The Fairy Princess is a trained singer – some people may not know that, but it’s true. She attended a classical voice program, and was thrown, kicking and screaming into 24 Italian Art Songs & Arias by her Professors with nary a backward glance. That was just the beginning….
Classical training was not easy for The Fairy Princess, because she likes to be ‘instantly good’ at what she attempts, and Classical Music – whichever instrument one studies, is not a sprint…it is a marathon.
We were in class from 8:30am studying sight singing, eurythmics, theory, choir, dance, acting, music history, English Diction, Italian Diction, French Diction, German Diction, the languages themselves, our ‘private’ lessons, our coaching sessions, rehearsals…it seemed at times endless. We usually got out of class at 10PM. So…yeah – 8:30am start, usually a 10PM finish. Perhaps a few hours to yourself midday to eat, but you usually grabbed something to go, in order to get back to the practice room.
Typical Conservatory life.
It was work.
But to quote Chris Kutcher, “Opportunities look a lot like work”
The Fairy Princess had an opportunity to study.
She remembers walking through campus when she was absolutely slammed with work, thinking “wouldn’t it be great if I could just….have time to do nothing but practice’, and that is when it hit her that a four year classical music program is EXACTLY that – four years to do nothing but practice.
You may well shake your head at her foolishness…but let’s face it, Freshmen are not known for deep thoughts.
The Fairy Princess readjusted her thinking, and she was grateful for the opportunities that her teachers, her fellow students, and most of all, her Family helped provide her.
And…as she wandered up and down this show business life – big highs, big lows – as one does…. her classical voice skills were rarely called upon. She honed her Musical Theater chops, and frankly- that was where her heart was. As the man who founded her University said, “My Heart Is In The Work”, which she has always taken to mean ‘if you love your work, it doesn’t become work, it becomes your heart”.
Musical Theater has always had her heart, thus Musical Theater became the focus and the concentration. She’s added a few more arrows to her quiver of performance skills – writing, comedy, improv, on camera commentary – but if she had to choose ONE thing to do, and only one – it would be to perform in musicals, on Broadway and it’s regions, for her life’s work. She’s happy with the choices, she’s content with the focus and where it lead her journey.
However today the classical chops were required. It happens every once in a while.
Not to audition with, not to compete with, but to give comfort, she had to sing at a funeral.
As she does not always flex the high notes unless a King & I audition is nigh, she always has momentary panic.
Sometimes she requires a bit of a pep talk…
Or a surf on YouTube….
However, as she looked over the crowd in the church this morning, (little over a year from when her own Father had passed) quite large, because a rather remarkable lady had passed away, she realized that the opportunities that she had been given – to study, to grow – were not about auditions and booking work – they were about helping people in situations where they need comfort.
Artists – musicians, painters, writers, etc – are who people look to when their grief is so strong, they can barely stand. Somehow, Artists are supposed to make sense of that which can render one insensible.
Singing at a funeral is a privilege that we do not always value. We should – because the Family trusts us with sending their loved one onward. We sing because everyone deserves beautiful music as they go on their ultimate journey.
So I wanted to take the time to thank the Universe for reminding me that, ultimately, what our work should provide, is respite from grief – if only for a brief moment, joy to share the gifts that we have been given, and humility that our talents are needed in the darkest of times.
The Fairy Princess has been trying quite hard to remain positive these last few posts…because the ‘real’ news has been fairly hideous – whether you are concerned about riots in Egypt, or Child Trafficking, or Russia hating LGBT people….(Which is ludicrous, because of course, Russia is like…the Gayest Country on Earth…if you are famous for BALLET….that’s pretty Gay, Russia…pretty Gay), so she has not been posting about theater, because, well…she thought everyone learned their lesson.
I mean, she gave a speech at LA Stage Day about the death of Yellowface, and she was totally encouraged by the fact that the audience at LA Stage Day was receptive. Not only were they receptive, the wider, Internet audience that technology makes possible was ALSO accepting of the fact that it’s not cool to put on makeup and bad accents and make fun of Asian people simply because you are too lazy or stupid to do an actual and thoughtful portrayal of Asian culture WITH Asian actors in those roles.
I mean, weren’t we all clear on this? GEORGE? What do you think?
I mean, any educated person would have to take note that demeaning a heritage you know nothing about would be…well… stupid. Any educated person would know that. Educated people, for example, who have just received an Ivy League education at an institution that is known for having high artistic standards….a place like, well…let’s just say it….YALE.
Wow…that is gorgeous…yep, that’s Yale
Yale is a pretty fancy place – it’s graduates include Presidents, Physicians, Performers, Playwrights, in fact, the Fairy Princess’s own cousin holds a PhD from Yale….so she’s been there, and yeah…pretty fancy.
