Win Tickets To Driving Miss Daisy

1/27 5:30PM Update: Thanks to everyone who entered. The contest is now closed. I'll announce the winner later tonight!

I'm seeing Driving Miss Daisy on Monday, February 7th. It's a special benefit performance for The Actor's Fund, "a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition."

I'm looking forward to seeing James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave together on stage.

Today over Twitter, I'm giving away a pair of tickets to Monday, February 7th's special performance.

To enter to win, all you need to do is Tweet between 10am and 5pm: "Enter to win a pair of tickets to see @theactorsfund's benefit perf of @DaisyOnBroadway, via @RyanNewYork at http://ryanjdavis.blogspot.com"

I'll draw and announce the winner late tonight. More information on the show below. Remember, if you don't win, you can still buy tickets here. It's a great cause.

From the press release:

The Broadway company of "Driving Miss Daisy" has announced that their Special Benefit Performance for The Actors Fund will be dedicated to the memory of Lynn and Corin Redgrave. The benefit performance is scheduled for Monday, February 7 at 8pm. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund.
...

"Driving Miss Daisy" stars James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave and Boyd Gaines. The performance will be at the Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street in New York City. Premium seating is available for $226.50 and regular seats from $66.50 to $126.50.

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.store.actorsfund.org, call 212.221.7300 ext. 133, or email tickets@actorsfund.org. Tickets can also be purchased at www.telecharge.com or through the Golden Theatre box office.

About The Actors Fund

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone – performers and those behind the scenes – who works in performing arts and entertainment, helping nearly 12,000 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund's programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has – for over 125 years – been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

Gay History Uncut: Harry Hay & The Temperamentals

Over the weekend I sat down with Jon Marans, author of The Temperamentals, which is currently playing Off-Broadway. We had a great conversation about Harry Hay and the founding of the early gay rights movement in America.

We both recommend reading Stuart Timmons' Trouble With Harry Hay for more information.

Listen below, or subscribe on iTunes. If you missed our first episode on the 1920s Harvard Secret Court, listen here.

Thanks to Veritable Virgo for making me the great podcoast logo!

Veritas Table Reading

Yesterday, we had the first table reading of Stan Richardson's new drama Veritas. The play deals with the 1920 Harvard Secret Court, an anti-gay witch hunt that ruined the lives of a group of students. We hope to stage a full production later this year, watch the blog for details.

Our reading cast included; Chad Lindsey, Seamus Mulcahy, Kevin Michael Murphy, Steven Kane, Michael Hirstreet, Vince Rimoldi, Brian DeCaluwe, Mitch Dean, Micah Shepard, Saum Eskandani, & Adam J. Thomspon.

Special thanks to midtown's The Ritz for letting us use their upstairs space.

Best Theatre of 2009

Originally posted on The Huffington Post:

In 2000, my first year living in New York City, I attended over two hundred different theater productions. This year, I clocked in barely a hundred. Below are my top five in no particular order.

In The Next Room or the vibrator play: A beautiful production (directed by Les Walters) that examines the marriage of a doctor who invented an early electric vibrator. Sarah Ruel offers a smart and funny look at how technology can affect our personal lives on many levels. Currently playing at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre, closes Jan. 10th.

Surrender: The International WOW Company produced this fully immersive military experience. The cast led the audience through basic training (complete with push ups) and into a simulated war environment. Afterwards, we're integrated back into society. While occasionally a tad heavy-handed, it was a profound experience. Performed Jan. 7th to Jan. 25th. Read my interview with director Josh Fox.

The Temperamentals: A fascinating Mad Men-esq look at Harry Hay, an often forgotten character in gay history, and the early Los Angeles gay rights movement. Reopening at New World Stages on Feb. 10th, prior limited run June, 10th '09 through Aug. 23rd 2009.

Ruined: A powerful tale of women struggling to live in the Congo won the Pulitzer Price and deserved a Broadway transfer. Performed Feb. 10th to Sept 6th at Manhattan Theatre Club.

