personal – Page 13 – Muttering Retreats

Whittle While We Work

Art in the Park Festival – Clawson, MI How different everything is for the craftsman who transforms a part of the world with his own hands, who can see his work as emanating from his being and can step back at the end of a day or lifetime and point to an object — whetherContinueContinue reading “Whittle While We Work”

Lines and Shadow

Ann Arbor architecture doesn’t disappoint. Shot on Pixel 6 Pro, black and white filter.

Don’t Blink

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Don’t turn your back. Don’t look away. Shot on Pixel 6 Pro, black and white filter.

Times Like These

There are times in life when it feels like it’s all you can do to take it one day at a time. When the world puts you in reaction mode, one mini-crisis to the next, and your waking hours consist entirely of parrying the attacks. And not forgetting to breathe. Out and in, out andContinueContinue reading “Times Like These”

A Sandcastle’s End

Today was good.Today was fun.Tomorrow is another one.Dr. Seuss It’s difficult to say what happened, exactly, that made this latest theatrical journey such a powerful experience. Some have said it’s that we tried something completely out of our comfort zone. But we’ve done that before. Some suggest that it’s the incredible cast, oozing with talentContinueContinue reading “A Sandcastle’s End”

Sandcastle Building: Hell Week

We open in 4 days. Preview performances tomorrow and Tuesday. I find myself desperately reaching for ways to fine tune it, to get it another inch or two closer to what my mind’s eye can see just around the corner. A little closer to perfect. So many things are going right, and a handful ofContinueContinue reading “Sandcastle Building: Hell Week”

Sandcastle Building: T minus 20 Days to Launch

I’ve reached the point in directing a show where even on my “days off” I still find myself working on the show. Not that it needs the extra work – more that it’s just such a frolicking good time. Thus it continues.

Sandcastle Building: Houston, We Have a Production

Our ticketing site is set up, and the publicity launch began yesterday on the socials. I guess this virtual theatre concoction of mine really has to happen now. Although it would be super funny in that Andy Kaufman way if people showed up to the online event and there was just a photo of myContinueContinue reading “Sandcastle Building: Houston, We Have a Production”

Sandcastle Building: Don’t Underestimate the Force

This post has been a long time drafting. Not that it’s going to be very long, it’s more that the show has taken on some degree of substantive form, which means it has mass, and it’s accelerating, which means it has force, which means I haven’t set aside much time this past week to continueContinueContinue reading “Sandcastle Building: Don’t Underestimate the Force”

Sandcastle Building: Temperature Check

Every once in awhile, I like to do a quick self-scan and see how I’m emotionally handling the inevitable twists and turns of my creative projects. Directing a theatrical piece is no exception. It may actually be the rule. Today seemed like a good day for such a check. I think it’s safe to say,ContinueContinue reading “Sandcastle Building: Temperature Check”