Results of GreyZelda's fundraiser at Four Moon Tavern

This picture is of our friend, Corey Bicanich. More news to come at the end of this post.

A huge Thank you to everyone who attended our fundraiser last night. And a gigantic Hip Hip Hooray to Meredith Lyons, GreyZelda's new marketing director, for organizing everything. She did a wonderful job. She hit the streets and got restaurants and theatre companies to donate gift certificates and tickets. We also had donation of gum from Wrigley and Stacie Barra, original artwork donated by Sarah Stec, and beautiful watches donated by Meredith.

For those of you theatre companies that wonder about doing a fundraiser at Four Moon Tavern - here's how it works:

We were able to hold our event from 6pm to 8pm. If sales equaled $1000.00 in that timeframe, GreyZelda would received 25% of the sales. If we didn't total $1000.00, we would have gotten nothing. Puts the pressure on. And we reached the goal and then some thanks to everyone who came and ate and drank amongst good friends.

The total for the evening was $771.00. Which is great! That money could pay for a week at StageLeft! It helps with costume rental prices! Printing paper for the programs! Buying food and drink for our theatre Thursday event on August 31st! Incredible. Thank you so much for helping us out, everyone.

I'd have a fundraiser every day at Four Moon if I could. It was a great evening. Good conversations. Wonderful food. A pleasant temperature. And doing it all for the greatest theatre company I know, GreyZelda.

And, in other equally remarkable news, our friend in Morgantown, Corey Bicanich, is speaking. Some of you know that he suffered through a horrible car accident and has been slowly recovering for months. We received a call right before the fundraiser from his sister, Aimee, saying that he's starting to speak. Incredible! That's our man, Corey!

The time is getting closer . . .

What a lovely Saturday.

The coartistic directors of GreyZelda - Lady Crow and the Olde Gentleman, who Crow calls Mulch - will not be doing anything today. Lady Crow has been consumed with directing the Scarlet Letter and sincerely looks forward to a day of nothing. Nothing normally constitutes tv, dart throwing, listening to music, talking, and making tasty food at home.

On Monday, we'll start putting the scenes together and seeing where we are with everything. The curtains have been hung, Mulch and Heath will be painting and weathering tomorrow, the costumes are starting to come together, we've received the promotional postcards and banner that we'll hang o'er StageLeft. We're receiving reservations already, which is grand.

We're excited to share this show with you.

What else? GreyZelda will be renting their rehearsal space to the Promethean Theatre in August and Greasy Joan in September. We'll be happy to host them and wish them successful rehearsals. We're currently renting to the improv folks producing Adventures in Comedy so go see it.

Lady Crow and Sir Mulch went to see GI's in Europe last night. Stacie Barra, Scarlet Letter's assistant director, was in it, as was her man Friday, Anthony. We later headed over to Chief O'Neill's where we shared stories and booze with our pals Ben Veatch, his lady, Anne, Stacie, Anthony, Missy, Eric and his wife whose name I can't remember at the moment and I apologize. Met some new folks. Met the guy on Wild Chicago. 'Twas fun. Good place to hang if you're over by Prop Theatre.

Again, have an exquisite Saturday.

Take care,
Lady Crow

Daily affirmation . . .

Yes, it's already been posted, but . . .

Read It Again

Once a day with your multivitamin will do wonders.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

www.theatreinchicago.com

I love this site. It's really comprehensive and has a great layout.

And, The Scarlet Letter was mentioned! So, even better.

You can check it out at:

theatreinchicago.com/news.php?articleID=118

While you're hanging around there, feel free to check out their Review Roundup and other shows mentioned.

Take care,
Lady Crow

GreyZelda Myspace Site

There will be blogs available here as well.

www.myspace.com/greyzelda

Scarlet Photos

We had a photo shoot in the afternoon of July 4th with Kim Katona, Meredith Lyons, Missy Styles, and the Mulch man. Meredith and her landlord graciously let her use the backyard, which set a perfect garden background. The ladies look beautiful. Missy is Hester Prynne and Meredith is Little Pearl. The makeshift costumes look alright, as well. You might remember them from One Flea Spare. They've been waiting for another opportunity to show themselves and jumped at the chance when it was offered. I kind of like Pearl wearing that dress . . . we will see, we will see. Stacie is the main girl with costumes, so we'll discuss and go from there.

Rehearsal is going well. We've had to improvise a bit because actors have been sick or working or seeing good music or this and that. We're doing alright, though. Chris pointed out that I've scheduled with some give time to accomodate potential cancellations, but after this week, we won't be able to continue doing that, as we're moving into piecing the scenes together.

We had a great rehearsal last night working a couple of the major movement sequences at the beginning of each acts and trying to figure out how to drape the curtains. Heath and Chris will be purchasing and constructing the curtains this weekend, so we'll have them to rehearse with on Monday night. Cool. Should be very fun figuring out interesting layouts. Chris will need to be there with us on Monday and Tuesday to assist with manipulations of the fabric, so that will be fun showing him this and that. I've told him about the different scenes we've worked on and explored, but I prefer showing the work as words can't begin to describe some of the gorgeousness the actors have come up with. Collaboration and creation are two of my favorite things and we've got them working for us each night.

So, that's where we are right now. We should be getting the postcards soon to start spreading the word. Meredith has been great at brainstorming for our fundraiser on July 23rd at Four Moon Tavern. We'll get a percentage of their sales. It's a quick and painless fundraiser, but a little bit goes a long way.

Rock and roll. Hope you're all doing well.

Crow

4th of July. Red Fireworks. Red

Hello, everyone -

It's been a while since I updated the GreyZelda blog and for that I sincerely apologize. I've written over at myspace, which is a psychotic mistress. You can see some of my goings on at www.myspace.com/mulchcrow .

The Scarlet Letter

Rehearsal has been going extremely well. Sometimes I feel nervous when it's moving along like this. We've gotten about half of it blocked and will carry the tourch on to the final staged scene in the next week or so. Ben of Miranda Sex Garden has given us permission to use some of their music in the show, which is awesome. I've been waiting to hear what Robert may have come up with, but, unfortunately, he's moving in the next couple of days, so . . . Miranda Sex Garden has been providing an aural backdrop of gothic splendour.

Our actors have been phenomenal. They only need a little bit of direction and just start running with it. This production is very movement oriented and with simply reading aloud out of Hawthorne's text, extracting abstract themes and images, and combining a safe, ensemble atmosphere where all is permitted to be tried at least once, we've really come up with gorgeous compositions which will only get bigger and better as rehearsal moves forward.

Our production team has been a huge treat this time around, as well. Stacie Barra and Melissa Kuhlmann have been working very closely with me during rehearsals and we've had awesome collaborations of the mind. We all seem to be speaking the same language. This has been a female-led undertaking all the way around and it's just been a joy every night. I may be tired when I get home from work, but once we start rehearsal, the energy comes right back.

Thank you, everyone, for making this process a lovely one.

Don Hall

Don has a blog at www.donhall.blogspot.com . He rants, discources, discusses, and tells it as he deems fit on it almost daily. He recently resigned as Executive Director of WNEP and we wish him the best of luck. We're not "friends", per se, for we've only talked once or twice in the last couple of years, but I admire what he stands for, what he's done with his theatre company, and how he goes about acheiving his goals while doing what he wants to do. I hope I never resign from GreyZelda, being a founding member. 'Twould make me heartsick. But, if it's in GreyZelda's best interests that I ever do such a thing, well . . . decisions have to be made. A person's heart has to be in it, though. That's the only thing that keeps most of us trucking in this town and in this art form. If that starts to fade, then it's hard going. It's fucking hard, yeah. But, that pony is always there to ride. And it's good to know that there are helping hands if you fall.

Anyway.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday weekend. Go see fireworks. Eat corn on the cob. Drink pink lemonade.

Freedom.

Crow

Let the Hester games begin

The Scarlet Letter had its first rehearsal last night and, although we were missing three out of four ensemble members, the reading was much fun over all, aside from the monkeys and the Black Man. The former is a Kuzava gem. The latter is all Hawthorne.

I'm very tired today, my friends. The energy that buoys me is purely from that creative spirit that takes a hold so well. I don't know what it is, but I feel like I could delve into the soma pool for a couple of weeks and sleeeeep, sleeeeeeep with the poppies. I've a touch of the sleeping sickness. And some tummy trouble. I called off work yesterday to tend to it. It's still hanging out today along with this intense weariness I speak of.

Back to flowers: This lovely rose will be featured on the Scarlet posters, so keep your eyes open for technicolor thorniness coming to you soon, thanks to the ever fantastic Sarah Stec. Whenever she presents ideas to us, she gives us a few choices to pick from. And each choice has its distinct merit. She and the Mulchman both liked the same design, but I can't turn my eyes away from this Rose. I want to pick it and put it in my hair.

