Thursday, April 7, 2011
One week till [title of show]!
Friday, March 25, 2011
[title of show] f'in rocks!
I'm having so much fun with this show it ought to be illegal. Seriously. Though I'm in Photoshop hell still, and have added to that the severe migraine of learning something significant about websites and their proper design, I'm still having a kick ass time with the cast and directorial staff. It helps that Ryan (the director) and I seem to be thinking with the same brain. This frightens me and intrigues me all at once. Anyway, more to come. Just wanted to squee about the show a bit.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A random article!!
It is really nice when a local article shows up about us without us having to prompt it to happen. That very thing happened with Metro Magazine. Go CHECK IT OUT!!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
I'm a big girl and I deserve big girl things...
... like Photoshop?
Good grief, I am six degrees of confused with photoshop. Now of course I am brand new to it, and we have things to do. You know, emails, flyers, ads, and so on. And so I'm learning as I go.
There's a lot to be impressed with, I must say. Like last night, when I found a magical button that will erase the entire background of your image with one click. That's really hot, I thought to myself, and started looking for pictures to do that with. Who needs backgrounds, anyway? I can see that photoshop is powerful; so mighty in fact that it is a verb.
But the terrible awesomeness of it, the sheer size and magnitude of the thing, is a bit overwhelming. Kind of like standing in the cockpit of a plane, looking at all the dials and knobs and levers. In the right hands, you can fly a plane. In the wrong hands, well... you get the point. Let us hope that the introduction of photoshop into my life will prove to be a step forward, rather than a sure sign of the apocalypse.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Does something look different?
Yup, you're in the right place. I'm now the webmaster, and there are gonna be some changes around here. In other words, this is going to be black until I figure out how to do something else. Why the change, you ask? Well, because change is good for you. And it's inevitable. So get comfortable, got it?
Actually we've been discussing changing the look of the website for some time now. The original design is endearing and wonderful, but it was time for something different, something a little more mature, something with a bigger viewing window... you get the idea.
And so, somehow, I got tapped to make this change. I have NO idea how that happened. And being the non-technical artistic type that I am, I did the only thing I could do when faced with HTML. That's right. I ran the 0ther way. Right into the arms of iweb.
Yup, mac saves the day. I can throw things around like I know what I'm doing, and generally it works. We discovered that I got a little overexcited about all the bells and whistles and made the site a little dense for most browsers (*cough*internet explorer*cough*) So I simplified things for now. And like most classy events, we're going black. Black tie, little black dress, you can't go wrong. And so it is. I reserve the right to change it whenever and however I feel like it, because I do what I want and I am drunk with power.
So visit the site, why dontcha, and bask in the glory of a not-at-all-computer-savvy girl who did a thing that got published to the interwebs. And someday I may figure out how to do other things. If I want.
Actually we've been discussing changing the look of the website for some time now. The original design is endearing and wonderful, but it was time for something different, something a little more mature, something with a bigger viewing window... you get the idea.
And so, somehow, I got tapped to make this change. I have NO idea how that happened. And being the non-technical artistic type that I am, I did the only thing I could do when faced with HTML. That's right. I ran the 0ther way. Right into the arms of iweb.
Yup, mac saves the day. I can throw things around like I know what I'm doing, and generally it works. We discovered that I got a little overexcited about all the bells and whistles and made the site a little dense for most browsers (*cough*internet explorer*cough*) So I simplified things for now. And like most classy events, we're going black. Black tie, little black dress, you can't go wrong. And so it is. I reserve the right to change it whenever and however I feel like it, because I do what I want and I am drunk with power.
So visit the site, why dontcha, and bask in the glory of a not-at-all-computer-savvy girl who did a thing that got published to the interwebs. And someday I may figure out how to do other things. If I want.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Gearing up for a new year/season
There is so much promise coming up for next year. We are just coming off a tremendous production of "A Few Good Men" (voted one of the top ten productions of 2010 by Lavender magazine) and we have a phenominal season planned for 2011. I feel like this could be a huge year for USP!! We've put together a very talented cast for "Leave" which opens in February. We are doing some amazing things with it as far as staging. We are doing it in the round! With the audience on stage with the performers!!
I hope everyone out there can get as excited about this season as we all are. Have a safe and happy New Year!!
I hope everyone out there can get as excited about this season as we all are. Have a safe and happy New Year!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Audition Jitters
Despite feeling really excited about the upcoming auditions for my play, "Leave," with Urban Samurai Productions, apparently my unconscious can't help tweaking me. I woke up on Saturday morning and it took me a couple of minutes to realize, "Oh, none of that actually happened. The auditions haven't taken place yet. Everything's fine. That was a dream."
I don't normally remember my dreams, or that I've even been dreaming, so it takes something major to break through and screw with my head. This production's major, so it certainly qualifies. And the dream was more a personal sort of "Wow, I'm doing everything wrong and missing the auditions for my play" kind of thing, rather than the auditions themselves going badly. It was just all a bit surreal, and I was getting sidetracked, and felt like I was letting the production down somehow. (A subset of directors probably wouldn't mind if the playwright was missing in action. Thankfully, Artistic Director Matt Greseth would actually miss his playwright. He loves new work, has great storytelling instincts, and enjoys working with writers to develop scripts. I'm a lucky playwright.)