My Wonderful Day: Alan Ayckbourn's new play is a surprisingly contemporary tale from a 70 year-old playwright/director. Ayesha Antoine's winning performance as an 8 year-old observing adult chaos was a delight. Played Nov. 11th - Dec. 13th at 59E59 Theaters.

Looking forward to what New York City theatre has to offer in the year & decade ahead.

Creativity In 100 Words

My friend actor/blogger Blaine Hogan asked me to write 100 words on the idea of "creating a new work." He is collecting 100 words on many topics and posting them on his website.

Here I am:

Creating Something New

Creating a new work is about more than just a great idea. People have ideas all the time, but few follow-up on them and allow them to grow. Even fewer actually complete them. No matter what you’re creating (a musical, film, book, etc.) you’re going to need support. Even the most individual arts require feedback. In my experience, creating theatre is a total ensemble activity. You don’t know what you’ve got until actors and designers have provided their interpretations and visions. Successful creators never get too caught up in themselves or lose focus on the ones who’ve contributed to “their” creation.

OnStage - Ruined, The Temperamentals, and Jeffery & Cole: Make It Bigger

The New York City stage is packed this summer and the three Off-Broadway productions I'm recommending, Ruined, The Temperamentals, and Jeffery & Cole: Make It Bigger, all represent the wonderful diversity of offerings currently available to theatergoers.

Ruined, which won the Pulitzer Prize this year, is the story of Mama Nadi, a women who owns a brothel in the middle of a civil war in the Congo. Loosely inspired by Brecht's Mother Courage, Ruined offers us a glimpse into the lives of these women as they struggle to survive. It's one powerful story.

The script feels authentic and was carefully researched and developed by interviewing women who live in the region under these deplorable conditions. The production has been running for months at Manhattan Theatre Club, but is still fresh, vital, and beautifully performed.

I'd be shocked if Ruined doesn't get a shot at Broadway soon.

Playing until August 23rd, The Temperamentals is the true story of the creation of American's first gay rights group. Staged both simply & beautifully in the intimate Barrow Group Theater, you feel as if you're a part of their early organizing - both victories & defeats. The entire cast is fabulous; lead with strength by Thomas Jay Ryan and Ugly Betty's Michael Urie.

Harry Hay, the founder of The Temperamentals, wasn't as known to me as Stonewall or Harvey Milk, but he's courageous and intelligent. Anyone currently involved in the fight for gay equality (and who believe it has to do with way more than marriage) will find lots to like in Hay's philosophies. He's no fan of total gay assimilation, and would question the value in the current pursuit of a strictly heteronormative agenda.

In fact, shortly before his death (at the age of 90) in 2002 Hay said, "The assimilationist movement is running us into the ground." Amen brother.

For big laughs, with zero assimilation, head downtown to Earl Dax's Hot! Festival. Queer performers have taken over the uber-trendy Dixon Place. Two of those performers are my good friends Jeffery Self and Cole Escola, extremely funny guys who have scored quite a hit with their current Logo TV show Jeffery & Cole Casserole.

Jeffery & Cole's Hot! Festival offering, 'Make It Bigger,' is loosely based on their story, from YouTube to the boob tube. Wonderfully raunchy and politically incorrect their rise to fame story has lots of familiar elements and big laughs. You can see their final performance on Thursday night.

--
Ryan is a freelance theater director, who is currently directing Vote! at FringeNYC and Street Lights at NYMF. His musical White Noise recently premiered regionally in New Orleans. Read his blog here.

Published on The Huffington Post.

Summer of Theatre '09

July has been a very busy month for me! I've been lax on blogging, but I'm always updating my Twitter feed.

Over the weekend of July 17th, I had a great run at the 10th Annual Midtown International Theater Festival with my friend writer/actor Michael Hirstreet's short-solo play My Broken Brain. He got a great audience response and is looking into other venues to continue developing the script.

The show I created in 2006, White Noise, received it's first regional production in New Orleans this month. It was a huge production, with a $2.2 million dollar budget, and was well-received by the local critics. Their main paper, The Times-Picayune, called it "Powerful." The production closed yesterday and they'd still like to open it on Broadway.

Most of the drama in New Orleans was off-stage. As reported by Michael Riedel in the New York Post, White Noise's "co-director" and producer has issues.

