What is it like to be married to an actor? Well I will say it is a hell of a lot easier if you yourself are an actor too! We have had the good fortune to not only share this journey together as performing artists but we are often cast in the same show and this summer we have had the unique experience of playing in 2 2-handers together! The show is 3 one acts and we are in 2 & 3. As we embark upon closing weekend, here are the highlights of this most special experience! 1) Memorizing lines in our PJ's 2) Coming into the rehearsal space surrounded by art easels complete with classical music playing in the background (the space doubles as an art studio!) 3) Sushi lunch breaks & AEA HEALTH WEEKS 4) Snuggled up on the antique loveseat (old set dressing) backstage running lines before we go on (gross I know) 5) Backstage Blue Light dancing to no music 6) Quick kiss & "see ya on the ice" before lights up. 7) FIRSTS -- I left my sweet husband on stage ALONE on final dress (invited audience) while I dealt with a costume malfunction - think "Ms. Jackson if your nasty..." LOL 8) British/Cockney dialects and quick changes 9) Doorknobs, olives, biscuits, break away wedding dress, coffee on wedding dress, ripped suit jackets, umbrellas, Tammy Faye Baker mascara... 10) Laughing audiences! 2 more performances! Thanks #TheatreConspiracy We have had a grand ole time! xo
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Wild Hors-- Roses Couldn't drag me awaySo much to talk about...but I have been testing out Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm and Rose Facial Oil so I gotta tell ya what I think...
Both products smell amazingly beautiful. Like a dressing room filled with fresh roses -- not the stinky musty kind that your lame dressing room-mates "forget" to throw out until closing weekend. I digress... The Wild Rose Beauty Balm is the winner for me. I hear that this product is a customer favorite and I can certainly see why. It is a thick balm that can be used in a variety of ways: as a "rich cleanser, gentle exfoliant or deeply nourishing balm." This wonderful product is heavy on the rose hip oil along with geranium, starflower, hemp and rosemary oil. It is awesome. I used it as a cleanser several nights after a full face of make-up and my skin practically said thank you with a rosy glow. I also used it for a nourishing balm on some problem spots and it seemed to aid in the healing time. I would order this for myself no question. Now for the Rose Facial Oil. It smells like a dream. Seriously romantic. It was just a little too much for my skin, I think. A dab will do you...and even then I think with full face and street face and cleansing in between my skin was one toke over the line sweet Jesus on this one. BUTTTTTTTTTT....I will say that this stuff was A.Maz.Ing for one very special use...Ok. So I live in Florida right? South Florida. I am in the sun alot or I like to be. There is one place on a lady that the sun is especially unfriendly and that is the décolleté area. Sorry but it is the TRUTH. Nothing gives away your age quite like that area right there...especially down here. But this little product seems to be the Fountain of Youth and you can see results VERY quickly. At least I did. I would also buy this product even if I only ever used it for this very specific purpose. Get yours here at: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/mandyhays #Healthyactors #whatsonourdressingtable So here is one that I did not expect to be writing anytime soon but here it is...Spider Veins... So I was pleased to learn while reading SpiderVein.org (like ya do) that this a problem for not only for Kim Kardashian but for many women, as early as in their 20's -- especially woman who are on their feet a lot and wear heels. OK so that about sums it up, actors! Spider veins heading your way. Watch out Neal Patrick, you may not only be walking away from Hedwig with a Tony but with some spider veins. Of course heredity, age, hormones, medication all that good stuff goes into as well. But I like to think it is the heels and the cement rehearsal room floors. Spider Veins are not something that I have given a second thought to honesty until about a week ago. I woke up one morning and my knees were hurting. Specifically behind my right knee. Granted I am rehearsing right now & in heels. But I woke up and was like, "Hm, what the hell?" So I look in the mirror and sure enough behind my right knee I see the faint traces of some blue/purple lines. Not cute. And not fun. So I pulled out my oils. Lemon & Lemongrass. Lemon essential oil is a tonic for circulatory issues and