"And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans"

It's a sad day for me. They say possibly as many as 80 dead in Harrison County alone. I used to live in Harrison County. I have friends there...former students and colleagues. They say that due to something called "Hurricane fatigue" many gulf coast residents didn't evacuate...too much of the "boy who cried wolf" syndrome. Unfortunately for many of them, this was the real deal. A cat 4 hurricane smacking you in the face is no small matter. It's devistation of the highest order. New Orleans, another city very close to my heart, and home to many a former DIVA, is underwater in places and a bit worse for wear, but it looks like they really dodged another one. Despite the damage, if that hurricane hadn't downshifted froma 5 to 4 and turned slightly eastward at the last minute, I don't think NOLA would be standing right now. SO despite everything, there is solace in knowing it could've been worse.
So for any and all DIVAS reading this, if you get word on any of our friends in that area, let the DIVAMASTER know, or leave a comment here. And for those of you in harms way, we're praying for you. Don't hesitate to let us know what we can do to help. For todays comments, feel free to just comment on the events of the past few days and pass along any updates you might hear. And if you wanna send along well wishes to DIVAS in the South Mississippi / NOLA area feel free.I'm sure DIVA master will send out a link to all residents once the power is up and running again.If any of you LEX area DIVAS can generate ideas about how we can help, post em!
BTW- the lyric is from Jimmy Buffet's BILOXI, a beautiful song about a beautiful place...here's the rest:
Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are dancin' in the sea
They all look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salty water
And the storms will blow from off towards New Orleans
Sun shines on Biloxi
Air is filled with vapors from the sea
Boy will dig a pool beside the ocean
He sees creatures from his dream underwater
And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans
Stars can see Biloxi
Stars can find their faces in the sea
We are walking down beside the ocean
We are splashing naked in the water
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans
And the sky is red from off towards New Orleans
Down around Biloxi
Pretty girls are swimming in the sea
They all look like sisters in the ocean
The boy will fill his pail with salty water
And the storms will blow from off toward New Orleans

"Wake me up with laughter..."

HA! Name THAT tune, bee-yotches!!!

So, before Mikey runs outta shit to say (highly unlikely:) , lets hit this topic... what qualities do you look for in a good director? AND- in your estimation, what are the DEADLY SINS that many not-so-good directors commit? As usual, please leave names or show titles out, as we try to run a clean, fairly inoffensive blog here! Not looking for anyone to finger point...

TEN BIG POINTS for this weeks song!!!!! AND (as per Fletch's whin...uhhh..REQUEST) ...gimmie the album title and artist)

Rock me like a hurricane, people!

"Somewhere out on that horizon..."

John Denver! Poison! Sade!Spin Doctors! New Edition!!!!! RENT!!!! Oh, the HUMANITY....
Let's stay on this track..it's fun and mighty informative!!!
Howsa bout we discuss our guilty pleasure MOVIES???? EVERYBODY's got loads of those...
Discuss....
and the winner of THIS song title gets three points AND gets to take up to 3 points AWAY from whomever (just 1 person) they choose...MMMWWAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

"I raise a toast to all of us who are breakin our backs every day..."

Egad, this is a busy week!
As I am immersed in all things theatrical and university-like, lets talk about something else today! We all have guily pleasures hiding in our closet. From a musical perspective, what's yours? (You know, that album or song you're deathly afriad someone will find out you love! Or do you listen to Barry Manilow songs cranked full tilt in your hummer, whilst singing along at full volume? What? Tell me, dammit! I'm here to help!)
You show me yours, and I'll show you mine...ps - the mystery song in question is from one of my dirty little secrets... get it right and DOUBLE your score!!!! (unless you haven't scored yet, then you'll just get two points!)

"Cos people believe that they're gonna get away for the summer"

The game's gettin interesting!

