Thursday, February 7, 2008
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.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
"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.
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.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
My trip to Kansas
I tried to take in as much as I could in the one month I was performing "Of Mice and Men" at the Great Plains Theatre in Abilene, KS. But as is the case when you're busy there's always more you could have seen but you do the best you can.
A highlight was visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. Since there's only 12 Presidential libraries in the country it's always a treat to visit one, this was was my 2nd having been to LBJ's in Austin when I was on tour in 2004. What made the Eisenhower Presidential Library so interesting was that his childhood home was there right on it's original sight and contained furniture and other items on display. There was also a Place of Meditation where the President, his wife Mamie and their first born son Doud are laid to rest. An 11-foot stature of the President is located right in the center of the grounds. The library is used for research purposes and houses a letter written by Mary Todd Lincoln to Queen Victoria of England thanking her for sending a condolence letter following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Going through the museum was like walking in a time capsule from the turn of the 20th century to the mid-1960's. There were so many galleries to walk through and absorb, there was The Introductory Gallery, The Temporary Gallery, The First Lady's Gallery, The Military Gallery, The Presidential Gallery and The Education Center which was sponsored by Reader's Digest. Ladies and Gentlemen let me tell you that you've never seen bling until you've seen the jewelry that Mamie Eisenhower wore in her life. Going through the Civil Rights portion of the museum and reading letters from black and white school children of the 1950's giving their opinions about segregation and desegregation was an eye opening experience for me. The last stage of the museum was listening in to phone conversations that President Eisenhower had with then President Johnson concerning Vietnam. I was glad I took a few hours out of my life to go through the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was a fascinating trip.
As far as the performances for "Of Mice and Men" we worked out fannies off as we performed 21 shows in 12 days. We had some really amazing crowds especially from the students who were bussed in from schools in the surrounding areas. During the Q & A section after the shows they asked some wonderful questions. The more I think about it the students were more well behaved than some of the adults who saw the shows in the evenings. During one evening performance a cell phone went off in the middle of a scene and the audience member started having a conversation while still in her seat. There were also lots of nervous laughter from the adults during the dramatic parts of the show. In a time when young people are criticized (and sometimes justly so) for the way they conduct themselves the young people that saw our show were magnificent. As a matter of fact there was one young person, a 17 year old high school junior named Caitlin Shehi who I'll never forget. Caitlin works part-time at the Abeline Public Library and since I'm a library enthusiast I would see her constantly. She had seen the show with her classmates and it was always nice to talk to her not only about the show but about life in general. She would ask me for advice about colleges or peer pressure or some other topic and I would always give my opinion. She has wonderful morals and scruples and is a role models for teenagers across the country. If I ever have a daughter I want her to be just like Caitlin.
All in all I'm thankful for my time in Kansas. From sitting on the porch of the Kirby House restaurant getting my writing on, to going to Manhattan to hang out in Aggieville, from heading over to Maddy's for a $3.25 beef brisket sandwich with a side, to going to the gym and exercising next to 80-85 year old men and women, it was a great time spent in America's heartland and I'm grateful for the opportunity.
A highlight was visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. Since there's only 12 Presidential libraries in the country it's always a treat to visit one, this was was my 2nd having been to LBJ's in Austin when I was on tour in 2004. What made the Eisenhower Presidential Library so interesting was that his childhood home was there right on it's original sight and contained furniture and other items on display. There was also a Place of Meditation where the President, his wife Mamie and their first born son Doud are laid to rest. An 11-foot stature of the President is located right in the center of the grounds. The library is used for research purposes and houses a letter written by Mary Todd Lincoln to Queen Victoria of England thanking her for sending a condolence letter following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Going through the museum was like walking in a time capsule from the turn of the 20th century to the mid-1960's. There were so many galleries to walk through and absorb, there was The Introductory Gallery, The Temporary Gallery, The First Lady's Gallery, The Military Gallery, The Presidential Gallery and The Education Center which was sponsored by Reader's Digest. Ladies and Gentlemen let me tell you that you've never seen bling until you've seen the jewelry that Mamie Eisenhower wore in her life. Going through the Civil Rights portion of the museum and reading letters from black and white school children of the 1950's giving their opinions about segregation and desegregation was an eye opening experience for me. The last stage of the museum was listening in to phone conversations that President Eisenhower had with then President Johnson concerning Vietnam. I was glad I took a few hours out of my life to go through the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was a fascinating trip.
