The Day After

Last night was Opening Night for Miss Saigon 2005. After two weeks of intense, jam packed rehearsals, we opened in Houghton, Michigan with a BANG! The creative staff was pleased. The audience was overwhelmed. And the cast rose to the occasion and passed with flying colors. I am so proud to be a part of this final company of Miss Saigon and look forward to the adventures on the road. This new cast inspires me every day with their unending focus and enthusiasm, as well as their incomparable talent. We head out on the road tomorrow for Duluth. Here's hoping that the next four months will be filled with great memories and NO DRAMA!

As we rest today after our Opening and I stare out into the beautiful blue sky we have here in Houghton, I can't help but think of the events of four years ago. Never forget.

Time To Make The Donuts

I feel like a kid going to his first day of school. I prepared my bag last night, making sure it had all the proper materials- vitamin C's, water bottle, my script, a pencil, my ipod recorder, etc... I picked out my cute outfit. I combed my hair a gazillion times till it was to my liking, and then opted for a hat. I woke up super early as not to be late. And then the random thoughts start to enter my mind. Will the new kids like me? Will the old kids still accept me? Will they discover this year that they made a mistake and demote me back to New York? The year comes with so much promise, but more opportunity for failure. Will I seize the moment? It's funny that we start this journey at a college since it feels so much like the first day of school. I'm off to rehearsal!

Stop the war!

Last night I went to see Lennon the musical. Lennon opened last week to mixed to negative reviews. But yesterday I left the theatre feeling moved and invigorated. I even teared up a bit at the end as the cast sang Imagine. I think the biggest reason I was so touched by the show was because of it's anti-war/pro peace and love message. Regardless of how you feel about Yoko Ono, she truly was and still is in love with John Lennon as proven by John's music and by observing her last night. She was in attendance last night and I found it fascinating to watch her as she watched her and John's lives unfold before her eyes- laughing and smiling at the happy times and tearing up at those tragic moments. Their message was simple- Peace and Love. I go back into rehearsals tomorrow for Miss Saigon. Many people have asked me how can I do another production of Miss Saigon (my third) and don't I ever get sick of doing the same show over and over again. There are many reasons I will always be happy and willing to do a production of Miss Saigon, which I'm sure I'll get into down the line, but for now, a big motivation for me to do the show is as a service to small town america. This show is finally being performed in rather rural towns- where ignorance is bliss. If even one person sees this show and has a change of heart about the war, then it will have made it all worth it. "All we are saying is give Peace a chance."

Happy Birthday Thom and Madonna

Today is my older brother's 33rd birthday... as well as Madonna's 47th. To celebrate, I think I'll prance around my apartment to old school Madonna and have a lovely Tex-Mex meal somewhere- maybe start with some Empanadas from Empanada Mamma and then walk across the street for a chimi at Arriba, Arriba's. Jeez, these birthday celebrations are wrecking my workout routine! Anyway, happy birthday older brother. Have a great day and I'll chat with you soon.

Happy Birthday Fluffhead!

Today is my younger brother's 30th Birthday. I think I'll celebrate by having some kick ass cupcakes( perhaps I'll try the new cupcake place next to Gray's Papaya on 72nd ) and attempt to do a complete facial at a Sephora. Happy birthday little brother. Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you before I leave.

Buddha, Barrage, and Billiards

As always, I had a WONDERFUL birthday. This was the first year in several that I didn't plan a formal get together. This was for a couple of reasons. One, my roommates and I are throwing a cocktail party in a few days and that has taken a lot of planning and organizing of it's own. Two, I wanted my day to be a little more spontaneous and a little more "random". So, with no real agenda set, I looked forward to what the day would bring. First off, I started my birthday at midnight with a piece of Chocolate Blackout cake that I purchased at a fairly new dessert place called Fluff between 50th and 51st on 9th Ave. Quite yummy and the perfect midnight snack before bed. When I awoke sometime in the afternoon, I went through all the well wishes sent via e-mail, text, and voicemail. Greatly appreciated. I leisurely got ready for the day and decided to try lunch at TAO, one of the hottest pan Asian restaurants in New York City. Not disappointed in the least! Started off with the duck spring rolls in a hoisen sauce. My second course was a generous portion of wok seared New York sirloin. This was all topped off with chocolate and raspberry wontons with vanilla ice cream. Not at a bad deal at $20.05, My company at lunch was Daniel, my roommate from Gateway's Saigon, who just happened to call before I left for the restaurant. We were in awe of the decor and ambiance created in this MASSIVE restaurant. Not to mention the towering Buddha that watched over us while we ate this luscious meal. Next up were happy hour drinks with some ex-coworkers from GSBO at Barrage. Thanks to Natalie, Brian, and Jill for the toasts, the free beverages, and the company. And last but not least, in a search to find something out of the ordinary to do and really random, Jill and I visited a palm reader who charged $10 to read my face. She told me a whole bunch of vague bull**** that she deducted from the little that I had actually told her. But that's not the random part. More spontaneous. What was really random and spontaneous was that we took the ferry over to New Jersey, Hoboken to be exact, in search of a bar to play some pool at. We found it, played some pool, and on the way back into the city, I ran into Josh, a friend of mine from college that I hadn't seen in ages. That was random. So in a nutshell, that was my random and spontaneous birthday. You should all try it sometime! You might be surprised to find out what happens!

