Dave Jennings

The clouds are brewing...

2009-06-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

davejennings.net dvj4.blogspot.com

I am looking South from a window in the Second City Training Center offices.

I have been watching the sky over Chicago change color. The clouds are lowering onto the Sears Tower and the Hancock Building.

A hard rain is just beginning to cut through the air and pummel the windows, and the lights just flickered a second after the thunder and lightning flashed.

The clouds are billowing out like a boiling pot of lentil soup as they swirl around the Chicago skyline, and daylight is slipping away as the windows lit in office buildings seem to appear out of nowhere.

A thought appears in my head, "A much needed win for the Cubs will likely be called today"

A second thought has overshadowed the postponed baseball game, "What a fucking stupid week to purchase a bike, Dave, fucking stupid. Why the hell would you chance riding your fucking bike three and a half miles when you knew it might rain. Oh, no, Dave, you are such a fucking idiot. You thought you could fucking beat Mother Nature? Are you fucking serious? You don't even have a fucking fender on your bike. What the fuck? Even if it stops this biblical rainfall before you leave, your ass is going to be soaked by the time you get to Wrigleyville. There is a god-damned waterfall running down the window in front of you right now, and you didn't even bring your fucking bike seat in with you, because you are a moron. The Sears Tower just fucking disappeared from sight because it's raining so hard... What's that sound? Hail? Fuck me. Seriously? Hail? Where the hell did the Hancock Building go? Gone? Gone? Yup. Gone. Stupid Dave. Stupid freaking Dave.

"You are a moron among morons, Dave, a fucking King of the Idiots, a turd among men...

summer 2009, quitting?

2009-06-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to my first summer in Chicago, and a few weeks ago, I realized that I had spread myself too thin.

The Music Box needs some more of my time, the Museum is getting to be more of a chore than a joy, and all together I work 70+ hours a week, plus my internship, plus rehearsals, plus class... there is just no more time.

So, I have talked to one of my bosses about taking on a little more at the Music Box so as to get some more revenue for the theatre, get me some more evening time free, and supplement my income that I loose when i quit working at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Although I like MSI, I need to focus on why I moved to chicago and spend more time on this little jewel I found within the Music Box Theatre. This is not why I moved here, but I have to jump into it more while balancing my life and the reasons why I did move here.

So, I quit MSI, wow.

In the last year I have quit three jobs, that;s pretty amazing.

A Gummed up connection

2009-03-24T13:16:00.001-07:00

So, I just signed into Facebook to find two friends of mine had posted in their status about gum at nearly the same time.

The weird thing is that neither of these people have ever met each other and they are currently 400 miles away, but there were their posts, right above each other:

Here they are:

Conrad Franzen hey man I dont care if you want a piece of gum!!! I work hard for my fuckin artic blast!

Peggy Flanagan really wants a piece of gum.17 minutes ago ·

Trains

2009-03-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Trains

I had an interesting thought last night regarding the ‘L.’ I got off a Purple Line Express last night at the Belmont stop and waited for a Brown Line train. Both trains should have gone to the same place, but you never know. Purple Lines appear when you least expect them, and suddenly you are miles off track. So, I go onto a Brown Line and then off at Sedgwick. When I did, my friend Kelly was getting off the train.

Kelly had taken the Red Line from Lawrence, gotten on to the same Purple Line train I was getting off of at Belmont, fearing the same thing I was fearing as to the unpredictability of the Purple Line, she got off at Diversey a and got on the same Brown Line train I was on.

My thought is this, how often do you think that on the CTA do you get off a train that someone you know is getting on?

How often is there someone you know in another car?

How often is there a complete stranger that is taking the same route you are taking and switching from and to the same trains you are?

This city is huge. There are 2.8 Million people who live in the City of Chicago, and there are more than 9.5 Million who live in the Chicagoland area. Approximately 1.7 Million people take CTA trains and busses each Day. According to an advertisement I pass every time I ride the Brown Line there are over 66,000 people who ride the Brown Line every weekday.

66,000 is six times the population of the town I grew up in. It is ten times the size of the high school I went to. 66,000 is larger than the entire staff and student population of the University of Minnesota—the forth largest populated school in the country.

So, the next time you are on the train, think about who you might be missing. It might be a friend or foe, or just that crazy guy eating a tuna fish sandwich…. but it won’t matter if you do not get your head out of the Red Eye.

That is all.

Better Know a Writer: Andy Rooney

2009-01-31T08:47:00.001-08:00

Better Know a Writer: Andy Rooney

davejennings.net dvj4.blogspot.com

It is my opinion that Andy Rooney was the first blogger, video blogger, and is one of the most influential men in America. At Age 90, he is a down to earth guy with opinions and an editorial eye that every other writer and editorialist should strive to accomplish.

You may disagree with me, but for nearly 30 years he has had a few minutes at the end of 60 Minutes to chat about whatever he might like to. He has had an amazing career in writing for radio, television, papers, books, and of course his pieces on 60 Minutes. He was one of the first reporters to write about the Concentration Camps at the end of World War II, and he has had a long and storied history writing for CBS and others on everything from Black History to Baseball.

He is not a perfect man. His age and experiences sneak into his words and opinions every now and again. He is one of the very few current event writers and journalists who have had a career spanning over 60 years, and because of that his words and opinions that would have been accepted 50 years ago are not politically correct today. But he has never written a word with malice intent, and he has only looked to write the story as he sees it. He has been upfront and honest about his liberal bias, and other biases that make him a man of integrity.

Andy Rooney: "I'm Trying To Find Out What Blog Means. It Seems Vastly Over-Rated As A Communications Tool"... (Huffington Post, 11/5/2005)

Tarantino: The Improvised Show

2009-01-31T08:31:00.000-08:00

Tarantino: The Improvised Show

davejennings.net and dvj4.blogspot.com

Starting January 31st, Saturday nights at 10pm are a time for black suits. A time for fingers itching for the trigger. A time for raised voices and raised tempers.

A time for Tarantino.

Tarantino: The Improvised Show is a one-hour homage to the man himself, creating before your eyes on-stage the Tarantino movie that hasn’t been made yet. So come to the Playground Theater and remember: the only thing you can trust is the gun in your hand.

tarantinotheshow.wordpress.com

Cast
Lisa Burton
Justin Franzen
Brian Hoolahan
Dave Jennings
Dave Urlakis
Allison MacWilliams-Brooks

Director:Tyler Samples
Assistant Director:Allison MacWilliams-Brooks

Chicago, you're a hell of a town

2009-01-31T08:12:00.000-08:00

Chicago, you're a hell of a town.
www.davejennings.net http://dvj4.blogspot.com/

Hey Chicago, why do you do the things you do?

Tuesday marks my 5th month in the Second City.

This town is like an abusive boyfiriend. It smacks you around, but you know there's something good in there. It forgets your birthday, and then it takes you out to a really nice dinner. It draws you in, and doesn't let you leave.

I have been scraping away for five months, I was at the end of it all. I am down to my last dollar. It has been a roller coaster:

September:
Moved to Chicago, great apartment, great friends, no job.
Found two jobs, part time. Working 50 hours a week. Making ends meet.
Got into the Second City Conservatory.

October/November
Auditioned for a few things, did not get anything.
I could not get an "in" anywhere.

December
Worked a lot, covered bills, head above water--- but barely.
Got a partial lay off from the Museum of Science and Industry, and I had to watch some great people get laid off completely. THat sucked a lot.
My catering job dissappeared... I had no shifts from Dec 20th to Jan 20th
The city got cold, not frozen like Minneapolis, but cold.

January
Still cold.
Job searching sucked.
Broke up with my girlfriend, which sucked. I was so stressed about everything in my life.
Budgeting everything.
Can't even get an interview for a job.
Making plans in my head about how to move back to the farm
Get into a great show: Tarantino: The Improvised show (www.tarantinotheshow.wordpress.com)
Got into a student/independant film where I play a villain, which is great... a fun film. Great for a reel.
Obama became president.
Got an internship working for Second City in the Training Center.
Got an interview, got a second interview. Got the job.

As the ticking in my bank account seemed ready to explode, Chicago took me out to dinner, calmed me down, and told me that I was loved.

Fuck you, Chicago, fuck you. Ok, we can work this out.

Looks like I am here for awhile.

If you’re cold, get used to it…

2009-01-13T23:02:00.000-08:00

If you’re cold, get used to it…
Davejennings.net or dvj4.blogspot.com

Hello All,

All right, it’s cold, we all know that. There is no way to get over it, we just have to deal with it. I am not going to talk about the fact that in Minneapolis right now it is -4 or that in Chicago it is the balmy 6 degree (Fargo, ND is a steamy –9 degrees).

Instead, I want to talk about how we get used to it, Say what you will, in October we start complaining about days in the 50s, but come March we are excited about 40s, or even April’s 60 degree weather has people wearing shorts.

We all have an innate ability to deal with the crappy weather. I have talked to people who have recently moved to Chicago from Texas and North Carolina, and a month ago they could not handle temps around 30, but this weekend we got up to the 20s down here on the lake, and they were excited and living it up.

I guess what I am saying is nothing new, but I am always impressed by how our bodies can adapt and grow resilient to the cold or the heat. During the course of only a few months each year we are able to withstand temperature changes varying from -20 to 110 degrees. Sure, we have heat and air conditioning, coats and scarves, but I believe we also have resilience and strength. We have Midwestern blood from pioneers who emigrated, traversed great distances, and then said “This is far enough. We are tired, and this is nice enough.” Then, like good Midwesterners our forefathers were just as stubborn as we are today, we have refused for generations to move to warmer climates.

