News 2002

This month has proven exciting. I've been cast in NOTE's production of a brand new, brilliant play called "Yellow/Flesh/Alabaster/Rose". It's truly incredible. It's by Eric Anderson and proves to be one of those plays you get involved with that will effect your entire take on the theatre. It's about a severely dysfunctional group of siblings who have been sexually abused by their father. I play the role of "Mike". He's a "daddy" type hustler that the son pays for sexual services. I also play the voice of the father. Quite a creepy combination. (See pics).

Also, with the recent passing of my mom, there's really no reason for me to head to the flatlands of Indiana anymore for the holidays so I've started a new tradition I call "V4X". That stands for "Vegas For Xmas"!

Went to the Aladdin and got an incredible deal. For only a little bit more than I'd planned on paying, I got an upgrade to a HUGE suite on the 40th floor with a gorgeous view of the Bellagio fountain. Nice kushy robes, liquid crystal TV in the bathroom, about 300 closets and a feather bed.

After I got back from Indiana for my mom's service, I got into a little bang up with my car. That was drag and really poorly timed. The last thing you need, really, after going through such a life changing experience is a life changing experience. But, it could have been worse, I suppose.

Right after that I was contacted by a good friend to see if I'd be interested in replacing Tim Curry (yes, that Tim Curry) in a reading of a new parlor play. It's called "Variety". Since I had nothing else pressing (and it was the leading role, after all) I accepted. It was really funny. Harkening back to the days when plays were more of a peek into the lives of the idle rich and very witty and fast. Great cast and a strong script. There was only one performance and it went swimmingly.

Had about 15 people over for Thanksgiving dinner. A blasty time was had by all.

Very sad news. My mom passed away this month. We were very good friends and the thought that she won't be around for weekly phone calls anymore is pretty hard to take. But, in a way, I feel even closer to her now. I'm sure she'd be sorry that her passing made me miss the last week of "Richard III". She was an actress and a poet and she totally understood what the performer's life is like. When I went back to Indiana for the service it was really odd. It was like a combination of wake and reunion. My mom taught most of my school friends in High School. A number of them were in attendance. And I hadn't seen any of them in years. So, between the tears, there was much laughter. She would have been extremely happy to see us getting together again.

Richard III has opened to glorious reviews. (See reviews). The run proves to be very exciting and fulfilling.

I've been cast in William Shakespeare's "Richard III" (the hunchbacked king) Theatre of NOTE. I'll be playing the role of Ratcliffe. In this version, though, the role has been fleshed out to include the murderers. So, basically, I'll be playing an assassin. I'm going to dye my hair white and spike it out. (See pictures) My weapon of choice will be a chain around my neck that I use to strangle my victims. I'll even get to kill Richard at the end of the play. The costumes are going to be very "Matrix" like. I'll have a long black trench coat which should work really well with my new hair.

I totally killed! I looked NOTHING like Jack Albertson (the actor who played my role in the film). In fact, I looked more like Sonny Bono had he lived to have gray hair. (See pictures) But that didn't seem to matter. The audience went crazy. What a blast!

This evening, I begin to understudy for my friend John O'Brien in a musical version of the 1970's disaster classic, The Poseidon Adventure... The Musical.

My website is now over four years old! It is undergoing some major renovations at this time, so it is possible that some links might not work or take you to unexpected places. Some pictures may disappear. Beware of holes in the stage.

I have just finished shooting a movie called ZEN NOIR, written and directed by Marc Rosenbush. It is a murder mystery centered around a death at a Buddhist monastery. I play a mad monk named Ed. See Pictures.

Here is a picture of me and the dog I spent two days with shooting a commercial for CINGULAR WIRELESS. He was an absolute nightmare and I (and most of the other dog handlig actors) were cut from the final commercial. It was cool learing how to train a dog but after about six hours of holding the lead (leash) so tightly with one hand and holding chewy "treats" in the other it got pretty old. Also, my right pants pocket got pretty gamey holding chewy treats all day long. Never work with children or animals.

March and April have been busy months. I have directed two plays now running at Theatre of Note. One is called Son of a Biker and is running on Wednesday and Thursday nights and the other is Truly Truly Judy on Friday and Saturday nights.

Today I have a new management team. They are called Sovereign Management. They can be contacted at 323.462.0070. The announcement appeared in Variety.

My Canon Copier commerical began playing this month during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.

Well, awards season has begun. I am fortunate to be in several movies doing very well.

Ghost World has won numerous awards. It has won Best Film, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay from the San Diego Film Critics. Thora Birch won Best Actress from the Toronto Film Critics. Steve Buscemi is Best Supporting Actor says the New York Film Critics Circle. Steve Buscemi and Thora Birch were both nominated for Golden Globes.

Rain is not in competition but is an exhibition film. Friends tell me it is sold out. So far Rain has won best cinematographer at the Stockholm Film Festival.

Ghost World is getting some buzz at the awards shows this year. Steve Buscemi won b

I am now busy stage managing a show called Destronelli at Theatre of Note.

Last week I shot the commercial for Sonic Burgers. They say it should be on the air starting in February. As should my Canon commercial.