Rehearsing

I had forgotten how much work directing can be, and we've barely even started into the text.

Of course, I also have a huge fight scene to learn, in an entirely new weapon. But I can't complain - I did that to myself. But it's a unique kind of pressure as a director to not only lead and be knowledgeable as the director, but also to have to lead by example as an actor. I can't exactly slack off on learning my lines here if I want anyone else to feel obligated to know theirs, etc.

That said, the first week of rehearsals has been fantastic. Paul Angelo is going to be brilliant as MacBeth, and he is so lovely to work with - full of ideas, but takes direction so easily it's like it was his idea. Not a diva-bone in him, it seems. And Allison Anderson is going to be a revelation as Lady MacBeth. Both of them are such HUNGRY actors - it's thrilling to direct them. It's great - but it also kinda makes you realize how......well.....lazy a lot of other actors are. And I don't excuse myself, either.

The fight rehearsals are going brilliantly as well. Kendall really knows his stuff, and even though the only choreography we've gotten through so far is the first half of Banquo's murder (I'm not giving away any plot points, am I?) - it's going to be chilling. And seeing Alex, the little boy playing Fleance, get all excited because he gets to kick one of the muderers in the balls, is a serious joy.

In other news, I just landed a role back at the Theater Barn in New Lebanon, NY, where I worked last summer. I'll be playing the lead in their first play, "Breaking Legs" which sounds like a hoot. And hopefully I'll still be able to get back in time to do the summer remount of "Romeo and Juliet" which would be great.

Higher, Mr. Chips! Higher!

More than a month since I've posted? Shame on me. Just a sign of how busy I've been.

I almost posted a few weeks ago when I (literally) ran into William Hurt at a restaurant. Didn't even realize it was him til my friend Matt Haynes told me after we left. All I recalled was that the guy didn't seem to accept my apology for ramming into him on my way to the bathroom.

So....Romeo and Juliet closed after a wonderful run. I'll work with Blue Monkey anytime. We moved (and I almost wrote a post about how awesome my friend Kenichi is. And I should have. Without him, we never could have done that move. Never. When others bowed out, Ken was there, man. We owe him.) I held auditions for MacBeth. I started Umpiring for High School games. (And got rather harrassed by a coach who didn't like my ball and strike calls. Tough.) I have the reading of my first play in about 8 years next week. And I landed my first Portland commercial.

It took place in a windtunnel at the local Freightliner industrial complex. The concept was that a tour of truckers were asked what they would do if they had a wind tunnel, and one trucker had a dream sequence in which he was dressed in a squirrel suit and flying in the breeze. like a kite. I played the ringmaster who held his leash and shouted at him to fly higher while I whipped him. It was great fun - especially when they turned the wind machine on. They told us that they only had it up to 25 MPH - the sucker goes to 65 - now THAT would have kicked ass.

Gotta say - it beats substitute teaching any day.