Wrapping up...

We will be taking one more trip down 42nd Street way. I'm sad that the journey is coming to an end because the ride has been so joyous. The new stage house is simply miraculous and the crowds have been very enthusiastic. This final week of three performances has seen ticket availability only in the lawn seating (reserved seats=sold out). Last night we saw 1,483 folks on the hill. Tonight... 1,550. We're hoping to break 1,600 tomorrow night, but whatever the case, the powers that be are super excited about the numbers.


My traditional closing sketch has been completed and I've enclosed a bit of a teaser here. It was a bit of a challenge, considering the work load and the number of folks in the show (39). I'm happy with the results, though, and I look forward to presenting the prints tomorrow and posting the results here too.

I will indeed miss the show, but I am very much looking forward to getting back to the ol' neighborhood. I recently realized that I have spent only two nights in my own bed in the past seven weeks. Wow. And recent brief returns to the 'hood have reminded me why I've missed it. I have a lot of work to tackle once I get home, but when I'm not nose-to-the-grindstone it will be great to be resting in my own bed, watching my own TV, and visiting my old haunts. Anyway... That's it for now. Best wishes to you all in all that comes next. Peace and love!

Final days off...

Hi all! The 42nd Street show is winding down here in Vista, and I'm already sad looking ahead to the end. But we have three more performances left in which to "bring it" and for that I am happy. We're in the midst of our days off before we're back at it on Thursday. I dropped into an open call audition today which went well (but was unfortunately unsuccessful) and met up with folks from the cast for pizza and a bit of time at a casino. Tomorrow will bring some work time, maybe a dip in the pool, and I hope a visit to a BBQ in the eve to celebrate a cast birthday. Wednesday will bring a trip up north to visit the Sawdust Fest and a drop in on a pal o' mine as well as a great seat to see The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. See below for some art pointed in that direction...



Yes, my weekly sketch(es) over at Squigs Knows His Lines focused on local LA area theatrical happenings this week. I loved Danny Gurwin and Lowe Taylor (and other friends) in Little Shop of Horrors at Musical Theatre West (which closed yesterday), and I look forward to the show at the Rubicon (running at least through next Sunday). Lots of fun is to be had 'round here. I'm so glad to be able to catch some of it.

Now, I'm happy to be juggling some fun projects and looking ahead to some exciting adventures on the horizon. It's a good place to be. Peace and love, y'all!

Back to the Street... and art update.

We were back on 42nd Street last night after the days off. It was nice to be back on the hill, but I've got to admit that even after running my show beforehand, I had a few odd moments. It's live theatre so sometimes it happens, but still... And I know I'm my own worst critic. Tonight we're back at it and I'm going to be on it! Here's a picture from last week. For those not familiar with wireless body mics, in order to keep them dry, sound folks often wrap them in condoms. Well, we had run out of condoms so my mic was wrapped in a rubber glove. I channeled Howie Mandel that night. Ha!


The KPRI listener cruise was just amazing. I grabbed a few friends to come along with me and we boarded the Hornblower Adventure around 6:30pm on Tuesday. Sara Watkins played a fantastic show for I'd say over an hour and a half as we chugged around the bay, past the military base, aircraft carriers, under the Coronado Bridge... all as the sun was setting. Really beautiful! And it was free. Wow! As far as more adventures in the near future, I'm heading to Comic Con in San Diego tomorrow, and I'm going to do my best at navigating San Diego's rail transit system to get there... departing from and returning to my exact exit off the 78 in Vista where my car will be parked and awaiting my return to the show that evening. Should be fun!



