A Stormy Day...

Today is getting increasingly cloudy and the thunder and lightning are getting stronger by the minute. I always enjoy this time of year...the warmth, the blossoming greenery, and the thunderstorms. As strange as it sounds, thunderstorms always make me sleepy. I love to take a nap during a really loud storm.

It's interesting to me to contemplate how the weather can affect one's mood. Cold, cloudy days are about the only days of winter I can actually enjoy. It sounds weird, but I find cold, sunny days depressing. Maybe it's because it looks warm, but it isn't. Warm, sunny days are the best, but sometimes a hot, windy, cloudy-thunderstorm afternoon is really wonderful.

This subject has made the "Winnie The Pooh Blustery Day" song run through my head...

"Today it seems,
And it may turn out to be feels,
It most undoubtably looks
Like a rather blustery day."

Funny thing...I can remember a song I learned over 30 years ago, but sometimes I can't recall my zip code.

FLT3

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY!

...Blessed day that art hallowed forever!
Day whereon Christ arose,
breaking the kingdom of death!
(Episcopal Hymnal)

Well, it's two days past Easter (my favorite day of the year, for those who didn't know that) and I am still basking in the arrival of Spring. Went to church on Easter, and was (as always) completely overwhelmed by the beauty of life renewed. Again, as usual, I got to hear my favorite hymn, "Welcome Happy Morning." Went to brunch, took a nap, and generally enjoyed the day. All in all, a very happy Easter!

Kiss Me, Kate continues to progress. The performances are going to be quite good.

The temperature outside right now is 85 degrees, and all you can see are bright colors, lots of fresh, new leaves, and sunshine. I think I'll go and experience it for a little while...

FLT3

Dolly Dooley Arrives

Apologies to those faithful few who might have missed my postings over the past couple of weeks. I have been remiss in adding new blog comments, but will try to be better about keeping things up-to-date.

Tomorrow morning at 10:00am is the opening of Dolly Dooley's Big Break, my first show with Birmingham Children's Theatre. The show has come together well, and I am sure the kids (and adults) who see it will have a good time.

We're also well into rehearsal for CenterStage's production of Kiss Me, Kate. I am playing the role(s) of Fred/Petruchio, which is a part I have wanted to do for a long time. It was the first Broadway lead performed by Andy Gainey, who was my voice teacher/mentor/friend for many years. I am hopeful that AG will be up there on a cloud, guiding my performance. If I am correct, AG was the first replacement for Alfred Drake in the original Broadway production. I really wish he was here to see me do the role.

I am currently on my soapbox about gas prices. With the cost per gallon inching ever closer to $3.00 per gallon, I am wondering when the bottom will start to fall out of the Republican support for this idiot robber baron in The White House. Although the most rabid neocons have stuck by Dubya, the rank & file Republicans must be getting tired of enriching the oil-bajillionaire Bush family every day at the gas pump. "One-Shot" Dick Cheney hasn't gone on any hunting trips lately, so there's not much that's newsworthy to draw attention away from the gas station larceny taking place.

And that's today's sermon...

FLT3

More Sopranos Musings

I just realized that I have yet to weigh in on this week's episode of The Sopranos. Here are my thoughts:

. The "Tony-in-a-coma" storyline can't last much longer. Yes, it's chock full of symbolism, and the writers are obviously working in some richly woven images, but one can only take so much abstract absurdism. We're going to have to have Tony back in action soon.

.That said, there is something to be said for the juxtaposition of "real world" and "coma world" in last week's episode. Tony is clearly somewhere WEIRD, either hell/purgatory, his own hallucination, or somewhere in between. As always, the writing is excellent.

.Somebody needs to whack Janice. She is the most annoying character sincer Livia.

.The funniest line last week was an offhanded one, delivered by (I think) Silvio...when the assembled family (and "family") members were discussing the shooting of Tony by Uncle June, someone just deadpanned "Goddamn Junior." For some reason that struck me as funny. Maybe it was the delivery.

.AJ needs a good smack in the head. And a haircut.

.Meadow is going to play a crucial role in the development of things...not sure if she will embrace the mob life, or run from it, but I suspect that she will be a catalyst for many interesting developments to come.

.I am not one of the "Adrianna is alive" theorists. She's dead. Of course, on The Sopranos, being dead doesn't automatically put you out of business.

.Little fat Vito also needs to be whacked. Maybe he'll make a pass at Paulie or Christopher and they'll just put a bullet in him and get it over with. (My hope here has nothing to do with not liking fat people or gay people. Vito is just an asshole.)

.Junior is crazy, but maybe not as crazy as he wants everyone to think. I think the shooting was done in a spell of Alzheimer's-induced mania, but I also think he plays it for all it's worth.

.Finn is not going to last long. He will dump Meadow and run for the hills before long.

The upcoming episode will hopefully answer a few questions, but they will probably be replaced with still more. If anyone has more comments or predictions, please post them.

FLT3

A Happy Week

This has been a particularly happy week for me. I am thrilled to be cast as Fred/Petrutchio in KISS ME KATE. This is a role I have wanted to do for a long time, and this production is going to be phenomenal! A good friend of mine from Tuscaloosa, Michelle Bunch (formerly Michelle Rhodes) is playing Lilli/Kate opposite me, which makes it even more exciting! I am sure many KATE comments will be posted over the weeks to come.

I also started rehearsal at Bham Children's Theatre for DOLLY DOOLEY'S BIG BREAK, which is a fairly cheesy (but fun) kids' show, which we will perform 40+ times between opening (April 11th?) and closing (May 20th?) The cast is great, and we all know and like each other, so it should be fun...it's also nice to be getting paid to act. BCT is a good company, and I hope to do more with them in the future.

Also, SPRING HAS ARRIVED!!! Let the cheers and celebration begin!

FLT3

Spring approaches

Only 5...count 'em...five little days until THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!! The weather has been almost perfect for the past week or so, and promises to be great for Spring's official arrival in less than a week.

This is the time of year when everything starts to look a little brighter, the winter depression starts to subside, and fresh, renewed life appears everywhere. I have, in the spirit of optimism, started to put away the winter wools and heavy coat. I have also started looking ahead to my absolute favorite day of the year...Easter. Yes, Easter is my favorite holiday, (even counting Christmas.) The food, the sunshine, the blossoms everywhere...Easter is the best day of the year, in my opinion.

With apologies for the nonsensical segue from Easter to violent killings, I watched the first installment of the long-awaited new season of The Sopranos last week...WOW! As usual, the series is tight, brilliantly written, and full of the unexpected. Tony getting shot by a senile Uncle June was not what I had anticipated... now the big question is "does he die?" Conventional wisdom says no, but The Sopranos is edgy and unusual enough to possibly kill off the protagonist and wind down the series showing the aftermath of Tony's death. It will be interesting to see where they go with this...

Auditions for Kiss Me, Kate are this weekend. More on this story as it develops... it looks like there will be a good turnout, I feel very confident in our director (Andy Duxbury) and I predict the show will be an excellent cap to CenterStage's best season yet.

FLT3

After a little break...

...I am glad to post again. The past week or two have been very busy with King & I opening, and lots of teaching duties between subbing and teaching voice (at Music Plus Studios, which is working out very well.)
The show is phenomenal, and I am SO PROUD of the work the cast and crew have done. They have all put in much time and effort, and it shows. Ticket sales have been pretty good, and this weekend is looking very promising at the box office.
Nothing else really new or exciting going on. I start rehearsal for Dolly Dooley's Big Break at Birmingham Children's Theatre on the 20th, and I am looking forward to it. BCT is a very well respected company, and I'm glad to be in the loop with them.

The news is filled with stories about the three kids who allegedly set the church fires in Bibb County and elsewhere...such a waste. All three of these seem to have been relatively good kids, whose lives are now ruined because of a stupid and senseless situation that should have never taken place. One of our cast members is a recent graduate of BSC, and knew the suspects. He echoed everyone else in describing them as fun-loving, "normal" people.
What's really sad is that these kids will most likely be in their 50s or 60s when they finally get out of prison. Even if they live 30 years after their release, what sort of lives will they lead? As ex-cons who have spent most of their lives in prison, will they even be able to relate to the outside world anymore? Who will hire them for a job? Who will accept them socially? It truly is a terrible situation all around.

On a brighter note, the weather is absolutely GLORIOUS today!!! Blue skies, high temp of about 77 degrees, light breeze...PERFECT! I am looking forward to enjoying it as soon as school is out. (I am subbing at VHHS today.)

That's all for now. If you haven't yet seen The King And I, please catch one of our three remaining performances! :-)

FLT3

Thursday once again

...and it seems like I should be going out tonight...I wish I was 22 again...blah blah blah...all you regular readers know the Thursday drill. :-)

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End of week thoughts

As usual, Thursday night is approaching, and the old sentimental thoughts of Thursday night college revelry come to mind. I think I'll be 80 years old and Thursday night will still conjure images of The Varsity, The Hound's Tooth, or The Brass Monkey. (The Varsity is long-demolished, and I have no idea if either of the other dives still exist, but they will all live forever in my memory, where "college" always means "late 1980's." :-)

Last Sunday was the BATA (Birmingham Area Theatre Alliance) Gala, featuring 5-10 minute excerpts from the offerings of various local theatre groups. The selections ranged from truly amazing to somewhat less than perfect, but the overall event was entertaining and fun. Brent and Leah (King and Anna, respectively) did the "Shall We Dance" number from K&I, which went very well.

The main event of the gala was the presentation of the lifetime achievement award to Jack & Suzanne Mann. They have been prominent in Birmingham's theatre scene for years, and the award was well-deserved.

I am once again subbing at Pizitz Middle School today. So far, the kids are sedate enough...maybe the anticipation of a 4-day weekend has them numb with excitement...or maybe the lunchroom served Nyquil milkshakes today. Either way, I'm not complaining.

