HUMP DAY CHECK IN - 2/20/13

So the great grey beast of February limps along here in Smith-Conner land. Is it Spring yet? By the look at the outside temperature right now, I'm guessing not. Working outdoors this Winter has really taken it's toll on me.  I am more than ready for warm weather to return before my skin starts to crack apart.

I finally cast the last male role in Thunder Knocking on the Door, so I am excited to unveil my cast very soon! It is an amazingly talented group of performers, and they are certain to rip the roof off of Creative Cauldron this Spring! I will give you two hints until then...the cast features two actors recently seen in Signature Theatre's Dreamgirls, and one actor recently seen in my production of the musical talked about below...Stay tuned for details...

                                                               (Photo by JoNell Franz)
Night of the Living Dead the Musical will play this Fall in St. Louis at New Line Theatre! We are beyond excited to have the full show make it's professional regional debut! I cannot wait to bring you more details through the coming months about the St. Louis NOTLD! Here is an article on Broadway World announcing it!




In the current installment of SH*T I LIKE, we have another film that yielded unexpected results...

This film is ridiculous and entertaining from minute one.  The film explores the genre of "no reason", as a tire raises itself up in a desert, and goes on a killing rampage with it's telekinetic powers. It makes no sense.  It isn't supposed to. It is my current favorite film. The always wonderful Stephen Spinella stars and narrates the film. It is currently on Netflix Instant, so check it out! (WARNING - if you are grossed out by over the top special effects such as exploding heads, skip this one.)

Stanford Mixed Company, an a cappella group I accidentally discovered, has an amazing CD on iTunes called, "The Other Side of Blue".  It features songs by the Indigo Girls, Dave Matthews Band, Madonna, Pat Benetar, U2, and others.  They are an incredible group, and I have NEVER been into a cappella until hearing this CD. Check them out on iTunes, and you can hear their cover of Madonna's Crazy for You HERE.

That is all for now, so until next time - keep battling the great grey beast...March is almost here!
xoxoxoxoxSGS

The Great Grey Beast

"The great grey beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was, buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way out through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter...It was a monstrous month, that was for sure; a dire and dreary month. The pleasures of Christmas, both sharp and sweet, were already dimming in Harvey's memory, and the promise of summer was so remote as to be mythical. There'd be a spring break, of course, but how far off was that? Five weeks? Six? Mathematics wasn't his strong point, so he didn't irritate himself further by attempting -- and failing -- to calculate the days. He simply knew that long before the sun came to save him he would have withered away in the belly of the beast." - Clive Barker, "The Thief of Always".

Here we are, friends...entering the belly of the beast.  Welcome to February.  The coldest, dreariest month of the year, and a month that I have always dreaded since first reading Clive Barker's masterpiece, "The Thief of Always".  I still feel like Harvey Swick felt...buried in the belly of the beast.
So kill some time with me here in the beast's belly. We've nothing else to do, have we? Of course not...
What's new? Thank you for asking. I wish I could say something other than, "Not much." But I can't, really. I am busying myself walking dogs by day and sometimes teaching.  The bar has been closed for three weeks, so even my social interaction in the evenings has been limited. I go back to the bar for the Invited Dress Rehearsal of R&J this afternoon, so I look forward to seeing more people again.  (A sentence that I never thought I would say out loud. lol)
I have cast all but one role in Thunder Knocking on the Door, so we are still searching for him. I am terribly excited about the amazing cast that we have lined up, though, and look forward to announcing the entire cast to you once we have our final member. Rehearsals begin in April, so after surviving the great grey beast of February, I still have to navigate the maleficent murky month of March before I can get to staging the show. COME ON, SPRING!
Since I have not had a show since Whore House closed, I have had some time to be a normal (ish) human being. This has allowed me to get sucked into a number of television shows, including Downton Abbey, American Horror Story: Asylum, The Walking Dead, The New Normal, and RuPaul's Drag Race.  I have never watched so many tv shows, and I am already looking forward to a new A&E series called Bates Motel. This, my friends, is what too much downtime creates.
After fracturing my toes during the end of Whore House, I put on about 10 lbs or so. This was mainly due to an inability to get back to the gym.  So the first week of January, I was back to the gym.  One of my resolutions for the new year was to get back in shape, so off I went. I had two solid days of gym work under my bed when I got stricken with the dreaded Norovirus, which knocked me on my ass for a week. After recovering from that, I have logged about two solid gym weeks in now. It has become a routine part of my day again, and I like when it starts to feel natural like that. By spring, I should be back in business.
Alright, here is the latest Sh*t I like:

