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Nicole Pezzolla: Costume Design | Wuthering Heights @ Mint Theater NYC

2010-06-01T22:30:00.001-04:00

Nicole Pezzolla: Costume Design | Wuthering Heights @ Mint Theater NYC
Originally uploaded by npez4

It's going to be a great show! Hope you can make it!

PASSAJJ Productions, Ltd. presents

WUTHERING HEIGHTS
A Romantic Musical

June 11th- June 27th at THE MINT THEATER
311 W 43rd Street, NY, NY - 3rd Floor - corner of 8th Ave
(Parking across the street)

Matinees: Sat & Sun at 3PM Evenings: Wed, Thurs, Fri, & Sat at 8PM
$18 General Admission/ $10 students w/ ID
TICKET CENTRAL: (212) 279-4200 or WWW.TICKETCENTRAL.COM

Adaptation, Music & Lyrics by PAUL DICK
Based on the novel "Wuthering Heights" by EMILY BRONTE
Directed by MATTHEW GUTSCHICK
Music Directed by MICHAEL SHEETS
Set Design by TIM McMATH
Costume Design by NICOLE PEZZOLLA
Lighting Design by SCOTT NEEDHAM
Stage Manager MICHAEL PALMER*

With ERIN WEGNER BROOKS*
DEENA EDDY*
JOHNATHAN GRUNERT
BILL NEWHALL*
WESTON WELLS OLSON*
SCOTT RAMSEY*
ERIC VAN TIELSEN*
DAWN TIMM*
MOLLIE VOGT-WELCH
JOHN WEIGAND

*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

nicole pezzolla
costume design
costume construction
web.mac.com/npez4

Ten Years Gone

2010-04-20T02:29:00.005-04:00

Then as it was, then again it will be
And though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea
Blind stars of fortune, each have several rays
On the wings of maybe, down in birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to grow
But as the eagle leaves the nest, it's got so far to go
Changes fill my time, baby, that's alright with me
In the midst I think of you, and how it used to be...

...I'm never gonna leave you. I never gonna leave
Holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone

This will post after midnight but today was 10 years since my grandmother Carmel "Noni Mel" left this world. To anyone who knew her, she inevitably touched their life in one way or another- with her big heart, her warm smile, her unforgettable laugh, and her unwavering need to feed everyone... "Are you hungry?" she'd always ask as soon as you walked in the door, and even if your reply was "No thank you, I actually just ate." she would insist with "OK, I'll make you a little something."

My family has lived in the same house since my mom was about 6, and when my parents got married, they moved upstairs and my Noni Mel and Poppy Bob lived downstairs. So, after my mom had me and had to go back to work, I always had my grandparents right downstairs. Both my grandparents were custom tailors and worked out of the house. Before I was in school and during my time off from school as a child, I spent my days with them in their little shop. I would sit next to my grandma on her sewing machine and she'd give me little scraps of fabric to stitch together. When I got just a little older, she got me a tiny little plastic sewing machine with a pink pedal. If my memory serves me, I think it had Strawberry Shortcake on it.

During the nice weather months she would sit out on the porch with me while I played in the yard. Some of my fondest memories of her are from being out in the yard with her, waiting for my parents to get home from work, and every spring when our cherry blossom tree bloomed, I would pick the little pink flowers for her and put them in her hair.

She had infinite patience with me. When I was first learning how to read, I would literally follow her around with Dr. Seuss's One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and read it to her over, and over, and over again. She would let me beat her in any game you could think of from Shoots and Ladders and Candy Land to Go Fish and Rummy. She would help me with my homework and study with me for my spelling tests and help me make flash cards for my times tables. As I got older, I would always go to her whether I had a fight with a friend, gossip about a boy, or got in trouble with my parents. She had breakfast on the table for me every morning and dinner for all of us as soon as my parents got home every night, just as Roseanne was starting usually on the small TV on the counter.

