The Notify

How did I get hooked up with all these cool bands?

2006-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

I'm really not sure, I'm so bad at seeking out new music, it's damned lucky that it seeks me. Or at least the people that play it seem to turn up all around me.

I have not had a chance to see this band yet but I've checked them out online, I love the lyrics and the lead singer is a great chick to hang out with. So, tomorrow night go out and catch Audio Fiction before they leave the country!*

Audio Fiction
Saturday Jan 7th @ 10 PM
Piano's
158 Ludlow, at Stanton St.

If you absolutely cannot make it, check out their place on MySpace, there's new content this week.

*It's OK, they'll be back in a week. But if you know anyone in Ireland tell them to check out AF next week on the Emerald Isle.

TOMORROW NIGHT! LIVE!

2006-01-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

One of those pictured above will be playing a live gig tomorrow. In the interest of leaving a little mystery in our relationship I'll let you guess who. I've been told that the costumes will be optional.

He's a rock star, my friends, with a talent not only for singer-songwriting but also for gathering a stellar band around him. I haven't heard this particular configuration of musicians yet but I've been hearing about their awesomitude for about a year now. The anticipation is killing me!

He's playing at Freddy's bar in Brooklyn and you know how much I love Brooklyn and dive bars. If Freddy's were like 12 blocks closer to my house it'd be the perfect bar. Eh, but perfection is boring so I'm going to suck it up, wear a warm hat and walk over there tomorrow night to hear the music at 9:30. The beer is cheap, the music is great and the company can't be beat, I promise you.

Alex Sniderman & Eureka!
Freddy's Bar
Dean Street & 6th Avenue
BROOKLYN
9:30pm
Friday January 6, 2006 (It's epiphany, people!)

P.S. I must admit that I pirated the picture from here.

Santa Takes Holiday

2005-12-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

I regret to inform you that Santa Jay is taking a break this year.

As I am sure I have told you before I am no fan of the period between Halloween and my birthday known as "THE HOLIDAYS". One of the few things I looked forward to, though, is going to see Santa Jay. I love me some live voices singing the classics, and the classically twisted. So I'm disappointed that we won't be seeing any of that this year but I understand that even Santa needs time off once in a while.

Watch this space for an announcement about next year's show, I want to get a big crowd together for it.

In the mean time you can get the recorded version of the greatest hits of the holiday to give as a gift or to give your own party a little lift. The whole CD is great but I am particularly fond of The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen. It's the right combination of classic and insubordinate. If you're having a New Year's party check out the piano bar CD, it would make a delightful and classy addition to any gathering that involves champagne.

Give Santa Jay some love, people, I want him to come back next year.

A party you can actually enjoy

2005-12-08T03:49:00.000-08:00

Now I know that you've got an office party and a family party and your girlfriend's agent's client party and you have to stand in line to see Santa so your niece can have a new Furby. And I know that you think that the last thing you want to do is to go to another party.

You're wrong.

I've got a party at which you can actually enjoy yourself.

After 15 years at 750 Eighth Avenue The New Perspectives Theatre is moving! (The owners are tearing the building down! They're probably going to make condos, 'cause that's what we need, more high priced housing.) Most people, even us wacky theatre folk, don't add throwing a party to the list of things we need to do on moving day. However the NPT folks are all about enjoying the ride, so they are throwing a gala benefit to celebrate this new phase of their development.

They're even having a tag sale so you could do some Christmas shopping. Whatever you do please give them some support because what we do need is more good, affordable, intelligent theatre.

Go! Have fun! Aunt Hattie won't be there asking you why you aren't wearing a ring yet.

Here's the scoop:

New Perspectives Theatre Company (NPT)
Pelican Studio Theatre
750 8th Avenue, New York, NY
Wednesday, December 14, 6:00pm -
Thursday, December 15, 12:00am
212-730-2030
$50.00 per person

Our home of 15 years at 750 8th Avenue will be demolished after the new year, and we are having a Bon Voyage Benefit Bash!

