June 11th 2007 - "The TOny Party"

Last night as people around the country watched the 61st Annual Tony Awards on CBS from their living rooms, hotel rooms, etc. I was at A restaurant called "Providence" with the entire cast of 'A Chorus Line' for their Tony View Party. As I arrived, the Chorus Line cast members that had just performed at the Tonys were arriving at Providence, having just walked over from Radio City MuSic Hall where the Awards were being presented. I walked into the restaurant and my eyes grew wide. The place was gorgeous. Two floors of a breathtaking room were filled with men in suits and some of the most beautiful women I've ever met in person waltzing around in gowns. Free drink and free food abounded. It must be nice to be connected to a show that has money to burn!

HOw was I afforded such an opportunity? Why, Aaron Albano of course. Currently starring in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" as Chip Tolentino, Aaron was briefly a part of The "CHorus Line" cast as a vacation swing. He was invited to the Viewing party of course, and then naturally invited me to go with him! Very Dashing in his three-piece Suit, he cavorted around the room saying hi to a myriad of friends and introducing me to The cast.

The main floor had been cleared and filled with seats facing the two walL-Sized projection screens Playing the TOnys. Aaron and I mingled with the crowd, then all at once the room grew hushed and everyone was riveted to the screen. I realized They were presenting the Tony Award for "Best Revival of a Musical" and "A Chorus Line" was nominated. It Dawned on me that I was surrounded by a group of people who were all hoping to Win A Tony Award Tonight. That was sobering. I held my breath with them and waited, then was crestfallen when "Company" won instead of "A Chorus Line." As The people around me shrugged it off and patted each other on the back, another sobering moment took place. ON the two gigantic T.V. Screens, Producer Richard Frankel was accepting the Tony Award on Behalf of "Company."

Richard Frankel is the producer of "The Fantasticks!" as well.

Richard Frankel was in the audition room the day I Had my callback and was cast in "The Fantasticks!"

Richard frankel Had shaken my hand after seeing our show the night I joined the cast.

Turns out I DID know the person who won the award for Best REvival of a Musical! Richard frankel gave his speech as I shook my head and smiled. It was even funnier, however, when Kevin Spacey walked onto the screen to present another Tony award. "I've met him too!", I thought. I had spent a morning working with him! Then finally, as the cast of "Spring Awakening" performed their medley from the show I thought of our softball game earlier that week which we had played against them, and how Brian Charles Johnson had played a Fierce third base against us. Now I was watching him jump around the stage singing "The Bitch of Living" with the rest of the cast.

As exciting as this all was, I have to admit it took some of the magic out of watching the tonys. It was a an odd, double-edged feeling. It no longer seemed like this distant dream that I longed for, it was now a blistering reality that many of my friends were enjoying! It felt good to be so close to the dream, but scary as well. Perhaps next time I'll actually be in attendance at The Tonys, watching one of my closest friends receiving an award! Britta Ollmann perhaps...

Perhaps.

-Nick

June 4th 2007 - "The Workshop"

Today I spent my afternoon in a workshop with actor Kevin Spacey. I have recently been cast in a program he runs called, "Old Vic: New Voices - The 24 Hour Plays." In effect, a group of writers, Directors and actors come together and meet each other. THe writers have a certain amount of time over night to write a short play each, then the following morning the directors and actors show up and rehearse, stage, and tech the plays, and by the end of the 24 hours there is a performance of all the plays open to the public!

So today we met with Kevin Spacey to work on "creating a company of young actors who can rely on each other, work with each other, and contact each other as we all grow up together in this business." We began (Don't Laugh) by sitting in a circle and then playing a theater game where everyone walks around the stage at random and then Kevin shouted, "Find a Toe Partner!" Which meant you had to touch toes with the person nearest you, and everyone had to end up with a partner. This was followed by Elbow Partners, Back Partners, High Five Partners, etc. It was silly, but put everyone in a fun mood and made us quite comforatable with one another. This was followed by many of us, in turn, being asked to talk about our worst audition experience ever. I recounted my tale of auditioning for Hairspray my freshman year of college and completley forgetting the lyrics to the song I was trying to sing. Many others had similar tales and Kevin said it sounded like the common thread was that we hadn't prepared enough. In other words we hadn't Done our jobs.

