for the homies

I've been on a little bit of tear as of late, turning out plays left and right. My new subject of choice has been Flint, that ol' stomping ground of mine. After years of being very non-specific about time and place, I decided to try being more explicit to see where it would lead me. My teacher, the rambunctious Edward Allan Baker, has encouraged me to do so, not only because of the many fictional possibilities, but also because it may (or may not) shine a spotlight on a place that is quickly submitting to forgottenness.

Well, here's to hopin' anyway.

SMW

Bye, Borders

Kips Bay Borders is closing. For good. In six weeks, nothing. Borders is filing for bankruptcy and this is the result. Park Ave, Wall St, Kips Bay. Not sure how I should feel about it. I dreaded the place, I hid myself so well from it, I told myself that I didn't belong there, but for six years, it was all I had to keep me going as I searched for better things. I have stacks of memories that belong to it, I have friends and loves that I made there. I never really believed it would ever go away. No matter what steps I took away from it, I somehow guessed that it would always be a place I could revisit, if only to laugh at how I no longer had to deal with it. But even still, I would rather it have outlived me, be there, always around, this little franchise store that pretended to be a friendly neighborhood store, that I spent so much energy making go.

Yes, it is sad, that's what it is. And I will miss it, because it is a part of me, good or bad, still a part of me.

Thank you Kips Bay. For giving me a job, for giving me money, for giving me friends, for giving me memories. I will be the saddest ex-employee you ever had.

SMW, peace out.

PS: Say this to those you are closest to: "Don't leave. I still need you."

I'm busy, and so are you.

The never seen before BEFORE I HIT THE GROUND has gone through a serious revision. Which shouldn't mean anything to you, since you've never seen it. Just in a sharing mood.

new old stuff

There is a revamped version of CORNMEAL in the world now.

Currently looking for the next one to work on. Kinda fun revisiting the old work. It's true when they say nothing is ever done.

keeping that ball rolling...

I don't do this often enough.

So, I'm on my Christmas break, which involves a lot of sitting around, wondering what I could be doing with all this time on my hands before the next semester starts. Right now, I've decided to delve into older works and see if there's anything I can do to make them better.

BOISE, IDAHO is not on this list, in case you were wondering. I'm pretty good with how it is.

I just gave a makeover to NO ONE EVER DIES IN MONTANA, originally produced by the Thunder and Lightning Ensemble some years back. Right now, I'm taking a gander at CORNMEAL.

It's not that I'm not happy with these works, but I think where I am right now gives me a better perspective. There's always room for improvement, after all.

If you'd like to be bold enough to suggest me taking a look at something from my past, feel free to hit me up. You know where I am.

SMW

ahem... and ahem

As it turns out, since I've joined the Actors Studio program, I've managed to write 25 plays, which now marks the most prolific I've been for quite some time, at least in the arena of playwriting. As this as happened, I feel very much as far from disappointment as i could possibly be. It's nice to be able to have a run like this, where I once upon a time, felt as if I had no more good ideas to float out into the world.

Meanwhile, BOISE, IDAHO is getting not one but two New York productions. God bless that little ditty for having such a long shelf life.

dum dee dum dum dum

Ever since I've started my grad school education, I've found out two things about myself.

1. I really enjoy being in the world of academia.

2. I obviously can't even to pretend that the physical pain I am in doesn't hurt as much as it actually does due to the movement class I am taking.

Despite this, I am back to writing again. I hadn't written a play (save The Pear Danube piece) for a year, and now I get to indulge once again. Now, none of this work can actually be performed until I graduate, but I see no reason that I can't list them for you.

1. All Blood, No Bone
2. Five Princes
3. Flies About
4. No Need to go on
5. Stuckey and Doon
6. I Slip, You Fall
7. Very Sad Clowns

Not bad for a month. They are all one-acts, which will serve me well for the festival circuit, and I am quite pleased with the results. I hope one day, three years from now, you are too.

kudos

It was a busy few weeks for my work, as first FCT did a grouping of my shows (and attempted to photoshop me straight to Hell), which, from what I understand was a hit. Wish I could have seen them, but I'm glad that old dear friends were able to do my stuff once again. And no one beats the hometown crowd. The line-up was Charleston's Finger, Don't Talk to the Anthropologist, Dirtection, The Last Adventure of Lance Adventure, and... what else? Boise, Idaho.

Boise also played here in NYC, thanks to Molly Braverman, along with the priemeres of both Dancing the Elastic Spoon (the unfortunately abandoned Jason Hurley project, sorry bro) and An Unexpected Connection. This was in support of the Peter Pan Children's Fund, which marks the first time I have in anyway, whether directly or indirectly, I've provided any assistence to children. Thanks to the cast and crew for an enjoyable evening.

Five months until grad school.

I believe my last post was about the birth of Pear Danube, The Novel! So this post shall be the announcement of a second novel, concerning that very same rapscallion. But don't worry. My intention is clear. Find a home for the first book first, then follow up with a second, and begin considering a third.

Busy, busy, busy.

Cross your fingers, for when I am done with the editing process of the first, I will dispatch it post haste to see how it flies. And let me be clear on this, this will be the only way for people to be able to read it, which I find most important to consider. Yeah, think about it.

Peace and good will,
Sean

Pear Danube?

As of three days ago, I have finished the initial saga of Pear Danube. Right now I am dusting it off.

I think I can say that... I'm pretty happy with the outcome. I feel I have told a story that will live on as possibly the silliest thing I have ever written. Now, what comes next? Fame, fortune?

Probably not. But it's enough for me to think that I have written something that if nothing else, gives me something to be proud of. And what can ever be better than that?

Pear Danube lives. And I am happy to just be able to supply the mode of adventure.

Pear is my hero. A man who trods on, nearly getting there. But he doesn't give up, even if he falls short.

Any of you still hanging on to this blog may volunteer to read. I won't post it on my website. I offer it to people who will give me an honest opinion. Drop me a line and I'll throw you a hard copy. It would be good for people to give me a fair judgment. Yea or nay, I'm asking for your thoughts. Should good Pear Danube live on? Let the masses decide.

As a bonus, I can actually gage from this how many people are still keeping up with me. Nothing wrong with that.

S to the M to the double ME