Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ho
when december rolls around i will invariably be toiling in the land of childrens theater. this year is no exception.
over the past 25 years nary a yule has passed without me performing or directing or writing or producing for the wee little ones (usually all of those duties)
over the years what began as a christmas show has morphed into a "holiday" show. more accurately a "holidays" show. not to put too fine a point on it ,these december shows have become a "whatever the heck holiday that falls somewhere in late fall- early winter that is endorsed by any ethnic or religious group no matter how big or small, will be celebrated with equal fervor"show
so... these 50 minute long musicals, which more often than not are populated by talking animals and elves ....oops.... little people........damn.......fantasy creations (but no wizards!) have to carry a lot of water. allllllllllll the bases have to be covered.
i did a show a year or so back (directed didn't write) that not only dealt with hanukkah and kwanzaa but at least three different takes on christmas (secular, religious, complete with ethnic variations.)
i love to listen to radio classics on sirius-this month they are playing all christmas episodes from various programs ranging from jack benny to this is the fbi. there are of course dozens of variations of the christmas carol and it's a wonderful life but i am most taken by how many of the stories are flat out religious in nature. flat out, no apologies ,baby jesus christmas.
heck, look at how religious "a charlie brown christmas "is. on a side note how great is that vince guaraldi music? christmas time is here? the ice skating song? beautiful but with a perfect balance of melancholy..
so everybody take a deep breath and realize sometimes it's okay to see a show about santa and his elves and reindeer and whats new at the north pole.maybe next week you all can go see a show about baby jesus. or play with a dreidel and light a candle. or read about the 8 nights of kwanza or...............
over the past 25 years nary a yule has passed without me performing or directing or writing or producing for the wee little ones (usually all of those duties)
over the years what began as a christmas show has morphed into a "holiday" show. more accurately a "holidays" show. not to put too fine a point on it ,these december shows have become a "whatever the heck holiday that falls somewhere in late fall- early winter that is endorsed by any ethnic or religious group no matter how big or small, will be celebrated with equal fervor"show
so... these 50 minute long musicals, which more often than not are populated by talking animals and elves ....oops.... little people........damn.......fantasy creations (but no wizards!) have to carry a lot of water. allllllllllll the bases have to be covered.
i did a show a year or so back (directed didn't write) that not only dealt with hanukkah and kwanzaa but at least three different takes on christmas (secular, religious, complete with ethnic variations.)
i love to listen to radio classics on sirius-this month they are playing all christmas episodes from various programs ranging from jack benny to this is the fbi. there are of course dozens of variations of the christmas carol and it's a wonderful life but i am most taken by how many of the stories are flat out religious in nature. flat out, no apologies ,baby jesus christmas.
heck, look at how religious "a charlie brown christmas "is. on a side note how great is that vince guaraldi music? christmas time is here? the ice skating song? beautiful but with a perfect balance of melancholy..
so everybody take a deep breath and realize sometimes it's okay to see a show about santa and his elves and reindeer and whats new at the north pole.maybe next week you all can go see a show about baby jesus. or play with a dreidel and light a candle. or read about the 8 nights of kwanza or...............
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
caw caw
here's an odd little moment
today i went to do some shopping (at a bookstore if you have to know). I parked my truck and was sitting listening to the end of Tales of the Texas Rangers on radio classics when about 12 crows (magpies) landed on my truck making an unholy racket. they jumped (flew) all over the truck back and forth.
what the....?
I must say i was quite impressed with the fact that i didn't scream like a lil' school girl.small consolation but ,still......
it took a few agonizing moments for me to realize that i had a 20 bag of bird seed in the back of the truck that somehow had developed a small tear.
now here's my question- did the birds smell it? or see it? did they read the package?
mustering my courage (and trying to keep images of suzanne pleshette's fate in "the birds "out of my mind) i climbed out of the truck and gave a few good windmills with my arms ,chasing them off and then took the bag and put it in the cab.
that'll teach 'em.
i'm sure whoever was sitting in their car watching this whole drama had a great anecdote to tell around the dinner table.
today i went to do some shopping (at a bookstore if you have to know). I parked my truck and was sitting listening to the end of Tales of the Texas Rangers on radio classics when about 12 crows (magpies) landed on my truck making an unholy racket. they jumped (flew) all over the truck back and forth.
what the....?
