St. Billie

9.30.2010 by Kerrie

Reason #1,245 why I love living in New York City: Last night I was in the audience as Billie Joe Armstrong played St. Jimmy in American Idiot, the show he created. A role that he wrote. Music he wrote. He's on for one week only, and I was there. I was there.

It probably isn't a huge deal to most people. Hell, half of my friends don't even like Green Day. And that's fine. They're all crazy people, but I accept that. I, however, grew up listening to Green Day. My first Green Day album purchase was Nimrod, when I was in 7th grade. (Holy shit, that was 10 years ago). I remember being sprawled out on the floor in my room, feeling (or pretending to feel) angsty about something, with "Redundant" on repeat. Green Day shaped my angsty adolescence. Warning was released the same year, and I remain one of the only people who really loves that CD. (Whatever). Shortly following that, I purchased Dookie.

I went to my first Green Day concert (along with Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World) my freshman year of high school. They remain the best band I've ever seen live. Ever.

In 2004, American Idiot was released. I bought it the first weekend. I still think it's completely brilliant, and it was always one of my most played CDs on my iPod. So this year when it make the big leap to Broadway, I was one of the few "theatre folk" who wasn't completely skeptical and expecting a disaster. I knew how brilliant it already was, knew it was written for this kind of project in mind, and didn't even wait a week to see it. Mike and I saw the 4th preview.

This show is totally polarizing - people hate it or love. They get it or they don't get it. It's most definitely not everyone's cup of tea, and I understand why. I love it. Though would I still love it if I weren't a life-long Green Day fan? Hard to say. I see people's complaints - a very loose narrative is the biggest quip with the show. But looking at shows like Hair, I've never needed a totally structured piece of theatre. It tells it's story in a very different way. To me, everything is clear. It's not the most original story in the world, but it's the way that it's done. It connects to people in very different ways - it brings people back to that time, especially in my age group, even though it wasn't so long ago. Someone posed the question on BroadwayWorld - "were we really that angry?" Well, yeah. We really were. I remember being that angry. Are we still that angry? Not in the same ways. Is it still relevant? Absolutely - especially for the people it's talking to. In the same ways that Hair is more relevant than ever. Totally different time periods, same passion and same sentiment.

Anyway, I really love the show. That's the point of that.

So Billie Joe Armstrong stepped into the role of St. Jimmy for one week, and I was there. I burst into tears the minute he entered the stage. And, okay, let me explain this - people have different reactions to different emotions. But for me, I tend to have one gut reaction for every single emotion - sadness, happiness, excitement, anger, fear, anticipation, pride, disappointment, etc., etc. - I cry. When any of these emotions gets big enough and overwhelming enough, I just cry. That's just the way I am. I don't sob or go into hysterics, but I can't help it. My eyes well up. And this was definitely a big and overwhelming moment. I haven't seen him live since 2002. Big stuff.

But what he good? Yeah, he really really was. He energized the show in a completely new way. It wasn't a question of him being able to sing it - obviously he can. He wrote the damn music and still performs it all over the world. (And, btw, how does his voice still sound the same? And moreover, how does he still look 15? My theory: highlander). I was really surprised that he really came out as an actor. I'm not saying he's going to be playing Hamlet any time soon, but he wasn't just doing this for publicity or for shits and giggles. He really invested himself in it. And that's impressive. This guy tours with Green Day and plays in stadiums full of thousands and thousands of people. And this week he's in front of a (comparatively) small house and really putting his entire self into it. (Or is really good at faking it). His take on St. Jimmy was pretty different from Tony Vincent's. He was goofier, while still being menacing. He found a lot more laughs, in places I hadn't expected them. During his last exit, he sat up and smiled at the audience, waving himself off. He's clearly having a good time. Maybe even... the time... of his... LIFE?! Couldn't resist. But that's a nice transition...