Mitchell Maxwell, another flop king, is causing such strife that he's been banned from his own show, the Broadway-bound musical "White Noise." The volatile producer verbally abused his creative team, frightened his actors and threw such a temper tantrum in the lobby of the Omni Hotel that terrified guests called the police, several production sources told The Post. "I have never experienced anything this crazy in my life," one member of the creative team says. "He is not a stable man."

Don't miss any of the details, it's crazy. The stuff they couldn't print will probably make it into a screenplay of mine someday.

I've been in rehearsals for the musical comedy Vote! at FringeNYC. It's going REALLY well. As I've mentioned before, we have an incredible cast.

I took this picture yesterday on my iPhone at a music brush-up.

Tickets just went on-sale. They are just $15. That's the best deal in New York. Buy yours now, we open on August 14th and they are selling fast.

We're in pre-production for Street Lights, which was invited to the New York Musical Theatre Festival this year. White Noise got it's start at NYMF and we're excited to return to the festival. We open on October 14th, more details soon.

I'll try to keep up with the blog more. Hope to see you all at Vote!

My Broken Brain @ MITF

For the last few weeks I've been working with my friend Michael Hirstreet on his new solo show My Broken Brain, which performs July 17th-19th at the 10th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival. The play chronicles Micheal's childhood in New Jersey, growing up with his "jesus-loving" Mother and dealing with five brain hemorrhages. But, it's a comedy. More info on Broadway World or visit the MITF Official Site.

Announcing VOTE! @ Fringe NYC. We're Casting!

VOTE!, a musical I've been working on with the wonderful writers Ryann Ferguson & Steven Jamail, will perform in August at FringeNYC! I spent parts of February & March in Bloomington, Indiana working with students from Indiana University on a workshop production and we're ready for New York City.

We're casting. Details below:

VOTE! The Musical
FringeNYC 2009
AEA New York International Fringe Festival Code
AEA/non-AEA (Pending Equity Approval)
Stipend

Director: Ryan J. Davis
Book & Lyrics: Ryann Ferguson
Music: Steven Jamail
Choreographer: Rachelle Rak
Casting: Daryl Eisenberg Casting
Auditions (by appointment): June 29-30
Rehearses: Mid-July/Aug 2009, flexible schedule
Performances: Festival is Aug 14-30 2009, show times pending

More Info At: www.votethemusical.com

SUBMIT VIA E-MAIL ASAP

SYNOPSIS: At GVHS, it hardly matters who will lead student council. But try telling that to candidates running and people who love them (or hate them). For them, the rest of their lives hinge on who can get the most votes.

NOTE: VOTE! The Musical, a cartoon masquerading as live action show, offers a sharp, campy look at elections and the moral dilemmas they produce. The bright, energetic score drives fast from the onset of the campaign to the voting booth. It is HAIRSPRAY meets YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN meets ELECTION. Substance disguised as cuteness. All heart disguised as satire. All students should actually be 18-25 years old.

SEEKING:
[MUFFIN PASQUINELLI] 17 y.o. Caucasian female. Stunningly beautiful. The valedictorian of GVHS, Muffin has a secret she has finally admitted to herself: she’s really just not that smart. She's only running for president because her mom wants her to attend law school, but secretly – in her heart of hearts – all Muffin wants to do is be a flight attendant! LEAD. HIGH F - BELT/STRONG MIX

[MARK] 17 y.o. Caucasian male. An evil nerd who has been pushed out of everything he feels he deserves by Muffin. He's very ambitious. He loves power and is distracted by very little else. Now, he decides to exact revenge when MUFFIN goes after the one thing he really wants - Student Council President! LEAD. MUST HAVE STRONG FALSETTO.

[NIKKI] 17 y.o. African American female. A super politically-correct African-American Role Model. But she is not an advertisement for her ethnicity. She struggles with how much she wants her race to define her. LEAD. BELT/MIX.

