Stitzy en route

TheatreSpace

2009-07-30T03:07:00.001-04:00

So the TheatreSpace Project that I work on has a new website. Check it out: http://www.theatrespace.org.au/

Home now

2006-10-03T23:04:00.000-04:00

I am home. What an utterly amazing three months. I'm unable to describe adequately the time I've just had. I think it'll take some time to digest the rich gamut of experiences. It still feels a bit like a dream. I certainly had the time of my life and I don't doubt that it'll take a little down time to re-insert myself into Melbourne life and routines. That said, it's good to be home.

Thank you so much to all the people I stayed with on my travels, and to all of you that I met for the first time and also to old mates I caught up with after long stints apart. A selection of photos are on my Flickr page.

I'm still a bit weary and bleary-eyed so I may take a couple of weeks to catch up with all my favourite peeps. I'll see you soon no doubt don't worry about that. I'm not sure whether I'll keep up the blog. There are a plethora of wonderfully relevant, kooky and regular bloggers out there writing richly interesting and hilarious copy. I think I'll remain a reader for the time being until more inspiration and/or local political woes finally strike me to action. Thanks for reading. Ciao for now...

Theatre report

2006-10-03T23:01:00.000-04:00

These are the shows I saw in New York and on my travels. If I'd had more time, a laptop, a dictaphone, and any critical writing skill, I would have given them a little review whilst on the road but now you'll just have to ask me about them when I'm back in Melby town. I love talking theatre over a fine Melbourne coffee as many of you may already know.

Broadway things:
25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (light and fun show at Circle in the Square)
Lieutenant of Inishmore (excellent Atlantic Theater Company show moved up to Broadway)

The History Boys (excellent National Theatre of Britain show, was also in Sydney this year)
Sweeney Todd (fantastic chamber production where all the stellar cast were the orchestra too)
3 failed attempts at seeing Avenue Q (crap, crap, crap lottery system for sold out show!)

Off and Off-Off Broadway:
Eraritjaritjaka at the Lincoln Centre Arts Festival
Stuck Pigs Showing at Ontological
Rosmersholm, an Ibsen play at 59E59
Starshine Burlesque (cheap $5 randy and eye opening burlesque in the East Village)
Mother Courage at the Public Theater in Central Park (starring incredible Meryl Streep)
Two new American play readings in the Village (I performed in one of them)

Edinburgh Festival:
Knots at Aurora Nova (incredible physical theatre piece seen when very jet lagged)
Macbeth Re-Arisen (well written sequel starring my talented mate Claire Glenn)
Improbable Frequency at the Traverse (highlight of the Festival for me, an Irish musical wonder)

Goodbye New York, Hello Euro Friends

2006-09-06T06:47:00.000-04:00

Hi there friends. Just a quick update on where I've been for the past couple of weeks and reasons for being so light on the blog ground. Okay, I admit it, I'm just plain slack. I promise that I've been away from computers and in fact have created a policy that when I'm on the road travelling, I will not spend more than an hour a week on the Internet. Scandalous I know.

My final two weeks in New York were so full that I'm still sleeping them off. Not so much only boozy, but just so many hours in the City soaking it all up. I barely slept a wink in the final week there. So much excitement, action-packed school days and in the end, very overwhelming to leave my close new mates and a city that I'm so hot for.

I left New York on my birthday (August 23) after a weekend in Cape Cod with my family, and travelled to Edinburgh via a long wait at Heathrow. Then a fantastic weekend on an island in the Finnish archipelago to see my Mexico housemates (La Familia Mexicana), then a relaxing week in country Denmark with Stine, and then a swift weekend visit to London next week before coming home via China (Shanghai, mountains and finally Hong Kong before home). I'll be home at the start of October. See you all then. Hooray!

Circle

2006-08-12T13:17:00.000-04:00

I'm now almost finished my summer workshop at Circle so I thought I should report on how it's all been going and the manner of how I'm spending my days in NYC. The seven weeks has flown by and I can't believe it's almost over.

The school is on Broadway at 50th Street in the Theatre District and was founded in 1961. Go to their webpage for more info.

Here's a short run down of my classes...

