Ned Donovan - Ithaca ‘12

Hey everyone,

The reference in the title is how I feel (and I think most of my classmates feel) right about now.  Sophomore year is not easy, and part of the reason for my silence is the amount of work needed in the last couple weeks.  So we’ll recap to start.  Children of Eden entered tech week, and my life went away.  Then Children of Eden opened, and the amount of energy to keep that show alive is immense.  It’s not just that our production is great (which if I do say so myself, it is), it’s that everyone is onstage almost the entire time.  When not onstage as a character, the “storytellers” are there to help the audience along.  Think a giant Greek chorus that sings and dances.  So there’s very little room for water breaks, and to keep energized for the entire show is a daunting task.  I think we succeeded however, because we’ve had nothing but fabulous reviews.  Here are four examples (one, two, three, four).  As Eden opened, everything started to set in, such as the knowledge that the second acting review of the year is coming up in about three weeks, singing review is this afternoon, final projects for classes have kicked into full swing, and frankly there are so few hours in the day that sleep is basically not an option.  This may sound like I’m complaining, and that might be the lack of sleep talking, but the fact of the matter is, I love every second of what’s going on.  The challenges are many, but all of us seem to be pulling through and working to create some really fantastic work together as a group.

Alright everyone.

So today, August 6th, is the birthday of the wonderful, talented, brilliant, and amazing (synonymous with wonderful I know, but whatever) Nicole Intravia, who also happens to be my girlfriend.  (As a note, it is also the birthday of her twin sister Laura, who is also talented, and a great person, but I’m not dating you, or related to you Laura…so you don’t get a post, sorry:-P)  This girl is now 22 years young, a graduate of Ithaca College, holding a BA in both Drama and English, and is currently involved in some super cool projects.  Straight out of college she has booked two shows, and was given a callback to the international tour of Fame!  My girlfriend is going places people, if you didn’t see her in Taming of the Shrew with Arena Players, then shame on you.  Go see her next show at the Manhattan Repertory Theater where she is the LEAD.   It opens Wednesday September 16th, and runs through Friday the 18th.  All shows are at 7 PM, and tickets can be bought either at the door, or over the phone (646-329-6588).

Well hey there everyone,

Long time no post on my end, and I’m sorry about that…it’s been a busy month.  I want to start this post off in a shameless plug for a show I am involved in.  Fenix Theatre Co. in Portland has been producing Shakespeare in the park this summer, and after a very successful run of Taming of the Shrew at the beginning of the summer, they are about to open A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  I am a co-fight director for the project alongside the absolutely amazing Sally Wood (this woman had a C-section about 2 weeks prior to the first rehearsal, and she’s out there teaching things and kicking ass and taking names).  It’s directed by Peter Brown who directed The History Boys for Madhorse Theatre Company, and having watched it, it’s gonna be awesome.  A couple shoutouts to the cast as well, Seth Rigoletti (my drama teacher at Waynflete) is playing Demetrius, and Vano Kimmel (graduated from Waynflete with me, is now an Acting major at Clairmont) is playing a fairy in the fairy ensemble.  I’ve loved working on the show, and I can’t wait to see it, and you all should too.  It opens wendesday, and runs wednesday through saturday starting at 6 o’clock and runs for two weeks.

Last week my mother, Nicole, and I went up to the Maine State Music Theatre to see the preview night of their new show “Crazy For You”.  As always, I loved what I saw at MSMT.  Now the first thing that will get said to me by anyone who was also there was that the Technical aspects were a mess.  Yes, this is true, but there were a lot of them, and preview is not opening, it’s essentially dress rehearsal people pay to come see.  The tech issues happened, the show moved on, from what I hear from other people who have seen the show since, they have worked out most if not all of the kinks, and I still enjoyed myself despite them.

Tony Yazbeck is a god.  That’s really all there is to it, he takes the show, makes it his own, and truly shines on this stage.  As Bobby Child/imitation Bela Zangler is hilarious, fun, and boy can the guy dance!  His real-life fiancée Jessica Lee Goldyn plays the romantic lead Polly Baker.  Together they take the show under their wing and guide it through a night of singing, dancing, hilarity, and Gershwin music!  Oh did I mention that they were Al and Val respectively in the broadway revival of A Chorus Line?

Hey everyone,

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have a new video up on my YouTube channel, and therefore here on my website.  This one is a performance of “I’m Coming Out of My Shell” from A Year With Frog and Toad.  To see the video simply click here, or click on the “Media” button in the upper right hand corner of the page, followed by the “Videos” subpage.

The video is from the Bonnin Studio Recital on June 28th 2009 at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland Maine.  I had hoped to put up a video of myself performing “Streets of Dublin” from A Man of No Importance, but due to both my own error while singing the song, and a camera error involving intermittent sound cutouts as well as focus issues, that one will have to be saved for another day.

Enjoy the videos, and please let me know what you think either by leaving me a comment here on the site, sending me an e-mail using my contact form, or leaving me a comment on the video on Youtube!

~Ned Donovan