The Christmas Dinner Reading

Returning from my 2nd trip to the E.R. in a three month span...and amongst other dramas of life, I would like to focus on some positive aspects of life. That being said...The Christmas Dinner is going to have a reading. I'm very excited about it. As of right now I have 8.5 of my 10 actors needed which excites me because putting together schedules is a tough thing...so I'm happy to have 8.5 schedules that had some free time. The Christmas Dinner will only be a reading, not a staged reading, or a production (as of now). I'm just having a reading to kind of hear how the words sound, what works and what doesn't work, and of course to reunite with my incredible cast from The Birthday Dinner with the addition of two new actors for the two new characters that are introduced in The Christmas Dinner. Anyway for those who may or may not read this blog, and for those who are interested in my work, saw The Birthday Dinner and enjoyed, or whatever and would like to hear the reading of The Christmas Dinner...send me an e-mail...or make a comment on this post. I may have a few places avilable and it could be beneficial to have a few ears. IDK. Since it's not a staged reading...I do feel I have to limit what ears hear, since it will be a cold read for the cast. But all that is details. Hopefully everything works out and hopefully I stop needed to go to the E.R.

The Birthday Dinner Cast Updates

You can see Hunter Burke (Miles) At the end making a cameo in the WWE Film 12 Rounds starring WWE Superstar John Cena. We'll deffinetly be seeing Hunter on the screen more and more and more.

Kenny Gabriel (Guy Channing) has been a very busy man. He was a ina production of a great show called Indigo Blues at Cite des Art, downtown lafayette. He was amazing in it btw. From therem he went on to be in Good Thing, The ULL Performing Arts Production for this semster. I was able to see the show, since Drood ran at the same time, but I did go to a rehearsal and what can I say that hasn;t been said. Kenny is great. He is now going to step into directing and direct a scene from the play, Kimberly Akimboo.

Kristina Marshall (Judith) recently performed a selection from Porgy and Bess as part of a youth outreach put on by PASA meant to bring awareness of issues to teens through the use of art.

Amandah Baker (Emma) held the exteme position of Assitant Stage Manager for the ULL PFAR Production of Good Thing.

Jeremy Drewrey (KC Jeremy willbe in two of the driecting scenes this year for PFAR's annual showcase, one being Kenny's scene from Kimberly Akimboo. Very excited to see Jeremy since last semster he gave a really solid standout performace during that semster's showcase.

More updates to come to keep you informed on these talented actors and bright stars.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Me(Rev. Crisparkle) Lana Carver (Rosa)

The Singer Part returned for a few months. I've been busy with ULL Lafayatte Music Department's Production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, in which I was offered the role of the Rev. Crisparkle. Drood was my very first musical...and it had a full blown orchestra. I had only sang with a piano and drum before...and once to acoustic guitar. It was a huge stretch. Also it was a musical...and I've mentioned on this blog before...I'm not much of a musical theatre singer...but I felt it would be the best thing for me if I at least try my hand at it. I sucked at first and got better as it went a long, and even had some good moments. I don't believe I had good singing vocal moments...because as a singer...I don't use my voice or don't know how to use my voice under those circumstances. Kudos to those who do...(the other incredibly talented membes of the Drood cast)to have even stood on the stage and sing with such incredibly talented people is an honor and a really great oppurtunity.

The Birthday Dinner Honored

So I have some great news, that I'm posting about 2 months later. I have to apologize to anyone who may actually be reading this blog, for not updating it more regularly. But off with the news....back in Feburary...amongst having a really crazy week, I get a phone call from a lady named Gretchen Smith who is the chair of The Kenedy Center Acmerican College Theatre Festival for it's Sixth Region. She called me on a Tuesday morning, and told me that my play, The Birthday Dinner was one of the top plays at the festival, she wanted me to go to the festival Friday to be there for a reading of the play on Saturday.

To even add to the honor...I didn't technically submit my play to the Region Six Festival...so that was the first shocker...I did send it to Ms. Gretchen...but I technically submitted the play to the national festival...because the Regional Festival did not have a category for my play. The competitions were 1 acts and 10 Minute Plays...but Ms. Gretchen liked the play enough to make it an exception...now the play is lenghty to say the least and there was not enough time to read all of it...so we were set to only read the first act...Ms. Gretchen re-arranged the schedule so the entire play could be read. The reading was cool. It was interesting to have my play read by Actors from other universities and people I didn't know. I got some great feedback. And now I'm a Honored Playwrite by The John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Kennedy American College Theatre Festival Region Six For Excellence in Original Playwrighting.

Can you believe? Well yeah...BELIEF...that's what it all took.

Pics From The Birthday Dinner: A Play By Brian Egland

The Pics are finally in! They blew me away. A big thank you to Mr. Tyler Choate. These are not pictures. They are so real. I got to see what I did for the first time, and these pictures...my show was real...it was a real show. These pictures document a play...a real play. My play. The Birthday Dinner.

The Roe Effect and Other Short Films

So one night, it was late, I was having one of those days were I just simply needed some inspiration...and inspiration found me via on demand. I found these amazing short films on HBO on demand and Showtime on demand. You can see them now during this month , (Feb). One of the movies was The Roe Effect. It blew me away. It inspired me. Wish I could go more into detail, but it's something one must see for themselves to understand. What blew me most away was the fact that everyone involved was just trying to do it. Like me. And they were and they are. It inspired me. Shout outs to James Holloway and Cher Santiago. They are cool peoples and deffinetly be looking out for these two. They are taking their steps as well.

First Post of the New Year

Happy New Year! I'm a whole month late, but better late than never. Huh? There's much going on with me, but I'll post once I have details in concrete. Well nothing that big, just steps towards making it. Small steps...but a step foward is always big step to make. One update is that I finished the first version of The Christmas Dinner. It's crazy. It's big. It's deep. I like it. I haven't looke dat it in a while, so I need to finish it up. Not sure what will come of it. I have a few more steps to take until I can do something with it.