Utopia Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos Slays the Audience with Satire

On Friday June 5th and Saturday June 6th a Youthquake occurred that would make Frog Hammer envious.* Utopia Opera presented the first two of their four performances of Ariadne auf Naxos to relatively full audiences - many of which were under 30 and totally dug them.

The plot goes something like this: the prologue takes place in the home of “the richest man in Vienna” where two performing groups have arrived. One is a commedia troupe that is set to perform a burlesque and the other an opera company that is to premiere an opera seria. The chaos ensues when it is announced that dinner has run over, both pieces must be performed at the same time and conclude by 9 PM in time for the fireworks display. The second half is the actual performance of the combined pieces resulting in something far more satisfying but equally as pleasurable as a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Ben Spierman’s Catskills take on Richard Strauss’ opera transforms a humorous period piece into a current slapstick comedy more suitable for modern audiences. His direction heightens the relationship clashes between company members and for the most part deftly carries those clashes over in the second half of the opera.

L to R Adam Klein, Richard Holmes,
David Seatter, Gilad Paz

The standout from the June 5th performance was Adam Klein as The Tenor/Bacchus whose flawless vocalism and musicianship along with his clockwork comedic timing remind us all why it is we love the combination of high art and common comedy. Elizabeth Bouk was earnest and sincere as The Composer. Rebecca Paul gave a lovely, sweet-voiced performance as The Primadonna/Ariadne. Jessica Philpot was comely as the sensual Zerbinetta. On both evenings Richard Holmes and Jack Anderson White portrayed the Music Master with worldly pragmatism and were a convincing foil to the passionate and naïve Composer. The trio of Naiad, Dryade and Echo - portrayed by Angela Dinkleman, Jazmin DeRice, Monica Hershenson Thuris, Caroline Miller and Hannah Spierman - gave sonically solid performances on both nights and their hypnotic swaying of finger fringe was reminiscent of sea waves – an evocative reminder of the second act’s settling which is supposed to be the desolate island of Naxos surrounded by the Aegean Sea. Gilad Paz bravely portrayed his role as The Dance Master after suffering an injury to his ankle moments into the first act and kept the audience in stitches in spite of his trauma. Samuel Themer as Sacramuccio, Johnathan Rohr as Harlekin and Roman Laba as Truffaldin were a perfectly clownish unit. David Seatter in the speaking role of the Major-Domo was appropriately unsympathetic to the artists’ obstacles. Additional kudos goes to Ben Spierman who stepped in days before opening to portray the role of the Lackey. His interpretation was more along the lines of a veteran stage manager who has seen it all and done it all (and this writer suspects his characterization was somewhat autobiographical).

The standouts from the June 6th performance were Halley Gilbert as Zerbinetta and Alison Cheeseman as The Composer. Gilbert has it all - flawless technique, gorgeous high notes combined with rapier wit and excellent acting skills. Her Zerbinetta is not just a trite tart and her confession to the Composer toward the end of the first act revealing her lonely nature comes from an honest place. Alison Cheeseman’s Composer is beautifully sung and intelligently portrayed. She does not take the bait of self-pity every time there is a threat to the integrity of her opera, but rather comes to that anger and despair from a strong position which makes each moment believable. Alexandra Lang’s vocal performance as The Primadonna/Ariadne is satisfyingly lush to the ears. It will be great to hear her grow more into this part over the next ten years. Shawn Thuris successfully tackled the difficult role of The Tenor/Bacchus and his voice consistently cut the 18 piece orchestra – not a small feat considering the orchestra is on stage with the performing artists in an intimate hall which seats under 200. Elliot Deasy's ridiculous choreography throughout the entire first act only enhanced the wonderfully foppish take he had on his version of The Dancer Master.

What makes all Utopia Opera productions especially unique is the company’s Company Director, William Remmers. One can count on his engaging dialogue at the top of acts, intermissions and conclusions where a broad range of subject matter from world events, science fiction and pop culture weaves its way into relevance. Also the company’s conductor, his signature gallop to the podium is a crowd pleaser and one can always look forward to his theatrical participation while he effortlessly conducts his orchestra with occasional strokes that break the fourth wall. This particular work is a showcase for his dramatic abilities and without offering too much of a spoiler one can look forward to a tempo duel between himself and the Composer during the opening of the second act. His polymathic talents are probably one of the strongest reasons why this company attracts devoted patrons and now members of the Youthquake movement. There are two more performances on June 12th and 13th at 7:30 PM in the Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College in New York, NY. Tickets are $20 (a mere pittance for such great entertainment) and donations are gratefully accepted. While certain major opera company chiefs claim that opera is dying it most certainly is alive, healthy and evolving at Utopia Opera.

Frog Hammer Ad Example

*For those of you who do not get the Slings and Arrows reference please view Season 2, Episode 6 – “Birnam Wood”. An excerpt is here - and relevance starts at 2:16. This fantastic Canadian television comedy - starring Paul Gross as Geoffrey Tennant, the Artistic Director of the New Burbage Theatre Festival - illustrates the agony, defeat and glory that comes with bringing great art to the public, funding it and keeping it alive while also offering a window into the actor’s world on and off of the stage. When the Executive Director hires what eventually seems to be an illicit marketing firm (Frog Hammer whose main representative is Sanjay Ranier) to run a publicity campaign to get young people interested in the theater all hell breaks loose. However the campaign surprisingly works and comes to fruition in this episode. (Individual episodes as well as the entire series can be found at Amazon.com.)

“Geoffrey, there are young people out there gathering in the parking lot!”

Tami Swartz is occasionally a critic but more often an actress that also sings her lines (most recently doing that in Dallas Summer Musicals' production of The King and I). She currently resides in NYC with her husband, her pet plant Groot and her raccoon plush Oreo.

BROKEN is a Study of Ugly Beauty

On the heels of the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, BROKEN, a new play by David Meyers, made a poignant but all too brief appearance at Shetler Studio Theatres, NY, NY from April 9th through April 26th, 2015. Quoted here is the synopsis directly from the play's website:

"Kevin McFadden hasn't spoken to anyone since he killed 17 people at a shopping mall three weeks ago. But when a prison doctor takes an unexpected interest in his case, Kevin decides to meet with him - revealing a troubled past that unites them both."

David Meyers & Michael Pemberton

At first glance this reveals subject matter that might be uncomfortable for the average theatergoer. What I discovered was 70 minutes of white knuckle exchanges and surprisingly tender moments not expected from a presumed psychopath's one and only therapy session. This roller coaster ride combined with rich content and Broadway-quality acting produced theater of the highest caliber.

Michael Pemberton (noted for his recurring role as Private Detective Malcolm on the hit series Damages and seen on Broadway in productions including The Farnsworth Invention, I'm Not Rappaport and Hedda Gabler) brought a subtle and refined portrayal to his character Dr. Palmer, the fragile therapist who clearly has a personal agenda in regard to his reluctant ward, Kevin. His acting choices were honed from deep places therapy patients are asked to go in order to make personal progress, but many times are too terrified to explore. Because of this the audience was rewarded with a consistently truthful performance in which a man who is obviously in deep pain is using that pain constructively in hope of healing someone who is beyond help.

