Peter's Brain

Images from Groucho

2011-04-29T15:40:00.004-04:00

Groucho: A Live in Revue closed on Saturday, March 23. It was a pleasure to be there.

Groucho

2011-04-19T01:08:00.005-04:00

It's been a wild ride in my theatrical life over the last month-and-a-half. In the last two weeks of Beyond Therapy at Bay Theatre in Annapolis, MD, I was also rehearsing Groucho at Wayside Theatre in Middletown, VA, over a hundred miles away -- so I had a few days of rehearsal, performance, and nearly 300 miles total of driving. Beyond Therapy closed on March 20th, and Groucho opened on the 27th, only a week later.

Then Groucho really got positive reviews in the Northern Virginia Daily, and particularly in the Winchester Star -- the Star gave me the greatest kudos I may have ever gotten in my life, when FC Lowe said quite simply, "Peter Boyer is the perfect Groucho Marx."

And then another great review came along on p. 8 of the Warren County Report, in which Malcolm Barr wrote, "Peter Boyer . . . IS Groucho."

And then there was an interview on "Talk of the Town with Barry Lee" on Winchester's ABC station. A very fun interview, with host Barry Lee, director Warner Crocker, and me in character as Groucho -- I get to throw out the occasional Groucho-esque one-liners. I'm quite pleased with how that turned out. The interview is the first 7 minutes of the program, and I hope you'll give it a look, HERE.

And I've received so many compliments from folks involved with the show and folks who've seen the show that I'm quite simply stunned by it all. And I have the great fortune to be working with a bunch of generous and talented folks.

So, it's been a heckuva ride. The ride ain't over yet, though, not quite. We close on Saturday, April 23rd, and if I hope you'll see it if you have the chance. For more info and tix, go to Wayside Theatre's website. And if you'd like to see some of John Westervelt's excellent pictures from the show, go HERE.

Work, Work, Work

2011-03-07T01:03:00.002-05:00

I'm preparing to start rehearsals for GROUCHO at Wayside Theatre. This preparation is difficult, painful, stressful, tedious, involving such things as placing Marx Bros. DVD's into the DVD player and . . . watching them. Shortly after this post, I shall grit my teeth and watch The Cocoanuts. Wish me luck.

I also have to learn a few songs, like "Titwillow" and "Lydia the Tattooed Lady." Fortunately, in my youth I saw these two songs performed by the Muppets (I assure you I watched The Muppet Show merely to prepare myself for days like this).

I'm looking forward to the more enjoyable parts of preparation, including highlighting my lines and memorizing them.

Here's a couple of "Lydia" videos, from Groucho, then the Muppets, so you can get an idea of the hellish tedium I currently find myself in. If you're lucky, in a couple of days I'll post a more exciting video of lines being highlighted and memorized.

Attack of the Killer Leaping Groucho Bartlett

2011-03-02T04:08:00.004-05:00

About the Killer Whale . . .
Last night I dreamed that a killer whale escaped an aquarium. A dramatic leap (over my head), a slide down a grassy slope and into the sea. A visually spectacular dream, sorry you missed it.

About Groucho . . .
I'll be playing Groucho in Groucho @ Wayside Theatre from March 26 - April 23. Rehearsals overlap the current show I'm performing in (Beyond Therapy @ Bay Theatre) by two weeks, and the theatres are over 100 miles apart, so I'll be in for a few interesting commutes.

About That Guy On The Right . . .
Way in the future, I'll be playing Josiah Bartlett in the musical 1776 @ Ford's Theatre. That'll run March 14 - May 19 -- in 2012.

Another Review

2011-02-22T15:01:00.003-05:00

Another review has come out for Beyond Therapy at Bay Theatre. The writing is interesting . . . . reviewer Gerald Fischman of The Capital looks not only at how the play comes across today but also how it'll come across (or not) in a generation or two:

"It's Durang's bounciest and most accessible play, but it has also started to date . . . . Today's theater audience - mostly an older crowd - can cope with this. But in a few more decades, the play will not just be unperformable but will have to be footnoted as heavily as one of Shakespeare's comic scenes."

But he's generally favorable, saying some rather nice things about the cast. Here's my bit:

"Boyer injects enough intelligence and poise into Bob to compensate for the fact that the man usually acts like a baby."

Chewing the Scenery Again

2011-02-17T03:36:00.005-05:00

I'm currently performing in Beyond Therapy at Bay Theatre. I play Bob, Bruce's gay lover. Some reviews just came out for the show, and here's a few tasty bits --

"Adding to the hilarity [is] Bruce’s jealous live-in lover Bob (Peter Boyer)" . . . . " Boyer is a master of facial expressions and mannerisms: petulant, bitchy, insecure, manipulative. He is brilliant in the Act I finale." -- Bay Weekly (writer not listed)

"Beyond Therapy is Christopher Durang’s best play, and in Annapolis, the Bay Theatre Company is showing us why" . . . . "These actors . . . play these characters beautifully." -- Tim Treanor, DC Theatre Scene
　
"Bay Theatre's current production of Christopher Durang's 1981 comedy Beyond Therapy is consistently beyond funny, often bordering on hysterical" . . . . "Peter Boyer, another Bay favorite, returns as Bob, investing his character with frustration, hurt and a strong will to survive, all with delightful comic undertones." -- Mary Johnson,The Baltimore Sun

This little show runs through March 20.

Tra-la-la-la-Bah, Tra-la, Humbug

2010-12-07T16:36:00.002-05:00

Yes, yes, long time no see.

So -- you have 2 weeks left to see A Broadway Christmas Carol at Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA. I play Ebeneezer Scrooge. Yeah! That guy! A Broadway Christmas Carol is "a delightful and unexpected mix of show tune song parodies and Charles Dickens’ classic tale."

We officially opened two weeks ago to rave reviews, like so --

"A Broadway Christmas Carol retells the Dickens story with the help of only three actors and one pianist, all of them extremely talented performers. Peter Boyer plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the perfect embodiment of the stingy old crank at the beginning of the show. Boyer is a talented, agile dancer as well as a powerful singer and his crisp performance is essential to the success of Christmas Carol." -- Barbara Mackay, Washington Examiner

"There's very little "bah humbug" as this high-wattage, all-star cast tackles a timeless tale and gives it new life in the perfect medium for a musical message of ultimate uplift. Three talented area performers bring their Broadway-big voices and broad comedic talent to the completely audience-friendly intimacy of MetroStage and pull it off with infectious hilarity and brio." -- David Hoffman, Fairfax Times

"It’s a Vaudevillian Christmas tale from Merry Olde England, mined gleefully from Charles Dickens." . . . "Peter Boyer gives us Ebenezer Scrooge . . . played with delicious aplomb" . . . "A tip-top cast . . . ." -- Jordan Wright, Alexandria Times

"Charles Dickens, Broadway, vaudeville and slapstick collide merrily in “A Broadway Christmas Carol”, an early gift from Alexandria’s Metro Stage." . . . "The sets are simple but effective, and the four-member cast is versatile and talented." . . . "[Peter Boyer's] musical range and comedic timing are superb." -- Carla Branch, Alexandria News

"The show’s strong suit is its zany quartet of a cast who milk the laughs out of the material in a manner reminiscent of the parodies which were a staple of 1950s and ‘60s comedy and variety television shows." . . . "Peter Boyer [has] a fine voice and an appealingly sly sense of humor." -- Gary McMillan, DC Theatre Scene

Road Trips Are Good For The Soul

2010-08-18T21:23:00.002-04:00

A bit of ol' business first: The Comedy of Errors and Scapin! closed a couple of weeks ago. The outdoor shows were often very hot, occasionally brutally hot; but I had roles great and good, and I worked with some wonderful people.

So -- Road Trips Are Good For The Soul:

Jenny's out in Ohio again, teaching a stage combat workshop. I headed out there for the weekend to visit her and a few friends old and new and to see the latest incarnation of Tecumseh! Go see it, make the road trip, it's excellent.

My road trip was a great little escape. My connection to the world via cell phone and TV and internet was severely and marvelously reduced. Interestingly, that's when I got all sorts of good phone calls -- a staged reading, some commercial extra work, and a film booking(!).

On the way to Ohio, I met some great folks in Grafton, WVa., when I got a flat tire. If your car breaks down, try to break down in Grafton.

While in Ohio, a few of us saw The Expendables, which Josh Katzker perfectly described as "awesomely bad" -- it's dumb and absurd and over the top, resuscitates bad old stereotypes, has excessive violence and multiple explosions and maybe 2 or 3 really good 1-liners. It's a great time if you know ahead of time what you're getting yourself into.

Go see Tecumseh! -- yes, I'm repeating -- it's worth repeating: It's a wonderful production of an excellent story, go see it.

On the return trip, in a gas station restroom I saw a sign that said, "For the safety of yourself and others, please wash your hands for 20 seconds (or sing Happy Birthday twice) after using the restroom, handling money, eating, smoking, or touching an unsanitary object. Don't forget to use the paper towel to turn off the faucet!" No paper towels in the restroom; just an air dryer. And do you think the man behind the cash register washes his hands every time he handles money?

Another Good One

2010-07-07T01:57:00.003-04:00

Another review has come out for BSF's The Comedy of Errors and Scapin! , this time on the radio -- 88.1, WYPR's Maryland Morning With Sheilah Kast.

Theatre Critic J. Wynne Rousuck says, "there's plenty of pleasure to be had from taking in both productions," and she calls Comedy of Errors "splendid."

Gratuitous self-promotion moment (@ ~2:00 in the review): "In a cast that nimbly handles Shakespeare's language and high jinks, acrobatic Peter Boyer is a stand out as Dromio of Syracuse."

To hear the review, click HERE .

On Stage Again, In Suit and Verse

2010-07-01T15:16:00.004-04:00

In my time away from this here blog, I've been doing the occasional commercial / industrial / extra work, except for that month of February when I was staring at / trudging through / shoveling snow.

But now I'm back on stage again, back with the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival for their summer outdoor productions, because I couldn't resist the idea of playing a very physical role in a full suit in 90+ degrees F and 40+% humidity. Sitting in a sauna always bored me to tears, this is much better. We're doing two shows in rep: The Comedy of Errors and Moliere's Scapine. Comedy opened last week, on June 23rd; Scapine opened yesterday.

A couple of reviews for The Comedy of Errors just came out. Links and a few quotes are below.
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From Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun:

"This summer, the Baltimore troupe offers a breezy, polished staging of The Comedy of Errors, running in repertory with Moliere's equally farcical Scapin."

". . . a high-caliber, tightly-matched cast."

"Peter Boyer makes an amusing mark as Dromio of Syracuse, especially in the scene where the character compares a kitchen maid's body to various countries of the globe — one of Shakespeare's rudest, crudest and, of course, funniest passages, given extra zing here. "
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From Mike Giuliano of the Howard County Times:

"The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival gets most things right with its outdoor staging of The Comedy of Errors. It's a relatively short, slapstick-oriented Shakespeare comedy that plays well on the pastoral grounds of Evergreen Museum and Library."

"This production's extroverted performances acknowledge that silliness is the way to go. [The actors'] manic spirit keeps things moving along."

"The most endearing performances are by [Peter] Boyer and [Mark] Krawczyk as the twin Dromios. Dark-suited and bowler-hat topped, they prove to be delightfully limber as they get kicked around by their irate bosses and seemingly everybody else. Their pratfalls make them seem like they've stumbled in from a slapstick film."

