STAGE-SPACE.COM

(Editor's Note:  "First Person" is our spot in which actors, from time to time, may share their thoughts in their own words.  Because Kimberly Faye Greenberg is the only actor in New York currently starring in two shows at the same time, we asked her, through her press representative Susan L. Schulman, if she'd offer readers of "Stage-Space" her thoughts on doing two shows at once.  Greenberg may  be seen in both the two-character musical, "Danny and Sylvia," written by Robert McElwaine and Bob Bain, which opened in May of 2009, and in the one-woman-show, "One Night with Fanny Brice," written by Chip Deffaa,  which opened in April of 2011; both of these Off-Broadway musicals are at St. Luke's Theater, 308 W. 46th Street, New York City. Greenberg may also be heard on the cast album of "One Night with Fanny Brice," available from Original Cast Records.  Our thanks to Susan L. Schulman for facilitating this "First Person" feature.)

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"TRUST..."

by Kimberly Faye Greenberg

Never in my life would I have ever imagined that I would be starring in two shows Off-Broadway at one time! One being a solo show, “One Night With Fanny Brice," written/directed/arranged by Chip Deffaa, and the other being the two-hander, “Danny & Sylvia, the Danny Kaye Musical." 

Because, well, not only am I doing it… but I have learned that I share this special honor with only a handful of other performers--including such notables as Cynthia Nixon and Elaine Stritch.

And now the question that seems to be on everyone’s mind is…” how do I do it?”…..

Well, this was something that I have had to mull over myself for a while because quite honestly I wasn’t even sure.

It can sort of be compared to being on a very fast moving train… you get on for the ride and TRUST that you will arrive at your destination (the curtain call) with an audience that is happy to have paid to spend the their afternoon/evening with you.

But what I come to realize is that “Trust," for me, is the optimum word here. Let me elaborate on what I mean as it truly does encompass so many things….

“Trust” in the fact that the rehearsal and preparation for each role has taken place; “trust” that my body will find the  vast amount of emotional and physical energy needed;  “trust” that I have the determination to make it all work no matter what might happen when the lights come up and I’m up there all alone and/or with one other for several hours; “trust” that all that money/time/energy that I’ve spent in class/coachings/school and that the teachers/advisors etc. that I’ve had in the course of my entire life have endowed me the tools needed to use my talents and make them work for the roles I’m playing (no matter the nay-sayers); “trust” that the actual stage experience I’ve already had in roles of all kinds all over the country have been building-blocks to this opportunity; “trust” that the power of positivity, hard work, a little elbow grease, a positive support system, the ability to let down my guard and be emotionally available to those that share the stage with me and/or my audience should I be performing alone; “trust” that I may never ever find perfection but as the saying goes “ the greatest gifts lie in imperfection as long as they're  rooted in honesty and truth” (so cliché…yet true);  “trust” that the unbelievable power of the “universe” will make  it all come together in the best way possible; and finally “trust” in admitting to the plain fact that this is  probably the scariest and hardest challenge I’ve ever known.

Yep, “trust” is truly how I navigate doing two shows at once. And what’s even greater is that “trust “is making this the  most unique and best performing/stage experiences  I’ve ever had  …and on a bigger scale  one of the most positive life fulfilling and life affirming challenges  I have ever known!