An Exciting First Look at #GRATEFUL

In honor of the new book I am working on, my intern wrote this wonderful piece that I swear I didn’t force her to write! Thanks, Blessedterns!

 

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Written by Blessedterns, Official Intern for Annoying Actor Friend

If a common thread exists in the career of every artist, it’s this: Nothing is certain, and, as Annoying Actor Friend says, “the shoe can drop at any moment.” So, what should any self-respecting actor do, whether she’s replacing a current Elphaba, or selling lipstick to the current Glinda? Remain #GRATEFUL, of course! And who better to teach us all how to channel “Everything Happens for a Reason” with Sierra Boggess consistency, than the most #Grateful, forever #SoBlessed, Annoying Actor Friend?

Following their SMASH-hit #SOBLESSED: the Annoying Actor Friend’s Guide to Werking in Show Business, AAF takes readers on the next step along the yellow brick road of working and werking in show business:

“The subtitle to #GRATEFUL is ‘Everything Happens for a Reason.’ That’s a fairly standard statement that actors love to throw out when things don’t go their way—and even more so when they do go their way,” says AAF.

How does an actor achieve being #GRATEFUL, in addition to being #SOBLESSED? AAF says that, “The #SOBLESSED actor isn’t aware of strife or work ethic. They focus only on the great things that happen to them, and not so much on the how or why. The #GRATEFUL actor understands what they had to go through to get where they are.”

Speaking on his/her inspiration for #GRATEFUL: “I think that in a career that’s so steeped in fear over your own life choices, what’s better than taking a break from it all with a book that causes extreme anxiety about that? But seriously, I thought it would be fun to write and hopefully fun to read. It allows me to break form a little bit and play more with being random.”

#SOBLESSED told you which college to attend and how to file unemployment, but what about the hundreds of choices in between? With #GRATEFUL, you’ll have the chance to make all of these choices from the safety of your couch: “There are four main trajectories that branch into hundreds of potential paths — I may be in over my head. The reader gets to choose their way through anything from auditioning for a Broadway show to moving to LA for pilot season.”

So, whether your real life finds you on Broadway, performing as Elsa at birthday parties (#SurvivalJobs), or sitting in Kansas flipping-along-with-the-Pippins-Matildas-Kinkys-and-Mormonses, #GRATEFUL gives you the chance to create the career that your vision board has always dreamed of having. And don’t worry, AAF won’t leave you alone! “I am your cheerleader. And like any good friend, I judge many of your choices along the way.”

Can’t wait for #GRATEFUL’s release? Make sure you catch up by reading (or rereading!) #SOBLESSED; as a true sequel, #GRATEFUL picks up right where the #SOBLESSED protagonist left off: smack in the middle of New York City, where anything is possible.

Don’t become the guy who complains about being in Wicked; this year, sit back, grab an Ana Vargas-sized glass of wine (sparkling for those of you too young to understand that reference) and take a break from the anxieties of show business, Annoying Actor Friend style.

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#GRATEFUL: Everything Happens for a Reason will be available on Amazon later in 2015. Blessedterns was created and is maintained by Ashlee Latimer.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY BIRDMAN WAS NOT LIKE REAL BROADWAY: The Annoying Actor Friend’s 2015 Academy Awards Drinking Game

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This isn’t Birdman‘s night. Or Boyhood‘s. Not Eddie’s, or Patricia’s, or even Anne Hathaway’s. The evening belongs to we, the people. This is social media’s biggest night, and I hope we break new ground in finding a way to make J.K. Simmons’ Oscar about us.

Between Neil Meron and Craig Zadan’s obsession with superfluous musical numbers, and Neil Patrick Harris’ mere presence, Broadway Internet is going to be weathering a four hour orgasm — so you may want to grab an extra bottle, or ten, to help you deal with that.

DRINKING RULES!!!

Drink every time…

  • Neil sings.
  • Neil dances.
  • Neil gets serious.
  • Neil cracks a joke.
  • Neil can do anything.
  • None of us will ever be like Neil.
  • Hugh Jackman shows up to say, “Musicals are back,” and then thanks his wife.
  • There’s a reference to the selfie of last year, or they do anything having to do with pandering to social media.
  • There’s an appearance by an actor you’ve seen in a Broadway show (drink twice if it was Emma Stone, because fuck man, how good was Emma Stone in Cabaret?)
  • Drink if you loved Emma Stone in The House Bunny.
  • She was also really good in Superbad.
  • Drink when someone says the word, “gay.”
  • Finish your drink if one of your Facebook friends is trying to live status the event, but their posts aren’t showing up in chronological order on your newsfeed.
  • There is a musical number that has nothing to do with any of the music nominated.
  • There’s anything referencing Into the Woods.
  • A winner says the word, “grateful.” (one of the songs nominated is literally called “Grateful,” so drink twice when it is performed, and finish your drink if it wins. Also, my second book, #GRATEFUL, will be released later this year. #staytuned. #shamelessselfpromotion. #drinkifyoumadeitthroughallofthesehashtags.)
  • There is an Adele Dazim joke (Finish your drink because that was like six years ago).
  • If someone makes an Adele Dazim joke that is followed up with someone else saying, “Let it Go,” finish the bottle and then beat yourself to death with it.
  • Joan Rivers on the “In Memoriam.” (because remember #Dim4Joan? See how I’ve already made this show about me and it hasn’t even aired yet?)
  • Someone mentions that the telecast is longer than it took to film Boyhood (or some version of that joke).
  • Neil is really proud of himself.
  • And you jump out your window.
  • Or DO you…?

