Seeking International Artists

THALATTA! is seeking submissions for 10 actors of various nationalities (first generationer OK) to fill positions in a growing ensemble. We are looking for international individuals living in NYC, with a basic command of English, who are willing to make a six month commitment. There is a small stipend and the work with result in a yet-to-be-determined performance. We will start in October with a series of workshops led by the artistic director designed to incorporate the various techniques held by the actors.

Please send H/R to theatre.international@gmail.com or mail us at: THALATTA!, 723 Eighth Ave Suite 4H, Brooklyn, NY 11215. We will contact you to schedule an audition during the summer.

Why Americans Can't Win in Soccer or Iraq

Not surprisingly, the US Team blew it at the World Cup and I find it not dissimilar to the War on Iraq. Both tell me that Americans don't know how to work as a team. Everything in the States is about individual achievement. (In contrast, the reason former Communist countries don't play well is because they lack creativity.) We rack up stats for every baseball, basketball and football star, but it's nearly impossible to do the same for soccer. One person may score the goal, but it's the teamwork that sets up the shots. The fact that we still call it soccer, while the rest of the world rightly calls it football, is idiotic. Just like the metric system.

If you watched any of the matches, it was clear that none of the American players were working together, and that indicates a lack of effective coaching/leadership. (See where this is going?) Without a strategic plan, our men are left out there running around the (battle) field without a specific aim or purpose. We may come out forceful, but that adreneline quickly turns to apathy. We're either aggressive pricks or lazy bastards. We have little to no middle ground. American are good at sprints, but not marathons. We don't have it in us to stick it out for the long haul. Only major difference now is that the soccer matches last only 90 minutes. In Iraq, there apparently is not timetable. Someone really needs to give us a red card on this one.

Time to bring our boys home, both soldiers and soccer stars alike.
Time to learn the lesson of losing gracefully.

Spam-a-not

So last night my best friend since childhood, Chris Martin, took me to see Spamalot for my 30th birthday. I turned thirty fifteen months ago, but it was the first tickets we could get. Now, I preface all this by saying that I am (or was) a huge Monty Python fan. For those of you who remember, they used to air Flying Circus on MTV. (Can I get a Young Ones shout out anyone?) My brother and I would do sketches of them during the summertime talent shows when we were in our teens. I even started the Monty Python Club in high school. The guidance counselor kept telling me to add extra-curricular activities to my transcripts. Needless to say, I have seen The Holy Grail many many times.

It was clear the moment we entered the theatre that everyone else there was a MP fan too. They started cheering even before the orchestra started the overture. The woman sitting next to us did not stop bobbing for two hours (and this was even when there wasn't any music). The rest of the audience was filled with the kids of the giddy parents. There was a group behind us who repeatedly said 'Nee'. The show wasn't much of a 'show'. It was more of a revue - songs and sketches that didn't add up to anything. (Not that it should. I am talking about Broadway here.) The crowd's response was what annoyed me. It was a mix between a rock concert and a Star Trek convention. I like when people are excited about going to the theatre, but not because they are having a flashback to when they were younger and cooler. That's the problem with Broadway today. They go for the cheapest thrill possible. And people are gullible enough to pay for something they've already seen.

It's often said that 'The book was better than the movie." That should now be updated to "The movie was better than the musical."

The Only Thing We Can Count On Is Change

Hello summer. Time to go out and throw the frisbee around. Beats sitting around a air-condition-less apartment reading nonprofit/501c3 books. Then again, if I don't read them, I'll end up like the crazy guy throwing his frisbee at people on the subway. Should do my best to keep my insanity focused.

How the World Cup Helped my Spanish

Fo whatever reason, I've been really into watching the World Cup, but I can only get it on Univision on my TV. So not only am I enjoying the most popular sport in the world, but I'm boning up on the language I didn't quite learn in high school. Sounds like a win/win to me. Plus the fact that the announcers are so much more into it than the Americans. When they yell 'Gooooooooooooooaaaalllllll', it really gets you excited. Looks like Team USA has one last hope on Thursday, but that Ghana team looked amazing yesterday. If the Italians can beat Ghana, and Ghana can beat the Czech, and the Czech can beat us, I don't think there's much hope, but the U.S. always seems to rally as the underdog. We like the comeback.

Back East

So our Chitown adventure is over and after the fourteen hour car ride, I'm back in Jersey. Had a wonderful stop over in Pittsburgh where I got to have drinks with an ol' friend from college, Tami Dixon. She's about to direct a reading of 'Chicks with Dicks' which I had the chance to see her in a few years ago at the Kraine on West 4th. She's truly one of the best actresses I know. She was in the staged reading THALATTA! did in '03 of Roland Schimmelpfennig's 'Arabian Night' (which is about to open in NY on Monday produced by The Play Co. - too bad I'm not directing it).

As for my Tony predictions tonight. The main winner will be whatever rerun of 'Desperate Housewives' is on. Lord knows no one will be watching the CBS telecast.

norway.yesterday

That's all she wrote (or sung, if she's fat).

this is it, This Is It, THIS IS IT!

Hard to believe that twelve hours from now it'll all be over (aside from striking Martin's monster set). And like the tide, the show comes in and the show goes out. Too be honest, I'm a bit relieved. I loved this process and worked my ass off to get it up, and now I'm ready for some perspective and a break. Strange to imagine being back on the east coast next week. I've really grown attached to Chicago. In a way, it reminds me of Brooklyn without a Manhattan to look down on it. The inevitable question-"What's next?" continues to arise and I haven't a clue. There are a few options, two plays from Spain in particular, but I think it's best to regroup and really assess our capabilities. I probably bit off more than I could chew, but how otherwise can one be capable of knowing how much they can stomach?

uno dos

Well, we're coming up towards the end. Only two performances left. Thankfully our turn out has been much better than last week. I've come up with an unofficial theatre rule: Never do a show Memorial Day weekend. This is the second time I've done it and it's a sure loser. Chicago was like a ghost town, and it didn't help that the weather was close to 90 degrees. Who goes to the theatre on the first long weekend of summer? Fortunately, the trend hasn't stuck. Apparently, people are fine going to see shows in June. Though I imagine that Fourth of July would be just the same. Who wants to compete with fireworks?