tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54280598629657651712024-03-13T08:51:18.252-05:00BRAD McENTIRETHEATRE AND VISUAL ARTIST BASED IN DALLAS, TEXAS USAB McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.comBlogger630125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-37453650780206997172024-01-16T04:57:00.006-06:002024-01-16T18:25:43.614-06:00Looking Back at 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZqCjFDhvSfCexSUunfEuBKvP5kl0jKOXtaEVlXnypwxflCcPVGrlVZVcktGkKdm9OFUV_LZIuo1R3Ru7OQNbOFMuTk1dwKFb_vOsDumszitkC5fxo8zN8EV0y0rltK5EfC-9lbbND99QGUe_C7aYJi4bthWQwhUQQCvpBwYFs6lZYOlqyNyDl4_v59A/s4096/Brad_ruth_%20david%20(25)-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="4096" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZqCjFDhvSfCexSUunfEuBKvP5kl0jKOXtaEVlXnypwxflCcPVGrlVZVcktGkKdm9OFUV_LZIuo1R3Ru7OQNbOFMuTk1dwKFb_vOsDumszitkC5fxo8zN8EV0y0rltK5EfC-9lbbND99QGUe_C7aYJi4bthWQwhUQQCvpBwYFs6lZYOlqyNyDl4_v59A/w400-h199/Brad_ruth_%20david%20(25)-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For now over a decade I have been composing a year-in-review here on the website. This look back is mostly to take stock of the past year. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the way, for those even mildly curious, here is <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2013/01/looking-back-at-2012.html" target="_blank">2012</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2013/12/2013-my-year-making-things.html" target="_blank">2013</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2014/12/looking-back-at-2014.html" target="_blank">2014</a></b>, <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2015/12/looking-back-at-2015.html" target="_blank"><b>2015</b></a>, <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2017/01/looking-back-at-2016.html" target="_blank"><b>2016</b></a>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2017/12/looking-back-at-2017.html" target="_blank">2017</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2019/01/looking-back-on-2018.html" target="_blank">2018</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2020/01/looking-back-at-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2020/12/looking-back-at-2020.html" target="_blank">2020</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2022/02/looking-back-at-2021.html" target="_blank">2021</a></b> and<b> <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2022/12/looking-back-at-2022.html" target="_blank">2022</a></b>). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2023 was the first year in a while where I feel I got back up to a reasonable degree of projects and productivity. The pandemic is enough in the rear-view, my kiddo is now old enough to occupy himself for swaths of time and I got back a degree of excitement that I hadn't had in several years. This coincided with a renewed interest in my health and a return to hitting the road throughout the year. Here's 2023...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Right off the bat, I started the year with an new, ongoing project. I returned to webcomics with <i>The Ongoing Saga of J. Herbin</i>. My last stab at webcomics was <i>Donnie Rocket Toaster-Face</i>, which lasted from 2010 to 2015. I published a small collection of those comics... <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hate-Hawk-Season-Collection-Toaster-Face/dp/1466464291" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">J. Herbin was an idea I have been kicking around for years. Heavily inspired by David Lynch's <i>The Angriest Dog in the World</i> and <i>Max Cannon's Red Meat</i>, I decided to go all in and publish a weekly "anti-comic." What I mean by anti-comic is that each 3-panel strip features no movement or physical gags. the protagonist (if you can call J. Herbin that) is passive and unresponsive. All dialogue takes place off-frame by unseen speakers. The reader only gets a small glimpse of the conversation taking place and there is seldom a punch line in the traditional sense.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ncg3UzqnyaElLjdBo5XxvNJFHZQOHCMxS6n-pgdveRX7oAboJF7Pf19rAhBG9HhPSJ74fa7u0gRLgoFV2qb9-8NNxy2JlwLZkKbEf3_7kaT0S-L8ISSTjFws3DfyIocuGjIb6uJAXdIfJcDAwEW_5-KFTUelKr4hA3o-RyFwoqF_0f-JFVkAQ1KI-FQ/s7200/JHerbin_007%20-%20pierogies.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7200" data-original-width="4500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ncg3UzqnyaElLjdBo5XxvNJFHZQOHCMxS6n-pgdveRX7oAboJF7Pf19rAhBG9HhPSJ74fa7u0gRLgoFV2qb9-8NNxy2JlwLZkKbEf3_7kaT0S-L8ISSTjFws3DfyIocuGjIb6uJAXdIfJcDAwEW_5-KFTUelKr4hA3o-RyFwoqF_0f-JFVkAQ1KI-FQ/w250-h400/JHerbin_007%20-%20pierogies.png" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">click the image to see it larger...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like DRTF, the habit of coming up with a comic each week and releasing it was been a good exercise throughout 2023. As of this writing, I have completed over a year's worth of these </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">J. Herbin</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> comics. I intend to keep going as long as I find the project interesting and engaging. Read them... <a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/jherbincomics" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I also approached a comicbook artist named <a href="https://www.instagram.com/art_of_ptmilligan/" target="_blank">Paul Milligan</a>. The delightful <a href="https://thatdavidhopkins.com/" target="_blank">David Hopkins</a> made introductions. Paul and I are collaborating on adapting my solo show <i>The Beast of Hyperborea</i> into a graphic novel. It took me several months at the start of the year to adapt the play into comicbook script format. Paul has been a great sounding board throughout the process. Progress has been slower than expected due to a number of setbacks, but he and I are still on it. As of this posting Paul has sent me roughs up to page 44 (out of an expected 74 page volume). It was hoot to reimagine this story visually and work with Paul on character concept drawings. More updates as the project proceeds.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YK6MmIIzr8yORREdsoMRa6hQl5jtfG3pDGSUemcWrsTWdG7VCIGTrSeFtb-jSws1AwiQRh2LcmwgMOYrEsRh9EDWobTH4erd9L2XZKnkeBFbBlvlWwv8FISPnaAmZ1rOGGxN_iHWDqizb5bwuf9KDmmPFkb7MqwPjsiNVtr90uIDM7bhBSBgZKndTjg/s1500/1673868425.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YK6MmIIzr8yORREdsoMRa6hQl5jtfG3pDGSUemcWrsTWdG7VCIGTrSeFtb-jSws1AwiQRh2LcmwgMOYrEsRh9EDWobTH4erd9L2XZKnkeBFbBlvlWwv8FISPnaAmZ1rOGGxN_iHWDqizb5bwuf9KDmmPFkb7MqwPjsiNVtr90uIDM7bhBSBgZKndTjg/w400-h366/1673868425.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In January, I also formatted my children's pict</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">ure book </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Petey Gale Goes Up and Beyond</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> into a Kindle ebook version. The paperback version that I created for my kiddo back during the pandemic had been out since the end of 2021. Just trying to make the book a little more accessible and get some more mileage out of the work I have already completed. Grab a copy... </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Petey-Gale-Goes-Up-Beyond/dp/B09PKRB2F5/" style="font-family: helvetica;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVG4pxjliK77d9mUQ-azqZVe0KJBUAYAm6mQcebci4byP4azMDRw1p4B0LxsE1A4eM0Aunq14cdobS8iPVRwKAsAzY3vvejzCBENJ3AlxiIRDJyeka-2mF-K8YsT1aOhhwruuMBr9QYc2ZbkgsfaMX1tQoAcJ6kefQPfpYZb7xOisKHxou5_a9Ql7zYE/s6000/20230224144808_9E1A6781.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVG4pxjliK77d9mUQ-azqZVe0KJBUAYAm6mQcebci4byP4azMDRw1p4B0LxsE1A4eM0Aunq14cdobS8iPVRwKAsAzY3vvejzCBENJ3AlxiIRDJyeka-2mF-K8YsT1aOhhwruuMBr9QYc2ZbkgsfaMX1tQoAcJ6kefQPfpYZb7xOisKHxou5_a9Ql7zYE/w400-h266/20230224144808_9E1A6781.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">DaShaun Ellis' </span><i style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">I'm Thinking</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In February, I directed two student-written ten-minute</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> plays at the college where I work. They were submitted for an annual presentation called the <span style="background-color: white;">Festival of New Plays. The plays I directed included Blake Roper's </span><i>The Friendship Application</i><span style="background-color: white;"> and DaShaun Ellis' </span><i>I'm Thinking</i><span style="background-color: white;">. They had a student cast and crew and went over nicely. Both playwrights were responsive to feedback to make their scripts more stage-worthy and the process, I felt, was overall really constructive.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPhEb62v_UMOQnaSAogk9eWw4nJg6Pq7XJzk9-yRr0TC7KDamrV1Sq68WP-eyJfji0maM5M2Y-97Or73op_hXeu_hT9me2uWvuQL3a6jzZR6upWuLzu-xUhbW0xMIrHEkq0qvjscCsBGLp7cgZVCFIldbz7bZWUmqd8sYbOw8mf_a6hcDw3Co8SGjEJQ/s1671/BradPlays%20website%20Plays.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1671" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPhEb62v_UMOQnaSAogk9eWw4nJg6Pq7XJzk9-yRr0TC7KDamrV1Sq68WP-eyJfji0maM5M2Y-97Or73op_hXeu_hT9me2uWvuQL3a6jzZR6upWuLzu-xUhbW0xMIrHEkq0qvjscCsBGLp7cgZVCFIldbz7bZWUmqd8sYbOw8mf_a6hcDw3Co8SGjEJQ/w400-h217/BradPlays%20website%20Plays.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In March I created <a href="http://www.bradmcentireplays.com" target="_blank">a website</a> dedicated to my playwriting endeavors (as opposed to this Blogger portfolio covering a range of activities). It was a rather expensive investment. I am not sure I will break even on the endeavor of creating the site, registering the domain name and so on, but for the next several years at least, I will appear as a professional playwright. This is part of a larger effort to present myself more professionally. I have spent years improving the quality of my theatre work, but I feel like I am starting at the beginning as far as getting the word out about my work and actually getting productions of my plays (outside me own self-directed projects).</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAvPtPTM6Sv_e7ORafidZdZL2eOTaOBSvwwq5tv3UrJYyzfeyITLdyjfQxxKe19kqLwXVrSxFM42kdVbCCLyyjxhfYzN7pNnPKJ_og6JxTBWwshqHqg2frOU73Bbg3nYC-7RHTRCnXpQgrZNqFGViqexP32jcqZUGyi07Aw-Bebxb9VuAcf-NwJReLS0/s4032/20230603_182145%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAvPtPTM6Sv_e7ORafidZdZL2eOTaOBSvwwq5tv3UrJYyzfeyITLdyjfQxxKe19kqLwXVrSxFM42kdVbCCLyyjxhfYzN7pNnPKJ_og6JxTBWwshqHqg2frOU73Bbg3nYC-7RHTRCnXpQgrZNqFGViqexP32jcqZUGyi07Aw-Bebxb9VuAcf-NwJReLS0/w400-h300/20230603_182145%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Robert's eternal Goldfish at the 2023 Tyler Texas Fringe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">In June I took my solo show </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> to the Tyler Texas fringe Festival, a small event on the campus of Tyler Junior College. The show went over quite well despite the fact that I presented it in such a bare-bones lights-up/lights-down fashion. This was not just the nature of the fest (not altogether organized), but because it did not offer a stipend or box office cut. My hope was that I might be able to network a bit and meet some new colleagues, perhaps set up future opportunities. Time will tell.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Travel kicked in starting in August. My good friend and colleague Jeff Swearingen used to travel around the country presenting theatre and improv at different venues and festivals. Between 2005 and 2013, in particular. This past summer we picked up where we left off and set off on a few far flung theatre adventures.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcPDaUFZGZJAN77jI9In3ckeReJYo7x5c1dPVEYeDK4hn7I7ndQJeef_d6hYzkzCZ6BaiMej9-pLWhvfC7_w2DXm1qco5MLESmcrgP-ovhFxcr6g5XLioVNOZUVndu631IqRR4uxWukPqytj4_EzeXRkiBmTklNagOz6V0o8DS_DWnSD_gf8SNJBrh7Q/s6000/DSC_0353.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcPDaUFZGZJAN77jI9In3ckeReJYo7x5c1dPVEYeDK4hn7I7ndQJeef_d6hYzkzCZ6BaiMej9-pLWhvfC7_w2DXm1qco5MLESmcrgP-ovhFxcr6g5XLioVNOZUVndu631IqRR4uxWukPqytj4_EzeXRkiBmTklNagOz6V0o8DS_DWnSD_gf8SNJBrh7Q/w400-h266/DSC_0353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Swearingen in <i>The Beast of Hyperborea</i> at the 2023 Omaha Fringe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Our first stop was in Nebraska for the 2023 Omaha Fringe Festival. This rather new fest started during the pandemic and is still getting its feet under it. We took my show </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">The Beast of Hyperborea</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">. I created the show back in 2019 and performed it myself originally. I thought it would be a good fit for Swearingen in the role of the Edward Joseph Reade, the reluctant narrator/accountant of the show. I did all the behind the scenes stuff and directed/worked tech. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We road tripped out and stayed in a hotel with a nice patio. The show played at the beautiful Benson Theatre and it went well. During the days we saw other shows and the cool evenings, away from the oppressive Texas summer, were filled with long chats over drinks and cigars (well, for me, and cigarettes for Swearingen). The show went well despite low attendance.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VrRD-BSzEmgPoApOZ50OhNXmj9O0tHG1-vZb6onK7r6WG5g4IjjnZiv2Fsp_9bRFf7bLPNNKRz_cjT28hti2K-nCyMF2IYAehD77AsH_4w0GsXl8PyMHvBsd537o18W7e1voC0-xhT5E9XmuzpMVi_kqAt7Eh12a_ymncq3pvHU7ak5wRb54yULyZL0/s4032/20230910_141746%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VrRD-BSzEmgPoApOZ50OhNXmj9O0tHG1-vZb6onK7r6WG5g4IjjnZiv2Fsp_9bRFf7bLPNNKRz_cjT28hti2K-nCyMF2IYAehD77AsH_4w0GsXl8PyMHvBsd537o18W7e1voC0-xhT5E9XmuzpMVi_kqAt7Eh12a_ymncq3pvHU7ak5wRb54yULyZL0/w400-h300/20230910_141746%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Swearingen in <i>The Beast of Hyperborea</i> at the 2023 Elgin Fringe<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">In September, we headed off again with </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">The Beast of Hyperborea</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">. This time we flew. The festival was the Elgin Eringe and it is one of my favorites. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Elgin, Illinois is 35 miles northwest of Chicago. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">This was my third time in Elgin (previously performing solo with </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> in 2018 and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Cyrano A-Go-Go</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> in 2019) and I appreciate the people there who run it, particularly Erin Rehberg and Tanner Melvin of Side Street Studios. Again, we had great weather, talked shop with some other fringe folks, saw a few shows and presented a kick-ass show. Our venue couldn't have been more different than the large hall we were in the month prior in Omaha. In Elgin we were in an upstairs gallery space. Jeff did the show for folks scattered around him in folding chairs.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Before I left for Elgin, I had started the school year, teaching again. Since before the pandemic I have been stationed off-campus at some high school of another teaching "college level' theatre to "dual credit" high school freshman. I dislike it more and more. I left teaching high schoolers ages ago to teach at the college level. The last several years, however, as numbers of in-person classes even making has diminished, I find myself a college teacher in name only. Stationed at one high school after another to students who went from elementary to high school online, during Covid, I am continually frustrated by both the state of the education system and the collective interest level/intelligence of the students. Phones are part of the problem, but on the whole, they just aren't very good at being students these days. This makes my job harder. I have to dumb the material down bit by bit and make allowances so the majority of the class doesn't fail (i.e. rolling deadlines, ample extra credit, lay-up assignments so they can have grades every six weeks, etc.). I am hoping 2024 is my last year teaching and I move on to doing something where I am not operating so far below my potential.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5pOyViWAU7fFZadBHLvB4Kx2kWCz7Zquh7099iKuS5xD_ZbZpUgNYlkiW46acHX1ofW3hCb3e4SJTWWVKEE6naoQT7lgkncx6PCfWVmdX0v33swAYD_zFiLb6p3k2EjX0v_cFRpsumTbBKiZ750ogrB03_3rORL7qqCO3mE77Xzii0PHr4d7B_b1Ub0/s4032/20231005_194521.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5pOyViWAU7fFZadBHLvB4Kx2kWCz7Zquh7099iKuS5xD_ZbZpUgNYlkiW46acHX1ofW3hCb3e4SJTWWVKEE6naoQT7lgkncx6PCfWVmdX0v33swAYD_zFiLb6p3k2EjX0v_cFRpsumTbBKiZ750ogrB03_3rORL7qqCO3mE77Xzii0PHr4d7B_b1Ub0/w400-h300/20231005_194521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Volume of Smoke</i> at TCC-SE</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">After Elgin I did direct again at the college. This was with proper college students for cast and crew, and fellow faculty in design and technical roles. I directed Clay McLeod Chapman's </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Volume of Smoke</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> in early October. The epistolary monologue play about a tragic theatre fire in 1811 did not seem, on paper, my usual thing. However, it had an old-school theatricality about it that I enjoyed playing around in (red velvety curtains, wooden platforms, Regency-era costumes, candles, canvas drops, ropes and pulleys and sandbags and so on...). It was a hard rehearsal process with many moving parts, especially coming off the extremely stripped down one-person fringe show. It did revive my affinity for directing. I love that one shows up day after day equipped only with ones ability to observe and focus, the think and make decisions. I feel I am slowly becoming a more elegant director, project by project.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">A few weeks after <i>Volume of Smoke</i> at the college, I completed a big project that had been years in the making. For more than half a decade, I have been compiling notes about solo performance to lay down my extremely hard-won knowledge into a book. I wanted to put down a sort of guide or introduction for someone just starting his or her journey into solo performance. I wanted to write the sort of book I wish I had when I started out creating and </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">performing one-person shows over a decade and half ago.