Division The Travon/Jordan Project is based on hundreds of hours of interviews.

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On February 10th I went to the final dress rehearsal for the original docudrama, written and directed by John DiDonna, called “DIVISION The Trayvon/Jordan Project”. For those unfamiliar with the incidents that hit so close to home, Trayvon Martin was a young black man walking home from a store who was shot to death on the evening of February 26, 2012 by a neighborhood watch coordinator named George Zimmerman. The shooting of Jordan Davis occurred on November 23, 2012, at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida.
He was a 17-year-old African American high school
student, who was fatally shot by Michael David Dunn, a 45-year-old software
developer from Brevard County. The incident began when Dunn asked Davis and his companions to turn down the loud music. George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and of manslaughter charges. The Michael Dunn jury was unable to return a unanimous verdict on a charge of first-degree murder, the judge declared a mistrial on that count. Dunn was convicted, however, on three counts of attempted second-degree murder for firing at three other teenagers who were with Davis and one count of firing into a vehicle. Dunn’s retrial for first-degree murder began the week of September 22, 2014. Dunn was found guilty October 1, 2014, and was sentenced to a mandatory
sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole on October 17, 2014.

To create this project, students conducted over 150 hours of interviews with people involved in the cases.  What results is an open raw dialogue about Division and racism in America. I identified deeply with a female reporter played by Danielle Marie Irigoyen who covered the story. She confided that she cried when she listened to 911 calls made the night Trayvon was shot. I remember having the same gut wrenching reaction when I listened to them to help write about events as they unfolded. As a journalist you are supposed to be dispassionate when you report the news. This story was different. She had a sound technician analyze the audio and he concluded that Trayvon Martin could be heard pleading for his life moments before the gunshot silenced the night. This evidence wasn’t allowed in court because not everyone is convinced that the new technology is 100% accurate.

“That’s Just the Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby was playing on the sound system as the audience arrived, followed by “Imagine” by John Lennon. The large cast began their discussion about division, with everyone shouting while no one listened. projected on the screen was “We are…” anyone in Sanford or Central Florida knows the response is “Trayvon”. In a riveting moment, the entire cast turned to the screen to read the “Stand Your Ground” statute. It was Machiavellian with every word seeming more insane. It is a license to kill. Much of the production felt like an intimate, heated class discussion. Barry Kirsch a talented local photographer was the official photographer of the Trayvon Martin case. It was fascinating to see his opinions molded around a character played by Dean Walkuski in the play. Some actors were built around the opinions of many different people while others stood expressed one person’s opinion. The show isn’t about reliving the horrors of each case, but instead focuses on how those events influenced communities both near and far.

The play opens a much needed discussion. After each performance there will be a talk back with the audience so the discussion can continue. Staying silent and hoping that these violent acts will stop isn’t a solution. Change only comes from the concerted efforts of a few. When Sanford was torn by the Trayon Martin shooting many people felt the incident would pass quietly away. However, one local woman played by Avis-Marie Barnes worked the phones and ultimately over 50,000 people converged on Sanford to demonstrate. Even if one person listens, and you change their mind, then you’ve changed the world. What are you going to do to help change the world? Don’t miss this production. Join the discussion.

WHAT:
“Division: The Trayvon/Jordan Project”
A World Premiere Docudrama

WHO:
The Valencia College Theater
Written and Directed by John DiDonna
Written in collaboration with Valencia students

William Adkins, Aidan Bohan-Moulton, Carolyn Ducker, Phillip Edwards,
Nathan Jones, Anneliese Moon, Elina Moon, Dennis Ramos, Stelson Telfort,
Michael Sabbagh.


WHEN:
Only 6 Performances
Feb 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Feb 15 at 2 p.m.
WHERE:
Building 3, Black Box Theater
Valencia College East Campus, Performing Arts Center
701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL.

TICKETS:
$12 general admission
$10 for Valencia students, faculty, staff and senior citizens
Box Office: 407-582-2900
Online: www.valenciacollege.edu/arts

She went in like a lamb and came out like a tiger.

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The make up preparation work by  Nick Herrera on Anya took hours to do. All of their patient work would be used for a poster photo shoot for Nude Nite. Since it was only mid-afternoon, I took the luxury of starting a second sketch. This time I moved in closer to the model so I could catch all the detail work being done on her face. Nick used an airbrush to add the subtle coloring on her facial fur. He added longer sheets of fur around her jaw leading up to her ears and blended it in. Make up on the table sported the label “SFX” which was the only visual clue that Nick had been on SYFY’s Naked Vegas and Face Off shows. Actually SFX or “Special Effects” might be a generic brand of make up, but I choose to think he won it from his time on those reality shows.

