Pic Post Wednesday

Pictures!  JFF! (Just For Fun. Wait, is JFF a thing? Probably not… That’s okay, it is today. Today, everyone, is Make Up Your Own Acronym Day! MUYOAD!  Go on, try it! JFF.)

Back to posting random pictures from life! 

  
Here’s our in-progress set for ROUNDING THIRD (design by Amber Marisa Cook).  We’re in rehearsals now. Note the newly smooth back wall – we finally got rid of the old “chimney” bump out in our upstage wall!  Hooray for renovations that make the theatre better!

  
Maggie and I took the dogs for a walk in the wooded trails near our house. How lucky are we, to have such beautiful places so near our house?  One more thing to be grateful for. That, and the chance to just hang out with my daughter in the woods for an hour, enjoying nature!

  
Speaking of enjoying things, the “Almost English” breakfast at the Plaid Melon is an awesome meal. 

  
This is Dale. Dale is a member of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein.  Apparently I’m a member too, as I and all the members of the audience were given name tags when we bought our tickets to see the play 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, in which Dale and 4 of her friends are the main attraction. This show is hilarious and wonderful, and you have only this weekend left to catch it at The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale, MI. GO! (Thanks to Meredith “Dale” Deighton for letting me take her picture as she was greeting guests and taking our pictures as part of some pre-show fun.)

  
Sometimes a good play is accompanied by a good martini. Dirty, with extra olives. 

 
 Also, I almost forgot to post about The Wilde Awards! John Lepard and I won for our work onstage as brothers in The Best Brothers! It’s a treat to have someone recognize your work, and I’m honored to be a part of that show. John carried the show, I had a blast bouncing around the set  as his little brother Kyle, harassing him. 🙂  Williamston Theatre took home another award, also, when Emily Sutton-Smith won for Best Actress In A Comedy! Yay Emily! Win or lose, the awards night is always a great time: Getting to see so many folks, all of whom are deeply invested in so many theatre projects all over the state – that’s an incredibly inspiring thing, and I’m always grateful for the passion and energy that fills the event. 
  
Have A Great Week, Everyone!  (HAGWE!)

A Post of Good Theatre Things!

A quickie post about some Good Theatre Things:

I’m pleased to report that Ernie by Mitch Albom, the show I directed at the City Theatre in Detroit, has been extended again through August 12th!  Ernie, which opened April 28th, is a crowd-pleaser!  I was there this weekend and felt very blessed to sit and watch the sold-out crowd of nearly 400 people love the show from beginning to end.  Very proud of the cast, crew, staff and whole team.

In other Good Theatre Things:
The Williamston Theatre is honored to lead the Wilde Award Nominations this year!

The Wilde Award Nominations have been announced and the Williamston Theatre leads all the Equity theatres in the state of Michigan with a total of 10 nominations!! Our production of The Dead Guy received more nominations than any other production in the state! Here’s a complete listing of the Williamston Theatre’s nominations:

The Dead Guy
Best Comedy (Tony Caselli, Director)
Best Actress – Comedy (Robin Lewis-Betz)
Best Actor – Comedy (Chris Korte)
Best Teamwork (Ian Page, Chris Purchis and Michelle Serje)
Best Lighting Design (Genesis Garza)

Dead Man’s Shoes
Best New Script (Joseph Zettelmaier)
Best Actor – Comedy (Paul Hopper)

And The Creek Don’t Rise
Best New Script (Joseph Zettelmaier)
Best Actress – Comedy (Kate Peckham)

The Usual: A Musical Love Story
Best Set Design (Daniel C. Walker)

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Detroit on August 21.

 

I’ve been honored to work on some wonderful projects with some wonderful people over the past year, and it still amazes me that I’m lucky enough and blessed enough to do what I do for a living.

In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.  –  Ralph Marston