So much to say. But this must suffice for now...

Hi all! There is so much to say about 2009. It's been an eventful year. There is also much to say about the year to come. All of this will be said in another entry... most likely in the first few days of 2010. For now, I'm offering a little video I've created that features much of the art I created over the past year. Since the art also highlights many of the adventures I've taken over the past year, I think it's a successful year-end recap. I hope you enjoy... Click HERE to see it on YouTube.

Happy New Year to you all!! Wishes of peace and love are coming your way.

Another festive video...

Hi all! Thought you might like to see another musical doodle fest here at the holidays...


I've realized that in addition to these little projects being heartfelt holiday "howdies", the scribbling allows me to blow off a little steam and shake off some of the tension that inevitably comes when focused on the detail all my wonderful commissions require. I hope you like them. Merry and happy, y'all!!

Delinquent at the holidays...

Sorry I've not posted in forever. I'm swamped. I'm juggling a few commissions as well as my own ongoing projects and some other nifty possibilities in the works. And Christmas is creeping up quickly.



First off, here are a couple pieces I've done over at Squigs Knows His Lines: David Mamet's Race starring James Spader, Richard Thomas, and David Allan Grier; and the revival of Sondheim's A Little Night Music starring Cathering Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury. Still hoping this exercise is paying off. I think it is, and I look forward to the possibilities and the potential.

Oh... as y'all know, my art still hangs on the walls at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, and they've put up a page of my work on their website. See it by clicking here. And I'm happy to say that slivers of my work were seen on the Today Show the other day in a photo of Kathie Lee Gifford and Signature's artistic director Eric Schaeffer. Nifty, huh?


The next week will find me mostly at my desk hitting these commissions out of the park. Here and there, I've planned a few visits with friends and a little holiday entertainment. By the end of the week I hope to take a trip down San Diego way which I will disguise as a work trip. The weekend will find me enjoying more holiday entertainment and my (as of this writing) one and only caroling gig of the season. The following week I'll be scooting off to the great Pacific Northwest for Christmas. It will be great to see the folks and family.

So, I hope y'all are enjoying the holiday time. It's yet one more chance to reflect on what we have to be grateful for. Wishes of peace and love are coming your way.

The holidays are a funny thing.

In an anomaly of scheduling, I don't have a steady performing gig at the holidays this year and it's just plain weird. I've gotta admit that although I have plenty of work to do from home (and a show booked in the new year), I've been going a little nuts without having the chance to spread holiday cheer for pay this year. I'm subbing with the ol' caroling group (and have one evening on the books), but for the most part, I'm doing a one man show that few people will see. However, I'm blessed with a heap o' chances to catch friends in their holiday shows and caroling gigs, and that's definitely a great thing.



In addition to some commissioned pieces I've got on the schedule, I'm still pumping out the showbiz art on the Facebook page. Here are a couple pieces representing shows of the current Broadway season. There's Jude Law in Hamlet and The Royal Family with Rosemary Harris and many more stellar folks. I'm confident these pieces are leading to something amazing. Once I hear some definites, I'll let you know.

Finally, I just wanted to express some relief regarding a medical thing. A few weeks ago I became aware of something that might or might not have meant I had a serious medical issue. To be forthright, I've gone through various levels of being incredibly freaked out. I got good news today though. I'm not dying. Okay... I'm possibly being dramatic, but when things are off, your mind does all sorts of wacky things. At times I was seeing life through a filter of hyper-gratitude, imagining that I was experiencing moments in a series of "lasts." I'm taking this experience as a reminder that each moment should be treated with care, with wonder, and with gratitude.

Blessings and best wishes to you all in this holiday season. Be curious. Be grateful. Peace & love. I leave you with a little video I made for my nieces and nephews in anticipation of Christmas (and it's various meanings). Enjoy...

The holiday rush...

Hey all! Well, the post-Thanksgiving turkey haze has made way for the rush of getting some holiday sketching done. I have a few commissions to do, and my own projects need to be taken off the back burner. Here are some recent pieces I've done for the Facebook page including illustrations of Broadway shows: Superior Donuts (starring Michael McKean), Wishful Drinking (starring Carrie Fisher), and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Also, here's a "special edition" piece I posted on Thanksgiving Day featuring the Macy's Parade. I'm really enjoying working in color AND improving in my line work at the same time. This artful life is pretty great.