Acting Technique:
This class is co-taught by two wise and eminent woman (both are members of The Actor's Studio). The first class each Wednesday is with Terry. She is in her mid-eighties and we all think of her as a Yoda-like master. As she speaks her face twitches and makes all kinds of expressions. I see her more as a tarot reader than a jedi instructor - although she does sound very much like Yoda. She is incredibly insightful and a joker of quick wit. I think she is our cheekiest teacher. Her observations are quick and alarmingly perceptive. She enjoys asking: where you're from; where you arrive in your family tree; whether you have any brothers or sisters; and whether you have a good relationship with your mother.

The second class is with Jacqui. It is based on relaxation and the exploration of the senses. The aim of this class is to enliven memories of your senses; touch, smell, sight, hearing. I really enjoy this class and the work that comes out of it is surprising and often incredibly honest. One aim of the entire program is truthfulness and being 'in the moment', and this class requires exactly that.

Classical Text:
This Shakespeare class is taught by Sybil; a fierce, ballsy and wickedly funny Brit. Her mantra is that all Shakespeare must come "from the loins". She also says 'darling' and the 'F-word' a lot - I like her immensely. She is passionate about Shakespeare and can't stand that it is often taught and perceived as a high-brow topic of exclusionary intellectual note. Her belief is that Shakespeare (and Shakespearian acting) must speak to all audiences and this is done by working 'from the loins'. In the first class she laid down the ground rules that no matter what is said or screamed at you over the course of the workshop, to remember, "Sybil likes me". She's not afraid to tell you that the work is garbage or that she doesn't believe you Macbeth. In the second class we began by screaming Elizabethan expletives at partners across the room. 'Piss-monkey'! It is an intense and ballsy class. Sybil demands 110% for each two hour class and no one wants to disappoint her. 'F%$#-ing BREATH darling!'

Dance for Actors:
This is a fun and sweaty class. It is taught by the gorgeous Jeanne (who teaches at Circle and Julliard). The class demanded that I purchase my very first pair of Jazz ballet shoes. It also requires much stretching and much aerobic activity (flexibility pets - I am bendier than ever - I think I even popped a hamstring in yesterday's class). We are learning all the Jazz Ballet standards: grapevine steps, shosse, posse, jazz runs/walks, 'kick ball change', etc, etc. We've also learnt three dance routines: a Chicago-like group routine romp, and then two partnered routines. The partnered ones have been very fun - swing/ballroom and now tango. !Baile fuerte, baile del fuego!

Physical Acting:
Is with Ken. He is hilarious, cartoon character, power pack of a bloke and I think of Jim Carey almost every class. We've done so much in this class (mostly movement-based work linking in with two learnt monologues). It has also dredged up lots of stuff for me - the good and the bad. Ken also has more groupies amongst the Circle students than any other staff member.

Scene Study:
What can I write about this class? It is such a weird beast and I'm still trying to get my head around it. It elicits a wide amount of nerves and angst amongst the student base at Circle. It is run by Alan, a Brooklyn-born 'Woody Allen-type', who is unashamedly and neurotically New York. His demeanor is unapologetic, challenging and constructive. He also has a naughty and silly streak which has reared its head in a few classes. I respect him and this class. I leave the classroom and spend much time in the subways reflecting upon it. It has taught me to be extremely 'specific' in every acting choice I make. Alan's mantra is that this class is a "journey towards you" and that we are "all great actors". Fine by me!

I've done scenes from A View from the Bridge by A. Miller, The Dreamer Examines His Pillow by J. P. Shandley and Into the Blood by S. L. Parkes.

Singing Interpretation:
This class is taken by Kimberly who is a 'classic' Broadway performer/producer. She is the quintessential Broadway dame. She whisks into the room with grace and pomp. She's also very kind and to the point. This is classical Broadway musical theatre darling... It's all about the 16-bar music theatre audition and general professional technique.

Speech/Dialect:
This class resides in the illustrious Room 109 and is taught by the vivacious K.C. She is ace - I LIKE the girl! The class is based on the academic and flawed compendium Speaking with Distinction, the International Phonetic Alphabet, and the learning of the Standard American Theatre Dialect (StdAm). General American (GenAm) and comparisons with such 'lesser' forms of the English dialect are also outlined; Australian(AusEng), Cockney (CockEng), and many other American English accents. These classes are truly hilarious. K.C. also has a hot young hunk (all recent Circle alums) to assist with each class - each 'speaks' with distinction and uses a voiceless 'W' for 'What', 'Why' and 'Wherefore' along with correct Liquid Us and diphthong and triphthong vowels.

