|
Origin Stories - Andrea Cartagena
Picture this, Pennsylvania 2011 … I had just moved into a new home in Easton … and had found a small theatre in which to keep my art alive, my muse, my breath of life – The PA Playhouse in Bethlehem, which I auditioned for a fundraising cabaret and soon became a cast member of their staged cabaret. One night after rehearsal I was asked by several cast members to go out to a Thursday night cabaret/open mic in Allentown at the Brew Works … little did I know this would open a whole new world to me – a new community – a new group of friends and yes, a TRUE FAMILY … Star Of The Day. After what was truly a spectacular cabaret filled with laughs, song and emotion – the open mic began. I signed up to sing ‘When You’re Good to Mama’ from CHICAGO. It was THAT night I met Kirsten. She immediately asked for my contact information and swore we’d become fast and furious friends… and indeed we did. I worked my craft every day because of her influence, and I learned so much from her – and if I’m being perfectly transparent – I miss her terribly in my everyday life. Over the next several years … I wore many hats with Star Of The Day. I became the Entertainment Coordinator for all active members of SOTD, fill-in host on the occasional Thursdays, headliner of my own cabaret ‘Cole Hearted B!’ , a Relay for Life walk-athon-er, a cast member of the acclaimed ‘A My Name is Alice’ , was honored to play Rose in ‘GYPSY’ in the inaugural season of the MAIN STAGE productions, became a ‘camp counselor’ teaching drama education, a DIVA of the Lehigh Valley, and directed a stellar cast in the production of ‘Sweeney Todd’. If nothing else, I’ll say Kirsten kept me busy!! The hours we all spend to make our passion live … the sweat – and tears in which we shed to share our stories with each other and our audiences is never in vain. NOW more than ever, we NEED the arts, we NEED to sing, we NEED to smile and we NEED Star Of The Day! I created life-long relationships through my years in PA with SOTD. I miss it. I miss a lot … but I miss SOTD the most! Wishing everyone a SAFE, HAPPY & HEALTHY New Year …!! #onlyintermission ~ Andrea |
|
|
|
|
Star of the Day Origin Stories - Alexis Leon
"In the beginning, there was the word… of Edgar Allen Poe. I met Andrea Cartagena through Allentown Public Theatre, when their 2013 season included a one-man show dedicated to the author’s life and life’s work. Andrea was adapting the script and directing, and ended up also designing music and running the sound board. I came with the company, and at the behest of Josh Neth, then Artistic Director (and Poe himself). Andrea liked what she saw, backstage, on the board, and in person. When Star of the Day found a space that would allow them to slate a full season in spring 2015, she told Kirsten simply that Gypsy, as their first fully realized production, needed a production stage manager. I was honored to be asked. I was also excited to work with a woman-owned and operated company, not to mention most of the production team for that first mainstage show. And I found in Star of the Day the same dedicated, hard-working artists and makers I had first encountered in college, where every theater major had their hands in every aspect of every production, where the idea of doing (just) the minimum 120 hours of practicum a semester was laughable to everyone in the department. I joke that I kept getting hired, so I must be a decent stage manager; when in truth I was humbled that such a good group of people affirmed my abilities and my contributions by their continuous invitation to the circle. I’ve gotten so much through and from this organization: a growing network of theater contacts and connections, bucket-list acting opportunities, leadership roles beyond the production table, laudatory galas, and lasting friendships, to try and be succinct. I’d like to think that any time Star of the Day casts their net of friendship wide, I have become an integral part of the weave, and that I continue to catalyze the warm welcome I found in that first season." To learn more about Star of the Day visit www.StaroftheDay.org |
Happy New Year!
2021 is a milestone birthday for Star of the Day!
10 magnificent years of entertaining, educating, encouraging, and elevating the communities we serve through music,theatre, and dance.
Every Monday in 2021, we will be featuring the Origin Stories of our members over the past 10 years. be sure to follow us on Facebook and Subscribe to our YouTUBE channel.
If you'd like to share your origin story, please email info@staroftheday.org for full details.
2021 is a milestone birthday for Star of the Day!
10 magnificent years of entertaining, educating, encouraging, and elevating the communities we serve through music,theatre, and dance.
Every Monday in 2021, we will be featuring the Origin Stories of our members over the past 10 years. be sure to follow us on Facebook and Subscribe to our YouTUBE channel.
If you'd like to share your origin story, please email info@staroftheday.org for full details.