"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx

A nemesis of mine... At work and at play.... The City of Chicago's department of Streets and Sanitation. Yesterday, my 10 minute drive down Ashland Avenue became a 25 minute exercise in self restraint and introspection. I literally experienced the five stages of death as I (and about 20 other unluckies) traveled south on Ashland Ave. from Foster to the river at Clybourn St. We all drove 15 mph behind two yahoos in their big, mean Garbage Trucks. Who has time for this? The 21 unluckies behind said rolling road block, apparently.
• Denial and isolation: "This is not happening to me."
• Anger: "My time is valuable!"
• Bargaining: "Just let me drive the speed limit and I'll be fine."
• Depression: "I can't bear to drive so slowly."
• Acceptance: "ok, what song shall I sing?"

Something upbeat, something catchy...with hope and humor... Mr. Goldstone came to mind... So I sang...

"Have an eggroll...

Mr. Goldstone....

Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair.

Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone...

Any spare that I can spare I'll be glad to share!

Have a dish, have a fork, have a fish, have a pork.

Put your feet up. Feel at home...

Have a smoke, have a Coke.

Would you like to hear a joke? I'll have June recite a poem!

Have a leechie, Mr. Goldstone...

Tell me any little thing that I can do.

Ginger peachy, Mr. Goldstone...

Have a kumquat, have two!

Everybody give a cheer.

Santa Claus is sitting here.

Mr. Goldstone I love you!"

Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Merry Christmas

A quiet, private Christmas is a lovely Christmas. Apple pie for a late breakfast, a long walk up the lake shore and down Michigan Avenue without my camera, commitments or worries. Happy, loving phone calls, small, perfect presents, occasional glimpses of the Larry King Marathon, currently enjoying Broadways Lost Treasures II and III on PBS...

Coolest Christmas tree

I've had in years......

Peace.

And Quiet.

Merry Christmas 2006.

Damn... I meant to see this...

Frank's Home by Richard Nelson directed by Robert Falls at The Goodman. World premier.

...about Chicago architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his mentor Louis Sullivan.

Damn. I'm just now catching my breath after the mad dash at work. Peter Weller was Frank Lloyd Wright and Harris Yulin was Louis Sullivan. Closed yesterday. Time flew. Never had a moment. I didn't finish working before 8PM more than a few evenings these past few weeks.

Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune said...

"And this isn't just a play about Wright — played, incidentally, with sizzlingly amoral articulation by the polyphonic actor Peter Weller... ...Sullivan's inglorious fate — a one-room apartment, a shaking hand at the drafting table, little work or contemporary recognition in Chicago — heightens the pathos. Yulin plays Sullivan as a defeated architectural colossus overwhelmed by sadness. And in Falls' production, this contrasts beautifully with Weller's frenetic verbal energy. Sullivan and Wright sit in their chairs for long stretches, alternately railing against the world and bantering with it, like the two tramps in "Waiting for Godot."..."

Now it's off to Playwrights Horizons in NYC. Chicago was the place to see it though. Where the two architects built our urban landscape. Damn.

A very Downtown Chicago Christmas Eve...

City Hall...
South Loop...
Daley Plaza...

...a merry, Chicago, foggy Christmas Eve eve...

Too busy for words...

Some of this weeks riches deserved further investigation. Although they didn't go unnoticed, the riches of my view of Chicago life were stilted by my desire to do a superb, triple checked, thought of everything, brilliant job at work. I still noticed though. And occasionally just turned the camera to the left...

Chicago's medium sized Christmas tree...

not sure what they were advertising.....

Urban magic hour.....

Sofitel.....

Tiffany's Christmas window.....

Holiday brass on Michigan Avenue.....

Old Sears parking deck.....
tip top tap...
Christmas light install in my courtyard...

Finally some good light arrived Friday...

Ridiculously cold weather all week only slowed me down slightly as I was properly dressed for the 9 degree Fahrenheit air that greeted me nearly every morning. I spent a good deal of time on Michigan Avenue in my layers of silk under cotton turtle, under light weight down vest, under the fleece jacket zipped into the Gortex parka. After Christmas, weather like this will keep the masses inside. Until then, I notice pockets of quiet light in the city...

...amidst the fast urban pace that I join, thrive on, laugh with, maneuver through every day.

Irony surfaces regularly.

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning

Michigan Avenue today....

