Summer in the City - My NY

It's "officially" Summertime and I can't help but think about what Summer was like for me growing up in New York. As far back as I can remember I would escape to the roof in the Summertime, it was my retreat. My first recollection was when I learned how to roller skate on our roof in the Bronx. I learned to roller-skate almost before I could walk. Yeah it's true, at least that was what my mother told me.

As a teenager, going up to the roof was a time for me and my dreams. A time when I could hang out with friends or just be by myself sunbathing on "tar beach" slathered in baby oil and iodine for hours (who knew back then)! I felt like like I was sitting on top of the world loving the view, playing my guitar and always singing.

I'd stare off and look towards the City (aka "The Land of Oz" for me). I was sure from an early age that Manhattan is where I wanted to move "when I grew up". I was in my own world on the roof and knew that my dream of living in NYC would one day come true.

Years later, it happened! I moved into my first Manhattan studio apartment after returning from touring with "Hair" (the Broadway musical) and I've never been the same. I was bitten by the "show biz bug" and the "NYC bug" as a kid. I'm convinced it happened on one of those sunny, humid, mellow days while I was daydreaming up on the roof of a five floor walk up in the Bronx. Ah Summertime!

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Street Talk- My NY

Waiting on a subway platform in NYC, I notice that almost everybody is on their phones. I was just about to check mine when I decided to stop, watch and listen to the people around me... at least the few that weren't "connected." I overheard this conversation between two friends. It went something like this...

Dwayne: Yo Angel, listen to me. Ya know what I'm sayin', right? Ya know what I'm sayin'? 

Angel: No,  Dwayne, I don't have any idea what the hell you are talking about!

Dwayne: Ahh, come on. You're messing' wit me. Ya know what I'm sayin', don't ya?

Angel: Ya know Angel, I can't understand what the f*ck you're saying and you think I know what you mean? 

Dwayne: Man, you got an attitude today.

Angel: An attitude? Why don't you just try to use words when you speak, try using full sentences. You know what they are don't ya? They got nouns and verbs in them, they usually have a point.

Dwayne: A point? Oh shit, forget it! Ya don't know what I'm saying. You don't even know me anymore.

Angel: I guess not cause you don't even try to understand what I'm trying to say when I speak to you!

Dwayne: Exactly, that's what I'm sayin'. That's why we get along so well, we so different.

Angel: So now we get along? I'm really confused, let's forget it. You don't know what I'm saying! You don't know.

Dwayne: I KNOW exactly what you're saying. Ya know what I'm sayin'?

Angel: Yeah, I know what you're saying. Sorry, it was just a rough day for me.

Dwayne: Word! See... ya know what I'm sayin'.

Sometimes being "connected" is overrated and we just gotta stop and listen to each other. Just like I did on the subway platform... Ya know what I'm saying?

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Singing For My Supper - My NY

I have so many memories and reasons of why I love my New York and of what it means to me. It's not just the bright lights, Broadway, limitless restaurants or the late night mentality. Even though I love all that, for me New York is my history and made me what I am today.

Growing up in The Bronx there were singers that would visit the apartment buildings and serenade in the courtyards. In my neighborhood, they would usually sing in Italian and people would throw change to them from their windows or come down and give them money for singing.

Being a precocious child I wanted to do this too! I wanted to get the attention, the applause... okay I wanted the money. After all, I sang along to Judy Garland and I was damn good. Who the hell wanted to hear some old man sing Italian songs? I was the real deal, I could entertain! So I decided that the next time one of the singers would start to sing their songs, this fat, little Italian boy would belt out some Judy tunes. I went out in the hallway and sang at the top of my lungs. It didn't take me long to figure out this wasn't my audience cause I didn't even get a dime. Nevertheless I wouldn't give up and I continued to do this for a few weeks. I finally realized that all I ever got from this gig was a good dinner from my mother. She was either my biggest fan or she just wanted me to shut up. Maybe I was just singing for my supper after all, but it was damn good and that's my New York.