In closing, I’d like to acknowledge that eight Best Picture nominees is a bit douchey. Some of us haven’t paid our SAG dues, and had to borrow screeners from friends. I didn’t get to see all of the nominated films, but here is my take on them based on their titles…

ANNOYING ACTOR FRIEND’S NOMINEES FOR BEST PICTURE

AMERICAN SNIPER
When a person posts something on social media that makes you feel inferior. 

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
Like Smash, but with explosions and flying — so more realistic.

BOYHOOD
Newsies.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
A documentary following an aging actress who must tour the country on a tiered contract — and her recollection of days when every hotel on a full Production contract was grand.

THE IMITATION GAME
That thing where your director gets up during rehearsal and says, “Let me be you.”

SELMA
Eight non-Equity interns working in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival must commute from Selma, because the company manager couldn’t find them housing closer to the theatre. 

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
Like, you know when the gays say, “That’s EVERYTHING?” But about music theory. 

WHIPLASH
The incredible true story of the cast of “Promises, Promises” learning the original choreography for Turkey Lurkey Time.

27 Facts You Didn’t Know About AARON TVEIT – Valentine’s Day Edition

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1.) His name is Aaron Tveit.

2.) The “V” is silent.

3.) He is on “Graceland.”

4.) I have never seen “Graceland.”

5.) But I have been to Graceland.

6.) All I remember is the Jungle Room.

7.) Elvis lived in Graceland.

8.) Elvis never saw Wicked.

9.) Aaron Tveit was in Wicked.

10.) He was not Boq.

11.) I don’t know who was Boq.

12.) I only know a few Boqs.

13.) So many Boqs.

14.) “Aaron” is the only name to start with two “A’s.”

38.) “I” before “E,” except unless you’re Aaron Tveit.

15.) Aaron Tveit knows Anne Hathaway.

16.) Anne Hathaway knows Julie Andrews.

17.) Julie Andrews knows how to do a British accent.

18.) What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

19.) I have two shows.

20.) Aaron Tveit has been in at least two Broadway shows.

21.) Next to NormalCatch Me if You Can, and Altar Boyz.

22.) I think Altar Boyz.

23.) That may have been Kyle Dean Massey.

24.) Aaron Tveit is Kyle Dean Massey.

25.) Have you ever seen them in the same place?

26.) Kyle Dean Massey is doing “Nashville.”

42.) With Laura Benanti.

43.) From SMASH.

27.) Adnan is getting another appeal.

 

You’re a Queer One, Julia Jordan

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Due to scheduling, Jeremy Jordan is unable to appear in #SOBLESSED Live! at 54 Below on February 7th. We look forward to having him at a future engagement and are proud to announce that Julia Murney will be stepping into the role of Jeremy Jordan.

We caught up with Julia this afternoon to hear her thoughts regarding what is bound to be a groundbreaking performance…

How did you prepare for your audition for Jeremy Jordan? I was offer only, but I’m very familiar with his oevre.

What did you sing for it? Meadowlark. In the shower.

Was Jeremy in the room during your audition or callback? I have a photo of him on my piano, so-yes?

Did you read with Laura Osnes, Katharine McPhee, or just a reader? Andy Mientus

How did you feel when you heard you booked the role of Jeremy Jordan? Soy blessed, of course.

How does Jeremy feel? He’s starring in the Last Five Years movie & the Parade concert, so I’m guessing he feels Jason Robert Brown-ish.

Are you familiar with Jeremy’s cannon of work? I don’t like firearms.

Are you a fan? I have a ceiling fan, yes.

Were you on Smash? smashed potatoes are delicious-will there be some at the concert?

Are you nervous to portray such a prolific performer as Jeremy Jordan? I feel like everything has led me to this point…and I plan on being drunk so I’ll have no recollection as to whether I blow it or not. It’s kind of my thing.

How do you plan to make the role of Jeremy Jordan your own, yet stay true to the character? Wait-does his wife know that making him my own is part of the deal? She’s really nice…I would never.

