Band of Brothers Revisited

This afternoon, I finished watching the special features in the Band of Brothers DVD set.  Thus completing my 2nd full viewing of the film. I’d been keeping an eye out for a discounted copy since last time I watched it, I borrowed my brother’s set.  While back in South Bend for a day trip to teach class, we ventured over to the Best Buy, and there, on the shelf in the HBO section were new copies at 50% off for a limited time.  So for only about $30, each episode plus extras was mine.  Score!  AND with cheaper Indiana sales tax to boot.  Once upon a time, Ernie had expressed interest in watching it with me–mostly I think because of Ron Livingston and his Sex & The City connection.  When I brought it up with this purchase, he’d forgotten about his initial interest.  So I was on my own.  While Ernie was down in Kansas City this past month working down at the Coterie Theatre, I had plenty of time.  Watching it solo means I can rewind parts and get as obsessive as I want.

I’ve written about the film and its connection to my writing & family projects–and general WWII interest before.  So I guess this is a follow up to previous posts: Workshopping “Guns” and  The War. I’m not completely sure if this follow up will have a conclusive point, but we’ll see.

I’ll report that I’ve recently revisited my piece, Playing Guns. This past May had me working two deadlines.  I had my Solo Homo piece to work as well as my 2nd Story submission.  I wrestled with starting from scratch for this submission, but given the state of Life and Art I had to make some executive creative decisions.  I ultimately didn’t get a slot for the next round, but I feel good about my work on the piece.  I received some solid feedback and totally agreed with the things to work on as far as fitting the piece into the 2nd Story aesthetic.  I’ve also chatted with my new 2nd story pals and don’t feel discouraged at all. I love what the group does and hope to be more a part of it down the road.  This latest revision process found me restructuring and slicing and dicing (for both time and focus) and really had me looking at things with a magnifying glass.  I feel part of my problem, though, was that I was in a way trying to cram a non-2nd Story into a 2nd Story mold.  Some of it fit–and some of it didn’t.  Next time I can work on the piece with new found focus, but without any restraints (and I’ll have a better idea of what I’m doing for my next submission!)  Getting the piece readier and readier for Battles with Boys. It’s coming….

Back to the film.  I mention it indirectly in the piece.  War films and images play an important role in the story.  My interest and into obsession are a part of the story.  It’s so damn good.  I know it has its detractors and people who get their panties in a bunch over various things (various inaccuracies & poetic licenses, the anti-Stephen Ambrose camp, etc.), but I don’t get into that, and don’t let it bother me.  I appreciate and celebrate it for what it is (and before I forget, I can’t wait for the follow up, next year’s The Pacific!)  I love the story.  I love learning the stories behind the stories.  I love learning about the real guys behind the “characters.”  I love learning more about the actors (especially the lesser known ones.)  It’s EASY (pun intended) to become just a little obsessed. My “BoB” bookmarks are filled with things like THIS and THIS and THIS.  Though I do have my limits.  There are those who know which weapons came out when and who had what and noticed how they changed in the film and all that (even I, a huge Cure fan can’t rattle off remix titles like they were my own children as some fans can.)  But each to their passion, I say.  I haven’t read ALL the books.  The new one looks interesting.  I am interested in reading Tech Sgt. Don Malarkey’s (adorably played by Scott Grimes in the film), though.  I’m happy to have this film in my collection and will revisit it when inspired to–and continue to let it (and its gorgeous score) inspire me in Life and Art.

This all keeps me thinking about family and history and our own stories.  I caught Diane Rhem’s show this morning (not on Chicago Public Radio, but on Michiana Public Radio–yay internet!).  She featured Vincent Cannato, author of American Passage about the history of Ellis Island.  The subject of immigration to Canadian also came up–which is what my Grandpa V’s parents did back in the day (making me part Canadian, ya know!)  I have his handwritten story about his growing up there and his move to Detroit.  One of my projects for the near future (I thought maybe today, but we’ll see…) is to start transcribing it into a Word file.  If for nothing else but to preserve and share it.  But there’s also some tidbits of inspiration in there for other projects.  It’s good stuff.

All this is connected. Other people’s old photographs and stories; MY old photographs and stories. Maybe getting a feel from their lives can add to an understanding of my own history.  I still have access to some things, but unfortunately not to everything.

Right now, I feel like I’m at the borderline of public musings and private journaling and things that will become other things.  So I’ll end here and wish you all much love.

