i needed that

2 birds

Posting this just cuz. Actually, its in response to Kien's "I am tired" post and Cosima's "Musical Monday" post. Plus, this sequence has always made me laugh out loud.



More later... maybe even another post.

2 playwrights chatting

Last night, after catching up with a friend on her return from New Zealand I ran into fellow playwright, Ross Howard who fielded 2 shows at the recent Rogue Festival. This one & this one... both excellent plays in my book ( I saw them both in my quest to seek out original works during the festival). I was actually on my way home but just couldn't pass up the opportunity to commiserate with someone who I think is a bright emerging talent in this waning field.

Ross is English and came to this country to pursue an MFA in playwriting. Curious... considering that he hails from the land of the Bard.

I cannot really explain what fun and how much of a luxury this was for me. It is rare in these parts to come upon a fellow comrade in the trenches to share ideas with... especially one who is open to sharing without the (natural) paranoia of their ideas being stolen. (This is a malady that often plagues many in our craft... lol.)

We chatted about all sorts of things. A light dissection of each other's shows (he had also come to see mine and I his)... working techniques (discovering to our delight that our process is similar)... discussions of playwrights works we (both) admired... our mentors (and we share a couple) ...and future plans and projects we are considering. It was also a joy to be able to chat with someone who shares a common "blue collar" attitude to the work.

We both agreed that theatre is first and foremost a "gig"... and some of it transcends to evolve into art... that the over analysis emphasized in academia has taken the gig out of it which in turn perpetuates the perception that it is inaccessible to regular folk. (Then, they wonder why they can't get an audience.) Instead of mutual support and encouragement... too often in this world of theatre (sadly, more true than not) folks get caught up in a competitive back-stabbing, holier-than-thou snob attitude that really does no one any good and only contributes to the further erosion of the craft... simply because they buy into the idea that everything they create is art.

It was so refreshing (and encouraging) to be able to converse with someone in a "common language". The language of the theatre is common enough among practitioners of the craft but there does exist various "dialects" within this small (and ever shrinking) world. Chatting with actors about a show is quite different than speaking with designers, etc. To be able to converse with a fellow playwright for me presented the unique opportunity to speak in "short-cuts" brought about by a common understanding through the labor of our work that does not require explanation... like two carpenters discussing the best techniques for dovetails without explaining what a dovetail is.

We even half jokingly chatted about spearheading an "indie garage theatre" movement... not unlike the indie garage band or indie film movements that have done so much to refresh those forms over the recent years. Perhaps that is what is needed... to bring a sense of rock n roll back to theatre. Strip away the "jizz" and and allow the works to really sing through performance without the distractions of unnecessary "production value".

I stayed out longer than I thought I would last night... but returned home happy, rejuvenated and much encouraged by the conversations that transpired between Ross and I. It was nice... akin to running into a fellow countryman from the same village in a foreign land.

To quote a line from Tale End... "We are done."

I feel good... better than James Brown. Rogue 2007 went well. There seemed to be a significant spike in audience attendance. Performers from far and near seemed to be on a buzzed high from their participation. In general the caliber of shows was very impressive. After 6 years I think it has finally arrived.

Both my shows did well. Suicide Lounge was quite a popular show. For something that was thrown together as a lark... after our last performance we were offered a 2-3 week gig in a jazz club in Shanghai! How freaky is that? You can read about some of it here at fellow SF blogger Generik who turned up for the final weekend. There are some pictures there too!

Tale End sold out 3 of it's 5 shows. Those who said they would turned up... others didn't... but it's all good. I was especially proud of the last 2 performances. When the lights went out on stage the audience sat in stunned silence for a good 5-10 seconds before the applause rolled high. We all went into this knowing full well that audiences would like it or hate it... and that proved true. Here are some of the reviews and a new post!

New friends were made... old friends reacquainted and it was also time to say goodbye to a friend and fellow founder of the festival. She headed out today for a new life back East.

I'll leave it at that for now and here are some pictures. Speaking of pictures... there are more on this year's fest HERE as well... including a cool Flikr slideshow. Ahh... now back to real life!

Click for bigger versions.

Suicide Lounge (stolen from Generik)

With friends at the Starline

Lines around the block for our final performance.

