The band’s on a break, so it’s actually quiet at the Eagle. Still not much happening. But…we found the restroom on the left is much, much colder than the one one the right (if you’re facing north). There’s a Sam Shepard quote on the wall of the one on the right, so it’s clearly the theatre restroom. Of course, we have a bunch of people in this room, so it’s no surprise it’s cold out there. But, seriously. Colder.

Also, it’s nice to know that Sam’s room is around the corner. Not Sam Shepard. Sam the Handyman, who supposedly has never left the White Eagle…even though he left the rest of us some time ago.

Also the doors creak like hell.

More to come….

S

So…as some may have been following, Pavement Productions and The Bluestockings are staging Dead of Winter, a trio of ghost stories at Performance Works Northwest (opens Feb 1st). But we’re professionals, doing our research, so we’re here at the in(famous) White Eagle Tavern/Hotel. The White Eagle, of course, is supposed to be haunted. We’re staying in Room 3. The Birdsong room. It’s small. There are little birds painted on the walls. Bird…song. So far, no ghosts. No birds either. But then, the band downstairs may be chasing both of them away. We’ll see. But the place does have a weird feel to it. It may all be projection, but…we’ll see. Anyway, so far, no ghosts. Just theatre people. Which, of course, is scary enough.

Stay tuned.

Steve

…pass the tequila…sugah….

Shine a Light

…here’s a production shot from Wet Paint, the piece in Dead of Winter that I wrote specifically for The Bluestockings and which will be a world premiere. Soon, we’ll have a short promotional film on The Bluestocking’s website; I’ll let people know when it’s up and running.

The still’s from a seance that begins to get a little…odd.

Steve

…do it big:

NEW YORK Rick Karlin of the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union has created a bit of a buzz in the newly race-charged race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama by posting on the paper’s blog, Capitol Confidential, the following:

“I suppose there could be lots of tea leaf reading in this one, but now its AG [Attorney General] Andrew Cuomo on Talk 1300, minutes after the governor came on. Cuomo, to be fair, has been on the radio show a few times, if memory serves me, but his take on Hillary’s win in NH is that that small-state primary with its retail politics is a good thing. ‘It’s not a TV crazed race. Frankly you can’t buy your way into it,’ Cuomo said. ‘You can’t shuck and jive at a press conference,’ he added. ‘All those moves you can make with the press don’t work when you’re in someone’s living room.’”

I’m betting Bill Clinton’s face just exploded.

…at least that’s the comforting thought. My personal theory is that in a Hyatt Regency in Manchester, New Hampshire, a hexagram has been burnt into the carpet, and hotel workers are trying to figure out whether to replace the rug or just seal the room permanently.

Original Works Publishing will be bringing out my Bosnian War play “Liberation” later this year.

S

…I have just learned that Joe Buddy’s Bohemian Coffeehouse, in the heart of Portland’s Foster-Powell Arts District (that’s FoPo, by the way), has closed its doors. Bummer.

Steve

…’till the Dead of Winter. Stay tuned.