Now if you guys are not familiar with Christopher Durang's Laughing Wild then it's a must read. It was definitely one of those awful rainy nights in the city that just makes you wanna crawl up in bed with a lover or a good movie or both. but I decided to brave the rain and head into the city, coz nothing was gonna make me miss what was about to put me in a state of awe, and, it did me good. Possibly better than any movie would but just in second place to a lover.
So let me tell you how I came into being with the likes of Nedra. It was a few years ago and I was working at a little Italian joint on Bedford Ave, Bedstuy. Whuut?. The food was lovely, the atmosphere was great, the boss, well, let's just say he was Italian in every form of the word. * Cough (Napoleon), can I get an Amen! I remembered the day Nedra walked in. She was unlike the other ladies I was forced to train, she knew the business well and was ready to work. Long story short we worked together for about two weeks and then Nedra called it quits! *Cough (Napoleon)! So we kept in touch!
Nedra is possibly one of the most amazing person I have ever come into close contact with, to date, and when I say amazing, I mean it's just oozing from her veins. She is a very dedicated hard-worker with a brain and creativity on her that will last a lifetime. I mean, this is a woman that sprain her achilles while doing a 15 hour shoot for an independent film, in the 14th hour, and what did she do? In true Nedra style, she finished the scene. (She was playing a cop chasing a kid, btw). She was actually out of commission for three months. While she was bed resting, she created and co-wrote the most hilarious Web Series that I have ever come across, and I am not being bias because she wrote a character in there for me. I am pretty confident that the work is gonna speak for itself and speaks volume in many a languages to come.
The web series is called OFF THE G! and there's still time to donate but hurry coz the expiration day is nigh! http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2?c=home
Nedra is so awesome that when she puts on a show all her friends come out to support her. I have yet to meet anyone that has a bad thing to say about her. She is always on point and a stand-up lady. She works for what she believes in and will help you fight for what is yours. She wears her heart on her sleeve for her friends, BUT don't be alarmed if she is not quite ready to buy into your bulshit.
She is a gal that is going places with her writing, her acting and her creativity. She humbles herself in ways only a lady knows how. She IS a star in my eyes.......
I am talking way too much.
Let's meet the wonderful being behind this blog,
Name: Nedra Gallegos
Age: Old Enough to Know better
Status: Intrigued
Zodiac Sign: Libra
What do you do: Actor/Writer/Educator
Hail from: Military Brat- Mostly Cali by way of Texas, Taiwan, Nebraska and Japan
Where ya bed at: Bed-Stuy
Why Nyc: It's one of those places where you feel the energy rolling off of it as the plane lands. It's a city of intensity, when things happen there is not a lot of middle of the road. They are more often than not amazing or tragic.
Best Place to eat in the city: Dogmatic on 17th Street in Manhattan-always and right now I am addicted to the pork belly sandwich at Putnam's Pub in Clinton Hill on Myrtle Ave.
When's bedtime: Depends, some of my teaching gigs start tragically early so those nights I'm lucky if I make it to 11. But the nights when I can play or work on something I'm excited about 3am is a nice time to wrap it up. 4 seems downright debaucherous and 2 seems too tame but 3am makes me feel edgey and, yet I still feel I can pull myself out of bed the next morning at a decent enough hour to accomplish things.
What was the last gig you did: Just closed a show Laughing Wild with Moss Roberts and I am still working on producing my web-series Off The G. Which I came up with the concept for and co-wrote with Carla Briscoe.
What's the one thing you have to have with you at all times: Lipstick, chewing gum and something to read. (Oh Nedra I did say one thing ;) ).
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are: God- sometimes 70 sometimes 13.
If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich: What I'm doing. Creating, working with kids, and in my free time hanging with people I love.
Would you break the law to save a loved: Yup.
Next 3 years: Bi-Coastal-writing on a great kids cartoon and making enough to support my theatre habit.
Has your greatest fear ever came true: Time and again, people die , relationships end, jobs are lost. My greatest hopes have also come true. It's been a mixed bag but I can honestly say I do 95 percent of it over again.
If you could tell the world one thing: wow, ...love your neighbor ...a lot..I think it's our only hope.
Favorite thing you have ever done with a friend: Met one of my Besties Brenda Sue in the 2nd grade and still we make each other laugh..I have another, Virginia, whom I met in grad school, we drove cross country twice, that was amazing.
Where are you gonna be when you die: Surrounded by people I love, with a really good sound track playing.
Tell me the love affair you have with acting and performing: I love the immediacy of it and the shared experience between you and your audience.
If you could only have dinner with three people for the rest of your life, who: Yuck, I can barely bare the thought of eating with myself for the rest of my life....Someone with a Piano who can play it very well so um---Herbie Hancock ( I hear he's a little intense so let's say this is a large dining room.) My future dog and um---Louis CK.
What's next for you: Shooting an amazing Web- series and getting out to LA and writing on an amazing animated series. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/off-the-g--2?c=home
What do you hate about the city: Sometimes there's so much going on I forget to be present, I let myself be overwhelmed. It's hard sometimes to remember to find the quiet.
So there you have it folks, she came and she brought it. Look out for this one and her web series. Its Nedra's year whether you want to get on board or not.
Til then, rest well.
Sleepless.
