Revenge of the 5th…Goodbye to a legend

It’s a sad, sad day on Broadway and the in the theatre community.

The Tony Award winning director and writer, the legend Arthur Laurents has passed away at 93 years young at heart. He died while sleeping.

He is the author of such great works as Gypsy and West Side Story. In light of his revival of WSS still selling great houses, he is featured in a magazine interview. Just over a year ago, Out Magazine had an interview with this amazing man and you can read it HERE. He is brutally honest, and actually quite funny in that honesty.

I was so happy when his latest production of “Gypsy” took home so many Tony’s especially when it came to the actors.

I was stunned to know that he was as old as he was. He was incredibly active and was still producing some fantastic work.

Dear Mr. Laurents,

In a world that is plagued by hatred and greed and corporations and bad politics, you were able to be yourself for nearly the 100 years you’ve walked the Earth. You were incredibly blessed that you found love, true love in a time when it was forbidden. I only hope that I will be able to stay in love for 52 years like you and Mr. Hatcher. I am so relieved that somewhere in the world two men were able to hold their home together for so long while the world went on.

Forever your fan,

Jery.

arthurLaurents1 — Courtesy of Out.com via A. Laurents

The more you know…

I love when I talk to people that I am working with. And I don’t mean the usual “Hi, how are you?” kind of stuff. I was so lucky that I had the opportunity to chat with Teatro Vision’s Artistic Director Elisa Alvarado. I am currently working on editing the interview for a podcast, so YAY!!

During my talk with her, I feel like I learned more about why I want to open my own theatre company some day. I doubt that I would be lucky enough to have the same sort of eventful career that she got to have. I think in my head, what I picture is, as Elisa explained to me in the interview, more of a collective than a “company.” There’s something to be said about surrounding yourself with people that you truly enjoy working with and creating good times and experiences with. I hope you enjoy the interview when I get it posted.

The other thing that I love about doing these interviews is that it just inspires me to keep going, to keep working, to keep dreaming, to keep enjoying, and to keep protesting. To make sure that I should do everything I can to help companies that I believe in and to promote the artists that I admire and enjoy.

Here’s to working hard…

As most of you know, I am currently out of the professional job market. Bummer, I know. But I keep myself busy with my love of theatre and all things creative. Today is World Wide Knit in Public Day, and as far as I can tell, there aren’t too many things happening in the Stitchosphere. At least not like last year when all the yarn shops were offering…something. So after a bit of research, I come to find out it’s supposed to be the second Saturday in June, but no one really did anything major in the Bay Area. AND therefore, today is NOT WWKiP Day. Thumbs down!! So, I am so sad. I was really looking forward to it.

Last year, I was in as many different places as possible. I started off at Green Planet Yarn and hung out there. Then, I hopped on public transportation and made my way to downtown San Jose to a festival that was happening in Discovery Meadows Park and knit there. Then back on the bus, each time I got the most bizarre looks from people. It was almost as though I was some sort of freak. I kept my needles clickety clacking as I walked home just for the sake of being seen by the passing cars.

So this year my pointy sticks have several unfinished projects, that will stay unfinished because at the moment, I am reaching the deadline to be off book for Shakespeare 3 Ways. I’ll pick up the reversable scarf I am making for my sister, but I’ll only do a row or two then put it back down.

Speaking of S3W, we were interviewed for a local television show called Artbeat. I totally made a mess of that! Hopefully they will edit me out. The fellow that conducts the interviews was nice, but he made me wonder, “Oh, gad. Do I come off like this?” I hope not. So I may rethink how future podcasts are done.

And, no, that is not me in the picture above.

What are you working on? Drop me a line, I’ll tell my people, and they’ll tell their people, who will tell…well you get the picture.

Cheers!

jery