"The play's the thing."

I remember 11th grade English Literature with Mr. Tassone. We studied Hamlet among other great literary works and plays. He was one of my all time favorite teachers who cultivated my appreciation for live theater.

My friend Christa Avampato took a sabbatical of sorts last year in California. She wrote the play, "Sing After Storms" which I have blogged about in previous posts.

Christa announced in her blog yesterday that the rough cut of "Sing After Storms" was available on You Tube.



Last evening after dinner, my husband and I sat down to watch it.

Even though I had read the script and knew the back story of the play, I was spellbound by the performances.

We weren't even aware that the sun had set and our living room was almost dark except for the light from our computer. We paused it to turn on the lights and then finished watching the performance.

I can only imagine how incredible the show is live in the theater.

I am hoping that Christa will find a way to bring her production to Boston and/or have more performances in New York on a weekend when I don't have plans.

But for now, you can enjoy Christa's creation brought to life by a fabulous cast and crew on You Tube.

Today in Christa's blog she wrote,

I tried for a long time to keep my steady paycheck while also progressing on my writing and other creative projects. With a plan B always at the ready, I could only get so far. To really progress, I needed to let go of the comfy ledge I was teetering on for a long time. The path to progress was straight through the eye of discomfort, and though it wasn’t easy I’m glad I didn’t flinch."

Me too, Christa! Me too. Thank you for having the courage to let go and allow your gifts to flow. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all.

#transformationtuesday From a Blank Page to Opening Night: Sing After Storms - A New Play

Just about a month ago I featured my friend and playwright Christa Avampato in my blog, #transformationtuesday Christa in New York Sings After Storms.

I can't believe that tomorrow is opening night for the new play Sing After Storms.

Dr. Jack Young and his team are nominated for the Nobel Prize for the unconventional methods they use to treat patients and remove the stigma around mental illness. As the announcement of the award is made, legal allegations threaten to undermine Jack’s success in every facet of his life. Desperate to hold together his career, marriage, and family, Jack attempts to halt the unraveling of the reputation he has worked so hard to build by taking on one last patient.

I remember reading Christa's blog last summer as she talked about taking time and space in her temporary new home on the West Coast to dedicate to a writing project.

She shared in her blog that her play had been accepted and would be presented as part of the 2014 Thespis Theater Festival.

In May, I posted photos of the first table read of the play.

Last week, Christa shared photos from the tech rehearsal in the theater:

Pearl:



At the police station:



She's got legs - at the party:



Tell me Jack:



Christa - Director Passion:



I've decided to take another patient:



To healing:



How ya gonna fix this one Jack?:



Carol's missing:



Carol's got a gun:



Christa sent me the script to read and Sing After Storms will keep you on the edge of your seat. Christa weaves together themes that are sure to resonate in some way to each theater goer. The characters and the story line are sure to grip your heart and soul. It was thrilling for me to see the photos from the tech rehearsal as I watched the characters and the action of the play come to life before my very eyes.

Are you intrigued?

Are you in awe of how one woman's creative force has transformed a blank page into a theatrical production? I am!

Today is the last day to purchase your tickets at the discounted price of $10 on EventBrite. You can purchase tickets at the door for $20.

Performances are Wednesday 6/18 at 8:45 pm
Saturday 6/21 at 9:00 pm
Sunday 6/22 at 9:30 pm

If you are anywhere in the greater New York City area, be sure to catch one of the performances of Christa Avampato's Sing After Storms - A New Play.

I look forward to when the production comes to Boston!

Transformation Tuesday: Christa in New York Sings After Storms

In 2012, Christa in New York, Curating a Creative Life Through Ancient Wisdom and Modern Tech chose to forge her own path leaving behind the "security" of working for an employer. She founded her own company Chasing Down the Muse, "where I create content and products that build a better world and inspire people."

