The Underpants at Dragon Productions

The Underpants at Dragon Productions


The Underpants
by Steve Martin
(Sept. 25 - Oct. 15, 2006)

Comic genius Steve Martin, author of the Arden's smash hit Picasso at the Lapin Agile, concocted this hilarious adaptation about a housewife who becomes an overnight celebrity when she accidentally loses her underpants in public. Chaos follows in this witty comedy that explores fidelity, sexuality, and hidden desire. This cheeky satire exposes the bewildering misfortune of love... and other unmentionables.

Call Dragon Productions at 650-493-2006 for tickets.
Tickets: $10-$21.50
Dragon Theatre
535 Alma Palo Alto, CA 94301
http://www.dragonproductions.net/

"

shakes-and-friends

shakes-and-friends
Originally uploaded by Master and Commander.

What one does, when one is home sick. One sets up strange photographyic poses with action figures.

"The Underpants" by Steve Martin in Palo Alto

This is picture is me (center) as Theo,
Blake Maxam as Cohen and Shannon Stowe as Louise in a production photo for THE UNDERPANTS.

Steve Martin, the famous comic, actor and writher, adapted and transformed the Sternheim play of 1911 called "Die Hose." He gave it a modern sensibility and enhanced the woman's place in the household as a sexual being.
Since its New York premiere, it has been produced all over the world. Martin has transformed a play originally about the the decline of the bourgeois, into a play about our American obsession with fame.

It plays from Sept. 21 – Oct. 15, 2006 at Dragon Productions in Palo Alto. 

Mr. Fogg in the W.C.

Mr. Fogg in the W.C.
Originally uploaded by Master and Commander.

I was playing the role of Fogg in a production of "Sweeney Todd" and took this photo while in the can during the show.

The Kill

The Kill
Originally uploaded by Master and Commander.

We went to Acapulco for vacation. Having watched many bullfights on TV as a child, I decided to go see one in person. I can see now why they are on longer on television in the U.S. This is great stuff for animal cruelty people to get very upset about. What you are seeing here as the Matador getting ready to impale the bull with a sword. He puts it in between the animal's front shoulder blades. It then cuts some artery I think. The bull hobbles around for another minute or so and then drops dead. As he is going to his knees the matador puts out his hand as if he were directing the animal to kneel before him. If the bull doesn't die instantly at this point, another guy runs up with a little knife and stabs it into the spinal column at the back of the skull. The these keystone cop kind of guys run out with a couple of donkeys and drag the dead bull away. They do this with much energy and yelping.

Uploaded by Master and Commander o

The Bountiful Actors Theatre of San Francisco

Last night I sat in the second row of the tiny Actor’s Theatre in San Francisco attending a performance of “The Trip to Bountiful” by Horton Foote. Jean Shelton, the person who has taught me more about acting than any other teacher , plays the lead role. I had been looking forward to seeing this show for weeks. Jean hadn’t been on the stage for over thirty years and yet she decided to take on this challenging role.

It turned out to be a challenging experience for me. The acting and direction were excellent in a way that you rarely see on stage today. There was very little pretense going on. The interactions for the most part were so organic and real. The only downside of this was that the show sometimes seemed to lack energy, although it was never boring. Even in the second act, during a very long scene between mother and son when both Jean and her real life son Christian Phillips spoke in hushed tones, seemingly with out a point other than to try to enjoy their last few moments in the soon to be gone forever, Bountiful, Texas, I found myself clinging to every word.

Now about the challenging part. Jean is getting a little up in years and like most actors I know of her age, they often have line trouble. Jean obviously was having that. It might not have been obvious to the casual theatre patron, but to those who have been up on the stage before, it was quite obvious. Normally as an audience member I would just watch with some empathy. But when this happened to Jean, I found my entire body going into a state of complete tension. I wanted to save her. I wanted to do something to prevent her any embarrassment. Being the pro she is, though, she always had a deep understanding of the scene and was able to work her way out of the line problems with more ease than most. It was my reaction that surprised me. It really made me see that when at some point in your life you care about a person, even if you don’t talk to them or see them anymore, there is always a part of you that wants to help, to console, to love, to reach out.

I take my hat off to Jean and to the entire cast. To see this woman who has completely dedicated her life to teaching others and helping others realize their artistic dreams, actually get the opportunity after so many years to go back to what started it all for her in the first place - being up on stage - was a sublime experience that I will never forget.

Actors Theatre of San Francisco:

"The Trip to Bountiful"
by Horton Foote
Through Sept. 9, 2006

Directed by Jennifer Welch and Rachel Klyce
The Trip To Bountiful tells the story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who flees the stifling confinement of the city apartment she shares with her son and daughter-in-law to revisit her hometown in the low farmland of the Texas coast. Amid ruin and decay wrought by the passage of time, she discovers a renewed connection to her past, and the satisfaction of a life well lived.

'The Trip To Bountiful ... is the rarest of theater experiences, an evening which will prove an indelible memory. .. Horton Foote has done, and done beautifully, the one thing it is important for a playwright to do. That is, provide the disciplined material for expert actors to completely capture an audience and hold it through the evening.' -NY World-Telegram

Featuring: James Baldock, Keith Burkland, Scott Agar Jaicks, John Krause, Tim Meehan, Virginia Dare Paulin, Christian Phillips, Duncan Phillips, Jean Shelton, Niki Yapo"

Jesus Christ has been Nailed to His Aluminum Cross for the Last Time

As they say, "all things must end". It was quite an experience to be part of such a magical production. This is the first time I have ever been in the cast of a show in which audiences lined up to get their names on the waiting list. Seats were sold out weeks in advance. Nightly, I would see people leave the theatre stunned, in tears or with looks of shock on there faces or just as often smiling in joy. If I were one to believe in such things, I might believe that our show was divinely inspired. But I'm not, so I guess it was just the love and dedication of every single person in the cast and crew that made this production of Jesus Christ Superstar the memory of a lifetime. From Lisa's inspired direction, to Gus' wild rock band to Shannon's seamless choreography and to all twenty eight performers total commitment, this show was as perfect and as raw as theatre can be. I am forever grateful for having been given the chance to be a part of it.

Mr. Show - Jeepers Creepers, Semi-Star

Here is the same video as below, but without the Director's commentary. Watch this one first.

