For a while now, I've secretly been nursing a burning desire. See, the very excellent Adam Szymkowicz has been interviewing playwrights, some of them friends, all of them excellent. (62 of them actually!) I have longed to be included, if for no other reason than to share my boundless wisdom with the world. Since I don't have any platforms for that at all.
Well, he finally asked! And I've answered! So check it out...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
This Guy Sounds Pretty Neat-O...
Can't wait to one Mr. J. Holtman.
For the record, I did get in touch with Carla Zanoni, the author of the piece and of this blog, and she says the MT will print a correction next week. I say, why rob J. Holtman of his rightful press. Long live the Holtman!
All kidding aside, it's always nice to see your name (almost) in print and get nice pats on the head. Much appreciated!
For the record, I did get in touch with Carla Zanoni, the author of the piece and of this blog, and she says the MT will print a correction next week. I say, why rob J. Holtman of his rightful press. Long live the Holtman!
All kidding aside, it's always nice to see your name (almost) in print and get nice pats on the head. Much appreciated!
When Unintended Met Consequences...
Amazingly, Congressional Republicans do something right. Well, almost right.
I believe the phrase you're looking for is "HA HA HA HA HA!"
Prepare to launch walkbacks in five, four, three, two...
*UPDATE - WOW!* That's what I get for not really reading things I link to, or paying attention to the blurts of the right-wing media. I just went back and read the rest of the Huffington Post article. This story is now awesome. Because that law passed the House AND the Senate. Which according to Schoolhouse Rock, means it's now a law.
I didn't actually realize this thing has passed into law. I figured that it has passed the House and the Senate would let it die a slow, agonizing death, as that seems to be the way our government works these days. But this insane, totally vindictive gesture against an organization that actually didn't do anything wrong is the law of the land (well, it will be if President Obama* signs it). And because it's the law of the land, it will actually be useful in cutting off quite a few companies that have done our national image some real harm. Of course, it may do some harm to politicians re-election funds...but what's a few million between friends?
Way to go, Congress. No, seriously. This is actually doing your job and denying funding to organizations that break the law. Interestingly, it probably won't affect ACORN too much, since they get so little federal funding. You stay classy, Congress.
Now, even more than before, I'm going to enjoy watching those walkbacks.
*And, yes, I still get a few goosebumps when I write that.
I believe the phrase you're looking for is "HA HA HA HA HA!"
Prepare to launch walkbacks in five, four, three, two...
*UPDATE - WOW!* That's what I get for not really reading things I link to, or paying attention to the blurts of the right-wing media. I just went back and read the rest of the Huffington Post article. This story is now awesome. Because that law passed the House AND the Senate. Which according to Schoolhouse Rock, means it's now a law.
I didn't actually realize this thing has passed into law. I figured that it has passed the House and the Senate would let it die a slow, agonizing death, as that seems to be the way our government works these days. But this insane, totally vindictive gesture against an organization that actually didn't do anything wrong is the law of the land (well, it will be if President Obama* signs it). And because it's the law of the land, it will actually be useful in cutting off quite a few companies that have done our national image some real harm. Of course, it may do some harm to politicians re-election funds...but what's a few million between friends?
Way to go, Congress. No, seriously. This is actually doing your job and denying funding to organizations that break the law. Interestingly, it probably won't affect ACORN too much, since they get so little federal funding. You stay classy, Congress.
Now, even more than before, I'm going to enjoy watching those walkbacks.
*And, yes, I still get a few goosebumps when I write that.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Flash Mobs Always Make Me Cry.
Like this one.
There's something about them, particularly these "spontaneous" dance ones, where a bunch of people turn a shopping center, or a train station, or a battleship into a Broadway musical. (Though this is also awesome.)
One part is that it's not "spontaneous" at all. They involve hard work, rehearsal, preparation. Working in theatre, none of that is new to me. But the idea of 20,000 people and not all of them being theatre people, mostly just regular people who like the idea doing that work, and being willing to jump in, just kind of fills my heart with joy. Dan Kois nails that part of it here, talking about the famous wedding dance, but it goes for all of these.
(A sidenote: as I was clicking through links for this post, I came across this. The two kids in the wedding video have put together a website requesting donations for a non-profit that deals with domestic violence. I think I might love them both a little now.)
But there's also the sense of community that comes out of these videos, the child-like wonder you can even see on Oprah's face, of having art magically spring up in front of your eyes. More art should be like that, feel like that, I think. Like it welled up, naturally, irresistably from the very earth beneath your feet. Like 20,000 people, unconsciously, simultaneously thought, "Let's move our arms this way. That will look beautiful." And then they did.
I think I watched that video about four times yesterday. I made my roommate watch it. I posted it on my facebook page. And every time, I got a little teary. Because it was 9/11 and because, for me, these videos are about community and reaching out. Connecting to your neighbor in some way, even for four minutes, standing on Michigan Avenue, and I can connect here, thousands of miles away and you can connect there, wherever you are, and share, for a little bit, that child-like wonder. It feels like, despite facebook, blogs, American Idol and whatever, the chances to be a part of something bigger than you and to know you're not alone are few and far between these days. I want to cherish these moments when I know, in a crowded space, I'm not alone.
I can see why people love the freaking wave.
There's something about them, particularly these "spontaneous" dance ones, where a bunch of people turn a shopping center, or a train station, or a battleship into a Broadway musical. (Though this is also awesome.)
One part is that it's not "spontaneous" at all. They involve hard work, rehearsal, preparation. Working in theatre, none of that is new to me. But the idea of 20,000 people and not all of them being theatre people, mostly just regular people who like the idea doing that work, and being willing to jump in, just kind of fills my heart with joy. Dan Kois nails that part of it here, talking about the famous wedding dance, but it goes for all of these.
(A sidenote: as I was clicking through links for this post, I came across this. The two kids in the wedding video have put together a website requesting donations for a non-profit that deals with domestic violence. I think I might love them both a little now.)
But there's also the sense of community that comes out of these videos, the child-like wonder you can even see on Oprah's face, of having art magically spring up in front of your eyes. More art should be like that, feel like that, I think. Like it welled up, naturally, irresistably from the very earth beneath your feet. Like 20,000 people, unconsciously, simultaneously thought, "Let's move our arms this way. That will look beautiful." And then they did.
I think I watched that video about four times yesterday. I made my roommate watch it. I posted it on my facebook page. And every time, I got a little teary. Because it was 9/11 and because, for me, these videos are about community and reaching out. Connecting to your neighbor in some way, even for four minutes, standing on Michigan Avenue, and I can connect here, thousands of miles away and you can connect there, wherever you are, and share, for a little bit, that child-like wonder. It feels like, despite facebook, blogs, American Idol and whatever, the chances to be a part of something bigger than you and to know you're not alone are few and far between these days. I want to cherish these moments when I know, in a crowded space, I'm not alone.
I can see why people love the freaking wave.
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