First #Austin #AynRand #AtlasShrugged Reading and Discussion group meeting

Our first Atlas Shrugged Reading and Discussion group met on Sunday Jan. 8 at Brentwood Social House with 5 participants who had read the book more than once.  We decided that we wanted to be open to first time readers of Altas so we are going to start our discussion next week with Chapter One with the idea of covering about a chapter a week.  We are also suggesting optional reading from Dr. Robert Mayhew's book, Essays on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, (available on Amazon) beginning with Onkar Ghate's essay on "Part and Chapter Headings."

On Sunday Jan. 15, we will have our second session, we are open to those who are seriously interested in tackling the novel as both a literary and philosophical work.  Yes, politics do get discussed.  Please help us spread the word. Honestly, attempting to assemble this group is part of my response to the election of Trump.  We are hoping that more people can think together side by side, i.e. folks who are deeply into Rand and others who are interested in getting to know more. check out our Facebook event if you want to know more. https://www.facebook.com/events/1347586205311956/

Join our New Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" Reading Discussion Group Weekly in Austin TX

Starting Sundays from Jan. 8, 2017 Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" Reading Discussion Group Weekly
2:30-4:30 pm at Brentwood Social House, 1601 Koenig Lane (betw Lamar & Burnet) Austin Tx
In a lovely new mid-town coffee shop, join a lively discussion group aimed at INDEPTH anaysis of Ayn Rand's magnum opus page by page... starting in the third section of the novel with Ann Ciccolella and Steve Rogers. A welcoming group for anyone who has geniune interst. Please Help spread the word!
Just show up -- or let Ann or Steve know via Facebook or email that you are coming!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1841433606135878/

Atlas Shrugged WORDCLOUD!

VOTE against Trump

If you are thinking about abstaining from voting, I urge you to vote for Hilary Clinton because Trump is so irrational.  I have long thought that Hilary was Lady Macbeth but a President Trump is tremendously dangerous to the economy domestically and globally.  If you have been trying to weigh the lesser of two evils, a Democrat president will give us more time to fight for individual rights.  Trump simply doesn't understand logic or principles.  Unfortunately, Hilary will undoubtedly continue to erode individual rights but the slide to tyranny will be slower.  I just keep thinking that the comic adage isn't comic anymore.  "They voted for Hitler."

Getting ready to go into the Long Center's Rollins Theater for Wolf Hall, a staged reading in full costume.  And what costumes they are! Jennifer Rose Davis has assembled from her luscious stock and from all over Austin some fabulous looks for our Tudor extravaganza.  Today our Cromwell, Erik Parillo comes to town!  If you are in the Austin area, don't miss it Thurs Fri Sat at 7:30 pm and 3 pm on Sunday and that's it.  TKTS http://thelongcenter.org/event/wolf-hall-part/

And this poster draft is NOT upside down. smile.   Austin Shakespeare rocks!

Tennessee Williams "A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE" Director’s Notes THRU Dec. 6, 2015 #austin

TKTS here! Director’s Notes A Streetcar Named Desire

I thought I knew the power of Streetcar before rehearsing it, but I've been wowed by the play’s integration of poetic motifs, contrast of character and inner conflicts, as we have rehearsed it over the past month.  Theater historians have long considered it one of America’s greatest plays, but staging a new production of a classic always offers revelations.  With each scene, you will experience Williams’ deft planting of ideas, themes and plot points.  Much like our rehearsals of Shakespeare, Shaw, and Schiller, we as a company assumed knew the power of these characters but only in bringing the script to life could we appreciate the powerful vista of a Williams’ authentic soul.

Streetcar’s themes of vulnerability, misunderstanding, and passion don’t just neatly live with Marlon Brando’s in an old black-and-white classic movie.  From Blanche’s tensile strength to Stanley’s sensitivity, we found that by bringing the page to the stage that our own presumptions were challenged. 

Williams called the theater experience itself “evanescent” … as life itself is … so delicate, so quickly gone.  In th Long Center's Rollins Studio Theater, our actors and audience experience the world that he created for a few hours and then it dissolves into memory.   I hope the actors, designers, and behind the scenes crew who touch this production of Streetcar will remember it tenderly – I hope audiences will too.

Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System: An Interview with Tara Smith

Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System: An Interview with Tara Smith

A.E. Housman poem #inventLOVE

http://thelongcenter.org/event/invention-love/

“Because I liked you better
Than suits a man to say,
It irked you, and I promised
I'd throw the thought away.