Doing a show right after the closing of our last one will be an intense challenge. We have helpers, oh yes, and they're wonderful, but a lot of the work is done by me and that Mulchman I mention now and again. So, jumping right up on that saddle again and riding away into the GreyZelda sunset will require much focus. Everything seems pretty organized. We're calling more meetings this time around and getting everyone on the same road. This one's going to be more technical than some of our other offerings, so we're having a design meeting Thursday night to discuss music, costumes, set, shadows, cloth, etc. We're also having a fundraising meeting on Sunday afternoon to get our summer fundraising plan going. So . . . busy, busy, busy. Father's Day is this Sunday. We mustn't forget.

And speaking of days not to forget: Happy Birthday, Darlene!!!! (Darlene is Chris's mommos. He sent flowers to her today and she'll be receiving her present soon.)

That's about it. I hope you all are well. If you want to offer your assistance to GreyZelda in anyway, shape, or form, please let us know. Feel free to ask what you can do to help if you're drawing a blank. We have lots of things. And we love our feeling of ensemble behind and in front of the curtain and are always looking for those people who just love doing it and being a part of it.

Beak, beak, beak,

Crow

Metromix audience Reviews of Desire

Last night's tonight! We'll have a great show! MK's feeling better! We'll go out afterwards for anyone who wants to join us.

Thanks for your support, everyone!

From www.metromix.com:

Most Recent Reviews:
May 22, 2006
Lois Foster Hillsdale, MI

This is a great story that is well presented. You will have an enjoyable evening. You will also hear the message and it will give you something to think about in the following days. Go see the show!

May 22, 2006
Derek
Chicago, IL

This is an excellent production that really strips away all excesses, leaving a very strong cast of characters and raw, unfiltered emotions. With the very intimate space used by the production, you can't help but be a part of everything that is going on.

May 21, 2006
Dora Chicago, IL

Definately a fine way to end your evening with a captivating cast sharing O'Neill's dramatic tale. I've followed Gray Zelda theater company's productions for several years, follwing their hits and misses. I feel that, without a doubt, Desire Under the Elms is their best work to date. The actor who played the father's character is intimidating and real- similar to a distant relative whom you have the misfortune of bumping into at annual family gatherings. Watching his family fall apart, unaware of his own part of the crumbling, the actor of Ephrim was memorable and powerful. As an audience member, being in the dark with this character is at times frightening and exhilirating. By all means, see this theater company's version of Desire Under the Elms. I feel that you'll get chills (like I did) as the play ends.

May 21, 2006
Sarah Chicago, IL

Greyzelda does it again! Desire Under the Elms is a collaboration of genuine talent—from the minimalist stage that truly captures the environment to the amazing actors that carry you through each emotional chapter. Come see what these creative minds assemble on limited budget with limitless talent and vision!

May 21, 2006
Tiffany Chicago, IL

A wonderfully rooted ensemble, coupled with clever staging and imaginative use of a small space. It's Chicago storefront at it's best.

May 14, 2006
John Marrick, IL
Waste of three hours. Melodramatic, overplayed. I should have left after the first intermission. Not reccomended.

Desire Nears Its Closing Hours

We sold out Wednesday and are sold out tonight and tomorrow. We could have been sold out last night, but dear Melissa Kuhlmann was sick and we had to cancel the show. We have a few 100% certainties with GreyZelda and Melissa is one of them. So . . . if MK can get so sick that we have to cancel the show, then it's just a friendly remember from Dame Fortune as to how frequently that wheel of life spins. We just have to hold on and enjoy the ride the best we know how.

We've loved producing this show. There have been some elements that have made it trying. More on that later. I keep saying that, but, there's a time and a place. If you must know all now, you can shoot us an email and we'll talk about this and that.

One thing I know is this: The Chicago Reader brought in our audiences. We polled our folks as they purchased their tickets, asking where they heard about the show. 99.9% have heard about it from the Reader. So. To those who sometimes bitch about the Reader, just know . . . that's where you're getting your audiences from, if our audiences are an example of the Chicago people's choices of publications and news of what theatre to see.

I love the Reader. Good reviews, bad reviews, I'm just happy that they've been the one consistent paper that has reviewed every single one of our shows from the beginning. We only had one reviewer for One Flea Spare. Mary Shen Barnidge. And it was such a pleasure having her there during our first show. It was great speaking Kafka with Jack Helbig after Metamorphosis. Jenn Vanasco was sick the first time she saw Thimbleberry and had to leave at the intermission. I quipped, "It's that bad, huh?", but she was as sick as dear MK. She came back and gave us a lukewarm review but nice things to say nonetheless. Zac Thompson didn't speak to us at all after Insanity. He didn't like the show, to say the least. From the jist of the review, it appeared that he had a problem with feminism, thus having a problem with the show altogether. And, now, we've come full circle with Mary returning for Desire. Very cool.

What's great about the Reader is their new system with the shows, letting readers know, just through a quick glance, what shows are Critic's Choice, Recommended, Opening, Closing, etc. They also keep a synopsis of the review throughout your show's run, which is nonstop press and updates for people. I really appreciate that. I mean, think about it - unless it's online, people who are picking up the Tribune and the Suntimes only have that issue for a day and then chuck it. That's it. Good review or bad. Please inform me if I'm wrong. Timeout is awesome and a classy magazine, but you have to pay for it. The Reader's free and is hefty enough to last for a week.

I love the Reader.

Have you ever checked out www.theatreinchicago.com? That's pretty cool, too, with their review roundups. It's very comprehensive and easy to navigate through, giving you the quick scoop on what show's to see or not see.

You know who needs to see a GreyZelda show? Chris Jones and Hedy Weiss. They seem tired of the H groups. They need to see fresh blood and what they've been unhappy with in their recent reviews of select current shows is something GreyZelda can fix. Or try to. Opinion is opinion, whether you're happy with a review or not. Speaking of - I don't think I ever included Kerry Reid's review here. I'm going to go over it with my Crow fork. I'm glad she came representing the Tribune, though, because to add fuel to my Reader fire - she also writes and works for the Reader.

Here it is:

Eugene O'Neill's 1924 New England tragedy "Desire Under the Elms," based on the Hippolytus and Phaedra (people keep throwing that around. We never released that with the press release. It's a time honored tale, yes, but it's our understanding that O'Neill wrote it because he dreamed it in its entirety one night. Maybe he was inspired by Phaedra tales. I don't know. I'm not as researched as some, I admit, and Phaedra's a hell of a heroine, but . . . it seems to quickly categorize the story into a Greek rip-off. Some people just want to sound very informed. . . ) story of a lustful woman and the stepson she ensnares, is tough going (Not really. Thanks for your concern, Kerry, but our actors really don't have a problem with that. We liked the womby feel of the whole thing. And I think our actors have been awesome with their use of the space. And the C-man has been awesome with his manipulation of the blocking. So, we don't find it tough. It's meaty, but not tough. Heh heh. ) in a small room. The titular (mmm, titular) elms in GreyZelda Theatre Group's production, directed by Chris Riter, are reduced to shadowy projections (it would have really been tough going if we had two draping elms - oh my gosh!!! Then there would have been no room, no sirree, bob jr. GreyZelda never likes to be blatantly obvious anyway. And when you're in a house, you don't see the elms directly. You see shadows in the room, so . . . that's what we simulated. She's a little pickyand not accounting for the fact of innovation-on-a-dime.) The over-the-top and across-the-board accents fall under the generic heading of Rural Bumpkin 101 (Doesn't this seem, once again, like she's attacking West Virginia? She can do no better than that sentence? We kind of wonder if people have read O'Neill's script and know that he wrote the dialect directly in there - h'aint is in there, whether or not you think it's a word or not . . . I admit that some of the accents aren't exactly on the nose, but the choice was made to not have that be the biggest concern. The C-Man wanted to tell the story and that technicality wasn't as important as some other things. Not that it's not important. Just a choice, and I think that the actors really pull the show off and do an admirable job with the dialect and what O'Neill wrote in the first place.) --while the central tragic romance, between Eben and his young stepmother Abbie, doesn't ignite with the all-consuming passion it requires. (Others have disagreed on that point as well. We disagree. Did you know Tom and Melissa are together? We think they achieved greater intimacy and hot and heavy passion than most actors can get to. Whatevah.) But at intermittent points, the actors find the wounded dignity that girds O'Neill's potboiler of a story, thanks mostly to Melissa Kuhlmann's quietly mesmerizing Abbie and to Aris Tompulis' ability to imbue Ephraim--her flinty old coot of a husband--with the wounded solitary pride that is the undoing of his troubled clan. (She liked Aris, which is awesome! We told you he rocks!!!! So, he got a shout out in the Tribune. Kick ass.)

So, you see, it's one of those lukewarm ones again. So it goes. I do think that for small theatre, the Reader is the one that prevails with helping to get folks in the seats. It didn't seem to matter one way or another that the Tribune came to the show. It was cool to finally get acknowledged by them and I hope our relationship can continue, but the Reader won this particular round.

