the dreamer and the devil meet on stage

Photo 1: "We're Gonna Show 'Em"; full cast; the citizens of Chicago are eager to have their city be chosen as the site of the new World's Fair.
(Please note: photo by Rich Seidelman)

I was not one of the fortunate few who were physically present at this reading of the new musical, "The Dreamer And The Devil" - but I was certainly there in spirit! Here's the report from the website of Jenny Seidelman:
May 23, 2012
Reading of The Dreamer and the Devil a Success

An enthusiastic audience of supporters and theater-industry professionals attended a reading of the new, full-length musical The Dreamer and the Devil on May 21, 2012 at Stage 773 in Chicago. The show features book and additional lyrics by Jenny Seidelman and music, lyrics and additional book by Jonathan Wagner. Richard Shavzin served as director and Claire Shavzin was stage manager/assistant director.

The cast featured an outstanding array of talent including: Larry Adams (Daniel Burnham); Michael Mahler (H.H. Holmes); George Keating (John Root); Doug Pawlik (Sol Bloom); Kevin Gudahl (Carter Harrison); Marc Pera (Patrick Prendergast); Charissa Armon (Julia Conner); Karl Hamilton (Detective Geyer); Erin Myover-Piotrowski (Annie Howard); Andrew Roy Ritter (Ned Conner); Dave Nadolski (Ben Pietzel); Sharriese Hamilton (ensemble); Mandy Modic (ensemble); Jeny Wasilewski (ensemble); Chris Gorton (ensemble); Dave Carmona (ensemble); Ed Rutherford (ensemble).

The reading of The Dreamer and the Devil was supported through a major fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, which also helped to pay for a forthcoming cast recording.

The Dreamer and the Devil's artistic team are currently determining the next steps for the show.

Wow!!!
And here's the news from that artistic team:
Update #6
May 23 2012
"The Dreamer and the Devil" Reading is a Smashing Success!

We’re so excited to tell you that we finally had the official reading of The Dreamer and the Devil this past Monday and it was quite a success!

Approximately 100 supporters and theater industry professionals joined us at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave.) in Chicago for this amazing event. The audience response was incredibly positive and we’re very excited for what the future holds for The Dreamer and the Devil.

Thanks to the support of our Kickstarter donors, we were able to have the show professionally recorded so that we can send c.d.s. to investors/producers/artistic directors in the Chicago area who were unable to attend the reading. (Donors of $25 and above will also receive a c.d. in a month or two.)

We were also able to hire a top-notch stage manager/assistant director, Claire Shavzin, and a truly outstanding cast of both Equity and non-Equity professionals, including: Larry Adams (Daniel Burnham); Michael Mahler (H.H. Holmes); George Keating (John Root); Doug Pawlik (Sol Bloom); Kevin Gudahl (Carter Harrison); Marc Pera (Patrick Prendergast); Charissa Armon (Julia Conner); Karl Hamilton (Detective Geyer); Erin Myover-Piotrowski (Annie Howard); Andrew Roy Ritter (Ned Conner); Dave Nadolski (Ben Pietzel); Sharriese Hamilton (Miss Halifax); Mandy Modic (Myrta Holmes); Jeny Wasilewski (Minnie Williams); Chris Gorton (O'Hara); Dave Carmona (Lyman Gage); Ed Rutherford (Angry Republican).

And, of course, the Kickstarter campaign helped us pay for the all-important copies of scripts and music, programs for the event, water and coffee for the cast, and rental of Stage 773 for rehearsals and the performance.

Now that the big event is over, we are taking a much-needed “breather” for a week or two – but we look forward to reconvening to discuss audience feedback, responses from potential producers/investors, and figuring out the next steps to take in pursuit of a full production.

As a generous Kickstarter donor, we will keep you apprised of major developments with the show – future readings, productions, etc.

Thank you again for your truly generous support. We couldn’t have done it without you!

~ Jenny Seidelman, Jonathan Wagner and Richard Shavzin ~

Wowzie wow WOW!!! I am so excited about this - just in time for my birthday, too.
Thanks, y'all!

spotlight players are flappers!

Ah! Again, my only lament is my living too far away to see this show!
Just two scant months ago, the third - and charmed - kickstarter plea went out for funding. I responded, as did eighteen others, almost tripling the funding goal! Bravo for the Spotlight "Still Got It" Players of Michigan and for Debbie Lannen!
Even though I won't be able to see the show itself, I have been treated to two previews. In the first, back in the first week of April, we see a featured player touting the joys of being a flapper. Then, in the second video, we have an ensemble singing about dancing the Charleston!
Tonight is opening night for the musical, Flapper!, and I have one thing to say: Break a leg, y'all!
But not really, okay?
(Smile!)

sustainable love from hawaii

Using the vintage scarves which are her specialty,
the flowing beach blouse on the card
is one of the many designs by
Katrina Langford.
I am so fortunate to be counted as
one of the 133 supporters
of her kickstarter campaign to grow her business!

