Sweeney Todd Dressing Room

Posted on by Thor

Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is being presented by Clandestine-ARTs at The Venue, 511 Virginia Drive, Orlando, Fl, through January 19th. This compact production is directed and produced by Derek Critzer. I have read reviews that Ginger Minj who plays Mrs. Nellie Lovett is spectacular in the role. With that in mind, I hoped to get a sketch in the dressing room on industry night to watch his transformation at the dressing room mirror.

The dressing room at the Venue is at most ten by ten foot square and the entire cast of over 20 actors had to use the space. I did my best to try and stay out of every one’s way.  Only one actress was in the dressing room when I arrived. She had on a bright pink skirt. She was happy to be early and she had plenty of time to get ready. It was only later, when I saw the show that I realized this was Monica Titus who plays Johanna Barker. She was perfectly cast for the roll. I was quite swept away. Monica’s rich soprano voice has a warmth and range missing from the film adaptation. Her natural auburn hair was later covered in a wig of golden curls.

Derek came in and started steaming some pants. Stephan Jones, who plays Sweeney Todd, shouted out that it was a furnace in the tight dressing room. Even off set, there was a menace to his voice. Derek got some flack for shooting steam into the already sweaty space. Ginger Minj arrived and quickly transformed. He powdered his face first and let me know he would have to let the powder set for five minutes so he went off for a smoke.

It seemed like the rest of the cast arrived on mass and suddenly the room was buzzing with activity. Lips were painted a sickly blue on insane asylum patients whose eyes were also dark and hollow. Actors quickly stripped and put on costumes. Actors joked that I shouldn’t sketch any nudity and I honored that. Even so, it would have been hard to catch the quick flashes of flesh. The pure energy and excitement in the tight space was quite palpable. Ginger was the last actor in the room, adjusting the large hair buns on her head. I followed her down to the theater. The evening’s performance was sold out. The reviews I had read were spot on. Ginger Minj brought a quick wit to the part and stole every scene she was in. She eyed Mr. Todd with a lurid look as if she might devour him. I was surprised at how often she made me laugh out loud despite the dark sinister humor.

The remaining performances are…

Thursday 1/16-7:00 PM
Friday 1/17-8:00 PM
Saturday 1/18- 8:00 PM
Sunday 1/19- 3:00 PM

Tickets are $20.00 and are General Admission. Tickets may be purchased at www.clandestine-arts.com Limited seating is available so be sure to get them early. Tickets may be available at the door based on availability.

Rusty Spoon

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Paul Alexander hired me to do a sketch at The Rusty Spoon, (55 W Church St, Orlando, FL) on Saturday December 4th. A party of about 30 people were going to gather for dinner for the first time. Paul knew of my work because of a sketch I did at a City Beautiful Church concert at the Lake Eola Band shell and the kind recommendations of talents like Aradhana Tiwari, Cole Nesmith and Holly Harris.

The group gathering was known as Cru. They are an international ministry with members coming from Africa, the Netherlands, Asia, Australia and Europe.  The person that Paul most wanted me to catch was Ken who had 25 years experience leading a Cru group in Asia. Paul is in charge of Digital Strategies which utilizes social media to promote the groups message to the world.

I was the first to arrive at the rusty spoon. The woman who greeted me at the door knew what I was up to cause she said, “Oh, you must be the caricature artist.” I cringed a bit since I’m not a caricature artist, but I let it pass. She went to get the waiter, who knew more about the large group I was going to sketch. He lead me to the back of the Spoon where four tables were reserved for the party. The waiter, who also thought I was a caricature artist, let me sit in an empty booth that thankfully didn’t have a table. I had plenty of room to work. I started blocking in the perspective of the place. Raw old fashioned Edison bulbs illuminated the scene.

Paul and Anne Alexander arrived as did my wife Terry. She spoke to the couple for a while and then went to watch the football game at the bar. Paul and Anne love this restaurant, although Anne lamented that the art work never changes. I have to admit that it is a bit odd having pigs, goats and cows staring at you from the walls, especially if you eat meat. People arrived and mingled. Then as each person took a seat, I quickly placed them in the sketch.