And so, every year we convince others to move to this frozen land by saying “Come visit me this summer, you’ll love it!” and then once we convince people to move here they have no way to get out, and then the next year we are able to get them to get more people to move here.

So, here’s what I say: Keep playing this game. Misery loves company. It can always get colder. keep you chins up, campers.

That is all.

Snow, a whole hell of a lot of snow

2009-01-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

This morning I went out and got Dunkin’ Donuts for a rehearsal that we were having at the apartment.
Dunkin Donuts has many memories and a very emotional response to many of those who grew up around Dunkin Donuts. Here are some of the things I know about the extents to which others will go for DD:
· I know someone who will ship their father bags of Dunkin Donut’s Coffee a thousand miles because the coffee is “So freaking amazing….”
· I have a friend that will recite their old commercials verbatim from the late 1980’s
· Some people will refuse to do anything, but as soon as you mention going to DD, they are off the couch, with shoes on, and happy as a clam to get out of the apartment
· Dunkin’ Donuts has a power over people to make an early morning meeting or rehearsal ok
· Joe Biden had a racial slip at a Dunkin’ Donut
· In NYC, Dunkin’ Donut’s were giving out a pound of coffee beans to people who donated blood (because that’s a good idea)
· They use Styrofoam for their coffee in their shops, and that is no body’s friend.

Here are some of those commercials in case you need a walk down memory lane:

Old Dunkin' Donuts Commercial... - video powered by Metacafe

How could you not love him?

That is all….

Better Know a Beard

2009-01-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.daveJennings.net and dvj4.blogspot.com

Better know a few…..

Hello Folks,

My post yesterday about facial hair reminds me of a few people who I hold in regard. In this special “Better know a_______” I give you some of my favorite facial haired people of all time.

Better Know a Former Milwaukee Brewer
Rollie Fingers

Regarded as one of the best relief pitchers in Major League Baseball, he was also one of the first to be groomed for that position from his minor league days. Rollie is known for his mustache, a genuine Handlebar, roughly 100 years out of style. Rollie has had the beard since he played for the Athletics. In a true moment of steadfast, he grew the mustache to get a bonus, as did many of his teammates as a publicity stunt. He was the only one not to shave it off when traded, and it became his trademark. Now, over 30 years later no one can imagine a clean faced Rollie.

Highlights from his career: (This is right from Wikipedia!)
Fingers won both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award in 1981 while with Milwaukee. In 1974 he was given the World Series MVP Award while with Oakland, earning two saves and one win. Fingers won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award in 1977, 1978, and 1980 with the Padres and in 1981 with the Brewers. He saved 29 games for the 1982 Brewers, but he pitched most of the season in pain and was forced to miss the Brewers' first trip to the World Series — where they were beaten in seven games by the Cardinals — and any prospect of a showdown or two with Bruce Sutter, who proved vital to the Cardinals' winning effort.

In 1992 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Wilhelm to become only the second reliever inducted (Eckersley, Sutter, and Gossage have since followed). In 1999, he ranked Number 96 on The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Fingers later pitched a season in the short-lived Senior Professional Baseball League.

Better Know A President
Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B Hayes is an interesting one. He grew his beard when serving in the Civil War. Hayes formed a military company with some of his literary club friends from Cincinnati. He became a major in the army, and rose up the ranks to a brevetted major general by the end of the war. Under his command was another future president, William McKinley.

The 1876 election was as controversial as any other election in modern history. Hayes was a quiet guy, nice enough, and he lost the popular vote, but won the electoral vote by one vote after a special congressional commission awarded him the presidency. He was sworn in in secrecy one day before the public inauguration for fear of something bad happening.

Better Know a Weather Man….
Jimmy “Dutch” Gaines
http://www.secretsofthecity.com/magazine/blogs/dude-weather

I have no idea why Jimmy has those sideburns. He has had them for most of the time I have known him over the past 5 years. They are a part of this Weather Man (I divide it into two words because he is just that, a Man who does the weather…. Or as he also claims, a Dude who does the weather.

Jimmy is a true New Yorker, even though his stint in NYC was short, he has some great stories about his time there, and moreover he headed back to the Midwest where his NYC feel gives him an edge the Minnesota Nice is fearful of.

Please check out his video blog whether you weather in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Milwaukee, LA, SFO or NYC.
http://www.secretsofthecity.com/magazine/blogs/dude-weather

Facial Hair

2009-01-08T21:30:00.000-08:00

1-9-09 davejennings.net and dvj4.blogspot.com

Hello Folks,

Welcome back again.

After that long novel, I think I shall delve into something thoroughly deep and thought provocative: beards.

I just shaved off my 6th or 7th beard of my life. I am cold, I miss it, and even though numerous people have said I look younger and more handsome without it, I still want it on my face.

This beard was the victim of a beard trimmer mishap. Many beards go this way. Many beards, sideburns, mustaches, and purposeful 5 o’clock shadows have fallen victim to the misplaced guard or the poorly connected trimmer guard.

To have a clean beard can be much more work than fresh and clean skin. The trimming and the maintenance, the balance and the mirror on each cheek are difficult to maintain. It takes talent, and when missed cannot be judged poorly upon--- instead you should congratulate a proper beardsmith on an attempt to do a good job.

In this beard’s demise, he hell victim to the #1 setting on my trimmer, as opposed to the normal #3. With one swipe, a divot was entered into my facial hair that could not be concealed. I spared my mustache for a full evening in the public…. In other words, I had a #1 length beard with a #5 length mustache… if you know what this means you can picture it. If you cannot, then take this description that my roommate gave me, “You look like a douche.”

A Douche perhaps, but a damaged douche that misses his beard.

A day later in preps for a job interview, I am clean shaven for the first time since Halloween, and I miss my warm and fuzzy windbreaker, my mustache with coffee icicles, my cheek warmer, my all purpose back of my hand scratcher, and my solution for activity whenever my hands needed something to play with…. Yes, I miss you.

I hope I get a job that allows me to re-grow my little friend.

That is all....
davejennings.net

Coming back at you

2009-01-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

Hello folks,

So, I have not Blogged since September 2008. That’s four months.

I needed to take that time off. I know that whoever reads this will probably not believe me and will think that I am just using it as an excuse for being lazy, but it’s true. I was not ready to do any of this. Call it “Writer’s Block” or whatever you will…. But at the end, I chose not to write in September because I did not feel like it. Over the past month or so I have some instances of wanting to write or to be creative, but I could not force it.

There are a few things that have finally converged to make me want to be creative again. I recently lost some hours at work, so time is now allowing me to be creative again, I have had to spend some more time at my computer than I was for awhile, and having a keyboard in front of you always helps you write, and finally it has just felt right. I have had this itch bugging me to write.

I have started to write some sketches again, and so I can call myself a writer again. In the words of Caleb McEwen, “The only thing that makes you a writer is that writers write.”

My friend and roommate Lisa Burton (http://www.lisaburton.blogspot.com/) is reading a book I lent her by Twyla Tharp entitled “The Creative Spirit” in which the world renowned choreographer writes about how important it is to create structure for your creative spirit to be healthy…. Or if you are bogged down, that you cannot force it, you must take a break from it, you must get away from your work every now and again. I also compare this to Jill Bernard’s “Sine Wave of Suck” in which with regards to improv there are times when you will suck, or at least you will feel like you suck…. So you must move away from improv. Go for a walk or a leave of absence, join a softball team, whatever it takes. Get away and do something else. Get over it, it’s just improv.

So here I am, I moved to Chicago four months ago, and although I am searching for more work (that pays), I kind of feel like I am finally getting the hang of this place. I am certainly feeling better about some of my stuff, I feel like I am in a place where my creative spirit can be successful. Woot.

For a return of my “Better Know a ______________” I give you:
BETTER KNOW A CHOREOGRAPHER: TWYLA THARP

Whoever might read this might immediately stop reading because they are turned off by the idea of dance, but I implore you to keep reading. Twyla has thoughts and words that transcend to all walks of life.

I was first introduced to Twyla Tharp’s book “The Creative Spirit” by a college professor named Lance Brockman. He made us read it in our Advanced Scene Design course. One of the biggest “take aways” I had for the book was that whatever your passion and your art you must be purposeful about your art. It is too easy to take the easy route of an artist and lose your drive or give up on it, or worse yet call yourself an artist when you do not create. Think of the college student who is too concerned with partying and sleeping to go to class. They are not a student, they are a waste of possibility. So Twyla writes that one must work toward their goals, they must set structure to be their most creative… in the words of my friend Lauren Anderson, “We must limit to free.” We could create anything, but without some structure it is so much harder.

Twyla Tharp once said, “The only thing I fear more than change is no change. The business of being static makes me nuts.” And this reads to an improviser well. My friend John Sweeney was quoted on millions of Starbucks Cups as saying, “Improvisers don't look at change as an obstacle; we look at it as fuel. We know that the next great idea lies just on the other side of the change. We are constantly asking ourselves, 'What can I do to incite change?' Well?" This idea of change is hard for people. To change is the unknown…. Hell, I am scared of it too. But if we always stay the same then how can we ever improve ourselves? Take a look at the auto industry.

Twyla started formal piano training when she was four years old. She had dancing lessons of every sort and description, and painting lessons. She also learned German and shorthand. Her mother’s viewpoint on education was that Twyla was to learn everything. Simple enough, right? But it makes sense to me. An artist must educate themselves in as much that might seemingly have nothing to do with their art form as possible, otherwise they run the risk of either not knowing how to create their next work or that their work will become stagnant.