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqL2zmy0Sog98WUGa9B3Pn-zkPWKxdosnsgLAMkmx5HbJvetX1KruzZUJZeGl61TQOs0z_maty8Pyczfqjg51WQztHSe7ByioT406VegqzpVjbAxJn4oy7KURy4occcAcjmp3JPNpWamPpVcOmDPz5VUwsjNRIMpFK0rILptFro8JMPoz51JWtgdpntA/s1251/cover%20on%20wood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1251" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqL2zmy0Sog98WUGa9B3Pn-zkPWKxdosnsgLAMkmx5HbJvetX1KruzZUJZeGl61TQOs0z_maty8Pyczfqjg51WQztHSe7ByioT406VegqzpVjbAxJn4oy7KURy4occcAcjmp3JPNpWamPpVcOmDPz5VUwsjNRIMpFK0rILptFro8JMPoz51JWtgdpntA/w400-h276/cover%20on%20wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The result was <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Solo-Show-Performing-One-Person-ebook/dp/B0CKXK5QDC" target="_blank">Crafting the Solo Show: </a></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Solo-Show-Performing-One-Person-ebook/dp/B0CKXK5QDC" target="_blank">A Practical Guide to Creating, Performing and Touring a One-Person Theatre Production</a></i>. I am immensely proud and relieved to finally have this out in the world. Form followed function as well. As the book is about creating one-person shows, I am pleased that I wrote, edited and formatted the book myself. It was a huge undertaking and really tested my attention to detail. I am sure as time passes I will discover errors here and there, but for now there is a both an ebook as well as a paperback version.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;">By November I started to dial my creative activities back in order to ease into the holidays with friends and family. I also wound up the semester of teaching by the beginning of December.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7shhGWKTVxyEjArnuc3FmHZo8c-gAcFkfGmwXb1GhSjqn74wC30ZcO9e0pC3VtqF2zMKMaIQPpvNHpcqt8pGAJvnbISOWOWvDUWhXcMQ91T27QXyPBblXxJkilnM9551FJi7manEm4cN0dnceSuTgF7UjlIm-Y1tRdV8-CGbo9BIHVESTACoQOHiQU_A/s2048/070122_DCC_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7shhGWKTVxyEjArnuc3FmHZo8c-gAcFkfGmwXb1GhSjqn74wC30ZcO9e0pC3VtqF2zMKMaIQPpvNHpcqt8pGAJvnbISOWOWvDUWhXcMQ91T27QXyPBblXxJkilnM9551FJi7manEm4cN0dnceSuTgF7UjlIm-Y1tRdV8-CGbo9BIHVESTACoQOHiQU_A/w400-h300/070122_DCC_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Fun Grip Inprov</i> at the Dallas Comedy Club</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;">Throughout the year, Swearingen and I performed a monthly gig at the Dallas Comedy Club. Our long-form improv duo </span><i style="color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://fungrip.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Fun Grip</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;"> took the stage, usually on a split-bill with another improv group. We were shuffled to different time slots every few months which made maintaining and growing an audience difficult. The improv was fun, though, and was a good chance to play a bit.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;">I also continued to create both <a href="http://youtube.com/dribblefunk" target="_blank">YouTube videos</a> and <a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Cultivated Playwright podcast</a> episodes throughout the year from time to time.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;">I feel like I was really getting my legs under me and sort of priming myself for bigger and better things ahead. It was fun to have some old-school camaraderie and travel. I am pleased that I continued to add to my growing list of self-published works and that I made some solid pieces of theatre this past year, as a playwright, director, producer and so forth.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;">I am excited by what 2024 will bring.</span></p><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-17627001243520930972023-10-25T16:31:00.034-05:002024-01-15T16:46:12.058-06:00Crafting the Solo Show now available<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqL2zmy0Sog98WUGa9B3Pn-zkPWKxdosnsgLAMkmx5HbJvetX1KruzZUJZeGl61TQOs0z_maty8Pyczfqjg51WQztHSe7ByioT406VegqzpVjbAxJn4oy7KURy4occcAcjmp3JPNpWamPpVcOmDPz5VUwsjNRIMpFK0rILptFro8JMPoz51JWtgdpntA/s1251/cover%20on%20wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1251" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqL2zmy0Sog98WUGa9B3Pn-zkPWKxdosnsgLAMkmx5HbJvetX1KruzZUJZeGl61TQOs0z_maty8Pyczfqjg51WQztHSe7ByioT406VegqzpVjbAxJn4oy7KURy4occcAcjmp3JPNpWamPpVcOmDPz5VUwsjNRIMpFK0rILptFro8JMPoz51JWtgdpntA/w400-h276/cover%20on%20wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Over the last several years, especially d</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: helvetica; white-space-collapse: preserve;">uring the pandemic, I compiled a bunch of notes I had been jotting down about solo performance. I have turned those notes into a book. <i>Crafting the Solo Show</i> is now available on Amazon both as an Kindle ebook and in paperback.</span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Super excited to release this out into the world. I set out to write the book I wish I had back when I started my own journey into creating and performing one-person shows for the stage.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">--------------------</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a><i><b>Crafting the Solo Show</b></i> covers all kinds of stuff... generating ideas, writing the script, rehearsing, performing that first show, touring, marketing and on and on.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite a little bit of lingering Imposter Syndrome, I believe this guide can be genuinely helpful to the beginning solo performer. If you are thinking of giving the format a try (or know someone who is) be sure to grab a copy.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Get a copy... <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Solo-Show-Performing-One-Person-ebook/dp/B0CKXK5QDC" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></div></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-7759231815697308792023-10-06T19:12:00.002-05:002023-10-06T19:19:50.650-05:00Pics from VOLUME OF SMOKE at TCC-SE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOZzJEytX8QCH6aM_E8teFrphCT7a4YQdRIaJB2OvWlLnievYoc9qUcBlnnUZEZ6tu7zkC6Y5N7KicZPQQeR_oqFk8MNcPzK4fhzmIzoLyF8mCG7aRh1YNKOl7aXxPmaDeF5UrZe77gKIQxVOEENujs7gy0wWTF8qXFjKAItZ22sU3_fO9stX7UlYjsQ/s4032/20231005_194521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOZzJEytX8QCH6aM_E8teFrphCT7a4YQdRIaJB2OvWlLnievYoc9qUcBlnnUZEZ6tu7zkC6Y5N7KicZPQQeR_oqFk8MNcPzK4fhzmIzoLyF8mCG7aRh1YNKOl7aXxPmaDeF5UrZe77gKIQxVOEENujs7gy0wWTF8qXFjKAItZ22sU3_fO9stX7UlYjsQ/w400-h300/20231005_194521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJytmfapEmiXPKdr5_wqt_5mpt8OfkejUDXLAGUuq_pSeiG9y06n1FQG6_GRg7yv4ab0h1Cs6xfAE3RDenckBSOOwq28caKYYjjLrVuZquxh-o0BoESSlf8QsSIQB3qGDj7wUGcWRbn6_-ggn6ZnaBLVJI6jHuTADegQM27z3FsYkqJZigHKi6Ofxt0P0/s4032/20231006_152314.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJytmfapEmiXPKdr5_wqt_5mpt8OfkejUDXLAGUuq_pSeiG9y06n1FQG6_GRg7yv4ab0h1Cs6xfAE3RDenckBSOOwq28caKYYjjLrVuZquxh-o0BoESSlf8QsSIQB3qGDj7wUGcWRbn6_-ggn6ZnaBLVJI6jHuTADegQM27z3FsYkqJZigHKi6Ofxt0P0/w400-h300/20231006_152314.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">DaShaun Ellis as the Blacksmith and cast. The Blacksmith was based on <a href="https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/hunt-gilbert-ca-1780-1863/" target="_blank">Gilbert Hunt</a>, <br />a real historical hero who saved dozens of women from the Richmond Theatre Fire.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-RIOnlGYaa8J_jutIxXJE4PERYL76ssLHaqDNP8GcHPGREbsyOWQhiC53k4jDPxwRIH-KWIImYCqwLFZHoYMLEv6a8HK_PODAybutOgYXQ5m1Lh1tLcbj3zfypTzf0qtKHZFRG2jXtmQO61pRmX665omVrnpQbWtLAEN_e87it_kbBDvvTSvflKMV58/s3000/IMG_6368.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-RIOnlGYaa8J_jutIxXJE4PERYL76ssLHaqDNP8GcHPGREbsyOWQhiC53k4jDPxwRIH-KWIImYCqwLFZHoYMLEv6a8HK_PODAybutOgYXQ5m1Lh1tLcbj3zfypTzf0qtKHZFRG2jXtmQO61pRmX665omVrnpQbWtLAEN_e87it_kbBDvvTSvflKMV58/w400-h300/IMG_6368.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Set Design by the wonderful <a href="https://devriesdesigndiary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Clare DeVries</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I recently directed Clay McLeod Chapman's play </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Volume of Smoke</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> at the college where I work. It had a hard-working student cast and crew. It played October 4 - 6.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here's a bit about the play...</span></p><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On December 26th, 1811, the Richmond Theatre burned to the ground. A standing-room only audience of 600 people had gathered that night to see a touring company present a billing of several different pieces. During <i>The Bleeding Nun</i>, a short play of haunted star-crossed lovers, the fire began. Of those 600 in attendance, over seventy died including many women and children. Many were trampled in the panic that ensued. The dead included the newly-elected Governor of Virginia, George W. Smith, who died after saving his wife’s life. The incident made headlines as far away as Germany and </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">helped jumpstart a wave of evangelical fervor known as </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the Second Great Awakening. </span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In response to the tragedy, Richmond, VA, erected a church on the ashes of the theatre and banned all public performance (including street musicians) for eight years. The price of breaking the law was a ticket for six dollars and sixty-six cents. </span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Weaving together a narrative of fragmented epistolary monologues from dozens of different characters the play follows the lead-up, devastation and then aftermath of the Great Richmond Theatre Fire.</span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-30324407501406583362023-09-29T14:25:00.002-05:002023-10-18T14:30:35.623-05:00Volume of Smoke article in The Collegian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_ZkW2PHm9N0KAOWBGDrT8OxwTpfYRWO8yzIif1YO4nEprAfxPATKXj5Wfeqclv43tdePsh3K8-vSr7EE7eUeAtPZKHVYVXhuV1BDNNLzAefY6n4STMxVlJKHzmmVcHsaFpEOgZO2uBfM3d1NrtqBoB_BG1RdviQ9984G1vxDIKgL_kPFm2fuT8MaYhU/s750/Collegianheader.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="750" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_ZkW2PHm9N0KAOWBGDrT8OxwTpfYRWO8yzIif1YO4nEprAfxPATKXj5Wfeqclv43tdePsh3K8-vSr7EE7eUeAtPZKHVYVXhuV1BDNNLzAefY6n4STMxVlJKHzmmVcHsaFpEOgZO2uBfM3d1NrtqBoB_BG1RdviQ9984G1vxDIKgL_kPFm2fuT8MaYhU/w400-h60/Collegianheader.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7rtoQaf2KXzDbxcc99mtwwHwxC1Jd7nblUwJy5V76Fe3FjMCkzktx0lEqIMOcKPuQ_wsJmKgyfjyXDFtMQPjJRq25mVCKwKb4SUMOT8mg2LuYMmGltkmR1_8OJouosvGJpW84kPZV7ip5DYM8T69iSEKU-wEo8SFLoHZbfzjJFMH7s5VRoyxJXG7aOs/s1068/Enewsletter-8-1068x713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1068" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7rtoQaf2KXzDbxcc99mtwwHwxC1Jd7nblUwJy5V76Fe3FjMCkzktx0lEqIMOcKPuQ_wsJmKgyfjyXDFtMQPjJRq25mVCKwKb4SUMOT8mg2LuYMmGltkmR1_8OJouosvGJpW84kPZV7ip5DYM8T69iSEKU-wEo8SFLoHZbfzjJFMH7s5VRoyxJXG7aOs/w400-h268/Enewsletter-8-1068x713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 54px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">New Play Ignites Excitement</span></strong></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 44px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 54px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">NINA BANKS | </strong><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">managing editor | September 27, 2023</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">TCC SE theater is set to premiere “Volume of Smoke” from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The play is based on the Richmond Theater fire in 1811. SE student DaShaun Ellis plays the Blacksmith who is based on Gilbert Hunt, a freed Black man who played a large role in saving countless lives.</span> <span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“He is a Black man who actually became a registered blacksmith in Richmond,” Ellis said. “He saved — I believe — 36 people from the fire at the Richmond Theater. He’s just a hero.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The fire was caused when a lamp touched a set piece. Inadequacies of the building’s construction exacerbated the fire. Director Bradley McEntire cited that the incident created greater awareness of fire safety.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“It also started the first serious conversations about building codes and the possibility of regulating the building of much safer structures. For instance, the Richmond Theater had main doors that opened inward. It had very narrow aisles. The stairs leading down from the box seats were apparently never weight tested and constructed in a shoddy manner. All of this was quite a hazard in a fire. These kinds of things were considered more thoroughly from that point onward.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Although the incident was 200 years ago, Director Bradley McEntire was drawn to the humanity of the story.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I am fascinated by how we, both as individuals and as a larger community, deal with catastrophe,” McEntire said. “ This play features a real-life disaster, one of the most devastating of America’s early years as a young nation. The repercussions trickled outward.</span><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">”</span><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Volume of Smoke” portrays vignettes of how survivors and victims responded to the fires.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The play explores how we cope when we come face to face with big tragic events such as this,” McEntire said. “Sometimes we meet catastrophe with courage, sometimes with debilitating fear. Sometimes with outrage, sometimes with resignation. Sometimes it reveals our selfishness, sometimes our heroic side. It really does stress-test our most human qualities.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Each actor plays several characters in the play. SE student Dyan Cruz plays six roles and cited the switches as the hardest aspect of her performance.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I think it’s just hard on the fact that we play multiple characters so we can’t focus in on one,” Cruz said. “We have to constantly change and adapt, whether that be an accent, a voice, some sort of movement that character has.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":720,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speaking in the vocabulary of people in the 1800s was an adjustment for SE student Ri-Shay Washington.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“How they spoke in that time period is pretty different than how we speak,” Washington said. “We typically word things a certain way and then like “Oh no, that’s not how it’s said.</span><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">” </span><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The language is very different.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">In addition to vocabulary, SE student Haley Ferguson learned about the culture of the time period.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“It was a big deal to go to the theater,” Ferguson said. “Going to the theater was an event, you have to get in your best dress.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">SE student Isara Al-Hilo urged the future audience to remember that the Richmond Theater fire was a historical event.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-contrast="auto" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The most important thing to takeaway from this is to remember,” Al-Hilo said. “These were real people. Especially with the Blacksmith, that was a real dude. Just be respectful of the people who died.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Original link: <a href="https://collegian.tccd.edu/new-play-ignites-excitement/">https://collegian.tccd.edu/new-play-ignites-excitement/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":480}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-45488828163648464852023-09-09T14:03:00.001-05:002023-09-09T14:03:37.754-05:00Beast of Hyperborea pics from the 2023 Omaha Fringe<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Nick Jansen and Naomi Bates took a few nice shots of my play <i>The Beast of Hyperborea</i> in performance at the 2023 Omaha Fringe Festival.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Featuring my friend Jeff Swearingen and written/directed by me, the one-man show follows Edward Joseph Reade, a good-natured, but anxious accountant who gets whirled into a globe-trotting adventure with an eccentric group of explorers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Big thanks to Nick and Naomi and the rest of the gang at the Omaha Fringe. It was swell.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ6wba9bsKiH7xGVaY11qfyEXq7I3jCEj4l6a_3DjgrewhhRSpA8ifsSDsDiOCUm7vUGV5oS9KMFCSXdm6VplnYIhCehYBaWF5zcrdWVee8emmyApQAcgWBEFYKc3kApkBFtTE0Wh7kDyPVexv2kvyW1DWoAdvsXCVsdCY5RNcMYYt9ptRRHTk1YA0oc/s4032/PXL_20230813_000711880.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Benson Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZ6wba9bsKiH7xGVaY11qfyEXq7I3jCEj4l6a_3DjgrewhhRSpA8ifsSDsDiOCUm7vUGV5oS9KMFCSXdm6VplnYIhCehYBaWF5zcrdWVee8emmyApQAcgWBEFYKc3kApkBFtTE0Wh7kDyPVexv2kvyW1DWoAdvsXCVsdCY5RNcMYYt9ptRRHTk1YA0oc/w300-h400/PXL_20230813_000711880.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXXpro3BimsL6d_aSjp3Wgn77us_ITz0wxU4wBCYGeTeE-rUpio8csbv_Oxru5n-9LUqcql9npMkHAaU-7xdn_hsuM1esnayw2qXNKxUDk16ek7q-t8Ne2dESFPuJYTgBfUypnWMXxcAC6XNn5iRuUoscdqLD0Cnt-IZ7acCNtoKaakZryHPHI6LeYxw/s6000/DSC_0350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXXpro3BimsL6d_aSjp3Wgn77us_ITz0wxU4wBCYGeTeE-rUpio8csbv_Oxru5n-9LUqcql9npMkHAaU-7xdn_hsuM1esnayw2qXNKxUDk16ek7q-t8Ne2dESFPuJYTgBfUypnWMXxcAC6XNn5iRuUoscdqLD0Cnt-IZ7acCNtoKaakZryHPHI6LeYxw/w400-h266/DSC_0350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z0P-dVs2U7zaKwjPhyNyap-TL2IAi5iosOCV7Cb74cPZ2kM1y8QL8s5ykfxwOQfn7MZqD0A0J20_3que9NInPbP1fcnX4JqGXfOTc0SrYxbBmXD9giOkOg614WkuRl56-2woqbIZanCwfppUDM_cxvSgvwCh3Mp_0jvnNw5qALKI8VgiexeF7lyHvGs/s4000/P1190823.