Friday, September 8, 2017

Daedalus' Daughter


If you happen to live in Los Angeles or are visiting, you may be interested in this...


Bootleg Theater presents the world premiere of Daedalus’ Daughter, by Carol Katz, in association with Rosanna Gamson/World Wide, an original movement theatre piece for five performers. Opening on Thursday, September 21st and running through Saturday, September 30, 2017, Daedalus’ Daughter uses the Greek myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus as its primary metaphor for mental illness: the story of struggle, escape, flight and falling, as told from the point of view of an imagined female figure – Daedalus’ daughter. Both intimate and epic, the poetic performance piece weaves original and found text with rich visual imagery and full-bodied, choreographed movement, to create a poignant meditation on a secret family history. The abstract new work was inspired by playwright and director Katz’s own lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder and the journey it took her on. For more information, please visit https://www.carolkatzprojects.org.

"I have created this story, Daedalus’ Daughter, as a way to talk about madness and suicide that can run through family lines; its survivors, its legacy, its gifts, its ghosts,” explains Katz. “It is a meditation on my own family history, and how it has affected some or all of us in deeply personal ways. I did not find out that my grandfather had taken his own life until relatively late, yet I have been touched, if not defined, by his death all my life. This piece is for those who follow in these footsteps without ever knowing why, and for those we leave behind.”

With a one-hour run time, Daedalus’ Daughter will open on Thursday, September 21st and run for six performances over two weeks – on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm – through September 30, 2017. Pre-sale tickets are $20 ($15 for students/seniors) and will be $25 at the door ($20 for students/seniors). Bootleg Theater is located at 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057. For tickets, please call 213-389-3856 or visit http://www.bootlegtheater.org/event/1554271-daedalus-daughter-los-angeles.

Daedalus’ Daughter brings together a collaborative team of Los Angeles theatre and dance artists under the direction of Carol Katz, assisted by critically acclaimed choreographer, Rosanna Gamson. Created though an extended and deeply collaborative process, the piece was very much devised in partnership with the ensemble of actors and dancers: Sean SpannKirk WilsonClementine Gamson LevyLavinia Findikoglu and Kearian GiertzMallory Fabian is on board as Associate Creative Producer and Tom E Kelley is engineering the props and set construction. Lighting Designer, Darius Gangei, Sound Designer Simon Greenberg, and Scenic Designer Tanya Orellana, all from CalArts, round out the creative team.

SYNOPSIS:
Daedalus' Daughter, an original dance theatre piece by Carol Katz, is a retelling of the Icarus myth from the point of view of his sister, interwoven with a secret family history. This half-bird, half-girl is an embodied metaphor, a symbolic way to talk about the madness and suicide that can run through generations of families. So while this is an intimate story about one woman’s real family, it speaks to countless others who have dealt with the pain and sorrow of mental illness in their own. It is a story about the costs of keeping things hidden in shame and silence – yet ultimately it is about the hope and redemption that are possible when these secrets are acknowledged and claimed. There is a powerful and healing magic when someone speaks their own truth, and realizes that they are not alone. Told through movement and text, both poetic and prosaic, this piece is a surreal, dream like journey through myth and memory.


• Daedalus’ Daughter Facebook event page - https://www.facebook.com/events/336497893477592

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Thursday, September 7, 2017

Michael's Musings

No Bozo
Michael Shinafelt
"But where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns. Quick, send in the clowns" - Send In The Clowns, Stephen Sondheim 

Clowns abound this week! With the premiere of American Horror Story: Cult, IT opening this Friday & Donald Trump moving (his bowels I am guessing) to overturn DACA.

Isn't life funny? Moving on...

The only thing Trump could do that would surprise me at this point is not be a narcissistic bloated piece of sh!t of a human being.

After catching the premiere of American Horror Story: Cult - I think the subtitle for the latest season should be American Horror Story: Clown Porn

Street Talk - "I'm Eeyore, but I'm not. Jesus made me this way"

Vulgarity is an important ingredient in life

If you're sexy and you know it clap your hands!

Wanna know what I made this week that is magically delicious? A salmon patty with Jalapenos on top under melted jack cheese. Yes, it was good as it sounds.


Sasha Pieterse & Moi
@ The G.B.F. Premiere
A shout out to Pretty Little Liars Sasha Pieterse who will be on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars

Helpful Hint: Always remember when being attacked by sadistic clowns, hurl bottles of rose' 

Who out there is seeing IT tomorrow like me? Raise your hands.

I'm a rebel just for kicks now

Looking for a whore? Ask a pimp

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Clown around with me at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

AHS: Cult




While I am not going to review last night's shenanigans on American Horror Story: Cult I will say this - who knows what the hell is going on? Please if you do, or think you do, spill!