FLT3

Movie Review

After seeing CURIOUS GEORGE on Friday night (see previous post for details) I can honestly say that I would give it 3 stars, possibly 3.5 as I have only two real complaints...but we'll get to those in a minute. My comments are overwhelmingly positive, and I think the producers have hit upon a mostly-perfect style to keep a CG franchise alive and well for a long time. While not identical to the original H.A. Rey illustrations, George and friends are based very closely upon the original, and maintain the style and feeling of the beloved books. With one exception...
As voiced by Will Ferrell, The Man In The Yellow Hat has become less of a benevolent father-figure and more of a buffoon. His bumbling and stumbling are funny, just not really "right" for TMITYH. I would have much preferred to see (hear?) someone like Dick Van Dyke (who also voices one of the characters) as TMITYH, with Will Ferrell as a bumbling lab assistant or jungle guide. Ferrell was funny...just not appropriately cast.

My other complaint is a small one, as the "problem" was very short-lived. However, (and this is a frequent criticism I have with much children's literature) there were a couple of genuinely scary moments in which George appeared to be in real danger. As I admitted, these were few... one of these lasted for about two seconds (a fall from a great height, only to be caught and saved at the last minute by TMITYH) and the other about two minutes (a not-so-happy segment in which The Man is despondent over a mishap at the museum and George is put on a boat back to Africa...of course, The Man realizes how much he loves George and rushes down to the boat and saves him.) Okay, so we're not talking Bambi's mother or Old Yeller-type "oh my God, I want to kill myself" tear-jerking, but especially for the younger ones, these segments may have been a bit too intense. I would have found it much more palatable to have seen a secondary character emperiled in some way, and George and TMITYH rushing together to save "Fred" or whoever...I'm sure I've put waaaaaaaaaaay more thought into the subject than the average 6-year-old (ie the movie's target audience) but I think it would be better not to have the kids genuinely fear for the safety or well-being of a character in whom they have put an emotional investment. I mean, let's face it...do you really care what happens to "random guy we've only seen once or twice?"

Bottom line, however, is that there is (of course) a very sweet and happy ending, the film is cute and faithful to the books, and overall, the casting is superb. As a CG fan, I recommend it highly.

FLT3

Curious George, The Curious Little Monkey...

Okay, admit it, those of you who grew up in the 70's were singing the tune from the Curious George cartoons that used to come on "Captain Kangaroo," weren't you? :-) Today is opening day of "Curious George: The Movie," and I am proud to say that my 35-year-old-grown-up-adult behind will be in a seat at the theatre. I'm sure I will be about 6 times the age of most of the other patrons, but so what? As those of you who know me can well attest, I am a HUGE Curious George fan. (Have been since I was about 3 years old and first encountered the books.) I have decided that my other childhood addiction, "Gilligan's Island," actually overlaps with George's world... George lived in the jungle, right? Gilligan, The Skipper and company were always interacting with monkeys, right? There you are...Curious George was born on Gilligan's Island! (The only problem with this theory is that it makes The Man With The Yellow Hat yet another one of the heartless visitors to the island who left the castaways stranded...oh well, maybe he only had room on his boat for George... :-)

This has been a MUCH better day than yesterday, as I have been back at VHHS, leaving the evil brats of the middle school behind. It still baffles me how kids can go from completely out-of-control middle schoolers to normal, reasonable high schoolers in only a couple of years. C'est la vie, I suppose.

All is well on the theatre front. "The King & I" is going well, and the BATA Gala (sort of an annual get-together for local theatre groups, with everyone showing off a selection from an upcoming show) is this weekend. CenterStage will be presenting the "Shall We Dance" number, which should be very good.

Just 40 days until Spring arrives.

FLT3

Trying Not To Explode

By the time anyone reads this, I may be in jail for killing children. I am subbing today at Pizitz Middle School, and the kids are beyond uncontrolled. No amount of asking them sweetly to be quiet or yelling "SHUT UP" seems to be working. It's amazing to me how the same little hellians become relatively decent and normal when they reach High School. These kids are evil, though...rotten to the core. (Ask me how I really feel...)

There's only about an hour and a half to go...maybe I'll survive. No, rephrase that...maybe THEY will survive. I have really started to develop sympathies for all the middle-school teachers I thought to be so mean and unreasonable when I was 11 or 12. If my contemporaries and I were this awful (and I'm sure we were) it's amazing that we weren't all thrown in jail by 8th grade.

Oh well...that's why they pay me the big bucks, I guess...

FLT3

BMH B**CHES!!!!!!

Oh yeah, I had me a real big time at the movies last night. It was beyond magical...beyond amazing. It was, in all honesty, the BEST NIGHT EVER!! I will never look at the medium of film in quite the same way ever again.

And what happened, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you. I went with a couple of my friends to see the finest film ever made. Raymond, Lindsey and I (now known as the BMH Posse) saw BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2. It transcended cinematographic excellence, with the zany comedic stylings of Martin Lawrence as "Big Momma," and the performances of the other actors who (I'm sure) have names, but I can't recall any of them. The subtle nuances of Lawrence's performance ran an emotional and dramatic gamut that neither DeNiro or Olivier could approach. The script was subtle, yet sparklingly enchanting, and the supporting characters were well-written and completely three-dimensional.

So many emotions after such a wonderful film...it really makes one ponder the meaning of life, the true definition of honor, and the innumerable mysteries of God and the universe.

If BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2 does not win Best Picture of 2006, it will be a travesty. Surely Oscar will smile on this heartwarming contemporary classic, which is sure to be studied for years to come by actors, writers, and directors alike. It is, in every essence of the word, a masterpiece on par with any script by Oscar Wilde or Noel Coward.

BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2 may usher in a new era of world peace and universal prosperity. God bless Martin Lawrence!

BMH B**CHES!!!!!!

FLT3

Spring approaches, as does the weekend

As of today, 3 February, 2006, we have 47 days until the first day of Spring. Yay!

Today is going well. As usual, I am subbing at VHHS. The kids are fine, keeping the noise at a minimum and at least sort of pretending to do their work. So far, so good, and I have a back-to-back lunch and planning period, so it should be an easy day. Fridays usually are.

The King & I is going well. We have most of the show at least roughly blocked, and can start to work on refining and polishing. Tomorrow is an all-day rehearsal day, so I am hopeful that by next week we will be really getting down to perfecting the show.

FLT3

Monday Morning/Saturday Night

Once again, the week begins. As I have been for the past couple of weeks, I am at VHHS subbing today and tomorrow. I have yet to line up the end of the week, but I have been very lucky about getting sub jobs up until now, so I'm sure I will be working.

I have also come across another very interesting employment option, which I plan to accept. Details as they develop.

I was out with some friends on Saturday, and it was requested that I mention the outing on my blog. Actually, blogs in general, and my blog in particular, were discussed. As for the evening, it was a nice post-rehearsal outing to Rojo, a little neighborhood restaurant/bar on Southside. So...here is the official mention of that night.

FLT3

20 Years Makes A Big Difference

Once again, I am subbing at VHHS. Towards the end of my last period, I overheard a couple of the students (juniors) complaining about not having cell phones. Another one went off on the "crappy" Vestavia cable system that only provides 56 channels. I realized that it has been exactly 20 years since I was a junior in high school (1985-1986.) Things have definitely changed.

We had one cordless phone in the house (cell phones were not even thought of yet) and the range of this one cordless phone was roughly the end of the driveway. We had cable, but there was a clunky, shoebox-sized box that had to be attached to the tv, and the channels had to be changed manually at the box. I remember we had 23 channels, and we thought we were the ultimate in high tech. (Ted Turner's tv station was still called WTBS/Atlanta, and the other two major cable stations were WOR/New York and WGN/Chicago.)

Reagan was in office, and I remember "Miami Vice" was popular. (I think I still have a pastel blue cotton jacket somewhere in my parents' attic.) I had a poster on my bedroom wall of this hot new singer, Madonna. The words "internet," "email," "cyberspace," (and for that matter, "blog,") meant nothing to anyone, and the Star Wars movies consisted only of the Luke/Han/Princess Leia story. Molly Ringwald was making movies, and Eddie Murphy was a hilarious stand-up comedian just hitting his stride. I had my first car, a 1979 Ford Mustang, and I think gas was somewhere around $1.15 a gallon. Records made of vinyl were still being manufactured and sold.

It's official...I'm old. I've even started using the phrase "back in the day."

I have asked a few friends to comment on their own high school years. Jonathan Goldstein remembers having 3 pairs of parachute pants. He also recalled the "New Coke" fiasco.

FLT3

Nazis on Parade - Roy Moore

I wish I could say that the title of this post is some sort of humorous reference to The Producers and "Springtime For Hitler," but alas, I can not. It's not very often I post twice in one day (sometimes I don't even post twice in one week) but I am so completely nauseated after reading today's paper, I've got to purge.

"Reverend Roy" Moore, who made Alabama a national joke with his insipid and ludicrous posturing over the Ten Commandments monument, is once again proving himself to be nothing more than a narrow-minded, insane bigot. Today's Birmingham News has a large story about Roy's endorsement of Alabamians Against Same-Sex Marriage, or whatever it is this group is calling itself. I personally think they should go ahead and call themselves The Brownshirts and be done with it, but there you are. For those of you who have the paper, check out Roy's scowl and combed-over-the-front hairdo. He couldn't look more Hitleresque if he tried. Nice to see that all these ministers standing behind him are so filled with Christian goodness that they have nothing better to do with their time than allign themselves with an idiotic neo-Nazi seeking political office through the persecution of a non-threatening minority. No time to minister to the poor, console the bereaved, or spread the Gospel of Christ...got to help Roy keep them fags from marryin'. No tellin' where that can lead!

What Roy and the buffoons surrounding him have never understood is that the "sanctity of marriage" is not, and will never be threatened by same-sex unions. I happen to be a straight male, and I can say with 100% certainty that if same-sex marriage is "legalized," I will not suddenly change my orientation and marry a man. With apologies for the cliche, some of my best friends are gay, and they are among the finest people I know. They pay their taxes, contribute to the community, and (sorry Roy,) they go to church and enjoy the love and grace of God just like the rest of us. Are they sinning? I guess so, but who among us isn't?