A Norwegian film that is about just what it says it is - a troll hunter. This film surprised me, as I never expected to like it at all.  I thought it would be terrible, but boy was I wrong...it is actually an incredible horror film, and the special effects are amazing. It is a MUST WATCH for horror fans. Check out the link here. The movie is on Netflix Streaming!

V/H/S is a compilation horror film, loosely strung together on the premise that a bunch of criminals must break into a house and find a certain video tape that contains evidence that is damning to the person who is paying them to do it. They find hundreds and hundreds of videotapes in this house, including a dead man sitting in front of a tv playing a blank vhs tape. There are nine different directors on this film who do different vignettes and stories as tapes are played, looking for the right tape. The film is seriously freaky, and you can also find it on Netflix streaming.

This compilation cd is EVERYTHING to me right now! Sounds of cars revving engines start most of the songs, and with titles like Drag Race Mama and Hot Rod Lincoln, the cd is not to be missed!

So that wraps up this breathtaking entry.  I hope that I have more of a reason to write something by the next one.  Signing off from inside the belly of the great grey beast, xoxoxoSGS

TGIF - 1/11/13

Checking in with everyone here on a Friday morning before I head out to walk dogs. This has been a rabbit hole of a week for both of us. Late last Thursday night, I started to come down with a terrible stomach bug. By Friday morning, it was serious. By Saturday, I wanted to go to the hospital.  By Sunday night, It started to let up a little.  By Monday, I felt something like a human being again. Unfortunately, Monday evening is when Matt started feeling bad.  So the rest of this week has been taking care of Matt as he battles his way out of this mess. I hope that today is the day he finally starts to feel human again. His birthday was yesterday, and what a terrible way to spend your birthday. Buddha, on the other hand, has lived for having us home so much this past week.


Auditions are coming up on Monday evening for my next project.  I am directing Thunder Knocking on the Door by Keith Glover and Keb'Mo at Creative Cauldron this coming spring. I am looking for an all African American, non union cast. Further details available here.  Please let anyone who may fit this know. I first fell in love with the show when it played at Arena Stage in 1998. I have never seen an audience have such a wonderful time in my whole life.  I still haven't.  Nothing that I have seen has set an audience on fire as much as that show.  Here's hoping that I can capture a bit of that fire for my production this spring!



Ok, that's all for now, gotta go walk the puppies, then tend bar at Dreamgirls tonight (here begins closing weekend of the amazing production).  I hope I can catch a nap in-between! 
I'll wake you all up when something exciting happens.
xoxoSGS

2012 - My Ipod's top 10

Well, here is probably one of the most random and nerdy top ten songs possible. I got this list by going to my Itunes and clicking on the "most played" option....and here are my ten most listened to songs in 2012. The only place I really listen to my ipod is while I am showering, which makes this list even more embarrassing.  If you ever needed confirmation that I am gay, here it is...

10.) Night and Day - Fred Astaire - Yes, the Cole Porter classic that closed the Cole Porter review that I wrote this past fall. I have always been obsessed with Fred Astaire, and this orchestration of the song is one of the sexiest that I have heard. My favorite moment that I made sure we recreated in our version at Creative Cauldron is when Fred sings, "In the roaring traffic's boom - " - and then there is one bass drum hit and silence, until he comes back with the next lyric totally acapella.  That is what I call sexy.



9.) Rob Me Blind - Jay Brannan - Gay singer/songwriter, Jay Brannan released a new album this year, and this is the title track off of it. The orchestration of this song is haunting, and the video that Jay released is even more effective, concerning a fantasy in one's head constructed after a random glance in an elevator. We have seen Jay perform live twice now, and have fallen in love with his music and lyrics.



