True Blood

When I was a kid, I was hooked on fiction and adventure movies. I was a huge Star Wars geek and I loved movies like Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story, and others. Not because I wanted to be them, or live in their world. Simply because I was always floored by the amount of creativity behind the work. My father is a creative art director. He makes a living off of that kind of stuff. I remember sitting on the couch with him when I was about 10 years old, watching Star Wars, when he turned to me and said, "Isn't that amazing Matty? That all this can come out of someone's mind. Isn't it incredible what people can create and think of"

Since then, I'm the guy in the theatre who says "That's incredible!" and makes noises like, "Ugh...wow," way too much. Thanks, Dad.

I have inherited my father's fascination to an even greater degree. Nothing excites me more than when people are truly inventive and creative. Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking an old idea and expanding on it.

Lately I have been catching up on a lot of television that I wasn't able to watch so frequently when I was in the show. I know we now live with the wonders of the DVR, but I can barely even remember to set the damn thing. Even when I do, Time Warner is so terrible it screws it up half the time. Yes, Time Warner, I hate you. You do not deserve my money every month.

Any way, I have gotten hooked on HBO's True Blood...Which is now playing on HB02 until the new season starts. I wanted to be completely caught up. Although I watched several episodes this past year, I missed a great deal of them as well.

I gotta say, I love this show. Now, some people may hate it. It's a lot to take on and a pretty ballsy show. It has gotten me hooked in the same way Jim Henson and George Lucas did back in the day. The creators really don't hold back. If you aren't a fantasy/fiction type, it may be the dopiest thing you've ever seen. I, however, love it. It's extremely entertaining and I'm fascinated by how well the actors take on even the cheesiest of material. The show is set in Louisiana, in a world where vampires have come "out of the coffin" (har har) and are trying to co-exist with humans. It's a simple, perhaps silly plot, that stretches out into an extremely complex world. The show is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries, a book series written by Charlaine Harris. It was a very smart choice to turn the show into a series, rather than a film. There is simply too much story to tell.

While often goofy, gory, and downright ridiculous at times, the show is well crafted and thoughtful. It's just fun. I'd say it's just dumb-fun, but it's not always dumb. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by how smart and creative can be. It has political, social, and moral insight that I would never have expected from a vampire show. Plus, it's created by Alan Ball, who created another favorite of mine, "Six Feet Under." Even, when the show is (completely) over-the-top, it's as if the show's creators are just saying "Isn't this fun?!"

So watch it if it sounds like it may be your cup of tea.

I am looking forward to a fun couple of months ahead of me until I am swept up into work in the fall. I plan to do some traveling back west and maybe even abroad. I haven't been to London since I graduated LAMDA and I've been meaning to use my frequent flyer miles!

I will also be working on a new work at this years National Music Theater Conference at The O'Neill in CT. I am told by everyone that it's like doing a reading and going away to summer camp all at the same time. Sounds good! There are some great actors involved and I am thrilled to have learned that Deborah Abramson (Original Assistant MD of Spring Awakening) will be the musical director of the project. Deborah is an incredible gal and has done so much for me.

Until then, I have to jump into a cab to go to lunch downtown. Which means I have to sit through another painful viewing of Regis and Kelly explaining, "Cabs are so much more fun than they used to be, Right Rege!?" on the taxi TV.

"Faaan-tastic!"

By the way, comments are back up. Inappropriate ones will be deleted...Duh.