**Join our special guests, including Senator Tom Duane, Austin Pendleton, Actor and Playwright; Virginia Louloudes, Executive Director ART/NY; Stephanie Berry, OBIE-Award Winner and founder of Blackberry Productions; Bob Ost, President and Founder of TRU; Stephanie Barton-Farcas, Founder and Artistic Director of Nicu's Spoon; Deirdre Hollman, former NPT Literary Manager and now with the Schomberg Center; and many of our long-time companie members and associate artists, to

*pay homage to the Pelican Studio theatre space and NPT's history here
*gather friends, artists and supporters from all the years, past and present
*raise funds to help with the transition to our new home
*and CELEBRATE NPT's exciting future

We'll have food and drink, a silent auction, testimonials and entertainment, tears and laughter, and plenty of party time! We're especially looking forward to hearing many NPT/Pelican Studio anecdotes and will have a "memory book" available for written stories, notes and good wishes.

Tickets: $50 (tax-deductible) Checks made payable to New Perspectives Theatre Company, or charge with PayPal. If you cannot personnally attend, please consider buying a ticket so one of our starving artists can attend! Or make a small donation to help with moving costs.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

6-7: General Schmoozing, Browse Silent Auction Items, Feasting & Quaffing

7-8: Welcome & Introductions, Fun Speeches & Moving Testimonials**

8-8:30: More Browsing & Making Merry

8:30-10: Special Guest Speakers and Performances**

10-Midnight: General Merriment & Reminiscing

For 15 years, our home has provided an affordable and safe haven for hundreds of established and emerging artists, Off-Off Broadway theatre companies, and literally thousands of school children and community members. As we look to the future, we ask for the support of the New York Theatre Community, and our friends, neighbors and audiences. We are looking forward to sharing a toast, a story and maybe a tear or two with all of those who have benefited from this historic space over the years.

Run, Stanley, Run!

2005-11-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of the Official Flat Stanley Project. A lot of my friends have been asked to house Stanley on different legs of his world wide tour but I have never been asked and I'm not afraid to tell you that I get a little envious. Imagine my delight when Media Guy told me that The Notify had inadvertently participated in the project.

Tipped off by a second grade class in Ohio (Or possibly Indiana, I really should have checked that fact before I posted. Sorry class! My apologies!) that Stanley might be attending events in NYC, Media Guy has been scouring the internet with his special photographic enhancement software (as seen on CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, Navy:NCIS, Without a Trace & pretty much every crime busting show since Quincy) to find some evidence to send back to the classroom. It turns out that in last week's Marathon Wrap Up post he found what he was looking for.

I present you with the appropriately enhanced photo:

Congratulations Stanley! We knew you could do it.

Edited to add that the second graders in question are from Indiana. Go Hoosiers!

Hope & Prior planning with a side of minor disappointment

2005-11-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

You can clear your calendar for the afternoon of November 19th, we've had to postpone the reading until January or February.

I was really excited about this and it was helping to keep my spirits lifted as we careen into the holiday season like a tipsy Ice Capades chorine. So, it's a bit like taking the carrot out from in front of the donkey.

On the other hand it's not canceled canceled it's just postponed.

Secondly, the one on one meetings with the actors have gotten me to thinking a bit and I might want to make some more slight revisions. Having more than 2 weeks in which to make said revisions is a good thing.

Thirdly, a cast member has to have oral surgery so, you know, I'm thinking having all three actors not be in chronic pain is going to be nothing but good for the overall value of the production.

So, disappointing, of course, but the right thing to do.

Watch this space for updates on our progress.

Marathon report

2005-11-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

It would be very easy for this entry to become a whiny sort of a rant about how I need a new camera. No amount of whining will win you over, though, because if I had a better camera there'd be even more pictures and you'd be clicking over to something else so fast you might crash your computer. Let me sum up with, if I had a camera that actually took the picture when you pressed the button even these few pictures would be way better and I would have gotten shots of the guy dressed as Magnum PI, the breast cancer survivor, the guy dressed as Wonder Woman, the guy with the shirt that explained that he ran the DC marathon last week, a close up of the front running women....well, you get the picture. Er, idea.