We'll see what happens with Scarlet Letter.

Crow

The Scarlet Letter needs one more actor!

And this is a hell of a part . . . they all are.

The male ensemble member will be changing characters 3-4 times (and all the characters are very juicy - it is, after all, Hawthorne's text) and will constantly be moving with his fellow ensemble members to represent rose bushes, water, etc. He'll be creating shadows behind one of the four white curtains hanging.

It should be really exciting.

And he'll be acting with this assembled confirmed cast of actors: Ron Kuzava, Toby Minor, Elizabeth Styles, Meredith Lyons, Lisa Baer, and Derek Jarvis. - Awesome actors, yo!

And we'll be performing at StageLeft. Music composed by Robert Filippo. Set design by Kim Katona and Heath Hays. Graphics: Sarah Stec. Assistant Directed by Stace Barra. Movement assistance by Melissa Kuhlmann. General support for sanity by Chris Riter. Directed by me, BZ!

So . . . spread the word, my friends, that we're on the hunt for a man. Not just any man. A movement oriented, ensemble joining man who loves experimentation and exploration - (I should put an ad out in the Reader! Heh heh)
And he should be comfortable with an english accent and classical text.

Rehearsals will begin on June 5th. I'd like to not have to hold a general audition in such a short time but I'd like to read the person first, if I don't know him.

Thank you so much for your help!!!!!!! This should be an incredible process and experience.

Rebecca

Review from Stead Style Chicago

Melissa Kuhlmann electrifies . . . Even in an unseasonably chilly May, Kuhlmann makes us feel the steam and perspiration of a stifling hot summer, and just as her character Abbie stakes her ground on the Cabot family farm, so does this superb actress make O'Neill's saga of forbidden desire her own.

O'Neill borrowed the Oedipal legend from the Ancient Greeks, while keeping his play firmly rooted in early 20th Century rural Americana. Crotchety old patriarch Ephraim Cabot has just taken his third wife, a young woman named Abbie, who is anxious to take over the family farm and make a new home and life for herself. She will have quite a fight on her hands, though, with Ephraim's youngest son, Eben, who believes the property belonged to his late mother and that he is its rightful beneficiary.

To stake his claim, Eben pays off his elder half brothers Peter and Simeon, who plan to strike it rich in the California Gold Rush. And while Abbie and Eben grapple over ownership rights to the family homestead, the inevitable sparks begin to fly and the tragic wheels of lust and fate begin to turn. And what of old Ephraim? Will he just roll over for the young 'uns without a good fight? Don't bet on it.

While the play is ostensibly set in O'Neill's New England, Director Chris Riter's staging seems rooted in West Virginia. Tom Gordon's earnest and folksy manner is credible . . . But it is Kuhlmann who walks away with the acting honors in an earthy, ripe and sensuous performance that is fully committed and riveting. There are moments in this small black box staging that are stirring and powerful . . .Kuhlmann's work is unforgettable.

"Desire Under the Elms" continues through June 3, 2006 at Oracle Theatre, 3809 N. Broadway in Chicago. The play runs 2 hours 10 minutes with intermission. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and may be reserved by calling (773) 267-6293 or visit www.greyzelda.com.

Reader Review - Highly Recommended

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS
A domineering father, his calculating young bride, a resentful son, and a valuable estate create a situation ripe for uncontrolled greed and passion in Eugene O'Neill's 1924 shocker. Today the story risks coming off as hackneyed to audiences inured to steamy domestic intrigues. But under Chris Riter's perceptive direction, the GreyZelda Theatre Group uses its intimate storefront space to advantage, establishing the intensity of the characters' relationships. In a production running a tidy two hours with not a second wasted, Tom Gordon and Melissa J. Kuhlmann are suitably eros obsessed as the young lovers. But what rivets our attention is Aris Tompulis's bearish performance as the uncompromising patriarch. --Mary Shen Barnidge

And you know what people? After you see our show, go see Invasion of the Minnesota Normals. You might want to see a Graney wonder, a House rapteazler, but . . . there are other games in town, too.

Timeout Chicago's Review of Desire!

Review

Desire Under the Elms

By Eugene O’Neill. Dir. Chris Riter. With Tom Gordon, Melissa Kuhlmann, Aris Tompoulis. GreyZelda Theatre Group at Oracle Theatre.

NIGHTMARE ON ELMS STREET Kuhlmann and Gordon get to the dark heart of O’Neill.

Who knew that O’Neill’s rarely produced tragedy—written in 1924, set in 1850, and drawing on classics like Phèdre and Hippolytus (with a healthy dose of Freud’s version of Oedipus Rex)—could feel so contemporary? GreyZelda’s minimalist storefront treatment draws a direct line from O’Neill to more modern works like Shepard’s Buried Child and Romulus Linney’s dark Appalachian plays. O’Neill’s influence on said latter playwrights is clear in Riter’s bare-bones and basement-budget staging of the love affair between Eben (Gordon) and Abbie (Kuhlmann), doomed not least because Abbie’s the new wife of Eben’s hard-hearted religious tyrant father, Ephraim (Tompoulis), who’s built walls between himself and his son as impermeable as the stone walls surrounding his farm.

The leads in this romantic tragedy are both terrific, especially Kuhlmann, who can be simultaneously coldly determined and confused with passion. She maintains this multiplicity of emotion until Abbie’s climactic breakdown, when she goes blank and weary, as though she’s run out of feelings. The character of Ephraim feels more kinship with his stony land, his livestock, and his idea of God than with his human family, but Riter allows Tompoulis too much free rein; he makes Ephraim a cartoonish, sneering ape, and sinks so deep into O’Neill’s cotton-mouthed dialect as to be unintelligible. Still, Riter’s physical, fast-paced staging makes things fresh, and scenic designer Heath Hays gets extra credit for evoking the vastly oppressive New England farmland without the benefit of stones, walls or indeed those onerous elms.—Kris Vire

Desire in its Second Week!

Hi, everybody - We're coming upon the second week of Desire Under the Elms and we can't wait to see you in the audience. Our first week went very well - our audiences were decent and our actors and crew were dead on with their performances. I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's a beautiful show. O'Neill's story, the ensemble's acting, Heath's lighting and set, Robert's music . . . all of these aspects have combined to make something compelling and fascinating. To quote our friend, Lisa, it's "sickening . . . but in a good way. It'll stay with you for a couple of days." So, if that's the mark of a great show . . . come see Desire! (The GreyZelda crew has always been known for their morbidity. If we've been sickened, by god, our job has been done.) Or if "sickening" ain't your thang, gods forbid, there's a lot of luvvin', and kissin' and likker drinkin'. Fightin', funnin', and lolligaggin'. We feel it rocks, basically.

Word of mouth is key for any theatre company's success, so if you've seen the show and liked what you saw, tell everyone! If you've seen one of our shows in the past and were pleased you did, tell everyone! There are places online to do so as well - metromix, myspace, centerstage, etc. Let them know that you're GreyZelda fans! That's how the House does it . . . they've got tons of word of mouth power. . . and G comes before H, yo! I know that our GreyZelda Group can get the word out!!!!! Forward and paste this email anywhere you deem fit!!!! Talk about GreyZelda at work! Talk about the Group on the train! On your cell phone while you're on the train!!!! To your parents! To your grandparents! To anyone who watches crows as they fly by!

So, please call 773-267-6293 to make your reservations. Seating is very limited, so reservations will confirm that you'll get a seat.See you soon!

Rebecca and Chris
http://www.greyzelda.com/

Happy Birthday, TG!

Today is dear Tommy G's birthday. I'm sure he loves that I'm proclaiming it blog style. I was going to honestly write about how we're into Day 3 of Desire Under the Elms and post this picture along with it, but looking at him in the picture reminded me that May 12th is his birthday. We shall be celebrating tonight after the show whether TG likes it or not.

So, yes, it's Friday of Desire's opening week. It's going really well. Last night we had a small but very appreciative audience. Two of the audience members had seen the show posted on www.eoneill.com and are big fans of O'Neill. You might recall the distinction I wrote about yesterday about there being two types of people in the world? Well, maybe it's true. We do shows for those people. People who are familiar with the text. Who are literary. Who appreciate amazing works of literature. I think GreyZelda is really falling into our own by the fact that the author comes first with us. When we adapt literature to the stage, we stay true to the author's vision and intent through the words. And we do the same with playwright's. Like we always say, "If the writing's good, acting's good, and staging's good, you should be able to perform a play anywhere." And I think we prove that again with Desire. The space might be a storefront, but I truly don't feel that that detracts from the power of the show. It makes it more powerful.

On the subject of "new versus old" . . . we had a conversation with this girl a couple of weeks ago about casting for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf". She had never seen the original movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, but felt qualified to say that she thinks Kathleen Turner and Bill Owens are probably better. She also was the type that thinks movie remakes of originals are ok. I disagree on all those fronts. I think that Taylor and Burton were cast perfectly and made Albee's script live like nobody's business. I agree that Turner and Owens are excellent actors, but better than the latter? Absolutely not. And movie remakes are for hacks.

