Too busy to blog, but I’m back… again!

Posted in Welcome to New York by msiwak

As the title suggests, I’ve been a little preoccupied to update this in a few weeks. Oops. Well, better late than never, right?

So, my last post concluded with me seeing American Psycho in its final weekend. So, next was work as usual– I’m a full time intern, which means Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm. My daily tasks range from fashion research (finding new looks and compiling inspiration into mood boards and look books), runs (where interns such as myself go drop off clothes and accessories, pick them up or find things for a client or shoot), and general organizing, unpacking/ packing of clothes (as per the Styling Intern title I possess). I do have to say– this internship is the best exercise I could ever hope for: you run around all day, all over the city, carrying different weighted objects… what workout could be better? or easier?

Then, Saturday, June 11, I woke up super early and arrived to the rush line at 6:55am (where I was first in line, thank you) to get rush tickets for that evening. I went to see Fiddler on the Roof (pre-Tonys). My rush seat was literally in the THIRD row, orchestra. Like, I was super close to the incredible cast! AND the show was amazing! Then, as expected, I had to stagedoor. I met patriarch and matriarch as played by Danny Burstein and Jessica Hecht, and their five daughters, as well as the rest of the cast. And at the end, Alexandra Silber (Tzeitel) came out and asked if we were excited about the Tonys tomorrow (of course we said yes.) And then I asked how she felt “getting married” on live television. To which she said she always envisioned having a small wedding. (You know, a small wedding counts as millions watching it on live TV, right?!?!)

The next day, as I was planning out my schedule, I realized in the two weeks I had been here– I hadn’t made it to Shake Shack yet. WHAT? How could that be? So, I had no choice but to rectify that immediately, as I headed for a milkshake at lunchtime. Who cared about real food, I clearly just needed a milkshake, obviously. And that night was the Tonys– or as I like to call it: An Ode to Hamilton. Rant time: as good as Hamilton was/is and how much I enjoyed it, there is/was SO many other amazing pieces of theatre out there this season that got shut out of the awards because Lin’s genius work, and I just wish the awards could have featured those more too. (Like did we really need Cordon’s intro and exit song to be just the Hamilton cast?? No.) I mean, Hamilton is good yes, but in no way could anyone call it one of the top musicals of all time… Like, I’m sorry, but you can’t say a hip-hop rap musical is better than all the classics even the cast and creative team of Hamilton so revered their entire lives… Sorry, just had to speak my mind while thinking about it…

Another work week went on as usual. And Friday was the most rigorous exercise yet! So, I had to drop off two huge shopping bags full of Jimmy Choos off uptown. So: picture me walking across town, up several series of steps carrying to full bags of stilettos in each hand– pretty good exercise opportunity, while accomplishing a work task.

Then, yesterday (Saturday) I went to a Standing Room line at 4:30, waited until 6pm when I could officially by my ticket to Shuffle Along, or the making of the musical of 1921 and all that followed, that night, featuring the legendary stars of Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Joshua Henry and Brandon Victor Dixon.

Let me clue you in: Standing Room Only (SRO) are tickets, often sold in place of rush tickets, where the seats are just places standing at the back of the theater at orchestra level, see pictures below. (And who cares about standing for two hours?? It was so amazing, I hardly realized I was standing at all.)

My “seat.” AKA, leaning up against this half-wall.

But the show– everything was phenomenal: the sets, the costumes, the dancing (Savion Glover is a genius!), the talent. I mean, Billy Porter, Adrienne Warren AND Audra??? Like, wow. AH-MA-ZING. Then, per usual, I went to the stagedoor.

Billy Porter

Adrienne Warren (From a Bring it On cheerleader to a Tony nominee!)

Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon

Brian Stokes Mitchell (yes, he was Rachel’s dad on Glee…)

That’s the recap. Be back soon. (I’ll actually try to keep that promise this time.)

5Jun2016

One week in and it’s been all about theater and fashion… But is that a bad thing??

Posted in Welcome to New York by msiwak

As this post title suggests, it’s been exactly one week for my second Manhattan summer and basically everything I’ve done involves fashion and Broadway. But, that’s not a bad thing at all, right?!?