(In case you are reading this post in say….Scotland…or more specifically Edinburgh, it may be worth sharing that Yale Drama School – which is a Masters Program of Study, has some pretty famous Alumni to boast of….much like my own alma mater, Carnegie Mellon….which was founded by a Scot – Andrew Carnegie. GO SCOTS! )
Now, when you think “Yale Drama”, who comes to mind?
So…as you can see, Yale School of Drama has some fairly distinguished Asian American alumni who are gracing our stages and screens, large & small, today. And Yale School of Drama is NOT what this post is about – because obviously they are forward thinking and embrace diversity in it’s students and alumni. And Bravo to that!
However, there are a LOT of people who attend Yale and they are entitled to pursue Acting, Writing, and Directing just the same as anyone else. Their resumes still say….Yale. The word entitledis a very big one here, and it explains the reason for this post.
Though these bright minded individuals do hold degrees from Yale University, they do NOT hold Degrees from Yale School of Drama.
They do not have the training, they do not have the sensitivity, and they do not have, perhaps, their pulse on the beat of the cultural landscape of American Theater to know that there is a…and well…given the subject matter, The Fairy Princess hesitates to use the word, but it is applicable…a REVOLUTION in American Theater in regards to portrayals of Asian peoples.
Nobody binds our feet and leaves us in a corner ANY more….
The definitive answer, in many respects, to cultural misunderstandings
Which is why it was all the more shocking to hear about THIS
A play currently playing at Edinburgh Fringe Festival written & Performed by YALE Alum
You see…this is the Cast of BEIJING CAKE currently playing at Edinburgh Fringe, and….it’s a play about China….do they look Chinese to you? I see….
Cassie DaCosta, Nathaniel Moore, Sara Rosen, Gabriel Christian the cast of BEIJING CAKE
And HERE is a map of CHINA…real, actual, China….it’s not made up, it does not exist only in pure imagination…it’s right THERE…you see?
Wait! Wait a MINUTE you say that CHINA is a REAL and ACTUAL place?
And here is a…well…a Chinese person…one who is actually, supposedly portrayed IN this play:
The Chairman…and no, not a fan as he put my Great Aunt into a concentration camp…but he was a real and actual person of which there are MANY images
Yeah…not so much. Although the repeated GONGS throughout the kickstarter video are a nice touch….
The Fairy Princess has hit a wall….
She has hit a wall because this is a project that is coming from young people! In their twenties! And Whitney Houston always told us that Children were the future!
Whitney lied. These children are as whack as crack.
OK here is the deal….this show at The Fringe is billed as a comedy, it’s billed as hilarious…and apparently, those who have done the billing are the playwright, director and Cast themselves, because when core members of the British East Asians attended the show this is what they saw….
Ummmmm…..
You know who should be upset about this? More than The Fairy Princess, more than the British East Asian Artists?
Man if I went there, I would be SO pissed!
And here is why...they make Yale Alumni look like culturally insensitive a**holes.
Cuz ya wanna see how they bill themselves….?
Wow…yeah, YALE is all over those bios….huh?
Yale, Yale, Yale…and you know what – Yale is actually a very sophisticated school with quite an international reputation. And now this bunch is going around the world to spread Yellowface makeup, made up Chinese and…well…racism. I mean, they do not even seem to be aware that Chinese can be broken down into various dialects like Mandarin and Cantonese!
REALLY? Because even ELMO knows what Mandarin is!
THIS is what they came out of YALE with? An entitled sense of being able to make fun of Asian people…an entitled opinion that they are able to portray us, to speak on our issues, to mock a language that is thousands of years old?
OMG Yale – you failed. You were supposed to educate them to take their place in the world and hold forth the tradition of excellence that you are known for. They ran off waving their sheepskin and decided it was a great idea to mock the Country that holds America’s dollar by the proverbial balls.
What a great endorsement for a Yale Education! I’m sure their Parents will be thrilled that they PAID for their kids to learn that you can step all over Chinese people at tens of thousands of dollars per semester! The one who will be absolutely the MOST proud?
The Director’s FATHER….
Because EVERYONE knows that Oscar Winning Screenwriters really want to be known for having Daughters who perpetuate stereotype utilizing Yellowface and made up Chinese adjacent languages! What a shame, when you, yourself, are so meticulous in your brilliant work. But perhaps, she is a late bloomer. You have faith in her.
The Fairy Princess….not so much.
Let’s break it down people, these Actors and this Playwright and this Director are from groups that have ‘Minority’ written all over their names and faces and gender…possibly even their sexual preferences, who knows or who cares, but it’s possible. So if you are, yourself, a member of a Minority group, how DARE you mock another one? Forget what you obviously did NOT learn at YALE about cultural sensitivity, what the heck were you learning at home that makes this in ANY way ok?
