Opening Night in NEW YORK CITY!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 marked my one woman show's official New York premiere!
I was nervous the entire day. And my nerves didn't even go away when I began to receive supporting phone calls, text messages, emails and facebook messages from all my California family/friends. All those expressions of love letting me know they thought I was “going to be great!” But I sure didn't feel that way. The week before, I had lackluster rehearsals with my director, Paul Stern, in LA. At one point he sternly told me "You're an actor...so START ACTING!"
Damn.
Because I've performed this show so many times and have worked on it since 2009, I sometimes get stuck in auto-pilot--but after my time with my director in Los Angeles, I forbade myself to do my show the same way each time in rehearsals.
Opening night came faster than a male virgin on prom night. Before I knew it, I was backstage as the audience filled the seats in the theater. I took a deep breath in my best attempt to let go of all the fear-based thoughts that were swirling in my head. Thoughts like: "New York audiences are tough!" or "The FOUR reviewers sitting in the audience are going to rip me apart." Or, the worst fear: "What if my mind goes blank on stage?" As I exhaled, I pushed those fears into a tiny little box in my head and then blew it up. Instead, I focused on all of my friends in the audience and all the people that want me to succeed at home. I meditated and repeated to myself the last thing my director said before I left Los Angeles: "Just have fun up there!"
As the theater lights went dark, I took my place on stage. When the lights came back on, like a hurricane I went full force into my first monologue. Within the first five seconds of my show I slipped into performance mode and my nerves vanished. The immediate reactions and laughter from this very energetic audience on opening night brought me back to the core of why I do this. And being 100% vulnerable on stage helped me forget all the worst case scenarios.
“Forgetting the Details” is a five-year labor of love encompassing a critical time in my life. To perform it before thousands of people nationwide and bring it to the NY Fringe Fest has been a beautiful blessing. I am privileged to have the opportunity to share, inspire and entertain NY audiences thus far. I look forward to the three remaining shows during the New York Fringe Festival.
ALSO, The reviews from opening night are already in!!! Here are some of the highlights from reviewers:
"For me, the show vocalizes the stories so many Asian Americans have been waiting to share. In particular, for Filipino Americans, Nicole demonstrates that there’s more to a race than stereotypes. Not all Filipino Americans are nurses, or marry within their race. And without a doubt, Nicole makes it clear Filipino Americans are more than capable of being extremely talented actors and actresses."
- Rufio Rouge, AmericanFOBS.com
"Nicole Maxali, the writer and performer of Forgetting the Details, bounds on stage with such contagious enthusiasm and vivacity that I felt compelled to hang on to her every word. Humor seems to be a large part of Maxali’s DNA...the elements of the Filipino heritage that color their lives, gives the show its own distinctive flavor. It makes for an exceptionally endearing solo show entry for the New York International Fringe Festival. She had me genuinely caring about some people I hadn’t even known existed some 75 minutes earlier. Now, that’s theater!"
- Ron Cohen, NY Theater Now
"The show is seamless, polished, well-paced over its 75-minutes and coherent. Maxali renders it with skill and handsome discipline in storytelling and impersonations--voices, body language, gestures, facial expressions and overall energy and physicality every bit as convincing as the subtle, underlying compassion she reveals....Maxali is an unforgettable performer, one I'd be eager to see meet any number of challenges in theater. I'm a believer."
- Eva Yaa Asantewaa, The Village Voice
Oh and I'm only $2,000 away from my goal! And I have one week to hit $5,000. Your support helps me to recover the costs to hire the very best team a solo performer is blessed to have including a strong director, a professional graphic artist, a publicist with Fringe expertise and expert tech. Please donate here: http://www.nicolemaxali.com/index.php/forgetting-the-details/ftd-in-nyc
