Sierra Cup Videos

So here are some clips from a few of the songs I performed at Sierra Cup.
This first is a good chunk of Odyssius.
 
This second song is one of my favorites Jazz Man the title for this song has changed quite a bit, but this one is easiest to remember so now it's settled.


This song is just a bit of Nashville.  I think it recorded really well, so take a listen.  I'm thinking of playing this one if I get a spot at the Blue Bird Cafe when I'm at home.


This is the last video is a piece from 900 minutes/ 900 miles.  I'm going to go ahead and admit that I start a bit high with this one, but it all works out.


I'm in talks to perform at Sierra Cup again at the end of January, so hopefully that works out.

A Christmas Carol

All week long I have been in rehearsals for my part(s) in the Open Window's production of A Christmas Carol. I've got to be honest, when I first read the script, I was excited that I was asked to join, but I was a little hesitant to trust the words. I spent the week creating characters that overcame the language and were, I think, show stealers, but on the whole, I thought of the script more as a suggestion; which I'm sure was slightly nerve wracking to the director.
However, the last run through I had before next weeks show was attended by Jade. I, of course, hoped to hear raucous laughter and to be, several times throughout, distracted by my own brilliance and hilarity being so thoroughly engrossing and entertaining to my audience. (I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, I wholeheartedly mean every word in the last sentence.) However, there were only chuckles.
As it turns out, Jade did like the show. But most of all, she liked the script. She had the unique vantage point to be able see it all in motion.
I've said it before here, that I trust Jade's opinion well above my own (most of the time), and after trying so hard through every rehearsal to overcome the script, I find myself excited to work through the script.
The show goes up in one week, and I have all that time to, I guess, learn my lines.
I can't wait to see what happens.

Upcoming

This past weekend, I played my first LA show at Sierra Cup.  Thanks to everyone who came out, it was a very special show to me, and with the turn out I could keep it very intimate.  I am talking with the venue to play another show there at the end of January.  BUT, most importantly, in the next few days, I'm going to post some video and some photos from the show.  So be on the look out.

The Nutcracker Performance 1 & 2

The first two performances of The Nutcracker of 2008 are over.  Both of the shows went well, but each show had its peculiarities.  

December 4th: Show 1

This show was directly after I worked all night at the sleep center, so I was running on an hour of sleep.  I arrived thirty minutes before show time to discover that the curtain had moved up a half hour, so as I walked in, it was time to perform.  Furthermore, the show is directed and staged in the round, but this particular venue was proscenium.  In the end, everything worked out fine.  I really enjoyed the challenges presented by figuring out how to move through the audience and where to find things that were usually right in front of me.  There was a great moment when I was unable to see a child dressed as a tree standing right in front of me.

December 5th: Show 2

Working on a full night of sleep and actually prepared for what confronted me, I had a fleeting moment of, "I'm about to make a fool of myself and fail horribly."  That however, only lasted until the show began.  I was odd though, I have rarely thought about any type of stage fright or performance anxiety in the past few years, I don't know what brought it on.  These shows went well. 

I have two more dates scheduled this year with The Nutcracker.  I was talking with Jenny, the director and fellow actor, and realized that there are too few performances of the show each year.  Just when I start to be able to anticipate the audience's desire and reaction, the run ends, and by the following year, all the tastes have changed.

Sierra Cup Set List

So the order is yet to be determined, but I've finally put together the songs that will be played at this, my first LA gig.

• Unwell
• Acorn
• Green Goblin
• Nashville
• Odyssius
• 900 miles/900 minutes
• Snow
• Take the Money and Run (cover)

I realize that the song I'm covering has the coolest name of them all.
Hope to see you there.

Music Gig

Just a quick reminder that I am playing a show this Saturday, Dec. 6th @ 7:00pm, at the Sierra Cup.  The set is thirty minutes so if you are planning on coming, try not to run too late.

The address is:

409 S. Myrtle Avenue

Monrovia, Ca 91016

I'm listed on the website and I follow Tim Tedrow and Terry Vreeland, though they play @ 5 so I'm not sure I'm really following them.

Hope to see you there.