And then there was, of course, the curtain call finale. And this is where I cried like a little schoolgirl. The minute he started playing Good Riddance, that was it. This song is nostalgic for anyone in my generation. It was really special to see him sing it live again, especially with the rest of the cast. Two worlds, and two of my favorite things, came together - musical theatre and Green Day. Did they get this idea from my subconscious or what?!

Didn't I say this was going to be a good fall?

Next this week: Jake Gyllenhaal Saturday night, Steve Carell Sunday morning. Hopefully Aaron Sorkin tomorrow night. (CAN YOU IMAGINE?!)

And, btw, my favorite TwitPic ever posted ever:
@GreenDay: Your favorite musical sucks. American Idiot rules! Fuck me hard! XXxxxxxxxxX st Jimmy"

*K


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A good fall.

9.27.2010 by Kerrie

The first week of fall:
- I saw Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight in A Life in the Theatre. Twice. For free.
- I got a second job flyering for the above mentioned show.
- I had a fun photoshoot with Ashley Marinaccio. (See it, read the interview here: People Who Want Change).
- I started rehearsals for Co-Op Theatre East's Radio COTE play "Conference".
- I went to the VENDY AWARDS.
- Had my first Co-Op Theatre East ensemble meeting.
- Went to the BC/EFA Flea Market.
- DEXTER SEASON 5 PREMIERED.

Things that are happening soon:
- Seeing Billie Joe Armstrong in American Idiot on Wednesday.
- Starting rehearsals for Co-Op Theatre East's production of Trojan Women.
- Seeing The Colbert Report. Twice.
- Going to Medieval Times.

Yeah, I think this is shaping up to be a pretty awesome fall. I can only hope that more amazing things are in store.

Oh, redesigned the blog. Much more simple.

*K

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Now I'm a year older.

8.23.2010 by Kerrie


For all of you on the edge of your seat, my birthday was a smashing success! The trip to Maine, though not without some expected bumps, was one of the best I've had in a while.

It was nice to be there for 3 whole days - the longest I've spent in Bar Harbor in about 5 years. It was even nicer to have Anthony back in town, and to introduce Gary. And to have Mike there again. And to be together. In a happy group of awesomeness. Not to mention seeing all of the family I have in Maine.

My dad put together a big dinner/birthday party the night after my birthday, which was pretty cool. The coolest part, however, was THE CAKE.

Yes, friends. That is a GIANT WHOOPIE PIE. It weighed about a million pounds and was so completely epic. It was my dad's idea, and he had our head baker person at the restaurant make it. What more could I have possibly wanted???????

Present wise, I was nearly moved to tears when presented with a confirmation e-mail from Gary for 2 tickets to the freakin' VENDY AWARDS. THE VENDY AWARDS. (Educate yourself: www.streetvendor.org/vendys) I'll talk more about that in a second. And Mike, my love, drew me a picture of what was (apparently) the blackberry torch. *CRIES OF JOY* (The torch will be purchased... he didn't just draw me a picture...)

The best part of visiting Maine - BABIES EVERYWHERE. They just keep growing. I love them so.
It was exciting for Anthony to FINALLY meet all of the chillen's. It's been long enough.

Anyway, I really am hoping to get to Maine more often than once or twice a year. Access to free cars has recently entered my life, which will make things much easier.

Going back to the Vendy Awards - hopefully you know what that means now - I recently started a website/blog/awesome experiment: www.newyorkstreats.com. Because I am OBSESSED with food trucks, and as Mike said "why don't you write about it?" Why not indeed. Read and enjoy and tell all the humans you know!

Well, now I am 23 years old... so... that's... not interesting at all.

ONWARD.

*K

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23 Days.

7.26.2010 by Kerrie

The time is nearing. This coming Sunday marks the beginning of my birth month. So, as is customary, I present to you my birthday wish list. Expect to see the possible, the impossible, and the completely ridiculous.

