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