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    Showing posts with label A Sketch of New York. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label A Sketch of New York. Show all posts

  1. What a Month!

    Tuesday, July 2, 2024

     

     












    June began gently.  I committed to attend a poetry reading at Lehman Stages on June 13th at 7pm, which was great!  I knew I had my comedy show on City Island scheduled for June 14th.  Then I saw that Thaddeus Rutkowski was offering a free writing workshop on June 19th at 7pm.  I registered for that. 

            Since I haven’t been teaching, I’ve been sitting too much and could benefit from more structure and motion in my life.  I decided to jump on an opportunity to be part of the alumni show from A Sketch of New York Productions.  For June, they were going to put on their Sketch of Pride Show.  I have wanted to be part of an alumni show for a few years, but I had health issues, then the pandemic occurred, etc.  I decided this was the time.  The show involved 3 rehearsals a week from the beginning of June.  I’ve never written sketches, but they welcomed those alumni who were only in it to act.  I did learn from my peers about sketch writing, but didn’t get to write any this time.  I feel I might be able to do it for a future alumni show. 

            In 3 weeks, we discussed and brainstormed, wrote sketches, (mostly) learned lines, and performed 3 shows at the Producers Club.  Each evening after the show, I was approached by audience members sharing their appreciation of my performance, accent, and presence.  I hope I live long enough to benefit further from this feedback.

            In the midst of it all, I was hired for a 3-day job paying $800.  It required me to miss one rehearsal day, and to be in midtown on a mock jury before 9am (not my nature) for 3 consecutive days.  We were treated well, fed and paid well, but it challenged my energy.  I was able to stay motivated because it was all or nothing.  If one didn’t finish the entire 3 days, no pay.  I needed that $800 to settle a few bills.  I needed it badly.  I got through it, though not easily.  Whew.

            On the evening of Thaddeus’ workshop, I walked from the rehearsal at 
    44th St. and 9th Avenue to 30th and 8th to save carfare.  The workshop was worth it.

            Two days after the Sketch of Pride performances, I was in a comedy show at Pangea.  It’s the Eat Drink Laugh show produced by Paul Hallasy.  It was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed not only being in it, but I loved watching it as well.




            After all this, I was like this:




     


    So much love to CGG-M ❤❤❤
    Mindy Matijasevic
    July 2024

           

     

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 1:04 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , | 0 comments | |

  2.  


     

     





    There’s a change in the line-up for my June 14th show at The Artist on City Island.  Joe Fulton had an accident that prevents him from being in the show.  We are fortunate to have the hilarious comedian and actor, Bob Greenberg!  I hope to have Joe Fulton in a future show as he had me cracking up when I saw him perform.



     

    The Artist is located at 249 City Island Avenue, City Island, the Bronx, NY.  #6 train to Pelham Bay Park and then the #29 bus to City Island.  The updated line-up:


    Tom Brennan




    Bob Greenberg




    Paul Hallasy




     and me, of course ...





            I was heading out tonight getting up my courage to ask some stores for credit ‘til Monday.  I walked in the street near the parked cars.  I looked down to avoid dog poop and to avoid falling.  I saw a $20 bill!  I bent down to pick it up, and it was indeed a $20 bill.  I thanked God/dess and all who might be looking out for me from Heaven.  Those are some special moments.

     

    Several poems of mine have been accepted for an anthology.  That’s a real pick-me-up.

     

    I’m going to be in the latest production of A Sketch of New York.  I was in their show several years ago (before the pandemic) and had a great time.  This is their “Pride” show and will be performed on 6/21, 22, and 23.  Details to come.  I told them I have searched for my inner lesbian but didn’t find her.  I’m sexually attracted to men though I find them difficult in general.  However, I think I’m accepted in the “Pride” show as an ally.  It’s always a good show.  Hope you’ll want to attend.

     

    Rehearsals begin on Monday 6/3.  I think in many ways, this will be good for me.  I need some structure in my life.

