readysteadygo

Alright, so Israel is old news. So is this photo of Rusty and I at an event for the American Folk Art Museum (for which I did makeup for some of my pole dancer pals to perform in), back in early June. The late spring/early summer was a good 'un, but now I'm getting that summertime ICK that happens if you stay in NYC for the bulk of it. It's hot, it's sticky, it's sloooowww.

I don't particularly fancy being on vacation. I like a lot of work; drowning in it, preferably!

There's been some happenings - some wild evenings out with the gang I went to Israel with (Bamba), some short plays and long plays begun (some even finished) and submitted to assorted festivals, some gigs with White Rabbit & his band, some old furniture reupholstered...

No, really, it's that dead up in here.

On the horizon, some madness: gonna be working 'round the clock for ESPN during the US Open, along with Daisy D., and MOVING to Astoria at the same time. Gah! Plans are also solidifying for November & December in Los Angeles.

Anyway, check the twitter for the day-to-day. Foxfire & I have got a show in NYMF this year, which is badass...details soon.

Love
Maggie Moon

the happening

First of all, TIGI chopped all my hair off, and I love it. It is me. It is the inner me haircut. I feel like myself. And doubt I shall rock a lengthy style for quite some time.

Second of all, some absolute madness went down this spring, typical Levin-style, but with some extra dramatic twists. The Neighborhood Playhouse final plays were costumed successfully - all 10 plays, all 84 costumes - thanks in no small part to never-wavering support and assistance from Minnie. I signed on to direct a play at Theater for the New City that I was really excited about, and that situation crashed and burned like nothing I've ever experienced. It's actually the greatest disappointment I think I've had, professionally speaking - primarily because it still doesn't make any sense to me. Essentially, communication was awful, personalities clashed and I was backed into a corner where I had to quit, mere days before rehearsals began. I hope nothing like that EVER occurs in my career EVER again - the lesson from it being, I have reached the point where I really do have to be careful what I'm signing up to work on.

A bizarre feeling, since I still have that fresh-out-of-the-gate panic in me from time to time of TAKE ALL THE WORK YOU CAN! But no. Situations need advance scrutiny and consideration. No more diving in without so much as a glance at the water below.

Onward!

I have teamed up with a gal we'll call Harvard on a piece of hers that goes up at the UN on June 17th. I'm part of the 7-women-strong creative team she's assembled to organize this flash mob performance as part of a Culture Project thing regarding human trafficking. Really interesting stuff, and I'm excited to see how it turns out.

I also co-directed a music video for the rock band of the lovely Ms. Foxfire! We're shooting some performance footage for that on Wednesday, but I cannot wait to get into the editing room and cut this baby together! Last week's footage is absolutely incredible.

There's some other bits and pieces on the horizon, not the least of which is a Birthright trip to Israel (!!!!) with friends, and a long-awaited full production of Gorey Stories later this summer. I am also confirmed to return to NBTSC this year, and lead another Make a Musical workshop, which is spectacular news.

The full moon has my insides doing dances, and this heat makes it even harder to stay cool...there's script writing to do, so I'm off for now...

xoxo
Maggie Moon

New Show! Happening This Week!

Me, Betsey Johnson, & Ms. Foxfire
Late night blogging to loud Lady Gaga. Yeah, I've been listening to her. Gotta admire a chick like that - she's a smart cookie, and she's doing what she wants to do on a humongous scale. Plus the tunes are so damn catchy...

Anywho, at the last minute, I got invited to direct THREE brand new short plays as part of a brand new comedy festival called (it's a mouthful..): "Hilarity/Belly Laughs & Snorts." I really dig on the plays I was assigned - it's great to spend a week exploring the magic of sock puppets and ninjas.

Here's the skinny -

The Dates: August 20 & 21 (Thursday & Friday) at 8 PM
The Place: Richmond Shepard Theatre, 309 E 26th Street
Tix: $18 at the door, $15 in advance from smarttix.


Lots more in the works - full update coming soon!

boom boom ka

I'd be biting my nails in anticipation of many things, except I just got them "did" today, and don't care to ruin them.

Packages were mailed off today - to a Dad, a producer, and a rock star. Foxfire stood with me in line at the Post Office and helped me to imbue each package with "good juju." One moment I will never forget about Foxfire as long as I live: when I brought the Axl Rose belt to her apartment on the day of the Allies reading, she wrapped it around her neck in a coil. She then writhed around on her bed, ecstatic smile on her face, cooing about the "good juju" Axl was giving her. Hilarium. The process of good-juju-ing the packages was not as involved (since we were in public), but I feel it was still worthwhile.