"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning," when you put it on paper looks vapid, but it's not when it's sung. That's another thing he understood, which is how rich music is, and lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers. Not always, but generally they do, because the language is too rich. It's like what they call in England "over-egging the cake." It's over-enriching something, so that you get drowned in it. I firmly believe that lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to understand what's going on."

Stephen Sondheim Interview - July 5, 2005 - Los Angeles, California

Belting out "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" inside ones auto on an icy Michigan Avenue early morning is a great way to start a day...

Sorry Grateful

As Ravinia announces their 2007 summer season, I am noticing a lack of Sondheim amongst the musical productions. Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, starring George Hearn, sounds good to me. It's certainly worth the trip out to Ravinia. But... it doesn't make my heart stop and sing with giddy expectation the way it has for each of the past seasons announcements at Ravinia.

This time last year I clicked on Ravinia's home page to see what magical Sondheim event was planned and literally stood up and gasped when I saw Gypsy was announced with Patti Lupone as Rose. That night at Ravinia... with Patti as Rose, Jessica Boevers as Louise, Paul Gemigani directing the world class Chicago Symphony Orchestra behind them, Lonny Price at the helm... was simply the most full, enriching, fully realized, soaring theatrical event I have ever experienced. The actual Magritte-blue sunset was the perfect backdrop... as if the whole Gypsy at Ravinia was an Event within the EVENT. Ravinia itself became part of why none of us will ever forget the perfect weekend that was. Even the cicadas added to the drama.

Just three performances... I feel so grateful to have been there.

All of us, including the performers and creatives, are better for what Ravinia has given us with its Sondheim Series.

Passion, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy...

Patti Lupone, Michael Cerveris, Audra McDonald... George Hearn, Paul Gemigani, Lonny Price... SONDHEIM.

Patti amazed me and moved me every season. Her Fosca still moves me, even on youtube. And Michael Cerveris... we were sooo lucky.

Bigger, louder, faster, funnier....

Back to work...

This week has flown by. Friday is only welcomed for the big relax that will come tomorrow. I need another 5 business days to get my business done this week. And another Assistant. Our flick is becoming ridiculously huge. And will be upon us in no time.

During particularly crazy, big, loud moments in the city this week I remember... ...that other world I visited for Thanksgiving.

Lovely Thanksgiving

Short but so sweet trip East was really quite perfect.

Long walks during magic hour...

... the rich Atlantic Ocean! Divine.

...the feast had plenty of vegetables

No tears, no drama, just lucky and happy to be together...

Ahhhhhh....

It feels like a world away now that I am back and am working again in

Chicago.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

Rush hour tonight...

I'm afraid traffic will not be restored to normal now until after the Holidays. Shoppers, museumers, theatre goers, winter breakers and more fill our sidewalks and city streets. My mind is occupied by watching them drive, walk, gape, laugh, spend, seek and dream - I imagine who they are, what their lives are like and what they think of Chicago. And I wait, wait, wait for them to speed up to the urban pace that I am on...

I do like living downtown... In the thick of it.

Tomorrow morning, 0-dark hundred hours, I join another hundred people and get on an airplane for a very brief visit to the countryside. I can't wait to feel the open air... hear, smell and touch the Atlantic Ocean, and generally enjoy the no agenda feel of Thanksgiving in New England with my family. I expect long walks, deep tubs, good dogs, good stories and lucky people. Too short a visit really. But lucky to be a part of it all.

Fire up my magic carpet; everybody is singing Weill these days ...

Michigan Avenue yesterday, from my magic carpet.

Todays Arts, Breifly reports on an exciting production that has just been announced as the final production of Manhattan Theater Company's 2006 - 2007 season. I'd love to see this. I need to figure out a way to get paid to be in NYC for extended visits. I love my Chicago, medium hot city, life. And I'm booked (holding my breath) through summer '07 here in Chicago. So weekend magic carpet rides seem to be necessary at least until then.

"...Manhattan Theater Company’s production of “LoveMusik,” the new musical about the marriages (two, separated by a few years) of Kurt Weill to Lotte Lenya. The show, written by Alfred Uhry, uses Weill’s music and is being directed by Harold Prince. It is scheduled to begin previews in mid-April at the Biltmore Theater, and to open on May 3. Michael Cerveris will play Weill, Donna Murphy - Lenya, and David Pittu - Bertolt Brecht..."

Thank you Ravinia for giving me Michael Cerveris in Sunday in the Park with George, Anyone Can Whistle and Passion... Chicago does rock. But I also can't wait to see Kurt Weill's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny in LA in Feb... Magic carpet me there.