And I've been pounding the electronic pavement to get the word out. Of course, a lot of good actors are already committed to other shows. A bunch more actors I know are Equity and this is a non-union house at present. Then you've got the subject matter. Gays in the military in this case means gays pairing up, which means physical intimacy, and some partial nudity. That's a tough sell for some actors, gay or straight, and I completely understand that. So we have to find four actors playing in the age range of late teens to early thirties (depending on how the pairings shake out) who are willing to go there. Otherwise the play doesn't work. Toss on the pile the fact that three of them have to look convincing as military or ex-military - one Army, two Marines - and we've got another degree of difficulty. Plus, the one female role is the mother of one of those Marines, so we have to get another sort of pairing to look like it makes sense.
It was almost weirder to put the word out to my actress friends. Because, in my head, my compatriots and I are all still in our mid to late 20s. Logically, and chronologically, I know that isn't true. But the way you feel internally isn't always what's reflected back to you in the mirror over the bathroom sink in the morning. Let's face it, if I sired a kid at the age of 25, that child and I would now be able to legally sit down and have a beer together in a bar. Yikes. Time marches on. Even so, I still felt strange asking, as if it was more insulting to ask an actress friend of mine to audition for the part of someone's mother than it was to ask a guy to take a role where he'd have to kiss another dude onstage. (Not that there's anything wrong with any of that. It's just the way my brain was throwing stuff back at me.)
So, in addition to continuing to work on the rewrites, I figured I'd throw another blog entry out there. After all, no human being can see all the theater in this town. There's always a new theater company I'm being introduced to for the first time. New actors, young and old, appear on the scene with delightful and dizzying frequency. If anyone in or out of my network hasn't seen the post on Callboard or MinnesotaPlaylist, well, maybe they'll trip across the blog instead.
Here's where I'll be next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Perhaps I'll be seeing you there, dreams to the contrary notwithstanding.
Here's the synopsis...
Leave
Seth is a young Marine serving during wartime. Nicholas is his civilian husband who waits back home. In addition to the strain on their relationship caused by distance and absence, they must hide their love for one another behind code words and secret identities because of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the United States military.
Seth’s mother Anne assists them by providing the cover of a woman’s handwriting for Nicholas’ daily letters, but Nicholas and Seth’s resolve is starting to weaken.
Jonas, another young gay Marine in Seth’s unit just coming to terms with his identity, forms an intense bond with Seth overseas.
Tyson, a former Army soldier who got fed up with “don’t ask, don’t tell” and didn’t reenlist, now works alongside Nicholas, providing temptation as well as a reality check.
When Seth returns home for an unexpected leave, with Jonas at his side, and post-traumatic stress following him from the battlefield, old relationships are tested, and new ones bloom. In the end, the realities of war call on one man to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Audition Information
Urban Samurai Productions (USP) invites you to audition for its upcoming production
Leave
Written by Matthew A. Everett
Directed by Matthew Greseth
Leave is an original script by local playwright Matthew A. Everett regarding the U.S. Military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. The play focuses not only on the difficulties that gay men have serving in the military, but also the effect of the policy on their loved ones back home, who must hide their feelings for fear of accidentally outing their partner. USP will open Season 2011 with a full production of this world premiere of Matthew A. Everett's expanded version of the play, which has been presented as a one-act at previous venues.
Stipend: $200
Performances: February 11-26, 2011
Rehearsals: An initial read-through and script discussion will take place before the end of the year. Regular rehearsals will begin in January 2011 and take place Sunday afternoons/Monday-Thursday evenings at SJCC.
Auditions: Monday, November 8th & Tuesday, November 9th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Callbacks: Thursday, November 11th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm - (please note, this is a change)
(callbacks were originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 10th)
Auditions will consist of readings from the script and actors will be seen in 10-minute intervals.
All roles in this production are OPEN:
Tyson - 20-35 - Took a voluntary discharge from the military because he refused to serve under a policy that made him hide his true self.
Seth - 20-30 - Marine who chooses to hide his homosexuality in order to serve in the military.
Nicholas - 20-30 - Seth's partner
Jonas - 18-25 - Marine in Seth's unit who is trying to come to terms with being gay.
Anne - 35-50 - Seth's mother
All male actors involved in this production must be comfortable with partial nudity and with portraying homosexual intimacy, including kissing.
To make an audition appointment for Leave, please contact Managing Director, Ryan Grimes, at ryan AT urbansamurai DOT org. As USP will be holding auditions for two productions within a week of each other, please clearly state in your email the production for which you are auditioning, the date and time you would prefer to audition, and your gender. Please bring a headshot and resume to your audition(s) and arrive early to complete an informational form. USP encourages all interested actors to audition for this production; there are no race-specific characters in Leave.
Audition, Rehearsal, and Performance Venue:
Sabes Jewish Community Center
(near the intersection of I-394 and MN-100)
4330 Cedar Lake Road
Minneapolis, MN 55416
The use of Mapquest or a similar driving directions application is strongly discouraged. Please visit sabesjcc.org for directions to the SJCC from most areas of the Twin Cities.
