Well, "Bedbugs!!!" opened as part of the NYMF (New York Musical Theater Festival) on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. It was a HUGE success. We were told that of the shows in the festival, we were in the best shape tech-wise (which is a huge compliment considering our only day IN the theater to do a run-through WITH lights, sound, and set was the earlier part of the opening day)!
The audience reaction has been incredible. The performances are uniformly excellent, if I do say so myself. EVERYONE in this show is intelligent, skillful, and giving as an actor. The singing is probably the best you will hear from leads in a musical in town. I'm not kidding (and those of you, who know me well, know how critical I can be of myself and others).
We have only 6 more performances left. 2 of those were added as extensions because the rest are sold out. Go to the homepage of my website, and follow the link to buy tickets - NOW.
The show has legs. People have sent me emails after seeing the show saying things like, "I haven't laughed that hard since I saw Urinetown," & "that show made me happier than anything I have seen in years." It goes on... but it goes without saying that the show will move... and I will have to resign myself to being the heir-apparent to Charles Busch... at least in part ;) I ain't giving up my man-side that easily!! lol
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
It's been a while...
So, it's been a while since I've posted a Blog entry. I am often more a man of action than words, so it doesn't surprise me LOL.
I start rehearsal for the new pop/rock musical "Bedbugs!!!" this week. I am excited, as it's a brilliant show. However, I think this will be the last time I do this kind of role... (unless this show goes to Broadway, or a lucrative Off-Broadway run, which will probably happen... as that would make total sense ;). When you see the show, you'll know what I mean. Unfortunately, in NYC's theater community, the more versatile you are, the more you are indirectly penalized. It seems that, perhaps because there are so many actors in NYC, those who cast plays & musicals must categorize each actor... it's natural, I suppose, because it helps these casting directors organize their vast log of actors' resumes.
I also believe that many people in the business don't want to have to think too critically... so if you can do many things well, these people are more concerned with what the general perception of you is at that moment, and what aspect of your talent is most easily recognized as a result... It makes it hard to escape stereotyping.
I should exclaim that I do NOT think I have been the victim of stereotyping... but it's possible that I could become so, if I am not careful.
As always, the reason I perform is the ultimate motivating factor in my choosing roles. That reason is to tell an audience a story. I have turned down some roles because I've felt as though I wouldn't serve the story as well as another actor might. Many actors do this. They maintain an awareness that allows them to discern whether or not they can relate to a role or a story. They do not go after anything and everything. Some are the opposite... the public perception that they are working all the time, whether or not their work is good, is the most important priority. Unfortunately, the latter mode of pursuing a career is the mode most people perceive as being the more common... maybe it is. However, finding a healthy balance between either extreme is the trick.
So, long story short, come see "Bedbugs!!!" I'm pretty good in it (as are the other cast members... as a whole, it's a GREAT group of voices, and actors who know how to do comedy WELL)!
I start rehearsal for the new pop/rock musical "Bedbugs!!!" this week. I am excited, as it's a brilliant show. However, I think this will be the last time I do this kind of role... (unless this show goes to Broadway, or a lucrative Off-Broadway run, which will probably happen... as that would make total sense ;). When you see the show, you'll know what I mean. Unfortunately, in NYC's theater community, the more versatile you are, the more you are indirectly penalized. It seems that, perhaps because there are so many actors in NYC, those who cast plays & musicals must categorize each actor... it's natural, I suppose, because it helps these casting directors organize their vast log of actors' resumes.
I also believe that many people in the business don't want to have to think too critically... so if you can do many things well, these people are more concerned with what the general perception of you is at that moment, and what aspect of your talent is most easily recognized as a result... It makes it hard to escape stereotyping.
I should exclaim that I do NOT think I have been the victim of stereotyping... but it's possible that I could become so, if I am not careful.
As always, the reason I perform is the ultimate motivating factor in my choosing roles. That reason is to tell an audience a story. I have turned down some roles because I've felt as though I wouldn't serve the story as well as another actor might. Many actors do this. They maintain an awareness that allows them to discern whether or not they can relate to a role or a story. They do not go after anything and everything. Some are the opposite... the public perception that they are working all the time, whether or not their work is good, is the most important priority. Unfortunately, the latter mode of pursuing a career is the mode most people perceive as being the more common... maybe it is. However, finding a healthy balance between either extreme is the trick.
So, long story short, come see "Bedbugs!!!" I'm pretty good in it (as are the other cast members... as a whole, it's a GREAT group of voices, and actors who know how to do comedy WELL)!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Politics, Passion, and Parts...
POLITICS:
So, if you haven't been living in a cave under the sea, you know that Primary Caucus season is in progress. For once, the Republicans have done it "nicer." Why is it that the Democratic party holds OPEN Caucus races and OPEN Primaries? That means that anyone from any party can vote for the Democratic candidates in the Democratic Nomination process... that means that people who hate a certain candidate, can make a protest vote count against that candidate, because they already know who is going to be nominated in their party. Now, supporters of the candidate benefitting from such protest votes will claim that he has the power to bring people together. Horse PUCKY! Protest votes, people, from voters who WILL vote Republican in a general election.... not swing over to the most liberal candidate on the stage. Ugh... the Democratic party is a mess :( Here we go again, another term of "learning on the job." That is, if the newbie wins... and I believe I am wise enough to know, even at my less than ripe old age, that he won't win in a general election.