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Fifty Shades of Gay

Believe it or not Gay is not just about rainbows. As a Gay man I'm tired of all this rainbow BS and to quote Judy Garland "I've got rainbows coming out of my ass." There are many shades of being Gay. We are no longer "Gay",  "Lesbian", "Bisexual" or "Transsexual" aka GLBT. Oh no, we've come along way... we now have almost the entire alphabet attached to our former four shades of Gay. We are as of now, LGBTQIA and I'm sure more letters will soon be added.

Growing up in NYC (the center of the Universe) most of what I knew about being "Gay" was what was in the media. I knew there were drag queens, leather daddies, dykes on bikes along with many closet cases. And this was in NYC... I could only imagine what a Gay child knew of Gay culture out in Suburbia! I never really thought about coming "out".  When I was a teenager and my father repeatedly asked me why I didn't date girls I finally told him "some guys don't date girls, so please don't ask me again" (pretty ballsy for a sixteen year old). I was just me and wanted to be loved for being me! I was bullied back in the day, that's just how it was. But it wasn't an "issue", there were always bullies. You didn't have to be Gay to be bullied. There were many shades of being bullied.

Unfortunately not much has changed. Whenever there is representation of the Gay community the media is still compelled to show the drag queens, leather daddies and dykes on bikes. Once again that's what sells and many people still have the need to cling to those stereotypes. I'd like to say there are fifty shades of Gay - but that doesn't even come close! So maybe there is a rainbow full of Gay and way more than fifty shades of grey.

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Who Said You Can Never Go Home?

My love of NYC started at an early age. On one of my first subway rides, I did what many people do... I got off at the wrong stop. I slowly started to explore the neighborhood and find my sense of direction, who am I kidding? I never had a good sense of direction. I walked around for awhile and found out that I was in the West Village. OMG, my life changed and I was truly "home". I felt just like Dorothy when she landed over the rainbow and opened her door to a technicolor world.

Grant it I'm a native New Yorker and have always loved the diversity of it, but this brought diversity to a new level for me. Gays and artists and hipsters, oh my! Every street I stumbled upon was magical. I met lots of local characters and window-shopped at little stores filled with things I'd never seen before. And then there was the variety of restaurants with their mouthwatering aromas. I didn't know what half of them were, but I wanted to try them all! I was in heaven when reality set in and it was time to head back uptown to the Bronx for dinner. As soon as our meal was over I was back on the subway headed to the Village. My parents were still having their dessert as I continued my journey on the yellow brick road.

It's been said that "you can never go home again", but that's not true for me. Every time I fly back to NYC I become that teenager and I remember that first subway ride when I discovered a new world. So I do go home again and again and "Oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home."

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Connected in Suburbia

I could never understand how people were constantly connected to their phones, tablets and computers. In fact it pissed me off... it still does when I see people with their faces buried in their own little world ignoring others and everything all around them. Well the tables have turned and I'm somewhat guilty now too. Have I become one of those people? Hmmm...

Writing in My Fantasy World

Since moving to Suburbia my main connection to people has been through Social Media. But I think I have a legitimate excuse... I'm isolated, there are no people out here. Okay I'm being dramatic, obviously there are people... but they're all in their cars! Social Media has become my friend, my outlet, my lifeline to the world. I would poo-poo this behavior while living in NYC, but it's another story for me out here. I now have two Blogs with two Twitter accounts and two Facebook pages. I also have a personal Facebook page and a community Facebook page. And as if that's not enough I've started another Facebook page just for "Some Of These Daze" the play we're developing. Phew, it's become a full-time job, but without a paycheck. It's almost like a contagious disease and it's spreading. I still haven't joined Linked In and only sampled Instagram so far, so maybe there's still a cure for me. (I haven't found it on WebMD, but I'll google that later).

Blogging in Suburbia

Have I become one of those people who I always thought didn't know how to interact or couldn't deal with people? Hell no!!! Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a people person. I am always present when I'm with people and don't resort to my iPhone or iPad... unless they start on a way too familiar rant about some BS I've heard a million times before. And then that all too familiar sound of the "ding" happens and I'm saved by the bell! 
                                                         

Developing Script with My Pals

I love Social Media and I love people. But if the only way I can connect with people while living in Suburbia is through Social Media, well so be it. And I'm very grateful for all of you "out there in the dark". Now if only I can find a way to turn all of these connections into a paycheck or at least get me back to NYC, then maybe I'll be truly be "connected" with people!