Solo Homo 7 Success!

Thanks to everyone who helped make Solo Homo 7 a success! A huge thank you to everyone who came out to see us.  We received some lovely compliments.  A big thank you to the cast: Lisa, Timothy, Joe, Deb, Mike, Byron, Sara, and Cookie.  David, our tech guy.  Thanks to Strawdog Theatre Company, 2nd Story, and all our fellow NewTown Writers.

I had a good time in the producer’s chair.  Thanks to Joe for all his help!  Robert too.  *Whew*

Onward to our Fall show and Solo Homo 8 next year!

Cheers!

I Used to Tell People that My Parents Named Me after Michael Jackson…

…and my brother, Stephen after Stevie Nicks.

Okay.  So, I feel like I should take some time to at least get a few thoughts out beyond Facebook status updates. Something that is a little longer lasting.

I heard the news Thursday on NPR. I turned it on in the middle of the story and thought the piece was about his rehearsing for the tour.  Then I heard about the coma.  And shortly thereafter that he was dead.  My Facebook home page was already flooding.  I’ve added my words.  And this WordPress post will feed into my Facebook so it’s all one big pot, really.

And of course I was like What the Fuck?

It begins: Fall 1982.  Arthur Johnson, a schoolmate from Mrs. Cox’s 3^rd Grade classroom brings  his Thriller album (on vinyl of course) to my 3^rd Grade classroom, Mrs. Brady’s room.  I don’t remember the occasion—was it a party, special day, or just a bit of show and tell?  Mrs. Brady put on the record and Arthur starts dancing.  I don’t know if he moon walked per se, as according the sources, the above video from May 1983 was the moon walk’s debut. Either way, I, a white boy in an ever increasingly racially mixed school, am enthralled, and want more.  I must own this.  This was the moment I transitioned from storybook records whose chimes told me to turn the page.  Beyond Sesame Street records and the Wizard of Oz and Sound of Music soundtracks.  This was it.

I went home that day and asked my parents if we had any Michael Jackson records.  One of them—not sure if was Mom or Dad—handed me our copy of Off the Wall, and I said, “This isn’t Michael Jackson!” I’d taken in the cover of Arthur’s Thriller album, and this was NOT the same guy!  In my world, anyway.

For my 8^th birthday, I received my very own copy of Thriller.  Along with the my copy of the Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook, which I still use today, and in fact just finished a couple batches of Snickerdoodles for the weekend’s Pride festivities.

From here, I unleash a bit of a brainstorm of MJ moments….

Family gatherings will undoubtedly include a Michael Jackson number or two, lip synced and danced by myself. My version of “You Wanna Be Startin’ Something” involved gym shorts and sweatbands and exercise-esque choreography that put Olivia Newton John to shame. No track from the Thriller album was safe.  My production of the song “Thriller” was carefully planned, involved turning off all the lights, my little brothers, and a dagger-esque letter opener that is still at arm’s reach from my computer.

I invited some of my friends over one day because we were going to make our OWN “Thriller” video with my dad’s film home movie camera.  If only I’d had a digital recorder then!  Chris, AJ (then maybe still Andy), and Michelle came over and my grand vision of multi locations—the corner at the end of the block, my garage, etc.  was slightly rehearsed, never filmed, but Mom still made lunch.

One of our former babysitters and neighborhood friends, Katie, would teach me the choreography to “PYT” she learned in her dance class.  Katie died suddenly this past May.

I watched the Making of Thriller video many many times with Michelle and her mom, Pattie. That’s when I saw the above “Billie Jean” clip. The penultimate viewing was a party where she invited several of our classmates and we made our own pizzas (because Pattie was a lunch mother at school and she had the hookup to the place that provided our pizza lunches).  Talk about Awesome.  We marveled at the special effects and made fun of the Jackson 5’s “Can you Feel It?” video.  We kept shouting “No!”  At least Michelle and I would every time we watched.

Before Detroit had cable—and therefore MTV, my main source to see his videos was Channel 4’s (our NBC station) music video show that came on a 4:00 after school.  Many of my 80’s video memories come from that show.  Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Lionel Ritchie, “Ghostbusters,” etc.

