Scrappy Travels

All the veggies at Reading Terminal Market In a lot of ways, April seems like it lasted for about 60 days. It was by far the longest and busiest month I've had in a very, very long time. In the span of 30 days, I celebrated Easter, 4 birthdays and an anniversary, had a mid-life crisis about my own birthday, traveled to 2 different cities, saw 10 shows (and reviewed 9 of them), saw and wrote about the Kennedy Center's new season and totaled my car (so I bought a new one).  In all of this time I was also working full time and attempting to have a life as well. Many, many parts of the month were fun, but stress creeps in after a while. And let's just say I'm very much looking forward to a more laid-back May (fingers crossed...) Birthday fun at Reading Terminal Market April Reads Oslo by JT Rogers : I loved this play!  I wanted very much to see it at Lincoln Center last season, but never got around to it. I have high hopes that some small theatre in Maryland wil...

The Minack Theatre is one of the most beautiful spaces I've ever seen.  I may seem to be exaggerating, but every piece of that theatre from the landscaping, to the overlook of the ocean to the theatre itself cut into the cliffs is just breathtaking. I can't even imagine what it's like to perform there, but it must be an absolute thrill. Unfortunately, we did not have the chance to witness this first hand, but the next time I'm in England, it's on the top of my to-do list.  So,  you may be wondering what makes this space so special? Well, the Minack Theatre, in Porthcurno Cornwall, is one of the world's leading outdoor theaters.  It was built over the course of two years in the early 1930s by Rowena Cade. She and her gardener, Billy Rawlings moved boulders and granite to build the stage and the terraces.  Their goal was to give theater troupes a place to perform Shakespeare's The Tempest .  Can you even imagine a more inspired place to perform this...

A few years ago, a show premiered in England that had everyone talking.  It was a fairly simple concept - over the course of 8 episodes, the detectives would solve the murder of an 11 year old boy in a small, sleepy town on the coast.  The show of course was Broadchurch .  And I'm not sure why it took off the way it did, but it was probably the combination of a superbly talented cast, a compelling mystery, and stunning cinematography.  I, like everyone else, was hooked on the show from the very first moment.   This year, after 3 successful series, it's coming to an end, which is unfortunate.  However, the gorgeous filming locations still exist in West Bay Dorset, UK.  This means that any time you find yourself in the UK - as I did last month - you can visit this gorgeous area of the country, and relive the television magic.  To say this part of the country is beautiful, is an understatement.  And luckily for the residents, they're seeing ...

After planning, and worrying and packing and worrying, I just spent the loveliest 2 weeks in England.  I shared a bit about why I was worried here , though luckily, everything turned out ok. There were a few hiccups along the way, but it turns out I needn't have worried so much. London and Cornwall are still 2 of the most beautiful places in the world to me, and I still love that country with all my heart.  It's just a different way of living over there.  When I'm there, I act differently, speak differently and most of all, I'm braver.  I'll try new things, and drive cars on the wrong side of the road.  I'll explore and chat and mostly, I just have the best time.  As I say, each time I come home, one of these days I'd love to live there for an extended period of time, just so I can explore even more than I already have. When my financial plan finally comes together (i.e. - winning the lottery), this will definitely happen.  For now, I'll just remin...

I've never really been a fan of shows that are deemed "kid shows".  I don't know why.  As a former pre-school teacher, I love children's books and movies.  But for some reason, kid-friendly shows on Broadway are really not my thing.  The two biggest examples of this type of show are Matilda and Beauty and the Beast -  two shows I've hated for years. However, I did fall in love with School of Rock immediately, so there's really no rhyme or reason. All of this brings me to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , currently playing at the Lunt-Fontanne.  As a kid, the Gene Wilder version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was one of my favorites.  It is a sweet and quite quotable movie I've watched dozens of time.  So when I heard that one of the most-talented theater actors of today - Christian Borle - would be donning the top-hat, I knew that I would most definitely need to see it, even though it was a kid-show, that didn't get great reviews wh...

Because it's Tony's week and because YouTube is fabulous, I've been listening to and watching a slew of interviews with Tony nominees.  The shear talent of this year's nominees is staggering.  And the works they've produced are as beautiful and varied, as they themselves are.  Some of the nominated shows like Dear, Evan Hansen, Sweat, Indecent or Falsettos  while deeply moving, are difficult to be a part of 8 times a week.  There's a lot of emotion happening each performance. Imagine having to do that type of heavy-lifting each day or even sometimes twice a day.  I'm sure, while it's rewarding in the best way possible, it's also mentally and physically exhausting. Because of this, many of the actors talk at length about self care - basically, the idea of taking care of yourself so that you are able to get through the performances each week. This idea of self care has been on my mind a lot lately.   As I wrote earlier this week , I've been sl...

London is one of my most favorite cities in the world.  I've been 3 times, and loved it more and more with each visit.  During those times in the city I lived through 2 separate tube strikes.  I had my wallet stolen from my bag.  I rode in black cabs at night and chatted with strangers.  On one occasion, during my very first international trip, I found myself wandering the city completely alone just taking in the sights. In not one of these instances was I afraid.  Even after I was pick-pocketed I was willing to admit it was my own fault for not securing my wallet properly.  I never felt that London was dangerous.  I was never worried for my own safety.  London has always felt more like me than any other city in the world, and therefore I felt safe in my little nest. Until Saturday. In a few week's time, I'm due to be in London for a trip I've been waiting months for.  And for the first time in my life I don't want to go.  I...

Who's awkward?  This girl right here... When I was little, I was called shy.  When I got a little older, I was an introvert.  Now I'd say I lean more to the socially awkward end of the spectrum.  Friends and family tell me this isn't true, but they don't live inside my head and hear the non-stop chatter of hypothetical situations.  Honestly, it's getting a bit loud in here.  I'm perfectly fine with polite conversation. How are you?  How's the weather?  I'm even better if I know one small fact about you.  Oh, you just got back from Jamaica? Tell me all about it.  Oh, you have an affinity for small hairless cats?  Well, I'd love to hear all about that.  (Honestly, I really don't care about the cats so much, but it's something to hold on to.) However, if I were to be dropped next to you at a wedding and you and I have never met before, you would now be responsible for the remainder of the evening's conversation becaus...

There are so many, many things to love about Manhattan.  It's hard to put into words just how much this city means to me.  I got my first taste for my 16th birthday and it's fair to say it was love at first sight.  There was just so much to see.  On that first trip, I we saw the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, The Twin Towers (I have a beautiful photo of them taken from a boat that I'll always treasure), the view of the city from the Top of the Rock, and the piece de resistance, a real-deal Broadway show; my very first!   Just as my love for the energy of the city was instantaneous, so was my love of the theatre. From the first chords of The Phantom of the Opera , I was hooked. I'd never be able to sing and dance like the amazing people on stage, but I could totally keep finding ways to see these glorious shows - and that I did!   Over the years, I've become a little less of a tourist in the city.  I now have favorite resta...