Amazingly, the sketch was done when everyone finished dinner. Some people wandered over to see what I was up to. One jovial fellow from Africa asked where he was. He must have been way back at the fourth table because I hadn’t sketched him. He said, “Your sketch is fine, bot it is incomplete without me.” Even Paul is hidden from view since his wife is seated in front of him. I managed to keep Ken clearly in focus although a late arrival sat in the corner seat blocking my line of sight toward Ken most of the dinner. I had to move and reduce the size of this person to keep Ken visible in the sketch. It is fascinating how much can be altered and recreated while still keeping a believable document of an important event. I didn’t have time to eat or drink, but Paul told me the food at the Rusty Spoon is delicious. With the sketch done, I rushed off to the Kerouac House for a pot luck dinner.

Stardust

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I went to Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL) with the plan to sketch Nerd Nite. I arrived right after work and ordered a Crispin’ Glover sandwich and a Coke. I was order number 15. Long tables in this room are made from old doors with an incredibly thick varnish over the surface. The varnish fills in all the doors panel insets. I assumed that the Nerd Night presenters would set up a movie screen in the small staging area framed by red curtains.

The great thing about Stardust is that people come here with laptops and notebooks to work. When you are in a room full of people busy working there is an energy that always motivates me to sketch. Although I might be alone, the activity and energy of the room makes me feel part of a vibrant community. In a digital world, we are all hungry to connect in our own unique way. I sit quietly watching and sketching while extroverts carry on fast animated conversations. The chatty moments as people mingle before an event begins are my most productive time.

I realized half way into the sketch that I was at Stardust on the wrong night. The army of nerds I hoped to sketch never showed. With so many events on my calendar, I sometimes get the date or time wrong. But I don’t care. There is plenty of beauty and drama to be found even in the everyday pace and flow of Stardust, it is what you make it.

DRIP Sketchbook Finally on Sale.

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 Although I had the DRIP Sketchbook listed online, I just realized I hadn’t made it available for sale. I believe all the settings are correct now making it publicly available. If you tried to order it and ran into digital roadblocks, let me know.

Fa La La La La Park Avenue Window Walk

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On December 10, I Luv Winter Park organized a stroll down Park Avenue in Winter Park. People gathered in the Hidden Garden Courtyard from 5 to 6, taking advantage of Happy Hour libations at The Bistro. Then, around 6-ish, everyone walked  down the east side of Park Avenue, then back up. It was a chance for friends  to get into a  holiday mood and have some fun while checking out the  windows up and down Park Avenue!

I couldn’t get to the bistro at 5, so instead I simply found a spot on Park Avenue to sketch. I chose to sketch Be On Park jewelry store (152 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL) simply because I didn’t have a parked car blocking the view. Large orbs of light were hung in the trees all along Park Avenue. It was quite a display. Eventually the strollers did run across me.  Clyde took pictures of my sketch in progress.

A mom and her daughter, dressed in an elegant Cinderella gown stopped to meet every one. The little girl proudly showed off her glass slippers rotating her foot on point. After everyone left and I was getting close to finishing the sketch, a rather disheveled man stood in front of me and angrily asked, “Are you an artist?” It is the one question I can’t stand. I looked around wondering if my wife put him up to it. I made some polite reply. He wanted money for new shoes, but his shoes looked fine to me. When your sitting still you are an easy mark. It started to rain as I made my way back to my car. Why can’t they afford snow?

Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden

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The Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden, located in Ivanhoe Village, (1800 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL) specializes in boutique wines and craft beers. Located in the back of an antiques store, the bar offers an exotic, comfortable yet elegant pub atmosphere. Terry and I went here one night to meet Wendy Wallenberg and her entourage. When we arrived, we spotted Genevieve Bernard and some of her girlfriends. Genevieve works at the Mennello Museum, is the founder of Voci Dance and runs Kid’s Fringe. Needless to say, she is very involved in the arts and always busy. Her husband Seth reports on the arts for the Orlando Weekly, so I bump into him quite often in my explorations. One of Genevieve’s friends knew of my blog. She introduced herself saying, “You might not know me, but I certainly know you since I read your posts.” Another friend said she read Analog Artist Digital World when she moved out of town to check back and see what is happening in Orlando. It made me happy to think I am providing some kind of service with my obsessive sketching and ramblings.

