Tramps like us....

(at left- Brother Bruce and Sister Soozie tearing it up in Cincy!)

Ok, this is a straight up request from Mr. Pogue...


Last weekend I was lucky enough to get to see the Boss for the 7th time in the last 28 years. Granted, that hardly qualifies me for the title of SUPER FAN, but I does what I can for Mr Springsteen. And anyone who knows me knows of my love for all things BOSS (except the GHOST OF TOM JOAD! I agree with my buddy Ryan on that one- listening to that album feels like doing homework!)


Of all the (literally) hundreds of concert events I've been to, no one even comes close to the power of a Springsteen show. Last week's show, while not quite up to the roof-raising we've all come to expect from the E streeters, was still pretty damned good! (The Boss at half speed is better than anyone else at 110%, for my dinero!) I just wish I could explain the splendor that is the moment when the house lights come up, the Boss counts off into the mike , and the familiar strains of BORN TO RUN begin to rumble through the auditorium. It's one of the greatest thrills I've ever known... as the dude standing next to me in CIncy yelled to me over the din of the first chorus "THIS SHIT NEVER GETS OLD!"


I consider myself lucky every chance I get to see him lately, as the man is nearing 60 and CAN'T possibly do this type of show for much longer. But by God while he can, I'll find a way to get there at least once a tour.


Soooooooooo- what's the GREATEST live music experience you've ever had???





And remember- it ain't no sin to be glad your alive!

"Time doesn't wait for me..."

Ok...it's official. I have the coolest little boy ever! The other day the wife was asking the Wolverine why he was talking in such a low voice (which he's noticeably been doing for the last few weeks) and he answered "I'm trying to sound like Johnny". "Johnny who?" the wife asked. You guessed it...JOHNNY CASH! If I do NOTHING else as a parent, I have at least imparted to my son a love for the coolest man to ever walk the face of the Earth.

So, in other news...it's been a long time since my last post, as you may have surmised. Truthfully, I've been in a bit of a funk. Whatever the male equivalent of post partum depression is, I got it. Don't get me wrong, the little one is very sweet (and a really good baby- no huge all night crying jags! THANK you Jesus!) but I've just been feeling...like crap, for lack of a better way of putting it. Part of it is the extreme sleep deprivation that is endemic with new parenthood, part of it is job stress (Budget cuts and the like...Gee, THANKS Mr. new Democratic governor!!!), part of is feeling overworked and under appreciated, and part of is just this shitty weather we've been having of late. (Could it BE any more gloomy???) But, as I usually do, I'll get over it. The sun is starting to peek out every now and again, and hey...I'm going to see the BOSS this weekend! There, see what I did? I just cheered myself up!

BTW- the little girl's name was inadvertently misspelled last time. The wife wanted to spell it "Vivienne" instead of the more traditional spelling. I thought about arguing, but hey...I ain't the one who had to push her into the world, so my better half wins that battle. She is a beautiful little girl, and I hope those of you in the area get to see her soon. You will swoon at her beauty! ...or ELSE!!!!

No real question this time...just post and let me know how you're doing and what YOU'RE up to right now.

Oh baby!

OK- so lots going on and I'll have a full rundown soon, but just so's you'll know:
Wed morning (at 7:34 am) my wife delivered (naturally- AGAIN! Talk about a super woman!) a NINE POUND / FOUR OUNCE baby girl!
Her name is Vivian ("Vivi" for short) This was actually the name the Wolverine picked out for her some three months ago (where he came up with it I have no idea!) and it just grew on us. Haven't settled on a middle name yet, but it's comin.
We're still in the hospital dealing with a few post birth health issues, but anticipate coming home late Saturday or early Sunday.
We love you all, and we are both exhausted...especially the wife... mine, despite the sleep deprivation and the least timely bout of strep throat in the HISTORY of mankind, was the easy part!
That woman is amazing.

Keep us in your hearts for awhile...

"We've got a hit..."

One more weekend of CATFISH MOON at Studio. Thanks to all who've come out and made this show a big hit. If you haven't made reservations, do so, as they're going fast! THanks to the cast and crew for doing such a superb job on a piece that's very special to me.

Also BOSTON MARRIAGE opens at AGL this weekend. Check it out!

Still no baby...yet.

Awful news...

This one really blows me away.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080122/ap_en_mo/obit_ledger

Heath Ledger is apparently dead. I don't know why this kicks me in the gut quite so hard, but it does. Perhaps it's that he was SO young and gifted, perhaps it's his 2 year old he leaves without a Father, perhaps it's just where my head is, but damn...this sucks.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

"There's a gator in the bushes..."

