Yesterday I got a new package from one of my favorite magic dealers. Inside some new stuff to play with. First off was a copy of the DVD Colour Burn, it's an awesome effect and I can't wait I am ready to perform it, give me a couple days. I also received a Bicycle Ghost style desk, some loops, a
mis-made dollar bill, a Bicycle Tragic Royal Deck, Reel Magic Issue 5, and two copies of Street Magic Magazine.
I opened the Tragic Royals first and they are very
flexible but still better than the transparent cards. They have a weird coating on them and I only can think this is attributed to the fact they are supposed to react under black light. That was one of the main reasons for getting them, if I ever am in a situation where there is black light. I watched Colour Burn and I decided to wait to build the gimmick. I watched Reel Magic and it was
ok, it held my attention. It was cool to hear stories from some people and David Regal is funny with his product reviews. Street Magic Magazine is like a catalog with
snippets of text and interviews. What I enjoy about it, is the huge advert for a street magic hood in the back of the magazine. It says that is has a
topit, holdouts, and sharpie pockets. That made me laugh. I wanted to see what a
hoodie with a
topit cost. I went to Black Magic Group's site, which is also the site for Street Magic Magazine and they don't have the
hoodie. People have been asking for it for about 10 or 11 months. I found the post
here. I ended up trying to post and got banned because I didn't use my full name. What is this China? They also later removed my post and I bet it's because it's not endorsing their product. My post was:
Today, 07:54 AM
tommee tommee is offline
Banned Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1
Rep Power: 0
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This is silly now. It's almost 9 months and it's still not available or
out for reviews. I am just sweating thinking about the price the hoodie is going
to go for. It would be easier just to use Michael Ammar's topit patern in a
hoodie you like from the Gap or American Apparel. Since no one has seen it yet,
why not more advertisement like 'Built-In Music System' ' Built-In folding
mirrors and black-art cloth'
Now you can charge me 2 cents
Today I made the Color Burn gimmick and it's a cool effect. Time to practice it in front of the camera. I have a couple of other things I have been working on as well but now it's really time to sit at the notebook and script out the patter into something relevant, something smooth and something me.
It's a shame, I would like to go to Magicopolis this Saturday but I think it's going to be Jimmy and I taking Aron out for his birthday. Who knows, it might be moved or we might just show up anyway. It would be cool to jam with Erik or other magicians.
I also submitted my email to subjectiveproductions.tv because I saw that they are advertising for casting calls in Street Magic magazine but they don't have much about them on the web. Sounds like it could be a scam for spam but I already get so much spam that I donate it to third world vacation territories for income making possibilities. Whats a little more?
So I told you on Friday I was headed into Vegas. After work I zoomed on in, leaving work about 5:00-ish. I got in about 10:30 because of the traffic. I rushed to check in for my freebie room at New York, NY Casino and then I rushed in a cab to Palace Station to go to Jeff McBride's Wonderground party.
I got to the party with enough time to see one magician and some balloon acts. Jeff did his torn and restored dollar I like to do sometimes. I met some local magicians and we sat and talked at the bar. I remember meeting Tyler, who was hitting on Palace Station help; Dave, who was cool, a bunch of others that slip my mind too. I was wondering about the local place Denny Magic and they all recommended it to me. I found out later that it was the only magic shop besides the rip-off Houdini magic stores on the strip in the casinos. I talked with Jeff McBride and then I left to do other things.
After the after party I headed to Double Down to catch up with Jamiegrrrl. I was completely over-dressed for the Double Down but no one ever cares. I hung outside drinking my beverage catching up with people. Even before I finished my drink, we headed over to Dive Bar. I saw Delchi there and Taro was bartending. a couple drinks there as well as a shot. I got pretty toasting. Jamiegrrrl ditched me there and I ended up taking a cab back to New York NY. Since I was bored and it was only 5 in the morning or so, I decided to get on the craps table. I was between there and the video poker until 11am. The host of the casino asked me if I needed anything but since my room is comped, unless they would give me tickets to Criss Angel, I don't know what I need.
Sunday was rough and I spent most o fit laying in bed procrastinating about leaving. I didn't want to hit traffic. I decided to check out at 3pm and head to Denny Magic. It was cool, a little smaller than I though it would be since I have only seen Hollywood Magic, Fantasma and Tannens. I didn't really have anything in mind but I did get to talk to a couple of people and I picked up last months Magic magazine and a copy of this months Genii.
