family. Who wouldn't want to fight for that? I think everyone wanted this "fight" to have reached terms behind closed doors while shows remained open and the theatre, to which we are all so dedicated, continued playing out 8 times a week, but it didn't. So now we find ourselves in a situation that has brought about question, thought and action.
I wish you all a beautiful holiday season... one that provokes important questions, brings about kind and powerful thought and moves your heart to act. In fact, I wish this same sentiment for myself.
Soon Broadway will resume its normal schedule and everyone will return back to work. But It won't be "back to normal". This strike has changed me a little bit. It has reminded me in a very personal way that this world needs me to be more than just aware of its causes, needs me to look beyond the Christmas decorations, needs me to hear the cry of others beyond the caroling. It needs me to act!
Be well and much joy.
Stephanie
August 29 , 2007
Well, as Jim Caruso would say, "Ok, so that
happened!"...and, boy, did it ever!! Monday night at
Birdland was another moment in my life to hold dear
and remind me of just how lucky I am. Thank you all
for coming out and supporting causes that mean so much
to me, BC/EFA and The Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation. We raised over $3,200. I am so happy to
see you all take away a little piece of my "show
memories" and help so many in the process. And then
there were those generous hearts that contributed
strictly because. I would also like to send a very
SPECIAL thank you to those would couldn't attend the
show and yet mailed donations from across the states.
Everyone's efforts and generosity amaze me. "We did
good!"
On another note, I'm sure most of you have already
read that I will be going into WICKED starting Oct.9,
2007 (Allissa your shirt made it official:)) It pained
me not to say anything at Birdland especially after
sharing the duet with Sebastian, but I didn't know
when the press release would come out announcing it.
Sure enough I arrived home to a slew of congratulation
messages and such...so I guessed the word was out. It
should be wonderful run!!!
Again, many thanks for showing up to my "show" and I
promise to work with Jim on the choreography for next
time. We were perfect in rehearsal:)
Much joy,
Stephanie J.
Message Update: Stephanie has already received hundreds of emails
asking about her WICKED schedule. She will not be able
to answer these requests. However, if you are
specifically buying tickets to WICKED to see both her
and Sebastian, she would advise you to avoid certain
dates. These dates include the last 2 1/2 weeks of October
and the first week of November 2007. This is the only
information she can give at this time. Thank you for
expressing such excitement as she returns to Broadway
as the green girl!
March 5, 2007
It's time to take the helm! THE PIRATE QUEEN begins previews this week and I couldn't be more overwhelmed. It's a "good" overwhelmed... an exhilarating overwhelmed. The show is in great shape and we are all looking forward to putting it in front of an audience. Those of you who saw the show in Chicago will be amazed by the amount of changes we were able to make between Nov. and now. Cannot wait to have theatre lovers in the seats and familiar faces in the crowd. EXHILARATING!
On that same note...I do have to mention that I will not be able to visit at the stage door the way I used to. This is one of the things I love most about doing live theatre... getting the chance to meet those who support Broadway and love musicals. But this role is such that it takes every ounce of me to stay strong, healthy and deliver this story 8 times a week. So please understand if I cannot stay and chat long after the curtain comes down (especially during these cold winter months). I'm going to have to make a quicker exit during my PIRATE QUEEN days. It is something I have to do to keep myself healthy.
I do look forward to seeing you all and will never be able to thank you enough for your kindness and support.
Much joy and LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
Stephanie J.
January 11, 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's to new beginnings... a chance to do better, to strive for more. But I guess EVERYDAY is an opportunity to start again. Thank God for that!
My time away from THE PIRATE QUEEN was absolutely awesome. I am a changed woman (in so many ways). Traveling, seeing family and friends, making promises, looking toward to the many adventures that lie ahead. I am just thrilled about this upcoming year!
I hope you are all as "fired up" as I am. You should be so excited about your lives. We are so blessed and therefore should be impassioned about who we are, what we can do with our talents, what the world has to offer. And if you aren't excited about today... there's always tomorrow!
