A Certain Kind of Beauty doc raises MS awareness

The kind folks at Film Truth Productions released a powerfully honest documentary last year called A Certain Kind of Beauty. It follows the struggle of Martha’s Vineyard resident Dan Aronie as he fights with multiple sclerosis over a six-year period.

The entire documentary is now viewable online for free thanks to a partnership with SnagFilms. I’m supposed to be able to embed a player here but WordPress is notoriously resistant to embed codes. So, you can go right here to see it.

As a reminder, my wife Nahleen (who has MS) and I are participating in the Los Angeles Walk MS.

Quick links:

WalkMS 2009 approaches – and you can help defeat MS!

Quick links:

You might remember that last year, Nahleen and I participated in the WalkMS event for Greater Los Angeles. Our team raised over $17,000 in the fight to wipe out multiple sclerosis forever. The entire event raised over $1 million. The money we raised went far in finding a cure and creating programs that help people with MS live their lives day to day. For that, I thank you deeply.

In case you missed it, I put together a video of our day at last year’s WalkMS.

But all of that good news doesn’t mean the fight is over.

Every hour of every day, someone is still diagnosed with MS. And every hour of every day, those with MS still struggle with a myriad of symptoms, from fatigue and cognitive problems, to muscle weakness and speech problems, to paralysis. That’s why I registered for the MS Walk and that’s why I’m asking you to support my fund raising efforts with a tax-deductible donation. 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS but they can’t do it without our help. It’s faster and easier than ever to support this cause that’s so important to me. Simply click on the link at the bottom of this message. If you prefer, you can send your contribution to the address listed below. 

Any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do.

Thank you!

P.S. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the MS Walk are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit nationalmssociety.org.

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to view the team page for TeamMS-GLA.

Corey’s Birthday Improv Show – this Thursday!

I’ll be featured in the Magic Meathands live improv show this Thursday! It will be my last improv show before I turn [mumble-mumble] years old. If you’re searching for that perfect birthday present, why not give the gift of your presence at this show?

It’s at The Spot Café & Lounge on Overland in Culver City. Tickets are $5.

I hope to see you there!

Corey’s hands now meaty and magicy

A couple of weeks ago, I was formally invited to become a full member of the main company of The Magic Meathands improv comedy ensemble. I was and am honored to be asked, and so of course I accepted!

For the past year, I’ve been studying under director Bill Johnson’s Magic Meathands training program and performing in the Saturday student medley showcases once a month. It’s a great environment to learn and grow. I highly recommend it. (And I don’t even get any kind of commission!)

Now, I’ll be performing with the rest of the very funny main company members on a fairly regular basis on Thursday nights at The Spot Café & Lounge in Culver City, as well as other performances to be announced. Keep an eye on the Magic Meathands’ calendar.

My first show as a featured player of the main company will be next Thursday, January 29th, 8:00 PM. Admission: $5. Again, that’s at The Spot.

I hope to see you there!

Just when you thought it was safe in front of a stage…!

Yes, it’s time once again for improvised comedy as you like it!

It’s the first show of the year! Will our heroes prevail? Will hilarity ensue, or will you sue for lack of hilarity?

Find out, this Saturday at 8 PM at The Spot Cafe & Lounge at 4455 Overland Blvd. in Culver City!

What does it cost? Why, a whole bunch of FREE!

Bring your bum! (It’s for sitting.)

New Year – New Underwear

Old Man 2008 has withered away, giving way to Bouncing Baby 2009.

Change is in the air. Hope is waiting in the wings.

But fear still lurks in the shadowy future. Fear of evil-doers is passé. Now we’re back to the old chestnut of financial fears both real and imagined.

Never has so much hung in the balance. (With the possible exception of the last time that it did.)

So, what to do?

I can only do so much on my own, so probably more of the same. Just better than the last (on the good days).

So that’s my New Years Resolution*: more of the 3 L’s – Listen, Learn, Laugh.

Not always in that order.

Thank you for being there! Happy New Year!

(* I reserve the right to break my resolutions at any time, guilt-free.)

(I also reserve the right to not explain the title of this post.)

Live-blogging: Domino’s order via Pizza Tracker

The unerringly on-target actress Minda Grace Ware (catch her in the final weekend of “Shanghai Moon”) and I decided we wanted some Domino’s pizza for lunch. So we decided to use the world wide wubbernets to order our pizza. It turns out dominos.com has a handy Pizza Tracker (patent pending) so you can follow the progress of your order from the moment you order to the moment it arrives on your doorstep. It even tells you who is working on your pizza!

What fun!

But remember: Domino’s Pizza says “You got 30 minutes”. But do we, really? Read on!

What follows is our back-and-forth on Facebook as we watched the Pizza Tracker:

12:58pm – Minda’s status update: Minda and Corey’s pizza is almost on “BAKE”!! thanks Dominos!

1:00pm – Corey: Come on Criselda! Prep that pizza!

1:12pm – Corey: “Criselda put your order in the oven at 1:10 PM.”
15 minutes of prep! That is one well-prepared pizza!

1:13pm – Minda: it better have a golden crust i tell ya…with REAL GOLD!

1:15pm – Corey: WHAT THE–?
It went from bake to box to delivery in 4 minutes.
“Our delivery expert, John, left the store with your order at 1:14 PM”

1:19pm – Minda: undercooked, overprepped…sounds like my last date.

1:28pm – Corey: So… hungry…
30 minutes… almost up…

1:29pm – Minda: yeah…where the heck is “Our Delivery Expert, John”??? he’s eating our half pepperoni pizza, that’s where!!

1:31pm – Minda: is it free yet?

1:39pm – Corey: Hard to tell when they hang up on you.

1:40pm – Minda: amazing how quickly our Pizza Rush turned sour with Bad Customer Service, no?

1:41pm – Corey: Google maps says it should take 4 minutes. Factor in some time for traffic and… he’s still MIA.
I hope he’s enjoying our overprepped, undercooked pizza.

1:44pm – Corey: It’s here! We’re eating!
Praise be St. John of Domino!

2:01pm – Minda: i need a nap…pizza coma…

Year-end improv blow-out! This Thursday

It’s been a year of improv comedy and this Thursday, it’s the big improv-apalooza explosion to cap off the year.

Please stop by The Spot Café & Lounge to see me and the Magic Meathands this Thursday, December 11 at 8 PM. Tickets are $5.

Hope to see you there!

Playing with the big boys & girls

The Golden Hour Approacheth!

I’ll be performing with the main company of The Magic Meathands this Thursday at The Spot Café & Lounge in Culver City at 8 PM. Tickets are $5.

Over the last year I’ve been studying under this group’s director Bill Johnson. Some of you have been to the “student medley” shows on Saturdays once a month. This Thursday show will be among my first performances with this wonderful improv group as I (hopefully) transition into the main company.

Please come by and support me, so that they’ll be fooled into thinking I’m really funny.

Corey makes like Gorey

Here’s some pictures taken from Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre with Poe and Gorey. Most of these are from the rehearsal earlier in the day before the performance Saturday night, October 18th. Accompanied by excerpts from The Listing Attic and The Fatal Lozenge by Edward Gorey.

Photos by Dani Ballew.

Here I am trying to keep my face from falling off while director Jeffrey Schoenberg gives us notes before we get started. (more…)