Happy New Year, everyone!

It's my first post of the new year. Got lots going on:

1) NEW BABY - any day now, the wife should be delivering bambino number 2. We can't wait to meet her!

2) NEW SHOW- Catfish Moon opens at STUDIO PLAYERS this week. Come out if you get a chance! Great cast and crew, cool set, and a REGIONAL PREMIERE!

3) NEW SEMESTER- Lots going on with the new program. I'll offer an update on our Spring doings asap! Can't wait to get revved up...

So, I hope everyone has a great year! Looking forward to 08 and the joy and surprises it will bring. If you have anything cool coming up soon, leave me a message! See you in the funny papers...

Oh yeah....and ....GO EDWARDS!!! DON'T BUY INTO THE CORPORATE MEDIA BLACKOUT!!!!!

...that is all....

"Hallelujah, Noel..."

Greetings Divas!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration. I know it's not "fashionable" for a good liberal such as myself to bestow Christmas wishes on anyone, but to heck with it! It's what I celebrate, and I'm gonna wish you a happy one whether you want it or not! I also have to tell, there is absolutely NOTHING in this world so wonderful as seeing Christmas morning through the eyes of a child. Santa was very generous to the Wolverine this year (not TOO generous, as we're trying to avoid making this time of year completely about "gimmie gimmie") and he has been wide eyed and over the moon all day. Whatever troubles I've been ruminating on have evaporated under the warmth of seeing my son so incredibly joyful. It is indeed a blessing from God.

If you have any glad tidings or thoughts on the new year you'd like to share, feel free. Meantime, here's our topic-

What are you MOST looking forward to in the new year?

Write it down...and Merry Christmas to all, and to all ...a good night!

"They can't stop me..."

So, granted, having an (almost) three year old DOESN'T leave a hell of a lot of time for going to the movies, but we did get out to see a few this year. Of those, BOURNE ULTIMATUM was tops with me. Lots of great action, and what my Mom lovingly refers to as "spy business". Great way to spend a stress free afternoon, and the only trilogy completion of the summer that was worth watching!

(btw- I'll give honorable mention to SUPERBAD, a film that made me laugh at stuff I'm STILL ashamed of laughing at!)

So, what do you think? Those of you that actually get out of the house once in awhile...what was the best film you saw this past 12 months?

Hit it and quit!!!!

"...but all I heard was a drone..."

Ok...so it's probably not TOO hard to guess what my vote for album / song of the year is (DUH!)...and a fine vote it is, despite the Grammy snubs. (Amy Winehouse and Herbie freakin Hancock??? WTF) With MAGIC the Boss reaffirms that old classic rockers needn't rest on their past glories and shows that a man nearing 60 can indeed still have his finger on the artistic pulse of a nation...but that's just me. What say you? What's the best music you heard in 2007? (and please confine it to music FROM said year, not some old 45's you dusted off and rediscovered.)

So...hit me with your best end of the year shots, people. And let's have a little more chatter out there! Not allot of postings lately...bring the meat, people!!!!

"...spread your wings to the sky..."

Sigh...those famous people DO always die in threes, don't they?


First Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins (Tragic home invasion shooting- also looks like there's a break in that case...nice to see the wheels of justice move rapidly every once and awhile...)


Next, Kevin DuBrow- lead screamer of the 80's metal band QUIET RIOT (nobody's talking- sounds like maybe he fell off a wagon or two) and now THIS bombshell!



CLEARWATER, Fla. - Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Bummer of a week. DuBrow and Knievel really hit me hard! As a kid growing up in the 70's I, like most kids my age, idolized this guy! I had the action figures (with the cool motorcycle you could rev up and jump over stuff with!) and I spent many a Saturday afternoon constructing ramps to jump over garbage cans with my bike, or bails of hay with my motor cycle. (Somehow, I never so much as even got a skinned knee doing this- talk about a charmed life!)
Then, as a teenager in the 80's I adored QUIET RIOT! A lot of people look at these guys as sort of joke worthy now, but they really kicked open a lot of doors for the hard rock community back in the day. They were the first metal band EVER to have a #1 album, and amongst their early band members was one Randy Rhodes, perhaps one of the finest rock guitarists ever to grace the stage (who died a very tragic death WAY the hell too young!). These guys also were hitting it big around my Junior year of High School, so obviously this was some very seminal music for me.

