Jessi Blue Gormezano: News

Thanks to Michael Legg, the Director of the Apprentice/Intern Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, has generously arranged a reading of my solo show Mark My Words.  On Thursday, December 15th I will get to share my play with the incredibly brave and talented group of apprentices.  They have all worked on eight minute solo shows this season, and my hope is that this reading will inspire them to say, "Hell, I can write something better than that."  

Many thanks to Michael and to the entire staff of ATL who have been nothing but welcoming and supportive!

Shelley, the sweetest man ever, picked me up at the Louisville, KY airport a few hours ago.  I'd never had anyone waiting for me with one of those name cards until today!  He generously carted me to my new apartment, the grocery store, and back again.  Louisville feels kinda like Charleston, WV but much bigger and cleaner.  I'm looking forward to exploring the city during the next six weeks.

As the ReEntry crew is preparing to dive back into the material, a poem by solider-poet Brian Turner keeps popping into my head.  

SADIQ

It is a condition of wisdom in the archer to be patient because when the arrow leaves the bow, it returns no more 

~ SA’DI

It should make you shake and sweat,

nightmare you, strand you in the desert

of irrevocable desolation, the consequences

seared into the vein, no matter what adrenaline

feeds the muscle its courage, no matter

what god shines down on you, no matter

what crackling pain and anger

you carry in your fists, my friend,

it should break your heart to kill.

Performing ReEntry for civilian audiences is exciting.  It's certainly different than stepping on stage to face 700 Marines in uniform, but it is still thrilling.  The audiences here at Bethesda's Round House Theatre are peppered with veterans and many folks in the medical and mental health fields.  It is an honor to perform for a group of individuals who are solely bound by their interest and/or commitment to understanding the experience of war fighters "re-entering" civilian life.  

The Round House facilitates a talk back after every show!  If you're in the DC metropolitan area, please do swing by for our last week of performances here. 

On September 12, 2011 I will join the touring cast of ReEntry, produced by American Records.  Written & directed by KJ Sanchez, ReEntry is based entirely on interviews with marines and their families.  It asks the question "What is it like to go from being deployed overseas to waiting in line at the grocery store?"  

I could not be more honored to join this group of amazing artists!  In the upcoming months, we will be touring army bases in Germany & Italy as well as performing at The Round House and Actors Theater of Louisville.

www.americanrecordstheater.org

Wow!  What an amazing turnout for the July 6th OUR BAR.  We were SOLD OUT and had to turn beautiful people away at the 9pm show.  Project:Theater, the producing company, is humbled by the demand for the show and will continue to raise the bar on the work they offer up to audiences.

I can't wait to see what the OUR BAR crew cooks up for the Wednesday, August 3rd "Old Fashioned" show.

AHHHH!  Today I found out that Mark My Words, my self-written solo show, has been accepted into the 2011 United Solo Theatre Festival.  The festival will run this October & November at Theatre Row.  I'm honored and thrilled to be a part of such a prestigious festival.  

For more information check out www.unitedsolo.org 

After a great turnout for the June 1st show, we've decided to stick with a two show format.  We were at capacity for the 9pm show, so audiences should come at least 30 minutes in advance and consider checking out the 7pm for ideal seating!

OUR BAR Regular, Ken Ferrigni, has started a Twitter account @ ourbarNYC

I'm so, so proud and flabbergasted by the quality of work that is taking place on the floorboards of Failte these days.  The talented, creative and ensemble-minded artists that are joining the fray continue to raise the bar, as it were.  Huge thanks to all who make these nights what that are!  

This past week I had the opportunity to work at INTAR with KJ Sanchez, Lisa Ramirez and a room full of incredibly talented artists.  We were staging All Fall Down, an incredibly personal and beautiful new play by Lisa.  Centered around two sisters returning to their dilapidated childhood home still inhabited by their alcoholic mother and brother's ghost, the play is a visual and emotion feast!  It's funny, it's dark, it embraces the every aspect of storytelling that the theater has to offer.  It has been an honor to collaborate with such fine folks on such a fine play.

www.intartheatre.org

Mark My Words, a self written solo show, opens on Thursday, April 21 at The Drilling Company Theatre.  I would be terrified but for the fact that Joe Jung and Hannah Wilson will be directing me and countless smart folks have contributed feedback along the way.

