Catching Up

Well good grief it's been a while hasn't it? Chalk it up to laziness and hard work (is that an oxymoron on what?) So let's get to it.

HOLY CRAP AMERICA VOTED FOR A BLACK MAN AS PRESIDENT!

To say it was one of the greatest moments in my (and many other people's) life is an understatement. I voted early, spread the word about early voting to my co-workers at my survival job, hung out with Generation Obama soaking up their enthusiasm and hoped for the best. Myself and my dear friends Isabel, Gabriel and their family went to downtown Orlando honking horns hi-fiving everybody in sight and saw more black people celebrate with a fervor that hasn't been seen since Mandela got released from prison in 1990. Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD5knRUfznM

HOLY MACKEREL I SHOOK HANDS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA!

I went to hear Presidents Obama and Clinton at the Heritage Park in Kissimmee, FL last week. In a moment of divine goodness (with lots of help from Isabel) we went straight to the front of the line (actually 2 rows back) from where they spoke. Also heard Jimmy Smits of "LA Law, "NYPD Blue" and "West Wing" fame speak as well. Hearing him speak made me realize even more that actors and politicans are very similar in their talent of inducing a crowd into a frenzy. Seeing Barry and Bubba (I go back a long way with both of them) and hearing them speak was just pure happiness. I was contrasting Bubba's honey dipped voice with Barry's pulsating oratory and hearing them together was like listening to the music of their voices was like being at a concerto. As they were going through the line shaking hands I shook #42's slender hands (which brought back memories of when I shook hands with him back in college over 12 years ago) then came #44 who has massive mitts and a firm grip. What made that night even sweeter was...

HOLY COW THE PHILLIES WON THE WORLD SERIES!

My blessings continue! Before Jimmy Smits showed up I borrowed a hand held TV from a friend of mine and was watching Game 5 of the World Series. Since I was born in Philly then moved to the Philly suburbs at the age of 10 this was a big deal for this Keystone Stater. Since I was in enemy territory I had to play it cool as Floridans keep asking me what the score was. I maintained calmness throughout and when my Fightin' Phills won I yelled out "Yes"! Then told the crowd in a solemn voice that took all the acting skill I could muster "The Rays just lost". I remember when the last Philadelphia sports team won ('83 Sixers) and the fireworks that went off in the apartment complexes behind our home is a memory that still seers in my brain. All hail the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies!!!

HOLY SMOKE I GOT PUBLISHED!

Yes it's true my first poem got published in a magazine called "Spotlight on Recovery" out of Brooklyn, NY. They've also accepted 3 other poems of mine and what makes it sweeter is that they're paying me for them. This is a small, wonderful step towards my goal of making my living through poetry in addition to acting. Speaking of which...

HOLY MACANOLI I'M GOING TO BE WORKING AT DISNEY IN THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL SHOW!!!!

There's a new show at the Mouse called "The American Idol Experience" and it works like this... guests at Walt Disney World will audition for judges and whom ever the audience votes for wins. What they win is all sorts of nice prizes. I will playing the role of one of the judges which will be a hoot. I'll be a sub in the role which is fine by me because they're going to pay me for 7 weeks of full-time rehearsal which will help my financial situation considerably. Also it's another show that I know at the Mouse and the more shows you learn (this will be my 3rd) the more they'll call me to work. I'll also through hard work, positive attitude and networking am going to get a full-time acting gig at the Mouse gosh darn it to heck! I'm still working my survival job at Polo and will give them my 2 weeks notice tomorrow and am still working at Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Theatre as well - a job which I will keep as its flights of whimsy satisfy my silliness.

I still continue to write my fanny off and have read another fantastic book about writing. Anyone serious about the craft need to get thee to a bookstore or library to get "The Right to Write" by Julia Cameron. This book gives detailed, encouraging advice to writers looking to get better at the written word. Also well worth your time is "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. This gem gently nudges you to get to the pen and pad and get to scribbling through hard earned advice that Goldberg dispenses with love and affection. Last but certainly not least is a book for all you children's poets out there called "Pizza, Pigs and Poetry" by Jack Prelutsky who is our first Children's Poet Laureate. This book literally goes inside this genius's mind to see how he comes up with his poems. His main advice (which can used for all writers) is to keep a journal with you at all times to jot down ideas when they come to you or else try as you might you'll forget them.