Well now, they are probably upset….they are saying HOW DARE I call them on this racist play that they love doing. Who am I to expect them to strive for excellence and artistic bravery? Ok Kids…fine, but let’s turn this around….because turnabout is fair play, yes?
Foghorn Leghorn says Yes, Turnabout is fair play
Now…if Asian American actors were to go over to Edinburgh, slap on some Blackface make up and talk like Amos & Andy – would that be ok?
Yeah, remember when people thought THIS was ok? (TOTALLY NOT OK!)
No.
If Asian American Directors and Writers got together a made up a mockery of the Hebrew language which they THEN set it to the tune of “Yiddishe Mama” would that be ok?
No.
Cuz The Bottle Dance from Fiddler On The Roof is just Jerome Robbin’s choreo…we could learn it
Tradition my ASS!
(BTW, The Fairy Princess knows every damn word to Fiddler On The Roof and made her Mom take her to see it 5 times in a row when she was six years old and then she memorized the Cast recording…but she ALWAYS knew that it was a show she would NEVER do)
But we are not going to. Because we have standards.
I would have thought that you would have them too…being that you know….you went to Yale and all….so many whacks with the wand…you need to grab a mirror and take a good look at yourselves and HONESTLY wonder how you EVER thought that this was in ANY way ok….. OH….and BY THE WAY….
The Fairy Princess has watched the news in abject horror the past few weeks – I mean, I know ‘Haters gonna hate‘ but they seem to be going for the Gold Medal.
Hold on a minute, Russia….just so we are clear….this is what you are famous for….(Artistically famous, not, you know, bombs and torture, killing the Tsar & his family, and cold war ‘cross my line and I blow crap up‘ famous)
Dear Russia – wake up and smell the caviar…you stink. And if you don’t take my word for it – you have been condemned by GERMANY! (Article)
GERMANY is looking down on you!
Germany, who is never ever going to be able to stop apologizing for THIS guy….
Ain’t NOBODY got time for that – Right, Sweet Brown?
The Fairy Princess can no longer indulge in a dirty martini! She could, yes, switch to gin – but she has seen the crazed orgy scene in The Wild Party too many times for that!
Oh well….back to whiskey….grrr.
This whole thing is ridiculous and tilted her tiara.
So The Fairy Princess is going to write about some GOOD THINGS that happened the last few weeks….get ready!
1. AVENUE Q celebrated it’s 10th year of running on a stage in Manhattan. It should be stated that from an Asian American perspective, Avenue Q provided the only ‘new’ Asian American character our Broadway stages have seen since…ummmm…Throughly Modern Millie in 2002 and since then there has been….ummmm….NEVERMIND – GOOD THINGS!
HERE are some of the lovelies that have played the part of Christmas Eve –
L-R: Lisa Helmi Johansen, Sala Iwamatsu, Ann Harada, Erin Quill, Hazel Anne Raymundo, Ruthie Anne Miles
And…as Creator Bobby Lopez said about this photo “The scary thing is that there are so many more”
So Congrats to the Creators, Producers, Crew and Cast Members of Avenue Q – The Fairy Princess was very proud to ‘live’ there as part of the Original Broadway Company and just so’s ya know…July 31st was declared AVENUE Q DAY by the City of New York!
2. The FuManchu Complex which will run in London at The Oval House from Oct 1-19th, 2013 has been fully funded through Kickstarter!
Normally, The Fairy Princess DOES NOT give to Kickstarter – and here is why – and ARTISTS, I want you to pay special attention to WHY I normally do NOT give to Kickstarter and why I DID give to this one.
The Fairy Princess believes that if you want her to invest in a film, or play, or project of any sort, then present me with an investment package. I want to see that if I am an investor in your project, then there is some small hope of return on said investment. (The Fairy Princess is not DELUSIONAL, she KNOWS that there is little to no hope of return on investments in Artistic projects, but let’s have RESPECT for the investor)
I do not believe in, in general, asking people to just give money for artistic endeavors because, in the olden days, when I started – if you wanted to fund your own work….you got a job and saved money.
You produced your show yourself, you saved, you borrowed, however you wanted to do it, but you did not expect your friends to pony up money so that you could be saved the hassle of saving.
Then you invited people to buy tickets to your show.
THAT was how friends showed support. They bought tickets. They bought CDs. They came to see the project when completed.
The Fairy Princess is NOT a fan of ‘oh this will be good for my career, and I have fans or friends…I’m just going to ASK them for it, but I will reap any and all benefits and then I will not have to pay back anyone“.
NOT a fan.
I have seen too many Kickstarter funded projects that wound up not actually coming to fruition, and the money – which has no ‘if the project is not completed this money is returned to you‘ clause – went to pay someone’s credit card bill or for a fancy trip abroad.
Now that celebrities are using the fans to pay for projects that they could have found funding for on their own, because they ARE Celebrities with fans…The Fairy Princess was ‘stick a fork in Zach Braff done‘ DONE with Kickstarter.