I think these people are crazy to run a marathon. I think the whole idea of it is nuts and pretty gross and every year when I see them it makes me choke up. I defy you not to get a tear in your eye when you see a guy with "Team Daddy" on his shirt or the senior citizen with a photo tee on that proclaimed "Go Grampa Budy" or, you know, that woman in the Breast Cancer research tee with "SURVIVOR" emblazoned across the top.

Anyway, I love watching the marathon and here's what I saw this year.

I see this guy every year. He's turkish and his companion (with the beard) does a great job berating the crowd into making enough noise for his liking.

The frontrunning women. I have no idea who won either gender's race in the professional categories.

Frontrunning men.

Here's a new one on me. I believe he was running to promote "men's cancers". Yes, that's what he's dressed as. Yes, really.

There are always at least 2 rhinos. This year there were three. This was the first year that I saw why they run as rhinos. They're running for a web site that helps save rhinos from extinction.

There's a lot of action in the bleachers, too. This guy was waiting for a friend who was running in the race and his wife had taken the squirmy toddler home so he had to hold the sign, tilt the bottle and keep an eye out all at once. Multi-tasking Brooklyn style.

There were a lot of kilts this year. Not sure what that's about but I liked it.

These women, or at least members of this same group, run every year. I believe they're from Britain, I assume they are promoting breast cancer awareness. Also, one of these people is not a woman, but they are all wearing very cool spangly bras.

And now something about me, Me, ME!

2005-11-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

I have written a play.

Like the Moon is a historical one act about the family of Playwright, Anton Chekhov. Chekhov was chronically ill for much of his life and was cared for by his sister, Masha. His illness also kept him from living in Moscow where his wife, Olga Knipper, was a member of the Moscow Art Theatre. In this play I explore the heightened emotion that grips the trio as Chekhov's disease begins to take him over.

Wow, that was so stilted and icky. I wrote this play it's about that famous Russian playwright dude and his wife and his sister. He had to live most of his life in Yalta and his wife worked in the theatre in Moscow so they spent most of their courting and married life a 2 day journey from each other. (Some might say the perfect way to spend one's courting and married life.) It also made for some serious tension since Chekhov's sister ran his house in Yalta and spent more time with him that Knipper.

Better.

This summer Like the Moon was given a reading in the theatre portion of the Marblehead Festival of Arts. It was a wonderful blessing and spurred me to revise the play and find some ways to have it performed again. Interest has been shown from a number of venues in the US and Canada so I've decided to up the ante a little with a New York reading.

The reading is free and we will be serving vodka and cookies. I want to have as many people as possible hear the play and give me feedback for some final revisions before I begin work on a full production and publication.

Saturday, November 19, 2005
3:00pm
New Perspectives Theatre
750 Eighth Avenue
Suite 601

We'll be in the studio.

Who is this we of which I speak?

I have been blessed again with my 3 first choice actors for this reading.

In alphabetical order:

Paul Daily as Anton Chekhov
Julie Flanders as Olga Knipper
Libby Hughes as Maria Chekhov

It's at this point that I feel I should have asked them all for bios. Oops. (Guys, if you have bios, please send them and I'll update the post.) Suffice to say they are actors of high standing in the community, coming from diverse backgrounds and training and whether you like the play or not you will be compelled by the performers.

For more information or to RSVP e-mail me at kbrob (at) juno (dot) com. Now, you don't have to RSVP but it'd sure make me feel better to know that people were really coming.

Something else scary

2005-11-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

I know that Halloween is over but here in New York City that's only the beginning of the scary things. I mean, really, have you ever seen the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular?

This coming Sunday, November 6, 2005 an enormous number of truly insane people will run 26.2 miles (in a row!) as fast as they can.

I do honestly think they're insane and yet I love to watch them do it. It's like that movie, what is it, Cosi? The one where a group of asylum inmates put on Cosi Fan Tutte. You're gonna go, you have to go, but you aren't exactly going for the music.

So, I don't really watch to see the winners or anything, although I do find that interesting. I watch to see all the runners and for that you have to watch it live. If you ever have an opportunity to watch this marathon in particular live you should jump at it. I'm told, by people who follow this much more closely than I, that the act of spectating the event, and therefore the act of running in it, are different here than anywhere else. I'm guessing you don't get a whole lot of cheering as you run through the wilds of Alaska. I watched the women's marathon in the last summer Olympics (not live, obviously) and by my crude estimation there weren't as many spectators on the whole route as there are in a mile of the NYC marathon.

