TIRED AMERICAN DREAM

Hibernation.

2010-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Don't wanna leave anybody hanging... Just laying low for a while. Can't wait to get back to work after some hibernation. Talk to you all soon and we'll kick some Tired American Ass!

Spread the love TADpoles!

FINALE

2010-03-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

So...we're done - with this production anyway. I apologize for my lack of posts throughout. (I was just a bit busy!) I'll have to go through and write down all the little things I remember from the rehearsals and the actual run (cause there's some funny stuff) and I will do a post on just those. All in all, it was a success! Sure we need re-writes and we need to re-group; but for a premier, well, the audiences loved it and that's all that matters to me. We had a great time and like I said it really helped solidify in all our minds that we do have a product that is worth investing more time, energy, money, blood into. We all love TAD and I am grateful to all the TADpoles and to the cast and to the band and the production crew and to the audiences for making this such a special time for me. Really I am honored to have had all of you by my side. Remember to SPREAD THE LOVE! Don't end up a Hot Mess! Live life like it's the Immigrant Religion, Be the truth and all that crap... and I promise the Fields will really glow forever!

Much Love

THE REVIEWS!

2010-03-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

HEY TADPOLES!!! Here are 3 reviews... the good, the bad and the ugly! Like I said in one of my previous blogs, we should've called Friday our opening. Of course that wouldn't change the fact that my show is not "RENT". Everyone seems to forget that the wonderful masterpiece we call "RENT" actually opened to some very poor reviews. I have spoken with some friends that know the show very well and we don't really see the comparison of TAD and RENT. Both do have guitars in them I guess and both have songs in them. I don't know. But you guys have fun reading these. The comments on the RC Reader are a great time! Then come see the show and SPREAD THE LOVE!!!

RIVER CITIES ARTICLE: Post-Grads – Jill Walsh

QUAD CITY TIMES – Stephanie DePasquale

DISPATCH – Jon Turner

Oops, I guess you can't get to them this way, check out Harrison Hilltops site. They have the links.

TADpoles!

2010-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

My good buddy Jason has come up with the fame for the future Tired American Dream Fanclub. I was in love with it and it is gonna stick! Of course, it's...

THE TADpoles!!!

So, as loyal blog-followers, consider yourselves the 1st members of the TADpoles and remember to SPREAD THE LOVE!
- DC

ANTI-CLIMACTIC BLOGGING!

2010-03-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Well, we opened! That's the good news. TAD opened on Thursday Feb. 25th to a crowd of about, I don't know, 15? The theatre only seats about 50 for this production anyway, but it was sparse. Actually, it was good that it was a smaller audience. A lot of jitters seemed to be working their way out of people and by the time we hit the stage Friday.... FRIDAY we will look at as our true opening. It was an amazing show that night. It actually looked like a show! And... people must have started talking because on Saturday we had to add chairs twice and were over capacity. That's a nice feeling! Anyway... it is off and running! As Tristan says (so we hope) "it has legs way beyond this"!

A little info on JASON PLATT!

2010-02-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

JASON PLATT (DYLAN)

Jason has really become a good friend to me throughout this process. We share a lot of the same interests and are at very similar places in the arcs of our lives. Here's Jason in a nutshell... Jason grew up in Iowa until the age of 13 when his family moved to Durham, NC.... he didn't want to go, but discovered who he was there and became the "kid who could draw" in high school... he also discovered theater his Senior year and began acting... in '92 he moved back to the Quad Cities to be close to family... then he moved to Georgia and finished his degree and now he is and illustrator and Graphic Designer with LinguiSystems... he was going to be a psych major but saw the movie "A Bronx Tale" - with Robert DeNiro, and DeNiro had a line that said, "There's nothing in this world sadder than seeing someone with wasted talent" so... he became an art major. He has a son named Wyatt who he adores!

He is playing DYLAN (the lead) and, although he's about my age = too old, he has a nice, simple, sensitive way on stage that really helps that character be a bit more sympathetic. Jason has a passionate rocker vocal and, because of his empathy and understanding of the character and the whole show, delivers the ballads with a focus that I feel will draw the audience into him.

That's pretty much Jason! Here's some links to his work. Check this stuff out!

http://www.theispot.com/artist/jplatt
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52786&id=787353750&l=dab230030d
http://jasonplatt-illustration.blogspot.com/

The Rehearsals...

2010-02-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

MORE REHEARSALS...

I intended to keep up my report on rehearsals a little better for whoever is reading and whoever cares. As it is, though, you know... they're all the same really...people learn stuff... people forget stuff... And the tension of 1 week to go is really getting to people. This little bit of rehearsal is just flat not enough to mount an original production. The problem comes to me when corners (like songs and scenes and stuff) are cut due to lack of time or lack of people putting time in. That hurts my little artsy heart! Anyway, there have been the normal ups and downs, mood-swings, outbursts... But at the same time, their has been the all-to-rare joy of discovery of how cool something brand new looks being staged or how fantastic some newly written parts sound being sung by some great voices. There is that reward! It always makes me happy to give people a new show and watch the discovery process. It's always too hard to learn in the beginning and then, as things start clicking, people start to realize that it actually works and it actually is fun to create a role.

ANYWAY.. here's the update. We had a drummer and guitar player that backed out because of other committments. Now we have a new drummer and guitar player and a sub-drummer and sub-guitarist for 2 of the performances. It looks like they won't be around until the first of next week and we probably will have only 2 solid run-throughs under our belts before we open. This isn't the way any of us would have had it, but it's our schedule and we'll make it work!

SPOTLIGHT on CARI...