This made me slightly nervous as we were about to perform monologues for him next, and I had only learned mine a night or two before. It probably wasn't as prepared as I would have liked it to be. But I got up onstage and it went fine. KEvin laughed at me when I admitted a circumstance of the monologue to him as if it were of little consquence to which he replied, "Well THAT certainly significant!" Ah well... I appreciated that he was dressed casually in jeans and a Hoodie.

Funny how we forget that movie stars are real people too.

-Nick

May 29th 2007 - "The Trio"

This week I got the chance to go on as Matt in "The Fantasticks!" and was treated to an interesting experience. The way things worked out, I performed opposite a different Luisa each night I was on! The first was Julie Craig who was playing her last performance before she left for another job. Then the second show was with Whitney Bashor who just recently joined our show as a Luisa/Mute understudy. And finally I shared the stage with Betsy Morgan who is taking over the role of lUisa for a short while before she leaves town with the cast of "The Little Mermaid" for their out of town tryout.

I suppose the task was daunting at first, but quickly I realized how lucky I was. What better way to explore and play in a role than to bounce your instincts and interpretations off of three different, brilliant Actors playing opposite you? All the performances were charged not only with a slight sense of uncertainty, but also excitement as each night I took the stage with a new Luisa. I could not have been happier to get the chance to work with all of them and found myself drawing no comparisons between the three, as each gave their own Unique, delightful performance.

Thanks to all three for a wonderful Trio of performances!

-Nick

April 15th 2007 - "The fire Alarm"

I couldn't resist the "office-esque" title to this post. I hope the re-telling I'm about to do does justice to the story!

On Sunday I was called, amidst a ridiculously hectic schedule, to go on as 'Matt' in The fantasticks. It surprised me, as Doug is leaving us soon and I assumed he would be performing come hell or high water. But the show must go on, so I got to the theater, put on my new jeans (much more comfy than the old ones) And hit the stage. It had been almost 8 weeks since I performed the role last, and I certainly had to dust of my performance accordingly. It was also my first time performing the show with Julie Craig! Which was a pleasure of course.

The Performance was going along swimmingly. We had a decent audience, I hadn't forgotten any lines, and we were near the end. Julie and I were in the middle of "They Were You", about 8 bars from the end of the song, and just as julie finished a beautiful "Theeeyyyy Weeerrre Youu..." I was about to echo her when suddenly BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEp! The fire alarm suddenly started blaring in the theater! Only the slightest change could be read in Julie's eyes, which I was staring into of course. I couldn't say what my own reaction was like. But I sure hope I covered alright... We finished the song, and honestly I was about to go on with the scene when Julie's eyes shifted over my shoulder, and I felt the presence of burke Moses behind me. "Ummm, I think that's the fire alarm" He said. (Very astute Burke...) "We may have to evacuate the theater."

Our stage manager came down the aisle and began trying to silence the alarm. Meanwhile, it continued to blare, BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEp! Julie and I could do nothing but stand center stage holding hands, slightly bewildered and a little shaken to have our most tender moments in the show so terribly interrupted. As we waited awkwardly, Burke sauntered over and whispered, "We were so close! I mean, we're 6 lines from the end of the show!" At that moment, the beeping ceased and a hushed huzzah tremored through the audience. Burke suggested we pick up from the last verse of the song and move into the scene, and just as we were about to... BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEp! You've got to be kidding me...

We continued to wait as burke pandered to the audience, offering a dollar to anyone who could breakdance to the beat of the alarm. NExt he announced that in the interim I would be performing selections from my Book of songs. Oh burke... Despite his quick wit and silver tongue, our school-group audience began shouting "We want mortimer! Bring out mortimer!" calling, of course, for Bobby Oliver, a favorite in our show.

The weird thing was that the lights stayed in the same cue. They were very dim, so we couldn't see the audience at all. I felt so out of my body standing onstage knowing a full house was watching me, out of character. After another false silencing of the alarm, Tom Jones himself walked out onstage. He apologized to the audience and then said, "I'll tell you what, Here's how it ends. The boy and the girl get back together and it's a happy ending." And as if scripted, burke chimed in with, "But first there's a moment where the boy says to el Gallo, 'hey don't make fun of my father!' and I say to him, 'I am your father!!!" Oh burke...