I have gone on this rant before, and I will repeat myself... QUESTIONS OF MORALITY ARE FOR THE CHURCH, NOT THE STATE. If an individual church or denomination chooses not to recognize or bless same-sex civil unions, so be it...the Church (capital deliberate) has that right, and indeed that duty to issue opinion and policy on moral issues. There are widely disparate levels of conservative and liberal thought among the various religious faiths, and there is a place for everyone. Conservative Southern Baptists and Liberal Episcopalians worship the same God, but espouse very different types of social theory, and there are a bajillion areas of grey in between to accomodate almost any school of reasonable thought. In my humble opinion, the final arbiter of right and wrong is GOD, not Roy Moore and his band of pitchfork-weilding followers.

Roy is doing his best to create a theocracy, and he's certainly utilizing some methods that were employed by the Third Reich in pre-WWII. He's starting out by picking on the small fringe groups, rallying the "good folks of Alabama" behind him in his vile efforts. Never mind that Jesus himself preached tolerance, acceptance, and inclusiveness...I'm sure Roy would never associate himself with the outcasts and sinners of the world in an effort to bring them to God. To quote George Carlin, "that might be something that Jesus would do."

The sad fact is that this puritanical moron will probably get elected Governor of Alabama.

FLT3

The Eyesight Is The First Thing To Go...

In last week's postings, I inadvertently failed to mention some good friends who came to see South Pacific. The Miles girls (mom Anita and twins Annie Stewart and Piper) were on the front row one night, and I pretty much didn't see them. It's odd about stage lighting. I can see the third through seventh or eighth rows clearly, but sometimes the front two are a bit blurry. (I'm blaming it on the lights, but maybe I'm just getting old...) I also forgot to thank Reid Watson and his birthday party, who came as a group to the show. Many thanks to everyone who came to the show, especially those I may have failed to mention! :-)

The King & I is coming along nicely. We have blocked a good deal of Act One, and are moving at a good pace, somewhat ahead of schedule. The kids are particularly sweet and well-behaved this show, which is a very welcome surprise. The cast is huge, but everyone seems to be playing well together, which is good as backstage will be crowded! The cast is extremely talented across the board, so it should be a pretty phenomenal show. Kim D came and took measurements for costumes last night, and they are going to be beyond lavish...very appropriate for this particular show. Visually, it's going to be stunning.

I will definitely be visiting the dentist soon, as I have lost a filling...another joy of getting older, I suppose. So far, I wouldn't describe it as excruciatingly painful, but it is definitely sensitive, so I am hoping to get in to get it fixed within the next couple of days. I actually had an appointment for tomorrow at 1:00, but then I got called to sub at the high school, so I am trying to get my time moved until late afternoon. That whole working and paying the bills thing, ya know...?

Not much else to report. It has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, as Garrison Keillor would say. I am at VHHS today and Friday, and at Pizitz Middle School tomorrow. I will be subbing a lot between now and mid-March, when I begin rehearsal for a show at Bham Children's Theatre. It should be a very good experience, and I am glad to get into the loop at BCT. The pay is good, and the people seem quite nice to work with. Jack Mann is directing Dolly Dooley's Big Break, in which I am playing Dave Dooley. (I know nothing about the show itself, but will update when I get a script.)

FLT3

A Whale Of A Story

This weekend is starting off with a touch of surrealism...apparently a whale somehow strayed off course and swam upstream into the Thames, much to the amazement of Londoners making their daily commutes. The BBC online report said that the whale swam past Big Ben and Parliament, confusing and amusing most of the pedestrians in the Westminster area.

Even the aquatic mammals appreciate the beauty of London. I hope the whale has tea at Harrod's and drops by Westminster Abbey before taking in a show in the West End followed by a drink at some cozy little pub in Soho or Covent Garden before he hops on the tube and heads back to the docklands and home. What a happy day for Mr. Whale! (Okay, this is starting to sound like a children's book...:-)

A good review of South Pacific in today's Birmingham News, as well as on www.ebhm.org

The King & I is progressing well. Don has started to work on the ballet, which is going to be very good. I am looking forward to getting started on the scene work next week.

Subbing today at Vestavia High School. As usual, the kids are good, lunch is cheap, and the day is going well.

FLT3

Opening Night, Sort Of

Last night was technically opening night for South Pacific, but as the entire show was bought out by a corporate sponsor, tonight really has more of the feeling of an opening night...friends, family, and well-wishers are sure to be out in droves. Last night's audience was very receptive and warm, with much applause and laughter, but it felt artificial somehow. I think tonight will really have that extra edge that makes a show great. I did have the luxury of knowing one person in the audience, my good friend Ron Wilson (who played Emile DeBecque in the first production of South Pacific I ever did, and subsequently played the role for CenterStage.) It was good to see Ron, and it always helps my performance if I know someone in the audience.

I am subbing for a chemistry class today. No need for terror on anyone's part...the classes all have worksheets to do, and absolutely no explosives are being handled. As usual, it's a pretty easy job. I am also working on a couple of mental health stories for WBHM. Situation normal as far as the work and theatre worlds are concerned.

I am fighting off a case of the crud, as is typical for this time of year. Yesterday brought the sniffles, a slight cough and some pretty unpleasant sweaty chills. After drinking about a half-gallon of water (the miracle cure) I spent most of my offstage moments last night in the bathroom, but it seems to have been worth it. I am feeling somewhat better today, and can assume that whatever was making me ill was either drowned or washed out to sea.

The King & I had an excellent read-through and the leads did some music rehearsal this week. Tomorrow's choreography rehearsal was cancelled due to our choreographer being under the weather, but we will be in full swing next week. The school matinees seem to be selling well, so hopefully the show will be a financial as well as an artistic success.

It's raining today. Good day for a nap. I wonder if the kids would notice (or care) if I fell asleep.

FLT3

A Long But Productive Day

Today was a two-rehearsal day for South Pacific, which is shaping up to be a truly excellent show. All morning was spent on Act One, with the afternoon being devoted to Act Two. The set in particular is outstanding, quite detailed and on par with a first-rate touring production in terms of quality and attractiveness. I hope anyone who reads these missives will come and see the show.

I am, as I have mentioned before, particularly enjoying recreating the Captain Brackett role that Andrew Gainey made so memorable in a production I was in 20 years ago. AG was a good friend and teacher, and one of my early heroes of the theatre. He passed away almost six years ago, but I still think of him frequently. He was an amazing person who taught me a lot about music and performing.

Our cast is very strong. Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham is the perfect Nellie, cute, energetic, and full of the "sparkle" that Nellie embodies. Bill Bugg as Emile DeBecque has a rich, James Earl Jones type of voice that truly could fit in perfectly on any operatic stage in Europe or America. Jeff Johnson is a hysterical Billis, Lucas Pepke fits the dictionary definition of "Young Leading Man" as Lt. Cable, Ginger Goodall is Bloody Mary to a "T," complete with flawless voice and charming character, and Russell Jones brings the perfect "aw shucks" quality to Buzz Adams...and the list goes on...Howard Green and Raymond Quintero are ideal as The Professor and Stewpot, Don Garrett makes a wonderfully pompous Harbison, Kristen Sharp is both adorable and touching as Liat, the nurses are talented and pretty, the kids are brilliant, and the seabees are lively and fun.

The best part of all, from my standpoint, is that everyone in the cast is SO INCREDIBLY NICE. This cast really has felt like an ersatz family, from the nurses all learning to knit (no joke) to the good-natured horseplay among the seabees...everyone plays well together, and there is a true feeling of camaraderie and good will among the group. I will sincerely miss these people when the show ends.

I'm sure it sounds self-serving to promote so strongly a show in which I am performing, but it really is that good.
So...don't miss South Pacific at The Virginia Samford Theatre, January 12-22. :-)

FLT3

Looking back/Looking ahead

Since I am substitute teaching today, I have the opportunity to actually sit down and write a little review of the New Year's trip. It was great fun...Melissa and I spent 3 days each in London and Paris. Saw The Producers and The Woman In White in London, both of which were wonderful. London was, as always, glorious. There was a threat of a tube strike while we were there, but nothing came of it. The weather was dreary, but somehow even the awful weather in London seems warm and fuzzy to this anglophile! I discovered a new BBC comedy series, Little Britain, which is hysterical. It's definitely on the "must find a DVD" list. Did a few of the usual things...Harrods, the West End, British Museum, etc. as well as the usual walking around and just taking in the city.

Paris was nice, but I have officially decided that the stereotypical French snottiness has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I almost wonder if the Parisians behave with a certain hauteur because they think the American tourists expect (and perhaps even want) to be sneered at by the locals. As usual, my smattering of French was good enough to get my point across when I had to use it. Saw the Eiffel Tower light up at midnight on New Year's, which was fun. The high point was the Louvre, where we pretty much spent an entire day and still only saw a tiny fraction of the collection. The Mona Lisa is still there, right where she's been for some time. Also saw Sacre Coeur and the Paris Opera, and ate several crepes from the ever-present street vendors. All in all, a fun but somewhat exhausting week.

South Pacific continues apace. Great cast, fun people, and an overall feeling of goodwill only slightly marred by a couple of instances of what I consider most inappropriate and duplicitous behavior by the adopted director. Won't go into details as they are not important. Enough said. The set by Ben Boyer is amazing, enhanced by a new projection-type lighting gizmo which projects crystal-clear computer imagery onto the back wall of the stage. In a word, cool. The actors and singers are doing a wonderful job, and I predict a tremendous hit. I am enjoying the Captain Brackett role, having a blast thundering and blustering through the scene work. Costumes are also top-notch, due to some pretty extensive background research by Kim and Mary, the costumers.

We have our read-through for The King And I this Sunday, and I am excited to be getting started on it. It's a HUGE cast, which is both exciting and scary at the same time. Many posts are sure to involve K&I over the next two months.

My other big project right now is doing some more writing on mental health for WBHM. I have enjoyed working on the stories I have done, and I have REALLY enjoyed the paychecks, so hopefully I will be able to knock out a couple of those next week.

Almost time for the bell.

FLT3

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This will be short, as it's a fairly busy day. Happy New Year to one and all...my plan is to do a full post-holiday review later tonight.

Tonight will also mark the official start of the "March To Spring" as we begin to look ahead to warm weather, flowers, green grass, and the arrival of my favorite time of year.