It truly is a bitch to get older and watch the people you admired in your youth pass away. But such is the circle of life I suppose (cue the ELTON JOHN music and the barf bags!) Perhaps it's also the paternal thing, as the wife is about to give birth in a few weeks... nothing to make you stare your mortality right in the eyes like having a child. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, mind you...

Oh well- Rest in peace Mr Knievel... tell Kevin and Sean we miss 'em already.



* And just to keep the Q and A going (albeit in a slightly morbid direction)...what loss in the entertainment world has hit you the hardest this year?

"I've got another confession to make..."

(pictured, one of my fave shows of the year ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS at AGL)

OK gang- so since another year is almost in the books, we're gonna do a few BEST OF lists!

Let's get the ball rolling in grand fashion- BEST PLAY YOU SAW IN 2007! It can be local, professional, Broadway, what have you....what was the best piece of Theatre you witnessed in the past 12 months? **NOTE- things you were in / directed/ designed for/ etc DON'T COUNT! And another thing.. this ain't just for locals. I wanna hear from you folks out in the hinterlands as well...

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOTS!!!! And just for fun, let's try to start getting these lyrics again! You people are gettin lazy on me...

"I see no sense in this crying and grieving"

Hey Gang!

Follow this link...

http://www.larryneuzelphotography.com/

and it'll carry you to shots of our recent production of THOREAU.

Unfortunatley, the set wasn't 100% the night Larry showed, but they still look pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

In for my usual holiday tradition, feel free to post anything you personally feel thankful for this year.

Peace,

X

"The Sun is just a morning star"

Greetings, one and all.

BCTC , in cooperation with AGL, presents Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee's THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL, Nov 15th - 17th at the DAC. Showtimes are at 8pm each night.

Tickets are $5 for students , $10 for GA. For more info, call the DAC box office.

Love to see you all out there. It's a great little show we have in store for you.

Now, if you'll excuse me , I have 1000 things left to do and a sick toddler...


-x

" 84-68!!!!"

Soooo.....Tubby may have had his issues as the coach of the UK b-ball team, but to my recollection, he never got his ASS handed to him by the likes of GARDNER WEBB!!!!!!!!

Somewhere, in Minnesota, a man named Orlando is probably still enjoying a very well deserved fit of laughter!

"Look for...the union label..."

Well...looks like my favorite show WON'T be returning in February after all! In case you've been under a rock, there's a writers strike. This, I'm afraid, will be the result:

"Look for lots more unscripted shows, which were not a major commercial force (if they existed at all) during the last WGA strike nearly 20 years ago. “The Real World” didn’t arrive on MTV until 1992. The first three major-network reality shows – “Survivor,” “Big Brother” and the ABC version of “Making the Band” – didn’t arrive until eight years later.
Variety reports that CBS is contemplating the first-ever spring edition of “Big Brother” – possibly a celebrity edition – to launch in March should the strike prove lengthy. The highly rated “Brother” is a particularly potent network weapon as it affordably provides CBS three hours of new primetime programming weekly. "

GREAT! Just what the world needs...ANOTHER edition of BIG BROTHER! (As if the one in Washington wasn't enough!) My question is this- Is this going to be akin to the Baseball strike of a few years ago? Is it going to drive TV watchers away in droves? Is this finally going to be the death knell of scripted TV? I hope not, but when you look at the less than stellar ratings most of these shows get anyway, then add in a potentially lengthy strike? I'm afraid many of the consumers may say "No thanks!" when these shows return. There is actually discussion I've read that perhaps one of the major networks is considering going to , and staying WITH, an "all reality format". There are also TONS of viewers who'd rather watch their shows (particularly those with a continuous story arch) on DVD or the web. I just bought Season 3 of VERONICA MARS (a DAMN fine show, btw) and I never watched a single episode on TV.

Perhaps in this day and age of so much new media and new ways of distribution, the old TV model is broken. (I've thought for years that the Nielsen ratings were an absolute joke! How many times have we seen a show die an premature death, only to have the network bombarded with MILLIONS of protests from angry fans, ALL of whom must be watching in some fashion?)I've also wondered for years why studios don't do more direct to dvd releases with shows (or shows that the networks foolishly cancel that OBVIOUSLY still have a big market, i.e. the aforementioned VERONICA, or Buffy, Alias, etc...) Perhaps a good by-product of this strike is that it might usher in a different model for creating and distributing these products. Who knows...all I know is that Howie Mandel is most likely about to get an unexpected contract extension from NBC!

I won't get into the reasons for this strike, and whether or not it's warranted (probably only one person who comes to this watering hole with a truly learned opinion on that subject), and I was raised to respect the work that Unions do in this country. I just can't help but wondering, though, if perhaps some of these folks might not be shooting themselves, and the fans of their work, in the foot .