8.) Tear in Your Hand - Tori Amos - Yes, a 90's throwback, and not the last one on this top 10 list. One of my favorite songs off of Tori's classic debut album. It's all about the lyrics here. Tori paints some incredibly evocative pictures with her words.  This song features one of my favorite Tori lyrics - "I'm cutting my hands up every time I touch you.". I mean....come on...

7.) Blue Gardenia - Dinah Washington - My absolute favorite Dinah Washington song, and one of my favorite songs, period. Not only are Dinah's vocals as sterling as ever, but the analogy of this song's lyrics is haunting. This woman's narrative compares herself to a corsage made of blue gardenias that has been tossed aside after a night out. "I lived for an hour...what more can I tell? Love bloomed like a flower, then the petals fell..."

6.) Original Sin - Taylor Dayne - Maybe one of the more embarrassing entries in my top ten. It hails from 1994's soundtrack to The Shadow, this song is terrible, tick-tacky, and I love every cheesy second of it.  I have no idea why.  The lyrics are terrible. The orchestrations are terrible. And I can't get enough of it. Thank you for this turd, Taylor Dayne.




5.) Snow - Matt Conner - One of the most gorgeous instrumental pieces that I have ever heard.  This is from Matt's first album, Winter.  Right after the album was released, I went home to Pennsylvania, and as it began to snow, put the song on and shot this video. Watching the birds and the snow are always  the images I see in my head when I hear this song. Breathtaking.

4.) Rumor Has It - Adele - When we look back on the past 2 years, Adele has dominated the charts with her modern classic album, 21.  This album will enter into the best albums of all time. This track happened to be the most played from the past year.

3.) Paper Bag - Fiona Apple - A throwback from 99/2000, this amazing song centers on a woman who knows "she is a mess that he doesn't want to clean up...". In any Fiona Apple song, lyrics are the main star, and this song is no exception. "I've got to fold cause these arms are too shaky to hold, hunger hurts, but starving works; when it costs too much to love." And watch the brilliant video, also one of my favorite music videos.

2.) All Over the World - Xanadu Original Broadway Cast - Yes, perhaps one of the gayer entries on my list...;.and how embarrassing that it is number 2. Yes, I may sing this in the shower.  Yes, I may dance as well. Yes, it is all Matt Gardiner and Signature Theatre's fault for staging a brilliant production of the show and making me obsessed.


1.) I'm Addicted - Madonna - Hailing from her latest album, MDNA, the sentiment of this minor key dance song is nothing new.  Robert Palmer explored the same idea in the 80's with girls in black dresses and their hair pulled back. The idea of being addicted to one's love has been around.  But, I don't go to Madonna's songs for lyrics.  I go to her songs to dance. This was one of the most exciting tracks off of her latest album, and clearly the one that I wanted to jam out to in the shower the most.



SO there is my very gay shower playlist. You can die happy now that you know that information. Happy New Year!!!

Life Upon the Wicked Stage - 2012

 2012 was a blessing, filling my schedule with many different theatrical adventures, all of which I was lucky to be a part of. I started my year with the conclusion of the highly successful run of Hairspray at Signature Theatre. Corny Collins was a dream role of mine, and I am so thankful that I got the chance to play around with him.
Favorite moment: The top of Nicest Kids in Town, where I got to fulfill my TV host entrance fantasies.

 The next adventure took me to Tsar-ist Russia. The cross dressing, murderous Prince Felix Yusupov was my next stop. This guy was sooooo much fun. He is one of my favorite twisted gentlemen that I have ever played.  Between the ridiculously high high heels, the asymmetrical coat and hair, the press on nail, and the insane excess of "The Good Life", he was always interesting and fun to live inside of. Dana Rowe and John Dempsey created a terrific piece of theatre that I truly hope lives on.
Favorite moment: The big 4 male voice harmony part in "Good Life" when Russell, Kevin, Chris Mueller and I sang "This is What You Call the Good Life" as we stood and toasted with our champagne. Terribly decadent and ridiculously rockin'.