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z0P-dVs2U7zaKwjPhyNyap-TL2IAi5iosOCV7Cb74cPZ2kM1y8QL8s5ykfxwOQfn7MZqD0A0J20_3que9NInPbP1fcnX4JqGXfOTc0SrYxbBmXD9giOkOg614WkuRl56-2woqbIZanCwfppUDM_cxvSgvwCh3Mp_0jvnNw5qALKI8VgiexeF7lyHvGs/w400-h268/P1190823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-31709716586735448312023-08-31T11:00:00.007-05:002023-08-31T11:02:58.168-05:00The Beast of Hyperborea at the 2023 Elgin Fringe Festival<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI-yk2qbwdWPD8GmYNbCtZxE7EOg4OxKBtOQHcrvbA3zzIs9MgGYbF4BIQ7tU2Aniv9DBNkNWCGgEbz6sUXC9lQC4iVNUl_m5yuGnD7yqoMSWMOg6jk8JFRZgMWRshCuk5qyewRvrSDnl69dNNgZMbAacOiZCB19S5uNCkJivkGM7R2Ct8N0sDpuEDw8/s4136/Elgin%20card.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3988" data-original-width="4136" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI-yk2qbwdWPD8GmYNbCtZxE7EOg4OxKBtOQHcrvbA3zzIs9MgGYbF4BIQ7tU2Aniv9DBNkNWCGgEbz6sUXC9lQC4iVNUl_m5yuGnD7yqoMSWMOg6jk8JFRZgMWRshCuk5qyewRvrSDnl69dNNgZMbAacOiZCB19S5uNCkJivkGM7R2Ct8N0sDpuEDw8/w600-h580/Elgin%20card.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Beast of Hyperborea</span></strong><br />Featuring Jeff Swearingen<br />Written and Directed by Brad McEntire<br /><br />The Beast of Hyperborea</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> is an astonishing tale of daring told in the tradition of Victorian adventure fiction. The tale concerns an eccentric group of explorers who set off for a remote island in search of a legendary monster.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Developed by Audacity Theatre Lab,</span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Beast of Hyperborea </em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">premiered in the summer of 2019 originally performed by the playwright, Brad McEntire. The play has now been remounted, this time with Jeff Swearingen stepping into the role of the reluctant accountant/narrator and McEntire easing into the director/producer's chair.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Playing this summer at one of our favorite festivals... the 2023 Elgin Fringe Festival<br />Elgin is about 35 miles northwest of Chicago. Great place to perform.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Tickets for this festival are $12</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 pm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Friday, September 8 at 6:00 pm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Saturday, September 9 at 9:30 pm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Sunday, September 10 at 2:30 pm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #1d2228;">Side Street Studio Arts, located at 15 1/2 Ziegler Ct, Elgin, IL </span>60120</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Tickets...</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #a82e2e; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> <strong><a href="https://www.elginfringefestival.com/product-page/the-beast-of-hyperborea" style="color: #626262; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">. Fringe info... </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.elginfringefestival.com/" style="color: #626262; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-68879165332784804952023-07-13T14:59:00.006-05:002023-07-13T15:01:09.393-05:00 The Beast of Hyperborea at the 2023 Omaha Fringe Festival<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdtmPJNOiLrHj7U-xT2hAySqHxCb-qvIagixs43llZwogXoHOQRuv-oPzXgAkzkwex6b1ixEGRXlOaQLxS_dWaGPjDasv07ar41IZaNYDphejxrpBYz1WnEBEjqoLC-V4A1brBlKA-vBkagzgPd3Eh9rkW6cKMMc5o6rjSgl41gnpxJlamQbRLoyYlCI/s1049/20230517-195601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1049" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdtmPJNOiLrHj7U-xT2hAySqHxCb-qvIagixs43llZwogXoHOQRuv-oPzXgAkzkwex6b1ixEGRXlOaQLxS_dWaGPjDasv07ar41IZaNYDphejxrpBYz1WnEBEjqoLC-V4A1brBlKA-vBkagzgPd3Eh9rkW6cKMMc5o6rjSgl41gnpxJlamQbRLoyYlCI/w400-h213/20230517-195601.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Jeff Swearingen takes the stage in </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">The Beast of Hyperborea</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"> [credit: Audacity Theatre Lab]</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Beast of Hyperborea</span></strong><br />Featuring Jeff Swearingen<br />Written and Directed by Brad McEntire<br /><br />The Beast of Hyperborea</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> is an astonishing tale of daring told in the tradition of Victorian adventure fiction. The tale concerns an eccentric group of explorers who set off for a remote island in search of a legendary monster.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Developed by Audacity Theatre Lab,</span><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;"> </em><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: justify;">The Beast of Hyperborea </em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">premiered in the summer of 2019 originally performed by the playwright, Brad McEntire. The play has now been remounted, this time with Jeff Swearingen stepping into the role of the reluctant accountant/narrator and McEntire easing into the director's chair.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Playing this summer at the 2023 Omaha Fringe Festival</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Tickets for this festival are $10</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Details:</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Benson Theatre,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">6054 Maple St, Omaha, NE 68104</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> [<strong><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/PC8c3PjJ56x3MEgR8" style="color: #626262; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">map</a></strong>]</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Thursday August 10 at 8:30 pm,<br />Saturday August 12 at 6:30 pm,<br />Sunday August 13 at 8:00 pm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">For more info (tix, shows, etc.) visit the Omaha Fringe website... <strong><a href="https://omahafringe.square.site/2023fringe" style="color: #626262; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></span></span></p><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/839252997?h=938fb29a4e" width="450"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/839252997">Beast of Hyperborea - Summer 2023 - promo</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user189746729">Audacity Theatre Lab</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-58159810430026799092023-06-07T17:37:00.001-05:002023-07-13T15:04:39.378-05:00Pics from Robert's Eternal Goldfish at the 2023 Tyler Texas Fringe<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu_Tz1LRam_qBcl1R3-CVupX6X4wkRoj6O-hOpLcVsaXFYREId87-5obwJmRdtaJxTfJMJVF_MG8BIT7dJG458oPoLEyyD5-jZDb4aZ31uk8x-KtZnvJSm6mwlFLWBGdxCXKSbY-QCTQgG_b5hwVgoM-brrQnmQ1YF03ySv_lGJgJS-5XJMm4k8a_/s4032/20230603_182213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu_Tz1LRam_qBcl1R3-CVupX6X4wkRoj6O-hOpLcVsaXFYREId87-5obwJmRdtaJxTfJMJVF_MG8BIT7dJG458oPoLEyyD5-jZDb4aZ31uk8x-KtZnvJSm6mwlFLWBGdxCXKSbY-QCTQgG_b5hwVgoM-brrQnmQ1YF03ySv_lGJgJS-5XJMm4k8a_/w400-h300/20230603_182213.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Brad McEntire performing REG at the 2023 Tyler Texas Fringe<br />[credit - Audacity Theatre Lab]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqsfXVF2kpv7vyZrsB3dob9jVkJP2LQ8DqyUJzfJwtQPkLTgzoqqBN6nR89OWVEfpj4xLg-XVhCB7suu0EdIxLGaEEsHhgcuZAXpQRUnRLq6571ZbxljIDrMseKQ35Exox-cODtEJDE4MkM1o67ESJhmUhoDsMJ2BIxyCRjMvzGlTVIMBZmx3SEHBWlE/s4032/20230603_182145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqsfXVF2kpv7vyZrsB3dob9jVkJP2LQ8DqyUJzfJwtQPkLTgzoqqBN6nR89OWVEfpj4xLg-XVhCB7suu0EdIxLGaEEsHhgcuZAXpQRUnRLq6571ZbxljIDrMseKQ35Exox-cODtEJDE4MkM1o67ESJhmUhoDsMJ2BIxyCRjMvzGlTVIMBZmx3SEHBWlE/w400-h300/20230603_182145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">Brad McEntire performing REG at the 2023 Tyler Texas Fringe</span><br style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;" /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">[credit - Audacity Theatre Lab]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-74879527765881640352023-05-22T17:30:00.006-05:002023-06-16T19:36:14.109-05:00 Robert's Eternal Goldfish at the Tyler Texas Fringe<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoHunJ5Lfd76lPALa96_tZegwAh8CB6ceGCdStOp1lODkHXv_3QygmIpVQyv5VEPcCaBw6C3z54539SgDDEnY0dQbFYeNQBQoHWBHGz1zrIlNO4NHuqlL3ICqp_hwOTzP1uLUruCROwfTR8MXlQV6wvGdwHOFZ3atvDb-jsBZCPM98weZBmfFlSwp/s401/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoHunJ5Lfd76lPALa96_tZegwAh8CB6ceGCdStOp1lODkHXv_3QygmIpVQyv5VEPcCaBw6C3z54539SgDDEnY0dQbFYeNQBQoHWBHGz1zrIlNO4NHuqlL3ICqp_hwOTzP1uLUruCROwfTR8MXlQV6wvGdwHOFZ3atvDb-jsBZCPM98weZBmfFlSwp/w399-h400/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" width="399" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/robseternalgoldfish" target="_blank">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</a></b> will play at the 2023 Tyler Texas
Fringe Festival.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Robert J. Roberts has a huge problem with the world. In
particular he really dislikes people. All people. One day he becomes the
unlikely custodian of a magical goldfish and Mr. Robert’s misanthropic view of
the world is seriously challenged. This dark comedy asks can a person be
frustrated into becoming a better human being?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tickets for this festival are FREE !</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Playing:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center (Recital Hall
Gallery),<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tyler Junior College, 1303 S. Mahon Avenue, Tyler, TX
75701 [map]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Friday, June 2 at
1:00pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Saturday, June 3 at 6:30pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For more info (parking, tix, shows, etc.) visit the Texas
Fringe website... <b><a href="https://www.texasfringefest.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"># # #</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement
and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't
know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I
mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally,
but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></p><div><div class="paragraph" style="color: black; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: start;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-91735905165798676262023-03-10T17:22:00.003-06:002023-05-19T19:33:50.299-05:00New Website for Playwriting Endeavors<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxJe899Yv64zk_Fk52s0tXi8hD39SqKA9tI7wv9SzomykZ8UUUvAF5Y1wlrkoWMZA8npXRyaQXhxdeoom_22MmwT49qp5UfjlfPJqO9tenSfdK4BBz8J0eIyb_IsSeyqDE1wYge_9qmi5xrALz_ZS5oh_EYP2ramTqC4-nUOSONfM04ZC62icbOeu/s1671/BradPlays%20website%20homepage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1671" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxJe899Yv64zk_Fk52s0tXi8hD39SqKA9tI7wv9SzomykZ8UUUvAF5Y1wlrkoWMZA8npXRyaQXhxdeoom_22MmwT49qp5UfjlfPJqO9tenSfdK4BBz8J0eIyb_IsSeyqDE1wYge_9qmi5xrALz_ZS5oh_EYP2ramTqC4-nUOSONfM04ZC62icbOeu/w400-h216/BradPlays%20website%20homepage.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtJ5UvClw6Tb1sTmvhyI3iK1KmkpogiGTS0AZif-LqGRmEMOWSod0HFVQYMa8ti7LzvJE-zAUFSsem4YziIAMLvoyTI01ZJG6T1d-RPOc-NbG4GXue0UGJ9R_ouSfb4P_JAIH4VxxrPEBybbGjqWiREFGnIL62H3zwmybGH7C_tuHCq-Y46afSd9r/s1671/BradPlays%20website%20Plays.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1671" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtJ5UvClw6Tb1sTmvhyI3iK1KmkpogiGTS0AZif-LqGRmEMOWSod0HFVQYMa8ti7LzvJE-zAUFSsem4YziIAMLvoyTI01ZJG6T1d-RPOc-NbG4GXue0UGJ9R_ouSfb4P_JAIH4VxxrPEBybbGjqWiREFGnIL62H3zwmybGH7C_tuHCq-Y46afSd9r/w400-h217/BradPlays%20website%20Plays.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> Trying to up my playwriting game (as far as career stuff). made an official website.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">See it at:</span></p><p><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/bradmcentireplays"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">BradMcEntirePlays</span></a></p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-45670887629261533282023-02-26T22:45:00.150-06:002023-03-07T23:33:14.673-06:00Directing two student-written short plays<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWO7p9TWUTsv4f1r4NUs0MrGc2zY_9-LMIhoOFA_ygdEGqiFoo0D0kwfgXzswcsCP_pKCtxPVKVQqun1Gei9S6jlRWKy7deL5pthCgP6Jlp6sFgn3-nLh_5hsiSZsSi0RptabOUkF3gZ96g0z_DulZbMnzam7rV8A6L0wJW4Fkefwo1OXck6PWVG2/s6000/20230224144425_9E1A6740.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWO7p9TWUTsv4f1r4NUs0MrGc2zY_9-LMIhoOFA_ygdEGqiFoo0D0kwfgXzswcsCP_pKCtxPVKVQqun1Gei9S6jlRWKy7deL5pthCgP6Jlp6sFgn3-nLh_5hsiSZsSi0RptabOUkF3gZ96g0z_DulZbMnzam7rV8A6L0wJW4Fkefwo1OXck6PWVG2/w400-h266/20230224144425_9E1A6740.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Me "directing" [credit Josh Niccolai-Belfi/ TCC-SE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am an</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: helvetica;">adjunct instructor at a small community college in north Texas. I originally was drawn to the job because I liked teaching at the college level. Since maybe a year or so before the pandemic, I have found myself directing a lot more at the college than teaching classes, which is not altogether my preferred course. Last week, two student-written 10-minute plays, complete with student actors and crew, which I directed, saw the light of day. The plays I directed for this year's Festival of New Plays included Blake Roper's <i>The Friendship Application</i> and DaShaun Ellis' <i>I'm Thinking</i>. They were both fun little playlets to work on. The playwrights were receptive to feedback and the student actors, mostly, put forth the effort.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Friendship Application</i> is set a hundred years in the future when civilization has become interplanetary. The government now matches people together as friends, provided one fills out the paperwork properly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>I'm Thinking</i> was a fun little sketch about a student hung up on a writing assignment. His little sister and her friend step in and help by reading out loud from his wadded up attempts. They played at being pirates and cowboys and even do a stand-off, one as a mad scientist and the other as a secret agent. Eventually, an idea is sparked and the student can finish the assignment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">The Festival of New Plays ran February 22 - 24, 2023 in a small black box space at the college.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiPZwKF5uWknghvX4t956HpQqCZfXpA_Q4hPdwiB-J7n_CTRUFpfF9A9FUnHKO6-XkTdHOgGfF2_UD3vTm8uWCp8ZIE2G469sXsD7fLZTrrYERre3Sstb-2Tjrm_Xn98IUZPn8tIppJpWTVq8nme7nvtcw3AH_TqlvdfKbBl3JePvhWe-ANjfvU7a/s6000/20230224145334_9E1A6849.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiPZwKF5uWknghvX4t956HpQqCZfXpA_Q4hPdwiB-J7n_CTRUFpfF9A9FUnHKO6-XkTdHOgGfF2_UD3vTm8uWCp8ZIE2G469sXsD7fLZTrrYERre3Sstb-2Tjrm_Xn98IUZPn8tIppJpWTVq8nme7nvtcw3AH_TqlvdfKbBl3JePvhWe-ANjfvU7a/w400-h266/20230224145334_9E1A6849.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Student actors Madison Sanchez, Ethan Melendez and<br />Haleigh Ferguson in <i>I'm Thinking</i>, written by DaShaun Ellis<br />[credit: Josh Niccolai-Belfi/ TCC-SE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUncXs3pKQW7MVaS5u-WvKOulYjrN4EQS-WSsMqLIw5H8GNdxFnr6G9_ZMrJRuT3WNsPkFPGtQFdeqyHucYNfzgC1KgBjK-rGY8kX9tcj2w19a3JAD9fgg-cFEH0y9tMCQFhedxkLiKnQ_upuC4xoNN_LndsJ3R5ReAqaDeQxiYmVM1fXAFnV3sil/s6000/20230224153258_9E1A7284.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUncXs3pKQW7MVaS5u-WvKOulYjrN4EQS-WSsMqLIw5H8GNdxFnr6G9_ZMrJRuT3WNsPkFPGtQFdeqyHucYNfzgC1KgBjK-rGY8kX9tcj2w19a3JAD9fgg-cFEH0y9tMCQFhedxkLiKnQ_upuC4xoNN_LndsJ3R5ReAqaDeQxiYmVM1fXAFnV3sil/w400-h266/20230224153258_9E1A7284.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Student actors Ethan Melendez and DaShaun Ellis in <br /><i>The Friendship Application</i>, written by Blake Roper<br />[credit: Josh Niccolai-Belfi/ TCC-SE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWETLZiRn6Z6L2rXXOukq_GSWpBhwyOoPEd9hOrzaw26xRuc7VWW7kURlNmJDENGwa45Qx8SGPG6cDhb3P4qUQROSLsMGDq9yC5KaoObLFzR_BAsBzaND6VJfsAtQNg1wnt4XZd07k1GRHtkyYU_8l9pR6VkRKiN75C-2RZSRLoT2IjZa8zLt2Mive/s6000/20230224153405_9E1A7302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWETLZiRn6Z6L2rXXOukq_GSWpBhwyOoPEd9hOrzaw26xRuc7VWW7kURlNmJDENGwa45Qx8SGPG6cDhb3P4qUQROSLsMGDq9yC5KaoObLFzR_BAsBzaND6VJfsAtQNg1wnt4XZd07k1GRHtkyYU_8l9pR6VkRKiN75C-2RZSRLoT2IjZa8zLt2Mive/w400-h266/20230224153405_9E1A7302.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Student actors Lina Koudy and DaShaun Ellis in <i>The Friendship<br />Application</i>, written by Blake Roper [credit: Josh Niccolai-Belfi/ TCC-SE]</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-33273375905717230342023-01-21T22:20:00.007-06:002023-01-23T04:51:23.222-06:00I have launched a new webcomic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xbcxu7_3yh9aNoxTolu8pLspEMhrWQ_qOm1e7Tzld_NzldUTPzlSieX-SKDFgJIQ_Rg0Lbpu2vpNHFrRgZVuF_BYjDz_C6kLscOVUSqir4-DaSTsTg4quBVtfI0lgx3-7170rblYaNICLzicqIlQdO64uLfwV9lM4rkpb3Pvii4iLZTLkUmeLK0S/s600/Jherbin%20website%20banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="600" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xbcxu7_3yh9aNoxTolu8pLspEMhrWQ_qOm1e7Tzld_NzldUTPzlSieX-SKDFgJIQ_Rg0Lbpu2vpNHFrRgZVuF_BYjDz_C6kLscOVUSqir4-DaSTsTg4quBVtfI0lgx3-7170rblYaNICLzicqIlQdO64uLfwV9lM4rkpb3Pvii4iLZTLkUmeLK0S/w380-h121/Jherbin%20website%20banner.png" width="380" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I just launched a brand new-old webcomic. Let me 'splain...</span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Back in the late 1990s <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">when I was a young and impressionable college student. I became enthralled with trying to create a sort of minimalist comic. The idea was not to have to draw the comic from scratch each time. The idea, instead, was that I would just need to update the word balloons. That is to say, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wanted to change what the characters say (the dialogue), not how the actual comics look (the art). Then I thought it would be neat if you removed characters altogether. What you might get would be a sort of anti-comic.