At that point, we all simply wandered off-stage. No goodbye. no 'thank you for coming'. No curtain call. The music kicked in and we all started changing backstage. Really it was all quite surreal. What an odd profession... But fun.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEp!

-Nick

April 6th 2007 - "ALIVE At 10 / Happy Trails to Sarah"

ON Tuesday, April 3rd I had the unparalleled pleasure of performing in a reading of a new musical titled, "ALive at 10" Written by Kirsten Guenther and composer Ryan Scott Oliver. The reading took place after 3 days of rehearsal, and was attended by such other musical theater gurus as William Finn (Composer of 'Spelling Bee', 'A New Brain', and 'The Falsettos') and Larry O'Keefe (Composer of 'Bat Boy' and 'Leagally Blonde'). THe performance, while not perfect, was a wonderful success! The cast was superb, and Director Ryan McKenian will be mounting a production this summer.

I can't explain the excitement I felt working on original material! First of all, the show is brilliant! Both the book and music are some of the best stuff I have encountered, and from such young writers! I have only the highest hopes for both of them. While approaching my character, Jake, who is seduced by his teacher, ends up killing her husband and goes to jail for it, I saw limitless possibilities ahead of me. No one had performed the role before, giving me pre-determined parameters to work in. It was so freeing, and though I was still hesitant to go whole hog with my original ideas, it was a good first try at original Material. I can't Wait for my chance to do it again!

I'm going to try and post some audio samples from the reading on the 'Songs' page of my website. For more information on composer Ryan Scott Oliver and his goings-on, visit: www.ryanscottoliver.com

On a completely different note, last night at 'The Fantasticks' we had to say a very sad goodbye to our Luisa, Sarah Ford. There were several moments during the show when I nearly broke down in tears because she was leaving. Her performance has always been so magical to me. I've loved watching her simply own the role of Luisa and let it play from night to night. She is definitely a young performer that I look up to and admire in a big way. We all held it together through the performance though, and said our heartfelt goodbyes downstairs at Harmony Bar after some drinks. Sarah moves on to bigger and better things though: Her Broadway Debut! Congratulations Sarah!

We'll Miss you very much.

-Nick

March 30th 2007 - "Loving This Business "

I'm still in a bit of shock that I made it to the end of this long, long day...

it began early this morning at The Salvation Army theater where I performed with my castmate Julie craig for hundreds of screaming New York school children. feeling like some kind of superstar I performed "Soon it's gonna Rain" and "Go The Distance". WHile singing the second, the applause thundered in before I even finished singing the last note. (Though I think with these kids I could have been singing "happy Birthday" and still gotten the same response")

I had to rush away from that performance and jump on the subway to get up to The Equity Building for an Audition for a production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" that The Cape Playhouse is doing this summer. I was already running late, but I got there as quickly as possible and flashed my equity card to get inside for my first audition ever at Equity. I ran into my friend Gary Lindeman who I did the show with this summer, and we caught up quickly. They were fine with me running a bit late, and the audition was amazingly easy! (I suppose having just done the role this summer helped a bit) I sang "What Do I need with love" and they seemed pleased, then I read two of the sides (scenes) for Jimmy, and the director told me, "well, that was a great audition, thanks for coming in!" As I walked out he mentioned having seen my production of "The Sounds Of Plaid" at NYU and that he was a friend of Stuart Ross', I stopped to chat about that show for a moment to end on a positive note before bolting out the door to head downtown for the rehearsal I was late for.

Now i was starting to wear down a little. IT wasn't even lunchtime! I made it back for about an hour of rehearsal, then had quick lunch break, then back to rehearsal to begin a read-through of the entire show. At six I had just enough time to grab a bite to eat, stop at home, then head up The theater for the show. We performed to a near-sold-out crowd (Always a nice surprise) and collected for "Broadway Cares: EQuity Fights Aids" and I made it home by 11PM.

I have to admit, I am exhausted. But I can't complain! This is exactly what I want to be doing. Although it does leave me beat at the end of the day, there were so many moments throughout that made it so worth it. The idea that this could be what my life will be like from here on out is daunting, but exciting. Who knows... that's the scary thing... Anyway, I swear this had a point... Eh, I guess I'm just zonked, but content. It was a good, long day.

A good, long day.