And if y'all are looking for any gifts for that theatre lover or illustration enthusiast in your life, I keep posting items over on my Etsy website. Check 'em out here. There's prints of some of my latest sketches as well as sets of cards. And the biggest news is that I'm offering some original artwork as well... 9 to 5, Bye Bye Birdie, Finian's Rainbow, Next to Normal, A Steady Rain, Sweeney Todd, and Stephen Sondheim. Click HERE to see 'em.

Best wishes to you all in this holiday season! Peace and love.

Gratitude (and more Broadway art).

Just a quick posting to show off some recent Broadway illustrations. I'm doing these as a continuation of the postings over at Squigs Knows His Lines and even more as a regular exercise and investment in future possibilities. From top to bottom, here is Fela!, Burn the Floor, and A Steady Rain (starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig).


I am stacking up the holiday commissions which are shaping up to be a fun and varied group of projects. There are a couple musicals, a TV show, and a few pieces of some fancy individuals. I have some work to do over the next few weeks. I'm like a one man elfin workshop. Well... I am short.

Things are busy but I am looking forward to taking a break for Thanksgiving. Can't wait to watch the Macy's parade. And then there's a dinner or two with dear friends. Turkey coma here I come! And with all sincerity, I'm so incredibly grateful for friends and family and for the blessings of health and vocation(s) that I absolutely love. So much to be thankful for!

So, Happy happy Thanksgiving, y'all. Peace and love.

The end. For now.

Hey all! I've had quite the fun and varied and rewarding month. I dwarfed it up at the Disney Concert Hall, took a couple of voyages on the Ark with a lot of fun and fancy (and lovely) folks, helped shape a musical based on a nineties movie, visited my brother and his family, and curated an exhibit of my art in Arlington, VA. It's been quite a ride. And now, I'm calling an end to this chapter. I need a break. I've kept a hand in the art biz and auditions this week (and will likely continue no matter what), but I'm heading a bit out of town tomorrow and don't plan to return until Saturday.

I'm going to visit with good friends, meet a new baby, see a new musical, visit beer Disneyland, and try to take a metaphorical chill pill. I'll be back to the grind on Saturday evening (caricature gig in Beverly Hills), and before Thanksgiving I hope to get a lot more art-type stuff done.



And amidst the craziness lately, some of my recent work has included a caricature commission for the amazingly talented Michael Berresse as he completed the LA run of Parade. I've also faithfully kept up the efforts over at Squigs Knows His Lines. Among the weekly posts, I heralded the opening of the current revival of Ragtime on Broadway.


I've also stepped up the efforts over at my Etsy.com site, selling prints of my recent art and some greeting cards (originally created for the MetroStage art exhibit). You can check out all the bounty HERE.

Well, that's all for now. Take care, all! Get ready to highlight an attitude of gratitude next week. Thanksgiving isn't just a really spiffy parade and tons of turkey. There really is SO much to be thankful for. Life, breath, and possibilities. Peace and love!

DC: Art and skull fragments.

Okay, I'll explain that title. But I've got to keep this brief. I've got lines to study and people to draw. Or maybe lines to draw and people to study. That's funny! It works both ways.


Got back last night from a quick trip to DC. I was in town to curate my exhibit at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. I'm really excited about it. Signature is a happenin' regional theatre (in fact Tony-winning), and I worked with the gang there to sketch shows over their 20 years in existence. My art will be hanging on their gallery walls through at least January 17 in the new year.


While in town, I was also able to see a couple sights I had to miss on the last trip. The National Museum of Health and Medicine was tough to get to (on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus) but was well worth the visit... even if the visit included breaking out in a cold sweat on a couple occasions. I saw the bullet that killed Lincoln (see photo) and fragments of his skull. I saw severed limbs and a lot of accounts of battlefield medicine. I saw a hairball that was extracted from a 12 year old girl's stomach (after she'd eaten her hair for six years). Altogether ookey! But interesting.


I also visited the amazingly epically beautiful National Cathedral. Huge and full of art... scuplture, mosaics, needlework, masonry, stained glass aplenty. And for being as imposing as it was, it was surprisingly intimate. And the gardens were stunning!


