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1st Show Tonight. 7pm. Theater Garage. Oh God.

Thursday, July 31st, 2008 | Solo Show Stuff | 9 Comments

Happy Thursday.

1. Well, tonight’s a big one. The show’s done. It’s funny. Well, I think it’s funny. That’s really more up to you guys than me. I hope you can make it. I have lots of buzz swarming around my show, which while incredibly nice is also very, very nerve wracking. There’s no way I don’t fail completely.

Have a nice day. Mike

Egads! Tech Day Is Here! First Show Is Thursday! 7pm! Theater Garage!

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | 2 Comments

Happy Wednesday!

1. Tech day has arrived.  As the hour approaches, I am furiously burning pre-show music, putting final touches on scripts and  hopefully, printer willing, printing out copies of the scripts for the technicians. Let’s face it, my show is pretty tech light. 3, maybe 4 blackouts, a wash and a microphone. Still, I maybe should’ve put a little thought into this aspect of the production.

The show is in pretty good shape. No major overhauls on any stories were done, but I did flesh some stuff out and to be honest, I feel like I’m in pretty good shape. The show’s pretty darn funny. It ain’t gonna win no Obie, but people should like it.

Ok, I gotta get going.

Mike

P.S. I have chosen NOT to send one million invitations on Facebook for my show. Let’s hope this act of kindness is met well…

Oh My God! It’s Fringe Week!

Monday, July 28th, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | 5 Comments

Happy Monday! 1. I am writing this from inside an Apple store. Surrounding me are iPhones, taunting me and the year that I have remaining on my contract. Should I break contract and dive headfirst into Apple’s sleekly designed cell phone/everything future? Probably not, but I’ve never been accused of being very intelligent.2.  Anyhoo, it’s Fringe week and I am now becoming super excited. Today is filled with re-writes. The show’s actually in pretty good shape, but it could use a nice polish. I sure hope to see you at the fest. My show opens Thursday at 7pm and the Theater(re?) Garage. Mike 

Share Time

Thursday, July 24th, 2008 | Plugs | 1 Comment

Happy Thursday!

1. Final preview before the big opening is tonight.   Last night we did a final run through and it went pretty well. I personally feel like I did a good job…for the first time in this process. Will this be a continuing trend, or was my speck of success merely a blip on the failure radar? What? I don’t know. I even failed writing this section of the ol’ blog.

2. Come on, Cubs! Come on! Hold on!

3. How was Petty? Did anyone go? If so, tell me about it.

4. How was the Hold Steady? Did anyone go? Did it happen yet? If so, tell me about it.

Mike

City Pages Feature On The BNW

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | 2 Comments

Happy Thursday!

1. Opening for the BNW’s election show is only two days away. It’s in really good shape right now and will be a hoot and a half, I can tell you that much. For those of you who like reading, here’s a feature from this week’s City Pages on the BNW. Enjoy.

2. Petty’s at the Excel tonight. Rock your tickets if you got em’.

3. The Fringe show continues its evolution into something really, really necessary for the good of mankind. You’re welcome in advance.

Mike

The View…

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Happy Tuesday!

1.  Oh man! Might there be an opening for yours truly on The View?  All I know is that Whoopi and the Blond girl got into a fight over the “n” word. Barbara, you need me. I’m a healer.  I can fix this. How many times do I have to ask to be on your show? How many times do you wonderful women have to fight before you realize that my calming presence is absolutely necessary? Seriously, if I were on this show, Rosie would still be on the air alongside Whoopi challenging America and making it laugh. Me and Joy would make cookies! I can’t remember the other woman’s name, but rest assured, had I been on the show, she and I would have talked off camera about how the world is round, or whatever little gaffe she made.  BARBARA! America needs me on daytime TV. Just think about it, k?

Whew…

Monday, July 21st, 2008 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Happy Monday!

1.  Well, I survived my hell week. The BNW mainstage show is in good shape and we will no doubt have a great opening later this week. For fans of music, this show is right up your alley. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever been part of a show that has so many great songs.

Also, big thanks to all of you who came to my Fringe Preview.  Overall, I am very happy with how it went. The stories are in better shape than I thought they’d be in.  Obviously, I need to do some re-writing and honing, but I’m in a much better place than I thought I’d be in at this point. Also, thanks to all of you who offered me your feedback.  If nothing else, it reaffirmed some things that I was already thinking.

Also, thanks to Jen Scott. She came in cold, played background for stories she’d never heard and basically rocked it out. Amazing.

2. The Dark Night is awesome. FOTIS.

Mike

Tonight’s The Night

Friday, July 18th, 2008 | Plugs | No Comments

Happy Friday.

1. Holy fuck. The show’s tonight. 1030. BNW. 5 bucks. I hope you can make it. Tickets.

2. Happy birthday, Dad. You’re a cancer survivor, which has an amazing ring to it.

Fucking Losing My Shit

Thursday, July 17th, 2008 | Plugs | 2 Comments

Happy Thursday.

Last night I dreamed that it was opening night of the Workshop show. It took place at the Jeune Leune for some reason and instead of political satire, we had combined a Greek tragedy with Shakespeare. Apparently it was going pretty well, except for the fact that I couldn’t remember any of my lines. It was awful. Joe, good friend that he is, covered for me on several occasions but it was clear that I had ruined the show. Afterwards, Caleb took me out to eat and fired me. After that, I came home and found my girlfriend (It was a girl I met once and talked to for maybe a minute. She’s from Regina. Whatever.) in the arms of this pretty boy actor (No one I know. Joe was the only person in the cast I recognized.) who was pissed at me because I had ruined his shot at getting on stage at the Guthrie. This made my dream girlfriend sad so she left me for him, not saying BUT clearly implying that my career was over.

I slept for ten minutes last night. My reward was this dream.

Today we rehearse. Tonight we go into our first preview and after that I finish writing my Fringe show. This dream was not meant to elicit sympathy. Rather, I think it is powerful evidence that by Saturday I might be officially on a boat to Crazy Town. Seriously, you’re gonna want to see what I’m like Friday night.

Fringe Show-Tomorrow Night-1030-BNW-$5. Tickets.

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Hey Kid, You Ever Seen A Train Wreck?

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | 1 Comment

Happy Wednesday!

1. Look, there’s not much to talk about. I am memorizing one show that goes into previews on Thursday. I am writing and re-writing my Fringe show for a quick pre Fringe performance on Friday night. Both shows are coming along really well, actually. I know the mainstage show will be good, and the Fringe show is coming along quite nicely. The stories are really starting to take form and my only real concern at this point is running time. I have no idea how long this sucker is and I’m not going to know this until the show is over on Friday night. I can’t tell you how much I love Previews. I love seeing and being a part of productions that are taking root. Sure, it’s stressful as hell, but there’s nothing more fun.

Tickets for Fringe preview

Mike

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