Let's talk gratitude, y'all. It has been a very full year for us, and there are many things to be grateful for. Perhaps you have no interest in reading on (let's be honest, year-end letters tend to be snoozes), but you are one of those for which we are grateful. We are lucky to have so many friends and family that care for us, and I doubt we tell you often enough.
So, thanks. You rock.
And that's why we've sent you this rock art-inspired holiday greeting.
Now to that part wherein we share with you some what's been up with us this year. We'll try to keep it brief.
Last winter, Nate came back from stage managing a show in Beijing, China to begin work on the Broadway show, God of Carnage. In fact, his first production meeting for that show was held on the day of President Obama's Inauguration, and spirits were soaring high in New York, across the country, and around the world, as W had finally left the Oval Office for good and we were looking forward to much-needed improvements in national policy.
Sigh. Remember that?
As Nate began rehearsals for that show, his health took an unpleasant turn, and after a couple of months of testing, he was diagnosed with benign cysts that just needed some quick meds and a closer eye in the future, so that was a relief.
Mikey began to seek out new opportunities for performance, and found a great one in the Dessoff Choirs. His first concert in March was recorded for commercial release. The CD, Glories on Glories, is available for download now on DigStation, and is coming soon to iTunes, Amazon.com, Emusic, and a whole host of other music sites around the interwebs.
Immediately after God of Carnage opened, Nate slid on over to another Broadway show, The Norman Conquests, a zany trilogy of comedies played in repertory.
Come the Tony Awards, there was plenty of good news. God of Carnage took home 3 Tonys: Best New Play, Best Direction (Matthew Warchus), and Best Lead Actress (Marcia Gay Harden), and The Norman Conquests won the Tony for Best Revival of a Play. A very exciting night.
In June, Nate ASMed the debut of three new works by Jennifer Muller/ The Works (the same modern dance company that performed in China) at The Joyce Theatre, a beautiful dance space in Chelsea.
At the same time, Mikey was living every singer's dream: singing at Lincoln Center. The Dessoff Choirs were invited to perform both the Britten War Requiem and Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the NY Philharmonic as a part of maestro Lorin Maazel's farewell concert series. Both concerts were broadcast on the radio as a part of the "Live from Lincoln Center" program on NPR. The Mahler concert was also released on MP3 as a part of the Philharmonic's The Complete Mahler Symphonies collection, making this Mikey's second commercial recording in the space of a few months.
October brought hundreds of thousands of marchers to Washington, DC, to rally in favour of Equal Rights for the LGBT community. As part of Broadway Impact (a Civil Rights advocacy group started by Gavin Creel, an actor Nate worked with a few years ago), Nate and Mikey proudly marched alongside Cynthia Nixon, Judy Gold, Stephen Schwartz, and many of our Broadway colleagues, including a couple of friends from God of Carnage.
Sadly, the New York State Senate failed to pass a bill in December that would have provided for Marriage Equality in New York, but an executive order from the governor dictates that our Canadian marriage be recognised in any state agency. It's progress, but we're still fighting for full equality here, and we hope you are, too, in your home states.
As the year comes to a close, Nate continues to substitute stage manage at God of Carnage and for the monthly Project Shaw reading series, and Mikey continues to sing with the Dessoff Choirs and Christ Church Rye. We hope this find you well, and that you'll reciprocate with every exciting thing you've been up to this year.
Don't forget: War is Over, if you want it.
Much Love,
Mikey & Nate
4 comments:
War is never over...it only has lulls. Never underestimate someone's need to conquer others. Also, don't forget who gives everyone the rights that they so freely flaunt in our country...it sure as hell is not the liberal arts world!
I wouldn't say it's a need so much as a drive, mostly fueled by feelings of inadequacy on the part of the invading party. And while I respect that someone would die for the rights of others and for their beliefs, I have trouble respecting those who would kill for them.
Also, let's not forget that there hasn't been a US war where the primary goal was indeed the preservation of human and civial rights since World War II (not that I'm a fan of that war, either). All the armed conflicts since have been misguided attempts at preserving political legacies or repairing the mistakes made by previous US intervention.
As for how the arts play a role, there's a good reason why artists undergo the worst suppression in oppressive regimes: the arts are the voice of people, and are the only tools that can affect the population in more than just a physical way. It's not called The *Art* of War for nothing.
Great to catch up on your doings--congrats on the big accomplishments of '09! And I love the rock art!
xo
Sandy York
Happy to hear you both seem to have had a good year - very exciting projects! I check here regularly for updates. Nate, I wish I had your way with words, what a thoughtful and poignant response to an off the cuff comment. Miss you both - Merry Christmas!
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