More like ROCKtober.

It's been a couple of long weeks for me, and I'm happy to report that I've survived.  If you're at all interested, here's a breakdown of the last few weeks of me not posting.

I spent almost all of September working on two projects for Space 55.   The first of these projects is a production of Kim Porter's "Munched."  Her play is about a mother accused of the abuse of her 5 year old daughter, with the primary "evidence" in her trial being a questionable diagnosis of "Munchausen by Proxy."  The play follows Marybeth (the mother) and Katie (the now adult daughter) twenty-two years after the fateful separation, and revisits critical moments in the past and recent events leading up to the current day.  I don't want to say too much about the plot, in case you haven't had a chance to go and see it.  You still have an oppurtunity, by the way, to see it the last weekend of October at Space 55.  It's a play whose subject matter is unusual, and it's side by side anecdotal story telling is a fascinating way of exploring the story of the two damaged main characters.  The show is great, and worth seeing while you can!  You don't have to take my word for it: here is a great review from The New Times Blog.  Also, here's a review from Raising Arizona Kids which is written by another local blogger, Lynn Trimble.

I don't trust anyone with pet birds.

A couple of notes on Ms. Trimble's review- she spends way too much time putting "under-represented" "in" "quotation" "marks" in her "second" "paragraph."  She then tells Space 55 they need a new, less "shabby" venue, and to "Deal with it."  My words to Ms. Trimble:  writing a review of the actual, physical theater doesn't make you a theater critic, it makes you an architectural critic.  Did you come to see air-conditioning vents and doorknobs, or a play?  Space 55 is hardly "anti-establishment" as you say in your post, nor is it trying to be "hip" by using a converted laundromat as a theater- they are trying to put on innovative and affordable theater.  If you want to see a better space, feel free to donate.  They are a non-profit, after all.  You can write it off on your taxes. 

In the booth at Space 55, working on my hunchback.

A twist of sweetness to offset the bitter tonic- here's an article from Modern Times entitled "More Than A Black Box" that seems to actually get the Space's ideology, and calls it (in a positive sense) "unlike any theater in Arizona."  When I first started going to shows at Space 55, I felt that way, too.  It was inviting and intimate and felt very close to home.  In a way, the venue reminded me of the kind of place I would have gone to see a local band when I was a teenager, but all grown up.  Call me sentimental, but there's something about painted brick and concrete that makes me think "local artists."  I even have black concrete floor in my living room.  I liked the Space so much that I invested probably 30 hours a week there through all of September, not to mention the hours spent searching for props and whatnot outside the actual theater walls.

The other major project I've been working on for the Space is "Hollis' Traveling Treehouse (and Dance Party), "
a show conceived of by Shawna Franks, The Amazing Ash Naftule, and myself, written by Ash and I, and directed by Shawna.  It stars some of my favorite local performers and lots of creative cats are signed on to work with us in the coming season.  In the writing process for the show, I watched two whole seasons of Pee-Wee's Playhouse, countless Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer episodes, and even did a run thru of The Elephant Show (not as good as I remember) and other bizarre kids fair (Gulla Gulla island, bitch.).

This picture explains EVERYTHING.

The great strangeness, for me at least, was that I initially envisioned the main character of the show as a girl, and spent a week debating with the Amazing Ash Naftule about various female performers to write as the show's star.  I was initially hesitant to take on the role when Shawna and Ash suggested I play the childish lead, but now I'm ridiculously thrilled to have an chance to say things like "Oh, Kittens!"  and such.  I'd love it if you came to the show sometime- it's every First Saturday at 10:30.  I'll hug you.


Between working the lights for Munched, writing organzizing performing Hollis, and working with the other Late Night Series performers, September/October has been incredibly busy for me.  I even decided to go back to school for a BA in English, and am attending online courses towards that goal.  It'd be nice to work as a freelance writer, and I need the help with my fiction work anyway.  I am hitting a creative and productive peak and I don't see a plateau anywhere on the horizon.  I'm painting again, completing a collection of cartoon fantasy characters I always planned to, and will hopefully be showing it by November.

Also, if you love me as much as I love me, you can watch me do art and stuff for AN ENTIRE FUCKING DAY October the 29th.  Check this schedule out:

10 AM- Choose Your Own Adventure Show @ Torch Theatre.
1:30 PM- Quantum Leapfrog Show @Torch theatre
3 PM - Naptime.

7 PM- Tech for MUNCHED @ Space 55
3 AM- Cult of the Yellow Sign DARKNESS ABSOLUTE Show @ Torch Theatre


THEN I SLEEP FOREVER.

Also, check out the Arcana Cabaret every 2nd Saturday and the WTF Variety Hour every third Saturday at Space 55.  I work a little on both shows, so you might see me running lights or performing.  Or hallucinating and drooling.  Which should come as nothing new.

SOON! MORE POSTS! ABOUT THINGS!