Twyla Tharp has won Emmy and Tony awards, and currently works as a choreographer in New York City. That is her one line biography, but like any artist she is a lot more than a one line of text. She is a weird confluence of circumstance bound together to create a demanding individual I can admire.

Think of the performers and artists you know and admire. I will bet you that you can probably say the same thing for each one of them. Any artist who is worth their salt has been through a lot and done a lot to get by and not give up on their art form. You must be dedicated. You must be driven. You must be diverse. You must be able to change.

What drives you? What is your goal? Is everything you are doing going to take you there? Is that a good or a bad thing (or neither)? Are you happy? Does that matter?

That is all.
davejennings.net and dvj.blogspot.com

We are here

2008-09-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hey folks

We are in Chicago. Our stuff is in our new place... which I love... and I am tired, very tired.

Tomorrow is for more unpacking and finding a job.

Woot.

That is all

Packing it up

2008-08-31T13:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday was "We Got The Truck Day"

A beautiful yello Penske that is about 2/3 full at this point with all of Tylr and Lisa's stuff.

Good news, I think all of our stuff will fit in the truck with perhaps a little overflow into my pick up.

Great news: I have the truck with all of Lia and Tyler's stuff, and I will be selling it all off to fund my next year in Chicago--- Ha! Take that FUCKERS!

Most of my stuff i going into the truck tomorrow (Monday) so I am packing, cleaning, and throwing stuff out...

Anyone want a desk?

Strong Statements

2008-08-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Say what you will about Democrats, Republicans, the Green Party, and everyone else... you have got to admit that Obama's speech was amazing. In front of a live audience of 75,000 people and millions of Americans watched on television, Obama delivered a wonderfully intelligent speech of hope, change, and reasons why McCain is wrong for this country.

I was not a Clinton or Obama supporter during the primaries. I refused to make a real decision, but I am now sold on Obama.

That being said, my roommate Chris and I wonder if they focus group tested the phrase "Obama Biden." There a very small change needed to make "Obama Biden" into "Osama Bin Laden"

During the biography video shown before his speech at the DNC last night Michelle and Barack Obama spoke about his strange name (Remember too that there are people still worried about his middle name Houssein, and that whole Muslim thing). I think that they are just trying to make it hard on themselves.

Someone must have said, "Hey, do you guys think that 'Obama Biden' sounds a lot like that Osama guy?"

"Yeah, but Americans will not hold that against us."

Are you kidding? As a whole, we are not that smart.

Have you seen "Deliverance?" It's real. There are people out there like that.

Do you realize we elected a C student for two terms instead of two boring orators with spectacular educations?

I guarantee that there will be people who change their vote in the booth because they will see the last names in bold and have a flash back to 9/11 news coverage-- and suddenly Anytown, U.S.A will vote for their crazy old "Grampa McCain" instead of "Osama BinChange a lot."

Thank You, Minneapolis Show

2008-08-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Tonight was great.

Thank you.

Thank you to the 20 improvisers who kicked ass, 5 groups plus a monster jam at the end was a hell of a lot of fun. It was a great opportunity for us to say "Thank you" to the groups we love to perform with.

It was funny, it was meaningful, it was spectacular.

Thank you to those who made it out, thank you to those who tried to make it out. Thank you for your laughs, support, thank you.

bookend shows

2008-08-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

This will be a day bookended by shows.

I awoke from only 3 hours of sleep this morning to go to ComedySportz and do a great show for a group of teachers in Waconia... I still do not know where Waconia is, except that it is South and West.

Tonight is our "Thank You, Minnapolis" show at the Brave New Workshop. Things could be a little nuts tonight. I you are still debating coming, you really should just show up.

From here on out it is a lot of packing, cleaning, and final hand off.

I spoke to my mother today, she asked how I was doing-- I responded with "Well, moving is one of the most stressful things in life, and I am doing it without enough prep time... so I am a little stressed."

"Oh, I suppose. Well, I wish there was something I could do, but seeing as I can't-- just call me and let me know how you are doing."

That was nice. That was acceptance of the fact that I am actually moving to Chicago on her part. This is good... it means she is finally ok with my move.

So, come tot he show tonight, it will be great... see you there.

-Dave

So Much--- so little time

2008-08-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Brewers ar keeping the wild card dream alive

One week from now I will be unpacking in my new apartment, yet I have not gotten much packed in my current apartment.

Currently:
*I have friends getting Married in New York
*My Current roommate is getting ready to move out of our current place and he is moving his girlfriend into their new place
*I am moving 400 miles away
*I am getting ready to audition for the Second City Training Program
*I am trying to find a job
*I am finishing things up at the BNW
*trying to say hello and good bye to everyone

Holy Crap.

I have an awesome positive energy right now, but I am also sick to my stomach...

Really excited. I just want to worry about moving at this point...

Check out davejennings.net

Time Lapse

2008-08-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2008
www.Davejennings.net

Hey there folks,

INTRO---
Welcome back. So, since my last writing I have lost three keys on my new laptop. It was a terrible experience, and I offer it up only because it is making typing slightly more difficult. I lost my S, E, and 4 key in an amazing drop from one hand and catch by another hand. Alas, I need to order a new laptop keyboard from Dell and install it myself. Dude, I got another Dell. Dude.

As I am typing this on my broken keyboard I am trying a little experiment. I am using the camera on my laptop to do a time lapse session on what happens during the art fair in front of the Brave New Workshop. I’ll post the video if it is at all interesting. So, if the thrill of reading my blog is not enough for you, you can now watch from my computer screen a video of what happens over my shoulder as I am typing in front of the BNW.

Do you use iGoogle? If you don’t, you should. It should be everyone’s new homepage. It is amazing. It gets the DVJ4 seal of approval.

CHICAGO UPDATE
Looking for jobs, looking for places to live. Everyone and their mother ask me about Chicago on a nearly daily basis. I suppose I don’t mind talking about it, when I am not talking about it I tend to freak out a little and worry, but when I am talking about it, I just get annoyed by the fact that I have no idea what is going on at all. Lisa and Tyler (Burstin’ and Petri) both have Fringe Shows to keep them busy, I just have the BNW to keep me busy… which does keep me pretty busy, I suppose. I have been searching on Craigslist.org for housing and jobs almost nonstop for the past two weeks. Anyway, everyone asks me about it all the time…

IMPROV UPDATE
No real update here, just rehearsing, a little ComedySportz here and there.

BREWERS UPDATE
Alright. Yep. The Cubs won the entire series in Milwaukee.

That is all

"Fixing the internet" is not in anyone's job description around here... oops.

2008-07-30T17:12:00.001-07:00

July 30, 2008

Hey there folks,

So, it’s been a few days since I wrote, and I apologize for any of you who were hoping for my expose on Wisconsin vs. Minnesota—that is going to be a great one, and it is going to be a long and balanced look from my biased opinion.

Today I have been totally delayed on everything because of working with a tech on the internet at the Brave New Workshop for the past four hours. So, I have not been nearly as productive as I would have liked, and I will be keeping this entry pretty short.

CHICAGO UPDATE
Lisa, Tyler and I are heading down to Chi-Town to find a place to live on Sunday the 16th of August. I have dubbed this the “Apartment of Bust” trip. Petri (Tyler) Burstin’ (Lisa) and DVJ4 (Me) will be making the trek with all plans to have a place to live after our three day journey. People keep asking me if I am excited, and yes, yes I am. But it seems very surreal. I think that it’s strange to suddenly be moving to another town as I am going to be running myself ragged right up to our departure on September 2nd.

IMPROV UPDATE
I am so excited for a rehearsal with the “Untitled Harold Experiment” this weekend, it’s not funny. I also have a ComedySportz Show Thursday night, so come out and see me kick some ass.

BREWERS UPDATE
The Brewers have lost the first two games of this series against the Cubs. I did not see the inning last night where the Cubs scored 5 runs, and I am glad I missed it. I have a theory that under the national spotlight of playing on ESPN tonight that the Brewers will be victorious. Also, I was afraid to blog about them for fear of ruining their luck, but I guess that did not matter, so let’s see them kick some ass tonight. That is all I am going to say about the game, except that they will probably have to score early in the game to make a win possible

THE LARGER PICTURE
This is where I would normally write an expose about one thing or another, no time right now…. So moving on….

BETTER KNOW A POLITICIAN-- Ehud Olmert -- Prime Minister of Israel
Several of my RSS feeds tell me that Prime Minister Olmert has announced that he will be vacating his office after the elections in September, so let’s take a look at him and learn a little bit about him, shall we?
• Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been the center point of a a high-profile corruption investigation, announced Wednesday that he would resign his office after his party chose a new leader in September elections.
• He has been under pressure in a high-profile investigation, suspected of illicitly receiving large sums of cash over a long period from a Long Island businessman.
• He has denied all implications of wrongdoing
• He became acting Prime Minister in January of 2006 after Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke
• He became Prime Minister after elections in May 2006
• His wife is an artist, playwright, and a leftwing politico (who claims to have voted for him for the first time in 2006!)
• From 1993 to 2003 he served as the Mayor of Jerusalem—where he improved transportation in the city be bringing in a light rail system
• In February of 2006, scandal hit the acting Prime Minister’s cabinet after a little case of police brutality when they were forcing the eviction of an Israeli Settlement
• He and his wife have 4 children as well as an adopted daughter
• One of his sons is Vice President of Nickelodeon

That is all—for now….

The Mafia, Baby Showers, and Teddy Roosevelt

2008-07-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks,

Here I am figuring out this blogosphere world, and I ask you all to bear with me. I am starting to learn what the people want.

