I know it's been a few weeks since my last blog but I've been a very VERY busy bee. But I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
Since November 21st I've been living in Jersey City with my friend Amy as I rehearse and perform in 'Sleep Hollow Christmas Carol' up at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. I'm playing the roles of Mrs. Mops (Scrooge's ornery housekeeper) and the effervescent Mrs. Fezziwig.
The cast and crew are great. I'm having a wonderful time. For ticket info you can go to broadwaytheatre.com
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I am so blessed to have amazing people in my life. I was reminded of that this past month.
Mike and I headed into Queens on November 7th for my godson, Zephyr's, baptism. He was too precious for words. I've never met another baby so attentive and contemplative. He's so calm and peaceful and also brings peace to anyone around him. He's a special boy and I LOVE HIM! I was so honored to be asked to be one of his Godmothers. I can't wait to witness his life as he continues to grow. He has great role models in his life including his loving parents. He's one lucky kid.
(Zeph and Me at St. Lukes in Forest Hills, Queens. He was sporting a sophisticated winter white outfit and a handmade sweater and hat for his big day.)
He was a perfect angel. When it was time for us to take the oath as godparents the priest would ask us a question and Zeph looked at the priest and then when we answered, he'd whip his head back and look at us while we spoke. Before the service, Jason (the proud papa) had his on his lap at the piano and Zephyr was just playing the piano and was so happy. It was just a great day!
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I have had some major adventures while staying in Jersey City...like almost being homeless for a night due to a cross in communications. All is well. I was saved by Mim and Jay in the middle of the night. Mim DROVE to Herald Square to get me. And I was overjoyed!! It was cold, I was tired, and I had to be up at the butt-crack of dawn to head back to Westchester. I also got to see Beth too. That was a nice surprise. I owe Mim a coffee still...who knows when I'll just pop up in Queens bearing caffeinated 'prizes'!
One morning getting off the A/C/E train at 42nd Street I got up and the punk next to me got up but he was holding onto my bag strap. Little did he realize that I had the long strap across my body so I tugged to the right he tugged to the left and my favorite kitty bag is now ripped. Jerkface! I'm fine. I was just surprised with a subway full of people no one seemed to care. I did punch the guy in the shoulder and called him a not so nice name...but I think he deserved it.
On opening morning I missed the shuttle from Amy's building by a few minutes so I walked to the PATH train. It's only a 10 minute walk. It was drizzling out so I opened my umbrella. Then all of a sudden I was Mary Poppins. The wind picked up and I could no longer keep my umbrella open because the wind was turning it inside out. So I shut it, thinking 'it's only drizzling.' I was about 100 feet from the entrance to the PATH when it happened...the sky opened up and just poured. Aaah! I was soaked from head to toe, inside and out. Grrrr.... Well since I got into the city a little early I stopped in KMart, H&M, and Old Navy looking for dry clothes off a clearance rack. No luck :( BUT I was fortunate to have use of the dryer at the theater. What a day that was.
All of that happened in 10 days. :)
Coming up...
- Audition for an Educational video for the Lehigh Valley Health Network on Dec 6th.
- Audition for Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, PA
- A brief visit with my parents and niece on Dec. 12th when they come to see 'Sleepy Hollow Christmas Carol'
Quote of the Week/Month: Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
-- Marcel Proust
Video of the Week/Month:
Recipe of the Week/Month:
Grilled Chicken and Pesto Farfalle Salad (For large party)
Ingredients:
2 packages Purdue shortcuts (Italian)
1 can artichokes packed in water
1 jar kalamata olives
1 lb farfalle pasta, cooked
1 jar premade quality pesto
1 lb of mini fresh mozzarella balls
1 jar roasted red pepper, sliced thin
1 large package of romaine lettuce
1 package of grape or cherry tomatoes
Olive Oil
To assemble, place all the romaine lettuce on a large platter. The next layer is the Farfalle pasta mixed with the pesto sauce( reserve just a little pesto for the dressing). Over the pasta starting on the outer edge place the mozzarella balls (slice in half) and the tomatoes, the next ring in is the artichokes, then the olives, then the roasted red peppers and top entire salad with the chicken. Mix the reserved pesto with some olive oil and top the salad.
Serve on the platter with serving utensils. Makes an amazing centerpiece at a holiday party! Enjoy!!!
Kirsten Rani Almeida received her B.A. in Theater and Speech from Wagner College. For twelve years, Kirsten doubled as a professional fundraiser for a large non-profit arts organization and an actor, director, choreographer, and playwright. She has performed in more than forty shows all over the U.S. She spent four months touring the country with the Omaha Theater Company's production of 'The Little Engine that Could' as the Red Dress Doll. She performed nearly 80 performances in 36 states. In New York City, Kirsten was part of the cast for the award-winning 'Skin Deep' by Mary Lynn Dobson (Fringe Festival winner 2009) which has won top honors from the 2010 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and originated the role of Lavender Blue in the eerily funny 'Professor Von Awesome's Traveling Caravan of Cautionary Warnings.' Kirsten appeared in the U.S. premiere of 'Scandalous! A new musical based on the life of D.H. Lawrence' in New Orleans and appeared at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the World Premiere musical 'The Butterfly Project' which raised money for children's cancer research. Other credits include Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Narrator), Hello Dolly!(Minnie Fay), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl & Madame de la Grande Bouche), The Sound of Music(Mother Abbess), Annie(Star-to-Be), Oliver!(Widow Corney), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying(Rosemary), My Fair Lady(Featured Dancer), Promises, Promises!(Featured Dancer), Nunsense I & II(Sister Leo), Gypsy(Tessie Tura), Guys & Dolls(Featured Dancer), Back to the 80s(Debbie Cox), Seussical the Musical(Gertrude), Snoopy!(Sally Brown), Pippin(Featured dancer), Carousel, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), and many more.
In film/tv, Kirsten has appeared in the upcoming comedy 'Big Guns', 'Three Chris'', and filmed the independent short 'Westfield' with Clocktower Productions. She has also appeared in two episodes of 'The World's Most Astonishing News'.
She has also appeared as a guest artist with the Newark Boys Chorus and Triad Ensemble and the Spotlight Cabaret with Allentown Public Theater. She was a founding member of the Boonton Parks & Recreation Theatre Company for young performers where she not only directed and choreographed the shows for the company but also acted as lead fundraiser, costumer, lighting designer, marketing director as well as scenic and props designer. Kirsten also taught dance for the recreation department to children ages 7-12. Kirsten has also dabbled in play writing for children's theater. Her twisted version of "The Three Little Pigs" (a musical from the Big Bad Wolf's perspective) was produced at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick, NJ.
Kirsten teaches drama classes at the Civic Theater in Allentown, PA to grades Pre-K through 4. Kirsten also offers an audition class to high school students which helps students audition confidently. Her effective teaching style is requested by groups in PA and NJ and NY.
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