2010-02-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

CARI DOWNING (KENNEDY)

The funniest thing is: I always tell people that this show is semi-autobiographical and it is. There are some things that happen to the main character, Dylan, that haven't happened to me, etc. etc. But, assuming there are some elements of truth... Dylan is married to Kennedy and I am married to Clarissa. So, Kennedy (the name that Clarissa picked for the character) would kind of represent her. Well, the funniest thing is I am relatively white (quite a bit American Indian, but I don't really get any tribal benefits) and Clarissa is Puerto Rican to the core. Well Jason, who plays Dylan, is a Spanish mix and we got the whitest of whites (albino?) Ms. Cari Downing to play Kennedy. I think it's amusing...

So... Cari Downing... she played Kennedy in the read through back in October '09. She has a nice singing voice and really had a great, heartfelt read, so I was happy when I heard we were getting her back for that role. Anyway, I'm not going to give a big bio or anything, just real brief... Cari majored in Musical Theater, lived out in California for a while, moved back to Iowa, just went to Tennessee and auditioned for a bunch of theatres across the nation, got a bunch of call backs and now has to decide what move she's going to make. She loves Chekhov and Jane Martin comedies, hates Tennessee Williams (although she played Stella in "A street car named desire")... her first role was Cosette in "Les Miserables", she has also been in "Dracula", "I love you, you're perfect now change", "Threepenny Opera" and "The turn of the screw", but she credits her role as "NIGHT" (one of 3 elements) in "Brave Irene" as the turning point in her career and life... (that last part is just not true)... Cari was last seen at the Hilltop as Janet in "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and one of her dream-roles would be in "The Last 5 Years"...

That's about all I know about Cari!

She was just asked by a director at an audition, "Is this who you really are? This super cute, perky girl?" To which she replied, "Yeah. Pretty much. I'm the girl next door."

My disappearing pictures???

2010-02-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

I love adding pictures to my site because it spices it all up, but for some reason they are beginning to disappear. Where have they gone? I have put a nice meaningful picture on this post but I don't know... It probably will also be taken from us and disappear into the vast wasteland of bloggercity... WHY??? WHY???

THE SYNOPSIS!

2010-02-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

THE SYNOPSIS!
THAT'S RIGHT...HERE IT IS! I'm gonna do this... this is the Synopsis as it is in the current draft, the one that will be seen at Harrison Hilltop Theatre. Then... look out!... cause I'm gonna put the original synopsis out there in a bit. I personally think this is a much cleaner, more time- friendly version and also leaves the ending open to interpretation. I do confess though that I miss a lot of the little crap (inside jokes and queer, quirky characters) that went on in the 1st draft. Who cares, really? By about Draft 75 we'll get it right, and we came to the conclusion that some of the songs/characters/bits, etc. will probably work their way back in some capacity if they really matter. So, I'm happy with it! Here it is...

TIRED AMERICAN DREAM
ACT 1
A group of Drama/Art students, the MISFITS, are preparing to graduate from a small school in Indiana. (OPENING:BE THE TRUTH) They are invited to a party at Dylan and TJ's (DYLAN'S TOAST). At the party, we are introduced to DYLAN's friends, PEDDY and EMILY, his childhood friends and former band mates, TJ, his roommate, SUGAR, the bombshell that lives below them and PROFESSOR NEWMAN, the drama teacher that everyone knows and loves. DYLAN is also introduced to a high school girl, KENNEDY, who is a friend of EMILYs. (HOT MESS) At the party, DYLAN announces that they are reforming their band. (BABY BIRD) Later on the porch, TJ expresses his concern for DYLAN's lack of motivation (ON THE LINE), while the MISFITS reaffirm their mutual madness. (MISFITS LIKE US) After graduation, DYLAN takes KENNEDY on their first date and they fall in love. (WHITE) Later that night, the group hangs out at The Basket case, a karaoke bar. (HINT OF RESISTANCE) While SUGAR sings, DYLAN reacquaints with a high school friend who now calls himself SAINT SHALLOW. He takes DYLAN outside for a "smoke". (MISS ME LIKE SUMMER) Meanwhile, after EMILY plays PEDDY a love song she's written "about no one", he complains to about their M.I.A. friend, DYLAN. (BEG THE WIND) During PEDDY's rant, the phone rings and DYLAN informs him of his engagement to KENNEDY. (SPREAD THE LOVE) Time passes through an engagement party and a wedding (FIELDS) and the newlyweds begin to set up house. (SUNDAY TO SUNDAY) In Alabama, TJ, who retreated there when DYLAN refused to go to New York City with him, revels in his lack of opportunity, and prays for a clear direction. (SPEAK) Back in Indiana, DYLAN finds his life less than the grandiose thing he thinks it should be, while KENNEDY reminds him of their dream together. (TIRED AMERICAN DREAM) Later, DYLAN goes to visit PROFESSOR NEWMAN who gives him advice on life and vices. (LEGACY) The next night "the band" gets back together to start working on some tunes when the phone interrupts. (A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART) TJ informs DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN has committed suicide, and DYLAN and friends mourn the loss. (WHITE reprise)