Inspired by the wild women I have known and loved, this play is an ode to the power of friendship and resilience.  It would be an honor to have you join us on one of the FOUR PERFORMANCES.  Check out the Calendar section for more details

The growing audience OUR BAR is mind blowing.  We have so much fun building a brand new show every month, and we couldn't be happier to have such huge, fun-loving crowds to make the nights complete.  With an epic jug band performance by The Saltcracker Crazies at the February 2nd show, we made history:  never before has the second floor of Failte been transformed into a trampoline caused by a raging hoot-a-nanny.  I can't wait to see what is in store for the March 2nd show!

OUR BAR is growing every month and it's always a delight to see what shape it takes.  

I'll never forget the moment in the December 1st show when Matt Sincell's clown suddenly found himself heartbroken, attempting to play a guitar with a broken strap.  He pulled the guitar off his shoulder while his voice wavered and his heart flying out of his chest.  Then, from out of nowhere, the lost melody of his song camefloating into the room.  Joe Jung had stealthily plugged in his gitbox and supported the heartbroken clown.  It was one of those magic theater moments that I'll never forget.

(raising my mug of tea & amaretto) Here's to the amazing actors and audience member that made the night possible!  Can't wait until January 5th OUR BAR "The High Road."

Today marks the second rehearsal of The Home of the Great Pecan by Stephen Bittrich at The Drilling Company Theatre.  

At the first rehearsal I met a star of 80's porn, a world record-holding sideshow performer (he eats glass lightbulbs while telling jokes) and a Broadway actor.  The best part?  Those titles are all held by the same guy!  Oh yes.  And while the rest of the cast may balk at the thought of chewing a 40 watt bulb, they are all incredibly talented and generous.  I'm honored to be working with such an eclectic and talented crew.

Be sure to check out the show's website:  www.homeofthegreatpecan.com for tickets & other fun stuff. 

After shooting a short film Whiskey On The Rocks by Gabriella Willenz, a NYU film student, I realized a few things:

A) Shooting in Central Park granted me the chance to make a little soccer playin' boy laugh...and snort

B) Not so much that my acting was hilarious, but the fact that I was clad in nothing but a bathing suit & water wings while sporting melted ice cream on my face did the trick

C) Singing karaoke off-key in a tight sequin dress while people use fans to blow my teased hair, is fun

D) I'm excited about seeing the final project since everyone involved was so innovative and generous

The second film project I just completed was a promotional video for the amazing company, Working Voices.  They're a team of highly skilled communication experts who target their training to members of the corporate world.  In the video, I had portraying a "hatchet-faced" executive assistant and had way too much fun judging the hapless hero as he tried to navigate through a presentation without the help of the Working Voices team.

The OUR BAR crew is working on compiling a book of favorite scenes, monologues & songs.  OUR BAR'S 9th month is around the corner, and we'll be sharing our new book at the July 7th show.  

Looking forward to seeing you at our June 2nd show themed "Layered."  

Performing my self-written solo show, Mark My Words, was unbelievably thrilling and terrifying.  Thank you to all who came out and supported this new work!  The feedback and ideas are still stewing in my brain and I look forward to sharing the new incarnation with you soon.

Joe Jung & Hannah Wilson are co-directing Mark My Words, my upcoming one-woman show.  They have been hilarious, supportive and crystal clear in shaping this new work.  

Rehearsals are going well and I'm consistently shocked to discover that these three different woman are so, so present in my imagination.  Who knew Delberta, a two hundred pound WV-raised hair dresser lived inside of me?  If you are in the city, I'd love to have you catch Mark My Words on May 7th at 9pm at TADA! Theatre.  Check out the "CALENDAR" portion of my website for details on my first self-written performance in NYC!