I'm Not The Caveman

2010-01-27T19:03:00.002-05:00

I'm the one in the hat.

Booya, Baby!

2009-10-13T00:53:00.002-04:00

Another review, this time in the Baltimore Sun. And they thought the show was "excellent."

The review also said, "Boyer is hilarious in his three roles."

Way cool.

So -- come see it -- Bay Theatre, Annapolis, playing through Nov. 8. Get tickets before they're gone!

Headline: Best In Show

2009-10-10T01:17:00.003-04:00

According to the review from the Bay Weekly, Bay Theatre's production of Sylvia "is as puppylicious as Bil-Jac liver treats."

. . . and . . .

"Rounding out the cast is Peter Boyer . . . . He is Tom, a proud dog owner who brings the subtle one-upsmanship of the mommy wars to the dog park. He is Phyllis, Kate’s canine-phobic friend and confidante. He is Leslie, an androgynous therapist and marriage counselor. As all three, he is marvelous."

Cool.

2009-10-09T02:33:00.002-04:00

Our first review, from The Capital:

"The Bay Theatre Company kicked off its eighth season last weekend with a real dog of a play - and it's howling good."

* * * * *

"Peter Boyer, who has the challenging task of playing three roles - a dog park buddy of Greg's named Tom, Kate's friend Phyllis and an ambiguously gendered therapist the couple visits named Leslie - adds a deft hand to the comedic romp. He's funniest as Phyllis, whom he makes into a slightly off-kilter society maven. It reminded me a bit of Mrs. Drysdale in "The Beverly Hillbillies," only funnier."

Click either paragraph to read the whole thing . . . they liked the other actors, too . . . .

I Shaved My Legs For This?!?

2009-10-06T03:25:00.002-04:00

Yeah, apparently I did.

For the character of Phyllis (in Sylvia), I am wearing a knee length skirt, hose, and heels. As well as a bra, a nice blue top, scarf, wig, pearls, ear rings, and a few other bits of jewelry.

By the way, one of the reasons I'm in theatre is because it gives an opportunity to experience many different things. Well -- the hose I wear are see-through. So my newest experience is shaving my legs.

Yup.

I was told I'd only really have to shave from the knees on down. But I thought that would look odd, so I shaved the thighs, too. Got 'em pretty smooth, too. But . . . soon afterwards, when I sat down, my thighs felt prickly. And then I got a bunch of red bumps on my thighs. Neat. I'm betting women know something about shaving their legs that I don't.

After a couple of days, the prickliness went away, and the bumps have pretty much disappeared. Not quite so smooth, though.

But hey -- I have been told that I look damn good in heels. The woman who said that also said she was jealous.

Zach's First Day

2009-10-06T03:09:00.002-04:00

I just had my first rehearsal as Zach in A Chorus Line. This show opens the day after Thanksgiving, I believe. As a member of Actor's Equity, I had to get a waiver to get to do this show. This should be exciting. I'll get to work with Jen, who is co-director (with Sue Kramer) and choreographer. There's a number of talented folks in this show, many of them students at HCC.

The neatest thing is the energy -- not that "seasoned pros" don't still love the work, but there's an ooh factor that is often lost to some degree in the professional situation. Cassie will be played by a woman named Becky who considers this something of a dream role.

I won't be singing -- pity -- but I won't be dancing, either, which doesn't bother me at all. And there's a certain irony that in my role I'll be critiquing a bunch dancers who are all better dancers than I. Which, so I'm told, is something I'll have in common with most guys who play Zach in A Chorus Line.

Chronicles of Chronicles

2009-10-06T02:59:00.004-04:00

The main of this blog is to talk about my life / work in theatre.

Well, I now have 3 different projects going on, 2 of which I've talked about a little bit before. Each of the three deserve focus. One: Sylvia , in which I play Tom / Phyllis / Leslie, @ Bay Theatre in Annapolis. Two: A Spell of Cold Weather, which I'll be directing, @ Red Branch Theatre in Columbia. Three: A Chorus Line, in which I'll be playing Zach, at Howard Community College.

I'll be reporting on each one, and putting a label on each post -- Chronicles of Sylvia, The Chronicles of Cold Weather, and Chronicles of Chorus Line. Starting with this one.

Yeeha, yo.

The Dog Ain't The Only One Chewing The Scenery Here

2009-09-28T23:19:00.004-04:00

We're gettin' to the wire!

Sylvia opens Oct. 2 at Bay Theatre in Annapolis! I've got a guy who lives vicariously and metaphorically through his un-neutered dog! I've got your socialite who shows off her size 12 heels and her occasional Freudian slip! I've got your ambi-gendered* psychotherapist!

And that's just me! There's 3 other people in this show, playing 3 other characters, and one of 'em is an anthropomorphized** dog!

Oh, and it's a comedy, too!***

( * "ambi-gendered" is my own word -- "ambi-sexual" doesn't quite hit it)
(** "anthropomorphize" is a legitimate word, here working even better than in normal use)
(*** regular punctuation will be returning in the next entry -- we apologize for any inconvenience)

Bye Bye, Bunny Rabbit

2009-09-11T14:20:00.005-04:00

Sculptor Barry Flanagan passed away.

The NY Times article described him as "a British sculptor who abandoned the idiosyncratic arrangements of common materials that characterized Postminimal sculpture."

I prefer how BF describes himself, as “an English-speaking, itinerant European sculptor.” That's much better. He was fun. He was mischievous.

I worked for a sculptor for a summer as a teen, and am an occasional sculptor myself. One of my favorite places in DC is the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden, and one of my favorite sculptures there is his Thinker on a Rock. So here ya go:

More Theatrics

2009-09-11T02:32:00.003-04:00

Rehearsals have been going on for a week-and-a-half for Sylvia at Bay Theatre. We've just about rough-blocked the show, and are about to go back to the beginning and dig in further.

I'm thoroughly enjoying myself working on my eccentric characters. I indicated in my previous entry that I'm bending genders in this show. If you had seen rehearsals on Wednesday, you would have seen me walking around in a rehearsal skirt and 3+ inch heels. Women's size 12, by the way. I can tell you now from brief personal experience that the more you sashay, the easier it is to walk in high heels. Better put: the less difficult.

New gnus: I'm set to direct A Spell of Cold Weather, by Charles Way, at Red Branch Theatre in Columbia, MD. That'll show in December. More on that soon, but I can tell you now, I'm very excited!

Seeing My Shows Could Save Your Life

2009-08-18T02:10:00.004-04:00

Life continues on, yes?

Recent casting: I'll be in Sylvia at Bay Theatre, which'll run from October 2 - November 7. I'll be playing the characters Tom / Phyllis / Leslie. That'll be: a man / a woman / a hmmm? So this should be fun / interesting / challenging.

I'll also be teaching an acting course at Howard Community College this fall.

Got the calls for both those jobs the same day. Why can't that happen all the time?

Jenny and I recently took a romantic trip to New York City (roughly $40 in various tolls, maybe next time we'll take a bus!) to make a quick visit to a stage combat workshop, where we visited some fightin' friends, took care of a little fightin' biz, and got certified in CPR. Hey, if you can get CPR certified with the one you love, isn't that romantic? (N.B.: No actual violence occurred in the making of this trip.)

And comets just might really really have brought the building blocks of life to Earth. Muy interesante . . . .

Face Time

2009-08-09T20:37:00.003-04:00

Okay, here's the deal:

A month ago, while I was walking home, I was attacked.

The whole story gets long and complicated, but at one point I was running for my life, literally -- chased, and soon outrun, by a man in a ski mask who said, "I'm going to kill you," and he took a swing at me -- hitting me in the forehead with the butt end of a pistol, opening up a 4 cm gash in my forehead -- I kept running, he for some reason did not -- I called 911 on my cell, as I was running for home -- I had a difficult time seeing from the blood in my eyes.

I eventually talked to a police detective, and at one point I asked her, "Do you think this has anything to do with gang violence?"

She said, "I wouldn't be surprised."

So -- I had to get stitches, internal ones which will dissolve away over time, and external ones which came out after a week.
_____________________

The physical and psychological wounds as a result of this were ugly and horrible (I have pictures from a couple of days after the event, but I doubt I'll ever post any). But both wounds been healing, and now that a month has passed I feel like I'm getting my face back, and my self back.

A couple of doctors have told me that the scar should heal to the point that it's almost not noticeable (the tremendous blood supply to the forehead, which can make gashes particularly theatrical as I can now attest, also makes them more likely to heal well). My hope is that the psychological scar will work the same way.

I'm not naive, though -- I believe have to be proactive about it.
______________________

I couldn't write for awhile, because I felt like if I simply posted the more light and trivial sorts of things I usually post that I was, in a sense, denying something very important. So here you go. I expect we'll revisit this subject on occasion, but now I can get back to light and trivial.

And it hasn't been all clouds. I've received a huge amount of support from family and friends, and there is no way to express how tremendously important that has been. Especially Jenny. I have the best woman in the world.

Lots

2009-07-05T23:31:00.004-04:00

I'm in a Capital Fringe Festival show: Captain Squishy's Yeehaw Jamboree. Written by a couple of friends of mine, Chris Davenport and Nick Greek. Imagine, if you will, the TV show HeeHaw reenacted by an insane asylum. That's not specifically what it is, but that's a good way to describe it. I'll update soon on this -- we open on the 10th. It's way silly fun.

Recently went to Lititz, PA, with Jenny, for the 4th of July. We have family up there, via Jenny. Jen's folks were up there for a visit, too. Lititz has a great 2-day celebration, with a spectacular fireworks display at the end.

Went to Ohio twice -- once for the opening performance of Tecumseh!, then a couple of weeks later for a reunion. Good times had by all at the reunion, and performers from many seasons previous came out of the woodwork. About the show itself -- it is still a great, great thing, and you, yes I mean you, should go see it.

Demetrius Thomas -- I talked to him on the phone recently, and, yah, he made it to the reunion. He has not made a substantial, though not yet full recovery. Mentally, all's pretty well. One leg is giving him issues that's really screwing with his mobility. There's understandable frustration, but also a great appreciation for all the little things in life.

Jen's off to another 3-week stage combat workshop now. So it's me and Sadie at home again.

a bearable lightness of being

2009-05-31T04:07:00.004-04:00

It's a reflection of the flash in her eyes, of course. She's not actually demonic . . . though I do sometimes say her name is "Sadie, short for Sadist," because of how she used to bite down too hard when she had her puppy teeth.
__________________

It's been way too heavy lately. I was going through a self-indulgent "nobody likes me" state of mind, thanks in part to a series of frustrating and unsuccessful auditions (as well was a few auditions I didn't get called about that I don't understand). But then something outside of me really shook me:

On the day before my 39th birthday, someone very close to me passed away.

I won't go into details on this. I've tried to -- typed it, erased it, typed it again, erased it again. Too heavy. I'll leave it at this for now: the world is a better place for having her in it.

And recently I performed an Iago monologue for an audition. Just awful. Horrible. I said all the words right, I chewed the scenery, but there wasn't anything behind it. I couldn't bring it. I just didn't want to "be there."

So I stared in the mirror and I gazed at my navel, and then remembered that the me that I like is more accurately represented by this than by Iago:

I've been too much the angst-y teenager lately. My apologies.