HOLY @#$%$$#@! YOU'RE UP TO DATE WITH MY LIFE!

P.S. I'm so proud of my country right now.

I'm Back

I know I know 5 months since my last post. Honestly it was a combination of being too busy and too lazy not to blog more so let me get you up to date. After wrapping up "As You Like It" at Orlando Shakespeare Theater I went back on tour again with Poetry Alive. For 3 months I was on the road again like Willie Nelson going all over America from Florida to Maine and almost all places in between. A few highlights for me was going back to visit my old school Penrose Elementary in Philly. I hadn't been back there in 24 years and everything looked the same except smaller, or maybe because I had grown considerably since that time. I saw my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Coleman again and she was just as feisty as ever. I also visited my old High School the amazing Penn Wood High in Lansdowne, PA where I saw my former HS teacher and mentor Becky Vandenberg. Not only does she look exactly the same as when I graduated but she like Mrs. Coleman is still on the front lines of education making a difference to young people like I once was (actually still am). I also saw my mother, niece, brother while in the Keystone State. When I got to the Garden State to perform I was able visit my collegiate alma mater Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck/Hackensack, NJ. I was able to see my former college professors/mentors/mother figures Dr. Mary Farrell and Jane "Tinker" Foderaro. Later on that week it was off to see my close, dear friends Keri Cerami and her husband Dan. All this visiting of people and schools on someone else's dime was fantastic (especially with gas prices). Oh by the way I did once and a while perform some poetry shows and conducted some poetry workshops as well ha ha ha. Actually I feel a major difference was made at the schools I performed in because when you believe in what you do good things will occur.
After 3 months of touring I came back to Orlando when I am now. I still work part-time at Disney and have been auditioning for more shows there in order to get a full-time contract. I feel like I am exactly where I need to be at this point in my life. The friendships I've made since coming back especially with my dear friends Isabel Garcia and her husband Gabriel Guerra and their children Olivia and Tafy have enriched my life tremendously because I find that in many ways we're all of like minds. I've also decided to get caught up with President Obama and am reading his book "The Audacity of Hope" and have become good friends with the head of Generation Obama in Orlando (and close friend of Isabel and Gabriel) the lovely Sybil McKinzy. Being away from Orlando for a spell also made me realize how much I missed my Writers group in Celebration, FL. Since coming back I've deepened my friendships with 2 members of the Writers Group Jan Eldredge (whose Middle School novel "Demon House" will one day be on the best seller list) and Barb Nefer (who is an inspiration to me because of the amount writing of her that's been published all over the country). Since coming back I've gone camping, karaoking, dinner partying and whirlpool hanging with some of the people mentioned above.
I feel good that I'm going to get a full-time contract with Disney before long and will continue to not only write and submit my butt off but continue to spend time with people who love me and have my back. As for writing I've been published in the Evening Sun thanks to my poem "Mr. Excitement" and long-time highly respected children's poet Kalli Dakos is using my poem "I Miss My Grandma" as a teaching tool in her workshop "Poetry About Loss". I also now work at Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Theatre in Orlando playing a character of my own creation named Remington Card, Wacky Security Guard. I got that job because the amazing Laurel Clark who works at Sleuth's saw me perform at Orlando Shakespeare Theater became my MySpace friend and next thing you know I've got another job. The gig pays for gas money and groceries and they give you a free meal everytime you work there which is music to my tummy.
Last but finally not least welcome to the new and improved charleswaters.net. Isabel updated it to the nth degree giving it a funky, kitchy look that brings the website to life. While Jameson my original web designer did a phenomenal job to start it all Isabel has picked up the baton and ran with it faster than FloJo. My goal is to stay in Orlando for the next year and a half and continue to be darn grateful to my friends here and the life I am carving out.

