FringeNYC news and new video!

So some good news from the past few weeks. First off, and sadly, the NY Fringe Fest is over. It was a crazy 2 weeks and I thank you all for coming out and seeing the show, supporting, laughing. Drinking afterwards. It was a great time.

But guess what? While the festival is over, it doesn't mean we are. Why is that? you're asking yourself...We've been extended!! Thats right! Getting Even With Shakespeare is officially part of the Fringe Encore season. The encore season? again you ask yourself. Well, it's basically the 'best of the best' of the fringe. Audience favorites, shows that did well ticket wise, and audience buzz-wise (if that's a word).

Now we're all in this for the art and for the chance to tell a story, or entertain, but Encores is a huge deal. Who knows what producer will show up, or what house will say 'we want you.' So it's a bit freakin deal. Of all fringe shows I've done, THIS show always had the potential to go on. So hooray! I mean, a lot of productions go in hoping to get noticed enough to even be considered. And we're in! And in good company too, there are some amazing shows that are a part of this year's encore. Check them out, but see ours first. All the info can be found here.

The press we've gotten, as you've seen since I shared some of it, has been so positive that it hurt to think after the festival is over we wouldn't get to do the show again. Hooray for extensions. And I have to say, this is some of the most fun I've ever had on stage. Very few exceptions. Playing Harry Houdini will always be a hilight, but this farce makes me want to laugh on stage every single night.

Buy tickets!!!! See it before we're off-broadway! Haha.

And in other news. A few months ago I shot a commercial for the website My Music Portfolio, which is a lot like kickstarter, but for bands. It allows people to invest in small bands and eventually someday see a return on their money. And of course help launch a career or two. The commercial is short and sweet but very pretty.

I shall share it with you now:

My Music Porfolio Commercial from Patrick Pizzolorusso on Vimeo.

It's good for a laugh. Really well done though. Something that was shot in 2 days with no rehearsal. We just jumped into it. Who knew I could play the drums. And notice my go-to army jacket. It's everywhere!

Reviews abound!

The first few reviews for Getting Even With Shakespeare as part of the 2010 FringeNYC are in and so far so good. I mean how can it be anything but, right? Right?!?!

Anyway. To say I'm in shock is an understatement. The kind words and general praises I've been getting have totally gone to my head. So of course I'm writing this from my trailer as I dictate this to my personal assistant....or not. Actually I'm a little nervous now. We have a wonderful show. It's solid. I'm damn proud of my cast and crew and everyone on board. Like there should be in any cast, there is a lot of love. And there are so many moments of just pure joy onstage. There are moments I wish I were in the audience watching....and then the laughs come and, well, you know. Can't explain that feeling. But I admit I'm a little nervous after such a high.

So we opened this past Saturday to a sold out house at the Player's Theatre. It was an amazing afternoon. We were sold out and sold out to a lovely and gracious audience who was with us the entire journey. Some members of the audience more so than others...I could pick out specific laughs of friends. The reaction from the audience was overwhelmingly positive. We know we have a good show that we're all proud of, but hearing it from others is just...another thing in theater that's difficult to put into words. Not that we don't like the praise. Please...keep it coming.

So tomorrow is show number two. Yes I'm nervous, but I'm excited to get back in the theater. I'm excited to play with my friends again. And I'm excited to see some other Fringe shows that I've been neglecting this week. But before that, here are two reviews that say lovely things about the show and of course, since this blog is about me...they say very nice things about me!

"Macbeth [is] played with spiky aplomb by Patrick Pizzolorusso"

The first one is from theatermania.com: and the full review can be read by clicking on the link back there.

and now this:

"And Macbeth, oh Macbeth. It doesn't hurt that Patrick Pizzolorusso has been in numerous Shakespeare productions prior to his performance as Macbeth in Getting Even.., but I'll just say it: he's fantastic. He made Macbeth, a character I had no interest in previous to this, the most interesting and wonderful person up on that stage."

This is from the blog happen to like NY..click HERE for the full review

Amazing right? Thank you so much for such wonderful feedback and I look forward to playing some more tomorrow!

Acting adventure Updates! Videos! FringeNYC!

Fringe is slowly creeping up. We're 6 days away! By the time many of you read this we'll be 5 or 4 days away. Ticket sales are going REALLY well. It helps that the first run of this was sold out, extended, and received an amazing review!!

