The Halls of the Madhouses are Filled with Governesses

Pal and muse Vince Gatton is appearing in this through tomorrow night - Jeffrey Hatcher's creepy two-handed adaptation of "The Turn of the Screw." This production places the show - set in the 1870s - in the Merchant House Museum on East Fourth Street, built in the 1830s. It's an inspired choice for this material and they even brought in a 'historical lighting consultant' to approximate the look of gaslight and kerosene without setting the place on fire. Some things are too historically accurate, you know?

I'd tell you to go see it, but the joint only seats about 34 people for the performance, and all the tickets are sold. But Vince said those who show up for cancellations are getting in. There's one show tonight and two on Saturday night.

This was excellent, trust me. I loathe Henry James and I loved it.

I Had a Snow Day Off So I Bought a Shitload of Used Jazz CDs

The World Wide Intraweb told me that Academy Records on West 18th Street had a much better selection of classical than jazz. Apparently, you have to go further downtown to dig that cool jazz. Perhaps this is true and if I had tromped in the snow to East 12th, I would have been even nuttier. But I gotta tell you - I found more than enough neat stuff at the 18th Street location to waste a whole winter afternoon. And they have good classical, too, it just wasn't what I was jonesing for yesterday.

And I ended up putting a lot of Eric Dolphy, Mel Torme and Dave Brubeck back because it was just getting out of control.

She Wouldn't Take the Dress Off

My review of Karen Finley's new show, a meditation on Jackie Kennedy, fame and assassination kitsch.

I Can't Wait to Go to This!

I've been listening to the Jazz Loft series on NPR, and of course I'm totally smitten with the whole damn thing. Now I find out the NYPL is having an exhibition of over 200 photos taken at the Jazz Loft and I can't believe I have to wait like what - twelve days? - for them to hang the shit up so I can see it.

"Saturday with Martin" in TnT Anthology, Coming out in March

Below is the official press release for "Short Plays to Long Remember," which includes "Saturday with Martin," originally presented by Blue Coyote with George Hosmer and Brian Fuqua. I'll keep you posted on more details as we get closer to reading events in March.






NEW RELEASE from TnT CLASSIC BOOKS
SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER

Compiled and edited by Francine L. Trevens due out in March

An eclectic anthology of plays ranging in playing time from seven minutes to over forty minutes. They cover the full gamut of styles and subjects, from atheism to zen, from actual incidents to zoological impossibilities, from aesthetics to zeitgeist, from apathy to zealotry. The 27 play collection has works from 14 authors, including Jane Chambers, among whose many awards in the seventies were Connecticut Educational TV. Award, Eugene O'Neill fellowship, National Writer’s Guild Award, and in the eighties, L.A. Drama Critic’s Circle Award, a Proclamation from L. A. for Outstanding Theatre and Fund for Human Dignity Award. First play in the book is by Doric Wilson who won the 2007 IT Award for Artistic Achievement; and in 2009, the ATHE Career Achievement Award for Professional Theatre. Its other award winning authors are, Perry Brass, Michael Devereaux, Paul Dexter, Victor Gluck, (noted lecturer on theatre and an esteemed theatre critic), David Brendan Hopes, David Johnston, David J. Mauriello, Sidney Morris, William F. Poleri, Daniel P. Quinn and George Zarr, a noted radio drama expert.

Designed for colleges, universities, libraries and theatres seeking short plays, SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER ISBN 978-1-886586-14-7 $16.95 retail, pre-publication orders accepted now directly from publisher. Email tntclassics@aol.com.

SHORT PLAYS TO LONG REMEMBER will be featured in the Greater New York Independent Publishers NIFTY AFTER FIFTY program at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Square March 22. Selected gay plays from the anthology will be in a 2nd Tuesday program on April 12, called 4 PLAY and featuring 4 plays and authors, at the Center on 13th Street.

Vision Quest at Observatory

My friend Pam's show, opening this weekend in Brooklyn! If you don't follow her blog, you're a chump.

And Remember...

If you're having a bad day. It could be worse.

You could be in the clutches of Eclipso.