 I then had the honor of covering all three men in First You Dream, the Music of Kander and Ebb at The Kennedy Center. It was a wonderful learning experience, and was a challenge to learn all three of these intricate vocal parts and dances.  I love a challenge, and this was definitely the biggest challenge thrown my way in a long time.  I hadn't understudied in quite a long time, and the last time that I swung a show was for The World Goes 'Round at Round House back in 2005. While I never had to go on, unlike my fellow swing, Eleasha Gamble, I was ready at the drop of a hat to tag into the show. Eleasha and I had a monitor in the rehearsal room, so we basically did the show along with the show in the rehearsal room every night. What a dream job.  Being paid to sing in a room with Eleasha all evening. We used to do that at my house for free back in the day!
Favorite Moment: So many...James Clow singing "My Own Space", Matthew Scott singing anything, Heidi and Leslie's hysterical "Apple Doesn't Fall Very Far from the Tree", and, since I am partial to Heidi, having worked with her before - virtually anytime she opened her mouth and sang was my favorite moment in FYD. From her frantic and desperate "Sing Happy", to her Hysterical "Ring Them Bells", to her triumphant "Maybe This Time"...this woman needs to be a gigantic star right this very minute.

 I had my seventh cabaret at Signature Theatre this summer. It was entitled "Naked", and dealt with my relationship with Matt Conner, and our upcoming wedding. Oh, and I took my clothes off. The glorious Steven Walker was my only accompaniment, and the amazing Karissa Swanigan sang back ups and solos with me. It was my most personal cabaret to date, and the most brutally honest one that I have ever done.  But it was also the most rewarding.
Favorite Moment: Opening number -   a re-vamped, up tempo and rock infused cover of Paula Abdul's "Rush, Rush".

Late summer brought with it a trip to Miss Mona's. I got to cross another thing off my bucket list by being an Aggie Boy in The Best Little Whore House in Texas at Signature Theatre. Talk about a challenge! The Aggie Song was the most challenging dance that I have ever been a part of. Choreographers Karma and Brianne Camp constructed a rigorous and athletic testosterone fest for us, as we stripped down to jockstraps out of our football uniforms and into cowboy gear. I have also never been THAT naked on stage, so there was another first! This was a fantastic cast, and was a fun group to be with.  Talk about having to be TOTALLY comfortable with your cast members! Being naked and simulating sex is definitely an ice breaker!!! Near the end of the run, I fractured my right second and third toes during the Aggie Song. I finished out the two show day (of course it had to happen on a Sunday matinee) and then was out of the show for a week.  I have never been out of a show for that long, and it was awful. to be away from it. I rejoined the show for the final week, and we closed the show out with a bang.
Favorite Moment: SOOOOOO many...the chasse cross in the Aggie Song, 24 hours of Lovin', The Raid, watching Dan Manning every night try to make us laugh in The Sidestep, the backstage Bus from Amarillo nude interpretive dance (don't ask), Tom Simpson singing "Good Old Girl", Sherri singing "You were a Friend to Me".

The toes in question. Yep. I broke my own toes by dancing too hard.

During the final weeks of Whorehouse, my limits were put to test in many ways. While doing the show, I was researching, writing, and assimilating a brand new Cole Porter review at Creative Cauldron, which I also directed, with choreography by Kara Tameika Watkins, and Co-Direction and script editing by Laura Connors Hull. Inhabiting the spirits of Cole and Linda Porter were the fabulous Carolyn Cole and Sean Thompson. This little review was magical.  I wanted it to be more than just another shitty review, and give it the framework of a little more theatricality, and some dancing as well. The song selection was the hardest task. When dealing with the canon of Cole Porter's music, it is so difficult to narrow the song list down to a finite number. I loved what we ended up with...many familiar Cole songs, with a nice smattering of rarely heard Cole songs, some of which no recordings can be found of! Carolyn and Sean did marvelous and touching work bringing this odd couple to life, and Kara Tameika Watkins created a gorgeous tango and fox trot for them to sweep the stage with.