     

     

    Love always to CGG-M ❤❤❤

    Mindy Matijasevic, June 2024

     

     

     

     

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 12:52 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | 0 comments | |











  3. One evening, after several glasses of wine and feeling it, I went to pee.  I pulled my pants down like they were sweatpants.  When I was pulling them back up, I realized I had on jeans, not sweatpants.  I had to laugh at myself.  But what is really amazing was that my pants were able to go down and up without unzipping or unbuttoning them.  It means I’ve kept off the seven pounds it took so long to lose.  I’ve got more to try to lose, but just not gaining those pounds back is an accomplishment.



    The other night, I went to my 24-hour Arab bodega.  The man behind the 
    counter is my favorite of all the people who work there.  He asked, “Where’s your mask?”  I said I didn’t have one, and I held my scarf across my face.  He reached down under the counter and offered me a mask.  It was a gift, not a sale.  I put it on but not as well as it needs to be on, so he reached over with his gloved hands and arranged it for me.  He’s young and married; this is not flirting.  He’s a warm, loving, sensitive, decent person, and it felt so good.  In terms of kindness, I was melting. 



    My friend Judy texted me that the Department of Education has 
    extended their free meals to adults (whether they have children in school or not).  Monday through Friday 11:30 to 1:30, we can get three free meals to go.  I checked the Dept. of Ed. website, and there are several schools near me doing it.  Guess where I’ll be on Monday.  My friend Jaye emailed me about Chefs for America.  They are also giving free meals.  I have to check their schedule again.  There’s one of their locations in my area.  I have to check that out.



    I miss everyone.  My best friend and I speak on the phone, but I’m not 
    much of a phone person.  The last time we saw each other in person was for less than five minutes in front of my building.  Before that, we met on Mosholu Parkway and sat at opposite ends of a bench to talk. 



    When I went to meet him and entered the park area, several men on two 
    benches greeted me by offering me to share their blunt.  I had no interest in sharing germs, so they may have assumed I disapproved of smoking weed.  One said, “It’s natural.”  I loved the smell and turned to him and said, “It’s beautiful.”  He thanked me for saying that.  LOL  I overheard one saying that some woman had told them they were ruining the quality of life.  They were not near any children or playground.  They were not harassing people or littering.  They were four grown men sharing a blunt.  I don’t think smoking in a park is ruining the quality of life.  I think letting people die from COVID-19 and getting angry at governors for asking for help is ruining the quality of life and the chance of living.



    Please consider virtually attending this event of a variety of talent where I am included:

    https://www.facebook.com/events/s/a-sketch-of-new-york-actors-re/203320440952840/

    The producers of A Sketch of New York are trying to help us performers out during this time.  It’s Wednesday, April 8th, 6-7pm livestream.  Thank you.





    Much love to CGG-M ❤







    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 6:05 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , | 6 comments | |

  4. Acting and Poeming

    Wednesday, April 3, 2019














    I had a blast being in A Sketch of New York.  We performed at the 
    Sonnet Theatre in the Producers’ Club on 44th Street.  One of the
    wonderful things about acting is being able to be what isn’t easy to be in 
    real life.  In one of the sketches, I was to complain about being on a long, slow line.  Ad libbing was welcomed.  I had a ball.  I was able to stick in 
    some comedic lines I came up with.  The director, Joe DiNozzi, was great to work with.  His assistant and, I believe, co-producer Darien DeMaria was wonderful to work with as well.  They both wrote the sketches and included a hilarious sketch by John Ordover.  The cast was a bunch of characters that I enjoyed.  It all made me realize how much I miss acting.  Stand-up comedy is wonderful and background acting work pays money, but I realized how much I miss acting. 



    Backstage at a rehearsal.




    Night of the show! 




    I have two auditions coming up.  I don’t have a hundred years left, so I 
    truly hope something great happens. 


