It's funny how things work out sometimes...

Time: July 2007

So, remember when I told you about "The Interview." That one-woman show I wrote and entered into the NY International Fringe Festival, also known as the Fringe Fest? I didn't get in.

Actually I got waitlisted and after the wait was over, they sent me a lovely letter stuffed with a list of Fringe Fest plays and ten free tickets to the shows of my choice. I thought that was pretty cool, a classy gesture. And hey, I figured, the free tickets more than pay for my registration fee.

I was pretty bummed that I didn't get in, because I'd really envisioned myself up on a stage, performing the monologues. I could see it, as if my 'World Premiere' at the NY International Fringe Fest' had already happened. But, as it turns out, this particular festival wasn't going to happen, so I moved on.

Anyways, I'm going on about my business, enjoying New York City in the summer. You just can't beat New York on a breezy summer day. There's an energy in the streets that can't be matched and unlike in other, milder climates, New Yorkers don't take a beautiful day for granted. We eat lunch outside, we walk rather than taking the subway, we splurge on a five dollar black and white shake from Shake Shack because we're so freaking happy that the weather's so nice that we feel the need to celebrate.

So, I'm enjoying one of those days when I get a phone call. It's Robert Galinsky and he's asking if I'd like to perform in the next month's Manhattan Monologue Slam.

I hesitate for a moment because it's always kind of scary to put yourself out there. Ultimately, however, my love to perform won over my fear of failure.

'Sure!," I chirp, like the birds around me.

The MM Slam, organized by Robert and Philip Galinsky and produced by one of "Spring Awakening's" producers, always draws a crowd. It was even voted 'Best Open Mic Night in NYC' by Backstage Magazine even though it's not really an Open Mic Night.

Anyhoo, on the first Monday of every month, people crowd into the Bowery Poetry Club in Manhattan's Lower East Side, prepared to be entertained.

The show is composed of two sets. The first set stars eight actors, each performing a three minute monologue of their choice. Some of the material is original, some not, some comedy, others drama. It's a a great way for we as actors, to get on stage and perform in front of a live audience. And for me, it held an even greater significance. It would be the World Premiere of one of my monologues from "The Interview." I would be performing my material on stage for the first time, and to make it even scarier, a industry panel would be judging me.

Eek.

I can't say I wasn't nervous. I can't say I wasn't thinking -- "What if they hate my writing? What if they hate my acting." Because I was. But I knew I that I had to put myself out there regardless of the results. Before I went out on stage, I prayed the prayer I always pray before auditioning or performing. "Please God, help me be free and open, and help me honor the truth of the moment and of the character." And with that, I walked out as Candice, "The Beauty Queen" and began my monologue.

It was so liberating to write and perform my own work. Even before I got the comments and scores from the judges, I felt like a success. I had overcome fear, rejection and self-doubt to get to that stage, and I knew that with each of these little victories, I was becoming stronger and more resilient. And, as it turns out, the judges and the audience enjoyed the monologue. It felt great to hear that the piece spoke to different people in different ways based upon their varied experiences. I'd created something that would hopefully have a life of its own, and now I feel motivated to create more.

'The Interview' will be performed someday, in its entirety. I don't know when, I don't know where, but when I find out, you'll be the first to know.

And,now that you know the story, I'd thought I'd share with you the video from that night's performance.



Take care!