LA Times calls Drama After Dark a Weekend Pick

Today’s Los Angeles Times calls this Saturday’s “Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre with Poe and Gorey” as a Weekend Pick:

Actors from the Guild of St. George troupe should scare the pants off you with a dramatic presentation of the stories of Edgar Allan Poe and Edward Gorey on the moonlit grounds of the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, natch. “Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre With Poe and Gorey” will feature more than a dozen works by the spooky pair, including “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” and “The Evil Garden.” 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 6-10 p.m. Sat. $25-$30. Recommended for ages 10 and up. (626) 405-2128, www.huntington.org.

It’s also listed in The Guide as a Best Bet:

Over a dozen chilling tales by Edgar Allen Poe and Edward Gorey will be acted out on the grounds of the Huntington: “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “The Gashleycrumb Tinies,” “The Evil Garden” and more. The actors of the Guild of St. George promises to give you goosebumps. Not suitable for children younger than 10.

I’ll be there! Will you?

A rather odd couple

Here’s a little preview of what sort of oddities you’ll experience at Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre with Poe & Gorey: 

This is from Edward Gorey’s The Listing Attic, which is full of characters that range from murderous to lecherous to just plain peculiar. It is one of five Gorey stories we’ll be performing on October 18th at The Huntington starting at 6 PM. More details here.

Tickets are selling out fast, if they aren’t already, so call 626-405-2128 to make reservations. I hope you’ll be able to make it.

(Thanks to BookLust for the image scan.)

Corey does Gorey

I’ll be performing portions of Edward Gorey scenes for a Halloween show at The Huntington on Saturday, October 18. 

It’s a great show where you get to walk around and watch multiple shows of material by Gorey and Edgar Allen Poe. It’s a unique Halloween experience that’s been playing at The Huntington for 6 years. I’m very excited to be a part of it. I hope you can make it out! I’m told this event sells out every year, so be sure to call for tickets.

Reservation required: 626-405-2128. Tickets: $30. Click on the above image for the flyer.

The Funkiest Proposition Ad Ever?

So, apparently there’s some political stuff going on?

Here in California, there’s going to be a proposition on the ballot to stop cruel treatment of farm animals. The Yes! on Prop 2 people have put together this animated music video to the tune of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”. It’s kind of bizarre but probably the most fun way you could address this topic without grossing out everyone.

Anyone know who the “Stevie Wonder” voice is? I always wonder who does that stuff.

(Oh and check back for news of the latest improv show and also a cool Halloween-themed show!)

Improv’ing this Saturday

It’s that time of month again! Yes, it’s time for the monthly improv comedy show with The Magic Meathands! If you haven’t checked it out yet, they have a YouTube channel where they regularly post clips of their Thursday shows.

As before, I’ll be performing with other improvisors at The Spot Café & Lounge at 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, 90230. It’s between Virginia Ave. and Jefferson Blvd.

The show starts at 8 PM and is absolutely free! There’s also yummy food that The Spot sells, so you can make it a whole night out, if you like. 

I hope to see you there!

Friends Do Stuff

And now a YouTube video that isn’t from a movie you might’ve seen, and that has nothing to do with me. Well, except for me being happy to see my friends doing inspiring work.

This scene is the directorial debut of my friend Enci, a great actress who I got to work with on Voices From Chornobyl. This scene also shows off the humbling acting skills of my good friend and former fellow Foe Pa-ian Aaron Lyons. Cindy Marie Jenkins, another talented friend of mine who I’ve worked with in the past, edited this piece. The actress is Kiva Jump, who I don’t know but she certainly does great work.

Tonight’s Viewing: A Fish Called Wanda

I hadn’t watched this movie maybe in 10 years. It was great to see it again.

The whole sub-plot of Michael Palin’s stuttering character trying to bump off an old woman has a wonderfully reminiscent of classic Looney Tunes.

And of course, this scene between Palin and John Cleese:

Love it.

Tonight’s Viewing: 50 First Dates

Pop Quiz: What is to The Wedding Singer, as You’ve Got Mail is to Sleepless In Seattle?

Yes, that’s right, 50 First Dates starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore! They’re together again creating more romantic comedy as you like it!

When this was originally released I couldn’t be bothered. It just cried out as a desperate attempt to mechanically reconstruct a previous success.

Flash forward four years. A friend insists I watch it. It’s a fun date movie, she says. She lends me her copy.

Flash forward several months later, during which time I still couldn’t be bothered.

I started to feel guilty I still have her copy, so I finally watched it.

After a serviceable opening establishing Adam Sandler’s character as a deceptive womanizer, things get pretty rough. Some really forced attempts at humor that pretty much fall hard and flat. Walrus vomit. Sexual androgyny. Rob Schneider. Hoo doggy, what fun.

Then Drew Barrymore’s character shows up and meets Adam Sandler’s character. And in tip-toes a song from The Wedding Singer soundtrack. What a coincidence!

Just as I’m starting to regret the invention of the DVD player, it finally gets to its premise, and things start to sort of settle in. And then a charming little movie comes out for a while. And hey, it’s Dan Aykroyd! Sadly underutilized, but still. Unfortunately there are lapses back to walrus and penguin tricks and Rob Schneider’s butt crack, but there’s just enough heart to carry through to the end. (Probably not with a second viewing, though.)

Disclaimer: Tolerance for the two leads is required, which I realize is tough for some. Your miles will vary wildly with this one. Like I said, it’s not a classic but it had its moments.

So, that’s my hearty recommendation! Happy Viewing!

Comedy Walk hosting Thursday

Comedy Walk returns! And they asked me to come back as host!

As before, I will be hosting one of their 6 simultaneously running stages Thursday, August 13th! The show runs 8:30 to 10:00 PM.

This time I’ll be in The Cabaret Room in The New LATC on 514 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles 90013.

Comics scheduled to perform: Stevie Mack, Maury Rogow, The Mooney Twins, Stogie Kenyatta, Celeste Davis, Gayla Johnson, Alicia Simmons, Brian Farrell and Jon Wilson.

Last month was a fun ride and I’m excited to be a part of it again. Hope to see you there!

Stop by for this FREE event in Downtown LA!

Improving This Saturday

This Saturday is another round of improvised comedy with the Magic Meathands. It’s tons of fun and extremely affordable! Even rounding up, it’s still FREE!

Each month, this show gets more and more packed full of people, so I highly recommend arriving early. When? Where? Glad you asked!

8:00 PM at The Spot Café & Lounge in Culver City is where the hysterics will ensue. I hope to see you there!