Despite living in NYC if I hadn't lived close to the runners' route I bet I still wouldn't have seen it. However, one time, not realizing it was marathon weekend, I walked from one side of 4th Avenue in Brooklyn to the other and found that I couldn't get back to my home side for over an hour due to the throngs of people chugging along. It's like a tide! It's unbelievable.

A short time later, and totally coincidentally, I moved to an apartment that overlooked the route at about mile 8. I'd heard it was amazing to see but I had no idea. The first year I was home during the marathon I stayed in my jammies and planned to sit in my window and watch. The crowd below was so compelling I had to go down to the street level. My normally taciturn neighbors were down there bouncing up and down and yelling and screaming and clapping encouragement. The guy two doors up has a party every year that includes a DJ and a sound system. The DJ plays inspiring music and gives commentary on the runners he knows as they pass. He also will lead the crowd when he thinks their audible support is waning, pumping everyone up. Did I mention that the goes on for like 2 hours?

A word about the runners. Diverse.

OK, but seriously, you have people of all ages, all races and I'm sure all religions. Well, OK maybe not all but 9 out of 10 religions surveyed, I'm certain. There are at least 2 guys every year dressed in full on Rhino costumes, and while they aren't in the front of the pack they're not in the back either. 26.2 miles in a huge Rhino head and carapace. 'Cause 26.2 miles in the skin the good lord gave you isn't enough.

However, you're not here for a play by play of every weird, cool costume and outfit I've seen (women in fuzzy bras, 90 year old man in a turban), you're here to hear what to do.

Come watch the marathon live.

I, personally, recommend calling me and coming to my neighborhood and watching with me for maximum enjoyment. (Technically for maximum enjoyment you should watch with Marky B who, it turns out, knows how to yell encouragement in 13 different languages and rotates them based on the flags being displayed by the runners.) I promise we don't have to stand on the corner by the high school band that plays the theme from Rocky on endless loop this year. But, if you don't want to go that far then I've got some tools for you to find your own spectating spot.

Check out the ING New York City Marathon site. There's a timing chart and a map of the route so you can calculate what time the runners will be hitting your preferred viewing location. Be prepared to cheer a lot and take some pictures and maybe, just maybe, if you're a big old cotton commercial wussy like me, to shed a tear at the triumph of human crazy over the part of one's brain that knows that after a few miles the lactic acid starts actually eating your own body for fuel.

SAVE THE DATE! I mean it, too!

2005-11-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2005
3pm
Location to be announced

3 marvelous actors will be reading my new play, Like the Moon. The reading is free and we plan to ply you with vodka and cookies.

Please join me and give feedback and generally enjoy yourself.

Cast:
Paul Daily as Anton Chekhov
Julie Flanders as Olga Knipper
Libby Hughes as Maria Chekhov

More info as it becomes available.

I do this every year

2005-10-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

One final thing for the Halloween weekend. This is one I've been lucky enough to participate in for probably close to a decade.

The Halloween Haunted Walk at the New York Botanical Gardens!

It's billed as a treat for the kids, and they do love it, but as far as I'm concerned it's fun for all ages.

Again, the puppets and costumes are by Ralph Lee and his company. (Love him! Have you gotten that yet?) The Botanical Garden event staff work with him to find a path through their grounds with places to stop, places to hide, and pretty walkways. Lee then sprinkles the path with performers. Some are groups, (devils, spirit birds, tap dancing skeletons), some are single performers and there are some things hidden in the bushes so don't get too comfortable.

I am part of the skeleton group and we are always a big hit with the crowd. I believe last year we were the first stop on the trip. We still have to have a volunteer who helps to move the crowd along so there isn't a bottle neck. We have a live accordian player and tap shoes and cool songs and I'd totally show you a picture but I don't have one so you'll just be forced to come see it! Give me a wave, I'll be able to tell it's you even if you can't tell it's me.

