Sep 28, 2007
"Mo'" or Less
In 1994 I walked from my Echo Park digs to Dodger Stadium to take my $15 nosebleed seat at "The Three Tenors." The concert began while the limos were still gridlocked at the entrance, and the folks who paid $1,000 for on-the-field seats were still filing in an hour into the show. It was a great night for populist kitsch, if not for opera, though a lot of operatic repertoire was sung. Three Mo' Tenors is, well, something else entirely.
Sep 27, 2007
"Judas" Priest
As someone deeply interested in theater and theology, and the intersection of the two (indeed, I think I've had several of my most "religious" experiences in and around live theaters), A Jesuit Off-Broadway is like catnip in book form. This fascinating and entertaining book is by James Martin, S.J., the priest who edits the journal America and who a few years ago found himself roped into the role of theological advisor, and soon company chaplain, for Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at the Public Theatre.
I had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Jim recently (in conjunction with that big Time bombshell on Mother Teresa's "dark night" of doubt, about which Martin is something of an in-house expert), and also of attending a special benefit reading of his book at the Public earlier this week, at which members of LAByrinth and of the original Judas company were cast in the unexpectedly awkward roles of themselves, repeating quotes they'd given to Fr. Jim through the course of the play's development about their craft and their spiritual paths.
Though it's not a dense or scholarly work, the book seamlessly and accessibly binds together reflections on Christology, interpretation of Scripture, the divergences and similarities among various spiritual traditions, the punishing vagaries of the acting life, the role of priests in unlikely places and, perhaps most movingly and fundamentally, the unavoidable bond between the sacred and the theatrical. I was particularly struck by the unsettling yet inspiring concept of "spiritual poverty," one of Fr. Jim's favorite ideas (indeed, this is likely the next book I'll check out). A Jesuit Off-Broadway also contains just about the best, most succinct description of how it feels to find one's vocation, in any walk of life: Eric Bogosian recalling his first stab at acting in college and saying simply, "I loved it so much that it hurt." Highly recommended reading, even if you don't share my enthusiasm for what David Cote would call wretched goddism.
Sep 25, 2007
Me at Mo's
I try as much as possible to keep the blogging and journalizing separate from the musicking and songsmithing, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention my appearance tomorrow evening, Wed., Sept. 26, at 9 p.m., at Mo Pitkins in the East Village, for a CD release show. In addition some of my usual bandmates, some of whom have flown across the continent to play with me, I'll be joined by a bona fide music star.
End of plug.
End of plug.
They're Baaaaack
"They" being the irrepressible Evidence Room crew, headed by the fearless Bart DeLorenzo. I wrote about the group breakup last year, and last time I was in town Bart updated me about directing the new Donald Margulies at South Coast, and hinted at something else coming soon. Now it's official: The Evidence Room will team up with the upstart Unknown Theatre (an up-and-comer that came up after my time in L.A., as far as I know) to present the LA premiere of Martin Crimp's Attempts on Her Life. It'll be co-directed by Bart and Unknown artistic director Chris Covics, and will star members of both companies. The press release I received mentions no date apart from "November," nor does it specify a venue (we might assume it'll go up at Unknown's Seward St. space in Hollywood), but it promises "a wild theatrical adventure not to be missed." No doubt. Updates will certainly up here. It's good to have the old gang back.
"Sligo" A-Go-Go
Adam Rapp growing up? Not.
(Photo of Paul Sparks & Marylouise Burke by Sandra Coudert; h/t TheaterMania.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)