David Meyers' portrayal of Kevin McFadden was riveting and color-filled. I felt sympathy for the young man's feelings of rejection which ultimately drove him to commit mass murder. He haltingly offered a window into his younger self, revealing a sensitive man who had been constantly bullied. Yet his explosive reasoning for what he did and placing the blame on others besides himself still led me to conclude that nothing could excuse his actions - leaving the appropriate question, I think, in most people's minds: what drives a person to do such a thing?

Alex Ashrafi's solid performance of Officer Falco effectively provided the tension needed to propel the play forward with well timed and sometimes violent interruptions to the main characters' session. Daisy Walker's direction skillfully kept the reins on this play without overdramatizing the work and allowing the writing to speak for itself through the actors.

I want to see this work performed continuously. It has all the things needed to become a staple work in American theaters due to its relevant material and powerful storytelling. It is also economical for theaters to produce and the length is perfect for a stand-alone production or a pairing with another one act play or another type of art form for a two-part presentation. I write this in the hope that publishers and regional theaters will take note and contact this very talented young actor/playwright. David Meyers has a bright future ahead of him.

The Highliners - The Band That's Tight and Plays it Just Right

The Highliners in Action

On Friday evening October 10th The Highliners performed to a large crowd at Somethin' jazz club in the East 50s in NYC. The atmosphere was intimate, akin to a cavern-styled Parisian jazz club like the one that was lovingly reproduced in the movie 'Round Midnight. Instead of experiencing tenor saxophonist Dale Turner (portrayed by Dexter Gordon) with his 1950's style jazz trio, the audience was exposed to the multidimensional sounds of a quintet that is well versed in multiple styles of jazz including straight ahead, uniquely interpreted rock tunes, classical music and Latin offerings. Some of these numbers have original arrangements with through-composed lines adding to the texture of the quintet's interpretations. And as the title of this blog indicates the band is psychically tight. The rhythm section of Steve Newman (piano), Adam Kahan (bass) and Tommy Mattioli (drums) was like a finely tuned timepiece playing satisfying ideas that were always spot on to Debra Kreisberg's sultry alto sax and Melissa Fogarty's mellifluous vocals.

One of the contributing factors that make The Highliners stand out from other local jazz groups I have heard over the last 20 years is Melissa Fogarty's vocalism. She has a distinct, clear soprano sound reminiscent of Diane Schuur. Fogarty's virtuosic lines are more rooted from a singer's organic perspective while Schuur's lines are more instrumental in approach. Fogarty is also a classically trained soprano whose training lends a pleasing heft to her sound consistently throughout all registers while managing not to sound operatic at all. She studied at Eastman School of Music where she received her bachelors degree. After graduation she studied privately with the great diva and music educator Rita Shane. Ms. Shane unfortunately passed away earlier in October. (Yours truly also had the honor of studying with Ms. Shane for 7 years in her private studio in NYC.) Fogarty dedicated Johnny Mandel's The Shadow of Your Smile to her and the band played the tune in a stimulating bossa style that truthfully memorialized her powerful spirit.

Your's Truly with Band Divas Fogarty and Kreisberg

Another contributing factor to this quintet's uniqueness is Debra Kreisberg who is a jazz and classically trained saxophonist also with a bachelors degree from Eastman and a masters degree in Jazz and Commercial Music from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Dick Oatts. Her solid technique shows in the beauty of her tone and in the ease with which she executes her lines. Her solos are tasteful and fulfilling like a mellow Bordeaux and never too aggressively brash as a "drink now" wine would be.

To further expound on the versatility of The Highliners here is a sampling of their tune list - Johnny Mandel's A Time for Love, Jobim's No More Blues featuring an original composed line by Kreisberg and The Beatles' Eight Days a Week cleverly arranged by Fogarty. Their next engagement is on December 10th at Tomi Jazz and you can find out more about them by "liking" their facebook page. A web site is forthcoming. Do go and see them. Their music will inspire you and broaden your jazz sensibilities.

Tami Swartz is an actor, opera singer, director, producer, occasional jazz vocalist and when possessed by something that moves her is a blogger who resides in NYC with her husband and stuffed rabbits…

*When Tofu Meets Italian

*In spite of two blaring science fiction references that some of you may or may not get this is actually a blog about food. (grin)

NYC studio stoves are a wonder!

Weary from my recent travels I donned my silk jammies, as agent Dana Scully would do after a particularly exhausting case, and surveyed the contents of our ice cubicle. To call a New York City apartment sized vessel that contains chilled food stuffs a refrigerator would be an overstatement. Not having shopped in a few days I braced myself for the process of making a hap hazard dinner of makeshift ingredients. I generally stock the box (alas if it were only a blue box that were bigger on the inside) with serviceable basics that easily fit in the confined space - fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, herbs, condiments and other sources of protein and, oh yeah, a bottle or two of the white stuff. (The red stuff lives on a rack underneath our custom-built-oak-computer-hutch-turned-bar. THAT is another story for another time.) In the pantry are always beans, rice, canned goods… What happened next was a revelation. My dinner soon became an Italian themed semi-vegetarian repast of Cannellini Beans with Arugula and Pan Seared Tofu with Tomato Cream Sauce. "Italian tofu sauce?!" you exclaim. Seriously, it's really delicious. Tofu is an amazing blank, nutritious palette that assumes any flavors that you choose to infuse it with and those of you who are my close friends know I can't resist marrying Eastern and Western ingredients in my recipes.

This meal, while substantial enough to warm the tummy on an early Autumn evening, could also be served at room temperature and used as picnic food should Indian Summer grace us once again. The total cooking time? I think I was standing in the kitchen for an hour. The prep and cooking time will be less if you make the simple red sauce ahead of time. Recipes and instructions are in the following paragraphs. I highly recommend Calamus Estate Winery's 2012 Barrel Kissed Chardonnay with this dish. Its caramel-smooth, robust nature is never over oaked and provides the perfect compliment to the pungence of the roasted tomatoes and anchovies in these dishes.

Recipes:

Simple Red Sauce
Cannellini Beans with Arugula
Pan Seared Tofu with Tomato Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

Simple Red Sauce
1 Can Organic Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
3 Cloves Garlic - finely minced
2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Sprig Fresh Rosemary - finely minced
1 TSP Fresh Oregano - plucked from the stems
1 Bay Leaf
2 TBSP Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
Sea Salt and Pepper - to taste

Cannellini Beans with Arugula
2 Cans (16 ounces) Cannelini Beans
2 Shallots - sliced
3 Cloves Garlic - finely minced
2 Cups Fresh Arugula
3 Anchovies
1 TBSP Fresh Rosemary - fined minced
1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt and Pepper - to taste

Pan Seared Tofu with Tomato Cream Sauce
1 Cake Extra Firm Tofu
1 Cup Simple Red Sauce
1/4 Cup Half and Half
2 TBSP Olive Oil
Toasted Pine Nuts
1/4 Tsp Grated Nutmeg
Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese to Taste

Instructions:

Post Plating

In a sauce pan add the olive oil and heat on medium until the oil is shimmering. Add the fresh herbs and bay leaf and toast for one minute. Add the minced garlic and sauté until a bit browned. Add the fire roasted, crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper and stir. (I prefer the fire roasted variety as the roasting process releases the sugars in the tomatoes and adds a smokey sweetness to the sauce.) Sprinkle the cheese on top and cover. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for 20 minutes allowing the cheese to slowly fall into the sauce and incorporate. Set aside and stir before serving.

