Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you an incredible year!

We're just as excited as everyone about 2011 and all of the opportunities that are in store for us! We will keep you informed - in the meantime, reach for your dreams. We did and you're a major part of it!

Happy New Year!!!


The Team

Happy Holidays!!

What's Next?!!!

Although the journey to the stage has ended -- for now, we are still working and fine tuning for the next run. We must say Thank You to all of our sponsors with their generosity, we were able to give a gift bag each night to everyone who attended the journey.

We have received your emails, your tweets, your inquiries and we are thrilled to no end. We understand that the journey has touched many. Surprisingly, we have followers who have not officially signed up with a profile but they have followed us and mentioned it to us at the theater, while some sent messages and expressed their interest in knowing what's next.

What's great is that we have created a page on FaceBook. Come on over and join us there while we keep you updated on the happenings and we can have a different forum to interact ;-)


We've had quite an experience and we're working on it


The journey will continue............

Dawn

Applause, Applause & More Applause

We want to say Thank You to all who came out to see the journey!! When we first started the journey, we gushed about our cast and how amazing, incredible, outstanding, etc. they were and we stand firm in our declaration that they are the absolute greatest! We have had a strong base of committed actors who were so dedicated to the journey that they stepped in and stepped up to fill in wherever we needed them.



Here it was, Friday October 22, 2010. The Cast and The Team began arriving by 5:30PM. This was a very special night for us, it is the night that we close our three night run. With mixed feelings of excitement and knowing that this was our last show, we went into full blown action focusing on preparing for the journey on stage.


Each night, we anxiously anticipate that there will be an audience to come and see the journeys on stage. We only hoped that if no one else showed up, at least our family and friends would fill in some seats. The first night we feared that the audience would be a bit sparse because of the horrible weather we were having that day. It was only two days before the show that the weather was unseasonably warm, sunny and bright. However, on our night to begin our journey on the stage, there it was - a nor-easter.

Meanwhile behind the scenes, The Cast were preparing and warming up. Some stretched, sang songs, laid on the floor, danced, somersaults, vocalices you name it, it was happening.


Just before the journey begins The Cast and The Team has a brief meeting




The dressing room with the Make up Artist
(Zelda Pushkin and Ashlee K)

Well, it was about 7:20PM and there they were people waiting in the lobby for us!! The show began at 8:10PM as we waited for everyone to be seated. We were treated to an audience that were not only strangers to us but they were filling up the seats and had great enthusiasm applauding at the end of each scene - some even responded verbally, cheering and sharing their brief connections to the character. One person responded "Me too!" when they heard the cast member declare that she was a breast cancer survivor.

(Amanda Casarella)

The second night was also exciting, the audience were in and seated so promptly that you would think they all came in on a scheduled bus/train tour. The opening scene began at 8:05PM. In fact, it was so quiet that I was curious to know if we were able to fill out a row. During intermission, I walked out to check and there they were people and there were lots of them. I mingled and asked if they were enjoying the show and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. By the end of the night, they were applauding and sharing their own personal journey with cancer whether they were a survivor or have had someone who was diagnosed with cancer.

(Dawn, Albert, Tara Notvest and Ashley)

Final show, October 22, 2010 - 8:05PM and we begin with a few people in the audience. Yikes!!!! However, after checking out in the lobby, there they were -- people! They were waiting to enter the theater as they could not enter during the scene. It was such a good feeling :-) Okay, they were late but there they were waiting to get in to see our journeys. Our show ended with more rave reviews. The responses were mixed with connections to cancer, wanting to make sure that they check up on their health, happy to see the different journeys explored, and so much more.

(Bianca Golden)

(The Reception)

The best news of all is that although we had our 3 night run, The Day That Changed My Life is not over. The journey has just begun, stay tuned..........



Dawn

It's On & Happening!!

With all the fan fare about the journey coming to the stage, you just might be wondering how did it go? And if I missed it I would want to know for myself.

So here's the scoop, it came off magnificently! The Day That Changed My Life took its place on the stage at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center and held the firm position with confidence - delivering an outstanding performance. And.... we're not tooting our own horn, the journey received rave reviews by the audience. Some briefly shared their own cancer journey. There was laughter, tears and cheers!

Of course we want to say Thank You to our wonderful audiences for coming out and cheering on The Cast. They are simply the best!

