AAM MARKOSIA IS LOOKING FOR ARTISTS!

from ComicSpace:

Hi all,

As Group Editor of AAM/Markosia, I'm often asked to review portfolios at comics shows here in the UK - but these shows are few and far between, and we have a number of projects with writers attached, looking for artists.

Let me tell you a little of what we've got on offer - there are four projects in varying stages of writing, which we're looking to put out in 2009, first as full colour monthlies, then as the collected edition. Some of these have the potential to go onto multiple series, but here's what's on offer initially:-

one is a modern day zombie tale set predominantly in London

one is a post-apocalyptic tale focusing on a robotic survivor

one is a cross between "Days of Future Past" and Gattaca

one is modern day tale featuring DNA tweaks to enhance brain power having unusual side effects

From these rather short descriptions, get in touch with me craigjohnsonesq at aol dot com and we can talk.

Best, Craig.

I LOVE MY JOB

So I just finished up a fun week in New York while I finished the first leg of my current corporate event. I managed to spend some time in NY hangin with friends, I saw the Late Show with David Letterman for the first time (I'm such a tourist), I did a little shopping, etc. etc. etc. The east coast decided to have a mini-heat wave which sucked but it was fun anyway. The event was at the Nokia Theatre on Broadway. So in some strange way, I can say I performed on B'way. haha. I had a fantastic dinner at the Blue Fin on Times Square, had my first taste of caviar and really wished I had someone to dance the night away after that. Something about NY makes me want to stay up all night.

In any eveny, a great time was had and I have a week before the last leg of this gig starts up in Philly.

I also was offered two jobs from people who found out I was moving back to Philly. Nothing major, but it's nice to know I'll be working through March or May. yippee.

BACK FROM NYC... ALIVE AND WELL

Just got back from NY (and boy are my gams tired) after finishing up the first three rehearsals for my Commerce Bank gig. I got another great bunch of people to work with - they are fun, they are energetic, they are New York. I'll have three more rehearsals with them before the tech/performance. Great group.

While in NY, I managed to see my college chum Jen; a friend from a previous CBank gig, Kat; hung out with the CGS: New York crew (Raph, Ian, Jeff, Mitch, Penelope, Mike, Dave Ryan and Joe from CNI); artist Fred Chao and his girl Dylan (Dillon?); animator Todd Wahnish; fellow theatre friend David D.; and of course the other CNI podcast host Jimmy - he-who-knows-the-best-bars-in-NY. Our night out at Don't Tell Mama's was hilarious.

The hotel I stayed in, on the night that I was out until 4:30am, decided to play a practical joke on me. The shower head fell off, hit the on lever and spat water flooding my bathroom, the hallway to the door and part of the room itself. I was moved to another room the next morning but damn if that wasn't weird hearing the shower running as I was walking into the place. It was like a Penthouse Forum letter that didn't actually come true. Boo.

I managed to walk around the Times Square although I didn't see a show - I was rehearsing 6:00 to 10:00. I was hoping to maybe catch a matinee sometime, especially of an off-broadway show. I just want to see something "different". And, other than food and drinks, I managed to not spend too much money shopping. Good for Rios.

Now I'm back in Reading for the weekend. I might be going to Philly on Saturday for the Barrymore Awards. 42nd Street was nominated for a few awards including Best Ensemble. That's me!

Really looking forward to when this gig kicks into high gear. The bankers are great, my fellow dancers are always a blast, I can't wait to start creating the opening tap number, and it all brings me that much closer to moving back to Philly.

huzzah.

I HATE SANGRIA.

Whoever billed sangria as "the summer drink" needs to pay me my money back. Bleh.

New York was a blast. Good work, good play, good friends, good comic shopping. Lots of text messaging going on. Thankfully I upped my plan. haha.

How badly do I want to hang out in NY all night and not sleep. Just to say I've done it once. How many diners can I get kicked out of? Heh. Anyone game?

UGH!

I've got post-show blues.

And it's only been two days.

:(

TO THE GIRLS OF DRESSING ROOM 2-E

You all rock my shit.

To Jenny Lee, Megan S. and Kelley F.

I raise my leftover Smirnoff Ice.

SIX SHOWS IN THREE DAYS

I used to think that I could go from production to production of 42nd Street and be happy. If there was only one musical I could do for the rest of my career, it would be 42nd Street.

But I just did six performances in three days and I'm not so sure anymore. haha.

Costume changes, trying to get physically back up to 100% after being sick for so long, eating Wawa - bleh.

Anyway, I'm just venting. The six shows are done, tomorrow's a day off and I'm going to be spending money on some new jeans, some new comics and relax.