Casting:A Christmas Carol

In a previous post I mentioned how Open Window productions, which produces The Nutcracker might have openings in other show for me.  Well, it worked out, and I am now also working on A Christmas Carol, not to be confused with An American Carol.  The set-up is very similar to The Nutcracker in that I play all the male parts, aside from Scrooge, and that it will be performed at schools and with audience involvement.  I've had the script for a few days now and I start rehearsal tomorrow.  From what I can tell, this script has alot more improv than Nutcracker, which to me is exciting because I know what makes me laugh, but I'm not sure what translates to younger audiences; there will definitely be a chance to try new things!

Star-Spangled Girl Future Dates

I believe, for now, the possiblity of moving The Star-Spangled Girl to the Luna Playhouse in Glendale is no longer in the works. Aramadz approached the two casts with six perspective dates in December, but, between the other Norman and I, there were only two workable dates. I don't expect the return of this show, but it is not completely out of the picture.

The Nutcracker Returns

I have asked to reprise my roles in The Nutcracker which I worked on last year.  Right now there are about six performances dates scheduled totally roughly ten performances.  We had our first rehearsal this past Tuesday, and, although I was hesitant, I am really excited to be again be part of this.  I have kept alot of what worked last year but I have apparently grown in the last year, and I have some great new ideas that I think the kids will really enjoy.  Also, I have been asked be a part in another show by the same company; more on that if it comes to fruition.

Terribily Exciting Tune News

I can't access the full information at this time, but, this is so exciting for me, I will be playing my music at a Yogurt shope on December 6th from 7 - 7:30.  No, I don't know what the name of the Yogurt Shope is, besides that it is my favorite yogurt shope in LA.  No, I can't say the location right now, I have it written down just not with me right now.  No, it will not pay, but I do get free yogurt and soda.  Now that the no's are gone, I can tell you how very excited I am about someone listening to my music and asking me to perform at their establishment!!!! 
I immediately went to my song catalogue and, though I found it lacking in up tempo catchy melodies, I did devise a rough set list which I will have a month to refine.  As of now, I am considering opening with Unwell for the rest of the set I'm considering Both of Us,Jazz Man,perhaps Estaban, Don't go Home.  I also am thinking of playing two covers, one of Jump, Little Children and one of The Weepies.
Anyway, that's all for now, more later.

Star-Spangled Girl Closing at the Lounge

This past weekend was the closing weekend of The Star-Spangled Girl at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.  I've been putting off writing this because it felt like an imperfect PB&J sandwich, too much peanut butter, not enough jam, who knows it just wasn't perfect in my mouth.
Both Friday and Saturday had good crowds.  On Friday I tried some new ideas to improve moments that Jade and Meagan had said needed improvement.  It's difficult for me to try new things with an audience because I really want to get laughs from them and when things flop it's harder for me to step back and see what might have worked about the moment.  The audience however on Friday seemed to really like the show.
Most everyone I know came to see the show on Saturday, and, though the show wasn't great, the reviews from my friends were better than last week and they said I had improved in the places which I had tried to work on the night before.
Sunday no one came, ugh.
There is a chance the show will continue at Luna Playhouse in Glendale, but I don't know any of the details.

Anyway, it's over, and though it might be a bit late, the pictures here are of the set.  Thank You to everyone who came.

Star-Spangled Girl Opening Weekend

This past weekend was my opening weekend of The Star-Spangled Girl at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.  The actual opening night was Friday, and it was a disaster.  Well, actually, disaster might be too strong a word.  Friday was the first run-through at the Lounge Theatre with all the props and any wardrobe changes.  It was also the first run-though in three weeks, and one of, I believe, three complete run-throughs of the show ever.  Tempering Friday's performance with the above knowledge, it wasn't a disaster; disjointed and error filled, but not a disaster.  The upswing of a bad opening night is that the rest of the run seems so much better.
Saturday and Sunday actually ran well.  I had settled into the feeling of not understanding why or feeling it, but being told the show was good, funny even, and having jokes greeted with laughter in the rights spots.  Even in Saturday and Sunday there were some line errors or blocking to work out, but, while getting dressed to leave the theatre after Sunday's run, I felt that if pressed to rate the weekend on a scale of 1 - 100, Friday's 50% averaged with two 100% runs equaled 83% for the weekend.
Gratefully, Jade and Meagan can to see the show and could give new insight and an educated critique to me of the show.  I had said from the first few weeks of rehearsal that I wished I could get a pair of eyes on the show that I knew I could trust and would give me honest feedback because I felt off in rehearsal, but everyone told me it worked.  In the lobby of the Lounge, Jade and Meagan greeting me and the cast with rave reviews.
On the sidewalk outside the theatre, their official review was weak to mild with a blend of poor direction and execution of a bad script, echoing what I thought before I listened to everyone else.  Luckily, they were both able to point out moments that were clear examples of problem spots that could be easily remedied.  Jade and I had an hour and a half car ride following the initial review to get more in depth with specific moments and ideas.
I don't know if the show will transfer to Luna Playhouse in the forthcoming months, but I have one more weekend to work with the show and now I have some new fresh ideas to strengthen my performance and this show.
That said, there were laughs during all three runs of the show and several people stayed afterwards to congratulate me.  So the show, except possible Friday, is descent.  The sense I get of this show is that it is entertaining for everyone in parts, but people who might not have seen as much or studied as much theatre will enjoy the show more.  With this descent foundation and the ideas for shaping and improving I have, I think this upcoming weekend will be worth seeing.
For those unable to attend the performances, I will be getting a video copy of the show soon and will try and post some clips.

