Let Me Tell You A Story About An Unbelievable Night In Brooklyn That Only Happens In Dreams Or In Alcohol Consumption

Apothecary Theater Company's party advertisement. Isn't the drawing lovely?

I totally had a screaming fest with my friends in the studio today. An actual screaming fest!
Here's why:
Last night, I attended a fantastic Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee themed Anti-Valentine's Day Party.
Of course, the day started off so hellishly craptastic- Mother Nature springing her surprise early (sorry, but it really happened). I almost missed the Megabus (because I foolishly took a train going in opposite direction!). It took me entirely too long to reach the Brooklyn Museum- the line was so ridiculous I had to leave (no Wangechi Mutu or Lorainne Hansberry's letter collection or Jean Paul Gaultier). Thus became fashionably late to St. Mazie's- place of my first theater party! However, prior to that, I did see the closing of Flomenhaft Gallery's Women Only exhibit. I cannot begin to serenade how enjoyable seeing a large Faith Ringgold quilt up close and personal is. She is my hero, my beacon of artistic hope and retribution. Next door to Flomenhaft Gallery was Ceres Gallery showcasing very blunt, fleshy, overtly sexual charcoal eroticism by Pamela Shield. Won't get into further concrete details, but let's just say her realist drawings zoomed in on quite stimulating territory.
FYI about taxicabs: don't apply makeup in them, don't beg the driver to go faster- that only happens in the movies, and don't do any seated dancing of any kind. 
Now about that fantastic party....

On the way to Brooklyn with Lucy's Crunchy Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Treats!

I came inside the dimly lit St. Mazie's bar. Sweet Carrie greeted me with a ticket and mentioned a raffle drawing. I peered through modest crowded sea of many tall people (starting to rethink the "flats for life" motto) and watched the middle of the first play. Out of the corner of my eye, ladies and gentleman, I spied Tom Pelphrey. I just knew him and that booming laughter. Probably because I watched a ton of Guiding Light that morning with breakfast flax flakes and almond milk. Mentally, my mind became a flustered blur. Despite the loud hammering of my tell tale heart (just Poe-ing it out there), I managed to view the play and not look back at the corner. Much later, I met the director. She said that her parents thought she would be in the play and didn't understand the play directing concept. Very funny.
Attendees asked me how I found out about this event- a mere stranger standing rooted to one corner like a wallflower observing people chatting and drinking tulip glassed drinks or bottled beers in between intermissions. (Why did I forget my sketchpad!!!!! The setting was gorgeous!) Well, I replied finding out on Facebook. Partly true. The real actualized honesty version is a hilariously strange kind-of-pathetic one. My friends know that I'm a huge Guiding Light fan and dedicated to a certain couple. I'm registered on a fan forum that keeps up-to-date information on them. I found out Tom (my favorite actor on the beloved tragically canceled soap) had co-founded a non-profit theater company (I LOVE THEATER!!!!) and that this theater company had an Anti-Valentine's Day Party every year. For all my little playwright friends and theater enthusiasts, please read more about Apothecary Theater Company's mission here. It's just all kinds of wonderful. Naturally I wanted to come to the party and be a silent supportive groupie. I swear Philadelphia living has been so advantageous. It sounded exciting anyway. A party. With theater? Anti-Valentine's Day? Maybe because I'm also a single lady that hates February 14th and the thought of a dreary, miserable, gut-wrenching, albeit terrifying Annabel Lee poem would ease spirits of last Friday. I don't know. Cannot wait to share this at next month's poetry club meeting....
Then, the excitement continued.
This guy comes up to me and asked "are you Janyce?"
I said, "yes."
"Janyce Denise?"

"...don't be a lily all your life....."