But I am still chuckling about Tom's statement that Desire Under the Elms is one of O'Neill's little known works. Lord. I think Desire is in most college theatre textbooks and is often mentioned first when speaking of O'Neill. Funny, funny, funny to me.

I'll let you in on a secret. We don't like shows that are too frightfully modern and all the rage. For example, Sarah Kane. I appreciate certain elements but if a show opens with a guy cumming into a sock, honestly ... not interested. It's momentary. Flavor of the month stuff. Shock sock theatre. Give me the classics anytime. I want to see the show that withstands the test of time. We have living playwrights that are doing that: Kushner, Wallace, Churchill, etc. We even have groups here in Chicago creating original shows that could withstand 100 years. I think WNEP is a good example. I was extremely impressed with their Soiree Dada. They took an old element and brought it around once more to the masses. I think some loved it, some hated it. But, I love that they took the risk with something that others (Tom) would say should be shut back into the vaults. I think their new show would be great to see, but we're doing this one. We'll see if we can fit it in.

Anyway . . . have an excellent weekend. If you're looking for something to inspire you and make you feel smarter, please come see Desire Under the Elms. You can't go wrong with the classics.

Crow

Thoughts on Tom Williams's Review of Desire - Heh heh heh.

So, we got our first review in for Desire Under the Elms and I just wanted to comment on the various elements put down, as well as the inaccuracies. My notes are in italicized parentheses.

1.Running time is 2 hrs, 45 min with 2 intermissions - (It actually ran 2 hours and 5 minutes last night with both intermissions included. Tom arrived around 7:15, so he must have included his lobby time. The fact that we did O'Neill in such a short amount of time is pretty GD good. So, being that the time check is completely off, please read the rest with that grain of salt.)

Through June 3, 2006

O’Neill work suffers from dramatic overload

Classics like Eugene O’Neill plays are dangerous grounds for storefront theatres. (GreyZelda likes Danger!) Desire Under Elms, O’Neill’s dream inspired 1924 play is seldom produced and plays out as much too dramatic, stilted and over written. (I guess "Bacon's bacon" and "Ayah" is too overwritten?) This isn’t one of O’Neill’s landmark plays. (It isn't????????? Hahahahahahahahahhahaha.)

Gray (Grey) zelda’s production has several problems. First the decision to make the rural farm accents sound like West Virginian hillbilly (Why must people regard West Virginians as hillbillies, I ask you? What isn't remembered is that West Virginia is closer to New England than Chicago is. AND, people have said that the cadence in Appalachian speach is closer to what Shakespeare originally wrote for than most other dialects. And Tom never would have said this if he didn't know that the director prides himself on being from West Virginia. That really has nothing to do with anything. It's like a gay reviewer ripping on the feminism in Mary Girard. Not a needed comment.) instead of the New England accent O’Neill used in the script didn’t work for me. (The actors made a point to follow O'Neill's script exactly as written. There are a couple of moments where things might accidentally get southern because the characters are rural, but . .. they're pretty eastern, in our opinions.) The uneven accents diminished the power of O’Neill’s words. Next, the decision to have Aris Tompoulis play the father as an overwhelming, intimidating wound-too-tight emotionally explosive character gave an almost farcical tone to the work. Tompoulis so over plays Ephraim that he telegraphs his wickedness unrealistically. (That is just crazy. Aris is one of the best actors we've ever had the good fortune to work with. He plays Ephraim as O'Neill intended and fucking rocks!!!!!!!!! We are so lucky to work with this man and feel that everybody should come see the show simply because of him. He's amazing. Everyone else that has seen the show has been blown away by him.) One wonders what Abbie (Melissa Kuhlmann) saw in him besides his farm to get her to marry him? (Abbie does marry him for the farm, number one. Number two . . . ARIS ROCKS!!!!!!!!)

The slow pace (Again - 2 hours and 5 minutes? Not bad.) and labored (They're farmers. They labor.) performances made this relic tedious. I have problems with O’Neill’s script that stretches our suspension of disbelief. I liked Tom Gordon’s take on Eben, the son who struggles with lust and conviction as he attempts to capture the farm away from his hated father. The location, both as to geographic area and era (1850’s ?) was unclear giving a strangeness to the accents. (We wanted it to be anytime, but kept it in New England. It's stated in the program.) The melodramatic style worked against the production. (Doesn't Tom Williams like musicals? He also liked Mary Girard which was WAY more melodramatic than our version of Desire Under the Elms. Plus . . . here's the basic story line: Father brings hot stepmother home. She pretends to be the sons' new mother even though they're her age. She gets into the youngest son right under the old skunk's nose. Things get hot and heavy. She kills to get her way. There's a lot of melodrama.) I guess the real Eugene O’Neill fans will find this work engaging, I didn’t. (We also make a point to cater to literary types. If O'Neill fans like the show, we've done our jobs. I didn't know that there were two types of fans but now I do - those who like O'Neill and those who don't. It's kind of like the Rolling Stones/Beatles controversy. Cool!) It seemed over acted and stiff. (OK, OK, everyone's entitled to their opinions.)

Desire Under the Elms needs to be put back into the archives with other outdated works. (I strongly disagree. Great works should live. And GreyZelda will help them do so. We proudly live in the outdated. We will always make great literature live. Thank you, Eugene O'Neill!!!!!)

Not Recommended (GreyZelda recommends it!!!! As does great literature! If you want to sit at home and watch American Idol, please do so, but if you'd like to give your brain a good, pleasurable workout . . . come see this show!)

Tom Williams ( Tom's a great guy and we love him coming to our show, but I think this particular review is really off. I often don't argue with the reviews and just let them be, but . . . If you've seen the show and would like to discuss your opinions further with this critic - here's his email address:
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments

Make your reservations now for Desire Under the Elms!

Hello, everybody -
Our opening night went by without a hitch and we're proud of our actors for being phenomenal.

We encourage you to make reservations earlier in the run than later in the run because the seating is quite limited.

It's a good show! Great script! Great acting! Great directing! It's Eugene O'Neill, motherfuckers. Eugene O'Neill done in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The reviewers in the house last night commented us on that fact. O'Neill shows have a tendency to go on and on . . . not so with our version due to the staging.

So, come one. Come All!!!! Give me a call at 773-267-6293 with your reservations!

Rebecca

Desire Under the Elms opens tomorrow!

It's looking good, everyone. The acting is dead on. The lights and the costumes look terrific. The house appears as if it's going to fall down around the actors, as it should. The lines get my gut everytime I hear them. I mean, how can you go wrong with "Bacon's bacon"? Bacon is bacon and it always will be.

We're close to selling out for tomorrow. It's easy to do with limited seating, but, hey, I'd rather have a full house every night then empty seats. It's a hell of a show. We have a hell of a crew. And Mulch is a hell of a director. And a sexy one , too.

So, make your reservations, friends, family, and neighbors. You won't be disappointed. It's one of those special little packages that you'll remember for a long time, I hope.

And I dance drunk. Say no more. Say no more.

Crow

And I want to send a shout out to Brandon and Cheryle. They taught me many things today and I thank them for being friends that can go up, around, and back again with me. I can't wait to see them at the show.

Desire is almost ready!

Press photos for Desire. Melissa and Tom as Abbie and Eben.



We open May 10th. Coming up fast! Tonight's our last rehearsal at GreyZelda studios before moving into Oracle's space on Sunday morning.

Last night's rehearsal was amazing. The actors got to where they needed to be emotionally and were completely connected to each other. It turned into something absolutely fascinating and compelling. It's such a show that you might start laughing and then crying two seconds later. O'Neill was a powerhouse and we're lucky to be able to play with the show.

We can't wait to see you there. Call 773-267-6293 for reservations.

Crow

Congratulations to Rebekah Ward-Hays!!!!!

Rebekah got her first Jeff nomination for Best Actress. Her role as Sabina in Skin of our Teeth garnered her a nod and she definitely deserves it. She's a fireball of a person and an actor. If you know Mrs. Rebekah, please give her a hearty congratulations and know that she'll probably thank Natasha in her acceptance speech!!! For those of you who don't know Rebekah, you should. And for those of you needing more of an explanation . . .

Rebekah contacted us long ago and far away when we put an audition announcement out for Thimbleberry Gallows. She's a West Virginia girl, you see, and loved knowing that we were from West Virginia. We got to talking. I threw Denise Giardina out there for conversation's sake. She got what I was talking about. Seemed super keen. I wanted her to audition. Alas, she was in a wedding during the performance dates. (This girl has a lot of weddings to attend, let me tell you.)

So, we told her we'd keep in touch and vice versa. Fast forward to a month later. We were in need for a scenic designer. We heard from Mrs. Ward-Hays again and she nominated her husband, Heath, saying that he was an amazingly talented scenic designer and we would be fools not to use him. Well, she didn't say that exactly, but you get my drift. We called Heath up, met him for drinks, he pulled out his laptop and showed us some topnotch designs, and he was in. He created our tree landscape and Thimbleberry and the legend of Fanny Hooe thanks him.