-nick

March 24th 2007 - "Return from Paradise"

So here is a long awaited update to my journal. Well, long awaited if you actually check my site often enough I suppose... I really have no idea if anyone has that much of an interest in this thing, but what have I got to lose.

I've just returned from a week's vacation in Maui with two of my siblings. It was probably one of the best weeks I've ever had, but eventually I had to return to reality, which meant coming home to snow, a leaking apartment, and The fantasticks! The first two were certainly met with distain... But it's always nice to come home to the show!

On wednesday I took the stage as "the Mute" for the first time in NINE DAYS - which doesn't sound like a huge deal, but it was the first time I've had more than two days away from the show since the middle of October, so it felt a little weird. But the world doesn't stop for a Spangler-Vacation, so the show must go on! It was amazing how hard it was to jump back in after only a short sabbatical. You would think that after something like 150 performances of the same role it would take quite some time to leave you... But as we performed the show on wednesday afternoon, I felt clunky and obtrusive, just like i did when i first started doing the role. I was even jumping the gun on my reaction time to many of the other people onstage, commenting on what they were saying before they even said it! By the end of the show I finally realized that i needed to stop trying so hard and just let the show play.

That evening's performance was completely different though! With one show under my belt I felt completely back in control of "The Mute" and even did a little discovery work in certain moments. There were one or two things that the cast had changed while I was away so I worked myself into those bits, and just generally had a good time re-exploring the show. My focus had completely returned, and I no longer felt like i was doing a dis-service to the role or the show.

Now I'm back in the full swing of things, and the show continues to be fun. We lose two cast members soon, so come and check it out before the cast is completely shaken up!

Sigh... Paradise...

-Nick

February 28th 2007 - "Matt Vs. Mute "

And so I come to the end of my week-long run as matt. And It's been one heck of a week! I had My family fly here from California, as well as an old voice teacher, and an old director! And I had a countless number of friends come up to see the show and support me. It really touched me how many people offered their time to come and see it. It just made the whole week so much more fulfilling!

It was funny to see how fast I had forgotten how much fun it is to be able to speak in a performance! As soon as my first show this week was in full swing i just thought, "Oh yeah, i'm a real person now, just stay receptive and react!" Not that being the Mute isn't fulfilling... I just suppose I've gotten into such a groove with that character (I should hope so, after over 130 performances in the role!) That it was such a pleasure to embody someone else. Each performance truly felt like the first time i was living the story.

Most of that is attributed to this amazing, amazing cast I am working with. I mean, Sarah Jean Ford is just too much for words! Being onstage with her is like living a real-life situation. It's exciting, it's new, it's fun: every single time! It goes for the rest of the cast as well. They way they all just allow you to play while you're up there is wonderful.

What i hope to take away from the experience is to know that you will never finish exploring a character. We do things in life that surprise Even ourselves, so why shouldn't we do so onstage? i look forward to the next chance I get to perform the role of "matt" and see where that evening takes me. In the meantime, I can look forward to new experiences as "The Mute" and perhaps He will surprise me too!

The Possibilities are endless.

-Nick

February 6th 2007 - "The Proposal "

Tonight I was part of something truly amazing. Last week, a gentleman called our company Manager and asked if he could propose to his girlfriend onstage at our theater after our show. Of course we said yes, and this evening the plan was carried out!

After the final company bow in our curtain call, Burke moses quickly silenced the room by putting a finger to his lips and said, "You wonder how these things begin..." The entire room was rapt with attention, wondering what was happening. Burke continued, "This begins in the theater... It begins in season which for want of a better word me might as well call... February." His borrowed lines of dialogue from the show were setting the mood perfectly. He walked to where the couple was sitting and pulled the young woman up onstage. She was completely unaware of what was about to happen. Burke sat her down on the box center stage and motioned for the Groom-to-be to come and join her as he said, "There is something in the air..." At that moment I stepped up on the bench behind them and began to softly sprinkle the couple with paper snow as burke said, "It is a cold, february night, and something is in the air."

Cue the harp. As harvey schmidt's utterly beautiful "Glen Speech" underscoring began to play from our harp, this young gentleman got down on a knee and began, "Today I have come to a crossroads in my life..." Members of our audience began to gasp as they realized what was happening in front of them. The future bride was in shock. I stood above them, continuing to sprinkle the snow on them as the man slowly and sincerely spoke some of the most important words of his life. He came to the end of his speech with, "Will you share the rest of your life with me?" And the woman pulled herself to him by way of accepting.