Today, in addition to the lovely card of thanks (ah... I can almost smell the salt air swirling the soft fabric!) and the stickers with the lovely clamshell-style design, I also received a versatile, three-way, garment bag! Not only is it made from green materials, it can be used as a traditional bag for hanging garments, or as an over the shoulder gym bag, or a pack-it-full-from-the-bottom duffel bag. Wow!
The fabric allows it to be folded, so it can be tucked into your luggage for travel. Then, when new clothes or other goods, like souvenirs for family and friends, are purchased on your trip, you have a safe place to keep them for the trip home.
The reason I am thinking of that is this: I am soon to travel to Italy! I intend to leave old clothing favorites there and bring new ones home... so maybe this garment bag will make the trip, too.
Or maybe I'll let it's first trip with me be a return to its island of origin. Yeah, I think that may be what I'll do! Now, to plan a trip to those Pacific isles!

starfish

Today, the folks behind this project, including Ted Cheecharoan, made a special trip to campus to deliver Creative Kitchen to my eager hands. A personal trip, partly so they could meet me and thank me for supporting their endeavors.
Very nice - that meant a lot to me me and made me feel very appreciated.

The following is a transcript of what I had written earlier in my other blog.

I had tagged this project some time ago, then forgotten about it until the alert that funding for it was to soon end. I decided to opt in, for a variety of positive reasons. For starters, it's a local project, meaning the money stays here and helps HERE. It's also associated with the Starfish Cafe, a training ground for those serious about turning their life in a positive direction in addition to mastering the art of being a chef. I believe in the work they are doing and am already a supporter of them, having given two of their cookbooks to family members this Christmas.
Partly, though, my interest in the project is based on a dinner party I attended just a few weeks ago. That dinner party, hosted by the niece who could pass for my daughter and her husband, had at its center a game I had given them a couple of years ago, a game called Stir Crazy. In that game, two teams of would-be chefs are pitted against each other to create an appetizer, an entree, AND either a side dish or a dessert. All to be accomplished in ninety minutes and making use of all ingredients acquired by that team during the selection process. The thirteen ingredients for the team I was on included: tofu, bok choi, mandarin orange slices, ginger, pork. The opposing team (all guys) had to use bananas, kiwi, beef, green onions, noodles, and chicken.
Wow! I was impressed with our creations: spring rolls, stir-fried vegetables with pork strips, and a creamy dessert I myself concocted with the orange slices, ginger, and mashed tofu. Alas, as soon as the word spread that the dessert contained tofu, no one wanted to even try it. (My niece eventually did and said she was surprised but she liked it.) My dessert was even voted "dish you wouldn't feed the dog"!
Still, the point is that we all had dinner using ingredients we don't normally cook and we all learned to be more improvisational in our culinary efforts. I think this new game will add a bit more zest to future dinner parties and look forward to surprising my guests - and myself! - in this coming year. Bon appetit, y'all!

Bon appetit, indeed.
And we'll have these fun coasters for our drinks when we play the game.
Very nice!
Though I'll make sure all glasses are dry before they are set on the coasters.
Of course!
I think I'm going to like cooking creatively!

waddie welcome and nikki booker

When I arrived home today, awaiting me in the mailbox was my reward.
In January, I had thrown my bit of funds into backing a play by a young physically disabled woman in Ohio.
Her play was about a physically disabled Savannah, Georgia, man.
Pretty incredible coincidences at work there, wouldn't you agree?
Her play is to be performed this coming Saturday at Emery Theatre in Cincinnati.
I wish I could be there, but I leave the next day for a Study Abroad trip to Italy with the nursing students.
I had not been sure of the date her play was to be performed, but her Thank-you note, which was postmarked 4 May 2012, told me.

Dear Faustina,

Thank you so much for donating to my kickstarter project. I hope that you'll enjoy the play on May 12th.

Sincerely,
Nikki Booker

I wish her much continued success and thank her for bringing a bright light to the world.
Saying "thank you" is important, y'all.

genesis comes to life

Woohoo!!!
Madame Rex - I mean, Rachel Strickland - made good on her proposed reward delivery date! She had foretold that in May 2012, the finished dvd would be in my waiting hands...
and so it is!
"Genesis: Air, Water, Life" has arrived well before my LIV birthday, in response to my $LIV kickstarter pledge!


Aren't Roman numerals fun!!!
Hey, what would you expect from a girl named Faustina?
Especially as she is about to go to Italy for ten whole days?!
But that's for another blog.
For here, let me say that I have already seen the performance, as you may, too! She has it posted here, on her page, as well as the list of kickstarter backers, including moi, sil vous plais. That Thank you list is echoed in facebook.
There is even a blooper reel! None of the other projects have posted such a thing, certainly not for ALL to see! Brava!
She has such a good heart and such crazy mad skills!
I know she is going to take that Petri dish all over the world, sharing her wordless message with one and all, drawing them in with the feast for their eyes and ears!
Genesis of a new way of thought, about life and this great lovely world.
Now that is good news!
Happy LIV birthday to me!!!
Thank you, Rachel.
And if you happen to make it to Savannah, I have a guest bedroom.

lady in Red

When I backed this film in October of 2011, with funds from Mama's estate, it was my youngest brother who was on my mind. I had originally written:
I look forward to sharing news of this film with my youngest brother. I don't know how many years in the future until his return, but this work of art may give him inspiration. The reason this one snagged my attention? This brother's birthday is in another few days and he's on my mind.

Today, I just watched a rough cut of the video, with the music, on Vimeo. I cannot share that here, but I can repeat the words of encouragement I sent to the project leader.
Nicely done! I just watched the video on Vimeo and was quite impressed. I hadn't known what to expect, but I do believe your technique of comparison of the literal and figurative prison is a winner. Can't wait to see the final cut!

I will await the final version, with much pride for the great work being done.

success stories!

This is a book composed of the successful project completions for some of the kickstarter ventures I have backed in the past year. Please be patient... it may take a little while to open.

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=1dbaaebed03559e3&sid=0AaNXDdy4auWjiY