FLT3

Intelligent Design Ranting

Okay, Christmas Eve is just a few minutes away and (as usual) quite a few hysterical politicians and right-wing nutjobs want to defile the name of God by using it for some bizzare purpose.

Yep, the "Intelligent Design" drama continues to play itself out this holiday season. With all the problems in the world today, some people still have time to worry about whether we (ie those objects in the known universe) were created by a gigantic explosion or the voice of God. This ranks right up there with whether we came from dust or monkeys on the "oh yeah, that's so important" scale, in my opinion.

Hard science vs. religious faith is an ongoing battle. Like Coke vs. Pepsi, Ginger vs. Mary Ann, or "Tastes Great" vs. "Less Filling." As with these great questions, there are very few clear answers, but the burning question in my mind is why the two can not be reconciled. I am a Christian, I go to church, and (to quote The Book Of Common Prayer,) " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord... " I also believe in physics, logic, and Earth Science. I believe that while Divinely Inspired, The Bible has been written and translated ad infinitum by human beings. Maybe what God originally called a "day" was actually ten million years by today's standards, who knows? And does it really matter? As I understand it, faith comes from belief in that for which there may not be an immediate proof.

If a Bible story is so threatening to this scientific theory, then perhaps the theory itself isn't so solid. On the other hand, if teaching a scientific theory is going to rattle your faith to the core, then that faith must not be very strong. There is no possible way for anyone who is determined NOT to see the opposing opinion to ever understand it, so why bother fighting?

Here's my take on the whole thing: Scientific facts define that which we call "reality." These facts are essential in the creation of our life-experience. God, however, operates above and beyond that which we call "reality." Yes, God can do anything...including providing us with a set of logical explanations for the world around us. Faith and science can peacefully coexist. I am happy to celebrate the birth of Jesus without having to carbon-date the fragments of the wooden manger or test the chemical possibility of turning wine into water. I am perfectly comfortable in making the leap of faith and saying my prayers when I go to bed, even if Darwin's Origin of the Species is on my bedside table (which it isn't, actually, but you get the point.)

That's today's sermon...Merry Christmas Eve.

FLT3

Christmas Time Is Here...

Okay, admit it...you were humming "Christmas Time Is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas, weren't you?

Christmas is indeed, almost here, and I guess I'm ready for it. Gifts are purchased for friends and family, most of them are wrapped, and the Christmas cards are addressed for mailing tomorrow (just in time to arrive everywhere sometime around December 30th...oh, well.)

South Pacific is going very well, and the cast for The King & I has been set. I am looking forward to both, and they should both be very good shows.

That's all for now. More later...

FLT3

Always Read The Directions

...this is good advice to live by. I have just missed seeing one of my best and dearest friends who was in Birmingham for the day. For those of you who know Paul Zahl, (former Dean at Advent,) he was in town for the day for a book-signing, and I had planned to attend a reception in his honor. Well, genius that I am, I thought I knew where it was being held, and went there expecting a wonderful visit. What I found was a locked door and vacant hallways. Apparently the reception was NOT at the publishing house's office (as I had assumed.) My efforts to locate the original invitation and/or anyone who knew where the reception actually was being held were fruitless. I finally gave up and went home.

Bottom line: I screwed up. Always read the directions, kids...it'll serve you well.

Other than that, today has been a fairly good day. By all indications, Cinderella did very well money-wise, and we will be able to pay all the bills and launch The King & I with a small nest egg.

I am re-reading Angela's Ashes for the umpty-zillionth time. I am always amazed at how good it is. I have a copy of 'Tis somewhere, and will have to dig it out soon. I have never read any of Malachy McCourt's work, but I understand he is a great literary (and literal) sibling to brother Frank. As an Anglophile, I suppose I should resent the less-than-sterling images of the English offered by Mr. McCourt, the Son of Erin...however, the writing is just so damn good, I have to let it slide. If you haven't read McCourt, I strongly endorse his work.

Only 13 days till Christmas. Wow, it seems like every year, it just goes by faster and faster. I am working on a story for WBHM about seasonal depression, and while SD is a very valid phenomenon, I have to wonder if there are more of us who simply look around and say "Christmas is here? Where is it? When? Where did it go?"

Anyway, you've got 13 more days to drum up some Christmas Spirit. Fa-la-la-la-la...

FLT3

Going Back To The Ball...

Well, it's time to shift gears tonight and leave the tropics and Bali H'ai behind for a weekend and return to fairy-tale land with Cinderella, which concludes its run with 4 shows beginning tonight. I have enjoyed it, but am looking forward to getting more involved with South Pacific and beginning The King & I. (It looks like I'm definitely on the Rodgers and Hammerstein mini-marathon...:-)
Not much else to report. I am subbing again tomorrow at Vestavia High School, and it looks like I will be there pretty much every day until Christmas break. This is great with me, as I enjoy the work and definitely appreciate the paycheck! The kids are almost always well-behaved, too, so it's really a good deal.
It's raining and gloomy today, so I suppose we can assume that winter in Alabama has definitely settled in. Luckily, it never gets terribly cold (by most people's standards, but remember...I complain if the mercury falls below 60.) The main problem with December-February in this part of the country is that the world takes on a constant slate-gray veneer and everything seems moist and chilly. Oh well, Spring gets closer every day... (as I try to remind myself!)

Postage goes up to 39 cents tomorrow...mail those letters before midnight and fight "the man."

FLT3

New Day, New Knowledge...

I just learned something I never knew...my friend Don Thornburgh, of VST fame, has informed me that the answer to the question of life, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING IS......

(drum roll)
(great anticipation)
(baited breath)...

42.

For those of you who happen to be fans of the Douglas Adams series, you already knew that. I must admit to never having read the books, but now perhaps I will. I'm still not sure how 42 fits into the grand scheme of all that exists, but who am I to argue with Douglas Adams?

FLT3

SOUTH PACIFIC begins

As if I didn't have enough going on theatrically, I have now gotten myself involved with South Pacific, which will be performing at Virginia Samford Theatre in mid-January. (I guess that answers the whole "what to do between Cinderella and The King & I" question...looks like a Rodgers & Hammerstein Christmas for me! :-)
I am very happy to be playing the role of Captain Brackett, which is the same role my old friend, teacher, and mentor Andy Gainey played in the 1986 (my God...20 years...) production at Summerfest. I will do my best to honor his memory in the part, and perhaps to bring out a bit of A.G. in my interpretation. Brackett is a fairly large part, and it will be fun to act alongside Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham and Bill Bugg (local celebrities, both) in the leading roles.
For those of you who are interested, this is what I know of the cast list:
EMILE DE BECQUE............................Bill Bugg
NELLIE FORBUSH.............................Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham
LUTHER BILLIS.................................Jeff Johnson
LIEUTENANT CABLE.......................Lucas Pepke
BLOODY MARY..................................Ginger Goodall
CAPTAIN BRACKETT.......................Frank Thompson
COMMANDER HARBISON..............Don Everett Garrett
BUZZ ADAMS.....................................Russell Jones
STEWPOT...........................................Raymond Quintero
PROFESSOR.......................................Howard Green
NURSE.................................................Leah Luker
NURSE.................................................Vicki Goldstein
There are others in the cast, but these are the only ones I know going into the rehearsal process. It looks like a fun group, and it will be nice to work with our producer, Jack Mann (who was supposed to direct, but has had to step aside to handle some personal issues) and Dane Peterson, who will be directing the show. There is a pretty big CenterStage representation in the cast, which is very good from the perspective of getting our name spread even more in the community. Melissa is choreographing the show, and Michael King (music director) has also worked with CenterStage a great deal in the past. I am sure that over the next few weeks there will be plenty of South Pacific commentary.
FLT3

Cinderella Arrives

Once again, it's opening night. Cinderella has come together beautifully, and is going to be a very good show. Melissa has done a nice job directing, the sets & costumes are quite impressive, and the performers are well-rehearsed and ready to go. Of course, it's just a little too sugar-sweet for my tastes, but the kids should love it, and it's extremely family-friendly...perfect for the holidays!
I have been substitute teaching all week at Vestavia High School, which has been good for the bank account, but I decided to take today as a day of catching up on school and a few other things. We are signing the contract for our new office at Virginia Samford Theatre today. It will be good to be there, and the office itself has a cozy, comfortable feel. The people at VST are very nice and accomodating, and I am looking forward to having our office up and running.
Looking ahead to The King & I, we have auditions coming up in about three weeks. I'm excited about directing the show, and judging by the advance interest that has been expressed to me, we should have an excellent cast.
It's FREEZING today. Just thought I'd share that.
FLT3

Early Day Tomorrow

Not looking forward to getting up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, but we have a wonderful publicity opportunity for Cinderella. We are being interviewed for three different stations, all in the same complex, and all part of the ClearChannel Group. Thursday morning brings another painfully early day with Good Day Alabama, featuring a live segment from VST at 7:00am...oh, the things we do to sell tickets! :-)

FLT3

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I would say something along the lines of "God Bless Us Every One," but that's for the next holiday, about a month down the road. Having pretty much spent the day eating and sleeping, I am most thankful for the Alka-Seltzer in the bathroom cabinet...

Andy Rooney once said (wrote?) that we need a good, quiet, low-key holiday once in a while, and that's just what Thanksgiving is. When I was a kid, I always thought of Thanksgiving as a sort of dress rehearsal for Christmas. We tend to eat practically identical meals with pretty much the same group of people, and the days themselves are usually the same with respect to weather and temperature. At my parents' house, the Christmas trees are already up on Thanksgiving, so the decor is identical on both holidays, and the radio stations are playing the same Christmas songs that will have become well-worn by December 25th.

So, Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope yours was nice.

FLT3

Accept No Substitute...

...other than yours truly, because I need the money!