Soon, assuming things work out okee-dokee, I'll be telling you about my upcoming show for the Fringe festival.

I'm Here To Tell You That I'll Be Here Soon

2009-05-30T03:31:00.003-04:00

Hi.

I'm coming back.

Bzzzt. Bzzzzt.

If I'd Had a Pet Like This as a Kid, the Bullies Woulda Been His Lunch

2009-03-26T22:32:00.002-04:00

Have you seen this?

Surely you have, this news is a coupla weeks old. But just in case . . .

The tyrannosaurus rex wishes it were this guy. Teeth a foot long. A skull double the size of T.R.'s. A bite with 4 times the force. Coming in at about 50 feet long, 45 tons. It's a new species of pliosaur that the paleontologists have dubbed "Predator X" -- which sounds like a great name for a bad Sci-Fi movie. How long ya think it'll take 'em to make that one?

The Last Coupla Weeks

2009-03-22T16:36:00.003-04:00

We've been plugging along on Heidi rehearsals the last couple of weeks.

Early on, I had to try on wooden clogs -- like these:
Turns out those clogs were meant for the character "Peter," not the actor Peter (I'm sometimes called "the real Peter" in rehearsal now). That's all fine with me -- I'm quite happy to have tried them on, and quite happy that I wasn't going to be wearing them during the show -- they weren't uncomfortable, really, but they're not practical. Like wearing a pair of small boats. Or really short stilts. I suspect it was a fashion thing, like high heels, except without the pain (turns out they won't be in the show, anyway, too impractical for the show).

We're using goat puppets in the show, so I've been researching goat movement with some help from YouTube. It just so happens that there is a kind of goat that faints (sort of) when startled, due to a genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. Think that's odd? How about this: The International Fainting Goats Association, an organization dedicated to the breeding and showing these goats.

And I and most of the rest of the cast and various other folks from Imagination Stage went to the residence of the Swiss ambassador for a little soiree. Some of the cast (not including me) sang a couple of songs from the show, and we listened to a few brief speeches from the ambassador and some of the Imagination Stage higher-ups. Then time for drinks, hors d' oeuvres, and shmoozing. The ambassador's residence is a spectacular pad designed by Steven Holl. Check the link for details and pics, it's a very green, award winning, modern building.

Non-Heidi related -- last Sunday, we had that staged reading of Unseen Hand at Rep Stage. Not many people in the audience, maybe a dozen, but we expected low number because of the date change. One of Sam Shepard's earlier pieces, it's an interesting, odd play -- a 120 year old cowboy-outlaw, a genetically-modified baboon from another planet, with some social commentary.

Interesting life.

3 Months

2009-03-08T14:25:00.008-04:00

I haven't written because I thought I wouldn't have anything to write about. So, what's happened in three months?

Performed in that scene from Eccentricities of the Nightingale. It went well, thank you very much.

Choreographed / coached the fights / violence for two more scenes for that Studio Theatre directing class -- one from Speed the Plow, which Yvonne Erickson directed, the other from The Dutchman directed by Phoebe Duncan. A lot of that turned out to be not so much violence itself, but creating the threat of violence, which in a way is more valuable -- the threat continues the tension.

Went to Mississippi with Jenny, to visit relations. We also visited Elvis Presley's birthplace (Tupelo).
Came up with a couple of somewhat interesting anagrams. Here you go:
DICK CHENEY = NEEDY CHICK
TOM CRUISE = MICE TOURS
PETER BOYER = TOY PER BEER (or, BEER PER TOY, take your pick)

Watched the inauguration of Barack Obama. On TV, we didn't go into the city. But it was still cool.

Did a quick industrial for the FAA. Me in coat and tie, and reading (somewhat, I knew the script fairly well) a teleprompter sitting over the other guy's shoulder. Acting while using a teleprompter is odd, because you're "reacting" to someone you're not actually looking at (from the camera angle, you can't tell that we're not actually looking at each other).

(And a friend of mine turned into a polar bear. Temporarily, I hope).

Gave a pretty decent audition at the AEA Liaison Committee auditions. For those not in the know, those are annual auditions for the Equity theatres (and a casting agent or two) in the DC / Baltimore area. Up to three minutes of monologue-and/or-song.

And since I'm on the Liaison Committee, I was also at both days of these auditions, all day, as a volunteer. Besides being such a swell guy, I'm doing what I can to be visible. And it's a way to learn more about auditions, what to do, or not to do. Like this -- a lot of actors keep their feet nailed to the floor during the monologue. That's a mistake.

Got a call about a callback for a show at Folger, but that didn't pan out due to that show's overlap with Heidi. Hey, nice they called, means they're thinking of me.

Had a callback for Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center. Didn't get in this time around . . . but made a decent showing.

Auditioned for a small indie film. Got the role. Then shortly before the shoot date arrived in mid-February, the director *disappeared*. He won't return calls or e-mails. I'm still looking for him, so that if he doesn't have a really good reason, I can talk to him like an angry New Yorker.

PA'ed (PA = production assistant) for a photo shoot for a training thing for the TSA, done at Dulles Airport. Three days, and on the third day I was also a model.

Had a couple of callbacks for shows at Imagination Stage. No news yet, but these just happened, in the past few days.

Almost did a staged reading for Rep Stage of Sam Shepard's The Unseen Hand -- postponed because of the arrival of snow.

As you can clearly see, the last three months have been uneventful.

Rehearsals for Heidi start tomorrow. And that staged reading I just mentioned was rescheduled for Sunday, March 15th at 2pm, being presented at Howard Community College, in Columbia, MD -- and it's free, yo.

Ferrets of the English Restoration

2008-12-06T15:38:00.007-05:00

I'm in rehearsals for a scene from The Eccentricities of a Nightingale by Tennessee Williams, playing the role of John -- Natasha Staley is playing Alma, Yvonne Erickson is directing the scene. This for the directing class at the Studio Theatre, so I'll get to show a bit more of my acting chops there (outside of the minute-or-two on-your-own audition). And this gives me the chance to chew on some poetic realism, which I haven't done for awhile. Yummy stuff, and Natasha and Yvonne are both very high quality, so we're really getting to dig in.

And by the way, I did a few drawings during the run of The Way of the World. Here's one:

And We're Back. Happy Birthday, Mom.

2008-11-27T00:16:00.003-05:00

So I've been away for awhile.

See, here's why: I've been going through the tedious but necessary task of converting this blog from analog to digital, so I will now be able to transmit it to you without using rabbit ears. Through the magic of modern technology, you will now be able to view my blog exactly as you've viewed it before.

Recent news:

The Way of the World has closed. Great cast, I'll miss those folks.

My previous entry contained a bit much hubris, and karma was nice enough to bite me on the rear, or rather my lower back. I tweaked my back almost immediately after writing that entry, causing pain that lasted about a week.

But I am still proud of my work as an understudy. And I believe that good understudies are way underrated. They are like kickers in football, little attention but major day savers -- would the Colts or the Pats have made it to the superbowl without Adam Vinatieri? Can you name any other kickers? Have you noticed how many games are won by last-second field goals?

There was an election earlier this month. I'm very happy with how the presidential race came out. Even popped some champagne. I'm not at all happy with how Prop 8 in California went.

My mom's birthday was yesterday, and I missed it. I'm a horrible son. I'm also a horrible brother / cousin / nephew / grandson / in-law / friend, because I miss people's b-days all the time. I haven't missed Jen's b-day so far, though, because I value my life.

Jen and I have moved to a house (though we're still renting) with a basement and a fenced-in backyard. I like being in a new place. But I hate, hate, HATE moving! (It used to be easy, when everything I owned fit in my jeep. Now I have a significant other, and a dog, and a bunch of stuff. Where did all this stuff come from?).

Doing My Job

2008-10-07T14:10:00.002-04:00

Apologies. I've put in long hours at the Shakespeare Theatre in rehearsals for The Way of The World (or traveling to and from -- I have a long commute). Some of those hours were spent in the greenroom, waiting to rehearse my little bits. I read, I chatted, I went over lines and blocking for my roles ("The Messenger" and "The Footman") and my understudy roles ("Witwould" and "Petulant"). Understudies often get very little rehearsal time, and it often happens after the first audiences show up.

I've known some understudies who've done little or no preparation, and fortunately not gone on. And I've heard horror stories of those that had. Some people think I have good discipline, but it may be the fear of embarassment that drives me here, I can't handle every day praying please don't let me be put on the spot today I'm not ready. I'd rather put in the work and not go on than go on unprepared and embarass the theatre and myself.

So -- Saturday, Oct. 4th: unforeseen circumstances threw me into the role of "Petulant" for two preview performances. Suddenly there I was in front of an audience, trying to hold my own with actors who had been rehearsing these scenes for weeks. At this point, I had only officially rehearsed the first scene in this role, and never with the regular actors.

But I did a lot of side work beforehand. Both shows went off without a hitch. I even managed to cover someone else's line flub but slightly changing one of mine. The first performance fried my brain, the second performance, I had some fun. I even had a number of compliments from peers who were onstage with me and in the audience that day.

"Thank you, thank you. Please -- just doing my job."

DUSTIN LOOMIS = SMILODON SUIT

2008-09-16T21:22:00.003-04:00

This a picture of Dustin Loomis and Barbara Callander in Unnecessary Farce, which is currently showing at Wayside Theatre and is getting great reviews.

Dustin and I worked together once on a production of Twelfth Night at Cumberland Theatre.

Here's the thing: "Dustin Loomis" is an anagram for "Smilodon Suit."

Coincidence? Some look to anagrams to reveal hidden meanings, i.e., "Veep Dick Cheney" is an anagram for "Prince of Darkness" (okay, it's not, but would it really be a surprise if true?). I express no such belief in anagrams, myself, but I do love starting a good rumor.

So, let's look at Mr. Loomis . . . could he be a prehistoric creature in human disguise? The smilodon (a.k.a. the "saber-toothed tiger") might be rather tall, if standing on its hind legs, and Dustin is rather tall . . . hmm . . . .

Playing Ketchup

2008-09-10T22:47:00.003-04:00

Back on the blog train.

I've been a busy boy. Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's Taming of the Shrew opened July 18th, closed August 3rd. I started rehearsals for Wayside Theatre's Moonlight and Magnolias on July 22nd, which opened August 8th and closed August 24th.

Wayside and BSF are 115 miles apart, so to pull off both shows with these the overlapping dates, I did a lot of driving -- 2000 miles in 2 weeks. Add to that, in both shows I did a lot of scenery chewing. By the time Shrew closed and we got into the final week of rehearsal for M&M, I was getting a bit googly-eyed. But -- I was having a ball, being so busy doing what I like.

Three days after M&M closed, I started rehearsals for Way of the World at the Shakespeare Theatre. It's a rare and beautiful thing in this business to go from one job right to another like that.

Now if we're lucky, I'll get back to regular posting, and I'll tell you about sliding on banana peels and getting slapped on a daily basis, gigantic 17-year-old goldfish, fiberglass dinosaurs, and who knows what else. If we're lucky.

Meanwhile, here's a link to pictures from Moonlight & Magnolias.

DEMETRIUS, P. 5!

2008-07-21T01:47:00.002-04:00

Way cool:

Jen and I were talking on the phone today -- she's out of town for a few weeks -- and she said, "Guess who called me today."