We've become great friends with this power duo and I wish the best in everything for them. Great Happiness. Great Love. Great Success.

We're so excited for you, Rebekah!!!!! A little validation and acknowledgement for jobs well done go a million miles sometimes and this is the top honor here in Chicago. The sky's the limit!!!

Scarlet Letter Actor Call

Hello, everyone -

As some of you know, we're going to start rehearsals and experiments for the Scarlet Letter soon, which we're adapting straight from Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale. Missy Styles is going to be Hester Prynne and Meredith Lyons is going to be Pearl, Hester's daughter. All the other parts are completely up in the air, so that means we're looking for a Reverend Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, plus 4 other actors who can play multiple roles like Mistress Hibbons, the various clergymen, the governor, townspeople, etc. We're looking for people with movement background and creators who love the process of discovery and exploration. A lot of stage time to be had by all. And, if you've auditioned for us before, we'd love to have you back!

Like Metamorphosis, this production is going to be VERY movement oriented, experimental, and representational with the set. Kim Katona is helping me come up with shadow effects that will make things very mysterious and haunting. There will be much fabric to play with and interweave from here to there and everywhere. Stacie Barra is helping me as assistant director and she's also already come up with super cool costume designs.

The process should be very enjoyable and all the actors will really help with the creative process. We love ensemble work, as a lot of you are aware. So . . . please let me know if you'd be interested and feel free to forward this to other actors that you think would like to be involved in our process. There will be some pay and we're always very generous at making everyone know how much we appreciate their hard work. We'll hold auditions if we don't get the response we're looking for this way. Either way, I'll need to have folks read for the part and also see how wonderfully they move.

The show will run for six weeks starting in August at StageLeft. I'm hoping to start rehearsals mid-May at our space on Ravenswood.

I look forward to hearing from you and am incredibly excited about this beautiful project.

Take care,
RebeccaRebecca Zellar and Chris Riter
The GreyZelda Theatre Group
www.greyzelda.com
www.myspace.com/mulchcrow

Desire

From The Doll's House: Volume 2 in the Sandman Series:

"There is only one thing to see in the twilight realm of Desire.

It is called the threshold. The fortress of Desire.

Desire has always lived on the edge.

The threshold is larger than you can easily imagine. It is a statue of Desire, him-, her- or it-self.

(Desire has never been satisfied with just one sex. Or just one of anything - excepting only perhaps the threshold itself.)

The threshold is a portrait of Desire, complete in all details, built from the fancy of Desire out of blood, and flesh, and bone, and skin.

And like every true citadel since time began, the threshold is inhabited.

There is only one occupant, at this time.

Desire of the Endless.

The threshold is far too large for just one person.

It contains two eardrums larger than a dozen marble ballrooms.

And empty, echoing veins, like tunnels. You will walk them until you grow old and die without once retracing your steps.

Given Desire's temperament, however, there was only one place in the cathedral of its body to make its home.

Desire lives in the heart."

- Neil Gaiman

GreyZelda Updates

Many of you already know this, but I'm putting this here for historical purposes . . . it's our GreyZelda newsletter . . . it's probably in your inboxes. Go check your email! Quick! Quick!

Hello, everybody -

I just wanted to write and let everybody know what's been happening in the land of the GreyZelda Theatre Group.

Front and Center . . . We'll be opening Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill a month from today - May 10 and it'll be the kick off of our third season in Chicago. The show will be at the Oracle Theatre on N. Broadway. Chris is directing and it should be a beautifully swell show. If I could play you the music, show you the set design, preview the acting, and pass along O'Neill's text, I would, but it'll be better for you to see for yourself.

I've been adapting the Scarlet Letter with the help of Stacie Barra. We're putting that up in August at StageLeft.

If you haven't seen it already, we've created a myspace account, which you can see at www.myspace.com/mulchcrow. Please feel free to add us as friends. We're friendly.

I also set up a cafepress account for us, where you can purchase GreyZelda items along the likes of . . . coffee mugs, bags, journals, stickers, underwear (yes, GreyZelda underwear. I can't wait to get mine.), tshirts, and hats. It's pretty cool. Sarah Stec did amazing work at coming up with a Branding campaign for us and her logos, designs, etc will be on each of the GreyZelda items. www.cafepress.com/greyzelda

And, speaking of Sarah . . . she helped us with business cards and bookmarks, so keep your eyes open all around town. She also helped us with a new website design, so check that out, too. And feel free to send me quotes to put in the Crow's beak day to day. www.greyzelda.com

That's about it on the GZ front. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying this gorgeous day!

Take care,
Rebecca

The phone . . .

I feel like I'm in a surreal movie where the phone is constantly ringing. Doesn't that happen in Mulholland Drive? I think so. Anyway . . . it's not our phone. It's a phone either above our apartment or the in the one across the hall. The phone has been ringing nonstop since 10:30am. It's now almost 12:00. I hope a neighbor isn't dead. We've had a neighbor die before. Ozzie. I should write about him sometime because he was a good man. But, I don't know the neighbors above or across from me. I don't think they're normally here at this time. But, somebody is insistant. And what will happen when the neighbor picks up the phone? I know not and I don't know if I want to know.

Maybe it's somebody's alarm clock set to go off like a phone. Do they make those? How annoying if they do. And it's like I'm Elaine in Seinfeld if that's the case for that happened to her and drove her slightly batty. It wasn't hard to drive Elaine batty, but . . . it was one of those episodes.

Someday the phone will be answered. Hopefully, it'll turn into a steady din. If I go batty, well . . . what's new, pussycat?

crow

Bookmarks and business cards . . .

We have received them in the mail. And they're amazing. Keep your eyes pealed. Very classy acoutrements. Thank you, S. Stec. We are incredibly excited to share these with Chicago peeps.

Caws in exultation!

Crowgirl

A GreyZelda Blog coming at you . . .

Just to catch you all up on the current status of what GreyZelda and its members are up to at the moment:

Mulch has started directing Desire Under the Elms and it's all going exquisitely well. Crow has not gotten to see a rehearsal yet, but all the feedback coming from the Mulchman is excellent and exciting. Can she use any more "ex" words, you ask? Heath will be unveiling his set design tomorrow night at rehearsal. We're hoping to be able to work a thrust stage idea out with Oracle. He'll just need to send over the design to Aaron Shapiro, Oracle's main contact person, and we'll hope for the best. Heath has an incredible idea that will really bring underlying feelings of O'Neill's text to the front and center. We'll update you soon and I'll try to get the Mulch Man on here to give you more of the innerworkings of the show. Crow will be saying a couple of lines in Act 3 which I'm excited about. There's another "ex" word.

Stacie Barra and I have been working on getting the straight dialogue from the Scarlet Letter onto paper. That's where we're starting from. She did the first act. I'm doing the second. It hurts arms typing so much, but it must be done. It's such a beautiful book and the ideas are abounding in my brain. Shadowboxes. Ribbons. Thornbushes. Embroidered A's. Stacie and I will be meeting tomorrow night to start discussing initial imaginings and abstract thoughts on the show. Always the best place to start. The rawest place.

We'll have bookmarks and business cards next week, so keep your eyes pealed. Sarah Stec also has the poster for Desire Under the Elms ready to go.

Oh, my gosh!!!!! GreyZelda has a new Business Director!!!! We're very lucky and thankful to have Sir Derek Jarvis join us in this role. Already, things feel more organized and controlled. I know he'll do an awesome job with it. So, if you know Derek, congratulate him. We're really happy about it.

What else, what else?

You can find out more silliness about Crow and Mulch at www.myspace.com/mulchcrow.

Crow's going to be helping LZ out with a performance art piece in May. I'll get to work with some talented gals and think it will be a good time.

We're seeing Dresden Dolls next Friday. I love Dresden Dolls.

Take care, dear cats,
Ms. Crow

The Desiderata

I posted this on our myspace account, which you can check out at www.myspace.com/mulchcrow. I want to post it over here in GreyZelda land, as well, because it spills over into how I like to conduct myself professionally with our actors, friends, and crew. Anyway . . . here it is for your perusal.

(And we're in the second week of rehearsals for Desire Under the Elms. The cast is jumping right in and their instincts are dead on. They're asking great questions, grabbing ahold of the dialect and dialogue, and it's going really well. We're going to possibly plan a field trip to my hometown and surrounding scenery because there are some great photo ops for the show.)

Posted to the myspace blog:

Mike, Missy's man, came to our wine party on Saturday and caught sight of this hanging on our bathroom wall. Why keep something so pretty on your bathroom wall, you ask? Because it's something I like to look at everyday and even multiple times a day. What better place to do that then your bathroom? I can read it while brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, zipping my pants . . . you know the bathroom drill. Anyway . . . the Desiderata became special to him, too, and we had a nice discussion about it.

