FINAL WEEKEND!!! EVERYTHING MUST GO!!!

(at left- Tony and Gina from AGL/EQUUS RUN'S MERRY WIVES)

So we're coming up on the final weekend of our run of MERRY WIVES. Last weekend's performances were tight, fun and very satisfying. We had very strong, receptive crowds, but more folks need to get out and see this show! I know most of our theatre locals are busy with other material, but we really need to support each other. So spread the word and haul your arses out to the vineyards and enjoy a helluva good show!

It's been a blast doing this piece. I'll post a little post-mortem after we're all done. For now, here's the query:

What is the Shakespeare role you've been dying to play (or the show you really have been dying to DIRECT) that you haven't "gotten around to"?

Lemme hear ya!!!

Friday the 13th INDEED!!!

Last night, our MERRY WIVES company had a very memorable evening. AS time is short for me now (got a call in about an hour) I'll let Chuck Pogue describe the scene:

For thebrave sixty people who defied the forbidding auguries of thunderstorms and came to Equus Run last night, they got towitness...nay, got to be a part of...a rare and weirdly wonderfulnight of magical incandescent theatre.Shortly before curtain, a brief shower came down, making the stagewet and slippery. The possibility of more rain threatened and Artistic Director and Falstaff Tony Haigh had a decision to make --cancel the show or carry on.He chose to carry on in a most unusual way! The audience moved fromthe amphitheatre up to the covered patio that flanks two sides ofthe wine-tasting barn. There on a platform at the apex of this triangular space and utilizing the area in front to expand this makeshift stage, the company begin its performance, making entrancesand exits into the barn, where wine was being served to patrons.All the costumes changes were also done in the barn. Meanwhile blocking and performances were being adjusted on the run...with no one missing a beat. The Equus staff found light to focus on thestage to compensate for the early darkness brought on by the rainclouds.Halfway through the first act, the rain tumbled in such torrents, it drowned out the actors. The show was stopped...but only to move the audience a second time -- into the barn!

The crowd toted their chairs inside around another makeshift stageand the show picked up where it left off...the most amazing mingling of actors, audience, wine-sellers I've ever seen. Actors walked offstage and became part of the audience waiting for their next cue.They changed costumes right there. The audience could see Tony come off as Falstaff, whispering in a corner with his actors about sudden variations required to accommodate the changing conditions. Actors rubbed shoulders with customers coming up to buy wine. They threaded through and around chairs, figuring out to make their next entrance in the most effective way.

The ensemble was on their toes, ad-libbing with facileness, making impromptu inspired adjustments, energized by the danger and excitement of the moment. Everyone of them I talked to as they come off said, "I'm having a blast!"

The audience was having a blast too...in the moment, following the play, with the actors and their daring every step of the way...and,at the end, leaping spontaneously to their feet to give the actors an honest and well-earned standing ovation.

Thanks, Tony and your wonderful ensemble for your courage and dazzling dexterity for a wonderful night in the theatre. And thanksto the audience for their courage to go with the flow and be a partof the excitement and fun!All of them were giving a raincheck to return for another performance, but I don't think they could attend one that could surpass the specialness of this one. What a night of theatre!

-Pogue

That sums it up....one of the most incredible nights of Theatre I've had the pleasure of being a part of!

more later...

Eat, Drink and BE MERRY

Ahoy, hoy!

This week, we open MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR at Shakes @ Equus Run. We have a preview Wed, and we officially open Thursday. Right now, it looks as if the weather gods will give us a good opening night, but it's looking a bit iffy on the weekend! Lets hope the rain holds off! Last year, I went out opening weekend to the show, and while a bit cloudy, it was a VERY nice atmosphere to see a show in. Very relaxed and inviting.

We have a great cast, and Tony Haigh has done a marvelous job getting us all together. (And, he's also doing a splendid job as Falstaff). If you haven't read the Herald Leader article yet as to why he's going on, here it is. http://www.kentucky.com/701/story/427546.html

And if you click onto the ACTORS GUILD link to the right, it'll take you to some cool cast and show info. I hope all of you in the area can make it out. Any of you non-KY residents who wanna make a road trip, I got spare rooms with your name on 'em!