Would you consider this your Daniel Day-Lewis moment? I would love a milkshake, thank you.

Who will you be wearing? Vintage JJ, by Jeremy Jordan. Also, pajamas cause this concert is so damned late at night.

#SOBLESSED Live! will be hosted by Lesli Margherita, featuring Wesley Taylor, Keala Settle, Michael James Scott, Adam Kaplan, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Megan Sikora, Ellyn Marie Marsh, and introducing Julia Murney as Jeremy Jordan.

February 7th. 11:30 p.m. 54 Below.

#UNSEENBROADWAY: The Missing Ladies of Theatre

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A Broadway show has a lot of ladies. The leading ladies. The supporting ladies. The Ensemblist ladies. They are written into the script. They’re required to be there. But what about the ladies who make the show exist? These are the ones who remain unseen to the public, and given the current ratio of men to women, barely exist.

The recent inspired rant over at The Craptacular holds a rather large spotlight up to a Broadway landscape, severely lacking in women on the creative side. We have plenty of divas on stage, but when it comes to those who sit behind the table, women were actually better represented on Smash. In fact, the most unbelievable part of Birdman is that the head critic for the New York Times is a woman. The Broadway we show outsiders paints a rather unrealistic picture. One we should be hanging up and aspiring to emulate.

That’s not to say the current creative women of Broadway aren’t thriving themselves. Stroman. Paulus. Ahrens. Pam MacKinnon. Daryl Roth. Tara Rubin. Etc. These are incredible minds that only prove we need more like them.

I don’t know who The Powers That Be are. If I did, I’d be one. The best thing we can do is put it out there and hope someone hears us. That’s why I’d like to start a feature series highlighting some of Broadway’s unseen directors, choreographers, writers, producers, etc. Women who, for whatever reason, have not quite had their due. I want you to help me.

So Tweet me. E-mail me. Comment on this blog. Messenger pigeon if you must. Use the hashtag #UnseenBroadway. Who should we be looking at? I’ve got plenty of ideas, and I want yours, too.

This experiment is also great, because the more women we feature, the better the chances are that one of them will hire me!

Theatrically Yours,

A.F.

#UnseenBroadway

Guide to the Golden Globes

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I’m really excited to watch the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler show tonight. ONE PROBLEM. I haven’t paid my SAG dues and didn’t receive any screeners. So, I’m really worried I won’t get any of the jokes.

If you’re in the same boat as me, don’t fret! I’m really good at deciphering plot-lines based solely on their titles.

LET’S SEE HOW CLOSE I AM!

The Imitation Game – That thing where your director gets up during rehearsal and says, “Let me be you.”

The Theory of Everything – One man’s journey to discover what makes something go from being liked, to being everything.

Nightcrawler – Alan Cumming’s highly anticipated X-Men spinoff.

Cake – A brave documentary following a group of dancers after Broadway Bares.

Still Alice – The movie adaptation of all those A… My Name is Alice song cycles. I think. I’m sure of this. Remember those?

Boyhood – The story of Andy Mientus’ Twitter account.

Wild – A documentary on spacial unawareness.

Pride – The first movie to ever be adapted from a Facebook status.

Gone Girl – The inspiring true story of a girl who quits her Broadway show because she’s bored, and heads out in search of something better.

Big Eyes – One time I was told this was a #ReasonsIDidntBookIt.

Birdman – Like Smash, but with explosions and flying — so more realistic.

Into the Woods – No clue.

27 Facts You Didn’t Know About the WICKED Movie

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1.) It will be filmed.

2.) There will be a premiere and a party after.

3.) It will still be about witches.

4.) It will be based on the musical Wicked.

5.) The musical Wicked starred Idina Menzel.

6.) DON’T EVER SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT IDINA MENZEL.

7.) People will hate the casting.

8.) There is an 87% chance Anna Kendrick will see this movie.

9.) I like Wicked.

10.) I like movies.

11.) Did you see The Wedding Ringer?

12.) It’s like The Weddings Singer but with an R.

13.) The Wedding Singer was on Broadway at the same time as Wicked.

14.) And then it wasn’t.

15.) Laura Benanti was in The Wedding Singer.

16.) She has not been in Wicked.

17.) Yet.

18.) The first Academy Awards were presented in 1929 at a private dinner of about 270 people. It was first televised in 1953, and now the Oscars ceremony can be seen in about 196 countries.

19.) Wicked can be seen in more than 300 countries.

34.) How is your 2015 so far?

-12.) They put a new brunch place in by my apartment.

20.) The food is just OK, but they have a good happy hour.

21.) You know where they have a GREAT happy hour?

22.) At Wicked.

23.) Because every hour of Wicked is happy.

23a.) Just kidding, nothing’s on sale at Wicked.

24.) And they’re going to make a movie of it.

25.) Because Wicked needs more dollars.