Also think it helps that we had a GREAT preview performance with NYC's summer streets and Fringe's outdoor teasers. We met a few other shows and I was able to perform Macbeth's wonderful speech about playing paintball against girlscouts. Yes. Now you know you want to see this show.

The teaser went really well and the audience reacted wonderfully to the text..and of course my amazing performance.

It's been a long week of straight rehearsals as well as tech all day Sat. But we're in damn good shape. Tomorrow is our tech in the space itself. I'm looking forward to playing IN the Player's Theatre. Its always nice to finally get on the stage you'll be performing on. As opposed to rehearsal spaces.

So non fringe related----

Wednesday of this past week I received a call from an unknown number. So I of course didn't answer it. I make it a habit not to answer numbers I don't know. No message. Oh well. Not important.

Well, Thursday I get a call again and a message. Well done. Apparently I've been 'cast' in something. And I write cast like that because of the details behind it. Some student film. Not that thats a bad thing. But the director/producer/whoever apparently cast his film. Tuesday night the actor dropped out. So he hired another actor who on Wednesday dropped out. So he's now calling me. First of all, I'm aware I'm at least 3rd pick. Why would you tell someone...we had 2 other people lined up but they fell through, so we're going with you instead? Really? Tact my friend, Tact.

No I didn't do his project. Perhaps had he approached me in a better way I would have considered it. But seeing as how I was at least 3rd choice and they were filming that day...I was honestly busy with rehearsal. It's glamorous being an actor, no?

So back to Fringe. Here are some more videos for you all to enjoy. There are a few. I'll post 'em all here. There will be more coming shortly. But enjoy these PSA's and confessionals.

And lastly, a little bit from the protest we staged at the Last performance of Merchant of Venice at the Public theater. Where else would one find a pile of Shakespeare fans?

Man! So much media. Gotta love it. So enjoy the last few weeks worth of video and the last week or so's progress. I'm off to get ready for Tech tomorrow. Some people hate tech. it can be long and boring. And I've been in some HORRID tech rehearsals. But this has been so organized that we're actually getting work done. Very excited to be able to get into the space tomorrow. Bring it, Players!

To my Fight Captain

"Do not go, Gentle, Into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

This is my online journal of my journey as an actor here in NYC. So I think it fitting to use this space as a way to somehow deal with all that has transpired over the past 2 days. It has been a difficult week already and here I sit, mindlessly working, it being only Tuesday.

He was my mentor and my friend.

My friend has left.

I go back and forth between laughing and crying. Which is a step up from yesterday. Yesterday was a day filled with waiting, emails and phone calls flying back and forth between family and reporters. No one ever thinks about what to do if something like this happens. There isn't much to do but sit and wait. Try not to spread things around until we know everything. And we still don't.

We just know that the community, my family, has lost a teacher and a beloved friend.

I find this a fitting place to remember Jeff Norton, and to honor him. After all, he is the one teacher who had the most profound effect on my life as an artist. As the small group of friends who make up my family here started coming together over phones and emails and texts yesterday, along with sympathy for each other and Jeff's family, stories started to emerge.

The man was amazing. There is not a single person who would ever contest that. He had the biggest heart and the most passion I'd ever seen. Acting was something he took very serious. And he imparted that feeling on all of us. He taught me it was a craft that we should feel honored to have had the calling for. You know, like the priesthood, only cooler. (no offense to the cool priests out there) He treated it as a gift to be passed down from one generation to another. He taught me that you also never stop learning. Every moment is an opportunity to learn something else to put into the little bag of tricks we actors wear around our souls. With Jeff, you couldn't help but learn whenever in his presence.

He shared his memories of his training, his growing up, his adventures in NY and what was possibly in store for us. It was an honor just to hear him rant. More so it was an honor to see him on stage. Every time I saw him act I couldn't help but feel sorry for the other actors on stage. They just melted away. He was the most engaging actor I've ever seen on stage. You couldn't help but be drawn to everything he did. Everything he said.

And in real life too. He was a huge personality but still remained quiet and calm. He was always so peaceful and willing to help. I remember midnight sessions in the studio working on choreography, I remember deep conversations as we ripped apart the text of Alice, I remember his stationwagen. I remember his smile and laughter which always came about as he made fun of us silly students. But he genuinely loved us all. I remember Swords. Always a bundle of swords in his hand. I remember him asking us to please not break his house. I remember Jeff Norton.

I remember Jeff Norton. And those memories will patch this immense hole that is in my chest.