since spider veins are a result of dilated veins. Lemongrass is great oil for anti-inflammtory so I thought let's give it a try. Long story short= I have been using 2-3 drops of each oil along with my coconut oil concentrating on the areas behind and the knee. Sweet relief already! I will keep you posted if those little babies start to disappear. Some folks claim that use of the oils actually lessen the appearance...Stay tuned for that. Other folks have used these oils for spider veins/varicose veins: Cypress, Lavender, Cedar, Frankincense, Geranium, Chamomile, Tea tree, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Rosemary, Palmarosa, Marjoram, Ginger, Yarrow, Carrot seed, Juniper, Helichrysum, Black pepper, Birch #stayhealthy y'all! Rediscovering FrankincenseFor all you international savvies out there-- you already know how fabulous this company is and all the awards they are racking up inside the beauty industry, right? I have to admit -- I had never heard of this brand before...I'm lame, I know. Sorry to my Brits out there. But yeah, when my cousin sent me the care package of products to try, I didn't know anything about his brand. I should warn you -- I am a sucker for packaging. I would buy a chewed stick of gum if it were packaged nicely with a slick logo and a funky font. So right away I was in love with the colors and the branding. Sophisticated without being bitchy about it. I should tell you a little about this company: whew. Where to begin...This company is the real deal. I don't know if I have ever come across a more earth-conscience, people-conscience, animal-conscience brand. "We’re a pretty passionate bunch, especially when it comes to the importance of respect – for people, animals and the environment. We believe it’s a fundamental part of healthy beauty and organic living." They are committed with a capital C -- through organic farming, trading fairly, and respectful supportive working conditions, members of Organic Soil Association, Carbon Neutral, Forest Stewardship Council, World Land Trust, GMEducation, Cruelty-Free International, Vegetarian Society Approved, Humane Society, FRAME & PETA...You get the idea? Please check out the history of Neal's Yard Remedies because my description is not giving them their due. They are the good guys!!! I have LOTS of products to try in the coming days (thanks Mandy! xo) but I started out my trial with the Rejuvenating Frankincense Refining Cleanser and the Frankincense Hydrating Cream. My cousin told me that it should be enough for about 4 uses. And sure enough that was true. AND A WARNING here: I am opening a show in just under 2 weeks and I am trusting that my face is going to be happy. I have pretty sensitive skin so I hope all goes well here...lol...If it was good enough for the baby Jesus and the Wise Men...I'm hoping for a Miracle. So what's the verdict after a few days of these new products??? I am a BIG fan of the Rejuvenating Frankincense Cleanser. It is crazy good -- smells good, feels good and about 5 minutes after washing my face there was a fabulous glow to my skin that looked incredibly healthy and dare I say youthful. For my normal to oily skin here in South Florida, the Frankincense Hydrating Cream was just a little too much -- I already got more moisture here than I know what to do with... Now that being said, I can see how if I were still living in NY that I would LOVE that product in the winter when my face is like the Sahara Desert from the dry heat indoors and the cold winds out. Again great smell of the Frankincense and a nice consistency to the product (thick but not heavy) -- silky and luxurious. Two green thumbs up for the cleanser! One green thumb for the cream -- but again I think it is because for my more-oily-than-not skin in Florida it is just a bit too heavy with the 90+ degrees out. Bring on round 2~ #stayhealthy Get yours here at: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/mandyhays Welp. It is almost august and it is hot as 1) hell 2) balls 3) balls in hell here in SWFL. This week has been super busy with us beginning our rehearsals, meetings about ongoing and newly developing projects and taxes. Yep. Taxes in July. Not Christmas in July but taxes. I will just leave it at that. Every working professional actor knows the sad lament..."1099's, W-2's, unemployment, oh Christ." One word of advice...use the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program our union, Actors Equity Association, so graciously provides. Thank you AEA!!! We LOVE you! Orlando office rocks! Well, I am running off to study my words...and drink a nice big iced coffee.