My mom gave this to me when I graduated from high school . . . or sometime during college. I love it and it gets me through my life quite well. It puts the world into perspective. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs;for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,gracefully surrendering the things of youth.Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees and the stars;you have a right to be here.And whether or not it is clear to you,no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,whatever you conceive Him to be,and whatever your labors and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world.Be cheerful.Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Here's that Cast List we were talking about . . .

Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill to be performed at the Oracle Theatre located on N. Broadway from May 10 - June 3rd, 2006.

Cast:
Ephraim Cabot - Aris Tompulis
Eben Cabot - Tom Gordon
Simeon Cabot - Robert Oakes
Peter Cabot - Ben Veatch
Abbie Putnam - Melissa Kuhlmann

And there we have it, folks! Yippee!

Mulch is directing, Derek Jarvis will be assisting in all things, Crow will be adapting the Scarlet Letter and helping with whatever needs help. Heath Hays is designing the set and Robert Filippo is writing the music. Sarah Stec will be designing the advertisements and image for the show.

We're set y'all.

See you in May!

crowjane

Maddie Goss

Our friends, Dave and Lori Goss, have a new little bean who is mighty precious. Take a look and meet Miss Madeline Marie Goss, birthday 2/19/06.

GreyZelda.Com has a new look . . .

Hello, dear readers . . .

How goes it on this Tuesday? I've been working on the website the last couple of days with the graphic support of Sarah Stec (I like throwing her name from here to there so you all can call her up when you need graphic support of your own.) I like it. The crow will certainly symbolize certain GreyZelda aspects and we're going to put a quote from reviews, friends, GreyZelda, etc every day or so. Or so will probably be more like it because I jump on the "every day" train pretty easily but then jump right off of it again.

Mulch has been working on getting Desire Under the Elms cast. We still have one role up in the air but the rest of the people should be killer. And one of them is a killer in the play, but you'll have to see the show to determine who that is.

So, we have a few other blogs out in the internet desert. I have to always remember what is appropriate for GreyZelda. She keeps me in line. I have some things I'd like to go off about but this is GreyZelda's blog. Other rantings can go into other blogs. GreyZelda has crow wings so she can embrace all things . . . perferably of the darker, more dramatic persusasion, but, dammit, she embraces all things. Thank you for your velvet curtain, GZ.

So, onto my other blogs . . .

crow

I just thought of high school and how when we auditioned, the cast and crew would be announced outside of Mr. Oakley's french classroom. We would be stalking the doors like rabid hyenas all day. And then he would whip that scotch tape out and put the printed words outside the door. There would be tears. Drama. Excitement.

So cheesy.

Yet, all we had and knew.

Fun. We had auditions for Desire Under the Elms this evening and I would like to put the cast list up. But . . . we have to confirm that people will accept the role. And then we'll need their initials before we can move any further.

Heh heh.

bz

Desire Under the Elms auditions

Hello, and how goes your Sunday?

We're having auditions for men folks tonight for Desire Under the Elms. It's a purty play. We read some fellas a couple Thursdays ago and they did an excellent job. We're just going to add some more people into the mix to see what happens. Melissa is going to be Abbie and she will do a phenomenal job in our projections.

We're going to have a new look to the website soon. I'm going to be fiddling with things to see if I can get a more streamlined affect. Keep your eyes open for an ad campaign coming soon with Sarah Stec in the lead. We're really excited about it.

Sometimes, I don't have a whole lot to say when there's much to say. I'll elaborate soon.

Yours,
crow

Don Knotts

Don Knotts passed away today at the age of 81. Mulch and I actually have been in several discussions about Don Knotts because we've been waiting for his approval on myspace to be added as one of our friends. We thought Don Knotts would be a nice online friend to have, if his site was truly Don Knotts' site and not someone pretending to be Don Knotts. Am I saying Don Knotts too much? Mulch says I am. Anyway, we feel a little sad about this. He was a Morgantown boy. He had a very lovely career. He made us laugh. He was a brilliant comedian.

Ethan Tucker

Isn't he funny and cute? Crow needs to get to Hillsdale to see this boy and his mom and dad soon and that's the word. And to see her mom and dad and fam, of course. This is Ethan Tucker Amburgey, progeny of Emily and CW Amburgey, two of our dearest friends in the world. Crow can safely say that Emily is her bestest friend. Aw, I'm feeling sentimental. Anyway, isn't he funny and cute?

Love,
crow

Mulch Man

Mulch n [ perh. irreg. fr. E dial. melch soft, mild ] ( 1675 ) : a protective covering ( as of sawdust, compost, or paper ) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit ( as strawberries ) clean - mulch vt

Quotes on this Sunday . . .

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
Frank Lloyd Wright

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King

Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. - General George Patton

It's kind of fun to do the impossible. - Walt Disney

When you come right down to it all you have is yourself. The sun is a thousand rays in your belly. All the rest is nothing. - Pablo Picasso

To err is human, to forgive, divine. - Alexander Pope

Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.
Jules de Gaultier

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
Abraham Lincoln

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
John F. Kennedy

I'd rather be a failure at something I enjoy than a success at something I hate.
George Burns

Squirrels Gone Wild!!!!!!!!

It is squirrel Saturday, ladies and gents! Mulch and I have been looking out the window watching squirrels going nuts. No pun intended. There are close to 15 squirrels running around, through parked cars' tires, up and down trees, hanging precariously from branches as other squirrels attempt to dislodge them. There's nothing worse than walking along the concrete paths and seeing a perfectly intact squirrel, back down, dead, knowing that he misjumped plunging to his death, snapping his back or breaking his neck. "And will my eyes be closed or open . . ."

My sister found it shocking that I was looking out the back windows at a group of deer coming to eat the leftover pumpkins under the snow that my family puts out for them. Like I've never seen deer before because I live in a city. I grew up on a farm and in my rural town of Hillsdale,MI. Why would I not be refreshed seeing deer that I used to see all the time? I don't see deer in Chicago. I have always liked deer. A deer stepped on my toe long ago and far away. And it hurt. But, it wasn't the deer's fault. I shouldn't have been wearing toeless sandals. I like nature wherever you place it. I do grow mighty weary of the manmade sites and sights of Chicago. So, yes, I will take the chance to watch the deer come and have leftover gourds. And I like spying squirrels, bunnies, woodpeckers (still on the hunt for him, but I know he's there), raccoons, possums, alleycats, CROWS, and leashed dogs that make up the population of the windy city as well.

(This was a good week for GreyZelda studies. More on that later, in case you were wondering why this isn't a GreyZelda blog. It's a Grey Squirrel-a blog instead.)

Happy Saturday!
Crow

Sunday projections . . .

The Steelers will win!

But, that's not the projections I wanted to speak about today. Really, I just wanted to touch base - first, second, or third is fine with me.

We're going to be meeting with Sarah Stec on Tuesday night to talk about a GreyZelda branding campaign, amongst other things I'm sure. On Wednesday, Robert Filippo and I will going to an advertising meeting being held at the Atheneum theatre. Lawrence Bommer, a Chicago critic, will be there discussing eyecatching press releases, how to get your show to the people, etc. So, this upcoming week will be advertising week. I think it's good to get this stuff taken care of in the down time between shows.

Derek Jarvis is helping us with the 501c3 shtuff. Thank you, Derek. We've got the creating thing down. It's this other bureaucratic, paperwork game that gives us pause. Definitely our weakest part of the game. So, in this down time, that's what we're working on.

And then, bim bam boom! We'll have the summer of passion with Desire Under the Elms and the Scarlet Letter. Rock! Desire will be at Oracle Theatre and Scarlet will be at StageLeft. It'll be a lot of output all at once, but I think we're up for the challenge. We surround ourselves with wonderful people that make the whole process move in beautiful ways. Thank you, wonderful people.

So, again, just touching base on this snow touched Sunday. We went to the Ethiopian Diamond to celebrate Robert's birthday last night with dear friends who came back to our pad to continue conversations and rolling American Spirit cigarettes. We saw David Cronenberg's The Brood yesterday afternoon. Yikes. See it. It's very David Cronenberg. There are these creepy Teletubbie children . . . anyway. See it. A 1979 film. It's not out in theatres. It has Damien's nanny from the Omen. Very scary woman.

And, that's about it all around. Crow was going to do something very special for herself on Tuesday afternoon, but Manpower boxed her right out of it. There might be more info about that on ZeldaZee's blog.

Mulch is going to make my favorite breakfast mess in a little bit. Mmmmm. Potatoes, onions, peppers all mixed together topped with melted cheese and eggs with a side of refried beans and tortillas. It's awesome.