Jeepers Creepers ( Mr Show)

Fans of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' will bust a gut at this hillarious parody from the HBO series MR. SHOW. Jack Black plays the Jesus role (aka.. Jeepers Creepers). The segment is titled 'The Biggest Failure in Broadway History'. Not only do I love this video, because it's just damn funny, but also because of the fact that they produced it knowing that only a relative handful of viewers would even get it. If you know the movie, you just have to take a few minutes to watch this.

5 Steps To Being More Photogenic - Digital Camera University

Actors - This site has some great tips on how you can make your headshots come out better the next time you decide to have them done.


5 Steps To Being More Photogenic - Digital Camera University

George Bush is Hard Working and Don't You Forget It!!!

Georgie wants you to know that it's "Hard Work". Check out this video.
Hard Working George

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Jesus Christ Pop-Star

Check this out! It's hillarious.

Give Peace a Chance

Give Peace a Chance
Originally uploaded by Master and Commander.

My son's message to the world right now.

Bea & Rock Turnin' On - Sniff, Swig, Puff...

This is both strange and hillarious. Boy, how times have changed in thirty years. Rock and Bea, singing nostalgically about getting high, you gotta love it.

The Merc Loves J C Superstar

MercuryNews.com | 07/19/2006 | Little City Lights pulls off big `Superstar'

Little City Lights pulls off big `Superstar'

AMBITIOUS PRODUCTION BY S.J. COMPANY SHOWS THAT '70S ROCK MUSICAL STILL CAN BE RELEVANT

By Colin Seymour

Mercury News

JEANINE BROWN

Kit Wilder brings charisma and a big voice to the role of Jesus in City
Lights' excellent production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

The City Lights Theater Company is billing the rock opera ``Jesus
Christ Superstar'' as ``the most ambitious effort that the company has
ever undertaken.'' But some skepticism might surround the production.
For one thing, the image of the show as a cast-of-thousands
extravaganza might seem beyond the means of the tiny San Jose troupe.
Beyond that, would success mean sacrificing the City Light-ness of the
company's being?

O, ye of little faith: Suspend that disbelief.

With a cast of 28 and a five-man rock combo often surrounding the
audience at the 108-seat theater, City Lights artistic director Lisa
Mallette has filled the relatively small 2,000-square-foot space with a
multitude of sights and sounds in every direction, creating illusions
of grandeur worthy of the show's fabled music team, Andrew Lloyd Webber
(``Phantom of the Opera'') and Tim Rice (``The Lion King''). Yet the
set itself is as humble as a rural church.

The show -- which brought round-the-block lines to South Second
Street for previews last week -- even refutes a third cause for
skepticism: the sense that ``Superstar'' is mired in its early '70s
origins and is not worth producing anymore.

The score alone creates ecstasy, especially if you heard it back in
the day but haven't in a while. There's the title song. And ``What's
the Buzz?'' ``Everything's Alright,'' ``I Don't Know How to Love Him,''
``Hosanna,'' ``Jesus Must Die.'' And all those juicy licks for right-on
guitarist brothers Bill and Tim Rupel.

Talk about a revival! This audacious stretch by City Lights does not
deviate from its mission to aim high and have fun, with the gambling
and gamboling lacking in many of today's movies and television shows
but still present in good theater.

The two sure things going in -- probably the impetus -- were that
Kit Wilder, Mallette's husband and company co-leader, could deliver a
world-class performance in the title role, and that he could do it with
a City Lights sensibility.

His undeniable charisma has a diabolical element that rides that
edge. City Lights is clubby, and there's an air of a sly wink to this
whole thing that is faithful to rock 'n' roll. Yet it's a good-faith
performance. Wilder is an earnest, volatile, human Jesus throughout
those seven final days among mankind. And, zounds, he can hit a high C
full-voice.

Although there are other praiseworthy principals, the voices that
really carry this production are in the chorus. Everyone is miked,
despite the intimate venue. The surround sound and Lloyd Webber's
adventurous harmonies are so sensational they vastly outweighed any
scattered sound-system glitches that still were being ironed out at
Friday's preview. (The choral depth was not a given going in.)

Standing out among the principals is burly, tattooed Adam Campbell
as Judas Iscariot. The vocal role is nearly as juicy as the lead, and
Campbell is big enough for the job. Jay Steele and Michael Johnson are
perfect counterparts as even-more-burly priests. Tim Reynolds as
Pontius Pilate and Tomas Theriot as King Herod are slick and suitably
smarmy.

As a very soothing Mary Magdalene, Jeanne Batacan-Harper has more
than enough heart. Her lack of oomph as a lead rock vocalist creates a
weak impression, however -- at least until her miraculous turnaround, a
tearjerking rendition of ``I Don't Know How to Love Him.'' She redeems
a song that many consider a mawkish cliche epitomizing a mawkish era.

In that era, ``Hair'' was the quintessential rock opera, with
``Jesus Christ Superstar'' seeming a bit of a rip-off, aside from Lloyd
Webber's inventive score. But that ``tribal musical'' truly is a relic now.

In a production that seems more to be set in AD 2006 than in AD 30,
the relevance of this show is palpable for the audience. John might
step on front-row feet accidentally. Jesus' backdraft might muss
patrons' hair. And don't step in his ``blood'' as you're crossing the
stage on your way out. But the spirit takes hold and, for two hours
anyway, it doesn't let go.

`Jesus Christ Superstar' By Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

The upshotSmall company aims high, connects big-time

WhereCity Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St., San Jose

When8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 7 p.m. July 23 and 30; 2 p.m. Aug. 6, 13 and 20

Through Aug. 20

Running time: 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission

Tickets: $15-$35; (408) 295-4200, www.cltc.org

---

Contact Colin Seymour at cseymour@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5857.

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Theater & Performance in San Jose, CA | 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at City Lights

Theater & Performance in San Jose, CA | 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at City Lights

A Superstar Is Born

City Lights brings a big 'Jesus Christ Superstar' to a small stage

By Marianne Messina

DIRECTING the City Lights Theater Company production of Jesus Christ Superstar, artistic director Lisa Mallette's collaborative style goes well with jazz-minded musical director Gus Kambeitz. He and Mallette have updated parts of Andrew Lloyd Webber's funky rock opera with the occasional hip-hop beat, a smattering of rap and a dynamic range that goes from big production to "unplugged." Both directors wanted the feel of a rock concert while highlighting a very human drama (as opposed to pyrotechnics). Since Kambeitz plays bass through most of the show, he is not there to cue performers in and out of his layered vocal arrangements and Webber's complex time signatures. On the one hand, that has unsettled a few performers who like every cue scripted. On the other, as Kambeitz points out, characters won't have to keep looking up for musical direction. "We've freed them up to just act. ... There's a little more flexibility."