So as you may remember from a previous post, I was lamenting that during the summer we grocery shop at Big Lots. Which is totally true but not for everything, just for those specialty international grocery items. ;-) Come on you know what I am talking about... Next time I hit up Big Lots I will show you exactly what I mean. And when we are working a gig near a Trader Joe's all bets are off. And because we do live in Florida most of the year, Farmers' Markets are part of the weekly ritual too... In the meantime, I thought I would get to the real staples of our household. So we eat primarily organic food. I know, I know, I know. "It's expensive. Organic food is questionable because the certification...blahblah blah." Here is my take. As far as I know, I only get one body to take this cruise in, this time around. If there is anything and I mean anything that I can do to increase my chances of my body staying healthy, I am going for it. ALL the women of my family who have passed have had some form of cancer and many of the men -- so I am not f'ing around with that. Or had diabetes or high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Again nothing to f with. Soooo...Organic it is. Here is a sample of my grocery list:
Organic Valley whole milk (and when we get residual checks the kind with the cream on top!) Eggland's Best Organic Eggs -- from farmer when possible Annie's mac and cheese or Horizon mac and cheese (so healthy...) Organic rice Organic in season veggies (staples are green beans, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, ....) Organic in season fruit (grapefruit, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, lemons, limes-- we have a fruit smoothie every morning!) Kefir Strawberry Good cheese (hard and soft) Kombucha - various brands Stonyfield Yogurt French Vanilla Organic chocolate bar of some variety -- best of list coming soon... Organic or natural ground turkey Fancy canned tuna (ha!) Bren's favorite -- Pork Chops! Organic canned and frozen veggie -- Publix has a good variety! Recycled paper products Organic Dr. Bronner's peppermint bar soap You get the idea...We are not cra cra crazy eaters. We just try to choose the "greener" options. And we cheat of course.... I love milkshakes from our local joint here near the beach. But I read a quote that haunts my mind -- "The body is a sacred garment."-- Martha Graham. Make your body so happy that your soul wants to stay and play there for a while. Stay heathy, y'all! xo #healthyactors The last 24-48 hours have been something straight out of a Twilight Zone episode...hang on to your hats and view pictures at your own risk...
Bren and I, after careful consideration, have begun the house hunt here in Florida. Well here is the deal... We ALWAYS come back to Florida. We have regular work here as actors with many theaters that we have good, long-standing relationships with, we love the community, we have many friends here, the weather is consistently gorgeous. What else could you ask for? As you can imagine, we are looking for something unique with personality. We looked at an Eco-House last week built by an old hippie with lots of land surrounding it- garden, outdoor shower, boat launch across the street, dead-end street but the house was just a little too weird even for my taste. Just not feng shui, if you know what I mean. This past Sunday we made an appointment to see a charming little house with a pool and lanai. We arrive to a chorus of barking dogs. No joke. Let me just give you the highlights: old dog piss on newspapers on floor in living room, 9 (that we saw) cats in various places around the house, at least 7 dogs (at quick glance as I was trying to avert my eyes) in a couple kennels in back room and the overpowering smell of shit out back where the realtor told us would be "the perfect place for a table and chairs." I can't make this up....We passed on that property. So yesterday, I went for my follow up blood work from my Birthday doc appointment. When I arrived home, Bren was outside enjoying the glorious river. After fixing us a little lunch and working our scripts, I heard Bren say my name. My full name. Which never happens. "RACHEL!" I look out by the seawall and discover he has a look of horror on his face. "There is something floating in the water." ??? I look over and there is a -- what I can only describe as a mass of flesh colored tissue with black hair. "Is that hair? I think that is hair?" We call the Sheriff. I have images of crime tape and CSI sunglass wearing detectives covering the property. I will miss my appointment tonight because I will be detained for questioning. They will separate us and when they find out how liberal I am I might be in trouble...My mind races. Two very sweet young Sheriffs arrive at our home and walk around to the dock. One very casually walks over to the head in question. He pulls the brush back and without hesitation reveals that our gift from the river is a wild hog head. His partner joins him and explains how this probably happened. After talking for awhile about various things and a mysterious