What I am really trying to do is have a combination of things in my life--- interesting happenings to me, followed by some larger topic that everyone can talk about and argue about, and then a little piece at the end of each entry where I take a moment to profile someone I think you should know a little information. Sometimes this will be a moment called “Better Know a Brewer,” “Better Know a Politician,” “Better Know an Improviser,” “Better Know a Hero,” and other aspects from the “Better Know a ____________.” I think it will be a good way to get stuff going around here.

INTERESTING THINGS I’VE BEEN UP TO: BABY SHOWERS AND THE MAFIA
(Some credit for this needs to go to John Haynes and others who have came to the same conclusion)

The Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre is like the Mob. Here’s why:
· We have an internal structure.
· We’ve been around for 50 years.
· Everyone knows who we are We have connections all over the country.
· We bring people into the “family” that is the BNW.
· We’ve got our fingers in a lot of business.
· We work so closely together, and we must inherently trust one another—we share life experiences together.
· Weddings, baby showers, funerals—they are all shared.

When I started at the BNW six years ago people brought their dogs to work, now they bring their kids to work with them. In one room we will have kids watching the “Backyard-i-gans” on a lap top and playing with plush toys, and in the next room there will be actors working on a sketch with a couple trying to fuck each other in a voting booth but it goes all wrong when they realize they have differing political views on abortion (that’s not really a sketch—but I think it’s a good idea for one). There is nothing stranger than those two extremes in dynamics.

We had a baby shower for the Bozics who are awaiting the arrival of a little girl. Some of the women of the “Brave New Workshop Family” put together an amazing baby shower (kudos to Beth and Lauren for that!) It was like a scene from a mob movie set in the 1950’s where the whole family is enjoying a picnic on the estate. This is what makes the BNW so cool. We get along together, work and play cross, and we become parts of each other’s lives. ---Also, you can never leave the BNW. Once you are in, you can never leave- alive. That’s why I am moving 400 miles away. They are shipping me South. If I stop blogging, it probably means I am dead. The Don had me whacked.

BREWERS UPDATE

So I was right, the Brewers pulled it out last night with a win against the last team in the division. And then they lost today against the same team. I was watching the game on my computer during the baby shower. I could not believe it. The score was 11 to 6 at the end. The Cubs won today, so the brewers are again one game behind the Cubs and now they are heading into a series with the Cubs, this looks rough. I can’t talk about this anymore.
I will most likely be watching this entire series. (4 games) I do not want to talk about it. So scared of jinxing this.

I am working on a little diatribe on Minnesota VS Wisconsin and the feelings between residents of each great state.

BETTER KNOW A PRESIDENT

The current Brave New Workshop show has a great sketch about my favorite president of all time, Teddy “Motha-Fuckin’” Roosevelt (That’s how he’s referred to in the show). I have long loved Teddy Roosevelt. He is a hero to me. Paintings depict an amazing smile and a character prescience that transcends the ink and years since his death to stir a pride in America and the office of president that no president in recent history does for me. Below are some important facts about our 26th President of these United States. (Most of these facts actually come from a book! “Theodore Roosevelt—A Life” by Nathan Miller)

· Roosevelt’s father never laughed at his children when they asked questions as children often ask… he would instead answer then and treat his kids like adults.
· He was a sickly child who overcame asthma after his father’s encouragement to exercise, learn boxing, and travel with his family to Europe and the Middle East.
· He attended Harvard and is a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity (as is the author of this blog)
· His first wife and his mother both died on the same day in the same house
· TR was an author of several historical books
· TR delivered his famous line, “Speak softly…” at the Minnesota State Fair in 1901
· TR became president after serving as vice president for McKinley
· He declined to run for a second term since he considered McKinley’s term to have been his first one, then he pretty much handpicked Taft as his replacement, and was so furious at how Taft ran the country that he ran against him for the Republican nomination in 1912, lost, and founded his own third party.
· He was the most successful third party candidate of all time when he ran as the Bull Moose Candidate

Here's a preview of the future, THE BOARDER BATTLE—MINNESOTA vs WISCONSIN

That is all.

Opening Night and some Brewers you need to know

2008-07-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hey there folks, so I promised on Thursday to have a post about the Milwaukee Brewers, however Friday was just a little nuts in the life of David Jennings. It was opening night of the Brave New Workshop’s new show ’The Lion, The Witch and The Warhero—or Is McCain Able? It’s a great show. I have not gotten to sit and watch the entire show as of yet, but I have seen all of it over the past month in one way or another—and it is fantastic. There are a ton of songs, some great video, a new stage, new 42 inch flat screen TV’s, and a cast of some really dedicated actors who put together a great show. Credit has got to be given to the cast who spent their 4th of July weekend with Caleb and his brother rebuilding the stage.

Also, credit to Max, the new tech for helping me with the new Carpeting in the theatre, Kyle for helping lay down the new carpeting even though he was sick as a dog, and the entire staff for cleaning the place up and helping me paint the stage, the floor, and the risers. The BNW looks better than it has over the past 6 years I have been here, and I am proud to be turning the reins over to someone who will inherit a great staff and a building worth taking care of.

One cool thing from opening night is that I was able to get cardboard cut outs of the candidates. So we took a bunch of photos with them and the cast.

I will have pictures of opening night up tomorrow when I have my cord to connect my camera with my computer. I know, lame.

THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS---

So here’s the deal, the Brewers swept the St Louis Cardinals with a final win in the 4th game of the series on Thursday. This took them to one game behind the Cubs for the NLK Central Division, and the first time they have been second in the division for about 7 weeks. They are three games ahead of St. Louis right now, and due to the Cubs second loss at home against Florida this afternoon, if Milwaukee wins against Houston today they will slip into first in the division, something that they would have done Friday if the 7 game winning streak had not been brought to an end by Houston. Seven games is a great winning streak, and they were the only team to have a win streak that long following the All Star Break. The ten game streak of the New York Mets spanned the All Star Break, and was still an incredible feat.

So, the Brewers are playing well, in fact they have had the best record in all of baseball for the past month or so…. So what’s the deal? Here’s a little lesson in Brewers players you should know (this should be interesting enough for almost anyone):

Prince Fielder (Son of former Detroit Tigers First Baseman Cecil Fielder)(24 years old) is a first baseman with a mean swing. He bats left and throws right. He is a vegetarian. He’s been with the Brewers since 2005 and was in the 2007 All Star Game and holds the Brewers record for single season home runs, and is the youngest in MLB to break the 50 home run mark. This is a guy you can count on to hit a few runs in almost every game.

Corey Hart is not an 80’s pop star. He’s an awesome outfielder for the Brewers. You saw him try unsuccessfully to end the All Star Game in favor of the National League, but he was up against some pretty big odds getting that ball to home plate from the outfield. He’s a big guy… 6’6” and 220 lbs do not mess around. He’s only 26, but is married and has three kids. He’s been with the Brew Crew since 2004. Leading into the All Star Break he had 15 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Kiss his big white Kentucky ass.

Ben Sheets is Olympic level, I mean that literally. He pitche 22 inning for the US team in the 2000 Olympics. He was the starting pitcher for the first game of the season in a 3-4 win over the Cubs (in the snow/rain) and has continued to deliver over the season. He was the first Brewer pitcher to start the All Star game in (2008). He’s a great pitcher, has a mean fastball (98 mph) and is a righty.

CC Sabathia – ALRIGHT, fine, we’ll talk about Sabathia. He’s the new guy on the team. I mean, really new. He’s a great pitcher (seen in this little Cardinals debut, he pitched three consecutive full games against them) and he has an interesting swing that makes him one of the best hitters with regards to pitchers across the league. He’s been with the team since July 7th, and has been kicking ass.

Tomorrow I will talk about Ned Yost, Brewers manager

I think that Sheets and Sabathia are back for tonight’s game against the Astros, so we should have a pretty great win on our hands.

That is all for now.

The Brewers are on a Streak

2008-07-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

Almost every post here has been about improv... and there is so much more to me than that.

I am a big Brewers fan. And the Brewers are playing St Louis tonight. This is the 4th game in this series, and the Brewers have won the previous 3. If they win tonight they stay in second place in the division, and if the Cubs loose tonight, then the Brewers slip into first.

Please cross your fingers for the Brewers. I have probably ruined everything just by typing this post.

Final Preview (the final countdown)

2008-07-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Today is the final Preview for "The Lion, The Witch, and The Warhero; or is McCain Able" and that's strange. Usually you would think that there would be a thousand things to worry about, to deal with, to take care of... but I have been taking care of things and had a few sleepless nights over the past few weeks, and things are pretty well taken care of. The cast has kicked ass on the stage, the new monitors, and all sorts of stuff. Witht he help of Kyle and Max, the place has been painted, polished, cleaned, and is ready to go. I painted the stage, the floor, and the risers last week, although I might do some more work on that tonight.

Tomorrow is opening night, woo-hoo. I think this marks my 25th show with the BNW over the past six years. That's pretty awesome. I have a vision of wearing my BNW jacket into iO this winter and getting beaten up by iO students. But I think that I will instead beat the crap out of them.

I was supposed to play ComedySportz today, but I got Tim to cover my show. I just did not want that extra stress for myself or staff, and Tim owed me.

I had a crazy remote on Tuesday for CSz, ask me about it when you see me. I cannot put into words some of the stuff that happened or I will sound like a terible person.

The Improv Marathon

2008-07-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

We just completed the 2008 Dudley Riggs Improv Marathon to benefit Gilda's Club Twin Cities

The mission of Gilda's Club TC is "Our Mission is to create welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer - men, women, teens and children - along with their families and friends. Our innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, education and social activities."
_--And that's pretty awesome.

So here's what we did, 35 groups performed improv over the course of 24 hours... I am a little tired-- there I said it. I am a little tired.