While the sauce is simmering pat the tofu cake dry with a paper towel and slice into cubes. Add oil to a non stick pan and heat on high (setting 5 out of 6 on our stove) until the oil is shimmering. Add the tofu and brown it as you would a piece of meat for a couple of minutes on each side. (I like to use fresh tofu if I can find it. The health food store near us also carries some wonderful local, artisanal varieties.)

In another non stick fry pan heat the olive oil to shimmering over medium heat and add the sliced shallots. Once the shallots are soft (about 5 minutes) add the rosemary, garlic and anchovies. When the garlic is light brown drain the beans and add them to the pan lightly mashing them with a fork leaving some of the beans intact. Then stir in the arugula and salt and pepper to taste. Anchovies already have salt so you don't have to use much. Once the arugula is wilted and incorporated with the beans the dish is finished. Set the pan off of the heat.

Add the browned tofu to the non stick fry pan you used before, add the simple sauce, the half and half and grated nutmeg. I prefer fresh nutmeg as it adds a beautiful fragrance to the sauce. Stir all ingredients and heat until warmed through. Top with some toasted pine nuts and grated Pecorino Romano cheese. (Toasted pine nuts are easy to make. I usually add a little olive oil in a pan and heat on medium until the nuts are brown. It only take a few minutes.) I prefer Romano's sharp flavor of sheep milk to Parmesan's cow's milk flavor and Romano is generally less expensive. These recipes produce 2 generous dinner servings or serve 4-6 as an appetizer. Have fun making your own variations!

The Little Opera Company That Could

R to L: Shannon Jones & Adam Klein
Photo by Russell Cusick

On Friday September 12th and Saturday September 13th, 2014 Utopia Opera celebrated its fourth season with a production of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah at the Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College in New York, NY. The little company did much more than expected in such an intimate space usually reserved for recitals and master classes. The hall, which maybe seats 175 people, was filled with enthusiastic opera goers of all ages - something that is quite unique in a world that claims opera and its audience are dying.

The cast was combined with young professional newcomers and established professional artists. Standouts were: Metropolitan Opera tenor Adam C.J. Klein as Susannah's brother Sam whose voice, musicianship, character development and language ability (yes that was a genuine Appalachian dialect he was using) make many of us wonder why we can only get this Broadway quality of performance occasionally in major opera houses and a bit more so in regional opera houses; Steven Fredericks, whose rich basso would normally be a comforting balm to a cold and harsh world (indeed yours truly portrayed Pamina to his Sarastro and felt warmed to the toes and a return to the womb every time he sang his aria), convincingly and creepily juxtaposed his portrayal of a monster molester whose baser, animalistic needs won out over his common sense as the role of Reverend Blitch; Shannon Jones and Sara Beth Pearson - both in the roles of Susannah - gave nuanced and believable performances as a kind young woman whose earthiness is used against her by her fellow townspeople and whose life is forever marred by hearsay, gossip and lies. It is not fair to compare their performances so this writer choses merely to point out the differences. Jones had a fuller voice and her Susannah was an old soul while Pearson's voice was lighter and her characterization more innocent up until the second act. Both performances and vocal quality were perfectly acceptable for the role.

Sam with a sack full of critters
Photo by Beatriz de Mello

Along with the 14 cast members there was an ensemble of 14 instrumentalists which unfortunately had to split the stage with the singing actors. The artistic director William Remmers, who also served as stage director and conductor, assured the audience that eventually they would have a larger venue that would accommodate a pit for the orchestra. "Huzzah!" this reviewer exclaims: however, with what little space they had all the artists sharing said space managed splendidly.

This young opera company has truly burst out of the gate for its first production of the season. May it grace New York City for years to come. With its young crack team and innovative, hip thinking that should not be a problem. The only criticism is that perhaps there should be more of an effort to get sponsorship and/or grants solely dedicated to paying the singers who currently go without a salary/stipend. Production values (sets, props, costumes, lights, sound effects, sir titles, etc.), larger halls and orchestra - all of which require money - are very important to opera, but necessary to opera are the opera singers which is the primary reason why audience members go to an opera. That said, do not miss a performance. For more goings on with this little opera company that did, can, could and continues to do go to: http://utopiaopera.org/

Tami Swartz is an actor, opera singer, director, producer and when summoned an occasional critic who resides in NYC with her husband and stuffed rabbits…

Now Playing - Right Down Broadway’s Production of “Voices of Swords”

L to R: Celia Schaefer and Michael McKenzie

"Voices of Swords" is a winner. The play's premise of dealing with aging parents is very familiar to our collective consciousness. What playwright Kari Floren so beautifully illustrates is the power struggle that occurs between parents, children and siblings during this life cycle. The relationships in the play are completely believable and the characters are richly portrayed with verve, humor and truth by this excellent acting ensemble. Loni Ackerman’s steel in the face of adversity is something to behold in the role of Olivia – a woman who is facing heart surgery a year after the passing of her own husband. Celia Schaefer is beautifully engaging in the role of Alexis – the professional organizer who is unwittingly thrust into a war between Olivia and her son Kosey while dealing with her own struggles regarding her parents and siblings. Bob Ari and Gillien Goll are touching and dynamic as Alexis’ parents. Philip Christian’s performance of Kosey is acerbic and colorful as we see him dealing with the changing role of his mother. Michael McKenzie’s performance of Alexis’ ex husband, Matthew, is honest and unfettered and gives us hope that when couples divorce there can still be a civil and caring relationship between former partners.

Regarding the creative team, Eve Brandstein’s direction is simple and powerful. Doss Freel’s set is uncomplicated and quite effective as the perspective is placed on angles not allowing audience members to view the action completely dead on thereby creating a sense of tension in the scenes. Composer Roger Murdock’s minimal late sixties/early seventies style jazz music (Fender Rhodes included) moodily enhances the scene changes accordingly. The production values overall are of the best quality.

So often we see older characters marginalized and the message sent that one could not possibly be interesting after the age of 40. “Voices of Swords” shows us that we can be engaging and passionate about life at any age. Support live theater at its best and go. You will not be disappointed.

“Voices of Swords” runs Wednesday, August 20th through Sunday, September 7th, 2014. Details can be obtained here.

To LA and Back Again...A Virtual to Actual and Personal Business Journey...

A close friend of mine once said to me that your friendships are the most important thing you can have while you take your turn on this planet. I really do agree with him and would also add that the adventures you have with your friends are also incredibly valuable. These two things seem to be the common theme that pulls together my experience in LA these past few days.