I am substituting today at Vestavia High School. So far, so good...the kids are pretty much well-behaved, and they seem to be enjoying the combination of sub, watching a movie, and the general day-before-a-long-holiday relaxing of the rules. I will say, however, that after three viewings, the documentary on German soccer players is getting a bit dull. Did I mention that I'm subbing for the German teacher? As my only foreign language in school was French, I can (at best) mumble a passabe danke and bitte, and the occasional achtung, baby! (Yes, I am a child of the '80s, for those who caught the reference.) :-)

Cinderella moved into the theatre last night, and shows all signs of being an entertaining show. It's a little syrupy for my taste, but Melissa has thrown in some nice comedic slapstick moments with the stepsisters, which seem to cut the sugar down to a not-quite-diabetic level. I am looking ahead to The King & I, which I will be directing next Spring. My good friend Brent Jones is playing the role of The King, so it will be fun for us to do another show together.

An interesting job offer came round this week, and I accepted. I am organizing a group of carolers to entertain at the Brasfield & Gorrie Christmas party. Fairly low impact rehearsal-wise, and a very nice compensation offer made that one a no-brainer. It will be a good opportunity to show off some of our better singers, too.

It's almost time for the bell to ring...*sigh* and time for another showing of the soccer documentary. Only three more to go...

FLT3

It's too freakin' cold!!!!

The thermometer dipped below freezing last night, and promises to do the same tonight. There is a reason many of us live in the South, and it isn't for the open-minded people, the opportunities in the performing arts, the healthy fat-free cooking, or the snow skiing...no, it's SUPPOSED TO BE WARM HERE!!!!

Snarl. Growl. Rant.

How many days till Spring? 126. And counting...

Here are a few things to which we can all look forward:

.The smell of freshly-cut grass.

.Easter. Glorious Easter. Pastels...easter eggs...chocolate bunnies..."Welcome, Happy Morning"... the sun shining through the church windows...ham, rolls, and potato salad, the beautiful taste of springtime's holiday...mimosas...(I really REALLY like Easter!)

. Baseball season (not that I really watch baseball, but just knowing it's there is a good thing. If baseball is on television, the weather is probably nice.)

.Leaving the doors and windows open when the first warm night breezes start to blow.

.Spring thunderstorms...the smell, the sound of thunder, the wind...marvelous.

.A cold beer on a balcony, with pollen in the air (so what? I'll sneeze and smile.)

. The days get longer, and blessed Daylight Saving Time comes back. Suddenly 5:00 doesn't mean "dark" anymore.

. The smell of grilling food.

. Wearing shorts outside without getting frostbite.

. Flowers in bloom...and dogwood trees...and magnolias...

.The optimism that comes with Spring. The newness and renewal of life.

. That first weekend at the beach...not too crowded, but just enough people to feel festive.

I love the Spring. Please, God...make it come soon!

FLT3

Coast To Coast AM musings

I have been listening to my favorite radio show, Coast To Coast AM, for the past few nights. It's a myriad of freaks, wierdoes, UFO enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and general assorted nuts who call in to a midnight-to-4:00am radio show devoted to mysteries, occult phenomenon, and the like. The hours of the show necessitate an afternoon nap, and essentially split an eight-hour sleep into two installments of four hours, but I have always liked to sleep in shifts, anyway.

Coast To Coast is lots of guilty fun. It's the aural equivalent of cotton candy...pretty much free of substance, but enjoyable. Last night had a guest who managed to speak with authority and seemingly substantial intelligence on the subject of "pet ghosts and animal miracles." Actually, I think this was one of the more "normal" of topics.

Friday night is usually "open line" night, in which the phone lines are opened up and any lunatic with the capacity to press the buttons on the phone is invited to call in. Needless to say, it gets interesting...the usual callers include "Oscar The Demon," "Dr. Morgus, the Whacked-Out Scientist," and "Richard C. Hoagland, the expert on wierd things." I strongly recommend the show to anyone who wants a fun reality break.

FLT3

Final Dress Tonight

Tonight was final dress rehearsal for The 1940's Radio Hour at Hoover Library Theatre. It went very well, and the cast seems excited about tomorrow night's opening. This is my first show with this company, and I hope it will not be the last. The rest of the cast has been fun to work with, and we've all gotten along very well.

Tomorrow I am performing in a skit for the Birmingham Business Community's annual meeting. Jan Hunter and Kristi Higginbotham are singing a couple of numbers, and I am appearing as Donald Trump, bad wig and all...it should be fun, and we get paid for it, so I'm excited.

The Silence Of The Lambs is on television right now...I had forgotten how damn creepy that movie is. I enjoy Thomas Harris' books, and have always been impressed at how well they translate to film. The same thing has amazed me about the Harry Potter series. I love the books, and have really enjoyed the movies. The Goblet Of Fire comes out in a couple of weeks, and I can't wait to see it.

Enough pointless rambling for tonight...:-)

FLT3

Relief concert and 1940's

This afternoon is the Katrina Relief Benefit at John Carroll High School. We are doing the CenterStage preview show from the Bravo Festival. By now it has settled into a comfortable reliability, having been performed several times. The cast continues to gently rotate, with multiple Cinderellae and Annae coming in and out. It should come off well and hopefully promote some interest in the upcoming shows.

The 1940's Radio Hour is shaping up into a very good production. We are coming together into a cohesive group, finding the characters where they are in what is essentially a musical revue with some very thing connecting dialogue. The music is wonderful, and the audiences should have a good time.

Went to church and breakfast avec mes parents as usual today. As always, it was very nice. As much as I dislike the onset of cold weather, I must confess that this morning was comfortably cool and pleasant. The falling leaves were a nice touch, too.

FLT3

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

...or Hallowe'en, if you go with the NorthEastern contraction. (Having information like that cluttering up my head is why there's no room for anything remotely related to money-making, self-improvement, or any other vaguely useful topics...:-)

Reflecting on some of my favorite Halloween costumes as a kid...Thurston Howell III (which has been used several times as an adult,) Charlie Brown (ditto,) one year I was Yoda, complete with foam-rubber-filled three-toed feet, several years as a pirate or ghost when inspiration was low...

I am old enough also to remember the really cheesy plastic-smock-and-mask boxed costumes that all of us kids from the 1970's wore in our grade-school years. Yeah, that's right, kid, you look just like Spiderman...if Spiderman wore a plastic smock with a painting of himself on the front of it...

A few Halloween parties stand out in my mind, notably one from my senior year in High School. We'll keep this a family-related post, but let it suffice to say that a very friendly young lady demonstrated just how nice the dark corners of the Haunted House can be...another good year was in college, going as the seven castaways with 6 of my friends to a bar in Tuscaloosa and winning $300 as first prize. We more than drank away the prize afterwards, but the fun was in winning...and in seeing Thurston Howell III sing "Satin Sheets" as his karaoke selection (a definite side effect of having spent the brize money at the bar!)

On that lovely note...Happy Halloween, Hallowe'en, or whatever you call it. :-)

FLT3

Looking Ahead To Spring

Okay...today is in many ways one of the toughest of the year for me. It's the dreaded day when we go back to Standard Time and off Daylight Savings Time. It portends the coming of cold weather, dark at 5:00pm, and all sorts of other unpleasantness. I usually cope by computing the days to various landmarks on the road to the blessed Spring...Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, the 1st day of Lent, etc...all the way up to Easter and Spring.

Have I mentioned before that Easter is my favorite holiday? From the first strains of "Welcome Happy Morning" to the bright pastel colors to the smell of freshly-emerging grass...I love Easter. And I can't wait for it...I'm already counting the days...

The 1940's Radio Hour continues apace, as does Cinderella. Both shows are shaping up to be quite good. I have enjoyed working for Jack Mann, and have accepted the role of The Professor in his upcoming South Pacific. I have recommended my good friend Raymond Quintero for the role of Stewpot, and hopefully we will be doing the show together.

I had church and breakfast with my parents as usual this morning, and as always, it was very nice.

Last night was the annual Halloween party at Ron & Kim's, and everyone assembled had a good time. Their party has become a tradition, and is always fun.

I have been a bit slack over the past few weeks re my postings. As always, I enter the new week with the best of intentions of submitting daily entries. We will see...

FLT3

Dial "M" For Murder

Went with Melissa to see the Hitchcock classic Dial M For Murder tonight at The Alabama Theatre. I am always mesmerized by the beauty of this classic movie palace from the 1930's. Opulent is the only word I can use to describe it. For those who have not been there, it's well worth the trip. Gilded chandeliers, velvet-covered (and endless) stairways and an aura of bygone glamour define the surroundings. It would be a treat simply to tour the building and walk around. Even the restrooms are lavishly appointed.

As for the movie itself, I was pretty darn impressed. First of all, it was shown in 3-D, so everyone in the audience wore the silly but fun paper glasses. I'm sure I have seen the film before on television, but I couldn't remember much at all about it. I won't spoil the ending for those who may have never seen it, but it is definitely Hitchcock at his best...very suspenseful and clever. Grace Kelly was a bit wooden in her performance, but wow...as lovely as we all remember. The rest of the cast (including Ray Milland) was quite good, and the film itself seemed to perfectly reflect the baby-boom era's fascination with high glamour and chills. Compared to today's blood-n-guts horror movies, it was nice to see a truly spine-tingling but intelligent murder/mystery.

FLT3

1940's Radio Hour

I just realized that in the flurry of commentary over Phantom and Cinderella, I have said very little about The 1940's Radio Hour, which I am now performing with Hoover Library Theatre. Rehearsals are coming along very well, and the show itself is a fun, fast-paced visit with the songs of the 1940's WWII era. I play the role of Clifton Feddington, the stressed-out manager of WOV radio. More details on the production as we head towards a November 10 opening...

FLT3

The Phantom Of The Opry - Review

Check out the following site for a very nice review of The Phantom Of The Opry by Maree Atchison:

www.ebhm.org/theatre/

Just click on "link to reviews" and it should be right there.

As always, I promise a substantial post is coming soon...hopefully tomorrow.

FLT3

Cinderella Dresses and Phantom Films...

Today is a busy day...trying to get everything ready for "BOO at the Zoo," including finding a Cinderella dress that will fit the three different Cinderellas (Cinderellae?) that will be handing out candy over the next 2 weekends. Also trying to arrange for a second filming of Phantom Of The Opry, as the cast has really fine-tuned the show since opening night. All of this is do-able, but not if I sit at the computer all day...

I promise a detailed, more substantial post is coming very soon.

