Dracula

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I went to Carmine Boutique (2708 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida) to sketch auditions for Dracula. If you haven’t been to Carmine Boutique, you need to experience it for yourself. They have a wide assortment of the odd and macabre. Behind me were pickled baby pigs in jars, a skeleton in the corner was of Siamese twins. In the back of the store is this stage along with an Edwardian fetish bar. A large poster behind the stage had an average man and a tiny woman, no taller than the penguin pictured. The poster announced, “They are married” My own marriage was crumbling. It was pouring rain outside. The loud thunder rattled the oddities adding to the mood.

I got to see how different actors fleshed out the same parts. I don’t know how a director decides with so many talented options. Yet in some moments, an actor no longer seems to be acting. They are the character. I always fall in to I always fall in love with certain performances and I am hopeful to see them in the final production.

Jeremy Seghers will breathe
new life into Bram Stoker‘s Gothic horror classic with Steven
Dietz‘s critically acclaimed adaptation of Dracula. Set exclusively at
Carmine Boutique – an antiques, oddities, and taxidermy shop featuring
an Edwardian fetish club – this immersive staging will bring the count,
his brides, and the blood dangerously close to the audience. Due to the
intense nature of the production, no one under the age of 13 will be
permitted without a guardian. 

If you are a Halloween fanatic like myself, then this is the perfect way to warm up to the horrors of the season.

Tickets. 

Dates are: 

October 6, 2016 at 8pm

October 7, 2016 at 8pm

October 8, 2016 at 8pm

October 9, 2016 at 8pm

October 10, 2016 at 8pm

October 13, 2016 at 8pm

October 14, 2016 at 8pm

October 15, 2016 at 8pm

Young Frankenstein at the Historic State Theater

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Only two days after the shooting at Pulse, I went to the Historic State Theater, (109 N Bay St. Eustis, FL) to see a dress rehearsal of Young Frankenstein directed by Brendon Rogers.  Crysta Marie, made the arrangements to have me come and sketch. She made me feel right at home. Brendon told me about an animated project that was still in the development stages.

I am quite familiar with the Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein film, but had never seen the music at stage production. The set wasn’t complete, and some props were still needed, but it was a clean run of the show. In my sketch, I focused on , doctor’s sexy assistant, and then when I drew his wife, she turned out to be monstrously tall. She is as tall as the monster himself and therefor they seem a perfect match.

The Monster’s soft shoe stage routine might have made a more iconic image, but I catch what I catch in the heat of the moment.  I worked from the upper balcony which is just used for lighting equipment and storage. The riot of wires and lights would have made for another great sketch. There just wasn’t enough time. Distracted by the barrage of Pulse related vigils and fundraisers I unfortunately didn’t post this sketch in time to promote the show. Those who went most have had a fun time.Shockingly, I wrote this article on the d that Gene Wilder died at the age of 83. I didn’t know it at the time, it just showed up as I was doing other research. Rest in Peace Gene, you we a comic genius.

Ryan Dustin at the Kerouac House.

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Ryan Dustin has been the resident author at the Kerouac House for the last several months. Writers are given a three-month residency. Each writer is provided free
lodging at the house, along with a food stipend so they can concentrate
fully on their work. To date 51 writers-in-residence from the United
States and several other countries have spent time at the Kerouac House
working on their projects.

Ryan is working on his first novel, called, “The Horse Mender.” It is set in a post apocalyptic world where people are trying to find ways to farm sustainability. A blue sketch of Jack Kerouac peered out over Ryan’s should as he read. Prior to starting this novel, Ryan strictly wrote poetry. A poem might take several hours to complete and then he needed to find something to do for the rest of the day. A novel however is a project that is ruthlessly on going.  He might complete six pages a day if he focused completely for the entire duration. As he put it, “Writing a novel is a bit crazy.” In the morning as he is lying in bed, thoughts might occur to him about what he should write about that day. Having uninterrupted open expanses of time can change your perspective. It is easy for the usual everyday chores to get in the way of a steadfast focus.

Ryan’s shirt was exquisitely wrinkled. I have no doubt that Jack’s shirts sported the same level of abandon. I don’t want to give away any aspect of the book, but the female lead was a romantic who had grown accustomed to living alone. This character appealed to me. She seemed to fit in perfectly with the sun scorched landscape. Her heart, being so protected seemed to hold the most promise in such a harsh world.

A Mid-summer Night’s Dream at the Stonewall Bar.

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I went to sketch a dress rehearsal of the William Shakespeare classic, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” presented by Howler’s Theatre and Unseen Images T at Stonewall Bar (741 W. Church St. Orlando FL). While walking to Stonewall y was shocked to see the new MLS Stadium half build in the heart of the Parramore district. Gentrification is spreading fast, west of downtown. Stonewall is right next to the stadium with rainbow colors projected in column on the facade.