Voice class:
Release, release, release. This class is all about breathing and being in touch with all things vocal. Getting rid of tension is the main aim of the game. I love this class. It's also the first class of the day. Part of this vocal exploration has been 'soft bellies' and 'releasing the anal sphincter'... For those who don't know:

the anal sphincter is a ring of muscles at the opening of the anus. The sphincter keeps the anus closed as stool collects in the rectum. Eventually the pressure on the rectum wall causes the anal sphincter to relax, allowing stool to pass out of the body through the anus.

Need I say more. I wonder what kind of actor I'll be when I get back to Oz? Hopefully a very relaxed one.

All go go in the city

2006-08-09T08:51:00.000-04:00

So things have been fairly hectic over the past week. Friends dropping by to see me and more coming. Hooray! My good mate Ally (at left) from Melbourne is staying at the moment and is here for two weeks. We're mooching around the city and having a ball. I'm in the middle of about three more substantial posts so will get them out soon (school musings, smells and poor old New Jersey). It's all go go until next Friday when my time in New York comes to an abrupt end. Still so much I want to see and people to catch up with. This is living. I want to live in New York longer.

Hooters actually exists [and baseball too]

2006-08-02T23:55:00.000-04:00

I am such a naive thing.
Here I was thinking that Hooters was just a celluloid destination.
It actually exists throughout the States...

And all the waiters are in American college cheerleader outfits.
Women only too.
Tight tops, short shorts, fluffy white socks and pumps. I wonder how they get around equal opportunity legislation?
I wish to thank my lovely housemate Jessica for goading me into having a beer there.

In other news, have a look at the photo gallery for pics of my trip the Bronx to watch the Yankees be absolutely walloped by the Devil Rays (Tampa Bay); 19-6, which I'm told is a very high scoring game and an utter embarrassment to the Yankees.

I am a sweaty American

2006-08-01T09:01:00.000-04:00

I used to think that I didn't perspire that much. But since arriving in New York, I have been sweating more than ever. Just strolling to the subway (or waiting for the train) raises beads of salt water across my brow. In jazz dance and physical acting classes my classmates poke fun at the cascade of water that leaks from my body as I stretch, bend, posse, jazz run, grapevine and move my way through classes.

The result is a series of consistently perfect 'American movie' sweat markings on my tshirts/singlets. I am now, officially a 'sweaty American movie star'. I am available for casting in any submarine/military drama, or odd-ball college fraternity/sports romp.

The principal reason for this excessive perspiration has been the incredibly hot and muggy weather. This week it is set to break all the records for the 3 H's - Heat, Humidity & Haze - breaking 105 degrees Fahrenheit (that's over 40 degrees Celsius). So it's bloody hot! Especially in the concrete jungle that is New York City. In the subterranean subway tunnels it is stiflingly hot. The respite comes when a train pulls in and the bliss of air con abates the rankness. The monstrous and steamy heat has resulted in an accentuated number of strangely familiar and unusual smells hitting the nostrils. I will report on these foreign whiffs in a later post.

The photo is from my day of gallery hopping and dancing at PS1 which has been the pinnacle of my adventures in sweat. Sweat on I say, and will.

PS1

2006-07-24T22:21:00.000-04:00

.I went to the amazing PS1 in Queens on Saturday. It is an arm of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - I'm yet to have a look at their renovated digs in Midtown - I hear 'incredible'.

Anyway back to PS1. They hold parties there each Saturday over the summer from 3pm until 9pm (my kind of time frame for a summer party). It's a gallery come museum/art installation/performance space and is housed in an aged school building; Primary School #1 in Long Island City. It is filled with caged cast-iron stair cases, long stone corridors, big whitewash classrooms and stainless steel kiddie bubblers. They even filmed the movie Fame there. It's a really cool place.

I went along with my new mate Joanna (a gorgeous South African/American I know through my Melbourne friend Talya) and her friends: Ted (from New Orleans but now living in NYC) and Alicia (a lovely American doctor). We ambled around Williamsburg in Brooklyn in the early afternoon, eating famous falafels and boozing it up in converted lofts, then headed down to PS1 after the storms subsided (it has been raining like cats and dogs here - going from sticky and unbearable 38+ degrees Celsius heat waves to torrential rain and violent thunder storms - I was caught last Tuesday in Central Park after seeing the New York Philharmonic; soaked to every inch of my person like I've never been soaked before). Anyhow, I digress.