For more information about Urban Samurai Productions please visit our website at urbansamurai.org
I don't normally remember my dreams, or that I've even been dreaming, so it takes something major to break through and screw with my head. This production's major, so it certainly qualifies. And the dream was more a personal sort of "Wow, I'm doing everything wrong and missing the auditions for my play" kind of thing, rather than the auditions themselves going badly. It was just all a bit surreal, and I was getting sidetracked, and felt like I was letting the production down somehow. (A subset of directors probably wouldn't mind if the playwright was missing in action. Thankfully, Artistic Director Matt Greseth would actually miss his playwright. He loves new work, has great storytelling instincts, and enjoys working with writers to develop scripts. I'm a lucky playwright.)
And I've been pounding the electronic pavement to get the word out. Of course, a lot of good actors are already committed to other shows. A bunch more actors I know are Equity and this is a non-union house at present. Then you've got the subject matter. Gays in the military in this case means gays pairing up, which means physical intimacy, and some partial nudity. That's a tough sell for some actors, gay or straight, and I completely understand that. So we have to find four actors playing in the age range of late teens to early thirties (depending on how the pairings shake out) who are willing to go there. Otherwise the play doesn't work. Toss on the pile the fact that three of them have to look convincing as military or ex-military - one Army, two Marines - and we've got another degree of difficulty. Plus, the one female role is the mother of one of those Marines, so we have to get another sort of pairing to look like it makes sense.
It was almost weirder to put the word out to my actress friends. Because, in my head, my compatriots and I are all still in our mid to late 20s. Logically, and chronologically, I know that isn't true. But the way you feel internally isn't always what's reflected back to you in the mirror over the bathroom sink in the morning. Let's face it, if I sired a kid at the age of 25, that child and I would now be able to legally sit down and have a beer together in a bar. Yikes. Time marches on. Even so, I still felt strange asking, as if it was more insulting to ask an actress friend of mine to audition for the part of someone's mother than it was to ask a guy to take a role where he'd have to kiss another dude onstage. (Not that there's anything wrong with any of that. It's just the way my brain was throwing stuff back at me.)
So, in addition to continuing to work on the rewrites, I figured I'd throw another blog entry out there. After all, no human being can see all the theater in this town. There's always a new theater company I'm being introduced to for the first time. New actors, young and old, appear on the scene with delightful and dizzying frequency. If anyone in or out of my network hasn't seen the post on Callboard or MinnesotaPlaylist, well, maybe they'll trip across the blog instead.
Here's where I'll be next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Perhaps I'll be seeing you there, dreams to the contrary notwithstanding.
Here's the synopsis...
Leave
Seth is a young Marine serving during wartime. Nicholas is his civilian husband who waits back home. In addition to the strain on their relationship caused by distance and absence, they must hide their love for one another behind code words and secret identities because of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the United States military.
Seth’s mother Anne assists them by providing the cover of a woman’s handwriting for Nicholas’ daily letters, but Nicholas and Seth’s resolve is starting to weaken.
Jonas, another young gay Marine in Seth’s unit just coming to terms with his identity, forms an intense bond with Seth overseas.
Tyson, a former Army soldier who got fed up with “don’t ask, don’t tell” and didn’t reenlist, now works alongside Nicholas, providing temptation as well as a reality check.
When Seth returns home for an unexpected leave, with Jonas at his side, and post-traumatic stress following him from the battlefield, old relationships are tested, and new ones bloom. In the end, the realities of war call on one man to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Audition Information
Urban Samurai Productions (USP) invites you to audition for its upcoming production
Leave
Written by Matthew A. Everett
Directed by Matthew Greseth
Leave is an original script by local playwright Matthew A. Everett regarding the U.S. Military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. The play focuses not only on the difficulties that gay men have serving in the military, but also the effect of the policy on their loved ones back home, who must hide their feelings for fear of accidentally outing their partner. USP will open Season 2011 with a full production of this world premiere of Matthew A. Everett's expanded version of the play, which has been presented as a one-act at previous venues.
Stipend: $200
Performances: February 11-26, 2011
Rehearsals: An initial read-through and script discussion will take place before the end of the year. Regular rehearsals will begin in January 2011 and take place Sunday afternoons/Monday-Thursday evenings at SJCC.
Auditions: Monday, November 8th & Tuesday, November 9th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Callbacks: Thursday, November 11th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm - (please note, this is a change)
(callbacks were originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 10th)
Auditions will consist of readings from the script and actors will be seen in 10-minute intervals.
All roles in this production are OPEN:
Tyson - 20-35 - Took a voluntary discharge from the military because he refused to serve under a policy that made him hide his true self.
Seth - 20-30 - Marine who chooses to hide his homosexuality in order to serve in the military.
Nicholas - 20-30 - Seth's partner
Jonas - 18-25 - Marine in Seth's unit who is trying to come to terms with being gay.
Anne - 35-50 - Seth's mother
All male actors involved in this production must be comfortable with partial nudity and with portraying homosexual intimacy, including kissing.
To make an audition appointment for Leave, please contact Managing Director, Ryan Grimes, at ryan AT urbansamurai DOT org. As USP will be holding auditions for two productions within a week of each other, please clearly state in your email the production for which you are auditioning, the date and time you would prefer to audition, and your gender. Please bring a headshot and resume to your audition(s) and arrive early to complete an informational form. USP encourages all interested actors to audition for this production; there are no race-specific characters in Leave.
