In Which I Fail at Reading

Is anyone surprised that I've reviewed ONE book for the CBR III? I'm not. I made the smallest goal allowed (13 in a year), but this is still ridiculous. I do read occasionally, but I admit I've been brainnapped by Netflix Instant. Mostly when I read, I pick up something familiar to relax. I really want to start The Hunger Games, but the nearest library is... well... crappy. And books aren't high on the financial priority list right now. Especially because I have a stack of books I bought last year and still haven't read. And frankly right now I'm in the mood to read plays. I've discovered the BBC Radio 4 Podcast called "Play of the Week", and it is just as it sounds: every week they post a radio play. I'm not sure I've ever really listened to one, but I am officially in love!

I heard of it originally because the composer for Doctor Who (Murray Gold) had written music for something called "Kafka: The Musical" and David Tennant was playing Kafka. You have my attention. The title is somewhat misleading. The show is a play about a musical (mega meta), and there are some songs, but not until minute 51 of roughly 90. It is the sort of play that I wonder if it would be clearer or foggier if visualized.

Have you ever read a book and REALLY loved it, but you can't visualize it as a film or performance because, in doing so, it would lose some mystery or give something away? I remember watching Fight Club and wondering how the book reads (I am told it is one of the few movies better than the book). I love several of Palahniuk's books and most of them leave me with that sense that visualizing will tamper with the true spirit of the storytelling; Invisible Monsters is a good example.

The intertwining of reality and dreams and performance in "Kafka" is a stunning web where I was often lost. For every time I wished to see the structure there was a moment I was grateful for the necessity to imagine it.

This week's play is called "That's Mine, This is Yours" by Peter Souster, and it is a real delight. The story follows a couple mid-divorce as they divide their possessions, and while that isn't a hilarious theme the play is a soft-hearted romantic comedy. It runs at only slightly over 40 minutes and features a tight cast of only three, which leaves me thinking it would be a great UIL show (some things never leave us), so I'm suggesting it to my friends who work with high school theatre. It would also make a good piece in an evening of shorter plays. I'm going to go script hunting - wish me luck!

Waiting for Guffman

That's right, kids, the Awesome Bus is making a stop to deliver this message:

"Corky St. Clair may make it to The Great White Way after all."

Why, you ask? Because Christopher Guest is hoping to adapt Waiting for Guffman for the Broadway stage as a musical!!!!! Full on SQUEE for this news. Now I will be humming "Stools, stools" all day...

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/christopher-guest-plans-to-wait-for-guffman-on-broadway.php

Thank God it's Friday!!

It has been one of those weeks, friends! Slow going, with a few excellent moments to get you through. And two paychecks this week - woohoo! Brad and I had a lovely evening out last night, which means we must now live like monks for a while. Oh well, it was worth it. Especially the entree!

We tried Amici in Sugar Land. The service was atrocious, the ambience was nice, but it felt more like a seafood restaurant than an Italian restaurant. We got two appetizers: Brad thought they were both "just OK". I thought one (the zucchini fritti) was excellent, and the other (eggplant rollatini) was disgusting. We contemplated leaving before ordering an entree, because the service really was bad. But we stuck through it, and hallelujah for it, because our entree was so fantabulous that I would drive back out to Sugar Land to have it again! We split the Grilled Snapper Agrume. It is actually considered a heart-healthy meal, because it is low in sodium, calories and fat. If all healthy food tasted this good, I could possibly give up fried happy. It was a delicately grilled snapper filet with citrus and mint, on a bed of garlic spinach, with a citurs sauce and orange slices on the plate. Oh. Em. Gee. It was amazing.

Anyway, my point is that IT'S FRIDAY, so everybody clap yo' hands! I have another show tonight, so wish me broken limbs.

And on a fun note, here are random pics I found when I searched "TGIF":

I think this one is amazing, but if that is supposed to look like beer... why is there ice in it?


The caption for this one was, "Today God Is First". I like that, and I think ti is a great way to end this entry. Have a blesses weekend, all!

Working Review

Here is the review of Working from the Houston Press. It is fairly brief, and we really aren't mentioned as individuals, but it oh well. And frankly, as I am on the stage, I hadn't noticed the projection lighting ON US, but oh well...
http://www.houstonpress.com/2009-04-16/culture/capsule-stage-reviews-little-women-the-seven-year-itch-wizard-of-oz-working/2

Four more nights to see it, folks!

Updates

First thing is first: CONGRATULATIONS to my friends Jason and Heather who got engaged this weekend! He was in town to see her dance show, and the video on Facebook is so cute!

OK, so my show opens this Friday night. If you live in or around Houston (or rock like Grags and will make the drive), you should see it. You can reserve tickets by emailing reservations@acetheatre.org , and you can ask for "Cabaret Seating" ($20 each), or "Stadium Seating" ($15 each). It is a small theatre, so I say go ahead and get the cheaper seats...

Rachel is coming home! She arrives tomorrow (cuz she an April Fool) and will be here throughout the month. She is going to be in my show as well, because one of our cast members (the lovely and talented Heather D) will be absent the closing weekend. And I think she is squeezing out some form of "one woman show" as well.

Brad's mom (Amy) called yesterday to ask if I watched American Idol, because Alexis Grace was in her restaurant. So I think I have an autograph coming in the mail from Tennessee. Fun!