What a day

Okay here's the scoop. Due to lack of finding work in Orlando either at the Mouse (I sub at Disney but haven't been able to lock down a full-time position there) or any kind of survival job I will be touring once more with Poetry Alive for at least the next 4-6 weeks (or maybe more) starting this Sunday when I drive to Georgetown, SC to begin shows on Monday. Sometimes we do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do and this is one of those instances. One of the things I'll miss about being in Orlando is the great writers group that I'm privilged to be a part of. If there were some way I could have stayed and make a living here I would have but as of right now that ain't happening. I do love touring so this is good news and I'll still be based here for now. In addition to finding out I'm going on the road again I also found out today that my uncle died in his sleep of a heart attack at the age of 51. He always treated me well and didn't have a mean bone in his body. At around the same time a dear friend of mine (who is literally like an aunt to me) was rushed into surgery with a bursted blood vessel in her brain and is in critical condition. So if you all could do me a favor and keep them and their families in your thoughts and pass positive vibes into the cosmos I would be most grateful. Thank you.

"As You Like It"

I've been lazy about writing on my blog for which there's no excuse. Since my last posting I've been rehearsing and am currently performing in "As You Like It" at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. It has been a wonderful learning experience for me. The show's magnificent director Dan McCleary is a member of Shakespeare and Company in Massachusetts and his detail-oriented approach to text and character falls in line with the methods of my friend Sally Wood former Artistic Director of The Theatre of Monmouth who directed me in "Othello" and also spent time at Shakespeare and Company. I'll tell you what, when the day arrives that I make some good money from acting one of the first things I'm doing haste post haste even on the instant is enrolling in classes at Shakespeare and Company.
In "As You Like It" I play Charles the Wrestler which is the first time I've ever played a character with the same name as mine. The character to me in the beginning of the play seems like an ill-tempered sort but later I realized (with the help of Dan) that in reality he's just doing his job of beating up all the men he encounters, that is until he faces the character of Orlando (played by Tyler Hollinger, a hard working actor with a bright future ahead of him) who opens up a can of whip a** on yours truly.
I've learned so much about stage combat from our fight captain Ben Cole a patient, intense, giving man whom I have a lot of respect for. As a matter of fact I think that sums up my experience so far at OST...respect. I respect the cast and crew so much for the hours all of them put in to make this show a reality. I'd like to give a special shout out to our Assistant Stage Managers Annie and Andrea for being so kind and upbeat no matter how much grunt work they have to do. Another shout out goes to our Wardrobe Specialists AraBella and Erin, who get our costumes ready and without whose help I wouldn't be able to do my quick changes during the show. I have a feeling they're getting tired of me saying "thank you" to them so much yet I'm going keep doing it because it comes from my heart.
I've been asking lots of questions about acting and about life from some of the actors in our cast, a few of whom have been acting professionally for many years. Eric Zivot who play Jacques and Brad DePlanche who plays Touchstone are seated on opposite sides of me in the dressing room and both couldn't be nicer and more giving with advice on how to keep your head above water in this chaotic business. I've also developed a deep fondness for the 2 female lead actors who may have years of experience but are as young as a rose and a buttercup blossoming on a spring morning. Polly Lee who plays the lead role of Rosalind and Susannah Millonzi (another Shakes and Co. alum) who plays the role of Celia are a pleasure not only to watch but also to listen to as they speak Shakespeare's beautiful language with clarity and purpose. From observing them I actually started using their method of collecting one's thoughts and staying within one's self before going onstage. Prior to that I use to mingle while waiting in the wings which I noticed would sometimes throw me a little off-kilter when I got onstage and it would take me a couple of seconds for me to focus. However since I started using their method I feel more focused and in the moment when I go on stage and hence I feel my performances are better. So thank you Susannah and Polly, you both motivate me to do the best I can just like Sally Wood did when I was at Monmouth.
I believe in mining as much out of any experience as possible (especially in your chosen profession). Personal and professional improvement are as vital to a human being as breathing.