the shows here are going over the moon! Ticket sales are excellent and the Merrigong Theater Company (I worked with them to produce and plan the tour) have been top notch with the marketing and support. Lydia and Zion are loving it - the weather is superb. Australian winter. Go figure. :)
The press day in Sydney was a bit surreal. Being chauffeured around from interview to interview, radio, newspaper, this way Mr Ashanti. And a sushi lunch to top it off.
104.9 Triple M in Sydney had me record their station identification using my impression of Arnold Schwarzedude.
Two shows left in Wollongong and then we head to Darwin!
Thanks to Amanda Buckworth for the awesome publicity work and I'll do my best to keep you updated.
This is all impossible without the fans so I salute you!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Wollongong Here We Are!
The flight was great, Zion slept over half the time and take-off and landing had zero effect on him. Go figure.
We landed in Sydney to a warm welcome by Simon (Artistic Director) and Anne-Louise (Artistic Associate) from the Merrigong Theatre Company. Seems like yesterday we were sitting in Edinburgh 2007 discussing this tour and now it's all here. Daniel Potter (cool last name eh?) is handling the lights and sound and so far is doing a superb job.
The press interviews and the promotion is truly first class here and people are very surprised to hear that this tour was on the books before the show opened in New York. They love hearing about people making things happen against the odds especially when they see so many names in the program. One step at a time.
Our accommodation is really classy and the family is settling in nicely. Jetlag really got us for the first few days but we've emerged unscathed thus far.
Opening Night is June 3 but there is a show on June 2 to work things out. Looking forward to getting on stage again. This is such a beautiful city (Wollongong). Right on the water and although it's been a bit rainy it's nothing compared to the rain in Vancouver. If this is winter in Australia bring it on!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wollongong Here We Come!
Our anniversary was a blast. We found this amazing breakfast place called The Wooden Shoe (The Dutch) on Cambie Street in Vancouver. Nothing like a good stick to your ribs breakfast to start you off. Relaxing day, enjoying the little things that over half the people in the world do not have access to. Gotta stay thankful for the little things.
Tonight we take Zion on his first plane trip. We're both a little nervous about the little guy handling take-off and landing but the amount of advice we have from other parents has been both comforting and amusing. Everything from Jack Daniels to Tylenol to breast feeding has been thrown our way to keep his ears from popping. Jack Daniels. For a baby?
Got a fifteen hour flight ahead of us so we're loaded up with DVD's and a good book. My wife is reading the Pursuit of Happyness, I'm reading The Pixar Touch and for the third time I'll be reading the Four Hour Work Week.
When we arrive in Australia we definitely hit the ground running, a few days off to decompress are going to be very welcome. On trips like this I actually have to get in the mindset before I leave. In other words mentally I left for Australia yesterday. Getting in the mental space or the zone to do the show isn't an easy task so it definitely takes some build-up. Especially when it's fourteen cities. This will be the longest run of Basic Training ever done and I'm really impressed with the marketing efforts that Tina Walsberger and her team have put together. It never fails to amaze me when people spend the minimum on marketing and wonder why the ticket sales suck. Simon Hinton and his gang in Australia have obviously done their homework and it's great to be working with them. Even if the show doesn't sell a single ticket it means infinitely more to me that they put it all on the line and in a professional manner. Effort trumps statistics any time, any day. The economy can only be an excuse for so long and my life has taught me that what you give is what you get. It makes my skin crawl to travel the world and see what's really going on and to realize how much it differs from what the 'news' tells us.
After the Australia tour I'll be working on some exciting television gigs. That's a flaky world so best believe I will make something happen.
Had some great conversations with a well known director about a new one man show I'm hoping to perform in Edinburgh in 2010...more to come on that later. Leavin...on a jet plane...
Here's to peanuts and pretzels!
Tonight we take Zion on his first plane trip. We're both a little nervous about the little guy handling take-off and landing but the amount of advice we have from other parents has been both comforting and amusing. Everything from Jack Daniels to Tylenol to breast feeding has been thrown our way to keep his ears from popping. Jack Daniels. For a baby?
Got a fifteen hour flight ahead of us so we're loaded up with DVD's and a good book. My wife is reading the Pursuit of Happyness, I'm reading The Pixar Touch and for the third time I'll be reading the Four Hour Work Week.
When we arrive in Australia we definitely hit the ground running, a few days off to decompress are going to be very welcome. On trips like this I actually have to get in the mindset before I leave. In other words mentally I left for Australia yesterday. Getting in the mental space or the zone to do the show isn't an easy task so it definitely takes some build-up. Especially when it's fourteen cities. This will be the longest run of Basic Training ever done and I'm really impressed with the marketing efforts that Tina Walsberger and her team have put together. It never fails to amaze me when people spend the minimum on marketing and wonder why the ticket sales suck. Simon Hinton and his gang in Australia have obviously done their homework and it's great to be working with them. Even if the show doesn't sell a single ticket it means infinitely more to me that they put it all on the line and in a professional manner. Effort trumps statistics any time, any day. The economy can only be an excuse for so long and my life has taught me that what you give is what you get. It makes my skin crawl to travel the world and see what's really going on and to realize how much it differs from what the 'news' tells us.
After the Australia tour I'll be working on some exciting television gigs. That's a flaky world so best believe I will make something happen.
Had some great conversations with a well known director about a new one man show I'm hoping to perform in Edinburgh in 2010...more to come on that later. Leavin...on a jet plane...
Here's to peanuts and pretzels!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Currency
Postings have been less frequent - family in town to visit Zion and then the news that our landlords were selling the apartment we lived in for two years. Which isn't a problem except for the fact that they decided to tell us right before we leave for Australia. In addition to packing for a 2 month fourteen city tour we also had to put all of our belongings in storage. We could not have done it without our friends and we are so thankful for their help and love. They're the kind of currency that lasts a lifetime.
