Quintissential New York Day.

Neck deep in rehearsals for RAGTIME at a new theatre in White Plains, today became one of those days that you can only imagine having in New York City. With a fair amount of down time during rehearsals, much of our cast lounged in the hallway to avoid disrupting the ongoing work. I watched as Harvey Keitel walked back and forth to his rehearsals for "Jerry Springer the Opera". Each time he wandered past, an assistant followed carrying a wooden dowel used as a prop microphone. Oddly surreal.
I left rehearsal early to go to a call back for a film that Nora Ephron is directing which will star Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Amy Adams. On my way to the upper East Side, I found myself walking through a sea of news trucks observing Heath Ledger's memorial service. I'm not sure why, but his death has bothered me more than I would expect. It was disheartening to see bystanders armed with camcorders lurking outside the funeral home. Mourning as spectator sport. I though about an interesting quote I read from Leonard Maltin about the nature of mortality and the immortality that film bestows upon people. I also recalled an article I'd read about Heath Ledger's potential to become an icon along the lines of James Dean and the marketing dollars that could follow. Death as big business.
On I walked and soon found myself in Nora Ephron's apartment (or more likely apartment-sized office) where I auditioned and was told that I was "perfect". If this all sounds exciting, bear in mind that it was a very small role and many others have been seen for it. Still, it was nice to be in the same room with someone with the career of Ms. Ephron and to feel encouraged, no matter the outcome. Today's brush with immortality, both hers and the chance of a small piece for myself. A bit of what Mr. Maltin spoke to in his interview.
I left and walked downtown through the departing news vans, all moving on to their next assignment. Good and bad. Hope and finality. And a day that I could only imagine having in NYC.