FLT3

The Half-Way Point...

Well, The Phantom Of The Opry has now had three solid performances, and the audiences seem to be enjoying it. Lloyd has left Birmingham for a couple of days to pursue the possibilities of the show having a Nashville run, in association with The Grand Ole Opry. Hopefully this will work out. It would be very exciting for the show to go on to something bigger and better, with CenterStage having been the petri dish for it all. This one will be worth watching.

This weekend is "Boo At The Zoo," which is a program sponsored by the Birmingham Zoo, inviting kids to come in costume and trick-or-treat in a safe, controlled environment. We will have a booth in place for Cinderella, which is kicking off rehearsal this week. This is always a fun event, and I am looking forward to our being a part of it.

FLT3

Just checking in...

PHANTOM has opened, and is a great success. All is pretty much running smoothly at this point, and both audiences that have seen the show have been appreciative and fun.

CINDERELLA rehearsal starts tomorrow. Onward, onward...it, too, promises to be lots of fun, and has a great cast.

Will do my best to write more tonight. Details of the weekend to follow...

FLT3

Another Weekend Arrives...

...and the world rejoices. Today brought the first truly chilly weather of the year. The temperature hovered in the mid-60's all day, and sweaters & jackets mysteriously appeared from closets across the city.

Lloyd Schwartz joined us tonight for the final week of rehearsal leading up to opening night of The Phantom Of The Opry. He seemed happy with the condition of the show, and I think we are in good shape for the week ahead and opening. Lloyd will be in town for the run of the show, and it will be nice to have him here.

I had a nice telephone conversation with my grandmother this afternoon. She is still going strong at 84, and is quite a special lady. She sometimes reads what I post here, so I guess I'd better try and keep it reasonably clean!

On the political front, it's interesting to see that Karl Rove is finally being held at least somewhat accountable for his sins, and that Dubya's approval ratings are going through the floor. I suppose that's what happens when you lie to the people on a daily basis, break the law with impunity, and start a senseless war. Hopefully the reign of the Republicans is about to be over. The 2006 midterm elections should start the ball rolling, making way for Hillary in '08.

The Clintons will be back. Let the party continue.

FLT3

Just to keep my posts current

It's late...it's been a long but very good and productive day. Tonight's entry will be short.

Lloyd Schwartz joins us tomorrow for the final week of rehearsal going into the show. We're in good shape, and I know the show will be a success.

Not much else to mention. All is well, and I am tired. That's all for now...

FLT3

NO MOORE!

Well, the inevitable seems to have happened. Roy Moore, national joke and former Chief Justice of The Supreme Court of Alabama has announced his intention to run for Governor.

I am trying to keep myself from throwing up.

For those who are fortunate enough to have been spared exposure to his idiocy, this is the same Roy Moore who placed a 2000-pound hunk of granite bearing the image of The Ten Commandments in the State Rotunda and refused a court order to remove it. After much flailing, wailing, and bad theatrics, Moore found himself removed from office. Now he wants to be Governor. What a joke. How laughable.

How sadly possible.

Moore has learned his lessons well. Alabama politicians have known for years that if you can convince the hysterical religious fanatics that you are on "God's side," you will get elected. The brand of Christianity preached by Moore and those of his ilk is big on the concept of God taking an active role in daily affairs of state and government. Never mind all that nonsense about loving your neighbor and showing compassion and forgiveness for your fellow man, just make sure that you can carry a gun and that your children can pray in school, and all is well.

I have wanted to move to England for years, and this just may send me there once and for all. Even the thought of living in a state governed by Roy Moore, in a country presided over by George W. Bush is enough to make me physically ill. Fanatical puritans rejoice...your day may well be coming.

On the other hand, I may be underestimating the people of Alabama. Perhaps most of them will have the sense God gave a turnip. Perhaps they will realize that a right-wing lunatic who uses the name of God to further a third-rate political career is "taking His name in vain" in the worst way.

Anyone who reads my posts is well aware that I believe in God. I go to church. I am not some Godless heathen, nor am I some sort of whacked-out atheist. I just have a HUGE problem with a dumbass like Roy Moore placing himself above the law and trying to hide behind The Bible to justify his own unfounded sense of importance.

If you live in Alabama, PLEASE VOTE when the time comes. I'll most likely be voting for the Democrat (probably Don Seigelman, if things stay on their current path.) If you don't like Seigelman (or whoever) then vote for the Republican (Riley, unless something bizzare happens.) Vote for an independent. Vote for the Green Party candidate. Vote for the Reform Party candidate. Write-in Mickey Mouse, Curious George or Dennis The Menace for all I care, but please do not vote for this idiot.

FLT3

Random Monday Musings

It feels like summer today, with a predicted high temperature of 88 degrees. I can live with this.

I have my first test in Educational Psychology today. I feel prepared, and I think I will do well. It's an interesting class, and the teacher is very lively, so it's easy to pay attention.

"Cinderella" auditions seem to have gone well. Melissa should be posting a cast list relatively soon.

"Opry" had its' first night in the theatre last night, and while there were many of the expected train wrecks, overall, we got a lot accomplished. I am sure that subsequent rehearsals will go more and more smoothly.

Church and breakfast yesterday avec mes parents. As always, after I got over the horror of getting up in the middle of the night (6:30am) it was very nice. I have come to really look forward to our weekly visits.

Last night was also the read-through for "The 1940's Radio Hour", which is being presented by Little Theatre Players, another Bham arts group. I am playing the role of Clifton Feddington, which should be great fun. The cast seems to be particularly strong, so it should be a good show.

More later...

FLT3

Off To The Ball...

This morning was the first round of auditions for Cinderella, which Melissa is directing. It will be nice to have a little break before I direct The King & I in the spring. There was a pretty good turnout today, and as there is another audition tomorrow afternoon, I am sure she will have no difficulty in assembling a good cast.

The Phantom Of The Opry continues to develop quite well. Lloyd will be joining us in about a week for the last few rehearsals before opening. It's exciting to work alongside the playwright, and I think we're going to have a very good and enjoyable show.

It's shaping up to be a nice day outside, and I may have to do something outdoors. There are at least two or three very nice little parks within walking distance, so an afternoon stroll may be in my future. The couple downstairs has about ten million dogs, and I can hear them all excitedly heading out for a walk. Remember the neighbor's dogs in the movie A Christmas Story? Well, substitute pug puppies for scruffy hound dogs, and that's a fairly accurate description of what now heads down the back stairs. The pups are cute, but I can only imagine the smell inside that little apartment. Actually, scratch that...I don't WANT to imagine the smell...

I have my first test in Educational Psychology on Monday. Piaget's Theory and Maslow's Hierarchy of Need, and other enjoyable, light reading. (To tell the truth, it's not so bad...even kind of interesting.) I haven't taken a test since law school, which was over 5 years ago, so it'll be interesting to see just how many brain cells I have left. I would guess around 7 or 8 at least...

Today is the first day of October. Celebrate accordingly. :-)

FLT3

OPRY Publicity

We seem to have hit a small gold mine in terms of publicity for CenterStage's upcoming production, The Phantom Of The Opry. Two television stations are doing feature spots, along with two radio stations and The Birmingham News. I am quite hopeful that this will bring a good solid audience base through the doors. The show itself is going to be very good and entertaining, so all seems to be flowing in the right direction.

It's Thursday again...they do seem to come round with great frequency, and the little emotional uplift that comes with Thursday is as always pleasant. There is a slight chill in the air this evening, which for some bizzare (and welcomed) reason is making me rather cheerful. I'm sure I will always prefer Spring and Summer, but maybe I am finally getting over my complete distaste for cooler temps.

FLT3

Just My Opinion...

Some random thoughts:

. Peanut butter is particularly good on toast, which ever-so-slightly melts the peanut butter, creating a tasty treat with a glass of cold milk.

I read Joan Didion's memoir on death and dying in last week's New York Times Sunday Magazine, and was shocked to realize that I really enjoyed it. I remember reading Play It as It Lays years ago, and liking it, too. I should read some of her other work.

. The Doors recorded the background music for almost everyone's college years, even those of us who were not even born in the band's heyday. I still can't hear "Riders On The Storm" or "Break On Through" without being immediately transported back to 1989 or thereabouts.

. Ditto the B-52's "Rock Lobster" or "Love Shack."

. I hardly ever read a book cover-to-cover without jumping around. I always finish a book when I start it (well, I guess I should say "usually" instead of "always," but there you are.) The point is that I frequently jump around and read the most interesting parts first. I used to think this was strange...now I don't really care.

. Technology intimidates me...I would love to own an iPod, a Blackberry, a digital camera, etc., but I know I would just stare at them and never figure out how to use them.

. I miss Bill Clinton. Politics aside, there was an optimism about the country during "Brother Bill's" tenure, and I attribute much of this to the fact that America had a true LEADER, with a charisma unseen since Kennedy. Clinton had an almost rock-star aura of celebrity about him, and there was no doubt that this guy was THE PRESIDENT. Bush will never have that kind of style. (HILLARY IN '08!)

. There's something kind of nice about an older shopping mall. I'm talking about the ones that still have that 1970's decor and atmosphere. Even if the stores are less than first-rate, it's fun to wander through a mall with individuality and character. Oddly enough, there is almost always a bookstore in an older mall, and I love bookstores.

. HBO has started a new original series, Rome, which I enjoy. I love The Sopranos, and really liked Six Feet Under, Oz, and Carnivale. I have never been able to get into Deadwood or Entourage. I was sort of neutral on Sex And The City... I usually enjoyed it when I happened to watch, but never really got hooked. Curb Your Enthusiasm has got to be one of the funniest shows ever created.

. I've never been a sports fan, but for some reason I can enjoy watching a couple of innings of baseball. I went to an Atlanta Braves game once, and had a great time watching the crowd, drinking beer, and generally being a part of the experience, but I don't think I watched very much of the game.

. There's a feeling of accomplishment that comes with washing clothes. Seeing a pile of wrinkled, smelly, used-up clothes become fresh and renewed in less than an hour always makes me think I have somehow made good use of my day.

