BigdaddyUtah

  My first show of the week was a 2 PM matinee of Much Ado About Nothing on Monday.  So, I aimed to get there at 12:30 because I am a psycho.  So, I rolled into my dressing room around then and my dresser, Madison, asked if I needed help with my costume track.  I thought maybe she was joking, because we've done the play 53 times.  But then she saw my confusion and told me that Henry was sick, and I had to go on for Leonato.  Then I checked my phone and had several missed calls and texts which happened in the seven minutes it takes me to drive from my amazing housing to the theatre. (I'm not joking, my housing this year is incredible.  Plus, I have the best roommate in the world.  I really feel as if I won the lottery).   A second later, my Angel, Tanya poked her head into the dressing room and confirmed that I would indeed be going on for Leonato in 90 minutes.   Here's a little backstory for this weekly adventure.  When I...

 My friend Bryson (who drove 10 hours to see me in both shows this year) came up with the saying: "Great goddamn seats!" many years ago.  It applies not only to being onstage with very talented people but also to taking the time to look at the world around you.  All that you have gone through has led you to where you are...look around.  You have great goddamn seats! This summer, I certainly have both of these seats.  I am surrounded by the natural beauty of Zion and Bryce Canyon, and I am also surrounded by some of the most incredible artists I have ever shared a stage with.  Plus, the humans here are some of the kindest and most caring individuals I've ever known.  I feel so lucky to be here.  And I have great goddamn seats! When I'm acting with Henry as Leonato, and watching him spit fire, I not only get to experience that as an audience member, but I get to interact with him too!  When Melinda and Walt meet as Beatrice and Benedick, I get ...

 Spaulding Gray, the late, great monologuist talked of Perfect Moments in "Swimming to Cambodia," and I became somewhat obsessed with finding perfect moments of my own. And I have had my fair share.  Looking back at my life, there was a time when my best friend, the late, great Keith St. Aubyn and I sat in my Datsun B210 watching a lightning storm for what seemed like hours, and although we were teenagers at the time, we both seemed to understand that the conversation we had with the sky gods warring with one another was somehow transformative.  Of course, my wedding to Annie was perfect--ask anybody who was there--it was the greatest!  Finally having a pregnancy that advanced into the second trimester was a perfect relief.  Corey was the child that was meant to be after losing five before him. The actual birth of our children, especially Ellie who was almost born in my car on La Cienega as I raced to the hospital with Annie deep into labor.  Our birth plan...