    For the first time in months, I made it to the poetry workshop I love 
    attending.  The poem I brought was cooking in me for a long time, and then took maybe twenty minutes to write.  When I got to the workshop, I saw people I hadn’t seen before in addition to the folks I expected to see.  I sat there worried that the people who didn’t know me would hate my poem.  I typically worry about the wrong stuff.  This was one of those times.  After I read the poem aloud, the feedback was wonderful.  A few suggestions were made to improve it further.  I welcomed those suggestions.  I was so happy with the whole experience.  Thank you all who contributed to the feedback, whether aloud, in writing, or both.  I make the trip to get the feedback, so thank you very much. 


    Other things are going on too.  The most important is one I can’t publicly 
    write about due to privacy concerns.  I just hope I live a long enough time to be able to mend a relationship central to my heart and then have time to enjoy it.







    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 4:36 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , | 2 comments | |

  5. Mindy's Corner of the World

    Saturday, March 23, 2019







    Been busy with rehearsals for “Own the Stage” and for “A Sketch of New 
    York.”  




    “Own the Stage,” which was a production of Char’Actors that took place 3/19 at Taj II on 21st Street, was a special evening.  The winner was a singer, Andre Byrd.  Besides his talent at singing his songs that he wrote, he was one of the most humble people in the show.  I loved his spirit, and if I couldn’t win, I’m glad he was who did.






    One of the judges was Omar the Comedian.  Later, we shook hands and he 
    told me, “Great job.”  I got many high fives from people in the audience.  I was pleased, but I don’t feel it was my most successful performance.  Though, I have to say, the judges were laughing at my demonstration of my penis-free zone. 






    I need to write new comedy material more regularly. 








    Though I knew I was spreading myself thin, I agreed to do evening background work on "The Atlantic City Story."  I met some fun people.  We all look tired. 






    I’m in “A Sketch of New York” on Friday, 3/29 @ 6pm, Saturday, 3/30 @ 6pm, and Sunday 3/31 @ 1pm.  It will be at the Producer’s Club on W. 44th Street.  It is a bunch of short sketches (none of which were written by me though I do ad lib a bit in some).  The show I’m in is at 6pm.  Then there are two more shows – different casts doing the same scripts.  I find that so interesting to see how different casts do the same show.  So for another ten bucks, you can stay for all three shows.






    Lots of other stuff going on too.  Next time.


    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 3:44 PM | Labels: , , , , , | 2 comments | |












  6. I can’t believe my taxes were done over a month before they are due.  It’s been so many years since I was on top of it.  That was one of many things that had gone out of control.  This time, I averted the deadline crisis.  It’s nice to visit how the other half lives.


    I had contact with someone extremely important to me.  I hope it’s a 
    beginning of something good.


    I auditioned for and got cast in “A Sketch of New York.”  I’m glad about 
    that.  It’s a bunch of short comedic sketches about life in NYC.  We have seven rehearsals and will be performing on March 29th and 30th at 6pm and March 31st at 1pm.  Details to come.  In the meantime, you can mark your calendars if you think it’s something you’d enjoy.


    There’s something so magical about acting.  Being in a character’s 
    circumstances is a great way for me to use my empathy.  Teaching was also a great way, but what works for students doesn’t always jive with administration.  Some leaders nourish and deliver; some destroy. 


    Today I applied for a job out of actual desire and not just out of need.  I 
    keep checking my email for a response, but nothing yet.  I’ve got to stop thinking about it.


    One week from now, on Tuesday, March 19th at 8pm at Taj II Lounge, 48 W. 21st Street is “Own the Stage.”  $15 on line; $20 at the door.


    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/own-the-stage-tickets-57909823842?aff=ebdssbdestsearch



    The show starts at 8pm no matter what the Eventbrite says.  Only the 
    performers need to arrive much earlier.  I’ll be doing comedy in that show.  There are singers, rappers, poets, and comics.  The audience decides who performs a second time.  The judges decide of the folks in the second round who wins the prizes.  So you get to be involved. 












    (love to CGG-M)

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 8:26 PM | Labels: , , , , , , | 0 comments | |