I thought I’d get a few of those out-of-the-way today.

First, to my wonderful wife. After going to the midnight showing of “Star Trek Into Darkness” last night, I slipped into the house at about 3 AM. When I did, our yappy little dogs started barking like mad, waking my wife in that
OHMYGODWHATISHAPPENING?!? kinda way. Sorry about the heart attack, Honey.

Next, I need to apologize to that raccoon I met on the way home last night. I’m pretty sure that was not how you wanted it all to end, buddy, and I’m sorry about that. (Sub-Apology to the undercarriage of my car: that sucked dude and, judging by those crunching and banging noises, you took quite a beating… but it really was his fault.)

Also, I want to apologize to all those people who use LinkedIn. I keep getting nice requests from people who want to “join my network”, and lots of lovely “endorsements” from nice folks about my work. I’m not going to lie, I have no idea what any of that means. I don’t use LinkedIn, I don’t even remember signing up for it, and I’m not even sure what you’re supposed to do with it. So, for now, I’ll add “figure out linked in” to my to do list, and I should be able to get to it around the year 2060.

Other random apologies:

Starbucks, now that I have diabetes I will not be giving you all the monies for all the pumpkin spice lattes. Sorry.

McDonald’s, I need you to come up with a quarter-pounder-with-cheese (plus mayo) that is healthy for me, helps my heart get stronger and me skinnier. Until you do that, we are done. Sorry.

To my kids, who are both teenagers now. For the next several years I will do lots of things that will annoy you – sorry. Also no, I will not explain what it means when I close my eyes and wish you into the cornfield. Ask your mother.

Happy Friday, everybody!

First, the awesome stuff:  Tomorrow, my youngest kid becomes a teenager.  Awesome.  I don’t know when that time between “Oh my God, it’s a boy!” and “Hey, he’s a teenager” happened, but it’s come and gone and he’s 13 now.

Other awesome stuff – we’re about to go into preview performances for “10:53″ at Williamston Theatre, and I’m really pleased with it!

Other milestone stuff:  I got bifocals!  Whooo!  It’s funny, I really don’t mind the classic “He’s getting older” stuff, because it’s proof that I’m not dead yet!  And so the bifocals  A) are fun to get used to, and B) look pretty good on me!  Now, I just need to stop getting dizzy when I turn my head too fast, and everything will be fine. 

And, probably the biggest revelation of the last few weeks, I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes.  So, big life change there.  It’s mild, no insulin shots for me yet – we’re pretty sure we can handle it with diet and exercise.  So – less sugar and carbs for me, more exercise, checking blood glucose regularly, and making sure it stays under control.  Unfortunately diabetes runs in my family, so I’m not very surprised to be diagnosed, but I’d hoped to avoid it by being pretty active and fairly healthy with my lifestyle.  Looks like I didn’t quite make that, but I’m currently in the “mild” range, and planning on keeping it that way.  So, now I’m learning lots about sugar, health, carbs, eating healthy, etc…

So, life keeps moving us forward!  It’s interesting, “10:53″ is very much about having the strength to be honest about where you are in life, and recognizing when you’re stuck and having the courage to break out of that… and here is life, handing me “Your youngest is a teenager… and now you’re diabetic: Go!”.    Isn’t it funny how the universe works?

Amazing.  Onward and upward.  I’m a lucky guy who has a terrific family, and a terrific group of friends, and a terrific life.  The reminder to not take things for granted isn’t lost on me, and the reminder that my most important job is to help my kids grow into strong, wonderful people is welcome… and the reminder that there’s still a lot of life I have yet to experience, and a lot I have to learn, is truly appreciated.

So – Thanks, Universe.  I hear you.  Let’s do this.

In the time of your life, live – so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite variety and mystery of it.
William Saroyan

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
Nelson Mandela

You may delay, but time will not.
Benjamin Franklin

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

So, here’s the COMPLETE Williamston Theatre 2013-2014 season.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Adapted by Stehen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill
October 3, 2013 to November 3, 2013

It was a dark and stormy night…
Join us for a spine tingling tale of things that go bump in the night. A neighborhood is held hostage by the shadowy figure of a woman who haunts the locale where her illegitimate child was killed years before. Legend holds that any soul encountering her will perish on the spot! Two men attempt to solve her mystery, and release their neighborhood from her spell, by recreating the events leading to her first sighting. But will they solve the mystery before they, too, fall victim to her deadly gaze?

