Mary's Dilemma

Getting ready for the table read of my
screenplay "Mary's Dilemma"
next Thursday Jan 4th.
We begin shooting in February 2007

I have an awesome group of extremely
talented people involved
with this project!

www.marysdilemma.com
and also on IMDB.com

Fly the friendly skies....

11:40AM Jet Blue Terminal at JFK airport in New York.

I'm sitting in the terminal waiting for my flight to West Palm Beach to spend with family for the holiday. A nice 4 day weekend is a great break from the hustle of the city. The news said today would be a monstrous day for travelers and to get to the airports very early. I had no trouble, problem, attitude going through security. Surprisingly. ... Well the airport is empty as were the streets getting here. A young child is screaming at the top of his lungs... his mother went to get him a soda and left him with a male figure probably his grandfather. .... AH! he stopped. I'm looking around and I'm still shocked at how empty the airport is... Oh there are people here, but not at all like the crowds I'd expected.

I was chatting last night with a friend about all the celebrities I've sat so far, just in "The Coast of Utopia" at Lincoln Center.

Well the list goes as follows:

Fran Drescher
James Cromwell
Stockard Channing
Estelle Parsons
Jerry Mitchell
Lucie Arnez & Lawrence Luckenbill
Juilianne Margolies
Olymipa Dukakis

I think that's it for now.... impressive. I hope somday some usher somewhere says... Hey! Guess who I sat... Jeff Goldstein.
That would be nice!

Until later
Happy Holidays!
-Jeff

"Baby, It's cold outside..."

First, I never heard anything about the Studio Dante audition....but you never know...

Tonight was opening night for Part 2 Shipwreck in Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia", and as usual the ushers were the only employees of the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center who were not invited to the Opening Night Party. All front of house staff & even the staff & crew of the show in the smaller theater, the Mitzi Newhouse Theater had 2 comps for tonight. We haven't been offered any.

Ok let's try & end this evening on a good note........ummmm, I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow to spend a few days with my folks in Florida, then back on Tuesday....OK that's nice.
Sorry, just in a mellow mood.....and I don't know why........you ever get like that?

Happy Holidays!
-Me

For as good as it is...it's still so hard.

Many things to mention in todays' post, I'll start with todays events and work backwards.


I spent a few hours at the Apple Store on Fifth Ave, here in NYC in "The Studio". I was having a one on one class on iDVD, Soundtrack, and GarageBand. I love when I'm at the Apple Store, it's almost like my own FAO Schwartz..my very own toy store. I crossed the street in front of the old Plaza Hotel, and looked for a moment at the construction going on. What a shame that's it's going all condo. I'm sure it will still be beautiful, but the legend is no more.




I crossed the street, I was going to the train to head downtown to the workshops at the Apple Soho store when a pigeon dumped right on the brim of my favorite baseball cap. I picked up a few dry leaves and tried to wipe it off. Standing next to me was a hot dog vendor, who motioned me to come over to him. He took some of his hot water and wipe it off my cap. I stood there watching him and realized this is one of the great reasons I love this city so much. I gave him a few dollars for his trouble and wished him a happy holiday. I spent 4 hours downtown and could not be happy.

Ushering tonight at Lincoln Center for "The Coast of Utopia", I sat Stockard Channing, who was delightful. Jack O'Brien and Tom Stoppard (who happen to be very warm & friendly) were already seated and she schmoozed with they for a bit, then she came to me with her ticket. We exchanged some light banter, and that was it. She looked wonderful, just another name to the long list of celebrities I've seated.

.... The House Manager's husband was seated in my section for the opening of Utopia: Part 1, and he is also the Production Manager for The Producers. We met briefly in the past. Now back to when I ushered for "Light in the Piazza", and I had a run in with the Director... I happen to be the best usher on Broadway, with my courtesy, and friendly banter, and Broadway trivia with the tourists....etc. I have gotten so many compliments that there should be a TONY for the best usher on Broadway... It would be mine.
Well, the Director went to the acting Head Usher and said he wanted me "out of the theater". His words were and I quote "They came to be entertained by my show not his!" I was in awe that this renowned director was threatened by ... me, an actor working as an usher. Ha! What a compliment to me!
When the House Manager returned she was told of the incident by the acting head usher and the house manager's words were... "He cannot tell one of my staff what to do. He was hired to direct what happens on the stage, not in the front of house." Yeah! Kudos to the House Mgr. for showing the support of your staff. Mr. Director I thank you for the compliment.

Now back to the opening of Utopia, when House Mgr's husband (the production manager for The Producers) was seated in my section he was watching me do my thing.

Well the House Mgr came to me this evening to tell me that her husband thought I was the most professional usher he had ever seen, and he was amazed with my courtesy and banter with the audience. He too was shocked, when he heard about the diatribe from the Director in mention. He also thought I looked familiar... I should, I auditioned at a call back for him for "The Producers" in the role of Franz Leibkind. Didn't get it but he remembered.

Now the sticky part is, that Director was announced as the Director of Lincoln Center's revival production of "South Pacific" this October, which I plan to audition for. But I can promiose you that I will walk into the audition with my head held high and a performance that should land me a part in the show.

Maybe I shouldn't be sharing this, but it's my truthful voice of an incident that I will not forget and truth be told, for as good as I stood up about this, I was hurt and dejected that he would say such intense words about a measly little usher.... But then again, I'm not a measly little usher, I'm the best!

To close on an upbeat note, I always read other actor's blogs and I came across one today that I thought was exceptional. It's ironic: this actor was a wonderful replacement in "Light in the Piazza", which I ushered and he is currently in the new Broadway production of Les Miserables which I auditioned for the role of Thenardier. The part went to the extremely talented Gary Beach. Aaron Lazar and his blog called Simply Broadway-An Actor's Blog, I reccomend it. www.simplybroadway.com
Cheers Aaron! I never really approached you during "Piazza"... to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance night after night. I like to nod & say hello & that's it. If conversation is extended then I will participate... remember I'm just an usher...

So, with everything going on with my film "Mary's Dilemma", my survival jobs, and life in general, I 'm happy. Oh I want more auditions and more actings jobs (and while I'm at it) I also want a winning lottery ticket... But for now, today, this moment... I'm happy with my life, and I look forward to tomorrow.

-Jeff

Busy December

Tuesday Dec 5th, 2006 9:05AM


I'm getting ready to go to work today but wanted to post this... I saw on a friend's Blog and
felt it so fits in with my frame of mind now.

I'm ushering "Spelling Bee" tonight, I arleady saw the show, & really don't care for it, but I'm
doing a friend a favor. Then the schedule of Coast of Utopia returns so I'll have 2 full weeks of that.
I'm leaving on the 21st to spend Christmas with my family in Florida, and returning on the 26th.

There is always work that needs to be done, and since pre production is somewhat going smooth for
my film, Mary's Dilemma, I was thinking about working on my book "Answers for Actors".