Home and Away
Current mood: refreshed

I've begun to purchase Singaporean books because I realise all this time I hadn't taken too much of an interest in my own country... which is a little sad. But no time is too late. What started it all was an urge to write my own book. So now I'm writing a sort of memoir, but the facts are twisted to protect people's privacy. I realised that I couldn't write if I didn't already know what was said about the country, so I embarked on a journey and picked out some local titles to have for my perusal.

I couldn't help thinking that the lead up to all of this was my decision to step out of my country. And not just leaving it, but actually moving somewhere to live for a certain period. If it's something you can afford to do, I say do it. It will change you as a person, open your senses, challenge you in many ways and teach you things.

And if you can't, there are always books to read, like the one featured below. The ones I've enjoyed include "A Year In Provence" by Peter Mayle and "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Or maybe my own book when it eventually gets published!
  

Currently reading : Notes From an Even Smaller Island By Neil Humphreys

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Naked on National TV!

I caught some nice movies since my last posting here. "Prince Caspian", "Wall E", "27 Dresses" and "Mamma Mia". I thought the first Narnia movie was better, that "Wall E" was amazing (I agree wholeheartedly with the NY Times review), "27 Dresses" was an enjoyable chick flick and "Mamma Mia" well, wasn't the most successful musical to movie adaptation.

I have yet to see "The Dark Knight" which I hear is amazing. A fellow Singaporean actor is in it! He plays the main bad guy asian dude. Go Singapore! And I think we're gonna get the silver medal for table tennis at the Olympics. The match is being played as I type this. It seems we've lost our chance for Gold. But this would be the first medal since 1960 for weight lifting.

Now I don't know if I'd call this an achievement, but I think I'm now the first naked guy on Singapore TV in a locally made show! Or at least the closest anyone could come to being naked. The appropriate areas were pixelated of course. I played a scum of the earth toy boy. You can see the picture here. Alright, it's a wrap for now!

Currently reading : Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook: Roleplaying Game Core Rules, 4th Edition By Wizards RPG Team Release date: 2008-06-06

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Grab a picket!
Current mood: rebellious

My friendster blog just ran out of space for uploading anymore pictures, so I've got a new picture feature blog at dwaynetan.blogspot.com! It's great cos you don't have to register as a user to leave comments on this one. The first entry is a rather heavy one about battles in the world and it comes at a point in my life where I feel I'm fighting many battles. I'm sure the entries will lighten up as I also begin to play with the cool insert video link function!! Can't wait!

I'm finally done with the show "Magicbox". Anyway, some good things that came out of that include new found friendships and a bag of card tricks I can use on passersby for pocket money, so I don't have to starve the next time I'm in NY.

Has anyone been following the Legally Blonde Search for the new Elle Woods? It was really great to be able to see what the panel thought of the potentials during the audition process. This Broadway show is gonna be around for a long time to come I'm sure. The hype its marketing team has generated is excellent. Looks like the trend is now adapting from screen to stage. I know there are plans for musical versions of "Little House on Prairie", "Shrek", "Princess Bride", "9 to 5", "First Wives' Club", among others. It's great for capturing new audiences but I certainly hope originals don't stop happening either.
 

Currently listening : Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast) Release date: 2007-07-17

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I’ve been victimized!
Current mood: violated

I'm enjoying a wonderful book at the moment about a pianist who subs on Broadway. It's current (with references to shows like "The Little Mermaid" and "Legally Blonde"), so true at times and also funny and gay! It's featured at the bottom of this blog entry.

Okay, so the word about the show I was talking about with Debbie Gibson in it, has likely been postponed to March next year. =( I also found out that someone has been making charges to my US credit card (which is still with me by the way). Nonetheless the bank has blocked the card and will issue me a new one. They advised me to make a police report but it really doesn't help that I'm in Singapore. In any case, the loser picked on the wrong guy. A poor struggling actor like me ain't gonna have NO money in the bank. LOL!

My show "Magicbox" opens in three weeks! Let's hope it goes well! If you are in Singapore do come see the show. More details are available in the "Upcoming Shows" section of my profile. I've also added some details of the shows I'm booked for till the end of the year! Yay!

Currently reading : Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre By Seth Rudetsky

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Diary of a Superhero and a Magician
Current mood: magical

I haven't found much to write about lately. And quite frankly, this entry is a result of my brain going, "It's about time you wrote something new... Dwayne!"

My days have been pretty much the same. If I'm not in the booth recording for another animated series, I'm at rehearsals for MagicBox. In my leisure time, if I'm not catching up with friends, I'm at home, on the computer, in the World of Warcraft. But those days are numbered. You will find my story here.

The website for the musical that Debbie Gibson will be in (here in Singapore) is finally operational. It's called Superhero Diaries. This is more for my ex-classmates in America to look at and go, "Perhaps there IS a career for me on the supposed tiny island of Singapore! I mean where else can I go and not have to audition with hundreds of other talented people to be in a musical... and with Debbie Gibson in it on top of that?" Singapore!! You know you want to!