Traffic sucked all the way home. I do not know what the hold up was. I ended up stopping in Barstow for an hour to let the traffic clear up. I was supposed to have dinner with Sqweak and Mags but I wasn't going to make it home in time. I got Jack in the Box and didn't even stay awake enough to see Tim and Eric.
In just a few minutes I am planning on heading out to Vegas. It is going to be hot and yucky I am expecting but next weekend I will be hanging out with Jimmy and the weekend after that, I am supposed to be in New York.
Last night I didn't really do much. I walked up and down the Promenade but didn't see anything fun. A little later in the evening, I took a walk down by Santa Monica Place because the was some sort of police action. The was a ghetto bird in the air with a spotlight and cops were everywhere. Apparently the was a shooting. Weird to have that happen in Santa Monica.
I didn't pack when I left the house today so I bought everything I need. I noticed that I went up one size, not good. I listened to Desert Radio and I have a feeling I am going to hit some traffic. I don't care so much as ling as I get int Vegas by 9 or 9:30 tonight. I want to make it over Palace Station and check out Sound Trax for Jeff McBride's after party.
Maybe it's the viral visitor leaving my temple that is my body or it's that I am watching Current.TV today. Either way I feel a little more centered. I woke early to clean my living room and organize a little. I even did a little maintenance on my Eeepc to speed it up, even though it's going in for RMA soon.
Last night I went out. I made plans for myself to go to Magicopolis to see the Bar Show. It's a good time with beer and wine while watching various comics and magicians. The only downside is that Magicopolis isn't a full bar venue and zoning requires them to close at midnight but the show starts at 10pm and there is not cover or drink minimum. Being a drinker, I wouldn't mind either way. Last time I went, I was met by Jimmy, Chris and their girlfriends as well as Eliot from Hack-a-Day. I also saw Joshua Wiener from one of the Upright Citizens Brigade Harold teams.
This time the Bar Show fell a little short. The host decided to put a spin on the entertainment. There are so many magicians in the world and a handful of magicians that call themselves comedy magicians. Being that the comedy magicians are pretty shitty comedians. Erik decided why not put comedians up and show their shitty magic.
The show started with Erik and his co-host girl pretending she was a psychic. Some funny stuff, some of it I think didn't please some of the younger patrons who came in for a magic show. The first act was pretty funny. It was so in the flavor of Tim and Eric or an Andy Kaufman sort of thing. It was a guy who hosts an underground comedy night somewhere here in LA. He dressed up as a girl with a Hello Kitty backpack while he danced and sang to a dance track. It was repetitive and awkward making it pretty funny. I don't know if it really worked in this venue since it is a magic venue. I though it would have worked at the Upright Citizens Brigade or somewhere else although I thought it was funny regardless.
Next act was a gal who runs GarageComdedy.com who presented herself as an European artist of balloon sculpting. It was a funny character and when she brought out the balloons and the tension built, my mind went south. I thought we were to see a dirty show. What followed surprised me. She made balloon animals faster that I have ever seen before. It was ridiculous and amazing.
There was some magic that Erik did throughout the night. He did some Ace Productions, deck to pocket and signed card to mouth. It amused the young patrons.
The venue closed and it was just Erik, the balloon twister and myself. It got very third wheel feeling and I never how to bail out of those situations gracefully. I didn't get a goodbye when I bailed either, I might have prematurely ejected. Either way, three beers and nothing to do I headed home and crashed out.
Today I have learned some new items. Because of the Olympics, smoking bans have spread throughout Beijing. Pandora, the streaming media site, might collapse because of royalties. I also saw Drunk History which I think is a great concept. It features one of the guys who wan in L33t Haxxors I think.
I am supposed to hang out with Jimmy today but I haven't heard from him yet. I kinda want to talk about sketches and have multiple drinks. I don't know what will happen though.
My life has been so busy lately with the vacation and just being back for a couple days right now. Ever since I have been back I have been thinking about New York and I am reaching the end of my apartment lease in just over a month. I did have a conversation with one of my bosses today where I learned that I am most likely going to be needed out in Los Angeles a little longer, like six months longer.
Its not as bad as I am making it out to be because that would put me back in New York in the spring instead of the fall. New York winters suck but I miss the New York comedy I was part of.