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, I came up with J. Herbin. Here was a character who was simply a passive observer in his own strip. It would have little to no movement or action. The dialogue would come in from out-of-frame. We, the readers, are overhearing an off-frame snippet of conversation just as Herbin is in the comic. I came at it as this little experiment. Would such a strip even be interesting? Could I still make it weird? Or even, occasionally, funny?</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since I had just graduated from college (where I had been a cartoonist for the school paper) and the internet hadn't really picked up momentum yet, I did not have an outlet for the idea at the time. My original J. Herbin comics only lasted a short while. I ended up putting it in a drawer and kind of forgot about it. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I later learned about David Lynch's <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Angriest Dog in the World</span> and Max Cannon's strip <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Red Meat</span>. I thought,</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Hey, other people, much more well-known than me, have done this sort of thing. There might be something to this idea."</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over the last few years, while the zeitgeist kind of centered on questions of connection and isolation, I started thinking about this little minimalist anti-comic idea once again. I put it on my list for projects to launch in the new year and now, well, its here!</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The first two new J. Herbin comics are up and ready to read on the brand-new website... </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/jherbincomics" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I hope, if you are reading this, that you'll follow along each week and check out this little project. I am oddly excited about it.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqKijWuzmtiMg4ezqsGv-xh9523fhELuaFbmDqPani_EcZuSZ045S8uk25XrEi0Fp_l8c-vA9XGoJ92KBP0nzhFGLQ7_E5sBJ0IcKw4WuI8Ox99U6Q84f17RxQFyNBQEkBw7BXy5KRrDcWY1Epp59lH-Os3vD_VkxxkgMYnOER1dSUoW7B7Kn4hjk/s468/JHerbin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="460" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqKijWuzmtiMg4ezqsGv-xh9523fhELuaFbmDqPani_EcZuSZ045S8uk25XrEi0Fp_l8c-vA9XGoJ92KBP0nzhFGLQ7_E5sBJ0IcKw4WuI8Ox99U6Q84f17RxQFyNBQEkBw7BXy5KRrDcWY1Epp59lH-Os3vD_VkxxkgMYnOER1dSUoW7B7Kn4hjk/w599-h349/JHerbin.jpg" width="599" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An old J. Herbin comic from back in the day.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"></span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;" /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out</span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">occasionally</span></span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Leave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-66217626877194926802023-01-16T22:49:00.001-06:002023-01-19T12:56:39.776-06:00Petey Gale Goes Up and Beyond now on Amazon kindle<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEXKJgUSdNli2z0WHcHJhHvkVjwcpZ4bfVyoixIIqcXDIpwCENi5jDBACo7dKH47Tt6gP9lm9QmMDbrJp4xB9em2Pia5Z6cXr_ubIkVirW8SPYPPtDsmEDru92qVCZkIFP9TgV98YjKSNmA6f8Q9uL_gasQ9rB5aSrc_LWWd3NI-fKBQ80BU0GZF6/s1500/1673868425.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1500" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEXKJgUSdNli2z0WHcHJhHvkVjwcpZ4bfVyoixIIqcXDIpwCENi5jDBACo7dKH47Tt6gP9lm9QmMDbrJp4xB9em2Pia5Z6cXr_ubIkVirW8SPYPPtDsmEDru92qVCZkIFP9TgV98YjKSNmA6f8Q9uL_gasQ9rB5aSrc_LWWd3NI-fKBQ80BU0GZF6/w400-h366/1673868425.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 1593 and 1594, when the theatres in London were closed because of the plague. Actor and playwright William Shakespeare found himself without an outlet for his usual livelihood. So, he turned to writing straight up poetry. He turned out two epic poems (on commission): <i>Venus and Adonis</i> and <i>The Rape of Lucrece</i>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">During the bulk of 2021 while fringe fests and other theatre venues were closed due to the pandemic, I found myself in the same sort of situation as ole Shakespeare. So, I created a children's picture book for my son. I published the book as a paperback early last year. I titled it <b><i>Petey Gale Goes Up and Beyond</i></b>. It is about adventure and friendship. </span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Here's a blurb: </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Petey Gale's friend Walter is one sad T-Rex. Petey has a plan to cheer him up and it involves a rare fruit in a far away land. This is a delightful tale of a friend helping a friend by heading off on an adventure to the far side of the globe on a hot air balloon.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just recently, a year after the paperback was released, I have now put out a kindle ebook version. If you have a young one in your world, consider grabbing a copy.<br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Get the kindle version... <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSFPHHM6" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HwMFCKHvMhA" width="375" youtube-src-id="HwMFCKHvMhA"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out on occasion, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Leave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-29051008612023239802022-12-31T21:54:00.132-06:002023-01-23T03:24:42.914-06:00Looking Back at 2022<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Over the last decade or so </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">I have also been doing a year-in-review here on the website to take stock of the past year (for those even mildly curious, here is </span><b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2013/01/looking-back-at-2012.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2012</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">, </span><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2013/12/2013-my-year-making-things.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2013</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">, </span><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2014/12/looking-back-at-2014.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2014</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">, </span><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2015/12/looking-back-at-2015.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2015</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">, </span><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2017/01/looking-back-at-2016.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2016</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2017/12/looking-back-at-2017.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;">2017</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2019/01/looking-back-on-2018.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;">2018</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2020/01/looking-back-at-2019.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">2019</a>,<span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2020/12/looking-back-at-2020.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>2020</b></a> and <b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2022/02/looking-back-at-2021.html">2021</a></b>)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">. 2022 was the first year since the Covid-19 pandemic hit that the world seemed like it returned to a new sort of "normal." By this I mean theatres and festivals began to open once more (though audience numbers are still pretty low), people could meet face to face to socialize and plan projects again and things like shopping, dining and working out didn't feel so much like stepping into the Twilight Zone. Here’s the rundown of what I was up to in 2022...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nothing really got going until the spring. In April I directed an evening of four David Ives one-acts, collectively entitled All In The Timing at the college I teach at. This project was one of the things cancelled back in the Spring of 2020. At that time, I was a co-director responsible for two plays. When it finally got around to being produced, I had the whole bill. This was the first in-person directing I had done in a long while and with students who had been taking online classes for the previous few years. It was rough. The plays didn't turn out bad, let's just say I was glad to have it over with.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME4sP2rwZbwhCRH3G9qZH5y9ZEO_yVT6Ul8L62ncrtbz23BsqpVBfC4Rcumnt3rLPaOdTffMLimbDpadGx2uY8xwsUHxEFDhTLIH7iImqeEEjTR4L7aFOiFD_Qph1ACzBsmbhv6hORNOy31-SptQzomefncTTnJzIYJxEn_diCYu5MQ8ZXbcQukY8/s3984/20220416_114325.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME4sP2rwZbwhCRH3G9qZH5y9ZEO_yVT6Ul8L62ncrtbz23BsqpVBfC4Rcumnt3rLPaOdTffMLimbDpadGx2uY8xwsUHxEFDhTLIH7iImqeEEjTR4L7aFOiFD_Qph1ACzBsmbhv6hORNOy31-SptQzomefncTTnJzIYJxEn_diCYu5MQ8ZXbcQukY8/w400-h300/20220416_114325.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">A student actor in <i>Variations on the Death of Trotsky</i> by David Ives.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi5rSdscVdwGmYKShmrwI9uSJ9ABEWbhSDQfyDHvwYKBlzAV_X3XnWAlBQn_6dscw9-ZlHDmBjM8UPEL91fXH414AVkEOqAZX6HA9M_wIbcB6uBsS59E1ifjla_aSzUBU6J5Ee5lkKTrXljnNA1kLsHOGUJMPE_1lTS6oRPpjia3Ypucj3T4mO1YF/s3984/20220421_202215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNi5rSdscVdwGmYKShmrwI9uSJ9ABEWbhSDQfyDHvwYKBlzAV_X3XnWAlBQn_6dscw9-ZlHDmBjM8UPEL91fXH414AVkEOqAZX6HA9M_wIbcB6uBsS59E1ifjla_aSzUBU6J5Ee5lkKTrXljnNA1kLsHOGUJMPE_1lTS6oRPpjia3Ypucj3T4mO1YF/w400-h300/20220421_202215.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Words, Words, Words</i> by David Ives</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In March I teamed back up with my friend Jeff Swearingen and we put out long-form improv duo <b><a href="https://fungrip.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Fun Grip</a></b> back together. We had been on a hiatus since 2014. We started doing regular gigs once or twice a month at the Dallas Comedy Club down in the Deep Ellum neighborhood adjacent to downtown Dallas. There was a few rough patches at the beginning to get my sea-legs back under me, but within a few weeks, I was enjoying improv again. Jeff and I slowly got better and better. We still have a ways to go to consistently tell a coherent story on stage and hit all the character beats and laugh lines, but we are still making progress.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW7SOLzTC_J7_cPGB-qjZsA2y7ZTB7qr9rdjy0ljxNhXkzWD20vEUNY_jujGG6LL8-TFU1KOSjCCii1kDZBEnP_n8vEcuJX4CKlTzrV6HhtTF2jjwG1pucr5s5bOMUaDI0QdKQyokdsHXZjYQgKE3SlHv3VMepUQ4WQz8RBiGtB055YffnaYYBrsE/s2592/20220715_204358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW7SOLzTC_J7_cPGB-qjZsA2y7ZTB7qr9rdjy0ljxNhXkzWD20vEUNY_jujGG6LL8-TFU1KOSjCCii1kDZBEnP_n8vEcuJX4CKlTzrV6HhtTF2jjwG1pucr5s5bOMUaDI0QdKQyokdsHXZjYQgKE3SlHv3VMepUQ4WQz8RBiGtB055YffnaYYBrsE/w400-h300/20220715_204358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">In early July Fun Grip played as one of the Saturday night headliners at the 2022 Big Weekend of Improv Festival, produced by the Alternative Comedy Theater. That was fun, since the fest had troupes in from all over the country.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiwf4wVqS-DCooCJvWlRyOhiA-5FbYyIQmRs27NgrIHDW-xlOhdPwpfUyvQgiAD46o6WTzJzSyZc1vXyV2X1tkLSdNLIiY37wAYy37GKzEKxvrUk_uJlK7MjP095HqleX6Ns563FHX5jT_fXSU9BgFIX06LM2_N-afjeCu4aASG3tAR6Hy0J9JEin/s900/Fun%20Grip%20Improv%20-%20WEB%20USE%20-%20credit%20H%20Bagwell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="900" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiwf4wVqS-DCooCJvWlRyOhiA-5FbYyIQmRs27NgrIHDW-xlOhdPwpfUyvQgiAD46o6WTzJzSyZc1vXyV2X1tkLSdNLIiY37wAYy37GKzEKxvrUk_uJlK7MjP095HqleX6Ns563FHX5jT_fXSU9BgFIX06LM2_N-afjeCu4aASG3tAR6Hy0J9JEin/w400-h288/Fun%20Grip%20Improv%20-%20WEB%20USE%20-%20credit%20H%20Bagwell.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Fun Grip</i> at the Addison Theatre Center as part of the 2022 Big Weekend of Improv</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">I managed to travel out to more fringe festivals finally. In late June I drove out to Denver for the Denver Fringe Festival. It was a unique fest. They had started it during the pandemic, so this past summer was the first time they held it as a live event at multiple venues. I performed in the back events room at the Blue Moon Brewery. It was great to travel again and to perform my show <b><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/robseternalgoldfish" target="_blank"><i>Robert's Eternal Goldfish</i> </a></b>for new audiences. If you are curious about how the experience was for me, listen to <a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/2022/07/06/ep-32-denver-fringe-a-short-debriefing/" target="_blank">episode 32</a> of the Cultivated Playwright Podcast.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDKwzx9m9ThSe-YwsGwpXePzA__3_sbdPSkLVUpsW1nAxR-4w_KAKOdct0uJKIz9f-Zlelk5g1bm7uMa4Uz8ankYFtdq4Qbgz8ug70Vr7nwag7wggCw85ht3D5txyBZuOqrac7JWy-zW3oGimqkh90dBDSENF8N68vi1VkRpAVGMkz5EKpTIQ26W3/s3984/20220624_181400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDKwzx9m9ThSe-YwsGwpXePzA__3_sbdPSkLVUpsW1nAxR-4w_KAKOdct0uJKIz9f-Zlelk5g1bm7uMa4Uz8ankYFtdq4Qbgz8ug70Vr7nwag7wggCw85ht3D5txyBZuOqrac7JWy-zW3oGimqkh90dBDSENF8N68vi1VkRpAVGMkz5EKpTIQ26W3/w400-h300/20220624_181400.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">At the Denver Fringe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">The end of the summer saw me at another fringe, this time closer to home. I performed </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> again for a long weekend at the Ft. Worth Fringe Festival in mid-September. Again, audiences were low, but to those that came out, a good time was had by all. in a review that ran, I was called "funny and booming." I did a debriefing about this festival experience also on the Cultivated Playwright Podcast. Listen to </span><a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/2022/09/19/ep-33-epiphanies-and-the-ft-worth-fringe/" style="font-family: helvetica;" target="_blank">episode 33</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> for the rundown.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhSSKQSImry-v6p4B5kvWH7q5ovLzZ-UnriPlunJx0ldubkadEcTv10nRnBRQ2vQjeJWGDp56iDeG9leBkN7JOLfifwCn50VwjuDIQKKnVj5hN6J-mh1gzYEwSTFjsYoSKtw0LAKsHzzU22a4oeChsaA6gBZ-9Op8hHyG7UQj2Ql17F4cu3ZGqOig/s864/ftworthfringe2022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="864" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhSSKQSImry-v6p4B5kvWH7q5ovLzZ-UnriPlunJx0ldubkadEcTv10nRnBRQ2vQjeJWGDp56iDeG9leBkN7JOLfifwCn50VwjuDIQKKnVj5hN6J-mh1gzYEwSTFjsYoSKtw0LAKsHzzU22a4oeChsaA6gBZ-9Op8hHyG7UQj2Ql17F4cu3ZGqOig/w400-h316/ftworthfringe2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">My kiddo came out to see the show in Ft. Worth (I cleaned the language up for that one).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">My teaching career continued to go down hill with attendance numbers at the college being still super low (they were low before the pandemic, but now it looks like classes on campus might not make again for adjuncts for years). I taught high school-for-college students at a high school. I disliked it intensely.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Though I wasn't teaching on campus, I did direct there again. this time, I directed one of my own plays, <i><b><a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2022/11/thats-wrap-on-que-sera-giant-monster-at.html">Que Sera, Giant Monster</a></b></i>. The experience was a breath of fresh air. the students were all enthusiastic and the design was amazing. My only regret was that it only showed for a single long weekend in November.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmLHonG5vRLL3XfZU8WA_aqaX96PSl0NLf5JZhyC3kt9w5vnnjF31Pai7suiVqzc5JThb4gBynpoL-dFObQ1BdpHZD7QLrPhfkxPyvUYOZifW16fniELL_k5wsfb9oFxJ70wMcOlqhirnmaF3DNQ7kLbl0narY_Udn70V2MqxfTvrGrgIiJu3-QLZ/s4000/IMG_1203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmLHonG5vRLL3XfZU8WA_aqaX96PSl0NLf5JZhyC3kt9w5vnnjF31Pai7suiVqzc5JThb4gBynpoL-dFObQ1BdpHZD7QLrPhfkxPyvUYOZifW16fniELL_k5wsfb9oFxJ70wMcOlqhirnmaF3DNQ7kLbl0narY_Udn70V2MqxfTvrGrgIiJu3-QLZ/w400-h300/IMG_1203.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">A big moment from Que Sera, Giant Monster.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Just before the end of the year I published an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR32Y6DW/" target="_blank">ebook version</a> of the ten-minute holiday plays I wrote for <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/search/label/N47">Nouveau 47 Theatre</a> between 2013 and 2017. A paperback version was released right after the new year.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLqS7h65-dasmaq8k1uSwbMEMlrHJQ38KM9xL7H3Nr6-RySZBK8kRh1GsAcYYpGX46IyHLLrtqBC_8SOxxbT44Y-WaJ4OkegOi1EhkMo0sCyY1mvYjMThODXUCFelvjguaZrrwMJcL-qvBDQg2g6WpewfQKBJmFH5lr8lPK6SuzqJ-XMUmI4zpShg/s2263/Yeti%20Front%20Cover%20Kindle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLqS7h65-dasmaq8k1uSwbMEMlrHJQ38KM9xL7H3Nr6-RySZBK8kRh1GsAcYYpGX46IyHLLrtqBC_8SOxxbT44Y-WaJ4OkegOi1EhkMo0sCyY1mvYjMThODXUCFelvjguaZrrwMJcL-qvBDQg2g6WpewfQKBJmFH5lr8lPK6SuzqJ-XMUmI4zpShg/w283-h400/Yeti%20Front%20Cover%20Kindle.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Besides the usual creative endeavors, I also recorded 8 episodes of my podcast The <b><a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Cultivated Playwright</a></b>, including a very special remembrance of Sir Peter Brook, who passed on this past summer at the age of 97 (<a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/2022/11/06/ep-35-remembering-sir-peter-brook/" target="_blank">episode 35</a>). I also adapted the transcript of that episode into a hefty <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2022/11/remembering-sir-peter-brook.html">essay on Brook</a> and his immense influence on me as a theatre-maker.