My Favorite Day

My birthday has always been my favorite day. Because actors are very self centered and today is all about ME!!! Hahaha- just kidding. I like it because it means I've learned a little bit more, met a few more extraordinary people, accomplished more goals, experienced more first's, seen a few more plays, read a few more books, danced to some new songs, sang a little higher, cried a little more, laughed a lot more, been to new places, took a few more risks, ate more fine meals, took more steps to getting closer, been inspired, provided inspiration, dealt with more obstacles... and lived to blog about it! Here's to another year of all of the above and to all of those special people that were a part of it.

Leo, My Leo

Thought I would post a picture since it's been ages. This is a photo I took during my first trip this summer to Las Vegas. I was staying at the MGM Grand and this is one of their majestic lions in their lion habitat. There was this very cute Asian child petting this lion through the plexy glass. Obviously he thought he was Simba. He does look soft and gentle, doesn't he? Of course a minute later he was demolishing a bone to eat the marrow inside.

Hotly Anticipated

A phone call regarding a future job.

The start of tour.

My birthday.

My party.

The Rent move.

Romance.

My niece or nephew.

Madonna's new album.

The Unexpected.

Lea, Starbucks, and Merrily We Roll...

Just a couple of things to chat about today. Went to see the Patron Saint Of Pinoy Performers, Lea Salonga. She was performing in Washington D. C. this past weekend in the same theatre that we performed Saigon in. Of course, we all must show our respect and give our props to one of our motherland's trailblazers. But in several videotaped concerts of hers that I've seen, she always come across as awkward and a tad bit on the corny side. Not to mention a tad bit too prideful of her Filipino heritage. Not so this weekend. She was absolutely charming, sounded AMAZING, and was very professional and polished. Perhaps married life has chilled her out a bit. Kudos!

This blog entry is being transmitted via my laptop computer, currently stationed at Starbucks at 47th and 9th. I find it kind of ridiculous that one can find a Starbucks at 47th and 8th as well as 47th and Broadway- 3 adjacent streets. A bit of overkill for a place that doesn't even serve great coffee (Dunkin Donuts is SO much better). But I must admit my summer drink of 2005 is their green tea frappuccino- yum!

Seeing a supposedly bad production of Merrily We Roll Along this evening. I love Sondheim so how bad can it be? And I'm not paying for it so I'll naturally be more forgiving. Isn't it funny how when things are free, things aren't so bad, but when we have to pay full price for something, we expect the world.

I Am The Greatest Singer .... In The Woooorld.

I was in Vegas this week for my friend's 30th birthday and had the privilege of seeing Celine Dion's show. It's easy to poke fun at this diva for so many things- her awkward childhood to adulthood relationship with her manager, that played out Titanic song, her freaky gazillion dollar wedding, etc... but the woman can SING!!! I am in awe of that amazing belt and range. She danced, she emoted, she looked fabulous in couture clothing. It was truly a no holds barred show. Afterward, a friend of a friend, who is in the show, took us on a tour backstage. It's always fascinating to me to get a glimpse of the inner workings of a show. Most impressive- the worlds largest LED screen and the humidifying jets built into the stage. Celine has to keep the vocal chords moist. How do I get one of those?

Cirque Du Jose

Tonight I'm headed to Jersey to see Cirque Du Soleil's Varekai. Ever since I went to see La Nouba at Pleasure Island, I've been obsessed with the "Magic" that is Cirque Du Soleil. Being an avid theatre goer, it takes quite a bit of theatre magic to overwhelm me. This Summer I went to see their new Las Vegas show, Ka. I can honestly say that this piece takes theatre to another level. The set and theatre alone left me awestruck and mesmerized. I become so inspired by the otherworldly surroundings, the grace and strengths of their performers, and the messages of hope, dreams, and passion that their productions portray. Someday I hope to run away and join THIS circus. Plus there's no elephants to poop on stage.