42ND STREET: ODE TO A BAG LADY

Perhaps the most talented member of our cast is Kelley. From chorus girl to wardrobe to Money Girl to, perhaps my favorite, Bag Lady, she transforms herself in and out of each role with precise actor acumen. (I should know because I had to look it up).

When we first started rehearsals I was immediately intimidated, especially when she became my second partner in the Habit #. Sure I was having fun with my first partner in the dance, laughing at each other's foibles and chatting and such. But I had to became a serious professional in the presence of Kelley. She commands attention and detail and I had no choice but to proselytize myself before her while learning the dreaded Castle Turns. She tolerated my inexperience with those whirling dervishes with an occassional sigh. She allowed me to clumsily hold her even though her comfort would've been more at ease with perhaps one of the many other non-straight boys who aren't taken in by her wily ways. She even toughened her resolve as we were given the direction to dance peepee to peepee. She took it all in genuine stride. It's the reason I hold her in such high regard to this day.

And then... AND THEN! For the 42nd Street Ballet, she becomes the woeful but headstrong Bag Lady. Dancing her way through the Sexy Ladies and Nifty Fifties, cops and burglars, flower merchants and whores, Kelley finds her audience even while she's off the left shoulder and back two rows from the so-called real "star" of the show. Noone and I mean noone, sits on steps in the same way. She has become the true Pretty Lady of the show.

So there it is. I spill my guts and reveal the truth. Kelley is the benchmark for all other actors for me. Perhaps we should all strive to be Bag Ladies.






(Pssssst. I'm writing this under threat of bodily harm. But don't tell Kelley I told you so.)

42ND STREET: OPENING NIGHT

And we're off...

42nd Street officially opened last night to a decent but not overly vocal audience. We started with a little mini-rehearsal which was fine and got a 42nd Street hat from the WST staff, chocolate from our director and such. Most of us didn't really have time to do Opening Night gifts because of all the afternoon rehearsals we've been having. But we were energized once the show started and it went over well. I think the Money # got the biggest reaction to date. And we continue to sell the show regardless of what we may think is right and wrong about it. We make it work which essentially is our job.

My sister and niece were in the audience tonite. And other friends including a castmate that had to quite because of an injury. I miss her on stage and I know she's having a tough time about all this. It was great seeing her again and talking with her before and after the show.

After the show we had our Opening Night reception in the lobby. Drink tickets! Eventually we moved the party elsewhere and had a fun night at Coco's. My castmates are crazy and I love 'em.

Finally got to bed at 5:00. Yikes! But today we only have one show and we don't have to be there until 7:30. It'll start to feel like a job from here on out which is fine with me. I got a bit more time back to do other things, maybe travel to NY or just walk around Philly.

One down, 65 more to go...

42ND STREET: WEEK FOUR

This has been an incredibly long week. With rehearsals during the afternoon and Preview performances at night, we were all in need of a day off. Which is tomorrow - yea! A few friends have seen the show in Previews and they've been saying that the show works and it looks like we are all having great fun on stage. So that's a good thing. Costume changes are getting easier, my body is physically getting used to the show and Saturday and Sunday we had two shows each day and I didn't die. haha. I did have a fever though Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night's show was a bear to get through - my legs didn't want to work and my balance was off. I felt much better Sunday thankfully and even had an appetite again.

I look forward to the opening to finally letting the show run on its own. Understudy rehearsals start next week - I don't have anything too major to learn so it should be fine. But I look forward to having some time to visit friends, put more energy back into the Podcast and to actually do some reading!

I have to say though, I'm in the best shape I've been in a long time. And I love the cast. We have great fun off and onstage together and rarely a show goes by that we aren't laughing about something that happened. A dress caught on the piano, people moving too early, flubbed lines - gotta love live theatre.

So I look forward to tomorrow and just laying about. We have rehearsal on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Wed. night we open and start our two month run. It's gonna be a fun ride.

42ND STREET: PREVIEW #1

Just when you think you can't get any crazier during a show, today I found out that one of our girls had to leave the show because of an injury. She had two fractures and a torn ligament in her foot. It happened during rehearsals and just got progessively worse. I worked with her in my first WST show, Singin' in the Rain and she was my "partner" in We're in the Money.

So this morning, after a quick audition, we have a new replacement. Most of the afternoon's rehearsal was sticking her into only two numbers which she performed in tonite's first Preview.

The Preview went surprisingly well. There were many line flubs from the leads - which I guess is nerves. And only a few costume glitches. But for the most part it went off fairly well. The shape of the musical, the story and plot, is still a bit nebulous but overall we entertain and we keep it going. And I even think we had fun.

