Children of a Lesser God

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The Garden Theatre announces Beth Marshall Presents’ production of the powerful drama, Children of a Lesser God by Mark Medoff sponsored by Progress Energy, March 15-30, 2013, at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden). On Friday, March 22nd at 8pm, there will be a fully interpreted American Sign Language performance in partnership with the Center for Independent Living.

Winner of the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award, Children of a Lesser God is the powerful drama by Mark Medoff.  The show is being directed by Brenna Nicely and Beth Marshall, sign language direction was by Joe Kramlinger. This is the first time Beth has directed a show at the Garden Theatre although this is the eighth show produced by her here.

I went to the Garden Theatre to sketch the dress rehearsal. The front door to the theatre was locked so I walked around the building clockwise to try and find an open door. I climbed two flights of a stairwell before realizing it wouldn’t lead to the theater. The stage door was in the back and thankfully it was open. I stepped right into the actors green room. There was one door leading to the stage. The black curtains disoriented me. I stepped out and saw Will Hagaman who plays James Leeds, as he instructed Mike Deaven as Orin Dennis on how to speak. I realized that I was on stage and quickly stepped back behind the black curtain. I scooted along the wing to the front of the stage but I couldn’t go down the steps into the theater without stepping on stage again. I waited till the scene being rehearsed was finished. Beth shouted out, “Come out of there Thomas.”

As I found a seat, I saw the James Leeds on stage embracing Sarah Norman played by Eliza Steves. They signed to each other intimately. Beth warned me that a sign language interpreter would be standing right in front of where I sat. In the show, James is an instructor at an institute for the deaf. Sarah has never spoken. She refuses to try and do something if she can’t do it well. She signs faster than an interpreter can speak. James falls in love with her and they get married.

 Sarah Norman is performed by Eliza Steven

Every married couple has their differences, communication is the anchor to any relationship but a common ground is hard to find between silence and sound. I found myself rooting for the couple hoping they could mend their differences. Their love story revolves around the politics within the deaf community
about bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf worlds. The show packs an emotional one two punch that overwhelms to the point of tears. It glows with radiance of hope and abandon and then the depths of despair. As Sarah stood and signed without an interpreter, I felt the undeniable urge to understand. The set was minimal with no props. All the attention is spent on the spark between James and Sarah.

Besides myself there was only a row of acting students from a States Acting Competition. We all stood and applauded. This show leaves you thinking long after you leave the theatre. Will Hagaman did an amazing job as James. He not  only had to learn his lines, he had to learn sign language. Eliza Stevens did an astonishing job expressing her emotions without a word. More importantly the couple had a spark that ignited the emotional engine of the show.

Show times are Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 8PM,  Sundays at 2PM and Thursday March 28th at 8PM. Tickets are $25 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. The show runs through March 30th.Saturdays
at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm, plus Thursday, March 28 at 8pm.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors/students. For tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or call the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736).

Drip Comic Art Party

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Mega Con is at the Orange County Convention Center this week and Drip is throwing a huge party every night of the week. On Wednesday March 13th, Drip (8747 International Dr. Suite 102, Behind Denny’s and Senor Frogs) had a Comic Art Party. I decided to participate by doing life sized chalk drawings of anyone in a comic themed costume on the black walls of the bar. Through March 16th, Drip is performing special Comics and Sci-Fi Shows at 8PM and 11PM each night. Tickets are $35 for the show or $43 for the show and a white Drip T-shirt. You will want the shirt because you will get wet.

Artists were invited to show any work they might have that had a comic, sci-fi or Japanese Anime theme. All mediums were encouraged. The only sketches that I could find I had done at Mega Con a few years ago. I framed them and brought them along. When I arrived, attendance was pretty thin. I asked for some chalk and waited for my first model. The dancer who performs as red, Brigetta Frias, was my first model. We both stood on a table and I sketched her life sized on the black wall. When we hopped down to see what the sketch looked like I was surprised to see how large I drew her head. That was because we were so close as I sketched her. Next, blue, Meagan Nagy, posed and my skill at drawing so large improved. All the Drip dancers wore capes. Yellow, Jessie Sander, was running around all night just to get the cape to flap in her wake.

When I sketched Tracy Lulu Brown everything clicked into place. Tracy’s goth fetish outfit with a plaid skirt and fishnet stockings seemed natural rather than a costume. It wasn’t until I was sketching, that I noticed she had horns. I exaggerated forms and the chalk lines flowed with a gestural ease. I think the fact that she was an artist put my mind at rest. A fire alarm had to be incorporated. Tracy is now working for Drip making sure every performance flows without interruption. Every action is set to a musical beat. I met Tracy’s husband AJ who had a black mask painted on his face and black dog ears.

