Summertime

Surprise! Beth here, and I can already hear the cries for joy once you learn I will be staying at City Lights for the summer. It's not all good news, though; I'll only be here once a week. Don't worry, it's nothing personal. The three of us worked it out so at least one person is in the office every day. That's the same as it always is, but they couldn't have managed without me. That's right, I'm a life saver, people.

Here's something kinda not cool, though. This great theater company is in a little bit of a pickle. In times of economic distress, the arts are the first to suffer. Times are tough, and boy are we feeling it. So, if you have a few extra bucks to spare, be awesome and donate to City Lights. We could really use your help to not end this fiscal year in the red. Click here to donate. :)

RENT opens in about 3 weeks, and we're so excited! If you don't have your tickets yet, get them. Now. Right here. Do it.

It's not too hot today, thank goodness. And next year's intern applicants had their interviews today, which was quite exciting. That's all for now, will check in next week. Maybe. If you're good. 'Kay, bye!

Beth

Second Weekend in September

Yes, yes, we know we haven't updated the blog in almost a month. But come on, not THAT much has been going on. Spring Fling was definitely a big deal, but I can't really talk about it, seeing as I wasn't there. Shame on Marty and Gilly for not going into that more. But other than that, it's just been the usual between show doldrums; not too much to break apart the days, and therefore nothing really worth blogging about. Oh, sure, last week we were all busy stuffing envelopes and copying down addresses for the subscriber confirmation mail-out, but you don't want to hear about that. The only notable thing that happened was that the three of us misunderstood and put the order forms along with the receipts into the envelopes, and had to take them all out again, which took another 20 minutes or so to do. Anne felt sorry for us and let us get a piece of tasty from concessions for the extra work, which I think was very benevolent of her.

Marty hasn't been in for a bit, as he's been sick, but I will make him post something on here when he has a minute. And Gilly wasn't in yesterday either because she had a flat tire. They'll both be in later this week, don't you worry your pretty heads.

NEWS:
This weekend is the opening of Second Weekend in September, which is pretty exciting. Small cast of 3 people, very intimate, pretty intense from what I understand. Oh, and this is important, NOT FOR CHILDREN. We're talking full frontal nudity, plus simulated dude-on-dude sexy times. I'm sure several people will be very uncomfortable, but damn it what's theater supposed to do if not make someone uncomfortable?
Also opening at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills is The Crucible, that wacky farce full of quirky coincidences and crazy hijinks! ...Just kidding. Classic American drama by Arthur Miller, it details the events of the Salem witch trials of 1692, and stands as an allegory for the House Un-American Activities Committee and the McCarthy trials of the 1950's. Yeah, pretty spiffy. Martin and I are both in it, along with past City Lights interns Kim Johnson and Tim Goble. Definitely worth a look-see. Here's the link: http://www.foothill.edu/theatre/crucible/

Thanks guys, I hope you can check them out!

Spring Fling Madness

Two days from now is City Lights' 11th Annual Spring Fling, and boy howdy is there a lot to do. Amongst the prizes in the live and silent auctions are...

-Oakland A's Tickets
-Framed and signed A-Rod jersey
-Framed and signed Jim Plunkett jersey
-Signed Joe Montana Football
-4 on-the-glass Sharks tickets
-Dinner for 12 at Morocco's
-Handmade art quilt
-2 nights at the Fairmont (Fri/Sat) and Brunch
-and a WHOLE TON of certificates, and much more!

Now, that tacked on at the end usually means just a few more things, but I say "much more" because I really don't want to type it all out. It's a lot of stuff.

Just wanted to do a quick plug. There's gonna be stand-up comedy and food and music and booze. It's gonna be great. You should go, because I can't. It's my 21st birthday the same day and my parents are taking me out. You know how it is.

Also, what with the bittersweet close of Cyrano, we're now getting set up for Second Weekend in September, which I'm sure Gilly will be telling you all lots about because she's stage managing. Right Gilly? RIGHT, GILLY?!

Busy day, and I need to get back to work. Love you all!

~Beth

Panda Express

Okay okay. Marty sent me a text on Tuesday telling me--no, COMMANDING me to write a blog post. He's got a fair point. As he said earlier this week, though, we've been pretty busy. I, too, am quite excited about the upcoming season, even though we're just about halfway through the one we're in now.

On Thursdays (such as today) I come to work pretty much straight from Foothill, picking up lunch on the way. Today I decided to relish the empty office where I get to play music loud before anyone gets here and we have to do real work. (Currently playing now: "High With a Little Help from my Friends" by the Beatles.) So things are chill for the time being.