I had a great time, and I think I performed about 8 times, and I hosted for a few hours... I also ran tech and worked the bar.

I missed Fred and Melissa's housewarming party, but I guess that's ok since we raised a buttload of dinero for Gilda's club.

Here are the people I want to give props to:
Josh Kuehn-- he was there though it all, and got a little tricked out on Redbull. He probably should have taken a bit longer of a break.

Lisa Burton: Had Hamluke, performed several times during the marathon, and also worked the bar. Man, she rocks.

Melissa Roberts Beukema-- came in at 9:00 AM on a sunday after she had hosted her first big party at her new house. Wow.

Jill Bernard-- who performed, kicked ass, kept spirits high, and did a one person Drum Machine in the middle of the night to fill a slot.

Following my bliss right out of here... love the life you live.

2008-07-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Following my bliss right out of here... love the life you live.

This note is all over the place.

For anyone who doesn't know, I am moving to Chicago on September 1st.

For the past week or so, two phrases have been burning in my brain, "Follow Your Bliss" and "Live the life you love, love the life you live."

Last week I took the whole week off and spent time in Milwaukee and Chicago. I spent time on my farm with my family, time with high school friends, time with the horses and my dogs, time at Summerfest, time in my future home of Chicago.

When i got back I spent time at my Fraternity House with the "new kids," and I have been back at the Brave New Workshop since Monday interviewing people to take my job, I have been back to the grind with only seven weeks to go.

Since my drive back to Milwaukee and the farm I have had a thought in the back of my head about "Following my Bliss...." a phrase known to almost any of my theatre friends as attributed to Chase Korte and Joseph Campbell. Chase was following his bliss. And so many of us have continued to follow our bliss over the past 16 months, and he has been one of our muses. (I am thinking of Brant, Nick, 4 Humors, Nikki, Adri, and Toussaint here with your words, plays, and songs) We have all made tribute to him in our own ways. Through writing, through song, through plays, through improv, and through life-- and doing what makes us happy.

When I was at Summerfest this past week I bought a tee shirt from a vendor whose motto on all their gear was "Live the life you love, love the life you live." and when I asked them about the meaning behind their message it was the following emailed response, "We are all about inspiration and passionate living... it means anything you want it to. It is about following your dreams, finding your bliss, being who you reallky are and living life to the fullest. That is something different for everyone. We do take inspiration from many cultures, religions,nature, music and our family. But we by no means are we trying to "push" any one thing on anyone. To each his own. We are only trying to inspire positive living..."

These two messages ring so true to Improvised Theatre, I cannot stop thinking about them. They are so true to what think I am doing, I am amazed.

I am moving to Chicago for the next two years to do something. I am going to work hard and try to better myself in an art form that I love. Lisa, Tyler, and I (and the others who are going on their own) are laying it all on the line to take the jump-- because if we don't do it now, we might never do it.

I have been so lucky in Minneapolis. Between the U of M, Delta Kappa Epsilon, the Brave New Workshop,Comedy Sportz, the entire Twin Cities improv community, I have grown up and learned a lot.

The Brave New Workshop has been a constant for me over the past 6 years. For the past three years I have walked into 2605 Hennepin Ave almost every day--- and now I am leaving. It is so weird. I have been so lucky.

I am also freaked the fuck out.

There, I fucking said it. I am exited as all hell, and I know this is the right choice, but I am putting it all out there, and the logical side of me is saying that I shouldn't.

But I am trusting the improv side of me. I am not jumping without a net, but I am jumping. i am getting off the back line and starting a new scene. I have two great scene partners (lisa and tyler) and a great freaking audience of support in Minneapolis and Chicago. My body is twitching, and I know it's time to edit this scene.

In improv we are constantly changing, accepting new information, trusting our instincts, rolling with the punches, and working together towards an end that we do not know. That's what we do in life too. We are all improvisers. You accept the gifts that you discover in the scene, and you learn from ever improv scene you are a part of... the scene is gone instantly, but the information stays forever.

In Improv we trust our body before our mind because it knows better--- our instinctual nature knows better. If we think too long the moment has past. We trust that our scene partners will support us, and that we in turn will support them. That's what's great about improv, it's the mutual respect and trust that we are all working for something more. Improv is based on the innate facets of humanity that still bind with something animal and primal -- something within us that we forget about as we get older and forget how to be innovative and carefree--- creative. As we grow we train ourselves to forget that part of ourselves because we cannot nail it down-- as we get older we belive more in logic than in spontaneity.

Within improvised theatre we must retrain ourselves to trust those instincts again. Kids do this better than adults. It's not easy, every improviser struggles with it. They work to trust the process, their scene partner, the group, and themselves.

I am playing the good improviser by making sure to take care of my scene partner and my connections here. I never want to throw someone under the bus, and so I am serving the scene, my partner, and then myself.

Here's the thing I want to say here. I am going to miss everyone in Minneapolis, everyone at the BNW, at DKE, and I am going to rely on all of your strength and support as we go through this.

I respect everyone I know who have gone for something they love even when the logic of the situation was working against it. I want you all to know that I am doing this without ego, I think I am doing this for some other reason--- one that I don't know. I don't know what the end goal is... I just need to do it. I don't know all of my future scene partners, and I don't know where this is going to take me... but that's what's going on, and that's what's on my mind...

And if you were tagged in this message, then for some reason I identify some of this message with you-- probably because you have done something like this, and I respect you so much for it, or because you just might be somehow responsible for some part of this, thank you for that.

If you were not tagged in this but you read this anyway, you probably instrumental still, or connect with this still. Thank you for being a part of my development.... plus I reached my tag limit