Shane Malesky and his wife Heather were there showcasing his Chronic Damage Art.  Chris Tobar had a series of his gas mask paintings across the room from me. One artist that I didn’t get a chance to meet was doing little four inch square paintings of cupcakes on canvas. A make shift screen was set up where people could play a Super Mario Brothers road race game. Balloon artist Bruce Carr  had eight balloon arms that sprouted from his back. His entire head was enclosed in a white balloon helmet. He posed for me and his arms snaked all over the wall. He spent well over an hour creating a balloon mask inspired by one of Shane’s paintings. It was an impressive reproduction of a red face screaming. When Bruce took off his balloon helmet he broke his glasses and I believe he had to be driven home since he wouldn’t be able to drive.

I met Lynann Barr who is a beauty and special effects makeup artist. She had worked at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights where she had to crank out hundreds of face makeups a night. This was her first time doing body painting but when the evening was over she realized it had been a walk in the park. It was a first for me as well to do life sized drawings, but it was a blast. Although attendance was light, I was busy all night adding giant figures to the wall. There wasn’t an artist on hand to sketch my performance. Drip is bringing Sexy back to International Drive.

La Femme Fondue

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Christie and Evan Miga needed time off after the mad rush to bring Dog Powered Robot to Fringe last year. They had four months of extensive rehearsals and a whole cast of cardboard robots that were built. They were constantly managing people. After the show they decided to live in Paris for two months. Fisher Miga, the dog behind Dog Powered Robot went with them. Christie said that within four days they had settled into the Parisian lifestyle. Three days a week Evan freelanced for the design firm he was working for in Orlando. Though he was living in Paris, he worked Orlando hours, sharing his work via the Internet. That left the rest of the week open for the couple to explore Paris. They discovered quirky arts outlets that few tourists visit. Christie loved a tiny Museum of Magic that had rooms filled with mechanized tin toys. Right next to the Eiffel tower was a sumptuous garden that only Parisians frequent.

 When Christie Miga returned to Orlando she started a series of paintings inspired by the trip to Paris. Though abstract, the work is autobiographical as she explains with pure color how Paris inspired her. This series explodes with rich vibrant color. The blue is the exact color of the Mediterranean and the bright magenta reminds her of tight bright magenta pants that many women were wearing in Paris. Provence inspired her use of bright yellow and orange. She mixes her own water based paints and she has some idea how the paints will interact when they are poured on the canvas side by side. The word fondue is the feminine of the French verb fondre (‘to melt’). The colors seem to melt an flow together on the canvas. The paintings are abstract yet they feel like violent storm clouds on a distant planet or the delicate vibrant colors of a butterfly wing. The black dripping motif is used often and it reminded me of a piano keyboard as I tried to sketch it. Ironically, earlier that day, I had been writing about color for a Book on Urban Sketching. Christie’s bold use of fluid primary colors offered amazing insights about how colors interact. She worked to modern pop French music.

Many of the pieces have bold urban graphic elements that look like graffiti stencils. For instance one canvas has a bold image of the Eiffel Tower that then melts into vibrant dripping colors. Subtle blue lettering in French says, “This is not the Eiffel tower.” A bright splotch of moon then drips as well. Once Christie starts one of these liquid abstracts, she has to finish it while the paint remains wet. Amazingly she finished her canvas in the same amount of time it took me to do the sketch.

La Femme Fondue is being shown at the Timucua White House, (2000 South Summerlin Avenue, Orlando FL), on March 22nd starting at 7:30PM. This reception is one night only. The artwork and prints will be for sale.The White House is a fantastic venue to see Christie’s work since the spotlight literally make her canvases glow.

Harp & Celt

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Kevin Hing informed me that musicians from Ireland were going to perform on February 23rd at Avalon Gallery. The concert was sold out, but the performers and local musicians were all going to the Harp and Celt, (25 South Magnolia Avenue), afterwards for a traditional Irish music session.

When I got to the bar, I didn’t notice any musicians. I ordered a pint of Guinness at the bar and asked the bartender if he knew of any musicians coming in that night. He broke into a loud rendition of “Oh Danny Boy” in reply. Everyone at the bar had a good laugh.

I settled in at a table and waited. Within half an hour, musicians started arriving. They moved many tables together and soon the place was filled with music. Kathleen Cavanagh explained that the Irish musicians had come to Orlando to teach Tionol Irish Music Workshops that she had organized. She plays Irish bagpipes. She was particularly excited because her idol had agreed to come to Orlando to teach at the Geneva School. She tried to relate her excitement. Some people spend a lifetime trying to find the one thing that brings them happiness and a sense of accomplishment. She had just discovered Irish music in the last few years.  I recognized some local musicians like Vicki Gish on fiddle and Scott Vocca on guitar. Other musicians were from as far away as Maryland.