"Who?"

"Demetrius."

!!!!!

He called her and left a voice message.

We'd both been wanting to call him, but nervous about it -- so we were going to talk with friends who were more "in the know" first.

But then Dee beat us to it.

Rock on.

(Image via)

Check Out The Shrew

2008-07-18T14:10:00.004-04:00

No, not that one.

This one:

Our wild and wacky The Taming of the Shrew opens tonight "In the meadow at the Evergreen Museum and Library." Yup, it's outdoors, so bring your lawn chairs or blankets, your picnic basket, and some nicely chilled vino or brew, and have yourself a grand time!

Frankly, Heidi, I Don't Give a Shrew

2008-07-14T00:04:00.000-04:00

We're getting to the tail end of rehearsals for Taming of the Shrew at Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. Moving from our indoor rehearsal space to the outdoor space, it's been frenetic. Sweaty, too, rehearsing outdoors on a balmy Baltimore afternoon. We open Friday the 18th.

And then some crazy days to come, for whilst
This Shrew doth show, once more I'll in the breach,
Rehearsing Midnight and Magnolias, yay,
At Wayside Theatre, though eventually
We'll play at nearby Shenandoah U.,
And open on the day of August Eight.

Whew.

Oh, and just so you know, I was recently cast in Heidi (the musical, based on the book), at Imagination Stage -- that'll be next spring.

At this very moment, the local weather is playing a suitable accompaniment: via the open window I can hear a pleasant, steady rain.

Demetrius, P.4

2008-07-13T23:26:00.003-04:00

(Image via)

New update. The latest news I have is via a voicemail message, so I can only be broad right now. Still, worthwhile info:

Dee is out of ICU, as of maybe 2 weeks ago. Good, of course.

And he is now conversing, quietly. That's excellent: that sort of communication, so I hear, is a "higher function." To put it poorly, when an injury happens to an organ, functions generally come back "online" lower to higher, lower being the more necessary functions, breathe, eat, etc., higher more like, "dude, where's my comic books?" Not that he's specifically called me and asked me that yet, but supposedly now we might be able to broach that subject.

More news, hopefully, soon.

Keep praying, knocking wood, etc. I won't be content 'til Dee and I take a jog to the local coffee shop, where we'll play chess and talk about women, music, and mouse-traps (long story).

Tomorrow, and Such

2008-07-13T23:20:00.003-04:00

Recently, things have been either hectic or inconvenient or both, regarding posting to the blog. Hectic meaning busy days, where you don't "have time" in the morn to post, and are "too tired" in the eve, so things get put off 'til "tomorrow," which never comes. Inconvenient meaning that when my ISP decided to "update" my software, I wasn't able to go online at all.

But now I have a moment. And online access. And a touch of guilt. And some news. And a few rum & cokes juicing my system. Ergo, the next couple of posts.

Demetrius, P. 3

2008-06-17T15:08:00.004-04:00

(Image via.)

I intended on posting soon about Demetrius anyway, but I recently had a little prodding to get me going.

I went out to Ohio June 4 - 8 to see Tecumseh!, visit a few folks I know, see Jen, and of course, to visit Dee. By the way, everyone at T! did a stellar job from what I saw. The understudies really stepped up to the plate. I had the chance to see a couple of run-throughs and the first couple of official performances, and what I saw was a good, solid show. Kudos to them. Go see it.

I saw Dee on Saturday the 7th. Before Jen and I went in, we talked to mutual friend Geddy, who had visited him a bit earlier. He told us that Dee has continued responding to nerve tests, and that he opened his eyes when Geddy talked to him, he responded a bit with his eyes when Geddy indicated another friend in the room. All good news.

When we went in, Dee pretty much slept. This was not unexpected -- his earlier responses with Geddy were probably about all he was up for at the time. Dee was still on a respirator, but it was just giving him a bit of an assist, it wasn't doing the breathing for him. In fact, while we were there, Dee took a couple of deep breaths and shifted his body a bit. These are excellent, I think -- he has full body movement, and his muscles want to move. I talked to him a bit, told him he needs a new barber, but mostly I just held his hand.

Some of Dee's family were at the hospital. When we left, we gave a hug to his mother, shook hands with his dad, said hello to a couple of aunts. They seem to be bearing through it okay, though I know recent improvements have helped on that account.

Since then I've only heard a touch more. Good stuff -- he has has communicated to a degree with his mom, doing 1-finger-for-yes-2-for-no stuff (I don't think he could actually talk right now because of the ventilator tube), and apparently gave a thumbs-up when his mom prayed and said amen. Occasionally his temperature will spike, and when that happens they sedate him so he'll rest.

And that's what I know. Good news, certainly. I'm impatient, I want more, faster. Turns out he left a couple of comic books in Jen's car. I read 'em, of course. I'm waiting for him to call me and say, "Hey, send me my comic books!"

After a Buncha Bad, A Little Something Good

2008-06-17T14:35:00.004-04:00

For a few weeks, I just kept getting lousy news. A good friend in a very bad accident. A close relative developing Type II diabetes. Another close relative's supposed pregnancy turning out to be an unusual non-pregnancy. Getting a thousand $ of emmissions-related work on my car, just to have it fail emmissions again (I have a waver now). So a few days ago, I silently said to the Power(s)-That-Be, Enough of this, okay?

Well, the same day, the PTB gave in a little. Jen's car passed emissions, yay (after 500 $ of work), and I had a chat with the wonderful Warner Crocker over at Wayside Theatre -- and it looks like I'll be doing the comedy Moonlight and Magnolias there. (I say "looks like," because my schedule creates some difficulties, and I'm paranoid). I'm excited about working at Wayside again!

Alrighty. Thanks, PTB (tho' we're still talking).

Rehearsals for Taming of the Shrew at BSF start in a week.

Demetrius, P. 2

2008-06-02T02:30:00.002-04:00

Latest news:

Brain swelling has gone down to more "acceptable" levels. Good.

He has responded to prick tests to his feet. That's very good.

Not conscious, thus far. But that's partly by doctor design, to keep his movements minimal for right now.

Demetrius

2008-06-01T01:00:00.003-04:00

Hey, folks.

Demetrius Thomas is a good friend of mine, and has been a part of Tecumseh! for a number of years. The last couple of years, he has played the lead / title character, and was set to do so this year as well. In '06, Jen and I had three ceremonies; the first was on the Tecumseh! stage, and Dee was my best man that evening.

A few nights ago, Dee was in a major car accident. I'm getting my information 3rd or 4th hand, so I know very little for sure. I know he was flown to Columbus, and there was some head trauma. There was some swelling of the brain. Apparently he's been through some surgery, and the swelling seems to have gone down at least a bit. I was told he's in critical but stable condition.

But there's still a lot I don't know. I don't know the extent of the damage, and that has me worried.

I don't know if you pray or not. But Dee is one of the good guys, and I ask that you pray now. Thank you.

Sketch Haloo

2008-05-21T00:56:00.004-04:00

During performances, I'd occasionally snag a blue Post-It from our awesome Assistant Stage Manager for 1776, Brandy Wyont, and do a quick cartoon. They might not make much sense if you don't know the show. Or if you do know the show. 10 points to you if you catch the misspelled word.

"It's Done . . . It's Done."

2008-05-19T22:57:00.002-04:00

So sayeth John Adams, after the Congress finally votes for independence in 1776.

Sunday at 7:30 we had our final performance. The show has closed. If you missed it, you missed out!

In the coming days, I'll be posting a few 1776 related things -- sketches, pics, ponderings -- as well as talking about the also-just-finished stage combat class and answering the question What is Jenny up to NOW?

" 'Til then, 'til then . . . "

1776 CLOSES tomorrow AT THE is my END OF birthday THIS WEEK!

2008-05-13T21:33:00.002-04:00

I'm currently enjoying a couple of days off, though a "day off" right now means catching up with old business, cleaning the apartment, and reviewing choreography for my fight class.

tomorrow is my birthday!

Tomorrow, the 14th, we have two shows -- a student matinee at 10:15 am and an evening performance at 8 pm. Between shows we're having a little barbecue, you know, for cast bonding and so that we won't just wander around aimlessly.

and on the 14th i'll be celebrating my birthday!

If you haven't seen it yet (you should), or you'd like to see it again (you should), 1776 will run through Sunday, the 18th!

hey! did I mention my birthday is tomorrow, May 14th?

I'm Right There, Behind The Declaration

2008-05-05T22:02:00.005-04:00

A shame, really. One purpose of this blog was to share my "life in theatre." And recently there has been plenty of material, what with my current production of 1776 at the Olney Theatre, the recent spate of auditions, and the stage combat class I am currently taking (taught by SAFD Certified Teacher Lewis Shaw, with Jen as his teaching assistant). So why have I been so lax lately? Well --

Reason #1: I'm lame. Yeah, I have my moments. Reason #2: I've been busy. Sometimes extremely busy, making me sometimes borderline exhausted.

At least I'll give you a few bits and pieces, finally.

1776 opened three weeks ago, and received good reviews in the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and the DC Theatre Scene blog. We extended an extra week, so we'll close on Sunday, May 18th.

I came close to going on as John Adams, when our lead actor had a few vocally fragile days. I was basically "on notice" for four days. All's well again, yay, but I was ready -- I know that understudies sometimes are called to duty without warning, so I was in good shape for it before we even hit previews. Call it good discipline if you like; you can also call a tremendous fear of being able to respond with only deer-in-the-headlights.

The stage combat class is on the weekends, 9am-1pm. Because of my show schedule, I can only stay till noon. Weekends I'm fighting, acting, driving to-and-fro, eating, and sleeping (but not much), and that's all, folks. No time for anything else. Though I'm no fan of lack of sleep, it is exciting.

Irony #1: Nearly getting rear-ended by a tow-truck.

Irony #2: Not being able to think of the word "Alzheimer's."

in The middle Of A schizophrenic week, somehow i got Married again

2008-03-10T14:52:00.004-04:00

Yes. At last count I assumed 16 personalities from 3/2 - 3/8. And got married. Really.

Wait . . . 17.

I auditioned for 16 different roles in 4 different shows at 2 different places. (Tho' a couple of roles I suspect I only read so the director could get a look at the other guy, which is okay since the other guy had to do the same for me). Plus for 1 in a commercial.

And on 3/4, Jen and I got married again. By a rabbi, in an orthodox Jewish wedding (okay, mock wedding -- it was part of an educational thing at Howard Community College, but the rabbi was legit).

Add that to the 3 ceremonies we had in '06, that makes 4. I have now been married more times than anyone in my immediate family. Hoowa.

Question: if you marry someone with multiple personalities multiple times, does that make you a polygamist? Or, rather, a monogamistic swinger?

Run Nekkid

2008-02-29T14:19:00.000-05:00

Ya Hasta Luvs Ya Som Larry Dahlke

2008-02-19T17:15:00.006-05:00

Cuz I Does.

Platonically, of course, and in a non-stalkerly sort of way.

Though I think maybe it would be good for Larry to have a stalker -- but a non-scary, casual sort of stalker, that respects his privacy, doesn't make him fear for his life, allows him to have a significant other without getting mad about it. Though I suppose it would be okay to post some "Oh, I wish he were mine" on their blog dedicated to Larry Dahlke. That might be okay. Occasionally send him cookies or a fruit basket.