Tron: Original 1982 Theatrical Poster

The adventure started with a conversation I had with my good friend Dava about her attending PopCon in Los Angeles to meet Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan. Some back story is required here so please indulge me. I met Dava and other ladies who became my "virtual friends" last summer when I was unexpectedly laid off from an IT consulting job. I had never experienced something like that before, so needless to say I was in shock. This lucrative assignment was going to fund my big push to get back into professional opera and theater - something I was doing quite a bit of before the crash in 2008. Sitting on the couch in my apartment that early evening in NYC I tried to focus on the positive and realized I had purchased Tron earlier in the week to show my husband that evening when he returned from a singing job. He was such a Matrix fan that it made sense to share with him the inspiration for that trilogy. We both quickly got pulled into the world of the grid and marveled at the timelessness of the movie's special effects and the incredible art that was made in that film. Revisiting the subject matter, acting, animation and music showed us how truly an under-appreciated gem that film was whose time has finally come. (Sometimes being cutting edge can be a painful process.)

Publicity Photo of Bruce Boxleitner and
Kate Jackson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Well one thing led to another and I found myself searching the internet and facebook regarding one of my favorite actors - Bruce Boxleitner who I also remembered fondly not only for Tron but for the wonderful spy (excuse me I meant to say intelligence operative..sorry), screwball comedy and romance television series, Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I never missed an episode when it was on. It was in Zuckerberg's realm where I happened upon the "Scarecrow and Mrs. King FB Page". After a few minutes I found my spirits had lifted. Those who were posting there were so loving, supportive and FUN! I quickly found an affinity with many of those ladies and made the leap to actually "friend" people I had never met. I trusted my instincts and they did not backfire. Every single one of those ladies have been wonderful additions to my friendship pool.

We have stayed in touch for the last 11 months via facebook and Twitter. I finally met my partner in crime, Dava, a couple of months ago when visiting my parents in Pennsylvania. There was an instant connection and familiarity between us. (We're still trying to figure that out!) So when the conversation came up to attend PopCon and meet more of these wonderful women I did the math and jumped at the opportunity. I also had wanted to get back to LA and do some auditions and networking, so this was the perfect synthesis of opportunity, work and pleasure.

Offenbach's Bluebeard
at Long Beach Opera

The adventure began at 5 AM on Friday morning 7.6. The day was perfect for a flight out of La Guardia - sunny and mild with slight overtones of humidity reminding us New Yorkers that summer was finally here. The flight was easy and I soon found myself driving North on the San Diego freeway. Dormant memories from my extended stay there came flooding back. I was right out of Juilliard cast in my first professional role - an ingenue part in Long Beach Opera's highly acclaimed production of Offenbach's operetta Bluebeard. I had felt so alive in the California atmosphere and had such great experiences. I made friendships there that have stood the test of time. That same vibrant energy coursed through me at that moment. The sky, brightened by the nearness of the Pacific ocean, seemed to lighten my being and I once again felt as I had 20 years ago - full of life and a little trepidation toward the experiences that awaited me.

I pulled into the Biltmore Hotel (PopCon's official convention hotel) and felt transformed by her Art Deco era elegance. My room was comfortable and soon eased me into the full evening I had in store visiting with my old college buddy and fellow trouble maker, Brad Keating. Our plans were to have dinner in the UCLA neighborhood and attend a fantastic play at the Geffen Playhouse entitled The Pianist of Willesden Lane, a one woman show where the true story of a young Jewish girl's struggle to become a classical pianist during World War II was told not only by words by also with interjections of virtuosic piano playing featuring the works of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Grieg and Rachmaninoff by the artist herself. (If you're in town do go. She let us know that evening at her book signing after the show that they just got extended!) Needless to say Brad and I had a great time together and vowed to meet up one more time before I flew back to NYC.

Susan, Dava, Yours Truly, Amy

Saturday's events brought forth for me many uplifting and varied experiences - a successful and affirming audition, meeting up with my friend Dava where reality was finally realized by meeting my virtual girlfriends and an unexpected gathering with the vivacious Cindy Morgan early evening after PopCon had finished for the day. Ms. Morgan is best known for Caddy Shack, Tron and Bring 'Em Back Alive where she portrayed the classy, intelligent and brave U. S. Consul, Gloria Marlowe. "The Ladies of Twitter", as she fondly dubbed us were able to spend the entire day with her. (I was not present because of my obligations beforehand, but lived vicariously through the stories of my friends.) During that time there was much mayhem, fun and kindness exchanged by all who participated. We were all very fortunate to be able to share in something special on that day with Cindy. (I send well wishes for her tremendous success at San Diego Comic Con which is currently happening and at this posting it looks like things have been going fantastic for her!) After our gathering with Cindy we parted ways until the next day and "The Ladies of Twitter" continued on with more bonding and dinner in Studio City. The evening ended with night caps at the Biltmore Bar. I had already lived several days in one. I tumbled to bed and mistress sleep graced me fully renewing me for the next day's adventure.

The Official Scarecrow and Mrs. King Photo
with Special Guest Cindy Morgan

Sunday. I have sat here for a few moments now wondering how I will be able to accurately chronicle my experience. I am sure I will leave some things out, but life is a series of unique impressions and hopefully you will be able to read others' blogs about this gathering and cobble together just how extraordinary this experience was for all of us. That morning I along with two of Susan's daughters, Laura and Emily, had the opportunity to drive Cindy Morgan to the convention center and help her set up her booth. Cindy unwittingly set the tone for the entire day for me. She was pleasant, warm and genuine and it was our pleasure to help her at PopCon. We quickly met up with the other SMK ladies and Jim - Susan's husband and the only buck amongst the does - poor dear! Eventually Bruce Boxleitner arrived and was soon joined by his supporting cast member Greg Morton who played Jamie King, Amanda King's (Kate Jackson) youngest son. (I will write more about Greg in a moment.)

Bruce Autographing One of
the Many Photos We Brought

What occurred between Bruce and his fan girls is something that I would categorize as unusual for any fandom. Gifts were exchanged and autographs signed, pictures were taken and light banter definitely ensued. What I was not prepared for was what I believe to be a genuine affection that he had and continues to have for us. He was open, relaxed…and funny! We spent the entire day with him chatting, laughing and enjoying the two panels he participated in: a Western panel with Richard Anderson of Big Valley and The Six Million Dollar Man and The Making of Tron Panel with Cindy Morgan, Harrison Ellenshaw the visual effects supervisor of Tron and William Kallay the author of The Making of Tron. For me, I did not think I would comfortably wear the persona of fan girl. It was just something I had never done and my mind was filled with all kinds of embarrassing stereotypes. These women and Mr. Boxleitner showed me the positive side to that persona and on that day I fully embraced being an "SMK Lady" - as he refers to us.

Greg Morton and Me (Cheers Greg!)

Meeting Greg Morton and his wife met and exceeded my expectations. Greg is now a successful writer and artist and has published three works with a fourth on the way. He and his wife exude kindness and intelligence. We had some great conversations and I really enjoyed meeting them both. Check out his blog about us here: Hanging Out With Tron and, seriously, check out the rest of his blog and books - period. His topics are always interesting and inspiring. I, for one, need positive in my life everyday and Mr. Morton is one of my cherished sources.

