Carpe Diem! Actor's Express does 1955.

How many of us fantasize about "simpler times", or long for a chance to live in the (perceived-to-be-kinder) past? For a few decades now, Americans have been told by mental health professionals, pop psychologists like Dr. Phil, and especially by that former queen of TV--Oprah Winfrey-- that we can "re-invent ourselves". That there is much dignity in discovering WHO we can be, by slipping into an as-yet untried persona, by getting "outside[our]comfort zone". But what if we could re-invent ourselves by living in a place where time means another time, where living day-to-day means shedding our former selves, and all the hurt we've accrued as a result of our painful, in-the-moment, living? The premise for escaping to a place where one can re-invent oneself, is at the white-hot center of a remarkable new play, Maple and Vine, currently running at Actor's Express. A young urban couple who are dealing with a recent trauma, make the leap to living in the 1950's--not generic 1950's --but 1955, to be exact. It's 1955, everyday, always. An enterprising group affords them an opportunity where they can be fully present, by living in the past. Playwright Jordan Harrison has fashioned a stylish, stylized 1955, complete with gleaming, grinning, happy-homemakers and their steadfast, blue-collar husbands, coming home to their crab-puff-making ("...I know crab is exotic, but....everything is better with cream cheese...")wives. Director Kate Warner has truly seized the day (and time!) by casting a terrific ensemble that, at a recent Sunday matinee', had us laughing until it hurt. The fun thing about actually living in the past, is that both husband Ryu, (a poignant Michael Sung-Ho) and wife Katha, (an effervescent Kate Donadio) get to create a new history for themselves. It's not all fun-and-games, though, as 1955 reveals itself (how soon we forget!) to be less inclusive-- a place where secrets are held, and there is a code of denial, when secrets aren't secret, any longer. The repression is real, and palpable. Stunning interactions between Ryu, Katha, and Dean, (John Benzinger, with acting chops as a sharp as a fully-loaded .45), Roger/Omar (a tender Jeremy Harrison), Ellen/Jenna (a vulnerable, revelatory Tiffany Morgan) make this a "must-do" theatre event. Special notice must be made of the lighting (Mike Post), sound (Joseph P. Monaghan III--the music is captivating, effectively setting the tone for the play), and scene design (Isabel A. and Moriah Curley-Clay)that literally feels like a window into this 1955-world. Costume designer Sydney Roberts appears to have had great fun with this; the costumes (think early-"Mad Men") will make you want to play dress-up . I plan to see the show again, and think organizing a dress-like-1955-night would be genius.(Hint, hint, marketing department at Actor's Express). Maple and Vine runs for two more weeks at Actor's Express. Box Office: (404)607-7469, or order tickets online, www.actors-express.com. Please note this production contains brief nudity.

Cold outside, Hot music inside.

Looking forward to "Six Degrees of Separation", at Actor's Express, on their "Rough Cut"/Wednesday night, a kind of pre-Preview night. I'm going to attend with Collin Kelley, and I can't wait. I've seen "Six Degrees" produced by other theatre companies, but I am excited about Actors' Express, because they always. do. theatre. edgier. On Tuesday night, I escaped from the seemingly-constant-replaying-of-worry over Mom, Daddy, and other family members, by flitting off to the coolest Italian place in Alpharetta, "Altobeli's". Tuesday nights feature my fellow-SAG-AFTRA-member, the talented singer, Michael Carlton King. It was a respite from responsibility: a glorious hour or so of 1960's and 1970's hits. Classic standards and R & B, and how lovely to see a few fun folks go out into the below-freezing temperatures, to get to the hot swingin' tunes inside Altobeli's! One cool-couple in attendance: our neighbors, Kathryn and Doug Cueny. Kathryn is probably the kindest soul you could ever meet: she's in our Palisades' Book Club, she's very supportive of the arts (I found out weeks-after-the-fact, that she was the one who arranged for several women from our neighborhood to come see me perform onstage in "The Dixie Swim Club", when Gypsy Theatre Company produced it, in February 2012), she appears to be a very grateful person, too, as she revels in her grandchildren and extended family. When I spoke to hubby Hansoo after returning home, and suggested he have a "respite" too, he responded by saying he wants to come hear MIchael sing, and.....he wants to play golf with him,too. I'm hoping Michael Carlton King will be able to (he's quite the golf enthusiast!), and perhaps Doug will join them. Dear ol' pal, Danny Morrison drove me to Altobeli's, and he enjoyed the banter with Michael Carlton King over various musical artists and songs. Music soothes, and heals. And so does theatre. And poetry. Peace, kids.