Speaking of the Lady Foxfire, check out the totally badass Diva Talk interview she gave for Playbill! It features a mighty sweet shoutout. In fact, it's so sweet, I'm just gonna repost it here:

"I was handed [another] project by my friend Maggie Levin, who is Tony Levin's daughter. Tony Levin is a very famous bass player— he's Peter Gabriel's bass player. I had booked this reading over a year ago to star in this new Peter Gabriel musical, and the funding had dropped out. The writer and I had become really good friends because I had asked her to help me write the Heart musical. Finally I was just like, "Look, I'll produce the reading of your Peter Gabriel musical because it needs to happen because it's really good." So I produced that reading, and it went really, really well. We're actually talking to bigger producers. I'm just a baby producer. I'll do readings and stuff like that and get things going."

Mail and shoutouts aside, she & I got to chill a bit today and talk about new projects, weddings, Rock-Offs and whatnot. All good stuff. 2009 has been a killer year for our collaboration, and I see only good things in the future.

------------

Tomorrow I head off to LA to see Rusty. A much needed visit. We're in the beginning stages of a project that's been on my mind for a number of years; one that's sure to be filled to the brim with rock tunes and explosive epic-ness. And because it's my thang, there're already roles written in for Daisy, Foxfire and Rooney (from Allies!). I'm psyched to have ten days away in which to work on this and other pieces floating in my creative hemisphere. I get kinda bogged down with silliness and time-wasting busywork on the homefront.

Also continuing development with Ryan on "One Angry Dwarf," with Stephen on The Wall, and with Daniel on a bunch of things.

Meeeeeeep. Bedtime.

forever in my life

How to even begin with catch up?

The US reading went...well, it couldn't have gone better. I guess this is what it feels like to have a passion project get somewhat realized. HAIR was my last big love, and sitting in the back of Rita Morgenthau for this felt similarly exhilarating. Only different. Less like hurtling myself off of a cliff and not being sure if I was going to land. No, with this group of artists, landing was very much assured.

My dear metal friend, Mr. Ken Pierce, and his photographer Peter Parrella were kind enough to cover the reading in detail, and I am truly honored. Check it out:

Piercing Metal talks about US

In the days since, I've been somewhat recuperating while determining my next move while preparing a reading package for Mr. Gabriel while bopping around NYC for the usual summertime fun. I've been missing the hell out of Rusty, who had to return West to record with Please Do Not Fight on their new EP. I'll be seeing a good deal of the other coast as the summer progresses - a mid-July visit to LA, and a late August stint in Oregon on the staff of Not Back to School Camp. Remember my mention of learning to dress like a lady, back in February? Well, my tights-as-shirt apparently made a lasting impression...in my staff bio, NBTSC director (the amazing Grace) has written: "Maggie was a camper back in 2001-2002, during which time she taught hip-hop workshops, sang a lot with Abbi, and wore ripped up pairs of tights as shirts."

Word. Maybe I'll rip up a new pair for the occasion.

Tights aside, I am very excited about returning and working with unschoolers. Back in the day, I used to get a major recharge of my spiritual battery by being out in the forest frolicking with a group of such alternatively-minded people. It's been seven years...bout time for a recharge!

On the work horizon, I've been asked to direct (or put in directing input, as I will be away for part of the rehearsal period) a reading of a musical written by my very good, old school pal Daniel Kelley. Daniel used to have a silent 3 in the middle of his name. He also used to write really hysterical, brilliant plays, and still does. I'm also directing/co-conceptualizing (there has got to be a shorter way to say that!) a one-man show for/with Ryan Bogner, based on the songs of Ben Folds. Um, hells yes. Plus Ryan (who was stage direction-reader for ALLIES, and a Company member in US) is a killer singer, and great writer...so I get to spend my summer working with great, talented writer dudes. Fine by me.

I almost forgot about working with Foxfire's pal Stephen Amato - another funny, talented writer dude. We're hoping to put together an evening or several of spectacular "straight plays" (Maggie do a non-musical?! Crazytalk!) that Real Theatre will likely produce...perhaps in conjuction with Foxfire's production company...or perhaps we'll form the mega-production-company that's already unofficially begun...


It's late and we'll see. We'll see. We'll see.