That reminded me, I hadn’t done a sketch yet today. Wendy and her friends arrived and we exchanged places with Genevieve’s friends as they left. The place was packed. The Imperial has over 40 beers and 45 wines to choose from, with something to offer every beer and wine drinker, from the
novice to the adventurous. I muscled up to the crowded bar to get a drink for Terry and myself. I got a German beer, Weissen-something, and Terry wanted a hard cider. Though I risked seeming anti-social, I sketched. A huge blue Buddha sat crated behind our table. Outside, a food truck generator purred. Wendy’s friend Denise ordered some sort of sushi or volcano roll from the truck. As the conversation darted from journalism to fashion to sports cars, my eyes darted about trying to lock people into a composition. Wendy has to be the most animated person I know. She is a constant blur of motion.  When we left, Wendy gave Terry pointers on how she needs to customize her new Porche. The car was called “Baby” for a while but now she is called “Enterprise“.

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Saturday January 11, 2014

1pm to 3pm $5 Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre (54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801).  “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. Adapted by Lauren Gunderson from a book by Bill Bryson. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

7:30pm to 9:30pm $5  Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre (54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801). “Photograph 51” by Anna Ziegler. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival
exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged
readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of
science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

9pm to Midnight Free Falcon Soundraiser. The Falcon 819 E. Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida. Soundraisers are a series of live shows presented by The Falcon, over the next couple of months. We will be actively accepting donations at each event and throughout the coming months at The Falcon, in hopes of generating enough funding to purchase a simple Sound/PA system for The Falcon. This will enable LIVE music on a more frequent basis at an already KICK ASS hang, and give local talent yet another venue to share their art! The first in the series will feature: audiotourism (members of SC Accidental and LostGhosts) http://audiotourism.bandcamp.com/ Instrumental/non-vox/two piece “90’s-esque inde-guitar swing ala wall of sound!” Come on out and support local business and local talent!

Sunday January 12, 2014

7:30am to 9pm Free Gallery Fresh Art Markets. Orlando Fashion Square 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803. On the 2nd Sunday of every month Gallery Fresh Art Markets and Orlando Fashion Square proudly present “Show Your Art.” This free to the public, indoor, non-juried art event showcases 60 to 90 local artists and fine crafts persons and is located throughout Orlando Fashion Square.

1pm to 3pm  $5 Film Slam 14′. 1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. FilmSlam will usually be held on the second Sunday of each month at 1PM at Enzian. Come celebrate independents day! Experimental Films, Puppet Films, Art Films, Bartenders throwing bottles, Gangsters, a Music Video….this has to be the most amazingly eclectic line we’ve had for all of 2012. Q&A with the filmmakers to follow screening. http://www.enzian.org/film/filmslam-14

7:30pm to 9:30pm $5 Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre 54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801. “Isaac’s Eye” by Lucas Hnath. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

Fringe Lottery

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On December 2nd the Fringe Lottery was held in the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E. Rollins St, Orlando, Fl).  This was an opportunity to see which shows would be selected for Fringe 23. Michael Mariaccio and George “Fringe” Wallace hosted the lottery. Lottery tickets were picked from green buckets. The Fringe is a completely non-juried week of theater and any show could be selected. The theater was packed full of producers and directors who hoped their shows would be picked.

  1. Participants were selected on a
    non-juried basis, through a first-come, first served process, a lottery,
    or other method approved by the Association.
  2. The audience must have the option to
    pay a ticket price, 100% of which goes directly to the artists
    (government taxes notwithstanding.)
  3. Fringe Festival producers have no
    control over the artistic content of each performance. The artistic
    freedom of the participants is unrestrained.
  4. Festivals must provide an easily accessible opportunity for all audiences and all artists to participate in Fringe Festivals.

 Orlando city commissioner Robert Stuart did the actual picking from the bucket.When he selected “Boylesque” from the bucket he had to hesitate before pronouncing the title. Michael Wanzie shouted out from the audience, “Your going to have to learn how to pronounce “Boylesque” if you want the gay vote!” He got quite a good laugh. Later the politician assured his votes by shaking Michael’s hand and kissing him on the cheek. The audience erupted. So, take a glance and anticipate this year’s line up.

