I went to the Doctor Phillips Performing Arts Center at 1111 North Orange Avenue to a Ballet volunteer meet and greet. I arrived a little early and was asked to wait in a lounge area. I peaked back into the dressing rooms and the rehearsal halls and tried to imagine the place bustling with activity. Areas of the concrete floor had pools of water and stepping stones to get across the small lakes. The building used to be a pumping station and the ground floor is below the high water table of the lake across the street so anytime there is a heavy rain the place floods.
Jeff Garcia seen seated on the stool in my sketch, explained to the 30 or so people assembled that the ballet has 200 or so volunteers on its roster. Beside Jim was Kim who is in charge of development and publications.
The Ballet has a new Executive Director coming in starting September first. It is still to early to announce who that is. Robert Hill is the Ballets new artistic director. He is helping make the Ballet more relavant for the world we live in today. He is focusing on much more modern Ballet with a few of the classics. Jeff explained that the Ballet is not going away, meaning they will not go bankrupt like the Opera which used to have board meeting in the room we were meeting in. The Ballet now uses the whole Dr. Phillips building. They plan to survive in these difficult times by cutting costs wherever possible and relying on volunteer help whenever possible. If the Ballet makes $10 it will only spend $8. They no longer plan to operate along old established ABC operating norms. They will no longer send mail because of the cost. Instead they plan to rely on phone calls and e-mail.
There are many exciting fund raising events coming which will rely on volunteer help. There will be a casino night fundraiser, a Christmas gift exchange with the dancers, help is needed in the Ballet Boutique found in the Dr, Phillips Center. There is a luncheon coming up with 2 dancers as guest speakers. On February 19th of next years there will be a Latin night at the convention Center and on November 12th there will be the grand opening of the Waldorf Astoria with a Ballet Performance.
From what Jeff said, it sounds like the Ballet is as vibrant and active as ever and it is making changes that will keep it vibrant in today’s economy.
War of the Worlds – Its a Wrap
At the War of the Worlds Wrap party, Chantry Banks complained that in all the copy I had written about the show, I had never mentioned his name. So to satisfy his ego, here is a post lovingly dedicated to Chantry.
Whenever there was a break in rehearsals Chantry would pick up his knitting needles and start knitting. Erika who had to knit on stage while listening to the radio broadcast consulted with Chantry to get her up to speed. During every rehearsal Chantry would say something that would get everyone in the cast laughing. Sometimes after one of these outbreaks an actor would try and say a serious line and would end up cracking up and start laughing for no apparent reason. Chantry is a true professional however and often volunteered to read the Mercury Theater broadcast parts when it would help in the Public’s independent rehearsals. If there was any doubt about what would motivate his character, Chantry would never shy away from clarifying the point with the directors.
While doing this sketch I was intrigued by Chantry’s focus, his hands moved with sure deft precision. Did I mention Chantry? Chantry, Chantry. Chantry.
The play had its final performance two days ago. I am going through a bit of withdrawal. It is hard to say goodbye to such an amazing cast. I miss them all. Hopefully I will see some of them again if I sketch at other show rehearsals.
Destination Journal
“The journey IS the destination”.
I met Dina Mack on the 23rd Worldwide Orlando SketchCrawl. Dina teaches a journaling class called Destination Journal. This class was held in the beautiful home of Summer Rodman. At the beginning Dina passed out cellophane packets that would help in the session. Inside the packets was some graph sheet writing paper and scented business cards that outlined the points to consider when journaling…..
Be curious.
Take in the setting – micro or macro.
Try and use all of your senses.
Be beautifully imperfect.
Explore a thought or idea.
Experiment with materials.
These simple ideas seem to reflect how I try to remain joyfully receptive every day. Early in the evening we discussed how the post office is having to shut down branches. I have decided to make it a personal goal to send friends more letters. That is right paper and pencil lovingly folded up and placed in an envelope. Dina asked us to listen to the cellophane as it crinkled and unfolded. I am listening to it now since I need to get at all the notes I took on the paper Dina gave us. We were reminded to keep our sense of wonder and to see the world through the eyes of a child.