Kambeitz enjoys the idea that every performance will be somewhat different. He offers performers the safety net of a cohesive, synergistic band unit, having just released a jazz album with two of the five-member orchestra. What—Superstar with no string section, no horn section?...more...

Great Review for J.C. Superstar in the Merc

MercuryNews.com | 07/19/2006 | Little City Lights pulls off big `Superstar'

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JC the Superest of Stars at City Lights

We open on Saturday, which is sold out. You can come to a pay what you can night tonight, Thursday July 13, and I think that if you call the box office you can get a ticket for $5.00 for tomorrow's preview.
Theater & Performance in San Jose, CA | 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at City Lights

Jesus Christ Superstar plays
Thursday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2 or 7pm through Aug. 20 at City
Lights, 529 S. Second St., San Jose. Gala opening July 15. Tickets are
$15-$25/gala $35. (408.295.4200)

DEUCE a World Premiere by Sharmon Hilfinger at The Pear

What a wonderful rich and multi-layered play this is. Rarely have I seen a new play that is so well written. The acting and directing are superb. You have one more weekend to see this thoufhtful and toouching new play.

The Pear Avenue Theatre - Current Show

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dance monkeys, dance

Here's a great video about monkeys. Watch and learn.

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

'The Tempest' is one of Shakespeare's most incredible works. If you love Shakespeare, you owe it to yourself to go see this wonderful production. Kenneth Kelleher's concept is unique and captivating and the acting is exrtraordinary.

This summer, family and friends are sure to enjoy seeing Prospero's mysterious island in Bay Area parks, when the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents The Tempest free of charge in Pleasanton, Cupertino, San Mateo, Oakland and San Francisco. Kenneth Kelleher (2003's Love's Labour's Lost, 2004's Twelfth Night, and 2005's Much Ado About Nothing), returns to direct this compelling tale of the banished Duke Prospero, who, after 12 years of exile, shipwrecks his betrayers and reclaims his rightful place in the world.

The play is probably best remembered for the spirit Ariel and monster Caliban, who both serve Prospero and his daughter Miranda on the island. Ariel creates the "tempest" of the title and, in the storm's resulting shipwreck, four nobles are thrown up on shore: Prospero's treacherous brother Antonio, King Alonso of Naples, the king's brother Sebastian, and the loyal counselor Gonzalo.

Political intrigue and magical manipulations join with comedy and romance as the steward Stephano and jester Trinculo, drunk on the ship's store of ale, plot with Caliban to overthrow Prospero. The king's son Ferdinand falls in love with Miranda. In the end, Prospero forgives the traitors, frees his loyal servant Ariel and destroys his magical book and staff.

The shows are FREE, and lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic to enjoy this professional theater production! There are no tickets necessary for Free Shakespeare in the Park.

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

'The Tempest' is one of Shakespeare's most incredible works. If you love Shakespeare, you owe it to yourself to go see this wonderful production. Kenneth Kelleher's concept is unique and captivating and the acting is exrtraordinary.

This summer, family and friends are sure to enjoy seeing Prospero's mysterious island in Bay Area parks, when the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents The Tempest free of charge in Pleasanton, Cupertino, San Mateo, Oakland and San Francisco. Kenneth Kelleher (2003's Love's Labour's Lost, 2004's Twelfth Night, and 2005's Much Ado About Nothing), returns to direct this compelling tale of the banished Duke Prospero, who, after 12 years of exile, shipwrecks his betrayers and reclaims his rightful place in the world.

The play is probably best remembered for the spirit Ariel and monster Caliban, who both serve Prospero and his daughter Miranda on the island. Ariel creates the "tempest" of the title and, in the storm's resulting shipwreck, four nobles are thrown up on shore: Prospero's treacherous brother Antonio, King Alonso of Naples, the king's brother Sebastian, and the loyal counselor Gonzalo.

Political intrigue and magical manipulations join with comedy and romance as the steward Stephano and jester Trinculo, drunk on the ship's store of ale, plot with Caliban to overthrow Prospero. The king's son Ferdinand falls in love with Miranda. In the end, Prospero forgives the traitors, frees his loyal servant Ariel and destroys his magical book and staff.

The shows are FREE, and lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic to enjoy this professional theater production! There are no tickets necessary for Free Shakespeare in the Park.

Connie Chung Doing Imelda Marcos Doing Carol Channing Doing Bob Hope

Connie Chung - Comedian

Connie Chung being hideous. Just watch.

RUBICON Behind the scenes Part 1

RUBICON Behind the scenes Part 1

I am very excited abou this project. It's called RUBICON. It's a web based TV series that's sort of an X-Files/24 mix. It's really cool science fiction and it's going to be incredible. I get to play a character that's sort of like the Cirgarette Smoking Man from the X-Files. The first two episodes are almost finished. Check it out!

Hen and Bunny Do The Sopranos

Sopranos fans have to watch this - it's a couple of puppets playing a scene from this season's Paris episode . It's very funny stuff.

Paris Holiday

Filming on location in gay
Paris was certainly a treat for noted thespians Hen and Bunny, but more
inspiring than the wine, food, and local culture was this very poignant
material from "The Sopranos." "I strained to bring Carmela's
existential curiosity to the small screen," offers Bunny. "She only
wants to taste the pain and suffering of others. We're alike in that
way." But Hen admits to being distracted by the surroundings. "One of
the waiters kept telling me how good I would taste, fried in goose
fat," Hen tells us. "I don't think he was just trying to be sexy,
either."

Click on photo below to watch the video.

Auditions for New Works Festival at Foothill

I acted in this last year. It was a fantastic experience.

FOOTHILL COLLEGE DRAMA DEPARTMENT PRESENTS 2ND ANNUAL FOOTHILL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL

This
years' Foothill New Works Festival includes six short plays ranging in
style from realism to farce to surrealism both comedic and dramatic.
These works address technological innovations ranging from developing
remarkable building materials to instant HIV test results. The Foothill
New Works Festival is dedicated to developing and promoting the world
premiere work of upcoming playwrights as well as providing
opportunities for developing directors, actors and designers to further
their advance their experiences.