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f5M3NeNFtP529lGD6yzToBeDPnD0QmYNln5fLLIyP8w0LtbkEaKAcugyLxdxCAz6R-nW5JPbOLLmO64ItPlf_WucU9_wdI-QEPNq_obOfM8HNgj7yWtqChg5dFQHzk3xz5-IeZvnHOgOJ9hWQbaGnif_029YdwoPsehMdNH10xAec-x0tEhrYHIk/s2592/20220315_184323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f5M3NeNFtP529lGD6yzToBeDPnD0QmYNln5fLLIyP8w0LtbkEaKAcugyLxdxCAz6R-nW5JPbOLLmO64ItPlf_WucU9_wdI-QEPNq_obOfM8HNgj7yWtqChg5dFQHzk3xz5-IeZvnHOgOJ9hWQbaGnif_029YdwoPsehMdNH10xAec-x0tEhrYHIk/w300-h400/20220315_184323.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><p>I also posted several <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DribbleFunk" target="_blank">YouTube videos</a>, in particular, on camping. I got to camp just a very few times last spring and this fall. This is something, I'm hoping to remedy next year.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Etkc0xhN9NU" width="433" youtube-src-id="Etkc0xhN9NU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I spent time with friends and family, saved a bit of money, took better care of my health and felt more gratitude this past year. I am starting to feel excitement again for what the future may hold, which is a welcome feeling after the last few years of relative creative inertia.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"></span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;" /><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out</span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">occasionally</span></span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></p><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Leave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-16189570057656061392022-12-28T19:12:00.003-06:002023-01-09T23:29:19.745-06:00I'm Teaching a Ten-Minute Play Workshop<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKObeSs5NFSWYF08hWMtoDYKbXV_IxMxvHNF0NS8bDTpYvaGW_8Upxm64WEu0aelgIoqnfRI6JB_NeETcfxLtkg3mze8fPqVtgDDbWdGY51XnG7L-Alk8vYg-ohBF1s_oyBpUXAfjp7SF-z2sY6OvMqMVohS3AkT2fscvmy6QSOjKdWK79iwlAUDO1/s300/playwriting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKObeSs5NFSWYF08hWMtoDYKbXV_IxMxvHNF0NS8bDTpYvaGW_8Upxm64WEu0aelgIoqnfRI6JB_NeETcfxLtkg3mze8fPqVtgDDbWdGY51XnG7L-Alk8vYg-ohBF1s_oyBpUXAfjp7SF-z2sY6OvMqMVohS3AkT2fscvmy6QSOjKdWK79iwlAUDO1/w400-h300/playwriting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;">Writing the Ten-Minute Play...with Brad McEntire</span></strong></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;"><strong><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two Saturdays Jan 28th and Feb 4th<br />from 1- 4 pm<br />at 1106 Lupo Drive</span></span></strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1106 Lupo Dr<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="yiv7212816097locality">Dallas</span>, <span class="yiv7212816097region">TX</span> <span class="yiv7212816097postal-code">75207<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #656565; font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/1dsYaGycrBgREGit9" target="_blank">MAP HERE</a></span></div><p></p></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">The Ten-Minute Play is a short burst of theatrical expressiveness. As theatres seek to either expand revenue streams or grow audiences or broaden their base of artistic contributors - especially as things get back up and moving after the last several years - 10-Minute play festivals have become more and more prevalent. In this fun introductory workshop, we'll explore the structure, characters and the "punch" of these short one-acts. Filled with tips, tricks, considerations... plus, we'll do a little writing to boot. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;">This workshop is open to experienced playwrights, newcomers or simply the waywardly curious.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><i>Brad McEntire works as a playwright, director and solo performer. His plays over the last twenty years have been produced and developed at venues and festivals around North America. He is the Artistic Director of Audacity Theatre Lab based in Dallas, Texas.</i><br /><br /><br />Class Fee - $150<br />Class size is limited to 8</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Call <b>214-630-7722 </b>after the first of the year or email <b>lisahtx@gmail.com</b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="background-color: #fafafa; color: red; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="background-color: #fafafa; color: red; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></strong></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="color: black; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-27459223423213130022022-12-26T22:39:00.007-06:002022-12-28T14:00:48.571-06:00Just published: Yeti In The Airport Lounge and Other Holiday Tales<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqedbSIXnBGcsOzI26B8itK9sZ733TPJ2WVWd-cd_MtvYXEE8taQJIOIWCPyJpQYA10NXA7eR5VT2YDqXtpCayS9Blny9yYk2k5gh1Qyybq2XEN9IGLS9AEqmKPCvvHzpEbHT3cSRG5soeqI90kWmcNsvoUrsayGKE6My1ujlpSXAjuiYIgYF8k59X/s2263/Yeti%20Front%20Cover%20Kindle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqedbSIXnBGcsOzI26B8itK9sZ733TPJ2WVWd-cd_MtvYXEE8taQJIOIWCPyJpQYA10NXA7eR5VT2YDqXtpCayS9Blny9yYk2k5gh1Qyybq2XEN9IGLS9AEqmKPCvvHzpEbHT3cSRG5soeqI90kWmcNsvoUrsayGKE6My1ujlpSXAjuiYIgYF8k59X/w283-h400/Yeti%20Front%20Cover%20Kindle.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Right at the end of the year, I decided to roll out one more self-published work. This is a collection of holiday playlets (each running roughly ten minutes) that were originally presented by Nouveau 47 Theatre at the Margo Jones Theatre in Dallas' Fair Park between 2013 and 2017. N47 is now sadly defunct and the holiday play festival they presented is a thing of the past, but I am weirdly proud of how most of these plays turned out. They are tight, funny, bizarre little pieces. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the last three years, I have been trying to get them on Amazon in September, in time for theatres to plan for their Christmas productions, but have failed each time, including this year. I figure it is best if I just get them up, then I'll market them at the end of next summer.</span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The collection includes the works: <i>Rudnick, the Candle-headed Boy, Corner Office Sky, The Yeti in the Airport Lounge, Crandall on Planet X </i>and <i>Langdon, the Seasonal Barista.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The paperback version is coming soon. For now, here's the kindle version.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Get Your copy... <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR32Y6DW/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">HERE</span></a></b></span></p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-59227219707289772122022-11-20T15:51:00.002-06:002022-11-22T14:41:37.849-06:00That's a wrap on Que Sera, Giant Monster at TCC-SE<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My play <i>Que Sera, Giant Monster </i>ended a three day, four show run a day or two back (November 16 - 18, 2022) at Tarrant County College Southeast. I wrote and directed. It was a pretty good adventure. The student cast and crew were enthusiastic and took direction well. The audiences seemed to dig it. Great design work from lighting designer and TD Derek Salazar, prop design by Angela Inman, sound by Darius Booker, Costumes by Paul Fiorella and set design by Clare DeVries. Here's a few parting pics.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y9ESqAXRf9YARfclKagMdwwvrROpG0tWL20IoOdNZn0n3V3PC3glRj4Wg6m0T441SF3EcgJoWjEk6Tp_wgB-iro2fnPacYb9kZ1m_l2N2cB8BkmpOlXvo3ZJCjNW1MAETLSeh-l5ZKn1DyA7Id7d8KsAplui6SfKOnDWoiw6TV0rnW9t651BTvYF/s4000/IMG_1203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y9ESqAXRf9YARfclKagMdwwvrROpG0tWL20IoOdNZn0n3V3PC3glRj4Wg6m0T441SF3EcgJoWjEk6Tp_wgB-iro2fnPacYb9kZ1m_l2N2cB8BkmpOlXvo3ZJCjNW1MAETLSeh-l5ZKn1DyA7Id7d8KsAplui6SfKOnDWoiw6TV0rnW9t651BTvYF/w400-h300/IMG_1203.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Student actors Lily Clouse and DaShaun Ellis</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJecbHH57v4Kl1BcY-5fICPLb5xWp5sGfMNWBITyJcTj_AEONy7TtPcbhuWTtG6VARZ1QhUXdK7NCB29XancMEn5SrjOTSsN4d-XaLByJoINXd4h67hIhyfP2oWzLF1uN3_qu97vfdtk8x0FeebBf4lKZdShDZdv5fhebnWzvNOUJcXm1sr22bCjKz/s4000/IMG_1217.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJecbHH57v4Kl1BcY-5fICPLb5xWp5sGfMNWBITyJcTj_AEONy7TtPcbhuWTtG6VARZ1QhUXdK7NCB29XancMEn5SrjOTSsN4d-XaLByJoINXd4h67hIhyfP2oWzLF1uN3_qu97vfdtk8x0FeebBf4lKZdShDZdv5fhebnWzvNOUJcXm1sr22bCjKz/w400-h300/IMG_1217.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Student actors DaShaun Ellis, Toni Colbert and Lily Clouse</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoS-5AASrWAwecQ3BkQWF0To7gG-vZjeVZr8i50vXe8S3vjvE4NH2eR3DqrhPRd1Mi5w-VZDvgVouLPj0NROQETrQP9SeYGLXHIizjERbUNCChbgJf_kxffQ0uhZYAVM9oIZolabnNhOJYOUd6XkCU0YTCwT8wprqBz2BgQr_s-v3H88QTKsgKfLH/s4000/IMG_1232.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoS-5AASrWAwecQ3BkQWF0To7gG-vZjeVZr8i50vXe8S3vjvE4NH2eR3DqrhPRd1Mi5w-VZDvgVouLPj0NROQETrQP9SeYGLXHIizjERbUNCChbgJf_kxffQ0uhZYAVM9oIZolabnNhOJYOUd6XkCU0YTCwT8wprqBz2BgQr_s-v3H88QTKsgKfLH/w400-h300/IMG_1232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Student actors Isara Al-Hilo and Lily Clouse</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDozp45Ts005VQT-HsSi57A-b25c1622mRGOm8Ucg60LL3za8fMD0ipL-vTJOYw1mWBkeFi1s10awpgesHMPC6NJ_JpUXNetOkmU_zM-HLqtsy9gL0WvwVJQbPqdtn0I-NgqW7vD4uWopBzhFxV8nUUmJrr4f4yUy2kn0Ue5h99bubETd7RVA8B6I/s4000/IMG_1222.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDozp45Ts005VQT-HsSi57A-b25c1622mRGOm8Ucg60LL3za8fMD0ipL-vTJOYw1mWBkeFi1s10awpgesHMPC6NJ_JpUXNetOkmU_zM-HLqtsy9gL0WvwVJQbPqdtn0I-NgqW7vD4uWopBzhFxV8nUUmJrr4f4yUy2kn0Ue5h99bubETd7RVA8B6I/w400-h300/IMG_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Student actors DaShaun Ellis and Kate Shugart</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQbMkosATMLM04XHK4TJYoymwLCQd4VMB63rywH3qhpikFCTwyIdbhq60ijY1ifGHaAtMh23VqnIwVzo_qj6H-sLxAuRR402Rx3HdbrHClyGeD2-p-Tr3Wive-fMti_aV2H4XdECFwoivvkGDwg_AFJSteeWS6t9_jjBOuKVbhyOi9mhjUXi44Kkv/s4000/IMG_1207.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQbMkosATMLM04XHK4TJYoymwLCQd4VMB63rywH3qhpikFCTwyIdbhq60ijY1ifGHaAtMh23VqnIwVzo_qj6H-sLxAuRR402Rx3HdbrHClyGeD2-p-Tr3Wive-fMti_aV2H4XdECFwoivvkGDwg_AFJSteeWS6t9_jjBOuKVbhyOi9mhjUXi44Kkv/w400-h300/IMG_1207.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Student crew members Quinn Willcox and Mikalya Everheart <br />doing the unglamourous, but necessary work behind the scenes</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDF8oU3fB2-6Kyt7p4n0_qD0DZ2HNV2FndCuTBQ-tm2YEw8wg40xK_sS2rY1M0jhLMbRAAbwgeFQc-uLrke5IIlmz2Y2-LeTgz2ikH7pt-JFAIn81YakcyNv5ax4AVHpYx7uapwFf5VAJV-etGvIfB_eIFuyz4i95vTEcYlVhU1pKBTuBb_h9gN_C/s3984/20221110_195746.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDF8oU3fB2-6Kyt7p4n0_qD0DZ2HNV2FndCuTBQ-tm2YEw8wg40xK_sS2rY1M0jhLMbRAAbwgeFQc-uLrke5IIlmz2Y2-LeTgz2ikH7pt-JFAIn81YakcyNv5ax4AVHpYx7uapwFf5VAJV-etGvIfB_eIFuyz4i95vTEcYlVhU1pKBTuBb_h9gN_C/w400-h300/20221110_195746.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Stage Manager Marc Aldreidge and ASM Mikayla Everheart <br />during tech rehearsal</span>s</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuA9g6szsK9l774Q_g2aVeS2EeKNNSDtfSW59_Tr24vrNaOVHiKEkfWOOUP2A5J21tZ6NVWU1tWFa7Y0hxueu9lqRqcdh_ThJa-aK9XhQ8Tg1fIa_Fc7onFGAex7TWGTkyAqQ8Km7G1vT2E3z-YVSRc_8foSWDnzhAT_ij2MujCUA9BqrOSW4rT1s/s3984/20221114_211424.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuA9g6szsK9l774Q_g2aVeS2EeKNNSDtfSW59_Tr24vrNaOVHiKEkfWOOUP2A5J21tZ6NVWU1tWFa7Y0hxueu9lqRqcdh_ThJa-aK9XhQ8Tg1fIa_Fc7onFGAex7TWGTkyAqQ8Km7G1vT2E3z-YVSRc_8foSWDnzhAT_ij2MujCUA9BqrOSW4rT1s/w300-h400/20221114_211424.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">The playwright and director in the lobby</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Big thanks to the organizations and individuals that helped get the play this far. In particular thanks to Grant Knutson with Minion productions who offered me time at the <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2016/08/kathy-george-indie-artist-residency.html">Kathy George Indie Artists Residency</a> while I was working on the piece originally. Thanks to Wordsmyth Theatre and their Texas Playwrights Festival which presented a <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2018/07/que-sera-giant-monster-readings-at.html">reading of the piece</a> in July of 2018. Gratitude to Wordsmyth Artistic Director Elizabeth Earle, director of the staged reading Cynthia Garcia and cast members <span style="background-color: white;">Brandon Morgan, LaKeisha Randle and Bree Bridger.</span> I also wanna thank actor-producer Steven Landry and director <span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Debbi Ardoin at Acadiana Rep in Lafayette, Louisiana who did a <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2019/02/acadiana-repertory-theatre-presents-que.html" target="_blank">developmental production</a> of the piece back in February 2019. Big thanks to cast members of that show Erica Jure and Michelle Colon. Finally, thanks to <a href="http://www.audacitytheatrelab.com" target="_blank">Audacity Theatre Lab</a> who hosted a casual table read of the play back in September 2022 with actors Jeff Swearingen, Natalie Young, Kim Lyle and Emily Faith.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I plan to keep developing the piece. Hopefully, the play will continue to be <br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-15855167335724743042022-11-14T14:22:00.006-06:002022-11-20T14:22:59.413-06:00Pics of Que Sera, Giant Monster at TCC<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grabbed a few pics of a tech run of the Tarrant County College production of <i>Que Sera, Giant Monster</i>. Set design by <a href="http://devriesdesigndiary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Clare DeVries</a>. Lighting design by Derek Salazar. The set isn't quite complete, but it does offer a nice first look.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI_iZ1PbYuBDPXI5N-s8BYRIuH6MjptuQlynS77VpBWuep1a6w2oUabiaz7EG-u9FyaSPxaZcqZ2-PwLwtQYZcCF8rz7vVp32P6nVALibwICSFoSoNSLGr7hM_e-3x2nkSdr3VkPidQUte_NQARMkJ4EizNDhE-3eM_e0U1U7uY1XKnFcvefoUZXs/s4000/IMG_1187.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI_iZ1PbYuBDPXI5N-s8BYRIuH6MjptuQlynS77VpBWuep1a6w2oUabiaz7EG-u9FyaSPxaZcqZ2-PwLwtQYZcCF8rz7vVp32P6nVALibwICSFoSoNSLGr7hM_e-3x2nkSdr3VkPidQUte_NQARMkJ4EizNDhE-3eM_e0U1U7uY1XKnFcvefoUZXs/w400-h300/IMG_1187.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAQRIE-k8HV3Ln52YhVSqpuf2Q9Sab4-wew_u-KvsPNTOo1diJjM51aefiEODzNd7SvEu1LFGRBOC8GM-jo6847ptpu8uvI6gK71RbHRM-r5XkGaL8v8DMXFM6Pfi8ujqA1CTWKKFaxyeTMALxKiMcFXcGFoatFTKW6navj5gnrgqVZxLTbcU_4TS/s4000/IMG_1186.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAQRIE-k8HV3Ln52YhVSqpuf2Q9Sab4-wew_u-KvsPNTOo1diJjM51aefiEODzNd7SvEu1LFGRBOC8GM-jo6847ptpu8uvI6gK71RbHRM-r5XkGaL8v8DMXFM6Pfi8ujqA1CTWKKFaxyeTMALxKiMcFXcGFoatFTKW6navj5gnrgqVZxLTbcU_4TS/w400-h300/IMG_1186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCtoUyGm-lzTT160_IrV64g-Yha3lTn0DLVOq0bMLn-F90Awob9SeqM3lrJ4F-OVIBPZPBwV2cSgkUP2glq87I3KV2M7-2KVmEF52uBZhqfOxCFBGilk8QZyWMC2RzWbQktwxnGzIxqSvENba4gU1Z8aoAZJxa-psH2TEakQN8a0SAWbIrucAtjh7/s4000/IMG_1194.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCtoUyGm-lzTT160_IrV64g-Yha3lTn0DLVOq0bMLn-F90Awob9SeqM3lrJ4F-OVIBPZPBwV2cSgkUP2glq87I3KV2M7-2KVmEF52uBZhqfOxCFBGilk8QZyWMC2RzWbQktwxnGzIxqSvENba4gU1Z8aoAZJxa-psH2TEakQN8a0SAWbIrucAtjh7/w400-h300/IMG_1194.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-71336703859554650562022-11-11T02:31:00.004-06:002022-11-11T02:31:44.644-06:00Que Sera, Giant Monster at TCC-SE in the Collegian<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The school newspaper where I teach sent a student reporter out to write about the upcoming production of <i>Que Sera, Giant Monster</i>. Here's an excerpt of the article below:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj8RWg4NqnE8fjf83UUnPAtodzFmEQlhw1F6tWfWxDDnXwogdX_TVmX1nEQmqOt2fKmdh9yHmsy7eU9RHtsrDHDZCdRC6H5NprhryFwFJIRewK-ivu8euRd5AE4rapmpHQsRvrXCrMvIsm4kLznsLiZpx-50fxzxILsX7vlFpMbdfFmLvNA7FxH3G/s750/Collegianheader.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="750" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj8RWg4NqnE8fjf83UUnPAtodzFmEQlhw1F6tWfWxDDnXwogdX_TVmX1nEQmqOt2fKmdh9yHmsy7eU9RHtsrDHDZCdRC6H5NprhryFwFJIRewK-ivu8euRd5AE4rapmpHQsRvrXCrMvIsm4kLznsLiZpx-50fxzxILsX7vlFpMbdfFmLvNA7FxH3G/w400-h60/Collegianheader.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">Exes and Monsters take the stage at SE Campus</b><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2XVA9Ersq5pTsmTd58QHvHoZNEHz15x5OwgP31HoAVguvx6Ln43mIhredGbGb66kAmswN_TwumwyyYepb3VsB0NaMwLXX5ghQPryTZFWa48ll3JsI_0ih3Y8yvprTmBjxGJa5y_yWsDtHdHbHKJfbIKwuhciIaWEnxpBvT5Bv1mvykLoswNcVTDJ/s630/Lily%20Clouse%20and%20DeShaun%20Ellis%20-%20credit%20Joel%20Solis%20-%20The%20Collegian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="630" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2XVA9Ersq5pTsmTd58QHvHoZNEHz15x5OwgP31HoAVguvx6Ln43mIhredGbGb66kAmswN_TwumwyyYepb3VsB0NaMwLXX5ghQPryTZFWa48ll3JsI_0ih3Y8yvprTmBjxGJa5y_yWsDtHdHbHKJfbIKwuhciIaWEnxpBvT5Bv1mvykLoswNcVTDJ/w400-h266/Lily%20Clouse%20and%20DeShaun%20Ellis%20-%20credit%20Joel%20Solis%20-%20The%20Collegian.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">SE students Lily Clouse and DaShaun Ellis rehearse for the SE play “Que Sera, Giant Monster,” <br />opening on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. | </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: left;">Joel Solis/The Collegian</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">HOPE SMITH</span></strong></p><p><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Collegian | campus editor</span></strong></p><p><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thursday, November 10, 2022</span></strong></p><p><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It is c</span>onvenient that two exes end up in the same craft brewery on the same night, just as a large monster is terrorizing the city just outside of it. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That is exactly what happens to the main characters Katherine and Charles in </span>“Que Sera, Giant Monster” drama production, written and directed by Brad McEntire. Set to debut November 16-18 at 7:30 p.m. at the SE campus. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The production is described as both serious and humorous by SE student and actor Lily Clouse who plays the role of Katherine.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">McEntire, an adjunct in the SE drama department teaching mainly cinema and theater classes, wanted the play to reflect certain theatrical aspects.