xtcian

curtain up

4/16/04

We opened tonight to a preview crowd, and I have to say, I underestimated how exciting these things really are. It reminded me of all the best parts of high school, when we put on "Camelot" and strange new talents were discovered among our quieter friends.

I've just returned from a couple of tequila shots, a jack & coke, and the remnants of a Goldschlager (horff) with a bunch of the other actors, so I'm not going to be typing much longer, but I am truly happy to be surrounded by talented people. As you age, you begin to realize those moments are more rare than you think. Simply put, most people can't do their jobs. When you meet somebody who can, you must embrace them and sing their praises to the heavens.

I am thankful for Salem's steaks, Ann's poetry, Tessa's writing, Lindsay's producing, Sean's acting – and tonight I am thankful for my cast, and the small disturbed group of thespians daring to pull this thing off.

Drunk moment at the bar: a random woman who was being hit on by a semi-coherent cast member heard that I'd written the "Liberal" piece. She slipped away for a second, cornered me and said, "oh my god that thing fucking SPOKE to me." I said that I was lucky to have my cast, and she grabbed me and SHUT ME UP with one of those glares, you know, the look that says you have a carte blanche to her planet.

I used to live for these moments. When you're a single writer, one of those looks could give you petrol for another six months of self-perpetuating creativity. We don't ask for much, us writers, just .000004% of what the quarterback of the high school football team gets every day, and we can labor on for decades.