The Riz!

Hello Friends!

Matty Zaradich reminded me it was the Feast of the Riz and so I want to
wish you all a Happy Ishtar!

I'm cooking potato delights (with lots of dairy) for a potluck this afternoon.

I'll tell you more about the folks who brought funding to 42% tomorrow.

Today I cook and gorge and enjoy good fellowship.

I hope you do something similar!

Best,

M

Please Mister Postman look and see if there's a letter in your bag for me . . .

Good Day!

Yesterday we were nearly at 40% and today we were solidly there thanks to the first of several contributions I have been told to expect in the post.

The first came all the way from Florida and a dear friend I haven't seen in I would have to guess more than a decade.  !

Asiya Jones: dated one of my best friends in high school and as a result, we were close as well.  She, along with her best friend Dawn, were two of the biggest groupies Zodiak, my most established high-school band, ever had.  Asiya went on to study at WSU, though I'm embarrassed to say we never connected while we were both there, : ( and then moved to Florida and became an IT Specialist.

She has always been a lovely person and told me that she wanted to donate even though we likely couldn't Hang Out.  I reminded her that the internet is a magical place and I hope to find a way to catch up with her.

One of the best and mostly unexpected by-products of this campaign has been the mandate to catch up with old friends.  : )

Can't ask for a better task!

I'll be watching the mail for more pledges and I hope to catch up with more of you and brag about you soon!

Best,

M

(nearly) 40% Friday! : D

Hey Everybody!

You heard it right!  As of today we are over 39% Funded.  Who would've believed it?

Who were the latest folks to bring up these numbers?

Well clearly they're people you should know.

To Wit:

Kristina Johnson: is one of those very talented and fascinating people I had the chance to teach in the first iteration of the Act One Studios Conservatory Certificate Program in Chicago.  She also studied at the Steppenwolf School and the Gaeity School in Dublin.  KJ was always an accessible and hard-working student and I'm so glad she's in on this project because she's been out West for awhile and we haven't had a chance to connect.  Now we must!  Yay! 

And from what I can tell she's kicking ass in Sci-Fi out here!  Can't wait to catch up!

Schedule your Hang Out grrrrrl!!!! : D

Christopher D Ritter: or Critter as we affectionately called him at WSU was very good friends with my Roomie in College, one Tim Lessner, and as such we hung out from time to time.  He also contributed a play or two to the early iterations of the PlayWright Festivals.  I particularly recall the existential MEN & APPLES.

Chris worked in several web-based companies before landing at LexisNexis where he is today.  He's also one of those prized social-networking friends who consistently makes you go hmmmm.  I look forward to catching up with him this summer.

Sharon Kay Akens:  is one of the greatest women to have ever lived.  Of course I think that; she's my mother!  And she doesn't like to be talked about, so I won't say how amazing, caring, supportive, lovely, smart and funny she is.  I'll just say that I look forward to seeing her at the end of the summer.

Love ya Ma!

Ryan Kolbe: contrary to popular belief, is not made of cheese.  He is however a fellow Buckeye I met out here when were working background on a pilot that had us dressing as pilgrims. It's amazing how several 16+ hour days in 17th Century Garb in the heat of the Disney Ranch will bond a group of people.  I feel very lucky to know this warm, considerate and very funny fellow.

He's an up-and-comer, so keep an eye out for him.  Plus he's pretty cute too! ; )

I do hope you all take time to click through these links when you can.  I wouldn't be surprised if some other projects were to materialize out of these connections.

You are all too interesting for that not to happen. 

Just sayin' . . .

Also, if I said I'd see you in the Fall in Chicago, it's gonna be more like the late summer . . . August-ish . . .

More info soon.

Enjoy your weekend!

Best,

M

Mañana

My dads are in for the day.

We're going to Huntington Gardens.

I'll talk to (and about) you folks tomorrow!

Have a beautiful Thursday!

Best,

M

The Full Moon Brings Bounty

Hey y'all!

I've been getting lots of BG on pilots recently so I'm a little late on getting to this today!  : )

But I can report that, as of now, the SSSS is 38% funded!  How awesome is that!?

You did it!  You did.

Who are some of you?