Favorite Moment: Too many. Sean singing "I'm a Gigolo", Carolyn singing "Love for Sale", both of them singing "Well, Did You Evah?" - and watching the sultry tango of "So in Love", and the romantic and sweeping fox trot of "Night and Day".


 














My final project of 2012 tried its best to test not only my limits, but my sanity. The first musical that I have ever written, and that I wrote with my partner, Matt Conner - had it's world premiere at Kensington Arts Theatre. I directed the show, alongside Co-Director and every woman, Jenna Ballard. So, to keep things in focus, I was performing in Whorehouse, researching, writing, and directing Cole Porter, and in rehearsal for NightoftheLivingDead at the same time.  I felt like I was working on Cole Porter's "Whorehouse of the Living Dead". It has been my dream to see this show realized on stage, and I am glad that I got to direct the maiden voyage, so I could edit the script on it's feet to make future directors lives MUCH easier when the direct this show. So much good work was done, and I am so proud of my amazing cast and crew. The show was an intense roller-coaster of a show. I didn't breathe for an hour every time I saw it. It ain't The Music Man, that's for sure.
Favorite Moment: Ugh...how do I single one out? Maya Gensler as Karen, tracing her father's blood stain along the wall with her finger, the killer fight scene between Ben and Harry, the boards flying off the walls in the final sequence, Susanna Todd as Helen doing just about anything, Karissa Swanigan Upchurch's devastating "Johnny and Me", Ben Simpson and Susanna Todd singing "Drive", RaMond Thomas doing just about anything, Leslie Vincent and Stephen Hock's fantastic scene and song of "What You Say". The entire cast in the opening, 2:50am, and the finale was breathtaking.


I want to thank everyone who had anything to do with any single one of these shows. I am very blessed to have been a part of them, and am forever grateful for my continued employment! May the new year bring you much success and happiness!
xoxoSGS

No words.

Mea Culpa

Oh dear readers (if any are still out there), forgive me, for I have sinned.  My last blog entry was 3 months ago. Well, much has happened. Cole Porter opened and closed to wonderful reviews, and a Helen Hayes Reccomendation. I was beyond proud.  I loved the show so much, and the performances that Carolyn Cole and Sean Thompson gave were magnificent. Whorehouse went chugging along well, until I fractured two toes near the end of September.  It happened in the middle of the Aggie dance on a matinee.  I finished out both shows (it was a Sunday), then on Monday I went to Urgent Care and got the x-rays proving the two fractures were indeed there. I was out of the show for around a week.

I almost went crazy laying flat on my back for the off time. I should have blogged then, but I was too busy in LivingDead world. The show was in the middle of rehearsals, and I was revising the book, and obsessing over it. And watching Walking Dead, The New Normal, and American Horror Story; Asylum. I finished out the last week of the show, then opened LivingDead, and obsessed over it for the entire run. The run was helpful for me to watch and learn from.  I had an amazing cast, and was very proud of the work we did. The show was well reviewed, and I am still revising it for it's next appearance in St. Louis this coming Fall. The good news is that I am not applying major surgery to the piece, as after the first reading, but merely nips and tucks.

 

After LivingDead was done, I have gone back to my 3 day/night jobs (teaching/walking dogs/bartending). I choreographed a dance sequence for Creative Cauldron's production of "Christmas Cabin of Carnaween", which was reviewed well - "Driven gently ahead by excellent storytelling, folksy singing, and surprisingly good Irish-style dancing in a tiny space, this little production does the job explaining the reason for the season."

I was also featured in a tv spot on the after school classes that I teach.

After (thank GOD) President Obama was re-elected, and in our planning of our June wedding, I was interviewed by the Baltimore Sun about considering Maryland as a wedding location. We are still undecidied, and will probably wait until after the holidays to finalize plans.

The next theatrical project that I have in the pipeline is directing "Thunder Knocking on the Door" at Creative Cauldron this coming Spring. I saw this show at Arena Stage about 10 times in 1998, and am so excited to bring it back to the Washington area.

 

I am back in the blogging world, I promise. I will be doing year end wrap ups for the next few weeks leading up to 2013. Thank you to anyone who still reads this and gives a shit.

Talk soon, xoxoxoSGS