I saw Dead Man Walking on the 7th of this month, so that would be a week and a half ago, and it's still settling in. It's awesome when a show resonates like that, and I think one reason this one does so much is simply the nature in which the story is told. The play takes a very personal approach into one woman's relationship with, let's face it, a pretty awful person, and how that plays into her understanding of the legal system and morals and even God. It's uncomfortable and eye-opening, something more theater needs to be in an age when all people want to do is to escape from their day to day routine rather than put it in perspective. (Damn, that sounded good. By the way, moving from "The Jeep Song" by the Dresden Dolls to "Sittin' on Top of the World" as performed by Jack White.)

Anyway, coming in on the last 4 performances, so get a move on, already!

Alright, going to finish lunch--oh, just for fun, this is what my fortune cookie says: "Today is a good day for being with a companion." Hmm... I'll leave it to you to decide what that means.

Peace!

Naptime

Naptime should be part of any regular work day. I say this coming from five hours of sleep after working on an essay for my English class all last night. The sun wasn't quite up yet when I finally went to sleep. I also believe naptime should be happening right now, instead of me having to work. Really all day today would be a nice period of time to designate for napping. Maybe we should have a national holiday, sort of an opposite of labor day, where everyone stays in bed and lazes through the day. I guess that's kind of what labor day is anyways... Regardless, that would be an awesome thing. However, I'd want it to be when I want it to be, rather than a scheduled event. But, I will take what I can get.
Wait, this blog is about City Lights you say? Balderdash! I'm not through with my sleepless ramblings!... Actually, I'm just about done with rambling for now. I mean, I could go on if you'd like. Anyone? More ramblings? No?... That's okay... I guess...
Right. City Lights. We have a show that opened last weekend. The show is awesome, and tickets are selling fast! We had a bunch of packed houses, with quite a few standing ovations as I heard. I wouldn't know, I was taking time off to sleep.... Mmmmmm.... Sleeeeeep..........

One Week and Counting...

This weekend we had our fantasmical massive theater-wide two-day clean up, and I must say, the prop loft is nigh unrecognizable! Makes me wish I wasn't out of town so I could help out... oh well.

Well, just one week left until Dead Man Walking opens. Grab your tickets folks! The Saturday of closing weekend is already sold out, so don't ask for that one.
Also, the benefit dinner is on January 29th, and Sister Helen Prejean will be there as a speaker. Let me remind you that she is the lady who wrote the book, was portrayed by Susan Surandon in the movie, and will be portrayed by our very own Lisa Mallette at City Lights. She's awesome, go see it. Anyway, tickets for just the dinner are $175, the show is $100, and both together is $300. If any of you are thinking it sounds a bit rich, that's because this is a *benefit*, meaning the money goes to 3 non-profit organizations (Dead Man Walking: School Theatre Project, Notre Dame San Jose, and City Lights Theater Company). Plus it's a tax write-off, so that's nice. Here's the link: , and I hope all y'all tell your friends and parents and neighbors and pet dogs about it because it's for a good cause and it's a good show. Woo!

Yesterday I was in the office for not very long, since Lani and I went around Downtown San Jose dropping off postcards and taping up posters in windows to help get the word out. Let's hope that works. Everyone and their mums have posters around, but ours is prettier. =P

Okie doke, that's all I have to say for the moment, except to say I hope everyone had a lovely and safe holiday season (can't be said for at least one of my friends, who broke his clavicle in a snowboarding accident) and that you haven't given up on your New Year's resolutions yet. Mine is to eat breakfast every day. This morning it was toast with peanut butter. Mmmmm.

Act 2 Lull

Hey, all. I'm house managing here tonight--this lobby gets real cold--and I've finished everything I need to do until the patrons leave. Tonight a bunch of folks from Yelp.com are here, and the deal is that they get a free ticket to the show, and then write a review. The fact they don't have to pay generally makes them feel better about writing it, but all the same, it's totally worth the price of admission.

I saw the show last weekend when I was shadowing to learn how to house manage (I barely messed up!), and wow, it's really good! I'm not just saying that, either, I really enjoyed it. I laughed, I cried, and I felt better about the world, that there might be some hope left in it. One of the themes of the show is just helping people, with a shout out to people in poverty. Our non-profit partner for this show is Sacred Heart Community Center ("A Community United to Ensure that Every Child and Adult is Free from Poverty"), and they really do go hand in hand. Very touching, with just the right blend of soap box to make it stick in the audience's mind. And it's a fact that the message of the show can be lost if the messengers are lousy, and the two actors in this show are anything but. Michael Johnson as Guy and Lisa-Marie Newton as Karol are convincing and engaging, with smart fun characters who work their way into the audience's heart. Two thumbs up!

Haha I didn' mean to write a review, but more folks should see this show!!! Call the box office at (408)295-4200 or go to www.cltc.org for information on how to get tickets!

Oh, and a BIG shout out to my mom for helping me out, since no one was signed up to help with concessions tonight. Love you!!!

Stay warm, everyone!