I finished this sketch just as Nick was about to start doing the body painting on Anya’s torso. Before they started, I got up to shake Nick’s hand and thank him for letting me sketch the creative process. Nick asked me to wait a moment and he rushed off. He came back with a little milk crate and placed it beside me. He gave Anya his cell phone and asked her to take a photo of the two of us. He then stood on the milk crate beside me. I joked that he had been in LA for too long. He replied “If it is good enough for Tom Cruise, its good enough for me.”

Mark your Calendar and don’t miss Nude Nite! All artwork on display is of the nude figure. There are also burlesque
dancers body painters and experimental art that defies description. The
event runs from February 12 to 14th in Orlando in a warehouse (5051 LB Mcleod Road, Orlando FL). Each night, festivities begin from 6pm to Midnight. Tickets are $25 online or at the door. Spice up your Valentines Day at Nude Nite.

Nude Nite Poster required hours of make up preperation.

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Kelly Stevens, the director of Nude Nite let me know that Nick Herrera the body painter (who is known for his roles on SYFY’s Naked Vegas and Face Off shows) was sculpting a tiger prosthesis for our Model Anya’s face. It takes 3 hours to create the effect.  The photo shoot would be at the Orange Studio (1121 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL). When I walked in the back door, there was a small section of the space that was blocked off with movable walls and curtains. It was a bit like a temporary triage area. Anya and her mom were waiting for Nick to begin. He already had the face prosthesis made that would give Anya a tiger’s shaped nose.

Nick had borrowed a several thousand dollar toy that somehow adds fur to any surface using static electricity. The device looked like a large policeman’s flashlight. The fur was cut up and put in the head of the device. It was then plugged in and Nick tapped it like he was a chef adding pepper to a dish. As if by magic the fur appeared on the prosthesis. It could then be combed and  trimmed if needed. I’ve never seen anything like that before.

Anya sat in the model’s chair and Nick took much care in getting the edges of the prosthesis to flow smoothly into her skin. He had a photo of a tiger’s face on a tablet and he quickly blocked in the orange and white color pattern on her face. Anya seemed rather quiet and reserved, but as Nick worked his magic, she began to look fierce and menacing. Nick took about 5 hours to create the Tiger, so he was there
from approximately 3pm until shoot time at 7pm preparing her. Body painting,
tiger glowing contacts, prosthesis (ears, cheekbones, nose, etc.) The photo shoot was supposed to happen by 7pm, so Nick had to work fast. The photographer was Charity DeMeer and Art Director Jeff Matz of Lure Design.

Mark Your Calendars! Nude Nite is one event in Orlando and Tampa that you really have to experience.  All artwork on display is of the nude figure. There are also burlesque dancers body painters and experimental art that defies description. The event runs from February 12 to 14th in Orlando in a warehouse (5051 LB Mcleod Road, Orlando FL). Each night, festivities begin from 6pm to Midnight. Tickets are $25 online or at the door. Spice up your Valentines Day at Nude Nite.

A thunderous ride in an urban assault vehicle.

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October 7th was the 31st anniversary of National Night Out which is an opportunity for police, firefighters and EMS to share their toys with the community. I went to the Winter Park Police Department, (500 N Virginia Ave, Winter Park, Florida), to see what this evening was about. The national event sponsor “ADT” was on site along with a multitude
of corporate and local businesses to present various items and ideas to
aid in crime prevention.The first thing to catch my eye was this huge urban assault vehicle. It looked like a cross between a Humvee and a tank. Every kid who saw it wanted to scramble inside. Parents would joke that they just wanted to take it out for a quick spin. The tiny port holes were bullet proof. Once behind the driver’s seat the kids could imagine themselves driving through Winter Park’s war torn streets.

A clown burst a balloon which set the K-9 German Shepard on edge.  There was free soda and hot dogs and officers were on hand to answer any questions. There was a heavy flack jacket that people could try on. A ten year old boy put it on and it hung down to his knees. I’m surprised he didn’t fall over from the weight. Winter Park Lost Pets sponsored the Pet Safety Section of the event. They offered micro chipping, nail trims and giveaways. A fire truck was outside the station and kids scrambled around it as well. On a table next to me there were assault rifles and battering rams that people could handle. There was however no ammunition and I assume the safety’s were on the rifles.