The Golden Plunger Award (no turds involved)

Tale End (pic by Brad Polzin)

Post final performance tailgate for Tale End with the Green Faerie

Saying good bye to Mama Rogue Jenn.

Come on...

... you wanna buy a TAME MOOSE, doncha?

... or buy furniture from THIS MAN?

... or STEAL THE CODE for the Rogue TV spot and embed it on your blog?

... or check out STAR TREK 2.0?

I suddenly find myself with an hour...

... to kill so I thought I'd take the time to post something. At least something a little longer that the past two days.

One of my rehearsals fizzled out tonight. Though I'm not fretting it (perhaps I should) but it was for Suicide Lounge and I'm not in the greatest of voice tonight. Also this gives me time to really work one of the numbers that I want to do. Lush Life is a mofo of a song to try to do. OK... it can be done but takes quite a bit to pull off so the extra alone time to work it will help at least solidify the tune in my head. We'll get together on Saturday and work the whole thing out.

I have a bit more with graphics and web work to go but I'm confident that after this week I will be free of that.

I went for a short bike ride today... and boy, am I out of shape. LOL! Really pretty sad at how badly I was winded by the short ride. So, I'm making an effort to get out and about either walking or biking for a bit every day. At least this way if and when I do keel over I will have a healthy flush in my cheeks and not look so much like the cave dewller I do now.

Oh, I just checked my Jungle Webs business and see that a few of you who come by here have made purchases. Thank You so much for the business. Every little bit goes a long way and ... do pass the word along. Really, we have some of the most competitive deals around and the support is top notch.

Hmm... perhaps more in the AM. My cast is due to arrive pretty soon... our first pickup rehearsal after the preview. Sure it'll be rough... but they'll do fine once the festival comes by.

i was invited out to dinner tonight...

... and I went. It was a really nice change from being the hermit in the cave working on web work. Thank you G & L for a lovely evening and a wonderful meal. Sol and Kien for being there. Chilling out with stirring conversation with great company... a welcome change and it's been a while.

Shameless & Blatant does work.

We got an article in Fresno Famous... not written by me... plus a picture and all! There was a real reporter involved this time. He came over for rehearsals on Tuesday night. Yeah, go ahead... click the link and read it. I'll wait. (BTW... don't you think the pic posted has some nasty connotations? LOL!)

::toe tapping:: Done? Good.

Last night's Suicide Lounge rehearsal went quite well. We actually started by sharing a meal together over at a Vietnamese noodle place. It's something we hadn't done together in a while. I sort of miss that aspect of those days when we would all go out for meals and commiserate. Just doesn't happen that much anymore. But when it does... it's so very special.

Then there was a beer run and back to my garage to rehearse the songs we will be doing for the preview this weekend. We ran through the songs a few times and was accompanied at instances by backup vocals from my dogs. A pleasant evening all in all.

Tonight we rehearse for Tale End. Today... I'm swamped with graphics work. Tomorrow I prep for the previews this weekend.

No Tale End rehearsals tonight...

... but us boys are meeting for Suicide Lounge. And there is still a shit load of graphic work to accomplish before 6 PM.

Tale End will meet again tomorrow for a final rehearsal before our previews this weekend. Yeah, there are a couple more pictures over on the TJ Blog... and stuff to read as well.

Oh, I do have to mention that I am the guest interviewer on that lovely Ms. Bees Knees blog. If you haven't visited her site yet... you should. Though be forewarned... she is a paid killer... and she's known to do it for free... just for the pleasure of it.

Other than that... not a whole lot to report at the moment. Hope all of you are have a grand hump this Wednesday.

a faerie left me a package...

... today. I opened it to discover that it contained bottles filled with the nectar of of her divine delight. A smile broke on my face as wide as the man in the moon... though a part of me wanted to wag a finger for the extravagance of this gift. I will instead accept it with grace and thanks.

Needless to say I did partake in her essence this evening... but sparingly as I plan on hoarding this treasure for as long as I can.

Not much more to write but I will post pictures from the last 3 days that I had promised to in my last post. They are in no particular order... just random pictures.

I will say though that for some reason or another women flashed their red bras at me on several occasions in public places. ::blink, blink::





Damn, this year has started well!
Cheers!

