The Twisted Gypsy

I am not proud to say that the last week has been a bit of a blur, but nonetheless, it is true. We finished up the rewrites on The Gloaming, had the reading (which was a great success) , had a visit from the great Ms. Katy Hawley, ran an Inter Generational workshop with people from the ages of 8-60 and then had our Russian visitors arrive for their 10 day stay and performance of our Russian 08 show. So, yeah, a blur…

If I had time, I would go on about my recent creative experiences with working on The Gloaming, but I must put myself to bed so that I can drive 20 Russians to Disney tomorrow.

So, I leave you with this, our work from the seven hour inter generational workshop this past Sunday. The first piece is John McCain singing to Obama:

How we spent our morning.

How we spent our afternoon.

I have spent the week in a creative frenzy. We have been reworking of the show that 9 collaborators wrote last May during a 10 day retreat at this beautiful farm in Ohio. To say that I am proud of what has come of this adventure is to say the least. It has been a trans formative process and one I have learned so much from. Below is the part of the press release:

In May of 2008 the second Lovewell Theatre Project assembled a group of nine Lovewell artists and affiliated writers at a retreat in rural Ohio for two weeks. Their goal was to produce a brand new musical using the same innovative methods that the Lovewell Institute employs with its highly successful youth projects. The question: Could the Lovewell staff (including founder David Spangler, Associate Artistic Director Carrie Gilchrist, staff members Nils-Petter (Nippe) Ankarblom, Marcus Davis, Mats Petersson, Marjorie Spangler, and new Lovewell artists Rick Gore, Christoffer Nobin and Peter Yockel) turn the tables on themselves and develop a musical that reflects the issues of their lives with the same creativity and compelling energy that a generation of Lovewell youth has produced? Could that product prove to be commercial? The answer to both questions, we believe, is a resounding yes. On October 25, 2008 a select audience will have the chance not only to judge for themselves, but to give feedback to the creative team.

The Gloaming takes place outside of small a college town in Ohio when a family gathers to celebrate the 75th birthday of a spirited, but failing grandmother, who had been one of the world’s leading scholars of ancient Greek mythology. Her life is in its gloaming—the light that lingers before the dark—as she and the mythical spirits she invokes help her family dispel the secrets that had kept them chained to their own personal myths. Joyful. Fantastical. Funny. Poignant. Filled with memorable music. The Gloaming reveals the healing power of truth.

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Here is a link to a song that Nippe and I wrote that takes place near the end of show. Marguerite, the ailing Grandmother is singing to her young grandson, Mac. She is telling him about his Uncle Gandy and his Mother who have both had to fight battles, burn to the ground and then rise again. Bear with this computer recording, but you get the idea.

listen here
THERE WILL BE FIRES
FOR YOU TO FIGHT
SOME YOU MUST WALK THOUGH
AND SOME TO PUT OUT
YOU MAY GET BURNED
OR GET CONSUMED
BUT OUT OF THE ASHES
COMES SOMETHING NEW

Somewhere around the 28th of June, I went to the giant DSW warehouse with my pals, Jamie, Shannon and Maria (girls, you may remember this eventful day.) While there, I purchased a pair of new summer shoes. They were cute, black, made of this weird undefinable suede material, comfortable, topped with a very stylish bow and they came in size sasquatch (which I wear.) Needless to say, I loved these shoes. I wore them the last week of our workshop in Ft. Lauderdale, on the plane to Sweden, every day for 3 weeks during that workshop (including the walking too and from the theatre and out and about around town) and then took them to Russia. This is where it all went down hill. These shoes were not, like the song says “made for walkin.” So when they were faced with the third country in 6 weeks and the 20 some thousand steps I was walking on a daily basis in Russia…well they were pushed to the brink. Because I am not completely heartless, I let them finish their duty in Russia and then took them back to Sweden for a proper burial. On their gravestone I wrote “To the best damn pair of shoes I have ever purchased and worn the hell out of.” May they rest in peace.

