#scratchfor50: words of wisdom from becca

In our From Scratch for 50 Days: A Creativity Challenge, we are challenging you to do something creative and share it with us every day for 50 days. To get you all sorts of pumped up and inspired, we’re bringing you fellow creators’ words of wisdom. Read, enjoy, and get creating, Wellers. Our next words of wisdom come from Becca: actress, singer, founder and blogger of the insanely insightful Becca on Broadway, and all around funny woman. This girl GETS comedy. Oh, and she's dipping her toes into producing, too. Think she knows something about creativity? We sure as heck do. And you'll be able to see her on stage in The Understudy this May-June at The Secret Theatre in NYC. NBD.

What is creativity?

Creativity is building something new. Anything new. I tend to relate to it in terms of the arts because that's the world I'm in, but it's certainly not limited to that. Creativity is making something out of nothing, making something out of something, in any capacity. I also link it with originality; there is a quality of uniqueness that I like to think comes hand in hand with being creative.

When do you feel the most creative?

When I'm surrounded by my creative peers. It gets the juices flowing.

Do you consider creativity a necessity or a bonus?

A bonus.

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see theatre, get happy

Peter and the Starcatcher, as we all know by now, is fabulous. I was lucky enough to see it with Becca when it was first at New York Theatre Workshop. Craig had not yet seen this glorious piece of magical theatre and so we went last week.

The show is quick, wordy, and alive. Alive in the way that great writing rests in the mouths of capable actors with an effervescence: bubbly, prickly, carbonated truthiness that endows each moment with both crude humor and subtle sophistication. In that writing, and in the tightness of really freaking good theatre, actors are at their best: open and resplendent.

It was in this combination of writing and performance that I had one of the most satisfying and hearty laughs of all time.

It gives nothing away to say we were toward the end of the play when the character of Smee, does a semi-victory dance, semi-crowd rousing cheer for his captain: Black Stache. The physical demands of this moment were not much, I can only imagine what was actually written in the stage directions. But the actor giddy-upped into a flavorful, utterly present, ridiculously giving and seemingly effortless comic tangent that the audience followed through every juicy millisecond. So much were we with this actor, so much were all the actors on stage with this actor, SO MUCH was this actor giving himself over to the moment - that we all continued to fall into deeper and longer laughter. The show stopped. We kept laughing. The actors on stage took the impending cascade of giggles and “breaks” and wove them seamlessly into the plot with wisecracking acknowledgement and without losing the inertia of the play's denouement.

It was thrilling.

When Craig and I left, tears in our eyes and our faces still creased from the fun, I considered why that moment mattered. We, the audience, were in it with the actors. It wasn’t an inside joke, a personal aside, only privy to those on stage. It was for all of us. It was unexpected. We were in unspoken agreement of delight. And it was glorious.

This is why I love being an actor. To share in that moment with audiences is the greatest acknowledgement that we are all part of something big and mysterious. And when we are fully present, palpitating with the beating heart of a really good story, there is no end to what hilarious, and poignant, and mystical, and charming, and life-affirming moments we can catch, if only for just a second.

There are many reasons why I love the theatre, but this one, has to be at the very top of a very long and grateful list.

Go see some theatre this weekend and tell us about! Any shows you are dying to see? Check out Becca on Broadway to get some ideas for the weekend!

FIVER: wonderful moments from the weekend

Welcome to November, friends!  How was your first weekend of the month?  Ours was special...here's why. 1. Our Halloween Costumes

We had a blast at our fabulous friends' house this Friday night.  Raven refused to be Allie's Jessica Biel so ultimately they went as Justin Timberlake and his Mirror.

Allie wanted to find a loophole to the "girls shouldn't dress sexy" rule, and this was totally it. Courtney had been up since 4am for work and didn't have time to go home to change, so she ended up calling this her "deconstructed Charlie Brown" costume.  All in all, a fantastic holiday.

2. Courtney's dinner at Milkflower

Once again, Astoria FTW! This place is all sorts of YES: pizza joint with a hip, farm-to-table feel, and an association with Brooklyn Grange. I consumed an entire personal pizza laden with brussel sprouts, egg, mozzerella, truffle oil, and a dash of pepper. I was not upset about this. Savory, hearty, and a light peppery kick made this the perfect dinner to end a long day. They also serve brunch, lots of delicious looking starters (meatballs are a must next time), and gelato for dessert. Shout out to my friend Becca (of Becca on Broadway) for the recommendation and the company. Warning: When dining here, do not expect to ever, EVER share your food.

3. This Coat

I stumbled upon this picture (click for link) yesterday while surfing the web. Practical? Not totally. But this coat speaks my language - a little oversized, bright color, mohair - and likely provides warmth. Would really quite enjoy this on my body.

4. Allie's haircut at Seagull

I searched for years, and I mean YEARS, for the perfect hair salon. As I mentioned briefly here, I have a couple gray hairs. Okay, maybe more than a couple. Whatever, fine, I'm nearing 30, it's normal. But I started getting them when I was TWENTY FOUR, so finding someone who could properly color my hair was kind of essential. When I read the reviews of Seagull on Yelp, I knew I had to try. I can honestly say they are better than anywhere I've ever tried...by a long shot. And in the world of hair salons - I'm kind of a hair slut. They aren't cheap, but worth every penny.

5. Courtney's BROTHER'S BABY!

Craig and I are an Uncle and Auntie for the first time ever! Luca Edward Romano was born to my brother and his wife on November 3rd, weighing in at 7 pounds, 4.5 ounces. We cannot wait to meet this amazing little man, but for now, here he is in all his precious glory:

What was special about your weekend? Any parties? Did you run in or support the Marathon (Cara did and we are so proud of her)?! Let us know what inspired you this weekend!