INTO THE WOODS

So I was very excited to get a call Wednesday morning offering me the role of the Baker in INTO THE WOODS, a Footlite Musical production at the Hedback Theatre directed by R. Brian Noffke. We open at the end of April and run thru the middle of May.

Footlite's Production of Into The Woods announces the Cast:
Baker - Scot Greenwell
Baker's Wife - Claire Wilcher
The Witch - Kate Nash
Cinderella - Kristen Cooler
Narrator/Mysterious Man - Roger Schmelzer
Cinderella's Prince - Michael McCormick
Jack - Drew Williamson
Little Red - Elizabeth Trammell
Jack's Mother - Debbie Noffke
Rapunzel's Prince - Michael Moyer
Cinderella's Stepmother - Adrienne Reiswerg
Lucinda - Brenna Campbell
Florinda - Katie Leavell
Cinderella's Father - Tom Robertson
Cinderella's Mother - Lucy Yarbrough
Rapunzel - Nadia Robinson
The Wolf - Jeffrey Reeves
Giant/Granny - Mary Potts
The Steward - Michael Long
Snow White - Aleta Przbylinski
Sleeping Beauty - Amy Cooper

on my mind lately

Wonderful! BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN got the biggies at the Golden Globes, and rightfully so. Have you seen it? ...I won't gush; there's no need. It's a story that we've all heard before, it may even be predictable. But it was beautifully acted and directed, and the film carried a buzz with it that would help it reach more ...ahem, close-minded people in the middle of the country.

The Colts lost. Sadness. And I've never been to a single football game in my life; I really don't get much of it at all. But I am disappointed all the same, alongside the rest of the city. Ah well. Indy still rocks.

Last night I auditioned for INTO THE WOODS at Footlite Musicals downtown. I've never seen a show there, actually, nor auditioned for one. So I didn't know what to expect--I'd heard, for instance, that you auditioned in front of others, but we didn't. I think I did well. I left feeling very good about it all; you just know it's going well by the amount you're being read, and the roles you're being read for. The Baker really interests me, his journey and the weight of his situation in "No More"; but Jack is such fun too, though. I hope that Jeremy Brimm is cast, and my pal Jenn too. And Ashley and Adrienne, who was absent last night but has assured others that she'll be there tonight.

Huh. Three hundred years ago today, Benjamin Franklin was born.

Phoebe, my baby, will be notified this week of her status as a blood donor. I think she'll be fine to do it, and it will make me feel like we're helping our fellow...man. Then again, I feel a little sick and controlling with it, ya know? I mean, it's not like I've given her a choice. But she seems to enjoy the vet, and they say she doesn't whine. She's my tough girl. Plus she has pounds of excess skin.

In a couple weeks, I'll be thrice an uncle! Sofia (or Sophia--I don't know which yet) Marie will be born in England. --"I'm with you in spirit, Sis-in-law! Plus you have Mom and Dad and your mom and dad over there with you (for a long time after the birth, too), so I'm sure you have a full house. But yay! Congrats!"

Off to read Angela's blog...dramaqueenmother

I've returned (once again) to my people in the dark

Hello folks.
Well, here I am, after a long absence during which I travelled to Rome and back--and got more of my proverbial shit together.
Yes, dear readers, while I am very sorry that I've kept you waiting for another installment of my life--much like those dastardly producers at shows like LOST--I think it needed to be done. It was a positive overall. Not that I planned it. Actually, I just got lazy again, when it came to journaling.
BUT! I am now in a different financial situation than I've been in in, say, 4 years. Of course, I needed Daddy's help, but I'm here! You see, by the end of this week, I will have paid off the Visa credit account that was closed on me for delinquency. (It may seem odd I'm sharing that little factoid, but I have little shame.) Also, I will have paid my real estate taxes (which might be a little delinquent too). And guess what......... I'll have some money left over. To pay other bills. And maybe even... SAVE! (Did I spell that word correctly? I haven't used it in so long.)