In all my years on this earth, I will never forget the way her kitchen looked, smelled, felt... where we all sat at the round table, or the nicks and scratches that poor table had from all the years cooking and baking and preparing and kids and grandchildren; The wallpaper that had yellowed between the years of smoking and the years of cooking. There are just so many memories that revolve around that kitchen- from everyday habits to holiday traditions. The biggest holiday tradition in our house was always, and still is, Christmas Eve. Preparation would start weeks ahead of time with the array of cookies and naturally the struffoli. It's been hard to carry on this tradition without her but we do it in part for her.

I was only 14 when she passed and looking back I can't believe it was 10 years ago. Most of the time it feels like it was just yesterday, yet I miss her so much, it almost seems like another life. It all happened so suddenly, I think I've always felt like I never really got to say goodbye. To this day there are times when I walk in the house and have the urge to walk straight into her apartment, assuming she'd be sitting there at the kitchen table with something cooking on the stove. And as I sit here writing this, with tears streaming down my face, I can't help but wish I could see her face once more, give her a hug and tell her how much I appreciate everything she did for me.

After she passed, my mom and I both saw a medium who told us separately that whenever we see a red cardinal, it's her. In commemoration for this 10 year anniversary, my plan is to get a tribute tattoo for her of some cherry tree branches down my left side with a red cardinal flying across up near my heart. I want there to be some atmosphere in the background, like the wind in blowing through the branches and 6 flowers that have blown off the branches, one for each family member that has passed on.

Whatever happened to
the lives that we once knew?
Can we really live without each other?
Where did we lose the touch
that seemed to mean so much?
It always made me feel so...
Free as a bird,
like the next best thing to be.
Free as a bird.

My ideas on religion have never agreed with the mainstream and although it's hard to explain my viewpoints on those things because it's a complicated subject, I do feel that if you're a good person that should be enough for whatever it is that awaits you on the other side so I know that Noni Mel definitely is in the best place possible; and although I don't know if I believe in a heaven per say, I do believe that if nothing else, a person's soul is kept alive in the hearts of the people that love them. So, I will continue to keep my grandmother alive in my heart because I think of her, love her, miss her and keep her in my heart every single day.

Noni Mel

12/21/1927-04/19/2000

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

head like a hole

2010-02-05T04:30:00.002-05:00

...that's about as useful as mine is. actually, a hole is more useful.

it's headaches like this one that make me hate my life. starting at the beginning of the year, i decided to use my new calendar to mark a big X on every day i have a headache to see if there's some sort of pattern. i've tried to keep track in the past by writing it down somewhere but i get them so often it's really hard to keep up. i figured this way would be easier.

it's only the first week of february and i've already had about 10. this, mind you, while i'm on daily preventative medication for them. le sigh. it doesn't make any sense to me yet, but i guess it hasn't been long enough. i'm curious/kinda scared to see just how many headaches i will actually have endured after a whole year.

to be continued...

viva la vida

2010-01-31T07:21:00.001-05:00

the other night, my friends and i went bowling because we hadn't done that in a really long time and we decided that we should start doing something new each weekend, like a new activity, instead of the typical things like going to the movies and stuff. we said every weekend so maybe it'll happen once a month if we're lucky. at any rate, in theory, it should keep us busy for a while. so while we were hanging out, in between turns, we started to think of things we could do.

even though i called and specifically asked when midnight bowling was and they guy told me every friday night- apparently it's not on friday, it's on saturday... so midnight bowling is still on our list. glow-in-the-dark pins, music, beer, nachos, sure, why not.

remember the roller rink? remember how it was the field trip you most looked forward to? and everyone at least had one birthday party there. it was a sad, sad day when they closed it down. ROLLER JAM USA is a rink in staten island that has an adult night every saturday night with a DJ and a bar but what i think would be super fun is an actual 70's roller disco. there's gotta be a place that at least does a 70's night once in a while. it would be so hysterical to get dressed up and stuff. if anyone knows of one please let me know. ice skating was also added to the list, but i seriously bust my ass every time i go ice skating so maybe it'll get overlooked.

go karts. life-sized mario-kart. need i say more? i think not. where do we sign up? hopefully we will all be better sports than dane cook.

museums. starting with the Guggenheim because it's one that none of us have been to. then i'm seeing to it that i get them to MoMA before april so they can see the Tim Burton exhibit. it was awesome. definitely worth seeing again. hitting all the other ones that we can think of in between. culture is a good thing.