I must say i was quite impressed with the fact that i didn't scream like a lil' school girl.small consolation but ,still......
it took a few agonizing moments for me to realize that i had a 20 bag of bird seed in the back of the truck that somehow had developed a small tear.
now here's my question- did the birds smell it? or see it? did they read the package?
mustering my courage (and trying to keep images of suzanne pleshette's fate in "the birds "out of my mind) i climbed out of the truck and gave a few good windmills with my arms ,chasing them off and then took the bag and put it in the cab.
that'll teach 'em.
i'm sure whoever was sitting in their car watching this whole drama had a great anecdote to tell around the dinner table.
Monday, November 26, 2007
dot
art.
what's the point?
my first answer is -to be able to see the world in a new way, from a different perspective. no matter what type of creative endeavor you hope to be able to see the world, think about it, and then present it to the viewer (audience , whatever) in a way that informs or challenges.
i saw an exhibit of the drawings of george seurat over the weekend (at moma until jan 7. go!) there are one or two of them that are just about the most glorious things i have seen. all of them stunning. they are lush, at times like velvet. the subjects are full of mystery , very rarely do you see faces usually just forms almost as if they are in a fog.
so the drawings are fresh and unique and of course so is his mature painting style. the points, the dots. always searching for a new perspective, looking for his own voice (eye) and finding it twice. and so young- he died at 31!
the discipline and most importantly the curiosity that takes can be used in everything in life.the artist can very effectively demonstrate the value of asking questions and constantly searching for better questions to ask.
in the bubble where i live most people agree about the importance of art and culture- hell most people in my bubble are involved in art and culture. at my recent birthday party (suprise) most everyone there was an artist of one kind or another and/or a teacher.
but bubbles burst
i remember a few years back i was at a school board meeting discussing arts funding and one of the board members angrily threw down her pencil and declared that she was finished discussing this subject- the board should be discussing reading and writing and science not this...
her thought trailed off but, i'm sure we could finish her sentence.
if you need me, i'll be in my bubble
what's the point?
my first answer is -to be able to see the world in a new way, from a different perspective. no matter what type of creative endeavor you hope to be able to see the world, think about it, and then present it to the viewer (audience , whatever) in a way that informs or challenges.
i saw an exhibit of the drawings of george seurat over the weekend (at moma until jan 7. go!) there are one or two of them that are just about the most glorious things i have seen. all of them stunning. they are lush, at times like velvet. the subjects are full of mystery , very rarely do you see faces usually just forms almost as if they are in a fog.
so the drawings are fresh and unique and of course so is his mature painting style. the points, the dots. always searching for a new perspective, looking for his own voice (eye) and finding it twice. and so young- he died at 31!
the discipline and most importantly the curiosity that takes can be used in everything in life.the artist can very effectively demonstrate the value of asking questions and constantly searching for better questions to ask.
in the bubble where i live most people agree about the importance of art and culture- hell most people in my bubble are involved in art and culture. at my recent birthday party (suprise) most everyone there was an artist of one kind or another and/or a teacher.
but bubbles burst
i remember a few years back i was at a school board meeting discussing arts funding and one of the board members angrily threw down her pencil and declared that she was finished discussing this subject- the board should be discussing reading and writing and science not this...
her thought trailed off but, i'm sure we could finish her sentence.
if you need me, i'll be in my bubble
Thursday, November 22, 2007
thanks
how can it possibly be thanksgiving already? wasn't it summer just yesterday? i haven't even put away my summer clothes yet.
of course i haven't put away my winter clothes from last winter either. they're in a pile under the summer clothes.
here's a snapshot of thankfulness (and happiness) sitting around the table at my sisters house eating an extraordinary meal and sharing memories of past meals around the same table.
then all sitting in the living room triptaphaning (tm) and watching a tivo'ed alec baldwin pretending to be tracy morgan's father, mother, self and neighbor and roaring with laughter.
of course i haven't put away my winter clothes from last winter either. they're in a pile under the summer clothes.
here's a snapshot of thankfulness (and happiness) sitting around the table at my sisters house eating an extraordinary meal and sharing memories of past meals around the same table.
then all sitting in the living room triptaphaning (tm) and watching a tivo'ed alec baldwin pretending to be tracy morgan's father, mother, self and neighbor and roaring with laughter.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
hand me the remote
when we were little kids.- early 60's- we had ,like everyone else, a black and white television.
and like most everyone else -at one time or another- the dial was broken , so you had to change channels with a pair of pliers.
my dad was the official changer of channels. when he left for work in the morning he would ask us what channel we wanted to watch. "Channel 2!!!!!"
