Shakespeare's Hokey Pokey - 'tis what its all about

Alas that venerable bard, Shakespeare hath invented a language of its own and 'tis become great sport to translate the language of the common masses unto its rules (or lack thereof)

Had Shakespeare written that childhood classic song and dance, the Hokey Pokey, it might have gone something like this....

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

10-Commandments for Theatre

I. The Director is God. Thou shalt not take notes from friends nor family, coaches nor critics.

II. Thou shalt not take the name of thy producer thy angel in vain, for he shall sign thy checks.

III. Remember thou keep holy the half-hour; keep in mind that an actor is never on time, an actor is always early....

IV. Honor thy author and thy composer, for in the beginning were the words and the notes.

V. Thou shalt not kill laughs nor step on lines; still, thou shalt pick up thy cues.

VI. Thou shalt not adulterate thy performance, for thy stage manager is always watching.

VII. Thou shalt not steal scenes nor focus nor props.

VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness in thy bio nor résumé; indeed, thou shalt be truthful in thy entire performance.

IX. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's lines; for truly, there are no small parts, only small actors.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's good fortune; for in fact, all actors must pay their dues.

This above all: The Show Must Go On

Sordid Lives - Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!

That is... if you live in Austin, Round Rock, or surrounding areas. Rehearsals are well under way, and for the most part going very well. The set is nearing completion, the props are making their way into the actors' hands, and the costumes are appearing on the hangers in the greenroom. I am excited to see it all coming together, and it looks like we will have some really good houses. As of this morning, we have 146 reservations. Since the theatre only seats 50, and we have 14 performances, simple math tells us that we are 20% sold with two weeks to go to opening. Simple logic says... get your reservation now at http://www.sambasstheatre.org!

This has pretty much consumed my free time for the last few week, thus the absence of posts. But I have managed to teach myself some string tricks (ie - Jacob's Ladder, teepee, et al), find jeans that can be removed on stage over my boots, and acquire some removable facial hair. If you need a good laugh, and enjoy silly humour, come on out. I look forward to seeing you!

Acting Up & Speaking Out - May 1st & 2nd

The date is drawing close. My friend, CiCi, will be doing her one-woman show at Sam Bass Community Theatre this weekend. Shows are Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd at 8:00 pm. She has worked very hard to put together a great evening of entertainment and education about the ups and downs of her life with Crohn's Disease. After the show, there will be a small reception with CiCi and her friend Alex to answer any questions, or just to mix and mingle with your fellow attendees. Tickets are $15 each, and 100% of that total will go to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. You can make a reservation by emailing my13miles@gmail.com. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute to the cause, you can do that too at: http://www.my13miles.com.

Sordid Lives Rehearsals Begin Tonight

I have been cast in my next play. Sordid Lives by Del Shores, and directed by Frank Benge. We open May 15th at Sam Bass Community Theatre in Round Rock, and I will be playing Odell Owens. I have been trying to get a bit of insight into my character, since being cast, and have managed to find the following quote on an old, archived website:

"Jacob's ladder, witches hat... two tricks in one. Oh, sorry, I was in the middle of one of my string tricks. That's my hobby. String tricks. I'm Odell. Odell Owens. I started doing string tricks after the accident, about twenty years ago. See, I used to be the postman in Winters, Texas. It was a good job, paid good and had good health benefits. But then one day, a pitbull that was tied up by these trashy folks' trailer -- their name was Winkler. They lived out on Route 5 in the Shady Grove Trailer Court. Anyway, this pitbull named Killer got lose, chased me down the road and bit off half my left butt cheek. It left me scarred, inside and out. I'm sorry. Give me a minute. The memory of that pitbill named Killer biting about one quarter of my ass still haunts me. So, I'm on disability. I can't work. It's a psychological thing."

The character is the type that has a story for everything... although the relation to what's going on may not make sense to anyone but himself. And every story has shaped or scarred him in some way. I'm really somewhat excited about this play for several reasons. 1 - I've heard great things about Frank as a director, and am really looking forward to learning some things from him. 2 - It's an extremely funny story... "A Black Comedy About White Trash". 3 - This character is very different from anyone else that I have played in a long time. I have recently been playing either authoritarian figures or working class Joes, but always someone with all of their mental faculties. The chance to "turn off" my brain a bit seems fun to me. 4 - I've worked with some of the other cast members before, and they are a talented bunch. I'm looking forward to being a part of a great, energetic, and enthusiastic cast.