ACT 2
The MISFITS all come together to have a party in honor of their lost friend. (HOT MESS reprise). EMILY looks on as SUGAR and PEDDY disappear together. (IF SHE'S THE STRIKE OF LIGHTNING) DYLAN steps outside of The Basket Case for a smoke and once again runs into SAINT SHALLOW who gives him something to stop his shaking and invites him over to hear his band. Meanwhile, SUGAR confesses to KENNEDY that she slept with PEDDY, something she knows will bother EMILY. (IT'S GONNA BE BAD) TJ, who has taken the plunge and moved to NYC and DYLAN, still in Indiana, lament on their struggles to keep their dreams alive. (TAKING TOO LONG) Meanwhile, PEDDY attempts to talk to EMILY but there is too much tension. (YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THAT DOOR). Later, as DYLAN prepares to go to Saint Shallow's house, KENNEDY confronts him about a bag of dope he has dropped. They argue and he leaves. (YOU DON'T HEAR ME) DYLAN then goes to check out Saint Shallow's band and is confronted with music and the chemicals that go along with it. (THE ECHO ROOM) When he returns home, KENNEDY tells DYLAN that PROFESSOR NEWMAN made him his beneficiary. They again fight and KENNEDY leaves. (1 HEART 2 BREAK) PEDDY calls DYLAN and the two angry friends go out. (BLACK) PEDDY leaves DYLAN at a bar and returns to find EMILY packing. He then realizes how much they love each other and they make up. (EMILY'S WINDOW) The next day, KENNEDY tells the others that DYLAN did not return home the night before. To blow off steam, she takes the others on a shopping trip with some of Newman's money. (JUST LIKE THAT GIRL) During the excitement, her phone rings and she learns DYLAN has overdosed. (THE ECHO ROOM reprise) The MISFITS all gather at the hospital and DYLAN vows to KENNEDY to live his life clean. (FIELDS reprise) Part of the Professor's will included a small home just outside of NYC and DYLAN and KENNEDY set up their new home, not sure of what the future will be. (FINALE: IMMIGRANT RELIGION/BE THE TRUTH)

From the theatre in my brain to the stage...

2010-02-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

Rehearsals 4 & 5 - Well, rehearsal 4 was great! I wasn't there. I'm told it went fine so I'll take it. Sunday morning (Feb 7th) I made the drive (which I decided I like better at night). Anyway, it was mainly a staging rehearsal, with working the tunes after the blocking and fitting them into where they belong. PEDDY and EMILY worked a couple of their songs, blocking-wise. They looked very cool, kind of like they did in my mind, although in my mind (as probably in a lot of writers) all is a lot more proscenium. They fought awkwardly through "You have to close that door" and he pleaded with her nicely during "Emily's Window". I am very anxious to hear Sara unload on "If she's the strike of lightning" and "Beg the wind" (wow! element songs?) . Everybody says, and I've heard just enough to tell, that she can wail. It's gonna be bad! (Oh... speaking of... another re-write... I rewrote the lyrics to "It's gonna be bad" in the truck on the drive home. With the script in draft 6 or whatever it just didn't make sense.) But honestly, things are moving right along. Tristan blocks quick, they are savvy enough to get it the 1st time and we will have the rest of our rehearsals to clean it all up. I fight the anxious a lot, but TAD is in capable, competent hands.

Theater People...Freaks...Oddballs...Geeks...MISFITS!

2010-02-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Next Rehearsal is Saturday, Feb. 6th. It's a staging one and I am not making the hour and half drive. They can just surprise me. But I'll be there on Sunday so I'll report to you!

Here's a lovely headshot of Tristan Tapscott, the other partner in the Harrison Hilltop, a good friend and the director of TAD. He also is responsible for much of the re-writing of TAD, making it into a more palatable piece for the audience. Anyway, wish we had a bit longer rehearsal process just so I could spend a bit more leisurely time with Tristan. He's a great guy and he appears to be quite brilliant.

Now, to a song...

MISFITS LIKE US
THE TUNES
(I wrote this song a while before TAD was even rolling around in my brain, and I remember after I wrote it I thought "what am I gonna do with this weird thing?" Well, it fit perfectly. DYLAN (the main character if you haven't figured that out yet) has a bunch of strange friends. We call them The Misfits in our little show. Here's a little anthem they chant just to remind themselves that they are not alone.

MISFITS LIKE US

HARD AS WE TRY WE CAN’T QUITE CONFORM
CAN’T HOLD DOWN A JOB OR KEEP NORMAL HOURS
AND WE’RE NOT SMOKERS BUT WE SMOKE FOR NO GOOD REASON
WE DO A LOT FOR NO GOOD REASON

AMY AND I HAD A LONG TALK TODAY
COMMISERATING ‘BOUT HOW WE’RE MISUNDERSTOOD
BUT SHE HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH SOME MODERATE SUCCESS
AND FORTUNATELY WON’T HAVE TO WORRY HERSELF
WITH BEING SOME WAITRESS

BUT I’M STILL WAITING
RUNNING THE SCALE WHILE MY REAL WORK IS MIXED AND MASTERED...

MAN, IT’S HARD WHEN YOU FEEL YOU DON’T BELONG
WHEN THE DRUMS ARE BEATING BUT THEY JUST DON’T FIT YOUR SONG
MAN IT’S HARD BUT YOU KNOW WE DO BELONG
IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER AND YOU WANNA SCREAM AND CUSS
BUT THERE’S A CLUB FOR MISFITS LIKE US

HEY, YOU - YEAH, YOU - WITH THEM WEIRDO CLOTHES
AND YOUR EYE-LINED EYES AND YOUR EURO-FRO
ARE THE BOYS IN THE LOCKER ROOM KEEPING SOME SPACE
THEY DON’T KNOW THAT YOU CRY BLACK TEARS DOWN YOUR FACE
AT NIGHT WHEN YOU WRITE ‘EM ALL INTO A POEM
THEY’RE INK ON YOUR PAGE THOUGH YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW ‘EM
YOU SHAKE AS YOU WRITE OUT A SUICIDE NOTE
CAUSE YOU’RE YOU YOU WANNA DIE BUT DON’T...

