BAD DOG THEATRE COMPANY

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

08/19/2019 - 08/25/2019

When Harold died, I was nearing the end of the Second City Training Centre Conservatory.
I left and took care of business out west and when I came home I jumped right back into improv.  The first scene I did was in the John Candy Box Theatre and I played a funeral director.  I was nervous to perform in such a vulnerable state but it was probably the best thing I could've done. 
Improv has always been therapeutic for me, where else can you go and be somebody,
  anybody, else?
We learned that you will be rewarded for bravery so we take big swings and embrace the unknown.
This show 'Blood' is something like I've never done before.
It's way out of my comfort zone and I have absolutely no way of knowing how it will be received.
There have been obstacles every step of the way in creating this show and I have just kept pushing through. 
I'm beginning rehearsals next week and the staging and pacing will all fall into place. 
I'm going with the flow and trusting in the process.
I'm nervous.
I'm excited!
We finished our grad show at Second City, I got my scenes I fought for in the show and it all went over great.  People still talk to me about that show! 
I wore Harold's dress shoes that night and I'll be wearing them at Blood.
Working along side in collaboration with talented people, as I always try to do, you often times end up the victim of their successes. 
They get better gigs and move on and you're left behind.
You can let this be the end or the beginning.
Never give up.
I have the best family in the world and I'm lucky enough to know the overwhelming feeling of true, unconditional love. 
I have a well paying career and I don't have to dance for chicken to be able to afford to chase my dreams.  In my mind, I'm already the most successful person I know and all of this is just gravy.
It's true that we are bigger than our anxieties.
Just like I'm bigger than this show, there's a million things I want to do next!
Nothing ventured - nothing gained.
Nothing to lose - everything to gain.
Bring it on!

On Monday I drank red wine.

On Tuesday...
(I can't remember Tuesday, Tuesdays are not for me.)

On Wednesday Pepperoni Pizza Cats celebrated 3 YEARS of producing our own show at The Social Capital Theatre! 
We did a photo shoot and introduced 3 new members to the team.

On Thursday I walked 21,510 steps (14.4 kms), I've been trying to avoid driving at work and it seems to be helping quite a bit.
 I made an appointment with an Osteopath for my arms and hands.

On Friday I found out that my director will be leaving town before the show.
(I meet with her on Sunday to discuss next steps.)
I went to the Winona Peach Festival with my Wife and Kids.

On Saturday we dropped our oldest Daughter (Adeline) off at my Sister's (Maggie) for a sleepover, they went to LEGO Land! 
My Wife (Kenny) and I spent a wonderful day with our youngest Daughter (Violet).
I got a $50 parking ticket.

On Sunday I went to work...

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

St. Christopher

08/12/2019 - 08/18/2019

One nice, sunny summer day my brother Harold, our Stepbrother Chris and I decided to go for a walk.  We lived in the middle of nowhere on the side of Highway 10 and the nearest store was at the Melancthon gas station a couple clicks down the road.  As we headed down the gravel shoulder we came upon a 24 pack of Kraft cheese slices.  I quickly scooped up the processed dairy product and began to unpeel the individually wrapped squares and roll them all into one giant cheese ball.  Next, we convinced Chris that he should definitely whip the orange softball at a passing car.  Chris, without hesitation, took the wad of cheddar and did exactly that.
We heard a loud thud and the screeching of breaks as the ball smashed into the side of a passing leisure van.  The van's cheesy mural of a viking had a thick, solid streak of cheese straight across it. like an orange line down the entire length of the van.  Harold and I ran across the ditch, over the field fence and hid in the tall grass. 
Chris wasn't so lucky.
The dude jumped out of his van and started freaking out!
He kept screaming and asking 'why the hell we would do that?!'
Chris was apologizing and told the stranger he would clean it off, at which point he began to rip tall grass and bobcat tails out of the ditch.  Chris attempted to clean off the mess but only managed to make it worse when he got the grass and stems and gravel all stuck to the cheese. 
The man finally gave up, but not before telling Chris he should 'kick his little fucking head in'.
After the van peeled away, we rejoined our Stepbrother in the cloud of dust at the side of the road.

Chris looked at us through the tears in his eyes and asked us:
"Why did you run away?"
In unison we said:
"Why didn't you?"

I think we all had a different idea about trust after that day.

On Monday I had the day off work.

On Tuesday Pepperoni Pizza Cats took first place in the FEVER PITCH competition at Bad Dog.  Now we move into the Semi-Finals tied for 1st place overall with Lavender Boy.

