In Buffalo, on my way to the airport to head home. Spent the last couple days at Studio Arena Theatre having pre-production meetings and holding auditions for The Mystery Of Irma Vep, which I’ll be directing here in February. Looking forward to it.

Got to see a show in the space, which I was anxious to do. It’s a big space, 625 seats. However, I was very pleased to see that it plays very small and intimate. It’s a modified 3/4 thrust space, which means the stage thrusts into the audience, and the crowd wraps around the playing space. My seats were near the back, and I felt very much connected with the play and cast. Very happy to see how close it feels, despite the large number of seats – Irma will play well here, I think, because of that. Also the acoustics are spectacular. I was positive that there was some vocal amplification going on, but it turns out there wasn’t – after talking with the sound designer I learned that the space was designed very specifically with acoustics in mind, and they did a spectacular job. Very much looking forward to doing this show – got a great cast, and the production team is top-notch – I’m excited to work with all of them.

So – what a week:

Opened a show at Meadow Brook; a show that we moved from Williamston after two sold out weeks. Began my directing pre-production work on Fully Committed, the next show at Williamston. Organized a reading of the show after that, Music From A Sparkling Planet, so the Director, Designers and I could hear it with the cast. Flew to Buffalo and had successful auditions and meetings about the show I’m directing there in February. Tomorrow I’ll be restaging Every Christmas Story Ever Told for the weekend of performances at yet another theatre, which is bringing in even more money for Williamston Theatre.

This weekend, I’m hanging out with my family and sleeping, I think!

Your results:
You are Green Lantern

Green Lantern 80% Spider-Man 45% The Flash 45% Iron Man 40% Robin 37% Supergirl 35% Hulk 35% Superman 30% Batman 30% Wonder Woman 30% Catwoman 20%

Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Sweet! GL rocks! (And thank goodness I didn’t come up as one of those Marvel Comics losers.) *laughing*

Well, I’m pleased to see that Prince got 5 grammy nominations for his latest album, 3121. A long time ago I posted a mini review of it, saying that I liked it, but not quite as much as his last one, Musicology. The same still holds, but it has grown on me quite a bit. I still think Musicology is his best album in the last 7 or 8 years, easily. I do, however, put 3121 as second in that list, and I’m glad to see it’s being recognized!

Plus, he’s playing the Superbowl next month! Gotta set my TiVo!!

AND – he’s now got a club in Las Vegas where he performs regularly. So, now, I’ve got to get to Vegas. Donations will be accepted.

(And in a related note…last week I sung to my fussy nephew Jamis, calming him down with a lovely, quiet, lullaby version of Prince’s song Raspberry Beret.)

Man, this is EXACTLY like my life!!

Today I get to hang out with the family for the WHOLE DAY! First time that’s happened in a while. WHoooHOO!!

This little vacation actually started last night – Max had a friend over, and they were playing and being boys, so Maggie and Jeanne and I sat down to try out a new game. (It’s new to us, it’s been out for a long time. It’s called Munchkin, and it’s ridiculously silly fun. We didn’t know much about it when we opened it: It’s a card game where you create characters and fight monsters to win. Very fun, because it’s silly, and you can help each other or help the monsters eat your opponents!

It turns out, it’s probably a bit too complicated for Maggie, and a bit too adult, though. One of the cards she played was an item designed to help her character have more strength…so when her turn came it was very funny to hear my 8 year old daughter say “I’m gonna play my Bad-Ass Bandanna!”

Much discussion was had, after that, to ensure proper parenting! (Of course she’ll be 9 in a month, so she’s heard the word “ass”…and it was decided that since that’s the card, she can use it in context of the game, and that’s it!) Then Jeanne and I skimmed the rest of the cards to make sure there wasn’t anything else too adult involved…a few double-entendre joke cards (The Horny Helmet, a couple funny things like that) were found that went right over Maggies head, but no Bitchin’ Battering Rams or anything else with inappropriate language. (Although, now that I’ve said it, the Bitchin’ Battering Ram sounds like a fun card.)

So, I’ve discovered that there’s a whole history behind this game, and a bunch of expansions and a huge fandom for it! Looking forward to playing it more – very fun. Plus, it was neat to see Maggie realize Hey…neat. I’m playing a game that grownups play. A little rite of passage moment for her, and she knew it. She didn’t overplay her hand, either; if it had been me at 9, I would’ve been like “Hey, check out my bad-ASS bandanna! It’s badASS! BAD ASS!! ASSSSSSSS!!!” until my parents just gave up and put the game away!

Captain Kirk admires his decorating handiwork as the evil Gorn puts the finishing touches on the tree!

(What the heck?!)

Plus, it looks like Kirk got a nice choochoo train from the Gorn! It’s so nice when mortal enemies come together for the holidays.

Well, life is amazingly busy, and I realized I’d not posted in a while. So, as a quick catch up, please see this:

Mary Poppins – The Horror Film.

Hope all is well with everyone.