I've been discouraged at my lack of opportunity in NYC to act--when I returned to the city after a 10-year absence, my intention was ONLY to audition for the stage. However, wonderful opportunities to sing began presenting themselves and, for the most part, I have ended up pursuing those instead of auditioning.
So when I was called a few months ago to sing a setting of Ophelia's "mad scene" from HAMLET as part of the Downtown Music Productions series in the East Village (St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery), I was thrilled at the chance to actually work with the profound text of Shakespeare. Then, as the concert approached, I took a closer look at the simple but effective music for voice and harp (by Carolyn Steinberg) and at the text, which was directly quoted from the play...and promptly panicked--at the chance to actually work with the profound text of Shakespeare! :-)
Fortunately, my friend and experienced director Mary Kate Burke agreed to coach me through the experience. The result was an extremely gratifying moment, for me, of feeling like--for just an instant in time--the audience completely forgot who Gayla Morgan was, and were instead watching Ophelia express a grief that was driving her past her own mental and emotional boundaries--and they were holding their breath.
THANK YOU, Mary Kate! And THANK YOU, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, for once again inviting me to participate in your wonderful programming with DMP at St. Mark's. And for giving me the challenge of ACTING something complex and moving, written by a playwright of dimension far beyond what I reached that afternoon. Even so, I don't think I touched down for 2 whole days, and that gift will carry me through the summer.
May all of you have at least one experience this summer that re-affirms your desire to reach past the normal, into the supernatural. May you be challenged to the point where you're not sure you can...and then choose not to back away. And as a result, may you have the amazing gift of seeing others touched for good because you said "Okay, I'll do it."