[TRISH] 17 y.o. female. MUFFIN's yes man, always in the shadow. All that changes when she discovers that while she’s good at being a side kick, she’s even better at being a villainous side kick. LEAD. CHARACTER BELT

[MS VENORA FOWLER] Late 20s-40s African American female. GVHS’s sassy, whimsical, government teacher. With a soft spot in her heart for Denzel Washington, David Justice and Tyson Beckford, she also has a talent for creating mnemonic devices and telling it like it is. LEAD. BELT/STRONG MIX

[MIKE] 20s male. Slick, buff snowboarder, boy band type. CAST: LANDON BEARD.

[BRODY] 18 y.o. male. The dumbest, hottest jock there is and current student council president. SUPPORTING

[ANGELICA] 17 y.o. female. The dumbest, hottest blonde cheerleader there is and Muffin's follower through and through. CAST: TRACY WEILER

[NATHAN] 17 y.o. male. A serious minion to MARK. Puts up with all of Mark’s schemes, echoes his agenda. Overly invested in everything Mark does. Secretly pines for MUFFIN. Lots of physical comedy. SUPPORTING. STRONG TENOR.

[ENSEMBLE] 17 y.o. males and females. Jocks, nerds, and the precious ones in between. Several featured roles. Must be able to dance. Please submit Non-Eqs as well!

Remember, It's #TheaterThursday!

Last week's #TheaterThursday was a big hit! We had users participate from all over the country and I hope today is bigger!

It's easy to do - If you're on Twitter, give your favorite theater tweeters a shout-out, using the tag #TheaterThursday. Please spell theater with an "er" - a few people used "re" last time and that gets you lost in the search! Oh, and give me some love - @ryannewyork.

Also, don't forget the real life theater blogger meet up, hosted by Broadway's Ken Davenport on April 23rd in NYC.

Atomic Theater

On Thursday I saw Trinity 5:29 at The Axis Theater on Sheridan Square. The play surrounds the creation of the first atomic bomb, oddly told as a "medieval cycle play."

That turns J. Robert Oppenheimer into an Adam character. The weird setup keeps the audience from ever really becoming involved in the story. The performances aren't any help either. Luckily, the show is under an hour and I can't complain about that.

It was my first time at the Axis and it's a beautiful space, one of the nicer Off-Off-Broadway venues that I've been to. My friend Adam said it looked like a theater designed for the X-Men with all the stainless steal. While I didn't like the play, Trinity had top notch production values; great lighting, set, and costumes. Great place to see a show, just not this one.

Broadway Bloggers Unite! It's #TheaterThursday

Twitter follow days are a great way to connect with like minded people in the Twitterverse. It all began with #FollowFriday and grew into #SameSexSunday (for gays) and #MusicMonday(for music). Hash tags make organizing via Twitter easy.

If you're on Twitter and you Tweet about theater - give a #TheaterThursday shout-out to your favorite theater Tweeters! Hopefully, one of them will be me - @ryannewyork.

For real life organizing, theatrical producer Ken Davenport is hosting a theater blogger meet up at Planet Hollywood in New York City on April 23rd. You can find all the details on his blog.

Reasons To Be Pretty

Last week Kevin and I saw Neil Labute's first Broadway production - Reasons To Be Pretty. It's a solid play, not my favorite of Labute's work though. His first two movies, In The Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors were both explosive and exciting in a new way. His current stuff seems light compared to the major dark stuff he was writing in the mid-90s.

I guess he had to mainstream to make it to Broadway.

That said, Reasons... is a completely entertaining production that "confronts America's obsession with physical beauty headlong. Greg's tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his off-handed remarks about a female co-worker’s pretty face (and his girlfriend's lack thereof) get back to said girlfriend."

I'd have cut the intermission and 20 minutes out of it, there were times when I felt like the characters didn't have much to say. But, there was enough sharp humor to keep me interested. Steven Pasquale's character, Greg's womanizing friend, was my favorite part of the show. I was captivated by Steven's performance.

Reasons... officially opens tonight on Broadway.

First Mr. Broadway Contestant Pictures!