MAN, IT’S HARD WHEN YOU FEEL YOU DON’T BELONG
WHEN THE DRUMS ARE BEATING BUT THEY JUST DON'T FIT YOUR SONG
MAN, IT’S HARD BUT YOU KNOW WE DO BELONG
IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER AND YOU WANNA SCREAM AND CUSS
BUT THERE’S A CLUB
FOR MISFITS LIKE US

HEY! WATCH OUT – WATCH OUT CAUSE WE FIT YOUR PROFILE
OF PEOPLE YOU SHOULDN’T HANG AROUND
BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW, WE AREN’T THE PROBLEM
IT’S YOU WHO DON’T KNOW WHO THE HELL YOU ARE
RUN AWAY – RUN REALLY, REALLY FAR

DAH – DAH – DAH – DAH - CHICK-A-CHICK-A - BANG BANG
TICK – A – TICK – TOCK – WICK-E-WICK-E – CHANG – CHANG

YOU’RE NOT GONNA FIX US CAUSE WE JUST AINT BROKE
WE JUST CHOOSE TO BE THE JOKERS INSTEAD OF THE JOKE
AND TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD IT MAKES NONE TO LITTLE SENSE
BUT WE MAKE SENSE
WE’RE ALL HERE FOR SOME GOOD REASON
WE’RE ALL HERE FOR SOME GOOD REASON
WE’RE ALL HERE FOR SOME GOOD REASON
AND YOU KEEP QUIET
LIVING YOUR DREAMS IN SUBURBIAVILLE
WISHING ON STARS
TIL THE LAST ONE’S FADED

MAN, IT’S HARD WHEN YOU FEEL YOU DON’T BELONG
WHEN THE DRUMS ARE BEATING BUT THEY JUST DON’T FIT YOUR SONG
MAN, IT’S HARD WHEN YOU FEEL YOU DON’T BELONG
WHEN THE DRUMS ARE BEATING BUT THEY JUST DON’T FIT YOUR SONG
MAN, IT’S HARD BUT YOU KNOW WE DO BELONG
IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER AND YOU WANNA SCREAM AND CUSS
BUT THERE’S A CLUB
FOR MISFITS LIKE US!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... basically SUNDAY to SUNDAY

2010-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

THE TUNES!

(Here's a little ditty that was sung by SCHAKA in the original script. It is sung as DYLAN and KENNEDY start building their young married life together. I wanted it to be action taking place as the song was being sung... kind of like a music video. In the current draft, DYLAN and KENNEDY sing it. I wasn't sure about that at first, but it really works, with a little different feel. It's real nice. Here it is...)

SUNDAY TO SUNDAY

SUNDAY TO SUNDAY
THE TUNES

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE EARTH
AND HOW SHE IS QUITE A MOTHER
AND EVEN MUCH MORE THE UNIVERSE
STARS AND ALIENS AND OTHERS
AND WHO AM I - JUST A LITTLE SPECK
MAKING MY WAY - BUILDING MY LIFE
HOPING THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE
MAYBE NOTICES ME
AND WHO ARE WE - JUST BONES AND DUST
MAKING DECISIONS AND SETTING UP SHOP
CRUSHING ANTS UNDER OUR FEET
THINKING WE’RE THE MAIN ATTRACTION
ALL THERE MAY BE
NOTICE ME...

IT’S SO BIG BUT IT’S SO SMALL
IT’S SO IMPORTANT BUT NOT AT ALL
AND WE GO ON CAUSE WE MUST GO ON
AND WE FIGHT AND COMPLAIN JUST A LITTLE
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY
SUNDAY TO SUNDAY

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE CLOCK
AND HOW IT JUST KEEPS ON TICKING
HOW THE MOON IT JUST HANGS THERE ALL DAY LONG
WAITING FOR ITS TIME TO GLOW AGAIN
AND WHO ARE WE JUST SLAVES OF THE GEARS
MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE LAUGHTER AND TEARS
HOPING THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE HAS SOME KIND OF PLAN
(PLEASE... PLEASE... PLEASE HAVE A PLAN)
WHERE DO WE FIT INTO IT ALL
WHERE DO WE FIGURE EVERY WINTER THROUGH FALL
BUSY STORING UP OUR STUFF
PRETENDING WE HAVE SOME CONTROL
CALLING TO SOME DEITY
NOTICE ME...

IT’S SO BIG BUT IT’S SO SMALL
IT’S SO IMPORTANT BUT NOT AT ALL
AND WE GO ON CAUSE WE MUST GO ON
AND WE FIGHT AND COMPLAIN JUST A LITTLE
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY
SUNDAY TO SUNDAY

WE LIVE...
WE LIVE...
TO DIE ANOTHER DAY...
AS WE MAKE OUR WAY...
SUNDAY TO SUNDAY
SUNDAY TO SUNDAY…

DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH chick-a-chick-a BANG BANG tick-a-tick-tock WICK-EE-WICK-EE chang-chang!

2010-02-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not gonna drag this out because I don't want to bore anyone, but here is the report on Rehearsals 2 & 3. The first minute...

Seriously... Monday night was a bit frustrating. The handwritten music is hard to read and my songs are, as a rule, incredibly wordy and sometimes speedy. So, for people to try to site-read this crap... well, forget it! They sing it like...

"She's got her

hmmmphf on the line on

hmm hooo on the hmmmphf

where you're smmmmm truuuuu

golden door hmmmm

lure yummmmmmm

mmmmm die"

Something like that. So it was frustrating. Not really their fault but it seemed like nobody knew anything? ANYWAY, the night for me truly was saved when Jason (who plays Dylan) stayed after and sang "Sunday to Sunday" and then did a truly beautiful reprise of "Spread the Love". I told him he made everything better. He has this (sweet when need be) rock voice with a little splash of rasp and some piss and vinegar! Wonderful!

Tuesday night was much better for me. I could tell people, in the midst of their own busy lives, had taken the time to look over their music and it helped! Chris (Peddy) and Jason (Dylan) have about 4 songs (YES! 4 MALE DUETS!) and they really rock it out together. Looking forward to seeing them roaming around the stage belting these tunes! Anyway, just a generally better vibe in the room last night.