Jenny Korn: is a friend you don't even know you wish you had.  She is probably the most highly developed and expressive Optimist I have ever had the pleasure to know.  And she does it without making you want to throw up in your mouth.  She is a true pioneer in the expression of gratitude.  She's also hella smart and one of the first scholars I met looking into culture, gender and society as it is reflected and reshaped in digital media and the communities formed there. 

She's also a triathlete.

Last time I ran into her was at Christmas in Vegas.

Can't wait to see where our next encounter is!

Hi Jenny!  *waves*

Schezaad Ausman: or Mo as I was introduced to him, is a young, kind man that I met on the set of a pilot a few weeks ago.  I hardly know him at all.  He friended me on Facebook and we spoke while on set and he decided that this project was something he wanted to fund.

It really touched me as I haven't known him for more than a total of probably 3 hours of conversation.  That is generosity if I've ever heard it.

What's more, from what I can tell he's a talented boy.  I have a feeling you may hear more from this young man!  Keep your eyes and ears open.

Thank you both for your generosity!

I also had a talk with the man in charge of the money (among other things) at Zoot Theatre this morning.

I will have much more to tell you on that front by the end of next week!

~stay tuned~

Best,

M

Great Minds, Divergent Evolution and All That Jaz!!!

Good Morning!

As I’ve mentioned that this project is about all of us, I thought it appropriate to share some selections of an email I got from my good friend James Anthony Zoccoli (JAZ) when I got home from set yesterday.

JAZ had sent me a fundraising request not unlike my own on nearly the same day I started hammering away at all your good natures.  Oooo.  Creepy.

He also has a pretty amazing opportunity ahead, a slightly more lofty financial goal and sooner and much more specific deadline.  And it's definitely worth knowing about.  So please do click through his links!

That’s all dandy and *very* cool, but what I found even more moving was the perspective he shared in his thank you letter to me.

JAZ writes;

“May sound crazy, but the one dollar to twenty-five dollar donations are the coolest ones.

Why?  Because it means you ain't rich, but you were STILL willing to support the cause.

In the end, I'm almost more interested in how many funders I get than the dollar amount.”

He also goes on to say:

“THERE ARE ONLY FOUR WEEKS LEFT FOR US TO REACH OUR GOAL, SO...

If you have the time or inclination, it would be great if you could help spread the word, too.”

So I am. 

Because I really like JAZ and I think he’s SUPER TALENTED.

He also offers a few more tidbits that saved me the time of looking up representative awesomeness in my fatigued state.  ; ) 

Again, in his own words:

“If you haven't already - & you wanna' have a laugh - check out: my appearance at 2nd Story.

(At work?  Listen with headphones.  Some material may be inappropriate for white people.)”

Ha!

He’s also provided a bio and a podcast to learn more about him.

This is another project that even if you only get to know more about a vital and relevant artist or have the chance to share his story, he’ll be very grateful!

Kick it in the teeth JAZ!

Hope you make it to the Festivals with Financing to Spare!

Oh and BTW the SSSSMLH2013 Project is 37.3% funded!

Onward!

Best,

M

Please Hold

Hello all.

It's getting light.  I had some biscuits and gravy.

I'm typing on a very small screen.

I don't know anything about the project other than that I am a "Bar Patron" - Go figure.

I'll be turning my phone off soon to conserve E.

I can't wait to see what happens in the world of the SSSS today, whenever I get home.

See you on the other side!

Best,

M  

Double Trouble!

Hey Gang!

With contributions and specific promises this Sunday sees funding for the SSSS at 34.9%, more than twice the amount we had last week!  That is incredible.  If this trend keeps up, we'll meet the goal in two weeks.

*fingers x'd*

Please remember, though I'd love to have funding in place as soon as possible (preferably before rehearsals around May 15th), I will accept donations until the end of the project (some time in late August).  That way if you find you it's more comfortable for you to chip in later or you'd like to give me your remembrance in person, you have a much larger window to do so.  : )

Speaking of Double Trouble, let me tell you about a couple of my favorite ladies who were able to help out yesterday . . .

Clarissa Patterson aka Miss Wiggle is one of the most colorful people I know.  Her hair is always a great color, making me wistful for my crazy colored days of the past, and her tattoos are bright and fun, as is her general outlook. An avid and dedicated music fan, I think she has seen every -abilly band in SoCal driving from Redlands to points all over Los Angeles and Orange Counties to do it!