And I just had to return to the National Portrait Gallery. I just love that place... representations of folks over these many years. Of course I was incredibly drawn to the Hirschfelds. I just stare at his work and feel inspired. Wow!


My host(s) during my trip were my friend Garrett/Elise Long's mother Cindy and brother Ash. I'm so grateful to them for opening their home... and for spoiling me with all the food. They live in beautiful Alexandria, VA. I slept just blocks from Robert E. Lee's boyhood home and George Washington's church. That's the front of Cindy's place in the photo. Very cool! Thanks, Longs!!

And now, I've jumped into a maelstrom of auditions (four in the next week) and rehearsals for a workshop reading of a stage musical version of Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion. Our first day was great. The material is really fun and I can't wait to see what the rest of the week holds.

Anyway... so much for "brief." I get chatty on this blog. Oh well. But now I've got to get back to work. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Off to D.C...

I should have hit the hay hours ago. But I'm putting the final touches on the suitcases and all the stuff that has to go in 'em.


I'm heading to our nation's capital to shuffle my art around the outlying villages. The exhibit at MetroStage in Alexandria, VA went over well and I'm thankful to them for their support. I'll be staying in Alexandria with my friend GarrettElise's mother (which I'm endlessly grateful for), but I'll spend the majority of my time moving frames from MetroStage to Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA and getting everything up on the walls and looking pretty.


Eric Schaeffer (and Michael Barron) at Signature has been great to work with, giving suggestions but incredible freedom to create an exhibit that celebrates Signature's twenty years in existence. Such a great story of a theatre... growth and notoriety and success (winning the 2009 regional Tony Award). Really fantastic organization. And I feel honored to be part of the celebration. My work will be hanging in their gallery November 10 through January 17. The original art is available for purchase along with prints. The graphic you see here is a smash-em-up of the pieces in the exhibit. Provided it meets approval, it may be the poster heralding the exhibit.


My time in DC is limited, but I plan to get out and about a bit... seeing my buddy Joe Leo Bwarie in Jersey Boys, witnessing the ooky medical oddities at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, and experiencing the amazing National Cathedral. The latter two were attractions I couldn't get to on my last trip. Between all this and all the time I'll need to spend at Signature, my schedule is packed. We'll see what else I can do.

And once I fly home, I hit the ground running. I've got workshop rehearsals for Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion, and I've got four auditions within the span of a week. Yay! But... sheesh! I also get to go to the LA opening night of Mary Poppins thanks to my new friends at Disney Theatricals. That should be a lot of fun.

Anyway... I should force my fingers to stop typing. I've got to catch some winks. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Floating...

Yesterday I was floating on the Ark. Today I'm floating on clouds.


I joined an absolutely stellar gang the past four days, bringing an obscure musical to the stage. Reprise Theatre Company concluded their Richard Rodgers celebration with this reading of Two by Two, a telling of the Noah story with lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Peter Stone based on the play "The Flowering Peach" by Clifford Odets. It premiered on Broadway in 1970 and starred an aging Danny Kaye. As much joy as Kaye has brought us over the years, by this time he was rather difficult and made some rather prickly demands. While the piece has its problems, it's possible it didn't get the chance it deserved because of Kaye's obstinacy.

Our lovely family included (in the above photo L to R): Jason Alexander, me, Shannon Warne, Vicki Lewis, Megan Hilty, Stephen Weber, Faith Prince, and David Burnham. All stars in their own ways. We were directed by David Lee, and Darryl Archibald led us and a 15 piece orchestra. All involved welcomed me with open arms. We had a great time and laughed for four days. The show was very well received.

One of the aforementioned changes Danny Kaye reportedly demanded affected my character. Kaye didn't want any other guy in the show to have a humorous solo, so Ham's song "Forty Nights" was cut. I had the chance to debut it. I was already nervous, but then on Sunday evening, Martin Charnin the lyricist walked in to see the show. I just had to get all those words out! Well, I did relatively well, and he seemed to enjoy hearing it again after almost 40 years.