And for another cool, winery- type event coming up, read this:

FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
on the grounds at TALON WINERY
7086 Tates Creek Road Lexington, Kentucky
Teresa Tope - (859) 246-6601



Saturday, June 14 ~ 11-7 p.m.Saturday, June 15 ~ 12-5 p.m.
Featuring:
Talon Wine
Art Vendors Sales
Food
Performing Arts
Children's Activities
and more!

Come one come all!!! It's gonna be a great weekend!!

"I'm so glad we had this time together..."

Boy this one breaks my heart too!

Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to "The Carol Burnett Show" and played a conniving politician to hilarious effect in "Blazing Saddles," died Thursday. He was 81.
Korman died at UCLA Medical Center after suffering complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, his family said. He had undergone several major operations.
"He was a brilliant comedian and a brilliant father," daughter Kate Korman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He had a very good sense of humor in real life. "

For the rest of the story go to http://tv.yahoo.com/show/28851/news/urn:newsml:tv.ap.org:20080530:obit_korman__ER:800

Korman was a brilliant comedian. I adored watching him on Carol Burnett over the years (and learned a damn site about comedy and timing in the process). One of my undergrad professors used to refer to me as HARVEY due to my propensity to crack up during a particularly funny moment early in my stage life. His work, particularly as ED in the early MAMA skits, was absolutely flawless. Just watch he and Carol at work here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJLVgPPF40M&feature=related

I've said it before, but one of the hardest things about growing older is watching those you learned from and respected pass on. But Harvey lived 81 years, and that' s a pretty good stretch in my eyes.

RIP Mr. Korman... we'll miss you...and when you're in that great variety show in the sky, try to keep a straight face!

Any memories of Harvey? Let me hear em.

"So it's the laughter..."

(at left-members of the cast of MTSU's 89 production of HAIR!)








Wow...I mean really...WOW! Time goes by so freaking fast! This little shot will be 20 years old
next May! My friend Tracey posted some old shots of all of us MTSU folk after the recent
reunion. This is a shot of some of us backstage during the run of HAIR in the Spring of 89. Strangely enough, I would adopt the hippie / mountain man look a number of times after this (for plays and just cause I was too lazy to shave!) In the front row and to the right of me is one of my best friends since childhood, Dave. Dave and I met at a showing of STAR WARS (no lie!) when we were 11 and 12 respectively. We've been pals ever since (despite the occasional dust up). This means I've known him, and been friends, now for THIRTY years! Again...all I have is WOW!




This shot is a little more bittersweet. To START with, there's the ensemble. (Why is it that my response to every shot of me from the 80's/early 90's begins with "WTF am I WEARING???) Then there's also the guy to my left. This is a shot from my old bachelor bad in the boro. The fellow is one of my former roomies, and at the time best buds, Chris. Chris is no longer with us, and his passing was incredibly painful. Chris was a brilliant man, and one of the most fun people I've ever had the pleasure of being around (well, SOMETIMES he was...) and it pains me that he's not still here to share my impending midlife crisis, and that my children will never know him. I had no pictures of the two of us up till now, and I am incredibly grateful to have this one. Thanks, Trace!

I was never a big picture taker in my youth. I was the third of three children, and where their are albums full of my older siblings, there exist about three shots of me in my infancy. So I guess because of that I never valued it. My wife, on the other hand, has about a metric ton of pictures from her youth. I envy her that...and I wish I had been smart enough to buy a damned camera back then...

So here's my question to you...what were the 80's like FOR YOU??? Love em? Hate em? Don't remember 'em????


I'll post later...I have a baby to tend to at the moment!!!

"...there she goes again..."

My wife has written a great post regarding Clinton's victory in KY and a wonderful reflection of the ridiculously flawed process that is Campaign 08. Go here to read...
http://fridayplaygroupconfessions.blogspot.com/

Feel free to come back here and comment.

"...we'll go dancing in the dark..."