. There used to be an ice cream parlor in Birmingham called Farrell's. It was in the old Brookwood Village, downstairs by the parking deck. When I was a kid, it was a real treat to go there. I have no idea why I just thought of Farrell's, but there it is...

. I like the smell of Glade air fresheners...the little rotating plastic-cone ones. Do they even still make them? I remember in particular that I like the smell of the green freshener in the tan cone.

Enough free-flowing thought...signing off until tomorrow.

FLT3

Birthdays, Comments, England and UAB

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER, RONEE NELSON!!!! She celebrates her special day today, September 27, 2005. No, I won't tell you how old she is. Ask her yourself, if you really want to know. :-)

I'm still smiling over the comment on Sunday's post by Paul McCracken. Apparently it appears that I give excessive and gushy praise to attractive females (ie Connie, Siusan, Ashley, etc.) who write responses to my entries. The implication is that I would somehow give preferential treatment to a reader just because of her beauty and feminine charms...that I could somehow be swayed from total objectivity by a beautiful girl.

Well...yeah.

In all fairness, however, I have to give a shout out to Paul. He's a good guy and a good friend, so thanks, Paul, for reading and commenting. I'm glad to hear that you & Nancy will be going to New Orleans in December. As soon as possible, all of us who love The Crescent City need to start going down and pumping some life and commerce back into the infrastructure.

I made a new friend today via email...the sister of a girl I interviewed for "Tapestry" a few weeks ago. She is studying at Wadham College, Oxford, which is where I spent an AMAZING summer through the "Alabama At Oxford" program when I was an undergraduate at UA. It will be nice to have an e-mail pal in the UK, especially one at Oxford. Anyone who has ever been there knows what a truly magical place it is. I will definitely live in England someday...I have never been as blissfully, completely, soul-fulfillingly happy as I have been on that "Sceptered Isle." It's ironic that even as much as I dislike cold, gloomy weather, I have never found the grey London winters anything but cheerful.

School is going well...in case I have never mentioned it, I have gone back to school to get yet another degree...this time in Education (Secondary/Language Arts.) Pretty soon I will be able to wallpaper my house with diplomas, yet I still seem to have trouble deciding what to be when I grow old. (Having "grown up" years ago, I had to amend the expression! :-) I like my classes, and I think I will enjoy teaching. After this degree, Medical School is about the only option left, and I can say with 100% certainty that this is NOT an option! (I think I finally passed "Biology For Idiots" after the third try!)

FLT3

I Always Thought A Hurricane Was A Drink...

More destruction in New Orleans, now that Rita has made herself known. I don't think I have ever been to the 9th Ward per se, but I do love New Orleans. The irony is that I used to have a t-shirt that said "I love New Orleans for the weather...especially the HURRICANES!" (Obviously in reference to the beyond-potent beverage so often associated with Mardi Gras.) That shirt was donated to Goodwill years ago, but I remember it well.

The good news appears to be that the flooding is not as severe as that experienced with Katrina. Hopefully everything will get back to normal soon.

As usual, church and breakfast with the parents. We had our customary nice visit, which is always one of the bright spots of my week. There is an older couple who sits in front of us every week, and the husband (Walt)& I usually crack a few jokes together. Today there was no priest waiting to greet the congregation at the back of the church (there usually is) so Walt extended his hand and indicated that he would be willing to serve as interim pope, allowing the congregants to kiss his ring as they exited. He's a nice and funny guy. (Although I did have to remind him that we're Anglican...our allegiance would be more to Canterbury than to Rome.) Oh well, it did make a good joke.

PHANTOM OF THE OPRY continues apace, and will be quite a good show. More details as they arise. Happy Sunday!

FLT3

Thursday Returns

Well, once again, it's Thursday...they seem to be coming round more and more frequently. )I wonder if they've added a second Thursday to the week?) The previously discussed feeling of happy anticipation is here as usual. It's kind of nice, and seemingly reliable, having lasted for almost 20 years. Another reliable feeling is the absolute inner peace I always feel in Westminster Abbey...I have even entered it on occasion with some fear that I would NOT feel utter and complete peace, only to find that it is seemingly eternal...(much like what The Abbey represents!) I haven't been to London in a couple of years, and I am eager to get back there soon. The Abbey will most likely be my first stop...

Today has been a long day. The ONB promo went very well, and we managed to put CenterStage brochures in approximately 200 hands. All assembled seemed to have a good time, and in spite of a somewhat befuddled preparation period, we managed to present a quality product. Time will tell if we sold any season tickets.

I am listening to "Coast to Coast" as I write...as usual, the freaks come out at night. (Well, at least they pick up the phone.) Radio really is the one true public medium. (Translation: any idiot with a telephone and a willingness to stay on "hold" for a few hours can have his/her 15 minutes of fame.) God bless 'em, though...they sure are entertaining!

FLT3

The Show Must Go On...

Before anything else, thanks to Ashley for the sweet comment on yesterday's post. It's always nice to know that people are reading what I write. :-)

Now, on to today's subject...

Tomorrow morning at the beyond-ungodly hour of 7:00, our merry little band of performers from last weekend's Bravo Festival will be presenting the same little preview show at a breakfast meeting of ONB (Operation New Birmingham for you out-of-towners.) This group seems to be comprised of largely monied and influential business-types, all with disposable incomes (and presumably at least a passing interest in the performing arts) so we will certainly try and make a good impression. Our contact person is Diane McNaron of "Politically Incorrect Cabaret" fame. She has been dealing with all sorts of headaches from the organizers (some unnamed advertising firm, if I understand correctly), including incorrect performance times, inaccurate directions to the venue, and all around we-don't-have-our-shit-together mistakes. However, all seems to have finally been worked out, and I'm sure we will be warmly received. This is apparently a new "Random Acts Of Art" venture, so one can assume that such mistakes will happen less and less with time.

Initial steps are being taken to record a "Christmas Album" by the members of "Down Home Opry" (aka the cast of The Phantom Of The Opry.) More on this as it develops, but the working title is "Carly's Country Christmas." We plan to record it in time to sell cds at intermission. It should be great fun, and will certainly make a wonderful keepsake as well as a truly nice Christmas album. Fa-la-la-la-la...

Daylight Savings Time is drawing to its' inevitable close, and I feel depression looming on the horizon. I have to tell myself that Spring will return, and that Winter is not inherently evil...please help convince me of that, dear readers. If anyone has cheerful, good winter thoughts, I'd love to hear them. All I can think of is cold, gloomy, desolate months of no sunshine and depressing dead trees. I'm usually OK until after New Year's, and then about a ten-week period of complete lethargy and sadness settles in until mid-March when things warm up and start blooming. Easter is my favorite holiday, and always one of the very last mileposts on the Sprint to Spring. For those who are curious, these include:

.Halloween - The first halfway happy/fun event in the Fall.
.Thanksgiving - The first major holiday of the "Holiday Season."
.Christmas - Usually somewhat happy, despite fleeting moments of depression.
.New Year's Eve - Festive most of the time, provided there's a party. Even if there's not, it's
the end of the "end of the year months" of Winter.
.New Year's Day - Almost always HORRIBLE (hangovers, cold weather, and I don't like
football...this day is beyond bad!)
.Valentine's Day - Can be good, bad, or uneventful...but February is half over.
.March 1st - THE FIRST DAY OF MARCH!!!! No matter how dismal, rainy, or cold it may be,
this day always brings a little lift...a parting of the psychological clouds.
.March 9th - My mother's birthday. Always a landmark. Spring is getting really close
.March 22nd - The First Day of Spring. A sigh of relief is heard. Things are getting green.
.Easter - MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!!! "Welcome, Happy Morning" and "Hail Thee, Festival
Day" are heard in church...eggs are colored, jelly beans eaten. Halleluiah!
.Daylight Savings Time returns - Life seems bearable again. Spring is in full bloom.

Someday, I will buy a house on the equator.

FLT3

Thoughts on Wal-Mart

Walking through Wal-Mart at 11:00 at night definitely gives one some insight into the sheer freaking magnitude of consumer culture in Western Society. The Wal-Mart on Lakeshore Drive was one of my frequent haunts during Law School, when I lived at Wildwood Crossings, but after moving to Southside, I haven't been there as much. Tonight I went there with Melissa while she shopped for Alabama and Auburn memorabilia to decorate for her blood drive tomorrow. (I guess they assume people will be more likely to donate blood if there are college football items sitting around.) Anyway, the store was PACKED, not with customers, but with workers stocking shelves, unpacking gigantic boxes, etc. It was almost like watching Santa Claus and the elves making toys for Christmas...a sort of glimpse at the secret creation of what we take for granted.

That's enough deep thought for tonight.

FLT3

Into The Show...

Today was the Bravo Festival, which is an "open house" of sorts for Birmingham performing arts groups. It was hosted by The Virginia Samford Theatre, which is where CenterStage performs. Each group got 15 minutes to perform, and the audience came and went for 4 hours. It was great fun and I think we generated a great deal of interest for Phantom of the Opry.

Short post tonight...I'll write more tomorrow.

FLT3

Thank You Siusan Buie...

It was so wonderful to click on my blog page and see a comment for a change. Siusan Buie left a comment on yesterday's (Thursday) posting. Thank you, Siusan...it's so nice to know that somebody actually reads these musings of mine. Special thanks also to Connie Bridgham, who told me today that she, too, is a reader. Thanks, Connie! :-)

Today was a good day. I was pretty happy with my story on "Tapestry." Tanya Ott, my mentor and friend at WBHM, is teaching me to edit and essentially produce my own stories. I enjoy writing, and I love working in radio, so I am happy that it looks like I will be doing more with "Tapestry."

Just for the record, anyone reading this can visit www.wbhm.org and follow the links to hear tonight's show. My story was aired towards the end of the broadcast, if you'd like to hear it.

The Phantom Of The Opry continues to develop nicely. We're going to have a good show.

I am forcing myself to stay awake to hear "Coast To Coast AM," a radio show I enjoy. It's basically a collection of freaks, weirdos, UFO nuts, conspiracy paranoiacs, and those who find them entertaining. Tonight's show features an expert on Jack The Ripper, who should be interesting. I took a Ripper walking tour out in the Whitechapel section of London, and have been interested in the story ever since. Patricia Cornwell wrote a very compelling book, Portrait Of A Killer, which suggested that an artist named Walter Sickert was The Ripper. Not sure if I agree or not, but her theories are believable.