Thanks for reading.

~~~~

"Live the Life you Love, Love the life you Live" ~ J. Sebastian Ystrom

"I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.
~ Joseph Campbell

"....there's no freedom unless you're vulnerable first. So, I did it. Then I turned a corner. I realized that sharing something intimate or important to me or something that really matters to me doesn't necessarily have to be anything sexual or a profound weakness of mine or anything like that, it just needs to matter enough that I need to share it."~ Chase Korte

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it." ~ The Buddha

Yes, and....

The Last Few Days

2008-07-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

I had a great trip to Milwaukee, the farm, Summerfest, and all the rest.

This is a shot of me heading into Chicago on Lakeshore Drive one last time before I came back to the Cities.

It's pretty nuts to think I will soon be living here.

I saw great concerts at Summerfest. I saw State Radio, OAR, Ari Herstead, OAR again... it was pretty awesome.

I got to ride horseback on the farm. clean stalls, work on the farm, that kind of stuff. I also hung out with Jess Schwab, a good friend, Michelle Kelly, and I saw Bonnie Davis for the first time in about 8 or 9 years. She's all married and has a kid... strange.

TCIF is over ;-(

2008-06-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

So, the Twin Cities Improv Festival was amazing.

Jen and I had the sets of our lives on Thursday night... as you can see by these AWESOME photos that Mike Fotis took during our set.

I had an amazing time and got to talk to people from all over the country about improv. But now I am tired, and I deserve a little rest--- so I am going to do just that. A few days in Milwaukee, on the farm, at Summerfest, and Chicago is just what I need....

But first... Butch, Jill, you guys rock.

My staff rocks.

The BNW rocks.

Every set rocked this weekend.

And you rock if you were there

Good bye folks!

Improv+Shakespeare+Baseball=Steroids

2008-04-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

mprov+Shakespeare+Baseball=Steroids

Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 2:17am

I was happy with the show tonight, I really was, but I learned that when doing a four minute Shakespeare Improv with the suggestion of Steroids does not really allow you to make the following references:

"A man with arms weak training in Left field"
"Four bases found and run around"
"No one in this land doth understand the infield fly rule"
"Take these pills and thy arm will send even the weakest ball over the Great Green Wall"
"This empire shall never be yours, it shall remain that of King Seilig"
"Look North toward Toronto and the Jays of Blue, and Look West toward that of the Cactus League"

If you like baseball and improv, you can see where these might be funny, unfortunately there are not many people who fall into that category.

I also made the whole thing seem forced.

Of course in a game of "Blind Line" an audience member wrote the line "You're killing me, Smalls." and that made me happy.

February 10th-- what a day

2008-02-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

February 10th-- what a day

My Great Aunt, Sister Mary Jennings,
celebrating her 50th year as a member of the cloth in 2002

February Tenth, 1922 is my Grandfather's birthday, Judge David V Jennings Jr. He celebrated his 87th birthday this past Sunday in Naples, Fl.

January 22nd, 1995 is the day my grandmother, my first muse, and a loving woman beyond compare, left us. She embraced my creativity and loved every second she shared with her children and grandchildren.

February Tenth, 2007 marks the day Chase Korte, a college friend destined for greatness, left this Earth. Follow your bliss.

February Tenth, 2008 is the day my great aunt,my father's Aunt, Sister Mary Jennings, left this world after over 50 years as a nun, and nearly 90 years on this Earth. She is a Saint, a wonder, and has always been a breath of beauty and love within our family. She is a truely wonderful spirit, and now can keep watch over her kin, and everyone else.

These four people mean a great deal to me. My grandfather is loving and difficult in his own way-- he is hard to communicate with, but when he opens up I feel closer to a generation I never knew. My grandmother is with me every day in everything I do. Chase drives me to go further and work hard-- because he was more dedicated to his passion than nearly anyone else I have ever met. My Aunt Mary always accepted those around her as good people with positive intentions no matter the prejudice the era suggested-- she was a.

I have an unfinished letter to Aunt Mary in my desk in my bedroom, and I forgot to call my grandfather on his birthday. Please, let the people in your life know how much they mean to you.

It might be slightly fitting that I was onstage performing, improvising, and trying a new form, challenging myself and my scene partner to something new on Sunday night when all of this happened--- but don't ever get caught up in the moment so much that you forget to look around.

History of improv.... sort of

2007-07-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Although the following is very Brave New Workshop centric, it might prove helpful for people looking for info on the history of improv. The following is a piece of support material from:

A Survey of the History of Improvised Theatre

With Critical Examination of the connection between Commedia Dell Arte and the 2005 Production of Religious Pretense in the University of Minnesota Xperimental Theatre

For completion of a BA in Theatre

From the University of Minnesota

Department of Theatre Arts and Dance

2006

Dave Jennings

Timeline

The following timeline of improvised theatre is a combination of three sources: A timeline adapted from The Commedia dell'Arte: A Documentary History by Kenneth Richards, John Sweeney’s Innovation at the Speed of Laughter, and Stevie Ray’s History of Improvisation. It is not a complete record, but it should prove helpful in understanding the rich history of Improvisation, Commedia Dell Arte, and the impact on the Twin Cities Scene.

3rd c.B.C to early A.D. - "Fabula Atellanae", comedies and popular farces, parodies, and political satires featuring stock characters with large masks (Pappus, Maccus, Servus, Mandacus, and Dossenus, originated in Atella, south of Rome.

1268 . - Venetian Carnevale documents first use of masks.

1321 . - The Divine Comedy.

1450 . - Gutenburg Bible printed.

1480 . - Botticceli: 'The Birth of Venus'.

1500 . - Benvenuto Cellini born.

1507 . - First performance of Bibbiena's "La Calandria", based on Plautus's

"Menaechmi", in Urbino.

1518 . - Machiavelli publishes ' La Mandragola', one of the earliest plays with

commedia-like characters and plot.

1525 . - Pietro Aretino publishes "la cortigiana", his most famous comedy.

1528 . - Angelo Beolco, known as Il Ruzzante, presents a comedy in which each

character speaks a different dialect.

1532 . - Machiavelli's 'The Prince' is published (posthumously).

1545 . - The first contract for 8 artisans forming an Italian professional acting troupe,

at Padua.

1548 . - Francesco Andreini born.

1552 . - A.F. Grazzini refers to improvised playing at Florence.

1564 . - First record of an actress (Lucrezia Senese) listed with an acting troupe

1564 . - Shakespeare, Marlowe born.

1565-6 . - First references to commedia characters - e.g., Zanni and Pantalone - in

connection with acting companies.

1568 . - February: earliest surviving detailed description of an improvised

performance by Massimo Troiano da Napoli at Castel Trausnitz in Bavaria. This

indicates foreign touring by commedia troupes.

1568 . - First mention of the Gelosi Company in Milan.

c1570 .- paintings depicting commedia dell'arte.

1571 . - Gelosi Company makes its first visit to Paris, where it acts at the house of

the Duke of Nevers before Charles IV. Company of Zan Ganassa (Alberto Naseli) also in Paris this year. First illustration of Arlecchino.

1574 . - Zan Ganassa Company is in Madrid. Gelosi Company invited to Venice to

play for French King Henry III (the third son of Catherine de Medici) at his request. First record of Confidenti Company.

1574 . - Record of Italian performers in England at Windsor and Reading (did

Shakespeare see these?)

1576 . - Henry III of France requests the Italian company he had seen in Venice to

perform in Paris.

1577 . - Gelosi Company is again in France, protected from French Parliament by the

King.

1577 . - The company of Drusiano Martinelli performs in London. There is indication

that Italian comedians accompanied Queen Elizabeth on her summer travels.

1578 . - Gelosi Company returns to Florence, under the direction of Flaminio Scala.

1585 . - Palladio's Teatro Olimpico completed.

1587 . - Confidenti Company is in Spain.

1588 . - Gelosi Company returns to Paris, briefly.

1589 . - A great theatrical spectacle mounted in Florence to celebrate the marriage of

Ferdinand I and Christine of Lorraine, included a Commedia performance starring Isabella Andreini.

1590 . - First mention of the Accesi Company. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

opens.

1599 . - The Globe opens.

1600 . - Accessi Company peforms for the marriage of Henry IV and Maria

de'Medici.

1601 . - Tristano Martinelli, celebrated Arlecchino performer, publishes

Compositions de rhetorique. Fedeli Company formed by G.B. Andreini (son of Francesco and Isabella).

1601 . - Shakespeare's Hamlet performed.

1604 . - Isabella Andreini dies at Lyons. Francesco Andreini gives up the commedia

and disbands Gelosi Company. Inigo Jones brings Italian stage scenes to England.

1605 . - Comici Fedeli formed, acquiring several actors from the Gelosi Company.

1611 . - Flamino Scala publishes Il teatro delle Favole rappresentative.

1611 . - Shakespeare's Tempest performed.

1613 . - Maria de'Medici invites Comici Fedeli to Paris, where they played off and on

until 1623.

1616 . - Death of Shakespeare.

1619 . - Flamino Scala's Il finito marito published.

1624 . - Death of Francesco Andreini.

1630 . - Death of Tristano Martinelli.

1634 . - Italian players perform in Warsaw.

1637 . - Domenico Biancolelli born.

1639 . - Racine born.

1640 . - Last mention of Confidenti troupe.

1642 . - English Parliament, influenced by the Puritans, closes theatres.

1658 . - Fiorelli-Locatelli Troupe shares the Petit Bourbon with Moliere's company,

the Compagnie de Monsieur.

1660 . - Restoration of Charles II. Davenant's and Killigrew's companies granted

patents (women included).

1661 . - Arlecchino, Domenico Biancolelli, called to Paris.

1664 . - Scaramouche, the most popular italian character, receives a pension of 15,000

livres.

1673 . - Moliere dies. His company and the Fiorelli-Locatelli troupe move to the

Guenegaud Theatre, where they play until 1680.

1675 . - William Wycherley's "the Country Wife" opens in London at the new Drury

Lane Theatre, designed by Christopher Wren, on the site of the old Drury Lane which burned in 1672.

1676 . - George Etherage's "Man of Mode" performed to great success.

1682 . - From now until 1697, the repertory of Italian comedy falls into two

categories: comedies of buffoonery, parades, parodies and satires, and nuanced character comedies similar to Moliere and Marivaux.

1684 . - Italians begin making changes with their dialogue,interjecting French

phrases and interpolating entire scenes into French.

1697 . - Italian players expelled from Paris because their scenario "La Finta

Matrigna" pokes fun at Mme de Maintenon, the mistress of the King.

The King authorizes Tortoriti (Pascariel) to form a troupe of his own, using some of the same actors, but they cannot come within 30 leagues of Paris.

1698 . - Jeremy Collier publishes "Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the

English Stage".

1716 . - Louis XV re-establishes Riccoboni's Troupe in the old Hotel de Bourgogne

Theatre, where they keep the spirit of the characters, but perform in French.

1723 . - Louis XV grants a subsidy of 15,000 livres to Riccoboni and his colleagues.

1737 . - the Stage Licensing Act passed in England.

1739 . - Carlo Goldoni becomes dramatist for Medebach's company.

1742 . - Antonio Sacchi, the great Arlecchino, forms his own company.

1745 . - Goldoni writes Servant of Two Masters for Sacchi.

1760 . - Carlo Gozzi attempts to revive improvised playing.

1762 . - Goldoni leaves Venice to work with the Comedie Italienne in Paris, where he

lived until his death in 1792.

1762 . - The Opera-Comique is amalgamated with the Italian comedy.

1780 . - The theatre of the Italian comedy assumes the name "Theatre des Italiens",

although there was not a single Italian actor left in the cast.

