After trying to force myself to take a break... I came up with a new storyline. So, I'm going to give that one a shot. It would rather be a screenplay I think, but I'm going to see if I can make it into a play first. Tentative title: I AM A SONG ABOUT LOVE, which in actuality, is a very misleading title, but I've had that title in my head for quite sometime, so I'm going to try to make it fit.

I have replaced SAFETY with the first draft of STAGED READING. Enjoy.

Shout out to Greg and Liz who were able to visit me after a harrowing experience. I'm happy that two wonderful friends of mine are still in the world.

The opportunity of a film version of CHARLESTON'S FINGER has arisen. Stay tuned.

Still in negotiations concerning SLOPPY KNOCKS AND DAGGERS with Rob. It's a pretty sensitive area I'm approaching here, so I don't want to make a wrong move. It may not be the most laugh-out-loud thing I've attempted, but it might be the most personal. To be honest, I wasn't exactly wanting this one to be hugely funny, as much as I wanted to express a certain... feeling. But then again, I usually can't anticipate how people respond to my stuff.

In the meantime... on a complete and total lark, I decided to rehash a play I began writing in 2002 with the intention of the Actors Loft performing it, but never finished, as they called it quits shortly after I was starting to make a move. So, I picked up this little play that I always wanted to finish and I... well, let's just say that due to the play within a play motif I set up for myself, I had to write the first play first, and then the actual play around it second. And here I am at 6:00 am (in the morning, no less!), having finished the whole thing in one night. HAZAH! SEE HOW MY POINTY-EARED YOUTH RETURNS TO ME!

And so on...

Keep an eye out for STAGED READING. I may feel so good about it tomorrow, that it will end up on the site replacing SAFETY, since no one seems to want to comment on that one.

So, my mom got to check out the website. And then she called me on an error in the description for BOISE, IDAHO! THANKS, MOM! YES, YOUR BOY'S AN IDIOT!

SLOPPY KNOCKS AND DAGGERS is finished, and I... don't know how to feel about it.

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT:

If you happen to be in Germany, check out THE STRAIGHT POOP and ANIMAL DECISIONS. September 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25. The Keller Theatre, Giessen, Germany, right across from the US army post. Fancy that, my first 9/11 show.

I've decided to reconstruct the site a bit. I've placed all the work on one page, and that frees up two more pages. There is now a chatroom and another play posted. I'm all about immediate reactions here, so feel free to let me know how the new stuff is hittin' ya. There's also a guestbook, which apparently does not count as an eighth page, so have at it, free of charge.

SLOPPY KNOCKS AND DAGGERS is well under way. It will definitely be a full length. I'm just not sure how full.

As I thought might happen, a few of my Spanish speaking friends have noticed some rather blarring errors in EL VENGANZA, which is all right. That's why I have Spanish speaking friends, of course. So they can tell me these things. Corrections soon to come, no worries.

I have posted EL VENGANZA onto the website, replacing CHARLESTON'S FINGER. A moment of silence...

Began writing a brand new play, which will more than likely turn into a full length. Keep on the lookout for SLOPPY KNOCKS AND DAGGERS... which is possibly the most bizarre title I've ever come up with. Just sort of leapt into my head and spurred me on to write the play that had been tossing around in my head for a few weeks now. It's almost sing-songy don't you think? Nursery rhyme-esque? Rob mentioned that it sounded like a rejected Parker Brothers game, which... I then realized that it does... but I'm going to use it nonetheless. Perhaps Parker Brothers will approach me with work. Twenty-three pages in and no reason to change it yet.

From the desk of Mikki Baloy:

This summer, you can GO TO HELL!

The Brick Theater Inc. presents THE HELL FESTIVAL from July 23 to August 22, a multi-arts festival sent straight from the netherworld. That's right, Hell is in Brooklyn. And it is the exclusive property of The Brick, Williamsburg's most brick-lined arts space. Come see New York's 'Hottest' theater, visual art, dance, poetry, music and film practitioners invoke
their inner demons.