The NY Times agrees with The Fairy Princess – celebrities using Kickstarter is not quite ethical…(Article)
EXCEPT for FuManchu Complex and HERE is why –
They needed two thousand pounds.
To put up a PLAY.
For 19 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I gave them money because I know – I KNOW that they are not going to run and pay an old bill, they are not going to go on a fancy trip – they are renting a space and they are building a set. Obviously, no one is getting paid- they are doing it for themselves but they are ALSO doing it to help keep alive the British East Asian Theater presence and so…I chose to give them money, even AFTER they reached their goal…because you know what?
The Fairy Princess is unable to attend the show due to it being in another country – so she cannot buy a ticket – Kickstarter, in this instance, was the way she chose to raise a glass and salute them. Bon chance, you feisty British East Asians!
And if anyone reading this would like to also send them some $$$ so they can perhaps go to the pub after opening night – here is the link:
And Bless your hearts if you do! All Hail Daniel York and his buddies for continuing to rail against the dying of the light…it’s a damn hard thing to do.
UPDATE FROM DANIEL YORK:
‘One thing I should point out though is that the actors (five East Asians) WILL get paid the Equity rate and that’s one of the things we needed the money for because the Arts Council would only fund us if we raised a certain amount ourselves, the £2000 is barely 5% of the budget but it’s crucial in that sense. I have, however, waived my writer’s fee completely because I want the play to go on and I want East Asian actors on stage in work by an East Asian writer because I want us to have our own foundation rather be relying on the mainstream to chuck us a bone when they wanna put on a China play PLUS the cast we have is just about the most diverse group of Asians ever and we need to be seen as that. Diverse.’
OK – ACTORS GET PAID!!!!!!!!!!! That is even MORE awesome! Well then I’m glad I gave money to such a great cause and The Fairy Princess wishes she could be there to see it. BRAVO ahead of time, you British East Asians!
3. Kristina Wong is the next great thing that happened in the past couple of weeks, because she took on that hideous offensive mess that was the video Asian Girlz and she answered it back with a witty video of her own:
Kristina Wong is a Performance Artist that The Fairy Princess is glad to see on the great wide Interweb. How wonderful that a strong Asian American Woman took a stand against racism, sexism, and stupidity- this is a fabulous thing.
Let’s all get excited about this and watch the video more than a few times and tweet it etc, so that she might get paid the literally hundred of dollars (no, not a typo) that you can make on YouTube if your video is viral.
She is a Performance Artist….she needs the $$$!
4. Kevin Burrows is the next great thing to happen in the past week.
You might not know Kevin and his work if you are not a Broadway afficianado, but Playbill.com certainly should have when they decided to highlight Broadway ‘show-mances’ that lasted and lasted. You see, Playbill.com decided to highlight more than a few of them, but failed to include any LGBT Broadway couples. (Article)
Say what?
Ummmmm, is Playbill.com under the misapprehension that theater in New York City is only inhabited by ‘straight’ people?
One assumes that Playbill.com has actually BEEN to a Broadway show or two or twenty and has done only approximately thousands of interviews WITH Broadway people…where they may have noticed some LGBT couples.
But…when you assume…oh FELIX UNGER…..
Anyway, Kevin read the article, got fired up, and responded with his OWN article entitled “Till There Was US” on The Huffington Post. (Article)
Here is why this is awesome – because Mr. Burrows took on what is, really, institutional prejudice, and won with placement of his own article in the NATIONAL press.
Well played, Mr. Burrows, well played. A righteous parry & thrust!
Playbill.com is, of course, designed to help sell Broadway shows – therefore, they may have decided that the people reading Playbill.com tended to be consumers more than theater practitioners. They may even be right.
However, just because facts may upset someone who has an ability to buy a ticket, but an inability to acknowledge the right to live and love whom you want, as any consenting adult should be able to do – does not make it right to leave out couples who are part of the very reason there are tickets to sell in the FIRST place!
THIS. IS. NEW. YORK. CITY. and to leave OUT LGBT Couples who make UP a huge part of the Broadway Community is flat out, dead WRONG to do.
‘Mad props’ to Kevin Burrows for standing up for his own relationship, and the visibility of LGBT relationships in the Broadway community!
Encore! Encore!
5. HERE LIES LOVE is looking to transfer to Broadway! (Article)
The Fairy Princess saw this musical by David Byrne & Fat Boy Slim down at The Public Theater and truly, truly enjoyed it. This may be the first ‘new’ All Asian American musical to make it to Broadway in the next year, so this blog in particular, wishes the show well
And THOSE are FIVE things that were kinda awesome the past few weeks….and they are a reminder that even though you can feel like you are stuck in a Sh*t storm without an umbrella……
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