Poetry, and Empowerment.

So I've just figured out I must use Google Chrome to write and post my Blogs, from now on...Lots of interesting data is now immediately available to us who blog, regarding page-views --apparently, my most recent Trayvon Martin post (April 11th, 2012), and the post regarding World Fund for Animals (years ago!)have received numerous hits the past two days. But to what I came here for: the shoring up. The feelings of drift have been profound, in recent months.The un-mooring of self, the feeling that I've nearly split into two halves: a Lisa who remembers what it is like to experience joy (and indeed, DID experience that, most recently at the celebration of marriage for Arthur Kwon and his new beloved, Erin Smith, in Highlands, North Carolina, on May 12th, 2012), and a Lisa who feels nothing but crushing, relentless depression. There. I said it. The overwhelming sense of sadness, of inability to "do", to produce, to "affect" anyone, in any way, began last June, when I discovered Robyn Casandra Smith had passed away, without my being made aware of it. I wrote as lovingly as I could, about my loss of my long-time friend, Casandra, and those posts can be seen, simply by scrolling down on this blog, or searching the Archives. Despite my having completed a major role in a feature-length film, despite the Atlanta Premiere(which did not launch perfectly, but hey, it was still a PREMIERE, and the director is a wildly creative, wonderful dude)in November, despite having my closest relatives and dearest of friends here with me, despite a successful audition in December, for a wonderfully funny play, despite the great success of that play, and the warm, inclusive atmosphere of the theatre company who'd selected me to perform with them, despite the friendships made, I am here, now, crying afresh over the loss of yet another friend, and again, the loss is directly linked to her alcoholism.Because her family has not made the cause of her death public, I will choose not to say her name.Which hurts,to not be able to say her name, to make her an "anonymous" thing, a blip....But "D", just like Casandra, made choices which ultimately, led to an addiction--and make no mistake--alcoholism is a disease as real as any cancer, diabetes, or palsy. I am bereft. Last night, I dragged myself out of the house, and attended the "A Face To Meet The Faces" Persona Poetry Launch at the fab indie bookstore, Bound To Be Read Books and invited gorgeous, talented, eternal friend Coral McGhee, to join me. I was delighted that it ended up being what I'd term a Facebook-Face-to-Face, as well, since I got to shake hands with(my up-til-now-Friends-on- Facebook) the inimitable Dan Albergotti,one of the poet-contributors, and Stacey Lynn Brown, editor of this anthology. I was expecting a great reading, with a few poets I adore (like my eternal friend, Collin Kelley, who, in reading his David Lynch-inspired poem, was in rare form)hadn't yet heard...what we (sizable audience gathered) got, was one of the most illuminating evenings of poetry I've been honored to be present for, in quite awhile. The "persona" theme for this anthology is quite brilliant, because every writer, like all actors, uses the (Stanislavsky, thank you)"magic If" to plant herself/himself into the soul of someone else. There were literary characters' imagined conversations, madmen musings, and history, revisited. I found myself longing to bring all these pieces to life, via the stage, so human, so deeply empathetic (as Ms. Brown introduced the poets, and deftly pointed out, "Empathy is the most important trait[of our humanity].") were the persona pieces, read.... I won't reveal exactly what you'll miss out on, but if you don't go get a copy, and fast, you will miss out on a great opportunity to make that connection, that communion, for which we all, long. Peace, kids.

Respect For Actors

At an audition for a large-budget feature film today, where hundreds(though I'm told thousands in total showed up), I retreated to a "Starbucks" for a chilled green tea to wait for my call. Of course, several dozen other audition-ees were present, and we made conversation with one another during the afternoon.
At one point, I mistakenly assumed that a young woman and her husband were there to audition, and remarked on it.
Her husband said "Well, that depends, what's it for?"
He was playful, but I could see the hope in his eyes....and I got similar comments, all afternoon, from folks who either "heard about" the film auditions going on, or wandered up to ask me what I was auditioning for, could they audition, could their child audition, etc.
Famed acting-teacher, actress and writer Uta Hagen was right: there's no "Respect for Acting".
Imagine, kids, an engineer in a lobby area, waiting to see a potential employer, and dozens of folks wandering up, asking if they could "go in" to get hired, too. Except NONE of them has ANY experience as an engineer. Or a musician auditioning for a band, and folks with no experience in music, asking to audition. It would be preposterous.
Really, kids, it's a job. We train, work hard, and study to do this. Really.