See, last week I posted that "One Less Beer" drawing. Shortly after, Larry linked and posted it on his blog. Made me happy -- I love attention (actor, duh).

Larry, by the way, is an extremely talented actor. And he also plays umpteen different musical instruments. Yes, umpteen!

So check out Larry's blog (Larry's blogging somewhat regularly again, yay!). And Larry's website. And if you swing by Wayside Theatre, there's a good chance you'll see him in a show there (an excellent show for sure, because it's Larry and Wayside together). Consider stalking him -- gently. (Photo via)

Last Night's Hasty Sketch

2008-02-14T15:17:00.001-05:00

Politics of the Left

2008-02-08T12:25:00.000-05:00

I'd said I'd avoid politics in this blog. I've changed my mind -- but I promise to do my best to keep the political content entertaining and / or enlightening. Merry Christmas.

So McCain looks likely to get the Repub nom. The Dem race is still tight. Me, I like the idea of an Obama-McCain face-off in the general election. Why? Because they are both left-handed. For most of my life we've had at least one lefty contender. Ford, lefty. Reagan, originally lefty, switched when young (so I've read). Bush, Sr., B. Clinton, Ross Perot, lefties. Bob Dole, lefty, though that's due to injury to his right arm during WW2. In the '92 and '96, we were guaranteed a left-hander in the Oval Office. And then 2000 and 2004 happened, and there was a dearth of lefty contenders. Bush v. Gore, Bush v. Kerry. Righties, all. So I think it's time to Left a great wrong.

(FYI: if you took me seriously, reset your brain to half-serious mode and re-read.)

That Frog

2008-02-08T12:20:00.000-05:00

Here's that frog sketch. I never said it would be a good one.

monologues and headshots and frogs, oh my

2008-01-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

1: Thanks, Proofreader. This biz seems to go in waves, and mine is currently in-between. At least I can see another one coming, but it's still waaaaaaay out there, and I am impatient and a bit irritable.

A couple of days ago went to a general audition -- a bunch of actors, a bunch of companies, we go in perform monologue and possibly a bit of song (3 min. limit), they watch. I felt good with my bit -- a Shylock monologue + 40 bars of Man of La Mancha. Good chewing-on-the-scenery sort of stuff. I did get a couple of unsolicited compliments on my audition. For certain, I proved that I can remember my lines and be very loud. I also volunteered to help out in the afternoon, which in this case meant arranging a few thousand headshots. My eyes were googly afterwards. These auditions always turn into mini-reunions, and I had the chance to catch up a little a lot of folks.

2: I've been looking at pics of frogs lately, for a drawing. Soon: bears.

i'm back, with beef

2008-01-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

This is a drawing of the Horny Oamisoe.

I was avoiding the blog, because I didn't think I had anything interesting to talk about.

Then I avoided it because I had too much to talk about.

So I'll just skip it and move on.

Two days ago I had an audition for Iago (from Othello). (I also auditioned for Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, but didn't find that out 'til I got there.) The Othello director rather suddenly had me attempt a difficult monologue with "Yooper" (upper-peninsula Michigan) and Australian dialects (they're both on my resume, because I've used them before in performance. But they're difficult to do without some prep time, particularly with a Shakespearean dramatic character). With an assist from exhaustion and a cold, my brain imploded. Yooper kept sliding into a sort of dopey Brooklyn. And Joe Pesci invaded my cortex when I tried to do Australian, and he wouldn't leave. It was a big, farcical tragedy.

By the way, Yooper sounds a bit like the dialect in Fargo, and goes with Iago like cranberry juice goes with Bailey's Irish Cream. It doesn't.

But you know what? This had had nothing to do with my ability to play the role. If she was testing a concept idea, she should have said so, and I should have been given more time to wrap my head around it. If she wanted to see if I was willing to jump in with both feet, it should have had something to do with the project. I'm willing to test ideas, even if they may seem absurd, but I've come to the conclusion that she didn't want to audition me as an actor at that point, she wanted to audition me as a circus monkey.

Some previous audition entertainment: Abruptly having to do a monologue "with a Scottish dialect, like you're riding a horse." The director who showed up in a dirty t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, and read through the resumes without ever looking up at the actors performing the monologues. The director who showed up half an hour late without any explanation and then wanted a song (the play featured no singing whatsoever). The callback for a musical that (after a two-hour drive to get to the theatre) turned into an audition not for a musical but for the play Art. The director who asked for a dialect in advance, then changed his mind onsite for the sake of the one performer who was incapable of doing a decent dialect (absolutely required by the play) but who had just the right "look". (This performer practically assaulted the reader at the audition, which didn't seem to bother the director, either.)

Sometimes I hate this business.

Question: What Does It Take To Get Me In A Suit?

2007-10-20T14:08:00.000-04:00

Answer: Either I'm attending a wedding, or someone's paying me. In this case someone's paying me.

Friday's Cumberland Times-News has a little article (not a review, basically a "here's what's playing") about Ten Little Indians -- Click HERE for the article, and HERE to see the whole picture.

I'm Bloody Everywhere!

2007-10-17T17:02:00.000-04:00

I'm one step closer to becoming theatrically ubiquitous (meaning, I've made it two steps):

1) Playing Dr. Edward Armstrong in Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, opening today in Cumberland, MD.

2) Fight choreographer for Maryland Ensemble Theatre's Macbeth, opening on the 19th in Frederick, MD.

So if you happen to be planning a visit to Antietam, bookend your historical bloody violence with some fictional bloody violence.

Dangerous Do-Rags

2007-10-04T13:58:00.000-04:00

In last night's rehearsal at MET, we put together the bulk of the fight / violence choreography. Included: various knives, a crowbar, a baseball bat, an axe, a metal pipe, a piece of cinder block, and a bandanna. Yes, a bandanna. Death by bandanna.

Necessities: Food, Shelter, Clothing, Megayacht.

2007-10-02T14:22:00.000-04:00

Quote of the day: “Today, a megayacht is indispensable,” said Olivier Milliex, head of yacht finance at the Dutch bank ING. “It’s not like 15 years ago, when a yacht was a luxury item.” (found in the New York Times) Yachts nowadays are reaching over 100 meters in length, and come with amenities like helicopters and minisubs. And many are registered foreign countries, to save on taxes and Soc. Sec. payments for crew members. Because, I guess, money's tight for your average megayacht owner.

Had another day working with the Secret Service last week. The thing I find most interesting about it is that non-Sec. Serv. people like myself can not go anywhere without an escort. I know, duh, that's to be expected. But it's weird when you have to ask to go to the bathroom, and an employee has to go with you (at least they don't go in to the bathroom with you).

I am also now working as a fight choreographer, for a production of Macbeth at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Looks to be a neat production, the characters are bikers -- so no swords; rather, Crowbars, baseball bats, knives, yee-ha! And the director, Peter Wray, has given the production an interesting twist (sorry, I'm not telling!).

Yesterday, along before an evening rehearsal with MET, I also had a video shoot -- nothing grand, some background extra work on a commercial. A long day, though, but it's good to be working.

And I'm gearing up to head to Cumberland Theatre in a week for Ten Little Indians.

I Could Tell You But Then I'd Have To . . .

2007-09-20T20:29:00.000-04:00

Mon., Sept. 17 was a long day. Good, though, in that I was being an actor the whole time. I was exhausted at the end of it, partly because I hadn't had much sleep the two nights before.

7 am -- Video shoot for the Secret Service. Guess what? I can't tell you about the content of the script! Really! Can't you just hear the James Bond theme in your head right now? It wasn't all that exciting though, I mean, nothing you haven't already seen in Men In Black (I or II).

4pm -- rehearsal for the staged reading of Screen Play @ Rep.

7pm -- reading of Screen Play @ Rep. Went well, and fairly well received. Screen Play is pretty strongly political (A.R. Gurney is definitely no fan of GWB or neo-conservatives). In the post-show discussion with the audience, one thing we talked about was how different folks react to plays with political p.o.v.'s. One woman said that, while a person might not like a play like this, you don't learn anything if you don't keep an open mind. That's true, but . . . well, I didn't say it at the time (because usually it's the audience that asks and theatre reps and cast answering), but I wondered if the woman would have felt the same way if she disagreed with the play's p.o.v.

Would you? Easier said than done. I vaguely remember something from Frederick Douglass, I believe it was. He said that one should be able argue for the opposing point better than the opposition. Imagine that. If you can do that, not only can you understand their p.o.v., you'd be more able to counter it. Your own opinion would be strengthened or changed. That would require a lot of thought and a lot of listening, not strong points for a lot of people, it seems.

Let It Rain

2007-09-10T01:23:00.000-04:00

Okay, positive news --

1) Sept. 17: I'll appear in a staged reading of Screen Play by A.R. Gurney at Rep Stage.

2) October 17 - 28: I'll play Dr. Armstrong in Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians at Cumberland Theatre (Rehearsals start Oct. 8 -- yes, it's a crazy-fast rehearsal period).

3) April 9 - May 4, 2008 (with possible extension - May 25): 1776 at Olney Theatre. I'll portray Lyman Hall, a delegate from Georgia, and I will understudy John Hancock and John Adams. I'm as excited by the understudy roles as I am about my regular role, in large part because of the challenge. And I'm quite happy to have this new door open. I have to say, I do think being a reader helped in this matter. Rehearsals start March 18.

It's a start. I still have a long way to go. But I'm much closer to heaven now that I have scripts on my table.

Reading Is Fundamental

2007-09-07T02:31:00.000-04:00

I have some positive news, but I'll announce that in another day or two.

Last week, Wed. - Fri., I was a reader for the 1776 auditions at Olney Theatre (I auditioned as well). If you don't know: when an actor auditions for a play, if they read from a side (a scene selected from the show), the theatre may provide a reader to read the other part(s). Readers can range from someone sitting a chair literally reading the lines without any value whatsoever -- which is agonizing for the auditioner -- to someone who gets up and performs with them, hopefully while also letting the auditioner be the main focus. Most actors, myself included, like this sort of reader, and that's what I tried to be. One auditioner even exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!" the moment I stepped up to read the scene with her. Here's the thing: a lot of acting is giving to and reacting off of someone, and it is hard to give and react to nothing.

Being a reader was also very worthwhile to me, and I strongly recommend it for other actors. First, the theatre powers-that-be can get more of an impression of you as a person than a 5-minute time slot can ever provide. Also, you can watch other actors audition and see what you think they do right and wrong. And so here's some unsolicited audition advice, for myself particularly and for my fellow actors as well.

1) Be Confident, Be Natural, Be Yourself, Have Fun and Play. Easier said than done, I know. I had the chance to see a lot of actors put on their "game face," that mask that attempts to hide the nervousness. So how to do you be confident / natural, etc.? I'm still working on that, but I think the idea is to think of the audition as part of a bigger picture -- read the last paragraph for more on this.

2) Don't Look For Subtleties From The Powers-That-Be To Inform You On How Well You Did. There's just too much going on in the audition room to read what looks and gestures may or may not apply to you. The director stopping you halfway into the scene is common, and doesn't necessarily imply lack of interest -- I now know for a fact that's often not the case. Also, if they don't call you back, it doesn't mean you did badly. I saw some great auditioners that didn't get called back, and a few lousy auditioners that did. It has to do with how they see you fitting into their production.