On Wednesday I tidied up the 2nd Draft of Blood.

On Thursday I was almost attacked by a young man with a pair of steel toe boots.
(almost)

On Friday I brought my daughter to a Doctor's appointment and later we all tried to go out for dinner.
(technically, we ate)

On Saturday I drove to Trenton for a Celebration of Life party at my Sister Cassie's for her Dad Pat.
 I saw my Stepbrother Chris for the first time in 25 years!
(On the way there I saw a car hydroplane into the wall on the highway in the rain.)

On Sunday I went to work...

St. Christopher

PAPILLON

08/05/2019 - 08/13/2019

I was walking down the street with my friend the other day, as one does with friends on days. 
We passed a restaurant called 'Papillon' which is french for Butterfly.  This reminded me of the blue butterfly tattoo my brother had on his chest in homage to his favorite book 'Papillon'.  I was laughing with my friend about how he used to show it to people and tell them it meant 'not welcome', like the scene in American History X.  Then my friend noted that we were just, 5 minutes before, listening to the Kendrick Lamar album 'To Pimp a Butterfly' in the car.  We thought that was an interesting piece of synchronicity and just at that moment, I looked down and found this rusty butterfly broach at my feet in the dirt of a tree planter. 

Wikipedia says:
'In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.'

Basically a butterfly can flap it's wings on one side of the world and, ultimately, effect the weather on the other side.
What goes around, comes around.
Magic is everywhere.
(and you are welcome)

On Monday I worked the holiday 

(time + 1/2!) 

THEN I started my rewrites in Draft #2!

On Tuesday I was in the gym.  

Afterwards, I went to Ronald McDonald House and did a fun improv for the families staying there with my friends at Funnies For Families.  

After THAT I went back to The Second City Training Centre and played a show with

Pepperoni Pizza Cats.

On Wednesday I washed the jeep and got it ready for a road trip.

On Thursday I was sick and wiped right out!

On Friday I drove to Ferndale Michigan for the Detroit Improv festival.

On Saturday I went to Belle Isle

THEN

I played with The Bad dog Featured Players at The Loving Touch at 8pm and THEN with Pepperoni Pizza Cats at 10pm at GO Comedy!  Improv Theatre.

On Sunday I went to see Cage the Elephant & Beck with Kenny!

PAPILLON

TAKE A BOW

07/29/2019 - 08/04/2019

I've seen them come and I've seen them go.

I wouldn't sell anybody out for anything, but that's just me.

I would never steal from a Mom and Pop shop and I will always go out of my way for a friend.  

When people take me for granted, it hurts my feelings deeply.  My brand of loyalty is very rare and I insist upon it in return.  I'm very patient, try to always give the benefit of the doubt and be forgiving.  All of that being said; when you cross my line, I'm done with you forever.  I'll cut you out of my life so fast your little head will spin and you will never get back in.

I've been working very hard at compiling the material for my show 'Blood'.  It's not easy to find any time with a full time job and two kids at home.  I'm lucky to have such an understanding and supportive partner who does everything they can to help me get my work done.  Going back through my story has been emotionally taxing and downright draining at times.  Other times, I've found wonderful and therapeutically healing rewards through the process.  I'm nervous and excited and horrified of this work and this show.  My director (Dana Puddicombe) is really helping me to see it as a performance piece to be shaped and controlled. 
At this stage, it's difficult to see how I'll get there from here but I'm eager to put in the work and do my absolute best.  I never would've imagined I'd be doing something like this, but here we are, just 3 months out from the lights. 

I know who my friends are and I'm eternally grateful for all they do.
If you need help - just ask, you may surprised who answers the call
(and who doesn't).

On Monday I stayed home from work and did some work around the house and a ton of writing.

On Tuesday we had a dinner party with Kenny's Dad and her Sister's family;

Shishkebabs!

(My arms feel gross and uncomfortable.)

On Wednesday I was sad about changes being made in my work schedule meaning I wont be available to do some important things I was planning and looking forward to.  My wife will also have to give up her shifts at work which means things will be getting very tight for a while.  I can't wait to one day be free of other people deciding what will be happening in my life.

(I'm waiting to hear back about a job offer that would mean more money and no more driving.)

On Thursday I remained professional and didn't panic.

On Friday the new job I'm hoping for phoned my boss for a reference!

On Saturday we went to the Korean Night Market on the harbourfront in Hamilton and ate some fun foods.
Kenny and I celebrated our 12th anniversary!

On Sunday I went to work...

TAKE A BOW