This all happened at my feet. I've known it was going to happen for at least a week, and yet as it all unfurled below me, I could hardly believe it. This was a moment that many people in that theater will never forget. This was the power of live experience. As lasting and far reaching as film and television are, they will never equate to the electricity flowing through a theater full of people for a live performance. It's a daunting profession to be a part of, but worth every moment of anxiety. It is unforgettable.

A happy future to the Bride and groom.

-Nick

January 28th 2007 - "Goodbye Leo"

It is with a heavy heart that The cast of The Fantasticks bids a fond farewell to Leo Burmester, whose contract ended with this evening's performance. Leo performed the role of Hucklebee, and was part of the original revival cast, but unfortunately took a major leave of absence from the show just as I joined the cast due to a knee injury. He Returned two months later, and finished out his contract in good form. He'll be missed for his incredible good nature, and the sheer energy he brought to the stage.

Leo's last performance was a special one. Right out of the gate we were all in it to win. Of course we had some special friends in the audience, which never hurts! But it was a nice revitalization of some stale moments. You could see everyone make the most of every moment, prolonging the inevitable end of the night. It was an incredible pleasure to watch Leo, as he has an immense talent to simply let a scene play, and just explore a scene with whomever is onstage with him.

It's funny. At a recent performance I found myself thinking, "Oh good, a responsive audience. That's always nice, since the Audience is the only thing about the show that changes from night to night." How wrong I was! So many of Leo's moments were completely new, yet completely truthful. He's truly the kind of performer I aspire to be.

As we all exited the theater together post-show to grab a "goodbye drink" at the Harmony Bar Downstairs, the evening was capped brilliantly. As we stepped into the chilly January air, a light, beautiful snow was falling. At 10 PM on a Sunday evening, Times square was relatively silent. sarah Jean ford began skipping around in delight, and A sense of completeness washed over the group. Although it was a sad end to a wonderful time with Leo, we could not have asked for a better goodbye.

To Fond Farewells, and New Beginnings. Goodbye Leo.

-Nick

January 25th 2007 - "On Your Toes "

Two things have happened in the past two days to shake things up a bit at the show. Yesterday I was called to go on as Matt once again. It's been about a month since the last time, and the call was somewhat unexpected! It's funny how something like that can change your day. Suddenly I needed to warm up and be right on top of my game. Also, it was the first time I would be doing the role of Matt with Leo Burmeister playing my father - which of course was a blast! I'm really starting to anticipate my week on as Matt in February.

THen tonight, back in my mute-garb and Top Hat, we had a substitute Pianist/conductor, Jana, who shook things up right from the get-go! The overture started, and it was quite a bit faster than we're used to... Suddenly we were scrambling to get into place, I was nearly late throwing the squares in the air, and we all made it to the final pose a little out of breath. But with big smiles on our faces! This was something different! Suddenly, the entire cast was much more present than at a normal performance, and the show was certainly starting off on the right foot.

The tempos continued to be speedier than usual, with Burke barely spitting out all the lyrics to "Depends on what You Pay" and the love duet "Soon it's gonna Rain" being a bit livelier than normal. It could have thrown some of us off, but instead it gave the show a fresh breath of life, and made for a Much more fulfilling experience. in the end, we only shaved 2 or 3 minutes off the show as a whole, but the evening passed so much more quickly! Funny how something small like that can make a difference in the entire performance!

I wonder what will happen next.

-Nick

January 21st 2007 - "Balance"

Between shows today, Burke, Doug, and I continued our Sunday ritual of eating dinner at the Tonic Sports bar in Times Square TO catch whatever Pro Football game happens to be on that day. In fact, we were even joined by Leo Bermester as well today! As we sat watching a killer game, Bears vs. Saints (Go Bears -- See you at the Superbowl!) I felt a wonderful balance in My life.

In a deafening room, so far removed from New York theater, and from "The Fantasticks" most of all, I was really very happy to have a complete break from it all. As Much as I love the job, and I love the show, it was nice to look around and just be hanging with some guys, eating a burger, and watching some football. It definitely made my day when we were joined at our table by a rowdy group of girls from Chicago, all wearing Bears Jerseys and screaming at the top of their voices. Talk about a dinner break...