Everyone introduced themselves. Malinda keeps dream journals. Sonya, an Aquarius, is a graphic designer and she designs her own line of Artisan Jewelry which she sells on Etsy. Her top selling item is a small bird ring. Michelle was an art teacher and over the summer she worked at a bike repair shop. She just got back from a trip to Canada and in her lap was a travel journal stuffed to overflowing. I wish I had seen what was in that journal. She is also an artist and uses mixed media. Summer who I know through the Kerouac Project is a poet and as it turns out an avid journal keeper. Dina showed one of Summers journals and it joyfully experimental. I could learn for her example. Corine arrived a little late and is a hairdresser and takes classes like this just as she might keep a gym membership to stay in shape and to explore new ideas with her art. Finally Dina showed us some of her journals. She carried them to class in a dark leather brief case which snapped open with a business like k chunk, k chunk. One journal was filled with leaves sewn onto the pages. Others were filled with notes and sketches about art works she is working on or simple everyday items like the wrapper from a fragrant soap. On New Years Day each year she spends the day going through the last years journals and couldn’t imagine starting the New Year any other way. Since I started this sketch a day blog resolution on January 1st I really identify with this practice and I hope to start off the next year by flipping through my books and journals.
To kick things off Dina asked everyone to walk around Summers yard and garden. The sun was setting and the garden was dark and mysterious. Summer offered me a round sunflower seed that was hard to chew at first and then it had the texture of bubble gum. It had a mellow peanut like taste that I liked. I grabbed a few more off the vine. A huge owl landed in the dark branches above everyone and he made a strange soft cooing sound. He seemed to just be watching all of us and then he spread his enormous wings and took flight silhouetted against the dim dusk sky.
Inside on the second floor everyone started sketching and journaling. There was a palpable creative energy in the air. As I worked I felt a euphoric glow, a feeling of love for everyone in the room. Actually this glow was a feeling I simply seldom understand or acknowledge, I was happy. Everyone was focused yet playful. They would joke and laugh while the lines and colors flowed. I am so lucky to meet such vibrant creative people even in passing. Thoughts and images put down on paper suddenly become more tangible and important. For the moment life’s worries and concerns vanished as we all captured and preserved what matters most, fleeting moments that are so important.
War of the Worlds – Costume Designer
As I entered the Shakespeare Theater I noticed one of my blog readers Patricia looking at the board covered with sketches I had done of the War of the Worlds rehearsals. I walked up behind her and said “I know that artist, he is a hack.” We laughed and she introduced me to her friend. She asked if I was sketching or just enjoying the show tonight and I explained that I planned to sketch backstage again. She said she probably would not have known about the show had it not been for my blog posts. That made me extremely happy. Several students from my class at Full Sail also came out to this evenings performance.
Once back stage I decided to watch the hectic activity around the prop table again. Kelly – Anne Salazar the costume designer was relaxing and reading a magazine. She had already put out all the costumes and the actors were busy getting changed upstairs. Lindsay Cohen walked past and said “Hey TT“. She has a nick name for just about everyone in the cast and now everyone refers to me as TT backstage. Sigh, its not very dignified, but I have to live with it.
The stage manager announced “Five minutes” and the actors replied “Thank you five”. Alan who plays Orson Wells quietly went over his opening lines to himself. Everyone began wishing each other luck and then the show was on. What I like about sitting back stage is that the place feels like it is in a time warp. Kelly – Anne looked like she could have been straight out of the 1930’s and the poster on the wall hearkened back to war times.
While I sketched I heard a teenage girl sobbing on the stairs above me. She was one of the younger actors performing in “The Two Gentleman of Verona” in the next theater over. I could hear the muffled singing from this musical as I worked and quite honestly the singing was often way off key. Another girl finally tried to comfort the sobbing actress. “What did you do wrong?” The sobbing actress said something in between the tears, but just thinking about it slowed down the emotions. “OK is that it.” “You didn’t do anything wrong.” “It is soooo not your fault.””We are all freaking out, it isn’t your fault.” The crying actress finally said “I didn’t want to do anything wrong.” “Come on.” The two actresses came down the steps hand in hand and went to the green room.
Suddenly a huge standing ovation broke out in the Golwin Theater and I realized War of the Worlds had rocked the house. The actors came out laughing because there had been a strange sort of group delay when they bowed. The audience didn’t seem to mind, they went wild.