I freaked out. Who wouldn't when attending a party where you know that absolutely nobody is supposed to know your name? This isn't Cheers man. The light ultimately came. I realized whom spoke to me. Michael Medeiros. The Michael Medeiros. The Michael Medeiros I've been tweeting for weeks on end. I didn't recognize him outside of his funky white framed sunglasses. His new indie film Tiger Lily Road stars Tom. I'm going to its showing in Torrington, Connecticut in three weeks at Warner Theater- another adventure in the making. I can already see this as an art project.... As an avid film buff, I feel it my sacred duty to see it and be that silent supportive groupie at the same time! Yes!! I would rather do that than attend a baseball game. Don't ask. Just know that I hate baseball. Now Michael being at the party was the most amazing coincidence. I had no idea he was coming- let alone performing!!!!! Turns out Michael is an actor trained by the well-renowned Uta Hagen. Terrific. Brilliant. Worthy of a million claps. And flowers. Had I known, I would have brought flowers. Now I'm even more excited about Tiger Lily Road. Judging by the quirky trailer, I think it's made of win. I'll bring him flowers too. The ones that smell nice but not too overly fragrant that women tend to like. He performed a very touching monologue about a man mourning his dead wife, hitting notes of vulnerability, frustration, angst, melancholy, and sadness with a bit of warmth and rusty humor in between.
As we talked earlier, before astonishing me with his acting capability, Michael asked me the question that every critic in school has- what is stronger passion- making art or writing? His passion between writing and acting and directing is piano. How sweet!
I still don't know the answer to my own truest desire. Despite sitting here dirtying the keyboard with oil stick residue. Perhaps I'll never find out. Oh well. I love both. Let's leave it at that right now.
Sooooooooo. Wait. For. It.
Michael introduced me to Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom said "hi Janyce, nice to meet you." And I thought the world ended.
My legs became jelly and I lost eye contact and mojo and all human emotion and capacity to be a normal being and this sentence runs on and on and on.....
Needless to say, I had a lovely reunion with the fresh outside air.

Thank you Apothecary Theater Company for putting up this awesome photo of Tom, me, and Michael!

Two plays happened. Michael's performance was last. By golly, just one word sums it all up- wonderful. The performances and the unique Annabel Lee interpretations ranged from obscurely abstract to vividly entertaining. I respect that the playwrights (Martyna Majok, Edith Freni, and Don Nigro) modernized a classic period poem to fit into the context of this century. Truly commendable. Also loved that each piece happened in a different area of St. Mazie's with Tom- the ringleader jingling the bell. It added another layer to audience reaction. Just awesome! <3
Finally, at last the raffle winner was announced.
And it was ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the exclamation points. How else could I reveal splendid joy? I was just sitting there thinking about Annabel Lee and taxicabs and how I was going to tell my Mom and schoolmates and Twitterverse how I met my screensaver (which I changed!!). Carrie announcing my name broke me out of the nonsensical reverie. Yes. I was freaking shocked. Stunned. Stoked. I've never won a raffle anything. Being at the party itself was a good enough trophy to put on the mental mantle. So I'm going to see Once on Broadway. Once. BROADWAY!!!!! O-N-C-E. I've always wanted to see a Broadway show. Always. Now it can be etched onto my tombstone.
Janyce Denise Glasper led a great life because she met her screensaver and went to a Broadway Show.  

It's not everyday that someone wins Broadway tickets!!!

Just when my night turned into shining stars and flashing glitter quicker than plump pumpkins changing into diamond decked carriages, Michael kindly forced me to take a pic with Tom. Whom am I to deny such a fate? I cannot believe this happened. I. Can. Not. It was that euphoric magical rarity that only happens on a blue moon. I think unicorns and sphinxes and dandy-lions (mystical lions that have golden flowers for manes) truly exist in this world. Or maybe Mother Nature was being apologetic.
To celebrate, I skipped in merry bedazzlement and headed off to Terri's. Terri's makes any girl way way happier than she should be. Plus I got a drink. Does anyone realize how thirsty one gets when meeting someone you never thought you would actually meet in REAL LIFE? The thirst IS real.

I quenched my thirst in true chocoholic fashion- with a Butterfinger milkshake! The chickpea "tuna" melt wasn't that bad either!!!

In the end, I'm not saddened or disappointed to miss out on Jean Paul Gaultier's exhibit. It's gone forever. It was probably pretty great, but my night at St. Mazie's topped everything. I've already started googling theater parties. They must have them all over Philly someplace. This whole concept is enthralling.
Funnily enough, after I told this story, my friend wished she had gone. She likes Poe. She loves Annabel Lee. Suddenly, I regretted not telling people about this. Being all ashamed of that whole soap opera factor when in fact I should be proud. I am happy. I had fun. Speaking of which, I neglected to tell Tom how much I adored his brilliant work. I could say something in Torrington? If I can look him in the eye and be brave. If I can tell my favorite artist Kara Walker that I love her work, I should be able to give Tom that courtesy. People love compliments. I think.
Anyways, for the record, I might not ever wash my coat. Never again.
Thank you, Michael Medeiros.