Audition, Rehearsal, and Performance Venue:
Sabes Jewish Community Center
(near the intersection of I-394 and MN-100)
4330 Cedar Lake Road
Minneapolis, MN 55416
The use of Mapquest or a similar driving directions application is strongly discouraged. Please visit sabesjcc.org for directions to the SJCC from most areas of the Twin Cities.
For more information about Urban Samurai Productions please visit our website at urbansamurai.org
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Oops...
So I have missed out on most of the summer of my responsibility to blog every Saturday. What can I say, I've been busy. I got married, am having a baby, and am in rehearsals for A Few Good Men.
What's that you say? When does that start? Well it starts soon!! On Friday September 24th at 7:30 this amazing production will be brought to the masses for the first time. Are going to be there to witness the birth of awesome? Are you going to be on the front lines to become a part of theater synergy unlike anything seen before? Or are you gonna come later and hear about it second hand like a loser? I knew you would be coming opening night :) You guys are so smart!!
Anyhoo, I'll be playing Lt. Jack Ross. You know, Keven Bacon. Of course, I am not playing the part like Kevin Bacon did. But I did shave my head for the part, which hasn't made the wife too happy.
So come see my newly shaved head and an amazing cast as we kick off this terrific production. We shall see you Friday...
What's that you say? When does that start? Well it starts soon!! On Friday September 24th at 7:30 this amazing production will be brought to the masses for the first time. Are going to be there to witness the birth of awesome? Are you going to be on the front lines to become a part of theater synergy unlike anything seen before? Or are you gonna come later and hear about it second hand like a loser? I knew you would be coming opening night :) You guys are so smart!!
Anyhoo, I'll be playing Lt. Jack Ross. You know, Keven Bacon. Of course, I am not playing the part like Kevin Bacon did. But I did shave my head for the part, which hasn't made the wife too happy.
So come see my newly shaved head and an amazing cast as we kick off this terrific production. We shall see you Friday...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday Samurai - Another Step in the Crescendo of Energy
Yes, I've been observing the last few rehearsals as assistant director of A Few Good Men and I already have a Matt Greseth gem to quote. It's just one indication of a great rehearsal process so far. This cast is so talented and is already working off book. After three rehearsals. That's nutso!
But we're taking a break from rehearsals tomorrow night for our first ever Urban Samurai FUNdraiser at Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center in St. Louis Park. With bowling, door prizes, an exhibition bowling game, grand raffle prizes, and karaoke - not to mention fun times with USP friends and family - it's sure to be an event to remember. So you should come!
If you don't have it in your plans already, drop by tomorrow night and have an amazing time. $10 gets you through the doorway to FUNtown! Don't miss it!
Ryan Grimes
Managing Director
Urban Samurai Productions
But we're taking a break from rehearsals tomorrow night for our first ever Urban Samurai FUNdraiser at Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center in St. Louis Park. With bowling, door prizes, an exhibition bowling game, grand raffle prizes, and karaoke - not to mention fun times with USP friends and family - it's sure to be an event to remember. So you should come!
If you don't have it in your plans already, drop by tomorrow night and have an amazing time. $10 gets you through the doorway to FUNtown! Don't miss it!
Ryan Grimes
Managing Director
Urban Samurai Productions
Sunday, August 22, 2010
FUNdraisers!
This is the first fundraiser I've ever been in charge of. It's also Urban Samurai's first fundraiser. Coincidence? I think not.
I can tell you that it has been a learning process. It has also been ulcerating. My ulcer is quite intelligent now.
But I think it will all be worthwhile when we come together on Wednesday to bowl and have a good time. Until then I'm sure I forgot at least one thing. I will remember this thing the night before. Or maybe on the drive there.
I truly hope a lot of people come, and that everyone has a good time. Cause at the end of the day, it's about the fun. Well, actually it's about raising money to match grant funds, but you understand what I mean. Matching grant funds is fun. And so is bowling.
On a semi-related note: I think raffles may be obsolete. No one carries cash or checks anymore, and it's illegal to sell them on the internet (we discovered). Whatever. So how are you supposed to sell raffle tickets if no one carries cash?
So if you are reading this, then you are a friend of Urban Samurai. So come out to Park Tavern on Wednesday and celebrate 5 awesome years of theater producing goodness. And for christsake, bring cash.
Friday, August 20, 2010
And so it begins...
Well folks, yesterday evening, several actors, one director and one stage manager from all across the metro gathered together and started...A Few Good Men rehearsals. It was an unconventional start to the process with no read-thru (causing one stage manager to have to read the play before rehearsals actually started), but it didn't even faze anyone. Clearly the actors have been reading the script, studying the lines and the characters, and are already right on pace...of course this is after only one night. But when an actor comes in and can pretty much do a scene off book day one, I'm thinking these people mean business. So yay to the actors thus far! You are impressing me already!! Now just get me your bios and headshots...;)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Bowling and Running and Writing (Not Necessarily In That Order)
The 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival is history.
I saw a show in every slot again this year, including the encore. 56 performances, 53 shows (Three I went back for a second look, one of those I even had a very odd cameo appearance in). 29 reviews down, 24 to go.
