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Hot News:
#1 My two kids are both at Columbia College in Chicago, IL, so I am an "empty nester!" Feels VERY weird! Ready to rock my career into "full speed ahead," but is Hollywood ready for Mrs. Jam & Cookies With A Little Wacky On The Side? Tune in to this website every now and again to see... #2 I
made it to the Big
Apple!
Above (L to R): Jeffrey Gardner (who currently holds the rights to develop "Grumpy Old Men" into a stage play!), my wonderful NY friend and co-actor, Megan Thomas (Iowa Housewife), Me!, my buddy, Tom Andrew (who got this whole NY thing rolling for me-xoxo), and our warm, funny, talented musical director and arranger, Corinne Aquilina. Right (L to R): The lovely Sally Ann Swarm (Soap Star), our dance captain, understudy for Soap Star and Iowa Housewife, the bubbly Melodie Wolford, Me, our Power Woman and big-hearted realist, Joy Lynn Matthews, the heart of the NY company, Megan Thomas (Iowa Housewife), and the bright, delightful Aurelia Williams who was our understudy for Power Woman and Earth Mother. Here are excerpts from a letter I wrote from New York around September 12th explaining what was going on... "Menopause, the Musical" here in New
York has been running for three and a half years, and three of the four
cast members are original. I saw the show 17 times before I went in, and
to be very honest, the cast looked worn out and running on fumes. Even the
lovely understudies didn't brighten the stage much. And during my
two weeks of rehearsals, I have to say that it was a tough time for me.
The choreography was 75% the same, but that other 25% was the same steps as we
did in LA only completely turned around, strangely re-worked, and completely un-logical.
(I had to remind myself that this was the first professional version of the
show, and as it moved and grew around the country, the chorographer fixed many
of the problems she set in NY.) Add to that, 99 degree heat and sky-high
humidity, and to be truthful, my song and dance skills were a bit rusty, I was
sweating like a pig and boiling hot, and I had a hard time re-learning something
I knew so well in another form. And then everything started to change. The more shows I did, the more the cast and crew started to get where I wanted to lead them. Everyone found new excitement, and gladly stepped up to the revival. In a strange way, it turned out I was just what the long-running cast needed - someone with an unbounded thrill just to be on stage in New York City! And it just turned out that my infusion of energy saved us all. Turns out that the Producers were planning to close the show mid-September. Before I came, summer ticket sales had become really dreadful, and advance sales were non-existent. The staff assumed that this was the natural process of a long-running show, and up went the official closing notice in the Green Room with a one-month notice. But starting from my first show, for the first time in many months, as they left the theatre, audience members bought return tickets to see the show again with friends. And by early-September, four weeks into my run, ticket sales have risen 50% (and keep rising). By this time, all the main producers had come to see me in the show, and they took down the closing notices. At this point the show is guaranteed to run the show through the holiday season and beyond. And so that's how it has remained. The fear of closing is gone. The excitement is back. And success makes for happy workers. So, not only am I the savior on stage, but I have brought fun and a relaxed atmosphere to the dressing and green rooms. They honestly are a great gang of people, but they needed a breath of fresh air. I just tell them, quite frankly, "It's what I do." I'm just a little put askew by all this attention. Everyone treats me like a star. Not that that is bad, just a new situation for me. They put weight on my every word, rely on me to set the tone in the room, set the standard on the stage, and want to please me because I saved their jobs (and they like me too!). All the other three regulars are back from holiday now, and they are seeing themselves as they haven't for such a long time - as hit-makers. The first week I was on stage with them, they kept blowing lines because, and this is a exact quote, "You were looking at me." "Well of course I was looking at you," I said, amazed. "No one in this cast has really looked at each other in years," they replied, "and that threw us." So, that's part one. Now, part two. I got a manager, courtesy of my Commercial Agents back in LA! Libby Bush and Ted Lehrman are old school managers under the name of Landslide Management. They have set me around to meet a variety of NY agents to do freelance work in print, TV, and commercial. Everyone I have see wanted me to freelance for them. Everyone. So I'm running everywhere. A few print auditions, but no bookings yet. And part three: I've been going to see a Broadway play every Tuesday night and have learned tons already. First, not all NY plays are really great, two, not all Broadway shows have really great people in them (example, this version of