My audition felt good. The film concerns a young man's struggle with his identity, and he finds redemption through his poetry and rap music. My love for poetry and for the spoken word has me quite excited about this particular project. I won't know if I am in the call-backs(for you not in "the biz", this means the "finals" from which they will cast the film), for about two weeks, but at least I got to read for the role I really want, and I got asked to stay and read a bit more, and that's always good! I can't say what the role is, but it would be a really meaty role, and one in which I would grow tremendously as an actor.
For now, give respect to everyone for what they do.
Whatever the job is, respect the job, and those who do it.
Peace, kids.

Actors Working At Being Employed

Auditions for voice-overs, and film and tv, coming up. Send out good vibes for me.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like, to NOT feel the need to act, or write.
And despite being very imaginative, it's truly difficult to imagine being without that drive.I recall a wonderful Professor (renowned British film and stage actor,Paul Massie) saying to us eager college-students, waaaay back-in-the-day(University of South Florida, where I went to school) that "....if you can do something else, do it....You should only act if you HAVE to do it."
It's true.
This business is immensely rewarding in terms of self-expression, the relationships you form, and the discoveries you make about yourself--and other human beings, through the creative process, is amazing....but unfortunately, much of society rates a human being's worth in terms of the dollars and cents they make from their profession. It is sometimes depressing, to work so hard, and receive so little money.
Of course, plenty of A-List actors make a fortune, but the rest of us working actors feel fortunate that we just get paid.
We've all acted, or written poems, or written plays, for little or nothing, just to get to do it.
Most of us also work at a "job-job" (or two), my term for a non-acting or non-writing-gig, in order to pay bills, and/or save money for classes or workshops, etc.
So, I'm curious:
Any of you out there, who would be willing to do your chosen profession--whatever it is--for little or no money?

More on Art--A Secretary of The Arts, to be exact!!

I've posted already today, on painter Andrew Wyeth's passing.
I've been thinking about how we are quite primitive in our support for the arts. Read how we can become a much more civilized society, with true support for the arts--and artists--by clicking on to sign the petition(sent to me by eternal friend, Jeanne Adams)below.

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Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.

www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

Happy New Year!
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Peace, kids.

Lydia's words, from her blog, Writerquake.

Hi kids, I wanted to post a bit more about Lydia of the blog, Writerquake. The more I learn about her, and her favorite blogs, places to visit, etc., the more I like and admire her. Intellectual, adventurous, with eclectic taste, and an appreciation for the absurd(do check out her latest update on impeached-Gov.Blagojevich!), you'll enjoy Lydia(now located in Oregon) as much as I do.
Here's her blog-address, below, and what she wrote recently, regarding her Kreativ Blogger Award announcements:
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www.writerquake.blogspot.com



Owen @ Helping our Planet's Endangered Species: She is a 14-year-old girl whose mother helps run the blog that supports HOPES (Helping our Planet's Endangered Species), which Owen created to raise awareness and money for the cause. She is a sensitive artist who creates drawings of the animals she is trying to save and auctions them on ebay. All donations go to WWF, the World Wildlife Fund.


Deena Stryker @ Other Jones-Journal: What a mind! and she's expanding mine. Her brilliance as a writer/political observer/journalist cannot be overstated.


Honour @ The Art of Practice: Read her magnificent poem, Blogging, and have an "ah-ha" moment that will introduce you to this dear heart.


Lisa Allender Writes: ...and acts, and publishes, and advocates, and is basically the energizer bunny rolled up in a peace sign (when she's not recuperating from major surgery).


Robin @ a little bird told me,: She's had an amazing year and all signs indicate a remarkable life ahead for this special artist/photographer/writer/philosopher.


Elizabeth @ retinal perspectives: She is "a thirtysomething girl who is slowly finding her place in the world" and what a truly beautiful way she has of sharing it with us.
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I feel honored to be included among such proactive, accomplished women. Thank you again, Lydia--and thank you to all who read Lisa Allender Writes, and provide me with feedback via the "Comments" section.

