We all made it through High School, so we all know what it's like to be labelled.  See what I did just there?  I just labelled all of you as High School graduates, but it is at least possible that I have a reader who is as of yet not finished with High School.  It's so second nature for human beings to look at someone and categorize them for easy reference.  Why would someone want to meet "Adam" when they can simply shake Adam's hand and instinctively know all there is to know about "Preppy Math Kid".  It is a vicious part of the human psyche and one that I've seen people eagerly try to change in this world, and also perpetuate on a day to day basis.  It goes beyond calling someone "American", there are connotations that go with it.  I would be that for a good majority of Americans if you say "Muslim" they're first instinct would be to think of an Islamic Radicalist.  Why?  Because somewhere along the way our culture decided that those two things were synonymous.  That couldn't be farther from the truth.  Adam's existence as a Preppy Math Kid might only come so far as his clothing, his interests, or even so far as how he carries himself and his books as he walks down the halls.  

For me? It's pretty much an every day occurrence.  In Theatre it's an unfortunate occupational hazard.  A necessity of the trade.  There are so many 23 year old Irish actors in New York, it's absurd, and if you're looking for ONLY 23 year old Irish actors, you better put in your casting notice that this is all you want.  This lets those who are not 23 year old Irish actors that they need not apply.  Yet in doing so I've been given a label, a designation by which I know I pass a test.  Just like in High School.  Except the difference is that I have made it a requirement of my life to exist beyond labels.  You see, while I recognize labeling and typing as a necessary evil to the Theatre industry, it is an evil I don't mind.  In order to fit a part, you must first, indeed, fit the part.  Much of the theatre canon is written to make a point about a group of people, and you need someone from within that group to make the point, consciously or subconsciously.

In my own life, however, I have always been one happy to do what I want, enjoy what I want, know those who I want to know, and strive to continue to live that way.  Just today I was remarked on as an "enigma" by a wonderful person who gave me so much joy at that description.

So I saw my good friend Amy post a list of 50 things she's thankful for in 2012, and recommended that others do the same.  I thought about it, and in light of everything going on in my life right now, I thought I'd take the opportunity to do the same.

So here we go, 50 things I'm thankful for, in no particular order (excepting the first two).

1.) First and foremost my unbelievably wonderful and supportive family.  Without them I literally would have nothing, and they continue to give to me every single day.
2.) My network of friends, my second family.  You are always there to pick me up and dust me off when I need it, and never hesitate to pick up the phone when I call.  Thank you to everyone who is always there for me.  I always will be in return.
3.) Ithaca College, for giving me an education that has been invaluable since I graduated in May, and for giving me some of the greatest memories I've ever had.  I think on my time at IC every single day and think fondly on every person who ever influenced me there.  I can not express enough how much that institution meant to me and how much it means to me now.
4.) Waynflete School, for much the same reasons as #3.  16 years felt like plenty when I graduated in 2008, and now I read about what's going on and I ache to be back with you.  The faculty and staff, my fellow students, they all helped to shape who I am today.  No one institution deserves more credit in that regard than Waynflete.  I hold Waynflete dear to my heart, and I can't wait for the NYC alum get together next week!
5.) The Ithaca College Class of 2012, you guys inspire me every day.  Thanks for being amazing and for continuing to raise the bar with how far you can go in this world.
6.) The Loveshack - the best group of college roommates a guy could ever ask for
7.) Evan Arbour and Taj Harvey, my two fantastic little brothers at IC
8.) Graham Stuart Allen for finding me my first NYC apartment
9.) Mary Corsaro and Brian Demaris for wholly prepping me for auditions in this city.
10.) Coffee...my lifeblood.
11.) Dreams, goals, and achievements
12.) The Hackmatack Playhouse, Ithaca Shakespeare Company, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, and Theater at Monmouth - the professional theatre companies who this year have paid me to do what I love
13.) Au Bon Pain and The Hummus and Pita Company for giving me jobs when I was in desperate need.
14.) Ted Arcand and The Dogfish Company
15.) The freedom to pursue what I love
16.) Anyone who has granted me an audition, and given me positive feedback, or a callback
17.) actorsequity.org, backstage.com, playbill.com, and actorsaccess.com - literally the reason I can manage myself in this industry
18.) The New England Patriots - I dream about your season in the off-season and I live for it when football is here.  
19.) Microsoft, for inventing the Xbox
20.) All the people who have responded when I've asked to get coffee with them, and have actually met with me. These amazing people take time out of their lives to help new, completely lost kids like myself, and they should be given an award for awesomeness.
21.) Sallie Mae for deferring my college loan payments by even a couple of months, though I'll be cursing her name soon enough.
22.) Good beer, may it ever continue to exist
23.) People and artists who truly work to better the arts industry as a whole, or are actively raising the bar within the industry.  People like Stephen Sondheim, Michael John Lachiusa, Stew, Pentatonix, Ryan Adams, Angie Aparo, William Finn, Edward Norton, Dan Harmon, and so many more, you inspire me to keep working hard.
24.) Movies of all kinds, and those who agree to watch them with me.
25.) Apple, for inventing the iPhone.  I would be completely screwed without it
26.) Jessica Swersey for housing me through the Sandy debacle when I was trapped on Manhattan
27.) The creators of Falling Skies - WHAT AN AWESOME SHOW!
28.) Laughter
29.) Tears
30.) Sunsets
31.) Bright and sunny days with a crisp, cool, Fall air
32.) Prospect Park for offering me a recluse away from the noise of the city
33.) Doug Brown, Orthopaedic Associates, and Orthopaedic Associates Physical Therapy for fixing my right knee so well that to this day it is much better than my left.  I would be without a career if it wasn't for you.  You gave me back my ability to dance and to be active, and I can never repay that debt.
34.) Mistakes
35.) Having no regrets, only life lessons
36.) Pine Island Summer Camp, every time I see a post about you I get so happy.
37.) Mark Bedell and the training he imparted on me
38.) Exploring
39.) The Arts Community as a whole
40.) Sunshine and Rain
41.) Benkins and Jenson
42.) To always looking forward, and looking back fondly, but never living in the past
43.) Animals of all kinds that I can play with. Red Panda, I will play with you before I die
44.) Animals of all kinds that I can't play with, you're still awesome.
45.) Subtle reminders that life is more important than the bullshit.
46.) Personality Flaws, that I may always strive to correct them
47.) The Bungalow circa Fall 2010
48.) Delores and Charlene, two great cars that got me where I needed to go. RIP both of you.
49.) All loved ones who have died. Your lessons imparted and the impact of your presence will forever be a part of my soul.  Rest in Peace, you've earned it.  Some of you died too young, but all of you died having lived a life worth living for however long or short it may have been.
50.) Having far more than 50 things to be thankful for, and having to cut myself off when I could just keep going.  For some people, 50 things to be thankful for might be hard, and I am forever thankful that my list is innumerable.

