BALLS ON FIRE

In November, a group of improvisers that met at LA Connection Comedy Theatre decided to branch out and see how they could push themselves to be better improvisers...

We call ourselves BALLS ON FIRE !!!

Balls have been performing at Theatre Asylum for three months, and are very excited to keep up monthly shows. We do short-form improv, which is shorter games/scenes with many more audience suggestions and more variety than long form. I do love long-form, and have been taking classes at Upright Citizens Brigade to work towards mastering the craft (have a ways to go!).

Working with Balls on Fire has pushed me to excel at acting; each member of the group holds all others accountable for always improving and marketing themselves and the group.

It's a fun family, and living room rehearsals with Miller Light and Tonys Pizza is just a starting point!

CHECK US OUT!

twitter.com/theballsonfire

<3

TwoThree

With yet another birthday rolling near, I think I need to slap myself and step it up.

I've been in this city for a year and a half. Time to shake, rattle, and roll.

For real.

I mean it.

Gilbert Henry Stafford

My dear friend, Gilbert Stafford ("Henry? well, my father left me little else, so I figured I would take his name"), passed away in his sleep on January 1, 2010.

I often told him that he is one person that I was truly glad to have had come into my life. He teased me for my mental breakdowns in the office, and once caught me crying under my desk. "You have to stop alllll this cryinng!!!" He taught me many lessons during our car rides together, our lunch dates at Cafe Audrey, our cigarette breaks at work, and at cocktail gatherings in his gorgeous Downtown flat. He was the life of the party, knew how to throw fantastic queen fits, and gave compliments on an outfit or hairstyle that made you never want to change.

He was crowned the "Gatekeeper of the Night", a title he most certainly deserved. He worked the door of the hottest clubs in NYC, Miami, and at Playhouse in Hollywood, and did so with a regal attitude. Don't even get me started on his wardrobe!!!

Once when I was moving his things into his new apartment Downtown, a stranger walked by, stopped, and turned back..."Gilbert from Miami?! I saw you on TV there!"...but my favorite story of Gil's fame happened at ChinChin on Sunset Blvd for Alex Orlovsky's birthday lunch. A semi-crazy homeless man was skipping down the street, banging on all of the street signs and shouting to himself. As he passed our outdoor table at ChinChin, he stopped, looked Gil in the eyes, and out came a phrase in a calm voice, "Gilbert from Miami, right?" and with a nod from Gil, the man continued on skipping and shouting down the route. WHATTT?!?! How did he know you and what is he doing in LA? Loved it.

Gil will be missed, but I know his party has just begun. He will forever be sporting the most fabulous attire, intricately stitched socks, waving his arms to Mozart with a camel unfiltered in one hand, and goose or jameson on the rocks in the other. I love you Gil, and will see you again when it is time...perhaps a rendez-vous in Paris? Say hi to Franky boy for me, and I promise to stop allll thiss cryinggg <3

YEStwentyten

My New Year's Eve was actually the perfect way to bring in the new decade...I was lucky enough to perform with a fun group-- a good sign for the years ahead.

The New Year's Eve show at LA Connection was sold out. About 100 people came out to watch the 8 o'clock show, and it was so fun having a real audience for once. The energy was great, even if I did kick myself for a few things after the show (that's how improv is for me).

After the show, I got dolled up to go out, and by the time a cab company answered their phones, it was 11:30, and I would miss midnight anywhere I went. So I got a movie, a diet coke, a last-pack-of-cigarettes, and settled in for a relaxing night with the pup. As Jalynne (stand-up comic in my improv troupe) said: what better way to bring in the New Year than doing the thing you love most :)

To be home again...

When I found out that my show on Saturday, December 19th was cancelled, I changed my flights to go home to Massachusetts early...and puppy came too! Asterios and I had a full day of travel, and we were lucky that he got to sit under my seat on the planes.

We were also lucky to have a huge snow storm the first few days in MA! I was worried that little Asterios would hate the snow, but the little devil can't get enough.

So, what else is going on at home? I have been semi-social with college and high school friends, watched some great films that I hadn't seen yet ( Christmas in Connecticut, Christmas Vacation, and Everybody's Fine), and plan to see at least one Christmas flick a day.

the usual: White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (original version, duh), It's a Wonderful Life, Elf, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Grinch... I think those are the must-sees.

I'm also taking my time at home ( as an unemployed, in-debt "actress") to get down to writing. Jenny Holt, my partner in crime, usually entertains me for hours at a coffee bean somewhere, but for this week, we must be long-distance writing buds.

Anywho, I am rambling because there is not much else to do. WooHoo!

So. I hit a bus today. Then I went to lunch with Karolina. Then I came home and gave my puppy a bath. I also gave him a haircut this week because I can't afford the groomer. Did I mention I hit a bus?

I haven't left LA for more than 8 hours since May. I am ready to leave for a bit. I am going home for Christmas. It is going to be great. I bought some hilarious gifts for family members that may be deemed inappropriate. What can ya do? Just wrap em, give em, and hope there are giggles instead of "ehh weirdo" when said gifts are unwrapped. I think people will giggle. I giggled as I bought them.

How to raise funds...

So I quit my last job working at a diner from midnight-4am three days a week because I wasn't getting enough hours, and, to be honest, was becoming an unhealthy, unhappy little lass.

I had saved up enough to make it through to Christmas, but then I decided that buying a camcorder and tripod on Black Friday was genius. I am happy to have it, for sure, but now I need to raise $150 this week in order to load my puppy onto the plane with me to bring him home for Christmas.

plans of attach:

-sign up to be extras, or better yet: do audience work (that pays cash on the spot)
-post on craigslist for tutor, cleaning lady, baking help
-sell jewelry that my high school boyfriend bought me, because I get sick when I look at it anyways
-sell all my designer jeans and nice shoes that I don't wear at Crossroads
-Work as a character at Hollywood and Highland

GENIUSSS!?