Details:

Halloween on Haunted Walk
October 30, 2005 • 2 to 4 p.m.
In the Benenson Ornamental Conifers (sounds dirty!)
Fee: $2 per person plus grounds admission (total of $8 for adults, $3 for children); includes participation in Halloween on Haunted Walk and admission to the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. (Fee is included in the Combination Ticket.)

Find directions here.

Puppies in drag

2005-10-26T03:56:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time a princess came from her mysterious homeland of Tennessee to settle in the wild lands of Brooklyn. She came with many talents, she could talk with the animals whether they walk on 2 legs or 4, she could create garments that sparkle and shine for people who sang with a twang and her laugh was mesmerizing. After she had been in Brooklyn for a time she decided that the people of her little clearing should band together for safety and to improve each other's lot. But how to convince them to trust each other and spend time in each other's company with civil talk and coffee?

Finally she hit up on it!

The princess is Kath and the Great Pupkin is a little event that she thought would be fun to do to bring awareness to the Fort Greene Park Users and Pet owners Society (PUPS). The first year it was a fun little gathering with the "regulars" from Fort Greene Park. This year is the 7th Annual Great Pupkin and a conservative estimate suspects we'll have 60 entrants and may even have to turn people away. (We hate turning people away.)

What I think is great about this (along with that whole sense of community, meeting your neighbors, doing it for the kids blah blah, suburban, whatever, I know I should be better at this) is that people are incredibly imaginative. Yes, it's easy to get incensed when the costume you think is perfect doesn't win but it's also easy to understand because the choices are so varied. A Jack Russell as Seabiscuit and a Newfoundland as Richard Simmons. One of the greatest and yet most unassuming costumes of all time was the calmest Boston Terrier I've ever seen...dressed as a bat.

Yes, it's getting to be a bit of a mob scene but even if you just wander through the crowd for a bit and see the dogs you'll get the flavor of it. If you happen to wander by a PUPS donation jar then consider offering something because the princess puts a lot of that money toward the poop bag dispensers which keep the park clean and fresh!

Details:

Join PUPS Saturday, October 29, 12:00-1:00 for the
7th Annual Great PUPkin Halloween Dog Costume Contest.

Registration will begin at 11:30, follow the signs at park entrances for the registration location. (HEY! THAT'S ME! I'M DOING THE SIGNS! Crap, I have to go buy posterboard quick!) Suggested donation is $3.00 per dog; $5.00 for two dogs.

PUPS welcomes this year's Guest Celebrity Judge, WNBC-TV's Jane Hanson, host of "Jane's New York." Joining her on the judges' panel will be the Fort Greene Association's Phillip Kellogg and 35th Council District Councilmember Letitia James.

Generously donated prizes include dinner for two at Olea, a day of dog playcare from Kiki's Pet Hotel, goodie bags for all entrants from Walker Pet Shop, a surprise gift from Pintchik Hardware, and a gift certificate from The Greene Grape.) Certified Dog Trainer Dawn Prentiss from Semper Fido will be on hand to offer training tips.
So get your costumes ready, and mark your calendar for Saturday, October 29.

Rain date will be Sunday, October 30, same time.

All Souls to All Saints

2005-10-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

There's this cool thing that I've never attended but have participated in that I think you'd like. I mean, who wouldn't?

The Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of Ghouls at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Every year the cathedral shows a classic silent film complete with organ music accompaniment. After the movie there's smoke and a procession of ghouls created by Ralph Lee and embodied by a few of his many followers. The cathedral is mostly lit by candles and the music is amazing and no matter your age you'll be some combination of fascinated and scared out of your seat by the procession.

This year's movie is Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera.

I can't tell you whether I'll be performing yet. I haven't asked if I can. If so I'll probably do the late show since I'm a relative newbie.

The cool New York serendipity story is that when I was a kid Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Theatre Company came to Prescott Park every year and my dad loved them so we always went and saw what they were doing. I followed their short parades, I watched them build masks, I moved around to every seat in the audience for their shows. It was like some sort of magician came down from a mountain to grant my community an audience once a year. Years later I come to New York, I start working with my mentor and at one point she introduces me to a fellow dancer and teacher. That fellow turns out to be Lee's daughter. It was like meeting royalty! And thanks to her I know about this event and I've even dressed in the man's costumes!

