Greetings from Sunny New Hampshire...oh, wait, it just started raining...no, there's the sun. Okay, Greetings from Sunny..oh, darn. Fine. I'll pack the car with my parka and speedo. I'm up here with The Barnstormers in Tamworth, NH, having a great time loving and abusing not only the other characters on the stage, but audience members as well. Read on for that story as well as other swell goings-on.
Now, tell the the barkeep on your private yacht to bring over your favorite saucy beverage and join me on this e-journey--and at the e-conclusion, oh yes, oh yes, there shall be the two (by which I mean four) items of interest for FOD's!
FODapalooza V: Birthday Edition
Thanks so much to all of you who joined me on my birthday for FODapalooza V at People Lounge! A great time had by all, the usual Margermellon Wadderitas were understudied for the evening by blueberry martinis, and some great introductions were made for friendships and networking. We also raised $35 for City Meals on Wheels and $25 for the podcast for National Public Radio's This American Life.
Barnstormers: The Return
Why swim through the woods in this very rainy season in New England this summer? Come to Tamworth, NH within the next few weeks as I play two dream roles in my eighth season with The Barnstormers.
Just finished:
Noel Coward's Private Lives: Direction by Bob Shea, Costume Design by Sandra King, Set Design by Ryan McGettigan, Lighting Design by Karen Perlow, Sound Design by Dennis Quinn, and Stage Management by Darrell E. Keene, Jr. Cast includes Chrystal Stone, Joe Tuttle, Dee Nelson, Jean Mar Brown, and Doug Shapiro. (Special thanks to Barbara Rosenblat for working with me to nail down the dialect!)
Next up: Mary Chase's Harvey: Direction by Frank T. Wells, Costume Design by Sandra King, Set Design by Dane Leeman, Lighting Design by Karen Perlow, and Stage Management by Darrell E. Keene, Jr. Cast includes Elaine Anderson, Bob Bates, Clapham "Cope" Murray, Jean Mar Brown, Jim Burkholder, Kelley Curren, Ray Evelyn McCarey, Dale Place, Penny Purcell, Doug Shapiro, and Pat Tierney.
WHEN: as Dr. Lyman Saunders in Harvey: August 4-8, 2009
8pm Tuesday-Saturday, Saturday Matinee 2pm
WHERE: The Barnstormers,
Main Street, Tamworth, NH
Google Map
COST: Tickets range from $14.50 to $29.50.
Box Office: (603) 323-8500;
e-mail: tickets@barnstormerstheatre.org;
Mail: The Barnstormers; Box 434; Tamworth, NH 03886.
We had a bit of an adventure at the invited dress rehearsal for Private Lives. In the fight scene that ends Act II, the culmination of the slapping and noggin bashing ends with Amanda and Elyot stalking off to our respective rooms and I'm knocking furniture over as I go. I knock over the chair, the table, another chair, and then as I'm stepping over a couch towards my door I hear an audible gasp from the audience and wonder why they're having that reaction to my stepping over a couch. I come to find out that the table I knocked over decided to do some blocking of its own and continue to roll...
...off the stage...
...into the front row...
...onto a woman...
...in a wheelchair...
...with an oxygen tank.
Luckily this incredibly sweet woman also has quick reflexes and deflected the table. The staff swooped in and took care of her right at intermission and I gave her an apple at curtain call (and called her a couple of days later). She's okay, but I think the only thing that could have made it worse would have been if she had been holding a basket of muffins that she had baked for the cast. Yes, the fight scene was reblocked for opening. Live theatre, people! The winners of the Facebook status responses were Rob Isaacson ("Now THAT'S interactive theater!") and Richard Binder ("Yes, break many legs - just, y'know, not the ones that are already broken, 'cuz that's just a waste of energy really ...").
Savvy Doug
I continue to work with phenomenal clients as an acting career consultant with The Savvy Actor. Jodie Bentley and Kevin Urban have built a remarkable business helping actors turn their craft into a business through classes, coaching and seminars. I had 14 appointments the week before I left for New Hampshire and nine already scheduled for the week I return. One of my clients marched right out the door, filled with determination, and landed herself two job opportunities in three hours! Interested in doing this work for yourself? E-mail me at doug@thesavvyactor.com or call (917) 929-0998 to set up a free half-hour intro session. We also coach by phone for those of you outside of NYC. Let's get your career going! (See the bottom of this e-mail for information on our Mailings seminars and webinars!)
...with apologies to Lady Mondegreen
Mea Culpa! Through the magic of technology, I was able to participate in Lady Mondegreen's latest video, Lady Mondegreen on Modern Dating while vacationing in St. Thomas back in March. I have neglected to include this in these updates for the last two months and one day I hope Lady Mondegreen will make a video forgiving me for not giving her the e-loving she so richly deserves. Lady Mondegreen, may I one day be worthy of your splendid purple bobbed wigness.
Dougbytes
***We've recorded the second installation of DougToons! In this episode, the character Doug is sent on an audition by his agent, only to find out that he is applying to be a henchman to the evil Mr. Mayhem! (Special thanks given to FOD Paul Liberti for some last-minute animation voiceover coaching!) It is now with animator Ken Truhan and he's already come up with some stellar drawings for the characters. If you have yet to see the work of animator Ken Truhan, writer Crystal Skillman, producer/engineer Brett Barry and voice actor me, the first installment of DougToons is on both YouTube and Facebook. Please log on to the YouTube site, give it a rating, and share with your friends!
***While here with The Barnstormers, I've been recording the pre-show announcements and will be conducting a business of acting seminar with the young actors company.