This weekend down in M'boro, my Alma mater is having a Theatre Dept reunion. I missed the last one and TONS of my old friends showed. I really regretted it. Unfortunately, I will also have to miss this one. Some of the folks I know will be there I haven't seen in over 15 years. Bummer, as I'd really like the opportunity to catch up. My undergrad friends are an interesting lot. Like many Theatre folk who go to grad school, I think my Grad friends have been closer to my heart and stayed connected to me in a much stronger way over the years. But there is definitely a special place in my heart for the folks of my misspent youth! I think of them fondly and often, even though we really aren't in one anothers lives at this point.

Life is funny...people come and go in and out of it so fast, sometimes you forget they were even there. But I believe we encounter everyone for a reason, and everyone, no matter how brief the stay in your life, leaves an impression. I miss those carefree days of my youth sometimes...and I'm thankful for them. They helped shape who I am today...

So here's to the MTSU Theatre program of yore...sorry I can't be with you guys in body this weekend, but I'm definitely there in spirit. Have a drink for me, and remember...if you drunken phone call me, do it before 10pm eastern, as I DO have kiddies in the house!

To any old alum who might be lurking, leave a post an introduce yourselves...we're a real nice bunch around here!

FILM SHOOT

Hey people! I need lots of folks for a film shoot I'm helping to cast! Some roles pay, and the schedule looks like May 17th, 18th and 20th inRichmond. I only have sketchy details thus far, BUT if you think youmight be interested/available, email me at woundedeagle8@yahoo.com or leave a message here in the posting section andI'll send details when I get em. I'm looking for everything from teensto 50's, so include your age / brief vital statistics just in case Idon't know you.

Thanks,
X

"we can't even think of a word that rhymes..."

Hey all- it's been awhile. I've found it increasingly hard to have time to keep posting, but now that Summer's here, I get a bit of a break, and may be able to keep this thing updated.
Soooo...school's out for me, and for the first time in a long time 'm not teaching Summer courses. Just hanging at the house doing my daily rendition of DADDY DAY CARE, and I'm pleased to say I'll be doing a role in Eqqus run's MERRY WIVES (more on that in a later post). There are, of course, lots of things in the planning stages for the job next year (the main one being DON'T GET AXED BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS- though there is scant little I can do about that) and me and the Missus are hoping to travel SOMEWHERE (even if only to...Tennessee! Seems that's about all we can afford lately) . I'll also be in my good friend Darren's wedding in late July, so still lots going on.

So, tell me- what's lined up for YOUR Summer? Spare me no details...

RIP Danny...

(Springsteen, Federeci, Bittan in Danny's last performance)

From backstreets.com

DANNY FEDERICI, 1950 - 2008

Danny Federici, the E Street Band's organist and keyboard player since its inception, died this afternoon, April 17, 2008 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City after a three-year battle with melanoma.
The Federici family and the E Street family request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund; more details on the Fund will be forthcoming.
The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concerts scheduled for Friday in Ft. Lauderdale and Saturday in Orlando are being postponed. Replacement dates will be announced shortly.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Danny's family, friends, bandmates, and blood brothers; we here at Backstreets, and surely all those fans touched by his spirit, mourn with you.

God Speed, Danny. We'll miss you...

"If you see a painted sign..."

TONIGHT through 4/12! BCTC's Theatre program presents THE BOYS NEXT DOOR @ 8pm at the DAC. Tickets are $7 for students and $12 for General Admission.

A little about the play:

About The Boys Next Door:
The scenes takes place in a communal residence where four mentally handicapped men live under the supervision of a young “burned out” social worker. The play is mingled with scenes from the daily lives of these four, where “little things” sometimes become momentous, and often very funny moments of great poignancy. This touching show moves the audience to an awareness of how many things in everyday life we take for granted.

The cast includes Jeremy Gillett ( AGL's MA RAINEY and BCTC's Blessed Assurance) Leif Rigney and Zach Moseley (BCTC's THOREAU), Erica House (BCTC's WORKING) and newcomer Kevin Greer. We are very excited about this production. I know there's a lot going on, but if you can make time to come check us out, we'd appreciate it!

Feel free to take up valuable bandwidth with various leg-breaking sentiments.

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!!!!