Caw from the darkside,
Crow

Derek Jarvis - the blog king extraordinaire

Derek helped us with all thing theatrical when we put up "One Flea Spare" a while back. He was a great asset to the company and will hopefully help us out this spring when we put up Desire Under the Elms in some way or another. check out his blog!

www.livejournal.com/users/uberredbeard/

Killoggs

Hello -

My blog-pointing-out continues with the following:

The first -

Meredith Lyons pointed me in the direction of this bobble headed site. www.killoggs.com. It's much fun. She knows these people who know these people . . . they say many intelligent, witty things and she even has a cartoon head of her own complete with pigtails. Meredith was Grete in Metamorphosis and she's a dear friend.

Check it out. Good people.

SheandHe

Here is the main website for our friends, Robert Filippo and Kristen Strezo, the musicians that make up SheandHe.

www.sheandhemusic.com

You'll be able to listen to some of their music, read their blog, and find out more about this wonderful duo. They have helped create music for our last three shows and their friendship is invaluable to us. They're two of the most creative people we know and we love them.

Goss Country

Our friends, Dave and Lori Goss, have a very nice website www.gosscountry.com which includes a blog that Dave updates every day religiously. I wish I could be so good. Hey, I'm at two days in a row right now. It's how I was when I was little. I tried so hard to do the whole Dear, Diary thing. I even called it Dear, Cody because I named everything Cody then. My imaginary horse, Ken dolls, dogs, kittens, you name it, it was Cody.

Anyway, Dave Goss is an old college friend who has been associated with WNEP Theatre here in Chicago. He's truly one of the outright nicest people I've met and he's consistently "been there" for me and mine throughout the years whether we're seeing each other often or every few months or every few years. Hopefully, he'll be in our next production of The Homecoming if the cards play out right. Lori is fantabulous as well. We are getting to know her and like what we're getting to know. They're expecting a baby girl, soon, by the name of Maddy, which is very exciting.

And, speaking of babies . . .. GreyZelda, Crow, and Mulch would like to announce the birth of one Ethan Tucker Amburgey!!!!!!! Play the trumpets! Smash the cymbals (but not too loud, he's probably sleeping.)!!!! Throw the confetti!!!! My bestest friend, Emily and her guy, also a dear friend, CW had their first boy and I can't be more happy about it. He was born on December 6th in Hillsdale, MI. I can't wait to officially meet his acquaintance. Christmas can't come soon enough! And, I might call him ET, after a very cute extraterrestrial. Emily and CW might not love it, but . . . . we will see, we will see.

OK. I hope to let you know of good blogs to check out recommended by GreyZelda. Goss Country. Check it out.

crow

Chillin' like a Villain

GreyZelda has a new computer. I love this keyboard. It's snaps to very nicely. Thank you, Charles.

We've just been nesting down for the winter, but the winter's much fun. There are inches of white stuff on the ground which I like to tromp through.

Mulch and I are starting to assemble the necessary pieces for our next production which will be the Homecoming by Harold Pinter. We're seeing what actors may be interested, secured the space at the Oracle Theatre on Broadway, and will soon talk to our group of designers. Bzzzz. Bzzzzz.

I'm also starting work on adapting a well known piece of literature, but I want the suspense to build before we decide to unveil it. It's beautiful. Thorny as a rose bush placed upon a scaffold bearing its singular creation. It should go up this summer and we're going to look for a place soon.

I also want to start a branding initiative and we're going to be looking for help on the advertising front soon. We'll hold a meeting in our very chilly Ravenswood space. We're trying to get the heat on. People's Gas sucks. Criminal, I think, to keep warmth from people. And we don't even live there. What of the families who are faced with freezing cold conditions? It's taken us three weeks to get this thing rolling with them and we have renters who are having to make due with space heaters. Crap.

Anyway, I must prepare for a Manpower Holiday party in Gurnee. We'll just bundle up together like two birds of a feather on our sleigh ride by way of the interstate.

Talk to you soon, gentle readers,
crow

A letter from Crow's grandfather

my god I'm impressed to think I would know personally theatre personalities in positions of authority. my wife and I congratulate you on your achievements and have agreed to donate the sum of $30.00. I do hope such a large sum does not disrupt your way of life.

our location makes our attendance impractical though we travel on occasion. we are considering buying a horse to be named "occasion". Perhaps we shall encounter you during the holiday season, I do hope so.

our very highest regards,
Grampy and Grammy Brown
william/virginia brown

this machine keeps making modifications to this note

Insanity in October

So . . . our next production is getting closer on the horizon every day . . . I'm acting in this one as Mrs. Mary Girard and it's been a pleasure getting back to the bright side of life. I love the dark side, as well, but it's fun slummin' around in different aspects, as it were. And, hey, as you can see to the left to the left and right, I figured out how to add an image. Super cool.

Thank you to everyone who attended our fundraiser, Black, White and GreyZelda. We ended up making close to $400.00, which will assist in buying the rights to Insanity of Mary Girard and a couple of the costumes. It was a swell time. We hung up Steven T. Wirth's thoughts of The Idiot, which I wanted to peruse, but didn't get a chance to because apparently talking and talking and more talking is what I chose to do that evening. We also performed the first part of the show and She and He had their debut. Heath Hays and Kim Katona hung up photography and we had silent auctions and stuff. We had found a fabulous bar in our alley, so we were able to officiate the wine pouring and beer giving with it. Again, we had a very nice time, so thanks to all who attended for making that so.

I've just been working on my lines and rehearsing and working on getting press releases out and such. Getting ready to head to Robert and Kristen's for their engagement party. Oh yeah! and it's Mulch's and my anniversary! 6 years, baby cakes!

Ok, my mind isn't very creative this eve, I think because it's been consuming words and making them permanent indentations. I bid you good evening, sirs and madams.

Come see the show! It opens October 12th! Limited seating so make reservations. Prepare to be scared, cats.

Yours,
crow

A Few Trivialities

Say it don't spray it, gentle reader: rain. Say it slow in long refreshing enjoyment, raaaaiiinn. Halelujah, I been jonesing for some of the old precip. Maybe it's because when it's all hot and sticky like I don't feel like partaking in the old bloody-red-after ( no, actually I do, it's drinking I don't feel like doing in the hot ). I have Crow insisting that she perform a monologue for me while I write, as though I'm really capable of writing this and listening attentively to her at the same time. I politely nod.
So pilgrims, if'n ye haven't heard, there's a GreyZelda message board in the world now, so be sure to sign yourselves up and hoot and hollar with the rest of us. You can share your profound and irrelevant espousals on such matters as Chili ( good with waffles or not? ), why it matters to enforce table manners with vigilence, or, would you like to go to the GreyZelda fundraiser: Black, White and GreyZelda to enjoy adult refreshments, a night of theatre, visual art from lithographs to photographs, conversation of the random and dare I say, beligerent, to the sophisticated and abstract. Yes, that is what you want to do ( your eyes are getting heavy, you hear my voice in the depths of your subconscious mind ) Yes, that is what I want to do. Wonderful!
Out here in the concrete prairie things are moving nicely. I'm beginning to spin The Insanity of Mary Girard on my potters wheel and by the time she gets to our potters field, hopefully, that old gal will have been processed with her majesties highest grace. I have opted for an all female cast in my undertaking of this, for multiple reasons, to be discussed later. I like my casting possibilities for this show and will need a cast of 8, but alas gentle reader, if plans deceive me again as they are prone to do, you will see my flag waving for auditions. Therefore keep the antennae up.
The show will be done at the GreyZelda studios and....you know what....I'm not gonna tell you anymore about it. Damnit all, if I don't have a way of divulging all of my info at once. Crow says I have a propensity for giving away endings prematurely....You can take that as you will.
Anyhow, gentle reader, a few things I'm into right now: High on Fire ( pure metal majesty ), Built To Spills version of Cortez the Killer ( 20 minutes long ), revisting The Stand from my days as a lad, The Dogs of God by Pinckney Benedict, the pitching of Carlos Zambrano, vodka gimlets, Tetris, exercise, the Outdoor Games, driving my Jeep, bleach ( goddamn good for killing germs ).
Alright fellow canaanites, this is C. Salmon, Man of Mulch signing off. Reminding you that dreaming is your own form of self-hypnosis. Stay tuned for further announcements...

Composting,
Mulch

Black, White, and GreyZelda

Our first official fundraiser is coming up on September 17th, 2005 at our rehearsal space located on Ravenswood. I'm excited. Check the site for more details. I've always felt a little weird about asking people for money, but now realize that I'm not asking . . . GreyZelda is asking. A great distinction. GreyZelda is more than all of us. GreyZelda holds us accountable for our creativity and decisions. GreyZelda should be a cult, really.

Mulch and I are going to come up with a list of questions soon, as to what makes a GreyZelda person. Some of the questions will go a little sumpin' like this:

You know you're with GreyZelda if you favorite tea is:
a) Lipton
b) Green
c) Earl Grey

or

You know you're with GreyZelda if your favorite parrot is a:
a)Blue and Gold Macaw
b) Cockatiel
c) African Grey

Anyway . . . you get the picture. It's silly, but very Causey.