PS1 was fantastic fun. I danced my body to near boiling point (the DJs were pumping out excellent tunes) then ambled around the air conditioned gallery spaces to recuperate. The modern art is pretty lively - lots to like, lots of weird, lots of neon post-modern pop-culture 'responses', lots of simple streaks and shades, and so on and so forth... I especially liked one work: chunky streaks of bright pastel green, pink and blue paint on a medieval water wheel from a monastery in Spain. The photography and glass sculpture sections were my favourites. Then some more dancing and general exploring and then it was time to leave. Crap! I must go back on a sunnier day. I just love how they are using this living breathing historical space.

They even have an ice-box/cooling room near the entrance should you get too hot. In this room is laid wall-to-wall, huge metre long cubes of ice for punters to relieve their aching and steamy bodies.

What a fun day, well weekend. Between PS1 and other escapades to rooftops parties and karaoke bars it was a pretty rowdy weekend. Home on Sunday to NJ for some family times and homework. There's lots more pics on the Flickr site so check it out, www.flickr.com/photos/timstitz.

On the way home from the city after PS1 and drinks.
3am on the Lower East Side.

Update from New York - settled in

2006-07-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

So, I'm settled in. I'm also at the start of my third week of classes here in New York. I can't believe how quickly it's all passing by. I'm already painfully aware that I won't have time to do all I want to do and see all I want to see. I'm going to try my very best though! Little sleep for me.

The latest news is that I'm now closer to Manhattan. My lovely family in "outer" New Jersey (KT, MG & Willy) hosted me for the first couple of weeks but the big two-hour door-to-door commute each way began to be a bit boring so I decided to move in closer. I looked at a few places in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Hoboken and Jersey City (the later two are in New Jersey just across the Hudson River from the City). The Manhattan ones were very expensive (over $US1000 per month) and not quite as big/homey as the ones I saw in Jersey. I did inspect a room in a plush apartment on the Upper East Side that is owned and inhabited by the former US manager of The Beatles. He was a lovely guy and showed me his wall of platinum records, awards, photos and memorabilia from the golden days. Apparently John and Paul (yes, them) stayed there once and the body corporate complained that two illegal lodgers were staying in his apartment; ha! The apartment was like a rock museum with amazing views across the East River. It also contained a couple of cats. Thus, not really inhabitable for the likes of me and my very feline allergy disposition. They were cute cats but I would have been sneezing and red-faced for my whole time in New York (that, and the place smelt like Whiskers cat food, piss and litter trays). A few people have berated me for not taking a room in such a landmark, rock-god penthouse apartment, saying that the allergic reactions would have been a small price to pay to live in such a historical and auspicious place. I don't care. I found a better place.

Luckily, I happened on a perfect house on 7th Avenue in Jersey City. It's only a few minutes walk to the subway and I'm at school in under half an hour - that's just as good if not better than if I were in Brooklyn or Queens. I'm looking after a guys room while he spends his summer travelling around Italy (he works in TV in the City and used to work on Sesame Street). I'm living with two lovely girls who are both in the arts and it's all pretty sweet. The neighbourhood is decidedly quieter than the City but is still so close. It's a real up and coming neighbourhood and will be real estate gold in no time as the snotty New Yorkers get over the fact that it's in New Jersey. For some reason, the fact that it's a whole other state is a reason to berate all things NJ - "tunnel and bridge folk" they call us. The photo to the right is my street which is shady and full of beautiful railroaded brown stone homes - it even feels a bit like Sesame Street.

Our house (see left) is not quite a brown stone, but it's a quaint 60s/70s 'franco cotzo' style joint with lots of living space. There's a general/liquor store on the closest corner, the police station is three doors down (so it should be pretty safe), there's a nice cafe run by a robust Cuban woman on the other corner, and we have a big garish mall and the subway just five minutes walk from here. All in all it's excellent. I feel very much at home here.