To start, on Wednesday I decided to try my luck at the Ham4Ham lottery (though I knew it’d be fail, as it was last summer.) To clarify, the Hamilton lottery is best described as a needle in a haystack, where thousands of people head to the Richard Rodgers for the sole in-person Wednesday matinee lottery for $10 front row seats or a few standing room options, where they put their name in a huge barrel of a basket— yeah, chances are slim. Knowing it’s highly unlikely that I’d win, I mostly went to see the Ham4Ham show. So, two hours before creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted a New York Times article about the Hamilton softball team in the Broadway league, which was “required reading” for the lotto… Unsure what that meant, I went anyway with no thought of what would be performed.

I wanted show you all what it’s like to go to Ham4Ham, so enjoy the video below. (Sorry if it’s hard to see– it was really crowded and I’m vertically challenged.)

After I lost the lottery (as expected), I still felt like seeing a matinee, so I walked one block over to Waitress. I heard they had Standing Room seats, but the show wasn’t quite sold out, so I decided to get the cheapest available option in the mezzanine– and I’m so glad I did, because the show was great! (Been listening to the cast album on repeat all week!)

Then at the stagedoor:

Cute sisters McKenna and Clair sign Playbills for their split role as Lulu, Jenna’s daughter in the epilogue. #tooprecious

Oh, hey- Chris Fitzgerald! I just had to congratulate him on his TONY NOMINATION!

I went home to get ready for my first day of work in the morning.

If you don’t know, I’m a Styling Intern at Brandon Maxwell (if you don’t know who he is, he runs a luxury fashion label and is a stylist.) What’s life as a fashion intern like? I’m hear to tell you… So, on Thursday (my first day), tasks included unpacking and packing garment bags and trunks of clothes, picking up a giant crystal pennant from Swarovski, dropping off and picking up garment bags, and at the end of the day, drop off gifts for models at IMG and Women Management. I also learned that heels are great aesthetically, just fashion interns are on your feet all day, both standing and running errands, so let’s just said I had some bad blisters… by lunchtime. Yea…. Then, on Friday my tasks included, drop offs, organizing the design studio, creating PDFs of the looks, running to Barneys to find 11 pairs of Manolos (such a hard life, right???), sending out trunks and packing. Very busy, but I love being deeply immersed in the fashion industry!

When I got home, I made dinner and promptly went to bed. Then, my alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. (See I had a logical reason!) I got up, got ready and headed to 45th Street (aka Broadway) and planted myself on the sidewalk outside the Gerald Shoenfeld theater where I was tenth in line for day-of rush tickets to American Psycho, closing June 5. After waiting for three hours in the longest rush line on 45th street (it went passed the Booth and looped into Shubert Alley!), I was able to get a ticket for the evening show.

It was a really great show! Ahead of time, I knew nothing about the musical, the book or movie– and I think that’s better. If you don’t have any expectations, you’ll enjoy it more and can’t get let down. Every aspect was phenomenal, it’s a shame it only got Tony nods for lighting and set (well deserved, but still…) and that it’s closing…

Side note and brief theater rant: It’s a shame how so many amazing Broadway productions are closing because of low ticket sales and no Tony love (probably because Hamilton got everything); just because a show is completely original, artistic and different from anything I’ve ever seen (yes, I’m talking about Psycho here!) doesn’t mean it should close…. Sad face that Broadway can’t keep the greats…

And after the show, of course I had to stagedoor– getting autographs and even a photo! (And at the stagedoor, I noticed Bob Lenzi aka Miles from Tuck waiting there for his girlfriend at her stagedoor– talk about an adorable Broadway couple.)

A photo with Jen Damiano!

And later, guess who I learned also went to that show? Why none other than LEA SALONGA. SHUT UP, that’s so legendary– that I was in the same room as her, watching a show!

So, I’d say fashion and theater will be the major themes of this summer!

Until next time…

3May2016

Nothing is more fashionable then the Met Gala…

Posted in Fashion, Pop Culture by msiwak

Sorry, it’s been a while! My schedule has been way hectic between homework and classes, assignments, writing jobs, spring break and my internship search, and unfortunately, this blog sort of got cast aside for the time being. But, fear not! Because, I’m back! And hopefully with regularly scheduled posts! Yay!

