Chop Chop

NEXT UP...

Farewell, Lee Harvey Oswald...

BEFORE

My natural color and cut are back...Thanks, Rabbit 1970...











AND AFTER...

ASSASSINS...1 shot left...

In Between shows...1 left.

PHOTOS BY CAROL PRATT

CLOSING DAY

So Today is it. Am I ready? Yes. Why? The piece is so emotionally exhausting that I am worn out through and through. I will post a retrospective of the piece on Monday...As for now, I will feature more of Carol Pratt's gorgeous photography...

Mr. Booth and Mr. Oswald...(2 Journeys Left)

PHOTOS BY CAROL PRATT of Will Gartshore and Stephen Gregory Smith


Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.


Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.


Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.


And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was in Marilyn Monroe.

5 Shows Left

(PHOTOS BY CAROL PRATT)

Fringe

The country mouse ventured across the river to a show at the Capital Fringe Festival last night. It takes a whole heap to get me to cross the river, but this was a Monday night show, so I was available...not only a Monday night show, but Josh Lefkowitz's one man monologue, entitled, "HELP WANTED: A Personal Search for Meaningful Employment at the Start of the 21st Century".
Josh and I were in One Red Flower together, and formed an immediate and strong bond. I picked him up in DC after my morning job (Wisteria Landscapers)and brought him to rehearsal for the show.
We shared many incredibly funny conversations over the course of these car rides and rehearsals. Riffing on everything from eating meals (which I detest...yes, I hate the physical task of eating) to Julie Andrews putting cigarettes out in her eyes. I won't explain, because it would only cheapen the details.
Josh played my best friend in One Red Flower, and that was never a stretch. I found him hysterical, intelligent, and engaging. His one man show is like sitting down to dinner with him. Well...dinner and drinks.
I am happy to report that it is a fantastic show, and you always feel like he is speaking right to you. His story telling technique is very bombastic at times, yet never strays from Josh the person. The row of 6 of us from Signature, who know and adore the man, laughed with slightly more fervor, as we had just a little more knowledge about the man in question than the rest of the house.

I was happy and sad to see this show. Happy to see and experience the comedy/beauty that is Josh. Sad to know that he is no longer a Metro ride away from my house.
Growing up is hard to do. A lesson I learn daily.
Afterwards, I spotted Tboy , exchanged pleasantries as he pondered why I was out so late...then remembered it was a Monday...Josh and the rest of the Signature crew went to Fado's Pub.
I had never been, and LOVED it! It reminded me of many of the Irish pubs that I used to frequent in Winchester and PA. Dark and seedy, with lots of stone and wood.
We had a great evening, talked with Josh about days gone by and days to come.
When will I see JL again? Who knows. The beauty is that it never feels like there has been any time apart.
I strongly advise all of you Signature Subscribers who read this blog, and anyone else who has the time and money to go and see Josh pour out his words and passion. You will have a great night of entertainment and a beautiful glimpse into a talented man's artistic soul. Click HERE for more info...and PS...the only 2 remaining shows are tonight at 6:15PM, and tomorrow evening...Get your tickets fast!
Luv,
SGS

The Death of Mister Goodbar

Well, the heatwave took another casualty in it's wake. Mister Goodbar, my cellphone.
You may recall the previous saga of cellular horror at the Ballston Mall. When the evil cell phone that had metal on it and that had been eating my face up fell to it's death in a puddle in Del Ray, and my battles with Ballston Commons zombies and the Kiosk Queen.
No such horrors this time. I avoided Ballston and went to Old Town Alexandria's T-mobile store and obtained this cutie with no difficulty.







Same phone number, new phone.
Her name is Candy Apple.
Stop giggling.

FLOOR SHOW

Well, at long last, about a month after the flood to end all floods hit the Metro area, and after the previous sewage explosion of Fairlington,we are finally back in our basement with no threat of water logged carpet happening ever again. Tile now coats the floor. The tile is down, and we still have lots of work to do with cleaning virtually everything in the basement, but the progress has begun.
Here is our bedroom, almost back to normal.


What is interesting is that since the tile is so bright and clean looking, I feel the need to throw out all of the clutter in the basement, because it looks nasty in comparison to the clean Tuscan shaded tile.


We have been doing a little here and there between work and doing the show. All should be back to normal within or past the following week.
Amen.
Luv,
SGS

Assassins is starting to end...