On her About Me page she writes:

The short of it:
Maker, writer, yoga and meditation teacher. Founder of the company Chasing Down the Muse and creator of brands Compass Yoga and One Fine Yogi. Journalist. Voice over artist. Playwright. Equally inspired by ancient wisdom and modern tech. Opener of doors.

The long of it:
My 15-year career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, and financial services. In every experience, I have used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events that make this world a better place.

In 2012 I founded Chasing Down the Muse, where I create content and products that build a better world and inspire people. My first play, Sing After Storms, will be produced in June 2014 in New York City as part of the Thespis Theater Festival.

A recovering multi-tasker, I am a proud alum of UPenn (BA) and the Darden School at UVA (MBA). When not in front of my Mac, I’m on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phin, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching in New York City, a wonderful and turbulent city that I proudly call home.

Last summer, Christa took the summer to explore the possibility of living in LA. While she discovered that the West Coast was not for her and that her heart belongs in the Big Apple, she wrote, "Sing After Storms". Christa gave the play to two trusted friends who Christa knew from her career managing Broadway shows and National Tours. They suggested one more rewrite after the original and encouraged her to submit it to Festivals for production. It is almost unheard of to have a turnaround time of one week to have a play accepted for production but that's exactly what happened!

Christa told me, The premise of the title is based on the famous Rose Kennedy quote "Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?" Terrible things befall the family featured in the play (mostly things they bring on themselves), and despite those circumstances there is a spark of redemption at the end, a glimpse into the hope that perhaps they can start over and find some peace and happiness.



It is a gripping exploration of mental health treatment and management by playwright, producer, and director Christa Avampato. From the press release:

SING AFTER STORMS is a modern story of mental illness, family dynamics, and the risks a man will take to keep his life together. Written and directed by Christa Avampato, SING AFTER STORMS is a gripping drama surrounding Dr. Jack Young and his team, recently nominated for the Nobel Prize for the unconventional methods they use to treat patients and remove the stigma around mental illness. As the announcement of the award is made, legal allegations threaten to undermine Jack’s success in every facet of his life. Desperate to hold together his career, marriage, and family, Jack attempts to halt the unraveling of the reputation he has worked so hard to build by taking on one last patient. SING AFTER STORMS follows Dr. Jack Young as his wife, daughter, and colleagues alternately struggle to illuminate and to preserve Jack’s secrets.

Christa has faced many challenges in her own life. Several years ago, she almost lost her life and did lose all of her possessions in an apartment fire. As she wrote in her blog last week,

Whenever I’m having an awful day—and I have had quite a healthy share of them in my life—the only thing that gets me through is this thought: I survived them all. Sometimes just barely (literally). I’ve lost a lot. They left a lot of pain and deep scars in their wake. Some you can see and some you can’t. Some took be down, way down, though none of them kept me down for long.

Out of this place of knowing, of resilience and her own journey of transformation, Christa wrote "Sing After Storms."

A behind the scenes look as cast and crew gather together breathing life into Christa's words at the table read:

Christa welcoming the cast and crew:



Amelia Huckel-Bauer steps into the character of Susan



Mia Fraboni looks on as Pearl



Just look at the fun she's having!



Kate Flynn delves deep into the role of Catherine



Oheri Otobo delves deeper into the case of Jack Young



Brittany McDonald channels the character of Carol



Christa's riveting creation comes to life on the stage of the Cabrini Repertory Theater, 701 Fort Washington Avenue, Manhattan. Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 8:45pm, Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 9:00pm and Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 9:30pm as part of the 2014 Thespis Theater Festival. You can purchase tickets in advance at the discounted fans and friends price of $10/ticket at EventBrite.

For more about the cast, crew and to stay up to date on the latest happenings, visit Sing After Storms website. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Be sure to follow Christa's blog. It's better than a cup of coffee to get your day started on the right foot and will keep you up to date on the many wonder filled adventures of Christa in New York.

Christa and her faithful companion Phin