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
By Joe DiPietro
November 29, 2013 to December 29, 2013

Meet Nick – a single guy from New Jersey with four adoring, and adorable, grandparents. Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma fold Nick into their warmth every Sunday for a traditional dinner with la famiglia, and try to impart to him the importance of family, a good meal and a good wife. When he tells them of his plans to move across the country for the job of his dreams, the news doesn’t sit so well. They go into full crisis mode and pull out every scheme in the book to get him to stay close to home – including baiting him with pretty Caitlin O’Hara, the girl next door. This is one to share with your family this holiday season.

THE LION IN WINTER
By James Goldman
January 23, 2014 to February 23, 2014

Uneasy is the head on which the crown lies, and uneasy the truce between a matchless king and queen. This is the legendary story of King Henry II of England, and the battle between his fiercely competitive sons to be chosen next in line for the thrown. Add in his banished Queen, the notorious Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of said sons and equally competitive, and King Louis of France, and two countries find themselves on the brink of bloody war at the whim of a temperamental and power hungry family. This classic tale of deception, manipulation and world dominance will draw you into its irresistible web, and might not let you go without a fight.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE
By Terrence McNally
March 20, 2014 to April 20, 2014

Frankie is a waitress at a second rate restaurant who gives in to the temptation of a one-night stand with her co-worker Johnny after a few weeks of working together. But Johnny has other ideas. A compulsive talker, and hopeless romantic, Johnny begins the process of wooing Frankie, hoping that she will return his proclamations of love. World-weary and battle-worn, Frankie needs a lot of convincing that this won’t be yet another disappointment in life. As their night together unfolds, they are surprised by the discoveries they make about each other, and themselves. Winner of the Dramatists Guild Hull Warriner Award, this bittersweet comedy combines poignancy and laughter as it traces the unlikely romance that begins to develop between two middle-aged “losers.”

OLD LOVE
By Norm Foster
May 15, 2014 to June 15, 2014

He’s recently divorced. She’s newly-widowed. He’s a man who won’t give up, and she’s a woman who won’t give in. In a story that spans three decades, we travel with two unlikely companions who encounter each other at strange and inopportune times. When the time is finally right, will they be able to give in to their desires for courtship? Find out if a trip to the circus is what it takes to start over, again.

THE BIG BANG
Book and Lyrics by Boyd Graham
Music by Jed Feuer
July 10, 2014 to August 17, 2014

Jed and Boyd need your cash!  Have you ever wanted to invest in a Broadway Musical?  In this outrageous musical comedy, two wanna-be tycoons are desperate to line up funding for their new project, “The Big Bang”, so they’ve set up a “backers’ audition” and you’re invited!  With a cast of hundreds, the overblown extravaganza they’ve written is the biggest thing Broadway has ever seen and depicts the entire history of the world – from the formation of the planets right through the most important events – Adam and Eve!  The Pyramids!  Cher!  Will Broadway ever be the same?  This zany song-and-dance romp will leave you breathless!

——–

I’m really excited about this season, some terrific pieces and some challenges for us.  I love the blend of the contemporary stuff and some classics, some heartwarming stuff and a lot of life affirming joy.  Plus, next season we’ll be bringing back our Dark Nights In Billtown festival, as well as announcing a few more special projects.  The future looks good! 

A quick pic: The bare bones beginning of the set (by Bart Bauer) for “10:53″ by Annie Martin. Directing this will be a ton of fun! It opens at the Williamston Theatre May 24th.

I also, while looking at all the famous stars, found one that seemed perfect for a photo.

Aaaand it turns out that Princess Jasmine and I are friends. (Because when she’s not Princess Jasmine, she’s the wonderful Jade Waters Burch, a former Otterbein student who I directed in a Showcase!)

While in LA, my friends Mike and Jason took me to Meltdown Comics, an awesome comic book shop that also is the home of the NerdMelt performance space. They also have this:

Additionally, I was in NYC for a few days, but it was a quick trip filled with mostly work, and one of these…

And on the flight home, the airline wanted to remind us…

…not to throw geometric shapes into the airplane toilet.

In non-related news, my wife and kids look great in this picture:

And here’s a nice reminder:

Happy Thursday everybody. Work hard, play hard, love each other, and hug people!

The best thing about the night wasn’t the play, though, or the fun power outage in the middle of Act One, or getting to hug and visit with friends I hadn’t seen in a while – although all of those things were fun.