And though she was the cover girl for the 2008 Naked & Shameless release Dig Big, a tribute to all ladies large and lovely, she has since trimmed down considerably and looks just as lovely as ever!

Mwah!

As for the 2nd,  what can I say about Dinette Hammar?  I once asked her why she was so amazing, to which she responded: "Hello, we're the same person!"  And it's true.  I just happen to have the mutant XY chromosome combo.  Nettie is a larger-than-life fabulous golden voiced diva.  I first met her at the Surly Girl Saloon (a great Columbus bar) when she stumbled on an N&S show at a conference she was attending, and, according to her, drastically improving her opinion about Ohio. ; )

How was I to know she was also part of the duo that fronted the All-Queer All-Female What-the-F**k-abilly Band, The Mighty Slim Pickins in San Francisco?  She also led the more straight up Quarter Mile Combo to the Ink and Iron and Viva Las Vegas Festivals as a brief stint in Europe.  It was sublime to share the stage with these acts the handful of times I was fortunate enough to do so, though both have since disbanded.

Nettie and I also performed a rendition of Islands in the Stream at an Elv-O-Rama event at the Knockout (a great Mission District bar) in 2011 with Elvis Herselvis, incidentally the other half of the MSP frontline.  It was great fun and Ms. Hammar has already told me for the time she has me for her Hang Out that we're going to sing "cheesy duets nonstop."

I can't wait.

Please enjoy your Sunday.  I know I will.

Best,

M

The Hang Out

Hey Everybody!

In addition to telling you about yesterday's generous benefactors and letting you know that we are well over 31% funded (!), I wanted to say a few quick words about Hanging Out.

The first and most important thing to remember is that your Hang Out never expires.  Well, at least, it won't expire until I do!  So don't worry if you're not in SoCal or the O-H or Chi-town.

We will Hang Out.

We'll find a way to do it.  Hopefully sooner rather than later, but I will not close the XL or the blog until everyone's generous donation has been met in kind.  : D

Also, if you live far away or just feel like it, you can assign your Hang Out time to someone else.  A few folks have already told me they'd like to do that.  Great.  Just please explicitly tell me and the person to whom you're donating the time, so we can get them on the Calendar.

To date, only THE Joe Moran has claimed his Hang Out time and boy howdy did we have a good time!  Any other takers out there?  I'll be in LaLa until I fly out on 5.13 and I'm updating my the calendar wtih life conflicts, but I hope to see Hang Outs show up *soon*!

Multi-Hour Hang Outs do not have to be concurrent.

I'll have more information about other time commitments by April, 5th and I'll put in my rehearsal schedule, I suspect, after I get to Ohio.  And remember, you can always contact me directly if you want me to put your Hang Out in the calendar or if any of this is confusing.

The final reminder, and this seems self-apparent, but I've had some brain farts myself.  If you're logging in to the SSSSMLH2013 calendar, you have to log out of your google account (if you have one) to see it.

Just don't want anyone to get frustrated.

And now the second part of today's entry is a big shout out to:

Chris Rainey:  Math Teacher Extraordinaire, Baseball Coach and Athletic Director at Yellow Springs High School now retired.  He was one of my favorite teachers and one of the few who regularly shut down my obnoxious teenage self and did his best to teach me in a class in which I had no business being (I'm looking at you Advanced Math. Oy!)  I remember Mr. Rainey's booming voice, wry worldview and kindness.  I just found out he also writes for SABR.  If you like baseball, have a look.

Tamara Uribarri (nee Brenno): was Desiree's little sister when my clique used to kick around the Springs.  She was around a lot and mostly quiet, but there was always a twinkle in her eye and I knew she had something going on.  Still waters run deep.  She went on to get a Master's degree in Creative Writing.

Vanessa Brenchley (nee Ballam): is a former Miss Utah, prolific performer, educator and another former student who has long-since surpassed me.  I met her when she was studying for an MFA at IU. Work with Vanessa was always easy and, as her instrument was already so well trained, we had more of a colleague's relationship.  When the beam is sturdy the intricate carving is easier to approach.  We haven't spoken for some time but her Social Networking says she's now in Anchorage.