Hairspray), third, all the minor roles are going to gals who look like Vegas showgirls, and last, when a show here is great, it is really great. What all this has led me to believe is -- well, in myself. I'm as good as I think I am. I will always have more to learn and try, but my particular brand of acting/singing/entertaining, has its' own magic. I walk a few inches off the sidewalk in the Broadway district --- but not in awe, but because I really know I really am the stuff this place is made of. And that leads to point four.... I miss my husband, my kids, my dog, my house, my yard, my CA friends, and all of the Deutchers (members of my Barbara Deutsch support group in LA). Because of what I have done with the show here, I have invitations up the waazoo for dinners, visits, and the like. And I am so glad to have made a great group of friends here. But sometimes I miss Kevin, Gordon and Brynn so bad, I feel like my heart is breaking. I saw them all in mid-August. And Kevin is coming next weekend for our 25th wedding anniversary. But I won't see Gordon again until mid-October, and not Brynn until the weekend I leave here in mid-November. They are all fine, and doing really well, but as you know, we are a close family, and this has been a challenge for all of us. I mostly miss the craziness of family life. On the other hand, this is my first time on my own. I went from my parents house to marriage, so this has been a learning curve for me. Anyhow, that's how I am doing. I am floating sometimes, and in amazement of delight most of the rest... (plus I even did a cable TV talk show called "The New Yorkers" last week). I am trying to do my very best here, and make every moment count. I'm also trying to make my headway here that I hope will pay off in the future. And having an entire production staff think I am peachy helps a whole lot!! Best wishes to all, xoxoxo Myra And to finish up this story, now that I am home, I am thrilled. But I miss Sally Ann, Joy, Corinne, and Megan just awful. They became my foundation in the Big Apple, and I miss their company, their talent, their conversation, their friendship, and their courage. They taught me a lot about acting, about an acting career, about joy, and about New Jersey. The whole cast and crew of "Menopause, the Musical" in New York City are great human beings with dreams as big as Manhattan, possess the ability to order take-out with panache, have a thorough knowledge of where to find toilet paper for the best prices, and how to appreciate fine Swiss chocolate. They shared cabs with me, taught me about the crazy numbering of the north-south streets in mid-town, and shared their favorite restaurants, coffee houses, cafe's and parks with me. They made me a part of their families, shared their wisdom, told their "war" stories with honesty and honor, and inspired me to be more. I honestly miss them. May everyone who has a "dream come true" experience in their lives be blessed with such wonderful people to support them. Also sorely missed for all of the above reasons are Aurelia, Melodie, Tara, Drew, Brian, both Jennifers, Jeff, Alden, Diana and the drummers, our subs on piano and bass, Pat Greenwald and all her good deeds, Vinnie, Brendt, Eric, Karen, Sally and our other wonderful ticket takers, Bambi, and the guy at Grandma's sandwiches. And by the way, our NY cast raised $10,000 for the Red Cross, $6,000 for Habitat for Humanity, and a hefty chunk of change for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. MTM-NY ROCKS!
#3 "Malcolm in the Middle"
Hi All!
On Monday morning, March 7th, I had brunch with a friend
from Illinois in town, and afterwards was driving home. The cell phone
rang, and it was my Los Angeles agents saying I had a last minute audition
for a role in "Malcolm in the Middle" in Burbank in less than an
hour. Luckily I had a headshot and resume in the car, and I turned
north and east and prayed for good traffic.
There were five of us auditioning for the role of Angela,
as the woman they had originally cast had to drop out of the show only hours
before because of a bad patch with her cancer. (The actress, Wendie Jo
Sperber is beloved in this town, and you may remember her as Michael J.
Fox's sister in the "Back to the Future" movies. She has two
teenagers, and is fighting in the end stages of breast cancer.) The
casting people held the five us in a room after the audition, and they came
in and announced that I had gotten the part. I was beyond thrilled,
but played it cool since I like and admire the ladies I auditioned with.
It was just my turn. The casting director then put in a call to my
agent, and it took about an hour to conclude the contract. I
stayed on the lot during this time, sitting on Stage 21, the home stage
of this show. When all was approved, I went directly to a costumers
fitting, since I was to begin shooting my scenes the very next morning at 7
am. I finally left the CBS Radford Studios around 4:30 pm, went and
got my nails done to match my upcoming outfit, and then took my dad and
family out to dinner, not only to celebrate my first TV job in Los Angeles,
but the last day of my dad's winter stay with us.