With my sketch done, I ordered a hot dog off the grill and enjoyed it on my walk back to my car.

The Songwriters Stage at Credo is a chance to hear local musicians originals.

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On the first Monday of every month, Downtown CREDO (706 W Smith Street Orlando, FL) becomes a venue to hear local musicians as they share original music. If you are tired of bands performing covers this is a chance to find something new. I arrives a bit early and ordered a coffee. I was surprised to find that there is no set cost, instead you pay what you can. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so I don’t know what a chain like Starbucks must charge. I decided $5 was a good price for my cup of Joe.

 Downtown CREDO is a 501c(3) non-profit with a mission to improve the
quality of lives in our nations cities by cultivating networks of
meaning, impact and community.I saw Credo’s director, Ben Hoyer speak at a TED Talk in Winter Garden. His message of serving the community was inspiring. His CREDO…

“Life is worth living. I refuse to merely exist. I pursue a
life of meaning and purpose, fulfillment and joy. The world is not yet
as it ought to be. Neither is my city. Neither am I. Yet, I reject
apathy and despair. I engage the world, my city, and myself to make an
impact for good. I am not alone. I press through narcissism, isolation
and self-sufficiency striving to live in authentic community.”

 This isn’t your typical open mic. Performers each have ten minutes to
make the credo stage their own. Each act performs two original songs,
and a panel of judges chooses three finalists. These three are invited
back to the stage at the end of the night to perform one more song and the judges select one winner (cash prize and free recording time with Emissary Studios included!). Performers are judged in five different areas: songwriting, vocal
performance, playing ability, stage presence, and audience response.Songwriters in Central Florida to come together and create a
community of artists. There’s a lot of talent in this city and we want
to help showcase it! All levels are welcome.

Musicians slowly gathered with guitars in hand. It was a night of calming acoustic music. The music was hit or miss, but writing a good song is hard work. The most inspiring musician that night for me was Lloyd Williams. He is a musician from the band “The Cold Start.”  His music got under my skin, full of emotion and meaning. If ever I see a concert featuring “The Cold Start”, I am there. At the break, my coffee was done and so was my sketch. The music would continue much later into the night, but I decided to pack up my art kit and get back home to Terry. I have no doubt that I’ll be hearing more music from Lloyd Williams. As I left, I read CREDO’s rally cry, “Refuse to merely exist!” It is a great message for any artist or citizen to follow.

Doubt, A Parable leaves the audience questioning the truth long after the curtain dropped.

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I went to the final dress rehearsal for “Doubt, A Parable” based on a. book by John Patrick Shanley. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama follows a Catholic high school priest’s battle for truth and personal integrity.
It is produced by Beth Marshall Presents
and directed by Beth Marshall in the historic Winter Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden FL).

When the theater went dark, Father Flynn (Michael Wanzie) began his sermon in the isle at the back of the theater. He spoke about how the country pulled together after John F Kennedy was assassinated.  The moving monologue rallied the audience behind the father. He was clearly a well loved man among his parish. Michael Wanzie seemed perfectly cast for this role. I’ve seen him in past productions and he always seems to be in roles where he must question the faith he grew up with.

Sister James (Chelsey Panisch) is a young and enthusiastic teacher loves to get the children excited about history. Her superior, Sister Aloysius (Ginger Lee McDermott) is a hard edged disciplinarian. She views every situation with suspicion and doubt and advises Sister James to do the same. Eventually a situation arises in which the one black student in the school is called away for a meeting with Father Flynn. The boy returned from the meeting acting strange and he had the scent of liquor on his breath.

Sister Aloysius assumes the worst and begins a personal vendetta to expose Father Flynn as the monster she imagines he is. Her black and white view of right and wrong is greyed by the Fathers compassion and a simple straight forward explanation. He gives another sermon, this time about gossip. In this parable he has a woman cut open a down pillow on a city building roof top. Feathers fly everywhere in the wind. She is told to repair the damage and recover the feathers. That of course is impossible, the damage is done.

The play haunted me on the entire drive home. Without an admission of guilt, there is always doubt. The father was clearly a gifted orator who cared for the children in his charge. Yet sister Aloysius’s steadfast conviction at times swayed my view of the man. He clearly had human weaknesses. The show was just an hour and a half long but the questions still linger.

Mark Your Calendars!