And since tonight is the pinnacle of fashion events for the year, I thought I’d post my red carpet review.

This year the theme is Manus X Machina (aka the intersection of fashion and technology) and I know visiting the exhibit will be on the top of my NYC plans this summer for sure. Here’s Vogue’s exclusive peek at the exhibit. Can you say gorge??

And on top of that, the documentary about the gala prep (First Monday in May) will be released on iTunes tomorrow– so excited for that. #fashionobsessed

Now onto my review:

Oh wow, first arrivals and killing it: Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture and her daughter Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen. Both stunning. But when can Miss Wintour do wrong with fashion??? (The answer is never.)

There’s something about Alicia Vikander’s Louis Vuitton dress that I kind of like…. I’m normally not a fan of the mismatched look, but there’s something here that is so edgy and it does fit with the gala theme that just works…

Poppy Delevingne’s Marchesa dress is gorge! The whole look is ahmazing, but then again Marchesa is one of my all-time favorite formalwear designers. I’m not a huge fan of the chunky necklaces though…

Co-chair Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton: love it! I haven’t been the biggest fan of her new platinum ‘do, but here, it’s growing on me as it perfectly matches the vibe of her edgy dress… and THOSE SHOES.

Love Karlie Kloss’ cape over the dress. Super sophisticated, but as soon as she removed the cape, it becomes a super sleek, tailored dress with cutouts galore. Stunning. And for the after party, Brandon Maxwell literally just cut off the bottom half– and it still looked just as amazing.

Heartthrob status on Nick Jonas. That is all.

Rose Byrne gives Old Hollywood glam here and I’m digging its vibe from the classic silhouette, and simple hairstyle.

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton just doesn’t work for me. One, it looks a little too informal for this famous gala. Two, it more closely resembles the punk theme a few years ago. And three, the other Louis girls have way better gowns tonight.

Chloe Grace Moretz stuns in this gown. I’m obsessed. More than that, I want it. That is all. Hair, markup, wardrobe is pure perfection on the teen.

From Selena Gomez’s bridal gown from last year, Vera Wang has taken a page from past Gala hits for Rita Ora this year. I just feel like it’s too much of a repeat from prior years, but it is impeccably tailored.

Saoirse Ronan has gone— I don’t even know how to explain this. Yes, it’s high fashion, but does it have too much going on, I wonder? Between the feathers, the brooch, the collar– I wonder if it’s all too much together.

Like a high fashion version of the Hamilton ensemble outfit. Is SJP trying to predict Tony noms for the show??? (which are announced tomorrow morning) But seriously, all I see HAMILTON. Someone please back me up– right???

Kendall Jenner: the one Kardashian-Jenner sister with a bonafide career and she has the worst dress of her sisters… How did her sisters who are only really known for their E! show and social media get gorgeous custom Balmain gowns?? I just don’t understand.

Hailey Baldwin looks like a glittery referee with Angelina Jolie’s leg slit, and I’m not feeling the look. Last year, I loved her Topshop mini, but she’s gone downhill this year.

Kylie Jenner: congrats on being the best dressed Kardashian-Jenner sister at the gala! Her Balmain gown is impeccable and the bob shows a simplistic elegance that we’ve never seen on Kylie– but it looks ahmazing: welcome to the #BalmainArmy, Kylie.

Love Demi Lovato’s black, gold and silver sequined gown with the slicked-back bob. Looks so chic.

Zoe Saldana’s TRAIN, oh my gosh! Truly stunning. The showstopper of the night for sure!

Kerry Washington debuts her baby bump tonight and some awesome purple hair! Love the dress, mesh gloves and the purple hair! A fashionista per usual…

Jourdan Dunn: love her Balmain gown and her highlighted bob!

Luptia N’yongo looks like a Disney princess in the emerald Calvin Klein gown! Gorge.

Wow, love Karolina Kurkova’s Marchesa gown! Truly stunning.

