New Kid

From the desk of Johnny Blaze Leavitt:

To be honest, I’m not sure how to write this blog without stating the obvious. It’s good to get out of your routine every once and a while to help refresh your perspectives. In 2009, I’ve been lucky enough to find time to work on projects outside of Point of You (though not too far).

In January and February 2009, I had the pleasure of working on a new one-act by Point of You’s favorite recurring guest artists, Lizzie Czerner. Lizzie had reworked a one-woman show into a three person show. “Getting Naked” is the story of a young girl who blossomed early and blossomed big! We learn of her trials and tribulations as Lizzie (playing the titular character) has a series of conversations with her breasts. I was Lefty. My lovely and talented fiancé, Monica Russell, wore two hats (or in this case, should I say pasties?) as Lizzie’s right breast and as the show’s director.

Working with Lizzie is always a hoot and a half. She’s the closest thing to Dot Warner (any Animaniacs fans out there?) as you’ll ever find on planet Earth. This also was the first time I’d ever seen Monica direct before and hopefully not the last. There were no egos or attitudes, just a happy and helpful collaborative process, reworking the writing as we went. A good time was had by all on this tit-tacular production.

In February 2009, several Point of You players appeared in TheatreRats 4th Annual Chester Horn Short Play Festival. See Paul Weissman’s Feb. 2009 blog for more on this experience.

And in April 2009, I returned to TheatreRats only this time, as Louis XV in Catherine Gore’s “King O’Neil” directed by Alexis Hadsall. A fun and refreshing experience, this cast also featured Point of You member Felicia Eugenia Velasco, another of Point of You’s favorite recurring guest artists, Cedric Jones, and the throne from my show “Hurt So Good.” So while I wasn’t “a stranger in a strange land,” I was working with a lot of new faces.

You know, it’s a bit like going to a new school. Everything is familiar yet different, you don’t know if these people will get your sense of humor, you don’t get all of their in-jokes, etc. But I found the whole experience to be a grand ol’ time. Alexis had a clear vision of what she wanted and even wrote additional scenes to tell the story from the point of view of school children. The cast was not only skilled with their period work but also HYSTERICAL! Kudos to Alexis for her patience in working with a cast full of class clowns! I won’t turn this blog into full length review, raving about the work of each and every member of the cast (which I may do in a blog for another time) but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Peter Schuyler (“Who? Who’d ya say?!?”) and his work as King O’Neil. The man didn’t just commit to the role, he would email period songs to the cast, wax didactic about character biographies and previous production histories, and banter with the best of them.

It was nice to wear just the one hat. Johnny Blaze: Actor. I didn’t have to worry about ANYTHING beyond my lines and blocking. The programs have a typo? An actor is missing? There’s a problem with the rental contract? For once, not my problem. Ticket sales are low? Ok… That is EVERYONE’S problem. And I thank the Point of You crew for coming out and showing their support to TheatreRats!

The best part about working elsewhere is that Point of You is always so great to come home to!

Godly Acres and other Chester Horn Musings...

From the Desk of Paul Weissman...

On the weekend of Jan 29 to Feb 1st, I, along with other members of Point of You, had the pleasure in taking part in Theatrerats “Fourth Annual Chester Horn Short Play Festival.” I was in a play called Godly Acres about Greek gods in rehab. I played Ares, G played Zeus, Jeff directed and played Cronos, Johnny played Hermes, Lee played Dionysus and Meghan played Willow, who had to keep us all in order. It was quite an amusing satire on rehab. We all came out in our togas, but with the ever present bathrobes you see people wearing on all those rehab shows (great call, Jeff).

We had about six rehearsals to get the piece into shape. Now, I haven’t performed in theater in a while. I spent all of last year writing and working on Sunset Motel. It was so much fun to work out bits and discover things with the other POY actors. We cracked each other up constantly. Even on stage, it took all my strength not to burst out laughing at Lee’s meltdown.

When it came time for the show, all I can say is Alexis and her crew at Theatrerats couldn’t have been nicer. They were very welcoming to everyone, our tech ran without a hitch. They even let us all sit and watch the other plays during the run through since, of course, we would not be able to see them otherwise.

And backstage, I got to meet friends, old and new. Imagine my surprise... actually, don’t imagine it, I’ll tell you... to see my old friend Kevin Shinnick there. He was one of the first people that I worked with in theater when I first got to New York. He is a wonderful director and actor and a fabulous human being. We have been in email contact for a couple of years, but the last time I saw him was in 2003 and the last time I was backstage with him was in 1997. I also met a compadre that I was in a not very good play with many years ago. We would bond over said play’s awfulness by drinking every night. Luckily, I drink less. . . probably because I do better plays now. He was fabulous as a grumpy grim reaper. And then a fellow acting student played a female Elvis impersonator. I ended up chatting with the directors of a couple of pieces and writers of a couple of others.

And my fellow POY actors? Heelarious. G was a regal, randy Zeus, Johnny channeled Steve Buscemi, Meghan nailed her character’s desire to just get out of this alive and unmolested, Lee’s jocky yet weepy Dionysus was a riot, Jeff’s Cronos... well, let’s just say he turned me off of chicken for quite a while. And myself? I tried my best to imbue Ares with a sense of hurt pride. And I got to throw a chair and imitate The Hulk.

And the piece that Marc directed was quite fun as well. Johnny playing a ninja who happens to be a video store clerk, the faboo Katie Currie as the put upon wife who just wants a regular visit with her mother in law, played with élan by Tina Trimble Savoy. Very, very funny stuff.

All in all, a very good time was had by all. And it served as a reminder to me what the gift of theater is about. Collaboration.

You can visit TheatreRats at http://www.theatrerats.com/.

The 4th Annual Chester Horn Short Play Festival

We at Point of You encourage our members to get out there and experience theatre of all types. I am happy to report that numerous POYers are participating in a new acting/directing adventure with another company we know and love called TheatreRats.

Sean and I had the privilege to watch the dress rehearsal last night and we were quite entertained. Our POYers were funny and touching as Greek gods, ninja masters and fairytale characters. We may be biased, but we thought they stole the show!

You should make your way to the Medicine Show as the festival only runs this weekend! It’ll be worth the effort if only to see Jeff AND Johnny sport spandex.

You can get more details on the Chester Horn Short Play Festival by visiting http://www.theatrerats.com/ or www.myspace.com/hornfestival

Chester Horn Short Play Festival
January 29 - February 1, 2009
The Medicine Show Theater
549 West 52nd Street (btw 10 & 11)

Featuring the talents of POY's own: Johnny Blaze Leavitt, Jeff Love, Meghan Love, Gerard J. Savoy, Marc Adam Smith, Lee Solomon, Tina Trimble and Paul Weissman.