Okay so I decided it was time to bring back “Prof.’s House”. I run a few companies (Photography, Theatrical, Film/Video, Ministerial) so I thought it best to share via video what is happening with the various projects I am working on.
So without further ado, check out Webisode #10.
So next weekend I will be acting in a short play I have written called “The P Tape Chronicles“. It has been a while since I have been consistently on stage. My teenage years were filled with dreams and passions of being in films and on television.
I took a much needed detour in my 20s. The path I was originally on was one toward destruction. You see acting became more than a dream, it became the thing I worshipped. You can say it was my idol. I pushed family and friendships to the side in pursuit of this thing called “success”. Being driven is a beautiful thing but losing yourself in a craft as a means of validation is a whole other thing.
There are so many actors in the business who are attempting to validate their purpose for living through their craft. They justify who they are by what they do. Many compromise their values and morals in pursuit of “making it”. What I find amazing is the actual reports of actors who have made it. How many of them have such miserable lives? Depression, Alcoholism, Multiple Divorces, Gambling, Rehab, Prison. Not all of them but too many “successful” artists, many whom we worship in our Western culture, live so off balance.
I am glad I did not stay on that journey. My life’s purpose was more valuable than just being “talent”.
So after many years of assisting from the shadows, now I am being thrust back into the spotlight to share my instrument on stage. I am a little apprehensive about the “big-headedness” syndrome I experienced in my younger years. I am more mature at this stage in my life. I no longer desire the stage, but I understand it is a part of my storytelling vocation.
I truly want the audience to receive the words I have written in “The P Tape Chronicles“. My passion is for people to find healing and wholeness through the medium of the arts. That is what drives me. That is my motivation and what truly satisfies me. So if that requires me to be on stage, than that is what I will do.
If you want to be challenged to think about life and relationships, come check out “The P Tape Chronicles” on the evenings of Dec 17th and 18th in the Bronx. We will be performing as the opening show for Ezzy Castellon’s “Once Upon A Caterpillar“, which I am also directing.
Admission is free so all you have to do is make the commitment to be there. The flyer information is here.
So I prepared a ten-minute theatrical presentation of “The P Tape Chronicles” at the last “Once Upon A Caterpillar” show. Elaine Glover and I performed it before Ezzy’s “Caterpillar” performance.
Rehearsals went rather smoothly in preparation for the performance. Elaine and I have been cool with each other for the past few years but to play the characters of Michelle and Dave it required us to be rather transparent and vulnerable in a very short time. We needed to have that same kind of connection Michelle and Dave have as friends. It was comforting to share with Elaine my personal experiences and thoughts regarding life and relationships. It was also great to learn about her life and her personal experiences.
Just based on the rehearsals I knew something wonderful was happening. Elaine truly breathed life into a Michelle character I created some four years ago. Our connection was believable and I saw how easy it was for us to improvise the scene in rehearsals.
Needless to say the night of the performance Elaine and I were able to introduce “P Tape” to a theatrical audience in a beautiful way. The feedback has all been positive and I am happy to know people were touched and affected by the message “P Tape” presented.
I look forward to December 17 & 18 where Elaine and I will be performing a twenty minute version of “P Tape” which will precede the next “Once Upon A Caterpillar” performance at Harvest Fields Community Church in the Bronx, NY.
This weekend Ezzy and I produced her one-woman show “Once Upon A Caterpillar,” which she performed at New Season Christian Center in the Bronx. The audience was extremely receptive to her characters and her jokes. She did an amazing job. It was a fun night all around.
Before the “Caterpillar” show began, we gave the audience a short performance from another play being worked on called “The P Tape Chronicles”. This 10 minute scene about life and relationships was written by me. So it was especially interesting to be producing the entire night, acting in “P Tape” with Elaine Glover, then directing the “Caterpillar” show. By now you have noticed I do a lil multi-tasking.
After the “Caterpillar” show, Pastor Phil from New Season curated a Q&A discussion with the three cast members. Ezzy shared her heart regarding each character and how they were born. The 50 or so audience members were treated to this behind the scenes conversation which I thought was wonderful.
In a future post I will share my “P Tape Chronicles” experience that night. But for now stay tuned as the official dates for the next “Caterpillar” performance are Dec 17 & 18. This time we will infuse a Christmas theme throughout the night.