Wolowitz and Rodgers

As my wife and I were watching the NFL playoffs over the last few weeks, she said to me, "have you noticed that Aaron Rodgers and Simon Helberg look alike?"

"Who is Simon Helberg?"  I asked.

"Howard Wolowitz... (crickets, as she looked at me and waited for a reply) The Big Bang Theory?"

"Oh.  OH!  Wow, I have never put that together.  I think you're right."  I said.

"Of course I'm right."  She replied.

We made quick work of the google search, and here is what we found.  Fascinating.

John William Galt

On friday I attended the Professional Artist Series at Richland College.  The guest speaker was John William Galt.  Who?  You may ask.  Well, let me just tell you who.  You may not recognize the name, but you will definitely know the voice.  Mr. Galt has a long and distinguished career in professional theatre, film, and broadcasting.  From being an original cast member of the American production of No Sex Please, We're British to appearing in films such as Forrest Gump, Talk Radio, JFK, The Return of Josey Wales, Paper Moon, and Born on the 4th of July among others, John has had a fascinating career.  He has been in over 1000 commercials and his voice is instantly recognizable from Budweiser to Harley - Davidson to countless others.

I am on the left, Mr. Galt on the right.  He was fascinating, and I wanted to share his knowledge with you.  He began in theatre, and he talked about what he thought made a successful show.  "There are three things."  He said.  "Audience involvement -- character, Entertainment value, and take them somewhere they didn't expect to go."

He went on to talk about the entertainment industry, and what keeps most of us out.  "What keeps you out is that they don't know you."  Ok.  What he was really getting at is that you have got to use shameless self promotion, and get your name out there.  He gave us his trick for getting his name out there.  "Give them something shiny and useful with your name on it, and then they will remember you."  At the end of the series he gave us all pens with his name on them.  Good idea.

He talked of his many movies and the stars he has met, and then he said, "the insecure ones are the ones that are jerks.  Once they know you they are very nice, and genuine."

Being a voice over artist, he offered advice on recording.  "Protect you throat, open up the throat, and chest and let the chest resonate.  Enunciate beyond the mic, find the sweet spot of the mic, and pop on the other side."

As the series came to an end he talked about how to deal with producer types, and people in general, and gave some advice to the young actors in the room.  "People will treat you the way you allow them to."  "When you go to an audition what you're selling is you.  So, do something you are comfortable with.  The world belongs to those who show up, just keep showing up."

Labor Day 2 2011

On this, our second day of the Labor Day weekend, we decided to take the train down to the West End.

The girls loved it.  Well heck, we all did for that matter.  There is just something about riding a train.  It can be relaxing.  You don't have to worry about traffic, parking, or any of the other hazards of the highway.  You have time to sit and talk with your traveling companions.  And you get to see the city, specifically "the other side of the trees."  That is what one of the girls said today as we rode.  "Now we get to see what it is like on the other side of the trees."  Yes, yes we do.  You don't take the train to keep a schedule.  The best way to ride is for fun, and that is what we did.  As you ride nostalgia kicks in.  You begin to imagine the days of the the old west, and life seems a little easier somehow.

Once we got downtown we wondered around and ended up at the castle.

In case you don't know what the castle is, it is the old red court house downtown.  They wanted to go inside, but alas, it was sunday and the museum was not open.  So, we had to settle for a picture on the steps of the castle.  After the picture we headed to the big box.

As you may have figured out by the picture, the big box is the JFK memorial.  They loved it.  It had a stage to perform, and dance on, and open spaces to run around in.  After a moment, my wife said, "Do you think we should try to explain this to them."  "No."  I said.  I think they are still too young to understand it.  But we did feel like we should heard them elsewhere to run, out of respect for the monument and others.

We finally got to the west end and ate and went in the western shop.  My sister in-law is from Louisiana and we like to give her as much Texas paraphernalia as possible.  So naturally we had to stop in and look at the cowboy boots, rhinestone jewelry, and cowboy hats.  Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of that.  However, on our way back to the train stop, Amelia did the robot dance.  This, my friends, is worth looking at...

As we rode the train back, all of us were talking.  There were many interweaving conversations, and I thought this could not happen in a car.