karaoke bar- but the kind where you have to sing in front of everyone. i've only ever been to a karaoke place where you get your own room. this seems like a lot more fun and entertaining. there's supposed to be a good place down in the West Village on MacDougal.

although this is more of a warmer-weather activity, the Botanical Gardens are supposed to be beautiful and i've never been. i'd also like to go to the zoo. i haven't been since i was a little kid. i don't even remember. miniature golf is also another warmer-weather activity. Carly said she wanted to try real golf and i told her she was on crack. you have to get up early and it takes like 5 hours to play golf. i'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

check out local bands at local venues like Mexicali Blues and Maxwells. one of my favorite local bands- Scarecrow Collection- is starting to play shows again after being on hiatus for a while. and i love music. i would go to a concert every weekend if i could. i'm currently counting down to Alice in Chains at Terminal 5. i can't wait.

tonight, we're getting together to watch the Grammy's. i guess i should try to get some sleep. i think i might finally be tired enough to actually fall asleep. it is, after all, almost 7:30 in the morning. well i'm looking forward to the red carpet, the 3D Michael Jackson tribute (got our 3D glasses from Target) and getting some sleep. ciao.

************UPDATE************

we almost forgot about Medieval Times. i haven't been there since i was a kid and to my surprise some of my friends have never been. on that same note, i've never been to the Renaissance Faire and i've always really wanted to go. this year i'm going for sure.

we shall overcome

2010-01-29T03:24:00.001-05:00

by now, we are all aware of the tragedy that occurred in Haiti and all the lives that have already been lost. the damage and destruction is nearly incomprehensible, especially in a nation that was already one of the poorest in the world. but many, many more lives are at risk if food, water, and medical supplies and doctors don't get to these people. and the need is overwhelming.

i have to say i'm proud of the amazing response this tragedy has gotten so far, so let's keep it going. even if you don't have much to give, every little bit helps. if you haven't already, you can text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the red cross which will be charged directly to your phone bill or call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RED CROSS. you can also download the Hope For Haiti CD from iTunes for $7.00 which includes all 20 musical collaborations from Hope For Haiti Now and all proceeds go to the red cross.

i'm sure you've thought about it... take a moment now and do what you can.

going to the chapel...

2010-01-11T04:04:00.004-05:00

...actually to the Dominican Republic. well, went already. my best friend Carly got married there so off we went to DR for a week and what an interesting week it was. the first few days were hectic- trying to get everything ready in time- trying to plan a wedding in another country leaves a lot of decisions to be made at the last minute. but we got it all done, managed to sidestep a wardrobe malfunction and a few other hiccups along the way, but most importantly had a really good time! the hotel we stayed at was crazy, it was like it's own town (there were people on golf carts to take you are bc it was so big). the best part was it was all-inclusive, even alcohol *thumbs-up* i never want to travel any other way ever again lol. i'm glad i got to spend the time with Gabby before she left for italy and even though we didn't get to stay the extra week with everyone at least we got to spend a little down time with Carly post-wedding when she finally got to relax and enjoy a bit. Next year we're hopping to all go back for their anniversary because the hotel gave them a deal that if they come back with a group we get 50% off. sounds like a plan to me!

the beach

ready for the walk down the isle. that's Carly's cousin Lena in the front. i made her dress to match ours since they didn't come in her size.

mr. & mrs.

all the fav's

me, Teresa & Gabby

first dance <3

cutting the cake

"all i wanna do is "bang bang bang bang" and a "cha-ching" and take your money"

everybody!

the Italians trying to be like me

the pool had a swim-up bar *thumbs up*

for more pictures from the trip check out my set on: flickr

this is it

2009-10-30T01:52:00.004-04:00

i went to see the movie last night and it was absolutely incredible. after being out of the public eye in a positive way for so long it was sooo comforting to relive what a truely amazing musician, performer, singer, dancer, and man Michael Jackson really was.