The featured new works are:
Anansi and Chameleon by Rebecca Royce - Director: Linda Christensen
Community Property by David Schreiber - Director: Manuel Zaefferer
I Dream of Nadia by David Hartig - Director: Judith Ogus
Single Line Please by Robert Clem - Director: Jacqueline Powers
Strings by Dennis Carter - Director: Jezebel Barraza
Widowed to Hope by Jennifer Ebrahimi - Director: Shane Olbourne

Audition Details:

When: Monday, June 19th OR Tuesday, June 20th at 7pm. Please plan to arrive by 7pm.
Prepare: Cold readings from the script.
Appointment: No appointment necessary. Please arrive at indicated time (7pm) and be prepared to stay up to three hours.
Location: Foothill College Playhouse, Rm #1301,
Directions: Junction of Interstate 280 and El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. See parking notice below.

Rehearsal Info:

Rehearsals begin July 5, 2006 weeknights (M-T-W-TH).
Specific schedule set based on actor and director availability.

Performances: August 11 to 20, 2006.

Roles:
There are 19 roles available. Some gender flexibility. Some
multi-character casting is likely. Ages 16 and up. All roles open.
Actors of all ethnicities encourage to audition. This production has a
particular need for female actors of East Indian decent as well as a
few roles for male actors over 40.

Participation: Non-equity. No pay. No Fees.

Information: (650) 949-7268 or
www.foothill.edu/fa/theater/auditions.html

Please note: Parking regulations require a $2 parking permit at all times.
Please avoid costly tickets and purchase a permit; If you are cast in the
show you will receive a free permit for all rehearsals and performances.
For closest parking to auditions, park in student lot 1 immediately to your
right as you enter the campus. Walk up the stairs to the Playhouse (Room
1301) which is on your right at the top of the second flight of stairs.
Foothill Drama Dept enthusiastically endorses "non-traditional" casting,
and is open to actors of all races in any of the roles in these productions.

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Another Must See! JOHN & JEN at the Bus Barn

Last night I saw a rarely performed musical by Broadway's latest boy wonder, Andrew Lippa. David Curley and Kristin Stokes bring this wonderful two person musical to life. Their voices are pure and wonderful and the acting is personal and touching. The chemistry between them is electrifying.

The musical direction was flawless. What a great orchestra they've assembled!

Barbara Cannon's direction added so many subtle touches to the performances. For instance, there is one moment when John(David Curley) reaches out to touch his uncle's tombstone that really moved me. It was a very small movement and very fleeting, but for me it was poignent moment. This is the kind of detail that I really love to see. It's the type of added touch that transports a play from the usual to the transcendent.

		David Curley (John) DAVID CURLEY returns to BusBarn after appearing in THE GOODBYE GIRL in 2004. So far this year, David was seen in URINETOWN (Foothill Music Theatre), GYPSY (American Musical Theatre of San Jose) and the staged reading of Andrew Lippa’s ASPHALT BEACH (TheatreWorks’ New Works Festival). Past appearances include the world premiers of MEMPHIS (TheatreWorks) and THE HAUNTING OF WINCHESTER (San Jose Rep) and the regional premier of BAT BOY (TheatreWorks). Other credits: RAGTIME (TheatreWorks), CABARET (Theatre on San Pedro Square), SHE LOVES ME and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Foothill Music Theatre), AND THE WORLD GOES ROUND (Pear Avenue Theatre) and HOORAY FOR WHAT, MINNIE’S BOYS and MISS LIBERTY (42nd Street Moon). His performance in MISS LIBERTY earned him a 2005 Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle award. David is also a voiceover and commercial actor and was seen on The Discovery Channel in “30 Roller Coasters in 24 Hours”, which documented his successful attempt at a Guinness World Record. For contact and upcoming performance info please visit: www.davidcurley.com
		Kristin Stokes (Jen) Kristin Stokes is delighted to be making her Bus Barn debut in John and Jen. She recently finished up another Andrew Lippa project called ASPHALT BEACH; a part of Theatreworks New Works festival. Her most recent Bay Area credits include: GYPSY at AMT , CABARET at the Willows (Sally), and INTO THE WOODS at Theatreworks (Snow White/Harp/ Lil‚ Red u/s- performed). Other credits include; Lilly St. Regis in ANNIE (PCPA), Rachel in TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY (Broadway West), Bonnie Jean in BRIGADOON (PCPA), and Helen Keller in THE MIRACLE WORKER (Universal Performers). Ms. Stokes is a recent graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and wishes the best of luck to the graduating class of 2006.

Bus Barn Stage Company

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Go See STRING OF PEARLS at City Lights Theater Company

City Lights Theater Company

This show you must see. Kit Wilder(Direction), the four wonderful actresses, and the lighting and sound experts, have created a very human, heartfelt show at City Lights. Four women play multiple roles in this amazing story of love and hope. Each of their characters are distinct and so interesting. It's truly riveting theatre. The acting, lighting, sound and direction are superb. The performances are layered and subtle and wonderful all around. I happen to know most of the people involved in this production, but it has nothing to do with my enthusiasm. You really have to go see this if you want to see some superb acting in an intimate venue.

Bay Area Premiere!
STRING OF PEARLS

Written by
Michele Lowe

Directed by
Kit Wilder

Featuring
Lisa Mallette*,
Raegena Raymond,
Nancy Sauder and
Shannon Stowe
* Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Performances
May 18-June 18, 2006
Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm
Select Sundays at 2 pm or 7 pm

Tickets
Friday Preview: $20
Gala Opening: $35
All Other Shows:
$25 GN, $20 SR, $15 ST/ED
Group discounts are available; please call the Box Office for details.

In this funny, moving story, the journey of one necklace links the lives of 23 women. Four actresses play wildly varied characters who covet, steal, bestow and misplace a lustrous string of pearls. With gentle comedy and surprising candor, the play reveals the twists and turns in relationships between husband and wife, mother and daughter, sisters, friends and memories, intricately threading love, loss and destiny together into a radiant and heart-warming tale.
For mature audiences.

America's New Idol - The King of the Soul Patrol

Well, I was wrong. Katherine McPhee didn't get the votes. I guess America likes the underdog so Taylor is your new Idol winner. I kind of like the idea that a guy with gray hair, a little ponch who's pushing thirty years old won. But, Katharine's the money girl. She's going to have a big career in front of her. Like my friend Diana DeGarmo. I predict she'll become a Broadway star.