– ORANGE –
The All New Nashville Hurricane [Chase Padgett – Burbank, CA]
Ennui [Circus Arts – Polk City, FL]
Boylesque [Sensuality N Motion / Visual EFX Productions – Orlando, FL]
Bless Me Father, For I have Danced [Yow Dance – Orlando, FL]
BARE: A Pop Opera [Penguin Point Productions – Winter Park, FL]
FLIGHT: A Crane’s Story [IBEX Puppetry – Orlando, FL]
Something’s Weird in Weeki Wachee [John Ryanand Diva Productions – Orlando, FL]
– SILVER –
Money Shot! [RUSH Theatrical Productions – New York, NY]
Grim and Fischer [Wonderheads – Portland, OR]
Oyster Boy [Haste Theatre Company – London, UK]
Under the Rainbow [Alan Gerber – Orlando, FL]
There’s No Place Like Home [Wanzie Presents / D-Squared Productions – Orlando, FL]
Smooch [PB and J Theatre Factory – Winter Park, FL]
TBD [The Downtowners – Orlando, FL]
Fifty Shades of Gay [Homicidal Orphan Productions – Orlando, FL]
– YELLOW –
Marathon [TJ Dawe – Vancouver, BC]
God Is a Scottish Drag Queen II: An All New Testament [Mike Delamont – Victoria, BC]
The Surprise [Martin Dockery – Brooklyn, NY]
Killer Quack [James Judd Entertainment – New York, NY]
Conversations with My Divorce Attorney [John Montgomery Theatre Co. – New York, NY]
Tappin and Yappin [J&J Pickle Productions: Ocoee, FL]
Pasion Flamenca [Flamenco del Sol Dance Company – Sanford, FL]
Frankenchrist! The Musical [Acting Passionate Productions – Lakeland, FL]
Professor Soap’s Musical Machine [Cadence Creative – Loughman, FL]
– PINK –
Ruby Rocket, Private Eye [Stacey Hallal – Portland, OR]
Chaotica [Christel Bartelse – Toronto, Ontario ]
House [Ribbitre Public Theatre: Edmonton, Alberta]
Black Stockings [Dangerous Theatre: Denver, CO]
Immortals [Wind Whistle Theatre – Nevada City, CA]
Donating Sperm to My Sisters Wife [Stewart Huff – Winterville, GA]
And Baby Makes Four [Utmost Productions – Orlando, FL]
The British Invasion [My Dream Tree Productions – Casselberry, FL]
– BROWN –
Jem Rolls [Big Word Performance Poetry – Surrey, UK]
TBD [Keith Brown – London, Ontario]
Train Your Man [Kirchmann Productions – Alberton, South Africa]
Taking Out the White Trash [Peemypants Productions – Savannah, GA]
Baba Yaga [It Ain’t Shakespeare – Dallas, TX]
Radio Free Fringe [RFF – Orlando, FL]
Hungry! The Musical [Madmymn Payne Prod – Kissimmee, FL]
All Shook Up: A Rockabilly Revival [Bare Ass Productions – Winter Park, FL]
– GREEN –
Roller Derby Saved My Soul [Broken Turtle Productions – Ottawa, Ontario]
The Death of Brian [A Zombie Odyssey: Theater Simple – Seattle, WA]
40 Something Still Single [Cougar Comedy Productions – Orlando, FL]
Alice Rocks Wonderland [Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth – Champions Gate, FL]
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson [BTW Productions / Ashley Willsey – Lake Mary, FL]
Escape from Baldwin Park [Carpenter Aunt Productions – Orlando, FL]
Liquid Courage [Tobo Productions – Orlando, FL]
20 Nothing [Last Minute Panic Productions – Winter Springs, FL]
– BLUE –
Papa Squats Store of Sorts [Ain’t True and Uncle False’s Hood – Indianapolis, IN]
My Brooklyn Hamlet: A Meshugenah True Story [Brenda Adelman – Spring Valley, CA]
Punk Grandpa [Cosmic Jello / Laura Force Scruggs – Chicago, IL]
Sperm Wars [Random Samples Collective – Toronto, ON]
Fire in the Meth Lab [2 Hoots Productions – Melbourne, Australia]
Shakespeare’s Histories: Ten Epic Plays at a Breakneck Pace [Timothy Mooney Repertory – Prospect Heights, IL]
Tuesday Mourning [Clandestine ARTS – Altamonte Springs, FL]
The Queer Diaries [Royal Entertainment – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Playwrights Round Table – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Kia Ora Productions – Kissimmee, FL]
– PURPLE –
VGL 5’4″ Top [Lucas Brooks – Brooklyn, NY]
Desperately Seeking the Exit [Peter Michael Marino – New York, NY]
Superhero’s Can’t Fly [botwot productions – Aspen, CO]
Us vs. The World [Improv Off the Grid – Orlando, FL]
The Float Boat [Comedy First CLC – Longwood, FL]
The Four Great Books of China (Condensed) [Emerson Productions – Casselberry, FL]
Battle of the Sexes: Male Surrender [John Chapman – Orlando, FL]
Tim and Spencer’s Yet Unnamed Magic Project [Corrupting the Kids – Orlando, FL]
Paisley the Clown [Paisley Productions – Orlando, FL]
TBD [JAR Productions – Orlando, FL]
– RED –
Mark Twain’s is Shakespeare Dead [Doctor Keir Co. – Montreal, Quebec ]
The Chronic Single’s Handbook [Randy Ross – Somerville, MA]
Tap Me on the Shoulder [Pack of Others – Northampton, MA]
Going On: A Inspiring True Story about Loss and Finding the Love Inside Yourself [White Rabbit – Portland, OR]
An Iliad [John Remke – West New York, NY]
Rendezvous La Petite Morte [Chloe J. Roberts – Tampa, FL]
The All-New Review [Portals Theatre – Orlando, FL]
Reincarnation Soup [Viet Nguyen – Orlando, FL]
Paranormal Stupidity [Brian Flaherty – Maitland, FL]
Helix by Tangent [Spur of the Moment – Winter Park, FL]
– BLACK –
A Brief History of Beer [Wish Experience – London, UK]
Ocean Fox [Castlereigh Theatre Project – Victoria, BC]
babyBlueStar Presents: VarieTEASE [babyBlueStar – Orlando, FL]
Exploring Her Kinkdom [Penguin Productions – Orlando, FL]
Tod Kimbro Does Everything [Tod Kimbro – Orlando, FL]
Seasons [Squeaky Wheel Theatre Project – Orlando, FL]
Home Free by Lanford Wilson [Gagne Productions – Orlando, FL]
TBD [Logan Donahoo – Orlando, FL]
Truth of Dare with Pepe [Pepe Productions – Orlando, FL]