***I continue to participate in "The Actor's Workout" with an incredible intenSati instructor, Erin Stutland. The practice of intenSati offers a training for your body and your life. The greatest power to influence our life, our health and our happiness is our thought power or our spiritual power. So, in class, we simultaneously work through challenging aerobic exercise and spiritual yoga while voicing our goals to cover mind, body, and spirit. Intrigued? Send Erin an e-mail at stutsreal@yahoo.com.
***I'm still continuing to monitor casting sessions, train readers, and meet casting directors weekly at The Network. I cannot recommend this organization highly enough.
***Every Thursday at 7:00 a.m. Jill Burk and I continue to be the voices of New York Times for InTouch Radio reading news and periodicals for the visually impaired over the air. By the way, one can hear the broadcast by registering at intouchnetworks.org, but then must be able to verify that they are visually impaired. Tell your visually impaired loved ones to sign up, and then bring the pizza and beer over at 7:00 am to listen to us!
***On Mondays at 8:00 a.m. I have a phone gathering with fellow voice actors Brett Barry, Cristina Doikos, Tercio Bretas, Marc Garber, Lucien Dodge, and Jamie Hurley.
***I continue to sing Sunday mornings at The Madison Avenue Baptist Church with choir director Paul Stephan, singers Helen Lyons, Daryl Freedman, Christopher Preston Thompson, Brian Long, and Alexandra de Suze! (Surely you've heard of Alexandra de Suze!) (Jim Wordsworth is covering for me while I'm in New Hampshire) The congregation is led by the fabulous Reverend Susan Sparks. The sermons are now podcast! (The choir is not.)
***Composers and Lyricists, please look here!...and speaking of The Madison Avenue Baptist Church, choir director Paul Stephan has requested that each member of the choir team up with two other singers to perform a night of music in the fall. I would love to do that about which I'm most passionate--bringing the work of my FOD composers and lyricists into the world. My plan now is to team up with The Fabulous Jennifer Wren and The Marvelous Johanna Weller-Fahy to do an evening of original works written for us (or that would work for us) by YOU. Send me an e-mail if you're interested! (No, it does not have to have a religious theme.) Thanks to all of you who have already expressed interest and I will get back to you asap.
Please Don't Panic! I'm as busy as a one-legged man in a grape-stomping contest -- but for you, I'll find the time. Should you require your novel voiced, your song sung, or your product personified, let's create something great together.
And now the monthly Two (by which I mean Four) Items of Interest for FODs...
Summer Special at BroadwayDemo.com...
This Summer, BroadwayDemo.com is offering a Starter Vocal Demo Package for just $99. This package includes:
-- Member Page (see example) featuring up to 2 songs from your demo session, 1 headshot, your resume, contact link, and customized color scheme based on your headshots. Designed to be Agent and Casting Director-Friendly.
-- Easy-to-remember address: www.broadwaydemo.com/YourName
-- Your page fully licensed by ASCAP and BMI for legal and worry-free marketing of your vocal demo online.
-- Embedding support for your personal website.
-- Your page featured in our Showcase
-- 5 updates per year to your resume and headshots
-- Eligibility for exclusive discounts from BroadwayDemo.com partners.
To qualify for this special, your recording session must take place before September 1st. Contact David and Tina Marie at david@broadwaydemo.com for details.
Just the right combo for your event...
FOD Yury Shubov, an expert violinist with whom I've done several shows for The Prospect Theater Company, has embarked on a new venture! Ideal Ensembles was created to provide clients with the ideal musical accompaniment for their wedding, anniversary party, birthday party, corporate event, or any other special occasion. Their company mission is to put together a group of professional musicians that will create the perfect ambiance for your event and their specialty is writing arrangements of your favorite music. When it comes to popular songs, they do their best to preserve the sense of the original while adding their own artistic twist. All musicians with whom they work are active performers in and around New York City. String quartets (2 violins/viola/cello) and trios (2 violins/cello or violin/viola/cello) are their primary focus; however, virtually any instrument can be substituted or added to an ensemble. Duets and solo performers are also available. Check them out and tell them you're a FOD!
Give my husband a call...
I must brag on my man. After eighteen years as an actuary, Shawn brought his industry savvy to the people side of the business four years ago to be a financial planner. His business has grown wonderfully and he is helping a lot of people start to save money and protect their loved ones. Have you been reading the news lately? Perhaps it's time to talk with him. He knows his stuff, will not try to sell you something you don't need, and is quite easy on the eyes. Send him an e-mail at scowls@mac.com to start the conversation.
Give some cards...
Mailings--Faster, Smarter, Cheaper!
A fantastic FREE seminar offered by The Savvy Actor. Mailings are a very important part of our acting business. Yes, we know, they can be tedious, time consuming, and not always affordable. Most of us will do them without the consistency truly needed to both brand ourselves and maximize the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.
How would you like to....
AND... save time and money.
We are ecstatic to share with you this amazing service where you can CREATE, PRINT, STAMP, and MAIL your personalized cards and postcards – at the click of a button! It is time to work smarter, not harder so come experience our free demo of the system.
Free Seminar: Mailings - Faster, Smarter, Cheaper!
WHEN/WHERE: Monday August 17, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
at Pearl Studios at 500 8th Avenue, 4th Floor
COST: Free!
RSVP: To reserve your spot for the seminar, please e-mail jk@thesavvyactor.com
What? You say you don't live in New York City but may be interested? Not you should worry. Reply to this e-mail and tell me to put you on the list for my webinar.
Life is good here. I'm kvelling up a storm because the first of the family generation under me (my God Daughter Heather) just graduated High School. Also, Shawn and I got to see FOD Ambrose Martos perform with The Umbilical Brothers. The three of them together were genius.
Take some breathing time for yourself, tell me your birthday, and thanks for being in my life. Please let me know what's going on in yours!
Enjoy Yourself!
Doug
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