So, last night I was onstage with this stellar gang and today I was drawing caricatures at a five year old's school birthday party. And, you know?... There was joy and reward in each. After the caricature gig, I went to the art supply store and stocked up. I went to Trader Joe's and replenished the food supply... including coffee. I just tidied the room and desk, and now I'm getting set to put the nose to the grindstone and complete my pieces for my exhibit for Signature Theatre. Ideally I will complete all the work today and tomorrow so I can prep frames and prints on Thursday and Friday. I'm on a plane to DC early Saturday morning.

I need a vacation. But it doesn't look like I'll get one for another couple weeks. Oy. I should just try to get adequate sleep. Anyway... I'm rambling. Back to inking.

Take care, all! Peace and love.

More art and music...

Hey all! I just got back from a really great visit with my brother and his family in St. Paul. We went to the apple orchard and carved pumpkins and had just a great time. Since LA is relentlessly warm lately, I was happy to experience the gamut of weather possibilities... In my four days there we saw rain, snow, sun, and fog. The leaves were ablaze in color. And it was just amazing to be able to give my niece and nephew a squeeze or three.

While in MN, I had to go find some sheet music, something Billy Joel-ish for an audition the day after my return. Well, the audition ended up being a bit awkward. I seriously felt rather un-hip... if I could have had the white man's overbite while singing I'm sure I would have. But I read well (nonshowfolk translation: reading the sides or bits of scenes provided) I guess. I just found out that I booked it. I'll be in a quick reading of a new musical version of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion directed by Christopher Ashley, artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse (and director of Memphis which recently opened on Broadway). It will happen mid- November and it should be a blast!

In the mean time, I've hit the drawing board running, balancing commissioned pieces with my own projects and the Signature exhibit. I feel like I have a million irons in the fire but I'm getting things done. It's great to be busy and I'm doing what I love.


Here is a sampling of the direction I'm going with regular Broadway illustrations. There are possibilities looming for getting pieces like this out to a broad audience. Once I can share specifics, I will. But in the mean time, here are my impressions of recently opened Broadway shows Bye Bye Birdie, Memphis, and Finian's Rainbow (actually opening in a couple days).

Well, that's it for now. I've got to get some drawing done. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Heigh Ho indeed!

Wow! What an amazing evening it was! I'll keep it short, but suffice it to say that the Disney Symphonic Legacy concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall was incredible. Not only was it very well received and evidently successful. It was also a blast and such a rush. It was the first time the Disney Concert Hall featured an entire evening of Disney music. It featured pieces (including our 50 minute version of Snow White) that featured the original studio film score charts. (In the photo above, from left: Blake Griffin, Rick Wasserman, Harrison White, Ruth Williamson, Jeff Lee, me, Ashley Brown, Bob Bouchard, Jeffrey Polk, Michael Arden, Matt Crabtree.)


Maestro John Mauceri had been curating this collection for years, and Disney Theatricals (Jeff Lee, Dusty Bennett, and Thomas Schumacher) had been working on this project for a year and a half. A wonderful enthusiastic audience included the president of the Disney Company, Bob Iger, the head of Disney Studios, Rich Ross, and many more influential folks in the Disney world. By the time the audience had finally stopped applauding, everyone knew the evening had been a success. It sounds like the project will live on in some form. Whether I'll tag along I don't know. I'm really just thankful to have been a part of it.


I'm incredibly grateful... to Mark Brandon at Binder Casting for picking me, to Jacole and gang at KSR for putting me out there, to John Mauceri for dreaming up this vehicle, to the gang at Disney Theatricals for dreaming up this way of presenting it (and for picking me), and to the amazing gang of musicians and vocalists and crazy actors who made this an experience of a lifetime. I'm still floating and I'll bet I won't touch down for a while. Peace and love, y'all!

Overture! Light the lights...

Hi all! I've been getting some good news and learning of some fantastic possibilities lately. Before I share the new stuff, here's something I've written about previously but am still really excited about...