Now we're staying at a hotel near the Vancouver airport for two days. This allows us to decompress and figure out if we forgot
anything before we leave. Packing for a baby boy is quite the adventure but he keeps things interesting.
Today is our three year wedding anniversary so I better get off this laptop. More postings, more often - stay tuned! We leave for Australia tomorrow.
Now we're staying at a hotel near the Vancouver airport for two days. This allows us to decompress and figure out if we forgot
anything before we leave. Packing for a baby boy is quite the adventure but he keeps things interesting.
Today is our three year wedding anniversary so I better get off this laptop. More postings, more often - stay tuned! We leave for Australia tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Drama League Award
I have been nominated for a 2009 Broadway Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance! Other nominees include James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Rupert Everett and Geoffrey Rush. All of them have called me to say they're shaking in their boots at the thought of competing against me. They know what time it is. (kidding - they emailed me)
The Drama League Awards Ceremony is on May 15 and I would really like to go, what could be better than free food in a fancy hotel? Which fork do you eat with first? I can already hear my mother telling me to stop saying 'um' and 'take my hands out of my pockets'.
I just found out about the nomination this morning and my wife took me out for a nice breakfast to celebrate then we spent the day at the beach. My tan is looking kind of fly.
The Drama League Awards Ceremony is on May 15 and I would really like to go, what could be better than free food in a fancy hotel? Which fork do you eat with first? I can already hear my mother telling me to stop saying 'um' and 'take my hands out of my pockets'.
I just found out about the nomination this morning and my wife took me out for a nice breakfast to celebrate then we spent the day at the beach. My tan is looking kind of fly.
Friday, April 17, 2009
TV Land
This is a video I shot for the Australian tour dates. It's fun to let people see what happens behind the scenes.
Australia is fast approaching and Zion is growing at light speed. The family is happy and healthy and the month of April has been spent filling out work permit papers, passport applications and all the fixins that come with traveling. We'll be packing up before we leave for Australia, just found out the landlord is selling our apartment. One more thing on the 'to-do' list.
My friends The Pajama Men are kicking butt all over the world, one of the hottest comedy acts on the road right now. Please go see them if you get a chance. They're a comedy/improv duo produced by Second City Chicago. We're working on a few hilarious projects together so stay tuned for more!
The Tops In Blue Documentary is another project I'm producing and directing. www.tibdocumentary.com.
Working with a very talented friend named Juan Femath www.femathmedia.com. This was our idea, a way of trying to give back to the Tops In Blue program for all it's done for us.
I'll be sure to keep the news coming a bit more frequently now that things are picking up. News on the UK Tour will be posted here soon. See you on the road.
Australia is fast approaching and Zion is growing at light speed. The family is happy and healthy and the month of April has been spent filling out work permit papers, passport applications and all the fixins that come with traveling. We'll be packing up before we leave for Australia, just found out the landlord is selling our apartment. One more thing on the 'to-do' list.
My friends The Pajama Men are kicking butt all over the world, one of the hottest comedy acts on the road right now. Please go see them if you get a chance. They're a comedy/improv duo produced by Second City Chicago. We're working on a few hilarious projects together so stay tuned for more!
The Tops In Blue Documentary is another project I'm producing and directing. www.tibdocumentary.com.
Working with a very talented friend named Juan Femath www.femathmedia.com. This was our idea, a way of trying to give back to the Tops In Blue program for all it's done for us.
I'll be sure to keep the news coming a bit more frequently now that things are picking up. News on the UK Tour will be posted here soon. See you on the road.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Get Your Twitter On
The in-laws have come and gone and they are truly missed. Not quite sure how they did it before airplanes but I'm glad travel is so easy.
It's pretty amazing to watch Zion grow and realize how fast time is flying, reminds me to make the most of every day. The Australian tour dates are fast approaching and working from home has proved to be quite a challenge. Editing movie and television pitches between diapers and every day life kind of stuff.
Getting pretty pissed off about the 'economic downturn'. There are some people who are really hurting out there and it would be nice to see more solutions and less 'forecasts'. I don't know how I feel about certain media outlets (not all of them) shoving fear down our throats - maybe it's my fault for watching so much. Information digestion can be a horrible thing if it's fear cocktails every single day.
It feels good to be making things happen by refusing to settle for the used rubber mediocrity that so many folks find satisfying. In my opinion if it scares you then you're probably headed in the right direction.
Which brings us to the upcoming Australia Tour. 14 cities in one of the most gorgeous countries on earth. And my wife and son are coming with me! Just doesn't get any better than that. After that is a UK/Ireland Tour and then it's the holidays.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter if you are not already. Never a dull moment!
It's pretty amazing to watch Zion grow and realize how fast time is flying, reminds me to make the most of every day. The Australian tour dates are fast approaching and working from home has proved to be quite a challenge. Editing movie and television pitches between diapers and every day life kind of stuff.
Getting pretty pissed off about the 'economic downturn'. There are some people who are really hurting out there and it would be nice to see more solutions and less 'forecasts'. I don't know how I feel about certain media outlets (not all of them) shoving fear down our throats - maybe it's my fault for watching so much. Information digestion can be a horrible thing if it's fear cocktails every single day.
It feels good to be making things happen by refusing to settle for the used rubber mediocrity that so many folks find satisfying. In my opinion if it scares you then you're probably headed in the right direction.
Which brings us to the upcoming Australia Tour. 14 cities in one of the most gorgeous countries on earth. And my wife and son are coming with me! Just doesn't get any better than that. After that is a UK/Ireland Tour and then it's the holidays.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter if you are not already. Never a dull moment!
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