Labor Day '11

My wife's family has come to visit this weekend, so, we have a house full of kids.

Having all the kids around makes me feel young again.  It also makes me appreciate the simple things in life like playing baseball in the yard, home made gifts that may not be that valuable monetarily, but are invaluable sentimentally, and swimming.

Traditionally, Labor Day marks the end of summer, and as a kid I used to dread going back to school, but this year I am glad to returning to the classroom at Richland College.  You see I am an adjunct faculty member there this year.  I teach intro to theatre and acting I.

Just a reminder don't wear white after this weekend.  I don't know where that rule comes from, but it seems to be important.

Back to the family and this weekend...
I had the opportunity to teach my 4 year old nephew how to bat this morning.  We played a lot of baseball today, and during one of our games I was coaching him on his hitting and said, "keep your eye on the ball."  To which he replied, "I always keep it on my eyeball."  I had no response to that.  Here he is in action.

Our niece will celebrate her 7th birthday soon, so, my wife gave her her birthday present in a bag she made out of capri sun pouches.  I know, you are probably thinking, "what in the world would a bag made out of capri sun pouches look like."  Well, you're in luck, I have a photo.

It is a neat little purse for her to carry her squinky's in.  Those are the presents that you really want to hold on to.

Towards the end of the day we went swimming at the hotel where the in-laws are staying.  This brought back a flood of memories.  dunking each other in the pool, throwing one another in the pool, and of course relaxing in the hot tub.  As we were swimming the girls ask me and papa to throw them in the air and let them land in the water.  So, we did.

Of course, me, papa, and the girls loved it.  Mom however, did not.  "That is too high."  She would insist, as the other girls would beg, "throw me, throw me."  So, papa and I found ourselves in an interesting catch 22.  To throw, or not to throw, that is the question.  Of course, we threw.  It was just too much fun.  The weekend is off to a good start.

4 Lovely Women

The girls and I went to the mall yesterday.

This giant pin is one of their favorite things to see when we go to the mall.  We made our usual rounds, and saw our usual things, the pin (of course), the fountain, the turtles, and the ducks.

They were trying to watch the duck, but I think the duck got the better show.  The middle one (in age) is trying to touch her hair in the water.  the oldest I think has had enough , and the duck, well I'm pretty sure she is thinking, "here we go again.  Some stupid kid is going to fall in.  I am just going to stand over here out of the way."
After we played with the duck we went to do one of our other favorite activities, ride the escalator.  When we reached the top something happened that revealed my future to me.  The girls stepped of the escalator look up into the heavens of the second floor of the mall and their jaws dropped.  Just then their mother said, "who wants to go to the make-up store?"  From the escalator they had seen this eden of womanhood, and even though they have never been allowed to wear make-up, they instinctively knew that this store was exciting, mysterious, grown-up, and where they needed to be.  They squealed as if they were in junior high, and yelled as they jumped up and down thrusting their hands in the air, "I do, I do."
They entered this shop as if they were entering Cinderella's castle.  This would make them princesses.  As soon as we entered the store a sales woman came over and said, "Hi ladies."  They gleamed with excitement.  Their dreams were coming true, they were grown-up ladies.  "Can I help you find something?"  The sales woman asked.

 "We are looking for lip gloss."  Their mother answered.  "Here, Lindsay will show you where it is."  And off they went with lindsay to find the lip gloss.
They found it, and began to pick their favorite colors and try it on.

All four of the girls were excited.  There was a flurry of activity, and they were all talking 90 to nothing. It was almost too much for my male brain to handle, and I was contemplating going to my empty square when I remembered a conversation I had with Barry Nash.  Barry is in his 50's and has two daughters.  I was directing him in a play when we got to talking about being the only man in a house full of women.  His daughters are grown now, so I was hoping to pickup some points of survival.
He said to me...
"There will come a time when you walk into your house and want to talk to someone about what is going on in your life.  As you try to do this, you will realize no one in this house understands me.  Not only that, but they don't care to."
Here in the make-up store, I could feel that moment beginning to creep its way into my life.  I told the Barry Nash story to my wife, and told her that sometimes I do wonder what it would be like to have a son.  Because, let's be honest, I think almost every guy thinks about having a son, and how he's going to rear him.
"Oh stop it."  she said, as she figuratively slapped me in the face.  "What."  I thought.  "I don't understand this sudden feeling of aggression."  "You are lucky to have 3 daughter.  Because we all know that daughters love their daddy's best, and when you are older you will have 4 girls that all love you to death."  She said, as the reality of these words tugged at my heart.
"Aw, you still love me."  I said.  "Shut up."  She answered, and in that moment I knew she did.  Then I looked at these 3 beautiful young girls, and saw how happy there were to be in the make-up store, and like the grinch, my heart grew 3 sizes.  Then one at a time they came over to me and asked how they looked.  "Like a princess."  I said.