as someone who works behinds the scenes on shows, it was amusing to see things like the cue calls and such and how Michael responded and worked with these things. it was truly outstanding. he was so intuitive and understanding. he really had a vision and a message. his genius and talent were unparalleled. what astounded me throughout the entire movie was not only how absolutely happy he seemed when he was performing, but how amazingly entertaining and well he sounded just in tech rehearsal! it was like listening to the CD and he wasn't even trying... he was apologizing because he wasn't really singing out because he was trying to preserve his voice for the real thing! i can't even imagine what that concert would have been like full out- singing, dancing, costumes, the whole bit... my mind's eye won't let me conceive of it. it's overwhelming.

all i can say is it is such a shame that yet another musical legend- the king of pop- was taken before their time. if he could have only seen how much he truly meant to the world. and if the world only knew what they had before it was gone. i guess it's true what they say... only the good die young...

on top of spaghetti

2009-10-29T04:18:00.002-04:00

if you've ever tried rice pasta before you probably have come to at least two conclusions already:

1. if you don't mix it with some sort of sauce, serve it, and eat it right away, it gets quite sticky
2. re-heating just isn't an option

if you haven't tried rice pasta yet- be warned of the above. expect for the recipe i'm about to give you. yes, you heard me right.

rice pasta actually isn't bad, i've found it a suitable substitute (again this coming from an italian, whose great grandma made her own homemade pasta in the house). They do also make corn pasta which i feel although it might have a more solid texture at times, it was a little more blah when it came to taste. or maybe not "blah" but it was that i could taste the corn, in that same bland corn chip way, which was off putting where as the rice blends in better. at least in my opinion. anyone's best bet is of course to try both and see which his or her taste buds prefer.

in this experiment i had with pasta, i used GLUTINO rice spaghetti.

GLUTINO is a great easily found brand of gluten-free products, from pasta to breads to cookies & snacks. GLUTINO ONLINE i also love them because the offer gluten-free/dairy & casin-free frozen sliced breads and things in the frozen section on whole foods.

now onto the recipe... this was modified from a friend's recipe that was just done by "eyeing it" so i apologize but i don't have exact measurements. trust me though, if i could wing it, anyone can. i made it with a pound of pasta so i'm basing my measurements on that much pasta. adjust as needed.

Pasta Primavera

things you will need:
-choice gluten-free pasta
-olive oil
-fresh garlic
-chicken broth
-marsala wine
-choice cut veggies (ex: peas, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini... i only had peas & it was still delish!)
-salt
-pepper

put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.

take cut veggies and saute in a pan and put to the side.

in a medium to large sauce pan, on low to medium heat, pour olive oil to cover bottom of pan and add slices of fresh garlic from 1-2 cloves and let simmer, being careful not to burn garlic.

once garlic starts to simmer, add one package of chicken broth. (i had a little powder package that had to be mixed with 2 cups of water, so i mixed it and added it. if your chix broth comes in a different form that seems like much to much, adjust to amount that seems more suitable) stir. bring to just a boil.

add gluten-free pasta to boiling water in large pot. stir occasionally.

when the oil and chicken broth has just started to bubble in the sauce pan, add marsala wine. (i just poured it out of the bottle into the pan until i smelled the rich aroma of the wine cooking into mixture. probably a cup or a cup and a half.) stir occasionally. lower heat. add a pinch of salt and if you have a pepper shaker that twists to grind the pepper, twist it 3 or 4 times. add in sauteed veggies. stir. remove from heat.

strain the pasta and add to sauce pan. or, put pasta in a serving bowl and pour sauce over, however you prefer to mix it. serve and enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i wish i could serve you guys taste test samples of this. it was sooo good! even my mom had a big bowl of it and she doesn't even need to eat gluten-free. it just smelled so good. and since it's a oil-based sauce it cut the rice pasta's tendency to get sticky and i even dared to refrigerate it and reheat it two days later and it was just as good! i couldn't believe it myself. even real pasta has a hard time with reheating sometimes. we used to make pasta primavera all the time in a cream sauce which i, of course, can't have anymore but i think i just might like this more. and it's a great way to get your veggies.