3) Be Decisive. Hoo boy -- some auditioners would bring a music selection, but wouldn't give the accompanist a specific start or stop point. Some, when given a choice of scenes, would say, "What would you prefer?" Some would give vague answers when asked about scheduling availability for further callbacks or rehearsals. It's tedious. If you can't provide a specific answer to a scheduling question, say, "I don't know, but I can call later and let you know."

4) Be Aware That Every Interaction Is Part Of The Audition. Not just when you "enter the room," but also when you arrive, you sign in, when you talk with a theatre rep over the phone or via e-mail, etc.

Here's the thing: the official "audition" is just one part of joining a theatre community. It is not the be-all-end-all, God-I-hope-I-get-it, that it seems to be. Sure, do your best at the audition. Realize that you might not "fit" this particular production for whatever reason -- but if you do a solid audition, maybe they'll remember and say, "You know, I think he/she'd be good for this production we have coming up later." The more in-the-community you are, the more indistinct the line is between the job and the rest of your life. The people I audition for and with are people I hope to spend a fair amount of my future with, as coworkers and friends, and I want them to feel the same toward me. This extends even to the audience -- I want their reactions and their applause, and I also want them to see my name attached to a show and say, Oh, Peter's in that, Let's go see it. They may also see me in public, at the bookstore, the park. So, in a way, I am auditioning at any (every?) given moment in time, which means I need to be the best "me" I can be as much as possible.

Try The Coffee

2007-08-21T14:25:00.000-04:00

I'd been avoiding writing about auditions, because the lack of positive results lately has been a real downer. But this blog originally was intended for life-as-an-actor-et-al. commentary. And sometimes the auditions, or the journey to-and-from auditions, are too interesting -- such as a recent audition at Theatre of the First Amendment for Mariela in the Desert, by Karen Zacarias, to be directed by Nick Olcott. For this I ended up researching the Mexican artists like Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera, a fascinating, fiery pair. And at the audition Nick and I both gave each other that squinted eyes look that caused me to say, "Yes, you look familiar to me, too, and no, I don't know why, either." He checked my resume and thought we might have met in Montana when I worked at Missoula Children's Theatre and he was there for some NEA thing. This is certainly possible, but I recently realized we had met (again?) only a few months ago, at an audition at Imagination Stage. Karen Zacarias has a play being produced at Imagination Stage in the spring, and she saw me in Sleeping Beauty last fall. And so the world gets smaller.

(By the way, the audition was enjoyable, even though I haven't heard anything since.)

Yesterday I had an audition at Cumberland Theatre for Ten Little Indians. The audition itself wasn't anything spectacular: a cold reading, which Gary, the director, said was mostly for hearing dialects. Normally I'm quite good at dialects, but yesterday, not so much. The journey home included a stop at a Waffle House in Hagerstown. Waffle House is a guilty pleasure, and I'd been jonesing for weeks. One of the waitresses was named Shanice, though her tag said Shaynana. She said her manager likes giving employees nicknames (something he has in common with GWB), ergo the nametag -- she pronounced it "Sha-nay-nay," which make me wonder about her manager's gift for spelling. The tag also said "Salesperson." Later the jukebox revealed its own personality by abruptly dropping, then slowly raising, the volume as it played. I had a cheese omelet with grits, cinnamon-raisin toast, and coffee -- "Waffle House coffee . . . fresh ground . . . the best coffee for your meal." I always get the coffee, and it's always very strong and tastes lousy, requiring cream and sugar to make it palatable. It fascinates me.

This particular Waffle House is not far from Antietam, the location of the bloodiest one-day battle of the civil war.

I have more interesting stories regarding Waffle House -- including "ribbets," a car on fire, and a lousy day for all -- maybe, more on that later.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

2007-08-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

Cute picture, yeah? That's Ndeze, an orphaned mountain gorilla, drinking from a bottle being held by park ranger Andres Bauma.

However, the picture would be more adorable if it were of Ndeze being held by her own mother: "Four or more gorillas had been shot in the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], inside the Parc Nationaux de Virungas, and there was at least one new orphan clinging to a young male gorilla. The baby's mother and the group's silverback had been killed, along with several others. Equally disturbing, these deaths were the result of an ongoing feud between a number of individuals vying for control of the resources around the park, like charcoal production and mining." Click on the quote, you'll see some rough stuff, including a pic of some gorillas that had been shot.

By the way, this comes from Dr. Lucy Spelman's excellent blog. It'll make you smile and cry and stomp your feet in anger. She works with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project.

Cave Squirrelum

2007-08-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

Nuts. Yesterday, August 13th, was National Left-handers Day, and I missed it. I hope I'm the only one. I think we'd be recognized as an oppressed minority (via scissors, notebooks, 3-ring binders, chainsaws, school desks, pens, erasable pens, some spatulas and butter knives, writing in general, always stuck at the end of the table, shorter life spans, the occasional schoolmarm with ruler though not so much anymore, analog watches) if we could just take ourselves seriously. Belatedly, here's to us.

Actor News: The dreadfully long list of unrequited auditions continues to grow. Sometimes I'm surprised. Sometimes not (a big theatre with the moolah to get pretty much whatever they want recently called me in to audition to understudy Gremio and Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew. I'm not remotely the right age. There were 4 of us auditioning at the time, 2 who were the right age, plus me, plus a guy who is close in age to me. He said, "Yeah, I don't know why they called me in, either."). Today I had an audition for a PSA. It went well, I thought, but, who knows?

Cool Stuff In Art: I recently happened upon this sculptor, Beth Cavener Stichter. You must check her out! Her mission statement is rather heavy, but where it takes her -- well, the quality of her work is stellar. A lot of it is like a bad trip through Wonderland. I'm also amazed at her patience -- because her work is large clay pieces, she spends the bulk of her time hollowing them out before firing them. I just missed seeing her stuff at the Smithsonian, but I noted that she seems to come through Baltimore on occasion. Hmm. Anyhoo, wander around her site, won't you?

Cool Stuff In Nature: Squirrels heat up their tails for defense. True! It'll make sense if you read the article.

Sadie: Is 8 months old and over 60 lbs. And she's not fat. Woof.

Stuff

2007-08-06T00:12:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to post an entry so the blog's not lonely. Later, maybe I'll say more about these things: 1) "Stuff" is happening soon, that might turn into "more stuff." 2) I need to make a phone call. It'll certainly be interesting. Hopefully it'll be good, too.

Perhaps you'll wait with bated breath. But not baited breath. Much, much different.

Meanwhile, check this out, just because: Evelyn Rodriguez's blog "Crossroads Dispatches". Check out her "About" page, too. Just cuz they're interesting. (Found via -- which I found via.)

So . . . Do You Floss?

2007-08-02T01:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I managed to work myself into an existential crisis, during which I accomplished nothing as I sat wondering, "What is the point of all this?" Eventually I felt better when I thought that maybe my purpose in life is to try to figure that out. This may seem silly -- the point of all of this is to figure out what the point of all this is. See?

Meanwhile, I found a marvelous site -- "American Science & Surplus" -- where you can buy all sorts of surplus stuff, science-related et al., at low prices -- art supplies, military bags, solar panels, robot parts . . . even a
dinosaur skull (okay it's a high quality casting, and it's one of the few non-cheap items). If you have any geeky friends or relatives (like me!), this is a good place to do some Christmas shopping. Most product descriptions come with a sense of humor, too, so the site's worth checking out, even just to read.

I'm Back

2007-07-27T16:19:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the hiatus. My acting career is currently like the weather here: dry, dry, dry, dry, dry. Lots of auditions with very little success. This may be my worst spell ever, and my ego has taken a severe beating in the process. But I'm feeling better lately, even energized -- hopefully that'll last. It helps that I have a great woman and a good dog.

Otherwise: the world continues to be surreal, as (British) squirrel spies are caught in Iran (via) and some folks gleefully do what they can to cause the Apocalypse (via). Might as well be pro-active with your prophecies. Also necrophilia's okey-dokey in Wisconsin (via).

Stay tuned: in the interest of self-promotion, I'm hoping to get a website started very soon.

Death to Cereal

2007-06-03T23:24:00.001-04:00

That's it. Norman Conquests: Table Manners has closed. Not including rehearsals, that's 44 large bowls of Corn Flakes. Nada mas, gracias. A good finish, though -- pretty full house on a Saturday night, lots of laughter. And everyone in the cast got along the entire time. So, okey-dokey.

Future projects: uh, TBA.

Here's Your Gnashing Of Teeth

2007-05-23T00:50:00.000-04:00

"A hammerhead shark that gave birth in a Nebraska aquarium reproduced without mating, a genetic analysis shows. "

Here's what happens next: nobody'll hear anything from the Baby Shark for about 30 years. Then the Shark'll become big news again, turning over coral reefs and reprimanding the "Phari-seas" et al. and teaching sharks about loving thy neighbor and turning the other fin and anti-materialism. The Shark will not write any of this down (no time, I suppose). The leaders of the status quo will mock this Shark and render the Shark unto death. Then followers of the Shark will, many years later, write down (with some artistic license) what they remember of it all. More years shall pass, and some sharks of certain authority will edit what was writ, then declare it to be "the unerring word of the Shark." They will say their goal is to bring the message of the Shark unto the common shark (though the common shark will not be allowed to actually read it for a really long time). Somehow this "new testament" will justify the authoritarian sharks dressing themselves in expensive pearls and other such vestments and declaring war "in the name of the Shark" on "non-believers" while simultaneously crying out, "He who lives by the swordfish shall die by the swordfish!"

But When I Talk: Ehh.

2007-05-20T23:26:00.000-04:00

The Baltimore Sun recently reviewed Table Manners. Here's what Mary Johnson says about me: "With an expressive face, Boyer [has the] ability to convey emotion wordlessly, and make us laugh while doing so." Not too shabby. Check out the review and a picture of the production HERE.

Today I am Prime

2007-05-14T12:41:00.000-04:00

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!

37 years ago today, I was born in Nassawadox, Virginia. The hospital I was born in no longer exists (replaced by a newer one that stands a few hundred yards to the south). In its place now stand some other medically-related building and, quite appropriately, a playground. When I drive by that area, I like to point at the air above the playground and say, "That's where I was born."

On this day 68 years ago (1939), a 5-year-old gave birth. Really.

You can get my birth-year (1970) from my birth-month (5) and -day (14). 5+14=19, and 5x14=70.

Some more interesting factoids about the number 37 can be found HERE -- including how my age relates to the "Number of the Beast."

(Interesting note: this is post number 69 -- more on that number HERE).

To celebrate my birthday, I hope you will dance. No music required. If someone asks you what you are doing, tell them, "I am dancing in honor of Peter's birthday. Join me." They should. If they don't, give 'em a hug, 'cuz they must be sad if they don't wanna dance in honor of my birthday.

I Like Kipling, Even Though I've Never Kipled

2007-05-07T21:11:00.000-04:00

Actor Update: Had an audition today at Imagination Stage for The Jungle Book and for Twice Upon a Time (two stories, The Lorax and The Emperor's New Clothes). Sadly, I did not get called back for Twice Upon a Time -- that's the way it goes, in an actor's life, and it may or may not have anything to do with my reading, but it hurts every time. Happily, I am called back for The Jungle Book, a story I love.

Also, rumor has it that Robert Prosky saw a performance of Table Manners and enjoyed it. I didn't get to see him, though.

