TOMORROW

The Orphans of Annie at The John W. Engeman Theater

Hi Friends - This crazy shut down has got me thinking about that little orphan we all have loved at one point in our lives - Annie. I remember doing this show at the local community theatre when I was 9 - I played Kate (the orphan who surprises Miss Hannigan with the dead rat). It was so much fun. My mother, who was a teacher all of her life, never missed the chance to create a lesson plan to accompany a life experience. So, at age 9, I was given research assignments on… The Great Depression. Here I was, in rehearsals with friends, having the time of my life, pretending to be down on my luck - thinking it was all just a game, but I slowly came to realize the reality of the piece was so much more than one lucky orphan who gets to live large. (Thanks, Mom.)

Annie is the eternal optimist - she has a way of finding the silver lining in every bad, awful thing that comes her way. When she runs away and finds her way to a Hooverville, she even gets the people in this shanty town to laugh and smile with her undying optimism. The truth of the whole story, is if you look close enough, the real stars of the show are the people of the Hoovervilles - the whole reason Orphan Annie exists as a character is to bolster and up-lift the American public in a time of great need.

She happened to be a lasting character, that has gone on to inspire the musical we all know and love and continued to move and inspire generations!

I guess the real questions as we move through this calamity are: What will you create that will help get us through? What inspiration can you express that will prove to be lasting? What, as an artist/writer/performer/puppeteer/dancer etc, can you put out into the world based on the experiences you are having now?

Out of the Great Depression, we saw the Golden Age of Hollywood, Swing Dancing, the Group Theatre (which inspired and trained some of today’s most prolific film actors) and many other endearing and lasting forms of art! It’s in your hands, friends. Let the great creation begin!

xo Holly

PS. When I got to work with Martin Charnin and a few of the other creatives on the National Tour of Annie (years ago in Joy Dewing’s office), it was amazing to finally thank him for the musical and share with him how much of an amazing learning experience it was for me - about America during the Great Depression. He gave me the biggest bear hug. He was a terrific man. Also, he very much believed that all of the characters, including Hannigan, Rooster & Lily, were just all different people trying their best to get through a very difficult time. I agree.

Some photos from the 1st year of the Annie National Tour!

Inside view of the open Orphan Call with Martin Charnin at the helm.

WRITING LETTERS AND OTHER NEW ACTIVITIES

“Dear Friend”…. She Loves Me at Millbrook Playhouse!

Hi Friends! What new and interesting things have you started doing while in isolation? I’ve noticed that a little change to daily routine can make a difference in my day!

First thing, I’ve started signing in to Facebook Live each morning at 8am to start the day with my new favorite DJ, Bob Sinclar! He spins live and people in quarantine all over the world tune in. It helps set my mood for the day and also makes me feel less alone in what we are all going through!

I’ve been jogging/walking all over my neighborhood and listening to Podcasts. I know this sounds normal, but I was never someone who had time for Podcasts - or at least, thought I didn’t. This is a fun new activity that keeps me moving and gets me out of my head.

Finally, I’ve started writing letters and sending cards. I forgot how connected I used to stay to friends and family via Snail Mail! It’s so much fun to get a note in the mail - share the love - send a card. Why not! If you want a note - email me your address.

I’ve been thinking a lot about our elder community all over the country and how isolating and terrifying this must be for them. Obviously, the best thing to do is stay isolated, but check in on your Aunts, Uncles, Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents…make sure they know that you care. If you want another fun activity to fill your day and fill the void for someone else - Check out this website! Write a letter to someone today on line…

https://www.eastsideelders.org/letters-to-elders/

If anyone has any other brilliant ideas of new activities to fill your day - email me! It’s time to start mixing it up in our collective lockdowns…

Stay safe and strong, Holly:)

More pictures of Millbrook Playhouse’s She Loves Me. This was a gorgeous production!