How are things in general for us. Haven't heard from LZ in a spell. Crow has a problem with cawing and pecking sometimes. She's should just shut up and eat . . . um . . . Mulch is on the job hunt. He left the man's SBC. He should check out Manpower! We shall see what we shall see. Jobs schmobs. . . . well, here's a quote from a play Crow herself is thinking of acting in. I'm Crow. I'm going to stop speaking in the third person.

"Who gives a damn about convention? Not me. The world isn't going to suffocate me. That's what this flapper's all about. Climb to the top and live high. And if the fine's a heavy one, what the hell!"

That's a line spoken by Mrs. Zelda Fitzgerald in The Last Flapper by William Luce, based on the writings of Mrs. F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm thinking of doing it.

Chris is going to be starting the direction of the Insanity of Mary Girard and he wants an all female cast. Yippee!!! We also received a submission that we're very excited about from a local playwright. More news coming soon.

Anyway, you all rock. I love the rain coming down to wash out this intense, untalkable heat that's been hanging out.

Love,
crow

The future and Fortuna

GreyZelda will soon be on a war path. A friendly, professional warpath, to be sure, but a warpath nonetheless. She's gained the confidence she needs and now wants to enter the competition. We're going to have a meeting after The Thimbleberry Gallows closes discussing a marketing/business scheme that will get GreyZelda out there where she needs to be.

We're gaining in ranks. I can safely say that we have a nice group of members and collaborators. Mulch and I are not an island - although being stranded on an island with just my mulchman, kitties, and the greyzelda passion would make me very happy indeed - and we're ready for help and ideas from others in how to get this train rollin'.

Sarah Stec is working on a logo that will begin to imprint itself on Chicago's accepting legions.

Sonia Kuhlmann, Melissa's mother extraordinaire is going to help us come up with a business plan.

Mulch and myself are going to go to a nonprofit meeting in August to learn things and get ourselves on more of a plan.

And our other peeps are going to contribute many ideas to make this puppy roll.

We're hoping to have a fundraiser this summer and more details are coming soon. What I secretly would like is to have a 24 hour performance based date. Maybe a GreyZelda retrospective beginning from the beginning - Mulch and I performing Cowboy Mouth or Outcry (a never performed idea); followed by a few scenes from Trestle (maybe we can reunite some forces; woohoo!); some One Flea Spare, some Metamorphosis, some Robert and Kristen, some Anna Agniel and Slow Children Playing, some Thimbleberry. And who knows what else? Either way, we could have a really cool time.

Lisa works with someone who is good at planning fundraisers and I'd be more than willing to give said someone 10-15% of what we make - since we never had what we'll make in the first place. Very cool.

And! We now have our bank account set up. Sheesh. It was so easy to do but I am a procrastinator - won the distinction in high school, actually, with my dear friend, Emerly - and my beloved gets sucked into that zone with me.

I'm going to reflesh the website one of these days, too. It could be very spectacular, I think, and I'm going to try to make that happen.

Please support us in any way, dear readers. Spirit is always appreciated, dear readers, but anything physical you can can do would be appreciated. From 10 bucks to lights to costumes to volunteering to help with our next show to, to, to ... anything goes.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello because it's been a while since I put a new blog down.

You rock,
crow - I like all things sparkly and shiny.

One more week . ..

So ... one more week to this beast ... this almost albatross . . .

Ah, Fanny Hooe - a hand that reached out and grabbed out throats. It's been an experience creating this from scratch. We've not had much of an audience. Just as you've not had much of an audience in Copper Harbor. These upper peninsula spirits . . . they're strong. You forget about them when here in the midwest, but . . . they're there. As the stone gods in West Virginia. And we've brought them with us for this show. The tree breathers. The ice dripping to rushing water. The Loons speaking up. And just the silence. Something we can't have in Chicago.

We have one more week. I do hope the people show up to prove this craven projection wrong. We're happy, but polar.

crow

The North Country

L. Crow here, dear readers ...

Woke up this morning to find a request for Thimbleberry updates. The show is becoming . . .fleshing itself out and I love it when it gets to this point. It becomes its own creature . . . Thimbleberry Gallows is beautiful, terrifying, dare I say it (Mothers - pull in your breaths and cover your children's ears) erotic, and ever so much more. That's why we haven't done much to the blogspot and website and such . . . we've got our faces smeared with Thimbleberry jam!

The cast is exceptional and a sheer pleasure to work with. The Man of Mulch has dropped the pen, and stepped in to be Henry Dobbs, for this inaugural production. Why? You might ask ... why not? I say. GreyZelda insists on setting a standard, an environment that all can be calm in. Safe in. A place where creativity reigns supreme. When guests join the process and don't bow down to a little thing called imagination, well . . . GreyZelda rears her bonneted head and moves quickly and assuredly, so ... the Mulch, once again, is the Man. And has allowed Henry to "breathe unsolicited", to quote the show.

There have been challenges that have come our way, to be sure, during the process of our little play. And we have stepped up and maneuvered our way through them. The situations, actually, have simply reminded us of what we've stood for all along and forgot about because we've incorporated additional creative help . . . I do firmly believe that a show needs all elements to work together harmoniously in order to be a success. A good time should be had by all those involved and if GreyZelda isn't the girl for you, please find something to your liking. Because she and we do what we please, what gives us pleasure, and in that enjoyment, we create something that we're proud of and that, even if we did it on the streets or in our living room, we would still be equally proud of it.

And we have that show, ladies and gentleman!!!!!!!!!

Did you know that the Group traversed up to Copper Harbor just last weekend? We spent some quality time in the Fort Wilkins stomping grounds and Kim Katona took some beautiful photos which will be premiering soon. The cast was able to research and be their characters in the actual environment and see how they would have lived. Talk to us after the show and we'll tell you all about. The pictures will be on display, as well, in the StageLeft lobby.

Heath Hays, our set designer, and Mulch will be leaving tomorrow morning at 5 in the AM!!! to pick the trees that will be sacrificed for the set. I'm excited about the arbors joining us.

Julie will be doing our lights next Sunday and the illumination will be lovely. Lisa has been invaluable being our assistant director and has been doing an exquisite job of it.

He and She, those maybe Hedonists, have created a soundtrack that will make your heart pound.

And, I'm just happy and accepting of this new GreyZelda development. I love it. And, that's all I ever want from a show. It'll continue to become and become and become and I'm honored to have the people working and sharing this show with us. I'm going to a couple army surplus stores, hopefully tomorrow, and a place along the lines of a Victoria's secret, as well, to add the final completions to the costumes, which GreyZelda decided to do after all. We had a girl make us a really nice crinoline, that Detta will wear (that's Melissa Kuhlmann to the outside world). It's already become dirtied, thank God!!!! If that little sewer, or seamstress, I suppose (sewer looks like, well, a sewer) had had her way, that crinoline would have never known the beauty of the wilderness and what a little dirt can do as far as accesorizing goes. Sheesh!!!! But, that's a whole other blog in itself. And Crow agrees with GreyZelda. It's done and over with . . .it was, essentially a lite sneeze in the process, which has since cleared itself up. I think you're going to like the costumes, folks. I sure do!

I'll write more soon . . . did you know that the Ravens up north are sons of guns? When I was walking by myself, through a trail running around Lake Fanny Hooe, I watched a triad of those big black birds play Rook of the Tree. They would try to push each other off of the tip of gigantic pines, repeatedly. It was silent but you could hear their mutters and the flapping of their wings. It looked like fun.

Caw to you, my cousins,
the littler, but just as tough,
Crow

Thimbleberries . ..

The Thimbleberry Gallows is under way and I'm much delighted about how swell the process should be. We have assembled a wonderful cast of critters - Miss Brenda Barrie as the uncomparable disappearing trick that she is . .. . Fanny Hooe, ladies and gentlemen!!! The ambidextrous Thom Sigsby as the mine-wandering, philosophical Daniel Ruggles. Ms. Melissa Kuhlmann as Detta Ruggles - Detta, the dour, the sour, the sister flower, the sistah with a kick! of honey. And, last but not least, back by popular demand from the land of the Spartans . . . . Mr. Tommy Gordon!!!!! Kermit says: Yayyyyyy and waves his arms about! Tom Gordon. As Corbett Wallace. He has all the nasty lines.

And we've got Sarah Stec, the graphic designer extraordinaire.

Julie Ballard, the moneyshot lighting designer. A do-it-yourselfer, if I've ever seen one. And I have! I think it's becoming a requirement for GreyZelda, actually.

Good times will be had by all!!! The only one we're waiting on is Ms. Lisa Wilson who will be making her debut on the darkside - our side. She will be assistant directing upon her return from Spain - we're waiting for a bottle of the green fairy's juice because GreyZelda loves it as the bee-zee loves nectar.

And, we're hoping to travel north as the geese fly to Copper Harbor with the whole kit and caboodle for some good quality play time.

Sir Mulch has written beautful words.

I'm so excited.

Caw,
L. Crow