That's all for today...if you visit, please leave a comment. Thanks!

FLT3

Another Thursday

Once again that left-over feeling of collegiate anticipation is creeping in. I think there will always be something about Thursdays that fills a tiny corner of my psyche with the anticipation of a night filled with loud music, smoky bars, and beautiful drunk sorority girls. Ah, the follies of youth...now Thursday just means back to rehearsal after a night off, but somehow that Pavlovian response developed more than 15 years ago still hangs on..."Thursday Night is party night" seems to have been permanently imprinted. Oh well, I hope the tradition lives on in Tuscaloosa...I'm sure it does! :-)

Today's entry will be short(ish.) I have to head down to WBHM to finish the final edit on a story for tonight's "Tapestry." I am still writing for the show, and still enjoying it. It's nice to actually get paid to do something I enjoy.

Shameless self-promotion as usual...please visit our website at www.centerstage-productions.org

More later...

FLT3

BBQ Plans

Spent a little time tonight at rehearsal talking with Andy (CenterStage Board Prez) and Connie (VP and all-around Public Relations guru chick) about our opening night patron's party for The Phantom Of The Opry. I think we have decided to do a pre-show barbecue dinner and post-show reception with the cast. The playwright, Lloyd J. Schwartz, will be there, so it will be a special event for our patrons to meet him.

I went to a fun event yesterday...the annual parish picnic for my church, Cathedral Church of the Advent (Episcopal.) It was held at the Birmingham zoo, and featured food, a band, etc. The meal was catered by Full Moon BBQ, a local favorite...which actually gave me the idea of investigating them as a possible caterer for the patron's event. I'll have to check into that tomorrow.

Things are very exciting around CenterStage right now...Opry promises to be one of our strongest shows to date, and it looks as if the production, particularly opening night (on 14 October) will be quite an event.

FLT3

A Lovely Day So Far

Well, it's Sunday morning at 11:30, and I have already been to church with my parents (7:30...who says I'm not a dutiful son? I don't even think God is up at that hour.) As per our usual ritual, we went to Original Pancake House for breakfast after the service. I decided to surprise them and go to church one Sunday last May, and somehow I've fallen into the routine of making it a weekly event. Despite the hour, I really do look forward to it. I have always enjoyed church, and Sunday breakfast is the one time every week I regularly see my parents. We always have a nice visit, and today was no exception. There's just a hint of fall in the air, and although I usually get quite depressed at the onset of cooler weather, the hint of a breeze has actually been quite pleasant.

CenterStage board meeting this afternoon, with several administrative tasks to accomplish. Andy Duxbury is our incoming board president, and I am quite sure that he will do an excellent job. We are well into rehearsal for The Phantom Of The Opry, and next week's BRAVO! festival, which is a sort of showcase, featuring excerpts from all the Bham arts groups' upcoming seasons.

So...as Bertie Wooster once said, "The sky is blue, the birds are chirping, and there's optimism in the air." Hopefully the rest of the day will be as pleasant and agreeable as the morning has been.

Today is September 11th. Please remember the victims of the terrorist attacks in whatever way you choose.

FLT3

Alas, New Orleans...

I have been doing my best to deal with the New Orleans tragedy with a degree of detatchment, but the 24-hour news coverage sort of prohibits that approach. So much destruction, and I fear the worst is yet to come.

New Orleans is a very special place. Like millions of others, I have my own set of memories of The Crescent City, and I find myself recalling them more and more these days...my first trip down to New Orleans as a college freshman...numerous weekends going home with a girlfriend whose parents lived there...one or two purely rowdy trips with drinking buddies...enjoying everything from black-tie upper society (Mardi Gras Ball with aforementioned girlfriend and her family) to the basest of diversions offered by the French Quarter (basically every other trip...ha ha!)

...and now there's nothing there but flood waters and chaos.

New Orleans will recover, however. Jazz clubs will reopen. Street performers and psychics will return to Jackson Square. Begniets and Cafe au Lait will flow at Cafe Du Monde, the horse-drawn carriages will again clop through the French Quarter, and the strippers will again writhe and gyrate on Bourbon Street stages. Soul food will be cooked, beads will be thrown, and life will return to what passes for normal in this great city.

Hopefully the citizens who have been displaced will all find a way to return. Let's hope so.

FLT3

Thursday...

Thursday always brings a sense of expectation...when I was a little kid it meant that the weekend and two glorious days from school were almost here. As an older kid and teenager, it meant that Friday and Saturday night, with either a date or an outing with friends, was imminent. In college, Thursday night was the biggest "going out night" of the week, which explained the poor attendance at Friday morning classes. Now, as an adult, Thursday is essentially just another day, but there's still that little feeling of happy anticipation that comes with Thursday afternoon...I think I'll mix myself a bourbon and coke (the official drink of fall) and sit and watch the leaves fall before I go to rehearsal.

And for what am I rehearsing, one may ask? The world premiere of Lloyd J. Schwartz's The Phantom Of The Opry, which opens October 14th. We have a wonderful cast, which includes:

THE PHANTOMOF THE OPRY....................Greg Hagler
CHRISSY............................................................Lindsey Kennedy
RONNIE.............................................................Howard Green
CARLY................................................................Holly Dikeman
DUSTY WHITAKER.........................................Don Everett Garrett
ANDY..................................................................George Scott
PHIL...................................................................Andrew Duxbury
MADAME...........................................................Pam Cooper
MEG....................................................................Kimberly Piazza
SKEFF.................................................................Ron Dometrovich
JOEY BOUQUET...............................................Ryland Byars
THE "DOWN HOME SINGERS".....................Siusan Buie
Ali Fredrick
Chuck Evans
Russell Jones
LIGHTING DESIGNER/SHARPSHOOTER........Jerry Handley
PIANIST/SHARPSHOOTER..................................Dave Crabb
YOUNG CHRISSY....................................................Kendra Bridgham
YOUNG RONNIE.....................................................Reid Watson
GORDY.......................................................................Brent Jones
DARLENE..................................................................Kim Rollins Dometrovich

The show itself follows the traditional "Phantom" story, but places the show at a country-music house. For more information, please visit our website at www.centerstage-productions.org

Not much else to report today. I am going to do my VERY BEST to post something new every day, or at the very least to avoid any more three-month absences!!! :-)

FLT3

Rest In Peace, "Little Buddy."

Wow. It's been months (several of them) since I've posted. It's really too bad that a major loss has prompted me to dust off my blog page and start writing again...

Yesterday brought some very sad news to those of us who are "Gilligan's Island" fans. Bob Denver passed away at the age of 70. This is way too young for anyone to die. For those of us in our mid-30's, Bob Denver and his zany gang of fellow castaways brought hours of after-school joy and laughter as we enjoyed the reruns of the show in syndication.

Many of you have heard my story about Bob Denver...when CenterStage was presenting "Gilligan's Island: The Musical," I tried to get him as our opening night guest. Somehow I got his phone number through his agent's office, and I wound up speaking on the phone with him for a couple of minutes. It would be politically correct to say that he was an absolute angel, but that would not be the truth. Actually, he was quite brisk and let me know rather quickly that he was not interested. I have since been told by a good friend of mine (who also happened to know Bob Denver very well) that Denver really was a nice guy...he just got asked to do SO many appearances that he had developed a sort of gruff manner when handling such requests. Add to this that he was an extremely private person, and it makes the whole thing much more understandable. Who knows? He may have been having a terrible day, he may have had a headache, or who knows what else may have been going on at the exact moment I happened to talk to him?

Bottom line: He was clearly adored by those who knew him, and he created a character that was loved by countless millions. Here's to the memory and good name of Bob Denver...may he rest in peace and always be remembered by the fans and friends whose lives he touched. I am proud to count myself among the many fans he leaves behind. I know that Heaven will be an even happier place with Bob Denver up there.

FLT3

Spring Is In The Air...

Wonderful weather this week...Spring has finally sprung, and the pollen is making me cough and sneeze, but that's okay...I'll gladly deal with it! :-)
42ND STREET is going well. I am having a great time playing the role of Julian Marsh. I am not directing this show, which is also kind of nice for a change.
I have been substitute teaching at Vestavia High School lately. It's not what I would call exciting, but it's a paycheck, and I really enjoy being around teenagers. (I subbed ONE day at Middle School and swore if I got out without strangling a kid, I'd never go back. That age is all about testing limits, and it takes a saint to deal with a room full of 11 and 12 year olds all day.)
I bought a car a week or so ago...a Nissan Altima...it's not brand new by any means, but it's in good shape. I have enjoyed driving it so far.
The new Pope has been elected. Beyond that, there's no real news.
FLT3

Milkshake Rant and 42nd Street

As usual, it has been MUCH too long since my last posting. If anyone actually keeps up with these diatribes, I apologize for the delay and will try to be better about writing.

I am on a rip today about the apparent inability of modern fast-food places to offer a decent milkshake that one can actually DRINK! I went to Sonic yesterday, having long since given up on the "triple thick" crap at McDonald's, and hoped that I could get something thin enough to drink through a straw. I was given what was basically a cup of soft-serve ice cream. When I complained (nicely) the waitress seemed very confused and explained that "that's how they're made. We don't use milk." WE DON'T USE MILK????? She agreed to take it back and add milk and blend it. After her efforts, it had taken on the consistency of a Wendy's "Frosty" dessert...a bit thinner than before, but still basically ice cream in a cup. Now don't get me wrong...I LOVE ice cream. I could eat it every day. However, a milkshake is not ice cream. That would be like handing someone a bag of chocolate chips and calling it "cookies." Oh well, it looks like I'll just have to buy a blender and make them at home...

42nd STREET is cast, and I am very happy to have been cast as Julian Marsh. I am not directing 42nd STREET, but I am directing TWELFTH NIGHT for Park Players this summer, and that should be fun.

Not much else to report. It's finally warm...we got up to 80 degrees yesterday, and I was SO happy to see the sun!

FLT3