The best thing was hanging out with my son, and having him enjoy hanging out with me, while he wore this jacket:

I’ve worn that jacket for years now. Especially in the Spring, the early Fall, and on some cool summer nights. It was my grandfather’s jacket. He wore it when he took me to Tiger games, and lots of other times too. I’ve written about him before – about 7 years ago, when this amazing thing happened.

So, tonight, it was a little chilly and rainy, and we were grabbing jackets out of the closet, and when I pulled it out I handed it to Max. He said “Cool, this’ll work” and I said “Hang on! If you wear that, you have to take care of it for me. That was my grandpa’s jacket.”

He stopped, one arm in a sleeve, “Wait – so this was my GREAT – Grandpa’s?”

“Yep. He wore it when I was your age. It’s what I have of his.”

Max went and stood in front of the mirror by the front door, admiring how he looked – “Wow. Cool. Can I push the sleeves up?”

“Yep.”

“Cool. I’ll take care of it. I won’t wear it to school.”

“Okay. It’s a loan, I get it back for ballgames.”

“Awesome. Thanks Dad!”

And then we were off. He wore it all night – our evening out was terrific. And on the way home in the car we were chatting, and he said “So my great grandpa wore this with you when you were my age?”

I looked over, and he was tracing the outline of the giant Olde English D with his finger.

“Yep!”

There was a thoughtful pause before he said…
“That’s awesome.”

And I couldn’t argue… because seeing my son wear it was pretty awesome too.

WILLIAMSTON THEATRE
2013-2014 SEASON

THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Adapted by Stehen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill
October 3, 2013 to November 3, 2013

It was a dark and stormy night…
Join us for a spine tingling tale of things that go bump in the night. A neighborhood is held hostage by the shadowy figure of a woman who haunts the locale where her illegitimate child was killed years before. Legend holds that any soul encountering her will perish on the spot! Two men attempt to solve her mystery, and release their neighborhood from her spell, by recreating the events leading to her first sighting. But will they solve the mystery before they, too, fall victim to her deadly gaze?

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
By Joe DiPietro
November 29, 2013 to December 29, 2013

Meet Nick – a single guy from New Jersey with four adoring, and adorable, grandparents. Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma fold Nick into their warmth every Sunday for a traditional dinner with la famiglia, and try to impart to him the importance of family, a good meal and a good wife. When he tells them of his plans to move across the country for the job of his dreams, the news doesn’t sit so well. They go into full crisis mode and pull out every scheme in the book to get him to stay close to home – including baiting him with pretty Caitlin O’Hara, the girl next door. This is one to share with your family this holiday season.

THE LION IN WINTER
By James Goldman
January 23, 2014 to February 23, 2014

Uneasy is the head on which the crown lies, and uneasy the truce between a matchless king and queen. This is the legendary story of King Henry II of England, and the battle between his fiercely competitive sons to be chosen next in line for the thrown. Add in his banished Queen, the notorious Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of said sons and equally competitive, and King Louis of France, and two countries find themselves on the brink of bloody war at the whim of a temperamental and power hungry family. This classic tale of deception, manipulation and world dominance will draw you into its irresistible web, and might not let you go without a fight.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE
By Terrence McNally
March 20, 2014 to April 20, 2014

Frankie is a waitress at a second rate restaurant who gives in to the temptation of a one-night stand with her co-worker Johnny after a few weeks of working together. But Johnny has other ideas. A compulsive talker, and hopeless romantic, Johnny begins the process of wooing Frankie, hoping that she will return his proclamations of love. World-weary and battle-worn, Frankie needs a lot of convincing that this won’t be yet another disappointment in life. As their night together unfolds, they are surprised by the discoveries they make about each other, and themselves. Winner of the Dramatists Guild Hull Warriner Award, this bittersweet comedy combines poignancy and laughter as it traces the unlikely romance that begins to develop between two middle-aged “losers.”

OLD LOVE
By Norm Foster
May 15, 2014 to June 15, 2014

He’s recently divorced. She’s newly-widowed. He’s a man who won’t give up, and she’s a woman who won’t give in. In a story that spans three decades, we travel with two unlikely companions who encounter each other at strange and inopportune times. When the time is finally right, will they be able to give in to their desires for courtship? Find out if a trip to the circus is what it takes to start over, again.

TBA SUMMER SHOW!
We can’t reveal the title yet, still in negotiations, but our final show of the season is going to be one you don’t want to miss!!

Be Happy