MAGICAL MONDAY - WEEK 2

The Ace Of Pentacles - Dark Wood Tarot - Designed by Sasha Graham

Hi Friends! As promised a new card for a new week of quarantine. My dear friend, Sasha Graham, is keeping the magic flowing for us. Here’s what she has to say about this card - The Ace Of Pentacles!

Do you wake up to a diatribe of reactions about what to do and how to act during Covid-19? I do! I feel like I should be creative, feel bad because I'm not volunteering, pangs of guilt bloom around my growing anxiety when is crazy, a first world problem because, after all, look what's happening in India! 

I pull cards when I need to pull focus. Today, I pulled the Ace of Pentacles. Look at the image. The card is telling you to focus at what's in front of you. What is in your hands?

Focus of the present. Feel your body. Breathe. Ground and take a moment. We only ever have this very moment. It is only from a place of absolute presence that you can proceed out the garden gate. See the five pointed star inside the apple on this card? It is a symbol of the magic inside of you. Slow down, take it easy and take this all moment by moment. You got this.

Ace of Pentacles from The Dark Wood Tarot

Pre-order The Dark Wood Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Wood-Tarot-Sasha-Graham/dp/0738759309

www.sashagraham.com

Sasha Graham's work has been translated into Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese. She is the author of Tarot Diva, 365 Tarot Spreads, 365 Tarot Spells, Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot and the forthcoming Practical Magic of a Tarot Practice. She served as editor and writer of Lo Scarabeo's Tarot Fundamentals, Tarot Experience and Tarot Compendium.  The Haunted House Tarot is her first tarot deck with Marvel artist Mirco Pierfederici. Sasha's second dark and delicious deck with artist Abigail Larson, The Dark Wood Tarot will be released by Llewellyn in 2020. She is a contributing author of Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, 2020 and Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar, 2021.

Best wishes, Sasha Graham

I hope her message helps to guide you in some way on this start of another week in quarantine. Stay healthy and magical!

Holly:)

Twinkle Tames A Dragon - Vital Theatre - This cast was pure magic!

RAINY SUNDAYS

Hi Friends! Remember all those rainy days you have had when you wished you could just stay at home with a book under the covers, but instead you had chores to do or you had to run out to work or auditions? Well - here we are on a gloomy day and we can snuggle in with a book and just chill.

Ok- I know I’m stretching, but seriously, if you want that nap - take it. You deserve it.

There are no rules to this solitude. Just allow yourself that rainy day however you want it.

Good news! Tomorrow I’ll revisit Magical Monday and my dear friend and tarot card reader, Sasha Graham, has decided she would like to pull a card for us every Monday! So tune in for another card and some more transformative words….

Happy rainy Sunday, Holly:)

A few versions of Fancy Nancy, The Musical below! (Vital Theatre Company). Nancy wouldn’t sulk around on a rainy quarantine day - she’d play dress up and have a tea party. I prefer napping - to each his own.

RAINBOWS IN WINDOWS

Hi Friends! Happy Saturday from Carroll Gardens Lockdown. The dark, rainy days, like today, are definitely harder to digest than when the sun is shining all around us. On the sunny days, I have been making sure to get outside for run/walks as much as possible. Yesterday, I walked for a solid 2 and half hours (keeping my distance from others, of course!)

A week ago I was looking out my window, wishing things were not as they are when I saw this little rainbow (below). And, I thought, “How sweet! Thank you, little neighbor, for the rainbow!”

Yesterday, on my walk all through Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights, I started to notice rainbows everywhere. I literally felt like I was being followed by rainbows! Some were huge and filled the windows - some were small and had messages, “This Too Shall Pass” - “Do Not Worry” - “We Are All One” - “Smile”. It was pretty magical. Here’s what I discovered about the little warriors making these rainbows:

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/map-rainbow-windows-are-connecting-new-yorkers-during-coronavirus-social-distancing

Rainbows are so inspirational and magical. They have always represented luck and hope, but have also come to stand for unity, power, inclusion and love for us all in so many ways, having been adopted as a symbol of LGBTQ community. To see a rainbow is awe-inspiring and symbolic on so many levels.

