Tuesday, August 24, 2010

My Favorite Role

So...I'm clutterbusting.

I'm completely purging my belongings to figure out how much stuff can be donated into the dumpster, because I know that over 50% of it is trash. One of these boxes of joy is simply labeled 'Fern,' and I had to clarify by phone whether or not I could let it go.

"Chris? I...I think it's time. I can't believe I'm saying this."
"No, Jen, I completely understand. Look, it's for the best. I mean, *I* got rid of mine when it was time."
"You did?"
"Oh, yeah. It was hard, but, you know. Just...promise me you'll keep the wig.
...
And the glasses."

What is Fern?


Fern is my aunt. I created her, out of the desperate need to be related to an exaggerated Brooklyn Yenta. Her name (in full) is Fern Lipschitz-Finklestein-Rosenthal, and Herschel (pictured above) is her 2nd husband. Morty Finklestein was her first.



One of my favorite roles ever, Fern and Herschel came into being during my junior year of high school. As you might suspect, I never took a prom seriously, and Auntie Fern effectively crashed the prom. I cannot express the joy I took in buying her '80s gemmed-and-bedazzled grandma sweatshirts and windjackets. Fern was everything I aspired to be--old, loud, and retired in Boca.

Fern continued to make surprise appearances at friends' BBQs, graduation parties, and was even a distinguished guest at my mother's business luncheons (not kidding). She and Herschel were even joined by their deadbeat daughter Joanie, who was a hairdresser from Long Island. She showed up at my birthday parties.

I am still clutterbusting. I will be sending Fern's bedazzled, glittering windpants off into the great unknown. She's tired. She needs shuffleboard and Mah-Jongg and 'her stories' out in Boca. She needs to pester Joanie into "having some grandbabies, for Chrissakes." I will give up the delightful ruse of Auntie Fern, who simply has no room in this artist's humble pad.

But I am keeping my wig. And my damn glasses.


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Gig-ity Gig-ities

(Yeah, like YOU could have resisted that reference.)

Though my last long run of a show--"Picasso at the Lapin Agile"--ended in June, I have been jumping from project to project this summer, and it's been such fun!

-Shot the feature "Jack & Diane" as a principal role in June
-Shot an MTV Promo for "Eat Pray Love" (if you've seen this, I'm the chick who digs guys with beards). I haven't been able to see it! If you do--let me know. :)
-Performed an Eve Ensler piece at a benefit for the Bellevue Rape Crisis Center
-Helped out my friends at Porch Light Productions with a children's show for a summer camp
-Helped out my friends at Black20 Studios with a web short about "The Wire"
-Started work on the pilot, "Center Stage." SO EXCITED.

...and, overall, just having some really incredible opportunities and auditions. This includes a great audition (and callback) for an NJ Lotto commercial, some wonderful theatre auditions (I rocked me some "Hairspray"), and my recent deep desire to donate my time and skills to organizations and people who make a real positive difference in the world. I've never had the schedule space to volunteer, and I'm really liking it.

So. If you're itching to go out there and work it, why not help someone out?

<3 Jen