And Lately

2007-05-03T11:18:00.000-04:00

Actor Update: Table Manners opened Friday at The Bay Theatre in Annapolis. Though the audiences were small – mid-size, the response was very good. Tim King, a local actor et al. who saw a performance, complimented my work. Then he and I spent the next ten minutes trying, unsuccessfully, to figure out where he and I had met before.

Auditions in the past few days: @ Taylor-Royall , for a commercial spoof series (unsuccessful, there); a general audition at Everyman Theatre ; and a callback at Rep Stage for Mrs. Farnsworth by AR Gurney. No responses from ET and RS so far, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. The auditions went "fine" and "alright," respectively (definitions of these words HERE).

Saturday, I attended 4 hours worth of a stage combat workshop with instructors Lewis Shaw, Scott Mann, and Chuck Coyl -- “Fast and Furious”-style fighting (a mix of martial arts, street, and other good stuff) and close-quarter knife fighting. Very fun. Took me a little while to shake off the rust, though.

Upcoming: an audition for a couple of shows at Imagination Stage, a place I'm very fond of.

"Taxes" is an Anagram of "Texas"

2007-04-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

A blue funk has kept me from posting. Here some math for you: Taxes + crummy weather = blue funk.

The last post was about 20 pounds of puppy ago (would that be 140 in people pounds?). Sadie is 20 weeks old and 45-ish pounds now. Oy. She's also losing her baby teeth. Good -- adult teeth are not quite so pointy. And while she doesn't look broken to me, I'll soon be taking her in to get fixed. Ha, ha.

We open Norman Conquests: Table Manners on Friday. The last week or so of rehearsal have been . . . tense, but I think it'll be fun once we have an audience. By the way, I'm very tired of corn flakes and toast. If you see the show you'll understand why.

Just had an audition today for Rep Stage, which has already garnered a callback next Monday. Wish me luck.

Introducing the Newest Member of the Family

2007-03-15T13:18:00.000-04:00

Jen and I adopted a little girl last Saturday. She's a handful, time-consuming, which is why I'm only getting about to writing it now. She was a bit too thin, I think, and had some dandruff, but she looks like she's putting on some weight already and her hair's looking better, too. Her name is Sadie.

Another Little Bite

2007-03-09T13:14:00.000-05:00

I will also be involved in an upcoming staged reading of Season of Sentiment, by Harriet Lawrence, as part of Theatre of the First Amendment's First Light Festival. "This story explores traditions, joys and sorrows of Russian immigrants in the 1800s, as celebrated by their American descendants in 1970s suburban Maryland." All the plays being performed are in-process, so we'll get to work on them all week before the reading. Very cool. SoS will be performing on Saturday, March 17 @ 3 pm. Here's the schedule for all the shows. Admission is free for all of 'em.

Also, something else worth checking out if you're local: Howard Community College / Student-Alumni Arts production of OurSpace -- a dance-and-more performance which opened yesterday in the new black box theatre at HCC. It just so happens that Jenny, my "significant other," directed it, and choreographed some of the numbers. I'm the "head writer," so I wrote most of the monologues and dialogue that bridge the performance pieces. Along with dance -- ballroom, modern, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, et al. -- there is "combat dance," musical performances, and some interesting scene work as well. It's an excellent show, and I'm saying that not just because I'm biased but also because it's true. This one's $12-general, $10-students/seniors/groups, "recommended for mature audiences = 14 and up," and will be performing on Friday the 9th (today!), Sat. the 10th, and on the 15th, 16th, and 17th (Th., Fri., Sat.) @ 8 pm.

A Bite

2007-03-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

Got one -- I'll be playing Reg in Norman Conquests: Table Manners at the Bay Theatre. Rehearsals start March 26; the show runs April 27 - June 2. I'll tell ya more as we get into it. Very excited!

On the Plus Side, Bathroom Scales Now Friendly

2007-03-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

My New Stage Name: Dixie

2007-03-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Just got back from my audition at the Bay Theatre in Annapolis -- I thought it went alright. Perhaps even not bad. So I'm told, decisions shall be made very soon.

Sometimes it takes some time into the day for me to realize that something on my mind was from the previous night's dreaming. When I woke, I was wondering why Bay Theatre had sent me audition scripts for the role of "Jerry," when I had been told I was auditioning for the role of "Reg." Once I got a bit more coherent, I realized that there was no character of "Jerry" in the play. That, and I realized it was highly unlikely that I had been sent audition material printed inside of a stack of paper cups.

Have at it, dream analysts.

Best Supporting Actor: Sgt. Johnson

2007-03-01T02:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the comments to the previous post, y'all -- and by the way there's an interesting irony in getting good "highly secret occult" witch vibes when one of the plays you're auditioning for is Macbeth. Proofreader -- I don't know what the deal is, Shenandoah not getting a single Helen Hayes nom. I checked their list, and also noticed that Ford's Theatre isn't mentioned for anything. Hm. Nor is Imagination Stage, though I heard there's an odd rule that essentially allows HH to ignore a lot of children's theatre (I skimmed through their rules, though, and didn't see it, though). Don't know why. Hmph.

News . . . not much yet. The audition for Macbeth at BSF went "alright" (as defined on Feb. 10) -- read a couple of scenes playing the title role. So did a whole bunch of other guys. The waiting area was very cold. The audition area was very hot. One of the women who read for Lady Macbeth with me was very pregnant. The audition at Round House went . . . "not bad" which is a half step up from "alright" which is a half step up from fine. Clear, yes? I read for the character Blind Pew in Treasure Island (with marvelous Scots dialect, thank you very much), and after I read, they asked me about my stage combat experience -- a plus for me, since I have plenty. No word from either place thus far, which doesn't necessarily mean anything. Keep vibing, please.

Also: a further callback at Bay Theatre, coming very soon. So the ball rolls a bit further.

Another cartoon coming soon. Hope y'all don't mind.

Nibbles

2007-02-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

I was left uncomfortably staring into space for over a week after the audition on the 10th for Baltimore Shakespeare Festival (okay, not quite that bad, there have been some things to keep me busy) . . . but I recently received a spate of calls for:

an audition on Monday the 19th at the Bay Theatre in Annapolis for Table Manners, the first play in The Norman Conquests trilogy by Alan Ayckbourn;
an audition (via Taylor Royall Casting) on Tuesday for an industrial (produced by EFX Media) -- which quickly turned into a dayshoot the following day, yesterday, yay me (I played a "business reporter");
a further callback this Saturday for BSF's Macbeth; and
a callback on Monday the 26th at Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda, for Treasure Island.

Of course, I'm hoping for lots of good things here, and for this ball to keep rolling. Feel free to send good vibes my way.

Ma, the CB! Batch 'em!

2007-02-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

A couple of comments in the yesterday's blog. Very cool, it's always good to see someone's checking me in the e-ether. (Re the comments: 1) Thanks, sis! 2) Benjamin, thanks for the advice. Though BSF doesn't pay much. [I know a few Benjamin's, how do I know thee?].)

Had that audition today at BSF for Macbeth, in which I read a little of Banquo and a monologue worth of Macbeth. I left the audition feeling . . . . like it went alright. Meaning? Well, alright is a half-step better than fine, which is neither pessimistic nor optimistic, i.e., a sort of ambivalence that is not casual but also not high-strung. Make sense?
_________

According to Berkeley Breathed's Opus (not to be confused with the similarly named play, see yesterday's blog), CHUNKY LORD VOLDEMORT is an anagram of DICK CHENEY VA-VOOM. Well, even though it isn't . . . it should be. Thanks, BB.

Opus Is Not Just a Penguin

2007-02-09T03:27:00.000-05:00

A handful of auditions, but no solid bites thus far. It is very frustrating. Outside of auditions, I haven't been in rehearsals or performances for a month-and-a-half, and it's driving me bananas. Feels like a year.

The latest: I did a general audition for Baltimore Shakespeare Festival on Saturday, and then had a callback for Opus at the Washington Stage Guild on Monday. I've already received a call that I was not cast for Opus -- but it's okay, sorta. Though I thought my audition went well, I felt that I was a touch younger than what they were looking for.

I do want to say this: the audition for Stage Guild was fun. Some auditions, you go in, you do your thing -- cold reading, monologue, what have you -- and you get no response whatsoever from whomever is watching you. Audience response is food to a stage actor (and in this case the director / producer / head of casting, etc., is your audience) and auditions like that leave you still hungry, and dissatisfied. At Stage Guild, the director and producer responded. It felt good. Additionally, for the production manager to call and say that I was not cast is an act of kindness -- so much better to know than to sit and wonder. And, now I know I'm on their radar. So, check 'em out, they're good folks.

Baltimore Shakes -- well, I got a good feel from them, and I got a callback for Macbeth on Saturday. Wish me luck.

Something You Won't Find On Bourbon Street

2007-02-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

An Auditioner's Life

2007-02-02T03:26:00.000-05:00

I would have titled this "An Actor's Life," but I sometimes feel a touch presumptuous calling myself an actor when I'm not holding an acting job at that moment (though I have seen / heard / read a few people call themselves "actors" who really shouldn't -- heck, I'm sitting at a desk that I built, but I ain't callin' myself a furniture designer. Does hanging posters on your wall make one an interior decorator? I take the trash out every few days, so does that make me a garbage man?)

But a few auditions have come up, at least. I didn't feel very good about my recent one at Signature, to be honest. I had two yesterday, one for a commercial and one for an "interactive film"(a sort of instructional film, that's about what I know). I felt good about both of these, but here's the thing: with theatre auditions, I usually get some sense of how the audition went. With TV / film, I usually do best when I get no strong impression of how it went. Hm. A couple more auditions are coming up in the next few days. Cross your fingers.

And the drawing pad is getting some use again: I'll have another drawing posted soon, hope you like it.
_________

Otherwise: Here's an explanation of each of the 10 theoretical dimensions in our universe (I feel so pleased, I actually understood them. Sortakindasorta-ish). And: Milk beer? Guh.

Holy Lizards

2007-01-25T19:17:00.000-05:00

I've been busy the last month-and-a-half, with travel (visiting various relatives), teaching, and auditioning. I am really, really tired, mainly from the teaching, which just finished today (almost: now I just have to finish grading a few things and fill out some paperwork). On Monday the 22nd was a general audition for a number of area theatres -- I was there all day, because, along with my own audition, I also helped sign people in. Not a bad day -- a few folks, unsolicited, said they liked my audition, and I had the chance to see a few friends, including Carl Randolph, Warner Crocker and his wife Thomasin (from Wayside Theatre) , Chris Youstra and Margo Seibert, with whom I worked at Imagination Stage. And I have a callback already at Signature Theatre in a few days, about which I'll say naught more at this moment, lest I hex it.
_____________

Interesting stuff:
A virgin Komodo dragon has recently given birth to 5 baby dragons. (Okay, "gave birth" is a touch inaccurate -- she laid the eggs, and then they hatched.) I'm sure this'll be horribly offensive to someone: what if this were the Second Coming? Why not? Couldn't Christ could take the form of 5 adorable baby Komodo dragons if He so pleased? Additional proof of the involvement of a higher power: they've been eating locusts (perhaps to gear up for the next plague of 'em).

New items for my materialistic Christmas wish list: I 'd like an "adaptive wave" catamaran. Or a hydrogen powered motorcycle (shame it only does 50 mph, but apparently it has kick-ass acceleration).