War of the Worlds – Prop Table
For Friday nights performance I immediately wandered back to the Green Room to contemplate what I should sketch next. I arrived a bit early and found the room filled with chattering and excited teenagers who were performing next door. Sophia was sitting among them. We both wondered where the War of the Worlds actors were going to change. We walked into the Goldwin Theater and Fletch was there to explain what was happening. It turned out the Young Actor Company had a performance in the theater next door at the same time as War of the Worlds. He found two other rooms for our actors to change in.
When Sophia disappeared Fletch told me about another major problem. Lightning had struck the Theater the night before and the stage lights had been blown out. Suddenly everyone as in a panic. In the final minutes before the show an electrician was called in to try and fix the problem. Fletch dreaded the thought of having to performing the play with just the house lights on.
While all this was going on Lesley Ann was working on the wardrobe placing actors props such as hats and shoes in the appropriate taped grid on the floor. Other props rested on a table with a similar grid. The stage manager gently opened the vintage lunch box and placed in an apple which Joshua would eat on the stage edge facing the audience in the first moments of the play.
Before the actors had finished changing into their wardrobes, the electrician walked past me up the stairs with a line of nervous stage hands and lighting technicians behind him. Five minutes later, an eternity for the directors, the electrician walked past me again down the steps saying, “Another tragedy averted.” He was the hero of the day. I spotted Aradhana at the bottom of the staircase I was sketching from and shouted “They fixed the lights! You have lights!” She shouted with glee.
The actors just before going on the stage would tap fists together and tap elbows for luck. Andy who played Orson Wells, flipped through a magazine. The pace of this show is very fast. Actors would often run to the table to grab something and then they dashed right back on the stage.
The small rag doll on the prop table was created by Tanja and her daughters. It is made from extra curtain material she had on hand and filled with cotton balls. The hair was made from curtain lining material that they soaked in tea.The doll has a quirky endearing quality. For Tanja it is now a family heirloom.
I went to Tastings Wine Bar to celebrate with the cast. They had much to celebrate since the night was a near disaster that turned into a glowing success. Tonight is the FINAL performance of War of the Worlds. It starts at 7 PM at the Shakespeare Theater in Lock Haven Park. I plan to dress is a fine suit to celebrate a great run with an amazing cast. The end is near.
War of the Worlds – The Green Room
A green room is a room in a theater, for the accommodation of performers when not required on the stage. Its function is as a lounge so that performers do not have to go back to dressing rooms and are still easily accessible for their call. For the Sunday performance I finally ventured back to the green room to see the performers before they went on stage. I held off going earlier because I was concerned the actors might feel uncomfortable with me sketching them as they got into costumes. There are three sets of dressing rooms and they all open into the green room. There was a plate of cookies on the table and several actors joked about not being able to stop eating them, “This is my last cookie, honest”.
Linsay Cohen asked everyone including myself to pose for a group photo. She coached us all telling everyone “You just found out Thomas Thorspecken painted you naked”. I smiled broadly, perhaps to broadly and after inspecting the Digital shot Linsay was disappointed that none of the actors had shown disgust or dismay. Kelly – Ann Salazar was on hand in case any costuming alterations were needed. Everyone was energetic and excited. I realized I couldn’t catch all the actors so I simply locked down the few who sat down and relaxed prior to the performance. This left the actors I did sketch sort of isolated as if in an Edward Hopper painting. Perhaps that is why Edward Hoppers paintings seem so lonely, it is simply because he couldn’t sketch the joyous activity fast enough!
When the play started the green room lights were turned off since the light would bleed onto the stage. I was concerned since I hadn’t started adding watercolor washes yet. I considered doing another sketch of the actors waiting in the wings, since there was some light to be found there, but finally I returned to the green room with the stubborn intent that I always finish a sketch once it is started. Painting in the dark was actually easy once my eyes adjusted. I kept the washes fairly light so the room feels light filled.