Toward the end of our visit with Bruce, Cindy and Greg, Bruce's co-producer showed up with literature on Lantern City - the new Steampunk show that Bruce is producing and developing. Check it out on Twitter, facebook and at his website here: Lantern City and register to become a citizen. He made an announcement about it at San Diego Comic Con to an enthused audience and I wish him nothing but great success with this interesting and necessary television project. We hugged our new friends goodbye, including Bruce. He reiterated that it wasn't goodbye, just until the next time. This was already a tremendous day and most of us pooled our energy and moved on to the next adventure - a fund raising evening at Claudia Christian's home.

When we arrived we found Claudia working hard in her own kitchen to serve us a delicious repast of healthy food. She was a lovely and warm hostess. Other celebrities present were Denise Crosby of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Jay Acovone from Stargate SG-1. Claudia had a lovely grand piano and those that could play were encouraged to use it. I ended up singing some musical theater and opera and Amy accompanied me beautifully. She also sang and accompanied herself beautifully! Perhaps my ultimate geek moment was when Denise Crosby requested that I sing the soprano obligato to the original theme song from Star Trek. I had the pleasure of being accompanied by a well known LA music director and I was able to oblige Ms. Crosby - that was seriously crazy and to my gratefulness and relief the room applauded healthily. Again graciousness, genuineness and kindness prevailed in the character traits of our hostess and guests. I know I have made new friends from that gathering and that is much more that I had ever dreamed of happening. There was very little sleep that evening - but when I woke the next morning I felt surprisingly refreshed and assuredly inspired.

The Journey Realized:
4247 Maplewood Drive

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were kind of a blur. Monday was the last day I could spend with my new SMK pals. We went to Paramount Studios, saw the homes that served as 4247 Maplewood Drive, Amanda King's home in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and then my part of the trip was spent checking out the Chinese Theatre area. Some of us went back to the hotel for a rest, then felt the call of the ocean so Dava, Amy, Elaine and Anne piled into my compact rental and we zipped to Santa Monica where we enjoyed a nice casual dinner by the sea. It was hard to leave each other, but we found comfort in knowing we would communicate soon through our virtual media.

My College Brother Brad:
Friends for Life!

Tuesday was spent doing a little more business and then reuniting one last time with my dear college brother Brad at Mexicali Cantina in Studio City. (As usual there was side splitting laugher...and great margaritas!)




My final day was spent exploring the roots on my mother's side in Little Tokyo, or J-Town. I visited Buddhist temples, the East West Players (an all Asian theater venue cofounded by many prominent Asian actors including George Takei and James Hong), Fugetso-Do Confectioners - serious peanut butter mochi, a great sushi place called Toshi Sushi and the Japanese American National Museum. I was especially moved by their exhibit regarding the internment of the Japanese American citizens during World War II and learned quite a bit more about that era from a very knowledgeable and kind museum guide who was interned when he was a little boy. Amazingly he was at peace with the entire experience and was very gentle regarding his exchange with me. I left feeling illuminated and very glad to be living in the present day appreciative of the struggles and triumphs of my fellow Japanese Americans. Indeed as Bill and Ted would say: "The best place to be is here, the best time to be is now..."

Tanuki Statue: Little Tokyo

The red eye flight I took on July 11th was really quite painless. My plane landed Thursday morning and I quickly found myself thrust back into the atmosphere and energy of Her Majesty, New York City. It was indeed quite an adventure - Bilbo Baggins worthy. I will never forget the experiences I have forged on this trip. To the cast members of this moment in time: Brad, Dava, Amy, Elaine, Anne, Megan, Janice, Cheryl, Mary, Karen, Susan, Emily, Laura, Jim, Claudia, Denise, Jay, Greg, Sandra, Cindy and Bruce - you all have reaffirmed my belief in the positive power of adventure and friendship. You have my special thanks and gratitude for the experiences I have shared with you. May each and every one of you be well, be happy and most of all be loved.

(Photo Credits: Yours Truly, Amy, Elaine, Emily and Laura)

(PS...oh and this happened...)

Revisting Wildfire on Off Broadway Now!

In this age where we are constantly assaulted with characters in their 20's, younger and edgier versions of ourselves if you will, (hmmm...the new Spiderman reboot comes to mind) and are told that their immature trials and tribulations are supposed to be interesting to us my hope was restored when I attended an original play Friday evening on Off Broadway entitled "Revisiting Wildfire" by Kari Floren. It was a two character piece starring women that were - wait for it - in their 50's. Without giving away too much of the plot, Theresa, an executive in New York City, has lost her job and Pam has come all the way from Cleveland to celebrate her birthday. The dialogue and "dramedy" that ensue is truly remarkable. Ms. Floren has a complete understanding of the sacred relationship between two close friends, sisters really and this play not only illustrates that, but also pegs our society for the dysfunction it has regarding our mature women, a resource to be valued and treasured - not discarded. And you couldn't ask for two finer actresses than Nancy Johnston or Lynne Wintersteller. I know for a fact these ladies didn't know one another until they started rehearsing this play in May. I was completely convinced they were inseparable soul mates from the first 5 minutes into the evening. I can only say go! And go soon! It opens on Wednesday June 6th and promptly closes on June 24th and is in previews now. Information is below:

Revisiting Wildfire Tickets and Information

There's a nice article about the play on BroadwayWorld.com here too.

The Avengers & Das Rheingold-A Tale of Two Lokis

(*MILD SPOILER WARNING* for both venues)

Saturday May 5th was a power day packed full of superheros and villains. I saw Joss Whedon's The Avengers in the morning and caught the last performance of Robert Lepage's production of Das Rheingold that evening at the Metropolitan Opera. The result? Superhero flick and opera are two genres that compliment one another in very surprising ways - at least as far as these two venues are concerned.

First up is my assessment of The Avengers. Joss Whedon did what he does best - ensemble direction at its finest and a brilliant script that gave Marvel's superheros poignance as well as punch. For those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Whedon's work, he was put on the map by Buffy The Vampire Slayer the movie and then TV series which spawned the spinoff Angel and then went on to create one of the finest science fiction series in the history of television - the cult favorite Firefly which led to his movie directing debut in Serenity - the Firefly movie that came about by the fans and for the fans. Previously he was known in the business as a "script doctor" - the guy or gal who is called in to basically save a mediocre script's hide in order to make it acceptable (in his case brilliant) for the screen. Many Whedon fans in the 'Verse were rooting for him. He's an incredibly talented and intelligent director/writer whose time was due after the heartbreak he endured when his beloved Firefly was cancelled by Fox Television. (I could go on a rant about that situation, but it has no place in this particular blog…) From all appearances, The Avengers has ushered in his era of film making.