I guess I just want to express my gratitude to all the little ones in my community for reminding me that end the end of this storm, there is great potential for a rainbow for us all.

Happy gloomy Saturday. We have to believe that the rainbow isn’t that far away…

Holly xo

Beach Day!

Mamma Mia! at the Engeman Theater. One of my favorite shows to work on - a guilty pleasure because I LOVE the beach. Also, I loved this cast.

Hi Friends! I woke up a little down this morning, because today I was supposed to fly to San Juan - one of my favorite places on the planet. Most who know me, know that I love to travel and I am in my element when I am on a beach. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I went for a long walk - down to pier 5 on the Brooklyn waterfront. I found a quiet sunny spot (most spots are quiet now, because people actually are practicing social distancing, thankfully), raised my face to the sky, closed my eyes and tried to visualize all of the gorgeous beaches I’ve been so lucky to sit on over the years. It definitely raised my spirits and made me feel super grateful to have been afforded the opportunity in my life to have had all of these experiences. I recommend this - close your eyes, visualize and give thanks for all that you have experienced that brought you great joy….then imagine what is yet to come your way!!!! So much of this world (beaches and beyond) we’ve yet to explore.

So, I went home, put on some Beachy music and my favorite pair of sandals and decided to share some of those beaches with you. Hoping you and I will be able to visit soon. Life’s not a beach right now, but we’ll get there.

I am about to pour the rum….

Sunny vibes, Holly:)

St. Bart! I went with my dear friend and old roommate, Sarah Ziegler, to St. Bart…Her brother and Dad took us to see a Jimmy Buffett concert on the island. I am very grateful for this trip. We had a blast.

Oahu, Hawaii. My dear friend, Bellavia got married in Hawaii. I definitely couldn’t afford to go at the time, but I decided to just throw down a credit card and worry about it later. It was the best decision I ever made. I had the best time with all of my college friends in Hawaii. It was worth all the years to pay it off.

Bequia! In college, I lived on Bequia for a month as a nanny to some incredible families. Funny when I look back at the pictures, I have very few pictures of the gorgeous beaches, but tons of pictures of me and the kids. Which makes sense, cause we had such a blast together. When we weren’t on the beach, which was most of the time, we created a theatre company - wrote and performed plays! We also wrote songs together which we would sing at sunset. It was a great memory. But, also -the beaches in and around Bequia are perfect!

Cape Cod. Sigh.

What I love most about Puerto Rico are the people and the culture of the island - but then there’s also this… Views from various beaches: Flamingo Beach in Culebra, Dorado Beach, Carolina and Condado. Next time I go, I want to go to Rincon - the other side of the island. I haven’t been there yet!

Jersey Girl can’t leave out the Jersey Shore! A little slice of happiness closer to home….

CONEY!!! I intend on sitting on your beach this summer, so you better get ready….

10 DAYS IN

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at Millbrook Playhouse! Loved this cast and love this barn!

Hi Friends - We are 10 days into this quarantine with no end in sight, but I am striving to keep my spirits high! Here are a few ideas and thoughts I’ve collected over the last 10 days to help keep my head in the right space…

Thank you to the countless medical workers who are putting their lives at risk everyday to fight this virus on the front lines. Thank you to all of you for posting engaging and moving content online that keeps me from feeling alone. Thank you, universe - for simply another day!

I hope you all have reasons to be grateful today and can cling to that to get you through the days of the quarantine we have yet to face. - xoHolly:)

The Cast of Owen & Mzee at Vital Theatre - Talk about a story of survival, community and love!

Great cast, too!

YOU BETTER KEEP SINGING

A few really excellent mid-sing moments: (L to R) Mexican Hayride - Musicals Tonight, Rock Of Ages - National Tour, Stinky Kids - Vital Theatre Company and Annie - National Tour.