The Hell Festival is The Brick's first multi-arts summer theme festival. Involving more than 35 individual artists and companies, The Hell Festival begins as a gallery for the first weekend, and thereafter becomes a multi-discipline performance space. In addition to programmed artists and entertainers, the festival will include readings of Hell-related texts (Goethe's "Faust," "Don Juan in Hell," "The Screwtape Letters") and many Hell-themed parties with Hell-themed soundtracks and special guest musicians. The closing night party will be "The Carnival of Souls," a party of the dead, at which guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite demonic icon. Cheap beer will be served and all sins will be encouraged throughout the fest.

All tickets are $10, given out at the door on a first come, first served basis. There are no reservations.

VISIT THE NEWLY REFURBISHED WEBSITE AT WWW.BRICKTHEATER.COM for the full schedule and breakdown.

Thu 7/29 7:00
Sun 8/15 3:00
Mon 8/16 8:00
Fri 8/20 7:00
Sat 8/21 6:00

EL VENGANZA is finished. It's a one act, which is pretty much what I figured it would be. Feels very much like something I may have done while still in school, which I'm not at all unhappy about. It feels good to be active in playwrighting again. Perhaps I'll just keep going...

I sent SLAB off to be considered for publishing. I think, having seen it once, and having it performed two times after in California, that it wouldn't be a bad idea seeing it in print. Details to follow.

A new play on the horizon, as I can't seem to stop myself. This one has a groovy Spanish title. EL VENGANZA. Kind of a throwback, but with the same old undercurrents in place. I think I kind of like masked swordsmen appearing in my work. I apear to be most comfortable with the idea. Will probably be done tomorrow, since I'm having so much fun writing it, but we'll see.

The Caligula play is finished. It is now known as END CALIGULA, as I couldn't find a way to name it EYE, CALIGULA. I may change it later for insurance purposes, but for now, that's what it's known as. As soon as Rob is finished with it, I may throw it up for all yawl to read. Stay tuned.

So, I was thinking. Wouldn't it be great to snatch up a few of my talented friends and try to piece together a theatre group of my own? What could it hurt? Someone I know must have some sort of business sense, so... if you're out there, let me know. Or else... I'll just bug you on my own.

Much to my HORROR, I discovered that the version of CHARLESTON'S FINGER printed on this site is the original version, and not the version that appeared at ACTF. I am embarrassed, humiliated, defiled, morose, and eating far too much dairy because of it. The proper changes have been made, and all the right people have been killed.

John O'Brien from Mill 6 in Boston, Masskakuskits just contacted me. He wanted to know if it was okay if in the upcoming production of THE TROJAN WHORE if the part of the oral stenographer could be played by a woman. I found it interesting because originally I thought of the stenographer as a female part, given there were no female parts in the play, and because the question of Homer's true sex were still up in the air. Not sure why I changed my mind, but I gave him the go ahead, knowing that only slight dialogue changes would be necessary. Could work. We shall see. Dates and times and locations coming soon, stay tuned.

Oh, if anyone is bothering to read these entries, and if anyone has any information regarding the NYC Fringe Festival, please feel free to contact me. It seems that everytime someone brings it up, it's always too late to do anything about it. I figure if it worked for URINETOWN then I could give it a shot.

Fifteen chapters of RAGERS complete. Began working on the CALIGULA play

Began spying ideas for a professional website, wondering if its a sound investment. Self-promotion is hard, don't let anyone tell you different.

Wondering why everything is closed since yesterday was a national holiday and today is just the fifth.

Here's another up and comer you should acquaint yourselves with, Michael James Allen. Also a Flint boy. Check out his website at: www.freewebs.com/michaeljamesallen

RAGERS coming along nicely, thank you. Wondering if my work would be better suited with a publisher outside the US. Comments or suggestions on this welcome.

Still trying to figure out how to make this site official. Give it that new-car smell and a bit more room to work with.