A Big Show Uh Uo!

My show Star Spangled Girl is set to open this Friday at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood @ 8pm.  It will run Friday and Saturday @ 8, and Sunday @ 3.  However, the big surpise is that this might be the only weekend the show will run.  Due to some possible complications with Actor's Equity, one of the actors might not be able to continue working on the show.  There is a meeting being scheduled and some talks to come, but the Director is out of town and the actor with the problem has choosen to perform this weekend, though it could possibly cost them their equity membership.
I think everything will work out, but every other theatre show I've been involved with in LA has had a huge problem that was not resolved without major reconstruction, so this one might not be any different.
The long and short of it is, if you are planning on coming to see The Star Spangled Girl it might be better not to wait.

New Music! Both of Us

Here's a version of a song I wrote.  This is off my Acorn album.

Star-Spangled Girl Performance Dates

I finally know when The Star-Spangled Girl will star me. My run is the middle two weekends of October (17-19) and (24-26). I suppose some people will see that and reckon those are the last two weekends of October, but they are indeed the middle two weeks of the show's run in Hollywood at The Lounge Theatre 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, LA, CA 90038. The run will then move to Luna Playhouse in Glendale, but those dates are not known at this time. I'll have the time of the shows posted as soon as I find out. Hope to see you there.

Devil Blues Teaser Trailer

So here is the teaser for Devil Blues.  There will be dialogue in the final film.  Check out what I did in the desert.

Set Photos from Devil Blues

Here are the set photos from Devil Blues.  I know I look good in some of the photos, I think almost too good; some of these photos look more like model shots rather than set photos.  Also, when did my teeth get so white?  I'm in all of the pictures, but also, the Man in Black, played by Steve, and Jay the DP, share the scenes.

Star-Spangled Girl Rehearsal Photos

Here they are, the first set of rehearsal photos from Star-Spangled Girl rehearsal. Marco and Michelle are the actors working through a couple of the scenes.



This second picture is of Marco, Michelle, Aramazd, and Marco's friend, who has helped us tremendously in lieu t of a stage manager.



This is a comedy. Can't wait to get costumes and an audience.

Star-Spangled Girl Update

I've been so busy with other projects that I haven't been keeping up with Star-Spangled Girl production notes. I think we last left off very early on in the process; I was cast and we were rehearsing in a restored Victorian home. Well, time has moved on.
We have left the Victorian Antique and now rehearse at the Luna Playhouse in Glendale. This will now be the location of our extended run as we will now open up in Hollywood in October.
I have also changed title in the company, although I was originally cast as an understudy, I now have the designation as being a part of Cast B. This is very exciting as it means more preformance dates. The only person who really suffers as a result of this is Marco who plays Andy in both casts and must rehearse 6 days a week, ugh.
That is just about all the catch up needed. Now, today marks a huge milestone in production, we have blocked all but one kiss scene and one fight scene for the entire show!!!
There seems to be a feeling of success tied up with this show. Though it feels to me like previous theatrical shows have felt, there is a sense of promise that is unmistakable whenever production is discussed.
As for my part, I continue.

For Anticipation Sake

I finally have pictures from both Devil Blues and Star-Spangled Girl. I will be posting them beginning tomorrow. I just want those who check this often to be eagerly awaiting the forthcoming graphics.
Also, soon to come, show dates for Star-Spangled Girl.