P.S. Tristan handed out a schedule and said it's "the scariest thing he's ever seen". There are 13 rehearsals remaining. 13! NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE!!!

P.S.S. It's Chris Walljasper! In the picture! It's Chris Walljasper! He's playing Peddy and he also happens to be one of the partners in the Harrison Hilltop Theatre. Very fun to be around. Think maybe the 2 of us would be friends if we didn't already each have so many...

My Traveling Companion...

2010-02-01T11:32:00.001-08:00

A COMMERCIAL

The drive from Peoria to the Quad Cities is about an hour and a half. I'm not good with math, but that would equal about 3 hours round trip, right? Anyway, I told my good friend Jon that I would mention him. I keep myself entertained listening to my old radio show. I've been collecting them for years...ever since I was about 10 and we stopped into a gas station on a trip and I saw "The Shadow". It looked scary and fun so I got it and got hooked. Anyway, collecting was expensive until I found Jon's website. He sells MP3s of shows so you can get about 100 1/2 hour show on a disc for $5. (We used to get 2 shows on a tape for $5 - so it's a great deal!) Anyway, you can think I'm dorky or whatever, but it is what has gotten me through alot of long drives and will power me through the miles for TAD! Check these shows out! My kids love them too and I told them, "it was from before there was TV!" Can you imagine? http://www.otrcat.com/

ENTITLED: "The 1st Rehearsal" or "How much time do we have?"

2010-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

First off, I didn't really have a picture to use yet so I settled on this one. (We will say it is my main character, Dylan, as a youngster, growing up in Indiana! This is why he's so messed up...) And sometimes don't we all feel a bit like this?

So, the 1st rehearsal! I don't know if it was good or bad or what. All I really know is that we don't have a lot of time to put this show together. Tristan said that they've never put a show together this quickly and I said how wonderful that it is an original piece that no one knows. But you know, I watched this episode of "Property Whores" or something like that where people "flip" houses and they messed around the whole freaking show, worrying about time, and then when they had 3 days before their open house and they all busted their butts and guess what?... they were ready! Isn't that the way it always goes? And actually, the good new is that all but one cast member were in the read-through so... that helps. We covered a good amount of the group #'s like: "Hot Mess", "White", "Fields" and "Misfits like us". There is a slower section of the song "White" and Sarah, the music director, said she wanted to hit that beautiful harmony section in the middle, and you know... I had forgotten I even wrote that harmony. But it was really pretty when we finally got it. The cast sings a little counter melody under Dylan and Kennedy as they profess their love... and the lyrics the cast sings are actually from Song of Solomon in the Bible. How 'bout that? (It doesn't get into too much of the dirty stuff Solomon talks about though.)

Anyway... really not much to tell. It was pretty much the typical music rehearsal. We did all have a good laugh when Chris handed out contracts and they forgot to delete the "?" from "Who's afraid of Virginia Wolfe?" (you know, it's kind of a form letter) so the letter read something like, "welcome to Tired American Dream?" Like we don't REALLY know if it is or isn't. Well, we do have only about 4 rehearsals with the entire cast before we open "Tired American Dream?"

THE THEATRE

2010-01-29T06:14:00.001-08:00

Harrison Hilltop Theatre

About Us
Established June 2008
The Harrison Hilltop Theatre exists to provide the Quad Cities Area with an eclectic range of professional entertainment - from plays and musicals to live music and comedians and everything in between - in a ultra-comfortable, “living room theatre” atmosphere.
The Hilltop opened in June 2008, the brainchild of Circa '21's Chris Walljasper and Tristan Tapscott, and has since produced over 20 high quality productions ranging from A Streetcar Named Desire to The Rocky Horror Show. The members of the Hilltop's production staff and actors are paid and hail from the Quad City Area, Texas, California, and New York City. The Hilltop is housed in an old bank building that was designed and built in the early 1900's. Now converted into a "living room theatre" - complete with couches, recliners, and other padded seating - the Harrison Hilltop Theatre can seat between 35 and 100 guests depending on the size of the show and/or audience needs. Having produced 20 full scale productions in 18 months, The Harrison Hilltop Theatre is the Quad Cities' most prolific production company. The Hilltop prides itself on being the QC's very own "Chicago style store front theatre."

"...the centerpiece of arts-based urban development."-David Burke, Quad City Times

"...eclectic to the point of schizophrenia."-Mike Schulz, River Cities Reader

a bit more HISTORY before we begin...

2010-01-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

OKAY... so, like I said... I formed a band called DC KEY, primarily to make a record album with. And here's a pic from our little album photo shoot (I've got some better ones - maybe I'll post 'em later). From left to right here lies DC KEY:

PAT PAUTLER - an extraordinary drummer - he has what I can only call a finesse on those cans. He throws in so many nice accents when he plays and... he is the only drummer everyone tells to play louder. He just loves on those skins!
JIMMY LAHOOD - what I thought was a marriage made in heaven... my music and his guitar playing. He analyzed every song and gave every tune the different feel it needed. I loved hearing what magic he would bring to a session.
ME - in the middle... that cigarette is just a prop, kids! (cough...)
WES WATSON - what a cool musician name, huh? Wes is a fantastic Bass player. The funny thing was, he is in a band called Strangeland (heavy metal Christian) so this was much different for him. He developed a love for the fretless just before we recorded. We had to tune it up a little (fretless=difficult for recording) but he riffed it up right.

