Monday, February 27, 2012

Dance Ten, Looks Too....

One of my visitors to the Annenberg brought the following article to my attention:


http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/advocates-ask-why-do-asian-americans-go-uncast-in-new-york-theater/?smid=tw-nytimesarts&seid=auto

Thursday, February 23, 2012

BrickBat Revue

We spend so much time at our computers, online, social media that sometimes we forget how wonderful it is to read/perform live.  To unplug, and be present.  With people.

Tuesday night was Mardi Gras.  The evening of 99% Guerrilla Literature at BrickBat Revue in the wonderful Brewery Art Colony.  What a cool space, cool place to read.  The Brewery Art Colony now provides loft housing to artists, but it was once the home of Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery.

Bronwyn Mauldin, a talented writer and founder of Guerrilla Reads, kicked the evening off with stellar footage from the Occupy LA Movement.  Robert Stuart Lowden's photographs are stunning and transports you there.  Mathew Timmons chorale work will change the way you read your junk mail forever.  Thank you, Tika, for inviting us into BrickBat Revue.

I's important to support your independent publishers, independent voices.   Support works that provoke, inspire, entertain, push, pull, stretch.  It's the only way we grow, change, evolve.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Power of Stories

In case you missed me, I've been blogging at the Annenberg Beach House as their writer in residence.  I can't believe how busy I've been, how fast time flies, and how powerful story circles are.

Feel blessed for all the press requests.  I was thrilled when Jason Kehe, a journalist from LA Magazine, came down Saturday to interview me before my second story circle, a tribute to Marion Davies, her gift of comedy, "Be Revolutionary:  Stand Up and Laugh."

There were about 25 people, with a few latecomers, occupying the Sand & Surf room over the pool.  It was so much fun, bursting with love and laughter.  We shared embarrassing moments, worst dates/Valentines, favorite comics, and stories of how humor enabled us to overcome.  

Is comedy = tragedy + time?

Comedy that left turn?  That kink in your plans?

Participants thanked me for creating a safe space where we can connect, remember who we were, who we are, and where we want to be.

Sharing stories is like swapping spit, kissing.  Creates an intimacy and a longing that you never want to end.  So, as the clock struck 4, R & R invited everyone to their home in Topanga Canyon at a future date to be determined to continue our love and laughter.  Just like the first story circle, history repeated itself.  Independently, too.  R & R did not know that after the first story circle, E & S invited us to their home.

Behold the power of your stories.  Our stories.

Be there, Tuesday night, for 99% Guerrilla Literature, 100% Fun
 http://youtu.be/Da_8c2OVHt4

Monday, February 13, 2012

Hi, My Name is Lucy, I Live on the Second Floor

Couldn't help humming to Suzanne Vega when I saw this photograph of me, writing on the second floor of the Marion Davies Guest House.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Adding a Life

It's the journey, not the destination, they quip.  But you can't ignore the numbers.  The IRS won't let you.  Either will your doctor.

So, this morning when a journalist said her editor wanted to know how many plays?  How many published?  How many unpublished?  What other works?  I fueled up on some coffee and did the math, fingers crossed the numbers wouldn't depress me.

23 TOTAL PLAYS + 8 PUBLISHED MONOLOGUES + 1 SOLD TV PILOT (COMEDY) + 2 SHORT FILMS + 1 NOVEL + 1 SCREENPLAY + 2 PUBLISHED SHORT STORIES

The Published List:
8 PUBLISHED MONOLOGUES, JAC “innerJACtions:  Monologues At the Heart of Human 
Nature 

GOOD MOURNING, AMERICA by Original Works Publishing

JUNK BONDS by Original Works Publishing

ART OF BULLFIGHTING, University of CA at Santa Barbara teaches this 
collection of FIVE (5) short plays (CINDERELLA'S BAWL, HOW NOW BROWN COUCH, 
TRAYF, BULLFIGHTING, (IN)SECURITY) published by JAC Publishing

CONCERTO FOR ORGAN IN B-SHARP, JAC Publishing

BIG RED, LITTLE TIGHER, JAC Publishing

BIRD'S NEST SOUP, JAC Publishing

SCENES FROM A CHINESE RESTAURANT, collection of THREE (3) short plays 
-- THE FAMISHED, SENSUOUS GOURMET & THE SICHUAN PEPPERCORN & SCENES FROM A 
CHINESE RESTAURANT

1 SOLD TV PILOT COMEDY 

1 SCREENPLAY entitled YOUNG AMERICANS
(L.A. residency requirement !) 

2 SHORT STORIES

PEKING DUCK
PROPHET & LOSS

5 UNPUBLISHED PLAYS + 5 COMMISSIONED/WRITER FOR HIRE 

TEEN MOGUL, a new play, adapted from my unpublished young adult novel
DOWN UNDER
NUMBER ONE SON
MOO GOO GAI PAN ASIAN, play in progress
MELTING, inspired by OTHELLO

THREE (3) PLAYS I WROTE FOR HIRE, FOR AN ORTHODOX JEWISH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, they needed material

TWO PLAYS (2) COMMISSIONED FOR LA STORYTELLERS, TAPER FORUM/ L.A. MUSIC CENTER

1 UNPUBLISHED NOVEL, TEEN MOGUL


2 SHORT FILMS
MIKE GRAVEL, THE WORD, a collaboration w/Italian animation director, entry for a 
political ad contest, on youtube
THE PERFECT NIGHT, an homage to Bill Murray, live action short, on youtube

Saturday, February 4, 2012

JUNK BONDS & GUERRILLA READS



The Occupy Movement energizing our country has brought renewed attention to my play JUNK BONDS.  Last October I was delighted when an American Studies class at Smith College in Northampton, MA studied my play, and then flew me out to discuss.


Paraphrased from the Wall Street Letter:  JUNK BONDS portrays a woman fighting for a chance to thrive on Wall Street -- only to find the man who gives her a chance and to whom she reports to is deceiving the firm.


Theme sound familiar?  It should.  It begs the question who can you trust?  Facebook?  Your investment adviser?  Google?  Bank of America? The Government?


The postcard for the original production at HOME:  Tapir, Inc., dares you to play a fast-paced game of  liar's poker as a young Asian American woman fights her way into the clubby, 
high rolling world of Wall Street.  Immense wealth, glamorous careers, and 
intoxicating power are at stake in pursuit of a fat slice of American pie.

Bill Maher says when his parents drove him to the rich neighborhoods, they never imagined they could afford it.  But their son, Bill Maher, can certainly afford to live in the toniest of neighborhoods.  Suze Orman said people don't necessarily dream about owning a home anymore, they just want a roof over their heads.  I remember when my parents drove us through rich neighborhoods, we definitely envied those houses.  My parents dreamt of owning a huge mansion, for sure.  My cousins in Arcadia and Monterey Park, one of the first questions they asked me, Is your living space over 2,000 square feet?



No.


The disappointment on their faces, heartbreaking.  Their judgments searing.  What a waste to come to America!


Yes.  It's true my family came to America to be rich, and I have failed them. Miserably.  Not even close.

Saw Mike Daisey on Bill Maher today.  Listening to Mike, following his journey -- it all gives me hope that our voice matters.  That we can change the world.  We now know.  Gloria Steinem says once you know, it's what you do with it.





That's why when yesterday a journalist asked me to do "logline" my own play, which I've always hated because it sounds so reductionist.  But this is what I came up with:

JUNK BONDS is about bluff and betrayal, trust and testosterone, about getting 
what you want and dealing with the consequences once you do.  



Now you know.  Whatcha gonna do?