Currently listening : Lost Without You By Robin Thicke Release date: 2007-08-14

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Remember Debbie Gibson?
Current mood: flabbergasted

I'm listening to Kylie Minogue's new album "X" and Madonna's "Hard Candy". Both equally good.

I'm back in Singapore and am getting ready for at least four months of work. Meanwhile, I've put my room through quite a major spring cleaning. It always makes me feel more empowered, ready and motivated when my room is organised. Now I just wish I had the time to read and write more, but my three month vacation is over!

While I was away, a theatre company here cast for a musical that will star 80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson! Unreal!  I have many many friends in it, so hopefully, I'll be able to blog about an evening or dinner with Deborah (as she calls herself now). Fingers crossed! I was a huge fan!

 

Currently listening : Hard Candy By Madonna Release date: 2008-04-29

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Flying Frontier
Current mood: unphased

My flight back to Spokane was quite a journey. I arrived at La Guardia Airport in New York to discover that my first flight was delayed by two hours which could cause me to miss my connecting flight. I took the chance with it and arrived in Denver with news that the worst had happened. I camped at the airport and snacked on chocolates my lovely friends had given me (thank you Kiat Sing, Sabrina and Kim!)

My flight to Spokane was then delayed by an hour! Not only that, when I finally arrived at my destination, I received my crushed luggage. I didn't even need to say anything when I walked to Customer Service. They knew they had to replace my bag. It wasn't going to get replaced before I have to leave for Singapore but I have bags I can borrow.  I'm surprised at how unphased I am by all that has happened. I guess I really enjoyed my month in New York and the love that I had received from the city was all that mattered. It was real nice to see everyone! Thank you for everything.

Currently reading : Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life By Terry Brooks Release date: 2004-02-03

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Big Toast to the Big Apple
Current mood: enlightened

I have decided that coming to New York City is something I need in my life every once a while. The city inspires and encourages me to be better at my craft, to want to learn more about the world, to be aware of my options... to basically be a better person. 

Unrelated to this blog entry, I recently blogged about the places I’ve been to in the Big Apple so far.

Some of my favourite things about New York include, The New York Times which I subscribe to online. Madonna was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. I found her acceptance speech on YouTube to be most inspiring. Ironically, her career started off in New York. I also listened to an online broadcast where a casting director talked about auditions and the actors’ fear of it. He offered much insight.

So here’s to New York City and everything that it stands for. I know I’ll miss her when I’m away but I also know I’ll be back.

Currently reading : Wizard's Betrayal (Trinistyr Trilogy) By Jeff Sampson Release date: 10 January, 2006

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Start Spreading the News.. I’m here!
Current mood: jolly

It's amazing how meeting any of my friends or catching a Broadway show in New York has become a possibility over night, after months of telling myself New York was so far away. I know I've been away but yet everything is too familiar for me to have been away. Confusing huh?

I delighted in the fact that I could simply run over to the Lunt Fontanne and jump around where The Little Mermaid is now playing (and that I will see it soon). That I lived a few blocks away from where Wicked is playing (and that I didn't before. Not even close!). That I could tell there were actors like myself around me when I rode the subway. Little thrills like that were part of the 1st day New York experience for me.

I discovered even more interesting eateries around the area that I had never set my eyes on before. Had they not been here before? Or was I blind all that time I was working at Times Square?!

I love the fact that I can audition if I want, afford to spend a little more money on good food, go to places I never had time for... basically all the choices that I didn't have while I was living hard an proper in the city. There's no experience like coming back as a tourist but living the life of a local. And I'm sure you'll be hearing more as this experience continues...

Currently playing : Final Fantasy XII Release date: 31 October, 2006

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What Happened to Service?
Current mood: annoyed

I took a trip down to Seattle and met up with Elizabeth Richmond, another ex-classmate, who graciously showed me around. I make it a point to take a picture and buy something from every Disney Store I visit in a city. So we searched all over till we found one with the help of Elizabeth's new iPhone. I was looking for the cast recording of "Twice Charmed", a musical that plays on board the Disney Magic. I ended up debating with a store Cast Member about its existence. Surely something he hadn't heard off could exist?! I found out later it's sold exclusively on board. =(

I had another rude experience at COMPUSA which unfortunately is closing nationwide. I politely asked a store assistant if he was busy, in hopes he could help me with a question. He reply was, "Does it look like I'm busy?" and he walked away. I noticed he came to rest at the checkout, so I quickly began to describe what I was looking for and I was sure before he could even understand what I was saying, he cut me off with a, "No. We don't have those!" RUDE!! I'm an actor. I'm always going to have to look for another job. I never take it out on people. Heh.

Speaking of which, I will return to Singapore in April to begin working on another show at the Esplanade in July. This show has elements of magic and apparently, I'll be involved in a magic act or two! How fun! I can't wait! Poof!

Currently listening : I Stand By Idina Menzel Release date: 29 January, 2008

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