As far as the performances for "Of Mice and Men" we worked out fannies off as we performed 21 shows in 12 days. We had some really amazing crowds especially from the students who were bussed in from schools in the surrounding areas. During the Q & A section after the shows they asked some wonderful questions. The more I think about it the students were more well behaved than some of the adults who saw the shows in the evenings. During one evening performance a cell phone went off in the middle of a scene and the audience member started having a conversation while still in her seat. There were also lots of nervous laughter from the adults during the dramatic parts of the show. In a time when young people are criticized (and sometimes justly so) for the way they conduct themselves the young people that saw our show were magnificent. As a matter of fact there was one young person, a 17 year old high school junior named Caitlin Shehi who I'll never forget. Caitlin works part-time at the Abeline Public Library and since I'm a library enthusiast I would see her constantly. She had seen the show with her classmates and it was always nice to talk to her not only about the show but about life in general. She would ask me for advice about colleges or peer pressure or some other topic and I would always give my opinion. She has wonderful morals and scruples and is a role models for teenagers across the country. If I ever have a daughter I want her to be just like Caitlin.
All in all I'm thankful for my time in Kansas. From sitting on the porch of the Kirby House restaurant getting my writing on, to going to Manhattan to hang out in Aggieville, from heading over to Maddy's for a $3.25 beef brisket sandwich with a side, to going to the gym and exercising next to 80-85 year old men and women, it was a great time spent in America's heartland and I'm grateful for the opportunity.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween, Steinbeck and Abilene
I haven't celebrated Halloween since I was in 8th grade and went to school dressed as Tom Selleck from "Magnum P.I.", hey what can I tell ya, it was the 80's.
Last week we opened "Of Mice and Men" at the Great Plains Theatre in Abilene, KS. I hadn't done any serious theatre for the past year so I felt a little rusty. I kind of felt that way all the way up until the tail end of rehearsal when everything just kind of came together. I'm a firm believer in the theatre goddess whom I call Theatrelonia, she always comes in when the chips are down and saves the day.
We performed our 1st of 6 matinees for students yesterday and I must say this is one of the reasons why I came to Kansas in the first place. Most of these students haven't seen live theatre before or studied John Steinbeck's work so for all intents and purposes we're the launching pad for them. Not to get on my soapbox but it's so important to lay the seed as early as possible for people to get turned onto literature and live theatre. As corny as it sounds even if it touches one of their hearts then we've done a great service to mankind because there's no telling what that one person will do with their future as a result of seeing our show. I've seen it happen time and time again in my travels all over America.
The Sunflower State of Kansas is just how I remembered it when I last performed here in 2004. The plains are just as visually arresting and there's still lots of interesting places to check out. The town I'm performing in is called Abilene which is where our 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower was raised and where his Presidential Library is located. There's some neat places to go in this town, so far I've seen a Rodeo practice and visited the Seelye Mansion and Gardens. Seelye mansion contains Edison light fixtures, 25 bedrooms including a ballroom on the 4th floor, gold French furniture and one of the oldest bowling alley's in the country. The bowling alley is so legendary that the Bowling Hall of Fame offered the estate 3 million dollars for it and was turned down! I bowled a couple of games there and it's looks unlike anything I've ever seen.
Tonight I'll go to a bonfire where I'll eat s'mores, drink hot chocolate and enjoy a crisp fall night here in the Midwest. I won't be dressed as Tom Selleck this time but I'll be thinking of 2 great Halloween poems "hist whist" by e. e. cummings and "5 Little Monsters" by Eve Merriam. When October 31st comes around again you would be well served to perform those poems for your friends and loved ones.
Last week we opened "Of Mice and Men" at the Great Plains Theatre in Abilene, KS. I hadn't done any serious theatre for the past year so I felt a little rusty. I kind of felt that way all the way up until the tail end of rehearsal when everything just kind of came together. I'm a firm believer in the theatre goddess whom I call Theatrelonia, she always comes in when the chips are down and saves the day.
We performed our 1st of 6 matinees for students yesterday and I must say this is one of the reasons why I came to Kansas in the first place. Most of these students haven't seen live theatre before or studied John Steinbeck's work so for all intents and purposes we're the launching pad for them. Not to get on my soapbox but it's so important to lay the seed as early as possible for people to get turned onto literature and live theatre. As corny as it sounds even if it touches one of their hearts then we've done a great service to mankind because there's no telling what that one person will do with their future as a result of seeing our show. I've seen it happen time and time again in my travels all over America.