Scores
Fletch- 12
Nat-7
Scott Mc- 3 and 1/2
Stevek- 3
Diva Master /Dustin/ Mikey/ Synge- 1

So anyhoo- this is my last weekend before my semester officially starts back, and I gotta tell ya: Gonna kinda miss having the time to spend with the boy (even though I'll still get to see him a great deal.) Joy and I have been lucky enough to work it out thus far where he is never without one of us. Ah, the joys of a flex schedule (brit pronunciation, Rick8). Life is about to shift into fifth gear real quick. Gonna have auditions for PIECE OF MY HEART in a few weeks, got an overload of classes, including one I'm teaching for the first time, and I may wind up being our area coordinator before the end of the semester,pending what my colleague does. SOOOO...lots on my plate. BUT, I kinda like it that way...makes me feel alive, and all...
For this next question, we'll leave the controversy behind and just axe you this:
What's the best/most inspiring performance you've ever seen? This can be Broadway or Little Theatre...whatever floats your barge.
Point values going up to give some of you 1 point scrubs a chance to catch up! (3 this time out...)

"Take a right at the light, keep going straight until night..."

So I went to have my eyes checked this afternoon (verdict? I still can't see worth a crap without my glasses, and I may need BI-focals in the next few years!!! Hoo-ray!) and lucky me, not only did I have to endure that god-awful blinding light test, BUT I got an eye DR TRAINEE to give it a go as well (she wasn't very good). I've spent most of the day in a weird, dialated haze...yeah, it sucks to get old! But, it's better than the alternative.

Anyhoo, some intersting confab on Bo's YAHOO board about Shakespeare for the past few weeks, including a mention of a new Patrick Stewart / Sir Ian McEllen version of Merchant set in Vegas, baby!!!! (The geek inside is wetting himself as we speak- Professor X and Magneto go NUTS on the strip!!!! "Verily I sayeth, what happenth in yon Vegas, dost stayeth therein!!!") Got me to thinking- people LOVE to monkey with Willie when it comes to setting/time/era...what's the best example of this? What's the worst? You can go with Theatre or Film...GO NUTS!
5 big points for the song reference...a chance for someone to catch up or run away with it!
I'll post scores next time- too lazy to do it tonight!

"Wasted days, and sleepless nights..."

Ok...so some think we were being a little too bitchy last round...but hell, it don't bother me none! VENT AWAY!!! Bring me you tired, you weary, your heavy laden with pissiness...I welcome it all! Actually, some good posts last time, and some fine food for thought, which after all, IS the point of all this... SOOOOOO....with that in mind, now let's hit the POSITIVES...what do you LOVE about the Theatre? Is it the rehearsal process? The performances? The adulation of an adoring crowd? The opportunity to hone one's table waiting skills? The outpouring of support and solidarity the Conservative right has shown for the Arts???? (Hey, a man can DREAM, can't he?) The opportunity to be lit on fire every night for 14 weeks (Boonies only, of course)? For the love of God, man, WHAT????
Hit me with your rythum sticks people...and as for the latest lyric...it's an oldie, but a goodie!!!! (and OH the Aqua Net THESE guys used!!! I think 90% of the Ozone hole opened up whenever they went on the road!) Got a heckuva battle going on..we'll tally up next week and check scores for the home stretch and the GRAND PRIZE!!!!

"The World is a vampire..."

For any interested Lex-ville's parties, there's also some cool chatter going on a a site Bo List put up though Yahoo. Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LexingtonTheatre/....
I've done so much shameless shilling for this blog there, that I just fugured I owed 'em one! Check it out...
All this bloging and chatting and swapping of virtual spit has got me to thinking alot about the craft lately, and about what I love about it and what I hate about it too! Being involved in University Theatre I also get to see the best and worst of the business from a different perspective from say, a professional actor or an artistic director or a TD somewhere...so I'm interested (and let's go to the negative first) What do you HATE about this business/craft? We'll accentuate the positive next round, but for now try to elaborate without naming any names (cause God knows I could!!!) or being overly harsh.Just what is it that sticks in your craw (and what IS a CRAW, exactly? I've never really known...) about this thing we call the DRAMA! (and there's one for me- people who call theatre DRAMA! GOD, doesn't that just irk the shit outta you?????)
Should be an easy call for all 90's rock fans this week!!!! I'm giving Synge a chance to catch up, cause I bet she knows this one too! AND, it's a little shout out from me to the Scoobies....