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Another Day, Another Plug…Creature Feature Ends Tomorrow!

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Happy Wednesday!

1. The plugs are almost done! Creature Feature! 8pm! Thursday! BNW! Get your tickets online! Thanks!

2. Last night’s Rockstar show went well. All of the acts were great, with Joe Scrimshaw’s set really sticking out in my mind as excellent. As for my story? It was meh. I liked it. It was funny. But at the same time, it never really seemed to gel into one cohesive piece. It felt like seven minutes of setup for a one minute joke, which can be fine, unless the seven minutes seems like nothing more than filler. That seemed to be my problem. Oh well. It was still fun to do.

3. Tonight I might go see a movie. What movie? I don’t know. A good one.

Mike

Well, That’s a Weight Lifted…

Friday, August 1st, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | 1 Comment

Happy Friday!

1. First off, big thanks to everyone who came to see my Fringe Opening last night, that was really cool of you. Also thanks to everyone who has left me some really kind messages and comments. They are truly appreciated by yours truly. As for the show itself, I felt like it went pretty well. I was way, way too ramped up at the beginning of the show. Seriously, I was on pace to finish a 20 minute story in under 2 minutes. After that however, things settled down and I hit a nice note.  There are some timing issues I need to work on and some small editing stuff, but overall the thing is in good shape.  My next one is Saturday at the Theater Garage at 230pm. Come see some afternoon shenanigans!

2. Hey!  The BNW is changing the way the do improv after the mainstage shows. Now, there will be one rocking improv, video and sketch extravaganza every Friday night at 10pm! Each week, there will be new written work, sketches that were to bizarre to be in the Mainstage show, videos (think you’ve been on a bad first date? Think again), and some of the best improv in the city! Hope to see you there!

Mike

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 

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

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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Big News!

Friday, July 11th, 2008 | Solo Show Stuff | 3 Comments

Happy Friday!

1. Big news on the Fringe show front!  Next week, I will be doing a very cheap, very fun preview of my show. I’ll have full details up hopefully later today and by preview, I mean the whole fucking thing. That’s right, I will be performing the whole damn thing warts and all to see what hits and what falls miserably flat. I did this last year and it was a fantastic way to get the show into show shape.

So, next week I go into previews for both the BNW election show and my Fringe show. In fact, I will be doing both on one night. Man, I might be the stupidest kid on the planet.

2. I was at the VFW last night when I ran into a very drunk man. He said and I quote, “People who are named Xavier are very lucky because their names are almost Savior.” I think he was trying to convert me. It didn’t work, but both he and I were pleased with his effort.

Mike

Construction, Deconstruction.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008 | Plugs, Solo Show Stuff | No Comments

Happy Thursday!
1. The BNW stage is almost done! Woo hoo! Here’s a shot from this weekend. It was so weird to see that sucker torn up. In the past few days, walls have been torn down, put up and painted. Floors have been ripped out, put back in and painted. Bars have been taken out, re-built and put back in. Wings have been created. Real wings. That’s the big trick. The theater can now fly. YAY!

The show continues to move along very well. The first act is essentially “teched” and we are in fairly decent shape as we head into our first preview.

The stress of July is starting to get to me just a little bit.

2. Hey, this weekend Ferrari McSpeedy is participating a 24 hour improv marathon in support of Gilda’s Club. Our slot is at 725pm on Sunday. Each group performs for half an hour and a 2 hour block of shows costs only $5. Talk about a good cause, huh?

3. Ok, maybe I was wrong about scrapping my Fringe show. I re-read what I have last night and it actually works really well. Welcome to my unique form of procrastination. Overanalyze everything to the point that nothing gets done.

Ugh. Well, postcards are soon to be ordered. That will be fun. I hope to have press releases done by this weekend. That’s probably too late, but whatever, It’ll at least be done.

Mike

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Fuck It, Let’s Scrap This Motherfucker and Start Over Again. Fuck It.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 | Plugs, Site News, Solo Show Stuff | No Comments

Happy Wednesday! Life is crazy. Ugh. Here we go!

1. Despite the fact that Fringe inches ever closer with every given day, I’ve decided to scrap what I’ve written so far and go an entirely different route. It means going back and essentially starting from scratch, but it’s the much stronger decision artistically. I think. I don’t know. Why don’t you decide for me? Schedule my show, go see it and then afterwards tell me if I made the right choice. I’m not going to tell you what my other option was, which will make it more difficult for you to make an informed decision, but just assume the option I opted out of involved…I don’t know, all bad choices.

There is a fair to good chance, given my schedule, that the first time I perform this show will be on my opening night. That both excites and terrifies me.

2. Have spent the last five or six days re-building/designing the BNW stage. Let me re-phrase. While others have been re-building/designing, I have been merrily providing my labor in the form of a grunt. It’s been so much fun, the stage looks awesome and I have been reminded of my first job out of college in which I helped do the exact same thing for the Illinois Theater Center. Ahhhh memories…Today, I’m a chubby old man with bones covered in skepticism. Back then I was exactly the same, only chubbier. Damn you, Sanfratello’s Pizzieria!

3. Five days before my Fringe show opens, the BNW’s political show, The Lion, The Witch and The War Hero; or Is McCain Able?, premieres! Holy political satire! In fact, we begin tech rehearsals for the show this afternoon.

4. I’m thinking of having my Mom be a “guest blogger” on my site for a week in August. Since I’m sure you’re reading this, consider this your invitation, Mumsy.

mike

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