i drive a rolls royce; cuz it's good for my voice

Long time no blog. Shamefully long time! It's because things have been ultra ultra busy. I know, I know. "Maggie is always busy." No, in April and May, Maggie was more busy than should've been humanly possible. I'm damn proud to have lived to tell about it.

To recap, between last entry and today, I have worked on 10 projects, or shows, in varying capacities. In chronological order, they were:

1. CLUBSCENE
A pilot for a TV show, based on a short film of the same name. I served as "art director" - although it was more like set decorator. It was nice to get to work with my pal Broc, who was starring/co-producing on this piece, and meet a lot of amicable Italians. There's a photo of me & actor Carmine DiBennedetto on set here.

2-7. The Neighborhood Playhouse Final Plays...subcategorized as...
a. The Bald Soprano
b. Vincent 1979
c. The Real Inspector Hound
d. People in the Wind
e. Animal Keepers
f. Lord Byron's Love Letter

Exhausted.

8. Screenwriters' Night - part of the School of Visual Arts Dusty Awards
This was cool - got to production manage while most everyone I know and love performed. Got to work in gorgeous new renovated theatre. Got to chill with badass lighting designer/production guru Tom Zak, who rocks my socks!

9. Pop & Death
It's as fun as smoking crystal meetttth...this was a part of At Hand Theatre Company's annual fundraiser, POP. Written by Marty, and starring my pals Aussie, Nelly, Rubin, and Judy. I didn't get to see all of the performances, since I was running around trying to manage the Nei-Plays and America, but from what I did witness of the event, it went swimmingly. And I was honored to take part in it.

10. AMERICA (eff-yeah!)
Some technical difficulties aside, this one-night-only show was just a glorious experience. This particular group of actors was so special and bonded so elegantly, it was a pleasure to watch. I may post some video from it very soon.


Oh, crap - missed one. How to Succeed at Talent Unlimited. Ah, well.

Til next time,
Maggie

between love and hate

I had a weekend.

Such a weekend.

I've been ruminating and renovating my life, as well as repainting everything the color of a purple My Little Pony. Mom and I shuffled all the stuff around and now this place looks...well...very different. All that's left to do is walk around with a smudge stick, and I may have the aura of Man fully removed from my living space.

Love is such a strange experience. I am grateful to the universe for teaching me what it has, so far, about the L-Word, and I am grateful to whatever gene I got that allows me to fall so hard. I like feeling like I've dropped from a deathly height into a puddle. I'm still a little shocked that Man and I are DONE DONE and DONE. One expects that after a hard fall and a six year journey together, that it will not end in such an ugly, common fashion. But hey, it's all been real interesting. And I wish him major well-ness.


Back to the regularly scheduled Fledgling Director news. Which does relate to above item, regarding Love.

First off, Allies is coming along very well. First official table read is coming up December 2nd, and I will meet these lovely actors Foxfire speaks so highly of. Prior to that, I've invited Sessoms, Jive and Nelly over on Wednesday for an unofficial table read so I won't be unpleasantly shocked by anything read aloud in December. I had enough nasty moments during the table readings of US - realizing some deep, heartfelt monologue in your head sounds like absolute crap in the mouth of a great actor...well...sucks.

Saw a reading at the Lark last night with Stormy. It is definitely reading season - last week, Marty from At Hand hosted a reading of his show (which I can't help but call "School Shooting - The Musical!" in my head, but in truth, is title-less at the moment), then upcoming there's the Allies reading, Sessoms' play reading, the America reading (more on that later)....it's a readathon, folks. This reading was part of a Mexican playwright exchange thing, and the play itself was kinda like The Wire on the water (as Stormy's fella put it) or a Tarantino movie in boats. Afterwards, there was catch-up, good food and margaritas with Stormy & the entire production. Good times.

I carried on from there to meet up with Boss, and carried on...and carried on...until some ungodly hour.


I must speak of 'America' - this choreopoem I was given by a playwright named Kim Yaged. This woman is absolutely awesome, and I love this piece like I haven't loved a new work maybe...ever. It might be a years-and-years undertaking, but awesome. Bring it.


And since I haven't yet posted, please check out The Good Idea Gang in Paper Planes!

rock of ages

Oh, forgot to follow up.

Rock of Ages?

FANTASTICALLY FANTASTICALLY horrible. I mean this as a high compliment. GOD, what a terrible show. I LOVED it. God bless the At Hand boys. You are truly wonderful.

it's just a jump to the left (and then five steps to the right)

I am tres tres fatigue.

Yesterday's 8 hour Rocky rehearsal didn't feel so hard at the time, but boy. After a 5 AM bus ride back to Manhattan, a script drop-off, a creative meeting with the guys at At Hand Theatre Co., and finally getting to my bread job at 1 PM...sitting here, I can feel rehearsal. Especially in my neck. Or maybe that's the weird position I slept in for part of the bus ride. Whatever it is. Time Warping and Hot Patootie-ing all day in spike heels will mess with you. But I'm pretty psyched about it nonetheless.

Tonight is the first informal readthrough of La Machine Infernale. The RTC staff plus a number of actors we don't typically work with (ok, Judy and Metro are 'old hat' I guess, but I love them so...), and Monsieur Jean Cocteau.

EQUUS was phenomenal. I was so excited about it, I bought a mug. Which they claimed was $15 dollars. The charge that showed up on my statement was $20. What the hell? Either way, it's a lot of money for a mug. But that beautiful EQUUS publicity photo is on it, so, oh well.

BOYS' LIFE was fun. Man & I sat right by Michael Grief, the designer, and their assistants, so we got to hear the little whispers of final dress notes throughout the show. It made me feel excellent that there are things that even Michael Grief has to whisper about on final dress.


This week, because I am blessed with awesome people being awesome and generous in my life, I will be seeing ROCK OF AGES (starring Constantine...!) on Thursday. Words cannot describe the joy...!