Putting it Together

Last night will forever be one that I neither forget in its magnitude nor its surreality.

Opening night went well, give or take two moments when my tongue became unhitched from my mouth, forming some Seussian sentences. The excitement and energy in the air was completley palpable and thick.

The opening night party was nothing less than incredible. Being ushered in and having photographers ocularlly blugeoning me as I stood there like a doofus was anxiety inducing - as is evidenced in some of the pictures where I am on my own looking like I either won the lottery or won a free deportation to Gitmo. Note to self: learn to stand composed, focus, and smile warmly.

I had an amazing time talking to friends, audience members, castmates, and celebrities who I never thought in a million years I would ever have the chance to say "hello" to let alone have a protracted conversation with. I found myself thinking over and over again: What is going on?? Things like this do not happen to people like me.

I feel so completley honored, blessed, challenged, and terrified by the whole thing and can't wait to see what each new day brings. My only hope is that it continues pushing forward.

Thankfully, all the reviews have been positive or glowing with only one or two criticisms (non-venomous). If you have the time and care, I will post a set of links below.

I am also going to update some pages with all new pictures and whatnot.

Until them, I am just going to continue slapping myself.

Reviews and such:

* Opening Night Pics -Note the missing "e" from my last name and the completely dazed look.
* Playbill: Opening Night Announcement
* New York Times - Charles Isherwood // "Seduced and Abandoned by Promises of Freedom"
* New York Post - Frank Scheck // "Iraqis Believed but we 'Betrayed'"
* Variety - Sam Thielman // "Betrayed"
* Daily News - Joe Dziemianowicz // "'Betrayed' Features 3 Casualties of Hope in Iraq
* Herald Tribune - The Associated Press // "'Betrayed' looks at Iraqis who work for the Americans in Baghdad"
* Newsday - Linda Winer // "'Betrayed' at Culture Project"
* Theatermania - Dan Bacalzo // "Betrayed"
* Backstage - David A. Rosenberg // "Betrayed"
* Bloomberg.com - John Simon // "Packer's Splendid First Play Honors Abandoned Iraqis"
* NYTheatre.com - Loren Noveck // "Betrayed"
* New York Public Radio - Amy Eddings // "'Betrayed' a New Play at the Culture * * Project Looks at the U.S. in Iraq"
* The New York Observer - Doree Shafrir // "Green Zone in SoHo? New Yorker’s Mr. Packer Brings Baghdad to Mercer Street"