The Irish musicians were next door at the restaurant. I put the pencil down and just enjoyed the music. This music seems to resonate deep inside me, perhaps it is because my Grandfather on my mom’s side came from Cork Ireland.

Dish Mobbed

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Restarants.com brought a “Dish Mobbed” Event and Dine Local Movement to Orlando Area. On February 20th, I went to Casey’s Sports Bar and Grill, (1335 Tuskawilla Rd. Winter Springs, FL), where the “dish mob” event was being held. The Orlando Dish Mobs event was part of a nationwide movement organized by Restaurant.com and local community members and organizations to inspire residents to dine out and boost business at local, independently-owned restaurants.

A small group of female bloggers was seated at a table with several dishes from the restaurant. A news anchor, Mike Holfeld, from Channel 6 News was interviewing participants. He conducted several interviews with representatives from Restaurant.com as well as bloggers. I didn’t see the news that night to see the news story. The only item I tried was a coconut crusted shrimp. It was decent but it wouldn’t inspire me to make the drive out to Tuskawilla a second time.

 Each year, Restaurant.com helps to fill nearly 5.5 million tables at independently owned restaurants nationwide. To further the company’s mission to support businesses at the local level, Restaurant.com is launching the second, Dine Local Dish Mobs campaign – an effort to further encourage diners to dine local at independently owned restaurants in their communities from February 20th through March 1st.

After the TV news crew left, the restaurant started filling up for the noon rush. Buzzing on several cup of Coke, I finished the drawing and made my way back home. Rather than a “Mob” this felt like a small coffee clutch, but I like the “Eat Local” mission statement. Ironically this family owned restaurant was right next to a McDonald’s.

Spacebar Tournament Marvel vs. Capcom

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On February 19th, I went to the Milk District’s Spacebar,( 2428 E. Robinson Street, Orlando), to sketch an arcade game tournament. The grand prize would be a $25 bar tab.
The event started at 10 p.m.I had never been to Spacebar before. The bar was super crowded when I entered. One wall had vintage arcade games like Ms. Pac Man and pinball machines. The Marvel and Capcom machines I believe were first person fighters although it was hard to see the screens from my vantage point.

Since there were no seats available with a good view, I sat on my artist stool next to the door. The proprietor asked me what I was up to. I explained about the blog since he might have been thinking I was some weird homeless guy who brings his own seat into bars.  I asked for a light fruity beer and he suggested a German beer called Wittekerke. It was good. I sipped it slow as I sketched.

It was hard to tell exactly when the tournament began since there were always people playing. Artist, Chris Tobar stopped by to say hello. He has work scattered all around town in a show he calls “The Adventures of my Dexterous Shadow” and he is having a scavenger hunt where art patrons have to take pictures of each piece to prove they saw it. The winner would get a free print.

The crowd had thinned a bit by the time the tournament began at 10p.m. In the end Paul Andrade won the grand prize. As I was packing up, the proprietor and his lovely bar maid stopped over to see the sketch. He hadn’t expected to see color. When I asked how much I owed for the beer, he said it was on the house. Whoo hooo! We have a winner!

Taste of Jazz

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Every Monday night starting around 8PM, there is a jazz jam at Taste Restaurant (717 West Smith Street).  I arrived straight from work. The drum set was just being set up, so I sketched the pieces as they fell into place. Several performers were UCF professors. Tracy Alexander performed on the drums, Greg Zabel on upright Bass, John Krasula on guitar and Joe Young on Trumpet. As the evening wore on more musicians entered the bar and they would step in on different riffs. I ordered tater tots and a Blue Moon. The dipping sauce was on the hot side so I needed the beer to negate the heat in my mouth.

I recognized some of the regular patrons from past sketching trips to Taste. The guy seated next to me asked a question I hear quite often, “Did you do that here?” Since the sketch is of the musicians we both just saw perform, it would seem quite obvious that I didn’t do it out on the sidewalk or in my car. Anyway, the music was great. Each performer in turn launched into a long solo and when the moment was right the rest of the performers would join back in. I stepped out after the first set to rush back home.

College Park Brunch Market

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Mark Baratelli, Owner
The Daily City, has taken over College Park Farmers Market and turned it into “College Park Sunday Brunch Market.” The Market happens in the Infusion Tea parking lot (1600 Edgewater Drive, College Park FL). It happens every Sunday from 11am-3pm.I went to the inaugural opening to relax and sketch. Robert Thompson was playing guitar and singing in an outdoor tent. Mark greeted me and pointed out Orlando’s very first fashion truck called Lollipops and Pistols.