 Afterwards, some performers lamented not being picked. They are on a waiting list and sometimes shows drop out offering an opportunity for that slot to be filled. I recall laughing out loud when “Sharknado the Musical” was picked. Unfortunately I don’t see it in the listings so it must have been dropped. Thankfully “Sperm Wars” made the cut. Mark Your Calendar, there are many Fringe happenings leading up to the big event. Check the Fringe website for more details. Hey, if any local producers or directors are reading this, keep me in mind to sketch read throughs, or rehearsals.

  • February 07 – Loon
  • February 08 (2 shows) – Loon
  • February 09 – Loon
  • March 03 – Fringe at the Hard Rock
  • April 14 -Local Preview
  • May 14 – National / International Preview
  • Second half of May – FRINGE!

Pachyderm Protest

Posted on by Thor

On January 6th I read in the Orlando Weekly that animal performers from Ringling Brothers and Barnum Baily Circus would unload at railroad tracks near 1035 W. Amelia Street, at 8:30pm then travel east on Amelia, south on North Hughey, west on West South Street, and enter the Garage behind the Amway Center. The railroad tracks were in an industrial complex in Parramore, so I decided to sketch the destination at the Amway Center. It was an unexpectedly cold night with temperatures dropping down to the 30’s. I sat next to an on ramp to I-4 and blocked in the Amway Center. I left the lower third of the sketch vacant, assuming I would put in the animals when they walked by.

A truck load of workers got out of a truck in the lot next to me. They each carried long coils of ropes over their shoulders. Maybe their job was to set up the trapeze inside the arena.  Cold winds forced we to huddle back behind an overpass pillar. A large fire ant mound behind me kept me from backing up any more. I blew into my gloves periodically to warm my hands. My denim jacket was no match for the cold. I could faintly smell hay. In the distance I heard a sound like race cars at the Indie 500. I soon realized the sound wasn’t cars, but lions roaring. It was only 7:30pm, so it couldn’t be the animals at the railroad stop yet. The railroad stop was probably a mile away. White tents were set up inside the Amway garage and I realized that the lions were inside. Periodically, Swift 18 wheelers would pull up to the garage. The sketch reached a point where I couldn’t go any further, so I decided I needed to warm up and pee. A hand blower in the public bathroom blew gloriously hot air onto my frozen hands.