Election night 2016 kicks off this season that had many WTF?! moments in it. How WTF?! were they Michael? Evan Peters character Kai urinating in a condom and tossing it at a group of Latino immigrants spouting racial slurs. A gang of clowns one who masturbates in front of Sarah Paulson's Ally while two others of the insane clown posse fornicate in front of her.

As if Donald Trump "leading" our country isn't freaky enough, we now have to contend with this shit as a result of him being elected???

The only thing I can state about last night's premiere is it left me in a state of confusion as to where this season is going to lead. This could be a good thing although it turned out that it was not so good when Roanoke aired last season and turned out to be even worse than Coven.

Yeah, of course I will keep watching. The crazy array of scenarios trotted out before me last night were completely nuts! I hope where this path leads is equally so.

AHS on Facebook:

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

So Long Summer?

Coming In For A Landing
Derek Hough

Even though fall doesn't officially begin until September 22, Labor Day marks the end of summer symbolically because it is the last holiday weekend of the season.

That being said while summer is headed into the twilight stage, the summer weather will go on with all of 2017'a crazy heat waves.

So let's bid adieu to the season with this shot of Dancing With The Stars Derek Hough playing Frisbee at the beach.

While Derek doesn't do much for me on the Schwing meter I will state I would like to have a body like his. Evenly proportioned with just the right amount of ripple.

BTW word is Mr. Hough got sand in his mug on the way down.

Ciao Summer!

Derek on Instagram:

Monday, September 4, 2017

Just Because...Boots

Come On Boots, Start Walking!
Hilary Duff

Just Because it's Labor Day Weekend and who wants to see a post about that? Just Because her boots are made for walking & just because she stars on Younger - I give you Hilary Duff sporting a bad ass pair of boots whilst walking in West Hollywood, CA.

Luckily this photo was taken before Labor Day being as they are white. We wouldn't want to have to throw Ms. Duff in fashion prison, that would not be very nice.

There is something I have always liked about Duff and obviously I am not alone in that. She has a successful career after all and for that to happen you have to have fans.

I must confess however that I have yet to catch her current endeavor Younger. Word is it's good and I should, and will at some point...cross my heart.

Now aren't you happy?

Hilary on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hilaryduff/?hl=en

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story



The more you know...

With exclusive voice-over contributions from David Bowie, this film is a celebration of the life and works of guitar virtuoso Mick Ronson, a rock hero virtually uncelebrated despite his direct contribution and involvement in countless compositions, lyrics and recordings that changed the face of music forever.



An Emperor Media Ltd production, documentary special Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story(101:50 minutes) is from award-winning producer/director Jon Brewer. Mick Ronson's humble beginnings in Hull, England underpinned his values and modest, unpretentious personality as he worked with the city's council whilst pursuing his craft with consummate dedication. 

Soon word of his talent reached David Bowie, who grabbed at the chance to work with Ronson, in what would become a career-long association, alongside collaborations with other greats such as Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter, Lulu, Lou Reed, Morrissey and John MellencampThe Man Who Sold the World, Aladdin Sane, Hunky Dory, The Jean Genie - all were constructed with Ronson on guitar.

Sadly in 1993, while working on a solo album, Ronson passed away before receiving the recognition he so richly deserved or before taking that final bow. Now, with unprecedented access to archival backstage footage - never before released - and iconic imagery from superstar photographer Mick Rock, this fascinating and at times controversial special reveals the ultimate authentic chronicle of the career of a cornerstone of rock.

Producer and director Jon Brewer commented, "Both Mick Ronson and David Bowie together were the ultimate duo. They performed and recorded like magicians and created masterpieces that will live on forever."

Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story is distributed in the US by MVD Entertainment Group via Blu-ray + DVD, transactional video on demand, and download to own rights from international distributor Content Media following the Parade Deck Films theatrical release .

THEATRICAL DATES

September 1st:
Los Angeles, CA - Laemmle Music Hall 
New York, NY - Cinepolis
Buffalo, NY - The Screening Room 
Kansas City, MO - Screenland Arts & Crafts Film Festival
Albuquerque NM - The Guild Cinema

September:
Portland, OR - Clinton Street Theater


September 4th and 5th:
San Francisco, CA - Roxy Theater  ***Angie Bowie Q&A via Skype

September 6th:
Philadelphia, PA - Philamoca

September 8th:
Columbus, OH - Gateway Film Center 
Wayne, PA - Reel Cinema

To pre-order the Blu-ray+DVD package go HERE.