The Peacocks

When I've been in the Close at the Cathedral of St. John the Unfinished (oops, I meant the Divine, of course), I have seen a peacock.  But only the white peacock, all alone. 
There is a piece on Gothamist (link below) with photos and video of all the peacocks showing off.  They are impressive birds, and they know it:
http://gothamist.com/2012/05/10/winged_animal_week_peacocks.php#photo-1

Maurice Sendak

Sorry to hear that Maurice Sendak died two weeks ago.  To people my age and younger, it's unthinkable to have had a childhood without his books.  Whenever we hear someone say, "Raise a wild rumpus!" we know precisely who they are quoting.
Below is a link from Gothamist with Sendak's interview on The Colbert Report:
http://gothamist.com/2012/05/10/maurice_sendak_uncensored_on_the_co.php 

Smash

I admit it-  I've gotten a little obsessive about "Smash."  I just watched the season finale for the second time.  I know that there are big problems in the writing.  But there aren't many tv shows about people who write musicals, and I (probably over-) identify with Debra Messing's character.  It makes complete sense to me that she'd be nominated for a Best Actress Emmy.  She's the emotional center of the show.

I cannot imagine what the show will be like next season without Theresa Rebeck.  Who neglects her blog even more than I neglect mine; she of course has way more valid excuses than I do.

The Second One (and so soon!)

Another of my Chelsea Rep Lab playwriting students, Keith Filangieri, has got a play in a festival.  His "Paula's Visitor" is included in this year's Riant Strawberry One-Act Festival.  Keith has taken my Beginning class (from whence this play sprung), and wound up the Advanced class last Monday night.  He has been working very diligently on his playwriting, and I am glad to see that it has paid off.

Jacob Ouillette

My friend Jacob Ouillette is a fine painter.  We met at the Albee Foundation (aka the Barn) where we were both Fellows.  His "Why and What Blue" is above.  Jacob has work in a group show at the Nancy Margolis Gallery, 523 West 25th Street.  It runs May 24th through June 30th.
Jacob himself says:  "These most recent paintings manifest a deeper focus on color and the craft of painting by combining pigments of the ancient world with modern day-glow colors, side by side in one painting.  These curious combinations inspired the title, Why and What Blue?

evgrieve

As sad as it often is, I do enjoy reading evgrieve.com.  And every once in awhile, there is some unexpected joy.  This week, someone from St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery contributed a letter that W.H. Auden sent to the rector when he belonged to the parish.  To say that Auden was incensed about changes in the liturgy is an understatement.  I thought I took the liturgy seriously, but he took it Really seriously.  And what's more passionate than a riled-up poet?  It's worth it to click the link:  http://evgrieve.com/2012/05/from-ev-grieve-inbox.html

Theatre in Turkey in Trouble

Nedim on LinkedIn's American Theatre Group posted this deeply troubling article from the Guardian about the theatre in Turkey being under siege, with the pettiest of beginnings.  The Prime Minister's daughter felt insulted by an actor during a performance.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/17/recep-tayyip-erdogan-theatre-daughter?goback=%2Egde_155074_member_116730634

Fischer-Dieskau

It shouldn't surprise me that Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau died yesterday.  He was old, and had been retired for sometime.   The above photo of him was taken at the premiere of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.  My college library had the Decca recording of it, which I borrowed often.
There is a wonderful appreciate of Fischer-Dieskau's talents by Anthony Tommasini in today's Times:  ttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/arts/music/dietrich-fischer-dieskaus-incomparable-voice.html?emc=eta1   Also there's a multimedia sidebar of eight You Tube clips of him singing lieder.  His tone is incredible, though Erlkoenig sounded sharp to me.  Or I've got Fritz Wunderlich's rendition burned into my brain and can't properly hear any other.