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Actors & Writers & Me... Oh My! Whatta Year 2014

2014 was an amazingly inspiring year in theatre for nyc2suburbia! I was able to see a lot of memorable performances in NYC and in Suburbia! I even got to meet some of the incredible artists (I'm sure you'll even recognize a few).

I wanted to let my photos do the talking (for a change) in my "Whatta Year" post... hope you enjoy it. Remember to get out and support theatre - it's all around and the possibilities are endless.

All the best in 2015 and thanks for your support.

Actors & Writers & Me... Oh My! 
"A Night With Janis", "Bullets Over Broadway", "If/Then", "Mothers & Sons" & "Rocky"

Sharon McNight, Tyne Daly & Leeza Gibbons chatted about our script "Some Of These Daze"

2014 Tony Winners ...
"Beautiful's" Jessie Mueller & "Lady Day" herself, Audra McDonald
Two Real Sweeties!

Everyone's favorite character, Matthew Broderick from "It's Only A Play"

Kyle Dean Massey, the Best "Pippin" in NYC & Me at "Pippin" in SF

"Buyer & Cellar's" Michael Urie in NYC & SF
Amazing performance! Even better the second time around

Davies Symphony Hall ~ SF was Hot for Liza!

My Pal & Me Backstage after the show... check out our lips!

Bette Midler, Gerard Butler & "A Night With Janis's"
Mary Bridget Davies... Wow!

OOB Play Festival

Seeing All the Finalists
Whatta Variety of Plays

At "Hedwig"

Neil Patrick Harris ...
Move Over

"Chicago" SF... Razzamatazz and All That Jazz

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Wake Up, Wake Up... Santa Came

I loved Christmas as a kid. Growing up in New York I'd always want a white Christmas and we often got it. Snow on Christmas - for me that's how it was! Being a kid that always questioned things, I'd ask my parents how Santa could get into our apartment since we didn't have a fireplace or a chimney. They'd tell me that Santa would land his sleigh on the roof and his elves helped him deliver the gifts. (I didn't really buy this, but it sounded good and I wanted Santa's gifts).

There was always family and friends in our tiny apartment, especially during the holidays. On Christmas Eve I'd have to go to bed early even though we had company. My parents said it was because Santa was on his way to deliver the toys and all kids had to be asleep. (Why couldn't I just get a later delivery? Oops I hadda be nice not naughty). I'd unwillingly go to bed still trying to listen for Santa as I fell asleep. After a few hours of sound sleep, Mama would wake me up. Most of the company would still be there and lo and behold... Santa and his Elves had dropped off my load of gifts. I do believe in Santa, I do believe in Santa!

I got to open all my gifts and then just as quickly as that, I'd have to go right back to bed. I couldn't even play with my toys for more than a few minutes! WTF? In hindsight... that just ain't right. I was sleeping with visions of sugar plums (okay, Barbie dolls) dancing in my head and was startled out of my sleep to find a bunch of presents, open them and then be forced to go back to bed. This was definitely a topic I covered in therapy. I think this could've been the foundation of my neurosis, possibly even a reason for my ever present insomnia.

Anyway those days are long gone and for now I live in Suburbia in California. There is no snow here and family and friends do not come in and out like when I was a child. The good thing is that on Christmas Eve I go to sleep whenever I want and get to sleep straight through the night without being woken to open my gifts. And if I'm good I might even find a card under my pillow and some goodies from Santa under our little purple Tree in the morning.

But for me, Christmas is New York City and all the wonderful clichés that go with it... Radio City Christmas Show, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the magical window displays and the Holiday spirit of tourists visiting the center of the universe. There is no place like home... especially at this time of year.

Happy Holidays to everyone wherever you may be and I hope you enjoy them. Spread the love and the light of the season even if you don't have a chimney or a fireplace. And be thankful if you have a neurotic parent that may wake you out of a deep sleep to open your Barbie dolls. Yes I do believe in Santa because he's in everyone of us.

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