The day after the Fringe, an epic Fringe Decompression podcast with Josh Humphreys and Nick Decker for Twin Cities Theater Connection, which should be posting in the near future.
Back at the day jobs, a lot of catching up to do.
And of course there's a play to write (the first of a couple, actually, which is nice)
Tomorrow, I head down to Winona with two vanloads of teammates for the Ragnar Relay's Great River Run. It's a 24 hour run from Winona, up along the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side, and back into Minnesota around Stillwater, running on back to Minneapolis. 192 miles. 12 runners, doing three legs of the relay each. I'm the 6th runner on my team, last in my van (Van 1)to go, handing off to the 2nd half of the team in Van 2 when I'm done. We got a late start time for our team (2pm), so I won't be starting my first leg til around 6pm. 8.3 miles. Then I've got a breather til around 3:30 in the morning Friday/Saturday, when I run another 7.1 miles. Then my last leg will hit around 11:15 in the morning Saturday, only 3.5 miles. That one's rated "Moderate," my first two are both rated "Very Hard" (gulp). 18.9 miles total. Needless to say, I scheduled myself off from pretty much everything on Sunday.
And because that's not quite enough to completely derail the blogging for a few days, how about we throw in a bowling night fundraiser for my new artistic home, Urban Samurai Productions?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
8pm to closing time
$10 to bowl all night (it includes the shoe and ball rental)
Park Tavern Bowling and Entertainment Center
3401 Louisiana Ave S
St. Louis Park, MN
You can get your tickets online or at the door.
Also, they're raffling off three monster prize packages - $10 per raffle ticket, or you can get 3 for $25. Here, too, you can order raffle tix online now, or grab yourself some the night of the event. Better yet, why not do both?
The prizes...
Grand Prize - Ultimate Jackpot Getaway
A Weekend Stay at Mystic Lake Resort & Casino
Gift card for your choice of activity at Mystic Lake
Centerspace Pilates Gift Certificate
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets (includes a new full-length version of my play "Leave")
Gift Basket from Caldrea
Bottle of Wine from Wine Time
Guthrie Theater Tickets
2nd Place - Theater Lover's Package
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets
Theatre Unbound Tickets
Theatre Pro Rata Tickets
Crave Restaurant Gift Certificate
3rd Place - Comedy Lover's Package
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets
Comedy Sportz Tickets
Brave New Workshop Tickets
Chipotle Restaurant Gift Card
So, you know, bowl, win stuff, support live theater, everybody feels good.
The Samurai website says...
"Urban Samurai Productions is celebrating Season 2010 by knocking down pins! Everyone's invited to the Park Tavern to join us for unlimited bowling, raffles, games, karaoke, and general merriment. Whether you're the King Pin or Gutterball Grand Poobah, it's sure to be a smashing good time, all supporting theater with Urban Samurai!
Bowling on the lanes with karaoke! A raffle with FABULOUS prizes and bowling challenges for awards! HILARIOUS entertainment! Drinks and food available in the restaurant and bar for purchase. Because this is a grown up event, Park Tavern requests that all guests be 21 or older.
What if you can't make it? It can't be true! Well, life happens, (sigh). But don't fret. You can still share in the fun by entering the raffle for fabulous prizes, or making a tax deductible donation to Urban Samurai. That way, you can be a part of making future productions possible."
And the day after all that, I turn 46.
Yikes. Where'd that year go?
I saw a show in every slot again this year, including the encore. 56 performances, 53 shows (Three I went back for a second look, one of those I even had a very odd cameo appearance in). 29 reviews down, 24 to go.
The day after the Fringe, an epic Fringe Decompression podcast with Josh Humphreys and Nick Decker for Twin Cities Theater Connection, which should be posting in the near future.
Back at the day jobs, a lot of catching up to do.
And of course there's a play to write (the first of a couple, actually, which is nice)
Tomorrow, I head down to Winona with two vanloads of teammates for the Ragnar Relay's Great River Run. It's a 24 hour run from Winona, up along the Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side, and back into Minnesota around Stillwater, running on back to Minneapolis. 192 miles. 12 runners, doing three legs of the relay each. I'm the 6th runner on my team, last in my van (Van 1)to go, handing off to the 2nd half of the team in Van 2 when I'm done. We got a late start time for our team (2pm), so I won't be starting my first leg til around 6pm. 8.3 miles. Then I've got a breather til around 3:30 in the morning Friday/Saturday, when I run another 7.1 miles. Then my last leg will hit around 11:15 in the morning Saturday, only 3.5 miles. That one's rated "Moderate," my first two are both rated "Very Hard" (gulp). 18.9 miles total. Needless to say, I scheduled myself off from pretty much everything on Sunday.
And because that's not quite enough to completely derail the blogging for a few days, how about we throw in a bowling night fundraiser for my new artistic home, Urban Samurai Productions?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
8pm to closing time
$10 to bowl all night (it includes the shoe and ball rental)
Park Tavern Bowling and Entertainment Center
3401 Louisiana Ave S
St. Louis Park, MN
You can get your tickets online or at the door.
Also, they're raffling off three monster prize packages - $10 per raffle ticket, or you can get 3 for $25. Here, too, you can order raffle tix online now, or grab yourself some the night of the event. Better yet, why not do both?
