God, please, God, somebody put some duct tape over Tyra Banks pouty lips and seal her in a crate. I doubt this would stop her from bitching to anybody that will listen to her but hey, it's worth a shot. Even I can't escape the media blitz of Tyra proclaiming 'I'm not fat!' to anybody that will listen. Yeah, you're not fat, but you're certainly not a role model either, which is what she seems to be tacking on to her 'I'm not fat!' declarations. My favorite show clip of hers is when she dressed in a fat suit and wandered through the streets as if she were a leper. Her voiceover was priceless and as stilted as her 'We're all girlfriends here' attitude on her show. The show, like most of her hard hitting, unflinching subject matters has a definite After School Special vibe, and not in a snarky ironic way. Let's face it, America be dumb and she's just giving them what they want.
Last night I went to the gym in my quest to remain reasonably fit. I say reasonably because I do not eat as healthy as a man my age should. I've always been underweight, so unlike others I'm just starting to see the effects of donuts and bacon on my body. Working out at least 3 times a week seems to counter the effects. I wish they had some sort of wrist steroids. You see, I have the wrists of a 10 year old girl. Always have. My ankles are really thin too. When I was a wee lad I had to wear high top type shoes to support my fragile like ankles. I wasn't aware of how thin I was until I got older and it was alarming to me! Particularly because the gays like the muscles.They say an overweight person always feel like a fat person even when they lose the weight. I have that problem in reverse. Compounded with my lifelong skin problem and general alcoholic big ego, low self-esteem mindset and I'm quite the catch! Chris is so lucky.
Have you picked up the latest TimeOut Chicago to read the chat with Ed Jones, star of Caged Dames? Well, get your ass to the store right away. It's bound to be a collectors item.
One of my favorite books is My Face for the World to See, Ms. Renay's 'colorful' autobiography. I made BC read a section of that book for his POSEIDON audition. I still think it would make a great play. She led an in incredibly wild life, even with all of her hilarious exaggerations in her book, it's still a great read. Other books include Staying Young and My First 2000 Men. She also had a mother daughter striptease act. I love that on so many levels. I wrote that into a play that has never been produced (because it was never finished).
Cult movie actress, gangster moll, painter, stripper, plastic surgery addict and DAME. Sounds like the perfect life. God bless, Liz...
Rehearsal was rough last night. For me at least. I forgot all of my lines. I broke my shoe doing a stunt. Carp told me not to wear those shoes but did I listen?
To give you an idea of how altered my part is take a look at this trailer. Just imagine that the blue sequined number is my new Warden Hope dress and the turbaned dames surrounding me are prisoners. This gives you a rough idea. The rest of the stuff is me and Ed during production meetings.
Being a star is hard. 10:30-Noon- Board meeting. Noon to 5- Rehearsal, rehearsl, rehearsal. Harmonies with Jonny Stax. Dancing with Shawn Quinlan. Fight choreography with Carp. 6-7- Caged Dames DVD editing with Peter Mavrik. 7:30-9- The gym 9-10- Folding clothes 10:30- Order new butt and hips panties online. Being a star is hard.
Here's a press release from Jere Williams' new show. Jere is best known to Handbagggers as Sheldon Glickstein in Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer 2003!
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIER OF: KRYPTONITE HEARTS
A new comedy by Charles BattersbyJanuary 25 - February 11
KRYPTONITE HEARTS is a pulse-pounding tale of romance, comedy and adventure inspired by 1940’s comic books and radio shows! When Women’s Air Corps pilot Wanda Worthington returns home from World War II, she quickly grows bored with the life of a housewife. Soon she takes to the rooftops of New York City as the patriotic crimefighter All American Girl. Is post-war America ready for a “Girl Crimefighter”? Will she find love with the mysterious vigilante The Scarlet Skunk?Find out in Kryptonite Hearts!
KRYPTONITE HEARTS played to standing room only audiences at the Midtown International Theatre Festival’s Reading Series, in the Summer of 2006. Theater For The New City is proud to present the first full production of this new play written by Charles Battersby, Directed by James Duff, and featuring Lizzie Pepper as All American Girl, with Charles Battersby as The Scarlet Skunk.
CHARLES BATTERSBY is a Theatre Critic who has written reviews and articles for Show Business Weekly, TalkinBroadway.com, NYTheatre.com and the Off-Off Broadway Review. In addition to his work as a critic, Charles is also a playwright and actor, known for his farce sTopless Go-Go Girls at the Troll Hole.
JAMES DUFF recently spent six months in India directing a feature film. His films have been broadcast on PBS and have won numerous awards at festivals around the world. In New York, he has worked with theatre companies such as the 42nd Street Workshop, The Ensemble Studio Theatre and Vital Theatre Company, He instructed NYU Tisch drama students and taught a directing workshop for UNESCO in Kenya.
LIZZIE PEPPER is an actress whose New York credits include: The Golden Bear at Theatre for the New City, Bonnie’s B’Way Moon Song Shop at Theatre East The Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre, Godspell, Company, and The Wallenberg Mission. Regional credits include Rasputin staring Ted Neeley (Wilmington Grand Opera) and The Pirates of Penzance. Liz currently studies voice with Victoria Clark, and vocal coach Andrew Byrne.
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY is a Pulitzer Prize winning community cultural center that is known for its high artistic standards and widespread community service. One of New York’s most prolific theatrical organizations, TNC produces 30-40 premieres of new American plays per year, at least 10 of which are by emerging and young playwrights. Kryptonite Hearts will run January 25 - February 11Thu-Sat 8pm Sun 3pmTickets $10.00At Theater for the New City155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) Buy Tickets and make Reservations(212) 254-1109 Or: www.theaterforthenewcity.net
More information on Kryptonite Hearts can be found at:www.charlesbattersby.com/kryptonitehearts.html Kryptonite Hearts is not affiliated with DC Comics or Warner Bros.
So, what exactly is the etiquette when you run into somebody you really have nothing to say to anymore? This happened to me this past Sunday at a local coffee shop. Well, they were there and I was there and we clearly saw each other. I was meeting Scott Bradley the Caged Dames director and they were in a group of three so they clearly had the advantage and the wicked smiles started when they saw me. I don't hate them but I don't particularly care for them. Things with us were strained for a while but I did my best to overlook what I saw as rather juvenile behavior. Not even good, funny juvenile behavior, but dumb, really dumb behavior. I had a feeling that if I didn't dance to their tune I would be 'out', and my suspicions were confirmed when I refused to not associate with one of their perceived enemies. I admire their ability to promote themselves but behind the glitter there's not much else. So I sat there like an idiot until Scott arrived. It was nice to see that they got fatter.
I tried to Blog yesterday but the website had other ideas. Briefly, here's what we did Tuesday evening. I would imagine Ed Jones enjoys beating the hell out of me. I mean, who wouldn't? Yesterday things were a bit snippy as Andra, our music director observed. She called us The Bickersons. I wasn't in a bad mood...just not the the best of moods, but I think we are all feeling a bit of pressure with the shorter rehearsal period, and changes. Scott Bradley, the director has a LOT to do. The brunt of the changes fall on the actual prisoners, or Dirty Dames, as we call them, and they're all doing beautifully. Abigail Trabue, our new Mary (the ensemble is full of old Marys), is giving it all she's got too. We cut the cast from 14 to 12, taking out two prisoners. The changes in the cast had to be made as it just made sense. Most people understand this and move on. Others do not... but it's really a 'You're damned if you do and damned if you don't' situation with them anyway and after the 117th episode of As the World Turns (Around Me), it gets boring and sad but there are no shoulders left to cry on anymore because everybody has run away.