boat, they tell us of a lady who is living on the beach on Beautiful Island just across the river from us. Curiouser and curiouser. I head off to my appointment here I sit watching a puppet show with a variety of characters all created from George Bush puppets. The theme for the evening is honesty and lies. Yep. All true. Is there somehow a connection here? On July 11, I turned well -- let's be real, I am not going to reveal that to the world. As I think we all know, we need all the help we can get out here in the wild world of theatre, film and casting...Like I want another reason for Casting Directors to think twice..."um no, I just don't see you as 30-35 any more. " Ugh. I had a lovely celebration filled with all my favorite things this year. Some things good for me, some things not so good for me...Come on! It's my birthday! And on 7-11 you get free slurpies from 7-11! The Gods' must be crazy... So of course I got a Coke Slurpie! I mean it was free! It was by far the worst thing I have ingested in months...And was strangely delicious. I received lots of calls and cards and a couple of very sweet care packages from home filled with lots of wonderful goodies from people I love. And Brendan of course made the day very special -- even giving me a hand-made Birthday card. Oh to be married to a fellow artist! Life is so sweet. We aren't in rehearsals yet and are not running a show -- ie, we are out of work. Soooo, always looking on the bright side of life-- we had the whole day to share together by doing lots of things we love! Free birthday lunch with mild humiliation wearing a sombrero -- see pic here (Ha! Lucky for all us their site is down)! We had a beautiful dinner eating one of my favorite foods (sauteed blue crab claws!) and enjoyed G&T's and a fabulous sunset! And the best part of it was sharing the day with my man! Time to get to work!!!! Ok so we are about to start rehearsals for a funny funny series of One Acts at Theatre Conspiracy here in Fort Myers. We have never done a show with them are really looking forward to this quirky show. We are in Act 2 and Act 3! So suckas, I better go get them words down because this process is fast and furious...SUMMERTIME in the theatre! Stay healthy! Can't wait to share my dressing table with you! #healthyactor #whatsonourdressingtable
Life's a beach, what can I say? Yep. It is mid-June, we are out of work, summer stock is in full swing, we are here at the river house and grocery shopping at Big Lots. BUT as luck would have it, I got a message on FB last night that gave a little encouragement. Isn't that the way, fellow actors? You are in the weeds and then out of the clear blue sky, an Artistic Director sends a note and the world is beautiful again. Ah, the life of an artist. Relax. Nothing is under control. So today we are reading the play that was sent -- oh it is a project for both me and Bren! Another plus! And it is in August! And it is in town! So win, win, win...win! This evening we are having sunset cocktails on the dock with an old friend and AD of a regional theatre we have a very close relationship with. So as we ease into summer, the theatre season for 14-15 (how the hell?) is beginning to take shape. Do other regional theatre actors have this experience? I have been thinking a lot lately about the path that I chose -- or did it truly choose me? I never went the "traditional" route of getting a theatrical agent. Even when I was in NYC. I always wanted control over my career. Ha! What a freakin' joke! Hindsight is 20/20 on that one. I didn't want an agent trying to push and pull me in directions I might not want to go. So I trekked out in my own way, made relationships with organizations, worked hard and am amazed sometimes that I have been able to piece together a life in this cra-cra-crazy theatre world. All the while I wait for my TV/Commercial agent to call. I swear... The phone has been dead silent since my last audition on the 10th for a NetFlix thing. DEAD silent. We joked yesterday saying we needed to make travel plans so the phone would ring. That ALWAYS happens. Nothing, nothing, nothing. We will be packing the suitcases the night before. It will be 9:47 at night and I get a text message. "Can you be in Miami tomorrow at 10:00 for something? Sides have been sent to your email." Soooo are there any sweet deals on Travel Zoo this week? Here's to an awesome 14-15 Season! |
Rachel BurttramI'm a southern gal with liberal politics who has worked my ass off and sacrificed a lot in order to be a working regional theatre actor. There are lots of working actors who are out here grinding without begin famous. And we consider that we have already MADE it. I really like to tell stories and solve the puzzle of the text. I LOVE untangling scripts and unlocking characters. I really give a damn about the planet and am an avid gardener. I love to get my hands dirty. I am completely fascinated by fellow journey(man) actors and how we survive and thrive. Ballin' on a budget, Baby. http://www.rachelburttram.com/ Archives
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