My bedroom was covered in Michael Jackson posters, whether my little brother liked it or not!  My jacket was covered in MJ buttons, many of which were purchased at this little shop in the middle of Livonia Mall.  I learned about sales tax when my 99 cent button cost me $1.03. I think this store had the coveted “Human Nature” tapestry.  Some buttons I bought at the pro shop of Riverside Roller Rink.  They had an MJ night once and I entered their lookalike contest.  I did the “Human Nature” cover—I wore white pants, white shirt, and yellow sweater vest.  I wore my homemade glove—one of my mother’s old evening gloves glue-sticked and glittered.  I made my own socks, too.  I was jealous of any friend who had the official gear—gloves, socks, jackets.  I was deprived of these things as a child.  Heh.  So I made due.  I believe this was the night I acquired my MJ sunglasses—my fold up knock-off Ferraris with his signature etched into the glass.

I did all the moves as best I could.

I scowled, and probably laughed at people who called him Michael Jackass and Michael Jerkson (Michelle’s father and grandfather respectively).

I told my Aunt Nellie I loved Michael Jackson and she told me that boys couldn’t love other boys.  That moment made it into my play, The Melted Lampshade. But this was before I knew anything about anything and way before MJ’s scandals.  I loved this music, his dancing, his soul, his everything, even if I didn’t understand it all.  He was my first obsession.  Before Madonna, Heart, Bon Jovi, The Monkees, Sarah McLachlan, Dar Williams, The Cure.

We were maybe going to see the Jacksons on the Victory tour for my 10^th birthday, but that fell through.  I had a big ol’ party at Chuck E. Cheese’s instead.  Which was awesome and many Transformers were acquired.  But the concert woulda been sweet.

My brother, Mark, posted on Facebook about how my mother met him once, when she worked at Detroit Children’s Hospital, and MJ was in town working some business deal that eventually fell through.  Mom was a tutor and was with the kids when he came to visit.  She asked me to help give some insight into him. By this time, he had fallen into scandal and parody and songs I didn’t really know.  She told me how, she held onto one little boy, and Michael went up to him and said, Hello.  The boy was quiet and Mom said, “He’s shy.”  Michael smiled, slipped down his sunglasses, revealing his eyes, and said something like, “I can tell,” or “I know,” but not in a sarcastic way or anything.  J  Mark posted on his FB “R.I.P. Mom, Michael Jackson, and Farah Fawcett.”  And I was like “What do YOU know about Farah?” and he said, “Nothing!”

I know there are MJ-themed photos of me in various photo albums at my dad’s.  I’ll have to find get my hands on them.

I never picked up Bad or any subsequent albums, but followed along on the radio and MTV and all that, up to a point until some of the clips MTV has been showing these past few days I barely or don’t remember at all.  I moved on, but still have what I have and can look beyond all the crazy (and the Amy Pohler sketches on SNL) to all the goodness. Oh, and I saw the “We are the World” video for the first time in a million years.  What a trip!  And what was Dan Ackeroyd doing there by the way?

I was at Roscoe’s the other night and they closed the dance floor with a remix of “Thriller.” That was pretty darn cool.

My FB quiz “What Hit MJ song are You?” resulted in this:

You are “Stranger In Moscow” – Michael Jackson’s song about feeling lonely in a different city, in a different culture and within yourself. You are a poetic soul. You are very sensitive. You prefer a book to a film. If you choose a film, it’s a film which will make you think. Small things can bring lots of joy and lots of pain into your life. Sometimes you like walking alone in the rain. You like the feeling on the raindrops on your face. You wish the rain could take away all your bad thoughts. You are a good person. Try to enjoy little good things more than the bad things.

Didn’t know it, but the description pretty much fits.  Caught the video on MTV (btw, it takes Michael Jackson DYING for MTV to play music videos again it would seem!)  I’ll end with it (click on the screen to watch it on Youtube as embedding’s been squished):

Thank you, Michael.  For real.

NewTown Writers Presents: Solo Homo 7!

Hello Friends!  You should come see my latest show.  I am co-producing it with the wonderful Josef Steiff, as well as performing a “new” piece, Is Jimmy Stackpool Singing Too? I say “new” because it’s something I’ve been working on for a while now, on and off.  Like writers do.  I hope you like it.  Here’s all the official info:

Solo Homo 7: NewTown Writers (newtownwriters.org), Chicago’s oldest GLBT writer’s group, presents the 7th installment of its hit solo performance series, Solo Homo.  Mon-Wed June 22-24, 2009 at 7:30.  Join us in Strawdog Theatre Company’s Hugen Hall at 3829 N. Broadway, Chicago.  Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at strawdogtheatre.com.  Please, no phone calls to the Strawdog box office.  $12 or 2 for $20 on Tues-Wed; $6 or 2 for $10 for Monday’s “Preview.”