The special effects did not eclipse the acting one iota and there was not a weak link in the entire cast. My only complaint was that Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts character was marginalized in the movie, but there was a lot to pack in for a 2 hour and 23 minute run time so I actually was pleased her character made it into the movie at all. Other pivotal female characters did not make the cut including Jane Foster (Thor's main squeeze) who only got a brief mention as to her safe whereabouts. Whedon's footprint is left all over The Avenger's universe with his clever, quicksilver dialogue that never stoops to the lowest common denominator, his moody camera angles that display a perspective of a common scene transforming it into an artistic moment in time, his incredible comedic timing enhanced by the actors and his quirky scenes that show the human side of the characters that could have easily been lost in the big budget and grandiosity of The Avengers storyline. Examples of some of Whedon's trademarks include a scene where we see Captain America's reaction in a smashed motorcycle mirror on the ground (the common scene transforming it into an artistic moment in time thing I was writing about) and a very human moment for our team - not to add a spoiler, but Middle Eastern cuisine is in your future if you have the patience. Examples of Whedon signature ensemble dialogue moments include:

Natasha Romanoff: Loki has them under some kind of spell. Along with one of ours.
Steve Rogers: I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here.
Bruce Banner: I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.
Thor: (With a Shakespearian delivery) Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard. And he is my brother.
Natasha Romanoff: He killed 80 people in 2 days.
Thor: (Waits a beat) He's adopted…

And this little gem of an exchange…

Security Guard: Are you an alien?
Bruce Banner: What?
Security Guard: From outer space, an alien.
Bruce Banner: No.
Security Guard: Well then son, you've got a condition.

And finally:

Loki: It's an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me.
Nick Fury: Built for something a lot stronger than you.
Loki: Oh, I've heard, the mindless beast. Let's pray he's still a man. How desperate are you? That you call on such lost creatures to defend you?
Nick Fury: How desperate am I? You threaten our world with war, you steal a force you can't hope to control, you talk of peace but you kill because it's fun. You have made me VERY desperate. You might not be glad that you did.
Loki: Ooh, it burns you to have come so close, to have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power. And for what? A warm light for all of mankind to share? And then to be reminded of what real power is.
Nick Fury: Well let me know if "real power" wants a magazine or something.

Then there are the Tony Stark one liners. The definitive script isn't out yet, but I have a feeling Mr. Downey, Jr. also enhanced their "hilaritude"…

Tony Stark: (to Bruce Banner) You really have got a lid on it, haven't you? What's your secret? Mellow jazz? Bongo drums? Huge bag of weed?

Tony Stark: (to Hawkeye) Clench up, Legolas.

And of course my favorite because of the NYC reference and pidgin Shakespeare...:

Tony Stark: (In response to Thor's inquiry) Shakespeare in the Park? (Pregnantish pause) Doth thy mother know thou weareth her drapes?

OK I guess it's kind of obvious that I loved this movie. Now onto the Rheingold tie in. I attended The Avengers with my husband, Adam, and a few good friends. Adam was going to perform the role of Loki, or Loge auf Deutsch, in Das Rheingold at the MET that evening and we wanted to have some fun the morning of his final performance. For those of you who read my blog below, this was a big deal for him to debut in that role at the MET on April 26th. What we didn't expect was that Adam was going to be so positively affected by Tom Hiddleston's portrayal of Loki in the movie. Truly, he tapped some of his duplicity and other characterization elements for his portrayal of Wagner's version of that role that evening. The references were subtle but made all the difference.

Lepage's Rheingold truly has an otherworldly and superhero look and feel to it, especially with the costuming. Heck, they're right out of the Marvelverse. That is to be expected as the director is responsible for all of the Cirque du Soleil productions. I find this a plus as updating of opera productions, when done well, are most effective. Additionally, if there is a way to reach out to younger audiences without betraying the composer's intent, I am all for that, too. In this economy opera, as well as the rest of the performing arts, needs all the help it can get. To add a theatrical performance and honest character development to a role in Wagner's version of Norse mythology can also only enhance the piece. Truthfully, though, I think my husband more resembles Tony Stark/Iron Man rather than Loki. You be the judge.

Photo by Tami Swartz

Adam's performance on Saturday was critiqued favorably. The Associated Press said:

"Substituting on short notice for the wonderful character tenor Stefan Margita in the role of Loge, Adam Klein made a strong impression…"


This one from The Wall Street Journal gave me a chuckle:

"...Adam Klein, who stepped in as Loge and not only sang brightly but scampered fearlessly up and down the set."

And this love note came from an opera aficionado in Toronto who stated:

"Adam Klein sang a wonderful Loge, enlarging the physical aspect we’d already seen from Richard Croft in the earlier version of the opera last season. Not only did Klein walk backwards up the wall using wires, but turned it into a part of his characterization. At times he posed defiantly (sideways), at other times he struck a more ironic attitude. For me Loge is a bellwether of the production, which might explain why I loved this show so much. Klein made magic from his first appearance to his last: a revelation."

I certainly concur. If I were a top critic for one of these publications my review of his portrayal would go something like this:

"Adam Klein's Loge held his own and finally took his place amongst the Gods."

Perhaps a bit more trite, but nonetheless accurate.

I write this because so many productions of Rheingold cast a Loge that cannot act the role and/or whose voice is too light and character sounding. Common Wagner practice originating from Wagner's very own specifications calls for the Loge to have a heroic sound and for the same tenor cast in that role to go on to perform Siegfried. Many artistic directors and critics miss this point. These actions have resulted in some disastrous casting decisions and embarrassingly bad reviews - embarrassing for the critic since he or she is stripping themselves naked in front of those who know better. Unfortunately my intellect and good taste have been subjected to both travesties over the years. (Again, this is a rant for me to post on another blog.) And because of these frequent misconceptions the role of Loge is diminished resulting in the audience not feeling sympathy for Loge or understanding the reason why he ends up betraying the Gods at the end. So, in my not so humble opinion, the whole reason for going to see The Ring is seriously lost.

Photo by Ken Howard

The MET Das Rheingold on Saturday May 5th, 2012 acquitted itself from any and all accusations. It was simply a great time with great singing and acting, not just from my guy who portrayed Loge, but from the rest of those famous and not famous folks onstage. They're bringing this production back to the MET next year, too. (Oh goody!) As of this posting, we don't know what this will mean for Adam, but I can take comfort in the fact that I saw a very fine production at the MET and that my husband had something to do with it. For now all we can do, as the tune from Soundgarden featured in The Avengers goes, is Live to Rise. I certainly live to see Adam's star rise…

Adam Klein - Loge Superhero

Photo by Tami Swartz

(This blog was written a few hours after my husband's Wagner MET debut on Thursday April 26th as Loge in Robert LePage's new production of Das Rheingold.)

Captain's Log, Stardate: Not Applicable. It is 2 AM and we have just returned from an adventure at a little place in New York City known for world class opera productions. My husband, tenor Adam Klein, made his Wagner debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Loge in Robert LePage's production of Das Rheingold. I, the wife, could not obtain tickets that evening as the house was sold out. I, however, had a much better experience viewing my husband from the bowels of the Met and was able to observe The Machine working at peak precision. As one who produces and directs as well as performs, observing the backstage technical workings of this show was a total, rapturous geek-feast for me. Folks out front were there to watch Das Rheingold…I had the privilege of becoming Das Rheingold. And for folks who watch Firefly…I wasn't on the ship…I was in the ship…I was the ship.

