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Traveling, Tipping... and Mel
- Sunday, August 13, 2006
I just came back from a week's vacation and was able to catch up on some much needed reading. Two books that have been sitting on my bedside table begging to be finished: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.... The Time Traveler's Wife simply took my breath away. A beautiful love story told with a time traveling twist, which the science geek in me loved. I highly recommend reading it along with a friend because you will definitely want to talk about it with someone after you've finished. To buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/015602943X/002-6099461-0330465?v=glance&n=283155 ..... The Tipping Point was a great read. Malcolm Gladwell dissects the phenomenon of the epidemic. He explains how ideas are spread through society by individual people and movements. A fascinating seminar using real case studies to explore how we spread ideas from one person to another. I found it utterly enlightening. http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/ I've just begun to read Malcolm Gladwell's next book, Blink which explores how the mind works and how we make split decisions.... Lastly, besides a very relaxing week of reading and sun, I was also unfortunately bothered by the news of Mel Gibson's arrest in Malibu, which came with Anti-Semitic remarks to make any grandmother cringe. Here's my 2 cents: Alcohol addiction is a terrible thing. If Mel has a problem with it, I hope he gets help and I'm very thankful that no one was hurt while he was driving. But alcoholism is not an excuse for racism. I've been drunk many times. Believe me -- many times. And if memory serves me, my actions when I was drunk were embarrassing and sometimes I regretted what I did because the alcohol took away all of my inhibitions. Which means I did things and said things I wanted to say without thinking. Sort of like a truth serum, you might say. Mel, it's nice to know how you really feel. Kind of reminds me of similar remarks you made about gays about 10 years ago. Back then, Hollywood rallied behind you, supporting their shining star. You may not be so fortunate this time around. Tragic for someone who works in a town run by... Jews and gays. Idiot. I, for one, won't be watching any more Mel Gibson movies anytime soon.
Nora Ephron's words
- Thursday, August 03, 2006
It was a bad week for testosterone.
First, of course, there was the cyclist, Floyd Landis. He seemed to appear from nowhere — to the shock of those of us who, thanks to Lance Armstrong’s retirement, thought we had at least a year off from having to pretend we cared about cycling. Landis won the Tour de France last week, and within days, he turned out to have an unnaturally-high testosterone level.He denied doping in a strange, tell-tale fashion. And all you could think as you read about him was, what’s wrong with this guy? Doesn’t he know he’s going to get caught? (You could think this for only a second, because the truth is that people who do stupid things never think they’re going to get caught, otherwise they wouldn’t do stupid things. Still.)
Which brings us to Mel Gibson. Good old Mel. Ranting and raving in a Malibu police station. Let’s just stop to savor the moment when (in case there was any doubt about it) there’s finally proof positive about how Mel really feels. Now let’s move right on and go straight to Iraq.
There are many ways to tell the story of the Iraq War, but no question that one of them begins with a group of Republican men who under a compulsion to prove they were meaner and tougher than they’d been back in the days when they were a) in high school and no one chose them for the team, and/or b) part of the first Bush Administration. They bought into their own hormone-drenched slogans about fast strikes, shock-and-awe and surgical bombing. Now, three years later, having wrought a disaster, they continue to resort to the bromides of testosterone, accusing the war’s critics of being wussy for even discussing a pull-out. (Even the war’s moderate critics make the mistake of believing that everything would have worked just fine in Iraq had we sent in more troops. But there’s no evidence whatsoever that this would have improved anything, never mind that we barely had the troops to send.)
And speaking of testosterone victims, Israel. Poor Israel. Israel’s problems really began with the raid on Entebbe, which proved to the world (and of course, to Israel) that it was the strongest, toughest military operation in the world with the greatest intelligence service. Because of the technological superiority of the Israeli air force, this myth persisted until last week, when it became clear to all but Israel’s most knee-jerk supporters that something wasn’t working. For sure the intelligence wasn’t working, not to mention the invincibility of the Israeli Air Force. The foremost Israeli military expert Ze’ev Schiff laid out in last week’s Haaretz a long, inarguable list of failures in the current military operation against Hezbollah. Read it and weep.