Music Makes The People Come Together

It certainly does! I'm here at home watching history unfold before us. Live 8 reminds us that there is power in numbers. I remember where I was 20 years earlier for the telecast of Live Aid. What an amazing day of musical performances and what a powerful message it sent to our world leaders of the time. If we as a global nation could just unite and share our resources with those less fortunate, how much better our world could be for our children. www.one.org - visit the site and show your support!

Damn Yankees

Going to Yankee Stadium with Wendybird to catch the game tonight. There's nothing better than sitting in the bleachers, catching a great game, chowing down on a hot dog with all the trimmings and guzzling down an ice cold beer. Ahhh... Summer in New York. Baseball and Musical Theatre- America's favorite pastimes!

All The World's A Stage

This past Sunday was the annual Tony Awards, the theatre community's opportunity to celebrate the "best" of the Broadway season. As I have for the past couple of years, I worked the show as a talent escort. My assignment this year was Emmy Rossum, "Christine" in the film adaptation of The Phantom Of The Opera". She proved to be a lovely, sophisticated, and friendly assignment.

There's something quite special about being in the presence of so many of your peers. It's quite inspirational. The dream becomes that much more attainable. Of course, many of the speeches by the award winners were rather touching and emotional. The following was one of my favorites of the evening delivered by Doug Hughes, winner of Best Director of A Play for "Doubt".

"I love working in the world of Theatre. Safe and dangerous, small and infinite, I am overjoyed to have a place in it."

How fortunate I am to be working in the Theatre.

We All Walk Alone

It's weird. Prior to going on tour, I was very comfortable spending time by myself. I reveled in the private times I had- the solitude, silence, and calm. But since I've been surrounded by a company of around 100 people and had a roommate for nine months, it's very strange re-adjusting to being "alone". I find myself needing to go out just to have the comfort of being around other people. I call people on the phone more frequently and have discovered the joys of texting. When will this madness stop so I can revert to being the introvert that I truly am!

May The Force Be Sith You

Just got back from watching the third and final? installment of Star Wars- Revenge Of The Sith. It was a fitting conclusion to what has become a lifelong fascination with and admiration for these movies. In a way, it feels as if this is the end of my official "childhood". These characters have been my "friends" for my entire life. And I must say it feels good to finally have a complete picture, to have some closure, if you will. I don't have nearly the same desire to conquer the world and defeat the baddies as I did after the first trilogy, but nonetheless, I will go out into the world tomorrow with the hope that the Force will help me find ways to pay the bills and succeed at auditions. May the Force be with you...always.

PSI

It never fails. After I complete a run in a show, I always seem to get Post Show Illness. I've been so fortunate to not have gotten deathly ill once during the nine month run of this tour. But like clockwork, despite all my attempts to avoid it, my body's defenses have let their guard down and here I am feeling a little flu-ish. Other than that, it's great to be off for the summer. I have a day at the day spa planned today- manicure, pedicure, massage, facial, and haircut. I'll get back to you after my complete rehaul. I feel like one of those people on extreme makeover!

Should I Stay, Or Should I Go

Leaving tomorrow for our final week in Anchorage, Alaska. This week is a HUGE week as my fate with this tour will be decided. I will either sign on to complete the tour- ending in December, or I will take my Equity card and start a new phase of my career. The suspense is killing me!

There's No Place Like Home

Hip Hip Hooray! I'm back in New York City for a week off before our final week in Anchorage, Alaska. It's going to take every bone in my body to keep from eating at all my favorite restaurants, shopping at all my favorite stores, seeing my favorite shows- in general, spending all the money that I've saved in the past 9 months! First stop, the Cingular Store to buy my new cell phone that I've been eyeing for months- the Razr V3.

The End Is Near

Dear faithful readers,
Sorry it's been ages since my last entry. It's been a mixture of exhaustion, apathy, drama, etc... that has prevented me from blogging in recent weeks. But here I am, in Rapid City, South Dakota- our second to last city on the 2004-2005 leg of the Miss Saigon tour. It seemed like it would be an eternity before we reached this point, and yet here we are with 11 more shows to go. I've been too preoccupied to really think about this whole experience and to start feeling the inevitable "sorrow" from it's conclusion. Perhaps next week, when we are on hiatus, it will start to hit me. It's the beginning of the end. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. Surprisingly not as emotional of a show as I thought it would be. Perhaps our trip to Mt. Rushmore this morning was more "monumental". Alas... I'm tired of this touring thing for the time being- get me home!