You can't get a much better endorsement than that, can you?

Here's the scoop:

Halloween Extravaganza & Procession of Ghouls
Fri. Oct. 28 at 7 PM & 10 PM

Featuring the 1928 classic horror silent film Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney, this is one of the Cathedral's unique and popular events, an evening of thrills and chills. The film is followed by the frightful pageantry of The Grand Procession of the Ghouls. Staged by Ralph Lee, the Obie Award-winning creator of New York City's Halloween Parade, the Procession is a theatrical tapestry of fabulous puppets, creatures and special effects. A memorable Halloween experience for young and old. Tickets: $15; students and seniors $8.

They murdered Marlowe

2005-10-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

But in a good way.

The bottom line is: Go see this show. It's an intelligent, entertaining piece with high production values executed by a talented theatre company.

(Caralyn Kozlowski as Emilia and Cedric Hayman as William Shakespeare in "Murdering Marlowe" by Charles Marowitz. Directed by Jason King Jones. Onstage at the Access Theatre from October 11-23, 2005. For tickets, visit www.SmartTix.com or call 212-868-4444. Photo: Brian J. Ruggaber.)

Now, that said, nobody's perfect, right?

What's known, historically, is that Christopher "Kit" Marlowe died in a pub of a knife wound to the eye. The framework this play uses to explain these bare facts is some governmental machinations that take advantage of an weak and insecure fellow artist.

William Shakespeare is portrayed in this work as a great admirer of his good friend Marlowe but who, as an artist, believes that talent and fame are finite in the world and that when one person excels others will feel the lack. To present this man in a small, 4th floor walk-up theatre a couple of blocks below Canal is, well let's say thought provoking for those of us struggling to win a piece of that pie.

Caralyn Kozlowski's Emilia is a shining light in this production. Her performance is well rounded and nicely nuanced with a good sense of both the comedy and the true feeling of her part. Full disclosure, it was a friend of Ms. Kozlowski's who turned me on to this play but I couldn't paint the picture more honestly.

She is closely followed by Tim McGeever as Philip Henslow and Glenn Peters as Marlowe. They each have an ease of manner and command of the diction and flow of the piece that carries you along with them into a world edgily close to our current one. There are varied sexual exploits, judicial interrogation, government intrigue, all that with which we are now achingly familiar.

Jason King Jones's direction focuses rightly on the relationships in the piece which are the meat of the story. A tryst between Marlowe and Emilia is deliciously sweet, exploring the pull of desire and the tart quality of the extramarital affair. Marlowe's seduction of a young orphan, played hysterically by Jeremy Beazlie, is both sexually appealing and somewhat disturbing as Marlowe delights in the discomfort of the younger man. Jones also has a lovely feel for transitions which is unfortunately hampered by the necessities of set and prop movement.

I do have some questions. With the exception of Ms. Kozlowski, the dialects are spotty at best. I wonder if it might not have been fine to have left well enough alone with neutral American accents to keep the distraction to a minimum.

The costumes by Maggie Dick were interesting as well. Marlowe's Superman t-shirt is a nice joke that works beautifully with the play. I also enjoyed the belted Elizabethan-style half-skirts that the women wore over pants and corset tops. However, there was no answering nod to the period in the men's clothing, creating an unfinished feeling to the concept.

Mr. Marowitz's writing is long on emotion, has a solid dose of comedy and gives each character plenty to chew on. He tacks on a loose-end-tying final scene that a thinking audience (which In Actu seemed to have in spades) could probably have done without. Once Marlowe has passed on we might have been better left to our own devices. The insecure, vindictive, unimaginative man Marowitz paints as Shakespeare is certainly potentially valid and an interesting way to look at it. It's not how I, personally, want to remember the playwright, but I can see how it might have been true.

In the final analysis, though, the questions and bobbles are few and far between. The East Coast premiere of Murdering Marlowe is a credit to all involved and you'd do well to catch it while you can - they close on Sunday. Everyone involved has stellar credits behind them and it's a treat to see them up close. I'm sure you'll be seeing them all again.