1897 The Moscow Art Theatre is founded by Constantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir

Nemirovich-Danchenko. Its work created new concepts of theatrical production and marked the beginning of modern theater. Rebelling against the highly stylized theater of the 19th cent., the founders set out to create instead a true ensemble theater based on a realistic method of acting and production. Their productions of Chekhov's plays, especially suitable to the company's subtle and intense style, brought fame to both Chekhov and the theater. Other memorable productions were Tolstoy's Czar Fyodor Ivanovitch, Dostoyevsky's Brothers Karamazov, and Gorky's Lower Depths.

1911 Teacher, Sociologist, and Educational Theorist Neva Boyd founds the Chicago

Training School for Playground Workers and begins developing her theories on creative game-play.

1921 Neva Boyd founds the Recreational Training School at Chicago’s Hull House

1923 Russian trained actor/director Richard Boleslavsky opens the American

Laboratory Theatre or “The Lab” in New York, NY. A member f the Moskow Art Theatre and Student of Stanislovski. His co-director Maria Ouspenskaya conducts rehearsals using improvisation for the first time in American Theatre. One student of the school is Lee Strasberg

1924-1927 Neva Boyd has Viola Spolin living in her home as a student. She teaches Spolin games, storytelling, and dramatics. These will become the basis for Spolin’s life work.

1931 Lee Strasberg, Harold Clurman, and Cheryl Crawford found the Group Theatre in New York. Basing their work on Stanislavski, they use improvisation to train actors. Strasberg’s work becomes known as “The Method.” New York continues to use improvisation solely as ab actor training tool, not as performance art.

1932 Dudley Riggs is born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He joins his family’s circus as a

performer at age five.

1939-1941 Viola Spolin is Drama Supervisor of the Chicago Branch of the WPA’s Recreation Project. She works primarily with illiterate immigrants, she develops theatre games out of necessity to unlock creativity and self expression. The first audience suggestion was used in 1939 in a public performance with a cast of actors all under the age of 14. The Chicago media headlined “Yesterday’s News is Tomorrow’s Play.”

1941 The Group disbands and Strasberg moves to Hollywood

1946 Viola Spolin moves to Los Angeles to form the Young Actors Company

1947 Strasberg returns to New York where he joins fello actor Elia Kazan at The Actors Studio; he later becomes director.

1948 Savern Darden and Paul Sills begin classes at Chicago University, home of the ad hoc theatre company, Tonight at 8:30. Sills becomes director in 1950. Sills also eventually starts teaching Spolin workshops at the theatre. Sills is Viola Spolin’s son.

1950s The advent of television causes the attendance of live performances to wane.

Dudley Riggs and some of his fellow circus performers bring a new act to New York City, incorporating “audience input” into parts of the show for the first time. Calling themselves the “Instant Theatre Company,” the group brings the show to Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Burbank, California, before settling in Minneapolis.

1952 David Shepard, with $10,000 inheritance, hitchhikes to Chicago with a dream tp

open his own theatre based on the work of his idol, Bertoit Brect. He comes fresh from studying caberet theatre in Europe. He wants to open a cabert-style theatre that could be “replicated in every community around the globe.”

1953 The Playwrights Theatre Club opens in Chicago. Paul Sills had the actors, Dave

Shepard had the money, and Eugene Troobinick had the car. It was to be a professional repertory theatre. To avoid city ordinances they sell membership by subscription. Actors include Zohra Lambert, Ed Asner, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, and Barbara Harris.

1955 After bribing nearly the entire city government, the Playwright’s Theatre is closed

by the fire inspector. Sills rents a theatre at the University of Chicago for classes.

1955 On May 15th Roger Bowen debuts his first scenario play, “Enterprise,” at the

Reynolds Club at the University of Chicago. This is the first modern long-form improvisation, a cornerstone in Shepard’s style. Shepard continues his quest for a ‘theatre for the people,’ running ads in New York newspapers reading: “Wanted: Ten scripts for popular theatre opening in Chicago. Prefer Brectian fables and political satires, plays on famous modern events, cabaret material. Will correspond with wood-be playwrights.”

1955 On July 5th, Fred Wranovics, a former bartender, takes over the bankrupt Hi-Hat

Lounge on 55th Street. He knows shepard and Paul Sills from the Playwrights Theatre Club. They team to open the Compass Tavern. The Compass Players perform in a back room, and they make improvised scenarios the basis of the theatre. Shepard introduces “The Living Newspaper,” improvised scenes based on newspaper stories of the day.

1955- November 1st, The Compass Players have been kicked out of the Tavern because

bar sales are more important. They move to The Dock on South Lake Park Ave, owned by George Schall. The actors are all members of equity. Shows run Wednesday through Sunday. They rehearse 2:00 to 4:30, run home to change, return to socialize with the audience at the 5:00 cocktail hour, and the curtain goes up at 8:30. The show is primarily improv at this point and made up of audience suggestions tat are compiled and discussed over a 15 minute break before the improv set.

1956- A man named Keith Johnstone was commissioned as a playwright by the Royal

Court Theatre. This eventually led to a position as Associate Artistic Director, working as Play-Reader, Director, and Director of the Writer’s Group. He used improvisatory (his term) techniques to develop creativity, spontaneity, and narrative skills. The exercises were such a success in rehearsal that the company decided to try demonstrations in schools and colleges across England. It was met with such success that The Theatre Machine was founded to perform Impro.

1957 Ted Flicker opens the St. Louis Compass Players with actors Nancy Ponder, Jo

Henerson, and Del Close, They live in the mansion of Fred Landesman. In July Ted Flicker and Elaine May spend every day for two weks in the third floor kitchen of the mansion developing what would become known as the “Westminster Place Kitchen Rules.” These rules were as follows:

1) Whatever verbal or pantomimed reality that is brought to the stage by one player may not be negated or denied by another.

2)While improvsing, a player has infinite opportunities for choice, and it is better to take an active rather than a passive choice. Try to take the “unlikely choice.”

3) In an improvisation, where there are no lines, or given characters, or dramaturgical ‘spine’ to set a character in motion, you are your character, although not one called by your name. All characterizations, or acting, comes from an exaggerated or intensified rendition of yourself called by another name.

4) All improvisations require the discovery and development of three elements; place, character, and circumstance (the where, who, and why) wherein a need for each other between the characters is expressed.

5) Since neither doing business (buying or selling), nor arguing are dramatic transactions, they should be avoided.

1958 Dudley Riggs brings his “Instant Theatre Company” to the Café Espresso on

University Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis. His café/theatre houses the United States’ first espresso machine west of the Mississippi. After years of battling the audiences, Dudley decided to incorporate them into the show. He began asking the audience for their input, “Who do you hate in this town?” When the audience shouted, “The Mayor,” the troupe would perform an instant sketch about the mayor. At the time, the word “improvisation” was a term used primarily by jazz musicians. Since Dudley had great respect for jazz, he avoided the term “improvisation” and dubbed his new art, "Instant Theatre." Later, in a New York Times review, a critic dubbed Dudley’s art, “Word Jazz.”

1959 On December 16th the Second City is opened in Chicago in an old Chinese laundry

and adjoining hat shop by Paul Sills, Roger Bowen, Eugene Troobnick, Dave Shepard, and Bernie Sahlins. The name comes from an article in The New Yorker by A.J. Liebling where he claims that Chicago always wished that it was like New York.

1960 November 22, 1960, New York: After interviewing 3,000 actors, Ted Flicker opens

‘The Premise’ in Greenwich Village. To avoid a theatre license it is registered as an “exhibition of mental ability.”

1961 At the Brave New Workshop, the current style of comedy satire/satire revue

shows is established, and the name “Brave New Workshop” is added for the first time.

1961 Paul Sills opens The Second City in Los Angeles and New York.

1962 The first improv classes are taught to high school students at the Brave New

Workshop.

1963 The first edition of Improvisation for the Theatre by Viola Spolin is published.

1965 After mounting productions in the Café Espresso on University Avenue, then

moving to 207 East Hennepin Avenue, Dudley Riggs and crew follow the muse to 2605 Hennepin Ave-nue on November 30, 1965, making the former bike shop into their permanent home. The ticket price of a Brave New Workshop show in 1965 is $2. Current owners John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl are born.

1970 Brave New Workshop International Touring Company is formed to take the

Brave New Workshop style of improvisation to college campuses and outlying

Minnesota communities, as well as to other states and countries.

1971 Dudley Riggs opens a second theatre, the Experimental Theater Company (ETC),

at 1430 Washington Avenue in the Seven Corners area of Minneapolis. This theatre and café become home to other Brave New Workshop productions, as well as stand-up comedy and variety acts. The 2605 Hennepin location continues to be the theatre’s main stage. Dudley Riggs operates the ETC until 1991, when he consolidates his operations back to the single 2605 Hennepin -location.

1972 In San Francisco the Groundlings is formed

1970s The Brave New Workshop International Touring Company expands to in-

clude performances at conventions and for private businesses. This is the first time the Brave New Workshop crosses over from stage to boardroom.

1975 The fourth annual New Year’s Eve Party at the Brave New Workshop features a three-and-a-half-hour satirical comedy focusing on the low points of the year, as well as a buffet for the grand price of $8.50.

1984 Dick Chudow creates ComedySportz in Milwaukee based on the format of Keith Johnstone’s TheatreSports, creating an international franchise.

1985 Viola Spolin publishes “Theatre games for Rehearsal: A Director’s Handbook.”

1990 The Brave New Workshop celebrates twenty-five years at 2605 Hennepin by reducing ticket prices to the 1965 price of $2.

1997 John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl purchase the theatre from its founder, Dudley Riggs. The name of the historic theatre changes slightly to “The Brave New Workshop, founded by Dudley Riggs in 1958.”

1997 The Brave New Workshop signs a seven-figure contract to be the official comedy provider for the new Disney Cruise Line ships, the Magic and the Wonder.

1997 The Brave New Workshop decides to aggressively expand its corporate services division, developing new corporate entertainment and training products and increasing its scope from less than fifteen events per year to more than one hundred.

1998 The Brave New Workshop celebrates its forty-year anniversary by opening a new space for the theatre’s main stage and offices at 3001 Hennepin Avenue in Calhoun Square.

1999 The Brave New Institute grows from seven students to a school hosting more than two hundred fifty students each week. It now has eleven teachers and fifteen sections of class per week.

2000 The Brave New Workshop produces “Flanagan’s Wake,” an interactive Irish comedy at the 2605 Hennepin location. This production is in cooperation with the Noble Fool Theatre of Chicago.

2001 The Brave New Workshop reaches another milestone when, for the first time in its history, it opens a theatre in a location other than Minneapolis. The Brave New Workshop renovates the historic Palace Theatre at 17 West Seventh Place. In January 2001, the Brave New Workshop opens that space with the Irish comedy, “Flanagan’s Wake.”

2002 The Brave New Workshop moves its main stage operations back to the 2605 Hennepin Avenue theatre, once again establishing this location as its historic home. ComedySportz Minneapolis moves into the Calhoun Square.