The prizes...
Grand Prize - Ultimate Jackpot Getaway
A Weekend Stay at Mystic Lake Resort & Casino
Gift card for your choice of activity at Mystic Lake
Centerspace Pilates Gift Certificate
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets (includes a new full-length version of my play "Leave")
Gift Basket from Caldrea
Bottle of Wine from Wine Time
Guthrie Theater Tickets
2nd Place - Theater Lover's Package
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets
Theatre Unbound Tickets
Theatre Pro Rata Tickets
Crave Restaurant Gift Certificate
3rd Place - Comedy Lover's Package
Urban Samurai Season 2011 Tickets
Comedy Sportz Tickets
Brave New Workshop Tickets
Chipotle Restaurant Gift Card
So, you know, bowl, win stuff, support live theater, everybody feels good.
The Samurai website says...
"Urban Samurai Productions is celebrating Season 2010 by knocking down pins! Everyone's invited to the Park Tavern to join us for unlimited bowling, raffles, games, karaoke, and general merriment. Whether you're the King Pin or Gutterball Grand Poobah, it's sure to be a smashing good time, all supporting theater with Urban Samurai!
Bowling on the lanes with karaoke! A raffle with FABULOUS prizes and bowling challenges for awards! HILARIOUS entertainment! Drinks and food available in the restaurant and bar for purchase. Because this is a grown up event, Park Tavern requests that all guests be 21 or older.
What if you can't make it? It can't be true! Well, life happens, (sigh). But don't fret. You can still share in the fun by entering the raffle for fabulous prizes, or making a tax deductible donation to Urban Samurai. That way, you can be a part of making future productions possible."
And the day after all that, I turn 46.
Yikes. Where'd that year go?
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Checking in from the Fringes
Hey all
Another Thursday out Fringing, so the only blogging you'll be seeing out of me is here...
See you after the Minnesota Fringe Festival dust has settled.
Meanwhile, don't forget the upcoming Samurai bowling night (Wednesday, August 25th!)
Another Thursday out Fringing, so the only blogging you'll be seeing out of me is here...
See you after the Minnesota Fringe Festival dust has settled.
Meanwhile, don't forget the upcoming Samurai bowling night (Wednesday, August 25th!)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday Samurai - What Day Is It?
I've been slacking for the last month and I know it. And this week, I thought, "Ooh, I'll post on the blog this week!" And then I logged in today and realized it's Wednesday, not Tuesday, and that I'm a moron.
Well, what else is new?
OK, so here's the deal: It's been a crazy summer and I can't even believe it's almost over. Isn't that depressing? Sure, not as depressing as this disgusting weather we've been having (don't talk to me about humidity...it won't be a fun conversation), but all that time I thought I'd have this summer...GONE!
We start A Few Good Men rehearsals in the coming weeks. That production I thought was so far into the fall is now within reach. Seriously, where does the time go? I'll be assistant directing for the production, though my time with Men will be limited due to my commitment to perform in Minneapolis Musical Theatre's Evil Dead: The Musical. Fall will be yet another busy time of this year, but I probably wouldn't want it any other way.
One thing I'm going to do to try to kick back and relax before fall is our super awesome Urban Samurai Bowling FUNdraiser that is coming up on Wednesday, August 25th. The Park Tavern in St. Louis Park has donated their fine establishment to host bowling, karaoke, games, and just all-around merriment to celebrate Urban Samurai's Season 2010. It will be a blast and we hope to see all our supporters there.
But, let's be real. What I'm really stoked about is our raffle at the FUNdraiser. There's three prize packages up for grabs, each with its own theme. The grand jackpot includes a weekend stay at Mystic Lake and a giftcard for one of the many activities available at the resort. The prize packages also include tickets to the Guthrie, Theatre Unbound, Theatre Pro Rata, ComedySportz, Brave New Workshop, not to mention season passes for Urban Samurai's Season 2011.
Are you salivating yet? OK, here's the scoop. More information about the raffle, as well as a way to get your raffle tickets online (and advance admission to the event), is at our website. More specifically, http://www.urbansamurai.org/news.
Do it up!
Ryan Grimes
Managing Director
Urban Samurai Productions
Well, what else is new?
OK, so here's the deal: It's been a crazy summer and I can't even believe it's almost over. Isn't that depressing? Sure, not as depressing as this disgusting weather we've been having (don't talk to me about humidity...it won't be a fun conversation), but all that time I thought I'd have this summer...GONE!
We start A Few Good Men rehearsals in the coming weeks. That production I thought was so far into the fall is now within reach. Seriously, where does the time go? I'll be assistant directing for the production, though my time with Men will be limited due to my commitment to perform in Minneapolis Musical Theatre's Evil Dead: The Musical. Fall will be yet another busy time of this year, but I probably wouldn't want it any other way.
One thing I'm going to do to try to kick back and relax before fall is our super awesome Urban Samurai Bowling FUNdraiser that is coming up on Wednesday, August 25th. The Park Tavern in St. Louis Park has donated their fine establishment to host bowling, karaoke, games, and just all-around merriment to celebrate Urban Samurai's Season 2010. It will be a blast and we hope to see all our supporters there.
