I'm sittin at a cafe, feeling pretty jazzed about the future.
Today was my first with the cast of MacBeth, to be seen live at New Rock Theater following the revival of Point Break Live! Chicago, (also, featuring five of us from PBL). Our fearless leader is Shakes' veteran Mary Beth Liss, taking us into an innovative tech-savvy mounting of the infamous Scottish Play at New Rock's second stage.
And of course, PBL returns in a month with (nearly) the entire cast from Chicago's original cast. Rehearsals begin tomorrow. yeeyah!
Following all this fun is Predator the Musical (mid-summer), produced by the zany brains (castmates from PBL) who are bringing us MacB.
Still working with Raffe (upcoming show at Lilly's Bar on Thursday) on raising that recording fund/music video. And "Water" cast and crew meetup next month. YES!
With all this magic happening, I cannot forget the friends and family who support me, create with me, and inspire me. Thank you, all of you. I can never share my gratitude enough, but you are nevertheless invaluable to me. You all have my unconditional love. You make starving worthwhile.
Now i'm off to more madness, gotta keep this busy brain movin.
Be well, spread Love!
Diggity
PS Check back soon, for some COLLABORACTION love. Inspiring stuff going on at the Flat Iron.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Queen's Gambit
Its another "first day;" as I turn to face a very excitingly uncertain future, I put to rest a very trying age of enlightenment and embrace the oncoming swarm of artistic opportunities, adventures, and possibilities. I've advanced to a higher stage of Life's never-ending chess tournament.
Yesterday, I joined the ranks of the "Laid-off" - an event I not only anticipated, but also eagerly awaited. Though I was "content" in my position with the cafe, it held no promise of promotion or fertility. I can gratefully look back at my time with SCC as a fantastic voyage: I discovered the tricks and traps of owning and managing an independent artisanal business in Chicago, fell more deeply in love with craft coffee and its encompassing sensory experiences, and fortified my necessity for creative process and collaboration in everything into which I dive my heart and soul.
I could certainly be much worse off turning this leaf. Spring is nigh, and so with it brings growth, (consequently evolution), warmth, and longer days. I have more artistic partnerships and inspirations now than ever, and an often overwhelmingly fantastic perception of and approach to this individually common experience we call Life. Meditation and wholistic health ground me, my senses enliven me, my soul impassions me, family and friends and strangers give purpose to those passions. Yes, life could be worse.
An overview of upcoming artistic ventures:
- promising interview with Ballroom Dance Chicago.
- promising audition for "Mother's Milk" low budget feature film.
- currently developing my website with RECasper.
- "Raffe": booking gigs, promoting, music video direction, and possible collaboration.
- developing a guerrilla social experiment "Dance or Die"
- "Let Them Eat Cake" in rehearsals now, performing in March @ Workbook, Art Institute, Carnivale.
- begin teaching "Tuning-In: Character Acting through sound and movement." in March.
- Production meetings for "Water" begin in March.
- Point Break, Live! returns for 6 weekends, beginning late March
- cast as the Porter in MacBeth at New Rock Theater in May
- and continuing to write, paint and make music.
My senses do not deceive me, though. I am aware that great challenge awaits me; in this world it depends greatly on income and I have little of that at present. This excites me, however, as I thrive in the midst of challenge. I crave problems to solve. My senses are heightened and they continue to guide me through the maze called "Balance."
Balance means my passions, talents, and enjoyable employable skills entirely support my health and my wealth. The puzzle is in the process of discovering how I and my passions, talents, and enjoyable employable skills can effectively collaborate with the community, society, world and universe in which we exist. It's a mix of philosophy, sociology, child psychology, quantum metaphysics, statistics, and logistics. It's a sales and stock strategy. It's a duality of student and teacher. It's intuitive. It's a social experiment. It's gaining control by letting go. I can't overcome the obstacle unless I acknowledge and submit to its existence. It's a chess game with Goliath.
I've done my studying. I've watched him play. I've prepared my mind and soul, and set up my board. I'm White, and it's my move. Queen's gambit: pawn to d4.
Yesterday, I joined the ranks of the "Laid-off" - an event I not only anticipated, but also eagerly awaited. Though I was "content" in my position with the cafe, it held no promise of promotion or fertility. I can gratefully look back at my time with SCC as a fantastic voyage: I discovered the tricks and traps of owning and managing an independent artisanal business in Chicago, fell more deeply in love with craft coffee and its encompassing sensory experiences, and fortified my necessity for creative process and collaboration in everything into which I dive my heart and soul.
I could certainly be much worse off turning this leaf. Spring is nigh, and so with it brings growth, (consequently evolution), warmth, and longer days. I have more artistic partnerships and inspirations now than ever, and an often overwhelmingly fantastic perception of and approach to this individually common experience we call Life. Meditation and wholistic health ground me, my senses enliven me, my soul impassions me, family and friends and strangers give purpose to those passions. Yes, life could be worse.
An overview of upcoming artistic ventures:
- promising interview with Ballroom Dance Chicago.
- promising audition for "Mother's Milk" low budget feature film.
- currently developing my website with RECasper.
- "Raffe": booking gigs, promoting, music video direction, and possible collaboration.
- developing a guerrilla social experiment "Dance or Die"
- "Let Them Eat Cake" in rehearsals now, performing in March @ Workbook, Art Institute, Carnivale.
- begin teaching "Tuning-In: Character Acting through sound and movement." in March.
- Production meetings for "Water" begin in March.