I look forward to hearing that story.

Traycee King: Horror Buff, Hot Tattooed Proud Geek Girl and My Not-So-Secret # 1 Crush, Traycee is the CEO and Owner of Kitty Quilt Pictures through which she just released the last episode of 8.13 which has been selected to screen in the LA Web Fest at 10pm on Thursday March 28th.  I was fortunate enough to cut off her head in The Lion's Den.

                                                    That's not Traycee, but that is the 
                                                    8.13 set.  Hee hee. 

Wonder what she has in store for us next?

Don't I know some cool people?

*buffs nails on his lapel*

Until next time . . .

Best,

M

Days Underwritten through June 4th!

That's right!

Funding is over 28% and that means over three weeks of the Sojourn have been Underwritten! Thank you!

Who are the latest folks to make this possible you ask?  Well let me tell you about yesterday's contributors:

Andy Wibbels: (@andymatic) is one of my oldest friends and muses.  He is an author, life coach, web monkey and general inspiration (I mean just look at that face!).  He is also one of my favorite playwrights who virtually single-handedly penned the first two PlayWright Festivals I helped found and produce when we were together at Wright State before the turn-of-the-century!

Yeah. Really.  Check this out.

                                                April Miller and ?Help Me Out Guys?
                                                in Andy Wibbels' BRUISES
                                                                                      [on stage shot]

My Cousin, K, seems to want to keep her identity on the DL on the interwebs, so I will respect that by not sending net traffic her way.  I'll just say this.  She cracks me up.  Constantly.  And what's even more fun is that she's my father's partner's sister's adopted daughter.  For reals.

It follows that she's my closest cousin doesn't it?

Thanks K! : D

Ray Mola: (@ImpostirEvil) is one of those guys you meet when you're at a 9-5er that just generally makes life more bearable. We never worked in the same department, but I was blessed to have him as a mail guy for awhile, bringing his own goofy sensibilities to the Hell that is a day job.

And then he moved up to a regular gig and I've had the good fortune to continue to know him. I think his LinkedIn is a little out of date, but if you want to jaw about movies or comic books, you could do worse than repartee with this young fella!

I look forward to talking about more people and the project itself over the coming days.

Thanks again for all you do.

Best,

M

A Word about Grace

Hello Everyone.

I’d like to take a moment to riff on something that the Summer Shakespeare Sojourn Subsidy Project has brought up in its early days.

I’ve had a few people effusively apologize for not being able to donate or for not being able to donate more.  And I just want to say that I get it. 

More importantly I want to remind you that you have absolutely no reason to apologize to me. 

Believe me.  I understand. The simple fact is that if I were financially solvent through my artistic endeavors, I would have never decided to attempt this oblique method of funding. 

But because I have, I have been pulled into a cycle of love. 

I don’t use that word lightly. 

Yes, people who can have been able to donate, often far more than I would have expected, some have even told me to ask for more if I’m short at the end of the fund drive.  That is incredible and it has surpassed my wildest hopes.

Others have given me the last few dollars from their wallets with me double-checking about their well-being before adding it to the fund.

Still others have told me how much they wish they could help.

This matters too.  The encouragement matters. 

It helps me to understand that it is a good thing to Ask. It is a good thing to Give.  It is a good thing to be Grateful.  And that gratitude is for whatever a person can give.

I’ve said it several times in the last few days, but your Endorsements mean a lot.  This project is legitimized when other people say that it is worthwhile.  Don’t underestimate that.

Your re-posting, your re-tweeting, your reading my blog or discussing the SSSS by word-of-mouth; your simple encouragement and acceptance pays dividends and I am truly fortunate to have it.

So, please remember, if all you can offer is a kind word, or an awesome photo (as one friend sent to me in lieu of hard currency), it is deeply appreciated as it makes me feel so as well.

Let’s see how many people we can reach!

Onward.

Best,

M

What is Zoot Theatre?

Hey friends!

As we wait for the Official Press Release about the summer, I thought maybe you might like to know a little bit more about Zoot Theatre Company. 

I know I've mentioned them before, but seeing is believing and outside voices often carry the most truth.