Word, Y'all

2007-01-15T22:23:00.000-05:00

While looking at the website Neatorama (specifically, the little blurb about the Pillow Fight League in Toronto) . . . .

. . . a random word popped into my brain, and now it's our word of the day: oubliette. An oubliette is "a dungeon with an opening only at the top" and it comes the French word oublier meaning "to forget" (i.e., it's a place where you can be forgotten, not where you can go to, say, forget about your troubles, though I can see how that could work -- I wouldn't be worried about car repairs or taxes if I happened to be thrown into an oubliette). Live it, love it, learn it. See if you can use it in casual conversation.

Santa's Gone Bonkers. I Came Close.

2006-12-21T01:27:00.000-05:00

The fat lady sang on Sunday -- Twelfth Night at Cumberland Theatre has closed. What an interesting, odd ride.

'06 has been a decent year for me, theatrically: 28 weeks in rehearsal or onstage, somewhere over 100 performances, thousands of people came to the shows, adults and children both, and lucky me, I've made 'em laugh and cry and a few other things inbetween.

And personally it's been stellar -- Jenny and are now m-m-married. I got the best lady in the land! Still don't know how I pulled that off.

And I finally went to a foreign country (Belize), woohoo!

But hey, here's hoping '07 tops '06! Life! Hooha!

It's almost Christmas time. Jenny and I are off to Mississippi in just over a dozen hours.

Here's another drawing for you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Fantastic Festivus, Stupendous Solstice, etc.! Happy Holidays!

COLD

2006-12-09T15:48:00.000-05:00

It is 43 degrees outside, "feels like 39" according to Yahoo! weather, here in Cumberland at 4pm. Tonight it should hit 2o degrees. The house where many of the actors stay doesn't keep out the cold -- last night, along with the sheet, two blankets, and a comforter, I wore sweatpants, tank-top, sweatshirt and a hoodie to bed! The heat seems to work in small, very selective parts of the house, none of which are remotely close to my room. I hate, hate, HATE being cold!
________

Last night was our "official" opening night for Twelfth Night. We had good-sized crowd, and they overall seemed to have a pretty good time. At the reception that followed, a gentleman said that he loved the show and that I had done a great job.

Then he asked me if I played Feste, the clown.

I currently have a goatee. Andrew, who plays Feste, does not.

The gentleman said I look very different in person.

It must be because as Orsino I wear a suit. Yes, that must be it.

I'm Dreamy, and I Smell Like Peanut Butter Cup

2006-12-07T18:08:00.000-05:00

Twelfth Night opened yesterday, with a matinee and an evening show. The audiences were small, but so I'm told that's normal for the Wednesday opening shows, because everyone in town knows the cast is still bumping through it a bit. I've heard Friday should be good.
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My face was feeling dry, so I went out and got some lotion, which happened to have cocoa butter in it. Esther (Viola) said she thinks her character is attracted to Orsino because he's "dreamy and smells like a peanut butter cup."
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And I got to meet another celebrity, who I found out is from this area: William H. Macy. From our brief meeting and according to our director, Mr. Macy is a really good guy, friendly. He was impressed that we put this show up in a week (true, that's no small accomplishment). After the evening show, Bob, the Stage Manager, told the cast "someone wants to meet you." My first thought when I came out was, "Huh, that guy look like Bill Macy." My second thought was, "Oh, that's because . . . ."

Happy Tofurkey Day

2006-11-23T02:35:00.000-05:00

A rough sketch from last year, but it still works.

Penguins Can So Fly

2006-11-21T02:08:00.000-05:00

I managed to work myself into a good blue funk for a while today. When I got over that, I drew this for you:

Ego

2006-11-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

A happy accident: Jen and I went to a Starbucks for a snack. Jen dug through that bin that people drop their pre-read newspapers in, and look-y what she found on the cover of the Washington Post Weekend section:
Yeah, that's me dressed as the King, with some kids who had just seen Sleeping Beauty. At the exact moment this picture was taken, I was plotting with the kids on how we were going to raid the lobby area and take all the cupcakes for ourselves. For the moment, you can also find the pic HERE and the related article (with a picture of Margo Seibert, SB's Aurora) HERE.

Orsino-ful and Fasch-less

2006-11-10T01:37:00.000-05:00

I've been avoiding my blog. It's a dangerous time right now. Too much space around me.

Sleeping Beauty closed on Sunday. It was a great experience, and I miss those folks. I want to work with them again.

I am ready to return to more adult audiences now, after listening to the little ones laugh for a while. The batteries are feeling refreshed. With that in mind --

I'll be playing Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night at Cumberland Theatre -- a quick run, opening Dec. 6 and closing Dec. 17. He's a fun, lusty, egocentric character, and I'm very ready to play in that territory for a litle while. Also, on Nov. 27 at 7pm, I will be in a staged reading of Voodoo Today Here Now 5, by Joe Musso, at Rep Stage / HCC, in the recital studio in the new performing arts building.

So I guess that's all good. But it's not all, not quite. See, I recently had an audition for Bach at Leipzig, and I didn't get the role. Life of an actor, yes . . . but this one I worked very hard for, pushing for the audition, and memorizing and working and reworking and reworking two long monologues and a couple scenes. So I was very disappointed when it went to someone else (even though I like the guy), because this role meant a lot to me. It's taking some time to wash away. Odd. I have the most success with the auditions I'm casual about ( tho' not, NOT, apathetic!) -- which is why I've been really successful with commercial auditions, because I'm absolutely incapable of taking them too seriously.

Well, well. Sometimes I hit, sometimes I miss, sometimes Republicans win, sometimes Democrats (and boy-o-boy, the R's earned the drubbing they got this go 'round), and throughout it all, the big blue world keeps turning regardless. That I love.

Bang for a Buck

2006-11-01T21:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, while driving on the DC beltway, I saw this in my rearview mirror:

A police officer pulled out his pistol and shot a buck.

The buck was lying on the side of the road -- apparently hit by a car, severely injured but not yet dead. The officer was doing a good thing. Still, it's a heck of a way to start halloween morning. I heard the shot, too.

Fat Dog, Nice Flower

2006-10-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

What's been taking me so long? I've been busy -- that's my lame excuse. I think I had a true day off about a month ago. I'm tired, but happy, and not sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Imagination Stage has been keeping me busy. Along with Sleeping Beauty and the reading for The Christmas Doll, I also took part in their fundraising Gala, which involved the SB castmembers and a few dozen kids of various ages, scenes and musical numbers (I sang solo for the first section of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and sang and signed in a presentation of "Aurora's Song," which featured a member of the Deaf Access program), some awards and presentations and the dedication of the Christopher and Dana Reeve theatre, featuring a touching speech from a video-taped John Lithgow. The part that amazed me most was during the reception that followed -- a number of the kids gave me hugs before they left, and I realized that they enjoyed being a part of the Gala immensely. One of the kids, Elijah, dragged me over to the piano player (Glen, I believe) who was playing in the newly named Reeve Theatre, and he made me sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with him again! Soon I noticed that a number of people had crowded around for this new, impromptu performance. Elijah continued, singing songs like "Paper Moon" and "Margaritaville" with the pianist -- I managed to escape after "SOtR."

Monday two weeks ago I went to a general audition at Center Stage in Baltimore. Last Monday I did a photoshoot for an online "English as a Second Language" training program (through a series of 70-some pictures, I portrayed an occasionally bungling street cop). I had a couple of commercial auditions on Thursday and Friday. Last night I had an audition at Rep Stage for Bach at Leipzig, and today I drove to Cumberland for a general audition at Cumberland Theatre.

Wee!!!!!! And Sleeping Beauty has one more week to go. Not sure what happens next.

And below is a picture for a dog food commercial that made me laugh out loud. I first found it at Neatorama (where you can also see another funny commercial from the same company), and you can see a bigger copy of it HERE.

2006-10-16T11:54:00.000-04:00

I made a quick trip to Wayside Theatre Friday a week-and-a-half to see their production of Othello. It was a wonderful production, some great performances from some of my favorite folks, fantastic set (I want it in my house, but it won't fit), great direction. If you didn't get out to see it, too bad for you, it's closed. I suggest you send notes to Warner, saying things like, "Do more Shakespeare! I promise to see it! And don't you think Peter would make a wonderful Richard III?"
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Did you ever notice that the difference between "denial" and "Denali" is just a move of the "i"?
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I have a little dream of creating my own mini-zoo. I already have an aquarium with 3 frogs and a few fish. Frogs are cooler than fish. I also hope to have a little ant farm soon, either by building it or buying it.
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And by the way, I'm enjoying the heck out of Sleeping Beauty at Imagination Stage. After playing a number of serious roles in war time plays, it's a great change of pace. Hearing the laughter of little kids is wonderful. On Sunday, I saw one little kid and his granddad sitting on the floor, watching our show. How BEAUTIFUL is that?!

(And what you see here is a little cartoon of a very young Aurora - a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty - already inspired by "girl knight" Brandamant, a.k.a. Bradamant.)

2006-10-02T23:34:00.000-04:00

If you ain't busy, you should check out The Christmas Doll Tuesday the 3rd at 7 pm at the Round House stage in Silver Spring, MD. This ain't purple dinosaurs-style children's theatre. This has some dark stuff in it. I think it's a good show.

And if you're not at this reading, then you'd better be watching Carl Randolph at Round House's Bethesda stage, where they tacked on a couple of extra performances of A Prayer for Owen Meany, including this particular Tuesday. I can't think of anything else worth doin' an a Tuesday night.

Busy Boyer!

2006-09-27T18:46:00.000-04:00

Friday at 1:00PM, tune in to 88.5 in the Washington DC area for WAMU's Metro Connection, and listen for some talk about Sleeping Beauty! The cast went to the WAMU studio on Tuesday and recorded parts of a couple of songs, and a little bit of dialogue. We'll be toward the end of the program, which will also air on Saturday @ 5:00am and 2:00pm and Monday @ 2:00am. It will also be available as a podcast.

Also: at 7 PM on Tuesday, October 3, swing by the Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, MD, where I and some other good folks will be in a staged reading of THE CHRISTMAS DOLL by Joan Cushing, based on the book by Elvira Woodruff, directed by Kate Bryer. This reading is FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

Death and Life

2006-09-25T15:44:00.001-04:00

Patrick Quinn, former prez of Actors' Equity who was slated to become the new executive director, died of a heart attack at 56. Here's the NYTimes article (registration may be required).

I also found out that my fourth-grade teacher, Edna Jarvis, died, at 63. To be honest, I don't remember much about fourth grade, but I do remember seeing Ms. Jarvis on occasion years later and that she was very nice.

This is all a part of life . . .
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. . . but also, life is a part of life --

My older brother, Phil, just turned 40 on the 24th. His young sons wished him a happy birthday a day earlier, apparently because they thought it was more fun to say You're gonna be old as dirt than to say You ARE old as dirt.

And my younger sister Tenneil is pregnant! She and her husband John seem to be happy about it, and I shall gear up for my 10th uncling (uncle-ing) -- 4 via older sis Laura, 2 via Phil, 3 via marriage / Jen's bro Barry and his wife Sara, and sometime next year (knock wood) a newbie via T&J. I'm goin' into double digits.

Sadness and joy, rain and rainbows.