First Stop, Harrisburg

Here's some pics that I took so far from PA. Thought you might like to see them.

This is the auditorium.

This is how they keep the whole set together - that's right, clamps! No screws or bolts!

Here is the machine that makes it snow. Yes, it actually snows for almost 15 minutes of the first scene. Pretty cool when you think about it. It's a little motor that spins that cylinder you see and the flakes fall through the chicken wire holes slowly but enough to make it seem like it's really coming down!
Here is my perch during the show. Right behind the refrigerator (yeah, that's a door in the fridge so I can load things in and out without being seen). And yes, I sit about 5 feet away from Bill!
This last one is my prop box full to the brim. And that's only half of them! The other half are sitting on a table just to the other side of it.

Rehearsal Space in Minneapolis

Here are some pictures of the space where we are rehearsing Church Basement Ladies. (Ironically, we rehearse in a basement.)

From The Road, Initial Reaction

Minneapolis is turning out to be like NYC pretty much. Grass and hay wraps are the menu of choice. Water is 5 bucks a bottle. (Yeah, from the spigot ain't bad these days, and it's free). Walked into the grocery store today, and was shocked that I had to walk all the way to the back to get to the dollar, super-fattening, unhealthy, frozen pizzas! Everything else was organic, healthy, vegan, and no less than 6 bucks for a frozen entree smaller than a Healthy Choice snack. Oh well! Ended up with a Margherita pizza (ok, ok, I do kinda like those a bit), as well a coupla pizzas that'll do. Ok, so again I fell into the healthy line, I got a nice supply of V-8 spicy as well.

Ah crap, I'm rambling.

To Be Said

So, yeah, something weighing on my mind that needs to be spoken. Listen up, all you readers who live for theatre!

So having watched quite a few shows, been a part of many of them as well, I have come to a conclusion. It seems there are sooo many who think they are great actors due to how many laughs they get. What? Did I just come out and say it? Yeah. I did.

It seems that more and more as I work, I see way to many actors and actresses who are hell-bent on getting a laugh, and they feel accomplished the more laughs they get. The result? Scene stealing, over-acting, non-realism, beyond caricature, basically, utter ridiculousness. I mean really peeps, is that what we want to see and pay for in these economic times?

Now, I must say before I go too far, yes this activity has its place. DUMB AND DUMBER, GREATER TUNA, CLUE to name a few. But you know what? Even in these movies and plays, there is still an element of honesty to all the characters involved. So with that in mind...

I speak of people who play for the comedy, not the character. I give you this thought: Which is more funny? Someone is walking along a road, accidentally trips, falls into an orange cart and all the oranges fall upon them? Or someone who PURPOSELY trips, makes it an event on the fall, tips over the orange cart, and then practically jumps up afterwards and says 'TA-DAAA!' Food for thought.

Yes that is a bit extreme as an example, but it proves my point. When we go see a show, unless it is labeled as a farce or simply a good time, we expect a little bit of reality. Wait, I think HUMANITY is a better word. To me, 'incidents' are sooo much funnier when I can identify with the character being portrayed, rather than a character who just comes in, does a stunt, or something outrageous a few times. I mean, for crying out loud, even the circuses of the world are giving their clowns a character story line for their acts of bravado and comedy these days!

Dang, I use a lot of commas. Anyways...

The point being: Fellow actors and actresses of the world, sure, you can get laughs by doing outrageous things, you can steal a scene by doing little things, yeah, you can even get some minor applause for some of the crap (let's face it, it truly is crap) you decide to pull, but when it comes down to it, what does an audience really remember? 'Oh my it was so funny when this small moment happened', point being, do they remember your name? Do they remember specifically what happened? NO. They remember honesty, they remember characters who grow throughout a show. They remember performances that move them, not just make them laugh.

Wanna make a bet? Check out the reviews of local theatre shows. And then go see them. More often than not, the peeps that get a nod or mention are the characters who have DEVELOPMENT and audiences can actually feel for. Wait...what? Oh that might be that honesty thing I was talking about!

