Here we go!

Day 1 -- August 18, 09

And we're off! Wonder Week, and our Fall Fellowships, officially began yesterday. However, it feels like it's been building up for awhile, starting with the Drama League Awards Luncheon in May and tickets to several shows last week, including Mary Stuart on Broadway followed by a lovely dinner at Sardi's with Board Member Herb Blodgett. Already I feel honored to be a part of this family – exactly what I was looking for in New York.

Yesterday afternoon the four of us (Ed, Mike, Laura, and myself) convened at the Drama League office to meet the staff and talk a bit about the next few months. The Drama League staff was lovely and welcoming, deeply supportive of this project and excited for our fellowships. We practiced our "spiels" and told favorite vacation stories. (I learned that Laura has an island full of relations in Italy, Mike was deep-sea night diving at age 12, and Ed can recite a very special interpretation of "Oh Captain, My Captain." Compared to that, my obsession with visiting every panoramic painting in the world seemed completely dull.)

We then discussed how Wonder Week worked ("career speed dating" as Laura put it), and what we should expect. It's truly amazing the caliber of people on the agenda for the week, plus a bunch of shows I am excited to see. We also chatted about next week's directing retreat, our assistantships (everyone has really great assignments this year -- I will be working on The Addams Family musical in Chicago and on Broadway), and DirectorFest in December, during which each of us will direct a 30-minute piece on an Off-Broadway contract.

From the DL office we trekked uptown to a welcome dinner at Bobby Flay's restaurant hosted by board member Harry Neyens and his partner Jim Kilpatric, as well as special guest and DL alumnus Alex Timbers. The food and conversation were both amazing, topped off with a surprise gift -- a signed Bobby Flay cookbook! (Very useful the next time I have a dozen deep-sea scallops and some fresh-roasted ancho chile powder). The book will fit nicely in my DL tote bag (as soon as I get one...)

(posted by David)