At the crack of dawn I was up, leaving extra early
because of the unpredictable nature of LA traffic. Luckily, I made
great time, and drove onto the lot. The guard checked me in, gave me
my parking pass, and waved me on. I can't tell you how exciting that
moment was! I belonged! I asked Kevin and the kids to move to
Los Angeles two years ago so that I could compete at the highest level, and
I had arrived. And though it might not make much difference to you
friends NOT in the industry, but this job is at a Guest Star level, which
puts my first outing in LA near the top of the actor food chain. The
second assistant director greeted me at the sound stage and directed me to
my trailer.
All my TV and Movie work up to this point has been in San
Diego, and all at the Co-Star level, (though on some wonderful projects in
little gem of roles). But as a Guest Star, I got the big trailer, with
a full size couch, refrigerator, microwave, cd player, a huge make-up
dresser, closet, and full size bathroom. I felt like a princess.
After calling Kevin, Dad and the kids to tell them about my trailer, the 2nd
AD walked me to the make-up and hair trailer. There I got my first
"look" of the day, a traditional office worker hair-do and
make-up. After primping, I was escorted back to my trailer where my
costume awaited. I changed, read over my lines again, and packed a
small bag to take "on set" with me, since we were shooting that
day in the middle of the CBS Radford lot on Stage 11. The 2nd AD
knocked, and took me to an awaiting van, where my two other Guest Star
actors joined MITM star Brian Cranston (the Dad) for the short ride to our
sound stage.
When we got there, they were just finishing shooting a
scene with the younger son (Dewey) at a Pawn Shop. Three minutes later
they broke that scene, and we were all introduced to the production staff
(the assistant directors, the camera operators, the sound people, our on-set
hair and make-up personnel, our electricians, grips, wardrobe, sets, props
and maybe most important, our craft services caterer (that's the on-stage
snacks!), George). And once again I met the director for this episode,
Steve Love.
Then it was right to business. It all started at
8:30 a.m., and we shot until 6:30 that night with an hour break. The
first scene was my easy one, with no lines, just some well placed stares to
Brian Cranston's "HAL" character as we sit in a Motivational
Seminar for our office. All the work in this scene was done by the guy
who played the Motivational Speaker, and the guy who is picked on first in
the "audience." There were also 18 "extra's" in
the "conference room." We shot this scene many times, from
many angles, and were done around 11:30. Then it was my turn to be at
the center!
In my big scene, the motivational speaker has singled me
out to break down to a shell of a human being, with the promise of building
up a new and improved version. The scene begins as I think I'm at
bottom, only to be humiliated even more. And just when the bottom
crashes out of my world and the motivational speaker has asked me if I am
now ready to turn my life around, he gets a cell phone call, and abruptly
leaves, leaving me panic stricken. The other participants in the
seminar are unable to move to help me through my tears, and Hal finally
takes an odd step for him... he comes forward to offer comfort. But
desperate as she is, my character Angela, grabs onto Hal for dear life,
looking to him for some kind of direction. I won't give the ending
away, but it's priceless.
Anyhow, this required me to be crying, be crying at
bottom, be crying while humiliated, be crying when abandoned, be crying for
hope, and crying with relief. From 11:30 - 1 I cried. From
2-6:30 I cried. I cried, sobbed, wailed, drooled, and gasped for
breath for about 70+ takes from all angles. Needless to say, it was
grueling and thrilling. I couldn't believe I was able to keep my
strength and concentration, but luckily the year in "Menopause, the
Musical" taught me how to repeat a performance 340 times making each
one fresh yet the same. And doing a scene with Academy Award Winner
Diane Keaton this past fall in the upcoming CBS movie,
"Surrender Dorothy," had taught me how to conserve my strength
during a climatic scene. Until they said "action" I was like
a mouse, drinking water and keeping in the turmoil inside while they
refreshed my dripping messed up make-up. I gave as much in the 70th
take as the first, and everyone was pleased with my work. They were
also concerned I was going to collapse at any moment, but I had the stamina.
And kudos to Brian Cranston, whom I pawed, grabbed and clung to time and
time again. Every take was full velocity, and he was there for me.
At one point early on, I asked if I was hurting him - hey this is his show
and he is an Emmy Nominated actor! But he said that he was there for
me, and that it would make the show, and his performance better, if I went
full out every time. Luckily, they had 6 extra shirts for him, since I
cried and dripped make-up on him every take! What a wonderful man.
Gracious, unbelievably funny, and in the thick of it with me. And the
director (and his whole team) was great too. Giving me helpful
notes, and helping me, in my tired state, to work at my best level.