M

seduced by the noise and the bright things that glisten

Pre-production for the US reading is in full swing. Rehearsals start on Monday. I never thought I'd get here. Last year, around this time, US Version One went kersplat. I met Foxfire for the first time, when she came into that room with wretched acoustics in the corner of the Shetler penthouse, and blew our minds singing "Alone." I went home and downloaded the song that night (wasn't too familiar with Heart's work back then!). The next morning, I called Deb (musical director for US) and asked:

"Do you really think I oughta hire her without a callback?"

See, in my mind, the character of Brooke Jace was possibly bi-racial, small, and brooding. She definitely had dark features, dark hair, and could rock a leather jacket like this little townie girl I knew from upstate. No one has ever worn a leather jacket as good as that girl did.

Brooke Jace was not a tall, milk-white starlet with shockingly red hair. But Ms. Foxfire Carvajal had a voice that I could not forget. A voice that could and would morph my entire vision of this character.

"I think if you don't hire that girl now, someone else is gonna get her fast," Deb said.

I called Foxfire's agent. When I didn't get the agent, I immediately panicked, and called her manager.

Thus, Team Allies was sort of born.


Tonight, as I tweak the opening of Act II for Monday's rehearsal, I can't help but be grateful for...well...everything. Oh, I know, SHMALTZY Maggie. Thanking the universe again! It's not like that all the time. When things are petty and icky and like, arrgh rehearsal space and arrgh budget, I usually don't feel like blogging. I feel like watching "Superbad" or playing iPod solitaire. I feel like camping out in my house and not returning phone calls. But I have gotten way better, since last year, at that phase lasting one hour, as opposed to one week or one month. And I have been so blessed in 2009, when things are good, it is good to remember to open my arms up and whisper-screech "Thank you!!" to my dark room. To whatever forces are listening.

I am such a hippie.


In eleven days, US will be LIVE! Heard out loud! A tangible something I can point at.

Just the start, really. Aiming for "pet project" phase. Where we build a Manor with magical whirlygigs inside and out, and have King Arthur shows opening in Australia. Ahem.

lovestoned

Brother in 'Shock the Monkey' Test Makeup
What ISN'T going on! Too much to blog about. I'm somewhat dancing around at the beginning of a giant, triumphant race...gun's about to fire...and really JUST about - we're at .2 seconds or something. But to break it down into interweb news bits, for ya...

ALLIES

Still truckin' along, with potential benefit performance in July. Going to be VERY different. Foxfire & I are working on so many projects right now, and she's been busy with Rooms (which you may see me representin' on NY1 or the lobby of New World Stages, depending on if they used anything from the fan-interview Daisy & I did for them this past Saturday), but ALLIES is still very much at the forefront of our minds. We want to be bringin' you Heart tunes, really, we do!

US

US has finally gone into real development - even if most of that development currently takes place in my apartment. Sessoms and I are meeting tonight to start on costume designs - and I will likely make her the guinea pig...guinea monkey?...for more makeup trials.

As soon as all the biz is done (and that's consuming my day today; fun with contracts and budgets), I'll post a cast list. Foxfire is of course, still starring, and Daisy & Rabbit in their namesake roles.

Other Shows

We're locked and loaded for Songs for a New World this August, America starts rehearsals on Friday, and I'm working on three other projects in other capacities...costumes for the NP Final Shows (yay for being asked back for enjoyable jobs, two years running!), the TU final Show (How to Succeed in Business), and production management on the School of Visual Arts Screenwriters Night.

If it hasn't been mentioned RTC has really, truly recieved its 501(c)(3) status - we are certified Not-for-Profit. Thank you, IRS! Big sigh of relief there!

Random Update

Item One:

Mama, at my age
(c. Arthur Elgort, 1980)
Item Two:
I have this big, giddy smile on my face that I've been unable to shake for weeks now...

ramble on

Today's post sponsored by the Zep. Cuz they inspire me to greatness and madness.

AMERICA Update:

Casting went so well, and I am pleased to announce that on May 12th, at the HERE Arts Center, you can come see the following performers explore the most challenging piece of theatre-art I've ever worked on.

BLACK: Rafael Jordan
NEW ASIA: Hwalan
LATINA: Mariana Soares
DYKE-MAN: Dylan Bandy & Logan Hall
WHITE: Angela Canalese
NATIVE AMERICAN: Kai Chapman

Even the character titles make one go "EEEK!" This is good. Challenging is good. Scary is good. Fear = Impending Growth.

I'm very very excited about this cast. They have great energy. Plus Aussie and I finally get to properly collaborate, which is so grand.

I am such a hippie sometimes, but as K said "We're going off of vibes here. This is a very vibes show."