All in all... this has the makings of one of the funniest shows that you will have a chance to see this spring. I highly encourage you to put it on your calendar. Go to http://www.sambasstheatre.org to make a reservation (and people are already making them) or to read more about the play.

Last Weekend for Human Sketches

"Rebecca Guare is a single mother and a college dropout trying to make ends meet. Leticia Martindale is a successful and acclaimed New York artist who finds herself at a creative standstill. Rebecca desperately needs a purpose. Leticia desperately needs inspiration. Two women from wildly different lifestyles try to find what they need in each other, and ultimately find much more than they originally bargained for. Human Sketches, an original contemporary play by local playwright Trey Deason, is a heartfelt and moving depiction of the unique bond between artist and model. This beautiful story demonstrates how pain can inspire, how art can heal, and how so much humanity can be contained within a simple sketch."

I've seen this play twice now. The first time at the end of the rehearsal process, and the second time this past weekend. It is a truly great play, and an Austin original to boot! The cast really brings these characters to life: from the vulnerability of the struggling mother to the aloof, worldly artist to the confused, but good-hearted boyfriend. Each character has a story to tell, and at times you feel the pain and joy of each of their lives. In the end, you understand that this play is a sketchbook of sorts for the writer, and that the "human sketches" are the people we meet on the street every day.

There are three more chances to see it. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 pm at Sam Bass Community Theatre in Round Rock. Make your reservations online at http://www.sambasstheatre.org, and DO NOT miss your chance to see this!

The Reviews are In

Well, we've got one week under our belts, and two reviews posted online. From the looks of things, people seem to be liking the show, so join us this weekend (Thursday, Friday, Sunday) or next weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday). You can make your reservations online at http://www.nxnwtheatre.org.

Review from Austin Live Theatre:
http://austinlivetheatre.blogspot.com/2009/02/shadow-box-north-by-northwest-theatre.html

Review from Ronnie:
http://ronnisrants.blogspot.com/2009/02/shadow-box.html

The Shadow Box - Opens This Weekend!

I will be appearing in the production of "The Shadow Box" that opens this weekend at the City Theatre here in Austin. I play the role of Joe, one of three terminally ill patients, who along with their loved ones, must come to grips with closing the final chapter in their lives. While the subject may seem like a downer at first glance, the message of the play is one of hope, and enjoying life while we have it. As one of the characters states in the last act, "If I am dying, I must still be alive!"

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The Shadow Box by Michael Christofer

The Shadow Box is an honest and frank play that won a Tony and the Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for it’s groundbreaking examination of the experience of death and making sense of it. The Shadow Box paved the way on the subject for other powerful pieces that fill the landscape of theatre such as Angels In America and Marvin’s Room. Representative of a breakthrough in both subject matter and form, The Shadow Box is the story of three different families and their journey with the touching and real experience of closing the inevitable final chapter in their lives.

Location: The City Theatre - 3823 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX
Admission: General: $20, Seniors/Students/Military: $18, Groups: $15
Dates: Friday, Feb 6th, 2008 through Sunday Feb 22nd, 2008, excluding Feb 14th.
Please Note: We are unable accept credit cards at the door. Cash & checks only please.

Visit http://www.nxnwtheatre.org/ for more information.

Theatre Stuff

Well the Frontera Fest piece for which I am running tech, My Bugatti Story, opens tonight at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre. It is a decent play, directed by a really good director, and presented by a very talented cast... with one weak spot. Since this is a public blog, I won't go into details, but there is a weak link that has everyone in the cast worried to death. We are all hoping that we will be pleasantly surprised this evening, and for the remainder of the run. I have gone over tech in my head as many times as I can stand, and will give it my all this evening within the limits of the technology given to me. With only one 2.5 hr slot in the theatre to practice on Saturday, we are as prepared as I think we can get, and that other part of me is really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

On another note, rehearsals for The Shadow Box are going well, and I am amazed by the talent that I am surrounded by each rehearsal. I feel like I am just not progressing in the role like I should be. However, once I get the script out of my hand, I think it will free me up to play with it a bit more. That one opens at City Theatre on the 6th of February, so I hope to see as many of my friends there as can make it.