Movie Magic

A few days ago Our Time hosted it's first-ever film festival, during which they screened the amazing films that its young company members have created over the last two years! The event was held at the gorgeous and esteemed Director's Guild of America Theater (which was generously donated to Our Time for the day 100% free of charge).

The glamorous atmosphere was heightened by the exciting greeting awaiting each kid filmmaker as they arrived in all their red-carpet finery...

There was a throng of press and paparazzi clamoring near the entrance (or were they well-rehearsed Our Time Volunteers?)...

...who rushed out to 57th street to snap shots of each Star as they arrived.

Then there was the parade of glitterati posing in front of the step-and-repeat...

Quite the bunch of style-setters, wouldn't you say?

Of course, our little fam was there to join in the fun...

After the grand entrance, and a few words from the hosts, all the kids and an audience of adoring fans (their friends, families, and the Our Time staff), took their seats and settled in to enjoy the festival...

23 short films later, everyone filed back out onto the street,

happy, inspired, celebratory...

and most of all,

triumphant.

All photos by C. Bay Milin.

3 Years

Today is the three-year anniversary of Taro's dad's passing. We always like to spend February 10th honoring Bobby by listening to jazz, scatting, playing, making art, and celebrating our imaginations.

Bobby Alexander lived a monumental life of artistry and passion and devotion to helping others. It wasn't until his death, in 2008, that Taro and I became aware of a surprising aspect of his past: as a handsome young man in New York in the 1940's and 50's Bobby was a rather prolific model, and appeared on the covers of many books and magazines. The most amazing of these was the First Edition of The Catcher in the Rye, where Bobby was cast as the original Holden Caulfield!

How cool is that?

Finding Their Voices

In case you missed it, here is the piece that aired today on CBS Sunday Morning.

I feel so proud of the courage and openness of the Our Time kids, who are so inspiring in their willingness to confront their fears and turn challenges into triumphs.

I am deeply moved by the response of friends, family, and readers to this piece.

Obviously, I am completely, madly, head-over-heels in love with my husband, who created this sanctuary of acceptance and love that is Our Time. He bravely and brilliantly turned his biggest obstacle into a path for healing for himself and countless others. I have no words to describe how much I admire him. I am such a lucky woman.

And I absolutely cannot believe that after three and a half years of avoiding blogging my children's names, they are rather dramatically outed on national TV. Too funny, but totally worth it. Thanks, Mo Rocca ;)

Sunday Morning

Be sure to tune in to the CBS Sunday Morning show tomorrow, January 30th. There will be a segment about stuttering that will include Taro and Our Time! Click here to check your local air times.

The King's Speech

My hubby (who is a person who stutters) just tipped me off about this soon-to-be-released film starring the trifecta of acting awesomeness that is Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter. It tells the story of King George VI, and his struggle to overcome his stutter during the lead-up to WWII. It looks fascinating, don't you think?

Seven Years Ago Today

And now you are mine. Rest with your dream in my dream.

Love and pain and work should all sleep now.

The night turns on its invisible wheels

And you are pure beside me as a sleeping amber

No one else, Love, will sleep in my dreams.

You will go, we will go together, over the waters of time.

No one else will travel through the shadows with me,

Only you, evergreen, ever sun, ever moon.

--Excerpt from And Now You Are Mine (Love Sonnet LXXXI) by Pablo Neruda

Photos by Robert Mayer and Shannon O'hara.

Our Time Shows: Three Down, Three to Go!

This past weekend I enjoyed seeing the Our Time pre-teen company perform their original shows. It is so fun to hang out at the theatre with the boys. They both loved watching the onstage action, and I cannot overstate how much they revel in the attention of the cast and crew backstage and onstage before the show. W loved being in Taro's arms while he led the pre-show "hype", and introduced the show.

Here are some more highlights I captured...

If you're in town, we'd love to have you join us for the teen company's shows, which are this coming weekend! More info, here.

Our Time Shows!

The Our Time NYC Pre-Teen Shows are this weekend!

DATES & TIMES: Friday, 6/11, 8pm / Saturday, 6/12, 8pm / Sunday, 6/13, 3pm

LOCATION: Five Angels Theater (789 10th Avenue, between 52nd & 53rd Street, NYC)

Click here or call 212.414.9696 for tickets

We're Back. And We're Tan.

Details to come.

Honoring Carly

I have been bursting to share some exciting news with you: on April 19, Our Time will host its 8th Annual Benefit Gala in NYC, and this year's honoree is the music icon Carly Simon!

As many of you are aware, my marvelous hubby, Taro, is the Founder and Artistic Director of an amazing non-profit organization, Our Time, which is dedicated to helping young people who stutter (click here to see Our Time featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams). Every Spring we hold a big fancy gala to celebrate the company's wonderful work, raise funds for the upcoming year, and pay tribute to an inspirational individual. It is always a fun and moving night with enough glitz and glam to sparkle us right through to the next one. (Click here to see my post about the 2008 gala with lots of entertaining photos). I'm sure this year will be no exception, and I plan on keeping you posted on all the exciting news as we prepare for the gala.

If you're planning on being in NYC on April 19, this event is not to be missed! We hope you can join us. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Image: Carly Simon's breakthrough album from 1972, No Secrets.

Our Time One Acts: TONIGHT & TOMORROW!!!

Friday, December 11th

8pm

Saturday, December 12th

2pm & 8pm

The Peter Jay Sharp Theater

416 W. 42nd St.

(between 9th & 10th Aves)

New York City

Tickets ($12): www.ticketcentral.com

or call 212.279.4200

For more info call: 212.414.9696 or email moreinfo@ourtimetheatre.org

Read more about Our Time and its mission, here.

The kiddos and I will be at all three shows, supporting Taro and Our Time. We hope to see you there!

Exciting Press!

Photo, Associated Press

The New York Times, NPR, and other media outlets across the country are running in-depth stories about Camp Our Time today, including multimedia elements like slideshows and video!!! Click here, here, and here to see some of the highlights of the coverage!

UPDATE: Now CBS, MSNBC, and Forbes have picked up on the story! So exciting!

Camp Our Time Highlights

Taro has been away all week, running Camp Our Time, an extension of Our Time Theatre Company.

Our Time is an acclaimed non-profit organization that has been improving the lives of kids who stutter since 2001. This camp is uniquely tailored for kids who stutter, as well as their young family members and friends, ages 8-18. Through the performing arts and traditional camp activities, Camp Our Time helps kids who stutter develop priceless self-esteem, and facilitates increased understanding about stuttering among their peers.

Although the arts are integral to Camp Our Time, no performance experience is required to enroll and no auditions are held. Campers leave with valuable friendships, life-long memories, and a strong dose of encouragement to not let their speech disorders limit their life experiences or quell their dreams.

The following photos, taken by the Camp Our Time Staff, are some of my favorites from the week so far. See many many more and find more information about Our Time on the camp blog.