Kristin X sat in a lawn chair beside her vintage fashion store on wheels. She is a stay at home mom mom, living her dream of being an artist and creative freak. She studied commercial illustration in college, many moons ago, but it
seemed too structured for her. Her true love is designing
invitations and stationary goods. Oh and thrifting, lets not forget
thrifting. Several women got lost in the trucks vintage clothing for quite some time. Kristin’s son took an interest in my sketch and at one point, Kristen’s husband took her spot in the lawn chair. He joked that I shouldn’t put his beard on his wife.

When I finished my sketch, I went to the Local Roots tent and ordered some shrimp and grits along with a strawberry Mimosa. It was a delicious treat made from all local ingredients.  Mark had his 60’s themed plastic chairs set up around a patch of fake lawn. Some Kerouac House authors were having a heated discussion presumably about literature. Mark was busy sending out tweets on his cell phone. If you are looking for a unique place to have brunch on a Sunday then stop by the Brunch Market.

DRIP Valentines

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After returning from Mount Dora, Terry brought her out of town friends to International Drive to experience DRIP Dance. DRIP had a special Valentines show that featured a full color themed diner along with the full floor show. Tickets cost more for this Valentines show but Jessica Mariko, the company founder, pulled out all the stops to make it a memorable show. Her boyfriend David Traver was back from being on tour. He composed all the hard hitting rock and roll for the show. We all had to sign wavers when we went in acknowledging that we knew we might get paint drenched. Yellow, Jessie Sander offered each of us a white DRIP T-shirt. I opted for the DRIP logo up on my shoulder. A brightly colored oxygen bar complimented the beer and wine bar.

As the room got crowded, and the music pulsed, Miranda Snow got on the bar holding a mango.  She did a sensuous dance with the fruit. She ripped it open and devoured it as the juices ran down her cheeks and on to her tank top. I never realized there was so much juice in a mango. When she twirled, the juice splashed onto the patrons. Dinner was served in finger food portions. My favorite item was the coconut crusted skewered shrimp. Instead of a colored beer, I went with white wine. There was a table with dozens of Valentines cards along with necklaces that featured a heart shaped bottle cap. Miranda began painting herself with red paint. My shirt had gone unscathed most of the night until she danced behind me and ran her blood red hands down my back.

Blue, the male dancer, Marcus Alexander Cartier, was performing for the last time on this evening. In the show, Blue and Yellow fall in love. Together, the two dancers create green. However, another woman, Red, Brigette Frias, catches Blues attention and they have a sordid purple affair. In future shows, Blue is being performed by a female dancer named Meagan Nagy. Meagan explained that audiences welcome the idea that two women dancers fall in love. If anything, it makes the scenes hotter.

After the show, John Frank performed on guitar. I quickly worked him into my sketch and then rejoined our crew. Everyone was paint covered and hot wired. what a night! I ended up leaving my polo shirt behind. Lovers will often forget an article of clothing when the want to return for more. It was the wettest, hottest, sexiest Valentines ever.

Lakeside Inn

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Once a year, Elaine Pasekoff, Bob Newlin and Jill Ziegler make a pilgrimage to Central Florida to attend the Renningers Antique Market in Mount Dora. The last several years Terry has joined them in their all day shopping fest. She has started collecting antique women’s compants encrusted in jewels. Last year she also came home with a huge railroad crossing sign. Bob who comes from Washington D.C. collects antique silver. Elayne comes from Miami and usually walks away with some Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia. Jill, also from D.C., has joined in the last several outings collecting fine china. I didn’t spend the day shopping, but I agreed to meet the exhausted shoppers at the Lakeside Inn where they were staying the night so they could continue shopping at the Renningers flea market the next day.

I got to the Inn a little early and decided to sketch the building. A women stopped to admire the sketch. She told me that a friend of hers was an artist. Teachers bought the girls work. In time however, the art student sold her soul to the devil and became a graphic designer. The crew parallel parked across the street from me.  They unloaded their haul for the day and made their way to the hotel’s front porch for “Show and Tell.” There were several people smoking cigars, so we all moved to a smaller porch on one of the hotel’s smaller buildings.

Elaine advised me to come up with “Best Of” categories for the best buys of the day. Last year Elaine won my vote by getting four French diorama scenes that were multilayered, adding depth to the scenes.This year Terry won the Sci-Fi Award for her purchase of an unused Star Trek board game. Elaine won the Best Teddy Award for a bust of the president. The Steal of the Day Award went to Jill. Bob’s knockers won my pick for the Best Overall Award. The mini working door knockers were on a tie clip.

We all watched the sun set over Lake Dora and then went out to dinner. We all stayed at the Inn, which is the longest standing working Inn in Florida. The next day as the troops rallied to shop again, I drove back to Orlando.