So here is a video documenting interviews, rehearsal and performance video regarding the People's Puppet Play project, which took place in 2010 as part of the Cityfolk Festival.

It gives you an opportunity to see the kinds of work being done by Zoot as well as a manifestation of their mission, which shows, I hope, why I'm so interested in being involved.

"To teach and to delight."  That directive has always been directly under "Ars longa, vita brevis" for reasons why I perform.  Zoot will give me yet another opportunity to achieve this goal.

If you'd like to delve further into the work of Zoot Theatre, have a look at their youtube channel.

I look forward to telling you more about this vital company and my involvement in it.

Thanks for your support. 

Best,

M

21.5% Yep you read that right! You are doing great!

Hey all!

After going a little over the top on my tipple for St. Pat's, we're back in the saddle and I have some more awesome folks to tell you about.

@bradleyfletcher is one of those guys who will always be around.  He's a rock and helps people consistently and meaningfully while still finding time to build @CEOtees from the ground up.  If you don't know CEO, you should figure it out, because they're shirts are awesome, high quality and they just *feel* nice.

I was in one of their commercials one time.  (1:31) Neat, huh?

And speaking of that commercial, David Groves directed it.  He's also done a bunch of other cool stuff including helping me toward my goal this summer.  Thanks Dave!

Miss Lindi Rubin, chipped in.  Lindi is an Actor, a Great Supporter and has been Re-Tweeting a ton!  Thank you!  She continues to bolster my courage and effusively supports the intrinsic morality and worthwhile necessity of this project.  It helps a lot to hear.

Also I've had more pledges than I can shake a stick at in recent days!

I hope to have more soon so I continue to brag about all of you incredible people . . .

Onward!

Best,

M

introducing: THE Joe Man

In order to fulfill my two hours of Hanging Out with the enigma known to many of you as THE Joe Moran (pronounced THEEEE) I have been graced with the opportunity to clue you in and give you the skinny poop on a True Treasure of the Modern Era.  A Man ahead or His or any other Time.  Wingman to God, Conquer of the Great Divide, Oldest Ever Recipient of the Bobcat and Webelo Badges, Most Eligible Bachelor and Logistical Engineer

You can find out more about him here:

www.THEjoemoran.com

But let me tell a little more about this Singular Titan of the Incredible.

Goals (2013):

To allow the Champ (@MikeTyson) to become friends with @THEJoeMoran via twitter

To grace the patrons of the House of Blues in Hollywood with a three song set and show them the untapped potential of their sound system.

To give producers the privilege of paying him exorbitant amounts of filthy lucre to be the showrunner and star of the as yet untitled three time Emmy award winning series: THE Joe Moran Project.

To quit smoking in 2004.

To host a book signing at Target

To name his first-born son (12), “Phantastk!”

To be overcome with exhaustion due to the rigors of a demanding Tour Schedule or - to come up with a better list of goals.

Accomplishments (to date):

Awarding winning obituary writer

Member of the 2005 White Sox World Series Club Level’s Most Valued In-Seat Server and Captain of the Beverage Olympics held annually at Sox Park with Gold Medals in the Perfect Pour and Bar-Backing and a Bronze in Urinal Cake Sanitation

Single-Handedly raised Morning After Pill sales by 17.9% in the South-North region of the East-Western United States in the last quarter of 2012

Quit smoking in 2004.

Undefeated in a Court of Law: 2-0

Questions for THE Joe Moran:

How many followers do you have on Tumblr?

A 

If the producers of the Tonight Show called and offered you Jay’s job, would you take it?

A

What is this?

A

Is it true you’re in talks to revive Kevin Costner’s character in the remake of the Big Chill?

A

What do you excel at?

A

Q

Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.

Endorsements:

Nabisco

3 More Days Underwritten!

That's right.  You heard it.

Three more folks have moved us up to 18% and several more have pledged to help AND I completed my first Hang Out.  Stay tuned to find out how that went down. 

This is what we call momentum!

Now who are these awesome people?

THE Joe Moran: @THEJoeMoran -  Need I say more?
(Well actually I do, but we'll talk more in depth about him tomorrow! Don't miss it!)