The highlight of the show was most certainly Dionne Warwick's appearance with Burt Bacharach - two living legends of American popular music.

For me, American Idol comes close to bringing back one of the genres of TV that I grew up with and watched constantly - the Variety Show. Programs like the Carol Burnett Show, Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams, Donny and Marie, Flip Wilson, and on and on.. were programs that helped me escape for hours and hours as a kid. That's probably why I really like this crazy piece of fluff so much. It kind of brings me back to those days of innocence - to a time, when for the hour that the program was on, you could forget the world and just laugh and listen and watch nice people singing nice songs.

This Will Be Your Next American Idol - Katharine McPhee

American Idol: Contestants - Katharine McPhee

With her rendition tonight of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" she has certainly clinched it. No one will top that performance, and America won't be able to resist voting for this extremely talented and beautiful young woman.

If you really want to hear and see how good she is, watch and listen to her sing when she's not being judged. She's way more relaxed and sounds great.

Give Peace a Chance

One, two, three, four

Everybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism,
Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, That-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m

All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Yeah!
C'mon
Everybody's talking about Ministers,
Sinister, Banisters
And canisters, Bishops, and Fishops,
And Rabbis, and Pop eyes, Bye, bye, bye byes

All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Everybody's talking about
Revolute, evolute, masturbate,
Flagellate, regulate, integrate,
Meditate,-------?,
Congratulate!

All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Everybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary,
Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan,
Tommy Copper,
Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer,
Allen Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare, Hare
Krishna

All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance,
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Google Ads

I put these little Google ads on here. You can see them above. Now, I think it's obnoxious. My inner capitalist and inner artist are at war.

Martin Short's New Show

I went and saw this show which is currently running at the Orpheum in San Francisco. Next it's to Chicago and then apparantly to Broadway. It really has some funny moments but they have a lot of work to do before it's ready for the big time. I really hope it does well. Martin Short is a funny man with loads of talent and his cast is fantastic. The show just feels too much like a long Saturday Night Live skit right now. I have a feeling they can pull it off, though. I'll keep my fingers crossed for them.

Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me to Open on Broadway August 10, Broadway.com Buzz

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Sopranos - Episode 73 - Johnny Cakes

The highlight of this week's episode was the amazing scene between Tony and A.J. Robert Iler, the actor who plays A.J. is developing some really excellent acting chops. This episode was really his episode and he ran with it. The subtlety of his performance was touching. You can really feel his conflict: a boy loves his distant and dangerous father and wants to gain his love by being more like him but he also hates him. He hates him for the life that he's been forced to live as the son of a kingpin. I hope we see more of him for the rest of the season.

HBO: The Sopranos: Episode Guide: Summary: Season 6: Episode 73

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Colbert Trashes Bush

You have to take about 20 minutes to watch this video. For some reason the White House Correspondents' Association let Stephen Colbert speak at their annual diinner. With his remarkable sarcasma and satire he completely dogs Bush. This guy has some serious testicular fortitude. Bush is sitting just a few feet away and he just nails him over and over again. The press people in the audience don't want to be seen laughing so most pretend to be disgusted as the cameras pan over them. It's fantastic stuff. Take a look.
Video Dog - Salon.com

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My Upcoming Show - 'Misalliance' by George Bernard Shaw

The Pear Avenue Theatre - Current Show

American Idol - Who's the best??

Who's the best? It's really tough to decide this year. The only one left that should go is Kelly Pickler, the calaaamarrri girl. She can sing, but only country seems to work for her and this is a pop idol contest.

Who do I want to win? Well if I were to judge solely on the fact that when Katharine McPhee is singing steam starts coming out of my ears and the sound of AHHHHOOOGAAAAAH can be heard for miles away, then well..

But...




My ears tell me that Elliot Yamin should win. He's got the most amazing tone and he always sings the most difficult songs. He's just kind of well, non-idol looking. But the stylists seem to be working their magic and each week he magically looks a little better.

I don't know. Any of them but Kelly could win. Chris Daughrty is damn good, but I think Elliot's vocal tone gets the edge. Chris, though, already looks and acts like a star. Taylor Hicks has soul and charisma but I think that ultimately his limited range and gray hair will do him in. Paris is just too good of an actor. She's sixteen or seventeen but when she sings you think you are listening to some old soul. It's too strange for the average viewer. I love her though. Anyway that's my two cents. O yah.. Simon sucks.

Sopranos - Episode 72 - Luxury Lounge

Our mobsters were up to all kinds of nasty stuff this week, but the highlight of this show, hands down was Lauren Bacall saying the 'F' word!!! Bogey is rolling in his grave! You gotta love L.B. She has always been one of my favorite actors from the old days. What a great sense of humor she has, to have the guts in her later years, to do a part like this. My hats off to you Dame Bacall.

Just as awesome was the appearance of Sir Ben Kingsley! He was so damn funny. I love the line at the end when he sees Chrissy on the plane with home. "FAAAAAAAAAAAAAwk" he says. It was priceless.

Another priceless moment was Chris showing his overwhelming intellect referring to Law and Order SUV. He is such an idiot.

The Sopranos - Episode 71 - "Live Free or Die"

It's all about Vito now and his secret life. Tony's ability to put the whole thing in perspective was quite surprising. The Captain's aren't going to be able to put up with it though. There's way too much homophobia in that group to tolerate the likes of Vito. So, as I said last week., Vito won't last the season.

Old Mr. Walnuts had quite a reaction to Vito's pufta tendencies. He said he felt betrayed. Hmmm??

I think that Paulie may have had a little action under the table during his prison stay. “The Lady doth Protest Too Much”, as one very smart Brit once said.

Gypsy at AMTSJ

I went to go see GYPSY last night at American Musical Theatre of San Jose. Things really got hot in Act II. The show picked up steam through the second act and the finally was really tremendous as Marya Grandy sung Rose's Turn with such gusto that would have made Ethel Merman proud.. It was great to see so many Bay Area pals up there doing there thing. It's a tribute to AMTSJ that they use as much local talent as they can and still remain a professional theater on a full scale Equity contract. Congrats to David, Jeff, Matt, Gia, Adrea, Joe, Dirk, Diana and all the other S.F. Based performers.

The Sopranos - Episode 70 - Mr. and Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request..