Here's a look behind the scenes and a sneak peek of the journey on stage:







Make Up with Ashlee K




The journey (just a quick peek)





Some audience members during intermission



Zelda Pushkin (Sherrie)


Don't worry, there's still another performance coming up on Friday October 22. You can purchase your tickets. Come join us and take your seat :-)

Dawn

This Is It!

Start spreading the news ♪♪ It's 1 week from today♪♪ You'd want to be a part of it ♪♪ In New York ♪♪ New York






As you could only imagine, everyone is excited! The journey to the stage is taking it's position in less than a week. We have worked to get the word out through every social network site, personal emails, evites, radio and other media outlets, word of mouth to random people on the street :-) and we will continue to use the bull horn until October 23rd, 2010.

Some members of The Team and The Cast shared our journey to the stage with the listening audience of WLNK 101.5 FM.



Here we are with Radio Personality Hostess Lady D of Inside the Zone



We had a blast! In addition to promoting the play, we spoke about the uncertain journey of cancer, the importance of early detection, free screening and knowing your family's health history. Clearly, our journey to the stage means so much more than just another Off Broadway Play.





The Cast has taken this journey very seriously.





The Day That Changed My Life is coming to the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center for a three night run on October 15, 16 and 22nd, 2010 at 8:00 pm sharp. This is a must see, not to be missed - event.

We want Thank You for your support and wonderful words of encouragement and be sure to get your tickets. Keep spreading the news


Dawn

It's On -- The Count Down

October is here and there is no doubt that we are filled with anxious energy fully aware and anticipating that there will be a few challenges ahead. However, as always, we will make it happen!



We have a few announcements to make (drum roll please......................)

The journey to the stage begins in 14 days from the post date - did you get your tickets?

There are new updates of The Cast and you can read all about them there.

We also have an events page on FaceBook where you can invite your family and friends.



Rehearsal was great. We had our moments of serious consideration, laughter and tears. Some members of The Cast and The Team were also interviewed for an upcoming magazine article. We know that this journey will continue. This is just the beginning.



We cannot complete this post without saying Thank You! to everyone who is supporting our ambitious efforts to take a different path in keeping the awareness going. We know that there are people traveling from different states to see our play; we have heard from the families who have been affected by cancer; we know that there are survivors who are coming; we know of the support groups who are planning to attend and we are humbled.



We have you in mind and that's why we are working every minute of our days thinking of ways to improve and make this journey a journey to remember. Please, please, please do not wait another minute to get your tickets you do not want to miss this!



Dawn

Bye, Bye September, October's Almost Here

Let's begin with a big Welcome to our new readers! We cannot begin to tell you how it feels to hear that you are reading and following our journey to the stage. We are thrilled.

It's the end of September and October is upon us and we are filled with excitement. We are spreading the word and telling everyone we meet that the journey is on it's way to the stage. With all the Hear Ye's! we are working on the behind the scenes issues. The best thing is that The Team is focused.

Needless to say, The Cast is honing in on their characters and will give you the very best of each journey.



And in midst of it all, we have so many talented cast members one most recently - Lindsay Bernstein has a play of her own No Boys Allowed which The Team went out to see. We were so proud of her production and know that you may one day hear of her future productions. We are a cheer leading supportive force.



Speaking of incredible performances, we had quite an awesome experience at Greater Faith Temple The Movement's Mass Choir Celebration. It was a sold out event with about 1,000 attendees and it was noted that over hundred people were turned away. That's too bad as it was filled with greatness - Karen Clark Sheard and other well known Gospel Artists. Pastor Michel White Haynes directed and sang with a dynamic voice that brought the audience to their feet. It's the place to go for a good hand clapping feet stomping, grand ole' time. We danced the whole night.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Bernard of Double K Productions (c) 2010


So with all the extremely talented cast members, you know that you are in for a treat. It's about the journey, it's about the awareness, it's about being a part of something that has affected us all and we want to do something about it.


Our Stage Manager means business and she is keeping an eye on the task ahead.


Our director is on duty working it out - just for you.


While we are thrilled to have you follow and share our blog, we don't want you to miss out on sharing the journey with us. Get your tickets now! Go on and meet The Cast.

At the end of the rehearsal, we all sang Happy Birthday to Zelda our youngest member of The Cast.

Bye, Bye September, October 15, 16 and 22nd is almost here!

Dawn