In Actu Theatre
presents the East Coast Premiere of

Murdering Marlowe

written by Charles Marowitz
directed by Jason King Jones

(Glenn Peters as Christopher Marlowe and Cedric Hayman as William Shakespeare in "Murdering Marlowe" by Charles Marowitz. Directed by Jason King Jones. Onstage at the Access Theatre from October 11-23, 2005. For tickets, visit www.SmartTix.com or call 212-868-4444. Photo: Brian J. Ruggaber.)

with

Cedric Hayman
Patrick Hallahan
Tim McGeever
Mandy Olsen
Caralyn Kozlowski
Glenn Peters
Bryan Cogman
Jeremy Beazlie
Nicholas Coleman

The Access Theatre
380 Broadway, 4th Floor
2 blocks South of Canal Street

Saturday, October 22, 2005 8:00pm
Sunday, October 23, 2005 3:00pm

Tickets $15

for more information visit their web site.

Pre-review

2005-10-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to have some pictures for this but sadly no. A new play, Murdering Marlowe, has been brought to my attention by the mystical Julie. I am going to see it tonight. When she urged me to see it I took a look around the web site and the cast seems truly stellar and the premise interesting. I mean, you know that anything Shakespeare related is a good idea in my book (well...almost, remind me to tell you later about the production of Winter's Tale I saw last night, it will require a video of my impression to do it justice but...). So, Murdering Marlowe, people, go see it! And hurry, it's tonight at 8, tomorrow at 8 and Sunday at 3 at the Access Theatre (380 Broadway, 2 blocks below Canal, 5 floor walk up - it's a play and a work out all in one, fabulous!)

Once I've seen it I will update this entry with more info (and maybe pictures!). In the mean time please, please see if you can squeeze in a little support of new theatre in New York.

NOLA helps you back

2005-10-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

I'm getting better, I'm a few days ahead of this one.

I do this thing...uh...I never know how to describe it, some people call it a networking group, some call it coaching, I tend to go with a career counseling group. It's different than anything else I know of in any of those veins, though.

Penelope Brackett is a Life Coach (Eyes front private, I know that phrase makes you uncomfortable but she's not like that! No, for real, she's not. She is a fan of practical action and forward motion starting with your skills and desires and moving toward those lofty aspirations you keep hiding under the bed.)

Twice a year (or maybe thrice, I can't remember) she has a big networking brunch. (Hey! It's just a word! It doesn't mean what you think it means. I'd paraphrase you her fabulous net of people catching you when you stumble speech but I can't do it justice. And that is why you have to come to this brunch. I'm pretty sure she'll do the net speech.) This half year's brunch is this coming Saturday (details at the bottom of this missive).

However, this time it's personal! Well, even more personal than usual. PB is from New Orleans and has developed a fabulous initiative called Party it Forward, to help with the reconstruction along the Gulf Coast. Saturday's brunch proceeds will go to helping that effort.

What to expect? Well, I think there are instructions here. But I'll tell you how it goes. The first hour or so is mingling and chatting and meeting people. As a special treat this time there will be music from NOLA and PB is faxing New Orleans cuisine recipes to the restaurant so the food will be fun, too. Then everyone sits down and we go around the room and briefly (2 minute limit, you will be timed...but kindly) let everyone know who you are, what you do, you offer one gift and make one request. The gift can be offering to help organize people's closets or fix their resumes or find the silver lining in whatever cloud they bring you. The request can be for names of schools to sell your show to or names of agents for your playwrighting or a lead on a free rehearsal space (Look how I identified 3 requests just for me, me me!)

Not only does this always (seriously always) get you at least one thing that you've been looking for, it also gives you openings for talking to and meeting new people because they have just told you their interests. Brilliant!

So come do yourself good all for the good of the Gulf Coast. No, please come, sit by me. That whole first hour where I don't know anyone actually makes me want to puke with fear so it'd be really nice to have some company (Not puking company, company for...well, you know what I mean, company.)