Seein Shows Update:

I urge you to check out ROOMS at New World Stages. Produced by my newfound friend Van, and lead role understudied by Ms. Foxfire, it is a very worthy evening of musical fun. Scottish accents, rock music, and a very simple, lovely love story make for a groovy 90 minutes. As you can see, Daisy & I had ourselves a ball when we attended the second preview:


Random Update:

Dad's off with PG in South America in the coming weeks. Last night, he told me all about the schedule day off to visit...the RAINFOREST. The actual rainforest. With monkeys and trees and all sorts of wildlife I can't even imagine. Apparently the part they're visiting is where mosquitoes COME FROM (ooh, fun!), and they have to get more vaccinations than Dad has ever heard of before. Even worse than the ones you need to go to Africa.

Over n out,
Maggie

u got the look

Today's post is sponsored by the Purple One himself.
Not for any particular reason - one should never need a reason for more Prince in one's life.

So, UPDATESKIS.
Last I spoke was still somewhat in the ALLIES-reading aftermath, which resulted in some partying and hobnobbing around NYC as Foxfire's winglady. The advantages? I'm actually paying attention to the clothes I wear - a long overdue step in my Becoming a Grown Up. As a teenager, I was ultraconcerned with clothes...in the sense that I took great pains to be the weirdest/flashiest dressed person in the room. Lots of leopard print, stripes, ripped up fishnets, and white eye makeup. In fact, observe interesting fashion choices Exhibit A - age 17, at Not Back to School Camp in Oregon:


Yeah...I was wearing a pair of tights as a shirt. Not that they look so terrible, but that was like dressing down for me in 02. I wish there were pictures of me during my vinyl-or-neon-or-both-midriff-shirt-period. I had a midriff shirt for every day of the week.

I think I wore that tight-shirt on my first date with Man, actually. I know why it was originally created - Valentine's Day date with Boy, also in 02. We both wore lots of red and saw Chicago. Having a gay boyfriend wouldn't really work for me nowadays, but back then, it was a lot of fun.

Getting back to 2009 - I'm learning to dress nice, on a budget, since ALLIES and US are not, you know, on Broadway or in Vegas or touring internationally. Yet. And I'm finding that my guy friends are strangely more aware of how to dress than I am. Especially, lifesaver of all lifesavers, Mr. Plaid from all plaidout. He helped me out majorly today, so I encourage you...my little base of blog-followers (I know there are a few of you!)...if you haven't already, pay plaidout a visit.

Foxfire and I took a trip to Calli-forn-ya to talk ALLIES with some folks. The talking went quite well; I saw Jeff (who took an old NP reference about taco salad literally and met me at a Mexican restaurant) who looks better than ever, and most significantly, I (re)connected with a friend from the aforementioned Not Back to School Camp - Rusty. And he rocks, in oh so many ways. He is supposedly building a blog for his glamtastic band over the next few days, so I'll link it up once there's an address.


Aussie has joined the creative team for America, and we're FINALLY FINALLY casting that this week - since the playwright (K) got it into the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival. Performance on May 15th, huzzah! Choreopoeming here I come! The piece is also the kickoff artistic event in a larger thing that K is organizing, called The America Project, which will organize and connect all varieties of humanitarians in North & South America.

Expect updates to the Real Theatre website very soon. We're working on an event for the School of Visual Arts in May, right before America happens, and co-producing "Songs for a New World" with Kalish, the amazingly tenacious chick who was our SM for Hair (round 1, at NP).

Til next time,

xoxo
Maggie

review on piercingmetal.com

Man, long time no update!

The ALLIES Concert went so so well. Our friends, family, and plenty of industry came out to support. Amongst them, Ken Pierce of Piercing Metal.com, who wrote an awesome review which you can check out here:

ALLIES Review

OTHER NEWS...

-Foxfire and I are continuing our work with ALLIES, and working on new collaborations and old ones as well. Which leads me to the following news item...

-There is also finally some movement on Peter Gabriel's US - I've just begun to set up for a private reading of the script in the spring, and should be meeting with Monsieur Lepage in April to discuss.

-I'm currently casting a reading (readings readings readings!) for America. Dates to follow.

-Just finished casting a video for my bread job at Orphmedia. This will be the first industrial script I've written, ever. And also the first non-youtube video I've completely production-managed. I'm proud of myself, cuz the team assembled is pretty killer.