But, let's be real. What I'm really stoked about is our raffle at the FUNdraiser. There's three prize packages up for grabs, each with its own theme. The grand jackpot includes a weekend stay at Mystic Lake and a giftcard for one of the many activities available at the resort. The prize packages also include tickets to the Guthrie, Theatre Unbound, Theatre Pro Rata, ComedySportz, Brave New Workshop, not to mention season passes for Urban Samurai's Season 2011.
Are you salivating yet? OK, here's the scoop. More information about the raffle, as well as a way to get your raffle tickets online (and advance admission to the event), is at our website. More specifically, http://www.urbansamurai.org/news.
Do it up!
Ryan Grimes
Managing Director
Urban Samurai Productions
Friday, August 6, 2010
Some Men and One Women
Well things are underway for A Few Good Men! And so far so good! Emails are a pouring out, getting conflicts, giving information, it never seems to end. It's crazy how it's less than a month before we start and I've already learned so much from the cast, and I haven't even met half of them! But nonetheless, it will be a good one! I am truly looking forward to meeting these fine actors and settling in for a show that I actually get to work on from start to finish, with virtually no interruptions!! This scenario has not happened, since, well, um, about 3 years ago. And I say boo to that. You become so distanced when you have to take off even one night. I hate that feeling that I missed so much...even though it may only have been one 3 hour rehearsal. But alas, as I said, this won't happen during the course of this show! And thank goodness, because working with a cast this large, keeping everything straight is the most important thing.
So cheers to us, getting the ball rolling and looking forward to the read-thru!
So cheers to us, getting the ball rolling and looking forward to the read-thru!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Fringe Break
Hey all
This Thursday and likely next Thursday, the only blogging you'll be seeing out of me is here...
See you after the Minnesota Fringe Festival dust has settled.
Meanwhile, don't forget the upcoming Samurai bowling night (Wednesday, August 25th!)
This Thursday and likely next Thursday, the only blogging you'll be seeing out of me is here...
See you after the Minnesota Fringe Festival dust has settled.
Meanwhile, don't forget the upcoming Samurai bowling night (Wednesday, August 25th!)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Taking The Rules for Granted
Urban Samurai Artistic Director Matt Greseth gave me a lot of really good advice at our first script meeting for "Leave". I took those notes with me to the Great Plains Theatre Conference and poured over them any spare moment I got. They're pretty much embedded in my brain at this point. As I go through the script again to rebuild it, scene by scene, those are the guideposts I keep looping back to.
Some of it was practical advice, from the standpoint of an audience member who had never seen or read the play before, hadn't been part of any of its development, wouldn't take anything for granted. What confused him would confuse an audience member encountering the play for the first time.
There's a scene toward the beginning where Seth, the Marine, and his civilian husband Nicholas exchange letters in code. Seth's mother, Anne, is copying Nicholas' letter over in a woman's handwriting, so as not to arouse suspicion. The letter she writes, and reads, is in code. The conversation between Seth and Nicholas is the meaning hidden behind the code.
But as the scene was written, the audience might have a hard time following along. They don't know the rules of the play yet, or the rules aren't yet clear. I was taking those rules for granted. I know that Seth is overseas, and Nicholas waits back home, and that they aren't really having that conversation directly in the same space. But how is anyone else supposed to know that? I was so concerned with making sure that I established a connection between the two men, that I forgot it was also important to establish the distance between them, and their separation.
And if the audience is spending their time, even a tiny fraction of time, trying to figure out what the hell is going on in terms of structure, they'll miss what's going on in terms of story and character and content. Which would be bad, and a missed opportunity. You want to enter into a contract with your audience, to bring them along on the story - not to spoonfeed them, but also not to leave them behind.
Now Nicholas and Seth still get to be onstage together, but they don't get to see each other. Matt suggested maybe Nicholas was looking at a photo album with pictures of Seth, since Nicholas references pictures later, and a photograph of Nicholas is all that Seth can keep with him to remind him of the man he loves (though even that he needs to lie about). They are together, but separate. The letter Anne is working on seems like more of a vital link between them.
We still get a lot of the same information - the day of their first kiss that became the marker for their anniversary, the strength of the bond between them - but we also get the distance. We know that something is missing, and that something major will need to happen to bring them back together in the same place. The timetable and demands of combat don't allow for regular weekends, or dependable vacation time.
How will they each have changed by the time they see one another again? How long can the situation as it stands continue?
Hopefully we get a window into what's at risk, and what's worth fighting for, and the cost of that personal battle. And the odds of losing it.
Some of it was practical advice, from the standpoint of an audience member who had never seen or read the play before, hadn't been part of any of its development, wouldn't take anything for granted. What confused him would confuse an audience member encountering the play for the first time.
There's a scene toward the beginning where Seth, the Marine, and his civilian husband Nicholas exchange letters in code. Seth's mother, Anne, is copying Nicholas' letter over in a woman's handwriting, so as not to arouse suspicion. The letter she writes, and reads, is in code. The conversation between Seth and Nicholas is the meaning hidden behind the code.
But as the scene was written, the audience might have a hard time following along. They don't know the rules of the play yet, or the rules aren't yet clear. I was taking those rules for granted. I know that Seth is overseas, and Nicholas waits back home, and that they aren't really having that conversation directly in the same space. But how is anyone else supposed to know that? I was so concerned with making sure that I established a connection between the two men, that I forgot it was also important to establish the distance between them, and their separation.
