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Just found this cartoon in one of my notebooks. It’s supposed to be a lesbian joke about Eleanor Roosevelt. I’m sorry.

Maine-ward Bound

I leave for Maine in one month - crazy! I’ll be assisting at the Celebration Barn Theater for two and a half months (getting back in time for THREE WEDDINGS IN SEPTEMBER, YOWZA!), running their box office, doing other office duties, and taking Avner Eisenberg’s workshop Eccentric Performing (seemed like an apt fit!). This will be a definite change of pace for this city girl. I can’t wait.

But first! Here are some upcoming shows:

Sat 5/19, 9pm - Ties and Tassels @ Lizard’s Liquid Lounge - “crime and punishment” themed burlesque show! I’ll be playing the ukulele and telling jokes

Fri 5/25 & Sat 6/9, 8pm - The Variety Show: A Drinking Game Performance @ The Cornservatory - hilarious BYOB sketch comedy. I’ll be the variety act, also playing the ukulele and telling jokes!

Sun 5/27, 8pm - Blood Dolphin @ The Upstairs Gallery - I’ll be opening for this hilarious musical improv duo with a new mini-show entitled TURN THE PAGE: THE ALISA ROSENTHAL STORY: AS TOLD THROUGH THE MUSIC OF BOB SEGER. It has both mime AND Bob Seger! Two of your favorite things!

Fri 6/8, 6:30pm - Shame That Tune @ The Hideout - First of all, it’s my half birthday, so you should probably just come for that. Second of all, it’s three people sharing embarrassing, shameful stories (I will be one of said “shamers”), upon which the stories get turned into SPONTANEOUS POP SONGS. This show is the best.

And that’s it! Four more weeks to enjoy Chicago in the summertime. Lakefront path, tons of friends’ shows to see, Vienna Beef. You know how we do.

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Vanity.

Oh what’s that? Plucky would like to personally invite you to join her this Saturday at 6:30pm at Mary’s Attic for 20% Theatre Company Chicago’s 1st Annual Variety Show Fundraiser!

Some inspiration today

TAMMY closed last night, and I’m filled with all of those emotions you feel when a show ends! But that might just be because I’m listening to the Twilight: Breaking Dawn soundtrack as I type this. (I’ve… maybe revealed too much.) I remember having these same feelings in high school when a show would end - performing consistently night after night is just such a high, and with a show like Tammy which I found so gratifying and fun, waking up the next morning to… being a Jew on Easter Sunday with nothing to do is just, well, not quite as high.

So I’m going back to quotes and articles that have always stuck with me. Things and ideas and wonderful musings that people have said that remind me why I do this, and that something new and wonderful and perfect is waiting and I just have to get my own head start.

First, my overarching approach to theatre:

“Don’t try to be original. Just try to be good.” - Paul Rand

Rand was a graphic designer (IBM and UPS are among his logos), but I think this applies to all art.  My favorite kinds of theatre, and how I approach my comedy act, is to just do good work.  Get your training, take your time to practice, and just be concerned with living up to what you admire.  Which brings me to 

HOW TO STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST.

This blog post has been making the rounds on the interwebs for a while, and Austin Kleon’s thoughts are just like a big comfy blanket for artists.  My favorite quote is 

“Do good work and share it with people.”

Half the battle is just DOING.  The other half, like he says, is putting it in a place where people can see it.  Going on an audition, making a YouTube video, posting jokes on Facebook.  I would add identifying the type of stuff that you like, and going out to see it.  Support the art you like.

And I’ll leave you with this interview with five funny ladies in Chicago comedy, which has really stuck with me.  My favorite question and answer from it is: 

“What do you think is the difference between people who succeed and those who struggle?”