February 6 – 22, 2015
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm
Industry Night: Monday, February 16 at 8pm

Tickets: $25 ($21 seniors/students)
Industry Nite Feb. 16th -$15 (post show cast meet/greet Pilars Martini) 

Garden Theatre Box Office
160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden
407-877-GRDN (4736)
gardentheatre.org

Weekend Top 6 Picks for February 7th and 8th.

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Saturday February 7, 2015

9am to Noon. Viking Challenge. Lake Eola. You
may be familiar with the Ice Bucket Challenge, the fund raising phenom
of 2014 for the cause of ALS research.  The Viking Challenge
is more than a quick cold splash.  We are challenging you do dive in,
dash, pedal, wheelchair, walk, skateboard, jog, you can choose what to
do with your family and friends.  We want you to enjoy the challenge of
fun and fitness and to remember Trinity with a gift for our
encouragement to get active. Join us, in person, to support and foster an education embracing the future, while
being rooted in a foundation of deep, lasting tradition. Trinity Lutheran School we challenges you to help us build a dynamic learning community.Funds raised will go towards the $35,000 goal. The school needs new soccer field bleachers and goals, library renovations and iPads for the K-2 curriculum.

3pm to 5pm Free.  Bach and Beer. Cask and Larder, 565 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, Florida. Join the Bach Festival Society and Cask and Larder Brewmasters, Garrett Ward and Larry Foor, for the release of a limited-edition beer, Brandenburger Bock, brewed for the 80th Annual Bach Festival. Featuring German music, this event will be popular with music lovers and beer lovers alike.

Beer and Cask and Larder’s usual offerings will be available for purchase.This Cask and Larder Bock Beer comes closest to resembling the beer of Bach’s time. In the ancient bock tradition, the dark-colored craft brew is released in time for springtime celebrations. J. S. Bach enjoyed life enormously, and this certainly included beer drinking; in fact, he was often paid in beer.

Cask and Larder is a southern inspired brew pub located in Winter Park that opened its doors in early September 2012. C and L offers southern-sourced seasonal dishes, craft beers

brewed on-site, and fresh-shucked oysters from their oyster bar. Brandenburger Bock will be available to take home in to-go crowlers (canned versions of beer growlers.)

6pm to 8pm Free. Smash Entertainment Networking Party. Actors, Dancers, Singers, Models, Photographers, Directors, Writers, Make-Up Artists, Costumers, Stage Managers, Lighting Designers, Sound Designers, Editors, Cinematographers… If you love working on Theatre or Film this event is for you! Bring your head shots, resumes, demo reels, cameras, voices, and portfolios to this wonderful night of fun, food and friends.

There will be an entire Green Screen Sound Stage and fully functional A.D.R. Sound Room available! Feel free to take a few pictures or record a song! We will also be cooking plenty of food on the grill for anyone who is hungry. This event is BYOB. See all of you there!

Sunday February 8, 2015

1pm to 3pm Free. Script Reading Workshop. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, 8267 International Drive, Orlando, FL. Read and workshop plays.

2pm to 6pm Free. Grand Opening Celebration at Animal Healing Solutions. Animal Healing Solutions, 1117 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL. Come by and see the new place, find out more about what we do, and meet Dr. Fasano with Animal Healing Solutions , Teresa with Sparkling K9s (www.SparklingK9s.com) and Cherylann with Puppy Love Therapy.

Pets Welcome! Appetizers and Drinks provided. Stop by anytime! Feel free to bring a friend or invite anyone who might be interested.

9pm to 11pm Free. Solo Acoustic Spoken Word. Natura Coffee and Tea, 12078 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL. 407 482-5000

Miller’s Field House has so many TV’s it is hard to know where to look.

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On July 19th, Terry and I went to Miller’s Field House (7958 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, FL) to watch the Chargers battle against the Chiefs in the playoffs. Well, Terry watched the playoffs and I sketched. Terry grew up in San Diego, so she always roots for the Chargers, even if she is the only person in the room doing so. The place was packed with fans, Many wearing the jersey of their favorite team. I ordered a burger and a beer and got to work.

The game was pretty close for a while, but by the second half, Terry was groaning far more than she was cheering. The Chargers lost which sealed their fate for the season, they would not be going to the Super Bowl. 0n my several trips to the bathroom, I realized that the bar also had seating outside, and it was just as crowded out there. People would come in shifts, watching a game and then heading out. The bar must do a brisk business since the drinks kept flowing as long as there were games and commentary.

A Pecha Kucha rehearsal is as much fun as the main event.