I highly recommend that in this month of Thanksgiving, and in light of recent events, you all make a list such as this for reflection and confirmation that there is more to life than the negatives that drag us down.

Well it's about that time, eh chaps? My Fair Lady is coming to a close, only 6 shows left and one of our wonderful cast members (John Little) is leaving us early to go do Oliver Twist at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. His understudy will be great but it feels like the end of a great thing. I don't tend to get nostalgic about shows, I think what's magical about them is that they run, and the they close, and they live in people's memories, for good or bad, forever. This one, though, deserves to keep going. Every review we've had, every post-show comment has been that this show is one of Merry-Go-Round's greatest accomplishments. Everything about this show from the ground up is perfect. So this one ending is more bittersweet. I love that all shows come to an end, but this one deserves to be seen by more people before it goes.

Yes, I am moving on to another classic at another phenomenal theater, and I can not wait to get started on Of Thee I Sing at the Theater at Monmouth, but I will miss the Merry-Go-Round, dearly. If you are in the upstate NY region, please come see our show, you won't regret it.

Within the next 20 days everything changes for me. I move to NYC to start my life there, I become car-less for the first time since I was 15, and I begin truly trying to make it in this crazy CRAZY industry.

I can not wait.

For now, I hope I get chances to be a part of productions as special as this one for years and years to come. Oh and if you're a broadway producer? You should move this production to the great white way;) I'm just saying.

Well here we are, it's July 9th, which means I've been graduated for almost 7 weeks now.  It's amazing how good I feel with my 7 week post-college life, because a TON has happened.  To recap, since graduating from Ithaca College I have:

• Moved out of my house in Ithaca, my stuff now resides at my father's house in Allentown, PA.
  
• Fight Choreographed two full shakespeare plays along with Nick Shuhan for the Ithaca Shakespeare Company
  
• Moved to Maine and back into my Mom's house
  
• Moved Mom out of that house and into a new house
  
• Learned, Rehearsed, Opened, and Closed a brand new Burt Bacharach musical at the Hackmatack Playhouse
• Worked 20 hour weeks for Ted Arcand and the Dogfish Company while in Maine
• Moved back to Ithaca, where I currently am couch surfing and finishing the fight choreography for the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, Taming of the Shrew opens on Wednesday, and Romeo and Juliet opens on Thursday.
  
  

On Wednesday, instead of going to the opening for ISC I head out to Auburn NY, about 45 minutes away, where I'm moving into a new apartment to begin my 5 week contract with the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.  There I will be a member of the Ensemble and in the Quartet for My Fair Lady.  After that, life may slow down, or may speed up exponentially.  I am moving at least briefly to Allentown with my Dad to get my life in order and prepare for my big move to NYC.  At the end of August I'll be heading back to Portland for a weekend to a.) celebrate my amazing girlfriend Priya Iyer's birthday, she's turning 22 and happens to be at the Maine State Music Theatre as an Arts Apprentice this summer, and b.) to put on a 2 person cabaret along with my dear friend Genevieve Myers.  We'll be doing a two person "Broadway Hopefuls" concert at the Dinner Theater we worked at for 2 years through high school, Anthony's Dinner Theater and Wonderful World of Broadway.  After that, I up and move to NYC on September 1st and will begin the next chapter of my life as an actor in the big bad city!

Whew, that's a lot to handle in 3 months.  I am so blessed to have had these opportunities immediately post college.  It's so easy sometimes to look at those who are just as fortunate as I and say, "what are they doing that I'm not?" but that's foolish.  I am a gainfully employed actor and fight director in a variety of shows and companies.  I have been very blessed to be surrounded by talented, hard-working people, and to be given such support by my friends and family.