High fashion it couple alert? Congrats to Zayn on his first Met Gala and I’m kind of digging the cool, edgy vibe of the “robot” arm thing? It looks super haute couture. He looks like a badass in Versace. But, Gigi decided to play it really safe and matronly– in other words, boring. I’m sorry, she’s 21: you should be taking fashion risks, like your boyfriend.

Matching baby bumps for Emily Blunt and Olivia Wilde! Both beautiful gowns, but meh, not very exciting.

Beyonce in Givenchy wins. Per usual, Givenchy knows how to create a showstopping gown and so does Mrs. Carter.

I don’t care it’s it’s Kanye West– you don’t wear RIPPED JEANS and denim jacket to the MET GALA. Are you crazy, Kanye? And Kim’s look is too… blah, not a fan.

I sort of like Kate Hudson’s gown? It’s very high fashion, yes, but I think it’s a little to many weird cutouts and pieces hanging off that take it to a level that I’m not a huge fan of… And the shape and color is reading bridal to me?

Blake Lively is normally one of my style icons who can do no wrong as is Burberry, but this is just…. eh…. I don’t like how the photographers captured the train tulle thing. From other angles, it looks so elegant, but here it looks like way too much. But, great, sleek hair, makeup and earrings.

How iconic for Marc Jacobs to walk the carpet with Bette Midler?? Legend. And he did a great job with her couture dress and headpiece.

Overall, some good, some bad, some meh– but all in all, there was no shortage of high fashion, which is just as I like it.

Those are some of my thoughts! Check out all the arrivals on Vogue for more fashion goodness.

7Feb2016

The 13 Best Moments from “Grease Live”

Posted in Pop Culture by msiwak

It’s Sunday, and while most people are focused on the Superbowl and all that sporty stuff, I’m still obsessing over last Sunday’s, in my opinion, more exciting televised event. That’s right: I’m referring to Grease Live. So, I thought I’d recap the best moments below.

***

1. First, Grease is the word with Jessie J.

It is a cool way to embrace how it was filmed on a soundstage and the live audience in attendance, it makes it more interactive for the viewers. I do miss the cartoon Danny from the film though.

2. Next, I don’t think that anything could ever top Summer Nights.

The Pink Ladies, Sandy and Patty Simcox– eh. The T-Birds: YES PLEASE. Best part of the number, from vocals, choreography and characterization. Plus, all the Broadway vets in the production!

3. I wish some of the characters tried to make the characters their own rather than simply copy what been done to death, and honestly can’t measure up to the original film. (I mean– Jan, Kenickie, Frenchy, Putzie– you couldn’t have been any more original?)

4. Best number of the show, hands down! Is it systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic, or…?

The choreography alone is stunning! Zach Woodlee (“Glee” fame) did a phenomenal job, as did legend William Ivey Long on magic costume and set changes… during the song! Truly is movie magic. Except the word changes… those were quite apparent, because the meaning didnt exactly line up.

5. And for the character/song, we didn’t know we needed…

Jordan Fisher’s Doody crooned the originally-forgettable ballad while everyone on camera and at home swooned. Not going to lie, this is my current alarm sound in the morning… I had never heard of Fisher prior to Grease Live, but wow, boy’s got pipes. Also, Aaron Tveit nailed John Travolta’s sports montage– live and on camera!

6. MVPs of the performance: Blanche, Eugene, Patty. Bringing humor, Noah Robbins, Elle McLemore and Haneefah Wood entertained us thoroughly with new lines of dialogue and nonverbal moments in a scene.

7. ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC [hilarous] SCENES…

It’s just very humorous. Nothing else to report, just enjoy! 🙂 (But, why the need to change Putzie and Jan’s conversation to make ‘less offensive’?? Especially, since they left the whole teen pregnancy story in…)

8. Original music? Yes, please!

In a brand-new Frenchy tune, penned by Broadway composers Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey– who most recently wrote the amazing musical If/Then– is just— wow. It’s so Broadway, and very much in the same style as If/Then, which makes sense considering the composers… But, wow, it’s so beautiful. Also, the Frenchy-Frenchy moment between Carly Rae Jepsen and Didi Conn (aka the ORIGINAL Frenchy)– amazing! I wish the two Doody’s got a similar interaction (Jordan Fisher and Barry Pearl)!