This year’s line up of storytellers includes Cookie Crumbles, Byron Flitsch, Sara Kerastas, Deb Lewis, Timothy Rey, Mike Rogers, Lisa Scott, Josef Steiff, and Michael Van Kerckhove.

And there will be a cash bar too!  Can’t beat that, yo.

* * * *

Here’s a shot of me reading at this past weekend’s Printer’s Row Lit Fest.  NewTown Writers had a slot in the Arts & Poetry tent.  I read a pieced called Out of the Collective Blur. The events in the story took place in the spring of 2000.  I’ve revisited the story a handful of times over the years.  Still looking for a home for the story.  Interestingly, it’s about the homeless in general, and more specifically about a homeless woman I would often see in the Grand Avenue Red Line station.  It will find a place.  Even if I post it here on this site.

And here’s another photo.  Cos the Chicago Tribune banner makes me look more important, right?   My photomate is Jill, NTW’s current president.  She’s cool.

Alright, off to do more show stuff….

All Kinds of Stuff

So, much going on in the past month. First off, Ernie and I finished our semesters at IUSB on May 7.  My class presented their awesomely creative group projects–their productions of Oedipus Rex.  We had one set at Woodstock, a sci-fi production set into the future, a production set in the world of LA gangs.  And a Greek tragedy meets Dr. Seuss.  The parallels are actually quite fascinating with that last one.   I had another solid group and I felt things went well even as my focus was split there for a while between packing and everything else.  I received my last pay check from the university last Friday, so now it’s really over.  The teaching, my coursework, the experience was an amazing (if sometimes bumpy) ride that I’m feeling will be better served in more private reflection.  Whatever the ups and downs, I don’t regret our time in “the SB” one bit.  I’m glad we did it, and I’m beyond glad we’re back.  Somtimes I’ll be riding my bike home from work and think Wow, I live here again.  And the last 3 years feel like a dream.  Like that season on Dallas when Pam walked into the bathroom and Bobby was in the shower and he wasn’t dead after all–and the next season they had to pick up from the one before.  Crazy!  Like I almost have to pick up  my Chicago life from 2006.  And then there’s the finale of Newhart when Bob wakes up with this previous series’ wife.  That whole Vermont thing was just a whacky dream.  Yeah, I feel like that sometimes.  But I know I contributed for real.  For real.

Both Fiction and Creative Nonfiction/Solo Performance work inspired by my time has a Hoosier has already begun….

“Operation Chicago Re-Boot” is going well. I’m actually looking forward to what I’m referring to as “Operation 2nd Wave.” A friend is buying my futon which used to be in the guest bedroom at the Country House.  It currently lives in our storage unit.  Once she is able to take it to her new place, we’ll be able to tidy up around here–put some stuff downstairs.  And do some cleaning.  That’ll be good.  I’ll feel more settled then.

I’m figuring out my post-South Bend masage.  Grad school, teaching, both moves, etc.  It’s all in my neck and shoulders and the rest of me can use a tune up too!

I’ve been focusing on two stories this past month.  First, Playing Guns, a piece about childhood play, friends, family, war, stories, etc.  I made a recent submission deadline.  Yay!  I won’t say who or what cos I’m supersticious like that.  *Fingers crossed* just in case.  I’m not really focusing on Is Jimmy Stackpool Singing Too? for Solo Homo 7. We open in just shy of 3 weeks!  Click on the link for more, though I know I’ll be giving it its own post soon.  I’m also co-producing/co-directing as well.  That’s been a lot of good behind the scenes grunt work.  Love that I have the opportunity to do it.  It fits peachily into “Operation Chicago Re-Boot.”  It’s been fun and we have an awesome group.  Can’t wait to see the culmination of all our work!