Hi, Friends! Last night I had the supreme pleasure of working with some of the graduating seniors at Molloy College on audition technique via Zoom Conferencing. It had been previously scheduled for me to teach in person and I was so grateful to have this alternative arranged by the school. The students logged on from all over the country - Texas, California, Maine etc. Sometimes the connection was tricky and the sound quality was in and out, but you can’t stop singers from spreading joy. I had so much fun getting to know these students. I may have learned more from them last night than they did from me. I didn’t realize just how much I missed all the singing and the work you put in everyday.

Your online singing is not going unnoticed. Every day I tune into social media to see/hear and learn from the beautiful music you are posting. Some of my favorite song posting has come from our current casts…just waiting to sing on stage again and it has been a blessing to be able to see them perform (even just in the solitude of their own homes). Even Michael Cassara sang a little tune for us on Facebook the other day and it was gorgeous! So thank you and here’s a pretty new song from Sabrina Chap who wrote the music for Fashion Academy at Vital Theatre. She rocks.

https://sabrinachap.bandcamp.com/track/italians-are-singing-from-their-windows?fbclid=IwAR1VEn-JkhtxYsNwRJH2S4IPAHatlFdxVHRZ0NwkxDJBV4ndjGXxQxWxoVo

Candid shots of the cast of Fashion Academy signing autographs after their show. There is one missing cast member - Lexi, who was very sick that day. I remember, though, that she performed and was fabulous. Here’s Alexis below in the cooky sunglasses. Watch the video - this cast rocked!

The Making of Fashion Academy The Musical

I started singing again after a long hiatus. Just for me. Just for fun. I recorded some songs for my parents for Christmas! I’ve always been oddly shy about my singing - but here’s a little song to say thank you. PLEASE KEEP SINGING!!! xoxo Holly:)

NEVER LAND


PS. This was the only way I could post this and I don’t have the bandwidth right now to try to figure out a different format, so please forgive the link! Lol

OH MY GOD - WE’RE IN GROUNDHOG DAY!!!

EVERY DAY IS LIKE STARTING THE SAME DAY OVER AND OVER….

Hi Friends - I am unravelling. Everyday I wake up and it is just like the day before! Yesterday, I completely succumbed to the monotony - giving in by stuffing my face full of Reese Cups, downing a bottle of wine and passing out in front of the 24 hour news feed that is CNN - which, by the way, is spewing the same information over and over and over again. SOME ONE LET US OUT OF THIS CAGE!!!

But, today, when I woke up I came across this gem on line (thank you, Steven Bidwell for posting this on Facebook). This dude spinning some love and beats shifted my whole rhythm today! And it was so fun to watch everyone from around the world tuning in and posting their gratitude and well wishes. It got me out of bed with a pep in my step and changed the whole energy of my day. www.bobsinclar.com - he is on Facebook with live music every morning. Obsessed.

I guess it might be good to start trying to start your day a different way! Write to me at holly@hdbcasting.com if you have any miracle ideas to vary your day. I need all the help I can get at this point….

Spread love, Holly:)

PINKALICIOUS - The Show that just keeps going and going and going and going - from the creatives at Vital Theatre Company. Pinkalicious is STILL running. I was in it. I’ve attended it with all three nephews. I have worked on the casting for YEARS and when I think of all of the amazing people who have been in and out of this show - It makes my heart sing! But, it just keeps goingggggggggg…………

MAGICAL MONDAY

The images above are from Musical’s Tonight’s production of Carnival. It was magical for me to have the opportunity to work on this, because it was the very first show I was in (as a small child) and also my favorite musical. I adored this cast. They were spectacular! (We even had a magician in our cast!)

Hi Friends! At times like this, we all need a little magic. I know it sounds far-fetched and seems distant, but it’s still there. I’ve been thinking about how much, as a society, we want to really, truly believe in magic. You can see it reflected in some of the most beloved parts of our culture - Magic Kingdom, Magic School Bus, Harry Potter….. I suppose as children, we are more willing to believe and then it drifts away slowly with age (How very Peter Pan of me.) However, there are many forms of magic we use in everyday life as adults without even thinking about it - positivity, optimism, wishful thinking, casting a spell, bowing our heads in prayer. I have always believed in magic and I refuse to let that go.