"...his numerous progeny prospers and thrives; And the village is proud of him in his decline..."

"...Old Deuteronomy sits in the street

He sits in the High Street on market day;

The bullocks may bellow, the sheep they may bleat,

But the dogs and the herdsmen will turn them away.

The cars and the lorries run over the kerb,

And the villagers put up a notice: ROAD CLOSED

So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb

Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed...

...Old Deuteronomy lies on the floor

Of the fox and French Horn for his afternoon sleep;

And when the men say: `There's just time for one more,'

the landlady from her back parlour will peep And say:

`Now then, out you go, by the back door,

For Old Deuteronomy mustn't be woken

I'll have the police if there's any uproar'

And out they all shuffle, without a word spoken

The digestive repose of that feline's gastronomy must never be broken..."

Bud. This morning.

He's always had an old soul.

At 21 years old, he's officially reached Old Deuteronomy status.

"...you all made me Ethel Merman"

Patti Lupone played Symphony Hall last night with many members of the CSO, conducted by Ted Sperling. I was lucky enough to be in the center, front balcony. "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" was a treat sweetened by plentiful strings, timpani, brass and general musical power. And the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was there too!

Seriously. The orchestra sounded rich and divine. The Hall was beautiful.

Patti was, well, many things delightful.

Her voice seems in great form these days and it did again last night. I'm impressed with how she has developed her head voice over the years. To me, she has never sounded better. And it sounds like she is singing properly now, not putting her vocal cords in jeopardy by yelling out a song. A lifetime of being a work horse, loving a life in the theater, striving to continue to learn and love, bottomless sheer talent, she remains an easy inspiration for me.

Many great, celebratory moments... my favorites were Soliloquy from Carousel... funny, very Patti, rendition of A Boy Like That where she sang both Anita and Maria's parts, and Ladies Who Lunch... With a director that knows how to allow her to let go and stay musically focused, I think she would make a stunning Joanna. Elaine Stritch would be proud. My favorite of the night was the a Capella, un-amplified In A Hundred Years after the 3rd encore.

I felt lucky to be there.

Best bit of gossip from Ted Sperling's bio: "He is delighted to be conducting for Patti Lupone tonight, and looks forward to conducting a joint concert next summer for Ms. LuPone and Ms. McDonald at Ravinia"

We were treated to a full Overture. Over The Rainbow was teased, but, sadly, unsung. She has always left me wanting more.

Finding NPR from Olando to Chicago

The plane ride was uneventful I guess. Southwest has great prices, and I imagine the cattle drive seating idea somehow keeps prices lower. My "A Seating" ticket afforded me the right to board after the Military folks, people with small children and "special needs" travelers. I had about 3 seconds to choose my seat after I rounded the bulkhead. Pick your poison. I chose the 3rd from the front, isle seat next to two elderly, super - sized sisters. They were fine, relatively quiet. Terrified of the landing though. Bea and Angie. From Wisconsin. I smiled as much as I could, did my best to be as social as I could muster until I eventually buried myself in Film Comment Magazine. 2 1/2 hours. It really wasn't horrible.

The prize was my father. He was waiting at baggage claim, with a smile, a hug, a lovely lunch at the Hyatt and keys to a very early 1990's Honda which has been coddled and cared for through each of its 50,000 miles. Not a speck of rust, nor a tear of it's tan interior. Deep, dark, ocean blue exterior. Brilliant. New tires, sunroof... I could go on. And I will.

She drives like a pro. And the window and radio controls are cool. Tape deck. I will have to dig out my old cassettes...

1,200 miles...


18 hours driving time. A sleep at Days Inn in Tennessee.



Suffered through Prairie Home Companion this morning.
Found NPR stations the whole way North.

And, before the sun set, I was back in Chicago.

Another hundred people...

"...just got off of the train and came up through the ground. While another hundred people just got off of the bus and are looking around at another hundred people who got off of the plane and are looking at us, who got off of the train and the plane and the bus maybe yesterday..."

Michigan Avenue was swimming through the sea of humanity today.

I could have taken photographs of the movement all day. In fact, a good portion of my day today was photographing this very thing. Such an urban day.

Tomorrow I get on an airplane and take one of a handful of very short weekend airplane riding excursions. I realize now that I have somehow managed to completely avoid getting on an airplane for five years. At least - since 9.11. I didn't really plan it that way, but I was happy to travel by auto or train... and happy to avoid the sea of humanity inside a metal tube, fired by jet fuel, above the clouds. Well tomorrow I leave the another hundred people who got off of the train in Chicago and join the other hundred people who get on the plane and go up in the sky.