It was just so nice to think that I'm content with my job, the people I'm spending my time with, the things I'm doing in my free time, and even with school. As hectic as it all is, and will remain for the next three months, This incredible balance has settled over me. There isn't too much of any one thing. And I don't feel a lack of any one thing either.

Back at the theater, as I dressed for our second show, I relived in my head the exciting second half of the game, when the Bears just embarrassed the saints with a safety, two interceptions, and a final score of 39-14. My final thought before the overture started that night was that I could really get used to this... It was a nice thought.

-Nick

January 19th 2007 -

As our crowds finally begin to dwindle, and the cheer backstage begins to fade, tonight I was reminded of something important. Sitting in the front row of our rather morose audience tonight was a young girl of about 6 or 7 who could not have been happier to be at the theater. To see her face light up when Sarah walked onstage was a pure joy. But the true delight was to watch her face when Bobby Oliver (Our Mortimer) took the stage!

As our favorite indian performed his schtick, this young audience member could barely contain herself! A wide open smile, thrillingly high pitched laugh, and even a consistent Knee-slap! Had this reaction come from an adult audience member, it would have been ridiculous and comical. But in this case, I could see the genuine joy emanating from her, and I in turn could hardly keep from cracking a smile.

As I watched this girl from my stage-right perch on the trunk, I was so pleased to see that we were affecting this one person in such a big way. Forget the grim looks on the rest of the faces surrounding us! So long as this child was smiling, I felt completely fulfilled and content with the show.

My biggest smile came at the end of the first act, when Tom Jones, as Henry, sadly comments, "There's usually an audience... somewhere..." I thought, yes, there is. And there always will be. In the present theatrical climate, where a show has to make millions of dollars in its first weeks in order to "succeed", we often forget that we can succeed on an individual level. So long as there is one smiling person in an audience, the rest of the seats could be empty for all I care.

It was a very satisfying experience. I left the theater in a better mood than I have in some time. And as I stepped out of the theater door onto Broadway, I couldn't help but be reminded of a joke Ellen DeGeneres makes at the beginning of her standup. As she is greeted by a roar of applause for simply walking onstage, she says "Thank you, what a wonderful way to start work." As I stepped into the lights of Times Square, I felt the same way. What a wonderful way to leave work. I paused for a moment and took it all in. It's a crazy world, but you have to find those moments of pure contentment -- pause - then continue forward!

Thank you to that small audience member.

-Nick

January 8th 2007 -

Well, I thought I would add this page in case anyone visited the site more often than I updated it. This way, hopefully, they'll have something new to see/Read! But only time will tell how often I actually update it! Tonight we'll make it a short one, as it's late and I just spent a while updating the site with the guestbook. If you like the idea of the journal, let me know via the guestbook! It's pretty easy to use...

The Fantasticks continues to be a wonderful and fulfilling experience! We've just had five incredibley responsive - and full - audiences in a row (Something we're not exactly used to) and It's filling us all with hope for the new year. As January is often a Death knell for many New York shows, we were somewhat worried how we would fare in the post holiday season. But these audiences have been wonderful. And the fact that they're young audiences is even more exciting! The show proves to endure even into this generation.

This coming Tuesday The cast will finally be whole for the first time in several months. Leo Burmester has been out due to a surgery for quite some time, and Tom Jones is currently taking a week off for his health. But Tuesday he returns and we will have a performance in which no understudy appears onstage! (Knock on wood) The celebration will be short lived, however, as the following day Sarah Jean Ford takes a week vacation to perform in a reading of a new musical in London. We'll miss her presence, but best of luck to you Sarah!

Alright, I suppose that's all I really have to say at the moment. If this journal idea is really that interesting, please take a moment to let me know - or if the opposite is true and you think it's just a waste, don't censor yourself! I appreciate the honesty and won't take it personally. But if you're interested, continue to check back (You could even bookmark this page!) and I'll continue to fill you in on the goings-on backstage and onstage at The Snapple Theater Center (So embarrassing...) If you haven't made it out to see the show yet, please do! It really is a wonderful piece, and we'd love to stay open! All my best to everyone out there.

-Nick