Last night, I couldn’t fall asleep. I started thinking about all of the loved ones in my life who are in the “high-risk” group for this illness and, of course, I started to spiral. So much of what could happen in this situation is so out of our hands. My heart was pounding, my head was spinning and I couldn’t breathe. But, then I just simply asked the universe to look over them and started to slow my breath. With each release of my breath, I put forth a magical intention - I imagined that the breath I was releasing was creating an imaginary forcefield surrounding them with my love and protection. I did this slowly with focus and purpose until….I was asleep. I don’t know if this magic will have an impact, but I have to keep believing.

One of my most magical friends, Sasha Graham, has been helping me weather this storm. She is magic personified! And, last night, while face timing with her and another champion of a friend, I asked her to pull a card for us - something I could share with all of you today. She really cut to the core of where we all are right now and I hope this resonates for you, like it did for me….

FROM SASHA GRAHAM:

This is the Moon Card from a deck that Sasha designed! - The Haunted Tarot Deck

Feeling a little weird? Yeah, me too. It's not like you were ever normal to begin with. But this? This is the hardest, heaviest stuff many of us will collectively and individually ever face. This is the life-may-never-go-back-to-normal-as-we-know it weird. 

But let's be honest.

Was our "normal" of the last few years so fantastic?

Is not going back to normal such a terrible thing?

The Moon is the card of myth and monster. It is your psychic altered state, your deepest internal landscape. Vampires linger, shadows creep, and werewolves howl.

Glowing, fuzzy moonlight gifts us with the space for our eyes to adjust while new qualities and potentials emerge. Our instinct is to fear the unknown. Moonlight softens the edges for the things too scary to look at in broad daylight.

The Moon recalls dreamlike visions passing through your imagination. Spells are cast. Devils leap over dancing flames. Intense psychic energy grows strong inside you. Dark prophesies are uttered amidst pandemic declarations. What are you to do?

The Moon circles the earth. Its cycles echo the transitory nature of human life, menstrual cycles, and nature of all things inhabiting the visible and invisible world. Life, the universe, we are in a constant state of flow.

The Moon's nature of flux is an eloquent reminder ~  that no matter we face, given time, it will change. No circumstance lasts forever. Good, bad, or indifferent. Life’s nature and the psyche’s energy hustles and flows like foamy ocean tides. 

“Yes,” the Moon says, “Things get weird, scary. The unknown is terrifying. Unimaginable things occur. But not forever. Nothing lasts forever. The important question is, how will you respond?”

The Moon allows you to embrace your weirdness. Embrace the scariest, squirmiest part of yourself. Sit with it.

This strange portal of time is an opening.

Be awkward.

Be vulnerable.

Be uncomfortable.

Be excited.

Be depressed.

Be pro-active..

Be with whatever comes up for you.

Confront the monsters you normally push away.

Cause, right now, it's moonlight 24 hours a day.

And if you don't do it now, then when?

Sasha Graham's work has been translated into Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese. She is the author of eight books including: Tarot Diva, 365 Tarot Spreads, 365 Tarot Spells, Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot and the forthcoming Practical Magic of a Tarot Practice. She served as editor and writer of Lo Scarabeo's Tarot Fundamentals, Tarot Experience and Tarot Compendium.  The Haunted House Tarot is her first tarot deck with Marvel artist Mirco Pierfederici. Sasha's second dark and delicious deck with artist Abigail Larson, The Dark Wood Tarot will be released by Llewellyn in 2020. She is a contributing author of Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, 2020 and Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar, 2021.

Best wishes,

Sasha Graham

www.sashagraham.com

Pre-order The Dark Wood Tarot: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Wood-Tarot-Sasha-Graham/dp/0738759309

Latest book: Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: A Journey Through the History Meaning and Use of the World's Most Famous Deck

I am so grateful for magic and magical friends. Sending you all light and love! - Holly

Sadness needs PARODY!

