My job ups and downs...

Hello World...its been awhile since last we spoke, or you read, whatever! But I have been BUSY with life, so let me catch you up...

This fall I had the pleasure of directing Wait Until Dark at Richard Bland College. I love working at the Barn Theatre there, and love watching the students learn a craft that is so close to my heart. The show went amazingly well and I couldn't have been prouder of the overall outcome. It was a welcome change from the show I directed there last year, which I consider my first and only flop to date. If you saw Wait Until Dark, thanks for coming and support the college, the students, and Me! If you didn't, you missed something special.

On closing day of Dark, I went on Tech for 40 Acres and a POW. The show was fun and I got to work with folks I haven't worked with in a while, folks I never worked with, and old friends. We got mixed reviews about the show, but we had fun (and paid) so it was all worth it.

After that, one of the most talented guys I know, Ryan Tiller, invited me to be in his show, Scribbles, AGAIN! I had done it as a staged reading for him during the summer..so I guess I'm doing something right for him to invite me back! I absolutely love this show. Ryan wrote it himself and has been doing it as a one man act for years, so to have him have the confidence in me to bring something so personal to him to life is always an honor.

I then designed the lights for the Richard Bland College Dance Team, and for the second Student Showcase, again I love BLAND!!

My real job tanked, or as they told me I'm on a Furlough. Which means if and when work picks up I will be brought back. Yippee. I'm really rather burned out on the IT business. I think I will follow my bliss for a while and try to make enough money in theatre to provide for my family. I have Sandy's blessing on this, so I will give it a go...

With that being said, I have accepted a job at Theatre IV on the crew for A Christmas Carol. I am on the fly rail and love it. It is a workout at times, but its great and an experience I've never had until now. Too bad the show only runs through Christmas!

On the horizon, I have two more shows that I am technical directing at Bland, and I am planning on going to auditions/interviews for Busch Gardens on January 9th. Wish me luck!

If you are coming to the show at Theatre IV, hang around and say hello. If not I'll talk to you later, I guess.

Thanks for reading and have a Merry Christmas, just in case I don't update this until then!

Jack

The dreaded Obama speech...speech!

OK. I've kept my mouth shut on this long enough. Most everyone knows my political views, so I don't need to preface that. The reason I don't think the president should be allowed to speak in schools, whether he be a democrat or republican, is because politics should not be allowed in schools, plain and simple.

I am actually FOR his speech, but to have it in a setting where parents are not involved is the damaging factor in my head. I have a ton of teacher friends, on both side of the political fence, and I respect the hell out of all of them, but I don't think that they should be the ones fielding questions from the children because there will be a slant based on their personal opinions. Whether I agree with them or not.

I raise my children to believe what they wish and figure out their views on their own. I don't believe in forcing a particular religion, or politics, or whatever into their impressionable little minds. My oldest child DOES attend a catholic school, but that is her mother's decision, and for the record, I wasn't crazy about it even when we were together. My two year old knows who the president is, and I'm very proud of that. Whenever he comes on TV, I get greeted with a loud "OBAMA" shout. I don't discourage her, or say, "Don't say that, because I think he is a socialist moron." I foster the knowledge with a big, "That's right, you're so smart." and she toddles away, happy for the compliment and that she IS, in fact, so smart.

Now back to my point...I should be the one to field questions from my child. They are bound to want to know what the big deal is about this speech, and it should be up to me to explain why people feel the way they do, and not have it blamed on parental idiots, or the school system, or that Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

They are bound to question, why is he telling me to stay in school and do this and that...and I should be the one to answer that your mother and I want the best for you and that we will foster your dreams of college and whatever dream you want to chase, but some of your classmates will not be around on graduation day because of teen pregnancy, or work, or death, or whatever.

I think that if I cannot be involved, then Mr. Obama should allow equal time from the opposition, just like there is for State of the Union adresses, etc. I would say this even if a republican president was trying to pull this stunt. Children should hear from both sides and draw their own opinions. There is absolutly nothing wrong with the president talking to the kids, but on the other side there is nothing wrong with Obama swallowing his ego for a moment and make this a nonpartisan speech and maybe even have a high ranking republican with him on the speech. Maybe even, dare I say it...Ex-president Bush, or *GASP* Sarah Plain! Although, John McCain would be a better choice. What a beautiful image to our kids that two men who absolutely hated each other during the elections, and that parents and educators had strong emotions for, on way or the other, can put aside their differences, both personally and politically, to make a pitch to them about the advantages of getting a good education.

