Grandpa Mele is 98 today!

Happy birthday, Dominic.

From xmas 06

I love Edith Head

If you know me, you know I have a hefty appreciation for old movies. If you know my family, you know we love musicals. And one family favorite musical is "White Christmas", the 1954 classic with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

Every time I find myself watching these films - particularly "White Christmas" - I am struck, over and over again by the costumes. Here is one of my favorites: Rosemary Clooney in a deep green velvet cocktail dress (the picture doesn't do the color justice) --



And every time I look up a favorite costume, I always see the same name: Edith Head. The woman was a genius. She won 8 academy awards (though nominated 35 times). She was a french teacher who wanted a better paying job. She was a costume designer who couldn't draw when she started. She designed for Hitchcock films, and dressed everyone from Barbara Stanwyck to Audrey Hepburn to Grace Kelly to Paul Newman (in "The Sting"). She said, "Your dresses should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady." Well said. That's why I'll be asking for her book for Christmas - "How to dress for success." Teach me, Edith!

Here's another favorite: Grace Kelly in "Rear Window"




one of her sketches of this dress just sold at christie's for $12k.

ah, vacation!

in vt for vacation. what shall i do? massage? river swim? art class? perhaps theater in a barn? sigh. must. let. go. of. computer.

For those of you who haven't heard.....

tomorrow is my first official day on the job. yikes!!

San Francisco’s Performing Arts Workshop Names New Executive Director
December 9, 2010

San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2010— The Board of Directors of the Performing Arts Workshop has named Jessica Mele the organization’s new Executive Director. Mele, currently Deputy Director, will replace Tom DeCaigny, who has served in that role for the past eight years.

“I am honored that the Workshop’s Board of Directors has entrusted me to lead one of the nation’s premier arts education organizations,” said Mele, who first joined the workshop in 2006 as a member of the Program staff, “I firmly believe that after 45 years of excellence in direct service, we are just beginning to reach our full potential as a social change organization. I am thrilled to lead Performing Arts Workshop during this exciting period.”

read the full press release here

Has ANYONE seen the last episode of glee??!

i love that the main characters sing a hokey Journey medley. And then their evil competing glee club performs the only rock ballad that could POSSIBLY be more ludicrously melodramatic: bohemian rhapsody by queen. all while a glee member is simultaneously giving birth. really. hilarious.

I'm a WRITER/PERFORMER

I was recently reminded by my Aunt P that I haven't updated things on this blog lately. She asked, "Nothing new?"

ACTUALLY, a lot is new. Last fall, my bossy friend Ruthie invited (prodded) me to get involved in a female-driven sketch comedy/variety show here in sf. She was starting it with a group of female actors she'd met while performing for Pianofight Productions. They wanted their own show: written, directed and produced by women. Because we're really freaking funny.

So, in November 2009, Monday Night Foreplays began. I wrote for and performed (a little bit) in the December 2009 show. By Jan 2010, I was a producer, director, writer and actor - along with four other very talented, very smart, and very energetic women. It was a crazy month. Feb was crazier. March has been nuts.

Since Feb 15, every Monday night, we have been producing Monday Night Foreplays at Off-Market Theaters (965 Mission St., SF; between 6th St & Mary St). It's been a blast. And exhausting. And we're doing it all again in APRIL 2010.

I won't be performing in the April show (just producing, directing, and writing), but we've got a dynamite cast on board. And there are still 2 more chances to catch me on stage this month!!! The current show will run on Monday, March 22 and Monday, March 29. I hope you can make it! Buy tickets/learn more here: http://www.pianofight.com

Sigh. It's been fun. I really missed performing!

bigger and bigger

i have these moments every month or so when the world and its opportunities feel so expansive that it almost hurts - so many directions to go, possible outcomes for every action and interaction. i can barely keep up. and it hurts to have to choose just one. i end up feeling paralyzed by the possibility, and anxious and scared about the choosing.

and that's when i usually end up bawling in the theater while watching "where the wild things are." that story, so much about another point of expansiveness, and the ending of the playful certainties of childhood, hurts a little. hurts in a sweet way, but still it hurts.