And if the audience is spending their time, even a tiny fraction of time, trying to figure out what the hell is going on in terms of structure, they'll miss what's going on in terms of story and character and content. Which would be bad, and a missed opportunity. You want to enter into a contract with your audience, to bring them along on the story - not to spoonfeed them, but also not to leave them behind.
Now Nicholas and Seth still get to be onstage together, but they don't get to see each other. Matt suggested maybe Nicholas was looking at a photo album with pictures of Seth, since Nicholas references pictures later, and a photograph of Nicholas is all that Seth can keep with him to remind him of the man he loves (though even that he needs to lie about). They are together, but separate. The letter Anne is working on seems like more of a vital link between them.
We still get a lot of the same information - the day of their first kiss that became the marker for their anniversary, the strength of the bond between them - but we also get the distance. We know that something is missing, and that something major will need to happen to bring them back together in the same place. The timetable and demands of combat don't allow for regular weekends, or dependable vacation time.
How will they each have changed by the time they see one another again? How long can the situation as it stands continue?
Hopefully we get a window into what's at risk, and what's worth fighting for, and the cost of that personal battle. And the odds of losing it.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Whew....
So as you may have heard from a certain other blogger, I got married a couple of weeks ago. It is crazy how much planning goes into a wedding for about 12 hours of activities. I compared it to putting up a play. It takes about 6 months of planning in total for a production including all the marketing, money raising, pre-planning, casting, rehearsing, and teching. It is remarkable how close that is to what we did for our wedding. We had to "cast" the people who would be in the wedding. We had to raise enough money to be able to DO the wedding. We had to even rehearse and tech the thing. All this took about 9 months of planning. The big difference is that you get at least 10 runs in of a play. This whole thing was over in a day and a half (including the rehearsal dinner). What's even more weird, is that I was equally as tired after the whole ordeal. So I propose this, Twin Cities:
After every show someone should pay for everyone to go on a "Honeymoon" to recoup. How about it?! Isn't that exactly what everyone needs after a show? About a week to rest and get your minds back from the fry-zone? There should be a grant out there that would give us money to do this. I'll check on it and get back to you...
After every show someone should pay for everyone to go on a "Honeymoon" to recoup. How about it?! Isn't that exactly what everyone needs after a show? About a week to rest and get your minds back from the fry-zone? There should be a grant out there that would give us money to do this. I'll check on it and get back to you...
Friday, July 23, 2010
The second Hessburg
Here I am, the second official Hessburg of the group:) The wedding biz is over, and quite a success. It is strange to admit, that as organized as I am, and perhaps always wanting to be in control, I completely let go and let other people take the reigns on the wedding day! Was it difficult? Not really, I guess you could say that my focus was on not crying. So I just sat back, let other people tell me what to do, where to stand, when to go...and I didn't have to worry about a thing!
But have no fear, I am back and at it in full force! I don't let my stage managing duties lay around for too long...
A Few Good Men is underway! No, not rehearsals quite yet, but emails, planning and all the whatnots are starting to pick up and get figured out! What am I excited about the most? Actually starting rehearsals! I am excited to meet all these fabulous actors and get this thing rolling! I know this will mean an end to summer...but oh well. Fall has always been my fav anyways:)
But have no fear, I am back and at it in full force! I don't let my stage managing duties lay around for too long...
A Few Good Men is underway! No, not rehearsals quite yet, but emails, planning and all the whatnots are starting to pick up and get figured out! What am I excited about the most? Actually starting rehearsals! I am excited to meet all these fabulous actors and get this thing rolling! I know this will mean an end to summer...but oh well. Fall has always been my fav anyways:)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Internet, Why Have You Abandoned Me?
Well, at home anyway. I can't get a consistent signal to save my life. So I spent Tuesday night stewing, and Wednesday night going from one coffee shop to the next til they all closed. Tonight, I'm just going to pester Comcast til they clear it up if it goes down yet again.
So, day job. Short entry.
If I could get online long enough, I'd be sending out messages to try and drum up some silent auction items (mostly theater tickets) for the upcoming Urban Samurai bowling night fundraiser - coming your way on Wednesday, August 25. Save the date!
Since I can't get online long enough, and have to, you know, work at work, if I'm forced offline again at home, while Comcast has me on hold, I may just do something radical like, oh, maybe focus on the rewrites of "Leave" for a while. The world outside the web holds many wonders...
Most of my non-Samurai blogging time these days revolves around the Minnesota Fringe Festival which you can find at the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
OK, day job...
So, day job. Short entry.
If I could get online long enough, I'd be sending out messages to try and drum up some silent auction items (mostly theater tickets) for the upcoming Urban Samurai bowling night fundraiser - coming your way on Wednesday, August 25. Save the date!
Since I can't get online long enough, and have to, you know, work at work, if I'm forced offline again at home, while Comcast has me on hold, I may just do something radical like, oh, maybe focus on the rewrites of "Leave" for a while. The world outside the web holds many wonders...
Most of my non-Samurai blogging time these days revolves around the Minnesota Fringe Festival which you can find at the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
OK, day job...
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