So am I for or against this whole thing...as stated before I am "for" the speech, I think it can do a lot of good and get some much needed dialogue going between parents and their children, but I am "against" it because the school system, Washington DC and more specifically the Obama White House, does not parent my children. And niether should shape the views and morals of what we believe in our household. I know that's the exception and not the rule, as too many parents want the school to raise their kids, and always look to Washington for a bail out, or solution. I am not that person.

So in conclusion, Mr. Obama, I did not vote for you, I do support your speech, but your decision to undermine my authority as a parent by putting your words and face into their classrooms is unacceptable. Make a six o'clock speech next time and I will plop my family in front of the TV and listen to whatever you have to say. That's a promise.

Maybe Police Work Isn't for Me...

This afternoon, I went to the Richmond City Police Department to take the test to be a Police Officer. I didn't pass the fitness test again....

Its a 50/50 feeling for me. Fifty percent of me is let down, Fifty percent of me is happy that I did what I was able to do. Let me explain the test and then where it all fell apart...

I was ushered into the Gym and given an address to remember to recite back to the trainer at the end of the test. Now, I am an actor after all so that was no big deal, and to my credit I did remember it all the way through to the miserable end. So with that in my head I set out on the first "leg" of the test, a 200 yard run...up and back 6 times. Pass.

Next, without a break mind you was 20 steps on an aerobic stepper. Pass.

Without a break again, hit the deck and give me 15 push ups mister!!! Pass.

Roll over and give me 15 sit ups. Pass.

20 more aerobic steps, please. Yes, ma'am. Pass.

Drop and do 15 more pushup's. Sure. Pass.

Now on your back again for 15 more sit ups. 1...2...3...4...5...6...uh-oh...7...8.......9.....10...can't breathe.....heart beating out of chest.....11.....body says, "Thanks for playing, you're done."

All I had to do was crank out 4 more sit-ups and run another 6 up and back and then recite the stupid address, which was 510 North 9th Street, by the way!

But no!!!! Years of smoking and eating the wrong stuff and a complete lack of exercise was my destiny on this day, and it killed me boys and girls. I thought I was going to be sick on the way home from the physical exertion, and also the disappointment. But I kept telling myself to buck up, you just did a 200 yard run, 40 steps, 30 push-ups, and 20 something situps in 5 plus minutes. At least you are not a TOTAL out of shape slob. And most of the population couldn't even do that...so cheer up. However, maybe Police work isn't for you....

This is the second Police test I've taken, the second I've failed, and I assure you dear reader, that there will not be another. I have so much respect for the men and women who protect and serve us, but I guess I'm stuck playing a cop on stage for the rest of my life, which isn't a bad thing at all!

H2, Plays and such....

First of all let me just squash anything negative you may have heard about Halloween 2. It's amazing from the first frame to the final frame. Rob Zombie's work is not for everyone. I for one love everything that he has ever done, from White Zombie in High School to his solo Career as a young adult, to his film career now.

He has made it clear that this is HIS version of the Michael Myers story, not a remake. So to all of those people complaining about it...SHUT UP! I think a lot of the comments come from the fact it is not a "fun" horror movie. You can't root for the bad guy, and the characters/victims in it are not disposable faceless teenagers, but actual people with back story and purpose and, dare I say, feelings.

We have been so desensitized to violence from all the gore porn, such as Saw and Hostel, and even the slasher films I grew up with, that to see something as brutal as what Zombie has put on the screen is not fun. The opening sequence where Lori is on the operating table after the attacks from the first film, is Zombie's way of saying...this is what happens, people get hurt, and you rarely, if ever see that in a film. Bravo, Rob.

As for the back story and new elements, I usually hate that, watch Ron Howard's abysmal Grinch, or any of the Star Wars prequels and you'll see what I mean. But Rob Zombie turned "The Shape", into a person with feelings and sympathy, but also succeeds in making him completely unlikable and unsympathetic at the same time. Brilliant.