So for two days this week, I've decided to let people film me while I act.  It's a new medium for me and I'm delighted to be collaborating with such fine folks.

Shooting the short film "Crafty Chicks" in Woodside, Queens was a wild time and I'm looking forward to working with some new faces this Sunday for the comedic web series episode, "Left Behind."  I'll be posting them as soon as possible!

In December 2009, after some encouragement from Laura Dillman, I applied to Emerging Artists Theatre's (EAT) Illuminating Artists: New Work Series.  This series is a three week festival gives artists the opportunity to present one night of original work with built in time for audience feedback.

From April 19-May 9 EAT has selected artists for One Woman Standing, One Man Talking, Well Noted Shorts (musicals under 15 minutes) and Notes from a Page (full length musicals).  A few days ago I was officially invited to perform in their One Woman Standing series.  The performance will take place at the TADA! Theatre.

I wil post the date of the performance as soon as possible!

Here's a link to the coordinating theater company:

www.emergingartiststheatre.com

On the top right-hand side of this page, there is a little blue rectangle that contains several audio files.  Each audio file is an original monologue by yours truly that you can listen to while you browse the site.  The little arrow located on the right edge of the track name takes you to the next monologue, while the little arrow to the left takes you to the previous track.  Enjoy!

Thank you to all you brave souls who attended the premiere of OUR BAR!  We had a wonderful turnout and we can't wait for the next installment on December 2nd.

Check out my "Calendar" for more information. 

See you there!

November 4th will be the first night of "OUR BAR."  

Ridiculously talented actors will be setting their original monologues or scenes in this gem of an Irish pub in New York City.

Check out the facts:

First Wednesday of every month, 8-9:45pm.

The bartender is an actor.

He or she will serve drinks to the audience and maybe even to some of the actors.

Each night will consist of approximately 10 pieces that will flow into each other creating a spontaneous and varied night of theater.

You can bargain for an Irish ballad from a drunken crooner, a batty ex-Broadway dancer's wisdom, or a divorcee's shocking story spilled out to the bartender. Who knows what awaits? Beer and bad ass theater, that's what.

This backwards adaptation was created by Michael Hogwood and will be read on 7/7 at 7pm.

"CAESAR REVERSE is, as its namesake implies, Michael Hogwood's backwards adaptation of Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR--beginning with Act Five, Scene Five, and ending at Ace One, Scene Two. The action is set in a timeless, in-between world dictated by a typewriter and a mysterious Seer who exists both outside and within the context of the play, influencing and observing the characters and offering the Audience a chance to witness how simply a tragedy is made."

Also, there will be beer and delicious Tex-Mex food to enjoy after the catharsis. Nothing like Greek tragedy to stimulate the appetite!

I'm very excited to be a part of this new project.

NEW YORK'S PREMIER MONOLOGUE VENUE

On Monday July 6 at the Cornelia Street Cafe from 6pm-8pm, join me as I perform an original monologue for a downtown crowd!
Actors will be reading all new work! Come, laugh, drink.

http://www.monologuesandmadness.com
The Cornelia Street Cafe is a New York icon in Greenwich Village that has been supporting artists for 30 years in their downstairs cafe.

Babs Davy, Lisa Kron & Mo Angelos, three of The Five Lesbian Brothers, came to one of Project:Theater's final performances of The Secretaries.
They laughed, they air-punched, they drank beer with us afterwards....it was a spectacular night. Meeting them and hearing about their original productiong, fake axe heads and all, was a true pleasure.
It turns out one of the ladies owns land less than an hour away from my father in West Virginia! Small, wonderful, suprising world...thank you for letting Project:Theater into the lives of such brave and fantastic theater artists.

Project:Theater presents The Secretaries by the Five Lesbian Brothers.

Patty Johnson enters Cooney Lumber Mill in Big Bone, Oregon as a naive yet ambitious young receptionist. Before long she's hurtling through a dark and bloody forest of lust, slim fast shakes, and chainsaws.

The Secretaries runs May 21-June 6 at The 78th Street Theater Lab.
Check www.projecttheater.org for details & tickets.