School is also progressing like wild fire. I've already rehearsed and performed a scene with my delightful Canadian mate Briana. We were stretched, worked, questioned and challenged in the process. Luckily it's a very supportive place and none of my teachers are petty or mean or into elaborate mind games where they are trying to 'break you down' and 'mould' you into their version of a marvelous actor. Each of my classes is stimulating and I'm learning lots while also consolidating skills. My teachers are all such hilarious and inspiring individuals with each of their own quirks and New York-isms. My acting technique teachers are both in their very senior years and performed with some of the greats at the Actor's Studio back in the day (and are still members). The jazz ballet classes have been particularly challenging during the recent New York heat wave (well, that's my excuse). Today's class was very very sweaty in the oppressive 90+ degree heat and high >80% humidity. All in all, school is fantastic and just what the acting doctor ordered. I will write more about the specific wonders of each of my classes in the coming weeks - I'm still getting my own head around them. It's all a "journey towards you" or so we've been told... I still have to pinch myself each morning as I walk up Broadway on my way to school. I can't believe I'm here. So so cool.

In other exciting news, I spent my first full blown weekend in the City strolling around the East Village, shopping and geeking out in the massive Apple store in SoHo, watching a musical/dance show in Central Park (Rufus Wainwright wrote the music which was sublime), going to the 'Sirens' Music Festival (a huge line up of up and coming indie bands) at the sideshow bizarre and eerie Coney Island, hanging out with my new buddies across the City, catching up with Aussies in the balmy night times (my friend Sophie and later my mate Frog and the troupe from chunky Move) , and generally exploring my new surrounds in Jersey. I'm just so pumped to be here.

The 'Wonder Wheel' at Coney Island, est. 1920
(the cars/cages on the inside ring move around on a track - ingenious)

The chemist just down the road from my house - I love signs

Photos to look at

2006-07-17T00:01:00.000-04:00

I've just put some photos into a Flickr gallery online. So go have a look while I sort out what I'm going to write in this blog. Yikes! Lots more musings to come - things are happening too quickly for me to write it all down...
www.flickr.com/photos/timstitz/

S'Mores in Vermont

2006-07-10T22:17:00.000-04:00

So on my first weekend in the US I was treated to huge family party on Bromley Mountain in Vermont. It was the fiftieth wedding anniversary of my uncle Mike's parents, Bill and Ruth Gilmartin. What ensued was the amassing of their very large family - seven siblings and their own families - 25 in all. Needless to say there was much celebrating; food, wine, Cuban cigars and "S'Mores". The "S'More" was the culinary element I had the least experience in. I was eager to learn. What follows is a photo essay on the fine art of "S'More" making, which I'm told is usually done around a campfire, but since the Weber grill was constantly in use (we cooked up a huge quality of fresh Atlantic fish), the fiery embers sufficed.

This is the official recipe from the master chef, Beth: "The classic thing to do with Hershey's milk chocolate is to make S'Mores, the campfire favorite where you take a square of Graham cracker, top it with a square of the chocolate, then a toasted marshmallow, topped by another Graham cracker." This is how it's done:

Toast your marshie on a skewer over hot coals. Once it's golden brown, soft and gooey, place said marshmallow on a sweet 'Graham' cracker. Now place atop the marshie a thin or thick piece of chocolate (to be truly American it should be Hershey's). Then complete the biscuit sandwich with another Graham cracker and you are ready to tuck in. The choco should melt partially and it should all be mouth-watering and gooey. Yum!

Mm mm mmm...

Stitzy's Goodbye Trivia Musical Bonanza

2006-07-05T22:49:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from the recent fundraising trivia night at Retro Upstairs. I was completely overwhelmned by everyone's support. It was a fantastic night and by all accounts people had fun. I went straight to the bank the next day and purchased a cheque to pay off my tuition fees for Circle in the Square Theater School.

I am here now in New York thanks to all of you. That's cool.

The illustrious 'Box of Truth' Round; Julia is 'True' and Tim is 'False'

The Winning Table

Simon, Gillian and Tim (Brother, Mother and Lipstick salesman)

Up, up and away!

2006-07-04T20:39:00.000-04:00

So here I am in the somewhat sticky Big Apple. I started classes yesterday and today have a holiday for the Fourth of July. One day of classes, then a holiday. Perfect. We're watching the fireworks via satellite from New York in my aunt Karen and her husband Mike's lovely leafy suburban home in the heart of New Jersey - I've also been swimming in their very Tony Soprano like backyard pool.

Stay tuned for pictures from the Farewell Trivia Musical Bonanza Evening at Retro and a photo essay on the delights of a wonderful American invention, "S'Mores".