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Pecha Kucha means chit chat in Japanese. The event features speakers who give fast paced presentations. Power point is used to show 20 images and the speakers have 20 seconds to talk about each slide. The slides are timed and run automatically, so there is no going back or speaking for too long. All the presentations on this night were about movies. For the rehearsal, the audience consisted of fellow presenters. They offer encouragement and notes for each presentation. They had rehearsed in past weeks, so they got to watch as their talks evolved and got better.

Kent Vanderberg gave a moving talk about video production and the need for play in the life of adults. He filmed a documentary about people from a renaissance fair here in Central Florida. He followed several characters everyday lives and compared that to their Renaissance Fair personalities.  We all need to seize every moment of every day. It is the playful and intimate moments that make life worth living. All work, and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. Worrying and rushing through life leaves little room for what really matters.

Eddie Selover, who keeps Pecha Kucha alive here in Orlando was a presenter as well. He reminisced about James Bond. Eddie, back in 1963 had a model of James Bond’s car, which could fire missiles, had bullet proof glass and many other high tech spy features. I used to have a very similar car. I also remember having a brief case that had hidden compartments and a toy knife that would detach at the tap of a button. Eddie grew up on Bond films until his parents cut him off because the films got too sexually explicit. Eddies experience with the opposite sex was very different than 007’s. Whereas Bond might confidently have a woman in every port, Eddie was surprised any time a girl noticed him. His life took a swift and exiting change when Eddie met his wife.  Life is an adventure that should be lived to its fullest. You don’t need to be a spy to recognize that.

Matt Moeller from SAK comedy lab gave a fast paced rap presentation on how to write a script. It was a real education, and hilarious at the same time. The lyrics came fast and furious and the beat stayed constant throughout. When the lyrics worked and he hit his stride, the presentation was pure magic. He followed the hero’s journey using images from Star Wars as examples.

Mark Your Calendars! Pecha Kucha, “Talking Pictures” will be on Friday February 6th at 7pm at the Orange Studio, (1121 North Mills Avenue). Tickets are $11. This show is sold out.

The most authentic Oktoberfest in Orlando is at the German American Society.

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Each year I like to get to the German American Society (381 Orange Ln, Casselberry, FL) to sketch during Oktoberfest. This year, on October 24th, I was joined by a young UCF journalism student named Deanna Ferrante.I met Deanna at Artlando in Lock Haven Park and she seemed quite fascinated by what I do. She decided to use me as a subject for an article she has to research for her journalism class. So far she has interviewed my wife and several others. Since I consider my daily sketches a form of journalism, it makes sense for her to find what I do interesting.

Parking was hard to find, and for the first time I paid $5 to park at a nearby business. Getting into Oktoberfest is also $5, which gets you a wristband. Most of the action is behind the Liederkranz hall. A gazebo was set up for music and dancing in the center of the back yard. Long tables filled the yard with crowds of people drinking beer. I decided to go inside where a stage was set up in front of a huge photo of a German castle. Several accordion players and a saxophone player provided the music for traditional German dances. Tyrolean liederhosen outfits were everywhere. A small banner in front of the performers announced, “Beer is proof that God loves us.” There was a collection of different sized cow bells, but they weren’t used in the time I was sketching.

Where I sat was right next to where the teen aged dancers would congregate before they went out on the dance floor. The women wore white puffy sleeved blouses and a black bodice that cinched their wastes tight. The blue plaid dress and apron would billow out like a whirling dervish whenever they danced. The men would stomp and slap their heals as they danced. They would also help guide the women in a direction as they were spinning. One female dancer spun out of control as she exited the dance floor and she tripped on the stage. She wasn’t hurt and the adrenalin kept her spinning just as fast for the next dance.

The dancers became fascinated with my sketch and several crowded around to see what it looked like. Deanna used the opportunity to interview several of them. The main reason she stopped out was to observe first hand what a typical sketch excursion is like. She also interviewed people at my table. She didn’t ask me any questions, instead letting me work. Once in a while I would shout out a thought or two, trying to be helpful.

With the sketch finished, I decided to call it a day. The sketch opportunities were endless, but I decided to get home. I bumped into artist Leslie Silvia and her husband Jared on the way out, so I could have lingered and drank a beer, but I’m a lightweight when it comes to drinking. I get a headache the second I take a sip. Deanna said she got what she needed for the article and she headed back to UCF. I liked her approach. She gets right into the thick of the action to find the story. I’ll be curious to find out what the article turns out like.