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Several years ago, I came up with an idea for a contemporary musical called “Afterthought”. I structured a basic plot, about a kid who goes off to college, wrote a few songs, and then put the project on the back shelf for a long time. In 2010 I came up with an idea for a different storyline, maybe for a romantic comedy movie or musical, which I didn’t really expect to ever flesh out. So I stuck the premise in the back of my head and didn’t think about it again
But about two weeks ago, I wrote a song. It fit with the musical style of the Afterthought songs. But the lyrics fit with the newer rom-com storyline I’d come up with. And I realized the two ideas could be combined.
You might say Dog Sees God really got my theatre bug itching again… but this time, it was my writing bug. So, I’m back on Afterthought. It’s a different vision than the one I initially came up with. And it’s way too early for any details to emerge. But here is what I have already: 5 songs, a storyline. Oh, and a logo I developed three years ago that will definitely be changing:
Also, if you want to keep track of the various unfinished projects of a creative but flaky mind, why don’t you follow me on Wunderkit? Wunderkit’s a great tool and I’m kind of sad more people don’t use it… especially people who have a lot of collaborative projects going on.
On April 27th of 2011, a whole slew of tornados ravaged northern Alabama. Many people died, thousands were displaced, or stranded without power for several days.
I was in the final category… luckier than most, but I had a solid week of no power. And since, at the time, I was not the kind of person who really stocked up on groceries ever… I would depend on restaurants for almost every meal. So, for a week, I avoided my house. The first night, I stayed with friends, the second night I stayed with my parents. Then a generator finally came to a nearby gas station, and I was able to fill up my tank and leave town.
Crashing on couches for a week, I really felt like a nomad. And that’s when I first really fell in love with this classic Metallica piece…
I don’t have much to say about this blog, except that it’s awesome, and that I’m jealous of Peter Lundquist for doing a better job than I at something that I wish I could do — telling his childhood stories in a snarky way. Maybe I like it more because I can relate to so many of them.
The most recent post, for example, opens with the sentence “On my first day of sixth grade in August 2001, I looked so ridiculous that 9/11 was justified.”
Now that you know what you’re getting into, go check out Dead Parents.
So, the busyness of my 9-5 job and my thespian schedule has kept me too busy for much else lately. So let’s talk about the play I’m in this weekend:
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead by Bert V. Royal first premiered in 2004, and has won quite a few awards in the time it has existed. Though not affiliated with United Features Syndicate or the Charles M. Shulz estate, it tells the story of “C.B.”, a high school student who wears a yellow shirt, and whose dog has just died…
This plunges him into an existential crisis, which he deals with by talking to his friends “Van”, a pothead who mentions a blanket he used to carry around, “Tricia and Marcy”, a pair of popular girls who seem inseparable, and “Beethoven”, an awkward boy they’ve all bullied for years.
As for me, I play “Matt”, a homophobic, sex-obsessed germophobe who is never without a bottle of hand sanitizer — though it is hinted that he wasn’t always this scared of germs. Quite the opposite, as he picked up a nasty nickname in his childhood…
The story unfolds amidst the usual high school drama, parties, and a great 90′s pop-rock soundtrack.
Anyway, if you live in the Huntsville area and want to see some laughter and tears, check out Dog Sees God this weekend. We open Thursday the 26th at 7:30 p.m. at Renaissance Theatre on Meridian Street. We close Sunday night, so you only have four chances to see it! Get tickets on Showclix.com
Not Suitable for Under 18. Parental Guidance Strongly Suggested.