DC KEY started in my dinning room/living room. Me and Eric Keysor would sit around and sing the songs I wrote. "Taking too long" which is included in T.A.D. is true... we were sitting around fairly poor but that dad gum piano still played! And actually there' s a line in the song that says, "All that we need is just one stupid song"... it actually came from a quote from Eric, only he said, "One stupid ass song, that's all we need... BIG MONEY!" (I thought I'd better make it more listener friendly) Anyway, I said that I never would again sing "On the Line" after I heard Keysor (Eric) sing it. He made that song something even bigger than it is. But... alas... he wouldn't get off his ass and I had to move on ahead... Really, it's hard but you can only sit around dreaming about stuff for so long and then you gotta make a move. Keysor is a brother to me, but (at that time anyway) he didn't have the drive. And I always thought we could've done great things. That's what I find a lot in life. I've been dragging people along, trying to get them to do something with their talent, and you just can't. Even with my band. Jimmy just wanted to play out in a bar every once in a while and laughed at my huge dreams on occasion, Wes just wanted to jam with anybody and Pat... well, I'm not sure what he wants. BUT... the bottom line is this... I know what I want and I am moving. So, if you want to jump on the train... it's time!

On cutting my work... and generally messing with me!

2010-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

At this point in TADs journey, it has been through about 5-6 re-writes, most at the hand of Tristan, the co-owner of the producing theater,(with my permission of course)and I am happy to say it is still pretty recognizable as my work. Anyway, today I received an e-mail from the music director who said she and Tristan had discussed and want to cut "BLACK" (one of the tunes). I have sent a protest e-mail, but ultimately left the decision (for THIS PRODUCTION) up to Tristan. Anyway, "BLACK" is the lowest of the lows for the lead character, Dylan, and "WHITE", which is sung in Act 1, is the highest of highs. So, I wrote that song to high lite the wide range of emotions Dylan goes through (AS A BI-POLAR DRUG ADDICT!). Anyway, I was a little upset, but we'll see what happens.
The other day I was surprised to hear that they were not planning on having a full band for this show. I think that is taken care of! It is a pop/rock show so I want justice done to it! It's not a 50 piece orchestra... just a rock band.
Anyway, ups and downs and surprises and stuff. I am just thankful to have my work being staged but, that being said, I do want to recognize it when it is staged and I do want to have a voice as the writer as to what things are important. And... Tristan, if you read this, you're the best for staging this piece of... ART!
DC

P.S. HERE'S "BLACK"... (as it appears in my original/1st draft)...

(DYLAN looks after her obviously saddened. After a beat his mood completely changes and he is instantly angered. On the opposite side of the stage, PEDDY goes through the same emotions as he looks at EMILY. He gets up and storms out of their apartment. He and DYLAN meet in the middle and The Basket Case is set around them as they sing.)

ACT II / SCENE 11

BLACK

PEDDY
OH - I LOST THE MAP AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW

DYLAN
OH - HE’S SET A TRAP AND SHE FOLLOWS ME WHEREVER I GO
EVEN THE CHERRY FROM MY CIGARETTE FADES

PEDDY
THE CHERRY FROM MY CIGARETTE FADES

DYLAN
AND I CAN’T EVEN SEE THE MESS THAT I MADE

PEDDY
OH - THE TENSION GROWS AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW

DYLAN
AND IT COMPOUNDS ON ME ALL THIS MATH AND PLEASE
I JUST NEED MY AURA CLEANSED BY SOME CHEMICAL WASH
AND - NO - I’M NOT FREE

PEDDY
AND I KNOW I’M NOT FREE

BOTH
I’M JUST A HUMAN BEING WHO’S TRYING TO MAKE A RAINBOW

DYLAN
OF COURSE THERE’S RAIN

PEDDY
BUT THERE’S NO SUN TO MIX ONLY...

BOTH
BLACK - OH...
IN THIS PITCH BLACK I CAN’T SEE IN FRONT OF ME
BLACK - OH...
THERE’S A SWITCH BACK SOMEWHERE BUT I CANNOT REACH IT
AND OH...
AND SO THE STORY GOES
CLOSING - DIMMING - LIGHTS ARE DIMMING
ALL I SEE IS BRANDING ON ME BLACK.

PEDDY
OH - I’M RUNNING FAST AND I REALLY SHOULD QUESTION MY FEET

DYLAN
OH - MY DRIVE JUST CRASHED AND I REALLY NEED SOMETHING TO EAT
EVEN MY SKIN IS A PRISON TO ME

PEDDY
THE CURE HAS BECOME THE DISEASE

DYLAN
AND I REALLY NEED SOMETHING TO EAT

PEDDY
OH - WHERE ARE YOU, BRO? THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW

DYLAN
AND I’M ALONE AT LAST - WANNA KICK HER ASS
CAUSE SHE STRUTS RIGHT IN LIKE SHE OWNS THE PLACE
AND SHE OWNS THE PLACE

PEDDY
SHE OWNS THE PLACE

DYLAN
SHE’S TELLING JOKES TO ME BUT THE JOKES ON ME

BOTH
IT’S THAT OLD ROUTINE AND IT’S A LAUGH A MINUTE IT’S...
BLACK - OH...
IN THIS PITCH BLACK I CAN’T SEE IN FRONT OF ME
BLACK - OH...
AND THAT BITCH BETTER SHOW SOME MERCY AT THE VERY LEAST
AND OH...
AND SO THE STORY GOES
CLOSING - DIMMING - LIGHTS ARE DIMMING
ALL I SEE IS BRANDING ON ME BLACK.

(The two have made their way to the bar. DYLAN is in the bathroom. PEDDY is on the other side of the door. He knocks.)

PEDDY
Dylan, are you in there?

DYLAN
(barely legible) Yep.

PEDDY
Hey, I’m gonna take off, brother.

DYLAN
(irritated) What? Whatever, man.

PEDDY
Look... it’s... Emily is all pissed off about something and...

DYLAN
Fine. Later.

PEDDY
(leans in to the door) You alright in there?

DYLAN
Fine...

