AT THIS TIME OF YEAR...

...I love Wawa and Sunoco.

For without them, there would be no Christmas breakfast.

yum.

DC Noise Episode 2

...is up.

Enjoy.

STANDIN' ON THE CORNER...

...anyone recognize that song those three words kick off?

So I've been in Philly for a month a week and I'm so loving it. The South Philly neighborhood I'm in, now starting to put up every lovely Woolworth Christmas doodah that I thought only existed in my mom's house during the 70s and 80s, is quiet and cute. I live superclose to the subway and to the famous Melrose Diner (been there every 2-3 days. I got a crush on a waitress there. I'm like Frankie and Johnny). If need be I can even walk to Center City - which I did the other day when it was nice out. My roommate is ultra-cool, laid back and fun and has been great about having a boy live with her. I haven't left the toilet seat up yet. Yay me. She has two dogs, Walter and Blanche - boxers just like Rosco back home - that are hysterical. It's been a sweet deal all around.

I start choreographing the Fantasticks next weekend. Tony Braithwaite - the funniest actor in Philly - is directing. It's performing at the Kimmel Center in their black box theatre. I performed there in 2002 with the "world premiere" of I'll be Seein' Ya. I'm fairly certain we were the first show to be put up in that space back then. I love the music in the Fantasticks but it's a tricky book. I'm curious to see what Tony will do with it.

Since I've been in Philly, I managed to see a couple theatre productions. Into the Woods at Temple, a new show at the Prince (it was like a melding of Fiddler on the Roof, Light in the Piazza and Faust. I kid you not) and also Being Alive at the new space for the Phila. Teatre Co. That show was amazing. Created by Billy Porter, it's a revue of Sondheim pieces but mixed with Shakespeare dialogue featuring an all black cast. It was incredibly powerful - both emotionally and theatrically - and weaved 3-4 loose stories through different stages of "man" from youth to death. And the band kicked ass. We were seated in one of the upper boxes to the side so I had a good overview of the audience during the show. Oh by the way - Sondheim himself was there taking notes. Yes he was. I was invited to go by a friend who got us in for free. How cool is that.

Anyway, the audience was made up of mostly older people and they were so boring! They hardly emoted or responded during numbers, waiting instead for them to end. The show and performers (and direction) practially screams out "Live! Laugh! Love!". It's in one of the songs. It's a piece that's meant to be interactive. And the audience sat there like lumps. I read a review of the show where the critic, commenting on the humor of the show, said something like "the audience didn't really laugh". That's because they probably didn't get it. I get so tired of lazy audiences that turn their brains off the minute they sit their asses in a seat. When we met the cast afterwards, they were so thankful for our responses during the show and during the curtain call. It's called energy, people. An audience can make or break even the best of shows. Don't be afraid to respond when warranted. The person on stage will love you for it.

Anyway, I've been going back and forth to Reading to record episodes of CGS. And I just started a new podcast, DC Noise, discussing all things DC Comics (that's Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc. for those not in the know). As if I needed a new project right? But I'm excited about possibilities for upcoming shows. I've come to really enjoy and respect the podcasting medium - and if I was set up properly, I'm sure I would create a third podcast to talk about all the things I don't talk about on my other shows. We'll see.

I'm looking forward to spending more time with my friends in the area - from college or from other shows. They make me laugh, they make me drink and are just good fun people.

Yea. I love living in Philly.

(Oh. The title of this post is in reference to the fact that my apartment is on a corner. So ummmm... yea).

WTF?

Does Wizard really need to do another special movie spectacular issue for the year? The content in the regular issues is already mostly about movies more and more each month. Maybe they should do a special Comic Book spectacular instead.

Yeesh.