Serenity

Vietnam Memorial In Orange

Just when I thought I had no more fuel for the remaining month and a half of tour comes this AMAZING exhibit of Vietnam War memoribilia in Orange. We're approaching 30 years to the day that the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam. May we never forget that war is not a solution. And may we strive to find ways of finding peace between our nations.

All In The Family

I am in Orange, Texas at the moment. I had never heard of Orange until I joined this tour. There's really not much to do in Orange. However, I did enjoy a WONDERFUL meal here at a local restaurant next to our hotel. The owner Von and his wife run the restaurant and Von's sister in law, Becky, was our waitress. What was particularly cool about the experience was that we were treated like part of the family while we had our meal. In fact, all the patrons seemed to make themselves at home at this charming establishment. Von greeted and caught up with all his local customers. And soft serve ice cream after the meal was on the house! No wonder there wasn't a seat to be had when we first arrived. This kind of service is hard to come by in the big city. So thanks to Von and his family for a most enjoyable evening and the "family touch".

Spring Break

I never had the "typical" spring break while I was in college because I was usually in rehearsal for a show. How I longed to get away for a week in Cancun, or Padre Island, or the Bahamas and just sleep all day and party all night. Well... finally my chance arrived this past week in Galveston, Texas and Corpus Christi, Texas. Granted, I didn't party like a rock star since I had shows to perform in the evening, but I did walk pass a Salty Dawg bar, lay out in the sun, and buy cheap shell jewelry. And I must say I made the ultimate Beach mix to play on my ipod while burning to a crisp- two hours of goodness which included Circle In The Sand by Belinda Carlisle, Underneath It All by No Doubt, and Caribbean Blue by Enya.

Brian O'Jose

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! It's funny the things you believe when you are a kid. For the longest time, I thought that since my name was Brian, that I was part Irish. I really don't know why I thought this. I guess I figured that many Irish people were named Brian, Bryan, Brien, O'Bryan, etc... and thus, I, too, was part Irish. I also love the color Green. And though I know there's nothing Irish about me, I still feel that this is my holiday. I'm sporting the green today and I'll be in hot pursuit of an Irish Car Bomb later! Enjoy my holiday!

Bam! Bam!

I'm here in Monroe, Louisiana- our last Louisiana stop. And of course, one's visit to this state wouldn't be complete without a plate full of steaming crawfish! Yum!

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor...

I have to take a moment to tell you all how much I LOVE staying at Drury Inn Hotels. They offer complimentary breakfast in the morning, including a make your own waffle station. They have a complimentary afternoon happy hour with wine and goldfish. You get an hour of long distance for free every day and free local calls. There's high speed internet in all the rooms. Laundry and work out room on the premises. Very spacious and comfortable rooms! A microwave with free popcorn and a refrigerator with free cans of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. Can life on the road get any better than this!?!

The Cocks

Our hotel is in the heart of the University of South Carolina campus. Go Cocks! I love when we perform in college towns! I feel ten years younger, there's cheap eats, and there are eager students everywhere with a zest for life! As much as I would hate to go back to school again, there is something wonderful about reliving that "invincible" feeling every once and a while. It's hard to believe that I will be out of school for 10 years in 2006. Has it really been that long? I'm still keeping college sleeping hours. Living out of a hotel room is kinda like living in the dorms. Hmmmm.... maybe the real world is a little more similar to college life than I thought.

In My Mind I'm Going To Carolina

Back in South Carolina this week- Columbia to be exact. We had a grand time while we were in Charleston, so hopefully, Columbia will prove to be just as enjoyable. I'll be heading back to the gym this week, so for a "last meal", my friend Chris and I went to Damon's for a good ole' bar-b-que ribs dinner! Yum! Thanks to Tony J. for the impeccable service. And thanks to James Taylor for the perfect song.

In The Dark I Rise

You Can Change....You Can Learn

This coming Tuesday will be my first performance as Thuy for this production of Miss Saigon. I've had the privilege of performing this role in two other productions of Miss Saigon and I am so thrilled to be revisiting this DREAM role of mine. I recall listening to the original cast recording of Miss Saigon when I was in high school and singing along, dreaming one day of being able to hit those amazingly high notes that Thuy sings. There is something so thrilling about performing this part. The Thuy's Death Scene/This Is The Hour sequence is one of the most dramatic, passionate, emotional scenes in musical theater, I feel. I still get goosebumps when I listen to it- and I've listened to it a plenty! I'm especially excited to implement what I've learned since my last performance this summer. I've had the opportunity to work with some of the original production staff of the Broadway production and understudy actors who have performed the role on Broadway. It's so wonderful to have the opportunity to further work on a character that I so love to play. And to play opposite Jen Paz, the first "Kim" I ever saw in Miss Saigon, makes it all the sweeter.

