"Giving Thanks": Year 2 in Review

To my dear reader,

Yes, “Year 2 in Review” is three months late, I meant to write it back in August as planned, but I was busy (which is a good thing). I figured better late than never, and what better week to acknowledge all I have to be thankful for? You may have heard me say that statistically most actors quit within the first two years of moving to New York, well it has now been 2 years and three months, and “good times, bum times, I’ve seen ‘em all and my dear, I’m still here!”

Here’s is my 2008/2009 recap:

Last October, I had the extreme pleasure of studying with Sheri Sanders, whom I had met the previous summer at Making it on Broadway, this time joining her Rock the Audition class. With her help, I uncovered some fears I had as a singer and through Sheri I got in contact with Tom Burke, hands down the MOST amazing voice teacher I have ever had! He has transformed my voice in one year and I can’t wait to go back to Sheri’s class now that I can belt like Tina Turner!

In November, I moved on the study with Sheri’s music theatre teacher and mentor Kimberly Vaughn at Actors Connection. Then took “Monologue Perfection” with the fabulous Paul Fouquet from Elissa Myers Casting. Paul’s class changed my outlook as a performer to include more than just musicals. Paul got to know me strictly as an actor, but when he found out I also sing, he said with how good I am as actor, when they find out I can sing too, I will be unstoppable! Don’t get me wrong I still love music theatre, but I have settled into the idea that I am maybe not the “jazz hands” musical theatre type and I find I am more excited to delve into new works, musicals and otherwise. Paul’s class gave me the confidence to be first and foremost an actor who also sings. I also brushed up my film acting technique this past spring at Weist Barron with Chris Lutkin. And I am pleased to announce I will soon be featured in a short film directed by Chris Baldyga at the Art Institute of New York. I also “may” be making my big screen debut as an extra in “Step Up 3” due out this coming August. Well, that is if you can actually see me…

Of course, music will always hold a big place in my heart. Now though, I am closer to finding my niche. I performed with Seth Bisen-Hersh at Don’t Tell Mama three times this past year, and last week, I made my debut at the Algonquin Cabaret. Last June, I was thrilled to be called back for “Kate Monster” in the National Tour of Avenue Q, and I cannot wait to give the audition another try this coming year and see what happens… keep your fingers crossed for me.

May was when things really started picking up. I was cast in my first off-off Broadway play, Happy Hour, based on Joelle Arqueros's compilation of monologues titled Sex, Relationships...and Sometimes Love, directed by off-off Broadway champion Michael Horn at the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company. In a way, Happy Hour is a right of passage for New York actors, and I am very proud of the work. Happy Hour forced me to work outside my comfort zone (my monologue was titled “Plunger”…). I was also paid a wonderful compliment while sitting outside the theatre after a performance, when I overheard an audience member cite me as being their favorite part of the show, saying I was “very Saturday Night Live.”

A few weeks into rehearsals for Happy Hour, I was approached by Roger Hendricks Simon* to join the Simon Studio. With the Simon Studio, I was honored to work with many well respected theatre artists and joined them in performance in June with the Cinema and Theatre Festival where I performed the role of “Prudence” in Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang. I joined them again in August, playing “Kate” from Taming of the Shrew in the annual “Bard at the Bar.” *Watch for Roger as AIG Insurance Magnate, Bernie Jacobs in “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”, currently in production.

Then came the whirlwind of September and October when I got to play the part of romance novelist, and lost soul, “Fuchsia deMornay” in Poodle With Guitar and Dark Glasses by Liz Duffy Adams, directed by Stefanie Horowitz. (My part had nothing to do with a poodle, a guitar or dark glasses). I am SO proud to have been involved with “Poodle” and to have worked with other talented, “up and coming” theatre artists, whom I now consider my friends.

As for now, I am winding down for the end of 2009, and making preparations for a prosperous new year. Still working the ultimate day job as a food tour guide in Greenwich Village for Foods of New York, and recently I have picked up some shifts serving at Little Havana, the Cuban restaurant that we feature on the tour. So, good news, I am making some extra money, which means new audition clothes, headshots, classes, and stocks (that’s something else I have taken advantage of in this interesting financial year). I also volunteer now as a host at Actors Connection in exchange for my own opportunities to audition for casting directors and agents, in hopes of having SO MUCH MORE.

I have expanded my presence on the world-wide-web. I have a blog that I have recently updated on Blog-Spot called "Top of the Heap" http://topoftheheap-nyc.blogspot.com/. I document my daily theatre experiences on Twitter http://twitter.com/hdrefvem. And I reach out to my "audience" with my myspace page http://www.myspace.com/hdrefvem, and a facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Refvem/89391758143, while I work on completing http://www.heatherrefvem.com (which I am very excited about!).

So, that is what I have to report right now. I hope you enjoyed my recap. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday season, and a 2010 full of love, happiness, and success!

Love, Heather