Ned Donovan - Ithaca ‘12

Hey everyone,

my brother sent this to me, this is written by a friend of his.  He has a followup post in her honor on his own page.
Read and enjoy, it’s funny, and kind of touching in a way…it’s also completely false (my brother has not disappeared off the face of the planet…I talked to him earlier today)

http://13brokenpencils.blogspot.com/2009/01/did-you-know-him.html

Much love to everyone,
~Ned Donovan

Hey everybody,

I have some exciting news.  I’ve been cast as the understudy to the Minister in William Finn’s “A New Brain”!  This will be my Ithaca College Mainstage Debut, which is very exciting.  I’m thrilled because this is the show I was hoping for, and I was not expecting to be cast.  Kudos to the Ithaca College BFA class of 2012 however, we were cast in every show, and in many cases, in prominent roles.  A New Brain is about Gordon Schwinn, a composer who hates his job as a writer for a children’s television show featuring an annoying frog, Mr Bungee.  While at lunch with his agent Rhoda, he collapses and is rushed to the hospital where he finds out he has arteriovenous malformation and needs brain surgery.  Surrounded by his lover Richard, his agent, his neurotic mother, a contemplative and insightful homeless lady, and a whole mess of doctors, nurses, (and the hospital minister) he attempts to recover from his predicament.  The music is exciting, and the story touching, hilarious, and downright scary in some cases.  For me, this is William Finn’s masterpiece, and I am so happy that I will get to be a part of it.  The show previews on tuesday, march 24th, then opens thursday march 29th with a run through sunday april 4th.

Hey everyone,

This is a post specifically designed for my musically inclined friends who play instruments.  I just stumbled across this on youtube, and I think it’s worth posting.  I do not play any instrument well enough to be considered for this, but this is an amazing opportunity I don’t think you all should pass up.  To my friends from home who play instruments, to my buddies here in the Ithaca College School of Music.  Whatever it is you play, you should try this out.  I would love to be able to tell everyone that I know someone who did this.  Anyways watch this video, and you can read more about it http://www.youtube.com/symphony.

~Ned Donovan

Hey everyone,

James Hunter was great live!

Just a short post to give a small update on my location, since I put 2400 miles on my car since I was last in Ithaca, I figured people might be a little jumbled.  After a nice trip to Allentown (ending with a concert of Ryan Shaw and James Hunter who were AWESOME) I am back at school in Ithaca.  I have to say it’s a little weird being in my room and having Charlie Forray (a new roommate replacing Jason Barrera who is at the National Theatre Institute for the semester) be in his place.  Soon to come also is Danny Lindgren who is replacing Martine Baruch (moved in with his Music Fraternity).  Max and Alan are still here though so it’s nice to have some things not change.

Martine still hangs out

   Martine came by as soon as I got back, so I guess not much has changed, it’s just odd to have him not living here.  I don’t have much to say, it’s nice to be back at school, and I can’t wait for classes to get started.  When I have more to talk about, I’ll be sure to mention it.

Hey everyone,

My Father, the City Council Vice President

So I am currently in Allentown Pennsylvania, spending my last few days with my dad before I head back up to Ithaca.  My father, an Allentown City Councilman (see accompanying picture) wanted to show me some sights that I hadn’t seen yet, so he brought me to America on Wheels.  It’s a museum, documenting America’s car history, but also the way the automobile industry shaped the Lehigh Valley, and brought about Pennsylvania’s first major economic boom.  As I learned the other night, Allentown is the third largest city in the fifth largest state in the country.  The Pennsylvania Turnpike was the first major interstate highway, and it shaped the way our country’s roads and highways were formed.  I learned all of these things while in Allentown, with a lot of help from America on Wheels.

Below is a gallery of all the photos, you can also find them in the photo section of my site. 

The museum was a good blend of written history and visual stimulus.  From the section entitled “The Legends of Speed” featuring various race cars of all different shapes, sizes, and eras; to the section entitled “Deja zoom” which handled the new resurgence of the electric car, and the possibility of a hydrogen cell car.