We've just got a few pictures in from Carol Rosegg's Broadway Beauty Pageant photo shoot on Monday. They came out really wonderful. Above is one of the shirtless group shots, the boys are from left to right; Anthony Hollock (Mr. Hair), Adam Fleming (Mr. Wicked), James Brown III (Mr. Little Mermaid), David Larsen (Mr. Billy Elliot), and Jonathan Sandler (Mr. Mary Poppins). Unfortunately, Jonathan has had to leave the show because of schedule conflicts. Not pictured is Tony James, Mr. Lion King.

To the right is David Larsen, who as Mr. Billy Elliot is my early favorite. Although, I don't get any say in the winner - that's decided 100% by audience vote. Tickets are available now for April 20th.

More pictures soon.

White Noise Casting

Back in September 2006, I conceived and directed White Noise, a musical at The New York Musical Theatre Festival. It was an exciting production and I got to work with many of my friends, including Joe Drymala who wrote the book and bulk of the score.

The run at the festival was a success, sold-out shows and quotable reviews. It was enough to get the show optioned for Broadway. Before Broadway, the producers are trying the show out in New Orleans and they're casting! All the info is below if you'd like to submit.

For more details on the show, watch this bit below from Good Morning America.

Casting Details

WHITE NOISE - Theatre
V/T: LE PETIT THEATRE - AEA NOLA CONTRACT
$600/week + 10%, + health, pension, per diem, airfare, all transportation and housing
NEW ORLEANS, LA

Producer: Le Petit Theatre in association with White Noise Productions, LLC, Sibling Theatricals, Inc. and Holly Way and Co.
Co-Directors: Mitchell Maxwell & Donald Byrd
Choreographer: Donald Byrd
Book: Matte O'Brien
Based on a story and characters by Joe Drymala and an original concept by Ryan J. Davis
Additional Material by Rob Bartlett
Music & Lyrics: Joe Drymala, Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane.
Additional Music By: Glen Kelly, Laurence O'Keefe, Benj Pasek/Justin Paul, Eric Svejcar
Casting Director: Michael Cassara
Auditions (in NYC): 4/6/09, 4/7/09 and 4/8/09
Rehearsal (in New York): 6/1/09-6/13/09;(in New Orleans): 6/15/09 7/6/09
Performances: 7/7/09 7/26/2009 with possible extension through 8/12/09

SUBMIT HARDCOPY MICHAEL CASSARA CASTING
212 W. 35TH STREET - 11TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10001
ATTN: WHITE NOISE

NOTE: All actors participating in this New Orleans production will have the first right of refusal for the next production. The producers hope to bring this production to New York in the future.

[EVA] 19 from small town Oregon. Blonde/Aryan-looking. Beautiful, eloquent and approachable on surface, but driven, manipulative and wise beyond her years. She has a superlative ability to identify a persons weak point and use it to her advantage. When necessary, sexy beyond belief. A Neo-Nazi. Incredible singer, Alto/mezzo belt. Pop/rock vocals. CAST - DO NOT SUBMIT.

[KADY] 22 from small town Oregon, Evas sister. Blonde/Aryan-looking. Beautiful, good-natured, looking for a way out of Oregon. When necessary, sexy beyond belief. While she may not have the same deep rooted hate displayed by her sister, she is misguided and naïve in her willingness to go along with Eva in order to satisfy her own agenda. Incredible singer, Alto/mezzo belt. Pop/rock vocals. CAST - DO NOT SUBMIT.

SEEKING:

[ RICK ]
Late 40s. Caucasian. Talent manager. Charismatic, passionate, confident to a fault, and Machiavellian. He believes he is all-knowing and indestructible when it comes to the music industry and the manufacturing of talent for good reason, as he has had success of Clive Davis proportions. Non-singing, but carrying a tune is a plus. SEEKING STAR NAMES.

[ DUKE ]
25, a skinhead. Caucasian. From small town Oregon. Tall, handsome, aggressive and intimidating. A raw nerve and accustomed to opposition, he has grown to be unafraid of anyone or anything. Baritone/tenor. Pop/rock sound.

[ KURT ]
25, Caucasian, A New Yorker and brilliant singer/songwriter. True intellectual, genuine and a voice of reason - he represents the audience at large. Tenor. Thrilling pop/rock vocals.