2003 “Flanagan’s Wake” closes after a successful two-year run, making way for “MN: It’s Not Just For Lutherans Anymore!” which opens in the Palace Theatre space.

2003 The University of Minnesota’s Improv Group is Founded, an ‘open gym’ is held every Monday night at the U of M’s Rarig Center

2004 Religious Pretense is first performed at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival

2005 Religious Pretense is performed as part of the Xperimental Theatre Season at the U of M

2005 David Shepard appears at the 8th Annual Chicago Improv Festival.

Castle Crumble

2007-03-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

hursday, March 15, 2007

Castle Crumble

When I was a kid I used to have a few repetitive dreams that I have been thinking about lately again. I have not been having them again, thank god, but they are still fresh in my head even though they stopped about 15 years ago….

I used to have this one dream where I was playing in my sandbox and at my swing set all alone, slowly all the evil characters from "Pete's Dragon" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete's_Dragon ) start to appear. They oozed out of the sand, the popped out from behind trees, and they were all around me. My mother was suddenly there, but she was frozen stiff, and couldn't do anything. Some times I would beat up the Gogan Family before they could take me away, some times I would fall victim to them, and other times I would just wake up.

Another dream that I used to have involved my father getting remarried. My parents are still married to this day, very unhappily, but they are still married. When I used to have this dream they were still happily married. I had to build my father and my step mother a castle on the top of a hill before their wedding, and I always did it…. I don't know how, but I did. It was always after the castle was built that I would be sitting on a wrought iron bench at the bottom of the hill. It is a beautiful day, almost magical and cartoonish how perfect it is. There is a pretty girl at the other end of the bench, and we are making eyes at each other, but we never get the chance to speak, both of us are far too shy. I turn my head and look down to see a perfect little daisy at the foot of the bench, I reach down to pick it for the pretty girl, and as the stem of the daisy snaps, the ground starts to shake. A tremor rushes all over the hill and the castle starts to shake. I hear my "stepmother's" scream from inside the castle as the castle crumbles into a pile of rock. I hear my Father scream my name so loud that everything in the world shakes, and as I turn to the pretty girl, she too is screaming, but the only sound is that of my father's voice echoing and shaking. This dream never had a different ending, and there was never a way to break free from the dream even when I knew it was not real.

Yesterday was a good day...

2006-11-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Yesterday was a good day...
Current mood: happy

Yesterday was a great day.

First of all, I don't blog, but I feel like this is a good way to get out some things.

Yesterday I watched the Homecoming parade at the U. Homecoming is always great, I saw good friends, had a good time, and I was very proud of Deke, the members, the alums and of course the pledges. I feel honored to be their New Member Educator.

Last night was closing night for the Brave New Workshop fall show, "The Left, the Right, and the Ugly; or Blue State Blues." Several of the FOH staff and myself messed with the cast a little. Needless to say, I was shirtless in front of 200 customers including my staff, my students, my coworkers, and my bosses. It should have been grounds to be fired, but at my job I was 'Yes, anded…' and it wasn't until afterwards that I thought about the fact that I could have been fired for it. I will never do something like that again, at least I don't think so. See, while it was funny, it was kind of screwing over the scene. And I don't like that. It was funny, but I walked a very fine line.

At the end of the show I was awarded a gift for my years of service to the BNW. I got a BNW letter jacket, which is awarded only to people who have either gone through the entire mainstage process of writing and performing an entire show or to those who have worked in admin for several years. I never bought my letter jacket in high school, but the black and red I got last night means a lot more than the black and orange from Cedarburg High, or the maroon and gold from the U of M.

Getting that jacket was very humbling. I have wanted that jacket for a long time, but when I was pulled up on stage by John and Jenni, I never felt less deserving of it, because I now feel like a member of an elite group of dedicated individuals, and I am honored to have been included.

My life is centered around only a few things right now. Those things are my family and friends, my work, my fraternity and ties as an alumni of the University. Most of my friends are tied to me through work and the U, and they are like family to me. The Workshop is like that too, except that it is a job, a job I respect and enjoy, with people I respect and enjoy, and I want to go to work every day.

For a time, things were kind of messed up in my life, but over the past week a lot has come together so I feel like my life is back on track. Now it's back to me to jump on board and keep things going. Good things are yet to come.

Yes, and.

2006-09-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 18, 2006

Nice guys wear mohawks

So, I have developed a theory, a vast majority of guys and girls with mohawks are good people. Of course every rule needs an exception to prove it, but in this new era of mohawks and faux-hawks, it seems to me that most of them are genuine good people.

I am not talking about the wanna be faux-hawks either, most of them are just posers, but probably still good people. Those are the ones that just have the mid head rise of hair that just looks like an accented saggital crest (look it up, I took human anthropology) of bullshit hair.

See, I have recently been sporting the mohawk/faux-hawk, and others who sport it are really nice good people. People I have known who have had them in the past (this is you Lacey, and others) are also good people.

This weekend I had the pleasure of helping a very drunk girl hold her hair back when she puked, and the only thing she said to me when she was able to open her eyes was "you have a mohawk," which isn't true, it is mostly a faux-hawk, but I wasn't going to correct her.

Furthermore, I have never been in a fight with someone else with a mohawk/fauxhawk.

Let me know what others think

9:37 PM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment -

Alison

Who knows about any of those other mohawk wearers, but you are a truely nice guy.

love,

lacey and alison.

Posted by Alison on Sep 19, 2006 1:08 PM
[Reply to this]

Boiling Society

Alison,

Yes, i heart you, but since you are my only blog subscriber,the only blog commentator, and I told you that I was going to blog on this before I did, I cannot allow you to post any comments until others do.

Posted by Boiling Society on Sep 19, 2006 2:34 PM
[Reply to this]

Dutch

Thanks for holding my hair back while I puked this weekend.
Sorry I misidentified your hairstyle.

Posted by Dutch on Sep 19, 2006 11:22 PM
[Reply to this]

Alexa

You should've corrected the girl who was puking. Call people out once in awhile! Puking is, was, and has always been the excuse that everybody buys.

Have a good one!

Posted by Alexa on Mar 13, 2007 9:05 AM
[Reply to this]

Watch like nobody is dancing

2006-09-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 15, 2006

Watch like nobody is dancing
Current mood: content

So, I want to go to grad school. At least I think I do. This is the first September in 17 years that I have not been in school. I have a job I love, work with people who are great, and have no real idea what I would like to go to school for.

Lots of people have told me to wait. And I am happy to wait, but it still feels weird. See, I have this inherent need to keep moving, movement in some direction is always preferred to just treading water.

So, I can go to grad school, and I think I want to decide on where to go…. It is either going to be in or around Chicago, or in or around San Francisco. I really like both cities, but I think Chicago might be a better choice.

Grad school is likely to happen, but what is my purpose in school? What is my goal? If I am going in order to get a PhD in Theatre, well then it is Dave the college professor for the rest of his life. If I go out to get a MFA in Directing or Design, well, then it is probably just Dave the poor theatre guy for the rest of his life. Directing and or designing great shows, but the competition is tough

Instead, I could just head off and move toward my dream of owning my own theatre/bar/restaurant. Which would be sweet, I just need to get some capital under me and some investors, and also some artistic staff to help me out. Part restaurant, part coffee house, part theatre, part comedy club, part bar--- two to three theatrical spaces where the hip and mod hang out and watch the funny.

I was resolved to wait for a year… turns out that is tough, you either wait 6 months or 18 months since you have to jump back into the testing and application process.

So, no matter what, I need to figure some stuff out here in the next couple of months.

Can I keep doing what I am doing for the next year? Two years? Wow. That is a long time. I suppose two years isn't that long, and a lot can happen in those two years.

Hell, a lot can happen in two months. Look at all the crap that happened in the past 6 months!

Leave it on the back burner, take it to the drive town, here we go

2006-09-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Leave it on the back burner, take it to the drive town, here we go.
Current mood: content

Alright, here we go.....

First off, I don't 'blog.' It has never been my thing. Why should I blog? Well, I do like to write, and I think about writing a lot. I like to watch people. I watch them eat, strangers, friends, people on the bus, folks in coffee houses, and the minor ticks people seem to have that identify their personality more than their words and actions could ever justify.

I don't mean to say that I judge those around me by their clothing or anything as juvinile as that. No, I only judge people by how they treat others, and mostly how they treat the others around me. I think that character judgement is wrong until you see how a person interacts with those around them. I want to see how you treat a waitress, or a mailman. I want to see how you respect them as a person, deeper than the title on their shirt. That tells me how you think of yourself, or what insecurities you have.

But the way you read a paper, or act when you think no one else is looking, that is how you interact with yourself. That is more the real you. That veil over your body that explains your mood, your mindset, and your current personal topic of conversation with yourself. The man on the bus who zones into the space directly in front of the window without registering what is racing past the glass. A blank expression of a long day, a bad arguement, a sad memory, or just perhaps wondering what to reheat in the fridge for dinner that night. That is a better introduction than any, 'Hello, my name is..." than I have ever heard.

Your silent actions speak volumes about your priorities. Being impatient in line seems to say that you are impatient about more than just how fast the register moves. If you cannot take that extra few minutes to identify with those around you, what is so important in your immediate future?

I remember a friend of mine and I were walking to a bus stop about four years ago, and I saw her bus pulling up to the stop and I told her she had better run and catch it. "Why?" was her only response.

"Because you are going to miss it."

"There will always be another bus."

"But that won't happen for another twenty minutes"

"So, that leaves me twenty more minutes to talk to you, or see what happens before the next bus comes. Sure, i would get home 20 minutes faster if I ran to catch that bus right now, but then I wouold be flustered, and my bag might fall open, and I would not be able to say good bye to you in the way I should."

Last Spring she and I were again walking to another bus stop and she yelled an excamation as she saw her bus pulling away. I asked her what had happened to the girl I used to know who had been so lax in schedules and clocks. She kinda frowned, and then we went to coffee instead. She was an hour late to work and no one even noticed.

Currently listening :
Silent Steeples
By Dispatch
Release date: 09 November, 2004