Malina Moore - Cultural Affairs Supervisor (Public Art) at the City of Santa Monica, former Punk Rock Drummer Extraordinare and Japanophile.  "Striving to create value in this life." 

and my old school chum, Erin Joy Swank - our Contact in Colorado is the Website & New Media Coordinator/Education Production and Stage Manager at Central City Opera and a River Guide at Centennial Canoe.  She also directed me in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains in All For You sometime before the turn of the millennium.  

Here's the proof.

                                         with Josh Horvath

Happy St. Pat's Everybody!

Yep, I know some awesome people! : D

With yesterday's gifts we're pushed up to nearly 14%!

That is so amazing!

If you guys keep up at this rate, I'll be fully funded by this time next month.

And with four more folks telling me they're going to hit me with some dosh next time I see them, I'm pretty confident this is going to happen!

Thank you!

Thank you to Mike Harding, my eldest brother, Innovator and Proprietor of Oddyssea in Half Moon Bay, a seriously cool interactive curio shop - they have a 3-D printer & a Zoltar!

If you're out that way, stop in, but definitely Explore. Discover. Create. by checking them out here:

http://oddyssea.com/

here:

https://www.facebook.com/oddyssea.HMB

and follow them here:

@Oddyssea_HM

Also a big bag of gratitude to one of my dearest oldest friends Aaron Saari, Author, Visiting Professor at Xavier, Theologian and Guitarist.

He's already told me we're gonna write some music during our Hang Out!  I can't wait!

You can see some of his work here:

http://www.amazon.com/Many-Deaths-Judas-Iscariot-Meditation/dp/0415392403

and here:

http://tinyurl.com/AMSonAZ

and here if you wanna hear us together from days long past:

http://tinyurl.com/c3t6syo

; ) 

I gotta tell ya. You guys are making me feel like a V.I.P.!

Onward!

Best,

M

11% Funded

Hello!

I just wanted to say thank you to my contributors from yesterday!

John DeBoer - Fellow Voice and Speech Geek, Associate Professor at University of Montana and Protege who has long since surpassed me!

@dhendy: Dustin Henderlong - Community Growth Coordinator at Threadless, Out of the Box Thinker and Stand Up Dude

@lolashad: Lola Shahdadi - Interpreter for the Deaf, Solid Friend and General Lover of Life

Bridget Krull - Soon to be Ex-Pat Ticketmonster at Ticketmaster and Reliable Co-Conspirator

What an amazing start to this campaign!

Thank you all SO MUCH!

I look forward to making even more shout outs to my awesome friends!

Keep it rolling y'all!

Best,

M

Ladies and Gentlemen! Mike Mauloff!

Hey everybody!

Exciting news!  The ball is rolling thanks to my dear friend, colleague, former room mate and student and all around great guy:  Mike Mauloff!

He has given me enough for a Travel Honor and now owns me for a full day!

Can anybody compete with that!?

Thanks Mike!

Oh and if anyone needs beer in the Chicago area, or just good information about beer in general, this is the Bear to contact!

https://twitter.com/MikeDrinksBeer  : D

Zoot Theatre Company

www.zoottheatrecompany.org works with the Dayton Art Institute. They do awesome puppet and live action theatre.

They'll do more this summer.

I'm trying to get there.

I'm told there will be more info this Friday.

I'll let you know more when I do.

Please help me find a way to make this happen!

(See the post entitled:  Summer Shakespeare Sojourn Subsidy [Beneficence] for more information.)

Best,

M

In case what I'm asking is unclear . . .

here is an eloquent description of the thinking behind it:

http://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking.html

Thanks in advance for all you do!

: D

Best,

M

Under the Covers . . .

That's where I'm about to be.

After spending a couple of days working on a cool new pilot with 4am alarums both days, I think I might have caught a bit of a cold.  So I'm going to nap.

Interesting project.  I'll keep you posted if anything comes of it.

Speaking of things under wraps, I'm looking forward to giving you more specifics about the project I want to do this summer back in the O-H, but I'm waiting on the official call. 

Hopefully I'll be able to tell you something soon, but I can give the sporting ones among you a clue or two:  The eyes of Man have not heard my infallibility as a hag born demi devil not honoured in human shape. 

What do you think?

More later, hopefully after *several* naps.

Best,

M