I'm sure you're all anxious to read about Rome. So...
Ah, Rome. I met my parents in Philadelphia, and we flew into Rome early on Saturday morning. Kent and Tamar (my bro and sis-in-law, for those who don't remember) and the girls (Cati and Sarah) arrived shortly afterwards. We all met up at our wonderful apartment my bro had secured for the week: a top-floor, 2-story flat with a balcony that faced the Colliseum, which was merely blocks from us. And so began a week filled with wine, good food, a vigorous travel and sight-seeing schedule, lots of awe, and feelings of gratitude and disbelief.
I saw, in no particular order: the Colliseum, the Vatican (including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square, the Pieta), the ruins of Pompeii, the streets of Naples (complete with vending machines that were stocked with condoms, cigarettes and needles), the Forum, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and much much more.
I celebrated my 28th birthday there with my folks; my dad also turned 57 that week. I went out the night of my birthday, and the next night too. To a place called the Hangar. The place was very English-speaker friendly, apparently because one of the owners is American. I ran into a couple from England who were just delightful, and a gentleman who (surprise!) had sat across from my parents and me at the airport gate in Philly--and recognized me, AND has family ties in Indy AND Washington, Indiana, which is 15 miles from Loogootee. Small world after all, no?

Let's see...in other news... (I'd finish the Rome stuff, but I'm at work at the bank right now...)

And THIS post sat in my draft folder for another week, so I figure I better just post it, so it doesn't happen again. My readers (oh YOU!) have been chomping at the bit for another update on my (insert fun adjective like "delicious") life. And really, who can blame them?
You'll also find a couple other posts that sat in limbo forever. I'll try not to do that again. (Often.) And one of these days, maybe I'll find some actual focus with this blog.

OOO! Here's some juice though: DAYS has been incredible in the last couple days, with Zach being hit by his sister in her speeding car. You know he's gonna die, his organs will go to the dying baby Claire, and the families will cheer and cry at the same time. Only Kate and Victor will know that Zach's bro Shawn is really Claire's daddy...but that will come out in time. And hail to La Carrie! She's back! Miss Christie Clark--the actress whose cigarette I lit at a Hollywood party as she tossed back her blonde locks and said of my own temporary ones, "I like your hair"--is returning to the role she may as well have orginiated in the 1980s. God, I love DAYS!

the end of URINETOWN

The following was all I could bring myself to write after URINETOWN ended--over two months ago. It's sat in my draft folder ever since. I figured, what the hell, I'll post this. You'll get it...I was sad. I think there was more, but time's gone by and I have so much to catch up on...


So while I'm still very much feeling the afterglow of a 10-week orgasm (of sorts), I figured I'd write my reflection so that you can get as fresh a reaction as possible. (As if "orgasm" didn't give it away.)

Sigh... where to begin? I felt the feeling of family that every cast feels, of course.

BUFFY Quotables

Another post that sat in the draft folder forever. This was supposed to be posted back around Halloween.

Happy New Year!

BUFFY's been on my mind a lot lately because I've gone about as long as I ever have without watching an episode, and I'm a little proud of myself. It's even been awhile since I've watched an ANGEL eppy. Anywho, also because Halloween is coming up and the Buffyverse becomes kinda popular on TV for a few days, here are some of my favorite and/or most memorable quotes from the run of BUFFY. I am at work now, so I don't have the scripts or episodes handy to ensure I'm getting it all word-for-word; but if you feel ballsy and just KNOW that you know the exact words, by all means, step right up.

"Get over it. Whatever's causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it. Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever. Just get over it." --Cordelia to Buffy, When She Was Bad

"I lost a friend tonight, and I could lose another. The whole world is being sucked into Hell and you want me to feel sorry for you because your girlfriend's a big ho? Well let me take this opportunity to not care." --Buffy to Spike, Becoming Part II

"Cibo Matto can clog dance?" --Willow, When She Was Bad

"Oh Buffy. You really need every square inch of your ass kicked." --Evil Willow, Two to Go

"You're not his type. He's not big on sleaze." --Buffy to Faith re: Riley, This Year's Girl

"That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, Bingo!" --Buffybot to dusted vampire, Bargaining Part I

"God, you really were the juvenile delinquent in your day. You must look back on that and cringe." --Cordelia to Giles, Gingerbread

"Don't you like anything normal? Golf, USA Today...or anything?" --Cordelia to Giles, Gingerbread

"I'm sorry, Buffy. But you toyed with unnatural forces. What kind of a mother would I be if I didn't punish you?" --Joyce, Gingerbread

"What about me, Spike? The Actual Girlfriend?" --Harmony, Crush

"Being a vampire sucks." --Harmony, The Harsh Light of Day

"Is one of us very stoned?" --Spike to spellbound everyone else, Weight of the World

"Someday he'll come along..."

so yeah, match.com.

I got bored at CCs one day, and I was all, "what the hell." But oh my god, what I wrote for my profile/intro is AWFUL. I was so embarrassed that I de-activated my profile until I could come up with something better, whenever that may be. There are some cuties that the site has said are good matches for me. Now if I can only NOT turn them off before they meet me; I think I come across as a better catch in person.