Sure you can create all kinds of laughs by doing crazy things, but is it truly what your character would do? Is it REALLY in the vein of forwarding the show? So you get bored having done the show a few times and want to create more excitement....well...in doing so, you violate the author's intent, you violate the scene itself, and you violate your fellow onstage actors' right to perform the scene. EVIL! When do you begin to realize a show is not just about you, but everyone as a whole? I don't care what your experience or name is! A show is a show. 'Props' should go to everyone in the cast and crew and production, NOT just YOU.

Let us all remember that theatre is for everyone, not just for one!

In other words, evil-doers, they remember not a circus act, or a side show comedy routine. No, they remember, through time, how they felt and identified with certain characters, which lasts much longer than a laugh.

So, to conclude this rant, I say this to all fellow actors and actresses: Play the honesty and the intention - the laughs you get will be far more memorable and worthwhile. To be remembered right after the show is fun, but to be remembered years later is even better.

I say this being a character actor who does not oft get the lead for a show, and yes, should I play it that way, could steal a scene, or a show (depending on direction of course). I am never bitter, just simply saddened by the antics of others in what I call 'the ruination' of a show. I say this as someone who observes this ridiculo-sity (add it to your dictionaries folks), that goes on and sees people getting robbed of the respect they truly deserve.

K 'G' C?

Hello out there! I know it's been awhile since I've been on a rant, or as I like to call it, a 'speechifyin' moment. What can I say? I have been a little busy...but no excuses. So here's the latest. K 'G' C? Kentucky GRILLED Chicken?

First I say, simply wow. WOW. To use the lingo of the younger, more computer-savvy gen...WTF? This is an establishment and empire, mind you, that has been in its own right since the 1950's! Yes, I know he started way before then, but he really didn't start getting his recognition until the 1950's. And it was built on FRIED chicken. The secret recipe that has stood for years as the 'penultimate' stantion for fried chicken. So now they cater to the health conscious with grilled chicken? I am beside myself on this issue.

I mean, yeah it is truly great to be healthy wih food choices and such, but every once in a while it is nice to have a little fried something every now and then. I know, I know, you nay-sayers you, that yeah they still offer their traditional menu, but c'mon! That's like McDs offering a choice between a choice salad (which still has waay to many preservatives in it to be truly healthy) and a Big Mac! Which would you choose? Sure, say salad, ass, to 'present' yourself as healthy. We all know what the real choice would be. C'mon, BMac versus a salad? Really?

All I am saying is this: I understand offering a 'healthy' alternative for things, but I did a small experiment as far as money goes. For what I paid for two breasts, two wings, and two legs (grilled at the K 'G' C), I found I could pay less than half that amount for a grilled whole chicken at my local grocery, and got twice the meat! And better than that, it tasted the same! The only difference I found was that the sodium content was almost twice for K 'G' C than the grocery! YIKES people....YIKES!

Just thought I'd mention it is all. Yes I am a fast food kinda guy. But, when I am looking for health and the like, Sometimes it's the bottom line what really matters. Upon taste, K 'G' C was no better than the local grocer, and well, I'd prefer to buy once and have three meals as opposed to buy once and have less than two.

What have we come to in the fast food industry? It never claimed to have been super healthy before, and well it always boils down to choices (yeah, damn us for having free will).

I say, quit blaming the industry, they're making a buck just like the rest of us. I say, don't fall for their new healthy attire - it's still fast food! I mean, what truly is the difference between that and that age old snickers, or pack of fire fries from the vending machine? Risk and choice are what we are faced with. Belief is what you choose it to be.

BTW, I chose to have extra crisp K 'F' C this eve. Yeah, I'm feeling my heart slow, and my faculties are a bit on the 'What the hell?' side, But I made my choice. I'm not pissed or upset. I mean, bottom line....It tasted amazing!