[ LAUREL ]
Mid-Late 30s, Aryan-looking. Eva and Kadys mother, from small town Oregon. A struggling, single mom, who lost her husband to suicide - she is beautiful, yet worn. Alto/ mezzo-soprano.

[ TYLER ]
Early 20s, African-American. A rap musician, top college graduate who has been packaged as a gangsta rapper. One half of a lucrative gangsta rap duo. Tyler is laid back, smart and level-headed. Authentic rapper and strong singer.

[ DION ]
Mid 20s. African-American. Tylers brother and other half of successful gangsta rap duo. Also a top college graduate and talented musician. Aggressive, temperamental when pushed. The more alpha of the brothers. Authentic rapper and strong singer.

[ PETE MARTIN ]
Early 40s. A well respected news journalist and reporter a la Anderson Cooper. As concerned with honest reporting as he is with his ego and ability to deliver good television. Non-singing, but must be able to carry a tune.

[ BOB ]
Mid-Late 30s. Caucasian. Father to Eva and Kady, husband to Laurel. Former mill worker who lost his job and dignity to illegal immigrants. Becomes an abusive alcoholic. Commits suicide when daughters are small children and serves as the inspiration for Eva and Dukes white supremacist crusade. Non-singing, but must be able to carry a tune.

[ MALE DANCERS ]
18-40, versatile and strong dancers, all styles, all ethnicities. Must be able to carry a tune. Ensemble will additionally fill various smaller roles. Casting 2 total.

[ FEMALE DANCERS ]
18-40, versatile and strong dancers, all styles, all ethnicities. Must be able to carry a tune. Ensemble will additionally fill various smaller roles. Casting 2 total.

Irena's Vow on Broadway

Last week my boyfriend Kevin and I saw Irena's Vow on Broadway. It's the true story of Irena Gut, a Catholic who saved 12 Jews in Germany by hiding them in her cellar.

The play is written by Dan Gordon, the screenwriter of a film that I've always admired, Murder In The First and Surf Ninajs, which I remember liking when I was eleven. He's written an exciting 95-minute one-act, artfully staged by Michael Parva.

Tovah Feldshuh is wonderful in the title role, but this isn't a one women show. She's surrounded by a great cast, including Tracee Chimo, who was in a pilot about NYC off-off Broadway (Called Breaking In - watch here) that I directed a few years ago.

A film version is already in the works, so see it live before it hits the big screen. Visit the official site for more information.

(Note: I work on Irena's Vow's internet marketing team, but I truly enjoyed the production.)

Speed The Plow & Jeremy Piven

Last December, Jeremy Piven abruptly quit the Broadway production of Speed The Plow, citing mercury poisoning. It's been widely assumed by many (including myself) that Piven was just looking to get out of his contract. The details of his story never added up.

The Speed The Plow producers reacted brilliantly, finding great replacements and making snarky comments about Piven to the media. My favorite was playwright David Mament's line, "I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."

Now, the producers plan to file for arbitration against Piven for his early departure. The production did recoup it's investment.

Below is a chart showing blog trends of American Buffalo (In Blue) and Speed The Plow (Orange), they both played on Broadway at the same time. The blue line gives you an idea of the press attention a typical Broadway play can expect, the orange is irregular.



You see that huge orange spike in mid-December? That's everyone talking about Piven leaving the show. You see that spike in late October? That's the show's Broadway opening, organized by marketing, advertising, and publicity experts.

It's clear that Piven leaving the show was a larger story than Piven doing the show. You can't buy that kind of publicity. I'd cast Piven in anything I produce, as long as he promises not to finish the run.

Night Owl / Early Morning Odds & Ends

I'm back from flu land. My temperature is gone and I was finally able to do something outside the house besides rehearsal. I hung with my new friend Quinto, after my dinner at the IU-staple Mother Bears, and we watched the first three episodes of Rupal's new Logo Series Drag Race. It's a drag version of America's Next Top Model, that I sorta loved. It wouldn't work without Ru Paul, but with her it really works.