To put the world between us
We parted stiff and dry:
'Farewell,' said you, 'forget me.'
'Fare well, I will,' said I.

If e'er, where clover whitens
The dead man's knoll, you pass,
And no tall flower to meet you
Starts in the trefoiled grass,

Halt by the headstone shading
The heart you have not stirred,
And say the lad that loved you
Was one that kept his word.” 

― A.E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad

Freedom of Commercial Speech, a panel discussion - UT Events Calendar

Freedom of Commercial Speech, a panel discussion - UT Events Calendar

CLARK NEILY - Attorney, Institute for Justice

TAMARA PIETY - Professor, University of Tulsa, College of Law

DAVID BROWN- Journalist, KUT Radio, Texas Standard

with Dr. Tara Smith

wanna play in the Theater?

Right now Austin Shakespeare is preparing for Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love .. a wonderful mysterious sometimes whimsical play.  We always have a place for volunteers but right now we have a job as Light Board operator.. http://www.austinshakespeare.org/drupal/index2.php?q=node/781
check it out!  show opens Feb. 19.  Can't wait. check it out! http://thelongcenter.org/event/invention-love/

reading new mysteries

I've been kicking off the new year by reading Helen Foster Currie's Alice MacDonald Greer mysteries.  I read Ghost Dog first which is actually the second in the series.  What fun! now reading Ghost Cave.  They take place in the Texas Hill country, which is described vividly.  The characters are authentic, esp Alice herself, the amateur detective/lawyer now living in small town Texas. Ghost Dog features the world of singer/songwriters and even has some lyrics in the back of the book!  The plots are just complex enough to keep you want to read more and more.  I just want to get the next in the series!

I love the creative use of language: is "howdied" a real verb? well even as a girl born and raised in the city, I liked it.  The romantic relationship that blooms in Ghost Dog is a special treat!  References to music, from Bela Fleck to Beethoven and notes on plants such as Japanese Allspice/Winter Sweet enrich the reading experience.  The atmosphere of both has an undeniable joie de vivre even amid the danger and murder.  It's a world you'll want to spend time in.

revving up for Cyrano!

One week til we begin rehearsal. Starring Marc Pouhe' as our hero, Cyrano.  Working on the nose these days.  Taking photos this week.   Jeff Britting composing music.  Leslie Turner designing set. Talena Martinez doing costumes.  An exciting time when it is all before us.  We will be replacing Marc's headshot in the poster with his image as Cyrano.. once it is created. perhaps next week. This is my fav play.  So great to get to do it!

Advice to the players Tips on auditioning (getting ready for Austin Shakespeare's upcoming Season)

To be successful today means to be present, relaxed and connected during your audition.  I want to a sense of who YOU are… at first very simply: your voice and body, spirit and personality.  Try to be relaxed enough to not use a “stage” voice, speak from your truthful voice. I am very interested in the uniqueness you bring to character.  So, don’t try to guess “what the director wants.” In fact, sometimes I see “something” in someone that I hadn’t anticipated and changed my vision of a character.

------------------------

What is important is:

Be clear about what the words mean, ie what you are saying each moment.  Don’t anticpipate.  Discover with each phrase. 

If you are doing a speech, SHARE what you are saying with me. Mean what you are saying.  The words will get you what the character wants.  What is the result you want in this moment from saying these words?

And you want to get it NOW as the immediate result of your speech.  Did you get what you want or not by the end of your speech? Show that at the conclusion of your lines.

If you working in a scene, LISTEN to your scene partner.  Acting is re-acting.

Plunge into the moment.  Take Risks, surprise me. Surprise yourself…. And enjoy it all your can. 

NERVES.  It is natural to feel stress at auditioning.  Envision a relaxed environment before you come into the room.  Tell yourself that relaxing will help you perform better.  Breathe, drink water.  Be present.  Seeing the audition as a playful game is probably the best framework.   Again try to enjoy, relax and be present.  Let all your tension turn into that energy that is excitement. 

Coach yourself with kindness to do that. 

summer refreshing...

My job directing and teaching for Austin Shakespeare is kinda done for this season.  Now looking forward to planning for upcoming shows which start in Sept.