Photos above are from a NYMF show that I worked on when I was a summer associate in Michael Cassara’s office. It was a ridiculous parody of an old movie, The Brain That Wouldn’t Die - In 3D!!! It was a BLAST to work on this. Some people on’t know that Michael Cassara has been an amazing mentor to me throughout my journey in casting. I am grateful to have him as a colleague and friend.

Hi Friends - Today I woke up feeling quite low. Everytime the news is on and they say this may last months - MONTHS?!?- I feel the hopelessness start to creep in. But instead of spiraling into darkness I went online to see who had a different, more lighthearted spin on it - Comedy cures! Here are some of the amazing parodies I’ve found that have brought me joy for at least a few minutes during my days of confinement. Reposting so you can enjoy. You guys are all so damn smart, funny and talented!!! THANK YOU!

First of all - Shout out to Drew Fornarola for his genius parody lyrics he keeps posting on his facebook page. Thanks, Drew! Keep it up… Sample below:

I don’t know this gentleman, but I adore his take on this Billy Joel Classic:

Just for fun, hope everyone is well and good out there! ✌️❤️ #coronavirussong #coronavirus #covid19 #wedidntspreadthevirus *Update* I am now accepting artist...

So Danny Gardner is a genius. But, we all knew that already. Thanks, Danny - this is amazing!

A timely parody of Meredith Wilson's "Ya Got Trouble" from "The Music Man". Lyrics: Are you going outside? Either you're closing your eyes to a situation you...

I LOVE 90s music…so, to me, this Barenaked Ladies re-boot is amazing!

Please stay away from people as much as you can. If your crappy job won't let you, consider going on strike. I mean, it's kinda the perfect time, and we're a...

Keep it up!!! Thank you for the levity! xoxoHolly

Photos from The Pirates of Finance - an amazing Gilbert & Sullivan Parody I worked on for NYMF. I was so proud of this cast! They were terrific and hilarious.

50 Shades, The Musical Parody! Casting this show was a wild ride. It was one of the first projects I worked on in Joy Dewing’s Office. So many different casts and so many hilarious comedians!

SO GRATEFUL FOR CUOMO!

UNCLE PIRATE - Vital Theatre Company - 2009! I’ve decided to post pictures of some of the amazing shows I’ve loved casting over the years - mostly to remind you of all of the incredible work you have done and how much more work there will be to create when we have gotten through this. It’s been such a pleasure to see you all grow and blossom over the years. I have been so lucky! Check in everyday for a new pic!

Hi Friends! We are all struggling to stay positive and mentally healthy with all that is going on. And the continuous news feed reporting on the crisis is a spinning wheel of negativity that we can become trapped in, if we let ourselves. I would suggest limiting your intake of daily news to a palatable amount but please do follow the news conferences involving our Governor, Cuomo.

He is showing the kind of calm, strong, honest leadership we need to get our city and state through this ordeal. Every time I watch him speak, I feel I have a better understanding/grasp of the situation, I know very clearly what my part in this is as a New Yorker, I trust that he is taking all the steps necessary to get our citizens the help that they need - in a nutshell, I feel safe, protected and respected. YAY, CUOMO!

Today, he even addressed the mental health of the citizens and a program he’s trying to put in place with volunteer therapists to help us all get through this. WOW. AND THEN talked about being kind to others and staying positive AND SMILING AT PEOPLE AS WE PASS THEM BY ON THE STREET WHEN WE ARE OUT FOR A WALK.*see note about this below. His thoughtfulness brings me great, great hope.