Well, as often happens in double extensions, some of our cast members will be with us for the last time today. Bradley Bowers, who plays Billy Moore, will be leaving us to head up to Olney for No End of Blame. He gave everyone pictures..these are the 2 he gave me. We will all miss him this next week. His Billy Moore is a hysterically evil brat.
Diego Prieto will also be leaving, as he had some sort vacation to vacate to. *sigh* Sorry, a little envy creeped into that last sentence. Inside voice.
And next week, I know that Doug Bowles will be gone for at least one day, and Peter Joshua (Zangara) has an in and out schedule next week.
So, as always tends to happen, goodbyes start to come and I start waxing and waning on the whole thing that has occupied 60% of my time since May.
It was sad to say goodbye to Bradley, and tonight will be Diego's last show, and soon after, the week will turn into one long goodbye.
The old saying is that the sadder you are to close a show, the better it was.
Maybe that explains why my sad meter is starting to elevate...


Luv, SGS

Bzzzzzzzz...

With one week left in the "Summer of Bad Hair"...(I mean Assassins), I am already hearing the siren call of the electric razor. What do I mean by "Summer of Bad Hair"? Well, since I have had to grow my hair out to a Lee Harvey-like length, and dye it brownish (neither of which look too appealing on me off the stage), I long ago in May declared Summer 06' the Summer of Bad Hair.
That will all change on closing night, where upon Rabbit70 will buzz my hair to a pulp. I guess Damn Yankees spoiled me. I loved having my hair that short and seriously doubt if I will ever like to wear my hair long again.
Not that any of this is really any sort of breaking news, mind you. Well...it is to me, not to you. I cannot wait to shed these dyed locks and return to my blonde summer buzz. I actually took my clippers into the theatre and they are sitting on my station. I had to take them to the theatre for fear that I would have a night raid and shave my head in a fit of hair envy.
One week.
Oh, and PS, no this doesn't mean that I hate my hair in the show, or the show itself...I will actually be very sad to close this show, as it has been an amazing experience, and I love the role. The only good thing to come from closing, will be my hair preference.

One week.
*sigh*

NEW LINK!!!

I just had to do it. Don't ask me why. I feel that this belongs in my links.

My Fair Lady...the press machine begins...

This just in on Playbill.com.

UNBELIEVABLE

I know that I have heard most of you talking about this little girl, but if you haven't seen it, you really can't believe it.
Feast your eyes on an amazingly talented 11 year old girl..

Disco Belle

Here are some photos of my prize winning (just kidding) Disco Belle Hibiscus. Ain't she pretty?

2:30-update

Well, the pain has subsided. Thanks, in part, to antibiotics and pain killers. But I am now able to open my mouth wider, so I can begin to eat more normally.
I was given the name of a dentist who has offered to assist me, and I will go and see him after we close Assasins on July 30th.
I must say that I will miss this show when it is over. It has been a fantastic experience, and I will miss the cast.
You too, Cookie Puss.
So the tooth pain is done for now, and I thank you all for your sweet e-mails.
Luv,
SGS

2:30

Ok...so, I'm sorry if I haven't answered as many calls, or blogged a whole lot...there is, however, an explanation.
I have a wisdom tooth coming in that is angled in quite an evil way. It is cutting my inner cheek.
I think it is infected, too. Getting through the past 3 shows has been interesting.
I don't know what I am going to do. My face is swollen, and I am in more pain than I have ever been in.
I haven't really slept in 3 days.
Still in our living room, PS.
No workers putting tile in the basement yet.
Right about now, I wish I had a drug habit.
Luv,
SGS

In My Shoes...

I once read a book on photography that said to take pictures of your world that you see every day. These pictures capture the truest essence of what your personal human experience is.
I tapped on that with the silly little dog-walking You-Tube post.
Here are two more.

The first I call "4:30 PM."
Why?
From about 3-6PM every day is my leisure time. I usually go out back, put my feet up and read.
It is heavenly.


















The second I call "Warm Up".
This is what I see at about 45 minutes till curtain. 2 cigarettes and a Red Bull.

More in the future.
Luv,
SGS

THROUGH JULY 30TH

Great photo from Assassins that is featured in American Theatre Magazine...

What I See Every Day

Speaking of Fruit...

How about this photo, which has been entitled, "The Cucumber and the Melons".
Yes, this 18 inch cucumber was a gift from Donna's thriving garden, and provided hours of comment and amusement backstage. Here are Matt and Lynn(in to visit and see the show) in a photo too funny to not go up on this blog.

ATTRACTION TO FLOTATION

It seems like I can't let a summer go without obtaining a picture of me riding some sort of flotation device.
This summer, the photographer is my Mother, the flotation device?
Mr. Dolphin.











Similar, is it not, to last summer's Mr. Whale picture...





Thanks for shopping SGSblogspot... the best place to find shirtless fruits riding dolphins.