"are you sure?"
"Yes!channel 2!!!"
"okay"
he would set the channel and go to work. and all day the tv would be on channel 2. which was perfect for exactly an hour. 8 am til 9 am. captain kangaroo. the rest of the day, game shows and soap operas.
so for an hour- the captain! bunny rabbit! dancing bear! mr green jeans!
the rest of the day a couple of whiny pre schoolers. (and of course this was back in the day, so pre school meant no school. school started with kindergarten. pre school was still nursery school and we didn't know anyone who went to nursery school)
why this memory of being held hostage by tv?
this morning as i filled up my gas tank- i was assaulted by the tv that was on top of the pump keeping me up to date on the weather and all things britney.
later in the day at the bookstore (the bookstore for the love of god!) they have installed a tv by the magazines
of course every dr's office now has a tv, the barber, the train platform, where else.
hand me the pliers, i think i can hit the screen from here
and like most everyone else -at one time or another- the dial was broken , so you had to change channels with a pair of pliers.
my dad was the official changer of channels. when he left for work in the morning he would ask us what channel we wanted to watch. "Channel 2!!!!!"
"are you sure?"
"Yes!channel 2!!!"
"okay"
he would set the channel and go to work. and all day the tv would be on channel 2. which was perfect for exactly an hour. 8 am til 9 am. captain kangaroo. the rest of the day, game shows and soap operas.
so for an hour- the captain! bunny rabbit! dancing bear! mr green jeans!
the rest of the day a couple of whiny pre schoolers. (and of course this was back in the day, so pre school meant no school. school started with kindergarten. pre school was still nursery school and we didn't know anyone who went to nursery school)
why this memory of being held hostage by tv?
this morning as i filled up my gas tank- i was assaulted by the tv that was on top of the pump keeping me up to date on the weather and all things britney.
later in the day at the bookstore (the bookstore for the love of god!) they have installed a tv by the magazines
of course every dr's office now has a tv, the barber, the train platform, where else.
hand me the pliers, i think i can hit the screen from here
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
slowly i turn
about 12 years ago i was at the museum of natural history wandering around.
I'm in the indian (oops native american ) room surrounded by totem poles and artifacts and stuff.
the rooms are dark and filled with stuff. stuff that is giving off a very powerful spiritual, spooky vibe.I am just giving myself over to this vibe and any and all thoughts it is planting in my head.
i remember that when i was a kid in the third grade we went on a trip to the museum and as i continue to look at all the stuff i think "this is the same stuff i was looking at 30 years ago. in the same place.
and as those thoughts combined with the sensory overload in that room i was convinced that i was going to turn around and see my third grade self standing across the room looking at me.
these thoughts are surely the sign of an over active imagination- over heated fantasy- or perhaps the first sign of brain fever.
pure fantasy
or is it?
the other night i was indulging the addiction that is you tube
seinfeld on letterman leads to
tommy newsome, ed shauhnessy and doc severinson playing 'here's that rainy day"on letterman
which leads to
lettermans last appearance on the tonight show, which leads to
johnny and bette midler singing "here's that rainy day" on the tonight show which leads to
bette midler in a clam shell on a south sea island beach singing "oklahoma" from 1977.
this is a cultural touchstone for me- I am always referencing that moment. a moment i never thought i would see again
a memory
but I turn around and theres that 30 year old memory in the room next to me
I'm in the indian (oops native american ) room surrounded by totem poles and artifacts and stuff.
the rooms are dark and filled with stuff. stuff that is giving off a very powerful spiritual, spooky vibe.I am just giving myself over to this vibe and any and all thoughts it is planting in my head.
i remember that when i was a kid in the third grade we went on a trip to the museum and as i continue to look at all the stuff i think "this is the same stuff i was looking at 30 years ago. in the same place.
and as those thoughts combined with the sensory overload in that room i was convinced that i was going to turn around and see my third grade self standing across the room looking at me.
these thoughts are surely the sign of an over active imagination- over heated fantasy- or perhaps the first sign of brain fever.