Finally, I recently finished reading Kevin Wilson’s short story collection, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth. I got a copy in my Easter basket from the in-laws.  I love it!  I appreciate the quirkiness that to me does not slide into ridiculousness.  Many of his characters have–unique–occupations and I love how he explores them and connects them to their lives.  His fantastical elements are grounded in reality and sense, a balance I work to achieve as well.  I wish I’d written some of them!  One of his stories, “The Museum of Whatnot,” deals with similar themes to one of my works in progress–our relationship with objects–but they’re still, you know, different.    While all the stories are different, you can definitely sense Kevin’s sense of humor, his voice, etc.  If I had to pick a favorite, I’d go with “Mortal Kombat,” which interestingly is one of the less “quirky” ones.  It’s an honest and raw piece about two high school friends in the early ’90’s and their relationship and discoveries.  A looked forward to event is the release of the home version the Mortal Kombat video game.  What an amazing cultural phenominon to connect to their lives.  That one got me reaching for some tissue.  I look forward to reading more of his work down the road….

Other reading material this summer will include the 3rd book onward in the Sookie Stackhouse novels.  Can’t wait for the 2nd season of True Blood to start!  I also have my Walt Whitman to read, other story collections.  Etc.

When I’m finished with working on my current Creative Nonfiction, I’m looking forward to diving into some of my own fiction.  I want to make stuff up again.

It’s fun.

Update Soon….

I swear….

NewTown Writers News

Here is the Official press release (written by myself and sent out to the world, or at least the group’s mailing list and our Facebook group):

NewTown Writers announces the appointment of Michael Van Kerckhove as the new Artistic Director of the performance wing. Michael returns to Chicago after he and his partner, Ernie Nolan, spent three years working with Indiana University at South Bend. His affiliation with the group dates back to the inaugural edition of Working Stiffs in 2002.

Michael and long time member, Robert Klein Engler, have found a new home for their performance endeavors. After a number of years at the Bailiwick, stops at Live Bait and Chemically Imbalanced, the 2009 season will be presented in Strawdog Theatre Company’s Hugen Hall cabaret space located at 3829 North Broadway.

Plans are in the works for the 7th edition of Solo Homo in June and an evening of short plays in October. Stay tuned for details…

Pretty cool, huh?  In my reintegration into the city, dubbed “Operation Chicago Re-boot,” I became a board member of the group last fall and an “official” member of the performance wing.  Even though I’ve been involved with the group and have been published in both publication arms, I really do feel this sense of official-ness.  I haven’t been involved as much with the literary wing, though that could change now that I’m back, depending on Life and Everything Else.  Either way, the group has my support.

There was a noble effort to regroup and re-focus the theatre wing this past December.  The Holidays and New Year unraveled that a bit.  I was asked to step into the AD position and approved by the rest of the board.  Yay approval!   When recently asked my goals as AD, I basically replied “Focus and Process.”  Solo Homo will have some familiar faces, a few new ones, and will get back to its roots of writing & performance–that magical blend of the literary and theatre worlds I love so much.  How we get there should bring out the Best in all of us.  I like that.

Now, I just have to figure out what I’m going to do for my own piece in the show.  You know, the writing part.  I have a couple pieces I’d love to do, but they may be a little long.  So maybe this will be a good way to impose a deadline upon myself for new material.  The other pieces will definitely be incorporated into my full length solo show that maybe I’ve mentioned around here a few times.  It has a yet to be determined unleashing date, for sure.  But Battles With Boys will arrive….

NewTown Writers continues its bi-weekly workshops, and as in the past should have a table at the Printers Row Book Fair, also coming up in June.  Will definitely let you all know about that!

Happy Writing and Happy Spring.  It’s wonderful to be back!

Run

So, we made it back to Chicago!  Very exciting.  The boxes are just about unpacked and the books are almost organized.  It’s the details right now.  Finishing up our classes in South Bend and forging ahead in the city. More details on that.  I haven’t made it to the Lake yet, except by car.  It’s close enough, though!  Looking forward to warmer days and getting over there.  Driving in and out of the city, we see plenty of runners along Lake Shore Drive.  I always want to bust out in this classic Sesame Street song.  I’m more of a biker, though.  Something about just my feet and the pavement doesn’t work for me.  At least at accelerated speeds.  I have much more stamina on my bike.

Watch the video, sing along, and Happy Spring.

More to come….

Return

For Immediate Release: Michael & Ernie are returning to Chicago this Spring! We look forward into our re-entry into the literary and theatre communities.

More to come.

Thank you.

Be My Echo

Brilliant.  Been watching a lot of Classic Sesame Street clips when I should be doing other things.   They’re good for the soul.  Madeline Kahn is amazing.