"I have spread my dreams beneath your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." -W.B. Yeats

2010 the beginning of a new year and I am glad that it’s finally here. Although 2009 was a productive year, there were hurdles to overcome.  Almost every day was a challenge to get through but I made it.

We made it.

Regardless of what others thought, we made it.

Adjustments were made (and continue to be made) so that dreams may not have to be shelved for an indeterminate time.  Tolerance and acceptance was developed towards those who want, want, and WANT without the consideration of who they are wanting from.  Tongues were bit to keep silent from assumptions made and yet, I continued to smile as steps were taken back and away from those creators of assumptions and rumors. Cupboards have been cleaned, skeletons hung out to dry and pathways have been cleared of obstacles that can get in the way of where I want to go. 

Respect.

It's a bumpy road out there but I chose it.  It's my dreams, my hopes and aspirations.

I am grateful for those who listen to my songs, purchase my CD, see my theatre productions, and come to my music & theatre gigs (click on the links and see what's coming up!) To those who continue to support me in one way or another and spread the word about my work ~  I look forward to offering you more this year,  to seeing your smiling faces in the audience or beside me at that magical moment when the curtains and lights are just about to go up.

I'm not getting any younger, so walk with me - behind me or beside me, but get out of my way as I continue to make my dreams come true so that those whose stories need to be heard will continue to be heard, so that you can continue to participate in them, so that when I ask you “how you’re doing”, you know I am listening.

Projects, projects, projects…I feel overwhelmed right now.  I’ve got a whole lot on my plate and all I want is to take a break. Hmmmm....that sounds like a good line to add to a song, lol

It’s a weird place to be. I mean, how does one balance the need for rest when inspiration is overflowing?  If I could, I would bottle up all this inspiration, store it and sip it in small doses. One cannot put inspiration on hold. If you can – well – I tip my hat to you. 

Right now, I am writing new songs, getting ready for a couple of music gigs, reading, re-reading & analyzing scripts that Altera Vitae will produce, working on character development for a play that I will be acting in January…and getting a schedule set for Altera Vitae’s first children’s show in March. 

I'll eventually get around to updating the shows/gigs page on this site, but for now I'll keep it simple and take it easy.  I’m having fun and I am exhausted and I am looking forward to the couple of days off during the holidays.

Just when I thought it was over...

BENT closed November 15 and I am still getting phone calls and emails from people who saw the play and those who wished they saw the play.  I am gratefully shocked!  Amongst the callers was a lady who survived the Holocaust.  She only read about the play one week after it closed, when she picked up one of the old newspapers at her senior’s residence. I spent an hour with her on the phone.  Her voice sounded weak and fragile but her words were made of steel.  She shared details of her life in the camp and insisted that we never forget.  She insisted that I keep her information just incase I decide to remount BENT.  To that I say: 

 Madame, it would be my honor to remount it just for you.

BENT: We’ve just gone beyond the halfway mark of the play’s run.  There are 5 shows left. I am ecstatic at the houses we’ve been having…even more so with the positive critiques we’ve been getting from the media.  Commentaries are positive from the Gazette, the various student magazines and online zines.  VIPs from the theatre world came out to see the play, people from the US came out and few published playwrights even approached me with their work immediately after the play!  But the icing on the cake is the emails I’ve received from individuals who said that the play gave them courage to come out of the closet and accept themselves for who they are.  I am so touched by their courage.

The cast and crew are efficient with the behind the scene work.  Even more important and what warms my heart is how they get along so well, the joking, the laughter and the camaraderie that has developed between them. To witness them interact as a family helping each other, talking about their days, sharing stories are images that have been burned in my mind.

Although we have 5 more shows in run.  All I can say is that I’ve been blessed with a cast and crew who really got what I’ve been trying to forge in the company, grateful that the audiences have appreciated our offerings and satisfied that I can let go of this production knowing that I can do better.

Winter and Spring will prove to be very busy seasons.  Right after BENT, I jump into memorizing lines for a P4W by Julia Ainsworth (produced by Zeitgeist Theatre Collective) as well, plan for my next show – a children’s show at the Centaur Theatre and plan the 2 directorship projects that I have accepted.  Stay tuned it’s going to be a fun ride!

See you at BENT, we got a few more shows so don’t miss it! It runs until November 15. Come see what the audience and critics are talking about.

It is 5 days from opening night of BENT.  Today is the last day of rehearsal in the studio.  We load into the theatre on Monday to prepare for tech week, opening night is November 5. For this play, I took out old “one upon a time” skills that I thought I wouldn’t use again.  I sewed banners & costumes, and made & painted props.  It’s been fun!  As we prepare to move into the theatre, I am slowly taking off my Director’s hat and putting on my techie cap.  It isn’t so difficult for me to let go as the Director.  The actors and crew have been very supportive.  They’ve helped make my job effortless and uncomplicated. 

Let me tell you a bit about the actors; a great bunch of guys!  I am blessed to work with 6 - yes, count them six, wonderful actors – all men (a challenging combo of experienced and not-so-experienced actors). I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of mixing up the talent levels; it’s another point in Altera Vitae’s mandate where we offer people whose careers are not necessarily aimed at professional theatre the chance to be onstage. Their life experiences make it real. It would be easy for me to use a roster of trained and experienced actors…and why not?  They are trained professionals after all. But there are certain life experiences that people have that make it so interesting for me to take someone who is not trained.  Working with an actor is an intimate exercise and one eventually gets to know their inner workings.  There are habits formed when working with the same actor.  They are formed from both sides to and from the director and the actor, some good…some bad, but habits are always formed.  I am not saying that it’s a bad thing but personally, I like the challenge of the new and unexpected.  I like to find what makes a person tick and then finally get the message, the vision and the delivery of the lines that I want out of him or her. But don’t get me wrong, I do like working with talents in a roster but mixing it up with other talents is even better.

Here are the wonderful actors that I’ve been spoiled with: Christopher Moore, Vance De Waele, Adam LeBlanc, Serge Turcotte, Mark Waters and Yves Jacquier.  They will deliver you BENT from the bottom of their hearts.

The amazing crew I have consists of Anne-Marie (Stage Manager), Scott (TD and Light Design), Dan (Sound Design), Janis (Media Relations), Oliver (Fight Choreographer) and Litratista our photographer and poster designer who also helped build the props and the set.  These are the folks who can almost read my mind and finish my sentences.  As a Director, they have been my security blanket.

For BENT, I am proud to have found GRIS-Montreal to honor with this production.  This year marks their 15 year servicing the community.  They demystify homosexuality to the youth by going out into the various schools and educating the students in a non-lecturing environment.

As the cast and crew moves from the production process into performance, I find myself humming the song “Heroes” by David Bowie.  Come see the show and…

“We can be Heroes, just for one day"