I worked on the sketch for the entire duration of the show, about 50 minutes. This left me to experience the action on stage strictly with my ears. The performance thus had the impact of the original radio broadcast. All the visceral panic and terror could still be felt just from my listening to the play. When the applause died down, the actors poured back into the green room and there was a blur of activity as they returned to this century. The cast went out to Stardust Video and Coffee for drinks after wards, but for once I returned home to watch a movie with Terry.
You can still see War of the Worlds tonight at 8 PM at the Shakespeare Theater and tomorrow night at 7 PM. Don’t miss it! Time is running out!
Wine Warehouse
Wine Warehouse at 99 West Fairbanks in Winter Park held a wine tasting event where 3 French wineries were flown in to offer samples of their unique wines. I arrived about an half hour early and spoke with Glen Menderos who is the owner of the store. His establishment is small and intimate offering select wines for discriminating costumers. He said the local papers tend to only talk about the huge wine stores in town, but he prefers to offer a more one on one exchange with his clients. His 2 English Bulldogs stay with him in the store and they are content to lounge behind the counter on a large pillow under a table and then excitedly greet costumers when the costumers kneel down to pet them.
Several people expressed an interest in my sketch. Terry pulled a fast one by coaching someone to walk up to me and ask the one question the I can not tolerate when I am sketching, a woman asked “Are you an artist”. I never just want to reply “Yes” I prefer to say I am a plumber, electrician or delivery boy, lately I just say “I am a blogger.” I want to shout out “Well, I am holding a sketchbook and painting in it with a paintbrush, what else could I be?!” I noticed Terry laughing and then the woman next to me laughed. Flushed I decided I needed a glass of wine.
When I finished my sketch I joined Terry and Caroline and asked what wine they had liked so far. Caroline suggested the white wine grown by Claude Jordan from Langeudoc, France. The person behind the taste counter showed me pictures of the vineyard which is right on the Mediterranean and she said the breezes off the water offered a one of a kind growing environment. The white wine was sweet and delicious. It didn’t have the bitter sharp taste I get from most whites I drink. While I was sketching her purse managed to bump a bottle off of the counter and it shattered on the floor. So we ended up getting a whole box of wine out of guilt.
Writing Your Life
I met Patricia Charpentier at a Cajun concert. Her last name definitely has a Cajun ring and she had researched her family history for many generations back. As I sketched at that concert she was looking over my shoulder and after the concert we talked for a while. I found out she teaches a writing workshop so I asked if she would mind if I sketched one of the classes.
Several months later when I arrived at the Marks Street Senior Center, I met Patricia in the parking lot and she showed me the way to the classroom. The Senior Center is a beautiful warm pink stucco building in a Spanish Colonial style.
The classroom quickly filled up and everyone introduced themselves and told a brief story about a unique incident that had happened in their life. Morrie told a harrowing story about living in the depression and not having enough food. He found a pear tree in an alley and returned that night to secretly pick some pears. Morrie’s job was to keep watch while the other boys picked the pears. He realized he might not get any pears if he was just standing watch so he climbed up as well. Suddenly a huge burly man started yelling and all the boys ran for their lives. He got his pants leg caught on a fence post nail and hung upside down helpless. He kept quiet and thankfully that man never saw his legs above the fence. Later some rustling startled him again and it was the boys who came back to help get him down. Morrie has a small book published called “Sundays with Morrie”.
The class was organized much like a sketch class with quick short exercises to begin and then longer writing sessions build upon the ideas discovered in the short exercises. After each writing session people would volunteer to read what they had written. Some of the stories were truly heart wrenching and others filled with joy. It was a wonderful sketching experience and I felt blessed to be able to hear these life stories.
Mary Hill, a late arrival spoke with me after the class. She had treated herself to the workshop because it was her birthday. She explained that she was taking care of her ailing mother. She also talked about the the courses she had taken in California that covered the more mystical side of healing. Doctors in America tend to be pushing drugs as the solution to all problems. Mary feels that the simple act of touch can offer healing. She told me about an instructor who could sense her feelings just with a phone call. The mystical forms of heeling she talked about were outside my understanding but I was intrigued.