Birthday List

- New iPod - At least 80gb.
- Jamba Juice giftcards!!!!! For real. It is my life.
-. Trip to LA to visit the local lesbian!
- World peace.
- I can has Disney World/Universal???
- Money/gift cards for new clothing: H&M, American Eagle, Forever 21, Strawberry, GAP, JCPenny, Old Navy.
- TV Series on DVD: Mad About You, ER, Gilmore Girls (already have season 2), Dexter, The Office.
- Any Nick Hornby book from my list.
- Money. Seriously... just, money. I really need money.


More to come.

*K

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What came first - the music or the misery?

7.21.2010 by Kerrie

This is what I love about my favorite book.

I can start it at any time, when I have no new books to read, and pick it up again months later. I'll know exactly where I am and what is happening, because I've read it 10 times before, and feel completely immersed in the story and the world instantly.

When I finish it that day, because I can't put it down yet again, I have no shame in just starting it over. And it somehow feels new every time.

High Fidelity, you are the perfect book.

"Some of my favorite songs: "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Neil Young; "Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me" by the Smiths; "Call Me" by Aretha Franklin; "I Don't Want to Talk About It" by anybody. And then there's "Love Hurts" and "When Love Breaks Down" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" and "She's Gone" and "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" and... some of these songs I have listened to around once a week, on average (three hundred times in the first month, every now and again there-after), since I was sixteen or nineteen or twenty-one. How can that not leave you bruised somewhere? How can that not turn you into the sort of person liable to break into little bits when your first love goes all wrong? What came first - the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to music? Do all those records turn you into a melancholy person?
People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands - literally thousands- of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss. The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don't know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness, but I do know that they've been listening to the sad songs longer than they've been living the unhappy lives."

*K

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RE: Steve Carell Leaving The Office

6.29.2010 by Kerrie

He's been hinting it for some time, but it hit the press today: Steve Carell has confirmed that the next season of The Office will be his last.

Give me minute here.


Okay.

If you know me, you know that I am a very passionate fan of this show. And I am here today to write an open letter to NBC.


Dear NBC,

Hi. Kerrie here. Long time fan, first time writer. First of all, it would seem unreasonable to start this letter without wildly thanking you for the joy you've provided me throughout my life. First of all, for Friends. The backbone of my existence. But also for Saturday Night Live, even in it's bad years. For the first 2 seasons of Heroes. For ER, Scrubs, Caroline in the City, Mad About You, Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, Wings, Will and Grace, The Golden Girls, any failed sitcom that I secretly watched, and more recently, Parenthood.

NBC, I forgave you for airing the Grease reality show and for canceling Freaks and Geeks.

We hit a rough spot recently throughout the Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno disaster. I have yet to fully forgive you. I'm not sure I can trust you to responsibly handle your programming ever again. But in this coming year, I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself.

Please, I am begging you, do not continue The Office without Steve Carell. I know what you're going to say. What about all the money? But is it worth it, NBC? The Office is still a great show. Don't you want to end it while it's still riding high? Do you really want to beat it to death the way Fox did with That 70's Show? Is that the network that you aspire to be, NBC? FOX?!?!

I know your next argument will be to quote Steve Carell himself...

"They've incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it'll continue as strong if not stronger than ever," Carell told E! on the red carpet.

Don't listen to him! He had to say that! He couldn't very well say, "The show can't live without me", now could he? He's a nice guy, that Steve Carell. But that's why I'm writing to tell you what's what.

NBC, do you remember when you were smart enough to let Scrubs go after its perfect ending? It wasn't your fault that ABC decided to air a following season with annoying new characters and no purpose. You did the right thing there! Please, do the right thing again. Don't follow in the footsteps of an Eric-less That 70's Show, or a John Ritter-less 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. Because it is awkward, forced, and an inevitable failed experiment that fans will resent you for forever.


Your loyal fan,

Kerrie Bond


*K

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Give the Tonys Back to Broadway?

6.18.2010 by Kerrie

The past two days I feel like I've had my heart broken by parts of the Broadway community I had grown to admire, love, and respect. A community that I have always thought to be warm, generous, and accepting.