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“It’s a little bit autobiographical in some places, and it’s a little bit of the kind of things I like to see on stage,” he said. “I like to see broken people try to figure stuff out, I like misunderstandings, I like people giving other people a hard time. So that kind of stuff, the stuff that I like to see onstage, is what I have tried to put into this play.” </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"The characters are people trying to get by," McEntire says. "They are trying to figure out and navigate their lives, trying to understand themselves as well as the people around them."</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“A lot of the trouble that we get into in our lives is because we don’t understand what we’re trying to do and we don’t understand what the people around us are trying to get from us and what they really want,” he said. "At least that is my observation."</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because of that, the characters felt relatable to the cast. For instance, Clouse, who’s character is a waitress and aspiring musician, acknowledged she sometimes empathized with Katherine's perspective. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“At the start of the show, she has just worked a double,” Clouse said. “She’s tired, she’s fed up, she doesn’t have time for anybody’s crap, and you know what? I feel that.”</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The production process had the cast focused on learning more than just acting. Some of the cast members were tasked with picking up a new skill set or two. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">For instance, Isara Al-Hilo</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, a SE student who plays Beth in the play, acquired a useful new skill. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I learned how to box a little, like, actual boxing techniques,” said Al-Hilo, adding with an ironic smile, </span>“Put me in a ring, I’ll be fine.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clouse was given the task of learning a song on the guitar for the play, something she noted as a bit of a challenge.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“I wasn’t surprised, but I did not know how quickly time would fly and how difficult the guitar is,” she said. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Que Sera plays <span style="background-color: transparent;">November 16–18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Roberson Theatre on the TCC Southeast Campus, </span>2100 Southeast Pkwy., Arlington, TX 76018. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can and the box office opens 1 hour before show time.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-83358072651271274612022-11-06T16:32:00.017-06:002022-11-11T02:45:39.929-06:00Remembering Sir Peter Brook<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7tyZguQRz2GztmJb7Kv2ze0lEDE3b4Pb7NojT3oiaMSxvjL2hxVfFIrblpM1DQjCou05PDBZDUydjvBA8U9B8QVItas_a7K9G01ss-6sPRQSVZZ6ekrNAlPciK27JDCy6XHK2sW_6p2ViMzEELLWci5EO860q3E3eK9w8SKjc4wigebfhi1W6l9i/s780/cd04345a60c6039b888dd1fec2deb14db389b602.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="780" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7tyZguQRz2GztmJb7Kv2ze0lEDE3b4Pb7NojT3oiaMSxvjL2hxVfFIrblpM1DQjCou05PDBZDUydjvBA8U9B8QVItas_a7K9G01ss-6sPRQSVZZ6ekrNAlPciK27JDCy6XHK2sW_6p2ViMzEELLWci5EO860q3E3eK9w8SKjc4wigebfhi1W6l9i/w400-h268/cd04345a60c6039b888dd1fec2deb14db389b602.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Peter Brook in his theatre the Bouffes du Nord in Paris</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stage and film director Sir Peter Brook passed on this past July at the age of 97. I have dedicated the 35th episode of my podcast to Brook, a real influence on me as a theatre-maker. Below I have put the text of this episode.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">REMEMBERING PETER BROOK</span></p><div data-en-clipboard="true" data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In his obituary for Sir Peter Brook, Charles McNulty for the LA Times, wrote: " Indeed, Brook lived and worked in a continual state of becoming. Even in his last decades, when he might have basked in the eminence of his international reputation, he was still experimenting, still trying to separate the essential from the meretricious."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A continual state of becoming. That's what I think of when I think of the titan of the last 70 years of world theatre, Sir Peter Brook.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He passed on this pass summer on July 2, 2022 in his home in Paris... at the age of 97. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have been dragging my feet putting together this podcast episode. I found out about Sir Peter's passing around the 4th of July weekend. I felt if I had lost a beloved uncle I hadn't seen in years. I felt a sense of grief, I struggled to come to terms with his passing. It wasn't unexpected. He was very old. On the other hand, Peter Brook had this sort of immortal quality, like he was not merely a human being. His otherworldly eyes, though diminished in his very last years, still sparkled in a sort of uncanny way. He struck me as both the most human person I ever saw as well as someone kind of playing at and amused by being a human being.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXpdWTDnz7VaT94C7wf5owCrzUZzV_UkSgP0Wmo3atJq0hFRFxS-jzryxwO9YZRXMT-ICyGtAUZ5ZwRH03LEa0ggyZqY7bXTqd4t2g62fBduZ8fwsvp5cCIPVoGXILbCx1tw0uLDsXf8iIfpbhkxHjRyK52TChWhtnC8RKkfrbsnDrGcMezbyWTS3/s1440/154698_v9_ba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXpdWTDnz7VaT94C7wf5owCrzUZzV_UkSgP0Wmo3atJq0hFRFxS-jzryxwO9YZRXMT-ICyGtAUZ5ZwRH03LEa0ggyZqY7bXTqd4t2g62fBduZ8fwsvp5cCIPVoGXILbCx1tw0uLDsXf8iIfpbhkxHjRyK52TChWhtnC8RKkfrbsnDrGcMezbyWTS3/w300-h400/154698_v9_ba.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>To be clear, I never met Peter Brook, but through his productions, plays and writings about the theatre he has served as a sort of spiritual mentor for me as a theatre artist since I first came across him back when I was an undergrad.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some great tributes for Brook showed up in the world's most prominent news publications, though not enough for my tastes. So, I'm not going to recap the whole story of Brook. His accomplishments are so varied and to some extent, legendary, that there's simply too much to cover. Some of it unbelievable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I struggled with what I wanted to say about Sir Peter. It is hard to put into words just how influential his work and ethos has been on me. Some aspects of this are so ingrained in me, all these years later, that I think of them as second nature, not direct or even elliptical lessons passed on from this great man. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am also not an expert on Brook. Especially in any sort of academic sense. My interest in him is both practical and spiritual. I find reading about him and pouring over his work comforting when I am stuck, or searching, or in need of inspiration. But Brook is too vast. After nearly three quarters of a century of prolific output and layer upon layer of ideas, studying Brook is a bottomless well... and thankfully so. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Part of the difficulty of celebrating Peter Brook is his own, now legendary, reluctance to be thought of as a guru in any sense. He waved off any such talk, proclaiming that he wasn't a model or an example and that his work on stage was at best, ethereal. It was meant to be experienced and then destined to be forgotten like the rest of theatre. If he didn't respond to the role of guru, he only begrudgingly referred to himself as a director. He preferred the term “distiller”: someone who boils away everything extraneous to render the essence of the story he’s telling. So, here I am, celebrating a man who adamantly would not want to be celebrated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After getting over the initial news of his passing and then himming and hawwing about how to talk about him, I think I will go the course Brook himself might have conceivably approved of. I will whittle it down to the most essential, simple connections.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What follows are a series of straightforward impressions. Things I have learned or that have stood out to me about Brook as I have discovered them over the years. Some of these things have influenced my work in the theatre, some have affected me as a person.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter Brook started in the theatre in a rather traditional way. As a young man in college at Oxford, he just wanted to be a part of the entertainment business. He was drawn to film, but finding the bar of entry too high, he turned to theatre. He wanted to tell stories, but he wanted to work. The theories and concepts he explored later in his life, questioning almost every aspect of the theatre, were not yet there in his younger years. He could have been any one of us as a young, enthusiastic theatre maker. That is the first thing that stands out about Brook to me. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He didn't purposely set out to be "Sir peter Brook, International Man of Theatre." He formed his ideas organically, over time. What he learned was hard won. Where he started was a completely different place than where he ended up. The most prominent feature of his early years was his excitement about the stage. He wished to know... well, everything. This spirit of searching, of openness, of soaking up would take him very far.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In his memoir <i>Threads of Time</i>, Brook recounts an encounter he had early in his career. He had established himself as a director and was approached by a middle-aged architect who had been commissioned to design a new theatre in a provincial town. At that point, thrust stage configurations - called open stages at the time - like Tyron Guthrie had created in Stratford, Ontario were in vogue. The architect asked for advice and a very confident Brook advised the man to dismiss an open stage and instead create a traditional proscenium arch style stage instead. At the time, Brook preferred the picture frame effect of that proscenium.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"The so-called picture frame is an instrument of focus. It is foolish to throw it away. With an open stage, different parts of the audience see different things. With a traditional picture frame everyone sees the same stage picture."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I love this episode. It illustrates where Brook came from and how far his thoughts and hard-tested theories on the theatre experience had come, how they had changed over the years. The mature, simplified, more austere Brook of later years, after decades of experiments, rightfully looked back with amusement at his younger, cock-sure less-experienced self. His philosophy on staging plays circled 180 degrees away from the traditional proscenium theatre's picture frame box. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There seem to be lots of other examples of Brook's paradoxical nature. His life long quest seemed to be to challenge the whole field of theatre to boil it down to its more essential state.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Form your ideas then hold them close, but hold them lightly. Test them often. Change is inevitable he seemed to be saying.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQCyKprzl9MwZFlW3iWFLZIXaU3sq_YovOShz7boviE_Zzehkt32igTnPLcOcaphYCiI4cTeKUQ2OfVyuEE9ldZ_6u4qrLF_soztThZpK17RpP1G6rZrrOPenK5ddgrrZByjD3RBMvFx5Z2392GTz91FMw0vIY880Sg57PuAAa7kkZhye7PvQc7Gy/s1200/Tempest-Project-The-Theater-According-To-Peter-Brook.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQCyKprzl9MwZFlW3iWFLZIXaU3sq_YovOShz7boviE_Zzehkt32igTnPLcOcaphYCiI4cTeKUQ2OfVyuEE9ldZ_6u4qrLF_soztThZpK17RpP1G6rZrrOPenK5ddgrrZByjD3RBMvFx5Z2392GTz91FMw0vIY880Sg57PuAAa7kkZhye7PvQc7Gy/w400-h225/Tempest-Project-The-Theater-According-To-Peter-Brook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>The Tempest Project</i> at Bouffes du Nord</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIQFItjS2rgkfzDhAYKPC9csP3qk92nDDXbeotPe4ieUDqhEG_Co0gQyr5ZpQismgvtKkgtZJtayIbb9IO_IqJtEFR1nAzRdNr725qSwxZq1BsX2iLiNERxEVzfJL3XWzwV5zNpbtXMv9P2MB3Q4JgXFRjfPVtFSq1cwU6a0DSC-RLd2NsomNlixX/s600/6043898.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="600" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIQFItjS2rgkfzDhAYKPC9csP3qk92nDDXbeotPe4ieUDqhEG_Co0gQyr5ZpQismgvtKkgtZJtayIbb9IO_IqJtEFR1nAzRdNr725qSwxZq1BsX2iLiNERxEVzfJL3XWzwV5zNpbtXMv9P2MB3Q4JgXFRjfPVtFSq1cwU6a0DSC-RLd2NsomNlixX/w400-h269/6043898.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Tragedy of Hamlet</i> at Bouffes du Nord</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I think of Brook, I see the director of that last several decades. This is the Peter Brook of my lifetime. The impression I had of him showed the results of a lifetime of experiments, particularly during the last major phase of his very long career. I think of live music supplied from the side of the stage by one or two musicians. Drums, always drums. I see carpets spread out to signify a playing space. Very little furniture or scenery. I see warm and earthy costumes that present both an ancient and a timeless impression, with scarves, tunics, baggy pants and robes that represent no set nationality or style. The actors sometimes barefoot. I see performance of actors, elegant, masterful and brimming with equal parts playfulness, power and clarity. I see audiences scattered about nearly encompassing the stage, the front rows seated on padded floor cushions. Whereas, we take for granted that the audience sits in darkness and the actors are illuminated up on the stage, in Brook's productions the light that bathed the stage would sometimes be the same light that spilled out over the audience that shared the space.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Personally, as a theatre-maker, I don't prefer all of Brook's kind of staging. For instance, I like a proscenium. Since I operate on a fringe, indie level, I am most often saddled with makeshift spaces and black boxes set up with the audiences on three sides almost as a matter of course. The actor is almost always on floor level. A proscenium with the audience all facing the same direction, with decent sightlines is actually a great luxury for me. It is not something I take for granted. And I like the audience nestled in darkness. But, then again, I do a different kind of theatre than Brook did. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The important thing is, I see how he arrived where he did. I respect and appreciate how he got to where he ended up. He questioned everything and then ran it through the ringer. For years. The lesson of asking what is essential, what is really needed is invaluable. In his hugely influential 1968 book </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">The Empty Space,</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Brook encourages us, as theatre-makers, to be both simpler and more exacting in our work. He talked about how theatre is as simple as an empty space in which something happens. The caveat being, you better really, really think about what happens in that space and what really is needed... especially for connection with your audience. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The connection between the actors and the audience is paramount.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Initially, Brook wanted to go into journalism. He wanted to be a foreign correspondent and live a life of travel and interaction, tasting of different cultures and lifestyles. He found, however, that theatre offered a different sort of adventure, one that allowed glimpses into countless times and places and lives. So, he threw himself into the theatre. As Brook plunged headlong into his work on the stage he seemed to have an unbelievable knack for finding other capable folks to collaborate with. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Early on, he worked with Barry Jackson who brought Brook along as a director first at Birmingham Rep then when he took charge of the RSC. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jackson described Brook at 20 years old as "the youngest earthquake I'd ever met."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the Royal Shakespeare Company Brook made waves early putting on stage a hot and violent <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> as well as a production of <i>Love's Labors Lost</i> based on the paintings of Watteau. It is during this period he began working with a young actor named Paul Scofield.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The bulk of the first few decades of Brooks career were filled with projects for the commercial stage, film, opera and subsidized theatre. He played on Broadway. He worked at the RSC and the National Theatre. He was celebrated for his Shakespeare productions. In his early to mid 40's, however, Brook grew restless. He had sort of a mid-life artistic crisis. Travel, experimentation and adventure called to him. In the late 1960s, after his experiments with Artuad's Theatre of Cruelty with his celebrated asylum production of <i>Marat/Sade</i>, after his astounding film version of <i>King Lear</i> with Scofield in the title role, after his production of Oedipus with Laurance Olivier, Brook came to a turning point in his life and career.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By 1968, his second child, Simon, had been born and his wife Natasha Parry announced to him that she aimed to professionally return to the stage after taking some years off for maternity and domesticity (their first child, Irina, had been born in 1962). Like a lot of us, reaching the beginnings of middle age and coming to terms with the sacrifices of parenthood, Brook realized a change was needed. He needed a new location, a new home base, where he could finally put down some roots. He also needed a new direction, one that didn't abandon the work he had done up to that point, but that furthered it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I relate with this point in Brook's life since it is roughly where I am in my own life and career. I am a bit more of a late bloomer than Brook and, of course, work on a much smaller scale. But, as anyone who has listened to other episodes of this podcast (especially the early ones) knows, I am a father now, deep into my 40s. After nearly 30 years of continually learning and practicing my craft, I can empathize with the question of "what now?" One doesn't want to throw away all that has come before, but the old drive has changed. There's this sense that we must finally grow up. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was interviewed on Holly Bagwell's podcast Give Me Twenty last year. One of her questions was about how I have changed as a theatre maker since my younger days. I replied that there was along period of trying to prove myself, of spreading the net wide and tackling things for the sake of experience. But now, as I enter the middle years of what will hopefully be a long career, I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone, not anymore. Now I am simply trying to improve. I'm trying to be a better version of the artist I have evolved into. This "improve instead of prove" mentality is what I think Brook keyed into as well. He began to conceive of an altogether different project. If he couldn't be a nomad traipsing around the world, he'd bring the world to him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He had spent years avoiding running his own theatre, he was finally coming around. "I've never wanted the tie and the responsibility of a theatre of my own," he wrote in a letter to a friend in 1968. "Now, and only gradually at that, I'm beginning to prepare for the need of having a group for which I can be totally responsible on all levels for a substantial period of time. It now seems that this is the only possible evolution after so many years of attempts and experiments."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By 1970 he and his family had relocated from England to Paris.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The goal was to bring together an international group of well-trained actors, down for experimentation and adventure. He had classically-trained actors from France, actors steeped in ritual from Africa, English Shakespeareans, Kabuki actors from Japan and American Method actors. Everyone brought to the table a different toolkit of techniques and training. As soon as Brook had them all together, instead of having them each teach the others, he had each actor basically abandon the training they had acquired up to this point. Everything was stripped back to the essential. What qualities do these actors share that make them human? Brook was interested in exploring what makes us similar, what connects us as humans, rather than how we are different. The group trained together, inventing from scratch, under Brooks leadership, new exercises and techniques... Experimenting with elemental rhythms, a full range of physical movements and the most basic human motivations and interactions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The group of folks he surrounded himself with were no joke. A young Helen Mirren, a youthful Bruce Myer. His powerhouse actress wife, Natasha Parry, of course. One of the main collaborators at this time was a young man from Japan named Yoshi Oida. Oida has, over the years become a major influence on me as well. He stayed with Brook since he first came into the company in 1970. Oida , even in his older years, blends a childlike enthusiasm, wonder and excitement, even a sense of fun, for performing with a very rigorous sense of discipline and craftsmanship.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmIFMlo4VYRJJ7kwaAwN98qaj4yhQBTGAmxvNH1uFMaQWh_CCiKg101NVuTcyIuTcexGvd1Dver7fIxiWbWEvOfc2vZ_MjapMltvPJo9X-7Z2kZW1oVnOzOBRAz5jdPm9wGza2xhe-2sJr3fqqZt-h1MrjZh_MGytHOgw78qp5IGueIWCGVJDU8zm/s287/Yoshi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="287" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmIFMlo4VYRJJ7kwaAwN98qaj4yhQBTGAmxvNH1uFMaQWh_CCiKg101NVuTcyIuTcexGvd1Dver7fIxiWbWEvOfc2vZ_MjapMltvPJo9X-7Z2kZW1oVnOzOBRAz5jdPm9wGza2xhe-2sJr3fqqZt-h1MrjZh_MGytHOgw78qp5IGueIWCGVJDU8zm/w400-h245/Yoshi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Yoshi Oida</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Back in 2011 I had the privilege of seeing both Oida and Bruce Myers onstage together with the wonderful Hayley Carmichael. The trio were at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. performing 5 short Beckett pieces in an evening called </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Fragment</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">s. It was co-directed by Brook and his powerhouse partner-in-art Marie-Helene Estienne. What I remember the most was the sense of playfulness the group had, something often overlooked in the works of Samuel Beckett.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brook recounts one story about how the company was invited to a rather boring presentation one time. Oida was sitting on the front row. As everyone squirmed and glanced for the exit, patiently waiting out the tedious presentation so as not to offend their hosts, Brook glanced up just a bi after the presentation had begun and realized Oida had somehow slipped away - from the front row - without anyone even noticing. Brook recounts the story with amusement and reverence for his friend. If there is a person I would like to be in such a situation, it is Oida. This is an example of something Brook seems to put a great deal of stock in (and I will admit, I do as well)... Simply, it is often just a matter of letting actions speak louder than words.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span data-markholder="true"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have my own Oida. For the past 20 years I have collaborated with my friend Jeff Swearingen. Jeff and I met a few years after I left college and he was just starting out on the stage. We were in a children's theatre company together. I have directed him dozens of times. He went on to start his own theatre company for a few years and branched from acting into directing nd playwriting as well. We have performed long form improv together for over a decade and a half. Like Oida's daring and mischeiviousness to Brook's steady concentration, Swearingen's qualities seems to compliment my own. We push each other and support each other. Like Brook, I think partnerships such as this allow for artistic growth.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brook was very open to great artistic influence. He borrowed a lot of ideas from his avant-garde contemporaries: Grotowsky, Artaud, Brecht, Meyerhold, Joan Littlewood, Edward Gordon Craig. What set him apart was actually putting the theories of these folks into practice on stage. He did this through experimenting with the very nature of theatre. In fact, Brook seemed comfortable with simply trying a bunch of stuff out. This spirit of experimentation has so appealed to me that I ended up naming my own little company Audacity Theatre <b>Lab</b>. Too much focus on the resulting production implies bringing something to market. It is commercial in its approach to some extent. Brook loved the process. His theatre was a laboratory.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One great example of this was his trip through Africa with his international troupe of artist-adventurers in the early 1970s. Brook founded the International Center of Theatre Research in Paris in 1970. He gathered a group of international actors. These folks were all young, adventurous and, as I said, well-trained in their respective cultural performance practices. He brought this group together then asked them to divulge themselves from their own backgrounds. He was interested in what made these actors alike, not what made them different. What human qualities did they share and then what universal human stories and situations would develop. He took these actors on a tour through Africa. They would stop in a small village and Brook, through a translator, would explain to the village leaders what they were attempting to do: to see on what basis we, as people, might relate with one another. They troupe would unfurl a large carpet on the ground as a playing space. Villagers would gather around and the actors would begin to improvise. Maybe someone would toss a shoe onto the carpet. Another actor would approach it cautiously, poke at it, pick it up and then hug the shoe against her chest. An additional actor might enter and then take the shoe. A chase ensues. An improvisation emerges. The whole performance was done with sound effects and broad physicality. No words. They did this over and over again, seldom duplicating the exact same show and incorporating the audience each time. It was amazingly playful and brave and communicative (especially considering everybody seemed to speak different languages and dialects).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQS5M1Bbntb-CQjBdgT-WlN57MwWzg5aI-GzyZmQsvrRgO_WnTe0Q8z9ZzFz7TTBsRxenPAnXWjfh0azvN7oSXVsdri_uX2Jl5U8HITXgQFXNe9wwgfbsbL_-owUHjMHDNNKDmfSqd2uZh9ufyIcTtvzeELxnxdBJrGn97014Ir85IoXxxW6iMXnw/s651/mirren.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="651" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQS5M1Bbntb-CQjBdgT-WlN57MwWzg5aI-GzyZmQsvrRgO_WnTe0Q8z9ZzFz7TTBsRxenPAnXWjfh0azvN7oSXVsdri_uX2Jl5U8HITXgQFXNe9wwgfbsbL_-owUHjMHDNNKDmfSqd2uZh9ufyIcTtvzeELxnxdBJrGn97014Ir85IoXxxW6iMXnw/w400-h344/mirren.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Helen Mirren in Africa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1wTsObMoE4ehvsubzvuVmKY7gVglTXf6y9cKJbmeY4s1qm0-8PRpqfL_CMMu08PrNn5jaO8ecVg3PCb-h1LA92YqyM3JTzjUNNoGOzqVzCS8uyRNs315PlWmnfXx43wZfvD1XkKZwFDybrxXOPwKHWMk5HsQTyj6iSLL7VxWi4htMt8RXlfgcs7h/s724/africa%2072.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="724" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1wTsObMoE4ehvsubzvuVmKY7gVglTXf6y9cKJbmeY4s1qm0-8PRpqfL_CMMu08PrNn5jaO8ecVg3PCb-h1LA92YqyM3JTzjUNNoGOzqVzCS8uyRNs315PlWmnfXx43wZfvD1XkKZwFDybrxXOPwKHWMk5HsQTyj6iSLL7VxWi4htMt8RXlfgcs7h/w400-h311/africa%2072.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Brook watching an improvisation in Africa, 1972</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I first learned about Peter Brook when I was in college. In a theatre history class, we had to do projects on important theatre artists of the last 200 years and a friend did one on Brook (I can't remember who I covered). I remember his presentation. This was one of the first Brook projects that really caught my attention and I was bowled over by how awesome this African tour seemed. It appeals to me, even today, on so many levels. Improv and clowning. Simplifying. Directness. Just the adventure of caravanning in jeeps through the backcountry of Africa taking theatre performance to strangers, in places where they may not even have a word for the concept of Theatre.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was a 'pilgrimage' to answer the question "What were the common stories, the recognizable shorthands, the instant abstractions, the shared outlines of story and character with which an international group could work?" They experimented with gesture and sound.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course, for Brook and company, this excursion was simply a stepping stone to further experiments and explorations. He and the core of this international group went on to a home-base in 1974. They moved into a derelict Parisian music hall called the </span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.7px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Théâtre des </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bouffes du Nord</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">. He did this, I might add, with the help of his Parisian agent, manager and producer Micheline Rozan. She was instrumental in helping him find funding for his adventures and experiments, as well as leading him to Bouffes du Nord. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The building was cleaned up and made safe, but not overhauled. The proscenium arch remained, but not the stage beneath it. Shows happened on floor level. The auditorium was still tiered in a half circle, but the seats were replaced with benches and places were left on the floor for seat-cushions in the front. Renovations left the weathered textured walls. They were cleaned but not repaired, the age and wear, the splendid ruin, left on display.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brook remained at the helm of the Bouffes du Nord from 1974 until 2008.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The early 1970s onward marked a fruitful, prolific period for Brook and his troupe. There was the seminal white-box <i>Midsummer</i>, then the epic version of the <i>Mahabharata</i>, the ancient Indian Sanskrit classic of gods and battles and princes in the 1980s. In the early 2000s he presented <i>The Tragedy of Hamlet</i> with Adrian Lester in the title role. Brook approached the play as if it was a brand new work that he had plucked out of a script pile. He purposely ignored the 400 years of baggage the play has acquired. This original approach yielded a tight, amazingly straightforward version of Hamlet. In fact, I have watched a video recording of this production about half a dozen times. If one descriptor stands out it is: clarity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He caught flack over the years with accusations of cultural appropriation and post-colonialism. His <i>Mahabharata, for example,</i> had a multinational cast made up of lots of ethnicities and skin tones. Brook thought of the <i>Mahabharata</i> as a world-text, like the <i>Bible</i> or the works of Shakespeare, with something universal to say about humanity. This rationalization did not go over so well by some in India. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the other hand, it can be argued, Brook was a pioneer of what is typically called color-blind casting nowadays, though he doesn't respond well to the phrase. When asked about the "color-blind" casting, Brook invariably corrects the statement and says it should be called "color rich" or even "color welcome" casting. "Color blind implies something snobbish. That we have our eyes closed and can't bring ourselves to look. I think it disgusting. On the contrary, we have our eyes wide open, welcoming the fact that this actor might be light brown, and this other dark brown, and then this other poor little actor is white," he told interviewer Barbara Bograve of <a href="https://listen.stitcher.com/yvap/?af_dp=stitcher://episode/205118864&af_web_dp=https://www.stitcher.com/episode/205118864&deep_link_value=stitcher://episode/205118864" target="_blank">Shakespeare Unlimited</a> a few years ago.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">‘I don’t like grand terms such as “artistic vision” because I don’t believe I have one,’ he told the London Guardian back in 2005. ‘For me, the absolute necessity was to work with actors of different cultures and backgrounds and play in front of different audiences’</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brook continued to work into his mid 90s. Two of his final offerings, I think, are apt to bring up here. In 2016 Brook (with his frequent collaborator since the 1980s Marie-Hélène Estienne and writer Jean-Claude Carrière) produced <i>Battlefield</i>, a sequel to his 1985 production of <i>The Mahabharata</i>; it traveled around the world. <i>The Mahabharata</i> is the tale (encompassing hundreds of smaller tales) of the war between the 100 sons of a blind king and the five of his brother. Every effort is made to avoid the war. The gods give inscrutable good advice. But fate, of course, cannot be avoided. The epic bloodshed ends with brother killing brother, cousin killing cousin and hundreds of thousands dead. <i>Battlefield</i> picks up as an epilogue. It opens with the victorious Yudishtira looking over it all in horror and unable to face the consequences of his actions. His only desire is to leave the world and live in the woods as a hermit. The play, just over an hour (in contrast to the nine hour staging of <i>The Mahabharata</i>) is a concentrated exploration of the ethics of responsibility, of following one’s destiny and trying to make the best of it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A7_KrVtzFUE" width="398" youtube-src-id="A7_KrVtzFUE"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Battlefield</i> (2016) trailer</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 2019, he and Estienne co-wrote and co-directed the play </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Why?</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The piece was part lecture, part demonstration, part meditation on the purpose, as well as dangers, of theatre. The first act being a sort of inside baseball glimpse at theatre makers' thoughts on the nature of theatre itself and then a second act that serves a sort of biographical study of Meyerhold, a Russian director and student of Stanislavski who broke away from his teacher's ideas with concepts of his own. Meyerhold's search for truth made him a political target when Stalin came to power and he was inprisoned, tortured and eventually executed. His art made Meyerhold dangerous. Brook's production, not exactly a straight-forward play in the traditional sense, seemed to most directly ask the questions Meyerhold was asking in the early 1900s: </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Why do we do theater ? Why do we give our lives to the theatre?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t84TmmCTJyw" width="397" youtube-src-id="t84TmmCTJyw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Let me end today with a word about Brooks most influential book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Space-Theatre-Deadly-Immediate/dp/0684829576?pd_rd_w=qsqZR&content-id=amzn1.sym.7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_p=7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_r=WD22MD93CH1GFJMSF0K1&pd_rd_wg=2HrCU&pd_rd_r=5a5d938e-5176-4252-a967-2172a21e302a&pd_rd_i=0684829576&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=drifuncom-20&linkId=a54a97047563a80b72b8ff4504e5592f&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">The Empty Space</a></i>." In this short volume, he covers four kinds of theatre he was observing during the middle of the 20th Century. Deadly theatre is that well-groomed, but toothless production of old plays presented in the same ways they have always been done. This sort of theatre doesn't necessarily have anything important to say, even if it is nice to look at. It is theatre steeped in nostalgia. Deadly theatre is fine. The production value is fine. The acting is fine. A lot of the commercial theatre at the time fell under this label for Brook during the 1950s and 60s. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Holy Theatre is high-minded theatre that strives to say something really significant, but it is not necessarily concerned with engaging the audience. Holy theatre strives to make "the invisible visible." This sort of theatre attempts to create, or recreate, ritual in a world where we are short on ritual and the sacred. It is theatre that includes spans of silence. Brook used as examples the highly symbolic work of both Samuel Beckett as well as Haitian voodoo. Holy theatre takes itself a bit too seriously and does not always make itself accessible to the audience. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rough Theatre is the label Brook gave to makeshift, homemade, eclectic, noisy, profane popular theatre. Rough theatre is vaudeville, music hall, long form improvisation. It is popular messy theatre. Enjoyable and entertaining, but theatre that doesn't necessarily say anything important. Brook holds up Bertolt Brecht's Theatre of Alienation, with all its roughhewn tricks and techniques, as an example.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The last type of theatre Brook mentions is the Immediate theatre, the theatre that “asserts itself in the present”. Immediate theatre occurs when the audience is reacting to the happening on the stage. What is happening is bot</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">h intellectually and emotionally elevating. The word Immediate is used by Brook as an affirmation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></b>[There are] moments of achievement which do occur suddenly, anywhere: the performances, the occasions when collectively, a total experience, a total theatre of play and spectator, which makes nonsense of any divisions like Deadly, Holy and Rough.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At these rare moments, the theatre of joy, the catharsis of celebration, the theatre of exploration, the theatre of shared meaning, the living theatre - these are all one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But once gone, the moment is gone and cannot be recaptured.<b><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></b></span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> When I imagine these types of theatre in a graphic, I picture a triangle with the extremes of deadly, holy and rough at the corners, and immediate right in the middle, balanced and equal distance from each of the others... a sweet spot to shoot for. Immediate has elements of the other three, but with the measurements just right. Upon reading </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">The Empty Space</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> right after college, I knew I had found a sort of north star to navigate by. Immediate is the sort of theatre I would strive to create and the way I would strive to produce that work on the stage.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the opening sentence of <i>The Empty Space</i>. I still use it today as a definition for the act of theatre in the college classes I teach:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged.” </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thank you for this, Peter Brook. An actor, an audience and a place for both of these parties to gather. This is where we all start.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Listen to the <a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Cultivated Playwright Podcast </a>episode... <b><a href="https://cultivatedplaywright.wordpress.com/2022/11/06/ep-35-remembering-sir-peter-brook/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-27822213241898818092022-09-13T12:06:00.000-05:002022-09-13T12:06:02.252-05:00Mini-review on OnStageNTX of Robert's Eternal Goldfish at the FW Fringe<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeX1nOA4AeRlu8pe6CQm5S7aTIYdZoNYBtLxuENHgqiHaIXnRWbrAk9zIUJgFk0MloGIg09xHbHnWntHsRKXCOcw4yNN_ucCwkLnEh_28uZBSD8YVHumu0rshsHy8uRZcXKlXzyRTm7Dvz0DPnylq9lJzV4elFbJaiznXmRyMXISXSjasSpubogmf/s401/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeX1nOA4AeRlu8pe6CQm5S7aTIYdZoNYBtLxuENHgqiHaIXnRWbrAk9zIUJgFk0MloGIg09xHbHnWntHsRKXCOcw4yNN_ucCwkLnEh_28uZBSD8YVHumu0rshsHy8uRZcXKlXzyRTm7Dvz0DPnylq9lJzV4elFbJaiznXmRyMXISXSjasSpubogmf/w399-h400/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By Jan Farrington</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9|10|2022<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Funny and booming Brad McEntire, playwright and artistic director of Audacity Theatre Lab, came in with a character I won’t soon forget in <i>Robert’s Eternal Goldfish</i>—a ranting gent who told us (repeatedly) how much he hates “so many things.” Frankly, he seemed to enjoy it, tracing it all back to boyhood, and being abandoned alone in the ocean when the snorkel boat left him behind. And somehow, that long-ago event does feel connected to the dreadful curmudgeon he’s become, and to the goldfish he almost-accidentally buys in an oddball pet store. McEntire keeps this fishy story swimming along as Robert tries (and fails) to deep-six his new pet. His dreams only get weirder night after night, and (gasp) he’s forced to interact with other humans. To know more…buy a ticket.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Original post... <b><a href="https://www.onstagentx.com/reviews/fort-worth-fringe-festival-fort-worth-community-arts-center" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-19759934441081929282022-08-03T15:41:00.005-05:002022-08-03T15:44:08.364-05:00ROBERT'S ETERNAL GOLDFISH at Ft. Worth Fringe 2022<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNK5BfIxbkvCXZQHXruxoDSzLepDvszzxcsgCCdQi9ZvZuKR4V4NlcQ6EdIbYgemJbz4EIzO7ZmHuB6Joyf3HSzbrsLf7ZS1v6HfHka4bvRJ89jZ2yqWwFUiW9aOz_2tu9CcOt7PXqogNUSKwP7K4Te03R_1kTxdlE_QyUGO-etDkOn30zA8oGU7u/s401/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNK5BfIxbkvCXZQHXruxoDSzLepDvszzxcsgCCdQi9ZvZuKR4V4NlcQ6EdIbYgemJbz4EIzO7ZmHuB6Joyf3HSzbrsLf7ZS1v6HfHka4bvRJ89jZ2yqWwFUiW9aOz_2tu9CcOt7PXqogNUSKwP7K4Te03R_1kTxdlE_QyUGO-etDkOn30zA8oGU7u/w399-h400/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" width="399" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My li'l solo show plays closer to home to cap off the summer. <b><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/robseternalgoldfish" target="_blank">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</a></b> will play at the 2022 Ft. Worth Fringe Festival.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Robert J. Roberts has a huge problem with the world. In particular he really dislikes people. All people. One day he becomes the unlikely custodian of a magical goldfish and Mr. Robert’s misanthropic view of the world is seriously challenged. This dark comedy asks can a person be frustrated into becoming a better human being?</span></span></p><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can see all 10 shows with an <i>All Show Pass</i> – a $20 savings off 10 full price individual tickets. </span></span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">5 Show Passes</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> or </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">2 Show Passes</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> are also available for those interested in a variety of our FW Fringe acts. </span><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Purchase your passes </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/venue.php?org_id=138" href="https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/venue.php?org_id=138" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">HERE</span></span></a><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: helvetica; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For individual tickets to my specific show, click... <b><a href="https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/purchase.php?event_id=11394" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Playing:</span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the Fort Worth Community Arts Center (in the Vault Theatre),</span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth, TX 76107</span></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Friday, September 9 – 8:00pm</span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Saturday, September 10 – 3:00pm</span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Saturday, September 10 – 9:00pm</span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sunday, September 11 – 6:20pm</span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For more info (parking, tix, shows, etc.) visit the FW Fringe website... <b><a href="https://texastheatres.org/fringe/" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Poetic Thespian Productions"}" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-49588330336887381522022-07-11T14:19:00.007-05:002022-07-11T22:49:07.627-05:00Fun Grip plays the 2022 Dallas Big Weekend of Improv<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://fungrip.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Fun Grip Improv</a></b> (my colleague Jeff Swearingen and myself) performed at the 12th Annual Dallas Big Weekend of Improv (formerly known as the Big Sexy) presented by the <a href="https://www.improvact.org/home" target="_blank">Alternative Comedy Theater</a>. It was held in the Karol Omlor Studio Theatre at the Addison Theater and Conference Center in Addison, TX.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We performed a 25-minute set in the 9:00 PM slot on Saturday, July 9. It went pretty well. A novice hunter named Thomas falls for his friend's sister Irma. There were courtships and fortune-tellers.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhoZgnRdDP4XGmmTrT2pVdvg0Og2dXMThnG9QScfza49wMKHkUq-eYyGAGrpBtc-o9So3GrU98bKFuHeIFNhaieNLlGYlCopmG3YcNx0Ms4npD8EQk0LspYLX0dsSmtsT23iG1XpoMjq0dTM4wV0_u6Yh_Y2lzlIVt4yVUdDK_kRs4-YBQoMEfPD5/s2048/FB_IMG_1657509298850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhoZgnRdDP4XGmmTrT2pVdvg0Og2dXMThnG9QScfza49wMKHkUq-eYyGAGrpBtc-o9So3GrU98bKFuHeIFNhaieNLlGYlCopmG3YcNx0Ms4npD8EQk0LspYLX0dsSmtsT23iG1XpoMjq0dTM4wV0_u6Yh_Y2lzlIVt4yVUdDK_kRs4-YBQoMEfPD5/w300-h400/FB_IMG_1657509298850.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Fun Grip in Performance (credit: H. Bagwell)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Afterwards, I hosted a set called the <a href="http://www.bradmcentire.com/2011/02/monologue-jam.html">Monologue Jam</a>. Eight improvisers took the stage one at a time, each presenting an improvised character speaking directly to the audience for three minutes. Rory Scholl for New York won the coveted Monologue Jam jam.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO1szgTE2_QyN7b7bq6dE6w6V3GAC57IeQK1I9AqTEYGoNijZUyKaB8lqy-OfLJi7PK9V8N_qz9xYI98PGkso7IFSTYj6uAqGAzb-83csuRykm-n3sVzEDi7wNRLjhkVxw5TjsR7Yy37YuVPbHzcOi3QI7mPmCuOBpSjpbBxnUWy6fpFBe0vJ8oOk/s1080/MonoJamJam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1080" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO1szgTE2_QyN7b7bq6dE6w6V3GAC57IeQK1I9AqTEYGoNijZUyKaB8lqy-OfLJi7PK9V8N_qz9xYI98PGkso7IFSTYj6uAqGAzb-83csuRykm-n3sVzEDi7wNRLjhkVxw5TjsR7Yy37YuVPbHzcOi3QI7mPmCuOBpSjpbBxnUWy6fpFBe0vJ8oOk/s320/MonoJamJam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-51185869094732764722022-06-25T22:37:00.008-05:002022-06-25T22:37:55.483-05:00Pics from Robert's Eternal Goldfish at the 2022 Denver Fringe<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> A few performance pics of me presenting my show <b><a href="https://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/robseternalgoldfish" target="_blank">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</a></b> at the <a href="http://www.denverfringe.org" target="_blank">2022 Denver Fringe</a>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl1I9YnbPdB4k3hsPcLm7ZyDJYXO6HSaFvQylq2bKvHw1Y7J9qWBkkII3QKWrXGQJCZowM5SMNoVAnhHA3sWDnRF_QixdNRzykQ4HiiWrsaeGOCT8-q1NHlEFUOJPJtcTRAOLla-V02BSWf6pFas4sDOjxZYXlpU0heC_PaX85noiytdUGaZs9OE6/s3984/20220624_181400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl1I9YnbPdB4k3hsPcLm7ZyDJYXO6HSaFvQylq2bKvHw1Y7J9qWBkkII3QKWrXGQJCZowM5SMNoVAnhHA3sWDnRF_QixdNRzykQ4HiiWrsaeGOCT8-q1NHlEFUOJPJtcTRAOLla-V02BSWf6pFas4sDOjxZYXlpU0heC_PaX85noiytdUGaZs9OE6/w400-h300/20220624_181400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJs2xayZBzfTTd35Ua2cTFX0pFM6qG8gnQKjiOaWnpWbBU1M_s3k8dxhxLEYTocchWL7KS5GycpZUNTwrOH6I6a086CJtMOayZo2k2AhbWELbV2zD3JRx5l-BwDYF31huxbhlXzPBnCIYA23e_H5AxyR8HkK4t38aMkHJI3Tqtz_e01rIbiJC_6vN/s1593/IMG_1494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1593" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJs2xayZBzfTTd35Ua2cTFX0pFM6qG8gnQKjiOaWnpWbBU1M_s3k8dxhxLEYTocchWL7KS5GycpZUNTwrOH6I6a086CJtMOayZo2k2AhbWELbV2zD3JRx5l-BwDYF31huxbhlXzPBnCIYA23e_H5AxyR8HkK4t38aMkHJI3Tqtz_e01rIbiJC_6vN/w400-h300/IMG_1494.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ylldbMxw7yqJKlABDJlf41XRWcYZ0zniC8HFebMqb9mt0l0n-oki1sJS-CJFIwZIjVLeozaXJhSK2lxW2dtwkWiBOUUzQ56A3u3egE_UbRiyscM8VrBAbeSrBUdg_EGEJ0yseLG2trWCbWjCMTxuk2DVdf8MMlaGRaLdZM9zZTcqmspCURBmdY6a/s3984/20220624_181315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ylldbMxw7yqJKlABDJlf41XRWcYZ0zniC8HFebMqb9mt0l0n-oki1sJS-CJFIwZIjVLeozaXJhSK2lxW2dtwkWiBOUUzQ56A3u3egE_UbRiyscM8VrBAbeSrBUdg_EGEJ0yseLG2trWCbWjCMTxuk2DVdf8MMlaGRaLdZM9zZTcqmspCURBmdY6a/w300-h400/20220624_181315.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5428059862965765171.post-1617461853294278202022-05-12T17:57:00.003-05:002022-05-15T21:27:38.509-05:00Robert's Eternal Goldfish at the 2022 Denver Fringe<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> My solo show, <i><b><a href="http://dribblefunk.wixsite.com/robseternalgoldfish" target="_blank">Robert's Eternal Goldfish</a></b></i> makes its way to the <a href="https://denverfringe.org" target="_blank">Denver Fringe Festival</a> this summer. I am excited to present this little dark comedy in Colorado, and really, just to get back out into the world again. Here's the info:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjwtona4FHDt6VadhQ1sqc23yAmSCCTAJVitHTRByeFxNuZdluHtFm8Gk4cUuzyGENTke98moggZOSSyE2GQZ0uwiT_Z0jUqOec-WWktRlge9tahsCBq7Rd5l2776aSZgrTQDJSPcp4sh1poNPkHcjrYOAtw5o3jrFebBr1IFYzFZahrlJvEnT7hK/s401/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjwtona4FHDt6VadhQ1sqc23yAmSCCTAJVitHTRByeFxNuZdluHtFm8Gk4cUuzyGENTke98moggZOSSyE2GQZ0uwiT_Z0jUqOec-WWktRlge9tahsCBq7Rd5l2776aSZgrTQDJSPcp4sh1poNPkHcjrYOAtw5o3jrFebBr1IFYzFZahrlJvEnT7hK/w399-h400/REG%20%20square%20poster.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Robert J. Roberts has a huge problem with the world. In particular he really dislikes people. All people. One day he becomes the unlikely custodian of a magical goldfish and Mr. Robert's misanthropic view of the world is seriously challenged. This dark comedy asks can a person be frustrated into being a better human being?</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRJCUL6ZtIg8TEN_SFV4PLPOXwf6yiROY2jCWV7iGRNzrwOpFUFT2zEbGWsKoIGYxSdEym6ejIYbj8dm1lP5PcKpeCzcL_cuXHgpJyPBW_9yovRhBf9f3gD0niUWOqkaHsyfe-vqXf4kn-m809LUdMyJPeZ5cW1P5_oP8lTOEfcskiKNwj3ezkfgE/s600/cart_2rwv-kj_v8x0-be.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="600" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRJCUL6ZtIg8TEN_SFV4PLPOXwf6yiROY2jCWV7iGRNzrwOpFUFT2zEbGWsKoIGYxSdEym6ejIYbj8dm1lP5PcKpeCzcL_cuXHgpJyPBW_9yovRhBf9f3gD0niUWOqkaHsyfe-vqXf4kn-m809LUdMyJPeZ5cW1P5_oP8lTOEfcskiKNwj3ezkfgE/s320/cart_2rwv-kj_v8x0-be.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Playing as part of the <b>2022 Denver Fringe Festival</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">At the </span><span style="background-color: white;">Blue Moon Brewing Company, </span><span style="background-color: white;">3750 Chestnut Pl, Denver, CO 80216<br /></span><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;"><br /></span></span></bdi></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">DATES/ TIMES:</span></span></bdi></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">Thursday, June 23 @</span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">5:00 PM<br /></span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">Friday, June 24 @</span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">5:00 PM<br /></span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">Saturday, June 25 @</span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">5:00 PM<br /></span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">Sunday, June 26 @</span></span></bdi><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">4:00 PM</span></span></bdi></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><bdi style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><span class="ty-product-options-content" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); margin-right: 3px;">For more info and tickets: </span></span></bdi><a href="https://denverfringe.org/shows/roberts-eternal-goldfish/">https://denverfringe.org/shows/roberts-eternal-goldfish/</a></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"># # #</span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small;">Perhaps you would be interested in adding more excitement and romance, adventure and intrigue to your life. If that's the case, I don't know what to tell you. But I would suggest you subscribe to my newsletter. I mean, who knows? Life is full of surprises. I only send stuff out occasionally, but it is good stuff. Hit the button below...</span><br /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif"></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eepurl.com/vFcn" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="http://dribblefunkcomics.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=28d0257d84c58e9769ad768ee&id=79c8bf79c6"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7a8jGT-_es/WLvkAmnPOXI/AAAAAAAADXA/-QS4lBMjyYYIBDR5355t4Pevy4ZvqiargCLcB/s200/MailLogo4.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">L</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">eave a comment. If you are a robot or a blatant marketer trolling Blogger, then you will be gleefully deleted. Humans only, please.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>B McEntirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07476556583986979584noreply@blogger.com0