My blog

The cartoon me

Sunday, Mar 30, 2008 7:45PM / Standard Entry

I've always wanted to be a voice of one of those Disney characters, like in the little mermaid or Aladdin. It seems like a lot of fun creating something like that and being able sing all those songs that we grow up with as kids. What a cool job to have. I remember a few years back my mother had to do the voice over for the mandarin version of "The Emperors Groove". it was really funny seeing a cartoon with her voice. hahaha....well, on Fri I finally had my chance to be a cartoon voice. It's actually a children's animation that is going to be more educational. I got to be the part of Mimi, the little mouse. The characters are all part of the Chinese Zoidiac signs. It was fun creating Mimi's voice ...i but, t would have been better if I would have known how she looked like. The most challenging part of it all...was that even though I had the high voice going....I'd always make the character sound too mature....so, I'd have to go back into my...."this character is only 4..mode" I used to think they had the cartoon first and then they put the voices in...it might be like that for the translated versions in different languages...but....when it's originally going to be in English, I guess it does make sense to have the voice before the drawings...anyways...it was interesting and fun....

once I get the chance I'll upload some photos from the recording

6 comments– Add a comment
watch and learn

Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008 9:11AM / Standard Entry

Hong Kong has been good. It's amazing how much I miss it here...hahaha....it's been a good first week. I'm basically working on a commercial which requires a lot of my time each day....once it's launched I will let you all know what it is...I'm also working on a few gigs while I'm in town. So, I'll be starting to rehearse pretty soon. I've continued on with my watching shows streak...by starting with the Harry Conick Jr Concert last Wed. It was actually a birthday present. And it was a VERY APPRECIATED gift! I have loved Harry's voice since I don't know when! There is something about someone who can play piano and sing that is just so incredibly sexy. He was a great performer and completely inspiring! At one point Tracie (my friend) and I got to the front of the stage...it was quite embarrassing....The second show I watched on Thur was a bit unexpected. It was the Danny Diaz Concert....some of the numbers were pretty good..but, a little bit long. Fri, I was of course, at the Audiotraffic concert along with a few other AnD peeps. It was a great concert and I had a lot of fun...again pushed up to the front of the stage...Tracie, is this tiny little thing...while I'm towering over everyone...it was a bit embarrassing...again...and the poor people in back of me had to stand a few feet away from me in order to get a view. OOPs! Sorry...got, the CD and I really like the songs...unfortunately, I can't understand every lyric and wish I knew them....hint hint.....I've already got my favorite songs....then, Sat, I watched this show which was a tribute to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Not as great as I had expected...the singers were all working Broadway stars...but, I wasn't very impressed.....Watching shows can really be inspiring and help me out as a performer. Through all of these shows that I've watched...it's made me think about my own upcoming performances. ...it's all good!

2 comments– Add a comment
Birthday Extravaganza

Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 7:42AM / Standard Entry

Last week was the first time I got to spend my birthday with my sister, Jen(who is NOT an actress)....in about 10 yrs! We used to always celebrate together because her birthday is March 6th and mine is March 7th. As children we'd have huge parties together. It was a yearly event at our house. Well...this year I planned it so that I'd be in San Francisco to celebrate both of our birthdays. My brother, Harry lives in SF as well and my other sister, Eugenia flew up from LA to join us. The party started on the 6th with a really yummy Mexican dinner with Jen's friends. Then the following day was my birthday breakfast at my favorite place in Berkeley called "Bette's Oceanview Diner" It is my favorite place to have breakfast in the whole world!!! YUMMMY!!! That day, the 3 sisters watched the movie "Definitely Maybe"...very cute and perfect for ladies day out! Then, at night we had a nice dinner followed by a comedy show in the city. On Sat, the girls met up with Harry in the city at the Ferry Building where we just walked around the farmers market and sampled a bunch of cheeses and dips. It was great!!! I love samples! The farmers market there is above all the best one ever!!! It doesn't compare to the one in NY, Union Square. There is one stand with different smoothies...and they are just brilliant!!! The best ever! There are also really great dried fruits..which I bought a whole bag full!!! My dad came for lunch and we decided to eat there....though, by then, we were already quite full from the samples. hahaha....At night, we went to a place called "Yoshi's" to have dinner and watch Lizz Wright perform. My best friend, Karen from high school flew from LA to spend my birthday with me! All I really need for a great birthday is my family and my closest friend. The show was excellent!!!! She has a great sexy voice and she is such a great performer....so inspiring and she made me cry!!! Her songs are really great too....check them out!!! Ok, for the final day of the birthday extravaganza. We attended a Rosemblum wine tasting event. We rode our bikes there and then spent the entire day wine tasting and eating meatballs with cheese. OH, and the Rosemblum ice cream is soooooooooo delicious! It was a great finale to the entire weekend. I didn't really try much of the wine because I'm not big on alcohol..but, Harry got pretty smashed...and I'm wondering how on earth did he ride back! hahaha....what a weekend! I miss my family and my friend! Thanks Jen for arranging everything!

this is my friend Karen and me at Yoshi's

this was at the wine tasting...we brought my dog Seth in and he was a hit with all the drunks there! hahaha
I have a lot more photos with the rest of my family..but, I can't seem to find them...I'll have to post them next time

9 comments– Add a comment
Topping off weird encounters!

Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 8:00AM / Standard Entry

Topping off my weird encounters this time in NY.....It was the day before my last dance classes and I was sitting around the studio watching "Lost" online (which you can only do in the U.S. which sucks!!! because I'm hooked!) .....at the corner of my eye I felt someone was watching me.....I kept on watching.....and after awhile I just couldn't stand it anymore and I looked up. And there was my dance teacher from Hong Kong, Angela!!! She is the owner of Studiodanz in Hong Kong. And is is above all the BEST dance teacher in HK! Well...I haven't seen her in over a year! And it's so strange that we should meet in NY. I came with her to NY to take classes a few years back...But, I would have never thought our timing would be so perfect! Though...she did come on the last 2 days of my stay...oh well....I'll be taking up classes with her again during my time in HK. It was really great to catch up with her.....

That's not the only encounter that day.....THEN, in the ladies locker room...I ran into this lady...

crazy, huh? I haven't seen Joey in years!!! We worked together a few years back...and never really ran into each other in HK...but, here we are in NY....hahahaa....she even took the same dance class as me the last day I was there....not on purpose!!

More on my birthday in SF to come....

11 comments– Add a comment
Life in NYC

Thursday, Feb 21, 2008 9:15PM / Standard Entry

classes have been going very well. If I could take classes for a living...I think that would definitely be my new career! hahaha...too bad, they cost money. I am now a regular with the classes that I take and my favorite teacher finally knows my name! In the years that I've come back to NY to take her classes..it's only now that she knows! Today I am going to take a vocal lesson. I got in touch with this vocal teacher through a friend and I'm hoping that he will be a good teacher that I could take from when I do move over here.

I've now watched a total of 8 shows!!! Spring Awakening, Ave Q, Is He Dead, Red Chamber (a ballet/modern dance from Beijing), Curtains (with my friend in the cast), August: Osage County (a play with tremendous actors), Piaf: Love Conquers All (a well done one man off Broadway musical), and Fruezabruta (a fun show that is hard to explain, not a musical or play, a show where you stand to watch it and move with the sets...very artsy..and FUN! gotta see it to know)

I've been able to hang out with a lot of my friends in the city. I can't believe how many people I actually know here! There are some people that I haven't seen in years because every time I come back, there isn't time to see all of them! Well, this trip has really made me feel like I'm living here again. It's not so bad commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I've definitely got the hang of the subways now. And I kind of expect them to be late sometimes...or not even come to my stop for 15min....yes, not like HK's MTR AT ALL!!! Oh well..that's NYC for ya! I've definitely explored a lot more of NY during this trip. I can't believe how little I explored when I lived here for 2 years. The food here is sooo expensive..and just going to get coffee is unbelievable! I try my best not to eat out..but, sometimes it's hard when you want to meet up with people. I am improving in my cooking skills..hahaha...

Anyways...I guess not much else to say....but, I thought I'd write a quick blog just to let people know I'm still here....

I have a big audition on Sat. My last audition didn't go too well because I think I chose the wrong song to sing....so, I'm making sure that Sat I am well prepared....wish me luck!

5 comments– Add a comment

3/17

My Music

Marsha Yuan

Stats

Marsha is a well rounded artist who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, New York...
More

Marsha is a well rounded artist who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, New York. While attending AMDA, she trained in singing, acting, and various types of dance including jazz, tap, and ballet. After graduation, Marsha decided to pursue her career in Hong Kong.

She began as a model for Elite Modeling Agency. Then, when she unexpectedly entered in the 1999 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, she received 1st runner-up and continued on to represent Hong Kong and China in the 1999 Miss World Pageant in London. Marsha’s acting career began with the hit TVB sitcom “War of the Genders”. Her character in the sitcom brought her recognition throughout Hong Kong and parts of China. After working for TVB for 1 year, she decided to venture outside of Television and start working in film.

Marsha began her film career in action and martial arts movies for which she had to undergo rigorous training. The hard work paid off as she is now known for her martial arts abilities and it has become one of her many strengths. Marsha also starred in the legendary comedy “Men Suddenly in Black” as well as its sequel. “Men Suddenly in Black 2” has become a box office hit in Hong Kong and her performance in this film has been well received by viewers.

Though Marsha is recognized as a beauty pageant icon and known for her roles as the innocent, naïve girl next door, it wasn’t until later when the public heard her sing. She participated in many musicals in Hong Kong including “Sound of Music”, “Annie”, “Hong Kong Nocturne” and “Musical Moments”. More recently, Marsha was invited to perform in the “Andrew Lloyd Webber Gala” in Estonia along with top vocalists from New York, London, Norway, and Germany. Her voice has been described as being “unique, sweet, and angelic.” Many have called her “the best singer in Hong Kong!” It’s no wonder that many people have been trying to convince Marsha to release her own album.

Well, the persistence has paid off. The sound of her first album is definitely like no other in the world. It is a cross between theatrical/sweet vocals in mandarin mixed with beautifully arranged jazz instrumentals. Now, as a new vocal artist in Hong Kong, Marsha hopes to have more opportunity to do what she loves best… to perform!

“I love to perform it’s my passion in life. I want to sing, dance, and touch people’s hearts with my passion…”

More
Occupation: Singer , Theater , Actor
Gender: Female
Total visits: 220,557