(PEDDY goes to say something but exits. DYLAN slumps against the door and falls down to the bathroom floor. He unzips a small case, takes out a needle and his little stash. Through the next section he prepares it and shoots up at the climax in the music.)

DYLAN
FIGHTS IN THE STREETS
FIGHTS IN MY HOME
FIGHTS IN THE CHURCHES
AND FIGHTS IN MY BONES
FEELINGS GET BURIED
SO DEEP IN THE GROUND
YOU’LL THINK THEY’LL NEVER SURFACE
BUT YOU CAN’T IGNORE THE SOUND
OF TORNADOS AND EARTHQUAKES
THE SWEATS AND THE SHAKES
THE GLOBE IS WARMING
FROZEN OCEANS AND LAKES
MY MISTAKES...
WANNA DISAPPEAR INTO THIS DARKNESS FOREVER
BLACK!
OH - I’VE LOST MY SOUL AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW

(DYLAN stands up, staggers and runs off as the CAST finishes the song.)

CAST
AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW
AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW
BLACK - OH...
AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED WAY DOWN LOW.
(Blackout.)

DRUNKEN MINDS!

2010-01-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

THE TUNES

A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART
(IN THE ORIGINAL DRAFT, A CHARACTER NAMED IZZY – WHO IS NOT IN THE SHOW AT PRESENT – FINALLY DECLARES HIS LOVE FOR SUGAR – WHO STILL IS IN THE SHOW. SUGAR IS THRILLED BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT IZZY WAS GAY BASED ON THE COMPANY HE KEPT. IN THE CURRENT DRAFT THIS SONG IS ONLY PARTLY SUNG BY DYLAN AND HIS BAND BEFORE THEY ARE INTERUPTED WITH SOME UPSETTING NEWS. OF COURSE I AM THE WRITER SO IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I THINK… BUT I REALLY LIKE THIS TUNE. IT’S A GOOD, SOLID, POP TUNE AND IT WILL SHOW UP ELSEWHERE IN THE FUTURE.)

A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART
IZZY
WHAT I FEEL FOR YOU I TRY NOT TO FEEL
AND OUR MOMENTS ARE LIKE DIAMONDS I FEEL GUILTY WHEN I STEAL
BUT I’LL STEAL
ALL THE DIAMONDS I CAN GET MY HANDS ON
AND WHAT I MAKE OF ALL THIS I DON’T REALLY KNOW
BUT MY HEARTS A BARE STAGE AND TOUCHING YOU STARTS THE SHOW
AND I’LL GO
TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE AND SCREAM OUT MY MISERY
SEE THERE’S YOU AND ME AND SO MUCH TIME IN A DAY
AND I WONDER WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU GO AWAY
AND I WONDER IF YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE SQUEEZING MY HEART
APART - APART - WE SHOULDN’T BE SO APART
THESE ARE MY FINGERS REACHING OUT FOR YOU
I’M GRASPING AT THE AIR UNTIL YOU’RE FINALLY THERE
AND DON’T YOU THINK I HAVEN’T THOUGHT THIS ALL THROUGH
IT’S JUST EASIER TO SAY IT ALL NOW
AS SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME
OH, THE WISDOM THEY’D IMPART
A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART

AND SINCE I’M BEING SO HONEST TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH
I WANNA STICK TO YOUR SKIN LIKE ALL YOUR TATTOOS
YOU’RE MY MUSE
YOU NEVER KNEW IT BUT YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN
I WANNA CRASH WITH YOU WHEN YOU CRASH INTO BED
I WANNA FEEL YOUR HAIR TUMBLING ONTO MY FACE
AND BE MACED
BY YOUR BLUE EYES SO I HAVE TO FEEL CAUSE I CAN’T SEE
SEE THERE’S YOU AND ME AND SO MUCH TIME IN A DAY
AND I WONDER WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU GO AWAY
AND I WONDER IF YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE SQUEEZING MY HEART
APART - APART - WE SHOULDN’T BE SO APART
THESE ARE MY FINGERS REACHING OUT FOR YOU
I’M GRASPING AT THE AIR UNTIL YOU’RE FINALLY THERE
AND DON’T YOU THINK I HAVEN’T THOUGHT THIS ALL THROUGH
IT’S JUST EASIER TO SAY IT ALL NOW
AS SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME
OH, THE WISDOM THEY’D IMPART
A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART

LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THESE EYES
LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THESE EYES
INSIDE THEY’RE ASKING
INSIDE OF YOU
LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THESE EYES
LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THESE EYES
INSIDE THEY’RE ASKING
IF YOU HAVE THE TRUTH

AND I’LL THROW IT ALL OUT THERE - THROW IT ALL AT YOUR FEET
AND YOU CAN STEP ON IT ALL OR BRING IT CLOSE TO YOUR BREAST
I’M A MESS
AND I DON’T REALLY CARE CAUSE I WANT YOU THAT BAD
SEE THERE’S YOU AND ME AND SO MUCH TIME IN A DAY
AND I WONDER WHERE YOU GO WHEN YOU GO AWAY
AND I WONDER IF YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE SQUEEZING MY HEART
APART - APART - WE SHOULDN’T BE SO APART
THESE ARE MY FINGERS REACHING OUT FOR YOU
I’M GRASPING AT THE AIR UNTIL YOU’RE FINALLY THERE
AND DON’T YOU THINK I HAVEN’T THOUGHT THIS ALL THROUGH
IT’S JUST EASIER TO SAY IT ALL NOW
AS SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME
OH, THE WISDOM THEY’D IMPART
A DRUNKEN MIND SPEAKS A SOBER HEART

LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THESE EYES

HOT MESS!!!

