A Tale of Lost “Love”

I suddenly thought about K. last night while waiting to go to sleep. The memories—good and bad—entered my mind like those songs that just start playing in my head even though I haven’t heard them for awhile. I hadn’t thought about her in a long time, and then, suddenly, there she was. I met herContinue reading “A Tale of Lost “Love””

Here Comes Company

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year? When I worked as Box Office Manager at Shakespeare Santa Cruz in 1990, I was housed in a large room (with bathroom—which had a toaster oven installed there—so many stories from that position!) in the residence of one of the founders ofContinue reading “Here Comes Company”

Hard Choices

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why? Sometimes, you’re asked a question, and you have to replay your entire life in your mind—rewind, fast-forward, stop, play, then more rewinding… Did you miss any details, and did you see enough of the highlights? Rewind again…. Or maybe it’s more like checking your analytics.Continue reading “Hard Choices”

Deconstructing the Year

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why? One of the things I focused on when teaching postmodernism and deconstruction was looking at the negative space, at what isn’t there. This is not to be confused with liminal space, or the space in between things. A google search suggests a door may be considered aContinue reading “Deconstructing the Year”

First Impressions

What’s the first impression you want to give people? By answering this prompt, I feel like I’m taking notes for an online personal ad. Speaking of which, I’m often amazed at how much truth is revealed in the subtext of such ads. I used to present some in my Playwrighting class, and ask, “What isContinue reading “First Impressions”

Caught in the Web(page)

What are your favorite websites? Do I have favorite websites? There are those places I love to hate: Facebook is one of these, and how many of us are sorry we sold our souls (and posted all those photos we probably have no other access to now) to the great and powerful Zuck? Sidebar: yes,Continue reading “Caught in the Web(page)”

Alternate Careers

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in? Let me begin by saying that I believe I chose precisely the correct career for myself. As a college professor, I had a great deal of autonomy in making my schedule and teaching what I wanted to teach. At a small campus, as anContinue reading “Alternate Careers”

The Story of B

This is a story I’ve been meaning to recount for years. It’s a bit hazy anymore, though I recall some aspects of it vividly. I first met B at a summer theatre workshop. I was a Theatre major at Temple U. but returned to my first college, York College (where I had been a SpeechContinue reading “The Story of B”

Pounding That Same Insistent Piano Note

This is the final paragraph from a paper I wrote, “Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty” A Definition,” submitted for my graduate criticism seminar on 6 December 1985. “In this way, theater should always have a mystical power to evoke emotion in the audience. As a director, I feel that if time and care is taken inContinue reading “Pounding That Same Insistent Piano Note”

Adulting?!

When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)? I’m not sure when I first encountered the word “adulting” but I find it to be both apt and an odd concoction that’s arisen from the English language. I’m still not sure I like it, but it seems my approval isContinue reading “Adulting?!”