“People who succeed don’t blame anyone else for their success or failure. [People] who fail deflect, ignore… their head is on a different game rather than the real game.” - Rachel Mason

It’s hard, REALLY hard, to not let other people’s success get to you.  Especially when you choose the most ridiculous, insane, cockamamie career like trying to be an actor where you’re basically required to take things personally.  But I always feel like, you can make the decision to stew and do nothing, or you can make the decision to be active - and actively DO the things you like to do.

…And the Twilight soundtrack is almost over.  Alright self, you get one more song to wallow, and then time to go do something.  Deal?

Obscure Celebrity Crush of the Week: Iain Glen →

I resurrected my old pop culture blog just to gush on about Scottish superhunk Iain Glen from Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones. Enjoy.

Today’s mood: Age of Consent

The first time I heard this song was at a party in college.  I was dancing to it, and a guy came up and started dancing with me.  I thought the song was Billy Idol’s Dancing with Myself so I joked, “What are you doing?? I’m dancing with myself!”  Then he shook his head annoyed and confused and danced off.

“WAIT NO!! I MEANT THE SONG!  IT’S ‘DANCING WITH MYSELF!’  SEE WHAT I DID THERE??”

But alas, it was too late.  But now I really like New Order so, win?

“She’s so well rested!”

I just moved into Baby’s First One Bedroom Apartment, which is my first time without roommates since sophomore year in college when I had a single (but really, the rest of the campus at Iowa is kind of like one big roommate). I don’t have my internet set up yet (currently catching some precious Tumblr time at work), and I have turned into some sort of HYPER PRODUCTIVE MACHINE. SHE COOKS. SHE CLEANS. SHE GETS PLACES ON TIMES. SHE TAKES A LOT OF NAPS.

Moving is an experience that helps you learn a lot about yourself. For example, prior to moving, I thought I was really strong. During moving, I realized that I am not strong.

I’m still trying to get the new apartment in gear. (I’ve actually found myself FURNITURE SHOPPING LATELY. WHAT AM I, SOME KIND OF ADULT THAT SHOPS FOR FURNITURE?) (Also, HOW CAN I BEST ARRANGE MY LAMPS TO BE THE MOST AESTHETICALLY PLEASING?) My new shower has WATER PRESSURE, which made me realize that I’ve lived most of my life without water pressure. But don’t worry guys, I got a new shower curtain (in CABBAGE ROSE), and it really ties the bathroom together. Just ask my mom.

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TAMMY: A COMING OF AGE STORY ABOUT A GIRL WHO IS PART T-REX has been extended by two weeks! Check us out now Thurs-Sat thru April 7 (don’t worry, we still have Wednesday shows this week and next, so you can still get your Wednesday fix).

It’s official: TAMMY will make you “L” your “AO”

Reviews for Tammy are in! We run Wednesdays through Saturdays for three more weekends. Check the Facebook page for deals on tickets.

Chicago Reader (Recommended)

“…smart, goofy new comedy…”

Chicago Theater Beat (3 1/2 stars)

“The entire ensemble brings the funny. They crack jokes AND dance.”

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In other Rosen-news, I’m joining the cast of Corn Productions’ late night drinking show Happy Endings: A Drinking Game Performance following the production of Tammy for two weekends. It’s an Alisa double-header! You can see Tammy at 8pm and stick around for Happy Endings for only $5. What a deal! Show dates for Happy Endings are 3/9-3/10, 3/16-3/17. The second weekend the show gets a St. Patty’s Day makeover. Just to give you MORE incentives to drink.

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Lastly, look out for Plucky 3/18 at the Mayne Stage for Va-Va-Vaudeville!, a fundraiser for HER HRC. And keep your eyes peeled for another one woman show this spring, before I leave for my physical theatre internship at the Celebration Barn in Maine all summer!

Yup - that is an animated Alisa, voiced by an Alisa with a really bad cold!  And that means Tammy: A Coming of Age Story About a Girl Who is Part T-Rex opens tomorrow at the Cornservatory!!  It runs Wednesdays-Saturdays through March 24.  Don’t miss this one.