April 13, 2011

Yikes, it’s almost Tax Day! Don’t know about you, but I’m all about “extensions,” baby. Yeah, sure, let me get back to you, Mr. IRS. Of course, sooner or later you gotta pay da man. I’ve tried getting Donald Trump to pick up my tab this year. So far, no response. He’s probably checking on my birth certificate.

Since this is the first Newsletter in some time, I want to encourage you all to keep me apprised of any wins in your life—especially anything related to your acting. Just send it to me, and I’ll get it into the next issue.

We’re moving forward with Petrified Forest. Anxious to tell you about the casting as soon as everyone’s finalized. Probably next week. Please keep plugged in. We’re going to need everyone’s help—especially with costumes and props. Mark Shepard has done an amazing job designing our artwork for the play. Thanks, Mark.

So…even though everything’s been posted in email and on FaceBook, I want to say, again, how much I appreciate the accolades Humble Boy got at the recent Bay Area Theater Critics’ Award Dinner. Being selected as Best Director for Equity-waiver theaters was a great honor. I know Nan was very touched to be nominated for Best Actor. And everyone was quite proud that we were nominated for Best Enselmble, as well. The nomination—like the audition—is what it’s all about. You do well there, you’re doing your job.

To all of you who actually showed up at the dinner, thanks for your support. Damn, that was fun! Let’s do it again next year, OK?

In other news…Dave Crone has joined our class. He will be playing one of da bad guys in Petrified. I met Dave at one of my voice classes a couple of years ago. Since then, our friendship has grown, mainly because we’ve spent time together working on my house. If you have ANYTHING that needs done at your place—construction, woodwork, plumbing and even, yes, electrical—this is the man! Give him a call and have him drop by for an estimate. Never have I had someone so expert and fair working on my house. You can reach him at dcrone58@gmail.com or 707-235-2437.

Tony Mathews and I are meeting next week to discuss our upcoming showcase. It will be late in the summer or early fall. That’s a ways off, but I encourage you to start thinking now about what you’d like to do in the show. Topping the last one is going to be a challenge, but I know you’re up to it.

I’m also thinking it would be worthwhile to consider an evening of one-acts by women playwrights, featuring women from class and directed by same. I suggest this in part to assuage my own guilt over picking such a male-dominated play as Petrified Forest. But it’s also just a cool idea. Please let me know if you have playwrights you’d like to feature and, most important, if you’re interested in trying your hand at directing.

Coming up, I’ve got my two Saturday College of Marin voice-over class coming up next month. If you haven’t tried it, do. It’s a good bargain. Or if you know someone who’d like to apprise themselves of just how the voice-over industry works, let them know about it, OK?

Warmest Regards,

T