The most horrifying case of testosterone gone mad, of course, is not the province of the West - it’s the suicide bomber, the terrorist who wants to die. The effect of this fact on modern warfare and its practitioners is one of the most fascinating and bone-chilling aspects in the world today. One suicide bomber turns out to be worth as much as a boatload of conventional weapons; one suicide bomber evens the playing field in a way that none of our current leaders seems to understand, even now. Meanwhile, the Arab world is in the midst of its own Entebbe moment, and has fallen in love with Hezbollah.
In the end, it turns out that we’re living in a world where there are almost no military operations that aren’t suicide missions; the difference is simply that their guys know they’re on suicide missions and ours don’t.
Something New from Something Old
- Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Just saw The Atlantic Theater Company's Off-Broadway production of Spring Awakening, written by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, directed by Michael Mayer, adapted from the Frank Wedekind play. Wow. Fantastic. The cast was stellar (particularly Lea Michele) and Duncan's music is hopefully a sign of what Broadway music can be in the future. It is so refreshing to see innovation in musical theater, particularly the boldness of Michael Mayer's direction and vision. I was fortunate enough to be apart of the cast of Spring Awakening when it was workshopped at The Sundance Theater Lab back in 2000 in Provo, Utah (I essayed the role of Melchior) and even then, Michael was very clear on what he wanted to present in it's final stage production. The script and music have gone through many changes since then, but I was glad to hear some of my favorite songs had stayed in the show. The producers have just announced a Broadway transfer, but I highly recommend seeing it before it does. http://www.atlantictheater.org/2006/springinfo.html
Courage and Equality
- Monday, July 17, 2006
My favorite moment from the Gay Games VII (www.gaygameschicago.org) Opening Ceremony? The sight of the team member from Uganda marching by himself, representing his entire country. That's courage. That's what the Games are all about and it was an honor to be asked to be apart of it this past weekend. The competitions are going on all this week, so if you can, run to Chicago and support all the amazing athletes from all over the world.... Speaking of courage and gay rights, I'd like to add my two cents about New York State adding to the list of bigoted and prejudiced states that have held up bans on gay marriage. For a state that shares the same name with the most amazing city in the world, I'm incredibly ashamed and shocked by the ruling passed by the state court last week making gay marriage illegal in New York. It was a reminder, though, that however much gays achieved over the past few decades in terms of positive media image and rights, the fight is still nowhere near over. I've been a member of The Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org) for 12 years now. Please support your local politicians who believe in equal rights for all people, gay and straight
Celia and Jeff Blumenkrantz
- Thursday, July 13, 2006
Celia Keenan-Bolger keeps making it into my blog. Fitting, since she's the one who suggested I write about things I love and want others to know about. We were talking in the greenroom last night at Spelling Bee when we got to talking about her MySpace page. I went to look it up online today and stumbled upon her interview and song on the Jeff Blumenkrantz Podcast http://blumenkrantzsongbook.blogspot.com/2006/02/toll-sung-by-celia-keenan-bolger.html. Wow. She sings a song by Jeff called "Toll" and she is truly wonderful. As always, Miss Celia. I went on to peruse the rest of Jeff's Podcast and found myself listening to it the entire day. Not only is Jeff a genius, touching, sweet songwriter, he is obviously a major fan of singers. His interviews with them are as sweet and touching as his music. Please take a listen and sing his music when you can. Buy the songbook http://www.jeffblumenkrantz.com/songbook.htm and spread the Blumenkrantz love. My favorites, besides Celia's, are "I Won't Mind" with Vicki Clark, "Recuerdo" with Liz Callaway and "Independence Day" sung by Jeff himself. Maybe Celia will sing "Recuerdo" with me someday. A boy can wish, right? And I never did find her MySpace page...