-My life is one big MEETING, interspersed with hours of online research and web design.

on the road home

Well, it's been two days, and though I thought I'd be living a somewhat Heart-free existence, I can't seem to get those Wilson sister-tunes outta my head. Perhaps it was because Ms. Carvajal, Mr. Rooney & Mr. Hall sang the bejeezus out of them on Monday night. Maybe it's because "Cardiac Arrest," lead by our musical director Paul Leschen, played each one to absolute perfection.

Maybe it's because Heart songs just make me happy.

Foxfire (is it silly to keep on using her blog-alias when everyone knows it's Celina? eh, for funsies, I'll keep up the name-game) is off in the mountains, taking a load off after the tremendous task of producing the reading. When she gets back, I should have clearer news about the future of ALLIES. For now, I am content having been a creative participant in one of the most fun, kick-ass collaborations I will probably ever experience.

Thank you to everyone that came to see the reading! I was delighted to see you all!

Much love,
Maggie

grounds for divorce

The Rock of Ages Set. From the THIRD time I saw this show. How is it that I've seen this show 3 times? Everytime the Castaway kids come into NYC, they wanna see this hairbandy bit of ridiculous. But I keep going with. Cuz I like them. And now, I'm afraid the thing has grown on me, somewhat.

It's only 6 days deep into January, and lemme tell ya, what I've seen of 2009...is fantastic!

I heart 2009.

Firstly, an ALLIES update: please check out Allies the Musical.com, and reserve your seats now for our concert reading at the Zipper! The script is totally revamped and pure rock n' roll melodrama. I'm sure in the process of developing this thing, it'll go through a million other incarnations, but after this last draft, I feel like we're reading to kick it out in front of a live audience.

I am so grateful for Foxfire for bringing me on the project, and trusting me with her brainchild. I've never written as part of a team before, and it's been an altogether wonderful experience thus far.


Later on this month comes the NBR Award dinner, another Baby Bear shoot, Infernal Machine-ing; Later on this week comes an outing to the midnight madness Rocky Horror Picture Show (haven't been to one in ages!), possible Fuerzabruta, a Young Playwrights reception (haven't been to YPI in ages either!)...and who knows what else. Exciting times.

Plus, Obama! Obama! Obama!

Yeah, the economy sucks. Life's tough. But I'm in the mood to say yes, and to accept every invitation. To be boldly optimistic, and stop letting the weight of the world prevent artmaking. So half of Broadway's gone dark. So what. I'll do a show in my living room.

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!

how do we ever keep this secret?

ROCK N' ROLL!

Just finished the last scene in the "Allies" script. I sent the magical Foxfire a copy of Act I. I hear the ticking of the clock/I'm lying here, the room's pitch dark..

So, with every just finished comes a just started:

Just started putting together a readthrough for La Machine Infernale.


Times is tough. It's a fight to stay rockin and rollin. So fight on, and fear not, my bloggy friends.

i've been working on a cocktail

Standoff with Bugs.
Hour 4.
Have killed one nasty hairy spindly water-centipede I found in Brother's room.

Have not killed any of 3 Roaches (or perhaps the same one, swapping locations throughout the evening to fuck with me), coming out and staring at me and twitching their antennae and looking generally huge and shiny and horrible.

WHY. WHY WHY WHY. Because I live in New York, yes, that's why. But really, my house is decently clean. Sometimes the dishes linger, but it's certainly not grounds for infestation.

I blame the new neighbors below. The bugs no longer have a big empty apartment to scuttle about in, so tonight, they're checking out the penthouse.



My pest problem aside, I am actually working on some projects worth a mention, since this is supposedly a blog about directing. On the directing front, Baby Bear Productions is a scant 2.5 weeks away from the Paper Planes shoot. On the writing front, been plugging away at the Heart show w/ Ms. Foxfire (met her at the US auditions; she's slated to play Brooke whenever that gets-a-goin again). On the design front, I'm doing costumes for a show called "What a Life," with a company I've never worked with before - and THAT is always exciting! And on the (GASP) acting front, I'm actually reading something aloud with MORE people that I've never worked with before. My friend Kindred (who brought me to a lovely goth-trash-rock show and encourages me to co-write letters to Guillermo del Toro with him) invited me and Daisy and some other folk to read a new play aloud next Friday.

And Gorey Stories co-author Stephen Currens dropped me a line last week, asking about the RTC production! I told him we've postponed, so we'll be meeting for a drink & discuss when he visits NYC in October.

Just putting this into the blagosphere, as a wish, since I've sent the letter (gloriously translated by Daisy's stepmom) to Pierre Bergè, asking for permission to perform it: La Machine Infernale.