Also thinking about my own playwriting this summer.  Planning Late Aug. Auditions for actors for upcoming CYRANO starring Marc Pouhe.  Interviewing designers, planning budget for entire year … but most of all taking moments every day to refresh and renew.  Listening to new music classical (Vaughn Williams) and pop ((Ed Sheeran).  Gardening… sometimes just taking enough time to water plants and look at birds.  Of course reading, looking forward to Frances Mayes autobio Under Magnolia.  you can always check out Austin Shakespeare for upcoming info!

Shakespeare camp!

It's not too late to enroll in Summer Shakespeare Camp! June 23-27 For ages 11-15. A week-long session presents a series of workshops designed to tap into campers’ natural abilities (no previous experience needed here!) and to engage their creative intelligence. Workshop classes include:   Acting---Stage combat---Text analysis---Movement---Design Each session finishes with a mini performance of Shakespeare scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream staged and acted by campers for an audience of family and friends. Austin Shakespeare Camp will focus on three major aspects of theatre production:   Exploring Shakespeare introduces students to the beauty and meaning of Shakespeare's language and to what life was like in Elizabethan times.   Basics of Acting uses voice and movement exercises to challenge students to use the power and expressiveness of their voices and bodies when conveying thoughts, moods and character traits.   Ensemble & Collaboration allows campers to experience the power of ensemble work.   Actor and AISD Teacher Nancy Owens leads the workshop. Camp is 9:00 am - Noon, Monday – Friday. Workshop performance Friday. St. Michael’s Catholic Academy 3000 Barton Creek Blvd.   For information and enrollment, email Nicole at nic625@hotmail.com or call Alex at austin shakespeare.org

Rehearsing Othello with Austin Shakespeare... what an amazing play.  Stands proudly next to the great tragedies of Macbeth and Hamlet.  The cast is super smart and talented.  We open on Feb. 13 at the Long Center just in time for Valentine's Day.  Smother your love with kisses.

Belle of Amherst Act 1 Clip

The Hamlet Weblog featuring Shakespeare Blogs: 'Shakespeare on Stage: Thirteen Leading Actors on Thirteen Key Roles' by Julian Curry.

The Hamlet Weblog featuring Shakespeare Blogs: 'Shakespeare on Stage: Thirteen Leading Actors on Thirteen Key Roles' by Julian Curry.

thinking about playwriting

Getting ready to put together an Artist's Way group at the Austin Museum of Art and journaling and thinking about my own playwriting or lack thereof. I am thinking abt doing a reading for Austin Shakes of my version of Antigone. That "should live" .... I have lots of drafty stuff for a play about American/freedom and the Middle East, mainly Turkey. But soo much more to do on that. Weekends are really the best time for playwriting if we don't have a show in rehearsal and that won't be for months... so ... time to dig into the journal more and do some soul searching. What do I really want to write about. what subjects do I want to live with a year or two or three. Old friends like Jason Phelps ask me about playwriting and I just have to shrug and say I haven't been doing it seriously in the three years I have been at austin shakes. But that is part of the reason the Artist's Way group can help me.. give me the jump start I need.

Thinking about Shakespeare ... and Schiller

This is Helen Merino as Mary Stuart in Schiller's play. I am now working on Midsummer.. as a 1960's rock musical.... but the text of both plays are such a gift... blissful.... this is my 5th DREAM but the language is still thrilling. We have a great team of actors... some new to Austin Shakes and that is always good. More fun to com!

Austin Shakespeare is one of first in U.S. to do MARY STUART

From Peter Oswald's new adaptation of Schilller's : “I am not like the Stuart,/Who gave herself exactly what she wanted./Denied herself no pleasure, drunk a river/Of bliss!”

I am over the moon to be direct (and currently) auditioning actors for this thrilling work!

Everyone judges by appearances, no one bothers to fathom the realities.

---- Elizabeth

Gleaming, instense, Mary Stuart*… The Obserser

power-shifting, revealing, thrilling, acting to the hilt,

“startlingly modern,” (the Independent)

gripping, tightly structured, double portrait, dignified, riven w rage, darkly funny, fluid, elegant, queens glide to a terrible collision course, crackling w gun powder

Modern society is no stranger to the perils of religious extremism!

Peter Oswald's lucid, pacy translation

shifting power dynamics...personal struggle

“unforgettable” The Daily Mail

Schiller's 200-year-old play the sensibility of a modern political thriller.