Fabulous fog from the roof of the Peninsula today...

Argonautika is a lovely cure for a Pirate Queen hangover...

In early October I couldn't stop myself from buying a single ticket to The Pirate Queen's 3rd preview. The Pirate Queens reported $14,000,000 budget and it's creative pedigree including book and music by Boublil and Schonberg, direction by the great Mr. Frank Galati and scenic design by the delightful Eugene Lee (from Trinity Rep!) demanded that I see this Pre-Broadway show as it develops here in Chicago. I'm glad I saw it, but man... all that money, all that talent... lots of problems and so much potential. The story is an ancient 16th century Irish tale, somehow not guided seamlessly for today's theatre experience. I can not remember one tune from the score, nor do I forgive them for the lack of a rousing, scary, well executed, musical, high-flying sword fight. Mr. Galati seems like such a teddy bear (I saw him at the third preview - he was locked out of the theaters glass doors - he knocked and made a "help me!" face to the kids getting ready to sell P.Q. merchandise just inside the doors... they let him in... I hope it's not ironic) I hope he has it in him to make some tough choices with this material before it transfers to Broadway.

Isn't it Rich? Mary Zimmerman, a former student of Mr. Galati, has steered the "ship" of Argonautika smoothly, clearly and with her usual trust of her fine ensemble and creative team. I loved it. Pure, never forced, immediate, funny, unashamed, inventive, clear... She used every inch of Dan Ostling's simple and sturdy "ship" stage space, including all the "up" space, of course. The entire cast took their time, but not too much, trusted each other and their material and generally had a ball. And so did I. Besides the guiding light of Mz. Zimmerman, the unencumbered, beautiful "cotten"y costumes of Ana Kuzmanic, John Culbert's forceful and direct lighting; I loved the sound design by Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman. The fantastically intimate old Watertower space allows for no amplification needed... but the lone body mike, tweaked just perfectly... barely there... on Athena was genius. Michael Montenegro's Puppet design fits nicely with the entire Lookingglass / Argonautika aesthetic. Zimmermans idea for the death of the baby puppet shows how well she listens to her artistic partners, trusts her self and material, and listens to her gut. She forces nothing. It's all there for her to choose from and use... and she's wise enough to know that and execute it. Genius. And a pleasure.

*edited to add Variety review of Argonautika and The Chicago Reader compares the two...

"I forgot, I hate the theatre!"

Bravo to Grey Gardens on their opening night reviews. Such a haunting 1975 documentary. Turned into a Broadway musical in two Acts by the fine folks at Playwrights Horizons... Starring one of my favorites, Christine Ebersole. I first saw Christine Ebersole as Ado Annie Carnes in the 1980 Broadway production of Oklahoma! on Broadway. All I remember about that production is Christine and her perfect timing and perfect pitch. (To be fair... I do remember Christine Andreas as being lovely as Laurey as well) I've followed Ms. Ebersole's career on paper only. I've, sadly, never seen her perform live since. Clearly now is the time to make an effort. BEN BRANTLEY of the New York Times not only gave Grey Gardens a very positive review, but he says of Ms. Ebersole's portrayal of both the Beal women - "Watching this performance is the best argument I can think of for the survival of the American musical." Umm. Wow. Time to be willing to be inconvenienced, and get myself to NYC and see this theater for adults production! Since at least one critic exclaims "No Tony gray area for 'Gardens' co-stars" - Hollywood Reporter - we all may be blessed to have Ms. Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson in their roles until well after the springtime Tony season. A quick Manhattan adventure in the Spring sounds divine!

"There are big tall terrible awesome scary wonderful Giants in the sky!" Sondheim

I was all over the city this week. Giants everywhere. Literally and figuratively.

I revisited old 630 S. Wabash at sunset earlier this week.


Apparently the lady who inherited the building from George Diamond had no insurance on the building. They think scrappers accidentally started the fire using torches in the basement.

On the movie making front...

We had a trans-light shot that was way bigger than it needed to be. Too small for craft service, too big not to get a filming permit with the city and hire security. I had a busy week. Was fun though. We start main unit filming in January. Good luck us!

More Giants all week... Strong Giants, Quiet giants, Chicago itself as a Giant, tough Giants, loud Giants...

Busy week. I hope to see Argonautika at Lookingglass this weekend.