My answer to the question I posed, the other day:
First, I'd take a deep breath, and be GRATEFUL--what a great long life I've already had, with love and experiences and travel and fun that many others never get to have....Next, I'd go visit, and have long discussions with the family members I love, and miss every day. And I'd have a long discussion with one "extended" family member who has long abused our trust as a family. Next, I'd buy a lot of really fine, Belgian chocolate and then I'd share it with a few trusted, glorious friends(male and female; I've known some of my dear friends for twenty-plus years.) and I'd be sure to go again to Indiana with Daddy, and take beloved Aunt Carolyn along. I'd go to Greece(I'm half-Greek), most hopefully, with my Mom, sis and niece, by my side.
And I'd bake a gazillion cupcakes, see some great theatre(and maybe leap onstage at an Improv event or two), and go see Malibu(my fav part of Los Angeles) again, too.
The question?
"What would you be certain to do, if you discovered you had only weeks to live?"
Peace, kids.

Jumping back in!
That's how I feel, after a fabulous SAG (Screen Actors Guild, for the uninitiated)"Career Day" on Saturday...
It's been awhile since I auditioned for more "commercial"(read:higher-paying) gigs....Theatre is still a first-love, as is poetry, and I'll be continiuing to do LOTS of BOTH, but I am going to be more aggressive for On-Camera and Voice-Over work--- which appears to have changed significantly.
The changes in Voice-Over work mean I'll HAVE to become more technically-savvy, but as I explained to one sweet-faced older actress at the meeting(when she appeared a bit unnerved by the new techno-lingo of at-home computers, MP3 Files, etc...),
"This is really EMPOWERING--we can market OURSELVES, as well as working with our agents."
One stand-out moment was seeing Paul Armbruster. This gentle man is a force to be reckoned with in terms of his wonderful teaching, acting accomplishments, and professionalism... I was overwhelmed emotionally, and felt blessed to run into a true mentor.
Incidentally,those of you interested in Voice-Over work would benefit greatly by checking out Paul's Intro to Voice-Over at The Alliance Theatre.

www.alliancetheatre.org

I feel exhilirated, and deeply appreciate all the wonderful folks who generously gave of their time on "Career Day".
Melissa Goodman, our Exec. Director, and SAG Prez, Mike Pniewski deserve special thanks for pulling all this together.

I got to do a bit of "bonding" after the panel discussions, critiques, and networking-- with fellow actress, Deborah Calloway Duke--a veteran of such films as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Venom"(pretty cool role--a VooDoo priestess!).
Deborah's on the Atlanta SAG board, and is a real sweetheart--spiritual, full of great positive energy, and kind with her words...
Deborah, it'd be great to work on a project sometime with you.

This week, I get to visit with a couple of cousins I hardly EVER get to see:
The famous "Bonnie and Jayne"--my Mom's older sister, (our late, great) Aunt Helen's children.I recall many visits as children where we would shriek so loudly upon seeing one another, that inevitably, both my mother and theirs would furtively look around, and shush us to "Please, girls, not in Yia-Yia's(our beloved Greek Grandma) house..."
Here's a poem I wrote, not so long ago, that may evoke a bit of nostalgia--especially for Bonnie and Jayne(and Tina, my sis).

Sand Ridge was what we called our property in central Florida...



Sand Ridge

There was an old shack
palm-fronds worked through
chicken-coop-wire
woven with a hose slipped through
Icy-well-water
Spat at us.

When our city cousins visited,
we pretended we had modesty,
needed a cover.
All we needed
was that cold shower
after all the
puppies
goats
pigs
ducks
rabbits
dirtied us with animal smells.

We washed our hair outside
sometimes not even icy well-water--
sometimes rain-water:
“Makes your hair soft”, Mama said.
Most times,
it was a shampoo
in that palmetto shack
icy-cold well-water
detergent,
hot sun.


Taut little girls
dashed in light
the only shadow—
palmetto fronds...

“Mama, Daddy, come in, you don’t wanna get snake-bit”
worried words
from two young-uns
exhausted from play.

Mama goes inside, turns a gas oven on
to dry two school-girls’ uniforms
as we, those school-girls,
run to finish chores
and long for a later time of day
to bathe outside in the palmetto shack.
We settle for a rinse in a pale porcelain tub
antiseptic
quick
necessary
not prickly-edged
like our favorite place
to play
a palmetto shack
a few toys
and promises of another bright summer.


 copyright, May 7th, 1998

I'll see you soon, city cousins.