We have until next Wednesday - our official Opening Night - to work out any bugs. But then after that - the show is all ours and the fun begins.

42ND STREET: WEEK THREE

Holy hell. We went from finishing Act Two on Tuesday to running a Dress Rehearsal in front of a small audience by Sunday. How did that happen??

It's crazy when shows come together like that. Well... it's not all together. But the show is there at least. We were onstage by Wednesday just spacing and reblocking and changing choreography to get used to the sets and drops and such. Our first chance at the madness called costume changes was Saturday night and Sunday day. We got through the show just once before the invited audience on Sunday night. So there were still problems - missing pieces, missing people onstage - but it worked. Somewhat. The dressers helping us are amazing and dealing with tons of costumes and shoes and placing them where they need to be. They did a bangup job though. Just hope those actors that are a little more needy than others don't drive the dressers insane.

I think most people just underestimate this show. It's huge. Not just all the scenes and the productions numbers but the costumes as well and the choreography of placing them where they need to be in order to change. But it is fun and makes the show go by very fast. There's no downtime in Act One. Act Two is lighter for sure but it's only 45 minutes or so, so the time really flies. Once the show goes up we'll be in by 7:30 for half hour, start at 8:00 and out by 10:30. That's a nice workday. Heh.

I'm staying in Philly today on my day off. Need to get wash done, shop for some food, read some comics and just relax my body and brain. I didn't want the hassle of travelling today. But soon enough, understudy rehearsals will start, our Previews will happen and next week will be Opening. Huzah.

42ND STREET: WEEK TWO

Week two of 42nd Street ended on Sunday night - the show is basically all blocked and choreographed and we had our first "walk-thru". It's rough in many places but we have until Nov.7th - the first official Preview - to clean it all up while adding costumes, lights, costume changes, etc. We get onstage this Wednesday which will be the first of many adjustments.

The cast is solid but at the moment, the little things that make 42nd Street 42nd Street are missing. Some of these moments will find themselves as we keep connecting for sure. Others may never appear. I've done the show twice - and have "lived" with the show when the ex went on tour in 2002-2003 and then onto Broadway from 2003-2004. I then choreographed the show in the summer of 2005. So I see unfinished moments or beats and choreography that just doesn't seem to fit. It'll still be a good show - because the cast is strong - and the audience may not notice anything. But diehard musical lovers will. But I'm still having fun and I love being back in Philly.

I don't have a computer with me in Philly so my updates will be scarce. And, I'm currently on my Monday day off back in Reading, to find that my home computer has been obliterated by careless family members and Best Buy can't process a financial plan from my crazy credit.

Oh joy.

So if I seem hard to get or if I seem like I've vanished - just now I'm busy rehearsing or watching TV like a zombie or I'm soaking in epsom salts or sleeping like a bear during winter.

Ciao.

42ND STREET: DAY SIX

One week done. Man does Tuesday - the first day we rehearsed - seem so long ago. We ran over most of Act One today skipping parts here and there. It went fairly well. There are a few parts that stray too far from the traditional I'm finding. Not that it needs to be staged the same way as previous versions, but there are certain nuances and styles that should play in the same world. I'm sure it'll all smooth out eventually.

The ensemble had a great moment of togetherness today. We were asked to audition for the opening lines of the whole show. "Julian Marsh is doing a show!" "Jobs!" etc etc. We made it into this little spoof on auditioning and laughed and cheered for the people who finally got the lines. Much fun.

I also hit South St. today. Basically down to the comic shop and for some pizza. And Tower is going out of business! It'll be gone by December. Yikes.

So looking forward to my day off tomorrow. I need to pack and move in to the hotel tomorrow night. I'm bringing a short box of comics to take with me so I can read read read. Yay!

42ND STREET: DAY FIVE

We continue along - learning the "Dames" number and the chorus opener for the second act. Fairly easy stuff. The guys really aren't the focus of this show at all I'm coming to realize. Even when I choreographed it last summer, I never noticed how in and out the guys are in some numbers. But that's okay - the costume changes will make up for it.

I saw Walnut St.'s Windy City last night. What a strange strange play - it's just dying for a rewrite and for someone to nail down somekind of consistant style. The performers were excellent - and it's great to see live theatre again - but damn, that musical was confusing.

I ran into a friend on the street today - clearly out of the blue. That's the second random person I've seen in two days that I know from my Philly years. The first one yesterday, I haven't seen in 10 years. The one from today, who's doing Opera work, I last saw about 2 years back. Very cool.

About the greatest thing today was once again scarfing down a Philly cheesesteak. Yum.