The Savoy
Prior to opening night of War of the Worlds Michael Wanzie invited people to come out to Savoy for a drink prior to seeing the show. I decided to go to this event to get a sketch at the bar since I knew I didn’t want to sketch during the War of the Worlds performance, I wanted to finally see the show straight through without having to glance at my sketchbook. When I walked in to the Savoy I was caught by surprise. Men were dancing on platforms and shaking their stuff. I walked the length of the bar and found an empty table in the back with a view of all the action. I ordered a drink and got some sort of Mango pink drink shot for free that was delicious.
I quickly got out the pens and paper and got to work. Terry never joins me when I am out sketching, she prefers to have my full attention. However this night she agreed to meet me as I finished up my sketch just prior to the show. Terry arrived about half way through the sketch and she called me to make sure she was at the right place, she wasn’t sure she should enter. I talked her back to my corner. The owner of the bar came over to see what I was doing and he really liked the sketch. I wrote down by blog address for him so he could see this post when it comes out. The waiter who served my drink made sure to brush my hand. That probably helps with the tips. I rather liked the music and festive atmosphere, everyone was so friendly. As it turns out Michael Wanzie was sitting just two tables away, he is the fellow with the green shirt in the sketch. Terry and I said hello as we headed out to get to the play.
Post Script: September 1st I got a letter from the city stating I had an unpaid parking ticket and that I owe the city $45. After researching where I was the day the ticket was supposedly issued (there was nothing on the windshield) I discovered that I got the ticket when I parked near the Savoy on opening night of War of the Worlds. The ticket wasn’t for parking in an no parking spot but for parking with the butt of my vehicle facing west rather than east. This leads me to suspect the city is targeting members of the gay community or simply punishing people who love the arts. I have no way to defend myself against this bogus ticket so lesson learned this city is in need of money and will do anything to get it, Beware!
War of the Worlds – Text
At Saturday’smatinee performance of War of the Worlds, the usual announcement about turning off cell phones was changed. The back row of the theater was reserved for tweeters. This section would allow individuals to tweet about the performance as they watched it using iPhones and Blackberries. Performance artist Brian Feldman was ushered to the tweeting section and his fingers were in constant motion during the show.
A little late. Good thing I’m very familiar with the War of the Worlds story. 11:19 AM War of the Worlds Actor Brandon Roberts is my long-lost brother. 11:20 AM Where’s Orson? 11:22 AM Trivia: BrianFeldman‘s eaten dinner on OrlandoShakes‘ Goldman Theater stage w/ his family (FeldmanDynamic) 15 times. 11:24 AM Oh cool! The action stopped for a second while they (the actors) decided what to do (world of the show). 11:24 AM RT @ War of the Worlds Zingo! 11:25 AM @War of the Worlds TMI? 11:27 AM Marshall Law? Or Martian Law? 11:27 AM @ Omar Delarosa Believe it. 11:28 AM I know this show’s less than 30 minutes in, but I already have an idea for my own War of the Worlds show. October? 11:29 AM This show makes me want to see Floyd Collins. 11:31 AM I like how this version shows both sides: the broadcast and the public’s response (in a time way before Twitter). 11:34 AM They just mentioned last week’s New Jersey corruption scandal! Relevant. 11:35 AM Heil Martian! 11:36 AM If the heat rays have truly cut off communication, then how am I still tweeting? 11:37 AM This is an actor’s show. 11:38 AM Actor up front sounds like Dan Ackroyd in Spielberg’s 1941. 11:40 AM You’ve obviously never seen any of the “Saw” movies. 11:41 AM @ War of the Worlds Yeah, this should totally be set in New Mexico. 11:42 AM Gas masks? Gas masks?!!! Gas masks? Gas masks?!!! Gas masks? Gas masks?!!!! 11:42 AM Dan Ackyrod’s voice is back! 11:43 Avoid bridges to Long Island; Hopelessly peanut buttered. 11:44 AM Orson Welles v. BrianFeldman – Only at the @ LovingHut! 11:45 AM 2X2L? 11:45 AM “It’s not real?” 11:46 AM You Can’t Do That On Radio! Or Television! Or YouTube! Or Twitter! 11:48 AM And now… The Aftermath. People hate The Great Orson Welles! 11:48 AM I need one of those radio mics. 11:50 AM “You only live once”… unless you’re a cat. 11:53 AM That’s it! War of the Worlds…With Kittens! 12:03 AM Twitter Applause!