Tomorrow morning I'll be making the short commute to downtown Los Angeles and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. We're starting rehearsals for Tuesday's big symphonic extravaganza, celebrating the legacy of Disney film scores. The segment I'll be involved in is a 40 minute retelling of Snow White, featuring the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Cal State Fullerton choir, Ashley Brown (Broadway's Mary Poppins) as Snow White, Ruth Williamson (Broadway diva show-stealer) as the Evil Queen, Blake Griffin as the Prince, a gang of wackies as the Dwarfs (Bob Bouchard, Jeffrey Polk, Rick Wasserman, Michael Arden, Harrison White, Matt Crabtree, and me)... all led by maestro John Mauceri. I'm thrilled and grateful to be involved, and I can't wait for the first day of school tomorrow. Event info? Click here.


And I just received my script and score for a reading I'll be taking part in November 1-2. It's kind of blowing my mind, but I'll be a part of an eight-person cast reading the Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin musical (and vehicle for a difficult Danny Kaye) Two By Two. In this retelling of the story of Noah and the Ark, I'll have the pleasure of sharing the stage with Jason Alexander, Faith Prince, Steven Weber, Vicki Lewis, Shannon Warne, David Burnham, and Megan Hilty. David Lee is directing and is very responsible for pulling me into the project. I'm incredibly grateful and I look forward to playing with this great gang (and having a blast). Event info? Click here.

While I'm genuinely surprised to have gotten direct-booking calls for these two projects, I'm incredibly encouraged that when you work hard and put yourself out there (combined with just the right level of chance), really nifty things can come your way.

I've been chatting via e-mail about a really fantastic opportunity. I don't want to go into specifics until things are more solid, but if it works out, it will be a regular illustration gig with some pretty great distribution. Think good thoughts!


And as I wrap up, I just want to say that I really enjoyed Where the Wild Things Are. I attended a midnight showing last night and just had a great time. There are maybe a few things I had issues with and the reviews have been mixed, but I really liked it and I was rather moved. I recommend it highly!

Well, that's it for now. I've got to take a peek at my Snow White score before I'm in music rehearsal with the Maestro tomorrow. (That's tripping me out.) Take care, all! Peace and love.

Another Broadway sketch and an update...

Hi all! I've been delinquent in my updates lately, but I've been super busy. Among the recent efforts, I've drawn another Broadway show. Oleanna is a David Mamet play currently starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles. Producer Larry Kaye (who was instrumental in bringing my art to DC recently) commissioned it...


I'm also fielding some other commissions, working hard on the Signature Theatre exhibit, and trying to balance it all with a new personal pet project. I'm trying to keep a low profile on the latter because I don't want to jinx anything, but suffice it to say it's a logical (while possibly far-fetched) progression in my caricature career. I'm obsessing a bit, but whatever the case, it's a good exercise that could lead to some great things.

I'm also really looking forward to playing with John Mauceri, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a huge choir, and a cast of fab folks in a symphonic evening at Disney Concert Hall. We begin rehearsing on Saturday and put on the big show next Tuesday night. Very exciting.

Oh, and I got a flu shot. Happy, Mom?

Well, that's it for now. I'm off to buy more watercolors and illustration board. Then it's back to the drawing board. Take care, all! Peace and love.

My Sunday...

Hey all! Just dropping a quick note about my tomorrow. But first... my today. I spent the day sketching for my Monday Facebook posting and taking steps to finalizing some recent commissions. I've decided to have a curious Sunday.


(The best of life is reserved for the curious as far as I know.) So after the morning coffee and a little "The Swingin' Years" on KKJZ, my Sunday will start with a visit to All Saints Episcopal and soon thereafter find me seeing what's new at independently owned Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. Then I'll jet to The Stuffed Sandwich or Lucky Baldwin's for a bite before heading to LaVerne for an event featuring four of the foremost wacky minds in childrens' literature (Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, David Shannon, and Jon Scieszka). I'll then head back west to catch a "Where the Wild Things Are"-themed exhibit called "Terrible Yellow Eyes" at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra. I have some inking to do in the evening, so I'll likely head home early evening to prep the drawing board... but not before keeping my own big yellow eyes open and eager to witness something magical. Here we go...

NYC and the Flea Market!