eating a book

2009-10-17T15:07:00.001-04:00

...so if you didn't already know, i've been on a wheat-free/gluten-free dairy-free diet for about 8 months now. and when i say dairy-free, i mean completely dairy-free not just lactose-free, there is a difference (i didn't know that a first either). the difference is this annoying little milk protein called "casein". so when products say "lactose-free" they are not completely dairy-free, or vegan. i am not vegan because i do eat meat and chicken but when i bake or when i am shopping, i look for vegan products because then i am sure they are dairy-free. luckily, it is now a little easier to find wheat-free/gluten-free & casein-free products because recently they seem to have found links to this type of diet helping children with autism so companies are targeting a demographic. whole foods is my sanctuary.

this wasn't a choice at first but it's grown to be. i really believe our culture weighs too heavily on wheat, esp when i hear more and more everyday that people's bodies turn on them from what seems to be a wheat overdose. I think that's what happened to me. Years of being overloaded with wheat (it's in EVERYTHING, literally, take a look) and then i just couldn't break it down anymore. i'd been having stomach issues for a few years then i got seriously ill for like 10 days in February. i was vomiting and i couldn't even swallow anything except tiny sips of water to stay hydrated. i subtracted wheat from my diet and i was like a new person.

i knew i had always been lactose intolerant but i'm italian so i just kind of ignored it. what is an italian without cheese? in a lot less pain- for this one anyway. I saw a special on TV about doctors that are in the middle of doing studies because there is a new theory that although we need our protein and calcium that doctors have told us to get from cows' milk for so long, they think it isn't natural for us to be getting it from cows because they are a different species and no mammal drinks milk past infancy. hmm, interesting... makes so much sense.

soy milk is a fine substitute. soy- the miracle protein! and the lactose-free cheeses aren't half bad, but if you're like me and have to go vegan, cheese territory is rough. REALLY rough. tofutti brand vegan cheese substitutes are a shining light in the industry. i don't know what they do but i hope they keep doing it. the cream cheese, sour cream and american cheese slices have possibly saved my life.

Pizza was what i longed for the most and having yet to find a shredded cheese or a block to shred (tofutti doesn't make one) because vegan cheese gets really weird when it melts most of the time, i DID finally score a pre-made frozen option by Ian's. actually really good. two thumbs up Ian's. you made my day... or 8 months...

while these are my main vices, since i have such a sensitive stomach i also try to stay away from fried foods, foods high in fat, acids and citrus such as tomato sauce and orange juice, caffeine, chocolate, coffee, tea, carbonation (beverages), egg yokes, & artificial sweeteners. just to name a few. it was kind of exhausting at first but nothing compares to being in pain nearly 24/7. it's a way of life and once you know what to eat and what not to eat it not so bad. i've been thinking about putting together a book/recipe book. i would have bought it.

come together

2009-10-12T04:38:00.002-04:00

after watching this 3-part video of O-bomb standing up for LGBT rights i got to thinking...

Obama addresses gay rights group (human rights campain)

i, personally, don't believe in god. therefore, i don't believe jesus was his son. however- i do believe there was a man, just a man, who walked this earth who realized the importance of love and acceptance and that his pure and rather simple message has been slandered by the narrow-minded power struggle of man throughout the ages, even in his own time leading to his demise. our very own country was founded on the ideals of freedom, rights, and equality for all- which is laughable because all it really meant was the right to be free and equal if you we just like "them". sadly, even though it is 2009, apparently we as a people have not evolved enough to OPEN OUR EYES and realize that something like sexual orientation does not define a person and does not give anyone the right to judge them.

why are people so threatened by gay people wanting to love one another? in a world of war and murder, rape and abuse, there has to be HATE for people LOVING one another? seriously? gays are going to ruin the sanctity of marriage? uhhhh, more than half the people who get married now-a-days get divorced, and infidelity doesn't even hold up in court anymore. i hate to break it to you but straight people are ruining the sanctity of marriage.

The bible may frown on homosexuality, but doesn't the bible also say love thy neighbor? correct me if i'm wrong but the latter seemed to be a MUCH more dominant theme. and if you're gonna play the religion card you can't pick and choose your scriptures. if someone is happy loving someone else and in turn making that someone else happy then what the hell is the problem?