It looks like actor Joe Gannascoli who plays Vito Spatafore better start looking for another acting gig. He's going to lose another 100 lbs. due to starvation if he doesn't start selling more of his line of pasta sauce. Poor Vito was discovered at a gay night club by a couple of wise guys collecting their weekly envelope. So our buddy Vito grabs his pistol and puts himself up in a hotel out in the boondocks somewhere. Looks like he's contemplating giving himself a little lead poisoning. Within the next couple of weeks he's either going to have meet his maker by his own hand, or by one of T's crew. No way in hell they can let a fruity boss stay above ground. It's not in the job profile.

I love the way that every time Dr. Melfi gives T any actual practical advice, he uses it to improve his “business” relationships. This time she told him that if he's afraid of looking weak, to remember that people only see in us, what we let them see. So, T, being the quick study that he is, goes out and beats the holy crap out of his new body guard just to remind the jackals who's boss. If Melfi actually ever found out how many people have been killed and maimed because of her wisdom, she'd have to turn herself in as an accessory to murder and mayhem.

Does Christopher have an I.Q. of a turnip or what? His stupidity is hilarious. Last week it was his logical conclusion that dinosaurs and people could not have coexisted because that means Adam and Eve would have been chased around paradise by wild T Rex-s. This week he tells T that his idea to bring someone in from Naples to perform the hit on the Mayor of Munchkinland, was a pussy ass idea. Then he brings up one of the themes from THE GODFATHER that T must have agreed to doing the hit for Johnny because of the wedding. Only T had to remind Christopher that he had it backward. It was Johny Sack that wouldn't be able to refuse giving the favor. Christopher always has considered himself an expert on THE GODFATHER films. So, this was quite a riot.

One of my favorite little moments in the show was when A.J.s date at the wedding said she doesn't eat fish because of the “toxins”. This she said as she was taking a drag on a cig. Maybe they were those new toxin free organic cigarettes.

The whole fatty theme around Johnny Sacs family is a scream. You know he's a true Italian because even though his wife and daughter both resemble water buffalo he is concerned about them not eating enough. “Mangia, Mangia, Ven Grande!”, as my own grandmother used to say.

Overall, this one of the best episodes in memory and certainly the best this season. Next week, look for Vito to be pushing up more than his share of daisies, and (keep your fingers crossed), maybe the return of the ultimate hit-man Furio to do in the Mayor of Munchkinland.

The Sopranos - Episode 69- "The Fleshy Part of the Thigh"

You have got to love this picture. Paulie Walnuts, the conscientious recylcer. What a great way to start the show. I had to pause my Reply TV and go up to the screen to read it, but I love these little details. Damn, that Paulie is one mean S.O.B. It seems that he really doesn't have to do much acting, though. The actor, Tony Sirico, who plays the part of Paulie was a hood before he became an actor. It seems that he had his mob connections and spent quite a bit of time extorting people in New York night clubs. A New York judge once declared Mr. Sirico, “ a menace to society”. Don't believe it? Check out this article on Smoking Gun

So, the question we're left with at the end of the week's episode is about how much Tony is going to go "good guy" on us after his near death experience. My money is on him becoming more ruthless than ever after he sees how is new found humanity threatens his hold on the Family.

This weeks episode was one of the best. I hope it continues.

Damon Bags Armstrong Film

It seems that Matt Damon has bagged the Lance Armstrong film. The reasons for the departure seem hard to believe. As it says in the article, Matt and Lance disagreeed on the casting of the lead women. Since when does Lance Armstong consider himself an expert in the casting of a Hollywood film? I think that the reasons are just read-hearings. I wouldn't doubt if it were something as simple as Damon getting offered more dollars on something else. But who really knows? I mean what could be the problem with Michelle Pfeiffer as Lance's mom? You couldn't ask for a better actress and she's the perfect age. I actually ran into her at Pete's Coffee a few months ago in Palo Alto (she lives nearby). Lance loves Pete's coffee. I heard that he is essentially a Pete's addict. I bet if he had known, he would have gone with her as choice for mommy.

Who would be a good Lance on the big screen? I would cast an unknown who happens to also be a kick-ass bike rider. I am sure there are some actors out there like that. Why not? You could surround him with stars like Pfeiffer and actually have a lead character that looks like he is a bike racer.


www.cyclingnews.com news and analysis: "Armstrong film searching for new star

By Cheyenne Spokes

The heavily-rumoured casting of Hollywood heart-throb Matt Damon as Lance Armstrong in the forthcoming biopic about the seven time Tour de France winner has come to nothing after the 35 year old decided to dramatically quit the project in favour of another screen role.

Damon, star of hit movies such as Ocean's Eleven, the Bourne Identity and Saving Private Ryan, was long considered the prime choice of Armstrong.

Indeed Armstrong's dramatic recovery from a near-fatal illness seemed both the ideal Hollywood plot and a perfect vehicle for Damon's talents. Although the two look nothing alike, the movie star was reportedly in heavy training for the role, going on long bike rides with Armstrong in a bid to lose weight, gain fitness and build the technical skill to convincingly portray the multiple Tour champ on screen.

'Man, I'm even shaving my legs,' Damon reportedly said in an as-yet unpublished interview with celebrity reporter April Fibbs.

Details are still sketchy about what happened to his involvement with the project, but according to the unrivalled journal of record, National Enquirer, Damon and Armstrong failed to see eye to eye in a number of areas. These rumours include reports that:

* Damon INSISTED that Michelle Pfeiffer play Armstrong's mother.
* He DEMANDED that Jessica Alba play Armstrong's former wife Kristin, and
* He EXPRESSED A STRONG preference for the casting of Vanessa Paradis as Sheryl Crow, despite the fact that the singer is not actually French."

The Sopranos Episode #68 - MAYHAM

It looks like Tony has woken from his Junior-induced perma-slumber and will be with us again in reality rather than in parallel universe dream format. Thank God. I started imagining having to experience T as only his yuppie dream dude version, and what a long season that would have been. But now he's up again! Sitting in a chair in a stupor, but he's up! Christopher wasted no time in telling him that he was back in the "movie" business, and that Tony "owed" him this one because of Adrianna. He just better hope T was too out of it to understand, or he may himself become the zombie-mob-dude-super=hero of his new slasher film.

Great opening for a the show this week with Paulie and a henchman knocking over a mony laundering operation. Fearless and gruesome is Mr. Walnuts. He's one guy I would never turn my back on. Scary goomba.

