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.