For A Marine I'll Show More

I miss you already! I'll see ya back in NY, baby! Mahal kita, Lounana!

Fashion Week

In honor of New York's Fashion Week, I went on a bit of a shopping splurge this past week. I bought a very sexy black leather jacket from Nana Repub. for only $90- marked down from $400, a fun dress shirt from Guess for $20, and my new favorite pair of Keen sandals for $40. That, my friends, is how to shop the non-equity way!

Valentine's Day 2005

I ended spending most of Valentine's Day on a 12 hour bus ride from Hartford, CT to Raleigh, NC. Had a lovely meal at P. F. Chang's. Who needs a Valentine's Day date when you have friends like these? Thanks boys!

A Hart Full Of Love

Greetings from Harford, Connecticut. It's been quite an eventful week. First off, the original production team of the tour was in town to asses the quality of the show and to make important decisions about it's future. I'm glad to report that our shows have been going extremely well. We, as a cast, finally find our groove. We have found the "heart and soul" of the show and you can tell there's a major difference in the morale of the cast. The production staff was very pleased and it looks, more than likely, that we will continue into the fall of this year. More on that to come.

I also had the opportunity to meet the parents of my friend Chris. I love meeting my friends parents because it gives you a deeper understanding of them and an insight into why they are the way they are. As colorful, festive, and hip Chris' parents are, there's one thing that stuck out about them that I found so endearing- their love for each other and especially for their dearest son, Chris. It was so touching to see this married couple of 25 years be so in love and proud of their son. And as embarrassed as he might have been, you could tell that the love was mutual. So, thanks Mami and Papi for bringing young Cristobal into the world. You've done a great job raising him and it was a pleasure and an honor to meet you. Your dedication and love for each other and for your son is to be admired. Happy Valentine's Day!

Live And Let Die

Wasn't Sir Paul McCartney great during the halftime show of the Superbowl? Discuss.

Take Me Home, Country Road...

I'm here in the home state of Jennifer Garner and Natalie Provenzano. Who knew that there could be fun had in West Virginia?!?! As much as I love the rolling hills and the freezing cold weather here, I must admit that I'm looking forward to heading back to Florida next week. BTW, if anyone knows why there is a West Virginia and a Virginia, let me know. The guy at the Radio Shack in the mall seems to have his theories, but I have a strong feeling he may be incorrect.

Walking In Memphis

Just completed a wonderful week in Memphis, Tennessee. Did the Graceland thing, but what was more impressive was the FOOD!!!! Many thanks to Ellen's Soul Food, Isaac Hayes- Hot Buttered Soul, Blues City Grill and Westy's for a week of deep fried, high caloric goodness- and gallons of sweet tea!

Georgia On My Mind

Having a grand time in Georgia! We were in Columbus earlier this week and just finished our run in Athens. Off to Savannah tomorrow! There certainly is no shortage of sweet tea (see SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY) as every eating establishment has had it. Now if I can just get my hands on some genuine pralines! Athens was also home to Molly O'Shea's, a fine Irish pub. I had my first Irish Car Bomb here, which is, for the drinking impaired, a shot of bailey's and whiskey submerged in a half pint of Guinness Beer and downed in a matter of seconds. Quite tasty- kinda like chocolate milk with a little kick. You gotta love college towns!

The Dead Of Winter

... is not so bad in Florida! Today I went to a beach in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a warm and breezy day in the upper 70's - absolutely perfect! The shows have been going well here in Coral Springs, despite how small our stage is. And the audiences have been spectacular! Life is good! By the way, it's not all a vacation. I do happen to be working here!

Extra! Extra!

My interview for the Evansville magazine, News 4 U, just came out. Thanks to Dylan Gibbs for the wonderful write up! Have fun reading it!

It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year!

I love the start of a new year. It's a chance to forget the mistakes from the past year and start with a clean slate. It's a chance to make new promises to yourself and if you're lucky, follow through with them. It's an opportunity to forget Wichita and have a run of flawless shows(inside joke). What do I hope for in 2005? Continued health. Continued artistic success and progression. And most importantly, that YOUR dreams and wishes come to fruition this year. I've made a resolution to make this year about focusing less on myself, and using that time and energy on those around me. Being an actor can be a very selfish profession. You spend your time on your personal advancement-promoting yourself, taking care of yourself, making sure everything is in your best interest. This year it's all about YOU. Let me know if I can be of assistance.