What's with Tony's other sister ( I don't even know her name) and her husband making these one-liner appearances? I can't help but wonder that maybe Chase is setting up a season finale where the whole Soprano pod gets wiped out. First he needs to bring them all home, which now he has done. Maybe it will be a suicide bomber on a family cruise reunion, or maybe Meadow will marry Fin and a jealous latent homosexual Vito will have the entire clan gunned down, just as they all sit down for the antipasto. We'll just have to see.

Speaking of Vito and his newly found fame on the show. I love it. His dieting and weight loss make good funny moments on the show. Just watching him sit their and devour that bag of baby carrots was great. You just know that one of these days he's going to break down and heat a gallon of Hagen Dazs.

Carmela continues to amaze. She gets all the best writing in the script. Her scene with Melfi was the highlight of the episode. She sees that now her children must suffer, and it may be what turns her against Tony himself.

Christopher! You want to write a screenplay. Why do it like all those other suffering schmucks in La La Land. Just extort an old drug addict screen writer gone straight and have a meeting! Nice one and very funny!

Poor Silvio. He just couldn't handle the pressure. I wonder if we'll see him much for the rest of the season. I'll miss the man with the plastic hair.

Until next week.... Watch your Back.

The Sopranos Episode #67 - JOIN THE CLUB

Now I remember why I love HBO's original programming. This week's episode of the Sopranos was out of this world. The first ten minutes of the episode shows Tony at some sales convention where he gets stuck because he accidentally picked up some other's guys briefcase in the bar. Immediately you realize that this sales convention Tony, who looks like Tony Soprano and sort of sounds like him, is not really him. Is it a dream? Is it a clone? What the hell is it? Has David Chase just completely lost his mind? Then boom! Just as you are ready to throw a brick through your TV set, you are catapulted into reality. The reality of Tony Soprano, the real Tony Soprano, is in an ICU barely holding on to life. Then you understand exactly what you had been witnessing moments before. You had been thrust into the world of Tony Soprano's coma - his new and maybe his last world. A world dealt to him by a pistol wielding Uncle Junior in a dimented fit. Finally, the hit that Tony's mom ordered on her own son, may become a reality. Would Chase actually have the audacity to keep Tony Soprano, the cornerstone of the show, in a coma for the entire last season? Already, as Tony lay there Paulie and Vito start scuffling, positioning themselves in the shadow of Tony's probably demise: suggestions for future violence.

As Tony lie there in his other-world, we see Carmela and A.J. each alone with Tony, finally able to communicate with him without fear of his temper and wrath. Edie Falco, as Carmela, turns in an amazing performance as she opens her heart to Tony. He can't hear, but it doesn't matter. Carmela had things she had to say and feel and she does. She also seems to being to trying to reassure herself that he is a "good" man. She spends a bunch of time convincing herself of this as she talks to him. " You care about your friends and your family", she says. "I once told you that God was going to send you to hell, well you're not going to hell. I never should have said that, and I'm sorry. For that I will be judged." Carmela wants so badly for him to have been something that he's not, that even at this point she can convince herself that he's lived a stellar life. When A.J. is alone with Tony we start to see the new and possibly next Tony Soprano. He vows to "put a bullet in Junior's head" for what he did. The rage is eerily like that of dad and it's chilling.

It looks like next week we get to see the crew start to plan and plot one another's demise as they try and get themselves positioned for a Soprano Family without the Big S himself.

The Sopranos is Back! With Episode #1 - MEMBERS ONLY

This week HBO's hit series, The Sopranos, returned with it's first episode of what will most likely be it's final season. I hate to say it, but I was a little disappointed. Although the ending was quite a shocker, I found that the rest of the episode was mediocre. This is not to say it was bad, but The Sopranos has had some incredible episodes in the past and I was hoping that the season opener would give us one of those.

First of all, they tried to be cute by ball busting the movie industry, slyly placing "products" throughout the whole episode. The first line of the show started out with one of the FBI agents saying, "No one ever went broke, by underestimating the taste of the American public." After that we were treated to subtle and some not so subtle "advertisements" for various American delicacies like Nestles, FedEx, the Rolling Stones (a tattoo of Mick's tongue on Janice's left teat as she reluctantly nursed her new babe) and Armani to name a few.

The directing by Mr. Tim Van Patten wasn't clear enough for me. Too many lines were mumbled and thrown away, some of them very funny. I had to watch the show a second time to catch them all. They also introduced a new character, spent most of the show dealing with his story, then he whacked himself with a noose in the garage. Why the diversion? Maybe future episodes will shed some light.

What did I like? Well, Tony weighing himself, that was damn funny. He didn't like the fact that the scale read 284 lbs. so he kept shedding clothing until it got back down to a respectable 280.
Uncle Jun and Tony's last scene was great. I won't give it away here in case you haven't seen it, but it made the whole hour worth the wait. I thought that Tony and Carmela's obsession with the Japanese food restaurant was hilarious. Of course Tony had to wreck Carmela's fantasy by going there by himself for lunch one day. The little strip act that Meadow did for Fin wasn't bad. Not bad at all. They really used the nice gams camera angle a lot with Dr. Melfi. I can't believes she wears those skirts when she sees Tony. She is frickin nuts! Bobby's train set in the garage was quite humorous. I sense an immanent loss of life for that poor goomba.

Foothill's URINETOWN is a Gas

Jay Manley worked his magic again in Foothill's winter show and staged a hugely entertaining version of URINETOWN - The Musical. The show closed on Sunday so if you missed it your out of luck. Everything about it was top notch, from the opening number to the end when the whole cast cries out, "Hail Malthus!". (Malthus was some dude a long time ago who posited that it's useless for the poor to rise up because they'd fail anyway, or something like that. ) And, because Urinetown isn't just like any other musical, in the end, it fully agrees with Malthus. It's odd that you find yourself happy and laughing at this news.

I can't say enough about this cast. The energy, talent, vocal precision and acting chops that they all showed was truly inspiring. Of course, Cathy's musical and vocal direction was wonderful. I even noticed the cast giving a tongue in cheek nod to her "DICTION!" pet peeve. Near the end of the show I heard a couple of unnamed cast members utter a few "ground-uhs". Tyler's choreography was stellar as always. The dance number in "Snuff that Girl" and its tribute to "Cool" in "West Side Story" brought the audience to a near frenzy.