42ND STREET: DAY THREE & FOUR

We continue to learn more and more dances - "Money", "Habit", "Getting Out of Town" etc. Starting to learn a bit more about my castmates - people that we know, other jobs, etc. Nothing major or new to announce. The way the director/choreographer go against tradition for a few 42nd Street "staples" is good for the show but it's tough to shake some of that from what my body/mind wants to do. The tapping continues to be challenge and I'm pretty sure our Opening Number is one of the hardest versions I've done. It's not exactly the way I would do it, but I like the change.

And man oh man is it great to just walk around Philly again. I've missed it.

42ND STREET: DAY TWO

No tapping today. Boo. But we did the "Habit" number which is always light and fun. My partner for the first part of the dance is a trip. We swear we know each other from somewhere but we haven't nailed down the specifics just yet. Otherwise, we just did music and had some stretches where we just sat.

I found out yesterday that Philly is now smoke free which is just great. I ate at one of my favorite diners this morning and didn't have to worry about smelling like smoke the rest of the day.

Walnut St. is doing "Windy City" at the moment. I bought this CD years ago and gave it one listen. It didn't grab me at all at the time so I'm looking forward to seeing it onstage.

And I'll be living in Philly starting on Monday. Yay!

42ND STREET: DAY ONE

I love the Walnut Street Theatre. They welcome each new cast by bringing in almost the entire Walnut Street managing/creative/advertisting/etc. staff. And stuffed us with bagels and fruit and pies and all kinds of goodies. The cast is small for 42nd Street. This will be the third time I've performed in this musical, and the fourth I've been involved with (I co-choreographed a version last summer). Of course this show has been a part of my life since 2002 when the ex was on that Nat'l Tour and, later, on Broadway for the remainder of the run.

I know quite a few people in the cast already. Kevin Dietzler from Upper Darby Summerstage in his first professional job, Brandon Rubendall who took lessons with my younger sister Alli, a girl from my first Walnut St. job Singin' in the Rain, another girl who's sortof from the Reading area, and other people that I've done other types of gigs with. It makes me less nervous, and more relaxed and more at home in a sense. Sometimes going into a show cold can be daunting. It's not hard to make friends in the theatre business, but you can also feel like an outsider at times.

Another interesting thing is that the director, the choreographer and the music director have NEVER worked on 42nd Street ever before. That's amazing. And it excites me as well - it means we'll get some new fresh eyes and ideas. We learned the Opening number today and, although it may start "traditionally", it moves to so many other areas - some influenced by the old black and white movie, and others from Mary Jane's experience. It's major fun.

And I have another big announcement - big to me anyway - that I'll talk about once everything is solidified.

All in all - I'm looking forward to a great run.

42ND STREET JUST DAYS AWAY

"Get out your Tap Shoes...!"

Rehearsals for 42nd Street at the Walnut Street Theatre starts in four days.

Four days.

I'm excited and nervous and just so happy to be working there again. I know about 6 people in the show already - which is comforting. Plus the director and choreographer are the same from when I was in "Singin' in the Rain". So I'll feel relatively relaxed going in.

Mostly it'll feel good to get back on stage. To reassess some things I've been thinking about lately concerning theatre, my abilities, etc. It's been awhile since I've performed in a show - after that it was all staff positions, mostly as choreographer. It's always good to practice what you preach yes?

The convention season is over now, so this is a welcome change of pace. Plus, it'll fire me up for next year's convention season starting at the NY Comic Con.

Info can be found here if anyone's actually interested.
http://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/42ndStreet.php

THAT'S A WRAP

Well my Commerce Bank/Radio City weekend is over. I'm exhausted. I had far too much to drink. Made money. Made new friends. And just had a blast.

My audition at Walnut Street went very well I thought. And I was so happy to have two good friends there that also auditioned - Rob and Kevin. It made me relax. So I did everything I needed to do. Better to just go on and try not to think too much or wait for a call.

Friday I went up to NY and we teched the Radio City gig from 11:00 to 11:00 and then again on Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00. And then we did the show Saturday night from 7:30-11:00. The show was wonderful - a Cirque type show complete with stilt walkers, a ribbon flyer and a quick change act that boggles the eyes and mind. It was a hard, fun, fast weekend topped off by a night of drinks and dancing on Friday, a gathering on Saturday night and a dinner with a small group on Sunday. I also saw Spamelot on Sunday which was hysterical. We didn't hit Scores this year which was a bummer but I still had fun with my coworkers. Here's to next year.

So now I'm back home and the Northwest show is all day tomorrow. Feels good to be working back to back. Keeps my busy and organized and on top of things.

And next week I'm going to Pittsburgh for their comic convention. I've heard great things about that con over the years so it'll be awesome to finally attend and see my favorite artist ever.

Things are good.