Well, everyone on the MITM production team on the lot
came to see me. They heard there was a madwoman who cried funny, and
they all stopped by to say hi, and have a laugh while watching the monitor.
The Executive Producer, Linwood Boomer (he was the blind husband on
"Little House on the Prairie"), who they said would probably stop
by, give notes, and leave, stopped in and out all day long, encouraging my
work, and smiling. But then, everyone was great, and were there for me
with every take so that I wouldn't expend energy in vain.
Anyhow, around 6:15, at the end of the day, they asked if
I had it in me to do one last crying jag just for the sound people.
And so, once again, but this time only for the microphone, I cried -- for
about three minutes.
Finally, they took me back to my trailer, I washed
my face, and changed, and they presented me with a MITM baseball cap and
lovely card thanking me for my work. I drove home, exhausted, proud, and
confident. The young girl who dreamed in Bradley, IL of being on a big
TV show making people laugh had finally come true. And it was
everything I dreamed it would be.
So, that was my last couple of days. Today, after
driving the kids to school, I went back to bed until 2pm. I'm
sore all over from sobbing, but there is a twinkle in my eyes and I have on
my "Malcolm in the Middle" hat as I write this.
Thanks to all who told me to hang in there. You
were right. I don't know what the future will hold, but I will be
making America laugh in May, and that's amazing.
I wish I had discovered a cure for breast
cancer, but that's just not what I was meant to do. So hopefully, if
laughter is the best medicine, I have helped the world smile a little.
All my best,
Myra
#4 "Surrender Dorothy" CBS Movie of the Week I shot my scenes in early November of 2004 in the mountains about 40 miles west of San Diego. Although in the movie, the first scene is supposed to be on a hot summer night on the east coast, we were filming on the west coast and the temperature at 3,500 feet above sea level was a crisp 33 degrees! They had to use heat blowers to warm up the air before they shot each scene because you could see the vapors with every breath! I only shook hands and said "Hello" to Ms. Keaton, though we filmed our scene for nearly 5 hours. She was outside the ice cream shop, me inside, for starters, and then with every take, she had to break down and admit the death of her daughter, so she saved her energy and focus for the scene. At one point when they were changing the lighting, she reached through the ice cream stand windows, took my hands, and laid her head to rest gently on my palms for a few seconds. I knew without a word that she appreciated my work - for it was my job to do a clean take every time so that her energy would not be wasted. It was a dear and wonderful moment, and I will cherish it always. Our wonderful, kindly director, Charles McDougall, had directed the pilot for "Desperate Housewives" a few months before filming of "Surrender Dorothy" began pre-production work. So when I told him what a hit he and the show were, he was amazed, having been immersed with his new directing duties. It was lovely, then, to see him win the Emmy for Best Director this past fall (2005) for his work on DH. A nicer man never won. It took a long time to get this film on to the small screen (problems with CBS censors, etc.), but with an Academy Award Winning Actress at the helm, with an Academy Award winning Executive Producer backing it, plus a newly minted Emmy Award winning director to keep it active, I'm proud to have been a part of the project.
#5 See me in the trailer for "To Hell With Love" at the THWL web site: http//www.film-quest.com/hell_with_love/video.html
#6 In April, I did a half day of work on a film called "Better Off Said" as part of the "168 Hour Los Angeles Christian Film Festival." I was "Ethel," the confused woman in the back of the church in this 10-minute funny film. The Film stars my good friend (and wildly talented) Rob Terrell, who recommended me for the role. I then brought in my fellow ex-San Diego actor friend, Susan Denaker, to play my buddy in the back row. It was a fun afternoon of shooting for this wonderful project. The film was the "finale film" at the Los Angeles Christian Film Festival in mid-May, and now will tour around the world. Below is the details on this competition: 168 HOUR FILM PROJECT The 168 Hour Film Project is a production competition where films are created simultaneously during production week to premiere at the 168 Hour Film Festival. Teams produce a short film based on a Bible verse in one week (168 hours). "168" aims to illuminate the Word of God through short film. We provide a training ground for filmmakers, reducing barriers to production and creating opportunities for pros and newcomers alike. The contest is open to artists all over the world
Interesting
Fact:
She cracks me up!!
At Aunt Thelma's Dance Studio in Illinois.
My cheesecake picture, which could double as a Mr. Bubble Ad! In Bradley, IL.
My monologue presented in 7th Grade at Bradley Central Middle School.
Myra and Paul Amandes in "HMS Pinafore" at Crystal
Lake Central High School.
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Cartoon of "Earth
Mother"