I had an excellent Monday, which is a rare feat indeed. I am not holding my breath for an equally excellent Tuesday, but so far, so good. I'm off to get coffee! (and hopefully write a LOST According to Allison, as well)

Thank You, Jonathon Larson

A NEW CHAPTER FOR 'RENT'; Final Performance To Hit Screens Nationwide This Week

The final performance of RENT to ever be played on Broadway was recorded by a highly skilled company called @radical.media and shown in movie theaters for a limited time. I believe there are four days they are scheduled for across the nation. Last night Kelly and I saw this recording at AMC 24. (Read article)

Now, I have seen the live show twice (tours), so I was familiar with the staging and the director choices. Kelly, however, had never seen the production other than the movie made. So much changes from stage to film, and I was thrilled to get to watch her discover this story in a new (and better) light. I was not disappointed. I haven't even listened to that soundtrack in ages; I kind of go through musicals in shifts. Seeing this was like finding something that I didn't know I had lost. We were both so moved. At the end of the show, the cast came back onstage with previous cast members, including some of the originals (I heart you, Anthony Rapp).

There is a tour coming to Houston in April; consider us there. We skipped the last tour: I have seen it twice, and I didn't really want to keep spending money on the same show. I will however lay down some ducets for this show because Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal (the ORIGINAL Mark and Roger) will be in the tour! Sure, sure, they may be getting to old to play twenty-somethings, but who cares! I get to be in the same room as Anthony Rapp! I'm excited about Pascal as well, but the headshot in this article is...unsettling, so my excitement is on hold.

I find it so amazing (and heartbreaking) that Jonathon Larson could create this magic in his last days. His show "tick, tick...BOOM" has some wonderful music, but on the whole it cannot hold a candle to RENT. His stories are so raw, so real. I wish he could have stayed with us; I would love to know the potential he still had, after a success like RENT.

Alex finally catches a break!

Paul Gordon's romantic musical, Emma, seen in a 2007 world premiere by TheatreWorks in California, will have a fall 2008 co-production by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

And Alex Organ will play Robert Martin, the well-to-do farmer who has eyes and heart for Harriet!

The same person who wrote the score, book and lyrics for Jane Eyre has written for Emma, which means it will be haunting and breath-taking. And the costumes from that era certainly fit his body type. He will fit right in, and hopefully stand out to reviewers as the "why haven't we scene this kid on Broadway" actor.
How exciting to be involved in a new, and likely to be successful, project like this one! we are all so proud, Bro, and wish you many broken legs!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/116040.html

Special Victims

Who Doesn't Love It?

So Alex got to go shoot his spot in the L&O:SVU episode the other day. They didn't finish it in one day, so "oh darn" they have to bring him back another day and pay him more. It sounds like it was an incredible experience. And the cool part is, it airs during... (drumroll)... SWEEPS! Now, that means we won't see it until November, but HOW COOL IS THAT?!? I can't wait, I'm so proud of him. I really hope this is a springboard for him.

Spring Awakening

Take Me There
Tell me you don't want to see this (and I will call you a liar)!



Check out the website where I found the video: http://www.springawakening.com/

The Tony Awards

Great Choices and Great Dresses

Well, most of them were great.

And Spring Awakening won 8 out of it's 11 nominations, including Best Musical!!! I am so excited! If you aren't familiar with this show, fix it. Buy it on Amazon right now and prepare to fall in love.

My Own Words

From Someone Else's Mouth

Grags, you have done it again. You have written words that so brilliantly capture my own feelings (at least most of them). This blog (excluding all of that Star Wars stuff.....) almost made my eyes water because it made me realize how much I miss being sleep deprived and hungry and HATING the monologue I was about the stumble through. I mean it, parts of our educational experience were hell, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Well, maybe some people would have been deleted or moved around, but the education, the rehearsals, the scenes, the recitals, the rush of a curtain call (be ye Bug or McFuzz) are forever ingrained in my mind and I long for it.

Now I have a life (yea!), but I'm not sure how to balance both worlds. I want to keep spinning that plate, but I don't know how. I know, I know, 'give it up to God', but I still have to do the work, you know? I can't just say, "Here God, make me a well-adjusted actor above the poverty line - GO!" It does not work like that.

Oh Grags, what I wouldn't give for a 12:30am rehearsal (even if it was for Gypsy...having to kiss Peter... ok, maybe another scene...)

Ulla

Poducer's Tour
(Yes, it is misspelled on purpose)
Speaking of Lara (last post), she just got a role in an international tour of The Producers - how cool is that?!? She has an ensemble role, plus she is the understudy for Ulla, so she will get to do that for several shows.
WHEEEE!!!

Travel

Harder than it should be
This will all make more sense if you have read my blog on Summer.
There are so many trips I would like to take this summer. Shakespeare festivals all over Texas, visiting grandma with Brad, Schlitterbahn, Galveston, etc. It's summer, and I should be able to take a few weekend trips, right? Well, there are so many to choose from, and there is NO way I could do them all. Now, if I were willing to spend all of my savings, maybe, but Im not. Plus, I will soon have plenty of places for that money...
Anyway, Im trying to coordinate trips and it is hurting my brain. Too many people to consider, too much gas money, not enough time.
But what else is new?

Summer

Summer is kind of relative.
OK, summer is not really relative; it happens, it exists. But when you are no longer a student, summer is just more days you work. They just get hotter.
My friends who are in school, or just finished, get a summer vacation. Even if they spend the whole thing working, or looking for a job. The best I can hope for is a few weekend trips to "the beach" in Galveston. People assure me that in other parts of the world, water is blue. I think they are full of hooey. What is hooey anyway? Ask an old person...
Not that I am complaining about the days ahead. I will have a great time. My boyfriend's complex has a beautiful pool. There are several Astros games in my future. I may even get to do some theatre. So summer will be good, even if it isn't really summer.
Or something like that...