I followed the parade route back to the railroad stop. Behind the huge vacant lot referred to as the “Creative Village” a bunch of RV’s were parked along with some Swift trucks. I assume this must have been the traveling circus camp. As I got closer to the railroad tracks I saw flashing police lights and a loud hissing sound. At the tracks the road was lined with protesters with signs that asked people to Boycott the Circus and to Google Ringling Cruelty. I sketched the protesters and police into my already started sketch.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus
is known for its long history of abusing animals. In 1929, John
Ringling ordered the execution of a majestic bull elephant named Black Diamond after the elephant killed a woman who had been in the crowd as
he was paraded through a Texas city. Twenty men took aim and pumped some
170 bullets into Black Diamond’s body, then chopped off his
head and mounted it for display in Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Ringling’s cruel treatment of animals continues today.

Elephants in Ringling’s possession are chained inside filthy,
poorly ventilated boxcars for an average of more than 26 straight
hours—and often 60 to 70 hours at a time—when the circus travels. Even
former Ringling employees have reported that elephants are routinely
abused and violently beaten with bullhooks (an elephant-training tool
that resembles a fireplace poker), in order to force them to perform
tricks. Since 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has
cited Ringling numerous times for serious violations of the Animal
Welfare Act (AWA), such as the following:

  • Improper handling of dangerous animals
  • Failure to provide adequate veterinary care to animals,
    including an elephant with a large swelling on her leg, a camel with
    bloody wounds, and a camel injured on train tracks
  • Causing trauma, behavioral stress, physical harm, and
    unnecessary discomfort to two elephants who sustained injuries when they
    ran amok during a performance
  • Endangering tigers who were nearly baked alive in a boxcar because of poor maintenance of their enclosures
  • Failure to test elephants for tuberculosis
  • Unsanitary feeding practices 

I stood with the 30 or so protesters till 10:30pm waiting to see if the elephants would be walked to the Arena in the freezing cold. The Ringling animal railroad cars were converted passenger cars. I wondered if they were heated. Finally three elephants walked down the ramps exiting the cars. Rather than walk down Amelia, the handlers had the elephants walk away down the rail line towards the front of the train. The route was being changed, so I walked briskly to see what road the elephants were being lead down. Protesters ran past me. Julie Gross shouted out, “Run Thor!” Police blocked cars from entering the next block. A large Swift 18 wheeler truck already had the three elephants inside.  I wondered if the Swift cargo hold was heated. Swift maintains one of the largest temperature controlled fleets in the industry. Any cargo can be kept at a stable temperature from the moment it leaves your door to
the moment it is off loaded at the final destination. Perhaps the elephants were warmer than me. I had seen the elephants for at most two minutes.

Eagles Concert

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On November 23rd, Terry and I went to the Eagles concert at The Amway Center (400 W Church St #200, Orlando, FL). Tickets for seating on the floor were over $100. We sat in the bleachers just a few rows up from the floor. When we got to the Amway, I realized I didn’t bring a water vile to refill my brushes. I had streamlined my art supplies so that I could get through security. I tried to get a cup for water from a vendor but they wouldn’t give me one without selling me a beer. I decided to use my brush until it ran dry. Then I went and scavenged a half full water bottle from the trash about halfway through the concert. Most of the time the Arena was pitch black with the only light coming from the stage making the sketch a challenge. A beach ball was batted around by the crowd until the performers got on stage.

Of course from this distance it was impossible to see the singers faces except or the jumbo trons. One singer chastised members of the audience who were standing the whole time saying that everyone had paid to see the performance. He would let them know when it was appropriate to stand. By the end of the concert everyone was standing and dancing. I had been to one other Eagles concert and was blown away by their energy. This was the last concert on a long tour by the Eagles and though they played tight, I felt like they might be tired and thinking about relaxing after the tour. To me, their hearts weren’t in the game.

Regardless, they performed many crowd favorites like “Desperado“, “Hotel California“, “Life in the Fast Lane“, and “Take It Easy.” The large screens behind the stage could move and they were used to project movies that tied in with each song. Even if it wasn’t their most energetic concert, I’m glad we were there.