Rehearsal went great tonight, we're finally getting the chance to polish some of the dances. Today we worked on D-Gates, a song where Muffin (yes, Muffin) and Mike meet and fall for each other outside an airport. In this photo, Eric Anderson Jr. is at the piano, Aly Bloom is in front, and the two-Ms are Jen Saltiel and Justin Klein.

Vote in Bloomington tickets went on sale yesterday and we perform the weekend of March 6th-8th.

The News:

-- The NY Times has a major feature on the RENT California drama. Mr. Martin, the school's amazing drama instructor, describes in some detail his initial conversation with the bigot principal.

He said his principal, Fal Asrani, had objected to the show because of its treatment of “prostitution and homosexuality.” “When I heard that, I stopped her and looked her in the eye and said, ‘First, there is no prostitution in ‘Rent,’ and second, homosexuality is not wrong,’ ” Mr. Martin said. “She made no comment. It was the most demoralizing, disappointing moment in my career as a teacher.”

-- Kathleen Sebelius will make a great HHS Secretary. But, what is Howard Dean gonna do?

-- Obama has a 67% approval rating in the latest AP Poll. The Republicans in Congress are at 33%.

-- I agree with Andrew Sullivan, Obama should give Arnold a job when he leaves office. Arnold should become Obama's top Republican ally.

-- Republican Chairmen Michael Steele is out of his mind.

Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an “off the hook” public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party’s principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.”

The RNC’s first black chairman will “surprise everyone” when updating the party’s image using the Internet and advertisements on radio, on television and in print, he told The Washington Times.

-- Al Franken will soon finally be a Senator. 59 Democrats. Obama will just need a single GOP vote to pass legislation.

RENT May Go On At Calif. School

I just received confirmation that Ronald Martin, the hero drama teacher at Corona del Mar High School, is putting a copy of the RENT script on bigoted principal Fal Asrani's desk on Monday. He is still pushing to do the show, with the full support of the parents of every cast member.

Asrani will have to read the script, and reply in writing as to her objections. She'll no longer be able to lie to the media about the reasons for not wanting to do the show.

I spoke to a parent of a cast member on the phone tonight, who said that she was feeling very optimistic about her child getting to perform in the show. Apparently the Anti-Defamation League is now involved.

To catch up on this story, read my first and second pieces.

Atmosphere Of Hate In Rent-Canceling High School

Fal Asrani, the principal of Corona del Mar High School who canceled their production of RENT due to homosexual content, has been known to show tolerance toward overtly violent anti-gay hate speech. In January three senior boys posted a public Facebook video calling for the rape and murder of a lesbian student. The several minute long video is especially shocking for the humor the boys find in their threats.

The horrified parents of the girl quickly notified the school's administration of the video and were deeply troubled at their response. The boys were suspended for five days. Earlier in the school year, these boys were suspended for two months for “streaking.” Apparently Asrani believes that seeing someone's bare butt is vastly worse than threats of murder and rape. Go figure.

The girl's parents sent an e-mail to Asrani expressing their regret at RENT's cancellation:

...your administration has sent a clear message that threatening sexual violence is a minor offense punishable by 5 days of suspension (though "streaking" is punishable by two months of suspension); that "gay bashing" (as was depicted throughout the Facebook video) is also merely a minor infraction and one that the school will not acknowledge (and thereby tacitly endorses); and that any attempt by the school community to address these issues in a positive and thoughtful way--a way that would encourage dialogue and understanding (i.e. producing a play like RENT), will be soundly squashed. The gay students who daily brave CDMHS, along with the young women who endure all forms of sexual harassment while you look the other way, deserve more from their school's administration.

Ronald Martin, the school's drama teacher, wrote me, “I knew that there was an increase in hate language and I wanted to do something before it got too far out of hand.” He had a meeting with the parents of everyone in the cast and they agreed to let their children perform.

Asrani now wants the students to perform You're A Good Man Charlie Brown instead of RENT. But, the members of the RENT cast that I've been in contact with haven't given up yet. They intend to push the issue, as they should.

Join the SAVE RENT group on Facebook.

(Correction- The girl in the video that the three boys suggest should be raped and murdered is not actually a lesbian. She is very involved in the drama program and has many gay friends. Several of whom the boys mock in the video.)