The Sunflower State of Kansas is just how I remembered it when I last performed here in 2004. The plains are just as visually arresting and there's still lots of interesting places to check out. The town I'm performing in is called Abilene which is where our 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower was raised and where his Presidential Library is located. There's some neat places to go in this town, so far I've seen a Rodeo practice and visited the Seelye Mansion and Gardens. Seelye mansion contains Edison light fixtures, 25 bedrooms including a ballroom on the 4th floor, gold French furniture and one of the oldest bowling alley's in the country. The bowling alley is so legendary that the Bowling Hall of Fame offered the estate 3 million dollars for it and was turned down! I bowled a couple of games there and it's looks unlike anything I've ever seen.
Tonight I'll go to a bonfire where I'll eat s'mores, drink hot chocolate and enjoy a crisp fall night here in the Midwest. I won't be dressed as Tom Selleck this time but I'll be thinking of 2 great Halloween poems "hist whist" by e. e. cummings and "5 Little Monsters" by Eve Merriam. When October 31st comes around again you would be well served to perform those poems for your friends and loved ones.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Moving
It always seems that in the life of an actor there's a tremendous amount of moving involved; from apartments to hotel rooms it's a constant thespian shuffle, the word transient is stamped into our DNA. Last Sunday I moved from my one bedroom apartment in Orlando to another apartment in town, this one with a roommate. I loaded up my car (which I just paid off, yippee) in less than an hour. If there's one thing you need to know about most actors it's that we travel light, you don't want to have too much stuff when you head to your next job. As I prepare to leave for Abilene, Kansas on October 15th to perform "Of Mice and Men" for a month I realized that as much as I've enjoyed living for the past 13 months in Orlando that I'm a gypsy. I've got to be on the move absorbing the different cultures and bio-rhythms of a small town or big city; it fills my soul, strengthens my writing and makes me feel more connected to the universe. So that's why when I tell people that I can't wait to go to Kansas and they look at me like I have a 3rd eye or something it doesn't faze me, because when they see Kansas they see nothing but fields of wheat and when I see Kansas I see a new adventure.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Nikki Giovanni
On Thursday the 13th I went to Valencia Community College to hear Nikki Giovanni speak, what a thrill. Dr. Giovanni is one of the most widely read and respected poets in the world and while you may (or may not) agree with everything she says you have to respect how committed she is to telling her own truth. If anyone encapsulates the phrase "to thine own self be true" it's her. She spoke on a wide variety of topics including Michael Vick, (who was once her student at Virginia Tech) Bill Cosby, (whose comments on the black community to step up and do for self was something she was none too thrilled about) Rosa Parks, (who was the topic of a book that Dr. Giovanni has written about) and the need for more poets of color to get a postage stamp in their honor.
Nikki Giovanni has been on the front lines for poetry and education for years and when I finally got a chance to meet her and give her a kiss on both cheeks I felt like I was kissing history. Being back on a college campus made me realize even more how lucky all the students are to be getting an education and the importance of getting as much out of that experience as possible. As for her poems I would recommend "Kidnap poem", "Ego-tripping", "Nikki-rosa", "Knoxville, Tennessee", "Alone" and "Communication".
While I'm talking about poetry I hope everyone reads a book called "Immersed in Verse" by Allan Wolf. It should be mandatory reading for teachers and students in all schools. It will change the way you look at poetry I guarantee it.
Nikki Giovanni has been on the front lines for poetry and education for years and when I finally got a chance to meet her and give her a kiss on both cheeks I felt like I was kissing history. Being back on a college campus made me realize even more how lucky all the students are to be getting an education and the importance of getting as much out of that experience as possible. As for her poems I would recommend "Kidnap poem", "Ego-tripping", "Nikki-rosa", "Knoxville, Tennessee", "Alone" and "Communication".
While I'm talking about poetry I hope everyone reads a book called "Immersed in Verse" by Allan Wolf. It should be mandatory reading for teachers and students in all schools. It will change the way you look at poetry I guarantee it.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Submissions
Sending out your manuscripts to publishers and magazines is a lot like being an actor and sending out your headshots and resumes to prospective theatres, film companies and the like. When I first started acting professionally 10 years ago it seemed like a never-ending process and that hasn't dissipated much since. One thing is for certain, I take great comfort in how many rejections writers I adore such as Jane Yolen, Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Allan Wolf (just to name a few) have faced. If there's anything I've learned in my years as an actor it's that it's not the end result that matters as much as the journey and all the lessons you learn on that journey that matter. Last Friday I sent out 6 manuscripts as well 13 headshots and resumes to different places in the country. I have a feeling the twain shall meet like that for many, many years to come in my life...and that's all right by me.
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