The Baseball Game

The girls and I went to see a Rangers game last night.

As we were watching the game, the oldest, who is 6, asked why I like baseball so much?  That got me to thinking.  I think I like baseball because I played the game growing up.  That is the simple answer.  However, there is so much more to the answer, and at her age my daughter wouldn't understand it all, but I felt like I needed to write my answer down so I can remember the answer when she is old enough to grasp it.

Baseball can be a metaphor for life.  The field is precisely measured and very green and pretty, but the action on it can be chaotic.  The action is sometimes nonexistent, but then can happen at lighting speed.  The field starts from a single point, home plate, and fans out.  All the action starts from this one point, gets knocked around in the field, and comes back to this one point.  The players are all trying to get home.  It is the only game where the defense has the ball.  There is always tension, and a power struggle between two players, and in those seemingly quiet still moments there is a tremendous amount of action as we wait for the pitch.

Baseball is a great social outing.  As we watched the game there was a couple behind us that were on a date.  The girl didn't understand the rules of the game, and the guy was ever so happy to explain them to her, and she just loved his explanations.  Baseballs inherent structure, and pace allows time for conversation, which is the cornerstone of a great social event.

Baseball, like so many other events, is an escape.  I played baseball growing up, and my father coached me.  As I watch a game I am always taken back to an idealized time in my life when things were better and easier.  In the rough times of my life baseball always gave me, and my father something to talk about.

When my oldest daughter asked me why I liked baseball this is what I wanted to say, but I said, "I like it because I used to play, and it is relaxing."  She looked at me and said, "You still play.  With me in the back yard."  Yes I do.  The youngest got up the next day and asked "can we go to the soccer ball?"  She repeated the question several times before her mom and I realized she was talking about the baseball game.  We began to ask her questions about the ball-game, and were shocked when she could tell us some of the things that happened in the game.  I just thought they went for the snacks.

I am glad they liked the game, and the snacks.

Totally Technical Theatre

For the past two weeks I have been co-teaching a class at the Dallas Children's Theater called "Totally Technical Theatre."  The class was for middle school students.  We had 6 brave souls sign up for this inaugural venture.  The class covered the basics of technical theatre, you know, lighting, scenery, costumes, props, video, and sound.  Yes, the students actually had hands on experiences in some aspect of all the previously named areas.  It was a busy two weeks.  Our class worked in conjunction with one of the acting classes.  We designed the lights, set, and costumes for their final show case.

The students loved it.  They showed up early for class.  Were eager to get started, and on the last day said they were going to be sad when the class was over.  I think one of them might have even said they might cry when it was over.  As I sat back stage and watched the students I realized another important role that theatre can play for children this age, it provides a place where they fit in.

I continued to observed the students, all the reasons I loved theatre, and chose it as my career came flooding over me again.  I stood there, and relished those feelings.  It made me love theatre again.  I had gotten so used to the "theatre factory" that I work in, that I had almost forgotten the things that made me fall in love with theatre.  Then, like a gift from heaven, these students helped me remember the fun, excitement, coolness, magic, entertainment, happiness, and joy that is theatre.  They also helped me remember that theatre is a place where I am the cool kid, I fit in, I am good, and the acceptance that we all really want from others can be had, if only for a moment.

I was told once that success is helping others achieve their goals.  The students in the Totally Technical Theatre class made me feel like a success, and all I had to do was share what I know, and pay attention.

We made a video of the highlights of our class to show the parents what we had done the last two weeks.  I figure I should share it with you.  The link is below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUg4zOBL89Q