The Creative Seed and Party it Forward invite you to:
Share the Wealth New Orleans Networking Brunch & Benefit

Saturday, October 22, 2005 12:30pm
1050 Restaurant, NYC
10th Avenue & 50th Street

All proceeds go to Hurricanes Katrina & Rita relief
(Habitat for Humanity & Save Our South)

Oh and by the way...

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If you'd like me to post word of anything here please feel free to let me know and I'll do my best.

Gifts of October

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I'm so late with this! Ack! Guess I have some habits to get into regarding timliness of event notification.

Anyway, there's something cool happening tonight and tomorrow. It's one of October Project's loft concerts. I went to my first one this spring and the only thing I could think of to describe it is that it's like Disney World for the Sex and the City set. It's so far beyond my regular sphere that I'm shocked and amazed that I get to go to another one tonight. (Thank you Julie!)

You go to the web site (or you beg your very hip friend who is part of the group) and you order a ticket ($50) and they e-mail you the address (because it's at someone's home so, you know, posting the address on the internet could be dangerous) and then you go. You get checked off the list at the door which is SMACK! in the middle of Soho then you take the teeny elevator to their floor and this apartment? It's the sort of apartment that you see on TV, it's like Friends big. I'm here to tell you that the reality of New York real estate is that a combo office number cruncher and rarely working D list actor or a combo coffee shop waitress and oft out of work chef are sharing studio apartments not two bedrooms with HUGE living rooms.

Anyway, the loft concert loft is out of a dream world. You come in, take off your shoes, have some munchies, get a glass of wine and mingle with the crowd.

A word about the crowd. Diverse.

And long about 7:45 the magician, Ben Robinson, comes on. You heard me. I wanted to talk to him after the last concert but I got freaked out and didn't. So maybe tonight I'll meet him.

After he cuts his arm into 3 pieces (and, incidentally, re-assembles it) there's a break and then the opening act. Tonight it's Richard Barone and tomorrow it's Francine Wheeler. I don't know anything about them but I'm confident that Julie and Emil and Marina wouldn't ask someone who sucked to join them.

Then another short break and then there's October Project. For me it's the lyrics that are so important. But that's just me, you can't discount the way that Emil's music supports and expands what I find in Julie's words ("in the verses and reverses of my heart"). Marina and Julie's clear voices blend in a way that, really, only friends can do. Eh, I can't do it justice, go to the concert.

If you can't make it to the concert this time I think they'll do another weekend in the spring and in the mean time you can buy a disc. I recommend Different Eyes.

Here's the scoop:

First Live at the Loft Concert of the Fall
An Unplugged Event in Soho
with Richard Barone and Ben Robinson

Friday, October 14, 2005
8:00 pm
Private Soho Loft
New York, New York

Join us for the return of our much talked-about Live at the Loft concerts in Soho. Illusion genius Ben Robinson will open the show, and we are proud to announce a rare, special guest appearance from a performer described by New York's Village Voice as "Prince of New York, pop icon," Richard Barone. Richard's shimmering montage of words and music explores love's victories and defeats. His beautiful, spine-tingling voice opens the heart and stirs the soul. Having produced Tiny Tim at the tender age of 16, he fronted the Bongos in the 80s, pioneered chamber pop in the 90s, and is currently completing a new album and book of memoirs. DO NOT MISS HIM!

Beverages and a selection of hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Seating is VERY limited. Be sure to reserve early. Reservations secured by Advance Purchase Only. Concert location and other details will be sent via email upon confirmation of your paid reservation.

For more information:
Contact: info@octoberproject

Tomorrow Night!

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My good friend Carolann's band, Red Molly, is playing in NYC tomorrow night. They hardly ever play here (although, they'll also play up at Postcrypt on the 22nd). Please come out to see them at a new venue. Join me in encouraging them to play closer to home more often.

Tuesday, October 11th, 2005 7:30 PM
Satalla
"Under The Radar" Series
37 West 26th Street
New York, NY
212.576.1155
www.satalla.com
Price: $10
Our first time at this swanky NYC club. Sharing the night with two talented ladies (April Verch and Kathleen Pemble). John Platt, DJ at WFUV and great guy, is the host.