- Point Break, Live! returns for 6 weekends, beginning late March
- cast as the Porter in MacBeth at New Rock Theater in May
- and continuing to write, paint and make music.
My senses do not deceive me, though. I am aware that great challenge awaits me; in this world it depends greatly on income and I have little of that at present. This excites me, however, as I thrive in the midst of challenge. I crave problems to solve. My senses are heightened and they continue to guide me through the maze called "Balance."
Balance means my passions, talents, and enjoyable employable skills entirely support my health and my wealth. The puzzle is in the process of discovering how I and my passions, talents, and enjoyable employable skills can effectively collaborate with the community, society, world and universe in which we exist. It's a mix of philosophy, sociology, child psychology, quantum metaphysics, statistics, and logistics. It's a sales and stock strategy. It's a duality of student and teacher. It's intuitive. It's a social experiment. It's gaining control by letting go. I can't overcome the obstacle unless I acknowledge and submit to its existence. It's a chess game with Goliath.
I've done my studying. I've watched him play. I've prepared my mind and soul, and set up my board. I'm White, and it's my move. Queen's gambit: pawn to d4.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Dance, Magic. Dance.
I just wrapped up the first weekend with Collaboraction out at Millenium Park's ice rink. As David Bowie. And we have discovered that, although many 16 year old girls don't know anything about David Bowie, they appreciate his, um, flare - probably in part thanks to Gaga. speaking of the Lady in Meat...
Through the month of February on Friday and Saturday nights, 5 of us can be seen in Millenium Park ice 'dancing' to various themes. You just missed '80's' weekend; however 'Valentines', 'Disco' and 'Lady Gaga' weekends are still to come. Yes, a weekend of ice skating dedicated to Lady Gaga. No, I don't know what that will entail...meat jackets on ice, maybe?
Admittedly, dancing on ice is not my most graceful of moments and the discovery of yet more underused leg muscles has me reminded of rehearsals for the cruise ships a few years back (the days of yore). Despite the weeks of callousing and muscle spasms, my time at sea was incredible. Sure it helped that I was cruising the beaches of the Caribbean, but dancing every day didnt hurt either. There's something to be said for the incredibly cathartic effects of dancing. When we stray from Life's rhythm, dancing can put us back on track - give us our groove back, so to speak.
I am inspired by this. I wonder what would happen if one person just started dancing, 'out of place' like mid-day in a city square. Would others join in? Or just watch? My assumption is mostly the latter, but I feel like the former could happen plenty if the music was catchy enough, and loud enough. How would this change if it were a group dancing, instead of the individual? Just ask [this guy]. Obviously booze n drugs (and warm weather) help liberate the dancer in us all, but I think he is on to something.
Til that warm weather shows up, I guess we're stuck with ice dancing. At least I am, and if you're feeling stagnant you can come join David Bowie and Meat Jackets on Ice!
Be well, spread Love.
I love the 80's : Bowie & Jagger Dancing in the Street.
Through the month of February on Friday and Saturday nights, 5 of us can be seen in Millenium Park ice 'dancing' to various themes. You just missed '80's' weekend; however 'Valentines', 'Disco' and 'Lady Gaga' weekends are still to come. Yes, a weekend of ice skating dedicated to Lady Gaga. No, I don't know what that will entail...meat jackets on ice, maybe?
Admittedly, dancing on ice is not my most graceful of moments and the discovery of yet more underused leg muscles has me reminded of rehearsals for the cruise ships a few years back (the days of yore). Despite the weeks of callousing and muscle spasms, my time at sea was incredible. Sure it helped that I was cruising the beaches of the Caribbean, but dancing every day didnt hurt either. There's something to be said for the incredibly cathartic effects of dancing. When we stray from Life's rhythm, dancing can put us back on track - give us our groove back, so to speak.
I am inspired by this. I wonder what would happen if one person just started dancing, 'out of place' like mid-day in a city square. Would others join in? Or just watch? My assumption is mostly the latter, but I feel like the former could happen plenty if the music was catchy enough, and loud enough. How would this change if it were a group dancing, instead of the individual? Just ask [this guy]. Obviously booze n drugs (and warm weather) help liberate the dancer in us all, but I think he is on to something.
Til that warm weather shows up, I guess we're stuck with ice dancing. At least I am, and if you're feeling stagnant you can come join David Bowie and Meat Jackets on Ice!
Be well, spread Love.
I love the 80's : Bowie & Jagger Dancing in the Street.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Latest: Headshots and Tap Dancing
I've recently had my head shots redone, this time again with the lovely and talented miss Alexis Buryk of Lexi B Photography (http://lexibphotography.blogspot.com). The plan is to land an agent by June, and in the mean time score a couple more great gigs on my own.
Also very exciting, for me at least, are inspirations by way of dancing - tap in particular. More to come later.
If you have tips on navigating "Blogger", or tricks for attaching, sharing, or linking content - you're input is invaluable. Thanks in advance.
Be wise, spread Love.
All photos courtesy of Lexi B Photography (c) 2010, 2011
Also very exciting, for me at least, are inspirations by way of dancing - tap in particular. More to come later.
If you have tips on navigating "Blogger", or tricks for attaching, sharing, or linking content - you're input is invaluable. Thanks in advance.
Be wise, spread Love.
All photos courtesy of Lexi B Photography (c) 2010, 2011
Trying something Different (for me, that is).
Hi friends and strangers. Thanks for following me; "Playing the Card" is a place where those in interest can catch up on my latest interests, musings, and adventures. That's all for now.
Be wise, spread Love.
Be wise, spread Love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)