Thank you all so much for giving us this wonderful gift. It's exciting to have so many talented friends.

Prediction: This show will sweep those Theatre Bay Area Critics Awards next year or I'm The Bunny.

P.S. - It's now official: SHANE Olbourne is a triple threat.

24 on Fox - Great but Ridiculous

I am totally hooked on the Fox program "24". I have been since season one. A number of people I have talked to hate the show because the premise is so stupid. There in no way in hell that so much could happen in the space of 24 hours. Or perhaps, only in hell could it happen, not on this planet.

Anyway, here are some little observations I made from last weeks show.

1. President Logan has 3 piercings in his left ear! Near the end of the two hour episode when Martha (the first lady) was forgiving him for having written her death warrant, you could clearly see them. They tried to cover them up with make-up, but were not successful. The actor's name is Gregory Itzin. Guess what? He received theatrical training at The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, where he also was a company member. That explains it. He's from the CITY! He must be a wack job. I'm kidding of course, being from San Francisco myself. But come on!! A middle aged President of the United States with earrings!! We can understand blow-jobs in the white house, but not earrings. NO WAY. In the photo you can see a photo of Mr Itzin with his earrings in. He seems to be pointing at them, in fact.
   
2. How many times can one guy get his head nearly blown off and recover in a few hours? Com on!! Last season Tony Almeida got shot in the neck and nearly died. He recovered within a few hours and turned into an X-Man. Now this season, he gets the whole frickin' left side of his head smashed, and he wakes up a few hours later ready to go on a rampage. What a stud!
3. They killed my favorite character! Edgar Styles, played by Louis Lombardi is dead! The poor schmuck just missed getting into the sealed up "situation room" in time to avoid the lethal nerve gas. We could see him fall to his death through the windows of the said room. Well, actually he didn't really fall. He sort of knelt down. The poor guy weighs about 400 lbs. so falling is not really an option. Damn, I liked him. He was on a few episodes of the Sopranos in seasons past. Maybe they'll bring him back and then wack him there too.
4. I am so happy that Lynn McGill (aka Sean Astin, aka Sam from 'Lord of the Rings') seems to be meeting his demise. What an ass this guy is. Good acting Sean!
5. Kim is back. O well. At least she looks good.
   
6. Robocop is the head bad dude!! Yes, Peter Weller is back and he's bad, maybe. We'll have to wait and see. But when Jack shot his wife in the leg to get the guy to talk, that was a little much. He says, "she'll be able to walk again, don't worry, I shot her above the knee cap!" What a guy, that Jack. He shot her above the knee cap. Good 'ole Jack.
   
   

Snake!!!

While walking along the beach in Acapulco an elderly gentleman with an Argentinean accent told me that he just saw a snake swimming around in the shallow surf. He saw that I had a camera and thought I might want to snap a photo. I searched for about five minutes and found nothing. He quickly became concerned that I thought he was just a crazy old man who was seeing things. As I was about to give up, I looked down to see that I was nearly stepping on the thing! I don't know whether it was poisonous or not. Gladly I didn't find out. In my panic I somehow snapped this photo. Does anyone know what brand of serpent this is?

Fighting the Bulls

We recently returned from a vacation in Acapulco, Mexico. They still fight bulls there although the locals don't seem to be very interested. The stadium held ten thousand, and on the Sunday afternoon that we attended there were about four hundred people who showed up. Mostly the crowd consisted of friends and family of that day's bull fighters, tourists like me who paid way too much for front row seats, and various others like the little band that played the Mexican music.

Bull fighting is a strange art. It's terribly cruel and brutal. The bull is tortured for about thirty minutes before he is put out of his misery. Even the part where they finish him off takes too long. Most countries have outlawed the nine hundred year old tradition, but a few like Mexico and Spain still allow it.

When the first bull ran in that night, I immediately pictured his future: bleeding, and gasping for air, on his knees. My imagination stood in sharp contrast to the animal I saw before me: powerful, confused, scared, aggressive. My compassion for his upcoming plight was almost overwhelming.

One guy did so well that the official awarded him the ear. So he made his rounds holding the ear up with pride as the blood ran down his wrist, staining his green and gold, majestic costume.

One of the final acts of a bull fight is when the matador stabs the bull with a long sword and pushes it in deep between the front shoulder blades. Often it popped out and the boy (all but one of the matadors was about sixteen years old) had to re-stab until it took. The bull often bellowed in pain at this point. Eventually he lies down drowning in his own blood.

There is much beauty, grace and excitement involved in this game. It's not for the faint of heart. Honestly, I have had trouble falling asleep for the last couple of nights. I used to watch it on the Mexican TV channels when I was a boy in the 1970s, but there were no close-ups and I was too young to really realize what I was watching. We humans are a strange crowd.

Cheney Shoots Hunting Partner with Shotgun

Left - Terrorist Quails - Please contact the
Department of Homeland Security if you
spot these evil doers.

Actually, I heard from one of my sources, that he had intellingence that said there were some terrorists in quail costumes in the area.

Cheney accidentally shoots hunting partner

"...When spotting what he thought were quail the VP laid out a barrage of rounds he called his “shock and awe” method...."

"Over the Tavern" so long...

The show closed last night. What a great, fantastic experience it was. We had the most responsive audience of the run last night. That's a very nice way to close a show.

It was nice to see my friend MARTIN ROJAS-DIETRICH in the audience. His fantastic laughter helped loosen up the entire audience. Thanks Martin!

MercuryNews.com | 02/10/2006 | Taking theater to the people is actor-director's mission

MercuryNews.com | 02/10/2006 | Taking theater to the people is actor-director's mission

I really wish I could go this show at Stanford tonight. I think it's great when the celebrities stay committed to doing work on the stage.

Playbill News: PHOTO CALL: Diana DeGarmo and Others Knock ‘Em Down at Second Stage All-Star Bowling Classic

What celebs do in their spare time... go bowling!


Playbill News: PHOTO CALL: Diana DeGarmo and Others Knock ‘Em Down at Second Stage All-Star Bowling Classic

IFILM - Music Videos: David Hasselhoff: Hooked on a Feeling -

IFILM - Music Videos: David Hasselhoff: Hooked on a Feeling -

I love it when celebrities like David Hasselhoff and William Shatner recognize the fact that most of their "public" sees them as "cheese". Rather than be poor sports about the whole thing, they embrace it and take their cheese to new heights. Watch this video and you will see what I mean.