So now that I am back in Los Angeles and I am getting back into my West Coast life, I have been catching up on my Tivo'ed shows. I have finally caught up on Weeds and I am sitting on the edge of my seat for this comedy. I am waiting to see Doug to get back with Mer-Mex. I am also caught up with Project Runway and I love that Henley. I don't know if she and Elena want to battle it out for me but I am leaning toward Henley. Thank God that Daniel didn't get kicked off so Elena is still safe.
I have been feverish since I have been back so I haven't been too energetic. I didn't even make the weekly Hacker Drinkup. I have even stayed home for Friday night. I am itching to go out, I was even thinking Vegas but I have my health to take care of, I just got home from a vacation and I do want to go to the The Bar Show at Magicopolis. I don't know if anyone else is going to show up tomorrow with me to Magicopolis but I am sure I would have fun regardless.
Musical Theatre Repertory
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Massman Theatre
1029 Child's Way
Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 4083144478
Email: usctmtr@gmail.com
Musical Theatre Repertory
presents
*HELLO AGAIN*
by Michael John LaChiusa
Directed by Briga Heelan
Musical Directed by Brian Kennedy
Choreography by Lili Fuller
Produced by Ashley Strumwasser
Audition Sign-Ups will be available in the DRC starting Friday, August 24th
AUDITIONS: (ALL IN THE MASSMAN THEATRE)
Wednesday, August 27th (7-10pm)
Thursday, August 28th (7-10pm)
CALLBACKS:
Sunday, August 31st (12-6pm)
CAST LIST POSTED:
Monday, September 1st
WHAT TO PREPARE:
32 bars of a contemporary ballad and 32 of a contemporary up tempo. The two selections should differ in mood and theatrical content. Vocals should try and capture a jazzy/ pop feel in at least one of the selections. Women may additionally be asked to vocalize into their soprano range.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Reading and a brief movement combination will occur at callbacks only. If possible, please be very familiar with, but not emulate the original cast recording.
SHOW REHEARSES:
September 1st - September 30th
SHOW PERFORMS:
October 1st through October 5th
Massman Theatre
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
The Whore: Mature, low alto voice. Possessing of a grounded yet mysterious quality. Worn down, yet still alluring.
The Soldier: Tenor voice. Versatility in terms of age. A restless soul with relentless energy. Can be aggressive and unpredictable.
The Nurse: Mezzo with a belt. Versatility in terms of age, can be both demure and totally domineering.
The College Boy: Baritone. Can play 20's- 30's. Young man aiming to experience life thats a little less safe.
The Young Wife: Mezzo/Alto. Can play 20's. Though young, a lonely soul and somewhat vacant. Jittery and yearning for excitement.
The Husband: Lyric Baritone with legit sound. Can play 30-50 yrs old. An upper class business man used to being comfortable and in control. Also exhibits a hidden sense of sexual desire and desperation. A closeted homosexual.
The Young Thing: Baritone/Tenor. In some parts, must have pop sound. An androgynous, beautiful young male callboy. He is worldy wise and seems far older than his appearance.
The Writer: Baritone. Strong falsetto/mix. Considers himself a jack of all trades artistically. Caught up in the search for beauty and inspiration. Bisexual.
The Actress: Mezzo with a pop and operratic sound. Can play 20's-30's. Seemingly confident and in control. Completely dissatisfied but forever hopeful. Vivacious and attractive.
The Senator: Baritone. Can play 40's. A man of power who is looking for true connection. Carries a strong sense of duty and pressure with him.
ABOUT HELLO AGAIN:
The joys of sex are here for the asking in this adult musical fantasy suggested by Arthur Schnitzler's "La Ronde." As though seen through the lens of a combination time machine and bawdy, old-time kinescope, HELLO AGAIN crisscrosses beds and jumps from decade to decade, intimately examining the painful secrets that drive characters into each other's arms and towards the bruising effects of reckless passion.
With a score that saturates the mind, HELLO AGAIN has an unforgettable, dreamlike quality—and all the luxuriance of an insistent seduction. "Mr. LaChiusa's smart, beguilingly world-weary work was the best original musical of the season…" —NY Times.
"LaChiusa is an artist with a puckish, damn-the-torpedoes imagination…his deliriously eclectic score is like tuning into a radio station with a serious President Clinton complex: It wants to please as many listeners as possible. For the camp mavens, there is a devastating pastiche, from "shlag"-heavy Viennese operetta to Yiddish boogie-woogie. For the Sondheim freaks, some devious wordplay. For the 'they don't write them like they used to' crowd, a plangent and hummable ballad…HELLO AGAIN scores." —NY Newsday.