This new Met production was mounted in 2010 and returned this season along with the now complete Ring cycle. It definitely had Cirque du Soleil elements throughout the fabric of its being - not surprising since its master was co-founder for that venue. Fantastical tableaus, warping of perspective and illusion thrive in this production and in spite of the potential dangers of high tech, cater very nicely to a story about Gods, a Demi-God and other mythological creatures. My husband performed the role of the Demi-God, Loge, or Loki if you are familiar with the Norse name. He is made of pure fire. The lighting effects very much enhanced that aspect of Adam's character, but it truly was the artist that breathed life into him. Adam sang like a German Heldentenor God, his theatrical acting was superior and his physical acting rocked that Loge suit like Iron Man with his Tony Stark action hero stance and athleticism. Eat your heart out Robert Downey, Jr.! (Spoliers: Loge does a lot of stuff on wires.) No, I am not biased…truly. Adam and I are very honest with one another and our performances. He really was that good and had the respect and support of his esteemed castmates, which included Stephanie Blythe, Bryn Terfel, Eric Owens and Gerhard Siegel. He also had the support of all his cover colleagues, artistic staff, administrative staff and Peter Gelb, General Director of the Met. The whole opera house was rooting for him! When it came time for curtain calls and bows, he got as large an applause as Bryn Terfel who played Wotan the leader of all the Gods. Adam had delivered the goods.

Loge Gets His Rheinmaiden

How did we celebrate, some of you may be asking? Rather quietly which was nice. After we parted company with Adam's parents, his fellow voice teacher Mike Warren and other friends, I suggested we go to a little 24 hour French bistro called French Roast - their uptown establishment on Broadway, as they also have a downtown annex - and enjoyed midnight happy hour. Yes, one of the many things I love about this city is that concept. The food was divine, the atmosphere cozy and it was just the gentle ending that we needed. Who knows what this will do for Adam's career in the long run, but life is full of wonderful moments and by living in the moment we take comfort and energize from such experiences.

Update: 3:30 PM Friday April 27th: I just found out that Adam will be going on again as Loge in the final Rheingold performance of the season on May 5th. Sometimes punching the glass ceiling yields a glorious breakthrough. My husband once again gets to be a superhero. He will always be one to me.

Micro Blog

A thought for the day: degradation depletes energy while affirmation augments it, therefore it is far easier to be kind than coarse.

Be well, everyone and make everyday a positive day.

SMK Day at Chez Tami

This merited a post on my blog because I just couldn't figure out how to put it all on one picture and send it...and it covers food, artistic expression and good vibes - which as my close friends know is the intent of my blogosphere, if you will. I was inspired to do a party for my two girlfriends who used to watch Scarecrow and Mrs. King in the 80's when it was originally on the air. I had become re-acquainted with the show last summer as I needed a little escape from a VERY bad work situation. (Don't worry - that's all been resolved.) It brought me back to a peaceful and uplifting time in my life and helped me re-center myself (well that and a lot of running and meditation). Through the show I also discovered a wonderful SMK community on Facebook and am pleased to say I have even made a few friends from the page.

I found out that a group of these ladies were going to see Bruce Boxleitner (Lee "Scarecrow" Stetson) at Megacon in Orlando, FL this past weekend and since I couldn't go, well, I threw a party to celebrate SMK instead. This completely got out of hand as I then became inspired to make it an Italian food themed event. The first reason for this was if you are going to culinarily celebrate the elegance of Lee Stetson and Amanda King it's going to have to be either with Italian or French cuisine. The show always depicted an upscale evening by attending either a French or Italian restaurant. Remember Emilio's or Chez Nouvelle? (My inner fan girl is screaming. I shall silence her now!) The second reason was my SMK Italian girlfriends on Facebook. They really inspired me with talk of Italian cooking and I wanted to give them a gift of my own Italian cooking from 4000 miles away. (Hope it holds up to your standards, bellissime!) Below are the results of my culinary exploits and our adventures with Lee and Amanda. We supplemented our beverage and fruit quotient with Cava mimosas. Apologies for the possibly pidgin Italian captions. I will endeavor to correct once I revisit them with someone close who speaks Italian better than me! All in all it was a fabulous day and I hear it was a fabulous weekend for my SMK family members, as well! Buon appetito.

Primi Piatti:
Rosemary Almonds and Arugula with Meyer Lemon/Mirin Vinaigrette
Mandorle con rosmarino e rucola con limone Meyer/Mirin Vinaigrette



Primi Piatti:
Focaccia with Red Grapes
Focaccia con uve rosse




Secondi Piatti:
Stuffed Smoked Mozarella
Ripieni mozzarelle affumicate



Piatto Principale:
Spinach Flans with Prosciutto
Flan di spinaci con prosciutto



Dolce:
Strawberries with Chocolate
Fragole con cioccolato
(No picture - sorry we ate them too quickly!)

Those that celebrated and thus were sated...

Twitter Spew Haiku, by Yours Truly

One hundred forty...
Brevity is required -
Can't express myself!

This, Too, Shall Pass by TS

(I have a few close friends who are going through a hard time right now. This poem is for you guys. XO)

I once was light, sweet and of simple thought
The virile call of living raptured me.
Nourishment from love's dove-soft breast was sought -
I gave my core to one most joyfully.

Then in the center of my journey's lot,
Love's cascade had become a dying sea.
My soul by my companion was not sought,
All pleasure from her being lost, callously.

Heartache devoured life force hoarding rest,
Solitude a protection - and my right,
I chose to crest its wave and heal alone.

Now in my dreams a voice at my behest,
Sings softly with an oath to soothe my plight,
Affirming through its tones that I've found home.

Flu Haiku (for all of you...)

(This was inspired by all of us who have the flu. Get better!)

Itchy lung's caress
Means coughing incessantly.
Give me some NyQuil!

Blue Haiku - By Yours Truly

In the bleak winter
Inertia is the constant -
Time to eat cookies.

The Lament of a Yankees Fan

Hello Friends,

I am gearing up to post my Japan Blog. As yakyu (the Japanese word for baseball) season is upon us and has become such an important part of the Japanese cultural fabric (And why not? It's the greatest game in the world!),I was inspired to post an e-mail from my friend Jimmy. For those of you who don't know Jimmy, I met Jimmy through two close friends who ended up attending Muhlenburg College in Allentown, PA during the late 80's. My two friends had one thing in common - me. Once they firgured that out - and the fact that the two of them are huge trouble makers - they became fast friends... and to put it in the most cliched way possible - the rest is history. Through John and Brian I was introduced to a cast of characters, including Jimmy, that I have had the pleasure to keep in touch with the rest of my adult years. Jimmy and I don't always see eye to eye with politics or our choice of religion (you guys know what I think about that), but two things unite us in a deeply strong bond: food...and yakyu! (Yeah, I know, baseball.)