The play opens with Lysander (Nick Lubke) deeply in love with Hippolyta, (Tiana Akers). He pursues her, but he heart is not so easily won.  Each time she refuses his affections his adoration grows stronger. When this love is lost, she is confused.

HERMIA

Why are you grown so rude? What change is this,

Sweet love?

LYSANDER

Thy love! Out, tawny Tartar, out!

Out, loathèd med’cine! O hated potion, hence!

These lovers are in my sketch, as Lysander restrains Hermia who is at a loss to see why her lover has abandoned her, and accuses Helenus (Scott Browning) of stealing Lysander away from her.  This production features plenty of gender bending with men taking female roles and women taking men’s roles . This gives the plot a modern twist and ads plenty of colorful fun to the plot.

 Oberon, king of the fairies (Monica Mulder), dressed in black, calls upon Robin “Puck” Goodfellow, (Charlie Wright) her “shrewd and knavish sprite”, to help her concoct a magical juice derived from a flower called “love-in-idleness”,
which turns from white to purple when struck by Cupid’s arrow. When the
concoction is applied to the eyelids of a sleeping person, that person,
upon waking, falls in love with the first living thing they perceive. This potion applied to the wrong eyes leads to lovers previous affections to melt like the snow as they pursue a new love. Both Lysander and Demetrius, (Domino Thomas), fall desperately in love with Helenus and since all three are men, the lover’s triangle becomes as physical as a football match.

Although the
performances will take place outdoors, the audience will be completely
covered from rain and all performances will go on rain or shine. Due to
the location of the show, only guests 21+ will be admitted.

The production will run for 8 performances on the following dates and times:

Friday and Saturday evenings September 2 – September 24 at 7:30 pm.
Please note that the Saturday 9/10 performance will begin at 7:00 pm
instead of 7:30.

Tickets are $22 and can be purchased at:
https://unseenimagestheatre.ticketleap.com/midsummer/

Weekend Top 6 Picks for September 3rd and 4th.

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Saturday September 3, 2016 

 4pm to closing Free but get a beer. MYTHIC. The Hourglass Brewery 480 S Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood, Florida 32750. Fables and Fantasy offer the ultimate exploration of the depth of human experience. Our monsters take the form that terrifies us most–will you meet yours on a Mythic journey?

Featuring ALL NEW works inspired by legendery creatures and archetypes from Morgan Wilson (Lux Nova Studio).

8 pm to 10pm $45.95, VIP UPGRADE $74.84 When Shadows Fall. Takes place in an undisclosed private location in Orlando, Florida. Upon buying a ticket, you will receive the address.

We are located roughly 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando, 15 minutes
from Universal Orlando, and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. But you’re not just buying a ticket to experience When Shadows Fall. You’re obtaining a visa to become a citizen of Penumbra, leaving your material and spiritual insecurities on the Outside. Penumbra is your new home, your new life.

 When Shadows Fall™ is an exciting new form of interactive entertainment
that combines live performance with high-tech interactions and immersive
environments to create a unique experience like no other. Explore a
hyperreal world with shocking visual elements, live professional actors,
couture costumes, a rousing original musical score, cinematic lighting,
and high-tech interactions that bring familiar video game mechanics to
real life.

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts. 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL. 1st Saturday of each month. Free fun!

Sunday September 4, 2016 

All day. September 1-10. Free. St. Pete Mural Festival. Check the map to see where international and local artists are painting murals all around St. Pete.

2pm to 4pm Free Yoga. Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL (Near the Red Pagoda). Weekly.

10pm to Midnight Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic.  Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

When Shadows Fall, Hawthorn’s agony.

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I have been documenting each performance of When Shadows Fall. Since I’ve become somewhat of a fixture, the cast works around me as if I were a member of the futuristic society of Penumbra. I am cast a a member of the gold cast of society which consists of the intellectuals and artists.  I dress up a bit to look the part. On this evening I focused on Harlan the Engineers lab. Hawthorn (Robert Cunha) is both a pastor as well as an engineer. As I sketched in his lab, I heard him preaching in the chapel behind me. He asked the congregation to close their eyes and imagine what he described. His vision was so cynical and disturbing, that it sounded like the ravings of a madman.

After the sermon, he quickly entered the lab, and grabbed a bottle of booze from the cabinet on the right. He offered me a cup, we were long time drinking buddies. On his stool, was a mechanical device, it was the final piece of something he had been working on for a long time. Two of the new citizens were assigned to his lab. He instructed them on the final steps to complete the devise. Plans on the walls showed all the inner workings. Before the manufacture was complete, or the devise tested, a member of the office came in and confiscated all that he had been working on.

