01 Jan 2011 in Review
I’ve always been amazed by the gift of sight.
The wonderment of vision has always left me speechless. If you could see 2011 through my eyes, you would share in my joy, pain and many blessings. Whenever I walk my boy, Rocco at night, I make it a practice to thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me from that specific day. With my eyesight, I look up into the sky and express gratitude for what He has given me.
This year, I am thankful for many things. I am grateful for partnering with Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS and producing an all-star Gala in 2012. I am grateful for being requested to host a special Filipino fund-raiser showcasing Los Angeles based Public Service Announcements. And, I am thankful for the many friends that I’ve made and stayed in contact with throughout 2011…some I have the pleasure of seeing and others I don’t get to see as often as I would like.
What I have seen in 2011 is the best theatre of my life. I’ve seen amazing performances on and off-Broadway: THE NORMAL HEART and COMPANY were amazing as well as HAIRSPRAY at The Hollywood Bowl. My eyes have blessed me in seeing one of my close friends return to a starring role on Broadway with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and my eyes were brought to tears at seeing nightly standing ovations for my solo performance DON’T CALL ME WALTER! when it premiered in Arizona.
One of my favorite past times of 2011 is using my eyesight to simply sit and watch. I’ve been privileged to be in the audience for Academy celebrations for anniversary premieres of THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and BYE BYE BIRDIE. I’ve sat aboard a private yacht for a mini day-cruise around the Venice canals. And, my eyes have witnessed one of my favorite solo performers, John Lequizamo,perform his new Broadway show: GHETTO KLOWN in New York City.
From using my vision as a captured audience member to celebrating my friends, I’ve done a lot of celebrating in 2011. My eyes have been atop a castle in the Hollywood Hills to celebrate a good friend’s birthday. Months later, below the Hollywood Hills, my eyes were sad to see Elizabeth Taylor’s star on the Walk of Fame filled with flowers, due to her death. My eyes were happy to see some dear friends’ names on the Emmy nomination list for performances on GLEE. Also, I was happy to see a large scale image of Lucille Ball (that I had given to a friend) showcased at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum in honor of Ball’s 100th birthday. Additional moments that I’ve celebrated in 2011 include a relative’s wedding in San Diego, open bar fun, in Beverly Hills for L.A.’s Fashion Night Out and bidding and winning designer goods at a live auction in Montebello, California. A definite 2011 highlight was flying to New York City to shop at the annual Broadway Cares’ fund-raiser: The Broadway Flea Market.
If you were to look at life through my eyes, you would see the opportunities that I’ve had to participate in countless celebrations: a party at the Playboy Mansion, free sushi night at a local Burbank restaurant, walking the red carpet of the Golden Globe Awards, and, celebrating a special day with my first outing to the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market. My eyes have seen snow falling in Los Angeles, the first time in decades. And, my eyes, have allowed me to enjoy good acting, from the films THE HELP, CRAZY STUPID LOVE and THE KING’S SPEECH. Unfortunately, it was my eye sight that led me to see the ramifications of what happened to my vehicle from a rear-end collision (that wasn’t my fault) and it was my eyes that alerted me to a missing iPhone…one that was never found.
The body connected to my eyes have allowed me to help others. I was able to help a loved one sell firearms online and have assisted a friend’s book launch by attending an in-person signing at Barnes & Noble. I helped a friend move from Santa Monica to Venice with my convertible top down, fully loaded and even helped another friend have a private phone conversation with her idol, Dave Grohl from The Foo Fighters. My favorite act of assistance was providing my one-man show’s soundtrack to the audience department for Anderson Cooper’s daytime talk show.
2011 has also been a year for personal improvement. I’ve participated in a vocal training seminar to improve my speech and delivery. I’ve worked with a choreographer to learn about movement and dance. And, I’ve worked with an electronic personal trainer, training with DVDs for health and fitness improvement. From undergoing physical therapy for a back and neck injury to monitoring my doses of Propecia for hair loss, I’m working on getting to where I want to be.
As I write this, my eyes are darting back and forth on the keyboard…looking for opportunities to share fun anecdotes from 2011 (that I already haven’t). Fun stories include a callback audition where I had to envision being invaded by Slinkies to acquiring a pair of Farrah Fawcett’s personal chandeliers from her home. I’ve had fun. Every fiber of my being resolves to being in the moment. If eyesight is the gateway to experiences, I believe that saturating in positive feelings, circumstances and moments is what brings us joy and gratitude. Here’s to keeping our eyes on the prize in 2012.DISCLAIMER