I've been busy at the drawing board and there's plenty of showbizzy stuff on its way, but there have also been some projects that aren't related so much to the theatre. And they even might be quite a departure for me in various ways. Above are two illustrations I've done for a new company called Skullastic. It's kind of following the current trend of the gothy, bold graphic school attire lately. Don Rich who runs the company came up with the concepts and the names, and I created the designs. The fellow on the right (called "Zulu #2") will be printed on kids tees, and the one on the right (Shiva) will be printed on kids and adults tees... available at Skullastic.com. Don found me by way of the art I did for Forbidden Broadway at Musical Theatre West. Above and at the left there is an image I created to aid in promotion of a benefit concert called "Vegas Sings Michael Jackson" organized by Erich Bergen who is in Jersey Boys out there. The concert will feature headliners, show casts, local bands, etc., etc. It will benefit arts in schools, and will be at the Palms, 3pm, August 29.




And, yes, I've still been plugging away at my weekly sketches over at Squigs Knows His Lines. Here are the three latest: Neil Simon, Jerry Herman, and a small tribute to four fellas recently passed who have substantial or marginal ties to the theatre and/or its translation to the screen (Harve Presnell, Michael Jackson, Karl Malden, and Walter Cronkite).

Whew! That's a lot for a wee post on a Thursday. I'm going to jump in the pool here at the Breners, hop in the shower, and hit the road to the coast where I'll find some nook to hunker down in and do some doodling and brainstorming. There are some fun projects in the offing, and I can't wait to get them rolling. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Days off!

Quickish post... I'm in the midst of my "weekend" and things are rollin' along. I took the day today to drive up to my place, grab the mail, grab some sushi from the haunt, and check in with the roommate. All is well. And then I meandered back down the coastline, grabbing dinner on the way. Now I'm back at my Vista family's place getting ready to hit the hay early for once in the last two weeks. Tomorrow will bring some work in the morning and a journey south to San Diego in the afternoon. I'm going to join some friends for a free radio listener concert (102.1 KPRI, Rock without Rules) aboard a harbor cruise listening to North County fave Sara Watkins, formerly of Nickel Creek, now of solo venture. Should be lots of fun. We're back at the Street on Wednesday night, but until then... chillin'. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Open!

Well, 42nd Street is now officially open. Our performance last night went very well. The air was highly charged and the crowd really seemed to be energized not only by the new Moonlight digs, but by a really fab, smooth, clean, and energetic production. Congrats to the whole show family for a great kick-off.

It was great to have so many friends in the house. Lots of love out there. And there's such a sense of pride and accomplishment in this community. I'm so glad to be a part of it all. I feel fortunate and blessed. (The flowers pictured are from the parents. Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

Now I'm back to tossin' some more energy at the art. On the drawing board right now: Two t-shirt designs and some various visual impressions on show biz related topics. Among these are sketches of Broadway composers for a theatre lobby exhibit that opens at the end of August in the Washington D.C. area. I'll be flying out there for their opening and some sightseeing in our nation's capital. I'm also chatting with folks at a Southern California theatre about creating the logo art for their entire next season. I have lots to do, and I'm so thrilled.

A little experiment in video...

I have been up way too late playing with iMovie and utilizing footage I took with my dandy FlipCamHD. It's kind of fun and it gives a little glimpse into our Moonlight lives as we prepare for the first big show on the new stage. The clips included are from our first mic check and our publicity photo shoot which was actually my very first day on the job...



It's a fun little documentation of the early days of this fabulous new chapter in the life of this fab theatre community. I'm so happy and honored to be a part of this show and the milestone it represents. Come see us usher in a new chapter. Take care, all! Peace and love!

Day off.

Rehearsing 42nd Street with our fantastic gang has been a pleasure, but the day off can be a really nice thing too. I left my Vista family's place around 11 and ran errands before venturing north to Laguna for my first visit to the Sawdust Festival. I always love the laid-back vibe of this place and enjoy bringing along a sketch book to jot down any inspirations that pop into my head. I then made my way north, hitting up various haunts along the way. One stop was in Hollywood as the sun had just set. This photo shows the Pantages Theatre and Columbia Records building along with the amazing sky. Now I'm chilling at my own place and getting ready to jump into my own bed for the first time in quite a while. Then I'll be heading back to Vista tomorrow for our first dress rehearsal. The adventure continues...