EDIT: I have installed Haloscan commenting to get around those darned Blogger vs Beta-Blogger commenting issues.

Da Count - what was my day like?

For a non-event it was fabulous! Really, I mean it. Let me clarify. Those of us who are born during or this close to the major holidays are used to folks forgetting our birthdays... or giving half hearted wishes. Really, can you blame them? Afterall, they are usually totally spent from the gush of the holiday season. So, I for many years have just stopped celebrating... or even attempting to. Really, it's like pushing a truck up a hill with a wet noodle.

So, I opted for the non-event. And it works out great. There are no expectations and as a result anything that comes my way is a total bonus. That being said... I want to thank everyone who dropped by to wish me and actually put aside the time to make me feel special today. It's nice being remembered... really.

The day was dank and rainy... weather-wise. So, my day consisted of:

• Waking up at 4 AM (the dogs barking) and receiving the loveliest of emails to start my day off. This set off my day in a wonderful way.
  
• I went back to bed at 5:30 AM. Slept through some great lucid dreams. Really, it was fun to be able to be in the "driver's seat for those.
  
• Got up at 11 ish AM and noodled around including some great surfing.
• At 1 PM.... I cooked.
• 2 PM... surfed a little more and discovered that Os had posted a birthday wish.
  
• At 2:30... hit the sack from the inertia that set in from stuffing my face... from the results of cooking. (Pure bliss.)
  
• 4:30 PM... took a shower and got ready to go out. My ride came by at 5 ish.
• Hit the Tower District. Did ArtHop and really enjoyed walking the wet streets alone hopping from gallery to gallery. Free food, wine and coffee.
  
• Went to the regular wateringhole... drinks were bought for me. A few friends turned up. No big deal was made but the company and conversation was much appreciated.
  
• Got home at 10 PM... a little buzzed but satisfied with all the bonuses that the day granted me.
  
• While I was home received several calls asking where I was... let's have a drink, etc. Thanks... but my day out is done... appreciate the thought and the effort of the calls though.
  

Now, I sit here whacking on the keyboard. There is a quiet solace warming my being and I will head to bed with a smile. So, not making a big deal is actually a wonderful thing as the surprises and delights it brings make the day full. Expectations would only have brought diappointment. My real gift was having this day... and tomorrow presents me with yet another. May all of us have days like this for as many days that the weeks hold... that is my birthday wish for you and me.

I think that counts, don't you?

To find out what Da Count is all about... click the flashing sign.



To lazy now... but some pics my be posted later in the morning.

My very first post...

... OK, perhaps the second after my test. So, these are my new digs... how do you like it? Kinda brazen and red, huh? Well, so be it. It's mine! All mine!

Yeah, I have a new domain now. http://lecramsblog.com . (Go ahead... change it on your blogroll... I'll wait. *toe tapping*... good!

I was going to migrate it to marcelnunis.com... but I thought it deserved it's own home. Of course, it will be linked from there... and the old blog will also be migrated here in a few days. I'm trying to consolidate all the different blogs, websites, etc... I have so that it will be easier to manage. There's not much to see here at the moment... but, hey I just got the place! I'll decorate soon enough. I'm sure this place needs a little more tweaking... (like, what the heck is going on with that background???) but that will come in time.

Oh, and if you want your very own... go to Jungle Webs... both blog and arts friendly... and AFFORDABLE! Heck, with a domain and hosting it's less than $5.60 a month! And I'm running a sale until the 12th.... .COMS are only $6.95 a year! OK, yeah... it's my internet business... can't blame a guy for trying, right? More on that in the coming days!

Now thats out of the way... the reason I'm unveiling this today (Thursday... the 4th) is that it's my birthday! Which sort of calls for a baby pic... so, here's one!

And the lovely Binsk and Phain both share this birthday with me.... go over and wish them too!

Well here it is... the night of my current age and tomorrow I'll be a year older... er... better. Like fine wine... or a single malt scotch (which I should have had tonight .... but the black label was pretty good) or... left over stew or curry... at least I'd like to think so.

The plan for my Thursday? As little as possible. You all have a good one!

Cheers!

test

Lets see what this looks like