2010-01-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

THE TUNES

One of the things I'd like to include along the way are some song lyrics. Unfortunately we do not have a decent copy yet of all the tunes in the show so you can't hear them all. BUT... you can read the lyrics and here are some for "HOT MESS"... a song very much inspired by my friends!

HOT MESS
(AN OPENING GROUP # TAKING PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAUCOUS COLLEGE GRADUATION PARTY)

MISFITS
MIX IT UP AND MIX IT GOOD
STIR THIS - SHAKE THIS - ADD A FEW ROCKS, PLEASE
IT AINT A PARTY TIL THE PARTY HAS SOME CASUALTIES
AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ONE OR YOU CAN COUNT ON THE REST
TO BE A REAL HOT MESS
PLACE YOUR BETS - WHO’LL END UP A HOT MESS

DYLAN
WELL, HEY, IT’S SCHAKA
GUESS WE FORGOT THE LOCK ON THE DOOR
JUST KIDDING - DON’T GET ALL DRAMA QUEEN
OH – AND I SEE YOU BROUGHT THE 3rd STREET WHORE
EVEN EMILY THE MELANCHOLY RECLUSE COMES UP

PEDDY
WOW IF EVEN SHE’S HERE IT’S GONNA BE THE TOP TIER
THE PINNACLE OF PARTIES
YEAH - IF EVEN EMILY’S HERE THIS JOINTS GONNA ROCK
I LOVE IT! WHO CONVINCED YOU, THE THROWBACK TO WOODSTOCK?

SCHAKA
MIX IT UP AND MIX IT GOOD
YOU KNOW OUR POISON
NOTHING SWEET - NOTHING PUSSY - NOTHING WUSSY
JUST SOME TONIC AND SOME GOOD, GOOD GIN

TJ
Done.

MISFITS
AND IT’S TOO LATE FOR ALL OF US
WE'VE PASSED THE POINT OF NO RETURN
IT'S TOO LATE PREPARE TO FLUSH
ALL THE CRAP WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN
TOO LATE
NOW FATE TAKES US ALL AS IT TURNS AND TURNS
GUESS YOU GET WHAT YOU GET
GUESS YOU GET WHAT YOU GO FOR
WHO’D EXPECT ANY LESS
PLACE YOUR BETS WHO’LL END UP A HOT MESS
AND IT’S TOO LATE FOR ALL OF US….

TJ
Now… MIX IT UP AND MIX IT GOOD
BARELY A DENT IN ALL OUR STASH
DON’T GET DISCOURAGED
LIQUID COURAGE WILL BE FLOWING TIL YOU ALL JUST CRASH

MISFITS
IT AINT A PARTY TIL THE PARTY HAS SOME CASUALTIES
AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ONE OR YOU CAN COUNT ON THE REST
TO BE A REAL HOT MESS…

DYLAN
WHO IS THAT GIRL?
ANY OF YOU KNOW THAT GIRL?

SHAKA
SHE’S A FRIEND OF EMILYS
IT’S KENNEDY OR SOMETHING BUT ANYWAY…
She’s too young, Dylan.

DYLAN
Whatever.

(DYLAN watches KENNEDY. SUGAR drags her across the room into a group with SHITSHOW, TJ, EMILY, and PEDDY. TJ is pouring some tequila shots for all of them.)

KENNEDY
Oh, no-no-no… tequila has been banned from my liver! (she grabs the bottle of Goldschlager) Goldshlager will do. It’s still welcome.

(They take a shot as PROFESSOR NEWMAN enters.)

PROFESSOR NEWMAN
At last, this party is finally chaperoned!

DYLAN
(runs to him) PROFESSOR NEWMAN, I KNEW YOU’D COME

PROFESSOR NEWMAN
COULDN’T LET MY BEST STUDENT DOWN – NO
Here, Dylan, my graduation gift to you.

DYLAN
Kumquats. What else would it be? This means so much to me.

SUGAR/SHAKA
PROFESSOR! PROFESSOR!

EMILY
YOU’RE JUST IN TIME FOR THE SHOW

PROFESSOR NEWMAN
HERE’S TO THE FUTURE
CHEERS TO THE FUTURE
MISFITS
HERE’S TO THE FUTURE
CHEERS TO THE FUTURE
MESS IT UP AND MESS IT GOOD
STIR THIS - SHAKE THIS – TAKE THE WHEEL AND SEIZE
IT ISN’T LIFE UNTIL LIFE IT HAS SOME CASUALTIES
AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ONE OR YOU CAN COUNT ON THE REST
TO BE A REAL HOT MESS
PLACE YOUR BETS - WHO’LL END UP A HOT MESS
IT’S THE SHOW, NOT DRESS
DON’T END UP A HOT MESS!

READY to get TIRED!

2010-01-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Here we go! Welcome to my TIRED AMERICAN DREAM blog! I made a completely new blog so I could keep everyone up to date on the rehearsal process as we prepare to mount this show (PREMIER) at Harrison Hilltop Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. Please add yourself as a follower and you will receive notifications. So... just a quick rundown for those who don't know:

In 2000 something I decided I was going to record some of my songs that had been laying around for sometime. I put together a great band and we went to work. We also decided about 1/2 way through the process that we were going to play out, and began learning covers as well. Long story short... we recorded our album, played our much anticipated CD release party and fell apart. Being resourceful, I took the songs, added more and wrote a musical. As I was writing the show, I was cast in "The Buddy Holly Story". A guest performer (Tristan Tapscott)came in to play the great drummer, Jerry Allison. Anyway, one night we were talking and it was one of those moments of... "I have a theatre" & "well, I have a show". I gave him a CD of DC KEY and he fell in love (mostly probably because of all the love songs). The rest is history. I finished writing and he secured a slot in their 2010 season, right between "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "RENT". And now it's here! Rehearsals begin Saturday, January 30th.