Why We Do What We Do
- Monday, July 10, 2006
A good friend put me on to an article written by Jenna Fischer from The Office. It was a posting in her blog by her character's MySpace page, Pam. A very eloquent and heartfelt testimony from a very humble performer. Every actor should read it. Every friend or family member of an actor should read it to understand why we do what we do. http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27753303&blogID=141657788&MyToken=a1401043-a7f2-4904-b0dc-6dcb7e4716b7
Thirty blocks and a Fish Filet
- Friday, June 30, 2006
I walked home tonight for no other reason than to enjoy beautiful weather. I hadn't done that in a while. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the simple joy of walking home through the Manhattan streets. It is a specific New York pleasure that is hard to describe. I also grabbed a guilty pleasure in the form of a McD's sandwich to munch on along the way....... I was feeling a bit tired today, having just finished two different workshops back to back, Where Elephants Weep and The Long Season while still doing a full work week at Spelling Bee. To tell the truth, I'm rather invigorated from the work. As actors we're usually used to complaining that we are not being hired enough or that our talents are not being utilized to their full potential. I was given the rare opportunity to stretch myself these past few weeks, both vocally and emotionally, and for that, I am grateful........ I was also reminded of how fortunate I am as an actor, as a Filipino, as an immigrant. My character, Allos, in The Long Season is a Filipino immigrant in Alaskan Salmon Canneries during the first waves of Filipino Immigration in the 1920's. It is a beautiful show, full of heart and gorgeous music. I've been attached to the piece for three years and not since Flower Drum Song have I felt so connected personally to a story. It's a story that has yet to be told about Filipinos in America. I feel very grateful that I've been asked to take part in the shaping of this new musical....... So when you feel a little like you're burning the candle from both ends, ask yourself, "Is this what I want to be doing?" If it is, than enjoy the ride. You just may be where you're supposed to be. Take a breath. Take a walk home. And don't forget to get extra tartar sauce.
Angelina Rocks
- Wednesday, June 21, 2006
I watched the Angelina Jolie Interview on Anderson Cooper CNN last night. Incredibly inspiring. Critics would say she is just a movie star trying to make herself feel good about herself. I say she is a smart, compassionate young woman who is using her fame and fortune to affect change in a world that desperately needs it. It was serendipitous timing that I watched the interview while I am workshopping this Cambodian Opera, "Where Elephants Weep". We present the music today to potential investors. For the past week, I have been learning music about a country who's people went through an awful genocide just 30 years ago. The woman who is playing my leading lady in the opera, Amara, is Cambodian herself and was actually born in a refugee camp in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge decimated her country. Possibly the same refugee camp that Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox from a few years ago. ...... We spend so much of our lives wanting more than what we've got. We've been conditioned to need to make more money, eat more food, be more important than someone else -- all to label ourselves successful. Sometimes it is just enough to be thankful for what we have. To love our family and friends. To try to be a positive influence on the world beyond our own selfish needs. Please support the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), of which Angelina Jolie is the Goodwill Ambassador. www.unhcr.org And please take the time to think about what is important to you. Pick a charity, support it. Spread the love... peace. xoxo
The Creel Thing
- Saturday, June 10, 2006
So here goes, my first blog. I'm a little nervous to be honest. Scared of the random shit that I know I will be dumb enough to write, dreading the times that I actually regret writing them. But life is a learning process, right? As is blogging, I guess. I'm following the advice of two amazing people -- the lovely Celia (Keenan-Bolger) told me write about things that I love and what I want people to know about and my best bud Dusty (Thomason) told me to write about what I was passionate about. Great advice, two great friends. So here goes, blatant misuse of punctuation and all......... I went to a going away party tonight for my good friend Gavin Creel. He's leaving on Tuesday for London to take over as "Bert" in the West End Production of Mary Poppins. He'll be gone for a year and was surrounded tonight by dozens of beautiful people wishing him off. It's always a joy to be around Gavin. I got to know Gavin pretty well on the Rosie Cruise (www.rfamilyvacations.com) where we spent a week surrounded by love, beautiful families and crazy fun. We connected deeply on that boat, talking about work, love, passion, heartbreak. It meant a lot to me to feel that Gavin and I were in the same tribe. A year later, having not spoken to him in quite a while, I was lucky enough to go to a concert he gave at Second Stage (on the Spelling Bee set, actually) celebrating the release of his debut solo album, GoodTimeNation. Amazing concert, rockin', heartfelt music. Fun to dance to and touching to listen to. Good stuff. He sang about all the things we talked about on the boat and I felt... privileged to be apart of his circle that night. His loving, honest, adoring circle of friends. So.... if you are in London over the next year, check out my friend, Gavin, as he kicks ass in Mary Poppins but before you do that, GO BUY HIS ALBUM. (www.cdbaby.com/cd/gavincreel) My favorite tracks are "These Four Walls" and "Art of Heartbreak". The journey Gavin takes you on with his gorgeous voice and songwriting will not disappoint...... And Gavin, my dear friend, have an amazing year. The journey you are about to take will be a great one. Keep your heart open, let your voice ring and enjoy the ride. We'll all be waiting for your return.
Voila
- Monday, June 05, 2006
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