ART ISN"T EASY

These are trying times or us all, especially for those of us in the Bay Area Theatre community. We have lost AMTSJ, almost lost Shakespeare Santa Cruz and the latest one is the Magic Theatre in SF which needs to raise a significant amount of money of it will be forced to close its doors. What is happening to our theatres and what will 2009 bring? I am really concerned that more and more regional theatres will be facing similar dilemmas. If you wish to donate to the Magic please got o their website - www.magictheatre.org

DOUBT

Well I think I may have just seen the best film of the year. Just right above Milk - is the film version of Doubt. Brilliantly written and featuring 4 dynamite performances by Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. I was riveted and hope to one day play the role of Father Flynn on stage. What a terrific part. Wow! I highly recommend the film. I have not seen the play and am curious as to how Cherry Jones played the lead when she was here in San Francisco.

I will be performing New Years Eve at Nicolino's Garden Restaurant in Sunnyvale where I will be performing 2 sets alongside Kaye DeVries. I have never performed here but my friend Nicki says it's a great gig. I am looking forward to it. On Thursday I will be seeing Macbeth at Shotgun Players and I am really looking forward to it. I am counting the days until next Monday when I will be taking my first real vacation in almost 13 years. Sure I've taken a couple of days here and there but never a full week. I can't think of a better way to ring in the new year.

Happy New Year Everyone!

=+)

Martin

REFLECTING ON 2008

2008 has been quite the year. I have done four very challenging and rewarding projects - from my first opera to my first job as a professional musical director to my first show as an equity actor - 2008 has been a great year. I had the best time working on Orpheus in the Underworld because I had the great pleasure of working with Greg Fritsch who is a terrific director and even though he is meticulous about what he wants, he goes about it in such a nice way that all you want to do is perform well for him.

I dropped out of Children of Eden for a number of reasons but largely because my yet un-diagnosed diabetes was causing me health issues. Doing Cabaret was certainly the most stressful and challenging endeavor I had this year but it is also the most rewarding. I am thrilled that my producers were pleased with my work and that I truly gave 150% of myself to the project. I am not sure if I'll be MD'ing anytime soon. It is a lot of work and there are enough brilliant MD's working in the Bay Area today.

My recital was a project that I started to leisurely work on two years ago and like a real theatre piece I changed it even on performance night. It was without a doubt the greatest night of my career thus far. Just a magical night all around.

The most fun I have had this year and with doing any show is without a doubt Every Christmas Story Ever Told. Working with Kevin, Colin, Michael, Selina - the entire crew and the wonderful family that is San Jose Stage was such a blessing and I cannot wait to be back.

This year I didn't catch a lot of theatre but I did see some incredible performances - especially Christiane Noll in Little Shop at AMT but probably the one that affected me most was C. Kelly's portrayal of Caroline in Caroline or Change at TW. That production was out of this world (loved it so much I saw it twice.) Other great shows include Babes in Hollywood at Hillbarn, Altar Boyz and Turn of the Screw at San Jose Stage, Snapshots at TW, Love Person at MTC and Hair at City Lights. The best play I saw was Bug at SF Playhouse - Jon Tracy's production had everything you want in a great evening of theatre - great acting, set, sound, lights and of course direction. I am trying to make it to see Macbeth at Shotgun and I have heard great things about it.

Balancing school and work was no easy task this year but I got through it in one piece and passed everything and I am not happy at all about having to do six more units in the spring in order to graduate but that's life I guess. At school the most rewarding thing I have done this year is write my spiritual autobiography. It was a healing experience. Sorry y'all I'm afraid I'm not able to post it here...you'll have to wait for the book someday. =+) I hope that 2009 is an even better year for us all.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

=+)

M.

WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE?

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last blog posting I think facebook has taken up most of my time. =+) A lot of things have happened in the last month and the most traumatic has to be me going back to NDNU in the spring to take 6 units. Apparently I need one more music theory class and a math class in order to graduate. It's not that traumatic but still a pain in the ass nonetheless. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12 plus voice lessons. I think I'll live.

The show is going beautifully and even though we close this Sunday I wish the show could go on for longer. This has been without a doubt the most wonderful theatre experience EVER. My colleagues are amazing, warm, generous and hilarious to work with, the production team is a Godsend and everyone at the Stage Company welcomes me with open arms. If I had my way I would work there all the time. I am so honored to be back for a third consecutive season.

At the beginning of the month I went to see Phantom in the city. It's been years since I saw it and it took me back to my teenage years and my obsession with Phantom. Now I realize it's not the greatest show ever written, in fact it's kind of a bad show but still the ending gets to me and the story still breaks my heart. What I really loved about this production is the smaller roles like Piangi - I never really looked at that role as being a scene stealer but the understudy who was on really stole all his scenes - that's a role I need to start looking at =+)

Speaking of shows I went to see Babes in Hollywood at Hillbarn and if you've already seen my show - GO SEE IT! It's wonderfully directed and choreographed by Tim Bair with a great cast. I had a lovely afternoon seeing it. The economy is hard right now and theatre is a luxury but if you can please go and support live theatre.

I am all done with finals this semester and just waiting for January 5 when my Dad & I will be going on a cruise to Cabo San Lucas. I am so excited - this will be my first REAL vacation in almost 13 years. The last time I had a real vacation I was 17 and went to New York. No shows lined up for the new year except a lot of auditions so hopefully I will have something to report in the next couple of months.

I will be singing at Nicolino's Restaurant in Sunnyvale on New Years Eve - for more info go to their website at http://nicolinosgardencafe.com/

2008 has been a great year for me, full of challenges and dreams come true none more than me receiving my equity card. I have done my first opera, had a fabulous summer teaching gig, musical directed my first regional theatre production, presented the best senior recital I could have, done my first equity show - who could ask for anything more? I am so grateful for all the good things that have happened. May 2009 be a better year for us all. Lord please fix the economy.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night and a happy new year!

See you all on '09

=+)

Martin

p.s. Get your behind to see EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! We close this Sunday.