26.) I’m broke. Are there openings for any Shen-Shen/Morrible cover tracks?

27.) Serial got more interesting after the finale.

27 Facts You Didn’t Know About the INTO THE WOODS Movie

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1.) It is about woods.

2.) People go into them.

3.) There is a witch in the woods.

4.) There are witches in Wicked.

5.) These are not the same witches.

6.) Bernadette Peters was one of the witches.

7.) Meryl Streep is the movie one of the witches.

8.) I don’t know if Meryl Streep or Bernadette Peters has seen Wicked.

9.) I like Wicked.

10.) I also like Into the Woods.

11.) Don’t fuck with Into the Woods.

12.) You hear that, Rob Marshall?

13.) I saw the first ten minutes of Nine.

14.) Rob Marshall also directed Chicago.

15.) When I was nine.

16.) Laura Benanti did Into the Woods.

17.) She is not in the movie.

18.) She IS in eight episodes of Royal Pains.

19.) I saw the movie.

20.) I saw it before you.

21.) Everyone saw it before you.

22.) My brother who does sports saw this movie before you.

23.) The slotted spoon can catch the potato.

24.) I like potatoes when you roast them in rosemary.

25.) ROSEMARY!

26.) One time I saw Stephen Sondheim at the Applebee’s in Times Square.

27.) I’m starting to wonder if maybe Adnan did do it.

27 Facts You Didn’t Know About WICKED

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1.) It is about witches.

2.) The witches were also in The Wizard of Oz.

3.) Idina Menzel was one of the witches.

4.) Kristin Chenowerth was the other one of the witches.

5.) It is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

6.) They say the title in the play un-ironically.

7.) More than once.

8.) YOU NEVER LEAVE Wicked.

9.) Stephen Schwartz also wrote Pippin.

10.) Stephen Schwartz is the composer.

10.) What happened to Wayne Cilantro?

11.) I like Wicked.

12.) People who like Wicked also like Frozen.

13.) Have you seen Frozen?

14.) The girl from Frozen and Wicked also did Rent.

15.) Taye Diggs follows me on Twitter.

16.) Remember when Stella got her groove back?

17.) STELLA!

18.) You say you are going to leave Wicked but YOU ALWAYS GO BACK.

19.) What are your thoughts about the conflicts overseas?

20.) London is also overseas.

21.) Wicked is currently playing in the West End of London.

22.) Julie Andrews is from overseas, London area.

23.) Julie Andrews does not have a Tony.

24.) I am not sure if Julie Andrews has ever seen Wicked.

25.) I have seen Wicked.

26.) Can you please pass the ketchup?

27.) I can’t believe it is already 2015.

34.) The following people have not played Elphaba yet:

  • Audra
  • benanti
  • Kristin Chenowerth
  • Jen Cody
  • Karen from Smash
  • Julie Andrews
  • Taye Diggs
  • me

1.) Broadway could use more women.

27.) I don’t think Adnan did it.

How to Get “#SOBLESSED: the Audiobook” for FREE!

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#SOBLESSED: the Audiobook was released on October 21st, and you can get it for FREE!

HOW DO I GET THIS SHIT FOR FREE AND STILL HELP BC/EFA MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT?

STEP 1: Go to AudibleTrial.com/theEnsemblist. (Thank you to The Ensemblist for this rockin’ promo code!)

STEP 2: Join Audible’s ONE MONTH FREE TRIAL (you can cancel later with no charge!)

STEP 3: Download #SOBLESSED.

BAM! That’s it!

WHAT DID I JUST DO?

A couple of things!

1.) You got your hands on a kickass audiobook featuring a cast that collectively has 3 Tony Awards (4 if you count Ivy Lynn’s Best Actress for Bombshell), a Golden Globe, 2 Oliviers, and 47 Broadway.com Fan Choice Awards (None of which belong to me).

2.) Since you made #SOBLESSED your first “purchase” as an Audible member, BC/EFA will make four times the royalty amount! AND YOU DIDN’T PAY SHIT!

3.) You also got yourself a credit for another audiobook! There are about two million out there, and I suggest Alan Cumming’s Not My Father’s Son because ALAN CUMMING.

WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WITH THIS?

All of the writer’s and publisher’s royalties are going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The only people benefiting from the sale of this audiobook are the people BC/EFA helps every single day.

It only takes a few clicks and you’ve made a charitable contribution that costs nothing. You don’t even need to listen to the audiobook! But, I think you should because Brian Dennehy says the phrase, “Hey girl!” on it more than once.

#SOBLESSED: the Audiobook was recorded at Ripley Grier Studios and features Alan Cumming, Lesli Margherita, Megan Hilty, Julia Murney, Will Swenson, Keala Settle, Tituss Burgess, Krysta Rodriguez, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Brian Dennehy.