Expectation

Heading in to 2024 this quote is something I've learned in my later adult life to be 100% truth! It's also one of the reasons upon rewatching Sex and the City I learned to despise the character of Carrie Bradshaw (note I said one of the reasons, there are many other ones to despise about that character as well.) I noticed how she always expected people and situations to be the way she thought they should be it was an exhausting, not to mention annoying revelation to behold.

The less expectation you put on situations and people the less, as Bill would put it "Heartache" you will have.

So heading into 2024 I have no expectations of it. No New Years Resolutions. I'm simply waltzing into the New Year with my eyes wide open and expectation free.

The way things are anymore it's the only way to roll...

William Shakespeare on Biography -

https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/william-shakespeare

Monday Motivation

Who Is That Masked Man?!
Michael Shinafelt

"Now is the winter of our discontent" - Richard III by William Shakespeare 

We are now on a lockdown, here in Los Angeles and pretty much everywhere else in the US, again. 

Not being a scientist, or anything remotely resembling that I am going to keep this week's Monday Motivation simple and to the point.

"Keep Calm And Wear A Mask"

If this virus hadn't been politicized by a sociopath and we were given actual leadership instead this most likely would not be happening again at present.

However since it is....MASK THE F#CK UP!!!

Thank You, Michael has left the building....

COVID information at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html  

Macbeth

Tristan Waldron (Macbeth) & Megan Ruble (Lady Macbeth)
Photo:
Ashly Covington

134 West Presents

William Shakespeare’s

Macbeth

“We are yet but young in deed.”

Directed by Alyssa Escalante

At Art Share L.A. in DTLA

Thursday, August 15 – Saturday, September 7, 2019

• Opening Night: Saturday, August 17

• Talkback: Thursday, August 29

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth gets a daring new production in Downtown LA’s arts district thanks to 134 West. Directed by Alyssa Escalante, thisMacbeth, set in a near future desert landscape, will have a limited engagement at Art Share L.A. from Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, September 7, 2019. Produced by Susan Lambert Hatem, Macbeth persists as one of Shakespeare’s most popular and most produced plays because of its deeply human themes. And yet, there remains so much to be discovered in its haunting poetry. The 134 West team will transform Art Share LA.’s space, known for its many artistic and creative events, for Macbeth, which has the distinction of being the first play to have a full run in the space. For information and tickets, please visit http://macbethla.com.

“This production offers an alternate perspective of ambition, specifically through the lens of youth,” says director Escalante. “This Macbeth is a cautionary coming of age story about the decisions we face in pursuit of our goals and the futileness of satisfaction.”

134 West will mount twelve Macbeth performances over the four-week run, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $40 for limited VIP premium seats. Suggested age limit is equivalent to a PG-13 rating due to violence, mental health issues and suicide. Opening night will take place on Saturday, August 17 with two preview performances leading up to it. The first preview, on Thursday, August 15, will be a Pay What You Can (PWYC) Night. Patrons may pay any amount at the door or secure online tickets that start at $5.00. Tickets for the second preview performance on Friday, August 16 cost $15 or $40. During the third weekend of the run, there will be a Talkback with Cast & Creatives on Thursday, August 29. Art Share L.A. is located at 801 E. 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information on the venue, please call 213-687-4278 or visit hhttps://artsharela.org.

MACBETH SYNOPSIS:

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a coming of age story of a young man at a crossroads in which he is confronted with the man he is and the man he has always imagined himself to be. Offered his heart’s desire, and supported by the powerful love of his “dearest partner,” Macbeth goes against his very nature to become king, but at the cost of his soul and the destruction of his sanity. The partners take a course of action, which simultaneously brings them all they ever dreamed possible while destroying the world around them and each other, leaving them with a haunting wisdom far beyond their years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION:

Set in the beautiful but dangerous landscape of the desert in a future reality, 134 West’s production offers an alternative perspective of ambition, specifically powered by youth. Who better to bring the boldness required to conquer such a production than young artists who are in the midst of wrestling with ambition themselves?

The youthful but experienced production team from 134 West has collaborated before onHomeward LA and Confidence (and The Speech), but Macbeth offers an exciting opportunity to produce one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays. And Art Share L.A.’s unique event space is the perfect venue to realize the vision for this production. “Art Share L.A. has been a great partner for us,” explains producer Lambert Hatem, “They have presented so many artistic and exciting events, but Macbeth is the first full-run of a play in their space. Our designers are inspired to transform the space and bring the audience into the world of our Macbeth.”

LINKS:

• Macbeth - http://macbethla.com

• Macbeth Tickets - https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4209217

• Macbeth Facebook Event Page - https://www.facebook.com/macbethLA2019

• Macbeth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/macbethla

• Macbeth Twitter - https://twitter.com/macbethla2019

• 134 West Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/134West

• 134 West Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/134west

• 134 West Twitter - https://twitter.com/134_West

Weekends Were Made For Dame Judi

Judi Dench's Exits & Entrances: A Celebration Of Shakespeare A Shakespearean celebration, with readings by Dame Judi Dench, David Suchet, Emilia Fox and the late Jeffery Dench Available on April 8th Come up and see Dame Judi do Shakespeare tricks sometime...

Exits and Entrances commemorates the 400th anniversary on April 23rd 2017 of the death of the world's most celebrated playwright William Shakespeare. The recording comprises readings of many of the most well known and best-loved verse and sonnets from the world's finest playwright, with specially scored original light classical music accompanying nine of the twenty four tracks on the album, written by British composer Jackie Williams. It features the renowned stage and screen actress, the iconic Dame Judi Dench, with some of her favourite selections from the Bard's works, alongside television and theatre actor David Suchet , best-known for his unique TV portrayal of Agatha Christie's Poirot, the hugely popular successful TV series syndicated to many countries. Also featured is Emilia Fox from the famous Fox family dynasty, well-known for her lead character in crime drama 'Silent Witness', along with two other celebrated members of the Dench family.  The project was originated by producer Mike Ritson and his musician partner Jackie. Ritson went to art college in Liverpool at the same time as John Lennon and had a successful career working in advertising in the 1980s before becoming a TV producer for ITN. On the 24 tracks, the stars each perform well-known snippets from Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry V, The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice,  "We happened to know Jeff Dench, Judi's brother, and we really owe a lot of the album's success tohim," said Ritson. "Our friendship grew and he connected us with Judi.  He loved the idea of doing a CD of  Dame Judi Dench Werk! Composer Jackie added: "The idea of the CD is to combine Shakespeare's best loved words - sonnets and  Dame Judi Dench recently appeared on the popular British radio show Desert Island Discs (the longest-running programme on the BBC) selecting her eight favourite records. Among them she chose her brother Jeffery Dench's recital of Sonnet 18 - 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' - from "Exits And Entrances", with the familiar line, 'thy eternal summer shall not fade',  lent extra poignancy by the fact that Stratford resident Jeffery passed away last year. Dame Judi's commitment to the project is underlined by the fact that she has made herself available for phone interviews with US media to support the release. Pre-order now at the MVD SHOP or on Amazon.