For the first time in my life I feel fat. You would think it would be a motivation to exercise/diet. I'm finding it has the exact opposite effect.

The Shakespeare Tavern is discounting tickets to Mystery of Irma Vep this week. $15 per person - any area of the theater. Put "Hungry Like the Wolf" in a sentence when you order. They are also pre-selling Complete Works of William Shakespeare tickets for $15 (this week only).

I am trying to put together a group to go this Friday. Let me know if you are interested.

I took earendel to La Petite Maison for dinner last night. It was expensive but worth it - for the food and for earendel. He is definitely worth it. I told earendel that it gave me great satisfaction to be able to buy him such a dinner; that he has done so much for me over the years that it was the least I could do.

The food was excellent. We started with escarole in a garlic basil sauce. earendel had Filet Mignon topped with foie gras and a pepper cream sauce. I had Skirt Steak with shallots and a red wine reduction. The meal finished chocolate creme burlee and a pear and chocolate torte. We split a bottle of wine. I don't know anything about it except it was a French Cotes du Rhone. I guess that is a redundant statement. Everything a strong flavor. No water downed taste for the American palate. It was wonderful.

The owner served us herself. We learned that her family brought the restaurant from Nice to America two years ago. Her accent was lovely.

Two Nine One Seven Two Here we are . . . exactly where I knew we'd be . . . exactly where we don't want to be. . . It's the last week of June and in just a few days, I'll pay the single largest bill in my whole world: $29,172.

As a rule, I'd just use the surplus we generate each spring, pay 25% down and finance the rest. But this year, there isn't any surplus and what little borrowing capacity the company has left is our only defense against financial catastrophe. I really don't want to expend it before the 2009-2010 season even begins.

(click here to see Jeff doing something else he really doesn't want to do)

So I'm asking you to help. If you can chip in $5, $20, $50 or even $100, it will go a long way toward helping us survive the summer.

So what exactly is it that costs $29,172?

I wish I could say that every dime of that money goes to the heart of our work providing workshops for underprivileged children, costumes for actors, set materials for a musical or salary support for our apprentice company.

But I can't.

Next week, I have to pay for the un-sexiest thing in all of show business. I have to pay $29,172 for insurance!

OK . . . it's a lot of insurance and it really is necessary. For our 2009-2010 season, $29,172 buys a full year of worker's compensation coverage for the whole company (total annual payroll $963,000 - required by state law), we'll have more than $1 million property coverage for our theater and the contents thereof (required by the people who helped us buy the building), and general liability insurance- on site and off- for all ASC performances, in-class workshops and educational residencies (required by common sense).

The un-sexy fact is, by giving the devil his due, your 100% tax deductible gift of $5, $20, $50, or $100 does provide in-class Shakespeare instruction for underprivileged kids, and provides costumes for your favorite actors because- while those things aren't mandated by law- they can only happen after we meet our legal obligations, meaning that the things you love about us are made possible only by your financial support . . . now more than ever.

I said it wasn't sexy . . . still, it's the single largest bill of the year and it comes at a time- when this year of all years- we have almost nothing in the bank and we are in a seriously tight spot.

(click here to see Jeff in a seriously tight spot).

So if you can, click the button and be hero . . . The Shakespeare Tavern needs your support!

Very truly yours,

Jeff Watkins
Artistic Director
The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at
The New American Shakespeare Tavern

PS. OK . . . the actual bill due next Tuesday June 30 before 5pm is $29,172. I have managed to scrape together $5,400 and just yesterday, a Tavern patron of many years who, like you, really believes in the work we do presented me with $5,000 to help us in this, our hour of need.

So next Tuesday's goal is just shy of $19,000.

Please, if you are able to help with $5, $20, $50, $100 or more . . . give what you can.

 

 

 

 

I created a Facebook account. Now what do I do with it? How does Facebook work?

I am attending a religious gathering next weekend. It is outside Louisville in Indiana. Between registration, gas, etc. my hair budget was shot. So, instead of visiting the wonderul prismfire, my mother cut 4" off and I dyed it myself. I'm still adjusting. I went short because earendel requested it. I asked him what he thought about my growing it out more (ie: to my waist). He said he rather my hair be shorter because it would look more mature/put together. The length is really awkward for me but I have to admit Earendel was probably right. The dye job is okay. Its not the color I was going for but it doesn't scream dyed/fake either. Its a lot more gold than I intended. I guess I should have gone with the light gold dye instead. Oh well. When the roots come in hopefully I will have the money to see PrismFire. All her prior work makes this dye job look much better. All the various highlights, etc. cause this dye to vary in color, which makes it appear more natural in my opinion.