For information on all of the things he’s doing and just general info on our current situation please visit:

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news

I think I will be sending a note via this website to his staff suggesting a state wide reduction on Rent - a decrease by at least a percentage would help us all. They already addressed mortgages, but what about us little people who pay exorbitant prices for our tiny apartments in NYC? Yep, I’m gonna do this. #we’renotgonnapay

Lorin Zacular is a performer I adore and is incredibly talented who gets a shout out today because she posted this ingenious thing on Facebook - I’m reposting (hope you don’t mind, Lorin). It made me aware of some things I still should be doing to protect my finances moving forward! THANK YOU, LORIN!

Finally - My “See Note” from above (how very Guys and Dolls of me) - I’ve gone out on walks and runs and small errands here and there. You have to - to stay sane and healthy! I’ve crossed paths with others doing the same - we stay a distance as you should. But, people are avoiding eye-contact and generally acting strange. If I look you in the eyes from 6 feet away, you are NOT going to be infected. If I wave and smile from 6 Feet away, you are NOT going to be infected. If I say “Hello” from 6 Feet away you can say “Hello” back from 6 Feet away and neither one of us will be infected! Let’s try not to forget to smile and wave - pretty please? Kindness, warmth and normal greetings can go a long way! Ok, rant over.

Oh, and today was Reggae day in my apartment in Brooklyn….

"Matisyahu's official music video for 'One Day'. Click to listen to Matisyahu on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/MatisyahuSpotify?IQid=Matis1DYT As featured on P...

"One day this all will change..." 3000 people Three languages and one Haifa all singing Koolulam and hoping that the 'One Day' is near... ~ Listen to 'One Da...

Sending you alllllll the love. xoxoHolly

GET DRESSED! NO, SERIOUSLY....GET DRESSED!

Nature is still out there waiting for us!

Hi Friends!

It may feel like we are still just on a “little break” from work - but it’s time (if you haven’t already done this on a daily basis) to GET DRESSED - Like for real- NOT in PAJAMAS! Decide to add to your daily routine your normal ritual of getting ready for the day. That means dressing in clothes - not pajamas or gym wear - and dressing from head to toe. Seriously, put some shoes on. Also, style your hair. Weird, I know since we are all trapped inside, but you deserve to feel like the best version of yourself all the time. Even in quarantine. Skip the make-up - you never needed it anyway - you are naturally gorgeous. Maybe this part of your routine now happens later in the day, but please do it. You will feel so much better, I promise.

This morning I met with my friend Crazy Amy outside for coffee. (We stayed 6ft apart and doused ourselves in hand sanitizer). I provided the coffee. She lifted my spirits, but she also mentioned she was able to freeze payments on her credit cards for 2 months - the representative said after the two months, you may be able to freeze again (depending on how long this goes on). Yes, they are also now not charging interest, but if you don’t have to make a payment at all for the time being - what a relief! I am now on hold with Amex to try this. Give it a shot! I’m waiting forever, but one thing I do have right now is time…. UPDATE: I just got through to Amex - they expect to be able to honor deferrals up to 2 months starting next week. The representative on the phone was delightful. He gave me a direct # to call back next week (no wait time) to process it all. DO THIS!

Crazy Amy is a hoot by the way and a brilliant Bartender and she’s started doing online cocktail classes - no charge - if you want to tune in you can follow her on instagram! She’s got the energy to brighten everyone’s day! amyk.sundayfunday

This is Crazy Amy - she’s a ball of fun - so check out her instagram!

https://instagram.com/amyk.sundayfunday?igshid=teevihgu9xop

At Wojcik/Seay Casting we have just started working on something to keep our auditions going, so stay tuned to our website and social media…hoping to launch next week.

Are you dressed yet? xoxoxoxoxoxo Holly

PS. Here’s a joyful little tune for you….

SOME THOUGHTS - WAYS FOR ARTISTS TO COPE WITH A QUARANTINE

Imagine all the amazing days that are coming your way…..