Thoughts?

.

"Only love...can bring the rain..."

at left, SPIKE illustrates my feelings for the majority of the 08 presidential candidates.

Well, we here in Central KY are FINALLY getting some rain (Thank the Lord!) and the the great outdoors is finally dropping to a respectable, fall like temperature. SO, it's beginning to look alot like...Halloween??? (Doesn't have the same ring, does it?) And you KNOW what fall temperatures bring to mind...PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES!!!!

So as we head into what is sure to be an intriguing political year, who do you feel has done the best job of getting their message out to the American people (via the debates or other TV appearances?) AND- has your opinion of a candidate changed as a result of said TV appearances?)

Let it roll, people!

"...the undiscovered country..."

HEY ALL!

Just a quick note to remind you all to get out and see AGL's HAMLET at the DAC, running through Nov. 11th. There is a free show tonight (Thursday the 18th- you need to call the DAC box office for reservations) and a PAY WHAT YOU CAN on Sunday. So a couple of good opportunities to see it for next to nothing ( or nothing at all). Lots of board posters involved (Rick, Chuck, Adam, Laurie, etc)

Feel free to wish Ric and the gang a hearty BREAK A LEG, or leave us a stellar, glowing review on the boards...

-X

"I wasn't born for love..."

JUST FOR FUN on a Monday morning...

For those of you who are Ituned- inclined...shuffle your IPOD / I tunes account and tell me the first ten songs that come up!

Here's Mine:

1) Born to Raise Hell- Cheap Trick (That's the lyric above, btw)
2) Heavy- Train
3) Can't Stop Lovin' you- Van Halen (Hagar)
4) Oye Mamacita- Los Lonely Boys
5) The Best of Times- STYX
6) I'll Wait- Van Halen (Roth)
7) What's on your mind?- Ace Frehley
8) Homecoming- Robert Randolph and the Family Band
9) Missing You - Rod Stewart (There's that ROD album again Mikey!)
10) Thank You- John Mellancamp

There you have it! What are YOU listening to???
PS- Fletch- you can list the first ten songs that come up on your satellite radio station!

More serious conversation at later in the week....

"I'm gonna watch you shine..."

So...the jury is in, and this little boy is about to have... (drum roll please!)...

A BABY SISTER!!!!

Yep, the wife and I went to get the ultrasound today, and there she was- big as life. My daughter! It's amazing what these things can do. I actually have a picture of her little face! As per usual, it brought a tear to my eye. However that was short lived. as the Wolverine was in the room with us and demanded his usual amount of attention. It's gonna be an interesting ride, but one I wouldn't trade for all the tea pots in China.
The coolest thing happened as we were leaving the Doctor's office. The boy looked up at me and said "You're gonna have to take care of your baby sister!" (which for some reason he pronounces "SES-stir, as though he were an extra in an episode of THE HIGH CHAPARRAL) It just made me hyper aware of how grown up he's getting, and more to the point, how fast life really comes at you. Before I know it, he'll be off to college and I'll be an old bastard. But, such is the cycle of life.
Even though we waited, and even though it makes for a very sleep deprived existence, and even though I may never have the money to travel anywhere above the Mason Dixon line till I'm old and gray (er), I'm so thrilled that this beautiful boy is a part of my life... and I can't wait for you all to meet my daughter...heck, I can't wait to meet her myself!

Feel free to shower me with all due congratulations...

My students ROCK!!!

L to R - Jeremy Brown, Sharonda Pearsall and Zack Hightower in BCTC's BLESSED ASSURANCE

Ok, so I'm really proud of all these students. Sharonda is up at NKU continuing her Theatre studies (at a damn fine program, I might add). And Jeremy Brown and Zack Hightower both received great kudos and special mention in the local media this week for shows they are involved in. Jeremy for AGL's production of MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM

(http://www.kentucky.com/182/story/178879.html) and Zack in Studio Playa's SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD

(http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/126/story/182655.html)

Truthfully, it really makes me feel good about what I do when I read things like this. (It also plays into the greater mission of my program to get them out working in the community, not just in the school productions) They are two very talented young men, and I got lots more like 'em (men and women) in my program who I'm equally proud of. If you wanna see evidence of this, come check out THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL at the DAC in November!

So if you're in the area, go see both of these shows and enjoy some great, new talent onstage. And if you go see MA RAINEY you just might catch a glimpse of an overweight, cigar chomping, crusty ole' white dude who still has some juice left his own self!