An orange glowing shackle on Hawthorn’s ankle kept him under house arrest in his lab. His assistants however were not constrained. He gave them both walkie talkies and asked them to find a fail safe that could disarm the device.  If the assistants failed, all of Penumbra could be in jeopardy. Harlan’s daughter, Odessa was used as bait, to keep Harlan on task. There were spies, espionage, and at times it was hard to distinguish the new citizens from the cast.

What choices the new citizens made could dictate how the story might unfold. With so many story lines unfolding at once, you never get a complete picture of what is happening everywhere. You would never see the same story if you returned. Some scenes unfold without any witnesses. I was the only person who saw the tender relationship between  Hawthorn and his daughter Odessa, (Cassandra Heinrich). Just as in everyday life, the tenderest scenes can only be witnessed by slowing down and being perfectly still. When Shadows Fall is a truly unique evening of interactive entertainment. I for one, am highly addicted.

First Thursdays at the Orlando Museum of Art.

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First Thursdays, at the Orlando Museum of Art is held as the name implies, is held on the First Thursday of every month. Each month has a new theme. In November, the theme was animals. David Ramiss had a wonder metal sculpture of a wasp enclosed in a plexiglass case. A beautiful model was showing off a day sculptor in progress, still on the armature. I think the sculptor wanted to work on it during the event, but he was bombarded with so many questions, that he never had time to touch the clay.

The hissing cat was unique. Someone demonstrated that if you put your fringe in the cat’s butt, it would make a noise. I explained this unique feature to several friends who stopped to talk, but they didn’t believe me. No one activated the cat for the rest of the evening. Wine flowed and the room got more and more packed. Brad Micheal Biggs gave me a quartz crystal he had mined himself. Jeff had forgot he his cell phone and he needed to borrow mine. I guess the crystal was a fair trade.

The next First Thursday is titled,

ECLECTIC KNIGHTS

VIII September 1, 2016

8th annual event for the UCF College of Arts and Humanities Alumni
Chapter. This Knight of Art will feature artwork designed exclusively by
UCF alumni, faculty and staff in a variety of media.

Presented by the Associates of the Orlando Museum of Art| which is a volunteer support group committed to expanding
Museum membership and encouraging the appreciation of the visual arts.
From 6-9 pm on the first Thursday of each month, Central Florida has an
opportunity to discover local artists, listen to live music and mingle
with an eclectic mix of people. There are cash bars serving wine, beer,
soft drinks and water, and café offerings from area restaurants.

Admission to 1st Thursdays is $10 for visitors. Admission includes
access to the Museum’s featured exhibition. Parking is free at Orlando
Loch Haven Park and overflow parking is available at the Orlando Science
Center’s parking garage for $5 per vehicle.

Creative City Project

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On October 15, 2016 more than 1,000 artists and performers bring the heart of the city to life!

An adventure of unexpected creative encounters in the heart of the city. As you discover the art of the Creative City Project, artists will
invite you in to become part of the experience. The fusion of
performance and technology extend beyond the stage and into your realm. Find yourself surrounded with inspiration. Just one example is this
performance by the 100 piece CFC Arts Orchestra on 5 stages – surrounding
the audience with an immersive orchestral experience. See
artists like never before. As they unleash their creativity en masse,
the artists of the Creative City Project inspire you to live creatively
everyday.

Last year most of Orange Avenue was shut down in Downtown Orlando to accommodate this explosion of the arts. I sketched these Spanish dancers and then wandered to discover of he amazing performances all up and down Orange Avenue. There were so many act happening at once, so it was impossible to experience everything. 

ODD 4 at Stardust Video and Coffee.

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The October ODD 4 (Orlando Drink and Draw), was held at Stardust Video and Coffee (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL). This is y monthly event where artists, well, drink and Draw. There is no model is just artists working together and networking. I ordered a Big Wave beer and started to sketch. About six other artists came out to sketch. The Audubon Community Market was happening in the parking lot outside, so the place was crowded. The clientele at stardust have a layed back vibe. The guy a the end of the bar had waist long Rasta Dreads. I had quite a few beers and then I left the bar and drove home. The problem was, that I started a tab and left my credit card with the bartender. I only realized this when I got back home. It is an hour drive but, I drove all the way back to Stardust. They were still open and several artists were still there.

Wednesday Open Words at Austin’s.

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When I go to Austin’s Coffee, (929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL), I always order an ice cold “Yak”, which is a flavor full iced coffee along with a Portobello Mushroom sandwich. I arrive a bit early, so I cs watch the Wednesday Open Words hosts clear the stag and set up the sound equipment. Heather was the host for the evening. She read first and I put he at the microphone in my sketch. Other literary types arrived, rehearsing their poetry or prose.

As always it was an entertaining and enlightening evening. I don’t understand how most people can go home from work and then isolate themselves by watching a TV in their dark living rooms. Going to these readings, I get to experience so many local stories. Open Words happens every Wednesday, get out and see what is happening in your community, and if you are brave enough, step up to the microphone.