Hi Friends - I’ve been struggling on many levels with our new “Normal”. As a person in the industry who thrives in an insanely busy workplace and LOVES to stay busy, suddenly having so much time on my hands has pushed me into a place that definitely feels uncomfortable and so so scary. But, I take heart in knowing that we are all experiencing similar feelings from the confines of our own apartments! I have been working very diligently to NOT succumb to overall lethargy and depression and have created personal strategies with my daily routine to stay positive, healthy and hopefull. It has occurred to me that some of these small ideas might help someone else out there create a plan to do the same. So, I’m going to use my website to post daily thoughts and ideas that you can check out throughout this hard time we are all experiencing!

DEVELOP A DAILY ROUTINE THAT HELPS YOU!

I recognize now that I am a person that thrives with structure and routine. My days are always full - mostly of work and that feeds my soul on so many levels. To suddenly NOT have that routine has made me feel a little lost. Here’s what I’ve done for myself - hoping that some of this might be useful for you…

• MORNING PAGES - Have any of you done The Artist’s Way before? I’m sure you probably all have. Julia Cameron is a self-care genius and I have been a fan of her work since the 1990s. In The Artist’s Way, she instructs you to write upon waking up - 3 full pages - stream of consciousness - thoughts, feelings, dreams you had - if you can’t think of anything you can literally fill the pages with “I HATE CORONA VIRUS” over and over again. Getting back into this routine at the start of my day has deeply helped clear my head and open up my thoughts to some more productive activities that are available to me (thus, this new strange and fun blog I’ve started). For more information on the gorgeous work of Julia Cameron and her book, The Artist’s Way you can visit: https://juliacameronlive.com

• GRATITUDE - Daily gratitude. A friend sent me this app at the start of this week, when the cold, hard reality of the situation settled in. It’s so helpful… https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gratitude-happiness-journal/id1372575227

• STRETCHING - I have always had to incorporate some morning stretching into my routine, because of the dreaded sciatica I face. But, usually, this stretching is “10-5 minutes before I run out the door and sometimes running late and super stressed, so just get it done cause you will be stuck in a chair at Pearl Studios all day” kind of stretching. I’ve now allowed myself the time to really focus and breathe while I’m stretching. CONNECTING TO BREATH IS EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. There are plenty of on line yoga classes and free demos to be explored, if you would like to set up a routine to stretch and BREATHE. If you don’t want to stretch (trust me - I usually hate Yoga), I recommend you sit for at least 5 minutes a day and connect to your breath and just listen to your own thoughts. Here is a nice simple stretching routine I found on line with someone named Kassandra (Thank you, Kassandra)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pKly2JojMw

• GO FOR A WALK OUTSIDE - JUST STAY DISTANCED FROM OTHER PEOPLE!!! (Not much to say about this, but FRESH AIR! FRESH AIR! FRESH AIR!) If you want to make your walk extra magical - explore an area that you haven’t before and imagine each step is leading you to your new path in life - whatever magical thing that WILL emerge for you once this awfulness has passed.

• COFFEE & COCKTAIL FACETIME DATES - Man, I have just realized that because of my workaholic nature, I have been a miserable friend and family member. But, what fun it has been to pour a coffee or cocktail and jump on FaceTime with a loved one. This has become a daily routine now and I realize how much I’ve missed so many of the people in my life! It’s one thing to text back and forth and stop and say “hi” in the hallways of Pearl, but to actually set time aside to really truly connect - wow - fills the soul! When did we all stop being human (or maybe it’s just me)? I surprised my parents on St. Patricks Day with a FaceTime and Irish Coffee in hand - the look on their faces when they answered the call made my heart sing! I may be coming for you next….

ANYWAY, I SUPPOSE THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF COPING WITH ALL OF THIS - HOPING TO BE A HELPFUL FRIEND, JUST BY SHARING THOUGHTS/IDEAS/FEELINGS. STAY HOPEFUL AND STRONG, DEAR FRIENDS! AND PLEASE CHECK IN DAILY FOR UPDATES, IF YOU ARE FEELING BORED. IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO ME WITH THOUGHTS/IDEAS/OR JUST TO SAY HI, EMAIL ME! holly@hdbcasting.com

This image was sent to me today by my Gratitude App….it resonated!

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