Shortly following the Tonys, Hunter Foster (a past favorite of mine) created a Facebook page designed to "Give the TONYS Back to Broadway". At first glance, it could have had honorable intentions. It would be silly to deny that the Tonys haven't gone commercial in the last few years. They have focused more on getting good ratings than really showing this community for what it is. People have a right to be upset with that, and it is understandable.

However, this has taken a completely different turn.

It's impossible to pinpoint exactly what Hunter's intentions were now. Between him and his wife (Jen Cody) publicly BASHING Catherine Zeta-Jones' win, and Christopher Seiber (a talented, handsome, and extremely charming man) joining the bandwagon on his own Facebook page, going so far as to say that Catherine's Tony was "bought" for her, my eyes have been opened to how mean spirited jilted actors can really be.

There are multiple arguments to fight here.

The Tony Awards: Yes, this year was not a great showing. Sean Hayes, however, was a FANTASTIC host. People took issue with three things in particular: Green Day's performance, the Glee performances, and Mark Sanchez's appearance.

1. Green Day played for too long. I agree. They should have stuck to one song, or a cut of one song (as Christianne Noll was made to do), and it would have been just as good. That being said, the intentions were clear. CBS needs ratings. And again this year, the ratings are down. By 8%. By advertising the Tony Awards riding on Green Day and Glee, they were hoping to draw people in who wouldn't watch otherwise. It sucks, but its understandable. Its the way things are now. Of course I see the other side of the argument - let this be about celebrating Broadway and only that. And of course that's what I want. However, Green Day had a right to be there, having created one of this season's shows. Which brings me to...

2. The Glee performance. This is the area I had the most trouble with. I love Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, I think they're both very talented and have given fantastic Broadway performances prior to this season. But they were not on Broadway this season, and as far as I'm concerned, their performances took away a slot that could have gone to a nominated musical that did not get to shine. And, in my humblest opinion, Lea Michele was not up to snuff.

3. Mark Sanchez. And I have one thing to say to this: SO WHAT?! A 10 second intro is causing all of this chaos? By someone who seems to genuinely love theatre? So sue the guy. No one else wanted to introduce Memphis, anyway. And for the record, every other "celebrity" presenter or performer had something to do with this season. (Please correct me if I've missed someone).

The problem is what this group has turned into: the outright bashing of Hollywood actors. This argument is old. It's tired. The labeling of every film/tv actor as "stunt casting" is ridiculous. Some of the greatest performances I've seen on Broadway have come from "celebrities". For people to claim that Broadway actors, and only Broadway actors, are worthy of appearing on the stage is ludicrous. Who's to say that these Hollywood actors didn't have Broadway aspirations, and they just managed to break into film and/or tv first? The most insane claim I've heard came from Natascia Diaz....

"Bubble, sir? it seems it is YOU who are in a bubble about this issue if you cannot see what hollywood shlock that masquerades as 'theater" has invaded our craft and community...and you wonder why we who trained and are poised and ready are removed from all possibility because we haven't paraded our tits and asses on the "big screen"...no....we were TRAINING and PERFORMING..."


Just the general claim that theater actors train more than film/tv actors is appalling to me. We all grew up with the same goals and worked just as hard - everyone seems to forget that not every "celebrity" rose to that status every night. They paid their dues just as this community does. We don't all pay the same dues, but we all hope to get the same places and work in the same mediums. For all of these stage actors to try and break into film/tv and then act as if it can't work the other way around is ridiculous. They are all, every single one of them, actors. Plain and simple.

To see this all happen after Scarlett Johansson gave a speech about being accepted into the community so warmly is sickening.

There isn't much more to say without beating an already well beaten dead horse. I just hope that Hunter ends this by taking down the group and apologizing for what it turned into. Anything he tries to do, any action he tries to take, at this point will just be laughed at. He and many others have painted a very ugly picture of themselves thus far.


*K

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