This summer I decided to live in New York City for a month to see what happened. My goal was to find a reason to stay in New York for good. You see, we are in the Year of the Tiger, my year. The last Year of the Tiger was 2010, when I left New York to embark on a new career in yoga. The Year of the Tiger before that was 1998, when I moved to NYC after college to become a professional actor. I figured that this Year of the Tiger would bring me back to NYC. I had good friends to stay with, and I immediately fell back into step with the way I had lived as a New Yorker (once my calves stopped hurting from all of the walking).
I saw 6 Broadway shows and 6 off-Broadway shows. I celebrated the launch of my friends' new theatre in Times Square, I participated in a play reading, I auditioned and received an offer for the national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I had a final callback for the musical parody of Saw (the horror movie). I walked the length of Broadway (not all at once) and sampled food of every culture along the way. I met up with one of my oldest friends who is now a producer who convinced me to write a one-woman show.
It was a trip.
And then my producer friend told me about a job opportunity at SeaWorld in San Antonio. It sounded perfect for me so I applied. I interviewed the following week and got hired that same day...remotely from NYC.
So even though I won't be staying in NYC, my life has come full circle in a way. I started my career as a performer at Busch Gardens Williamsburg way back during my college days. After enjoying an eclectic career as a professional actress in NYC, a corporate recruiter in San Francisco, and a yoga therapist in San Antonio, my first day at the park showed me how all of these skills will come together with this new role of Show Creative Supervisor. I am managing over 300 performers, a gaggle of stage managers, and all of the Halloween shows at SeaWorld this season...and then I'll do the same for Christmas. And who can beat a first day filled with sea lions, balugas, and dolphins?
I will still be volunteering at Abode: Contemplative Care for the Dying, a beautiful residence here in San Antonio that partners with hospice centers to provide peaceful passing for people in their final months, weeks, days, or moments of life. Abode is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We provide all of our care at no cost to the guests or family members, but greatly welcome donations. Read more HERE.