9. THOSE RIFFS…

Seriously? Such an inventive remake on the Frankie Avalon classic with Boyz II Men! Great job from everyone! Except, Jepsen– her acting wasn’t quite believable: it felt like she got nervous that Boyz II Men was serenading her and forget she wasn’t herself, but a specific, beloved character.

10. Another iconic dance scene…

And I loved it, except how they changed the hand jive!! How could you change such as classic?? But, who else was laughing at Joe Jonas (of Disney fame) as Johnny Casino… Too funny. But all the partner choreography was incredible: congrats Zach Woodlee!

11. SUPERSTAR ALERT.

Seriously, such a superstar moment. Vanessa Hudgens was flawless, especially considering her personal loss that morning. A true star.

And Vanessa? A few people want to say congratulations for this role and performance… And Broadway wants you back.

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(I’m sorry, I had to put this here again…)

12. Grease, WE GO TOGETHER LIKE RAMA LAMA LAMA KA DINGA DA DINGA DONG.

And the finale? Was truly perfect. Love the similar vibe from opening with weaving through the sets, and singing while on the golf carts, ala James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke masterpieces. Loved it. I was singing along— oh wait, what just happened? Ensemble member hit the curb. Oops, second golf cart. Also, the cast’s facial reactions= priceless.

13. The show was done to Broadway caliber… Tommy Kail (Director Extraordinaire of this AND a little show called Hamilton) did a brilliant job at making a Broadway-worthy moment available on television. And having every single ensemble member get a curtain call? Bravo. (Who caught the original Pink Lady and T Bird jackets that Didi Conn and Barry Pearl brought out?? Too adorable!)

THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED, future live televised musicals… No idea how NBC or future FOX productions can compare…

2Aug2015

Once we get going, we’re never gonna stop…

Posted in Welcome to New York by msiwak

Hi everyone, I’m back. So, we left off with my relaxing Sunday. Monday I had class stuff… very boring. Tuesday I had a cool intern event hosted by Marie Claire, where I even got some new headshot taken! Love it! #updated Then, I researched vintage-inspired board games for my boss until the end of the day. After work, I walked around Shubert Alley and even spotted Laura Michelle Kelly (She’s in Finding Neverland!!) on my way to my repeat showing of the hilarious It Shoulda Been You! Then, my friends and I celebrated with ice cream after the play ended.

Need a prop?

The next day was spent prop shopping! Then, I got back and had some editorial brainstorming to do and running quick errands for upcoming craft pieces for fall issues. Thursday, I also had some craft errands for upcoming shoots followed by research. At 4pm, the mag had some extra Magnolia Bakery cupcakes which provided a nice afternoon treat. #yummy

Friday was another research day, however there was some exciting events! 🙂 First, I was able to get free tickets to Good Morning America’s summer concert series in Central Park on Tuesday! (So, watch for me on your TV!) Then, there was a beauty sale at ELLE. It was insane, but good deals on tons of beauty products!

Saturday was particularly exciting because, after weeks of failed attempts, I ended up winning the Aladdin lottery!!!! (First name called too, I was so excited! I kept alternating between crying and smiling/screaming internally!) Ahhh so exciting because I was desperate to see the show: which was great! I then went to the stagedoor to meet the ahmazing cast of the Disney play.

Great show! Loved all the jokes and references, dancing, singing and costumes!

I met Adam Jacobs (Aladdin)! I told him how I was sobbing during Proud of Your Boy, and he responded, “Good. That means I’m doing my job…”

And Courtney Reed or Princess Jasmine!

And James Monroe Iglehart who won the TONY last year for his role as Genie!

After my stagedoor adventures, I decided to walk over to the Richard Rogers theater to check out the #Ham4Ham lottery performance… and it was an In the Heights reunion! Ah so cool! The crowd was insane as soon as they started singing 96,000 (hence this blog title).

quite simply miranda

Tag Archives: Hamilton

Too busy to blog, but I’m back… again!

One week in and it’s been all about theater and fashion… But is that a bad thing??

Nothing is more fashionable then the Met Gala…

The 13 Best Moments from “Grease Live”

Once we get going, we’re never gonna stop…