It will not fill it, but I will be able to move past this. To move on.

All for one and one for all.

Jeff, I miss you. And if somehow you're there floating about in the ether and you can read this, you are always with me on stage. Your influence has ignited so much in me. I am eternally grateful. Thank you my dear dear friend.

Sleep well. And Dream.

BroadwayWorld.com Article about Getting Even with Shakespeare

So we were lucky enough to be written up in Broadway World. It's just a quick press article, but all the exposure and advertising we can get is good, right? So here is the ARTICLE. My last name is mispelled the second time it's mentioned when talking about the producing company, but I suppose that's ok.

After reading that...in other news...finally landed an audition this Friday with the American Globe. I am a huge fan of their work and have been trying to work with them for years. Seriously, years. So an initial audition is by all means a good thing. Send good vibes this friday and I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.

Getting Even with Shakespeare: DATES!!!

The dates are here people. Yeah, thats woohoo-worthy. Fringe has assigned us out times and to be honest, they're damn shiny. Sure we have a friday at noon, but it's fringe. They'll come. All the rest of the dates? Perfect for show goers to come over, watch, then head to the bar to discuss the show over pint after pint after pint (buy the cast some)

So here they are:

Saturday 8/14 @ 2:15 pm

Friday 8/20 @ noon

Tuesday 8/24 @ 6:45 pm

Wednesday 8/25 @ 7:30 pm

Friday 8/27 @ 7:00 pm

We're performing at the Player's Theatre @ 110 MacDougal Street.

Map:

View Larger Map

And click here for more information. Tickets do not go on sale until July 23, but you can still bookmark this like good little theatergoers and check back often for updates? yeah?

FringeNYC, Feature Films, and Commercials.

So I have met them all. The cast. We have a cast! And what looks like a fun cast at that.

Last night was our photo shoot for promotional pictures for the Fringe show I'm in. We met at St. Mark's Church and clowned around a bit. I love being an actor for so many reasons. One being that you can throw a bunch of strangers together and they immediately start playing and working towards a common goal. Gotta love that.

If the way we got a long last night is any indication on how we'll do, I think this show will be a huge success. Or a lot of fun. Or both. It's Fringe, it's always fun. So the pictures will be up shorty, I hope. I'll share one or two if you're lucky. Last night definitely got me pumped up even more for this summer. I've done some fringe shows in the past and it's about time I'm a part of one that knows what its doing. Everything is so organized and prepared. Fringe is by nature a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants festival, but in order to succeed you have to have some sort of plan. Self Fulfilling Productions has a plan indeed. And you bet your ass I'm happy to be a part of it. So we're off to a good start. Good press already before we've even begun, a few mentions here and there, good lookin' cast, and what else, thats it, right? Oh yeah. A good script.

So who's who? You're all probably curious what the cast looks like. Well here is the official cast list, a few returning, a few new. All very exciting!

Official Cast

Yeah, I know. We're good looking. And also be on the look out for the official Getting even With Shakespeare Army Shirt:

I know it looks huge, but they ran out of my size. And I couldn't leave without one. I mean, free shirt! Click HERE for info about joining the army..

The official dates will be announced, tomorrow I think. So stay tuned

And in other news..

For those of you who are devoted followers and read every word I write as if I were a modern day Hemmingway, remember When In Rome? That film I did about 2 years ago chock full of overnight shoots near city hall? Well I haven't seen it. I kinda refused because it just looked bad when filming. Then the info I received about it confirmed my suspicions. Bad. That being said, several people have come to me now asking if I worked on it. Yes, I did. I was one of the featured dancers. All of us assumed we were left on the floor of the editing...computer? Apparently not. So yes, I am in When in Rome. Something to be proud of? Putting that degree to good use. It's right up there with snapping for AT&T.

So I did break down and watch a clip of it online. And yes, there I am. Dancing away. I will say, my dance partner was the hottest. So take that all you haters.

Oh yeah, I also did a spot for AT&T. Now this was a HUGE stretch of my talent. Watch for it. You'll be in tears by the end.

...they give out awards for commercials? Just saying. Hello nomination.

At&t Spot from Patrick Pizzolorusso on Vimeo.

I realize I haven't written in a while. I've been away. For real. But here ya go, a little catch up. And seeing as it's Friday, I figure it's also a good week in review. Remember I said I was going to do those? Yeah...

Enjoy!