Friday, August 25th
Various and sundry things going on but nothing earth shaking. Our local state house of reps election has become national news as various factions in the Alabama State Democratic Party have worked on nullifying the results as the electorate elected an out white lesbian rather than their favored black candidate. The whole thing smells to high heaven and the State democratic party is in the process of alienating one of their key constituencies with their shenanigans. The whole thing makes me sick and I will not give a dime to the Democratic Party because of it. (There's a pretty good run down of the whole thing on the blog 'Birmingham Blues' - google it if you want to know more. I'm too lazy to look up and insert the link.
Sold the old Acura today to one of my nurses for less than its worth, but at least I no longer have to worry about it. Just have to find the rest of the keys for it and bring them to her.
I have two auditions this weekend. One for a Neil LaBute play called 'Fat Pig' and one for 'Fiddler on the Roof'. Now there's a double bill for you. Not expecting to get either as I'm a bit too old for 'Fat Pig' and the way the Fiddler auditions are structured, I'm not going to be able to show off. We have to sing certain selections from the show, none of which are right for an over 40 bass-baritone.
Supposed to start working on props for 'How To Succeed...' this weekend. Shouldn't be too hard as much of what is needed is present at the co-op.
I need a vacation...
Thursday, August 10th
The big news of the week is that I bought myself a new car, something I've needed to do for quite some time. As the old Acura had done so well for so many years, off we went to the local Acura dealership and I am now the owner of a 2006 TL, complete with GPS navigational computer, voice activated accessories and a lot of other bells and whistles I barely understand. It should be fun and a lot more comfortable on the road than anything else I have. I have until the end of the month to get rid of my current Acura - anyone interested in a purchase drop me a line...
Tommy and I drove the new car over to Augusta for the weekend. It rides nicely. Not a whole lot else out of the ordinary going on. I am very tired of the day in/day out of my clinical job and need some vacation. We start to get new doc time in this next week so I might be able to take a week off this fall. Of course, Tommy starts school soon so there won't be an ability to travel but I'll settle for a week at home lounging on the back deck. I might also get the basement cleaned out finally.
Nothing theatrical at the moment. This will eventually change. Just going to other peoples' shows. We have to go to the grand opening of a new Cabaret space next week and take in a production of 'Someone to Watch Over Me' soon.
Tuesday, August 1st
The heat wave continues. Thank god for air conditioning or this city would really be unbearable. I'd have to shut down the clinic and head for the coast for ten weeks every summer. Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea. Maybe I should do it anyway. UAB owes me a break or two.
For the first time in two and a half years, I have no next theatrical project. Tommy is working away at getting Magic City Actors Theater up and running and their first show, 'How to Succeed...' auditioned this last weekend but I'm not involved. It's a quick rehearsal schedule and I think I'll be better served getting some other things done around the house. I am having some mild withdrawl symptoms (major ones when around those who are working on a show) but should be OK with proper therapy and the occasional Xanax. (joke).
Tommy and I ran around the last couple of weeks trying to catch up on everyone else's theatrical projects and made it to most of them. Summerfest, the local 'pro' company did 'Oliver'. It had decent performances, but was not well directed or staged and the whole thing came across as lugubrious as hell with all of the joie de vivre bled right out of it. Rising Star, the camp for kids with two weeks to rehearse and mount a production of 'The Boy Friend' was a lot more fun. There's a lot of talent in the fourteen year old sector in town. Terrific New Theater's 'Pageant' was fun, but not necessarily good (with a couple of notable exceptions)-it's a show that's all about men in dresses acting like vapid beauty queens so what do you expect. LJCC's 'Meshuggahnuns' had a great cast taking on third rate material. How much longer can Dan Goggin milk the nun jokes?
This past weekend was Equality Alabama's annual forum and banquet. The centerpieces were a one person performance piece by Marine Jeff Key about his experiences in Iraq as a gay Marine, 'The Eyes of Babylon'. He writes well, but isn't a good enough actor to pull off his own material. He was also pretty bad as a speaker without a script. I gave a workshop on aging which was enjoyed by the few people who bothered to turn up. Amongst them were Margarethe Cammermeyer who as the keynote for the whole affair. It was nice to meet her. Seems very grounded and down to earth. We then all repaired to the ballroom for hotel chicken and tired cliches from the podium.
This week is about getting finances ready for Tommy's return to Montevallo. We're also renting a small office space at Playhouse to get some of the business projects out of the house. More space! Less clutter! We'll see how it works.
Today is the fifth anniversary of Steve's death. I miss him, but he belonged to a different life than the one I live now.