Fine. We continue to live in a misogynistic country, whose population has a serious addiction to spin, rhetoric, and mediocrity (relative mediocrity... none of the candidates is a mediocre person by any means). We, as Americans, are threatened by each other... we want the American Dream... we don't want anyone else to have it first... and if they DO achieve it before we've had a chance, then they'd better be, at most, on our level of sophistication, so that we might overtake them... someday... in our dreams. Look at American Idol: a celebration of mediocre talent, the likes of which is not driven by artistry at all. America's addicted to it...
Now, just remember Patrick Henry's famous statement, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend your right to say it, to the death”
Respect each other, and try to understand each other's differences...
PASSION:
Passion for me lately has been politics, and fighting for a woman whose achievements I admire... achievements we can ALL admire... such as writing, and helping to pass into law, a bill that would guarantee health care for ALL veterans returing from war, or already back home. Before this bill, vets had to go to a VA hospital... some vets don't live anywhere near one... and by that I mean maybe a day or two of travel... sometimes more. Ridiculous. Vets have lain their lives down for our protection, and until Senator Clinton rallied support for this bill, we couldn't provide them with anything other than a "thanks, and the VA hospital is that-a-way."
Passion for me is also that which I feel for work, and my loved ones, and my dog... who has been in the hospital. She had a tumor removed on 02/13/08, and was sent home a day and a half later.. now this was a tumor which shared the proportions of a small apple. The wound was large. Well, apparently, because of the rush to get her home, and the lack of, perhaps, enough sterile protection, the wound became infected... and when your skin starts to die, it causes a neurological response: SHUT DOWN. There you have a classic Catch-22.. can't heal because you're shutting down. So, my pup had a second surgery on 02/19/08 to remove the dead skin, and the infection. Are we out of the woods? We shall see.
PARTS:
Ah, yes... parts... roles... WHO KNOWS?! LOL... well, I do know a few upcoming ones for sure, but I can't announce them yet, and/or I don't have scheduling info or ticket info yet... so send me good thoughts as I meet with a few agents this week, and finish my list of auditions.
STAY HEALTHY, Everyone!
So, if you haven't been living in a cave under the sea, you know that Primary Caucus season is in progress. For once, the Republicans have done it "nicer." Why is it that the Democratic party holds OPEN Caucus races and OPEN Primaries? That means that anyone from any party can vote for the Democratic candidates in the Democratic Nomination process... that means that people who hate a certain candidate, can make a protest vote count against that candidate, because they already know who is going to be nominated in their party. Now, supporters of the candidate benefitting from such protest votes will claim that he has the power to bring people together. Horse PUCKY! Protest votes, people, from voters who WILL vote Republican in a general election.... not swing over to the most liberal candidate on the stage. Ugh... the Democratic party is a mess :( Here we go again, another term of "learning on the job." That is, if the newbie wins... and I believe I am wise enough to know, even at my less than ripe old age, that he won't win in a general election.
Fine. We continue to live in a misogynistic country, whose population has a serious addiction to spin, rhetoric, and mediocrity (relative mediocrity... none of the candidates is a mediocre person by any means). We, as Americans, are threatened by each other... we want the American Dream... we don't want anyone else to have it first... and if they DO achieve it before we've had a chance, then they'd better be, at most, on our level of sophistication, so that we might overtake them... someday... in our dreams. Look at American Idol: a celebration of mediocre talent, the likes of which is not driven by artistry at all. America's addicted to it...
Now, just remember Patrick Henry's famous statement, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend your right to say it, to the death”
Respect each other, and try to understand each other's differences...
PASSION:
Passion for me lately has been politics, and fighting for a woman whose achievements I admire... achievements we can ALL admire... such as writing, and helping to pass into law, a bill that would guarantee health care for ALL veterans returing from war, or already back home. Before this bill, vets had to go to a VA hospital... some vets don't live anywhere near one... and by that I mean maybe a day or two of travel... sometimes more. Ridiculous. Vets have lain their lives down for our protection, and until Senator Clinton rallied support for this bill, we couldn't provide them with anything other than a "thanks, and the VA hospital is that-a-way."
Passion for me is also that which I feel for work, and my loved ones, and my dog... who has been in the hospital. She had a tumor removed on 02/13/08, and was sent home a day and a half later.. now this was a tumor which shared the proportions of a small apple. The wound was large. Well, apparently, because of the rush to get her home, and the lack of, perhaps, enough sterile protection, the wound became infected... and when your skin starts to die, it causes a neurological response: SHUT DOWN. There you have a classic Catch-22.. can't heal because you're shutting down. So, my pup had a second surgery on 02/19/08 to remove the dead skin, and the infection. Are we out of the woods? We shall see.
PARTS:
Ah, yes... parts... roles... WHO KNOWS?! LOL... well, I do know a few upcoming ones for sure, but I can't announce them yet, and/or I don't have scheduling info or ticket info yet... so send me good thoughts as I meet with a few agents this week, and finish my list of auditions.
STAY HEALTHY, Everyone!
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