I was fortunate enough to win the lead in two shows in the upcoming months. The details follow:

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“Stay as Dead as You Are” – Detective Joe Mamet

South Milwaukee PAC
901 15th Avenue
South Milwaukee WI 53172

April 19th, 2008, 6:30p.m.

Tickets (with 3 course dinner) – $35 each.

Join SMPAC as they present their first annual Mystery Dinner Theatre Fundraiser. Tickets are $35, which includes a 3-course meal of your choice. Call the Box Office at 414-766-5048 for more information.

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“Carousel” – Billy Bigelow

Sprague Theater
15 W. Walworth St.
Elkhorn, WI 53121

May 9, 10 & 11, 16 17 & 18, 2008
7:30p.m. Fridays & Saturdays
2:00p.m. Sundays

Tickets $12.

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I have attempted to spread the word about these two shows, mainly via posters, Facebook and mass emailings. But, the whole business makes me feel uncomfortable. While I will often posture, I mean it in jest. In truth, talking up myself or the projects with which I am involved, particularly when it is unsolicited, causes a sort of emotional twitch in me. But, I do consider it my duty as a part of the show to make its financial success match its aesthetic success.

That said, if you know anyone who can part with $35 for a 3-course dinner and entertainment, we could use to fill some more tables at the South Milwaukee PAC. Thank you in advance.

Infants-Blood.info – Your One Stop Supershop for Infant’s Blood and More

Just sending out some good vibes to my friend, Jessica Frantal, who is currently auditioning for Project Runway. Go out there and make me envious, lady. If there’s a public vote or something, get her on TV. You won’t regret it; she’s talented and fun, to say the very least.

(And no, despite my own gullibility today, this is not an April Fool’s prank).

An interesting article on how to disagree.

Pretty much everywhere, it’s gonna be hot.

Thanks, Arthur.

Great comments to be found here.

Why should it be illegal to sell something that it is legal to give away for free?

Also, you’ll never guess.

So, Tuesday’s rehearsal went by without major incident. We were practicing music, our Julie and me attempting to open emotionally in the music. My voice seemed all right, though not at 100%. But man, I could barely keep my breath consistent. Granted, I had not warmed up as much as I normally do, but there was some other obstacle I could feel keeping me from doing my best.

I think my voice works solely at my level of confidence. When I feel secure in my ability, it’s strong and, while not Broadway caliber, certainly passable for musical theater. That night, it reflected my self-doubt clearly. And this character has no such doubts, so the more I feel like I can’t perform up to snuff, the less I’m convincing in the role, and the more doubt I have, the worse I perform.

As a result, I can understand what it means to have a batting slump. But how to break the cycle? How does one feel confident, particularly early in the rehearsal cycle when the music still needs to be learned? It is at once the easiest and most difficult thing a person can do. That is: when it works, it’s such a pleasure it hardly seems like work, but when it doesn’t, it’s grueling and taxing.

Maybe I’m just coming to this realization late. It seems pretty obvious now that I’ve typed it all out. Anyway, I plan to suck it up and make it work, but for now I need to be prepared to be disappointed in myself, and have others disappointed in me. That sort of thing is just natural.

I enjoyed this speech.

You may need to ask yourself at this point, in what way is the writer of this blog similar to one Hugh Jackman? The comparison is not easy at first. But when you consider that both men are 6′ 2 1/2″, are actors, have deep baritone voices and will soon have both portrayed Gaston (Beauty and the Beast) and Billy Bigelow (Carousel) on the stage… well, those may seem coincidental, but I put forth that I be proclaimed Hugh the Lesser. At least until I make People’s 50 Most Beautiful list.