Insomnia, Mo Collins, Disney, Improv, and Me in a Magazine

Last week I stayed awake for 41 hours. I was just too busy and when I had time available to sleep I wasn’t tired. It had been quite a while since I’d been up that long. Thursday Juli and I had a good “Laughter for a Change” meeting with Ed, followed by a Hammerspace Improv workshop-rehearsal-performance with Ed and Shaughn. The topic was weird (the definition of “is”?), but we did a decent little awkward piece about Santa Claus running for president. It was fun, funny, and strange. Keith and Henry (both Evangenitals) were there to see it. Nobody showed up for our improv/music jam, so the Evangenitals decided they would just have a fairly straight forward band practice and I took off to the iO West to see Dasariski. The Dasariski show was quite incredible and those 3 guys definitely lived up to all the hype. They were really smart and hilarious and I’m so glad I saw them. I had been having something of a weird and somewhat uncomfortable evening and I really appreciated the extreme cheering up that I got during that show. While in the balcony audience, Katie Ward (of the Dollhouse) and I got to talking about how funny we both find one another. We decided that it made perfect sense for us to form a new group and that the next step was recruiting our dear friend and fellow improviser Allegrah Hollenbeck to join us. We will begin performing upstairs in the iO West Black Box in November (thanks to Maggy Keegan). Soon I expect to be in at least four or five really great improv groups (perhaps more).

I got home from iO West late and was wired on yerba matte and pomegranate green tea. I watched “Extras” on DVD, read some "Writing Down the Bones", and never actually went to sleep. I did lie in the dark for a while with my eyes closed and drank valarian tea but it didn’t work. Once it was officially morning I had to go to my improv class at PCC. After a 4 hour class I had a Hammerspace workshop-jam in Highland Park at Studio (experiment), and then Kelly and I went out to Hollywood for our 8pm Hammerspace show in the Andy Dick Theater. It was okay, but honestly I was just too tired by then. We had done some great scene improv during our workshop and I would have liked to bring more to the show. Juli and I are really wanting to do some inspired hard core 2 person long-form improv and get to the heart and soul of the spiritual and philosophical possibilities of abstract, honest, dark, light, scary, lovely, and pure comedy-theatre-performance. The surrealistically human honesty and intimacy that we have gently touched upon together so often. We need to bravely plunge headfirst into the swirling improv abyss and hold up our fists together, open our eyes wide, and say "FUCK YES WE ARE READY". There are some beautiful discoveries being made and I feel I’m on the very edge of unlocking a magnificent and mysterious treasure of majestic and artistic improv revolution, revelation, and beauty. I just need to look closer, dig deeper, and be fearless and truthful in the face of all danger and terror.

Kelly Chase and I stayed to watch "Opening Night the Musical" at 9pm, and “Heather and Miles” in the ADT at 10pm. Both shows were very awesome. Heather and Miles both step into the puddle of vulgar and tasteless brilliance every Friday night. I should see that show every week, it's extremely educational. Then we chilled at the bar for a bit and stayed to join in the big Improv Jam (hosted by Pat Keys) at 12am. It was pretty fun but I was delirious and exhausted at that point. I was quite happy that Kelly got to play on the main stage. Everyone who played got a free candy bar (Butterfinger), but I’m a vegan so I gave mine away.
On Saturday a talent agent wrote me back. I had decided to email a few agents last week and see about getting representation. I don’t know much about that though (only what I see on Entourage). I looked up 3 talent agencies with an email address and sent them my resume and picture, and actually heard back from one 2 days later. Not only did she write me back, but she also had a job for me to submit for. I took my package (pic and resume) to drop off at a casting office in Hollywood for a Disney Channel TV show. They are looking for a mime. I took the train to Hollywood on Saturday evening and the security guards let me on the lot with a walk-on guest pass. Nobody from the show was in. I went back on Sunday, and there was still nobody from casting there. Monday was much better. The office was open and people were inside working. I dropped off the envelope containing my resume as instructed (with the agency name, agent’s name, and agent’s phone number as my contact info). She said she’ll call them and call me. Now I’m waiting. I am optimistic and excited. It would be pretty amazing if this worked out... Oh this would be so cool!

Monday night I saw Mo Collins do the Armando show and Inside the Improviser’s Studio. She had some very inspirational advice and kind words of wisdom (she was pretty damn funny too).
The "Best of LA City Beat" magazine featured a pretty fantastic picture of me doing an improv performance on the dance floor while Juli and the rest of the Evangenitals rocked the house on stage (see image above). It is from last Tuesday at the Mr. T’s Bowl Evangenitals show. When I wasn't performing improvised movement art I was filming the band play. I'm posting the super cool "Bad Town" video below.
I also just booked a modeling gig. I will be playing a fashionable zombie (in full gruesome make up) posing with a femme fatale/noir vixen girl in a photo shoot (Hot Women and the Men they Loved and Murdered). It's for a "Sick End Films" promotion for the new horror web site they are launching. Last time I worked with them they gave me a bag of vegan cookies. I will be wanting more of those cookies.

I feel like all these little signs and signals (and some big ones I guess) keep happening and showing me that I am on the right path. The universe is telling me that I am doing a good job, and to keep at it. Enjoy the journey and don’t give up or lose sight. Keep the faith and believe in yourself and the goodness of other people. Love life and take part in the magic the world is offering up.
Thank you…


The Evangenitals Video for "Bad Town" (filmed by me at Mr. T's Bowl).