Hi all! I'm finally feeling rested after a whirlwind trip to NYC. The main purpose of the trip was to participate in the Broadway Flea Market (benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS). Here's a little photo montage from the day. Due to rain, we had to relocate the event to the Roseland Ballroom (from Shubert Alley and 44th Street). It was crowded and crazy, but festive and fun. I offered prints of sketches and I drew quick-sketch caricatures. The best sellers of the day were the live sketches and prints representing Next to Normal, 9 to 5, and [title of show]. We did pretty well and made some decent cash for the charity. The photo furthest right is of my table team, my pals Tyler Foy and Aaron Umstead who I worked with in Wichita. Both of them recently graduated from college and hit NYC in a big way, each booking a show pretty quickly.


Another exciting development in the Flea Market excitement was getting featured on the Broadway.Com featurette on the Flea Market. Susan Blackwell interviews me and I sketch her... right around the 11 minute mark. See it here. Thank you Susan and team!!


Here are some narcissistic shots of me around Central Park. I was in town for just three days with a travel day on each end. So it wasn't the easiest to get together with all I had hoped to, but I did see a few cherished pals... old friends, new friends, Wichita peeps, California folks transplanted or just visiting, online friends and fans, amazing Broadway gypsies and celebs, etc. etc. etc.

It was a fantastic trip and I can't wait until I can get back to the city.


Now I'm home and I've hit the drawing board running. Lots to do! I have a few commissions, and I'm working on a line of fun stuff for possibly putting on t-shirts. I'm prepping for the Signature Theatre exhibit (premiering November 10). Just booked my ticket to head to Arlington, VA to curate the exhibit and see the first preview of the show my work is accompanying, Show Boat. Add to all this an engagement at Disney Concert Hall, a visit to my bro and his family in St. Paul, and a smorgasbord of autumnal activities, and life is a fun, challenging, wonderful whirlwind. I'm so grateful. Take care, all! Peace and love.

I won!

Hello all! I'm so grateful to report that I've received a lovely award. The Mary Jane Teall Awards recognize excellence in theatre in Wichita, Kansas. They've given me the 2009 award for Outstanding Guest Artist. I treasure my time with Music Theatre of Wichita, and I'm really glad any chance I get to visit the city. I'm proud to say that I've taken part in eight shows and a gala fundraiser since 2002. Thank you Wayne Bryan and MTW family, and thank you Troy Dilport and Deb Campbell for the nomination. I'm so thankful for you all. I look forward to the next time I can return to Wichita.

In other news, I'll be jumping on a NYC-bound plane tomorrow morning. Sunday brings the Broadway Flea Market where I'll be selling prints and drawing live quick-sketch caricatures to benefit BC/EFA. Monday I have an audition. I'm doing my best to get in touch with as many friends as humanly possible, and I've got tickets to a couple shows (new musicals via NYMF). It's a quick trip, though. I'll be home midday on Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to the whirlwind.

Well, I'm back to last minute prep and packing. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Behind the Stop the World scenes...

Here's a wee video I cobbled together. You can see a little bit of the behind the scenes happenings when putting together a staged reading... and a backstage glimpse of the wonderful folks I get to play with. We done good on Monday night. For those not familiar with the show, the histrionics I'm in at the beginning refers to the size of the role. And my absence from a good portion of the thing is because I was running the camera (when I wasn't busy talkin' and a-singin'). Take a peek...



The rendition of "Gonna Build A Mountain" is by Rachel Bay Jones on her CD, ShowFolk.

All the crazy effort has been worthwhile. I've received so many amazing comments from people I love and admire... and folks I didn't know previously. Also, there was a super positive review by a critic who really understands the quickly-paced staged reading format, Les Spindle of Backstage West... click here.

We have one more performance in Thousand Oaks on Sunday. Come see us at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center at 3pm. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Instant bio...

At the headwaters of my theatrical career, I remember reading the voluminous bios of actors who had amassed vast amounts of credits. Some of these bios just went on and on. I remember thinking that I would instantly have a lengthy bio if I could only perform in three particular shows with long titles... Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (which I landed early on in 1994), How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (eight years later in 2002), and A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum (finally achieved last year). And now I've tackled Stop the World – I Want To Get Off. Another longish title. Instant bio. At least they balance out my single word credits... Carousel, Camelot, and Seussical. Anyway... These are the things I think about when the mind wanders. Back to work.

Victory on a few levels...

