"Beautiful Darling:" Sundance, CineVegas, and Outfest

I recently got word that "Beautiful Darling," Jeremiah Newton's labor of love, was sold to Sundance this winter. Which is great news. Jeremiah and director James Raisin have spent several years putting together this documentary of Candy Darling - now it's slated to screen at CineVegas next month and Outfest Los Angeles in July. They've even found some footage from a film with Candy and Jackie Curtis which was never released.

My State Senator Answers His Own Emails.

I'm not kidding.
*****************
From: Eric Schneiderman
Subject: RE: Marriage Equality
Date: Friday, May 22, 2009 11:18:44 AM

Dear David,

Thank you so much for your note. I will do everything I can to make sure that marriage equality happens this year.

Keep fighting the good fight. It is only with the energy and commitment of people like you that we can achieve equality.

Best,

Eric T. Schneiderman

From: David Johnston
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:38 PM
To: Eric Schneiderman
Subject: Marriage Equality

Dear State Senator Schneiderman,

Thanks very much for your support of Marriage Equality in New York state, indeed all of your strong support for LGBT rights. I'm one of your constituents and I'm happy you're my Senator.

David Johnston

*************************

The others NEVER write back as themselves. It's always a form letter. Of course, I'm usually bitching about something too. This is one of the few nice communications I've sent to my elected officials.

Sam French Blog

The playwrights for this year's Sam French OOB Festival are up on their website. My interview for their blog (they're really organized these days) will run on June 2.

Here's some press on the festival from Playbill, Broadway World, and TheaterMania.

Cool Website of the Day

City of Memory.

Take a Survey

At NYC Performing Arts Spaces, we're working on a survey to assess the current economic situation on NYC's performing artists. It just takes a second. It would be great if you could let us know what's going on with you right now. There are two survey: one is for the artists -actors, dancers, musicians, directors, playwrights, choreographers, etc, etc - the other is for those who run or manage nonprofit or for profit performing arts venues and facilities. Follow the link, it'll just take a mo. Thanks.

For artists, click here.

For facilities, click here.

(NYC Performing Arts Spaces is a program of Fractured Atlas. I'm their Program Consultant. OK, that should cover everything legally.)

Thanks!

AIP at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum

America-in-Play will be presenting a free program at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum on May 21. Jonna McElrath & Vince Gatton will be performing some of the material I wrote for the Tribeca PAC evening in March, so I'm excited to hear that. It's at 6:30 - and if you have never taken one of their tours, check them out. They're lots of fun.

It's Not too Late

...to sponsor me for AIDSWalk on Sunday. I've raised over two Gs and the W&M Alum team has scored over 12 at this point. Thanks to Matt and Pam for succumbing to my 'pointed' bribery.

It Pays to Advertise

My pal George Hosmer just got a bang up review from Backstage for his new show at the Metropolitan Playhouse. I saw their production of "Nowadays" last year with Frank Anderson and Matt Trumbull, two other actor/colleagues whose work I adore. (Not that I would ever say that to Trumbull, mind you. It's too much fun to play on his insecurities.) This is definitely one I want to catch before the end of its run.

Yes Yes Yes Again Again Again

My one-act, "Yes Yes Yes," commissioned by Rude Guerrilla and produced by Blue Coyote - wow, that's two animal names. But "Yes Yes Yes" will have another go at it in the Sam French Festival this July, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre from July 14-18, definite times & dates TBA.

Rude Guerrilla, by the by, has closed its doors. One of the most interesting theatres in So Cal. They did the first full (non-student) production of "Candy & Dorothy" back in 2004, and also the production last summer of "Yes Yes Yes." A very sad thing and a great bunch of folks.