Sweet Spot
As I looked into the display case and noticed that the top shelf was quite noticeably empty, my heart sank. And then I started to laugh at myself. I had stopped into the newly re-located Madeleine...
View ArticleProgram Notes
The mezzo-soprano was in the middle of spinning the second phrase of "La flûte de Pan"… Pour le jour de Hyacinthies,Il m’a donné une… …when the gentleman turned to his female companion and whispered...
View ArticleGoodbye Thirty-Nine… Hello Ice Cream
I had spotted the truck a few weeks ago. There it was parked quietly and unassumingly on Broadway in the middle of the Upper West Side. I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but as I got closer...
View ArticleOf Cups and Cones
This post is, more or less, a follow-up to my previous post. More or less. First of all, I am 40! So far, so good. Very good. It seems like I’ve been celebrating almost every day for the past two...
View ArticleSeven Years Ago, Seven Years Later
9/11/2001 I still remember that morning. I think we all do. Even though I had just returned from an out of town trip the night before, I was actually up and out of bed before 9:00am. I headed to the...
View ArticleAutumn in New York via Van Gogh
At the end of last week, I managed to view the new Van Gogh exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art three times: Thursday morning, Thursday afternoon, and Saturday afternoon. In other words, I decided to...
View Article140 Characters Or Less At A Time
http://twitter.com/JoseSPiano Do I want to blog about my Mom’s health, surgery? 12:48 AM Oct 10th Can’t sleep tonight. Too many things. Mind is racing. 3:40 AM Oct 14th Doctor just gave us the...
View ArticleThe Long Versions or The Overwhelmings
October 14, 2008 I should be asleep by now. In fact, I should have been deep in slumber an hour ago, ideally two. Instead, I lie here in bed, my mind spinning, my head full of conversations that may or...
View ArticleMerry Christmas
It’s Christmas Eve. And I’m spending it – and tomorrow in New York City. It will be my first Christmas not spent with my family in many years. And this song, well… This is for my Mom and Dad. My...
View ArticleA Time for Giggling
Somewhere in the air between Houston and San Diego I just started giggling. There really was nothing else I could do, and there was nothing I wanted to do in a way. The past 12 hours just seemed to be...
View ArticleA Time for Giggling
Somewhere in the air between Houston and San Diego I just started giggling. There really was nothing else I could do, and there was nothing I wanted to do in a way. The past 12 hours just seemed to be...
View ArticleADVICE FROM THE PLAYER
As Audition Season has started to kick into high gear here in NYC and elsewhere – and it actually started earlier this year! – here are a few quick tips and fixes for your “book” – your physical book...
View ArticleHashtag Auditions
Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I shall be returning once again to Memphis to play for the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions (UPTA), as well as heading to Knoxville to play for the...
View ArticleSlate Your Name, Slate Your Name
Let’s start at the very beginning. “Hello, my name is Jose Simbulan. Number 88.” I rarely have to give, to say, to announce my full name – my first and my last name – on a regular basis. In fact, I...
View ArticleCut It Out
While I have appreciated and marveled at what some people have managed to cobble together with pieces of cardboard, poster board, foam core, construction paper, decoupage glue, craft scissors, pinking...
View ArticleThree Questions
THREE QUESTIONS to take us into the weekend. Just some food for thought, rather some food to prompt some thought(s). Read each question. Answer each one for yourself. You might end up with some more...
View ArticleThe Frankencut
In the process of cutting down a song to a suitable length for an audition – whether that be in terms of a number of measures (16-32 bars) or a span of time (30-60-90 seconds) – I sometimes feel that...
View ArticleDon’t Say It
“I’m sorry…” * “…that this page is falling out of my binder.” “…this page is ripped.” “…that when I copied this it cut off the bottom of the page.” “…I didn’t erase the old markings.” “…for not...
View ArticleThey’re Hiring
If you’re still trying to figure out which songs and monologues you want to use for your UPTA and/or SETC audition, take a look at which Theatre Companies will be in attendance… UPTA Companies SETC...
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