A fleeting wisp of glory...

...that was known as Camelot! We're open and running for a good long weekend here in Wichita, and the show is pretty wonderful. I'm having a great time playing King Pellinore and playing with this amazing show family. It's so wild to think that in just a few days, our Camelot will fade into the ether. (Not unlike Brigadoon?) The journey has been really fun. Other than my own homework and running lines in L.A. with Damon (friend and our Arthur), the prep was a solid week of blocking rehearsals and a few days of tech. Mixed in there were line-running sessions around break area tables and late night sessions at the hotel. We had wonderful character discussions. Our director, the wonderful Wayne Bryan, is really passionate about this show and really shaped the production with a loving hand. Everyone in the cast is so wonderful, but since I share the most stage time with them, I have to single out Damon Kirsche (King Arthur), Laura Griffith (Guenevere), and Ed Watts (Lancelot). Each one is a consummate performer with a killer voice, wonderful presence, and super smart acting chops. I also have loved working with dressing roommates Kevin Reese (Merlin) and the fantastic Paul Sabala (despicable Mordred). We'll savor this all too short run... and enjoy a closing night party at Wayne's Sunday night.

On Monday, Damon and I will share a flight back to L.A. And then I'll unpack, do laundry, re-pack, catch up with the roommate, and hit the road south. My sis and her family will be at Disneyland and I hope to stop off for (what has to be) a brief visit. Then I continue down to Vista where I'll get settled in at the Breners (my Vista family) in order to start 42nd Street rehearsals at the new Moonlight rehearsal hall (!) Tuesday. I'm loving the whirlwind, but I look forward to the time after rehearsals for that laid-back North San Diego County vibe to kick in and make this great show experience a lovely working vacation.

Looking ahead, August will bring a return to Wichita (this time as an audience member to witness Wayne Bryan and other dear friends in The Drowsy Chaperone) and a visit to Oregon and the family. That's what's cookin' with me. Hope all is well with you. Take care, all! Peace and love!

Squigs' art lately...

As I'm here in Wichita, I've finished and posted a couple pieces. The first one here is my monthly contribution to Footlights Curtain Call magazine. This illustration will be the cover for the issue highlighting Shakespeare in Los Angeles. My piece is called "A Midsummer's Night in L.A." and shows the faeries descending onto the city and meandering their way to the various companies in town offering the Bard's fare. As the red wings reach the ground, their serpentine patterns resemble tail lights of city traffic.


Then here's my weekly sketch posting on Squigs Knows His Lines... a tribute to one of my caricature heroes, the late great Al Hirschfeld, on the anniversary of his birth.

I'll close up this entry, but another one is on the way to tell you about what's going on here in Wichita and elsewhere in the next weeks. Peace and love, y'all!