Now I'm off to get dressed and help Earendel's mother move into her new house. I rather be cleaning my own.

We are gathering at my house Tuesday (tomorrow) to watch episode 2. We are meeting at 8pm. Feel free to drop by. No potluck this time.

It took me slightly over an hour to go from Mt Vernon to Historic Roswell. Traffic backed up before Three Dollar Cafe to go over the Chattahoochee. I hate rain plus Atlanta traffic.

"There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain." - Plato

True Blood's season two premiere is this Sunday at 9pm. Earendel and I are hosting a viewing party. Who plans to come over? Do we want to do a potluck before hand?

I have had the ESPN's special lead up to the Belmont Stakes on all day. Horse racing is the only sport I get excited about. I don't know if its because horse racing was the first sport I was introduced to or if its because horses fascinate me. When Earendel and I visited my family in New York two years ago we didn't make it to the races. I regret that. Who knows when the next time I will be near a track, let alone during its season.

They just did a clip on the horse, Mine the Bird, who is expected to win. Its neat how they trained this horse. They hoped to come in 6th - 4th at the derby and ended up winning. Mine the Bird was sold to his current owners for $92,000 while the expected Derby winner sold for millions. I tried with no success to find that horse's name and price. I did find out the Mine that Horse came in 2nd at Preakness. That's too bad because he could have won the triple crown otherwise.

What's amazing to me is the horses race with 126lbs on them. That isn't the jockey's weight. That's the weight of everything they put on the horse's back. A Google search says a jockey is typically between 100-115lbs and bulimic. Another Google search says their average height is 5' - 5.5'. I always thought of jockeys being under 5'. Their body frames are deceiving.

Another reenactor posted this and I had to share. I laughed until I cried.

I want this T-shirt:

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/im-out-of-bed-and-dressed-womens-dark-tshirt/90616895

I can't justify the money though.

I received my True Blood soundtrack. It is an interesting combination of music. Various forms of country, Blues, Cajun, etc. One caught me completely off guard. It was the Cure. Part of me internally fought over if this was possible as it was being sung by this bad girl band. Sure enough, my alternative upbringing in the 90s holds true, it was the Cure - Just Like Heaven. Its sung by The Watson Twins. I have no idea who they are. If you weren't really familiar with the song you would never have guessed it was the same.

Ah the joys of YouTube. You can hear for yourself. It will be obvious now that I've told you, but still...

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My favorite song is still Bad Things by Jace Everett. This one hit wonder better be grateful to Alan Ball and his team. They have single handed pulled him out of obscurity. Anyway Bad Things is the True Blood theme song. Here it is below. Tidbit - True Blood's crew used very little stock footage for the intro. I want to know what crew member said "Hey lets get footage of that dead opossum over there. He would be great for the opening sequence." or "I hear there doing baptisms at the river. Lets go."

I've meant to post photos of the dress I made for Frolicon but never got around to it. The dress came up in conversation last night. Thus I'm posting the photos. Two are bad phone shots. The dress does not change colors, nor is it fuzzy. I have more photos from the last Terminusteam meeting but I can't locate them.

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This obviously isn't me. Its a wonderful picture of Dwivian. I'm posting it to show off the coat I made him. It is the sibling to the one I made for Capt. Barbosa modified to look for Victorian. Isn't he handsome as an airship pilot. That is what you are correct, Dwivian?

Woohoo! The season 1 soundtrack is available today. I think I will splurge and purchase it and The Mission soundtrack from Amazon.

If you are interested, the True Blood soundtrack can be found HERE.

Another interesting point is the books are no longer the Southern Vampire Series. It is now the Sookie Stackhouse Series. I noticed the change on Dead & Gone. Charliane Harris has changed it on her website. I guess that makes it official.

I heard Ms. Harris changed the book after True Blood was successful. I'm curious what the changes were. Wouldn't change anything; I'm just curious.