GO SEE IT!!!

On another note...I've cast Wait Until Dark at RBC! I had an amazing turnout of students come out and audition. Some of them I've worked with before, others are brand new. I look forward to this process very much. I'll post more on this soon.

I'm going tomorrow to take the police test for the City of Richmond. I'm excited about it, and need to rest up for it, so all for now.

Feel free to comment so I know folks are actually reading this thing!!

- Jack

They like me...they really like me.

My summer is coming to a close and it has been fantastic. First the run of Night of January 16Th at Sycamore Rouge was a HUGE success for me as a performer. I personally was given kudos on my performance in the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Progress Index, and in the Richmond Theatre Blog. I am very grateful to the reviewers for enjoying my work, and it makes it all worthwhile. As I said in the title of this blog, They like me....



This past weekend Elise, Merritt, and myself went to the Mayhem Festival. It was awesome! I found a new favorite band in God Forbid. Now if only I had the funds to buy their music.... I was really unimpressed with Slayer. I am happy to have seen them sense they are Metal royalty, but very underwhelmed, time to hang up the guitars or stop touring, guys.



On the other hand Marilyn Manson was phenomenal as always. I have seen him six times now and he never disappoints. It was a scaled down show from his normal stage show, but it was beautiful. I'm bummed he removed Coma White from his live set list, but has added three very good songs from the new CD.



The personal highlight of the day was leading Elise away from the many pits we were on the out skirts of. I kept joking I was going to throw her in but I ended up pulling her away. We both got hit in the back by two crowd surfers and dropped them both at our feet. After that we moved.



I don't understand pits and all they stand for. How can beating the crap out of each other be a good time? But everyone in there has a smile on there face. I think we should all take the lead of moshers everywhere and tackle each other as a greeting, handshakes are over rated.



Sandy stayed home with Brittany. I really wish she would have been able to go. Maybe she will sometime or another...at least to support me and try to enjoy something I enjoy. I think maybe her Southern Baptist upbringing has something to do with not seeing the evil, "satanic" bands. Just goes to show that people are harmed by religious views. Maybe not her per se, but to not enjoy the arts because some holy person told you not to is ridiculous. Marilyn Manson is an entertainer portraying a persona on stage. I can't believe people really think he hangs around his house in full makeup. I heard Slayer in an interview once and they stated that they are practicing Catholics, not Satanists. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Preacher Man. By the logic that these idiots use, Johnny Depp must really be a pirate, Michael Meyers Really exists and kills teenagers, and that I must be a Policeman because I just played one on stage. Get a clue.

Can't sleep so I'll blog...

I just had an awesome weekend. The audiences for Night of January 16th were great this weekend and makes the show so much better. I hate trying to be funny and not getting a reaction. Luckily this weekend I got laughs all three days.

After Saturday's show we had a Cast Party with Mr. Ryan Tiller as the guest of honor as it was his birthday. Ryan is a great cat and I hope our friendship continues into the future. kb kept the mood light with mustache's all around! I have the best friends EVER! My perfect wifey prepared everything while we were slaving under hot stage lights. I love her soooo much.

After the matinee today she surprised me by finally taking me to see G-Force! I have been dying to see it and was not disappointed. Elise watched Syd while Brittany stayed with Nana. Perfect weekend!

I'm a little sad that the show will be over next weekend. If you haven't had a chance to see it, please do so. It is bittersweet though as once it is over I will focus my time back at my "home" theatre and work with my wonderful, talented students at Richard Bland! Can't wait.

All right I know this blog was very boring but I wanted to document how great my life is right at the moment. Plus its almost 330 in the morning and I really should be sleeping. Good night INTERNETS!!

First time

So I decided to start this blog because I feel like I may have something witty and exciting for the world to read. Time will tell...

First of all I should explain the blog's name. Bubis is a nickname bestowed upon me by my mother when I was a teenager. At the time my family had custody of my twin cousins and they took offense to her calling me "Baby Boy", so "Bubis" was born. The only ones who ever call me that are members of my family. I also use it a lot online as a user name, and I even had a vanity plate on my truck for the world to see and mispronounce!

Right now I'm exhausted so I will nap while my baby is napping too. Stay tuned...more to come.