One last photo before they went…

…with holes in the soles…and soul.

We are working on the rewrites of The Gloaming here in Ft. Lauderdale and decided to take break today to head down to a Democratic Rally in Huizenga Park where Hillary Clinton was speaking. There is always time to get inspired…

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Work sessions for The Gloaming…

I am really excited about where this piece is headed. More sights and some sounds to come…
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I was having a pedicure the other day (yeah..oolala) and sitting next to me was a little girl about the age of 8. She was cute and polite and a little giggly. When she was finished with her massage and was picking the color for her nails, she turned a looked around the salon and yelled “Daddy? Daddy, what color should I get!” I melted a little bit. Her dad was there. He was sitting seats away from me getting his own pedicure! Haha! It was great. This little girl had wanted her dad to come along and he did it. What was even better is that he was sitting there in the massage/pedicure chair almost wincing with every move the technician made. He couldn’t stand people touching his feet, but even more, he must not have been able to stand the thought of not doing something with his daughter that she really wanted him to do with her. This witness was enough cheese to last me the rest of the day. Plus, let’s get real, men really are the ones who need the pedicures.

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The view from just out the door of the “home for now” on the intercoastal.

Jam and I went to see a musical here in Florida at this crazy theatre that is sort of in a strip mall. They served alcohol in the lobby that they let you take inside the theatre. At first, we were impressed. Then we saw the show and understood why they encouraged drinking.

Chocolate with bacon.

First bite= weird. Second bite= vomitous

Hillary Clinton or Jamie McJohnson?
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Jam and I hopped on the same flight to HotLanta and then went our separate ways to Wichita and KC. It had been too long since I had seen my parents, so I went to spend a few quiet days with them. It was just what the doctor ordered- no places to have to be, cooking with veggies from the garden and getting a very small glimpse of fall.
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At the end of this week, we are going to revisit a show that 8 other artists and I created last May at a quaint little farm in Ohio. There is something magical about this show, The Gloaming, that I cannot wait to share and to hear comments from people I know and love. We will be reworking for a week and then having public reading on the 25th in Lauderdale! Clips to come!
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Just found out today that more visitors are coming down here! Yiiippee! Yes, everyone wants a little Florida in their life when it isn’t the fiery depths of hell that are June, July and August. (Please notice I say “a little.”)
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Has anyone eaten the granola from Whole Foods that comes in the big square containers in the deli section? Word to the wise- DO NOT BUY IT. Or, I guess, buy it at your own risk. It is so delicious that you will be overwhelmed with a constant desire to eat a handful every time you walk by it. Today, I ate it for breakfast and for lunch, then had a salad for dinner and of course, more granola for a snack. It is not bad for you in SMALL quantities, but I am pretty sure it could kill you on the IV drip that I have been consuming.
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Rome Season One= done. Rome Season Two= Here I come!
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Have you head about silent rave flash mobs? Someone posts invitations, people show up (sometimes in a church parking lot, sometimes at the mall, sometimes in a park, etc.) they all have their own iPods and headphones and then basically, they dance to their own music in this huge group. Sounds weird, huh? Or, maybe I am the last person in the free world to learn about these? Anyway, I simultaneously think that this is ridiculous and cool. Maybe I should throw one and decide for myself?

When searching flash mobs, I found this. Things like this= awesome.

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I’ve been in Florida for a week. It kind of feels like it has been a month, but a good one, nonetheless. I have a beautiful place on the inner coastal that I will stay in until the holidays are upon us. The only thing I cannot stand is that I have almost forgotten that it is Fall up North. Ugh. Next week, on a very brief trip to see my parents, I will be reminded.
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Jamie is headed down here tomorrow to have some days of just girlie time. I. Cannot. Wait.
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Joe Biden has a giant, toothy smile like my Grandfather. I can’t help but like him. When he got choked up talking about raising his boys, it was all over for me…he had me hook, line and sinker.
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