Short post. I'm tired. The show went well tonight. Things just clicked. Teensy missteps gave way to some solid storytelling. I felt so proud and happy to be a part of the show this evening, especially playing opposite the amazing Tracy Lore and the rest of our amazing cast. The whole Stop the World team was fantastic and put together a show to be proud of... in 25 hours. I think it was a great kickoff to the Musical Theatre Guild's season.

And something happened for me that has never happened before. I stopped a show. It's an absolute treasure of a moment for stage actors. There's nothing like an applause that goes on a bit longer than your typical ovations. I'm so grateful for the opportunity and the moments and the wonderful audience. And now I'm going to hit the hay with joy and gratitude in my heart. Take care, all! Peace and love.

It's the day of the show, y'all...

Tonight, we'll welcome our first (and penultimate) audience to see our staged reading of Stop the World I Want To Get Off. Yesterday's rehearsal brought our first run-through of the show which went as well as can be expected in a down-and-dirty process like this. We get to the Alex Theatre in Glendale around noon. We'll run-through the show with our orchestra and then we'll dress up, take photos, and open the doors. At this time tomorrow, I'll have one official run of this beast of a show under my belt. I'm nervous, but I'm excited too. Here we go...


And briefly, here's today's sketch over at Squigs Knows His Lines. My goal on that page is to occasionally be current with my illustrations (to show my editorial capabilities I guess). If my topic net were cast a bit wider, I would have given a tip o' the hat to Taylor Swift and Beyonce regarding last night's VMAs incident with that butthead. But rather in Broadway circles, breaking news from yesterday was that Avenue Q had their big closing on Broadway BUT they're moving to New World Stages off-Broadway. I'm trying to figure out if other shows have made this move. It's sign of the times, but still encouraging that producers felt that the show was worth keeping open.

Well, I've got to get all my wheels going in the same direction (towards Glendale). Wish me "break a leg!" Take care, all! Peace and love.

Littlechapped...

I'm finding that it's rare at this point in my life that I work as hard at my acting chops as I do on my illustration chops. This weekend is an exception, but I'm actually finding it rather exhilarating. Hard work. Challenging task. Many rewards to be had. Here we go...

Stop the World update...

Hi all! Just a wee shout-out from the trenches. We're in the midst of our fast and furious staging rehearsals, yesterday getting through a good portion of the show. We're back at it today. With so little time in the schedule, the blocking (and minimal choreography) is taught to us and we pretty much have time to write it down and move on to the next scene. Once we're entirely staged, we'll get the chance to run the show tomorrow. Monday afternoon brings a final run with the orchestra, then there's show prep, photo call, and a 7:30 curtain. Whew! Talk about a whirlwind!

I'm feeling good overall, but my head is swimming just piecing together the staging with lyrics and subtext. It can be a lot even while none of the elements on their own is particularly complex. But I've done a bunch of homework so many sections of the show bring a big sigh of relief when they arrive. I never thought I'd say that about the monologues, but those moments are typically just me and my script (and sans the worry of messing someone else up). I've just got to remind myself to live in each moment as it comes... and not to get too cocky and ignore my script too much.

I've gotta give a shout out to the whole Stop the World gang... Everyone is just fab and so fun to play with. I feel incredibly supported by this group of friends. In the midst of all my brain fry, I really am having a great time and I look forward to the art and entertainment that we are going to create. Peace and love, y'all!

Some recent and upcoming art...

Me again. Just thought I'd elucidate (Aristocats, anybody?) on the recent art projects. I was happy to get a call from Christian Hoff asking about a caricature. He'll soon be honored by Junior Theatre (the San Diego educational arts program he participated in when he was young), and will present a concert and a limited edition CD to raise money for the program.






Here are a few pieces I recently posted over at Squigs Knows His Lines. First off, here's a tip o' the hat to the folks involved in 9 to 5 on Broadway. They just closed on Sunday after a five month run. Then here are a couple images from my trip to DC... Musical of Musicals the Musical at MetroStage and Dirty Blonde at Signature Theatre.

The drawing board has a bit of a stack going in the in box... a couple personal caricature commissions, a show or two two sketch, and a whole lot of stuff I'm doing on my own (prep for the Broadway Flea Market on September 27 and the art for the Signature exhibit in November). Lots of fun in the works! Take care, all! Peace and love.