pure fantasy
or is it?
the other night i was indulging the addiction that is you tube
seinfeld on letterman leads to
tommy newsome, ed shauhnessy and doc severinson playing 'here's that rainy day"on letterman
which leads to
lettermans last appearance on the tonight show, which leads to
johnny and bette midler singing "here's that rainy day" on the tonight show which leads to
bette midler in a clam shell on a south sea island beach singing "oklahoma" from 1977.
this is a cultural touchstone for me- I am always referencing that moment. a moment i never thought i would see again
a memory
but I turn around and theres that 30 year old memory in the room next to me
Thursday, November 15, 2007
lookin' back on when i.......
so......stevie
he comes out on stage-accompanied by a beautiful young woman-and talks to the audience for 10 minutes! he hasn't played a note yet.
last year his mother died and at first he felt he needed to retreat, but his mothers spirit tells him to play music.
and he does -for nearly 3 hours.
(oh so the girl on his arm is aisha-'isn't she lovely" and he was late starting because he didn't feel well)
one after another- mostly the 70's classics, superstition, sir duke ,-sunshine of my life, but he went even deeper into the catalog golden lady, ribbon in the sky' another star.
he plays a chord- you smile. he sings- amazing, he plays the harmonica- the crowd roars.
he's funny , playful, passionate, odd, endearing.
"I can't believe that in 2007 we have bullshit like the jena 6"
he stands on the piano bench and sings and then proceeds to jump off!
he leads the audience in many sing a longs, making fun of them if they don't sing up to his standards.
empty seats! lots of them! inexcusable! but of course part of the problem was that when stevie wants to go on tour he wants to go NOW not next year. so not a lot of advance time for promotion.
genius
he comes out on stage-accompanied by a beautiful young woman-and talks to the audience for 10 minutes! he hasn't played a note yet.
last year his mother died and at first he felt he needed to retreat, but his mothers spirit tells him to play music.
and he does -for nearly 3 hours.
(oh so the girl on his arm is aisha-'isn't she lovely" and he was late starting because he didn't feel well)
one after another- mostly the 70's classics, superstition, sir duke ,-sunshine of my life, but he went even deeper into the catalog golden lady, ribbon in the sky' another star.
he plays a chord- you smile. he sings- amazing, he plays the harmonica- the crowd roars.
he's funny , playful, passionate, odd, endearing.
"I can't believe that in 2007 we have bullshit like the jena 6"
he stands on the piano bench and sings and then proceeds to jump off!
he leads the audience in many sing a longs, making fun of them if they don't sing up to his standards.
empty seats! lots of them! inexcusable! but of course part of the problem was that when stevie wants to go on tour he wants to go NOW not next year. so not a lot of advance time for promotion.
genius
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
s,wonder
tomorrow -going to see stevie wonder live. needless to say looking forward to this for quite a while.
we all have lists of people we HAVE to see live. But alas many times we let those opportunities slip by.
how many times did i pass on sinatra, james brown, stones etc?
the past few years I have tried to remedy that. of course as with everything this can lead to excess. I saw dylan three times last year. worth it each time though.
hopefully tomorrow night stevie will be livin in the city more than calling to say I love you.
we all have lists of people we HAVE to see live. But alas many times we let those opportunities slip by.
how many times did i pass on sinatra, james brown, stones etc?
the past few years I have tried to remedy that. of course as with everything this can lead to excess. I saw dylan three times last year. worth it each time though.
hopefully tomorrow night stevie will be livin in the city more than calling to say I love you.
Monday, November 12, 2007
hmmmmmm
hmmmmm- to blog or not. I am a bit torn-once the thing is written is does seem to possess a certain permanance.
and even though there is this cloak of anonymity I am not one to put myself out there, exposed as it were.
I was having a discussion with some chums just the other day and i made the point that i like to appear (in my own mind anyway) invisible. as soon as i become a "regular" some where i have to look for a new place
less/more- as christopher hitchens wrote, as i get older i know less and lees about more and more
and even though there is this cloak of anonymity I am not one to put myself out there, exposed as it were.
I was having a discussion with some chums just the other day and i made the point that i like to appear (in my own mind anyway) invisible. as soon as i become a "regular" some where i have to look for a new place
less/more- as christopher hitchens wrote, as i get older i know less and lees about more and more
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