I've now changed my profile so I sound a little more normal, funny. My headshot's on there, and it's not too bad (thanks, Liesl Victor-Downey!). I don't know what I expect to find, but I figured, most guys that go on these websites are probably like me: we've done the whole sleeping around thing and although that's easy in its own way and dating is daunting, we DO crave real, true companionship--with someone we can carry on a good conversation with.

So I saw this guy on there that I first met when I came to town 4 years ago. Oh my, is he cute! But he wasn't interested then, so I doubt it will happen this time. Some cute southern Latino just winked at me via the site though.

So am I stupid/silly for doing this? I don't think so. I know of at least one internet couple that panned out--and exists no longer--but you had a great time while it lasted, eh Meggiekate?

phases

The other day I was thinking about this woman that I went to college with, a couple years older than me, named Britt Hudak. Ah, what an alternative chick she was. Jet black hair (usually), an odd, interesting face, a bit of a lisp, but an animal inside. She played (is it) Sooze in SUBURBIA, and the medieval character/12-year-old f---ed-up girl in TOP GIRLS. We were never close, really, but I remember sitting on the porch of Swayze (one of the theatre houses in Evansville) with her, Molly Gormley and Brian Skeggs... that was the first time I (ahem) took a hit. "Those were the days..."
Anyway, I thought about what a big city girl Britt was, how raw and harcore she could be--or at least it seemed that way, and I think it truly was. Of course the memory felt nice, but I remembered I admired her in that moment. I wished I was like her.

But I was outside with Phoebe, watching her run around in the yard I now own. I thought of my house. Settling down in Indianapolis. Was this really what I wanted? Is it what I want now? Am I still letting my unresolved issues with my parents run my life? Issues of control and obligation, guilt and shame, the needs for acceptance and validation.
They're all present, certainly, but I feel I'm on the right track with the decisions I've been making lately. I do want to have a cozy house and dog and yard to come home to at the end of a day, and I don't want to live in a city where there's an obvious competition for space. I hate that life in general isn't easier, and especially for artists like me. But it's the way it is, as much as it sucks, and there are worse things than trying to be zen about working in a bank.

I look around, too, at some of the people in my life--none of whom I want to dis here--and I feel a little more proud. A close friend of mine--very close--has found himself in rehab. The other day we spoke on the phone, and I was proud of myself for being honest with him. I told him that he'd disappointed me with the extent of his drug use, that it went beyond worry since he'd known for a long time how worried I was and apparently he didn't care. I told him that the positive crap he was spewing at me over the phone ("lots of great, incredible things are happening here", "I can't wait to tell you all about it", "I'm probably the best I've every been") was not being purchased by this shopper. Sure, I want him to get better, and I want him to be healthy and I want to believe everything he says. But I don't. He's a counselor himself, so, like I said to him and he agreed, he's said to others most of what his counselors have been saying to him. But he's smart, and he uses it to justify his use; "I'm ok, I don't have a problem because I recognize all the issues at conflict within me right now."

In just over a week, I head off to Rome. I have a lot of hopes for the trip: that I'm able to memorize the powerful Mystery Cafe show I'm doing while on the plane, that I get out and enjoy a gay night or two, that I have fun with my family, and that I get some perspective, some thought on my situation. I'm very pensive right now.


Oh! And I put my profile on Match.com for the hell of it. But that's my next post...

all in the timing

As it turns out, the actor who'd be performing the one-man show I AM MY OWN WIFE at the Phoenix in November is unable to do it, and yesterday Mr. B Fonseca asked if I was interested/available for it. Of course, God has a dastardly, wicked sense of humor, and I will be in Rome for half the run. Altogether now: d'oh!

I'm happy to hear, though, that I wasn't the first actor approached to step into the show. Why happy? I'm not sure I can explain. It's just overwhelmingly flattering to have been approached...daunting. I'm glad to know he thought of me, but not being the first on the list, it feels a little less like I'm just fooling everyone--something I sense quite often. Not that I'm not talented, but I'm not THAT talented.
Plus the show goes up in less than two weeks. I mean, WHAT? No way I could pull that off. Or maybe. But Rome is a-callin', and as Angela said, "How often you gonna go to Rome on someone else's [Dad's] dollar? We already know Bryan wants to work with you, so it'll happen."

Two weekends of URINETOWN left. (I'll miss it.) New hire/drug testing stuff next week for Bank One (JPMorgan/Chase, actually).