As many of you know, they are sacking Yankee Stadium. I, like Jimmy, will also miss it terribly. I'll miss the crummy subway ride, the stinky bathrooms, the original curses an epithets uttered by Yankees fans in a way that only someone who's been raised in the tri-boroughs can ejaculate and I will miss the energy of the House that Ruth built. I hope that whatever gets developed on that space once the stadium get sacked, will have to endure the hauntings of The Babe and Lou Gehrig and all the great Yankees who have passed. May they have a field of dreams interrupting their conference calls, their board meetings and their moments in the can throughout eternity! And with that statement now... below... and unadulterated...is Jimmy's lament. Enjoy! Add your comments! Play ball! - T

-------------------------------------------------

Who cares about the election….it’s business as usual anyhow. The real issue is that there are only five more games to be played in the history of Yankee Stadium. I will be in front of my TV on Sunday night crying my eyes out. This was the ballpark I grew up with and in.

I would love to spend a day with Lon Trost, who is the CFO of the Yankees. I want to see all the numbers & dollars that are going into this new place because I don’t think it’s needed. The Red Sox play in a park that was built in 1912. So do the Cubs. And they’re doing just fine financially. Yankee Stadium seats 56,000. Fenway Park holds 37,000.

Why is history going to be torn asunder and disposed? Why? How much is enough? You are drawing 4,000,000 fans per year, and you have done so for the past 6 years in a row. You own your own tv station and it’s the most lucrative team-owned network in pro sports. Your organization is the only sports organization to be worth more than one billion dollars. Your merchandise is sold all over the world, and unlike the NFL, each team keeps whatever their logo sells. The NFL takes all the merchandise sales and divides them up equally. There are 32 teams so you get 1/32 of the pot. But not baseball.

Practically every game for the past few years has been sold out. No team can even come close. You are also getting a hefty paycheck from the parking and the percentage of concessions. The Yankees don’t get all $6 for a hot dog but I’ll bet they get half.

Yes it’s cramped and doesn’t have restaurants, etc. But this is Yankee Stadium. It’s supposed to be about the baseball. If you want fine dining, go to Morton’s.

The House That Ruth Built is coming to an end all in the name of corporate luxury boxes, which is what the Yankees have been bitching about for 15 years. Yankee Stadium, renovated between 1973-1975, is still a 1920’s design. Room for skyboxes wasn’t figured in back then.

I’ll take my cramped hallways and the smell of stale beer. I also take the memories of all the games I attended and all the greats I have seen.

To tear this place down is sacrilegious and to me, compares to tearing down the Vatican.

An Elf's Adventure in Poland

Hello Everyone,

Finally I am getting around to posting our exploits in Poland this past July at the Tolk Folk Festival in Bielawa, Poland. Adam and I were the guests of honor there at this week long festival which included, Hobbit Races, performances of Tolkien based music and a massive re-enactment of The Fall of Gondolin complete with Balrogs on stilts a fire breathing dragon and original music underscoring narration by the organizer of the festival.

For those of you who didn't know, part 1 of Adam's opera Leithian, based on the short story of Beren and Luthien from Tolkien's Silmarillion was premiered at the Liederkranz Foundation NY, NY in July of 2006. It's fame took off in the Tolkien fan circles via their websites. Part 2 was premiered in NY this past April and now Adam is waiting in limbo to see if Tolkien's publisher will extend the agreement so we can take the next steps to promote his opera. Adam was Beren, I was Luthien and we had a host of great artists working with us. More information on the opera can be found at Adam's website: http://www.adamcjklein.us.


Poland has an amazing group of serious fans, a kin to those represented at Sci-Fi conventions that I have attended in the distant and recent past. In brief I can summarize my festival experience as part Pennsic, part Star Trek Convention and part pastoral-vacation-in-the-Polish-countryside. Wow! The Tolkfolk Festival site can be found here. It's all in Polish, but I think Google would be happy to translate the page for you. We were treated like stars and interviewed by the media for the event. A TV interview can be found here.

Adam has written an amazing blog pretty much summarizing our thoughts on this adventure. You can find his blog here.

In addition to Adam's blog the only other comment I would like to make is about what I observed with the people of Poland and their culture. Without Lek Walesa's efforts there very well may never have been a Tolk Folk Festival or even J.R.R. Tolkien literature in Poland. Mr. Walesa was instrumental in banishing the Soviet backed communist government and through his efforts the people of Poland were allowed the freedoms of expression that come along with being a democracy. The age group that attended this festval was mostly in their 20's with a few 30's-60's smattered amongst them. They were intelligent, worldly, non-prejudiced and forward thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and have made friends with a few of them. There is a bright future for this country. I can't wait until I go back next year! (I am readying my Elf wardrobe as I write this...)

Hawai'i

Ah friends,

I just got back from Hawai'i today and it seems like a dream. I was there celebrating one of my oldest friend's 40th birthday. How do these things happen? She looks amazing. I am calling 40 the new 25! Truly it is just a silly number.

The trip out was a bit rough with mechanical problems that delayed my flight twice, but it all evaporated once I was actually in the air. I love to fly. It's the closest thing to being a bird next to hang gliding...something else I want to try before I transition on to the next great adventure.

Yes, the magic started happening when I looked out the window around 3 PM Hawai'i time (or UTC-10 if you really want to be fancy). The plane was right on the edge of two weather fronts. It was not so much of a dramatic clash as it was a gentle divide between the subtropic and tropical climates. I wish I had used my camera. I have never seen anything like it. The clouds to the left were the feathery kind that you expect to see on the mainland and the clouds on the right were those billowy smoke-stacked, cotton candy clouds that puff straight up into the air, seeming to defy gravity and perspective. I got lost in that scene, thinking for a moment that I could hover in between the two fronts, suspended in the air like some great raptor gliding on the wind currents.

The water was so blue that when you looked down you weren't sure if the plane had floated upside down and you were looking at the sky instead. The sun changed, too, from a pale gold to a rich, yellow brightness that warmed without blinding the eyes. Then I saw the islands - first Molokai, then O'ahu - the final stop.

Time flew by and remained in the moment simultaneously. Whether I was camping on the beach with friends, running along the Ala Wai, drinking a lovely Oregon Pinot watching the rainbows and the sunsets, snorkeling with sea turtles or reveling in the rich local cuisine (so evocative of the multiple asian cultures that thrive there) - there was always a feeling of belonging, of being grounded. In the whirlwind of activity there was a centered calm.

What is it about these islands that inspires me? I feel an ancient energy there, combined with the lush Pacific ocean that acts as a channel for that energy thereby giving me limitless energy when I am there. I will probably go there to live someday and start my 4th or 5th career somehow contributing meaningfully to the magic of the place. I haven't quite figured out what it is that I will do, but I will. I feel on this trip I have opened a conduit between myself and the islands. Whenever I feel the ache of being away from my island home, I can now seemingly for a moment transport myself there feeling the warmth of the place and calming myself just a bit more than any meditation could do.

This is my bliss. I hope you all are finding yours or have found yours and are reveling in the warmth that it brings you.

Peace - Ren